olamide gushes about adekunle gold

There is a popular saying that anything worth doing is worth doing well. With this saying, singer, Olamide, seems not to have any regrets signing quality artistes under his record label and he is indeed proud that his artistes are doing well. The singer recently praised the vast rise of singer, Adekunle Gold, whom he signed under his label some months back and within a short pace of time; the singer has been able to win the heart of many. According to the singer, “Today I say thank God for bringing Adekunle Gold my way. I feel so blessed to be part of his journey to greatness.” Olamide had on several occasions stated that his sole aim for his artistes is to ensure that they succeed before leaving his label and should be able to stand on their own without issues.

What is Happening to Taribo West?

What could be happening to former Super Eagles international footballer, Taribo West, as he looked so pale when he stepped out with some Nollywood celebrities recently. The former Nigerian defender turned pastor, was spotted with actor, Prince Eke at an event and from the way he was looking, it left many wondering what could have possibly happened to him. A fan who is in the know said the player was recently spotted at Opebi in Ikeja and was looking so hungry. “This man wey hungry hold for Opebi Ikeja. I mean Taribo,” the fan wrote. West represented the Nigerian national team in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He is also known for the various unusual and colourful hairstyles that he has sported over the years.

Iran leader account's provocative Obama tweet

Regardless of the recent deal over Iran's nuclear program, officials in Tehran are still taking sharp jabs at the United States. A Twitter account affiliated with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted an image over the weekend that appears to portray U.S. President Barack Obama holding a gun to his own head. The picture shows a silhouetted figure holding the gun. No facial features are visible -- only a white shirt, red tie and a Stars and Stripes lapel pin stand out from the shadow. "US president has said he could knock out Iran's military," the tweet says. It then continues with a quote attributed to Khamenei from July 18 that's written out in full on the image: "We welcome no war, nor do we initiate any war, but if any war happens, the one who will emerge (the) loser will be the aggressive and criminal U.S." Account regularly criticizes U.S. It's unclear how much involvement Iran's Supreme Leader has in deciding what's posted on the account, @khamenei_ir, which describes itself as providing "regular updates and news" about him. Some of its posts are first-person statements from Khamenei, others refer to the leader in the third person alongside photos of him at events. Strong criticism of the United States and Israel are recurrent themes, including posts in recent months about racial tensions in places like New York, Ferguson and Baltimore. The tweet with the gun image has been retweeted more than 1,750 times since it was posted Saturday, far more than other recent posts.

Zimbabwe seeks U.S. man in lion killing

An American man is being sought in connection with a case that has drawn international attention -- the killing of Cecil the lion -- Zimbabwean officials said Tuesday. The man suspected in Cecil's death is Walter James Palmer of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, according to Johnny Rodrigues, head of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. Cecil, who was 13, was a prized lion in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, where visitors reportedly sighted him frequently. A video of the animal, regal, indifferent and sleepy-eyed, has been widely disseminated. He was a participant in a study that Oxford University in Britain was conducting, and he had been outfitted with a GPS collar. A police official in Zimbabwe said that two Zimbabweans had been arrested in the case and that police were looking for Palmer. An alleged $50,000 payment The Zimbabweans, Honest Trymore Ndlovu and Theo Bronchorst, were due in court Wednesday, according to a statement from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe. Bronchorst is a professional hunter, the statement said. Rodrigues asserted that Palmer was an American and gave his passport number and street address, but police were more vague. Charity Charamba, a Zimbabwe police spokeswoman, told CNN that police were seeking Palmer, "who might be an American or a Spaniard." The allegation is that the lion was killed illegally, Charamba said. Calls to an office number for Walter J. Palmer in Bloomington, Minnesota, about a six-minute drive from the home address given by Rodrigues, went unanswered Tuesday. The messaging mailbox was full.

Sandra Bland 'left voicemail' before death in Texas jail

Sandra Bland, a Texas woman who police say took her own life while in custody, phoned a friend from jail to say she was "at a loss" over her arrest. In a voicemail obtained by the US TV network ABC, Bland said she could not understand why a traffic violation had led to her detention. The 28-year-old African-American was arrested after a confrontation with the policeman who had pulled her car over. She was found dead three days later. In the message to a friend she said: "I'm still just at a loss for words, honestly, about this whole process. How did switching lanes with no signal turn into all of this?" Her family have rejected the findings of a coroner's report, which says Ms Bland hanged herself in her cell at Waller County jail. 'Not depressed' The voice message lasted for about 22 seconds and was made after an initial court appearance following her arrest on 10 July, ABC reports. It was one of three calls made by Bland that day. The others were to her sister and a bail bondsman. On Wednesday it emerged Bland had told a guard during the booking process that she had previously attempted suicide. Sheriff Glenn Smith said the comments were made after she was asked a series of questions that are posed to every person who is detained at the jail. Documents for Bland were inconsistent in citing when or if she had attempted suicide in the past. One questionnaire said she took pills in 2015 to try to kill herself after having a miscarriage. Another document said she attempted suicide in 2014. One form said she had not had suicidal thoughts in the past year and one said she did. Her medical history was also inconsistent on intake forms, with some saying she was on medication for epilepsy and another saying she was not taking any medication. Mr Smith said another guard had also spoken to Bland.

Why everyone hates Obama's signature trade deal

After years of painful, drawn-out meetings, negotiators are preparing for what could be the final round of talks over the biggest free trade deal in history, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Even as the deal nears completion, plenty of groups are trying to scuttle the agreement. Here are five reasons why almost everyone hates the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP: 1. Free trade deals are political kryptonite It's no secret: free trade deals are difficult to get through the U.S. Congress. The TPP's predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement, came into effect in 1994. Two decades later, it's still a political flashpoint. Supporters say the deal has helped countless small and medium-sized businesses, while opponents say it resulted in thousands of American jobs being shipped overseas. This time around, opponents are worried about the same issues -- just on a larger scale. The TPP would link a dozen countries -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, U.S. and Vietnam -- encompassing 40% of global GDP. Despite the controversy, this is a deal that President Obama wants to sign before leaving office. 2. Protection for workers The White House and Republicans say the TPP will make it easier for millions of people around the globe to buy American-made goods, which should create jobs. But Democrats and unions say that free trade deals haven't benefited workers at home, and this one would instead entice U.S. companies to move jobs abroad. "This agreement would force Americans to compete against workers from nations such as Vietnam, where the minimum wage is $2.75 a day," wrote Democratic Reps. George Miller, Rosa DeLauro and Louise Slaughter in an op-ed last year. "It threatens to roll back financial regulation, environmental standards and U.S. laws that protect the safety of drugs we take, food we eat and toys we give our children.

Arturo Vidal: Bayern Munich transfer imminent

Play in a Champions League final, crash your car while under the influence of alcohol, win the Copa America and sign for Bayern Munich -- welcome to Arturo Vidal's world. The 28-year-old is set to leave Juventus after winning four league titles in four years and is expected to move to Germany for a reported fee of $40 million. Vidal, one of the outstanding midfielders in the game, is expected to sign a deal worth $140,000 a week for the next four years. Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern's chief executive officer, told reporters following the club on its tour of China, that he expected Vidal to seal his move imminently. "I can confirm that we have with both parties, Juventus and the player, reached an agreement," he told reporters. "What is missing is the medical and the signature of the contract. If everything goes according to plan, he can start training next week." The signing of Vidal is yet another statement of intent by Pep Guardiola, the Bayern head coach, who is aiming to win the Bundesliga title for the third year in succession and strengthen the German club's Champions League challenge next season. No midfielder scored more goals than Vidal's 28 in Serie A over the past three seasons while he also won more tackles than any other player in the Champions League in last year's competition. Bayern moved for Vidal after selling Bastian Schweinsteiger, a club icon, to Manchester United after 17 years at the club.

Kenyan businesses gear up for Obama's visit

Obama's visit to his father's homeland might be a short one, but Kenyan entrepreneurs are hoping that it will have long lasting benefits on the country's economic development. Preparations have been in full swing for weeks, with Nairobi abuzz with excitement and anticipation. The U.S. president will travel to the Kenyan capital later this week to address the sixth Global Entrepreneurship Summit. The immediate consequences of the visit will be clearly felt in the city, with airways and roads gearing up for a complete lockdown. #Obamigration Many will undoubtedly flock to Nairobi for the event, but some might actually want to get away from the chaos. One travel agency has playfully capitalized on this, offering an escape route to those who'd rather dwell in calmer pastures. "Nairobi is going crazy as we wait for POTUS to come -- It's a big deal for our country but this comes with a lot of uncertainty around traffic jams, communication, security and all these funny looking helicopters we are seeing," Agosta Liko, CEO of Pesapal/Ticketsasa, told CNN. "That's why we thought of #Obamigration, to offer easy 'Get out of Town' weekend escapes." The catchy idea seems to be paying off: "We are having a record month because of the #Obamigration Campaign. Kenya offers a lot for travelers no matter the budget, time and country of origin. President Obama's visit will make it easier for our tourism industry to continue growing." The hashtag, which first appeared last year when Obama unveiled new immigration policies, is not the only one currently re-purposed for the historic trip: the preparations in Nairobi are, in fact, being hailed as a new #Obamacare.

Oldest' Koran fragments found in Birmingham University

What may be the world's oldest fragments of the Koran have been found by the University of Birmingham. Radiocarbon dating found the manuscript to be at least 1,370 years old, making it among the earliest in existence. The pages of the Muslim holy text had remained unrecognised in the university library for almost a century. The British Library's expert on such manuscripts, Dr Muhammad Isa Waley, said this "exciting discovery" would make Muslims "rejoice". The manuscript had been kept with a collection of other Middle Eastern books and documents, without being identified as one of the oldest fragments of the Koran in the world. Oldest texts When a PhD researcher, Alba Fedeli, looked more closely at these pages it was decided to carry out a radiocarbon dating test and the results were "startling". The university's director of special collections, Susan Worrall, said researchers had not expected "in our wildest dreams" that it would be so old. "Finding out we had one of the oldest fragments of the Koran in the whole world has been fantastically exciting." The tests, carried out by the Oxford University Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, showed that the fragments, written on sheep or goat skin, were among the very oldest surviving texts of the Koran. The person who actually wrote it could well have known the Prophet Muhammad... he would maybe have heard him preach Prof David Thomas, University of Birmingham These tests provide a range of dates, showing that, with a probability of more than 95%, the parchment was from between 568 and 645. "They could well take us back to within a few years of the actual founding of Islam," said David Thomas, the university's professor of Christianity and Islam. "According to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad received the revelations that form the Koran, the scripture of Islam, between the years 610 and 632, the year of his death."

MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced

Florence + the Machine, "Ship to Wreck" Walk the Moon, "Shut Up and Dance" Arctic Monkeys, "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" ARTIST TO WATCH Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen" Vance Joy, "Riptide" George Ezra, "Budapest" James Bay, "Hold Back The River" FKA Twigs, "Pendulum" BEST COLLABORATION

MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced

Big Sean feat. E-40, "IDFWU" BEST POP VIDEO Beyoncé, "7/11" Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud" Taylor Swift, "Blank Space" Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk" Maroon 5, "Sugar" BEST ROCK VIDEO Hozier, "Take Me To Church" Fall Out Boy, "Uma Thurman"

MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced

Beyoncé, "7/11" Taylor Swift, "Blank Space" Nicki Minaj, "Anaconda" Sia, "Elastic Heart" Ellie Goulding, "Love Me Like You Do" BEST HIP HOP VIDEO Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen" Nicki Minaj, "Anaconda" Kendrick Lamar, "Alright" Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again

MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced

Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood" Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk" Kendrick Lamar, "Alright" BEST MALE VIDEO Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud" Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk" Kendrick Lamar, "Alright" The Weeknd, "Earned It" Nick Jonas, "Chains" BEST FEMALE VIDEO

MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced

The nominees are in for the MTV 2015 Video Music Awards, which will feature Miley Cyrus as host. Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran lead the pack with three nominations each, including video of the year. In that category, they'll face off against Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars for "Uptown Funk" and Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." Kendrick Lamar earned five total nominations: two as a solo artist and three for his collaboration with Swift on "Bad Blood." But it matters little who wins; most people tune into the show for the musical performances and "unexpected" moments. And, if Cyrus' past award show performances are any indication, there's no telling who might get kissed or what wild costume she'll wear (if any). Judging by the photo she posted Monday on Instagram announcing the news, she's pretty excited. The show airs August 30 on MTV. VIDEO OF THE YEAR Beyoncé, "7/11" Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced

The nominees are in for the MTV 2015 Video Music Awards, which will feature Miley Cyrus as host. Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran lead the pack with three nominations each, including video of the year. In that category, they'll face off against Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars for "Uptown Funk" and Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." Kendrick Lamar earned five total nominations: two as a solo artist and three for his collaboration with Swift on "Bad Blood." But it matters little who wins; most people tune into the show for the musical performances and "unexpected" moments. And, if Cyrus' past award show performances are any indication, there's no telling who might get kissed or what wild costume she'll wear (if any). Judging by the photo she posted Monday on Instagram announcing the news, she's pretty excited. The show airs August 30 on MTV. VIDEO OF THE YEAR Beyoncé, "7/11" Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

Terror threat concerns after Obama trip info exposed

Concerns about terror threats grow as Pres. Obama prepares to visit Kenya and key details about his trip are exposed.

Jose Mourinho: 'He loves, he fights' Don Riddell and James Masters, CNN

He's known as "The Special One," but now one of Chelsea's star players has revealed a more complex picture of Jose Mourinho. Diego Costa, the English Premier League champion's leading goalscorer last season, says the Chelsea manager has a softer side which few outside of the locker room ever get to see. "He is a person that lives, loves, fights and works -- he is always trying to improve," Costa told CNN when asked about the 52-year-old. "He is that person that you see with the ambition to be victorious, the ambition to win, the ambition to become better. "That is a point that makes the difference -- that ambition to be better than you were last year." Mourinho led Chelsea to the English title last season after returning for a second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge in 2013. The Portuguese coach is one of the most successful in the game having won two European Cups --first at Porto and then at Inter Milan -- while he has claimed domestic league titles in England, Italy, Spain and his native Portugal. While Costa talks about Mourinho's more genial nature and his "friendship" with players, the Chelsea manager is not without his detractors and the Portuguese's behavior outside of the home locker room has often been criticized. His touchline spats and arguments with referees are well documented, notably an incident with the late Tito Vilanova -- the former Barcelona manager -- who Mourinho poked in the eye after an argument during his time at Real Madrid. No stranger to controversy himself, Costa refrained from commenting on Mourinho's past transgressions, instead preferring to praise his coach's more personable nature.

Lionel Messi: 'Zoo' dress code causes stir

You can't be too careful when it comes to observing dress codes -- even if you're arguably the world's top football star. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has drawn the ire of politicians in Gabon -- a nation on the western coast of central Africa -- who say the Argentine lacked respect by dressing as if he was off "to the zoo" when he met the country's president. Gabon's opposition party, the Union du Peuple Gabonais (UPG), took particular umbrage with Messi's shorts and t-shirt attire for a meeting with President Ali Bongo Ondimba, amid denials by the government that it had paid four-time World Player of the Year millions of dollars to make the trip. "The messiah of football arrived in Gabon like he were going to a zoo: dirty, unshaven and his hands in his pockets, looking for peanuts to throw to them!" read a statement from the UPG, which also condemned the player's "indelicateness." While the opposition got stuck into the 28-year-old Messi, who was in Gabon on a trip organized by former Barcelona and Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o, the government dismissed a report by France Football magazine that it had paid the Argentina around $3.8 million to visit the country. "The Gabonese Republic strongly denies having paid, or having pledged to pay any amount of money to the international Argentine soccer player, Lionel Messi," read a Gabon government statement sent to CNN. "Mr. Messi visited Gabon from the 17th to the 18th of July 2015 after having been invited by President Ali Bongo Ondimba." Estimated to be worth $262 million, Messi was reportedly driven around the country's capital city Libreville by the president himself before heading to Port-Gentil to lay a foundation stone for the stadium.

Zach Johnson: 'I'm just a blessed boy'

It was news to Zach Johnson that he'd won the Open Championship. So focused was the 39-year-old that when Louis Oosthuizen's crucial birdie putt missed on the final hole it was his caddie Damon Green that broke the news to him. A deeply religious man, Johnson was busy reciting scripture to keep his concentration, and when he'd finished he'd added the Claret Jug to his 2007 Masters triumph. And while the new world No. 12 readily admits he's no "poster boy," he is a walking advert for hard work and dedication. That's not to say Johnson's victory at St Andrews after a three-man playoff on an epic Monday at the home of golf wasn't rousing. He edged out South Africa's Oosthuizen -- victor last time the Open was held at the Old Course -- and Australian Marc Leishman, in a gripping conclusion to the extended tournament. "That's one phrase I've never heard coined for me," Johnson told reporters when asked about the "poster boy" tag. As for going under the radar heading into the final day? "I guess that radar is going bonkers right now," he quipped. "I don't mind being in that position. I did say that, and when my game is good, certainly I surface on the radar.

Zach Johnson: 'I'm just a blessed boy'

It was news to Zach Johnson that he'd won the Open Championship. So focused was the 39-year-old that when Louis Oosthuizen's crucial birdie putt missed on the final hole it was his caddie Damon Green that broke the news to him. A deeply religious man, Johnson was busy reciting scripture to keep his concentration, and when he'd finished he'd added the Claret Jug to his 2007 Masters triumph. And while the new world No. 12 readily admits he's no "poster boy," he is a walking advert for hard work and dedication. That's not to say Johnson's victory at St Andrews after a three-man playoff on an epic Monday at the home of golf wasn't rousing. He edged out South Africa's Oosthuizen -- victor last time the Open was held at the Old Course -- and Australian Marc Leishman, in a gripping conclusion to the extended tournament. "That's one phrase I've never heard coined for me," Johnson told reporters when asked about the "poster boy" tag. As for going under the radar heading into the final day? "I guess that radar is going bonkers right now," he quipped. "I don't mind being in that position. I did say that, and when my game is good, certainly I surface on the radar.

Zach Johnson: 'I'm just a blessed boy'

It was news to Zach Johnson that he'd won the Open Championship. So focused was the 39-year-old that when Louis Oosthuizen's crucial birdie putt missed on the final hole it was his caddie Damon Green that broke the news to him. A deeply religious man, Johnson was busy reciting scripture to keep his concentration, and when he'd finished he'd added the Claret Jug to his 2007 Masters triumph. And while the new world No. 12 readily admits he's no "poster boy," he is a walking advert for hard work and dedication. That's not to say Johnson's victory at St Andrews after a three-man playoff on an epic Monday at the home of golf wasn't rousing. He edged out South Africa's Oosthuizen -- victor last time the Open was held at the Old Course -- and Australian Marc Leishman, in a gripping conclusion to the extended tournament. "That's one phrase I've never heard coined for me," Johnson told reporters when asked about the "poster boy" tag. As for going under the radar heading into the final day? "I guess that radar is going bonkers right now," he quipped. "I don't mind being in that position. I did say that, and when my game is good, certainly I surface on the radar.

Twitter grieves over Shelton and Lambert

If you see a country music fan this week, you may want to give them a hug. If Twitter is any indication, folks are grieving over the announcement that Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, the first couple of country music, are splitting after four years of marriage. Some of it may be tongue-in-cheek or hyperbole, but news of the breakup has been accompanied by the type of sadness worthy of a country hit. One person even tweeted, "Now that Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are getting divorced I can say with 100% confidence that love does not exist." Of course, along with the grief comes tons of speculation about what may have happened in the relationship between "The Voice" coach and his superstar wife. Much is being made of Lambert's tearful performance of "The House That Built Me" at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming on Saturday, days before the breakup was announced.

Can your city survive the apocalypse?

If you see a country music fan this week, you may want to give them a hug. If Twitter is any indication, folks are grieving over the announcement that Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, the first couple of country music, are splitting after four years of marriage. Some of it may be tongue-in-cheek or hyperbole, but news of the breakup has been accompanied by the type of sadness worthy of a country hit. One person even tweeted, "Now that Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are getting divorced I can say with 100% confidence that love does not exist." Of course, along with the grief comes tons of speculation about what may have happened in the relationship between "The Voice" coach and his superstar wife. Much is being made of Lambert's tearful performance of "The House That Built Me" at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming on Saturday, days before the breakup was announced.

Can your city survive the apocalypse?

The destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina was heralded as a wake-up call for the U.S., a catastrophe that illustrated the scale of the threat from natural disasters, and the inadequacy of preparations. But for all the earnest talk of 'learning lessons' that followed, no grand reform agenda was put in place to revitalize a city that remains devastated and deeply vulnerable. Hamstrung by its position -- much of New Orleans sits below sea level -- ancient infrastructure and widespread poverty, the next disaster could be the city's last. Hurricane Sandy underlined the urgency by ruthlessly exposing New York's structural weaknesses, paralyzing power, water and transport networks as the lights went off across Manhattan. California also suffered as historic droughts settled in, and the 2014 wave of winter storms terrorized the North, emphasizing that extreme conditions were here to stay and could strike anywhere. This bought the U.S. into line with the global situation. The U.N.'s global risk report anticipates a record $314 billion of damage through natural disasters each year, exacerbated by the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels and more common 'freak' weather conditions. The report also highlights a widespread lack of preparedness and "continuous mispricing of risk." Responding to disaster Of course, there are few easy answers to how to withstand a hurricane or ferocious drought. Eye-catching novelties such as Vincent Callebaut's prefab coral reef design in Haiti, or Dan Nelson's tsunami-proof house offer originality but are difficult to scale. A more grounded and systematic approach to resilience is beginning to emerge. Boston narrowly escaped a battering from Sandy but remains threatened by rising sea levels, and the city recently sought designs for a new age with its ground-breaking competition 'Living with Water.'

5 tips for getting rich on food

Do you love food? So much so that you've dreamed of opening your own restaurant, or perhaps starting a gourmet truck? Truth is, it's a tough business, with lots of room to fail, and more competition than ever before. But if you do it right, the rewards can be rich. 1. Make a plan It may sound obvious, but an exhaustive, well-thought-out business plan is a must, says Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research at the United States' National Restaurant Association. "For a restaurant operator to ensure long-term success, it's very important for them to have clearly thought-out their concept, and, more importantly, who the target demographic is for that concept," he says. A plan -- one that anticipates any potential kinks -- is equally important in the food truck business, says Matt Geller, CEO and co-founder of the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association. Geller has assisted in the set-up of similar groups across the globe. 2. Don't assume customers will find you "Having a customer-acquisition plan is one of the things I see many food trucks not do," says Geller. "But you have to figure out how you're going to bring the customers in." While food vendor events, such as those organized by London's KERB, bring in some good ancillary revenue, Geller says it's a mistake to rely on these events for word-of-mouth promotion. "Those markets, while great, create a false sense of security. You don't want to depend on someone else to get you customers. What if they decide they don't like you, or someone else comes up that they like more? That's no way to run a business."

Funerals held for victims of Turkey attack

Funerals were held Tuesday for victims of a blast that ripped through a rally in the Turkish border town of Suruc a day earlier -- an attack suspected to have been carried out by an ISIS suicide bomber. At least 31 people were killed in the explosion -- one of the deadliest terrorist attacks to rock the country in years. At least 100 others were wounded, provincial Gov. Izzettin Kucuk told Turkish media. Crowds of mourners wept and chanted beside flag-draped coffins as the funerals got underway. Suruc lies about 6 miles from the Syrian border opposite Kobani, the Syrian city that was the scene of intense fighting last fall between ISIS and predominantly Kurdish forces, backed by coalition airstrikes. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference Tuesday that "one suspect has been identified" and that all that person's "links domestically and internationally are being investigated." "Right now links to ISIS and it being a suicide bomber have gained probability," he said. "We expect the investigation to be completed as soon as possible." Davutoglu on Monday described ISIS as "not just a threat to Syria but to Turkey as well." He urged solidarity among the Turkish people, saying the attack was not against any one part of the country but "against all of us." Davutoglu said the government would not hesitate in taking action in response to the bombing, which he suggested was in revenge for the role Turkey is playing in the war on terror. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which struck a gathering of mostly Kurdish activists calling for more help to rebuild Kobani.

Why Donald Trump is surging in the polls

Donald Trump, surging in the polls, arrived at this lakeside enclave and trained his ire on perhaps the only target that aggravates his supporters as much as the Obama Administration: Republicans. "They're all talk, they're no action," Trump said, revving up his fiery takedown of politicians. "I'm more disappointed in many ways with the Republicans," Trump said. "They have this great indignation, whether it's Benghazi or the emails... nothing ever happens." Trump is enjoying a summer surge as he takes the lead in a poll of Republican presidential contenders released on Friday. The billionaire businessman is offending Hispanics and irking his GOP competitors but it's clear that his in-your-face demeanor and willingness to take on President Barack Obama -- then just as quickly turn his sharp tongue toward members of his own party -- is winning over Republican voters. "Even though I'm a Republican and I'm obviously voting that way, I'm very disappointed in the Republicans in the House. There's weakness there," said Julie Pagliarulo, a 56-year-old resident of Belmont, New Hampshire, who arrived hours early to see Trump speak. "Donald just says it like it is. I love it." Friday's Fox News poll found Trump leading with support from 18% of Republican primary voters nationwide, compared to 15% for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and 14% for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Statistically speaking, the top three candidates are within the margin of error, and therefore tied -- a point Trump tends to leave out of his speeches. Belknap County, nestled in New Hampshire's picturesque southeastern lakes region, is home to 60,000 predominantly white residents. They tend to be middle class, with a median household income of nearly $59,000, according to Census data. The unemployment rate in May stood at a modest 3.3%, well below the 5.5% national rate that month.

Microsoft Band now 25% cheaper in the US

The Microsoft Band, which was made officialback in October last year with a $199 price tag, can now be yours for just $150 as US retailer Target is offering a discount of 25% on the device.

Microsoft Band now 25% cheaper in the US

The Microsoft Band, which was made officialback in October last year with a $199 price tag, can now be yours for just $150 as US retailer Target is offering a discount of 25% on the device.

Motorola Moto G (3rd gen) listed on retail site

The specs of the Motorola Moto G (3rd gen)are becoming an increasingly hotter topic with the approach of the smartphone's inevitable launch. One of the main points for discussion has been the amount of RAM the next-gen will come equipped with. Initial datapointed to a single gig for a third generation in a row, but rumors have been persisting that it may in fact be 2GB, most recently fueled by a retailer listing. Well, indeed that appears to be the case, as indicated by an entry on Indian import/export database site Zauba. The latest intel states that a total of 190 units have entered the country for testing purposes, half of them white, the others black. The listing clearly shows the smartphone to come with 2GB of RAM, though it doesn't reveal anything else in terms of hardware. What it does specify is the unit price of the prototype devices and the INR 15,200 figure translates into roughly $240, with the black ones marginally cheaper than the white. And while the numbers should by no means be treated as final, they sit quite a bit higher than the $180 price tag of the Moto G (2nd gen)at launch. However, none of this is official info coming from Motorola, so we'll reserve judgement until we get to read an actual press release.

reviews of vivo X5max continuation

2,300mAh battery Standard 3.5mm headphone jack Main disadvantages Dated Android KitKat 4.4.4 No FM radio or NFC Another in a long line of designer Chinese smartphones, the vivo X5Max relies on the proven formula of striking looks and all-round capable hardware. We don't expect it to outperform flagships, but its priorities lie elsewhere and the X5Max scores high on style. While it will certainly be on the short list of anyone looking to stand out, the smartphone needs to prove it has enough substance to match its upmarket exterior. vivo X5Max press photos We're here to examine it in detail and we kick off with the unboxing and hardware overview.

reviews of vivo X5max

It's not every day we have a true record holder in our hands, and that's exactly what we were getting ready for waiting for the vivo X5Max to arrive. The slimmest smartphone in the world for more than six months now, the 4.75-mm X5Max snatched a crown that had been tossed between the Gionee Elife S5.1 and the Oppo R5, each of them holding it for a fleeting month or so. You can then imagine our disappointment when it turned out we have the global version, which is "only" the third-slimmest phone in the world. A fraction of a millimeter thicker than the China model, the vivo X5Max is an extraordinarily slim device nonetheless, most certain to impress with a profile you wouldn't normally attribute to a smartphone. It really looks almost like a planar object, its two dimensions much greater that the third, so to speak, in math terms. In terms of hardware, the X5Max is less exciting, relying on the now ubiquitous midrange Snapdragon 615, coupled with the equally commonplace 2GB of RAM. It doesn't skimp on features though sporting a 13MP primary camera behind a fast f/2.0 lens, as well as a 5MP front-facer. A 5.5-inch FullHD display helps keep thickness in check thanks to the Super AMOLED tech, while providing the signature colors and contrast. The extra 0.33mm thickness have allowed designers to fit a larger-capacity battery, though it still looks underpowered on paper for its screen size. Key features Dual-SIM dual-standby capability, microSD slot shared with second SIM 5.5" 1080p Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 401ppi Octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU (4x 1.5GHz plus 4x 1.0GHz), 2GB of RAM, Adreno 405 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset 13MP autofocus camera, f/2.0 lens, single-LED flash; HDR, Panorama, Night, Pro mode with long exposure (up to 32s) 1080@30fps, 1/4x slow motion video recording, 10x speed timelapse 5MP front camera, f/2.4, 720p video recording 16GB of built-in storage Cat. 4 LTE (150/50Mbps); dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0; GPS with A-GPS; microUSB

MH17 wreckage

It's been nearly one year since 298 people were killed after a commercial passenger plane broke up over the Ukraine. U.S. officials concluded Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was struck by a missile and shot out of the sky. A final report from investigators has yet to be released butCNN has learned new details from the draft investigative report for the July 17, 2014 incident. Dutch accident investigators say that evidence points to pro-Russian rebels as being responsible for shooting down MH-17, according to a source who has seen the report. According to the source, the report says it was a Buk missile -- a Russian surface-to-air missile -- that was used, launched from a village in Russian rebel controlled territory. The Malaysian Airlines flight went down in the Donetsk area of Ukraine. According to two sources with knowledge of the investigation, a draft of an investigative report authored by the Dutch Safety Board, the lead agency in the investigation, has been distributed for review to numerous agencies around the world including the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing. The draft investigative report is several hundred pages long. RELATED: United Airlines pilot flushed live ammunition down plane's toilet Another source with knowledge of the report's details says it gives a minute by minute timeline of flight MH17. This source also says not only does the draft report pinpoint where the missile was fired from it identifies who was in control of the territory and pins the downing of MH17 on the pro-Russian rebels. According to both sources, the report also pins some blame on Malaysia Airlines for how its planes were dispatched that day. Some airlines were avoiding the conflict zone. According to the report Malaysia Airlines was not reading other countries' notice to airmen or NOTAMs and it continued to fly over the zone.

am avaliable for marriage ayo adesanyo

At the age of 25, beautiful and erogenous actress, Ayo Adesanya, had already dominated the movie scene in Nigeria, doing what she knows how to do best; script interpretation. Now, she is a Nollywood icon and celebrated her 20 years in the industry not too long ago. Ayo, just like few of her colleagues, has had trouble with her marriage. Her union to fellow actor and producer, Goriola Hassan, crashed some year ago, and since then, she has been enjoying life as a single woman. In a recent chat with Vanguard, the actress hinted that although her doors are still open to marriage, she is beginning to think marriage is not for everybody. "People fall in love; it’s not as if you don’t find love but does it really last? You keep wondering that today they’ve broken up, tomorrow they’ve broken up; it’s not a good thing really. When you’re asking me if I’m going to get married again, I’m not God because you really can’t play God when it comes to what is going to happen. “Tomorrow, I might just meet somebody that would sweep me off my feet, so it’s not as if I’m closing the door totally. God is the owner of my life, so if he says okay, this is what he wants. “But then, it doesn’t mean you cannot be happy if you’re not married.. Because I’m not married does not mean that I do not understand what love is, I know what love is, I know what romance is, I understand it so well,” she said.

Patience Ozokwo and Olu Jacobs Return from School

Two Nollywood veterans have been spotted while on their way back from school probably they went to write their Senior Secondary School Certificate examination. Olu Jacobs and Patience Ozokwo were spotted returning from school with both having their school bag and Olu Jacobs with his lunch box. They were both fully dressed on their uniform,Patience was on her pinafore with white socks and the Simbi goes to school shoe.

Cameron unveiling plan to tackle Islamist extremism

Cameron unveiling plan to tackle Islamist extremism 20 July 2015From the sectionUK comments Prime Minister David Cameron is setting out government plans to defeat the"poison" of Islamist extremism in Britain. He has pledged to tackle what he called"the failures of integration" which have seen hundreds of UK citizens joining Islamic State extremists. Some British-born Muslims"have little attachment" to UK society, he said. Young people appear to have been drawn into the ideology by what he described as"non-violent extremists", he added. "Many of them were first influenced by what some would call non-violent extremists," he said in a speech in Birmingham. "It may begin with hearing about the so-called Jewish conspiracy, and then develop into hostility to the West and fundamental liberal values before finally becoming a cultish attachment to death. Put another way, the extremist worldview is the gateway, and then violence is the ultimate destination." The prime minister also said the"sick world view" of extremists was drowning out moderate Muslim voices. View comments Share this story About sharing Email FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedin More on this story Theresa May on tackling IS militants 20 July 2015 UK will help destroy Islamic State, David Cameron tells US 19 July 2015 Who are Britain’s jihadists? 25 June 2015 What difference could Syria IS air strikes make? 2 July 2015 Cameron warns of'quietly condoning' IS ideology 19 June 2015 Top Stories Plan to defeat'poison' of extremism Prime Minister David Cameron is setting out government plans to defeat the"poison" of Islamist extremism in Britain. 20 July 2015 'Road-rage' murder suspect in court 20 July 2015 Deadly blast hits Turkey activists 20 July 2015 Features Hidden meanings What are the secret symbols in The Ambassadors?

Buhari wants to imprison Jonathan, Niger Delta group

A civil rights organisation, Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, on Saturday raised the alarm over alleged moves by President Muhammadu Buhari to “investigate, malign and imprison” ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on trumped-up charges. The group accused the President and his All Progressives Congress-led administration of anti-Niger Delta tendencies. The group referred to the ongoing controversy between a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole over Excess Crude Account and allegations as a ploy to get at former President Goodluck Jonathan. But the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, described the allegation by the group as mere speculation. Adesina asked why people would dwell on speculations when nothing concrete has been established against former President Jonathan. He said, “All these are speculations and I cannot react to speculations because there is nothing concrete yet against the former President.” The spokesperson of VND, Mr. Osaghae Ogiemudia, in a statement obtained bySUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja, also claimed that anti-Niger Delta and anti-Ijaw posturing of the APC-led government of Buhari has been demonstrated in several ways. He said, “We the members of the Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, are aware of some clandestine moves made by the APC-led government to probe, investigate, malign and imprison ex-President Jonathan. We are already aware of the trumped-up charges the APC government is levelling against a man who has diligently served the Nigerian state at the highest level of government. “The APC led government should take notice that the appointments made so far are skewed in favour of the North, as no Ijaw man has been appointed. While an Ijaw President did not discriminate in appointment, President Buhari is implementing a Northern agenda thorough some of the appointments.

Buhari wants to imprison Jonathan, Niger Delta group

A civil rights organisation, Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, on Saturday raised the alarm over alleged moves by President Muhammadu Buhari to “investigate, malign and imprison” ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on trumped-up charges. The group accused the President and his All Progressives Congress-led administration of anti-Niger Delta tendencies. The group referred to the ongoing controversy between a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole over Excess Crude Account and allegations as a ploy to get at former President Goodluck Jonathan. But the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, described the allegation by the group as mere speculation. Adesina asked why people would dwell on speculations when nothing concrete has been established against former President Jonathan. He said, “All these are speculations and I cannot react to speculations because there is nothing concrete yet against the former President.” The spokesperson of VND, Mr. Osaghae Ogiemudia, in a statement obtained bySUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja, also claimed that anti-Niger Delta and anti-Ijaw posturing of the APC-led government of Buhari has been demonstrated in several ways. He said, “We the members of the Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, are aware of some clandestine moves made by the APC-led government to probe, investigate, malign and imprison ex-President Jonathan. We are already aware of the trumped-up charges the APC government is levelling against a man who has diligently served the Nigerian state at the highest level of government. “The APC led government should take notice that the appointments made so far are skewed in favour of the North, as no Ijaw man has been appointed. While an Ijaw President did not discriminate in appointment, President Buhari is implementing a Northern agenda thorough some of the appointments.

The new faces of fashion

They are young, talented and creative. These fashion designers are known for churning out chic and timeless pieces. In this interview, they talk about their passion for fashion and style Fashion is not cheap — Sisiano Paolo Born to an Italian father and Nigerian mother, Sisiano Paolo is the creative head of his eponymously named label. Also an actor, model and choreographer, he shares his story How did you become a fashion designer? I started out by making dance costumes for dancers since I am firstly a dancer and choreographer. I fell in love with designing costumes for stage productions because it allows you to be very creative and expressive. A couple of friends who were quite impressed by my designs, suggested that I should create a lookbook and enter it for the 2013 Lagos Fashion Week. I was one of those selected to showcase their designs at the Lagos Fashion Design Week and the rest as they say is history. What type of designs can your brand be identified by? I work with a lot of fabrics and I think it is due to my background in dance. While designing for ladies is a bit complicated especially when it is made- to- measure wear, ready-to-wear clothing is a lot easier. Even though I also make clothes for men, my designs do not readily appeal to the average Nigerian man who isn’t driven by aesthetics. My men’s wear is very laid-back, the colours aren’t bright and I know Nigerians love vibrant hues. I started out working with a lot of nude and earth tones but not any longer. What challenges do you face currently? I consider funding to be one of the greatest challenges I face. I started my business with all the money I saved up from my performances as a dancer. I am not prepared to get a loan because I am just two years old in the business. I may not be where I hope to be but now, the business is funding itself.

Lagos cult gangs kill 80 in six months

Samson Folarinwrites that cult groups have killed no fewer than 80 persons in Lagos from January to June 2015 No fewer than 80 people have been killed in Lagos State by cult groups between January and June, 2015. A senior police officer at the Lagos State Police Command gaveSUNDAY PUNCH this statistic. Out of these 80 cases,The PUNCH had reported 65. The senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the figure could be higher than 80 because not all cases were reported to the police. He said, “We have had so many cult killings within the past six months. Most of the cases involved former university students who left school and decided to carry on with their cult related activities after school in their areas. “The number of cases reported cannot be less than 80, and that is leaving out the number of unreported cases.” SUNDAY PUNCH investigations showed that in January alone, no fewer than 16 people were killed in cult-related circumstances. In February, 17 people were murdered while in March no fewer than four people were murdered by cultists. In April, eight people were killed, seven in May and 13 in June. Most of these murders took place in Ikorodu, Mushin, Somolu, Onipanu, Bariga, Ketu and Igando. One of the victims was Debo Uturu, a 25-year-old computer engineer turned tricycle driver. Uturu was killed on Friday, May 15 while on a visit to his mother on Lawani Street, Mushin. Some men numbering about five got entrance into the Uturus’ residence by breaking the fence of an adjoining building. Having succeeded in entering, the men found Uturu as he approached his mother’s room from where he had gone to buy a sachet of water for a dinner of rice prepared by his sister. They opened fire on him. Wounded, Uturu crawled and begged for his life; but he was held down by the men who descended on him with machete blows until he breathed his last.

Unilorin seeks FG’s help to retrieve seized property

The University of Ilorin has appealed to the Federal Government to assist the institution to retrieve its mini campus, forcefully and illegally seized by the Kwara State Government. The appeal is contained in a letter dated June 26, signed by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, and addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education. A copy of the letter was made available to theNews Agency of Nigeria uin Abuja on Sunday. It alleged that on June 25, “armed personnel” of the state government “invaded the mini campus.” It said that the armed men broke and demolished property in the facility, as well as harassed its occupants. “Following the development, the governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, was contacted on the telephone and the incident duly reported to him,” the letter said. It said the governor apologised for the action and said that the premises would be vacated within one month with effect from June 25. The letter a says, “However, on-the-spot assessment of the premises belies the governor’s assurance. “The entire Institute of Education, including classrooms and offices accommodation for staff has been taken over by the state government, thereby paralysing all the activities of the institute. “Indeed, we found truck loads of sand, blocks, furniture, paper and records deposited in the premises which suggest restructuring of the place for permanent occupation. It will be recalled that the old Kwara Government, in 1975, donated the facility as a temporary site to meet part of the condition to site the institution in Ilorin. There was, however, no agreement that the university would relinquish the property to the state government. Speaking withNAN on the issue, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba said that the building was not being forcibly taken over.

kate snubs movie premier

Kate Snubs Movie Premiere After Fire Incident Story by Nathan Nathaniel Ekpo/Nigeriafilms.com news Last Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Some Nollywood stars, over the weekend, stormed venue of the movie premiere of ‘IQUO's JOURNAL’, which took place in Lekki, Lagos. Those at the occasion were looking stunning and flashy, but one of the lead casts in the film, Kate Henshaw, was not present, her reason was apparently understandable. Last week, the Lekki home of the talented actress was gutted fire, which left her very devastated. READ ALSO:TONTO DIKEH BREAKS SILENCE…WRITES TO NIGERIAFILMS.COM However, those who attended the premiere gave the movie thumbs up. Some of the stars at the event were Kiki Omeili, Femi Jacobs, Keira Hewatch, Chinonso Young, Emeka Ossai, Teco Benson, Frank Osodi, Ralph Nwadike, Bobby Michael and few others.http://www.konga.com/?k_id=martinyjoe

Fire Incident: Kate Henshaw Thanks Fans For Goodwill Messages

Last week, the Lekki home of Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw was gutted by fire and she lost some of her properties in the inferno. Since the unfortunate incident happened, the actress has been receiving messages from well-wishers, who sympathized with her. But the actress seems to have got over the experience. She thanked those who sent goodwill messages to her over the inferno. Kate disclosed that she has no time to weigh herself down because of what happened, saying that she has a lot of jobs to complete and needs to return to work as soon as possible. “My Help is in the name of the Lord. I will never cease to give Him praise. Thank you all greatly for your love and concern. God bless you,” she wrote.

Terry G Under Heavy Attack Over Cartoon On Islam

Energetic singer, Terry G, may have stepped on the wrong toes over his recent post on his Instagram page on Wednesday (today) to promote his latest single, ‘Totori.’ The singer shared the video of a cartoon image reciting Islamic prayers, which some of his fans found offensive. There have been calls from some of them for the immediate removal of the video, while others have warned him never to make jest of Islam and Allah. “You don't go around messing up with Islam, it's wrong man. Not funny though,” one of his followers advised. “But why people be like this sha, do you know the meaning of what he said even though it's funny and I doubt if any of you even say SAW when He call the Prophet’s name. Terry G, You might delete this though because some fans might take it wrongly just as you have been reading it. Bless up man!” “Imagine what's gonna happen if you lose your pure water company and technically never get to perform on a show or sign a contract for 2 years. “You will start blaming it on your enemies forgetting that u ever did something this uncool that pissed Allah off. Delete this man (show some love to your Muslim fans and do it) Terry G, love your flows till I go 6feet below.” “Bro I love your flows but what you did is wrong, it’s not proper man, try to amend this by deleting the post. Don't mess with God man,” other comments read.

details about ipad 3

Apple iPad mini 3 MORE PICTURES Released 2014, October 331g (Wi-Fi) / 341g (3G/LTE), 7.5mm thickness iOS 8.1, up to iOS 8.4 16/64/128GB storage, no card slot 2.3% 1,068,214 hits 42 Become a fan 7.9" 1536x2048 pixels 5MP 1080p 1GB RAM Apple A7 6470mAh Li-Po Review Pictures Compare Opinions LTE carrier support Available as: Apple iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular with 3G/LTE support Apple iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi only and no GPS support Network Technology GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE Launch Announced 2014, October Status Available. Released 2014, October Body Dimensions 200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm (7.87 x 5.30 x 0.30 in) Weight 331 g (Wi-Fi) / 341 g (3G/LTE) (11.68 oz) SIM Nano-SIM/ Apple SIM (US & UK) - Fingerprint sensor (Touch ID) Display Type LED-backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size 7.9 inches (~71.7% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels (~324 ppi pixel density) Multitouch Yes Protection Oleophobic coating Platform OS iOS 8.1, upgradable to iOS 8.4 Chipset Apple A7 CPU Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) GPU PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics) Memory Card slot No Internal 16/64/128 GB, 1 GB RAM DDR3 Camera Primary 5 MP, 2592 х 1944 pixels, autofocus, check quality Features Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR photo Video 1080p@30fps, check quality Secondary 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular Sound Alert types N/A Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers 3.5mm jack Yes Comms WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, EDR GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS Radio No USB v2.0, reversible connector Features Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, compass Messaging iMessage, Email, Push Email, IM Browser HTML5 (Safari) Java No - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - Siri natural language commands and dictation - iCloud cloud service - iCloud Keychain - TV-out - Maps - Audio/video player/editor - Organizer - Photo viewer/editor - Document viewer/editor - Voice memo - Predictive text input Battery Non-removable Li-Po 6470 mAh battery (24.3 Wh) Stand-by Talk time Up to 10 h (multimedia) Misc Colors Space Gray/Black, Silver/White, Gold Price group 7/10 Tests Performance Basemark OS II: 1099 / Basemark X: 14781 Display Contrast ratio: 812 (nominal) Camera Photo / Video Loudspeaker Voice 65dB / Noise 63dB / Ring 70dB Audio quality Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB

After My Divorce, Men Have Been Pestering Me- Mbong Amata

In a recent Interview with Punch Newspapers, ex-beauty Queen, Mbong Amata, who was earlier married to ace movie producer and director, Jeta Amata, finally opened up on some hidden facts about their marital crisis. The proud mother of one also revealed that shortly after separating from her ex-husband, men have been approaching her to give marriage another shot. On why she only features on movies produced by your ex-husband, Jeta Amata, she said.“Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t always feature in only Jeta’s films. I attend open call auditions just like every other actor out there and I have been blessed with the opportunity of working with other directors/producers in the industry. I have worked with the likes of Desmond Elliot, Ikechukwu Onyeka, Lancelot Imasuen, Emem Isong and Moses Inwang to mention but a few.” On if there’s any hope of seeing them working together on a project in the future. "Maybe, maybe not. We have a great friendship and anything can happen," she hinted. She also clearly stated that the chances of their reconciliation are very slim.“Like I said, we are cool parents and love our beautiful seven-year-old daughter. We see every other day and it is not a rare sight to see us together.” Asked if she has adjusted to being single again and advances from the opposite sex, Mbong said, “Life goes on after death or marriage. The advances come but that’s not my focus. Marriage isn’t my focus right now. I would rather put all my energy into building my career."

d`banj arrested by police

The Koko Master and DB records Boss, D’Banj is gradually becoming an unshakable entertainer both within and outside the country as he keeps the African love at heart wherever he goes to. Despite his recent widely speculated debt crisis, the rumour has not deterred the singer from doing what he knows how to do best and his continuous agricultural campaign for Africa. D’Banj who recently featured in the remix of ‘Double Wahala’ by Oritse Femi, is warming up as he sets to release his new single within couple of some hours which fans have been anticipating for long. - See more at: http://www.vibenigeria.com/photo-dbanj-arrested-nigerian-police/#sthash.vLkoCuF9.dpufThe singer has been moving from one place to another all in a bid to make the ministry of entertainment grow and to help propagate the essence of self development around the world. While fans await the release of his song, they got shocked when they saw the singer with some policemen guarding him but never disclosed where he was being taken to. Don’t think too much, nothing serious as the entertainer is being guarded on his way to entertain his fans 😉 - See more at: http://www.vibenigeria.com/photo-dbanj-arrested-nigerian-police/#sthash.vLkoCuF9.dpuf

meet chidi mokemes undergraduate son

There is no doubt that many people were aware of the arrival of a bundle of joy into the family of top actor in Nollywood, Chidi Mokeme, and his wife, Chinwe, few months ago, but what most of them may not know is about his grown up son. Many years ago, the handsome actor found love in a journalist named Adia Ukoyen, but after they welcomed a child together, they went their different ways. In 2012, Chidi got married to his US-based wife and coincidentally, Adia also got married at the same time with her husband. For those who may not know, the product of Chidi and Adia’s affair is now a big boy, who we learnt is an undergraduate of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. His name is Emem Daniel Mokeme and he is 17 years old. His mother worked in the immediate past administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

tonto dikeh pregnant and married

Few months ago, Nollywood 'Bad-girl', Tonto Dikeh confirmed that she was about getting married, which was shortly after her controversial relationship with Churchill Oladunni AKA Mr. X became public. To put more icing on the cake, while on a TV show, the actress cum singer was spotted on a sparkling engagement ring. When the host, Andre Blaze, asked her about the ring, she confirmed she's happily engaged and about getting married. Reports also had it that the couple were considering Cape Town or Scotland for their secret wedding. However, its seems the River State born diva and her Mr.X have succeeded in tying the knots in hush-hush ceremony. Topping it all, Tonto Dikeh is also pregnant with their first child. The actress let this information out through her Instagram page where she posted the picture of her protruding tommy and as well showed the result of the pregnancy test she conducted on herself. Nigeriafilms.com also noticed that the Pokolee as she is fondly called has changed her Instagram name to Mrs. Tonto W.C Dikeh D* She's letting the information out in a gradually process and we will keep you updated as she unfolds more. Recall that Tonto's relationship with Mr. Churchill turned dramatic when a lady who claimed to be married to her lover showed up surprisingly with photographs. But Mr. X swiftly responded that they were divorced and the matter was hurriedly swept away while all parties moved on. READ ALSO:Actress, Liz Dasilva Opens Up On Baby Father READ ALSO: Archbishop Desmond Tutu expected out of hospital Friday Click And Read More From Newstrack.ng

Hot Pants Actress, Nuella Njubigbo Dumps Tchidi And Emenike For Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

No doubt, it's season of enjoyment for the beautiful Nollywood diva called Nuella Njubigbo who is said to have just acquired a brand new 2011 Toyota Highlander, SUV last December 2012. The wonder on wheels estimated to cost a whopping N8million. Though, Nuella is one actress who is not on the A-list category, her sudden wealth is said to have been traced to series of men she has dated in the past. Before now, she was a darling of the film maker, Tchidi Chikere, when she came into his life, a union of over a decade collapsed irreconcilably. www.nigeriafilms.com gathered that, it was the rumoured pregnancy of Nuella for Tchidi that led to Sophia bidding goodbye to a home she struggled to build. Ever since Sophia has kept mum. According to a reliable source, when Nuella discovered that she wasn't getting what she expected from Tchidi, a common producer, she moved to date a Russian based footballer, Emanuel Emenike. Her relationship with the handsome rich dude didn't last a year as she was said to have met another lady with Emenike the last time she made a trip to Russia and that put a stop to her frequent visit to the place. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has romanced quite a few Nollywood actresses, according to findings, has caught the eyes of pretty Nuella and they are neck deep in a soaring relationship and Nuella herself, we learnt, is seriously enjoying every moment of the relationship till it lasts. The smitten lovebirds met in early November 2012 in Port Harcourt where the actress had gone to represent Nollywood stuffs, and numbers were exchanged. One thing led to another, Nuella thereafter escorted the governor abroad on official trip and when she came back, Amaechi was so smitten that he presented her the SUV which was supposedly taken from items meant for the state government, as we were told. Amaechi also credited the actress' account with N5 million to get an apartment in the Eastern part of Nigeria, a source stated.

wizkid wants to become a responsible father

Wizkid Wants To Become A Responsible Father Story by Maryjane Ezeh/Nigeriafilms.com news Last Updated: Friday, May 22, 2015 Music rave of the moment, Wizkid has been touring different states for the past 5 weeks and hasn't seen his 4year-old son, Boluwatife. The Star boss had a performance with Chris Brown in South Africa in the first week of April and his subsequent video shoot in the country, since then he’s been to London, Houston, Los Angeles and currently on his way to Amsterdam. In the middle of all the travelling, the ‘Jaiye jaiye’ singer is really missing his little boy whom he hasn’t seen in over a month. He took to Twitter to make it known to fans and followers: "@wizkidayo: Not seen my son in a month! Damn! Miss my lil g so bad!! Daddy on the road Tryna stack up! #WordTomyblood!", he tweeted. It could be recalled that Wizzy, as he is called, had once denied that he was a father until recently when he tattooed the boy's name on his arms. It's obvious that the 'In My Bed' crooner has fully accepted the fact that he is now a father and wants to become a responsible one to his son.

i don`t believe in gender~yemi alade

i

n most part of the world, women are highly respected in all endeavours but when it comes to some African settings, there is the mentality that a woman should not hold a position. Airing her opinion about gender, singer, Yemi Alade, has disclosed that she does not believe in gender but has no choice than to follow the trend. She stated that she totally kicks against the idea of gender but since it can’t be taken away from every economic system, she is in support of gender equality. The singer believes that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do same and as such, everyone should be given equal rights without discrimination. “I don’t believe in gender...but since d world does, I support gender equality.”

details of nokia lumia 2520

Nokia Lumia 2520 MORE PICTURES Released 2013, December 615g, 8.9mm thickness Microsoft Windows RT 32GB storage, microSD card slot 0.5% 1,736,291 hits 364 Become a fan 10.1" 1080x1920 pixels 6.7MP 1080p 2GB RAM Snapdragon 800 8120mAh Review Pictures Compare Opinions RX-113 - global version RX-114 for AT&T RX-114v for Verizon Wireless Network Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE Launch Announced 2013, October Status Available. Released 2013, December Body Dimensions 267 x 168 x 8.9 mm (10.51 x 6.61 x 0.35 in) Weight 615 g (1.36 lb) SIM Micro-SIM Display Type IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size 10.1 inches (~62.7% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels (~218 ppi pixel density) Multitouch Yes Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 2 - ClearBlack display Platform OS Microsoft Windows RT Chipset Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 CPU Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 GPU Adreno 330 Memory Card slot microSD, up to 64 GB Internal 32 GB, 2 GB RAM Camera Primary 6.7 MP, 3088 x 1744 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus Features 1/3.4'' sensor size Video 1080p@30fps Secondary 2 MP, 720p@30fps Sound Alert types Vibration, MP3 ringtones Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers 3.5mm jack Yes - Dolby Headphone Comms WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot Bluetooth v4.0 GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS NFC Yes Radio No USB USB v3.0, USB Host Features Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass Messaging SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM Browser HTML5 Java No - HDMI port - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - MP4/DivX/Xvid/H.264 player - MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player - Photo viewer/editor - Document editor/viewer Battery Non-removable 8120 mAh battery Stand-by Up to 600 h Talk time Up to 10 h Misc Colors Cyan , Red, Black, White SAR EU 1.77 W/kg (body) Price group 7/10 Tests Audio quality Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB

uche jumbo a perfect wife material ~tonto dikeh

The Nollywood industry is still brewing with good tidings since the birth of the son of Uche Jombo-Rodriguez some weeks back as her colleagues keep sending in congratulatory messages. Controversial actress, Tonto Dikeh, has revealed how happy she is at the birth of her colleague's son especially after the first miscarriage she suffered. Tonto Dikeh believes that the child has come at the right time for the couple. She also made public that the new mother has always been supportive of her career through her trying periods in the past. She said, "Extremely excited for you sisterly, this child got into the right hands. I have no doubt you would be an excellent mother as you have been to me and many others who you have stood for. God bless protect and uplift baby Mathew. Congrats Sisterly." Uche Jumbo married her American husband, Kenny Rodriguez in secret in 2012 and got the safe delivery of Matthew in May 2015.

nokia lumia 1320

Nokia Lumia 1320 MORE PICTURES Released 2014, January 220g, 9.8mm thickness Microsoft Windows Phone 8 8GB storage, microSD card slot 3.7% 6,323,737 hits 470 Become a fan 6.0" 720x1280 pixels 5MP 1080p 1GB RAM Snapdragon 400 3400mAh Li-Ion Review 360° view Pictures Compare Opinions RM-994 - global version RM-995 - LTA version RM-996 version with HSDPA (21 Mbps), HSUPA (5.76 Mbps) Network Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE Launch Announced 2013, October Status Available. Released 2014, January Body Dimensions 164.2 x 85.9 x 9.8 mm, 125 cc (6.46 x 3.38 x 0.39 in) Weight 220 g (7.76 oz) SIM Micro-SIM Display Type IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size 6.0 inches (~70.4% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels (~245 ppi pixel density) Multitouch Yes Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3 - ClearBlack display Platform OS Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradeable to v8.1 Chipset Qualcomm MSM8230AB Snapdragon 400 (3G model)/ MSM8930AB Snapdragon 400 (LTE model) CPU Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300 GPU Adreno 305 Memory Card slot microSD, up to 64 GB Internal 8 GB, 1 GB RAM Camera Primary 5 MP, 2592 х 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality Features 1/4'' sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus Video 1080p@30fps, check quality Secondary VGA Sound Alert types Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones Loudspeaker Yes 3.5mm jack Yes - Dolby Headphone Comms WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE/ apt-X after WP8 Denim update GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS Radio FM radio USB microUSB v2.0 Features Sensors Accelerometer, proximity, compass Messaging SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM Browser HTML5 Java No - Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic - OneDrive (15 GB cloud storage) - MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player - MP4/H.264/WMV player - Document viewer - Video/photo editor Battery Non-removable Li-Ion 3400 mAh battery (BV-4BW) Stand-by Up to 672 h (2G) / Up to 672 h (3G) Talk time Up to 25 h (2G) / Up to 21 h (3G) Music play Up to 98 h Misc Colors Yellow, white, black, red SAR US 0.47 W/kg (head) 0.29 W/kg (body) SAR EU 0.46 W/kg (head) 0.44 W/kg (body) Price group 5/10 Tests Display Contrast ratio: 1089:1 (nominal), 1.941 (sunlight) Camera Photo / Video Loudspeaker Voice 61dB / Noise 60dB / Ring 66dB Audio quality Noise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -88.6dB Battery life Endurance rating 75h

Media Personality, Ariyike Akinbobola Ignores Local Government Chairman, Spents N18,000 to Repair Her Street

news Last Updated: Friday, July 3, 2015 Many Nigerians are claiming to live a life of comfort and owning various luxuries but yet to make an impact in the society or community they live in but sit and complain about bad governance or failed local government forgetting that the most desired change begins with a step from home. One of Nigerian media personality and Vlogger, Ariyike Akinbobola, has made a change in her environment without looking up to the local government chairman for assistance or neighbours for help. READ ALSO:Uti Nwachukwu Donates To The Less Privilege Ariyike’s street has been flooded for over some time now and was being neglected by many. But as a personality who values comfort, she decided to make enquiry on how much it will cost her to get broken blocks to fill the street which has been taken over by water and after she found out the price, she made her thought manifest as she ordered for the blocks. She stated that she does not want her car to break down and the mechanic will feast on her so decided to ensure that the road was fixed so as to favour her and other users. READ ALSO: 6 children drown, as boat capsizes in Lagos According to her, “So I decided to take it upon myself to sort it out cos at the end of the day, if my Car gets spoilt, my Mechanic will have a feast on top my matter. To cut the long story short, I knew I had to fill this road so I called different suppliers of broken blocks and the different prices I got almost discouraged me. Some called 5 tonnes of broken blocks for 20k, others 15k until my friend Elizabeth who is a supplier of building materials gave me one "Oloye's" number. He gave me the best deal at 9k for 5 tonnes so I placed my order for 10 tonnes at 18, 000 naira.” Click And Read More From Newstrack.ng

blackberry 4G LTE playbook

BlackBerry 4G LTE PlayBook BlackBerry 4G LTE PlayBook MORE PICTURES Released 2012, August 425g, 10mm thickness BlackBerry Tablet OS v2.0 32GB storage, no card slot 0.3% 1,275,109 hits 32 Become a fan 7.0" 600x1024 pixels 5MP 1080p 1GB RAM Li-Po Pictures Compare Opinions Tablet with no support for GSM voice communication, SMS, and MMS. Network Technology HSPA / LTE Launch Announced 2012, August. Released 2012, August Status Discontinued Body Dimensions 194 x 130 x 10 mm (7.64 x 5.12 x 0.39 in) Weight 425 g (14.99 oz) SIM No Display Type TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size 7.0 inches (~54.7% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 600 x 1024 pixels (~170 ppi pixel density) Multitouch Yes Platform OS BlackBerry Tablet OS v2.0 CPU Dual-core 1.5 GHz Memory Card slot No Internal 32 GB, 1 GB RAM Camera Primary 5 MP, 2592 х 1944 pixels, autofocus Features Geo-tagging Video 1080p Secondary 3 MP Sound Alert types Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers 3.5mm jack Yes Comms WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Bluetooth v3.1, A2DP, EDR GPS Yes, with A-GPS Radio No USB microUSB v2.0 Features Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, compass Messaging Email, Push Email, IM Browser HTML5, Adobe Flash Java Yes - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - Micro HDMI port - Document viewer/editor - BlackBerry Bridge - Media player MP3/WMA/AAC+ - Video player DivX/WMV/XviD/3gp - Organizer - Predictive text input Battery Non-removable Li-Po battery Stand-by Talk time Misc Colors Black Price group 8/10

things fall apart was my hadest role so far~Pete Edochie

One of the greatest novels ever written by a Nigeria is ‘Things Fall Apart’ written by late Professor Chinue Achebe. After over five decades of releasing the book, it is still used as literature in schools in Nigeria and abroad. It was the adaptation of this novel into a movie with the same title that launched the movie career of veteran actor, Pete Edochie. But after many years of taking part in that film, Pete is yet to act in any movie that is more challenging. In a recent interview with Daily Trust, the actor said, “Quite honestly, I don’t know. The most challenging was ‘Things Fall Apart,’ no doubt. “It’s difficult to tell because each production I get involved in, I give it my best shot, so I can’t tell you this is the best I’ve done or things like that. I feel happy, immensely gratified when people go to buy films and they start by saying give us the one with Pete Edochie in it. It gives me a lot of joy.”

chiwetalu agus impregnated a lady

There is trouble currently brewing in the actor, Chiwetalu Agu’s village, as the actor impregnated a lady and ran away after it was discovered. The whole issue started when the actor fell in love with a lady in his village who never had any feelings for him and as such was being set up by her friends in the village all in a bid to meet the man she has feelings for. Chiwetalu disturbance and the girl’s phone theft, prompted the girl to leave the village and as a way of satisfying his sexual urge, the actor had to sleep with one of the village girls who was part of the cheap blackmail.

iphone 6 successor

Purported live photos showcasing an iPhone 6s Plus rear housing made the rounds online. The component sports a gold color scheme hold no surprises - just like in the case of iPhone 6s it can easily be mistaken for an iPhone 6 Plus part. The changes that the iPhone 6s Plus casing brings are on the inside. The rearranged screw holes suggest that Apple might use a different loudspeaker module in the successor of iPhone 6s Plus. The source of the images reveals that the metal housing of the iPhone 6s Plus is stronger than the the one found on iPhone 6 Plus. That’s in line with past rumors which pointed that Apple will use different aluminum alloy that the one found in the current iPhone 6 family. The successors of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s Plus are rumored to feature more powerful chipset. Apple iPhone 6s is also expected to pack a display with Force Touch, and 12MP camera with 4K video capture. Apple will unveil the next iPhone in September - the rumor mill points at a September 18 retail launch. The Cupertino giant is reportedly expecting a record launch, with 85-90 million units already on order from suppliers.

George W. Bush charged wounded vets group $100k for speech

Washington (CNN)Former President George W. Bush is under fire for charging $100,000 to speak to a group of veterans wounded in a pair of wars he started when he was in office, just the latest front in a political battle over speaking fees that has hit both sides of the aisle. Members of the Texas-based Helping a Hero charity told ABC News that Bush charged $100,000 for his 2012 speech at a charity fundraiser for veterans who lost limbs in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The former president was also given use of a private jet at a cost of $20,000 and former First Lady Laura Bush was paid $50,000 to speak to the group last year. The fees infuriated one of the board members, who told CNN Wednesday that Bush should not have accepted any money. "The point here is that a leader should not charge to speak on behalf of the men that he sent into combat, at any level, let alone the commander in chief," said Eddie Wright, a Marine who lost both his hands in a 2004 rocket attack in Fallujah, Iraq. Helping a Hero builds houses for wounded veterans. But Wright and others were involved in a legal battle last year accusing some of the group's leaders of siphoning money and forcing veterans' wives to sell beauty products. The criminal complaint and a defamation lawsuit filed in response were settled out of court, according to the Houston Chronicle. Following the reports, Helping a Hero issued a statement supporting Bush. "We are proud that President Bush attended the Helping a Hero Gala. The event raised unprecedented funds that are putting our nation's heroes into specially adapted homes throughout the United States. His presence was appreciated by the veterans and supporters of the organization," the group said in a statement. Workers from Helping a Hero did not immediately return other requests for comment Thursday. But Chuck Jenness, the group's chairman, lists Bush as a "close friend" and said the Bush speech grossed $3.2 million. Financial information for the group show it netted $2.45 million the year Bush spoke and $1 million the following year. A Bush spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday, but Bush touted his support for veterans two weeks ago at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event. "I've decided to dedicate the rest of my life to helping our vets, to helping those with whom I was honored to serve," Bush said at a June 24 event. "They face challenges really different from the battlefield. Some feel misunderstood or under-appreciated. To many desperately so." Republican contender Donald Trump -- who has been under fire himself for weeks for controversial immigration -- took a few swings at the former president on Twitter on Thursday in response to news reports. "You mean George Bush sends our soldiers into combat, they are severely wounded, and then he wants $120,000 to make a boring speech to them?" Trump wrote this morning. The group's chairwoman told ABC News that Bush reduced his fees from $250,000 to $100,000. But Bush's typical speaking fee was reported by Politico at being between $100,000 and $175,000. The group's lawyer deflected questions to Bush, but told ABC that Bush's appearance helped raise "an extra million dollars." Bush spokesman Freddy Ford told ABC: "President Bush has made helping veterans one of his highest priorities in his post presidency." Speaking fees for former presidents have always been touchy subjects. Former President Bill Clinton made more than $106 million on the lecture circuit, according to a 2013 CNN report. Since then, the former president and possible First Gentleman, has collected $500,000 for single speeches. Hillary Clinton came under fire last year, during the rollout of her book, after saying she was "dead broke" after departing the White House in 2001.

earth like planet

While scouring our corner of the galaxy for planets similar to Earth, some scientists have gotten pretty picky. Along with being able to support life, they believe the ideal habitable exoplanet should reside in a solar system that mirrors ours. But our solar system appears to be unlikely to be easily found elsewhere. Now, astronomers may have done it, according to a new study on the search for "solar system 2.0." Our potential match lies about 200 light-years from Earth near a star called HIP 11915 that is very much like our sun. The star can be seen using binoculars near the constellation Cetus in North America's southern night skies. Picky, picky, picky So, what picky set of variables makes this new solar system a special match to our own? There is strong evidence that it has a planet that mimics our Jupiter, a gaseous giant with a similarly huge mass. Astronomers believe the Jupiter twin also orbits HIP 11915 about the same distance as Jupiter does our sun. It takes 3,600 days for the twin to circle HIP 11915, similar to Jupiter's orbital phase around the sun, which takes about 4,330 days. It's no wonder it's hard to find such an exact match. There are a few close calls out there, said Richard Hook, a spokesman for the European Southern Observatory, but this discovery is unique. "This is the most precise match," he said. "This is the best Jupiter-like object around a sun-like object." A Brazilian-led team of astronomers working at the University of Sao Paulo used powerful technology -- the observatory's 3.6-meter telescope, which houses a device noted for finding exoplanets by analyzing light coming from stars they orbit. The Milky Way Galaxy stretches over the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-meter telescope in La Silla, Chile. The Milky Way Galaxy stretches over the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-meter telescope in La Silla, Chile. EXPAND IMAGE Jupiter, gravity bully Why does the Jupiter twin matter? Having a Jupiter in the right place is important. In our solar system, the giant gas planet apparently has played a big role in creating and preserving stability on Earth. During the formation of the planets, scientists believe, our gas giant swept the inner solar system clean, removing objects that may have crowded orbits. Its gravitational might is second in strength only to that of our sun, and Jupiter exerts it in the right places, helping to keep flying objects such as asteroids in line and not swarming around in broad swaths. They would be very dangerous for a planet hosting life. Paleontologists say that one single hefty asteroid strike was enough to wipe dinosaurs off the face of the Earth millions of years ago. The "gravitational bully," as astronomers like to call Jupiter, bends the paths of objects flying near it, and it reels some big ones right into it. Asteroid Day, a day organized by a group of notable scientists, astronauts and citizens, aims to educate the global community on the potential threat of asteroids on June 30. Click through the gallery to learn more about these Near-Earth Objects. All about asteroids 19 photos EXPAND GALLERY Solar system hopes Scientists have been finding exoplanets for more than two decades. In the beginning, they thought they'd quickly see them housed in complex solar systems like our own, but they were mistaken, Hook said. Instead, they found sun-like stars with a planet or two orbiting them, or multiple larger planets huddled in close orbits around their stars. The discovery of the Jupiter twin around HIP 11915 has ignited an old hope. "This discovery is, in every respect, an exciting sign that other solar systems may be out there waiting to be discovered," said Megan Bedell of the University of Chicago, lead author of the study. Here comes the sun For an exoplanet to support life, having a star similar to our sun nearby is a good thing. Such stars are plentiful -- an easy find, astronomers say. Scientists look for exoplanets in their orbits. Those are pretty easy to find, too. The Kepler space telescope alone turned up about 4,000 potential candidates. Finding an exoplanet that could harbor liquid water and be in a "habitable zone" -- just the right distance from a sun-like star so as not to overheat or freeze over -- is much tougher. But it has been done a few times. Finding a perfect Jupiter that potentially helped form a solar system similar to ours is exceptionally hard, Hook said. Signs of an Earth? What the scientists haven't been able to see is an Earth-like exoplanet orbiting HIP 11915. To spot one, its orbit would have to pass in front of its sun-like star at the right angle relative to Earth to create a silhouette that astronomers here could detect. The orbits around HIP 11915 appear to be tilted in a different plane. But it is possible that more exoplanets, rocky ones like Earth, could exist in that sweet spot between the sun-like star and that Jupiter twin. "There are indications that there probably are, but there is no direct evidence," Hook said. Analyzing the light from HIP 11915, the astronomers have found chemical signatures that hint at their existence.

the writers who envented languages...JRR Tolkien created Elvish and many other writers have made up new words and phrases. But can you really construct a whole new lexicon? Hephzibah Anderson takes a look.

if you’re a Game of Thrones fan suffering from withdrawal, you might consider brushing up on your Dothraki while waiting to find out whether any of your favourite characters will live to see another season. How? With the Dothraki Companion app, of course, the latest creation of David J Peterson, who’s the man responsible for turning the handful of phrases found in the original series of books into a lexicon of more than 4,000 words. Filled with fricative ‘kh’ sounds that underscore the essential harshness of life in the Seven Kingdoms, Dothraki is one of the show’s most distinctive features. But even though it’s a made-up language – or ‘conlang’, as in ‘constructed language’, to use the proper jargon – bringing it to life has been no easy task. Scouring George RR Martin’s text, Peterson first identified patterns and worked out a logically consistent sound for the language. Then came the problem of grammar. While Martin always claims to have made up his Dothraki phrases on the hoof, Peterson discovered that they were in fact grammatically consistent (objects followed verbs, prepositions preceded nouns and so on). The result is an evolving tongue that typifies the culture in which it’s spoken, one in which, for instance, there are seven different words for striking someone with a sword, from ‘hlizifikh’ (wild but powerful) to ‘gezrikh’ (a just-kidding decoy). Nothing is as piquant as language, which is why some writers go that step further and create their own. Authors regularly create worlds that are so fully realised they come with their own topography, history and mythology. Yet nothing is as piquant as language, which is why some writers go that step further and create their own. Martin may have only sprinkled his books with Dothraki, but JR Tolkien created multiple conlangs, several so precise that they’ve become the subject of university classes. A philologist whose day job was teaching classical languages at Oxford University, he learnt Latin, French and German as a child, and later picked up Welsh, Finnish, Old Norse and Old English. When it came to writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, his intimacy with all those tongues infused the names of the people and places he dreamt up. It also shaped his construction of Middle-Earth languages including High and Common Elvish (Quenya and Sindarin), along with Dwarvish, Black Speech and Entish, and a clutch of others that are less fully developed. Lord of the Rings (Credit: Credit: New Line Cinema) JRR Tolkein’s conlangs include Elvish, Dwarvish, Black Speech and Entish (Credit: New Line Cinema) These made-up lingos don’t just add atmosphere and authenticity to Tolkien’s fiction, they’re crucial to the passion that led him to write it in the first place. As he explained in a letter to his son, Christopher, in 1958, “Nobody believes me when I say that my long book [The Lord of the Rings] is an attempt to create a world in which a form of language agreeable to my personal aesthetic might seem real. But it is true. An enquirer (among many) asked what the L.R. was all about, and whether it was an allegory. And I said it was an effort to create a situation in which a common greeting would be elen si-‘la lu-‘menn omentielmo [‘A star shines on the hour of our meeting’], and that the phrase long antedated the book”. Literary devices Languages are communities; they embody the soul of the culture that spawned them, capturing a people’s history and dreams and none knew this better than Tolkien. In The Lord of the Rings, the Elves are disappearing from Middle-Earth, taking with them High and Common Elvish and thousands of years of Elvish culture. Few writers have created a language quite as fully realised as Tolkien’s, but plenty have flavoured their fiction with invented tongues. Sometimes it’s to underscore a point. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, for instance, George Orwell introduces Newspeak to show just how totalitarian the state of Oceania is. Newspeak’s vocabulary is purposefully limited, there are no synonyms or antonyms, and nuance is eradicated. All undesirable words have been eliminated, others stripped of unorthodox secondary meanings. Most sinisterly of all, its staccato rhythms and ease of pronunciation are intended to keep thought at bay. ‘Unperson’, ‘crimethink’, ‘bellyfeel’ – such words are crucial to Orwell’s dystopian vision. Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange is written in English and Nadsat, the vernacular favoured by the novel’s teens. As literary devices go, it’s crucial, not only signalling where Alex and his pals fit into the social pecking order, but also blurring our initial understanding of his brutality and distancing it from our own world. Without this, we’d likely be so morally repulsed that we’d abandon the book within chapters. Instead, a kind of rapport develops. A Clockwork Orange (Credit: Credit: Warner Bros) Nadsat, the invented language in A Clockwork Orange, combines elements of Russian and London slang to convey a political message (Credit: Warner Bros) Equally importantly, Nadsat flags Burgess’s political message. Filled with words like baboochka (an old woman), eggiweg (egg) and pretty polly (money), it’s a characterful hybrid of Cockney rhyming slang and Russian (Nadsat itself derives from the Russian suffix equivalent of teen), highlighting similarities between totalitarian Russia (the novel was published in 1962) and his futuristic Britain. Russell Hoban’s cult classic, Riddley Walker tells of another futuristic dystopia, this one some 2,000 years after a nuclear war has obliterated civilisation as we know it, more or less sending humanity back to the Iron Age. Its eponymous narrator lives in ‘Inland’ (England) in what is presently Kent, a region whose accent shapes the dialect in which the novel is phonetically written. There’s also no punctuation. Along with everything else, language has been broken down, resulting in sentences like this: “Wel Im telling Truth here aint I. That's the woal idear of this writing”. Language, as dystopian novels remind us over and over, is a barometer of a society’s health. Long before we’re told when the story is set, Riddley’s pidgin English provides us with clues: ‘program’ means plan, olden times rulers are known as the ‘Puter Leat’ and ‘clevverness’ is a lost power. Yes, it can make for slow reading, but the language is what makes this novel so powerful. Almost Chaucerian in its cadences, its fragmentary nature is the embodiment of all that has been lost. As Riddley puts it, “O what we ben! And what we come to!” Butterfingers, lovelorn, scuffle But it isn’t only desperate futures that inspire writers to lexical invention. Remember the world of frobscottle, sogmires and cattlepiddlers? If you don’t, it’s time to revisit Roald Dahl’s The BFG, aka the Big Friendly Giant for whom he created gobblefunk, the language to which those words belong (they refer respectively to a yummy fizzy drink whose bubbles travel downwards, quagmires and caterpillars). An opera, Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and scenes from Shakespeare have all been rendered in Star Trek’s conlang Klingon – but most have limited real-world application. As linguistics researcher Fred Hoyt told the Guardian in 2013, even Elvish is a language in which “it would be easier to compose an elegant elegy for the dead than it would be to order a sandwich”. Klingon (Credit: Credit: Paramount TV) An opera, Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and scenes from Shakespeare have all been rendered in Klingon (Credit: Paramount TV) Nevertheless, over the centuries authors have given birth to words that are now an integral part of the English language. Authorisms, as word nerd Paul Dickson dubbed them in his recent book on the subject, range from bump, hurry, and bedazzled (all Shakespeare’s) to butterfingers and boredom (Dickens) and nerd (Dr Seuss). Normal Mailer came up with factoid, cyberspace belongs to William Gibson and Milton coined lovelorn. Yahoo originates in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and as for twitter, well he may not have actually invented it, but the first recorded usage comes from Geoffrey Chaucer (who can also lay claim to universe). Some are inspired by foreign languages or are portmanteau words (Lewis Carroll gave us that one), meaning words created by merging two that already exist. Some come from sounds (Shakespeare’s scuffle), or from titles like Catch-22 (Joseph Heller’s novel was almost called Catch-18, but was changed to avoid confusion with Leon Uris’ recently published Mila 18). And others derive from the author’s or their characters’ names – think Kafkaesque and quixotic. Contemporary writers tend to have a tougher time of it, simply because so many words have already been invented, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying. James Branch Cabell, an American author briefly popular in the 1920s, spent two years thinking up a new expletive. He landed on ‘smirt’, which, unsurprisingly, failed to catch on, despite his 1934 publication of a novel that used the word as its title. Language, as dystopian novels remind us over and over, is a barometer of a society’s health. With juicy regional dialects falling ever deeper into disuse and languages dying out globally (by some estimates, as many as 10,000 were once spoken; today it’s around 6,000, many of which have fewer than 1,000 speakers), it’s reassuring to know that wordsmiths are still labouring to expand our vocabularies, and with them, our experience of the world around us. So, to borrow from the Dothraki, san athchomari yeraan! (Thanks! Or literally: a lot of honour to you.)