Monday
October 1 Movie by Kunle Afolayan
Thursday
Uzo Aduba wins Creative Arts Emmy
Uzo Aduba, 33, who plays “Crazy Eyes” on the highly admired Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black (2013)” made history after taking home the Show's first award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy on Saturday, August 16 at the 2014 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Uzo Aduba
"I'm stuffed really,” Aduba said. “I'm beyond full. My cup runneth over right now.”
The Massachusetts-raised actress beat out five other women for the award, including co-stars Laverne Cox and Natasha Lyonne.
"I'm speechless," Aduba added, as she accepts the golden trophy. "I don't know how to say how incredibly impressed I am to be a part of this show."
Uzo Aduba wins Creative Arts Emmy
Aduba’s depiction of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren has been one of the most applauded on the show, attesting that the role is more fitting for her, though not the one she originally auditioned for.
Aduba’s recognition as an actress started in 2003 for Translations of Xhosa at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, winning her a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Play. She made a Broadway debut in 2007 as Toby inCorum Boy. She was also a member of the original revival cast of Godspell at the Circle in the Square Theatre from 2011 through 2012, among other acting roles. Prior to her part as “Crazy Eyes” Aduba appeared on the TV Series "Blue Bloods" in 2012.
Aduba’s admission on being captivated by actor Morgan Freeman, who also presented the award to her, shows just how much of a humble person she’s remained after being in the business for over a decade.
She recanted her feelings leading to her accepting the award.
Uzo Aduba wins Creative Arts Emmy
"It's like you're walking and you're aware that you're walking toward Morgan Freeman, but you're fairly certain you should still be sitting on your seat," she said in the press room. "You're like, 'Maybe I'm embarrassing myself, maybe they didn't call my name, maybe somebody else's name. I don't know what's happening.' "
Aduba recently told NPR’s Michel Martin that her full first name, Uzoamaka, means, "the road is good" in her mother tongue, Igbo.
Her mother, of Nigerian descent is said to have fled from then war-torn Nigeria, in hopes of giving her children a better life.
So it was only fitting for her to celebrate her victory with her family.
"We all kind of had a dance party, my mom was dancing across the hotel room, just getting excited," she told reporters. "It didn't really hit me until we were getting ready to come here ... I just started to take it in."
“Orange Is the New Black (2013)” has earned nominations in nine award categories of the prestigious Emmy Awards scheduled to take place on August 25, 2014.
I feel absolutely all of those things: I feel full of joy, like a fountain,” Aduba said. “Mission accomplished."
Obafemi Martins’ new $3.2 million Deal Makes Him 8th Highest Paid Player In US Major League Soccer
Tinubu Back In Nigeria, Denies Rumors Of Sickness
Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos today after a prolonged trip abroad and denied rumors that he was seriously ill.
Military kills Abubakar Shekau ‘again’
The Defence authorities have confirmed the killing of the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, during one of the four encounters with insurgents in Kodunga, Borno State between September 12 and 17, 2014.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said during a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, that the corpse of the insurgents’ leader was identified by the people of Kodunga.
He said that Shekau whose real name was Mohammed Bashir had used other names like Abacha Abdullahi Geidam and Damasack.
Olukolade illustrated the Defence authorities claim with pictures of the bullet-ridden corpse of Shekau and a video of the battle in which he was killed.
Four days ago, the Cameroon Concordreported that the Cameroonian troops killed Shekau during a cross border aerial bombardment of his hideout in Nigeria on Saturday.
To prove the killing, the newspaper also published photographs of the bearded Shekau whom it said then usually appeared in videos as the leader of Boko Haram.
But Olukolade dismissed the claim that Shekau was killed by Cameroonian security forces within Nigeria.
“There was no raid whatsoever by Cameroon or any foreign forces in any part of Nigeria’s territory in pursuit of terrorists as claimed in some reports allegedly quoting Cameroon authorities,” he had said.
He had also claimed in a tweet on Wednesday last week that troops who repelled an attack by insurgents in Kodunga, captured a high ranking terrorist leader who was being treated in military medical facility.
On Tuesday, a journalist said to be a close ally of Boko Haram, Ahmad Salkida, said he had it on “authority” that Shekau was hale and hearty.
Writing on his Twitter handle, Salkida, who is on self-exile in the United Arab Emirates, claimed that Shekau was not the one in the pictures of a corpse that trended on Monday on social media after they were published by the Cameroon Concord.
“Mark my words: I have it on authority that Shekau is well and alive. The pictures going round are not that of the person who torments us with his group,” the journalist added.
The spokesperson for the Department of State Service had in May claimed that “the real Abubakar Shekau had been taken out.”
“Boko Haram has become a franchise; anybody can assume and lay claim to any name. What I know is that the original Abubakar Shekau is dead; the person claiming to be the national leader now is not the original Abubakar Shekau.
“If security sources tell you that somebody is dead, you don’t have to come out and doubt that,” Ogar said.
A former spokesman for the Joint Task Force in the North-East, Sagir Musa, had in a statement in August 2013, also said that Shekau might have been killed during a battle with troops in June last year.
But during the news conference on Wednesday, the defence spokesman said that many top commanders of Boko Haram were also killed in the four battles against the insurgents between September 12 and 17.
Olukolade added that the military was determined to eliminate anybody, who claims to be Shekau, a name which, he said had become a brand for the leader of the insurgents.
He said, “Nigerian troops have been conducting coordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North -East. . Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists, in continuation of their campaign of terror, were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri, which is their prime target.
“There was, therefore, the need to ensure that communities such as Kodunga were protected. It is noteworthy that the terrorists made no less than four attempts between September 12 and 17 to violate the security and enter Kodunga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation.
“The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involved their top commanders was engaged by land and air forces. Several of the terrorists, including some of their commanders, lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about five hours each. The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment.
“In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir, who has been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group, died.
“Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria.
“On restoring normalcy after the encounters, inhabitants of the community who were victims of their activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack, etc.
“Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country.”
Olukolade also said that 135 insurgents surrendered their weapons to troops in Borno and Adamawa states on Tuesday evening.
He added that 88 of them surrendered at Mairiga/Buniyadi while another set of 45 were arrested around Mubi-Michika.
The Defence spokesman said the insurgents were undergoing interrogation in strict compliance with standard procedure.
“A total of 135 terrorists yesterday (Tuesday) evening surrendered along with their equipment to troops around the Biu Local Government Area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga/Buni – Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in around Mubi – Michika. They are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices,” he added.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier said that 10 insurgents surrendered at Kawuri on Monday and another five at Konduga on Saturday.
This brings the total number of insurgents who have surrendered after the Kodunga battles to 150.
Investigation by The PUNCH on Wednesday revealed that troops were intensifying a house-to-house search in Madagali, Gulak, Michika, Bazza and other communities in Adamawa State for 70 fleeing insurgents.
It was gathered that six members of the sect were caught by troops at a refugee centre in Yola on Wednesday.
FG’ll celebrate B’Haram surrender not Shekau’s death – Maku
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government was more interested in Boko Haram members laying down their arms than in the said death of Shekau.
Maku told journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday that the government was not interested in celebrating the death of the terrorist.
“The Federal Government would be happier if the Boko Haram leader and his group laid down their weapons and embraced peace,” he said.
The minister added, “Government has a responsibility to respect human rights unlike members of the Boko Haram sect who have thrown away all sympathy for human lives and are prepared to kill people just for killing’s sake.
“For us it is immaterial if the leader of the terrorist group is killed or not. We want them to drop their weapons and embrace peace. We want them to drop their weapons, stop killing their parents and innocent people and accept peace.”
Friday
Tinubu’s health condition allegedly worsens
The health condition of the former Lagos governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deteriorated.
He had left the country about two weeks ago.Other section of the media have also alleged that he was actually flown to a medical facility in London for treatment, following what is believed to be a serious health issue.
The site which quoted a source said to be close to the Tinubu family, reports that the health of the APC leader may have worsened due to recent discovery of cancer.
The cancer, the source claims, had reached advanced stage before it was diagnosed by the medical team, adding that the recent stroke only added to the seriousness of the situation.
It was alleged that Tinubu in his current state has not been able to recognize close family relatives who had come to pay him a visit, heightening fears that the self-styled godfather of southwest politics was exhibiting symptoms of dementia.Reacting to the claims, an aide of the ex-Lagos helmsman said his principal was never in any hospital.
“Yes, it is true Asiwaju is out of the country. But he is on vacation. He was in the United States for some days, Los Angeles I guess. He then proceeded to London.
“It is normal for him at this time to observe his summer break.”
Asked to provide specifics on why Mr. Tinubu travelled abroad aside vacation, the source said, “I am aware he was billed to see his physicians for his normal routine medical check-up, he would see his dentist too.”“Honestly, I don’t know why Asiwaju health has become a major issue in Nigeria. He is human just like every other person. Besides, he is not even a public office holder, neither is he using public funds, so what’s the buzz about.”
“Well, its a good one for us, those spreading rumours are only doing us favour by promoting the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu brand and the All Progressives Congress in general,” our source added.
Monday
Ukraine independence day met with unrest(Rebels parade captured Ukrainian soldiers in streets of Donetsk)
Armed pro-Russian rebels paraded dozens of captured Ukrainian soldiers through the streets of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Sunday afternoon, the rebel stronghold's counterprotest to Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations in other parts of the divided country.
A crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered to jeer and throw bottles at the prisoners, several of whom had bandaged heads and other wounds, calling them "fascists," "Nazis" and "traitors." The march started around 2 p.m. and lasted just a few minutes.
"The people came out to see the soldiers who had been shelling them around the clock, thanking the separatists for protecting them," said freelance journalist Maximilian Clarke, who witnessed the parade near Donetsk's Lenin Square. The rebels aren't foreigners who have invaded this city, he said. "The separatists here are locals; they are known here."
Water trucks followed the captured soldiers and hosed down the streets after the prisoners had passed, Clarke said. The streets cleared quickly after the brief march amid rumors that Ukraine would retaliate for the insult.
The rebels intended Sunday's "anti-fascist rally" to evoke the 1944 forced march of almost 60,000 captured Nazi prisoners through Moscow, according to a rebel social media account announcing the march.
In the capital city of Kiev, Ukraine's national government put on a display of military might to celebrate its Independence Day, with tanks, missile-launching vehicles, armored personnel carriers and soldier corps filing through the city.
Many of them will soon deploy to the country's eastern conflict to fight the pro-Russian insurgency.
Ukraine declared its independence in 1991 from the Russian-dominated Soviet Union as the USSR was dissolving.
After bloody street protests led to Kiev distancing itself more starkly from Moscow this year, Russia invaded and annexed the peninsula of Crimea. And the pro-Russian insurgency gained momentum.
Poroshenko: More military funding
Ukraine is fighting against foreign aggression, President Petro Poroshenko said in a commemoration speech.
"Events of the last months have become -- though undeclared -- real war," he said. And it is coming from a part of the world Ukraine traditionally would not have expected, he said, referring to Russia.
Poroshenko spoke from the Maidan, Kiev's Independence Square, where protesters once railed against his pro-Russian predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, whom they drove from office.
Sunday's show of military might, reminiscent of Soviet-era parades, stood in stark contrast to the lack of funding for the country's military.
But Poroshenko vowed in his speech that Kiev will bulk up military funding by around $3 billion over the next three years to purchase military aircraft, helicopters and warships.
Fragile situation
Funding might prove difficult due to Ukraine's fragile economy, falling salaries and a weak currency.
Seven of the country's richest people have publicly donated to the military, and supporters have contributed millions to crowdfunding campaigns for Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
The United States has pledged nonlethal military support -- equipment like night vision goggles and protective vests.
There's also growing international concern over the apparent massing of Russian troops at the border with Ukraine.
There were up to 18,000 such "combat-ready" troops on Friday, according to U.S. estimates, a significant increase from previous public estimates by the Pentagon.
U.N. officials estimate that more than 2,000 people have died and nearly 5,000 have been wounded in eastern Ukraine since mid-April.
Constant shelling
The battles in eastern Ukraine took no break for Independence Day.
Five soldiers died in fights against rebels on Saturday and Sunday, Kiev's Defense Council said.
The city of Donetsk was hit by shelling overnight, causing 13 fires, according to the city website.
Shelling also continued in Luhansk, the city office said. It has been without water and power for 22 days.
Convoy back to Russia
A day earlier, a convoy of Russian trucks that had crossed that country's border into eastern Ukraine without Kiev's authorization returned to Russia, international monitors said Saturday.
In total, 227 vehicles were sent into territories held by pro-Russian rebels on Friday, according to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which has an observer mission at the checkpoint the convoy went through.
By Saturday afternoon, they had all returned to Russia after delivering aid to the city of Luhansk, a stronghold for the pro-Russia rebels that has been caught up in conflict.
Russia said the vehicles were on an essential humanitarian mission and that it was satisfied with the deliveries, but international powers condemned it as a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.
Officials in Kiev referred to it as an invasion.
Amid the furor, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met in Kiev on Saturday with Poroshenko.
At a joint news conference, Merkel said she could not rule out further sanctions against Russia if no progress is made in resolving the situation in eastern Ukraine.
Poroshenko said the Russian convoy had "violated every international law."
But he also said he was committed to constitutional reforms and decentralization of power aimed at meeting the concerns of the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU representatives on Tuesday in Minsk, Belarus.
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