The royal couple have wrapped up a three-day visit to Nigeria.
Nigerian gospel singer Moses Bliss has expressed gratitude for the privilege of entertaining the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan during their inaugural visit to Nigeria.
Taking to his Instagram account on May 13, 2024, the singer posted a video of him singing for the British royalty and the people in attendance at the Delborough Hotel, Lagos.
His caption read, “It was an honour to sing for Prince Harry, Meghan and all who were in attendance; by celebrating love with this song that captures the essence of love as I know it to be, a prayer answered, purpose-led type of love that can only be sent from the author of love, God.”
On Sunday, Bliss posted pictures taken with Harry and Meghan, expressing his excitement over meeting them and his gratitude for the opportunity.
He said, “Thank you @thedelborough for hosting me and thank you sir @stanleyuzochukwu for this privilege once again, I am truly grateful. The joy of meeting and singing for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the Duke & Duchess of Sussex @sussexroyal today on their inaugural visit to Nigeria and hear Meghan express her appreciation for my music is a moment I will forever cherish.”
Harry and Meghan’s visit is tied to the Invictus Games founded by the prince to support the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemen and veterans.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Harry and Meghan in Nigeria [Andrew Esiebo/Getty]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Harry and Meghan in Nigeria [Andrew Esiebo/Getty]” width=”750″ height=”500″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/BzCktkpTURBXy9kNTVhMDUwY2YwNjVmNGE4NTlkOGE3YWZjNGE5YWRlMi5qcGeRlQLNAu7NAfTCww” />
Harry and Meghan in Nigeria [Andrew Esiebo/Getty]
During their stay so far, the couple have visited Lights Academy in Abuja, a school supported by their Archewell Foundation and met the school children who gave them the warmest of welcomes.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Nigeria [people]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Nigeria [people]” width=”790″ height=”527″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/SogktkpTURBXy8zYTdiOTQwNjU4NmQ5MzQ0N2NkYWVjZWJlM2ExYTdkMy5qcGeRlQLNAxbNAg_Cww” />
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Nigeria [people]
Harry also visited the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna on their first day, providing encouraging words to the wounded. On Saturday, he played a friendly seated volleyball match with the army veterans and lost.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Prince Harry takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match [Kola SULAIMON / AFP]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Prince Harry takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match [Kola SULAIMON / AFP]” width=”790″ height=”535″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/FuKktkpTURBXy9iNmY1Y2U1YzUzZmYxYzM5YWE2ZTA0NmZiZjNlZDM0Ni5wbmeRlQLNAxbNAhfCww” />
Prince Harry takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match [Kola SULAIMON / AFP]
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Lagos from Abuja on Sunday, May 12 to continue their three-day visit to Nigeria.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="L-R: Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle; the Duke, Prince Harry; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu during a courtesy visit by the Duke and Duchess at the Lagos House, Marina, on Sunday, May 12, 2024." src="data:;base64,” alt=”L-R: Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle; the Duke, Prince Harry; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu during a courtesy visit by the Duke and Duchess at the Lagos House, Marina, on Sunday, May 12, 2024.” width=”790″ height=”568″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/v5QktkpTURBXy9jYTQ0ZDE3YWY5OGNkMTQ5MzU5NjJkZTNiZDdiZmM1NS5qcGeRlQLNAxbNAjjCww” />
L-R: Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle; the Duke, Prince Harry; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu during a courtesy visit by the Duke and Duchess at the Lagos House, Marina, on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
They got a commendation from the governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo Olu, who received them at the Lagos House, Marina.
This comes after his confession that he requested for intimacy to ‘create intensity.’
Nigerian singer Brymo has refuted claims that he asked Simi for sex in exchange for a musical collaboration.
Speaking with popular media personality, Chude Jideonwo,on the latest episode of the With Chude show, the singer was asked about the controversy surrounding the reports.
Chude asked, “You came out on Twitter and on TV to say that you wanted to create art with Simi and you asked to sleep with her first…”
“…I didn’t want to create art with her” Brymo interjected.
The Ara singer stated that, unlike the reports, Adekunle was the one who came to him for a collaboration first before Simi. He added that it was after he turned down her request that she made the collaborative album with rapper Falz.
“Adekunle Gold came to me. Those two wanted to get married and then they took a break to hustle separately and then Adekunle Gold came to me and said that we should create an album together and I said no. Simi also came to me and I said no, then suddenly she did an album with Falz,” he said.
Brymo stated that he was accused of requesting for sexual intimacy, calling Nigerians “sick people.”
He said, “The reports then came in that Simi and Falz were dating. Simi and Falz? Nobody even knew that Simi and Adekunle Gold had stuff going on during that period. So I came back to gist everyone about what happened then and then they started accusing me of asking Simi for sex in exchange for a collab. Nigerians are sick people! That’s dark.”
“They came to me first of all, it didn’t happen second of all, then I came tell everyone what happened later. That’s it,” Brymo emphasised.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Brymos now-deleted tweet from 2023" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Brymos now-deleted tweet from 2023″ width=”650″ height=”588″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/Vm9ktkqTURBXy8xNDJlOGMxNjkwOTY2MTc4YmVmNTkwOWQ2MGIxNzMxNC5qcGVnkZUCzQKKzQJMwsM” />
Brymos now-deleted tweet from 2023
Brymo’s recollection of event is contradictory to his confession last year that he used to offer intimacy to female musicians he collaborated with, Simi included.
His tweet read “Though AG reached out later, I like to think that he didn’t check in again, by will or fate, because I turned down the same request many years before. I also did the same with Simi, saying I wanted to get intimate to create intensity. I didn’t know they were together, of course.”
After backlash from the public, Adekunle Gold also warned him to steer clear of his wife.
Net income at German pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer declined to €2 billion ($2.16 billion) or €2.04 per share in the first quarter. The company reported on Tuesday that the quarter’s revenue was also down from €2.18 billion or €2.22 per share in the same quarter last year.
Bayer said core earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarter decreased to 2.82 euros from last year’s €2.95, mainly due to the decline in earnings at its Crop Science Division.
Group sales were €13.77 billion in the first quarter of 2024, showing a decline of 0.6 per cent on a currency and portfolio-adjusted basis and a decline of 4.3 per cent on a reported basis.
Bayer confirmed its currency-adjusted forecast for the full 2024 year based on the average monthly exchange rates in 2023.
However, based on the closing rates as of March 31, the negative impact from anticipated currency effects has increased.
Applying the rates on that closing date instead of December 31, 2023, led Bayer to reduce its forecast for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).
The EBITDA should be applied before special items, ranging from €10.4 billion to 11 billion to €10.2 billion to €10.8 billion.
Bayer now expected annual core earnings per share to be in the range of €4.80 to €5.20 compared to the prior outlook of €4.95 to €5.35.
On a currency-adjusted basis, the company still expected core earnings per share to be €5.1 to €5.5 for the fiscal year 2024.
A month after its release, Kayode Kasum’s comedy-drama, Ajosepo, remains the top-grossing film at the Nigerian box office.
‘Ajosepo’ continues to hold the top spot at the Nigerian box office [Nollywire]
Kayode Kasum’s comedy-drama movie, Ajosepo, still stands strong at the top spot of the Nigerian box office even a month after its release date, according to updated figures from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN).
On Friday, May 11, 2024, CEAN published a report on the top 20 films exhibited in Nigeria and included a gross view of each week’s film from May 3, 2024, to May 9, 2024.
Ajosepomade ₦50.4 million in its first five days of release (April 10 to April 14) and is still the top earner with ₦35.5 million in weekly totals (May 3 – May 9) and as of right now, the movie has made ₦189.2 million in total.
Ajosepo is a story about Dapo played by Mike Afolarin and Tani played by Tomike Adeoye, a young couple preparing for their wedding. As their families gather in a luxurious hotel, festivities soon give way to turmoil as long-held secrets, family tensions, and unexpected revelations threaten to tear them apart. The movie was directed by Kasum and also stars Timini Egbuson, Yemi Solade, and Ronke Oshodi Oke.
The sport-themed Nollywood movie, Aburo, is ranked fourth on the chart after earning a weekly total of ₦13.1 million. The movie has now grossed a total of ₦16.2 million.
The Yoruba movie, Blacksmith: Alagbede, which was holding third place after earning ₦11.3 million in its opening weekend, has dropped to number five with a weekly total of ₦9.5 million. As of right now, the movie has grossed ₦44.6 million.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="'Beast of Two Worlds' will debut this Easter [ShockNg]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”‘Beast of Two Worlds’ will debut this Easter [ShockNg]” width=”592″ height=”626″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/1UBktkpTURBXy84N2RkYWU2ODk1NGE3OWMyYzFiMzg1NTA5YmE2NmRmYS5qcGeRlQLNAlDNAnLCww” />
‘Beast of Two Worlds’ will debut this Easter [ShockNg]
After earning ₦101.2 million in its first weekend, the Yoruba epic film Beast of Two World (Ajakaju) currently sits at number 7 on the chart with a weekly total of ₦5.5 million. The film has now grossed a total of ₦247.2 million.
A little further down the list at number 11 is Saving Onome, which was directed by Dimeji Ajibola. It tells the story of two loving parents who do everything in their power to care for their chronically ill daughter Onome. The movie has now made ₦42.5 million in gross revenue, up from its current weekly total of ₦1.9 million.
The other Nollywood movie on the list ranked at number 18, as disclosed by CEAN, is All is Fair in Love, which grossed a week total of ₦6,000 and has grossed a total of ₦131.5 million.
Tacha says her outfit at the AMVCA cost $100,000 [Instagram/Symply_Tacha]
BBNaija star, Tacha, has revealed that the show-stopping dress she wore at the 10th edition of Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards(AMVCA) cost more than ₦100 million.
She disclosed this while on the red carpet at the event which held on May 11, 2024, while being interviewed by popular content creator, Timi Agbaje.
Agbaje asked, “Last year you wore a $20,000 outfit to the AMVCA. How much did this outfit cost?”
Tacha replied, “It’s 100k”
“Naira or dollars?” Agbaje asked again after which Tacha laughed and replied, “It’s $100,000 or nothing.”
At the prestigious event, Tacha wore a long white, bedazzled gown with a large eye-catching statement piece. The dress had a floating bust/corset design on her shoulder, a flowing cape and a matching corset handbag.
The reality TV star’s revelation led to a series of reactions from Nigerians across social media, who were taken aback by the staggering price.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Tacha's outfit at the AMVCA [Instagram/Symply_Tacha]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Tacha’s outfit at the AMVCA [Instagram/Symply_Tacha]” width=”589″ height=”751″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/DrFktkpTURBXy9lNWJhYjQ5ZDQ4ZTBjMjNhM2JkNThhN2Y2MWY1ZTE5MC5wbmeRlQLNAk3NAu_Cww” />
Tacha’s outfit at the AMVCA [Instagram/Symply_Tacha]
A curious X user asked, “I’m curious, who pays for celebrities’ dresses at events like these? Do the celebrities buy the dresses themselves, do designers lend them the dresses, or is there some kind of arrangement where they share the cost?”
Other X users expressed disbelief, one said “Which kain lamba be that?? Cloth that can’t pass 200k,” and another person commented, “You paid $100k for a dress?”
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Reactions to Tacha's revelation [X/Dammydammy35]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Reactions to Tacha’s revelation [X/Dammydammy35]” width=”790″ height=”706″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/x0lktkpTURBXy9hZjY3YWFiM2E4NDFhMGEwNDExZWEwYTQ5ZTE1MGM1My5wbmeRlQLNAxbNAsLCww” />
Reactions to Tacha’s revelation [X/Dammydammy35]
Someone else commented, “She wan come spoil the compliments and the beautiful dress with lies now.”
Other comments read, “That’s huge!!.”, “120 million for her dress? For such a big event as that? Naaaa, that’s too cheap,” “I believe her.”
On May 14, 1954, Boeing, now one of the world’s largest commercial aerospace companies, unveiled its first commercial jet-powered passenger plane, the Model 367-80 prototype, at its Renton Field plant on the south shore of Lake Washington in Washington state, where jetliners are still produced today.
The 367-80 would eventually be retired on January 22, 1970 but not before its technology had been used to create the famous 707 model – and, later the hugely successful 737.
Initially, airlines were cautious about embracing jet technology, citing worries about expense and noise levels among other things. However, the successful test flights of the 367-80 demonstrated the advances aviation had made in increased speeds and altitudes.
Ultimately, this success laid the groundwork for Boeing’s 707 plane, which was launched in 1957. US airline group Pan Am began regular 707 flights on October 26, 1958, signalling the industry’s broader acceptance of jet airliners. Before the 707, propeller-driven aircraft had dominated commercial air travel.
Boeing’s 737 model was launched in 1967 and would become the most commercially successful aeroplane in aviation history.
However, in recent years, Boeing has suffered a string of technical failures. Most recently, a Boeing 737 carrying 85 people caught fire and skidded off a runway at Senegal’s main airport, injuring 10 people including the pilot, while a Boeing 767 cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing following a front landing gear failure.
Last week, Boeing was forced to postpone the launch of its new CST-100 Starliner capsule, designed for launch into space, after engineers detected a problem with a rocket valve.
Here is a timeline of some of Boeing’s highs and lows over the past century.
(Al Jazeera)
A century in the air – some of Boeing’s highs
World War I
The company, which was first founded as Pacific Aero Products Co by William Boeing in 1916, was officially named Boeing Airplane Co in 1917, shortly after the US entered the war. During the war, Boeing provided Model C trainer planes to the US Navy, designed a new patrol “flying boat” and signed a contract with the US Navy to build 50 Curtiss HS-2L seaplanes.
In 1917, it also produced the first US-designed and built bomber plane and its Martin MB-1 bomber made its first flight.
World War II
During World War II, Boeing produced bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress. The B-29 Superfortress planes, named Enola Gay and Bockscar, were the two aircraft used to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The atomic bombing caused almost 200,000 casualties. Long-term effects on survivors would lead to radiation sickness and such cancers as leukaemia, thyroid cancer and lung cancer, due to radiation exposure.
Launch of the 737 airliner
One of Boeing’s most significant contributions to commercial aviation was the 737 series of jetliners, launched in 1967. The model would become one of the best-selling commercial jetliners in aviation history. Nearly 12,000 have been built.
The moon landing
During the Apollo programme, which ultimately saw American astronaut Neil Armstrong become the first person to walk on the moon, Boeing built the Saturn V’s maiden rocket in 1967. That same model rocket would be used for the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, landing astronauts on the moon.
Boeing, the billion-dollar company
Boeing made $1bn in sales for the first time in 1956. It was publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the ticker symbol BA, in January 1978 and is currently valued at $109.5bn.
Which fatal crashes have involved Boeing planes?
Lion Air crash, 2018
More than 100 years after Boeing was first founded, Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 domestic passenger flight, crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after taking off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang in Indonesia, en route to Depati Amir Airport, Pangkal Pinang, killing all 189 people on board on October 29, 2018. An investigation by the Indonesian authorities blamed a combination of an aircraft design flaw which had forced the plane to dive down, inadequate training and maintenance problems, one year later.
Residents collect debris at the scene where Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed in a wheat field just outside the town of Bishoftu, 62km southeast of Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019 [Jemal Countess/Getty Images]
Ethiopian Airlines crash, 2019
Less than a year after the Lion Air incident, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, also a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and a scheduled international passenger flight from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, crashed near the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu just six minutes after takeoff on March 10, 2019, killing all 157 people on board. The same technical issue which had been found in the Lion Air case was also discovered.
The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide due to concerns about a faulty sensor that had caused its Manoeuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) to continually tilt the plane downwards, causing it to dive.
As a result of the controversy over the design flaw, Boeing’s board removed CEO Dennis Muilenburg as chairman but allowed him to remain chief executive.
The Boeing 737 MAX was finally cleared to resume flights by the FAA in November 2020, after the problem was fixed but Boeing had already been heavily criticised by the US House Transportation Committee for failing to take better safety measures.
What incidents involving Boeing planes have happened this year?
Alaskan Airlines door panel blowout, January
In January this year, a door panel on Alaskan Airlines flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet, blew out, causing rapid decompression and forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing at Portland International Airport. Some passengers suffered minor injuries but nobody was killed or seriously harmed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately grounded the 737 Max 9, of which there were 171 in use worldwide. Loose hardware was reported in an initial investigation.
This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows a gaping hole where the panelled-over door had been at the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, on January 7, 2024, in Portland, Oregon [National Transportation Safety Board via AP]
The incident caused a flurry of conspiracy theories which have ramped up in the past three months because of the deaths of two Boeing whistleblowers.
John Barnett, a quality control engineer who worked for Boeing for more than three decades, was found dead in March 2019. His body was discovered with a gunshot wound and a suicide note in his truck, which was parked in a hotel car park in South Carolina.
Two weeks ago, Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier for Boeing, died in an Oklahoma hospital due to a staph infection that quickly developed into pneumonia.
Air Senegal plane skids off runway, May
A chartered Air Senegal Boeing B737-300 plane skidded off a runway before takeoff early on Thursday, May 9 at Blaise Diagne International Airport in the capital, Dakar. Eighty-five people – including two pilots and four cabin crew – were on board the flight operated by TransAir and bound for the Malian capital Bamako. At least 10 people were injured, the transport ministry said.
Photos showed the damaged plane at a standstill in a grassy field with a damaged wing, its emergency exit slides deployed.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show a left wing on fire.
A FedEx Express Boeing 767 cargo plane made an emergency landing at Istanbul Airport on May 8 without deploying its front landing gear but managed to stay on the runway and avoid casualties [Umit Bektas/Reuters]
FedEx flight makes emergency landing, May
On Wednesday, May 8, a Boeing 767 cargo aircraft belonging to FedEx made an emergency landing at Istanbul in Turkey after its front landing gear failed. No one was injured and the crew successfully evacuated the aircraft.
Corendon Airlines plane has burst tyre, May
Also in Turkey, 190 people – including six crew members – were safely evacuated from a Boeing 737-800 belonging to Corendon Airlines after one of the aircraft’s tyres burst on Thursday, May 9, during landing at Gazipasa, an airport near the Mediterranean coastal town of Alanya.
Boeing Starliner launch halted, May
Boeing called off the inaugural crewed flight CST-100 Starliner space capsule on Monday, May 7, after engineers detected an issue with the Atlas V rocket valve. The decision to call off the launch on Monday came two hours before the scheduled liftoff and about an hour after two NASA astronauts had strapped into the spacecraft.
NASA chief Bill Nelson posted on X. “Standing down on tonight’s attempt to launch. As I’ve said before, @NASA’s first priority is safety. We go when we’re ready.”
(Al Jazeera)
Is Boeing’s safety record being investigated?
Boeing has been the subject of 32 whistleblower complaints lodged with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the workplace safety regulator, in the United States during the past three years
Air safety officials in the US are also currently investigating whether employees at Boeing falsified inspection records for the 787 Dreamliner.
Sam Salehpour, another whistleblower and quality engineer who worked for Boeing for 10 years has stated he had safety concerns regarding the 787 Dreamliner. Last month, Salehpour testified at a congressional hearing with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about the safety of the 777 and 787 aircraft.
He stated: “I have analysed Boeing’s own data to conclude that the company is taking manufacturing shortcuts on the 787 programme that may significantly reduce the airplane’s safety and the life cycle.”
Boeing strongly refuted the claims and stated that it is “fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner”.
Some other nominees were completely snubbed losing in almost every single category they were nominated in.
At the 2024 African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Eko Hotel in Lagos, there were those who had a good night and those who had a forgettable one.
Though, after the nominations were announced,Over the Bridgeemerged as the strongest contender with 12 nominations, followed by Mami Wata, which snagged 11 nominations, the Prime Video original Breath of Life, with five wins, won the most awards this year.
Some other nominees were completely snubbed losing in almost every single category they were nominated in.
See below all the snubs from the 2024 AMVCA:
Afamefuna
Kayode Kasum‘s Afamefuna which was nominated in four categories including Best Supporting Actor, Best Lead Actor, Best Writing in a Movie and Best Director didn’t win any.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Afamefuna: An Nwa-Boi Story [Filmhouse]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Afamefuna: An Nwa-Boi Story [Filmhouse]” width=”790″ height=”959″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/52BktkpTURBXy80MjAzMmFlNDBiMDU2ZmIxN2M1MGNiOWNmNDhmZTQ1OS5qcGeRlQLNAxbNA7_Cww” />
Afamefuna: An Nwa-Boi Story [Filmhouse]
A Tribe Called Judah
Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah landed five nominations this year including in the Best Supporting Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Makeup, Best Writing in a Movie, and Best Movie categories. But the movie, which was a monster hit at the cinemas raking in over ₦1.4 billion, didn’t win any awards.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Funke Akindele as Jedidah Judah on 'A Tribe Called Judah' [Instagram/funkeakindelejenifa]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Funke Akindele as Jedidah Judah on ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ [Instagram/funkeakindelejenifa]” width=”790″ height=”987″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/L-cktkpTURBXy9hOGQ1YTUxZTIwNzA3YjM3MTk3MjUxYjZmYjNiNWViYy5qcGeRlQLNAxbNA9vCww” />
Funke Akindele as Jedidah Judah on ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ [Instagram/funkeakindelejenifa]
Mami Wata
The critically acclaimed black-and-white fantasy thriller directed by CJ Obasi, Mami Wata, was the second most nominated film with 11 nominations. But only Campbell Precious won for Best Makeup.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Mami Wata movie [Twitter/mamiwatamovie]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Mami Wata movie [Twitter/mamiwatamovie]” width=”790″ height=”1187″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/2bpktkqTURBXy84MTZlZTI5M2IwNmI5ZGM1NGFmZjA0MGM2MDE1MmE1Ni5qcGVnkZUCzQMWzQSjwsM” />
Mami Wata movie [Twitter/mamiwatamovie]
The Real Housewives of Lagos (Season 2)
Despite being one of the most talked about series in 2023, the second season of The Real Housewives of Lagos nominated in the Best Unscripted Series category, lost to Gh Queens (Season 2).
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="All the details of 'The Real Housewives of Lagos' Reunion coming on Wednesday" src="data:;base64,” alt=”All the details of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ Reunion coming on Wednesday” width=”790″ height=”496″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/vC3ktkpTURBXy85YWVhZjFmMTY4M2Y0ODA4MTMyZTU4OGZkMDA2YWVhNi5qcGeRlQLNAxbNAfDCww” />
All the details of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ Reunion coming on Wednesday
The Black Book
The Black Book, the film directed by Editi Effiong which had a budget of a million dollars was nominated in five categories. But The Black Book only won for Best Editing by Antonio Ribeiro.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="The Black Book releases its official poster ahead of its September debut. [Titter/Editieffiong]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”The Black Book releases its official poster ahead of its September debut. [Titter/Editieffiong]” width=”340″ height=”500″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/R8CktkpTURBXy84YzhhZGJlN2RkY2I5ZmEzZGEyM2Q3ODgxNTQ4YzA2My5wbmeRlQLNAVTNAfTCww” />
The Black Book releases its official poster ahead of its September debut. [Titter/Editieffiong]
Skinny Girl in Transit
The Ndani TV hit series Skinny Girl in Transit was nominated this year in only one category for Best Writing TV Series which it lost to Mona Ombogo for Volume.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="NdaniTV's Skinny Girl In Transit is back for a 6th Season!" src="data:;base64,” alt=”NdaniTV’s Skinny Girl In Transit is back for a 6th Season!” width=”790″ height=”1121″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/iN3ktkpTURBXy9hYTFiYzBmZTcwMjQxN2U4ZmNlNjMwNzY0OGRjMTg4Yi5qcGeRlQLNAxbNBGHCww” />
NdaniTV’s “Skinny Girl In Transit” is back for a 6th Season!
Nigerian lady flabbergasted after a cab driver informed her of his unusual side hustle and requested for her patronage.
The young lady shared the voice note message via her TikTok account, @joyoyizaa, where she questioned the normalcy of Lagos residents.
She ordered his ride from a popular car hailing service which was how he was able to get her number.
He texted on WhatsApp shortly after dropping her off, where he made his business clear.
The lady.
According to him, he is into hookup, and his services are available for women who need a man to sleep with.
In his words;
“I just want to introduce what I do, my business to you. This is the guy that dropped you at Yaba, not quite long, the In-drive guy. Sorry ma, I’m into hookup. I do hookup service for ladies that need a guy to hook them up. I can knack very well, I can give head for like one hour, two hours, continuation. I just said let me introduce myself to you, so incase maybe you have someone who needs my attention or my service you can connect me please. That’s what I said let me tell you. I’m very good, I can knack very very very well and I can give head for very long hours and it’s very satisfactory. Please, thank you and God bless you”
We are all aware that not everything we see on social media represents reality, including lifestyles and body types.
That is why it is critical to approach certain situations with caution, especially when there are obvious grounds to be skeptical.
If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, scroll down to see some examples of people going beyond photo editing, as provided by the ‘Instagram Reality’ subreddit.
These photographs are relatively extreme cases of altered reality uploaded on social media, ranging from editing gone bad to excessive use of airbrush and filters, among other things. If you want to have a good laugh, you might just prefer them the way that they are.
Below are some of the interviews from BoredPanda with Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, ABPP, a board-certified clinical psychologist and author of the books Letting Go of Your Ex and Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Psychology of Self-Deception, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about how social media can influence our body image views.
Also, we have given the list of the 15 Instagrammers Who Edited Their Pictures So Much, They Got Shamed For It Online in a funny new pics.
1. Filtered Photo vs. Unfiltered Screenshot From Dress Designer
According to Dr. Warren, our sociocultural beliefs and standards about appearance place such a high priority on beauty and physical appearance that remaining optimistic when you don’t look like the perfect person is challenging at best. Furthermore, it frequently leads people on a never-ending quest to achieve an ideal figure, which is impossible.
“In essence, our body is transformed into ‘a project to mend’ rather than a part of ourselves to accept, enjoy, and love. This encourages weight-based shaming, taunting, and bullying over body image and looks, all of which can occur in social media situations,” Warren added.
“All of these factors can interact to put someone—especially young girls—at increased risk for eating disorder symptoms like binge eating, body dissatisfaction, restrictive eating, body image distortion, chronic dieting, and thin-ideal internalization.”
2. What She Lacks In Calves She Makes Up In Shoe Size
In a previous interview, Zaza9000, the chief moderator of the r/Instagramreality subreddit, told Bored Panda that 2020 was “hard on all of us,” so they strive to make the community simple to engage with and participate in. The subreddit’s popularity stems from its openness. “Last year so many people have shared interesting stories from their personal lives and I really hope we can carry that into 2021.”
According to the top moderator, there have been some changes in how people update their post. For example, video editing has recently gained popularity over photo editing. “Especially programs like Facetune2 and SNOW, which let you alter your body, and some Instagram effects that can make your lips appear larger and your skin appear unnaturally flawless. “Seeing them glitch in videos has been a very popular topic on the sub,” they said.
3. “One Month After Giving Birth”
Image credits: calilav
When discussing social media and its impact on people’s body image, clinical psychologist Dr. Cortney S. Warren emphasized how widely used it is around the world; according to Pew Research Center data from 2023, more than 80% of adults in the US use YouTube, nearly 70% use Facebook, and nearly half spend their time browsing Instagram.
“Social media is simply one of many forms of media that express cultural ideas and standards, including interactive experiences and reflections on beauty ideals. As a result, she said that social media use and interaction frequently have a detrimental impact on people’s body image.
4. Now Girl
Image credits: Kpre813
In an age of “perfect people” on social media and unrealistic beauty standards, photo editing software is essential for many. However, as more individuals modify their photos before publishing, the traits that distinguish us as humans—such as wrinkles or stretch marks—are gradually disappearing.
“The more photo-edited an image is, the more unrealistic our ideals of beauty become because most people see them as ‘real’ even when no one actually looks like the image; not even professional models,” Dr. Warren said.
5. Plastic Surgeons Now Yassifing Their Patients On Social Media
Image credits: Haunting-Mortgage
6. 50 Year Old Man Who Found Fame As A Female Motorcyclist
Image credits: mutemut
7. What She Posted vs. What The Makeup Artist Posted
Image credits: ilovemuesli
8. All My Friends Have Been Drooling Over This On Facebook, But I Can’t Get Over How Tiny Her Head Is
Image credits: abortionlasagna
“Mainstream American culture has strong beliefs that can affect people’s body image. For example, physical appearance is essential to a person’s value—how you look has a huge impact on how valuable you are as a human being,” the expert explained.
“Additionally, the desired appearance is extremely specific and strict. For women, it is a slender, fit, youthful physique with clear skin and bright eyes. For guys, it’s a muscular, tough, and attractive physique with no fat.Finally, there is enormous pressure to achieve the ideal—it is your obligation to meet the ideal (or at least try to), and much of our marketing is designed to make you feel horrible so you will buy products or diets to achieve the ideal.”
9. What They Post vs. Tagged
Image credits: BubblyBb813
10. A Popular Tiktoker’s Instagram vs. Tagged Posts
Image credits: nialovesmilfs
11. They Really Post This Thinking It Looks Good
Image credits: dumbfoundead33
“The bottom line is that when people are on social media, they are often exposed to idealized and highly valued ideals of appearance in a way that makes them feel less valued and attractive,” Dr. Cortney S. Warren said, summarizing the impact of edited-to-perfection photographs on internet users.
12. This Mom Facetuning And Photoshopping Herself And Her Son’s Girlfriend
Image credits: Mommywritespoems
13. Girl Be So Fr ? Last Pic Is Irl
Image credits: dirtyconfetti
14. This Girl Has Several Thousand Followers. All Her Posts Are The Same Exact Face
Image credits: carbonatedgravy69
15. I Feel Yall Would Absolutely Eat Her Up Here
Image credits: LettuceSome9935
Third, practice thankfulness for your body and other elements of yourself. “Take the time to enjoy everything about your physique and looks. Furthermore, remember to base your self-esteem on qualities of yourself other than your physical appearance.
“Try not to compare yourself to others who you think represent the best (people or media images),” said Warren. “Try to focus on yourself without comparing your looks to models, media images, or even friends and family who you think represent “the best,”because it often will make you feel worse about yourself.”
The 51-year-old will be sworn in as the city-state’s fourth leader since 1965 in a ceremony on May 15.
Singapore – For the first time in 20 years, Singapore will inaugurate a new prime minister, Minister for Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who will take the reins of power in a ceremony on Wednesday, May 15.
The 51-year-old will replace Lee Hsien Loong – the eldest son of the country’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew – who has been in the job since August 2004.
Wong is only the fourth leader in Singapore’s 59-year history as an independent nation. Like his predecessors, he is a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP), co-founded by the elder Lee and the only ruling party Singaporeans have ever known.
The stage is now set for a general election in the city-state of 6 million people, which observers say could be held as early as this year, although the term of the current government does not expire until 2025.
At the last election in 2020, the PAP secured more than 61 percent of the vote, losing just 10 seats in the 98-member parliament to the opposition, but this was considered a sub-par performance given the opposition had won only six seats in the previous parliament.
Lawrence Wong (left) has had less time than his predecessors to prepare for the top job [How Hwee Young/Pool via EPA]
The stakes are higher now, and a new leader is traditionally expected to gain a strong mandate from voters. Wong will be tasked with maintaining the dominance of the PAP in the face of an increasingly demanding electorate who want a greater say in governance and eschew the knuckleduster tactics and paternalistic politics of previous governments.
Among the most pressing issues on his plate: tackling the rising cost of living, an ageing population, a slowing economy and immigration. The PAP has also been rocked by a rare corruption scandal.
In addition, Wong must navigate the ever-present China-United States rivalry as the tiny island is a key ally to both superpowers.
Who is Lawrence Wong?
The mild-mannered Wong was selected by his peers among the “4G”, or fourth generation of leaders in Singapore’s political jargon, to be a successor to 72-year-old Lee in April 2022.
Something of a compromise candidate, he was not their first choice.
That was former central bank chief and Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat, 63, who had been appointed to succeed Lee in 2018. In a country renowned for its political stability, Heng sparked a mini political crisis by stepping aside two and a half years later, citing his age and admitting that he had not felt up to the task from the start.
Unlike many of his PAP peers, Wong did not come from the island’s establishment or attend its top schools. Going to university in the US on a government scholarship, he started out as an economist in the trade and industry ministry before entering politics in 2011.
After stints as a minister in less glamorous portfolios such as national development, he was not considered a potential prime minister, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.
As co-leader of the country’s COVID-19 task force, Wong emerged as the public face of the government’s pandemic response, adroitly fielding questions from foreign media outlets in televised news conferences. Such events are a rarity in a country that performs dismally in the annual World Press Freedom rankings – Singapore was ranked 126th out of 180 countries and territories this year.
Heng Swee Keat, seen campaigning in the 2020 election, was the first choice of the ruling People’s Action Party but decided he no longer wanted the job and stepped aside [How Hwee Young/EPA]
“Mr Wong is seen as a technocrat, [who is] friendly and approachable. He delivered well for the COVID-19 crisis, so he can be viewed as competent,” said former PAP lawmaker Inderjit Singh, who served alongside Lee in his central Ang Mo Kio ward for two decades.
Noting that Wong was only chosen two years ago after a period of political uncertainty, he added: “Anyone in his position will have his work cut out to show that he is indeed the right leader. He has a big task to quickly show that he is indeed the right person who can deliver.”
Leadership succession
Historically, leadership succession in Singapore has been a well-oiled process, with the heir apparent announced well in advance and groomed for years. This has been facilitated by a sterling record of governance, the PAP’s longstanding parliamentary supermajority – at its peak, there were no opposition lawmakers – and its dominance of key institutions.
Heng’s sudden departure was therefore unprecedented. Wong will also have the shortest runway of all – he became Lee’s deputy just two months after being anointed his successor. By comparison, the younger Lee served as deputy prime minister for 14 years before taking over the top job.
This perhaps explains Minister of Law and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam’s prickly response to what he termed a “sneering” commentary in The Economist last month, which labelled Wong a compromise candidate and the Singapore media “docile”. Weeks later, the United Kingdom weekly conducted a wide-ranging interview with Wong where he stressed that as prime minister, he would not shy away from making unpopular decisions.
“Wong comes across as being very personable. He doesn’t portray the image of a hardliner,” said former newspaper editor PN Balji, who interacted extensively with Wong’s predecessors. While he is optimistic that Wong will come to prove himself, he added: “If you look at the leadership from Lee Kuan Yew till now, the quality of leadership has declined somewhat.”
The social-media-friendly Wong is seen as approachable [File: Sport Singapore / Action Images via Reuters]
Perhaps this is why Lee Hsien Loong is not going away – he will remain in the cabinet with the title of senior minister, just as his predecessors did.
“Given the short runway, I think Wong will benefit from [Lee’s] presence, especially in helping keep [good] external relations,” said Singh.
What do Singaporeans think of him?
Despite his increased profile during the pandemic, the guitar-playing, dog-loving, social media-friendly Wong remains something of an unknown quantity to Singaporeans.
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According to a recent YouGov poll, just more than half of respondents considered him competent, with less than a third agreeing that he was a strong leader. Some 40 percent said he seemed trustworthy, a number that was significantly higher among Gen Z respondents. A fifth felt hopeful about Wong’s appointment, while 36 percent stated indifference.
Many also indicated high expectations for the incoming prime minister, perhaps reflecting the fact that Singapore’s government leaders are the world’s highest-paid, with the prime minister taking home 2.2 million Singapore dollars ($1.6m) a year including bonuses.
“Wong’s biggest challenge in the short term will be to articulate an easy-to-understand, inclusive, and progressive political vision that will draw widespread support for his government in the upcoming elections,” Elvin Ong, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore’s political science department, told Al Jazeera.
Video Duration 25 minutes 00 seconds25:00
Wong, who has stressed that he did not seek out the role or expect to become leader, is certainly working hard to win over the electorate. “Every ounce of my energy shall be devoted to the service of our country and our people,” he said in a post to his 200,000-odd Instagram followers after the handover date was announced. “Your dreams will inspire my actions.”
Calling Singapore the “improbable, unlikely nation”, he told The Economist: “My mission is to keep this miracle going for as long as I can.”
Qatar says mediation efforts are being hampered by Israel’s offensive on Gaza’s southern city.
Israel’s military operation in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah has set ceasefire negotiations with Hamas “backward”, mediator Qatar has said, adding that the talks have lost steam.
“Especially in the past few weeks, we have seen some momentum building but unfortunately things didn’t move in the right direction and right now we are on a status of almost a stalemate,” Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Tuesday.
“Of course, what happened with Rafah has set us backward.”
Qatar has been engaged in months of mediation between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, along with Egypt and the United States.
On Tuesday morning, Israeli forces pushed deeper into eastern Rafah, entering the neighbourhoods of al-Jnaina, as-Salam and Brazil, as it prepared to expand its military operation.
The Israeli army issued evacuation orders, forcing tens of thousands more Palestinians to flee, despite US warnings against a full-scale assault on the southern city that is crowded with displaced people.
Israeli forces were also continuing to operate with extreme force in Jabalia city, Jabalia refugee camp and surrounding areas in northern Gaza.
Israeli tanks, bulldozers and armoured vehicles were surrounding United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools that were turned into shelters for hundreds of displaced families.
An air strike on a residential building to the south of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least 14 people, while Israeli fighter jets also attacked a school in the refugee camp where a fire broke out, according to reports.
Sheikh Mohammed said there was no clarity on how to stop the war from the Israeli side. “I don’t think that they are considering this as an option … even when we are talking about the deal and leading to a potential ceasefire,” he said.
Israeli politicians were indicating “by their statements that they will remain there, they will continue the war”, he said, adding that “there is no clarity on what Gaza will look like after this”.
Sheikh Mohammed said the fundamental difference between the two parties was over the release of captives and ending the war. “There is one party that wants to end the war and then talk about the hostages and there is another party who wants the hostages and wants to continue the war,” he said.
“As long as there is not any commonality between those two things it won’t get us to a result.”
Israel is determined to press ahead with its offensive on Rafah – considered the last refuge in Gaza, where more than 1.4 million displaced Palestinians were sheltering – in defiance of warnings from the UN and its allies, including its key backer, the US.
Israeli military operations have forced some 150,000 people to flee over the past week to areas devastated by previous attacks.
The displaced were mainly heading towards Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, and Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary said Deir el-Balah was running out of space as people poured in, looking for shelter.
However, some of her fans have stated that they will continue to defend her.
Actress Toyin Abraham tells fans not to fight in her name [Instagram/Toyinabraham]
Nollywood actress and producer, Toyin Abraham, has warned her fans and followers against bullying or cursing other people in her name.
On May 14, 2024, the filmmaker took to her Instagram story to urge them to refrain from bullying others for her sake.
She said, “Please don’t use a fan page created in my name to bully or curse anyone let people bully curse and abuse me as long as they wish or want. The Lord is my strength and will always be my strength please.”
The actress also posted the PSA to her X account and her post received support from her followers and supporters.
A fan commented, “Omo, people Dey do a lot this days… I understand sometimes that we have to reply them or interact with them, because only gods knows what you did wrong that they always find fault in what you do. God be with you Mum Ire.”
“You expect Someone like me to folds hands…?? Be like you don forget where I de follow U from, you have forgotten days of humble beginning abi? Make person soil ur name, make I fold? TOYIN, AYA AJEYEMI bami soro na,” another fan said in her defense.
<img class="image lazyloaded imgWithMetaData" title="Toyin Abraham's fans react to her message [X/Toyinabraham]" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Toyin Abraham’s fans react to her message [X/Toyinabraham]” width=”790″ height=”707″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/WAWktkpTURBXy8xYTY3ODFiMzIxNDk4NzZjMzY0NTRjYWI4NzJhMzUzMi5wbmeRlQLNAxbNAsPCww” />
Toyin Abraham’s fans react to her message [X/Toyinabraham]
“We no go hear, any slander or insult to you or your personality will be met with equal and proportionate response,” said another defensive follower. “No matter how good you are to people, they will still get back at you with ill and defame words.”
However, not all commenters supported her, a standout comment read, “When you fuvked up… Netizen will treat your fuvk up. That’s what it is, we don’t celebrate hypocrisy and the masses matter.”
Cape Town, South Africa – “We cannot allow supporters of baby killers to talk to us,” a furious resident of Surrey Estate in Cape Town shouted as he heckled the speaker at the podium.
The man was one of hundreds of residents of the mostly Muslim suburb who had gathered for a pre-election panel discussion early in May, where representatives from 10 political parties sought to lobby support.
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When Riad Davids, the representative for the Democratic Alliance (DA) – South Africa’s liberal, centrist main opposition party that is considered a steadfast supporter of Israel – took to the podium to make his pitch to residents, he was booed.
The audience shouted and jeered, preventing him from delivering his message and seeking to force him off the stage.
The South African government’s support for Palestine has become a common theme in debates leading up to the May 29 general elections and expressions of solidarity with the people of Gaza have featured during the campaigns of various political parties.
The governing centre-left African National Congress (ANC), which has historical links with Palestine, has publicly condemned human rights violations under Israeli occupation and has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing it of genocide in its war on Gaza.
The official opposition DA, however, did not support the government’s decision to haul Israel to the ICJ and has been criticised by some for its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict since the war began in October.
Although the DA has historically shown support for Israel, it says its position is one of neutrality.
“The DA stands in solidarity with both Palestinians and Israelis who seek a two-state solution. The DA stands against radicalism and violence. We reject any sentiment that seeks to annihilate either Israel or Palestine. We embrace rationality based on peaceful co-existence for both a secure Israel and a free Palestinian state. We embrace the right of both Palestinians and Israelis to statehood and sovereignty,” the party said in a statement following the October 7 attacks.
People participate in a ‘Free Palestine’ family walk in Durban, South Africa [File: Rogan Ward/Reuters]
In the Western Cape, where the DA has governed for the last 15 years, the party has enjoyed support from working-class majority Muslim areas like Surrey Estate.
in from the community was palatable as angry residents insisted that the DA was complicit in condoning genocide in Gaza.
“It is sad that in a Muslim area, where we have a Muslim audience, you want to deny someone the opportunity to speak,” Davids pleaded with the audience.
As he persisted, the angrier the crowd became with loud chants of “free, free Palestine” ringing in the community hall. Two Palestinian flags were waved every time the crowd heckled him.
‘ANC stands in solidarity with Palestine’
While the angry residents of Surrey Estate were venting their frustration at the DA representative, a few kilometres away in the suburb of Rylands, another working-class majority Muslim suburb in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa was addressing residents at a public meeting.
There, the president arrived wearing a keffiyeh and maintained an unapologetic position for the ANC’s support for the people of Palestine.
Ramaphosa said his government will look at visa waivers to make it easier for Palestinians travelling to South Africa.
“We will make an exception so that our brothers and sisters from Palestine can come here, not only as refugees but for a variety of reasons,” he said to applause.
In the question and answer session with the president, ANC member of parliament and grandson of former president Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela, asked Ramaphosa why local authorities have not arrested South Africans who have been found fighting in the Israeli army. The president pledged that his government would take action.
The community’s fervent support for Palestine was also on full display with many in the crowd wearing Palestinian colours as they listened to Ramaphosa wooing them.
“The ANC stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine,” read the banners on stage behind the president.
It was not an unusual sight. The ANC has consistently expressed its solidarity with Palestine during election campaign events.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, left, and South African Ambassador to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela speak at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following accusations by South Africa that Israel is committing state-led genocide in Gaza [File: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters]
This past weekend, the ruling party and government representatives also participated in the first Global Anti-Apartheid Conference for Palestine held in Johannesburg, which aimed to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against the Palestinian people.
At the event, international relations and cooperation minister, Naledi Pandor, reiterated the government’s view that Israel perpetuates apartheid against the Palestinians and called for tougher action against it.
“There can never be peace if the Palestinian people are not free … We should be ashamed that 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza,” she said during the conference attended by government representatives and activists.
Days earlier, during a national May Day rally commemorating Workers’ Day, the ANC led a march in Cape Town in solidarity with Palestinians.
“You, as workers, need to join this fight to fight for those who are oppressed around the world. And today as South Africa, we have stood up for the rights of those in other parts of the world [who] are currently being subjected to torture, to violence and genocide,” Ramaphosa implored the country’s workers.
“And that is why as a country and yes, as an alliance, we have stood firm in our support for the people of Palestine. And that is why we say ‘we want Palestine to be free’,” he said to applause
‘This is not Palestine’
The ANC has long compared Israel’s policies against Palestinians to the brutal apartheid regime’s actions against Black South Africans before democracy in 1994.
However, some have more cynically suggested that the party was further leveraging the issue this time around to help it gain support among certain groups of voters.
While the ANC may benefit electorally from its support of Palestine, its position on the issue has been consistent, an analyst told Al Jazeera.
Imraan Buccus, an academic and researcher at Auwal Socio-economic Research Institute, said the ANC’s vocal support for Palestine was a principled stance and part of historical solidarity between the two countries’ liberation movements.
“The ANC is not opportunistically trying to use the genocide in Palestine for votes.
“That is an irresponsible narrative,” he added.
South Africans attend a rally in support of a free Palestine [File: Rogan Ward/Reuters]
However, Herman Mashaba, an opposition leader with ActionSA – a right-leaning political party – disagreed, saying the ANC was hypocritical and its attempts to focus on Gaza were a distraction from the myriad problems facing South Africa.
“The ANC motive is not about the Palestinian people. It’s about diverting attention from the issues facing South Africa,” he said, noting that more than 80 people are killed every day in South Africa, which is one of the most violent countries in the world.
“It does not make sense. If I look at the energy they [are] providing to domestic issues compared to the energy they have on international issues it does not add up.”
Regarding ActionSA’s position on Palestine, Mashaba said that while he called for a solution to the conflict, he believed South Africa should not focus its attention on international crises while its own house “was on fire”.
This sentiment was expressed by another opposition party leader, Gayton McKenzie, who heads the Patriotic Alliance (PA) – described by analysts as a right-wing populist party.
He angered Cape Town residents at another election town hall meeting when he pointed to South Africa’s crime rates when asked about his support for Palestine.
“Hey, our children die more than in Palestine. Do not tell me about Palestine here. Go to Palestine; this is not Palestine,” he said, prompting anger from the audience.
McKenzie has unapologetically supported Israel and was quoted on social media as saying: “My Bible commands me to stand with Israel, my Bible tells me if you curse Israel you are cursing himself. I will listen to the Bible.”
The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party and former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party have meanwhile vocally supported Palestine while the right-wing Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has remained neutral on the matter.
A small Muslim-focused party, Al Jama-ah, which has one seat in Parliament, has centred its election campaign around its support for Palestine.
Analyst Buccus said in previous elections, South Africa’s foreign policy did not determine voting patterns.
However, this election was different given the persisting “genocide” in Gaza.
“It will definitely impact this election,” he said, adding that working-class Muslim voters in Cape Town and other areas who often proudly voted DA may now rethink their support.
Iran has condemned a senior US Republican senator’s “horrible” suggestion that Israel should use nuclear bombs on Gaza.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani made the remarks in a post on X on Tuesday.
Senator Lindsey Graham has said Israel should do “whatever” it deems necessary in the bombing of Gaza, drawing a comparison to when the US dropped atomic bombs on Japan during World War II.
On Sunday, the South Carolina Republican suggested Israel would be right to flatten the besieged Gaza Strip. The US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and killed more than 200,000 people.
Graham also urged President Joe Biden to provide the occupying regime with more bombs.
“These horrible statements by an American senator in justifying and encouraging the use of nuclear bombs by the Zionist regime reflect the brutality of those who advocate war and disregard human rights and international resolutions,” Kan’ani said.
The Iranian official said such statements are made by a senator whose country of origin has a history of using nuclear weapons while merely claiming to defend human rights.
The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman called on the international community to stand up against such “demonic statements” to prevent the continuation of the humanitarian disaster and genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The Iranian official also called for a strong global condemnation of the unrelenting support the United States gives the Israeli regime.
Graham’s remarks came days after Biden claimed he had halted a weapons shipment to Israel and that he might continue to do so if the regime launched a full-scale assault on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
Israel launched brutalities in Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
Israel has killed more than 35,170 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since that October day.
Ladyrecounts an unpleasant experience with a date who ran away, making her pay for the Champagne they ordered with her school fees.
The lady revealed that she had gone out with a man to a strip clubwhere they had ordered a bottle of Champagne which cost N65K.
Lady.
During the date, the guy had asked her to accompany him to his hostel, but she turned down the request.
She said that the date took an excuse to use the rest room only for him to vanish and not return.
The lady revealed that she had to use her school fees to pay for the drink.
Her words …
“Can’t forget the day this guy invited me to a strippers club, I got there he bought champagne N65,000 and after the whole thing he said we should go to his hotel which I refused, na so baba say he wan go piss na so e japa o and he never clear bills.
“I had to take from my school fees money to clear that bill. Charles I hope you see this and I just want to say your helper go leave you run💯.”
A womanhas taken to social media to issue a strong warning against relocatingto two countries, urging fellow citizens to carefully reconsider any such plans, even if tempted by the offer of a free visa.
The young woman, identified as @precioustalk1 on TikTok, recounted her own experiences and those of close acquaintances to dissuade others from making what she described as potentially life-altering mistakes.
The first country the woman singled out is India, emphasizing its challenges for those considering relocation.
According to her, relocating to India with hopes of financial prosperity and a better life is a misguided endeavor.
She emphasized that, apart from its reputation for medical tourism, the country lacks job opportunities and financial stability, especially for black individuals.
She categorically stated that India is not an ideal destination for those seeking to build a successful career or improve their living standard.
The second country on the woman’s list is North Korea, which she describes as the most challenging of all.
She emphasizes that relocating to this country can be perilous, and those who manage to leave alive are considered fortunate.
The woman vehemently advised against considering North Korea as a relocation option, citing its oppressive regime and draconian laws.
She described North Korea as a place where even minor offence can result in severe punishment, including death.
She pointed out the lack of freedom, strict regulations on behavior, and limited opportunities, especially for women.
The woman urged individuals contemplating relocation to conduct thorough research and consider the rules and regulations governing each country before making such a life-altering decision.
She emphasized the importance of seeking information and guidance to avoid falling into dire circumstances.
Netizens Reactions…
kobby said; “India is best when it comes to education.”
KC DIKE said; “I’m in North Korea since 19 years now, all is nice ok.”
prolaka P said; “Don’t forget my South Africa.”
X said; “come to Canada we are living good here.”
Talitha Cumi said; “Y’all must not come to South Africa as well it’s very bad guns everywhere, we always live in fear.”
Flowry7 said; “Sebi una say Nigeria no good. Go to Russia too n see pepper.”
Queen101 asked; “What if you want go join Bollywood?”
Night Walker said; “Bigger Blessings sister appreciate the alert.”
Nomanaz said; “I de come Indian com do juju.”
FhumulaniMunzhed995 said; “South Africa too pleaseooo.
Abdoukarim Badmos asked; “what about Luxembourg?
Zahid A86 said; “India and North Korea !!! I agree !!!
cleyz10 said; “Egypt…. Saudi Arabia infact never relocate to any Arab country.”
A Nigerian lady has sparked a debate online as she claims that a man is meant to take his wife’s surnameafter marriage and backs her claim with a bible verse.
She said that the Bible expressly instructed mento “cleave unto their wives” and leave their parents.
Lady.
In the video that was shared, she claims that men are expected to adopt their wife’s last names and give up anything related to their parents, including their names.
The lady quoted Genesis 2:24 which reads; “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
She emphasized that the bible clearly said that he should leave his family and join hers, so she wasn’t misinterpreting it.
She claimed that no one likes to talk about that particular aspect since it goes against the stereotype that men like to promote, according to which the wife should be the one to change her surname.
The lady partly said …
“The bible says you are are supposed to leave your father and your mother and everything that has to do with them, including their name and cleave to your wife, which suggests that you should adopt your wife’s last name and not the other way round.”
A Nigerian lady expressed heartbreak and cried in pain as she found out that she didn’t have a compatible genotype with her long-time boyfriend.
This was contained in a fresh video made available on her page on a social media platform.
In the said video, the young Nigerian lady was seen crying excessively, followed by a scene showing the moment she went for a genotype test.
While she did not reveal the results of the genotype on social media, she shed tears and expressed heartbreak after discovering that her genotype isn’t compatible with that of her boyfriend, leading them to go their separate ways.
She also shared WhatsApp conversations between her and her supposed boyfriend, which showed the moment they consoled each other over the devastating news.
In reaction to the heartbreaking video, concerned individuals have stormed the comment page of the post to share their thoughts.
See some reactions below:
De real Kim: “How do you people date for long without knowing each other genotype 🥺sorry.”
mummy Brianna: “No no dis is not happening 😭😭😭 was goody tell me it’s a prank pls.”
Chinwa: “My dear just be strong, I was there I know how it feels, what is in the front will be much better.”
Loveth Stephen: “God💔😩 I felt bad reading this🥹…. Sending you love my dear friend, God will see you through.”
King Jenny: “Wen me n my guy started dating not less den a year we went to check our genotype to avoid story dat touch.”
Oseyemere: “Omo I can relate..genotype did me dirty the only guy that ever loved me genuinely genotype ruined everything..sending you hugs darling.”
Renowned Fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, recently celebrated a significant milestone in his daughter‘s life as she, Aliyah Mofiyinfoluwa graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana Champagne in Chicago.
Pasuma shared a heartwarming video from the graduation ceremony on his Instagram account, expressing his gratitude and pride in his daughter’s achievement.
He wrote, “Haliamdulilahi Robin Al’amin, my daughter, Aliyah Mofiyinfoluwa Odetola, has just graduated with honors from the University of Illinois Urbana Champagne Chicago. Modupe Olohun Oba, anu nimori gba, kii shagbara” (Translation: “Praise be to God, my daughter Aliyah has graduated with honors… I give thanks to God“).
The proud father’s post sparked an outpouring of congratulations and well-wishes from his fans and fellow celebrities.
Many took to his comment section to express their joy and admiration for Pasuma’s daughter, Aliyah Mofiyinfoluwa Odetola, on her impressive achievement.
The graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone in Aliyah’s academic journey, and her father’s pride and gratitude were palpable in his heartfelt post.
See some reactions below:
abebi_aro: “Congratulations to You sir. Iwo Olorun Oba, mo be o ninu aanu nla re, jeki awon Omo mi naa o se aseyori loju emi mi Insha Allah.”
pacific_63: “Pupsy Aliya congratulations.u have not see anything. This is just a rehearsal of greatness in ur household. When the real greatness comes,the world would be wow!!!More to come insha Allah.congratulations!”
tundeyy_a: “I learned something from this Oganla….. Try to build your children no matter how your colleagues are building many houses that your future.”
horitokeh1907: “It’s not the amount of money you keep in your account or the properties you acquired defines how wealthy you are, congratulations to Alh pasuma, you’re a proud father.”
temmy_business_world: “Congratulations to you sir. I love the way you are always there for your children. May you reap the fruits of your labour on them insha Allah.”
officialkunleshittu: “I blow you plenty kiss baby and I also use you as a point of contact for my children to come out in flying colors like this!”
larica_labamba: “Oganla, I’m your silent fan and I respect your personality. You invest so much in very important legacies at which many affluent personalities have failed to give their children. Congratulations to you and the entire family. I’m so proud of you. I pray you live long to enjoy all your hard labour insha Allah.”
