Tuesday, 12 August 2014

BEYONCE TURNS TO GWYNETH FOR MARRIAGE ADVICE


When Beyonce turned to Gwyneth for marriage advice


 IMAGINARY FRIENDS: Beyonce and Gwyneth

If you care about Beyonce even a little bit, you would probably realise that things are pretty tough for her and Jay right now. You might think to yourself, "Look, I dunno Bey, like PERSONALLY? But I DO know how I'D FEEL if everyone keeps talking about how sh-tty my marriage is and some basic b--ch raps about it (badly) and ends up going viral."

You would be right if you got your empathy on. And you might have your own nuggets of wisdom to share. The only roadblock is, instead of talking the whole thing out with Bey, you can alsoa leave your legit marriage advice at the comments section of every internet story -- hoping that somehow, the universe will deliver the message to its rightful recipient.

It's cool.

But while we are all trying to reach out to Bey in our own way, somewhere out there, (in Southern California, to be exact) someone is actually counselling her through this. That person, of course, is Gwyneth Paltrow.

According to celebrity blog Hollywood Life, the 32-year-old singer is "hiding out" at her BFF's house during her On The Run tour, and has been "leaning on Gwyneth for support and advice on how to best handle her rocky relationship with Jay Z."

But hey, why listen to "anonymous sources" from gossip sites when you can simply IMAGINE how the conversation would've played out? This is exactly what Vanity Fair writer Josh Duboff did and the result is glorious.

Here is a snippet of the imagined conversation for your enjoyment. In fact, it is so shockingly vivid that you'll feel as if you have witness the whole thing yourself:

SCENE: Beyoncé visits Gwyneth Paltrow's house in California.

Gwyneth greets Beyoncé with a glass. "Drink this. It's eel-infused water. You'll feel like a new person."

Beyoncé sighs. "Feeling like a new person sounds pretty good right about now." She downs the drink.

Gwyneth gestures toward a stone slab by the wall. "Sit," she nods. "I know it looks uncomfortable, but, I'm telling you, one week of sitting on stone and your entire essence will shift."

Gwyneth moves into a lunging yoga position. "So tell me about you and Jay. What is going on?"

Read the rest of the imagined conversation here.

BOKO HARAM CRISIS: NIGERIA'S SOLDIERS' WIVES PROTEST


Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria soldiers' wives protest
Government troops are trying hard to defeat the well-armed insurgents

"The wives of Nigerian soldiers have protested against their husbands being sent to fight militant Islamist group 'Boko Haram", a demonstrator has said.

The protest which was at the main military barracks in north-eastern Maiduguri city came as the government vowed to re-take Gwoza town from the militants.

Hundreds of people were killed when Boko Haram seized Gwoza last week, the area's senator, Ali Ndume, said.

Boko Haram is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in the capital, Abuja, says he understands that about 100 women protested at the Giwa barracks in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

'Throat slit'

It is the latest sign of growing dissatisfaction with the military top brass, he says.

Soldiers have repeatedly complained Boko Haram has superior firepower and they are in position to confront the militants.

In May, some soldiers opened fire on their commander, Maj-Gen Ahmed Mohammed, at Maiduguri's Maimalari barracks, blaming him for the killing of their colleagues by Boko Haram fighters.


Who are Boko Haram?
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has been designated a terrorist by the US government
Founded in 2002
Initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
Launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state
Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - but also attacks on police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
Some three million people affected
Declared terrorist group by US in 2013

NIGERIA: HOW LAGOS NURSING MOTHER GOT INFECTED WITH EBOLA VIRUS - DOCTOR

A medical doctor has described how a nursing mother who is one of the confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in Lagos contracted the disease while attending her antenatal care at First Consultant Hospital in Obalende, Lagos where the first victim of Ebola virus in Nigeria, Patrick Sawyerr, died. The lady was confirmed to have the deadly disease after testing positive at the NNPC staff clinic on Muri Okunola street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.

Speaking anonymously with Punch, the doctor said;
'The lady attended ante-natal at First Consultant prior to the arrival of the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer. She was delivered of her baby at the hospital after which she was discharged. A few weeks later, Mr. Sawyer came around and was attended to by health workers. He was first treated for malaria, then typhoid, before there was high index of suspicion. He tested positive for Ebola and died. Then the woman, who gave birth at the hospital came back to the hospital for her baby’s immunization. The nurses who attended to Sawyer also attended to her. When she visited the place again last week, she discovered the place had been shut down for proper fumigation as a means of control against Ebola.” he said. Continue...

Seeing that the hospital has been shut down, the lady who had started showing signs of fever proceeded to the NNPC staff clinic which was close by.
'She was first treated for Malaria. However, after some medical tests, there was a high suspicion of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. On Friday, the Lagos State’s emergency response team on Ebola virus came around and took her to the Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he added.

The management of the hospital after confirming she had the deadly virus immediately shut down the hospital indefinitely.


Confirming the doctor's report, the Medical Officer of Health, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, Dr. Wale Akeredolu, said the woman's baby has been quarantined and is under surveillance
“The baby has also been quarantined to see if after the incubation period of two to 21 days, she would manifest the symptoms of Ebola.” he said

NIGERIA: EFCC ARRESTS TWO BANKERS FOR N661MILLION FRAUD


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two bankers for allegedly stealing the sum of N661,000,000 (six hundred and sixty one million Naira) from their employers.
The duo, Samuel Obende, a Branch Manager, and Rabiu Alhasan Dawaki, Head of Operations, both of the Bello Road Cash Center of Union Bank Plc in Kano, abused their positions to perfect the heist. They were saddled with the responsibility for the evacuation and supplying of cash to about seventeen branches of the bank in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa States. Continue...

In the course of carrying out their duties, they fraudulently conspired and stole the sum N661, 000, 000 (six hundred and sixty one million Naira only).
In an effort to conceal the illegal act, they fabricated accounting entries, which deceitfully showed that all the monies were sent to the respective branches.
Investigation into the fraud continues.

SON OF AMERICAN EBOLA PATIENT SAID SHE'S "SMILING, EVEN JOKING"



The American woman who was infected with the Ebola virus while working with a Christian aid group in Liberia is getting better and is even smiling, her son said today.

Speaking with NBC's Today Show, Jeremy Writebol said his mother, Nancy Writebol, 60, who was evacuated from Monrovia last week and was wheeled on a stretcher into a special isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, has gotten physically better


"When she came in on Tuesday last week, we were really concerned that she wasn't going to make it. To see her wheeled out of the ambulance and in, I was on the floor sobbing."
"We've seen her get physically better, her eyes brighten up, smiling, even joking a little bit" he said.

Jeremy, who says he sees his mum twice a day through a hospital window, said doctors told him they are cautiously optimistic she'll recover. Nancy is the second patient to use experimental drug, Zmapp

ACTOR AND COMEDIAN ROBIN WILLIAMS DEAD AT 63

Tributes have been pouring in for Robin Williams, as Alastair Leithead reports

US actor and comedian Robin Williams has been found dead, aged 63, in an apparent suicide.

Marin County Police in California said he was pronounced dead at his home shortly after officials responded to an emergency call around noon local time.

Williams was famous for such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.

His publicist said he had been "battling severe depression".

In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.

Williams had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to "fine-tune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.

The local Sheriff's office said Williams was found unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.

"At this time, the Sheriff's Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made," police said in a statement.

His wife Susan Schneider asked that he be remembered for the joy he brought to the world

In a statement, Williams's wife, Susan Schneider, said she was "utterly heartbroken".

"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken," she said.

"On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.

Watch key moments from the career of Robin Williams

Williams had three children from previous marriages.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1951, Williams joined the drama club in high school and was accepted into Juilliard School in New York, the prestigious American academy for the arts.

There, he was encouraged by a teacher to pursue comedy.

The actor was first known for his zany portrayal of an alien in the 1970s TV show Mork and Mindy, a character first seen in the sitcom Happy Days.

He was a regular stand-up comedian while continuing to act in such films as Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs Doubtfire and as the voice of the genie in Aladdin.

While many of his roles were in comedies, Williams won the Oscar in 1998 for best supporting actor as a therapist in Good Will Hunting.

In a 2009 interview, the actor told Reuters his children often referenced his own struggles with alcohol when he told them off for bad behaviour.

"They went: 'And you had a three-year drunken relapse'. Ah, thank you for bringing that back, my little happy creatures," Williams joked.

In his final Instagram post two weeks ago, he published a photo of himself and his daughter as a toddler with the message: "Happy Birthday to Ms Zelda Rae Williams! Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!"
Williams' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a makeshift memorial

Tributes have also been left outside the house in Boulder, Colorado used in Mork and Mindy's title sequence

Fellow comedian Steve Martin tweeted he "could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."

Martin and Williams appeared on stage together during an 1988 Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.

Comedian and talk show host Ellen de Generes tweeted: "I can't believe the news about Robin Williams. He gave so much to so many people. I'm heartbroken."

Actor Danny DeVito, who worked with Williams in Death To Smoochy, said: "So sad to think about this. Hard to speak. Hard to say. Hard to take.

"All I can think about is what a joy he was to be with. I'm devastated. My heart is broken by this news."

GAME OF THRONES ACTOR DEAD


Veteran actor dies after filming first Game of Thrones scenes

JJ Murphy had joined the cast of Game of Thrones as the oldest member of the Night's Watch

A veteran actor who had just filmed his first scenes for Game of Thrones has died.

JJ Murphy, 86, died suddenly on Friday at his home in Belfast.

Mr Murphy had joined the cast for series five of the HBO series recently, which is largely filmed in Northern Ireland.

He had been cast as Ser Denys Mallister of the Night's Watch. The character was due to appear throughout series five.

Mr Murphy had been expected to film more scenes this summer.

He also had a role alongside fellow Game of Thrones actor, Charles Dance, in the upcoming Hollywood film, Dracula Untold.

The movie was filmed in Northern Ireland in 2013 with a budget of £100m, and is due to be released in October.

Dracula Untold was not Mr Murphy's first experience of Bram Stoker's creation. He played Van Helsing in a 1980 production of The Death of Dracula at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

He was well known in Northern Ireland for his stage work having trained at the Old Group Drama School in the 1940s, and as a member of the Lyric Players Theatre.

Belfast born Mr Murphy leaves behind wife Mary, and two children, Joseph and Jane, and granddaughter Sarah-Jane.

His funeral will be held in Belfast on Wednesday.

WOMAN HANGS HERSELF IN FESTIVAL TOILET

Up to 38,000 people attended the four-day event at Matterley Bowl near Winchester

A woman who died at a music festival in Hampshire was found hanging in a campsite toilet, an inquest has heard.

Lisa Williamson, from Bromyard, Herefordshire, was found unconscious at the BoomTown Fair site near Winchester, on Saturday afternoon.

The 31-year-old, who was at the event with her husband, was treated by medical staff on site and taken to hospital but unfortunately, died later.

The inquest, which was adjourned, heard the cause of death was hanging.

Up to 38,000 people attended the four-day event at Matterley Bowl near Winchester.

Last year, Ellie Rowe, 18, also died after taking the drug ketamine during the festival.

IRAQ CRISIS: RAF TORNADOS TO BE READY TO JOIN AID EFFORT


Iraq crisis: RAF Tornados to be ready to join aid effort
The RAF Tornado jets, similar to this one, would not have a combat role

RAF Tornado jets are to be sent for possible use in the aid operation in northern Iraq, where many thousands of people are fleeing Islamist fighters.

The Ministry of Defence said the planes would leave RAF Marham in Norfolk within the next 48 hours.

The bombers will not have a combat role, but could carry out surveillance to assist delivery of aid supplies.

Here, the prime minister is resisting pressure to recall Parliament to debate a military role in the Iraq crisis.

David Cameron's spokeswoman said a recall was "not on the cards", while Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond ruled out a combat role for the UK amid growing calls for military involvement.

Aid drops
Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, with continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups.

"way or another, these maniacs, these medieval maniacs in the so-called Islamic State have got to be defeated", Jack StrawFormer foreign secretary said.

Among those reportedly being targeted by fighters are Christians and Yazidis in the north of Iraq, where thousands of Yazidi civilians are trapped in the Sinjar mountains without food and water.

Downing Street said helping the trapped civilians was its "immediate priority".

"We have decided to pre-position a small number of Tornados in the region so that they could, if required, use their excellent surveillance capability to gather better situational awareness to help with humanitarian effort," No 10 said, following a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee.

It said this would be similar to the role Tornados played during floods in the UK earlier this year.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the jets, which will be operational by the end of the week, would not be used in a combat role.

"They would be equipped with hi-tech imaging equipment to pinpoint exactly where refugees were so aid drops could be targeted", the MoD said.

Dehydrated, starving and frightened: The BBC's Caroline Wyatt meets Yazidi refugees from Sinjar

The RAF has made one drop of aid to the Sinjar mountains - but aborted a second on Sunday over concerns for the safety of those on the ground. The next is likely to be carried out within the next 24 hours.

No 10 said it would work with Iraqi, Kurdish and international representatives in the area "to mitigate safety concerns".

The UK would also look at how it could play a role in getting equipment to Kurdish forces so they were better able to counter IS, No 10 added.
Many people from religious minority groups in the north of Iraq have been fleeing Islamist militants

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the IS militants' advance

The UK has spent £13m in total in aid for the displaced in Iraq but the PM has ruled out military intervention

Former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said sending the jets was a "step in the right direction" but urged the government to look at what further military assistance could be provided.

"One way or another, these maniacs, these medieval maniacs in the so-called Islamic State have got to be defeated," he told ITV News.

The UK government is facing calls to reconvene Parliament to debate the UK's response to the unfolding crisis.

But speaking after the Cobra meeting, Mr Hammond said: "I don't think that's necessary at this time. We are talking about a humanitarian intervention."

He added: "We don't envisage a combat role at the present time."

Mr Cameron, who is on holiday in Portugal, remains "very much engaged" with decision-making on Iraq, his spokeswoman said.

"Our focus is very much on the humanitarian effort at the moment. As such, recall is not on the cards," she said.

'Worth trying'

The US has carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS fighters near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Conservative MP Conor Burns, who has written to the speaker of the House of Commons asking him to recall MPs, said he did not know whether they would support military action but it was "worth trying".

"These people are being beheaded by people from IS, and our only response is to drop some food or water on them," said the MP for Bournemouth West.

Former British army commander Col Tim Collins: "The Islamic State are slaughtering their way through communities and must be stopped"

He said he thought the UK should be involved in air strikes and UK special forces should be deployed.

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said "air strikes are absolutely correct", while Tory MPs Nick de Bois and David Burrowes have written to Mr Cameron also urging a recall of MPs.

Ex-army chief Lord Dannatt added his voice to the calls, saying it was "not the moment for decision-makers to be on holiday".
Kurdish fighters are trying to hold off the advance of IS militants

He said UK troops might be needed on the ground to help support US military air strikes.

Labour MP John Mann said there was no need to recall Parliament "at this stage" but MPs must continue to follow developments closely.

The US has begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas who are fighting the militants, senior US officials have told the Associated Press.

Mr Burns said the UK should be "answering positively" requests from the Kurds to arm them, and that asylum should be offered in the UK.



Iraq's minorities

Christians
The majority are Chaldeans, part of the Catholic Church
Numbers have fallen from around 1.5 million since the US-led invasion in 2003 to 350,000-450,000
In Nineveh province, they live mainly in towns such as Qaraqosh (also known as Baghdida), Bartella, al-

Hamdaniya and Tel Kef

Yazidis
Secretive group whose origins and ethnicity are subject to continuing debate
Religion incorporates elements of many faiths
Belief that God's will is carried out by seven angels
Most important among them is the Peacock Angel, considered by some Muslims and Christians to be the devil but who Yazidis say was redeemed
Because of this, Yazidis are viewed by some as devil worshippers
There are estimated to be around 500,000 Yazidis worldwide, most living in Iraq's Nineveh plains