Rupert Grint Has A Very Good Reason For Not Enjoying His 'Harry Potter' Kiss With Emma Watson

WARNER BROS.

Most male fans of Harry Potter likely have a lot of jealousy towards Rupert Grint. He is, after all, the guy who gets the girl at the end of the series. That girl being Emma Watson’s Hermione, locking lips with Ron Weasley and breaking the hearts of every young boy and middle-aged creep in the theater.

WARNER BROS.

But it wasn’t as special as one would think for Grint. In fact, the entire experience was a little weird for the young star according to People Magazine:

“I never look back at that scene…
“I’ve known Emma since she was literally 9 years old and we had this very brother-sister relationship,” explained the English actor, 27, whose new film Moonwalkers was released this month. “And it just felt very surreal. I have a memory of her face getting closer and closer. Like, ‘Oh my God.’ I can’t really remember anything apart from that.”

Grint also talks about all the pressure in the scene and how “one take was enough.” Who knew that instead of it being a never-ending smooch fest like this:

WARNER BROS.

It turned out to be more like this:

WARNER BROS.

It just sorta makes you want to slap the guy in the back of the head or knock some sense into him right?

WARNER BROS.

Did The Internet Overreact To Susan Sarandon's 'Exposed' Look At The SAG Awards?

It would seem that Susan Sarandon caused quite a stir at Saturday’s SAG Awards. The 69-year-old actress is clearly a Seinfeld fan and decided that a bra/jacket combo was good enough to wear out to the awards show.

It was a daring move, especially since Sarandon was set to introduce the in memoriam segment of the awards, sharing some wonderful words about her dear friend David Bowie — and apparently sharing a lot else too. But the thing about Sarandon’s choice here is that it doesn’t really matter. She’s not breaking any laws and she pulled the look off nicely.

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Even Kate Winslet felt the need to get in on the action and touch Sarandon’s heart. It was quite the sensation.

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Hillary Clinton is making an emotional gun control pitch to Iowa voters

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)DES MOINES, Iowa — Hillary Clinton wants Iowa voters to consider gun control when they caucus in two days. At her event on Saturday, Clinton was joined by gun control activists Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords. Emotions ran high as Giffords, who was wounded in a mass shooting and still struggles to speak, suggested Clinton is the best candidate to “stand up to the gun lobby.” For her part, Clinton, who is normally far more subdued even when making a forceful point, raised her voice in anger and incredulousness as she argued America’s gun laws must change. “When I’ve traveled around Iowa the last couple of months, I have heard about … what happens when children, young children, toddlers, kids in elementary school find that loaded gun in the closet or under the bed,” Clinton said. “I’ve heard the stories. I’ve seen the news reports about the ones who are killed. … What is wrong with us? How can we continue?”Slideshow: On the trail and down to the wire in Iowa >>>Clinton was introduced at the event by her daughter, Chelsea, who said she “couldn’t imagine a stronger president to keep us safe.” After Chelsea spoke, Kelly, an astronaut, took the stage. Kelly said he and his wife believe “there is only one candidate that is willing to take on the tough fights.” He also alluded to the struggle that Giffords, a former congresswoman, has gone through in the five years since she was shot.Gabby served for about two-and-a-half years in Congress; then she was injured,” Kelly said. “You know, it’s tough for me to talk about this, but often one of the last things Gabby will say to me before she gets in the car to go to an appointment to do some grueling physical therapy, speech therapy, she’ll say, ‘Fight, fight, fight.’ She doesn’t give up.”Afterward, Giffords made a brief statement.  “Speaking is hard for me,” Giffords said. “But January, come January, I want to say these two words: Madam President.”Her words came slowly.“Hillary is tough. Hillary is courageous,” said Giffords. “In the White House she will stand up to the gun lobby. That’s why I’m voting for Hillary.”

Gabrielle Giffords, with her husband, Mark Kelly, embraces Hillary Clinton during a “get out the caucus” event at Iowa State University. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Though she didn’t mention his name, the elephant in the room was clearly Clinton’s top rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.). Painting Sanders as not being a strong supporter of gun control has been one of the main attacks from the Clinton campaign during their primary fight.Clinton said her gun control policies would be “consistent with the Constitution” and claimed she is regularly approached by gun owners and hunters who agree with her stance.“I agree with President Obama. The steps that he announced are ones that I fully endorse, executive action, put more resources into the work of doing the background checks, going after the gun dealers who are so irresponsible,” Clinton said. “But none of it will stick if it’s not a voting issue and, as you go to caucus Monday night, please think about this.”

Bernie, Hillary supporters to duke it out over tiny O’Malley camp

Democratic presidential candidate former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley leads attendees in a song after holding a town hall at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)DES MOINES, Iowa — On Monday night, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s tiny band of supporters will be the center of attention in Iowa precincts across the state.O’Malley had only 3 percent support in the final Des Moines Register-Bloomberg Politics poll, but because of the Byzantine rules of the Democratic caucusing process, his supporters could end up deciding the incredibly close race between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders.In each of the state’s 1,681 caucusing locations, a candidate must get 15 percent of voters to be considered viable during an initial count that’s taken at the beginning of the evening. O’Malley isn’t expected to reach that threshold in the vast majority of precincts, which means his supporters will be up for grabs — they must either choose another candidate, or their vote will not count.Wooing voters who back candidates that fail to meet the threshold has made a big difference in elections in the state in the past: John Edwards finished a surprise second in 2004 thanks in part to Dennis Kucinich’s supporters defecting to him. And Bill Richardson’s backers joined Barack Obama’s camp in 2008.The Clinton campaign is arming its precinct captains with special software to help them figure out how to keep O’Malley supporters from defecting to Sanders’ camp, BuzzFeed News reported Saturday. Meanwhile, Sanders’ precinct captains are being told to beef up on their O’Malley knowledge so they can entice his fans over to their side and to offer them delegates for the county convention as inducement.“You might have to cut a deal,” said Mitch Henry, a Democratic activist who was leading a small training for Sanders precinct captains Saturday afternoon in a coffee shop in Des Moines. “Let’s say in this case you have 10 O’Malley supporters. You would maybe offer them a delegate. You could say to them, ‘OK, you 10 come over, we give you a delegate.’”This is a largely symbolic concession — the O’Malley supporters’ votes would go to Sanders in the caucus, but in the county conventions later on, their delegate could switch back to supporting O’Malley.If horse-trading fails, there’s always the power of persuasion.“I would definitely beef up on the O’Malley top 5 issues, see what they are,” Henry told the precinct captains. Henry, who supported Sanders until a little more than a month ago, added that he believes most O’Malley supporters’ second choice is Sanders.“Talking to a lot of O’Malley supporters, there are a lot of ways Bernie lines up on the issues. A lot of them will say the environment [is their top concern], and Bernie is clearly superior to Hillary on the environment,” said Bri Steirer, a precinct captain for the Drake University area.But the Sanders plan to convince O’Malley fans with delegates and issues may not be able to compete with Clinton’s scheme. The Clinton campaign has trained its precinct captains to use software that calculates when it benefits Clinton to give O’Malley supporters a few of their votes in order to block them from defecting to Sanders. That means Clinton supporters would help O’Malley become a viable candidate in precincts where she would still carry the day.A Sanders precinct captain, Darlene Lawler, asked Henry about whether Bernie supporters should be trying to do the same thing — helping O’Malley become viable in cases where it would help Bernie.“I would not give them three or four people to be viable because you just don’t know what could happen,” Henry said, adding that the “math” can get complicated as the night goes on, and it’s easy to make a mistake.

Clinton’s campaign has an app that will help caucus leaders calculate the risks, however, which means they don’t have to worry about mistakes.

Ivanka on Growing Up With Donald Trump, How He’s an ‘Incredible’ Role Model to Grandkids

Ivanka Trump is a busy woman. In addition to working full-time as executive vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization, she spearheads the #WomenWhoWork initiative, founded the Ivanka Trump Collection, is an entrepreneur, a mother of two young children — and is expecting her third in two short months. Trump spoke to Yahoo Parenting about why she doesn’t like the “having it all” conversation, how her husband, real estate developer Jared Kushner, is a hands-on dad, and how her father, Donald Trump, has been an “incredible” role model for her children. Ivanka, who spoke to Yahoo Parenting the day before the Jan. 28 Republican debate, which her dad has bowed out of, does joke, though, that her kids are still too young to really know much about his presidential run. But that doesn’t mean he’s not priming them to follow in his footsteps: Between summers spent together at their New Jersey golf club, driving around the streets of New York City with 4-year-old Arabella, and teaching her how to point out potholes, the grandpa is “really, really amazing with the kids,” she says.Ivanka Trump: I feel great. Our house is in a constant state of chaos but I feel great. Arabella is very excited [too]. Joseph is less excited and is now just constantly reminding me that he’s my baby. … He’s very excited though that I moved him in to share a bedroom with his sister. They’re thick as thieves and it’s the most fun thing to ever have happened to them in their lives.I Never ‘Do it All’ — and I’m OK With That

You’ve spoken often about hating the “Can you have it all?” question. Why does it bother you so much? It implies that there’s only one right way to live your life, and that’s just not true. Having it all means different things to different people. In the arc of our own lives, even, we have different priorities at different times. What’s incredibly important and fulfilling today is very different from what I thought was important and fulfilling at 22. So the definition of happiness and fulfillment evolves. You have to discover for yourself what your priorities are and what’s important to you. That’s how I like to think about my life.Donald Trump’s Troubled Brother: When One Sibling Doesn’t Fit InWhat’s your priority right now? It’s really the individual time with each of them, spending one-on-one time with them. … Arabella loves reading. Joseph always wants to play with cars and trains with me on the floor. I make sure each day I spend like 30 minutes doing something with each kid.

Boko Haram: Jonathan reveals striking details

– Goodluck Jonathan speaks on how he tackled Boko Haram as the president of Nigeria.
– The former president highlights major achievements of his tenure.
– He reveals some secrets on stabilizing Africa’s dwindling economies.
The former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has revealed secrets of how he tackled Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria, while he was still at the helms of affairs.

Jonathan said that one of his greatest tools for fighting the war against against the sect, was education. He made the disclosure while addressing a press conference at the Geneva Press Club on Wednesday, January 27.
The former commander-in chief gave details of his post presidential focus and touched on some of the roles his administration played in key areas of the Nigerian and West Africa polity.

Ex-president Jonathan honoured in Switzerland.

The speech which laid particular emphasis on security and education can be read below:
Though this event is billed as a press conference on a Better Security and Education for West Africa, for the sake of time, I will focus on my experience in government which gave me a practical demonstration of how education impacts on security.
I will thereafter touch on my post presidential focus which is on advancing democracy and good governance in Africa and increasing access to opportunity for wealth generation in Africa.
If you peruse the official UNESCO literacy rates by country, what you will find is that all of the top ten most literate nations in the world are at peace, while almost all of the top 10 least literate nations in the world are in a state of either outright war or general insecurity.

Lower education levels are linked to poverty and poverty is one of the chief causative factors of crime whether it is terrorism or militancy or felonies.With this at the back of my mind, I began the practice of giving education the highest sectoral allocation beginning with my very first budget as president in 2011. My policy was to fight insecurity in the immediate term using counter insurgency strategies and the military and for the long term I fought it using education as a tool.
As I have always believed, if we do not spend billions educating our youths today, we will spend it fighting insecurity tomorrow. And you do not have to spend on education just because of insecurity. It is also the prudent thing to do.

Nigeria, or any African nation for that matter, can never become wealthy by selling more minerals or raw materials such as oil. Our wealth as a nation is between the ears of our people.
It is no coincidence that the northeast epicenter of terrorism in Nigeria is also the region with the highest rate of illiteracy and the least developed part of Nigeria.
In Nigeria, the federal government actually does not have a responsibility for primary and secondary education, but I  could not in good conscience stomach a situation where 52.4% of males in the northeastern region of Nigeria have no formal Western education.
The figure is even worse when you take into account the states most affected by the insurgency.
83.3% of male population in Yobe state have no formal Western education. In Borno state it is 63.6%.
Bearing this in mind is it a coincidence that the Boko Haram insurgency is strongest in these two states?
So even though we did not have a responsibility for primary and secondary education going by the way the Nigerian federation works, I felt that where I had ability, I also had responsibility even if the constitution said it was not my responsibility.
Knowing that terrorism thrives under such conditions my immediate goal was to increase the penetration of Western education in the region while at the same time making sure that the people of the region did not see it as a threat to their age old practices of itinerant Islamic education known as Almajiri.
For the first time in Nigeria’s history, the federal government which I led, set out to build 400 Almajiri schools with specialized curricula that combined Western and Islamic education. 160 of them had been completed before I left office.
I am also glad to state that when I emerged as President of Nigeria on May 6th 2010, there were nine states in the northern part of the country that did not have universities. By the time I left office on the 29th of May 2015, there was no Nigerian state without at least one federal  university.
Now the dearth of access to formal education over years created the ideal breeding ground for terror to thrive in parts of Nigeria but there are obviously other dimensions to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria and particularly terrorism.
You may recall that the fall of the Gaddafi regime in August 2011 led to a situation where sophisticated weapons fell into the hands of a number of non state actors with attendant increase in terrorism and instability in North and West Africa.

The administration I headed initiated partnership across West Africa to contain such instability in nations such as Mali, which I personally visited in furtherance of peace.
And with those countries contiguous to Nigeria, especially nations around the Lake Chad basin, we formed a coalition for the purpose of having a common front against terrorists through the revived Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Those efforts continue till today and have in large part helped decimate the capacity of Boko Haram.
Another aspect of the anti terror war we waged in Nigeria that has not received enough attention is our effort to improve on our intelligence gathering capacity.
Prior to my administration, Nigeria’s intelligence architecture was designed largely around regime protection, but through much sustained effort we were able to build capacity such that our intelligence agencies were able to trace and apprehend the masterminds behind such notorious terror incidences as the Christmas day bombing of the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger state.
Other suspects were also traced and arrested including those behind the Nyanya and Kuje bombings.
Not only did we apprehend suspects, but we tried and convicted some of them including the ring leader of the Madalla bombing cell, Kabir Sokoto, who is right now serving a prison sentence.
But leadership is about the future. I am sure you have not come here to hear me talk about the way backward. You, like everyone else, want to hear about the way forward.
I am no longer in office, and I no longer have executive powers on a national level. However, I am more convinced now than ever about the nexus between education and security.
My foundation, The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, was formed to further democracy, good governance and wealth generation in Africa.
Of course, charity begins at home and for the future, what Nigeria needs is to focus on making education a priority.
Thankfully, the administration that succeeded mine in its first budget, appears to have seen wisdom in continuing the practice of giving education the highest sectoral allocation. This is commendable.
I feel that what people in my position, statesmen and former leaders, ought to be doing is to help build consensus all over Africa, to ensure that certain issues should not be politicized.
Education is one of those issues. If former African leaders can form themselves into an advisory group to gently impress on incumbent leaders the necessity of meeting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended allocation of 26% of a nations annual budget on education, I am certain that Africa will make geometric progress in meeting her millennium development goals and improving on every index of the human development index.
Data has shown that as spending on education increases, health and well being increases and incidences of maternal and infant mortality reduce.

In Nigeria for instance, average life expectancy had plateaued in the mid 40s for decades, but after 2011, when we began giving education the highest sectoral allocation, according to the United Nations, Nigeria enjoyed her highest increase in average life expectancy since records were kept. We moved from an average life expectancy of 47 years before 2011 to 54 years by 2015.
I had earlier told you about the connection between education and insecurity.
I believe that it is the job of former leaders and elder statesmen to convince executive and legislative branches across Africa to work together to achieve the UNESCO recommended percentage as a barest minimum.
I intend to offer my services, through The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, for this purpose and I invite interested organizations to help us make this happen.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, this, in a nutshell are some of my thoughts for a better security and education for Africa and I will now entertain your questions,” the statement reads.
The Vanguard reports that the conference was well attended, with an audience made up mostly of diplomats, policy makers and journalists.

In the same vein, GEJ has made some remarks regarding the ongoing $2.1 billion arms scandal thatis rocking Nigeria at present. The ex-president said he would not interfere with ongoing prosecutions, adding that his voice will be heard on the issue in due course.

President Obama weighs in on 2016 Democratic race

In his frankest comments on the 2016 Democratic race to date, President Obama said in a podcast interview published Monday that Hillary Clinton has the skills necessary to govern and that the grassroots enthusiasm surrounding Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders does not remind him of the excitement that propelled his historic 2008 presidential campaign.

“Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose,” Obama told Politico. “I think Hillary came in with the both privilege — and burden — of being perceived as the frontrunner and she has been in the public eye for a long time and in a culture in which new is always better. You’re always looking at the bright, shiny object that people haven’t seen before – that’s a disadvantage to her.”

Obama’s remarks were the closest he has come in public to endorsing his former secretary of state — while distancing himself from the Vermont senator.

The president suggested Sanders will have to broaden his message if he wants to make the transition from a long shot for the White House to a legitimate one.

“One thing everybody understands is that this job right here, you don’t have the luxury of just focusing on one thing,” the president said. “As you’ll recall, I was sitting at my desk there just a little over a week ago … writing my State of the Union speech, and somebody walks in and says, ‘A couple of our sailors wandered into Iranian waters’ … That’s maybe a dramatic example, but not an unusual example of the job.”

When asked if Sanders’ rise reminded him of himself in 2008, Obama replied: “I don’t think that’s true.”

Obama’s comments on the Democratic race come at a critical time for both candidates as they battle for position ahead of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. And for an administration that has publicly affected a nonendorsement strategy, they amount to a tacit endorsement of Clinton, who leads in national polls but finds herself locked in a dead heat in Iowa and trailing Sanders in New Hampshire.

“The truth is, in 2007 and 2008, sometimes my supporters and my staff, I think, got too huffy about what were legitimate questions she was raising,” Obama said. “And there were times where I think the media probably was a little unfair to her and tilted a little my way in calling her out.”

Obama said Clinton “had a tougher job” throughout 2008 primary than he did.

“She had to do everything that I had to do, except, like Ginger Rogers, backwards in heels,” he said. “She had to wake up earlier than I did because she had to get her hair done. She had to, you know, handle all the expectations that were placed on her.”

He added: “Had things gone a little bit different in some states or if the sequence of primaries and caucuses been a little different, she could have easily won.”

Dad Arrested for Taking Daughter’s Phone as Punishment

When Ronald Jackson found a text he thought was rude and inappropriate on his then-12-year-old daughter’s phone in September 2013, he took the cell away. But the child’s mother, Michelle Steppe, balked at his action — and she called the police.Story: What It Really Means When a Father Abandons His ChildrenSteppe and Jackson have not been a couple for years, and Steppe is now married to a Grand Prairie, Texas, police officer. When the police showed up at Jackson’s door later that day and asked for the iPhone 4 back, Jackson refused. “At that point I decided the police don’t interfere with my ability to parent my daughter,” he told KHOU 11 News on Wednesday. But Steppe insisted that the phone belonged to her, and three months after Jackson refused to return it, he got a citation in the mail for theft of property. He was offered a plea deal in January 2014 if he would return the phone. Instead, Jackson hired an attorney and requested a jury trial.The case moved to Dallas County and, unbeknownst to Jackson, a warrant was issued for his arrest. The police showed up at his door around 2 a.m. in April 2015, and Jackson was handcuffed and taken to jail.Story: Parents Face Felony Charges After Kids Play Hooky. Is It Fair?“It made no sense to me for them to show up and make a big deal out of something that was a small thing,” Jackson said. “I couldn’t believe they would go to this extent for a cellphone. It didn’t seem right.” He posted $1,500 bail and was released after a night in jail.“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Cameron Gray, Jackson’s defense attorney, told KHOU Wednesday. “You would think we were on the Jerry Springer Show.”After just a two-day trial — in which Jackson’s daughter, now 15, testified — Dallas County Criminal Court Judge Lisa Green ordered the jury to find Jackson not guilty, citing insufficient evidence to prove a theft charge. Steppe disagrees with the verdict. “Even if you purchase something with your own money and have a receipt, it’s not yours,” she said. “Someone can take it from youAlthough Jackson won the case and is allowed to keep the phone, he said he has had to separate himself from Steppe and his daughter because of this incident. “I can’t ever have a relationship with them again,” he said.

Sanders meets with ‘evenhanded’ Obama, predicts strong Iowa showing

Bernie Sanders speaks to reporters at the White House after his meeting with President Obama. At his side is his wife, Jane. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)Days before Iowa voters decide the first battle of the 2016 White House race, Sen. Bernie Sanders emerged from a rare face-to-face meeting with Barack Obama on Wednesday denying that the president was trying to tip the Democratic primary scales in Hillary Clinton’s favor.Sanders, speaking in front of the West Wing after his 45-minute Oval Office visit, also talked up his chances in Iowa, New Hampshire, and beyond — but played down the odds that he would upset Clinton in the Hawkeye State the way Obama did eight years ago.“I’m not saying we can do what Barack Obama did in 2008. I wish we could, but I don’t think we can,” the Vermont senator said. “If there is a large turnout, I think we win; if not I think we’re going to be struggling.”Asked whether he had asked the president for his endorsement, Sanders laughed and replied: “Of course not.” He also disputed the widely held view that Obama has tried to convince Democratic voters to support Clinton.What the president has tried to do, what Vice President Biden has tried to do, is to be as evenhanded as they could be,” he insisted. “And I know there was some discussion the other day about a Politico interview in which he was tipping the scale towards Secretary Clinton — I don’t believe that at all.“I think he and the vice president have tried to be fair and evenhanded in the process, and I expect they will continue to be,” he said.Asked whether Clinton has overplayed her ties to Obama, Sanders grinned and replied: “I think the people of Iowa will make that decision in a few days.”With enough snow on the White House grounds to recall the senator’s home state of Vermont, Sanders had arrived around 11:35, accompanied by two aides and his wife. The foursome entered the West Wing through a side door that is frequently used by powerful visitors and keeps them well out of range of media questions.Obama’s public schedule listed a meeting with Sanders at 11:45 a.m., followed by lunch with Vice President Joe Biden at 12:30. The timing resembled that of a blind date between two wary Washingtonians, who agree to have coffee together but only with a firm time for the interlude to be over, a frequently unsuccessful effort to limit any awkwardness at “goodbye.” But White House aides later let reporters know that Sanders would likely take questions.The meeting came days after Obama made clear in an interview with Politico that he viewed his former secretary of state, Clinton, as his natural successor, while dismissing Sanders’ surprisingly strong campaign as “the bright, shiny object that people haven’t seen before.”His remarks were widely seen as Obama putting his thumb on the Democratic primary scales at a time when public opinion polls show the rough-edged Vermont senator posing an increasingly real threat to Clinton’s campaign in Iowa and leading her by double digits in New Hampshire.“Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose,” Obama told Politico. “I think Hillary came in with the both privilege — and burden — of being perceived as the frontrunner. … You’re always looking at the bright, shiny object that people haven’t seen before — that’s a disadvantage to her.”At the same time, Obama sketched out the political logic for his meeting with Sanders. The president has long made it clear that his goal is to unify the party after the primaries to make sure a Republican does not win in November.“Here’s my view: That whoever the nominee is, is going to need the other person’s supporters,” he told Politico.Obama regularly meets with Hillary Clinton at the White House, and their respective staffs are in close communication, while the Sanders team has comparatively been kept at arm’s length. But the meeting on Wednesday, held at Sanders’ request, suggested an evolving view at 1600 Pennsylvania of the coming primary battle for the Democratic nomination — a newly discovered need to cultivate him.Sanders and Obama have been in Washington together 11 years — ever since the latter took office as senator from Illinois. But the presidential candidate who proclaims himself a socialist and the president whose enemies insult him by calling him a socialist don’t appear to have much of a political relationship and even less of a personal one.

Fit for a Diva! See Mariah Carey’s Massive 35-Carat Engagement Ring From Billionaire James Packer

View photosJames Packer and a beaming Mariah Carey showing off her ring following the proposal. (Photo: Splash News)This is what an engagement ring from a billionaire looks like.Mariah Carey accepted a proposal — and a hulking, 35-carat diamond — from Australian businessman James Packer on Thursday and we can bet that it’s got her feeling emotions deeper than she ever dreamed of. The songstress flashed the bling soon after, while walking down the street with the mogul in NYC, but we have an even better look at it.

View photosThe massive 35-carat ring came from jeweler Wilfredo Rosado, who has been friends with Mariah for 25 years. (Photo: Wilfredo Rosado)Let’s hope she was accompanied by an army of bodyguards during that street stroll because that is one expensive ring. Vogue reports that it’s the size of Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé’s engagement rings combined. Yeah.The ring — featuring two small baguettes next to the massive center stone — was created by Carey’s jeweler friend Wilfredo Rosado, who said he “took the standards super high” when creating the piece that “could not be measured up to.” It took an “army of craftsman,” including an expert who is used to working with that large of a diamond, and the job was completed in two weeks with the team working 12-hour days.There is a small empty space on the back of the ring where Packer plans to engrave a sentiment.“I really wanted to create something for her that was about new beginnings,” Rosado told the mag. “But it is epic. It’s an epic ring for an epic time in her life.”According to TMZ, the engagement took place on Thursday when Packer — who has been marriedtwice and is the father of three children — secretly rounded up some of her closest friends for a dinner at Eleven Madison Park, which is known for its over the top flares, including one dish emerging from a dome of smoke. It was there that he popped the question in front of her nearest and dearest.Mariah, who is mom to twins Monroe and Moroccan from her second marriage to Nick Cannon, started dating Packer last spring. See how their globe-trotting, whirlwind romance unfolded in photos.

Let’s Help Ellen DeGeneres Find Her Earring

For 58 years as of today, Ellen DeGeneres has been one of the most delightful people on the planet. To repay her for all that she’s done for us, let’s help Ellen find the earring she lost on a red carpet somewhere.

Charting Mariah Carey and James Packer’s Global Courtship

When you are a certified diva and you romance a billionaire, your love story unfolds around the globe. Newly engaged Mariah Carey and James Packer’s whirlwind relationship sparked in Los Angeles, but has taken them everywhere from Aspen to his native Australia. We chart their canoodling course…

When you are a certified diva and you romance a billionaire, your love story unfolds around the globe. Newly engaged Mariah Carey and James Packer’s whirlwind relationship sparked in Los Angeles, but has taken them everywhere from Aspen to his native Australia. We chart their canoodling course…

Mariah Carey and Fiancé James Packer Lease Mansion for $250K a Month

What’s $250,000 a month in rent when you’re a billionaire?Mariah Carey and her fiancé, 48-year-old billionaire businessman James Packer, will be living together in an upscale gated community called The Oaks in Calabasas, California, ET can confirm. Emil Hartoonian from The Agency – a luxury real estate brokerage and lifestyle company – brokered the deal that has the couple paying around $250,000 a month (or $3 million a year) to lease the mansion.“The deal was done in just a few days,” a source tells ET. “The couple was not looking at homes for a long time. This is just the perfect place for Mariah and her family – it’s safe, it’s secure, it’s home.”WATCH: Nick Cannon Reacts to Mariah Carey’s Engagement With Hilarious MemeUndoubtedly, the 18,000-square-foot estate with sweeping views is impressive. The mansion contains a theater, sauna and gym, and all the stones making up the house are imported from Italy, our source says. Carey and Packer also have the option to purchase the estate, which has never been on the market before.The family-friendly estate is ideal, given that the 45-year-old singer has two children – 4-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan – with her ex, Nick Cannon. Packer also has three children from his relationship with his ex-wife, model and singer Erica Baxter – 7-year-old Indigo, 5-year-old Jackson, and 3-year-old Emmanuelle.Of course, the newly engaged pair is going to have some equally famous neighbors. The Kardashians, Drake, Will Smith, and Britney Spears are just some of the celebs who have homes in Calabasas.NEWS: Mariah Carey Rents Impressive Malibu Mansion – From Airbnb!Clearly, money is no object for the wealthy couple. Packer proposed to Carey last Thursday with a stunning 35-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring, designed by New York-based jewelry designer Wilfredo Rosado. The massive ring beats out pretty much all celeb engagement rings in size, including previously much talked-about bling like Kim Kardashian’s Lorraine Schwartz cushion-cut diamond ring from husband Kanye West, and Beyonce’s 18-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring from husband Jay Z, valued at over $5 million.

Presidency Vows Jonathan Will Be Prosecuted If Corrupt

 

The presidency has made it known that it the ongoing fight and prosecution of corrupt officials, the former president, Goodluck Jonathan will not be spared if proven guilty.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated that he has zero tolerance for corruption and has vowed to deal with any persons guilty of looting the country. This has been evident in the prosecution and detainment of high profile officials who served during the administration of Jonathan.
Premium Times reports that Mr. Femi Adeshina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity said on Thursday, January 21 in Abuja that President Buhari would not shield any corrupt president including the former president if found guilty.


“There is no accord,” he said, “if the corruption fight needs to get there (making Mr. Jonathan face justice), it will get there.”
A number of high profile persons especially from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are either under the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or have appeared in court. Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser has faced charges for the misappropriation of fund meant for the purchase of arms. Dasuki in his statement alleged that the former president ordered him to give out money to PDP officials to facilitate his re-election campaign.
Olisa Metuh, the spokesperson of the PDP was also arraigned by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N400 million from Dasuki. Chief Raymond Dokpesi was also accused of receiving money from the office of the national security adviser for the PDP campaign.
Mr Adeshina said the president has not signed any accord with anyone that the person would be shied meaning that all corrupt persons will be brought to book.
“There is no accord that if corruption is proven, it will not be tried. With this president, nobody will be protected. And I underscore it, if it needs to get anywhere, it will get there.”
The release of Jafaru Isa, a close confidante of Buhari by security operatives after he had paid back part of the money he allegedly receives has raised eyebrows with the opposition party accusing the president of selective prosecution.
“If the President had wanted to protect him, he would not have been arrested in the first place”,Adeshina said.
Meanwhile, the PDP described the recent arrest and trial of Metuh by the EFCC is an attempt by All Progressive Congress to silent opposition parties in Nigeria.
 

 

65 Year Old Woman Gets Burnt To Death By Cultists

A 65-year-old woman identified as Adejoke Adefuye was on Saturday, January 23, burnt to death by suspected cultists after setting her residence on fire.

Officials evacuating the corpse Photo credit: The Cable

The sad incident, which occurred at 19, Oshinfolarin Street Bariga, Lagos, rendered all the occupants of the building homeless, The Nation reports.
The hoodlums who struck at about 9:00 am, trapped the woman inside her room and set it on fire.
The suspects were gathered have camped behind the deceased’s room to ensure she did not escape.


According to a statement by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the incident was a reprisal attack from one of the cult groups after a fight that began on Friday
While other occupants of the building were said to have escaped with minor injuries, Adefuye who was inside one of the rooms, was burnt beyond recognition.
It took fire service officials and other emergency responders about three hours to put out the fire.
Rasaq Fadipe, the Lagos State Fire Service Director, while confirming the incident, urged residents to always inform the agency of fire outbreak on time.

He noted that the timely arrival of firemen to the scene reduced the extent of damage, adding that only two rooms were affected.

Boko Haram: Army Releases Report On Operation Lafiya Dole

The army has reported that about seventy Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in several clashes with Nigerian troops in the northeastern region of the country

Army continues to record successes against Boko Haram

According to a report by Major General Lucky Irabor,  the deputy theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the army says 70 insurgents and four officers have been killed in different encounters.

In the military’s update on successes recorded in operation Lafiya Dole, the army said on Sunday, January 17, the troops conducted a clearance operation at Shentimari general area and cleared Boko Haram enclaves and recovered 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Similarly, on Monday, January 18, at Chukun Gudu, troops encountered and destroyed terrorist camps in Jillam, Bula Butube general areas. During an exchange of fire, 10 terrorists were killed, 2 AK47 Rifles, 2 AK47 magazines, 2 solar panels and 2 GSM handsets were recovered, while 1 Isuzu vehicle was destroyed.
The statement further reveals that on Wednesday, January 20, troops cleared terrorist camps/enclaves at Ngwalimiri and Gazama in Damboa local government area. While conducting operations in Mufurundi village along Damboa-Bale road, the army intercepted 10 Boko Haram suspects from Bego, Mesemarri and Bale villages carrying bags containing food condiments, soaps, and other items. The suspects are reportedly undergoing interrogation.
The troops also had an encounter with terrorists during an advance from Wajirok to Ajigin. During the encounter, three of the terrorists were killed.



The statement further said: “In another development, one of our units located in old Marte repelled an attacked by BHT and in the process, killed 21 terrorists, while 3 soldiers were wounded during the encounter. One Anti Air Gun, 10 AK47 rifles,1 FN rifle,7 x 60mm MOR bombs, qty 342 rounds of 12.7mm, Qty 507 rounds of 7.62mm ammunitions, 1 Toyota Hilux, 1 Land Cruiser vehicle, 1 IED with charger were captured from the terrorists.
 “In a related development, troops took custody of 3 suspected BHT who voluntarily surrendered themselves to Damboa Vigilante Group at Kaya village. During interrogation, they claimed to have been forced to join the BHT Group and also participated in the Group’s previous attacks at Askira and other locations. As about 1719hrs yesterday, 21 January 2016, ahead of Cashew plantation near Maiduguri, an unknown civilian tried to gain access into the village but was confronted by a civilian JTF. In the process of the ensuing interrogation, he stabbed a member of civilian JTF to death but was shot by another Civilian JTF.

“In continuation of the ongoing operation, troops advancing to clear Dure village, came under BHT ambush at Rugga Fulani but were cleared. During the encounter, 8 BHTs were killed, 2 AK47 rifles,2 locally made Dane Guns, 3 AK47 Magazined with 38 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Similarly, a unit of troops cleared BHT hideouts in Wala, Tirkopytir, and Durubajuwe villages. During the operation, troops recovered 1 rusty GPMG barrel, 1 grinding machine and 1 locally made Dane gun.
“Equally, troops conducted a fighting patrol in Afe, Kudiye, Souma, Dika, Mijigeta and Mida. During the operation, the team made contact with BHT at Kudiye, Mijigete and 20 BHT were killed, while 3 rifles, 41 motorcycles were destroyed, and 370 hostages rescued and brought to IDP camp at Dikwa. Also, around Huyum, Jeje and Diba villages. The terrorists sighting own troops, abandoned their families behind which include 5 women, 12 children. However, own troops killed 4 of the BHTs. The women are currently undergoing interrogation.

The army report further stated that on Friday, January 22, three suicide bombers attempted to infiltrate into Maiduguri a kilometre ahead of Mafa roadblock. The troops in the area shot one dead, while the other detonated a bomb and in the process killed the third suicide bomber.
In his communique, Major General Hassan Umaru commended the efforts of the troops and renewed calls for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious at all times, particularly at check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools.
He equally appreciated the support from the public in rendering useful information on the activities of the terrorists. He said the public would be kept informed of the situation as the need arises.

Waku Advises Buhari To Arrest Jonathan

Senator Joseph Waku, one of the former chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, advises President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Goodluck Jonathan in the alleged diversion of money meant for arms procurement.
He said it’s unfair that for the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to be detained while ex-president is left a free man.
Waku noted that former NSA has repeatedly linked to the arms deal scandal.
He asked in an interview with Saturday Sun, “can Dasuki do anything on his own without the consent and approval of the president and the commander-in-chief?”
Arms Deal: Buhari Ready To Give GEJ Audience – Presidency
PDP’s former Board of Trustees member called on President Buhari to order the immediate arrest of his predecessor, restating that allowing Jonathan alone feeds the big man syndrome which he defied as one of the things killing Nigeria as a nation.
Waku said: “Is Jonathan bigger than Nigeria? Will Jonathan be the first former president to be investigated or quizzed over corruption? We should be able to draw a line between sentimentalism and patriotism. To me, asking Jonathan to speak out or being quizzed is an act of patriotism. Asking that he should be left alone is sentimentalism.”
“It is very shocking and disgraceful, most especially when you look at the caliber of people involved.
“Look at the names that Dasuki has been mention ing as beneficiaries of the loot. These are people that Nigerians until now look up to with respect. Tanko Yakas sai, Tony Anenih, Haliru Bello, people who are supposed to be role models, now turning into looters. It is a big shame. I’m highly disappointed with these people.
Famous Cleric Reveals How Buhari’s Change Mantra Can Become Success
“What does Anenih want again at his age? What does Yakassai want again at his age? It is a big shame on these two men refered to as elderstatemen, to be involved in alleged sharing and looting of funds meant to purchase arms for our troops to fight Boko Haram. These two old men should not only apologise to Nigerians, they and others that par­took in the sharing should refund the money to the national treasury.”
Presidential spokesperson recently said that in Nigeria’s ongoing war against corruption, President Buhari will not spare anyone who has a case to answer, and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, would face justice if guilty.

Chibok Girls: Army Makes Significant Arrest

The identity of one of the masterminds of the abduction of Chibok girls on April 14, 2014, will soon be made public subject to verification by the Nigerian Army.

The Chibok girls were kidnapped from their government secondary school in the town of Chibok in Borno state by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014.

Jarasu Shirawho, who is believed to be the sect leader around Damboa-Chibok-Askira axis of Borno state before he was apprehended last week in the state is believed to be one of the masterminds of the Chibok girls abduction.
 Thousands Return To Town Liberated From Boko Haram
Disclosing details of the arrest of the suspected leader of the Boko Haram sect, Major General Lucky Irabor, the deputy theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the suspect was arrested in one of the routine operations by soldiers.
He said: “We have in our custody a good number of suspected terrorists that were apprehended as a result of our routine operations.
“One of those suspects is believed to be on the list of our 100 most wanted terrorists’ leaders.”
General Irabor however noted that there was need to ascertain the true identity of the suspect before final confirmation to the media.
He said this was to avoid past mistakes where individuals were arrested based on mistaken identities.
“There are checks that must be done before final confirmation, facial attributes tended to show that he is the one.
 Boko Haram: Army Releases Report On Operation Lafiya Dole
“But then, there are other things we need to do to ensure that is he who we said he is. Although the facial attributes confirmed he is the one, but it is not just by looks alone.
“We have had cases where we had mistaken identity only to come up to say we are sorry, that is what we are trying to avoid this time,” he said.
Meanwhile, an attack by three suicide bombers in Maiduguri on Friday, January 22 was foiled by the military just a kilometre into the troubled town.
Brigadier General Lucky Irabor who disclosed details of the botched attack said the suicide bombers were intercepted while trying to get passage into Maiduguri by vigilant men a kilometre ahead of the town, along Mafa road.

Nigerian Female Celebrities With The Hottest Dreadlocks

Dreadlocks as soon become a trend in all countries around the world. While some as started their dreadlocks way back many are beginning to join the new fashion trend in order not to feel left out.

Even Nigerian celebrities do not want to be left out of the fashion trend as both male and female actors and actresses, music stars and many more rock their dreadlocks in different styles in order to complement their looks or to symbolize their personality.
, gathered a list of top Nollywood actresses with the hottest dreadlocks:

Actress Nse Ikpe Etim

Nse Ikpe Etim:
The beautiful gap-tooth Nollywood actress is famous for the dreadlocks trademark. Even on her wedding day, Etim carried her natural look. She got married to Clifford Sule in 2013. Nse can be described as one of the most talented actresses in the movie industry as she never fails to properly interpret each role given to her. Nse Ikpe Etim does not permanently lock her dreadlocks as she loosens them once in a while for movie productions or leave it depending on her character in the movie

2baba and Annie Idibia

Annie Idibia:
Nollywood actress and music legend’s wife, Annie Idibia who recently locked her hair is not looking bad at all as she looks pretty nice.

See The Latest Rumours In The January Transfer Market

Here are the latest news and rumours about football transfers in the January market.
1. West Ham striker Mauro Zarate has moved  to Fiorentina.
Zarate wrote: “I would like to thank David Sullivan and David Gold for believing in me and for giving me the opportunity of playing at such a special club like West Ham. I would also like to thank my team-mates for the good times we shared and wish them the very best for the future, and especially I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all the West Ham supporters for their unconditional support and affection, you are truly unique.”

2. Chelsea is chasing Everton’s John Stones.
His transfer cost is about  £38million.
Goal reports that Everton remain determined to keep hold of Stones, but that will not stop Chelsea from testing their resolve again.

3. Jurgen Klopp wants to sign Inaki Williams from Athletic Bilbao.
The 21-year-old costs around £38.1million. The club has  confirmed the release clause.

4. West Ham hope to recruit Fenerbahce’s Emmanuel Emenike and Fiorentina’s Khouma Babacar.

5. Manchester United are close to signing Aleksandar Dragovic.
According to the rumours, Dragovic was close to joining United last January, and it appears that it will finally go through this time around, with reports claiming that a £16m deal taking him to Old Trafford will be finalised within a matter of hours.

6. Atletico Madrid want to sign Chelsea duo
According to Fichajes.net, Atletico Madrid are in talks with Chelsea over a €50 million deal.  The club have sent director Andrea Berta to west London to sign Diego Costa and Pedro.

7. Tottenham is open to Bale return
Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino hints that he would welcome Gareth Bale back to Tottenham.
Bale was signed by Real Madrid for a world-record €101 million and has scored 13 goals this season. However, according to the rumours, Bale is thinking of a potential return to the ground where he first rose to prominence.
Pochettino reacted: “I don’t know – it’s about rumour. If we have the full option to sign him then why not? He’s a great player and he’s a player who can improve our squad. This is the type of profile we [try to] find.”