Career Gems Archives

In Career Gems July 16, 2019 By Women of Rubies

LASHANA LYNCH BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK AND FIRST FEMALE TO PLAY 007 IN NEW JAMES BOND FILM

Lashana Lynch has been cast in the upcoming “James Bond” film as the franchise’s first-ever black and female 007.

According to the Daily Mail, “James Bond 25” will introduce the new secret agent in a “pivotal scene.” While Daniel Craig will still portray the titular charcter, Lynch’s character has taken over the iconic number 007 after Bond’s retirement.

“There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says, ‘Come in 007,’ and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful, and a woman. It’s a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he’s been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman” an anonymous source told the Mail.

The upcoming “Bond” film will be directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who wrote BBC’s acclaimed comedy “Fleabag” and Golden Globe-winning thriller “Killing Eve.”

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems July 16, 2019 By Women of Rubies

MUSIC ICON, PATTI LABELLE TO LAUNCH A NEW FROZEN SOUL FOOD LINE WITH WALMART

Music icon Patti LaBelle is expanding her huge frozen foods empire with a new line of soul food that will be sold at Walmart.

Onstage at Essence Festival on July 8, LaBelle announced that she was partnering with Walmart to sell a line of frozen soul food that she believed was one of the first widely available.

“Coming soon to a Walmart near you, you’ll have my savory foods. There will be nine skus, foods like macaroni and cheese. It’s greens, it’s brisket, it’s chicken and biscuits, and five more I can’t think of them,” she said onstage during a cooking presentation.

In addition to her legendary singing career, LaBelle has created a wildly successful line of pies that have sold out at Walmarts across the country since 2015.

With the success of her pies, she decided to move into frozen foods, starting an inventive line of frozen dumplingsthat are also sold at Walmart.

“Patti LaBelle and I are now partners in our new Co BCH GROCERS LLC – bringing frozen dumplings such as French Onion Soup, Pastrami, Lamb Gyro & Bacon Cheeseburger Dumplings to Walmart – adding to the huge success with Walmart of Ms Patti’s record selling Sweet Potato pies,” famed author and restaurateur Stratis Morfogen said after celebrating the deal at Brooklyn Chop House with LaBelle, her son Zuri Edwards, Alex Thompson and Charles Suitt.

Credit: blavity.com

In Career Gems July 15, 2019 By Women of Rubies

AMERICAN ACTIVIST AND PROFESSOR ANGELA DAVIS TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

In honor of her tremendous strides in social justice and education, professor and activist Angela Davis is set to be induced into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

The organization, which was established in 1969 and is the oldest membership entity and museum dedicated to celebrating the achievements of American women, announced Davis and others as the 2019 cohort of inductees on Wednesday. More than 250 women have been honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

The University of California Santa Cruzemerita professor was nominated by the public and selected by a group of experts across various disciplines based on her contributions to the areas of the arts, education and humanities.

This year marks a century since the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote. Davis’ involvement in the fight for human rights has spanned over the past six decades as a former member of the Black Panther Party and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In recent years, she has focused on social problems of economic injustice, mass incarceration and the criminalization of Black and brown communities.

Davis, along with nine other inductees, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, will be honored. The ceremony will take place on September 14.

In Career Gems July 12, 2019 By Women of Rubies

MADONNA’S BREAK-UP LETTER FROM TUPAC SHAKUR TO BE SOLD FOR $300,000

The New York Supreme Court has ruled that Tupac Shakur‘s infamous breakup letter he wrote to Madonna while he was in prison should be auctioned off.

The court said that the letter now belongs to the auction company Gotta Have Rock and Roll and not the pop icon despite her protests for the letter not be sold.

The company obtained the letter from Madonna’s former art consultant Darlene Lutzand they plan to auction it off to the highest bidder on July 17.

Shakur hand-wrote the three-page letter from prison in 1995 when he was 24. In it, he ends his relationship with Madonna, who was 37 at the time. He died the next year.

“I must apologize to you,” he wrote. “Because like you said I haven’t been the kind of friend I know I am capable of being. Not because I am evil or because you weren’t worthy but at the risk of sounding overdramatic, the effects of racism make it difficult for a young black man to properly show affection for an older white woman.”

The memorabilia company estimates the letter will sell for up to $300,000. The minimum bid is $100,000.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems July 11, 2019 By Women of Rubies

TAYLOR SWIFT BECOMES WORLD HIGHEST PAID CELEBRITY

Raking in a whooping $185 million, Taylor Swift has been crowned 2018 world’s highest paid celebrity by Forbes.

Topping the Forbes’ Clelebrity 100 list released on Wednesday July 10th with the biggest earning of her career, it was gathered that her estimated pay increased by an insane 131% from 2017 when she made a paltry $80 million. The last time she got the spot was in 2016, when she made $170 million from her 1989 World Tour.

Kylie Jenner, the youngest billionaire got the second spot on the list with $170 million. Kanye West was third with $150 million while Swift’s good friend Ed Sheeran was number 5 with $110 million. Beyoncé was number 20 with $81 million earned. Ellen Degeneres was number 22 with $80.5 million. Kim Kardashian was number 26 with $72 million, and Anthony Joshua was number 49 with $55m.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems July 11, 2019 By Women of Rubies

BEYONCE ENLISTS AFRICAN ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS FOR LION KING-INSPIRED ALBUM

Disney has announced that the Lion Queen herself, Beyoncé, has executive produced an album inspired by the film, The Lion King: The Gift — which she enlisted African artists and producers for.

(Photo: Disney Studios)

Along with the exciting announcement, Beyoncé also dropped a new track off the project, “Spirit”, which serves as a taste of what to expect. The powerful, anthemic song will appear in the film, during a pivotal scene with Beyoncé’s character, Nala.

Speaking in a statement about what this album means to her, Beyoncé said:

“This is sonic cinema, a new experience of storytelling. I wanted to do more than find a collection of songs that were inspired by the film.
It is a mixture of genres and collaboration that isn’t one sound. It is influenced by everything from r&b, pop, hip-hop and afrobeat.”

(Photo: Disney Studios)

In the same statement, she reveals that all the music on the project has been worked on by the most interesting and talented artists, but also produced by the best African producers, in order to maintain authenticity in the storytelling.

The Lion King: The Gift drops on July 19.

Credit: konbini.com

In Career Gems July 10, 2019 By Women of Rubies

NIGERIAN SENATORS DEMAND DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPISTS

Nigerian senators have demanded that convicted rapists be punished with the death penalty to address the worrying cases of rape gaining steam in the country.

During plenary on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, Senator Rose Oko (Cross River North – PDP) moved the motion for lawmakers to review existing laws that’ll discourage rape crimes sweeping the nation.

She said the worrying increase in the rape of women and minors must not be allowed to continue.

Other senators who contributed to the motion pushed for the death penalty to be introduced as a deterrent to end the scourge of rape crimes in the country.

Senator Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East – PDP) said the implementation of the death penalty would ensure that justice is done for the victims.

“We should make it a death penalty. By the time you kill two people, people would have learnt and they will stop it,” he said.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central – APC), also backed the proposal to introduce the death penalty, urging the Senate to take the lead in putting an end to the scourge of rape crimes.

“Children are the most vulnerable group. Whoever is involved in acts like this, should face death. I think rape of a minor deserves a death sentence. This is what we need to do to stop this madness,” she said.

Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West – PDP) and Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North – APC) also said a stiffer punishment is needed to arrest the situation.

“This issue is not only satanic, it is also wicked. This is one of the satanic manifestations in the country.

“If we don’t propose stiffer punishment, people will continue to get away with it,” Melaye said.

Abdullahi said a sex offenders’ register should also be created to further deter people from committing rape.

“It is time for us to look at our laws and put sex or rape offenders on a register anywhere in the country,” he said.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central – APC), said attention must also be paid to sentencing guidelines. He also called for the review of clemency privileges.

He said, “There should be a minimum sentencing timeline, it will help. We need to look at the status regulating the prerogative of mercy.

“We have governors and state chief judges setting free prisoners. I believe we should focus on these areas. We should have the sex offenders register.”

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North – APC), said rape should not be tolerated and urged lawmakers to review and make laws that discourage others from committing such a crime.

The upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly called on the Nigeria Police Force to diligently deal with sexual abuse cases.

The senators resolved that the relevant Senate committees, when constituted, will push for the implementation of extant laws on rape of women and defilement of minors.

Credit: Pulse News

In Career Gems July 10, 2019 By Women of Rubies

MOBILE INTERNET SERVICES RESTORED IN SUDAN

Mobile internet services were restored across Sudan on Tuesday following a court order, weeks after the ruling generals imposed a blockade in the wake of a brutal crackdown on protesters.

Demonstrators were violently dispersed on June 3 by men in military fatigues, who stormed a weeks-long protest camp outside army headquarters in Khartoum where Sudanese had camped to demand that the generals step down.

Armed men, shooting and beating protesters in a pre-dawn raid, killed dozens of demonstrators and wounded hundreds.

Days later internet on mobile phones and fixed land connections was cut across Sudan, with users saying it was done to prevent further mobilisation of protesters.

Khartoum-based lawyer Abdelazim al-Hassan filed a case against the blockade, urging a court in the capital to order telecom company Zain to restore the internet services on his own mobile phone.

Days later internet on fixed land connections was restored, but the mobile 3G and 4G services remained cut.

“I returned to court and said that numerous clients of Zain and other telecom companies were impacted due to the cut,” Hasan told a news conference on Tuesday.

“Today, the court issued an order to Zain and to MTN and Sudani to restore their mobile internet services,” referring to three telecom companies.

Later on Tuesday the internet services on MTN and Sudani networks were restored, but not on Zain, users said.

Several subscribers of MTN and Sudani contacted by AFP confirmed they were able to make voice and video calls through social media networks like the WhatsApp messaging platform.

Protesters and rights group say the internet blockade was an attempt to quell protests against the generals, who had seized power after the army ousted longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April following nationwide protests against his rule.

For the generals the internet and social media had become a threat as protesters used online social media apps to mobilise tens of thousands of demonstrators.

The generals and protesters last week reached a deal to form a joint civilian-military ruling body, which would install a new government and parliament for a transitional period of little over three years.

The agreement between the two sides is expected to be formally signed in the next few days.

Credit: AFP, Pulse

In Career Gems July 10, 2019 By Women of Rubies

ASISAT OSHOALA SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP ‘GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT’

With the 2019 Women’s World Cup competition over, FIFA has released the shortlist for the ‘Goal of the Tournament‘, and Asisat Oshoala made the cut.

(Photo: Goal)

Oshoala was shortlisted for her stunning goal, which contributed to the Super Falcons’ 2-0 win over South Korea — making Nigeria the first African country to win their second group gamein the history of the competition.

The 24-year-old scored the goal after receiving a long pass in the 75th minute. She had dribbled past a defender and the goalkeeper, slipping the ball into the net from a really tight angle. She made the shortlist alongside nine other nominees.

Given that Nigeria couldn’t make it all the way to the final, winning this award will certainly be a huge consolation for Oshoala, the team and the country at large. So, while you watch her goal below, you can vote for her here.

Credit: konbini.com

In Career Gems July 10, 2019 By Women of Rubies

NIGERIAN WRITER, LESLEY NNEKA ARIMAH WINS 2019 CAINE PRIZE FOR AFRICAN WRITING

Nigerian writer, Lesley Nneka wins the Caine prize for African writing for her short story, Skinned. Initially, this story was published in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern (Issue 53).

Before the win, Arimah’s story had appeared on the shortlist for the third time on the Caine prize, and there is definitely no wonder why her amazing story won the prize.

According to a statement made by Caine Prize representatives;

“‘SKINNED’ ENVISIONS A SOCIETY IN WHICH YOUNG GIRLS ARE CEREMONIALLY ‘UNCOVERED’ AND MUST MARRY IN ORDER TO REGAIN THE RIGHT TO BE CLOTHED. IT TELLS THE STORY OF EJEM, A YOUNG WOMAN UNCOVERED AT THE AGE OF FIFTEEN YET ‘UNCLAIMED’ IN ADULTHOOD, AND HER ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE A RIGIDLY STRATIFIED SOCIETY FOLLOWING THE BREAKDOWN OF A PROTECTIVE FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MARRIED CHIDINMA. WITH A WIT, PRESCIENCE, AND A WICKED IMAGINATION, ‘SKINNED’ IS A BOLD AND UNSETTLING TALE OF BODILY AUTONOMY AND WOMANHOOD, AND THE FAULT LINES ALONG WHICH SOLIDARITIES ARE FORMED AND BROKEN.”

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