Vernita Lee, the mother of media mogul Oprah Winfrey, has died at the age of 83.
People reports that Vernita passed on Thanksgiving at her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Oprah’s spokesperson who confirmed the news shared that Vernita has already been laid to rest in a private burial.
Credit: Bella Naija
The move is coming in a project tagged “CrossCheck Nigeria’’, a collaborative information verification initiative powered by First Draft, a United Kingdom organisation fighting misinformation globally.
CrossCheck Nigeria, due to be launched on Wednesday, will be coordinated by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), an independent and non-profit news agency in the country.
To this end, a two-day boot camp (training programme) opened in Lagos on Monday for about 46 journalists drawn from the participating media organisations.
Addressing participants at the opening session, the Executive Director of First Draft, Dr Claire Wardle, said the project was aimed at improving the quality of information available to the voting public.
Wardle added that CrossCheck Nigeria would also help to debunk misinformation and fake news and sanitise the media space in the run-up to the elections.
She explained that the boot camp was designed to teach the participants about the new verification technology to be deployed for the project, and how to work in the media coalition.
According to her, the project will help the public to understand not only what to trust, but also why.
In his address of welcome, the Executive Director of ICIR, Mr Dayo Aiyetan, expressed concern about the “weaponisation of information either to deceive the public or injure the reputation of opponents’’.
Aiyetan stated that recent local elections in the country had shown that “the social media, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, have become avenues for politicians to spread misinformation, rumour, falsehood and fake news.
He noted that the media had a responsibility to verify information being churned out on social media to ensure that they were true.
“Journalists need to learn the skills to verify and fact-check such misinformation and debunk them before they mislead people or cause harm,” he stated.
The ICIR boss explained that under the project, the participating organisations would work together in disproving fake news or misinformation for greater impact on members of the public.
The participating organisations are NAN, The Guardian, Punch, Daily Trust, The Sun, Tribune, Thisday and The Nation.
Others are Freedom Radio, Premium Times, The Cable, Sahara Reporters, ICIR and Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Source: Pulse News
Kristine Guillaume, who is studying literature, history and African-American studies, was elected this month with a promise to steer the traditional bastion of the establishment towards a more diverse, digital-first future.
She has previously served as a chair of a diversity and inclusivity committee, responsible for making The Harvard Crimson more diverse and welcoming to students from all backgrounds.
“If my being elected to the Crimson presidency as the first black woman affirms anyone’s sense of belonging at Harvard, then that will continue to affirm the work that I’m doing,” she told The New York Times.
The 20-year-old is the third black president and first black woman to helm the organization since it was founded in 1873.
Credit: punch.ng
Some of my family members will be shocked but hey I am tired of keeping this secret because it is making me to be sick but here it goes My Name is Busisiwe Mhlongo and I am 24 years old… born in 1994/09/18 ♥?… in 2004 I was staying at my Uncles house in Harding,KZN..his First born son (we call him Sphamo) who was 17/18 years at that time would call me to his room and rape me (I was 10 years old).. this started when I doing grade 4 until I was doing grade 6, around June because that’s when I had my periods for the first time but he did Rape me Vaginally and anally. he did a lot of things that I wouldn’t like to re-iterate here.. I stayed with someone who sexually abused me and I didn’t tell anyone because he said he was going to kill me with Ratex. I kept that secret until this year cause I was struggling mentally and emotionally, Back in February I attempted to commit suicide, overdosed pills-in April I overdosed pills again- In June I starved myself hoping to die- in August I overdosed pills again- in September I attempted to jump out my Res but the security saw me and I couldn’t cause he said Jump I will catch you- in October I started cutting myself from my hand to my elbow and if I feel like the razor isn’t sharp enough I would get another one- I did it until it was beyond my control and I was admitted and of course Psychiatry Ward was my ward,stayed there for weeks and was diagnosed with depression and PSTD….Generally if you know me- I am a Happy person and I love everything about everyone, to be diagnosed with depression was heavy for me and the medication is just too much. My mom and my other family members are aware of this now that have done drastic things. I have never got a call from my cousin say he is sorry. What he did to me was damaging physically, emotionally and sexually. He robbed me my childhood and virginity, I will never be able to know what it’s like to be a child because of the things he did to me, he used a baby oil so that his penis would go in, he would put baby inside me so I can be “wet for him”. He did it for 3 years and he was never satisfied. I have been struggling to even wake up in the morning and eat, let alone to trust a man, I am struggling to believe that I will be fine because depression is not a fly by night thing I am living with depression and PSTD…………. I have lost everything you can think of and if I win this battle – it’s game over for my cousin! I am coming for everything and I know this wil be a lot of drama but I am not going to protect a rapist…
Protesters took to the streets in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, and Bilbao, reflecting how the fight to stop violence against woman has become a national cause in Spain.
“We are here for all those women who have been murdered, in Madrid and in Spain. We are taking it very personally,” said Rosa Orea at the Madrid rally.
Since 2003, 972 women have been killed by their partners or ex-partners in Spain, 44 of those so far in 2018, according to government figures.
“The situation has changed for our generation, but we have to keep fighting, because this (violence) happens more than it seems,” said Sofia Serrano a Madrid student.
Violence against women has been a key political cause in Spain since 2004 when new laws were introduced against the crime.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday reinterated his government’s “commitment” to eradicate violence against women and “culture” of sexism.
Credit: Pulse News
Dolce & Gabbana has released an apology video following backlash it received for an ad campaign for their Chinese audience.
The campaign, which features an Asian model attempting to eat Italian food with chopsticks, has been described as racist.
In the clip, a Chinese woman dressed in the brand’s clothes giggles as she tries to use chopsticks to eat a pizza, a large cannoli, and spaghetti.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana released the video on Facebook, apologising for the ad which resulted in the cancellation of the brand’s show in China on Wednesday.
“In the face of our cultural misunderstanding, we hope that we can earn your forgiveness,” Domenico said.
“We will never forget this experience and lesson, and this sort of thing will never happen again,” Stefano said.
Watch video below:
Credit: Bella Naija
The LGA Chairman, Alhaji Garba Abdullahi, disclosed this while inaugurating a 10 member committee for the conduct of the marriages on Friday in Kafin-Hausa.
He said the LGA was directed by the State Government to assist the orphans by sponsoring their wedding, considering the high cost of the ceremony.
Responding, the committee’s chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Zakari, thanked Abdullahi for the appointment and pledged to discharge his duties with fear of God.
Members of the committee include Alhaji Muhammad Musa, Alhaji Muhammad Umar and Imamu Hassan, the Chief Imam of Kafin-Hausa among others.
Credit: Pulse News
Katy Perry is the 2018 World’s Highest paid Woman in music, according to Forbes, making a whopping $83 million pretax.
Katy plays 80 dates of her Witness:The Tour and grosses over $1 million per night. She also serves as a judge on ABC’s American Idol reboot, reportedly earning north of $20 million.
Ranking second on the list is singer Taylor Swift who raked in $80 million, with the launch of her new album Reputation, which sold two million copies worldwide in its opening week.
According to Forbes, the only reason she didn’t claim the top spot on this list is that most of her Reputation Stadium Tour dates fell just outside this year’s scoring period.
Beyoncé rounds out the top three, pulling in $60 million.
See the top 10 below:
Former US first lady, Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” has become the fastest-selling book of 2018 at Barnes & Noble, surpassing the Trump administration tell-all “Fear: Trump in the White House” by veteran journalist Bob Woodward.
In addition, Barnes & Noble also announced that “Becoming” had the best first-week sales of any adult book since 2015’s “Go Set a Watchman,” the highly anticipated second novel from “To Kill A Mockingbird” author Harper Lee.
Publisher Penguin Random House also revealed that “Becoming” sold more than 725,000 copies on its first day of release last week, the highest single-day sales of any book by the publisher this year, according to CNBC.
The BBC has released its BBC 100 Women list for 2018, which celebrates 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.
The list includes leaders, trailblazers and everyday heroes from over 60 countries, ranging from age 15 to 94.
Nigerians on the list include:
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, the 33-year old Social impact entrepreneur, who is the founder of GirlsCoding, an NGO that teaches girls how to code, design and build websites that help solve problems in their communities. Abisoye is also one of the 10 finalist for the CNN Hero Award for 2018.
Amina J Mohammed, 57 – Deputy secretary general, United Nations, Nigeria.
Amina is a former minister of environment in Nigeria and has previously been a special adviser to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Bola Tinubu, 51 – Lawyer, Nigeria.
Bola is a corporate lawyer who established the first free children’s helpline in Nigeria – Cece Yara Foundation
Chidera Eggerue, 23, The UK-based blogger – ‘Slumflower’ is a best-selling author and activist behind the social media movement #saggyboobsmatter, driving new conversations about perceptions of women’s bodies.
Other Africans on the list include:
Fatma Samoura, 56 – Fifa secretary general, Senegal.
Fatma is the first woman and the first African to hold the position of secretary general of Fifa.
Nimco Ali, 35 – Writer and activist, Somaliland
Nimco is an award-winning FGM (female genital mutilation) activist.
Noma Dumezweni, 49 – Actor, eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland).
Noma is the first woman to play the adult version of Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, playing in London’s West End and Broadway, New York.
Shrouk El-Attar, 26 – Electronic design engineer, Egypt. Shrouk is a refugee and full-time engineer, who uses belly dancing to raise awareness and campaign for the rights of the LGBT+ community in Egypt.
Raghda Ezzeldin, 26 – Free-diver, Egypt.
Raghda is a record-breaking free-diver, who descends to extreme depths without breathing apparatus.
Mamitu Gashe, 72 – Senior nurse aide/fistula surgeon, Ethiopia.
Mamitu is now an internationally certified fistula surgeon, after being treated for fistula (an injury which can occur in childbirth) herself.
Thando Hopa, 29 – Model, lawyer, activist, South Africa.
Thando is a diversity and inclusion advocate. Cast in the Pirelli calendar 2018, she is the first person of colour in South Africa to have featured in the publication.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, 35 – Environmentalist and advocate for indigenous people and women, Chad.
Hindou is an indigenous woman of Chad, advocating for the protection of the environment and for the rights of indigenous peoples on an international scale.
Helena Ndume, 58 – Ophthalmologist, Namibia.
Helena has performed sight-restoring surgeries upon 35,000 Namibians, free of charge – many of her patients now call her “Namibia’s miracle doctor”.
Olivette Otele, 48 – Professor in History at Bath Spa University, Cameroon.
Olivette is a historian and memory scholar who works on European colonial history and post-colonial legacies.
Brigitte Sossou Perenyi, 28 – Documentary producer, Ghana.
Brigitte is an award-winning documentary producer, who told her story of being a Trokosi – a practice that sends girls to serve priests in shrines as payment for the “sins” of their family – and being trafficked from Togo to Ghana.
Juliet Sargeant, 53 – Garden designer, Tanzania.
Juliet is a doctor-turned-garden designer working to make “places that feel as good as they look”.
Ruth Medufia, 27 – Metal worker, Ghana.
Ruth is a female welder who lives in an urban slum community and aspires to be a role model for young women in the construction industry.
See other names on the list below:
Esraa al-Shafei, 32 – Executive director of not for profit Majal.org., Bahrain.
Esraa has founded a diverse number of digital platforms to give a voice to those under-represented in the Middle East and North Africa.
Svetlana Alekseeva, 18 – Model, Russia.
Svetlana survived a fire that burned almost half her body and now works to help people with scars feel positive about their bodies.
Lizt Alfonso, 51 – Director and choreographer, Cuba.
Lizt has created an internationally recognised fusion dance company which has performed in hundreds of cities across the world.
Isabel Allende, 76 – Author, Peru.
Isabel, who was born in Peru to Chilean parents, is the world’s most widely read Spanish-language author and has sold more than 70 million books in 42 languages.
Boushra Yahya Almutawakel, 49 – Artist, photographer and activist, Yemen.
Boushra is the first female Yemeni professional photographer, whose work has been featured in international publications and acquired by the British Museum.
Alina Anisimova, 19 – Student programmer, Kyrgyzstan.
Alina leads the Kyrgyz Girls’ Space School, which aims to send the country’s first satellite into space.
Frances Arnold, 62 – Professor of chemical engineering, bioengineering and biochemistry, US.
Frances is the recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and her work on enzymes is used in laboratories, making everything from advanced medicines to biofuels and laundry detergents.
Continue reading at https://www.bellanaija.com/2018/11/abisoye-ajayi-akinfolarin-amina-mohammed-bola-tinubu-named-in-bbc-100-women-for-2018-see-full-list/
Credit: Bella Naija
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