US Commends President Goodluck Jonathan

*Says he has consolidated grip on power

*Believes Yar’Adua’s men won’t engineer political come back

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s consolidation of his grip on power is drawing applause from the United States of America which says his efforts are easing a political crisis that once fanned fears of instability in the country.

Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson said Washington was encouraged that Jonathan was moving on electoral reforms, anti-corruption efforts and peace outreach in the restive Niger Delta, the centre of Nigeria’s largest energy industry.

“I think he’s done a very good job of consolidating his authority and reassuring all segments of the community,” Carson, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for Africa, told Reuters in an interview.

Hollywood and Bollywood join arms to fight piracy

Hollywood and Bollywood linked arms Thursday to fight piracy, with the announcement of a coalition among the Motion Picture Association of America and seven Indian companies to tackle counterfeiting in one of the world's largest film markets.

 

The alliance comes as Hollywood tries to tap global markets more aggressively and as Indian movie studios grow in size and stature — narrowing the gap between Indian and U.S. filmmakers, who have not always seen eye-to-eye on intellectual property issues.

A year in the making, the coalition to fight film piracy in India will work with movie theaters to crack down on camcorder piracy — the source of 90 percent of all pirated DVDs — with police to tighten enforcement, with Internet service providers to fight Internet piracy and with politicians to create more effective laws.

Jaden Smith features in "New Karate Kid"

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's family is getting crowded with action heroes now that their 12-year-old son, Jaden, is beating up on bad guys.

Jaden Smith stars in the title role of "The Karate Kid," a remake of the 1984 hit in which he plays an American youth in China who gets a crash course in martial arts from a maintenance man (Jackie Chan) so he can defend himself against a band of bullies.

The movie, due in theaters June 11, screened Wednesday for theater owners attending their annual ShoWest convention, where Smith received an award as breakthrough male star of the year.

Jesse James vs Michelle "Bombshell" McGee

Earlier this week Sandra Bullock left her home aparently due to an alledged sexual affair between her husband Jesse James and Michelle McGee. McGee is a tattoo model from San Diego who declared that she has been

My romance with Dbanj is a private affair - Genevieve Nnaji

Genevieve Nnaji "I can only say that I would like to keep my private life private and I really don't have anything to say"But if one part of a couple reveals that he is going out with someone as high profile as yourself, it makes the story credible if you can actually confirm this...Genevieve "Dbanj is an adult and he has said something. Let's just leave it at that..."

Nigerian Breweries Plc pitches stars @ GUS celebrity showdown

Nollywood star actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu was not surprised last Friday when  fate pitching him with actress Genevieve Nnaji as host of the maiden edition of the popular reality and celebrity show, Gulder Ultimate Celebrity Search, sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc.

This show, which makes its debut this year, according to officials of the brewing company,  will however not replace the front line show, Gulder Ultimate Search. The original GUS show made its debut seven years and will resume later this year.

Udokwu is the three  times host of the widely televised reality show. He will be in the jungle with the other nine celebrities searching for the lost treasure in this edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search Celebrities.

He was once a leader who will now be led by another of his own, Genevieve Nnaji. “My legs are wobbling, the leader will now be led,”Udokwu muted as he realised that he was going to join the likes of Daddy Showkey,  Emeka Ike, Funke Akindele, Chioma Chukwuka, Muma Gee, Dare Art Alade, Weird MC and fuji musician, Obesere to  climb  trees, mountains  and ropes in search of the hidden object.

There’s no doubt Udokwu has advantage over other celebrities as a former host of the yearly show. But in the jungle,  he will have the likes of  Daddy Shwokey, Emeka Ike, Obesere and perhaps, Dare Art Alade to outwit.

However, one thing will set the reality show apart from the regular one. The celebrities will all take a sign_on_fee to participate and each will get eviction fee based on when evicted.

Showtime  learnt that activities in the house will also include the regular physical work and a bit of intellectual exercise will also be introduced to make it more exciting. Shooting commenced last Friday and the programme will go on air any moment from now.

Running on AIT, NTA network, STV, Africa Magic, Soundcity (DSTV) and other stations as an original Nigerian adventure programme with international standard, the audience will be treated to an 11 week- show of talents, fame and excitement.

From: Vanguard Nigeria