5 Secrets to Maintaining Work-Life Balance

In a world where more and more people find themselves working in roles that could be considered “always on” jobs, how do people achieve and maintain work-life balance and how do companies and leaders promote this way of life? It is a challenge to say the least.

Obamas to dine with royal family in London

Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama has a royally packed schedule in London on Friday.

Two of his meals during a stop in the British capital will be shared with senior members of the royal family. After a visit to Windsor Castle to deliver 90th birthday greetings to Queen Elizabeth II, Obama will meet for dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace in central London.

MoJ plan for legal aid residence test thrown out by supreme court

Ruling is humiliating setback for Michael Gove, who now will be unable to introduce scheme without full parliamentary debate

Michael Gove, the justice secretary, will be unable to introduce a residence test for legal aid this summer. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Government attempts to introduce a discriminatory residence test for anyone claiming legal aid have been summarily thrown out in a unanimous supreme court ruling.

'Here it is a big dream': Syrians taken in by Vatican begin new life in Rome

 The Syrians are being housed in the charity complex Sant’Egidio in Trastevere while their await longer-term accommodation in the Vatican. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Hot water, a plate of lasagna, the pleasure of a walk, and a night of peaceful sleep. Then, a breakfast with coffee, milk, bread and jam.

The twelve Syrian asylum seekers woke up to a new world in the heart of Rome on Monday,

NYSC to raise corps members’ allowances – outgoing D-G

Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the outgoing Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Monday announced plans to increase allowances of corps members soon.
Olawumi said this in Abuja while handing over to the new director-general of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure. He said the management of the scheme had drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the need to increase the allowances. 

Olawumi said there was positive signal that the federal government would grant the request. “We have brought to federal government’s attention the urgent need to increase some of the allowances due to corps members and recent response suggests a strong ray of light at the end of the tunnel. 

Candidate Won't Back Down On Rape Comments

Presidential hopeful Rodrigo Duterte says he "should have been the first" to assault an Australian gang-raped and killed in 1989.

Rodrigo Duterte is leading the presidential race

A Filipino presidential candidate has refused to back down after saying he "should have been the first" to rape an Australian missionary who was attacked and killed.

Rodrigo Duterte, who has been mayor of Davao City on and off since 1986, spoke at a rally on 13 April about his experience of being local mayor during a 1989 prison riot.

Jacqueline Hamill, 36, from Tasmania, was one of five missionaries murdered by a gang of inmates before troops stormed the jail, killing all 16 hostage-takers.

Mr Duterte claims he ordered the storming of the jail.

The 71-year-old told his supporters: "Son of a b****, (Ms Hamill) looks like an artist from America. Son of a b****, it's such a waste.

"What went on in my mind was they lined up and raped her.

"I got angry because she was raped - yes, that's part of it - but she's beautiful and the mayor should be the first one.

"So I killed them all - that's the story."

Mr Duterte's presidential rivals reacted angrily to the comments.

Mr Duterte speaking at a rally in the country's north in March

Grace Poe, a senator who is his biggest challenger, said the words were "distasteful and unacceptable".

Manuel Roxas, who is backed by President Benigno Aquino, said Mr Duterte had a "bestial attitude" towards women.

Amanda Gorely, Australia's Ambassador to the Philippines, tweeted: "Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialised.

"Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere."

But Mr Duterte refused to back down, saying: "I'm sorry in general because I can't say sorry to a particular entity or person.

"I'm sorry to the Filipino people, it's my style, it's my mouth, I said it in anger - listen to the story behind it," he said.

"It was not a joke - I said it in a narrative.

"I was not smiling - I was just talking plain sense narrative because I know when I talk about that particular episode in my life, people might say I changed something.

"That's why I kept the womanising.

"I'm letting it all out."

According to polls, Mr Duterte's anti-crime platform has helped propel him to the front runner's position in the 9 May presidential election.

 

Stella Damasus wishes daughter happy birthday (photos)

– Nollywood actress Stella Damasus celebrated her daughter as she turned 16 

– Daniel Ademinokan also wished Isabella a happy birthday 

– Stella Damasus reportedly “snatched” Daniel Ademinokan from fellow actress Doris Simeon

Stella Damasus and Daniel Ademinokan.

View Post below: 

Isabella was also celebrated by her mother’s lover Daniel Ademinokan. He captioned a
photo he posted on Instagram thus: “I’m blessed and truly blessed to have her in my life. 

One of the smartest and most creative humans I have ever come across in my life! Singer, photographer, painter, music producer and such a fun person!! Did I forget to mention that she is a self-taught guitarist? Gosh! How could I miss that she’s my occasional rehearsal partner.” See more pictures of Isabella below:

Isabella

Stella Damasus’ daughter

Isabella is Stella’s daughter with her late husband Jaiye Aboderin who died in 2004. Stella more recently moved on with Daniel Ademinokan, the estranged husband of fellow Nollywood actress Doris Simeon. 

Stella was accused of “snatching” Daniel from Doris and as a result was vilified mostly on social media by fans and foes alike. Despite the abuse, Stella moved to the United States of America to be with her lover who is currently embroiled in a bitter divorce with his estranged wife. Meanwhile, Stella has been busy with her album launch.

Ogun thrown into mourning as slain soldier is buried

– On Friday, April 15, Lance Corporal Adebayo was to rest in his country home 

– He was one of the two soldiers killed during the Rivers state election rerun 

– Parents friends and well wishers cried bitterly, calling for Justice to be served

It was a very sorrowful time on Friday, April 15, when Lance Corporal Adegboyega Adebayo, one of the two soldiers killed by hoodlums two days before the Rivers state rerun election, was buried in the Iyesi area of Ogun state.

Lance Corporal Adegboyega Adebayo

During the burial, tearful parents, brothers and friends of the 34-year-old soldier, who was
shot dead on the sea in the Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state on Thursday, March 17, decried lack of concern from both the Rivers state and thevernments. 
According to The Punch, the relatives claim that apart from the military, no government official had sent a condolence message or visited the family even though he died in the line of duty. Survived by parents, a wife, and two children – Marvelous, 6, and two-month-old Mercy – Adegboyega was described as the breadwinner of his extended family. 

It was learnt that he was on an assignment when his wife put to bed and had yet to see the baby before his death. His 66-year-old mother, Clara Adebayo, called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, saying that the family had been dealt a big blow. 

She said: “He is the breadwinner of the family. His siblings are well educated, but without jobs; he was the one assisting them. The killers have ruined my family.  The Rivers State Government should do whatever it can to help the family. He did not know his baby.”

Scene from the burial

The deceased’s father, Victor, a retired civil servant, said, “He died serving the country. I learnt he was shot dead at close range. “So far, no government official, either from  the Rivers State Government or the Federal Government, has visited us. 

I appeal to the state governor (Nyesom) Wike, to fulfil the pledge of compensation he made. He should not forget the family,” he said. The deceased’s wife, Tawakalitu, 32, told our correspondent that she spoke with her husband two hours before his death, adding that the incident was still a mystery to her. 

She said: “He was a loving and caring man. It was on March 17 that he called me that he was going for election duty and I told him to inform me when he got to where they posted him. About two hours later, I called his line, but it was no longer going through. I did not get any information until on Monday when my dad told me he was late. “The death was unusual. They were many on patrol. I don’t know where to start from. I gave birth to a child a few days before he died and he did not set his eyes on the baby. How will I cope?What kind of life is this? The Rivers State Government should come to our aid.” 

Charles Adebayo, the immediate younger brother of the late soldier, blamed the crisis between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state for the death of his brother. He said: “There are two masters holders in the family, but we are jobless. He was the breadwinner of the entire family. “His death has dealt an irreparable blow to the family. It is something that could have been avoided. More pathetic is his new-born baby he was unable to see. He was supposed to attend the naming, but he could not because of the nature of his job. 

“We learnt that he was heading for where he was posted for the election and there was a distress call from somewhere. God knows who made the call, but they made a U-turn. “On the way, an ambush was laid for them.  

People said Wike promised to do something reasonable to help the family, but as of now, we have not heard anything from him. In my opinion, it was the political crisis in that state that caused his death.” A soldier, Hamisu, one of Gboyega’s colleagues from Port Harcourt, Rivers state, described him “as a good soldier, very diligent and obedient. He joked with everybody; may his soul rest in perfect peace.” 

The deceased’s friend, Taiwo Adegoke, said, “He is the only friend I have. We have known each other for 20 years. I have yet to get over the trauma. He was like a brother to me.  

He was a soldier from the beginning to the end. “Based on the information I gathered, they were on patrol without using a gunboat, which is not acceptable. 

South-South is a volatile area, where gunboats are expected to be used at all times. Maybe it was sabotage, I can’t say. But his death could have probably been avoided if a gunboat was provided.” The killing of three soldiers, including a major and an official of the Department of State Security service between March 17 and March 18 by gunmen in two communities in Rivers state have sparked reaction among the residents. 

Leadership reports that there appears to be disagreement between Abonnema community in Akuku-Toru local government area and Bille community in Degema local government area of the state. It was gathered that the disagreement has to do with the particular place the soldiers were killed on on March 17. 

The people of Abonnema are claiming that the soldiers were not killed in their community but were ambushed and killed along the creeks near Bille community, while the people of Bille insisted that the gruesome act occurred in their terrain. 

Crisis hit Davido's HKN Gang

– Davido said his own blood is “hating on him” because of the newly signed artistes Mayorkun 

– Davido has been more than excited since signing Mayorkun and Dremo to his personal imprint, Davido Worldwide Music

Brothers at war? Davido and B- Red

Crisis is currently brewing in the affairs of Davido’s record label, HKN Gang, Naij.com can report. War began when the music star tweeted that his own blood is “hating on him” because of the newly signed artistes Mayorkun. Davido has been more than excited since signing
Mayorkun and Dremo to his personal imprint, Davido Worldwide Music, with both acts releasing a song each. While Mayorkun released Eleko with the video gathering over 1million views on YouTube, Dremo released Fela Back, sampled from Panda by Desiigner. 

While Naij.com cannot ascertain who exactly Davido is referring to, accusing fingers are pointing towards Davido’s cousin and artiste under HKN, B-Red. Sources within the label who does not want to be mentioned because he is not authorized to speak on the matter confirmed that there is a little in-fight between Davido and B-Red. He however said everything is being done to settle the matter. 

Paper works: L-R Dremo, Davido and Mayorkun during their contract signing

Davido has since been retweeting positive comments about the signing of Mayorkun and Dremo which have so far rated the two new acts far above other acts on the label. 

Other acts on HKN are B-Red, Sina Rambo, Danagog, and Deekay who is making a return to the label after he was sacked via twitter by Davido earlier in the year. 

Efforts to speak with the label’s general manager, Kamal Ajiboye proved abortive as calls placed to his telephone line did not connect. He also did not respond to text message sent as at press time.

A thief tries to steal from a house when he heard parrot's words

God sees and knows all things. This funny crime story about thief is a proof! 

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, “Jesus is watching you.” He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued. 


Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard: “Jesus is watching you.” Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.

Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot. “Did you say that?” he hissed at the parrot. “Yep,” the parrot confessed, then squawked, “I’m just trying to warn you that he is watching you.” The burglar relaxed.

“Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?” “Moses,” replied the bird. “Moses?” the burglar laughed. “What kind of people would name a bird ‘Moses?’” “The same kind of people who would name a Rottweiler ‘Jesus.’”

Keep this car away from fire: Toyota Setsuna is made entirely of wood

Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, has revealed a brand new ride. But this contraption looks more like a toy car than a fully functioning vehicle.

The Toyota Setsuna is a concept vehicle crafted entirely of wood.

The two-seater is due for an official reveal at Milan Design Week next Tuesday, but with a mere 28 mph capacity for speed, the car is designed more so as a symbolic gesture rather than for use on the road.

Described by Toyota as an "heirloom crafted in wood," the Setsuna represents a timeless family car.

"When we created Setsuna, we envisaged a family pouring its love into it over generations, so that the car gains an irreplaceable value," Toyota said in a statement.

Wood was chosen as the primary material for the car's body.

"As time passes, wood changes in color -- the physical changes in its wooden bodywork reflect the bond it has built with its owners and their shared experiences."

The dashboard also features a clock that records the number of years (up to a hundred) that it has been with a particular family.

The car is built using 86 wooden panels

A clock on the dashboard also counts years

Traditional techniques meet functionality

The body of the car is made of 86 handmade wooden panels, each of which are joined together using traditional Japanese interlocking techniques known as okuriari and kusabi.

This method allows for panels to be fitted without nails, so that when it undergoes a routine maintenance check, single panels can be removed and replaced without requiring a full overhaul.

Take a closer look at the Toyota Setsuna in the gallery below.

Banky W set to wed soon

Nigerian R&B star Bankole ‘Banky W’ Wellington is set to get married and start raising kids.

The top artist made the revelation in an interview with Channels Television’s Entertainment News. 



In his words: “Living an artiste’s life does not lend itself to (kind of) working on a relationship. It’s tough. It’s something that I actively (really) want to do, so I want to take some time off, after I’m done releasing this music and touring, I want to take some time off. Like I want to have some kids you know, get married, you know. Get married first and then have some kids.”…. although I gonna miss being at every celebrity’s marriage as a groomsman. 

Banky W is a prominent Nigerian musician  as well as one of the label executives at EME records, a label that served as a launch pad for Afro pop star Wizkid. We look forward to the big day…

Man turns to dog at TB Joshua's Synagogue

– Members of Synagogue Church Of All Nations watch in amazement as man turns to dog 

– A video clip shows a middle-aged man chewing his shoe as prayers of deliverance are rendered
There is a viral video making the rounds, the clip uploaded on YouTube by Emmanuel TV shows a young man transforming into a ‘dog’ during a deliverance session at the popular church of prominent prophet, TB Joshua. 


The video shows the man acting in an eerily bizarre fashion during a time of prayer, even to the extent of eating one of his shoes. 


According to the video description, “The demon within this young Liberian man is shockingly exposed, the entirety of his features contorting to the resemblance, movement and eerie sounds of a wild dog.” 

Here is the video below, watch and judge for yourself.

Trouble in Paradise? Mariah Carey’s wedding to her billionaire fiancée James Packer ‘put on hold’

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 21: Mariah Carey and James Packer attend “The Intern” New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on September 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Mariah Carey and her billionaire fiancée James Parker have put their wedding plans on hold.

One reason may be Mariah’s European tour, while the other reason is said to be the ceremony’s guest list.

While no one from James’s family have spoken publicly about the engagement, a friend claimed the billionaire’s mother Ros and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law are ‘very different women’.

‘Ros is a woman raised in the country with very traditional values who has maintained a dignified silence for all the years she and Kerry were in the spotlight.

‘Mariah is all bells, whistles and flashbulbs … they are very different women,’ a source told the newspaper.

But She Only Just Returned! Adele Is Getting Set To Take a Five-Year Break from Music

Even though she only just returned to the spotlight in November with the release of her latest album 25, it appears Adele may already be planning her next break, intending to take a five-year hiatus from the music industry in order to focus on her three-year-old son with boyfriend Simon Konecki.

A source revealed to The Sun: ‘She has told her closest pals she will step away from the limelight for five years before she next brings out an album. She’s still very new to motherhood and doesn’t want to miss out on Angelo growing up. It will be a hard thing for fans to hear.’

Adele’s current tour is expected to conclude in November of this year after which Adele plans to focus on her family instead of her career.

Lira is the Face of Bobbi Brown’s 2016 South Africa Campaign

South African singer Lira has been announced as this year’s face of Bobbi Brown for their South African campaign and she is the first African woman to represent the brand.

According to Marie Claire SA, Bobbi Brown had this to say:

I’m excited and incredibly proud to have Lira as an influencer for our brand in South Africa. I’m in awe of her inspirational life story and her strong commitment to giving back. Her positive attitude, natural beauty and confidence represent the brand’s philosophy of “be who you are beauty”

Marie Claire SA also shared a behind the scenes picture on Twitter.

We can’t wait to see the official campaign photos, stay tuned to BellaNaija Beauty for more on this story.

17 Year Old Nigerian Girl Allegedly Raped and Impregnated By Her Lebanese Boss

Roda T who worked as a maid for professional Lebanese chef Hussein in his Allen Avenue residence has narrated how she was raped twice by her Hussein.

I started working with the man as a maid immediately I came to Lagos. He agreed to pay me N10,000 monthly as my salary. When I packed into the house, my boss was not around but he came back two days later from his work place.
On this particular day, my boss was about to leave the house when his brother asked me to go and meet him and collect some money to purchase food items for the house. I knocked on his door, he answered and asked me to come inside. When I entered, I told him that his brother asked me to collect money to purchase food items. He said okay and got up from where he was sitting, and pretended as if he wanted to get the money before he grabbed me forcefully. I struggled with him and was shouting but he over powered me and raped me.
The following month when I discovered that I had missed my monthly cycle, I informed him about it but instead of finding solution to it, he raped me a second time. I then kept disturbing him about the growing pregnancy. What he did was to send me to a nearby chemist with a prescription but the attendant refused to attend to me without his presence. He later went with me and bought some drugs which he asked me to take to abort the pregnancy. I took the drugs but nothing happened. After some days, he bought another set of drugs which I took, yet, nothing happened. I then became very worried and was disturbing him to find a solution to the problem he caused. That was when he started threatening me and later sacked me after paying me N19,000. I was so afraid that when I went back to my brother who brought me to Lagos, I didn’t tell him that I was pregnant for my boss. I was just praying that the pregnancy will just disappear but it did not. Unknown to my brother that I was pregnant, he got me another job where I worked for four months as a maid before my new employer discovered that I was pregnant and told my brother.

Speaking to Crime Guard, Rhoda’s brother Joshua, said,

It was January this year that we discovered she was pregnant. Her stomach was still flat and we had to take her for scan. It was then she revealed that her former boss, Hussein, was responsible for her pregnancy. So, we went to Hussein’s house to confront him but he denied being responsible for the pregnancy. We therefore reported the case to the Immigration Department in Ikeja and on February 9, 2016, he was arrested but was later released
From immigration department, my sister was taken to the National Agency For The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP. Initially, officials of NAPTIP said she would be with them until she delivers but last week, officials of the agency came and asked me to come and take my sister back as she will soon deliver. The pressure and threats from NAPTIP became too much to the extent that I don’t know whether they are protecting the interest of my sister who was abused by a foreigner or that of the foreigner.
The next morning, one Hassan called claiming to be the nephew of Hussein. He said his sister informed him of our visit to his residence the previous day. According to him, whatever happened between his Hussein and Roda was a mistake and that they were doing everything within to resolve the issue while Hussein has agreed to take care of Roda until she gives birth. He however added that a DNA will be carried out to determine the paternity of the baby but the family will not refuse to take responsibility.

When Vanguard visited the residence of the Hussein in Ikeja, he was not around but a lady in the house promised to inform him about their visit and get back to them.

Vanguard also visited the Ikeja Zonal Office of NAPTIP but could not meet the Director as he was said to have traveled out of the state for official duty. A lady who said she was the Public Relations Officer told them that only the Director was authorized to speak to the press on the issue and promised to get back to them when the Director gets back, but since then, her contacts have been unreachable according toVanguard.

Wizkid’s Alleged Second Baby Mama Finally reveals her son’s Face

 

For the longest time Wizkid’s alleged second baby mama has kept the identity of her son, Ayo Balogun Jnr, a secret.

In her most recent post on Instagram she has unveiled his face and he is so cute.

Binta Diamond Diallo captioned the photo “My lil man. King Ayo”.

Exclusive: Harrysong hawked gala in traffic (photos)

– Harrysong spotted hawking Gala in Lagos traffic 

– The music star became Gala ambassador in January 

– His hit single Reggae Blues, fetched him an award in February

Harrysong

Award winning Five Star music artist Harrysong few days back sang praises of his best
friend and colleague, cd John who passed away five years ago in a car accident. 

Harrysong on Thursday was spotted on the street of Lagos, hawking Gala sausage rolls. The music star that seem to know his craft well was seen behind an elderly woman selling bottled drinks in traffic but unknown to many, he was only fulfilling his ambassadorial duties. 

Speaking with NAIJ.COM, Harrysong said: “I was not only the street of Lagos, sharing gala to my fans as I moved from car to car but I also visited the factory to inspect how the Gala sausage rolls are made. Everyone was happy to show me round the whole factory and I had a great time with the team. It is my duty to make sure Nigerians get the best from Gala.”

The music star hawking Gala in traffic

Harrysong inspecting the Gala factory

Harrysong with staffs of Gala

In January, Harrysong bagged his first Gala endorsement which was announced by his label mate, Kcee. He said: “Congratulations and a happy new year to my brother and my friend @iamharrysong on your endorsement as first ever official ambassador of GALA. This is just the beginning of good news to come for us all in the year 2016. If you believe it’s going to be a year of positive testimony for you too say amen. #sharethegalawithaboo.” 

His song Reggae Blues which bagged him the Gala endorsement also fetched him an award as ‘Sun Most Creative Man of The Year.’