Hollywood stars commend Nigerian film-maker Jeta Amata on ‘Black November’

Black November” is the first film that represents a successful blend of the Nollywood and Hollywood Film Industries. If you haven’t seen this film and you are an African living in North America, then you are definitely missing out as this is a must-watch flick. This long-awaited Hollywood/Nollywood flick ‘Black November’ by Jeta Amata is now showing in LA and NY Theaters, iTunes, Amazon, and is currently being seen via Video On-Demand (VOD) on all TV cables and Satellite all over the US.

The film surrounds the events in the life of a Nigerian activist character Ebiere Penema played by Mbong Amata, which led to a face-off with Nigerian militants that held U.S. citizens in a hostage crisis. Kudos to Jeta Amata for being able to pull Hollywood’s A-List names such as Academy Award (Oscar) Nominee Mickey Rourke, Academy Award (Oscar) Winner Kim Bassinger, Satellite Award Winner Sarah Wayne, and Music Super-superstar Akon and Wyclef in this masterpiece work ‘Black November’.

Amata who continues to receive several commendations on this great movie had Award winning musician and cast Wclef Jean post a tweet “Jeta Amata u are my favorite director right now.” Award-winning Actress Vivica A Fox also tweeted “Love working with you Jeta!! U rock n make it happen.” Also Stacy Ivers, former VP of Warner Bros and Universal congratulated Jeta Amata on his Facebook wall for making “an impact in a very difficult marketplace”.
It is also not a surprise that this is the first time every major critic in the United States including New York Times, Hollywood Report, LA Weekly, Variety etc., are fully taking their time to review and comment on a film made by a Nollywood Director. Keep in mind, that they usually don’t review every film, only those that have potentials for success.

New York Dailies critic, Elizabeth Weitzman also commended Jeta Amata, “his primary storyline is evident, and well-represented by his star’s soulful performance as an ordinary girl pushed to extraordinary bravery.”

A notable critic, Guy Lodge also wrote in the Variety, “even modest exposure for this Nigerian-American co-production may encourage more native filmmakers to try.”

It is refreshing to see Africans telling our own stories in an overly-dramatic and unapologetic way, while still using international Hollywood standards.
Simone McIntyre also tweeted, “Congratulations Jeta so wonderful to shed light on this subject with the world.”

Also worthy of mention is that never has an African female activist/ hero been created and given this platform in the Nollywood Film Industry. No African director has taken such a risk and the chances taken by Jeta certainly paid off with Mbong Amata who rose to the occasion, delivered her best in the movie and refused to allow the big names to silence her opportune moment.

All the major platforms in America are shedding light on this film, and Indiewire also contacted Jeta Amata’s PR to request a story about the making of the film because they were highly inspired with the production. Click here to view the write-up.

Having E-One Entertainment also pick up this movie is another big achievement for Nollywood. E-One is the same distribution company in charge of Hunger Game & Twilight Saga, just to name a few.
This film serves as an inspiration to Nollywood directors to invest adequately into making Hollywood standard films while maintaining the authentic African story-telling roots. The audience continues to desire the blend of beloved stars from both Hollywood and Nollywood in future film productions and hopefully, Black November is the beginning of many more of its kind.

Black November is available to all on everyone’s On-Demand feature in America, so if you haven’t seen this movie, we recommend you watching it!

Dropbox Buys Mobile Productivity Startup CloudOn, Gets Office In Israel In The Process

Dropbox Buys Mobile Productivity Startup CloudOn, Gets Office In Israel In The Process
Dropbox is beefing up its team once again after it acquired mobile productivity startup CloudOn. The Israel-based startup confirmed the news — first reported by The Wall Street Journal — in a note on its website.

CloudOn claims to have nine million registered users of its service, which allows users to edit, create and share files from Microsoft Office and others online. CloudOn has ceased allowing new user sign-ups today, and it confirmed that its products will shut for good on March 2015 as its 30-person team transitions to working for Dropbox.

“CloudOn’s mission of making it easy to work on mobile aligns with Dropbox’s goal of giving people the freedom to work the way they want, wherever they want,” a Dropbox spokesperson said in a statement.

In addition to adding the experience and expertise of the CloudOn team, Dropbox told TechCrunch that CloudOn’s base in Herzliya will become Dropbox’s first office in Israel. The company opened its first office in Europe — located in Dublin, Ireland — two years ago, and the CloudOn deal signals its intent to grow its footprint and business in the region.

“We’re thrilled to continue building things that help people work better — and we’re proud and excited to join the Dropbox team to help people be more productive every day,” CloudOn’s executive team wrote.

No price has been disclosed for the deal, but the Journal reported that it is Dropbox’s largest acquisition in terms of staff numbers.

CloudOn has raised over $25 million in funding, with early investor The Social+Capital Partnership among its venture capitalist backers.

Dropbox said it has over 300 million users, 70 percent of whom are located outside of the U.S.. The company has taken an acquisition-led approach to growing its team and expertise. Past deals have seen it scoop up the likes of Mailbox, Audiogalaxy, PiCloud, Loom, Hackpad, and Snapjoy.

FREE Biafran Zionist Fighters Now–Professor Chukwuemeka Akanno

New York[RR] Enugu–Reliable source reaching Republic Reporters indicate that Professor Chukwuemeka Akanno has called on Enugu State and Federal Government to free Members of Biafra Zionist Movement, RR gathered. According to him, “I have not met or know Barrister Benjamin Onwuka, Leader Biafra Zionist Movement. But , “why is Barrister Benjamin Onwuka a Republic of

Enugu–Reliable source reaching Republic Reporters in  new york indicate that Professor Chukwuemeka Akanno has called on Enugu State and Federal Government to free Members of Biafra Zionist Movement, RR gathered.

According to him, “I have not met or know Barrister Benjamin Onwuka, Leader Biafra
Zionist Movement. But , “why is Barrister Benjamin Onwuka a Republic of Biafra Restoration Warrior and Biafran Biafran Freedom Fighter in jail?. An anonymous source who spoke to Republic Reporters who declined to give his name because of the sensitive nature of the situation said that: “Jonathan led administration and its United States partners should focus their energy to address Boko Haram menacing the country since 1999, or so… they have kidnapped more 300 teenage girls for over three weeks now, and nothing has been done about it…’, he fumed.

Akanno added: “Barrister Benjamin Onwuka is in jail for Biafra that is the bottom line.
Concrete action, Concern your self with Barrister Benjamin Onwuka release and freedom, write and email the world to make it happen. The only syntax/semantics that counts now is Barrister Benjamin Onwuka’s freedom…”, he signed off as A Biafran Citizen

Republic Reporters furthered that, “Benjamin Onwuka and other members of Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) were arrested by Islamic/Moslem man Adamu Mohammed, the Commissioner
of Police. How did an ISLAMIC Hausa-Fulani man called Adamu Mohammed
become the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, IN CHRISTIAN BIAFRALAND? Don’t be surprised the details of the news is false. I can bet that the police oppened fire and so BZM members defended themselves, and in the process killed a police officer, especially as
the the policemen in question were led by Moslem Hausa-Fulani ADAMU MOHAMMED..”, it said.

Meanwhile, S’East Governors after hours of closed door meeting condemned Biafran Zionist Movement, BZM, in its intentions to declare Republic of Biafra in what TA Orji called the Nigerian Federation.

He added: “..We condemn attempts by the so-called Biafra Zionist Movement led by one Benjamin Igwe Onwuka, who earlier attempted to gain entry into Government House, for the purpose of hoisting their flag and for invading the ESBS on Thursday, 5th June, 2014 in an attempt to take over the media house and declare the State of Biafra,” he said.
Read full text beneath:

Subject: FREE Members of Biafra Zionist Movement, Biafra Zionist
Federation Pro-Biafra groups, led by Barrister Benjamin Onwuka now!

FREE Members of Biafra Zionist Movement, Biafra Zionist Federation
Pro-Biafra groups, led by Barrister Benjamin Onwuka now!

THEY ARE REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA RESTORATION WARRIORS AND BIAFRAN FREEDOM
FIGHTERS OUR PEOPLE SUPPORT THEM.

BY PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THE LINE OF FIRE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
[CHUKWUABIAMA] WILL ALSO PROTECT THEM.

ALL BIAFRAN FORMATIONS AND CITIZENS OF THE WORLD SHOULD FIGHT FOR
THEIR FREEDOM AND RELEASE.

THE LUGARDIST AMALGAMIST STRUCTURE/SECURITY APPARATUS AN OCCUPPING
POWER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROVOCATION.

THIS IS THE SAME STRUCTURE THAT EXTRA JUDICIALLY EXECUTED MASSOB
MEMBERS AND DUMPED THEM INTO AWAKA LAKE.

THE WENT IN SHOOTING AT ANY THING ON SITE.

Special Thanks,
I have not met or know Barrister Benjamin Onwuka, Leader Biafra
Zionist Movement.

WHY IS Barrister Benjamin Onwuka a Republic of Biafra Restoration Warrior and
Biafran Biafran Freedom Fighter in jail ?

Barrister Benjamin Onwuka is in jail for Biafra that is the bottom line.

Concrete action, Concern your self with Barrister Benjamin Onwuka
release and freedom, write and email the world to make it happen.

The only syntax/semantics that counts now is Barrister Benjamin
Onwuka’s freedom.

Professor Chukwuemeka Akanno
A Biafran Citizen.

FREE Members of Biafra Zionist Movement, Biafra Zionist Federation
Pro-Biafra groups, led by Barrister Benjamin Onwuka now!

FREE Members of Biafra Zionist Movement, Biafra Zionist Federation
Pro-Biafra groups, led by Barrister Benjamin Onwuka now

 

***CREDIT**** To RR the original publisher of this article.

CBS report: 135,000 Ethiopians living in Israel

The report also stated that in 2013, 1355 new immigrants arrived from Ethiopia, nearly a 50% reduction in aliya from the previous year.

At the end of 2013 the Ethiopian population in Israel stood at some 135.5 thousand people – 85.9 thousand who were born in Ethiopia and 49.6 thousand who were born in Israel to Ethiopian fathers, according to a report released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.
According to the report, the majority of the Ethiopian population lives in two central localities – 38% in the Center and 24% in the South.  Among the major cities, Netanya maintains the largest Ethiopian community comprising some 10.9 thousand people, followed by Rishon LeZion with some 7.4 thousand and BeerSheba with 7.1 thousand people.  Some 5.9 thousand Ethiopians live in Jerusalem while only 2.3 thousand live in Tel Aviv.

The findings also indicated that the Ethiopian population was a relatively young one, with 29% comprising of children up to the age of 14 while only 6% of the population were over 65, compared to 12% of Jewish and “other” populations in Israel.

A majority of Ethiopians, some 88% married within the Ethiopian community in Israel, the report stated. In 2012 the average age for an Ethiopian man to wed was 29.3 years old, 1.5 years older than the Jewish male average; while the average age for an Ethiopian woman to we stood at 26.4 years old, 0.7 years older than the Jewish female average.

In 2013, 3,126 babies were born to Ethiopian mothers, with the average woman giving birth to 2.8 children, compared to 3.05 children among the Jewish population.

The report also stated that in 2013, 1355 new immigrants arrived from Ethiopia, nearly a 50% reduction in aliya from the previous year.

According to the report the average Ethiopian household, whereby one or both parents were born in Ethiopia, has monthly consumption expenditures of NIS 9,385 compared to the national average consumption expenditures of NIS 14,501 per household – a 35% gap.

Furthermore, the average monthly household income for Ethiopian families stood at NIS 11,453 compared to a national household average of NIS 17,711 – also indicating a 35% gap in income.

In addition, the findings indicated that the average Ethiopian household has 2 wage earners, higher than the national average of 1.5 wage earners per household.  However, the average Ethiopian household has 4.4 people compared to the national average of 3.3 people per household.

With regards to education, 45.3% of Ethiopian students in elementary through high schools study in the state education system whereas 51.3% study in the state-religious education system.

In 2013, the percentage of Ethiopian graduates who took the matriculation examinations stood at 88%, compared to 82% of Jewish students.  However, the findings indicated that only 50% were eligible for the matriculation certificate, compared to 63% among Jewish students.

With regards to higher education, the 2013/14 academic year, saw 312,528 students studying at higher education institutions in Israel, of which some 2,785 were Ethiopian.  Of the students, 88% pursued undergraduate degrees, 11.2% were studying for a Master’s degree and 0.5% were pursuing Ph.Ds.

 

Heineken opens €110m facility in Ethiopia

Heineken has inaugurated a new brewery on the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, that has the potential to transform the Dutch firm’s presence in the country.

The 1.5m hectolitre-capacity facility in the suburb of Kilinto is providing 280 jobs for the local economy and is already producing the recently-launched Bedele and Harar brands of beer for the Ethiopian market.

It increases the amount that Heineken has invested in Ethiopia to €310m over the last four years, when it acquired the two beer brands from the country’s government and signaled its intention to enhance its reputation in the region. The company has confirmed that it intends to brew Heineken-labelled beer at the new plant in the future, claiming it is “well placed to further develop its portfolio of high quality beers that will meet growing demand in the country”.

Jean-François van Boxmeer, Heineken’s CEO, said: “Our inauguration marks the latest chapter in our Africa story which began over 100 years ago. Today, we are a proud partner for growth in the region, investing ahead of the curve, and with a long-term ambition to create sustainable businesses. This is certainly the case in Ethiopia, which is progressively unlocking its natural potential for its people, and bringing prosperity to both the cities and agricultural regions. Through our local barley sourcing project, we can be certain that the positive effects of our investment here spread well beyond the brewery gates. The Create project that we announced in 2013, where the partners share the goals of improving the income of smallholder barley farmers and improving access to markets, will help us to increase our local sourcing of malt barley.”

Tunisians pay tribute to young French-Tunisian man killed in Paris

Yoav Hattab

Several hundred Tunisians gathered in front of the Great Synagogue of Tunis on Saturday January 17 in a rally to show solidarity with Yoav Hattab, a French-Tunisian man killed in an attack in Paris.

Jews as well as Muslims joined the rally which took place right after the end of Shabbat to show their support for the 21-year-old victim, who died along with three others in the hostage-taking attack on a kosher supermarket on January 9.

People lit candles and left tributes for Hattab outside the synagogue.

“I feel very close to this person Yoav Hattab even thought I didn’t know him. The fact is that he was a young Tunisian who died in horrible circumstances. It affects me, simply,” said Kais Jemmal, a Tunis resident.

Hattab’s body was brought to Israel on Tuesday (January 13) alongside three other Jewish victims who were buried in a state funeral attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhua and President Reuven Rivlin, at a Jerusalem cemetery as per families’ request, Israeli prime minister office said.

The service for Hattab was held in the ultra-Orthodox town of Bnei Brak, at a synagogue ran by a family member. After the service the the body was taken to Jerusalem for burial.

“It’s nothing about politics. I think that… Let’s imagine, it’s named Palestine and not Israel, under Arab rule, we would have buried him there because it’s a religious act. Jerusalem is considered as a holy place for the jewish religion. The last duty we have to do for a deceased person is to bury him in Jerusalem. That’s what they did for Yoav,” said Mosche Uzan, another Tunis resident.

Despite the public’s outpouring support for Hattab and his family, there had been little show of solidarity from Tunisian politicians, said one of the rally’s organizers.

“I do insist that we mourn any human being killed by terrorists and we cry for any Tunisian who is killed in such barbaric act. We condemn the silence of the authorities and many other political parties. We find that the only political party that has expressed sorrow – as a party and not as person statement – is Ennahda, on its official Facebook page. It offered condolences to the family and to the Tunisian people,” said Yamina Thabet, President of the Minority Support Association.

Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa was amongst the world leaders who participated in the historic march against terrorism in Paris on January 11.

New ‘Power’ trailer: Starz series from 50 Cent shows dark world of clubs and drugs — EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

Belgium increases terror threat to level three of four

Belgian police killed two men who opened fire on them during one of about a dozen raids on Thursday (January 15) against an Islamist group that federal prosecutors said was about to launch imminent “terrorist attacks on a grand scale”.

Belgium has raised its terror threat level to three of four; it was announced on Thursday evening.

Coming a week after Islamist gunmen killed 17 people in Paris, the incident heightened fears across Europe of young local Muslims returning radicalised from Syria.

But prosecutors’ spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt said the Belgian probe had been under way before the January 7 attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

A third man was detained in the eastern city of Verviers, where police commandos ran into a hail of gunfire after trying to gain entry to an apartment above a town centre bakery.

All three were citizens of Belgium, which has one of the biggest concentrations of European Islamists fighting in Syria.

“In the framework of a file of the federal prosecutor, an examining Brussels magistrate, specialised in terrorism, had carried out around ten raids in the quarters of Verviers, Brussels and Halle Vilvoorde,” Belgian prosecutor’s spokesman Thierry Werts said.

“The raids were carried out in the framework of an investigation bearing on an operational cell made up of people of whom some had come back from Syria. The investigation was able to establish that this group was about to commit terrorist attacks on a grand scale in Belgium, and imminently. During the intervention in Verviers, the suspects immediately, and for several minutes, opened fire with military weaponry and handguns on special forces of the federal police before being neutralised.

“Two suspects were killed, and a third was intercepted at the scene. No witnesses or police were hurt during the intervention.”

Other raids on the homes of men returned from the civil war there were conducted across the country, Van Der Sypt said, adding that they were suspected of planning attacks on Belgian policestations. Security had been tightened at such sites.

“Given this current situation, the coordination team for the threat analysis has decided to increase the threat level to level three, on a scale of four, for the police forces across the whole of Belgium, and it stays on level two at certain places but with a particular attention,” Van Der Sypt said.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors said they had detained a man in southern Belgium whom they suspected of supplying weaponry to Amedy Coulibaly, killer of four people at a Paris Jewish grocery after the Charlie Hebdo attack.

After the violence in Verviers, La Meuse newspaper quoted an unidentified police officer saying: “We’ve averted a Belgian Charlie Hebdo.”

Two French brothers, who like Coulibaly claimed allegiance to Islamist militants in the Middle East, killed 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo.

Kerry pledges support for Bulgaria calls Boko Haram one of planets most evil entities

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday (Thursday 15) promised U.S. support as Bulgaria tackles energy security issues and corruption.

“These are obviously very challenging times and Bulgaria lives in a very challenging neighborhood, so I come here today to make sure that every Bulgarian knows that America is deeply committed to Bulgaria’s security, prosperity and the health and strength of the democratic institutions,” Kerry said at a joint news conference with Bulgaria’s Prime Minster Boiko Borisov.

Talks between the two leaders in Sofia were also aimed at encouraging Bulgaria to rely less on Russian energy as the two NATO allies announced the launch of an annual strategic dialogue.

“I can personally testify that no region has a monopoly on the problem of corruption and no country is exempt from this problem but we are all hurt by it and here in Bulgaria it is not just about strengthening the democracy of the country it is about providing the climate for investment and shielding the country form those who exploit the situation to gain undue influence over your choices as a sovereign nation.”

Bulgaria depends on Russia for 90 percent of its gas and all of its nuclear fuel. Its sole oil refinery is owned by Russia’s Lukoil.

Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last March and its support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine have increased concerns among nations reliant on Russian energy.

“There is evidence already of some Russian engagement through financial support and other things in the politics of Bulgaria and that is why I talked a moment ago about respecting the sovereignty of his country, the sovereignty of Bulgaria and our hope is that Russia will make a different set of choices but we stand ready as I said, both through our NATO partnership as well as through the choices that Bulgaria itself has made, to be supportive of Bulgaria in this time of economic and security challenge and our hope is that Russia will make wise choices in view of the beneficial possibilities to everybody of a stable region and a prosperous region,” Kerry said while on a visit to the Black Sea state as part of wider international tour.

Kerry also said that he had held discussions with British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond on the possibility of a special Anglo-American initiative on Nigeria and Boko Haram.

The U.S. Secretary of state referred to the Islamist militant group as, “one of the most evil and threatening terrorist entities on the planet today.”

Amnesty International has said Boko Haram may have killed some 2,000 people around January 3 in Baga in northern Nigeria.

“What they have done with respect to the slaughter recently is a crime against humanity. Nothing less. It is an enormously horrendous slaughter of innocent people and Boko Haram continues to present a serious threat not just to Nigeria and the region but to all of our values and ot all of our sense of responsibility regarding terrorism,” Kerry said.

Nigeria‘s election next month is a factor behind the sharp increase in attacks by Boko Haram Islamist militants in the north of the country, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday (January 13).

Human Rights groups say some 20,000 Nigerians have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries in recent weeks.

Movie:Iroko TV partner with Obi Emelonye on “They will be Done “Trailer

Award winning film director Ma’azi Obi Emelonye returns with a deceptively calm family thriller starring Ramsey Nouah, Mercy Johnson-Okojie and Mary Njoku.

Pastor Pius (Ramsey Nouah) is a happily married head of a big church in Africa. When the wife he buried 7 years ago (Mary Njoku) mysteriously shows up, his world is thrown into turmoil.

His present wife (Mercy Johnson-Okojie) tries to fight her corner but Pius has choices to make: between his calling and his wives; between old guilts and new loyalties; between taking firm action and surrendering to God’s will.

Weakened by guilt and overwhelmed by fresh revelations, nothing would have prepared him for the way things would descend so quickly into violent chaos…for hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. The movie is written by Tobe Osigwe and produced by Nollywood Factory in collaboration with Rok Studios. Mary & Jasen Njoku of iroko tv, directed and Produced by Obi Emelonye.

Amazing Cinematography, can’t wait for the world premiere see poster for details .

 

Enjoy the trailer