ENTERTAINMENT : Israeli actress Gal Gadot, defends Cleopatra casting after ‘whitewashing’ controversy

 Israeli film star Gal Gadot has defended her plan to play Cleopatra following accusations of whitewashing. Critics say an Arab or African actress should play the ancient Egyptian queen.

“First of all if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian. We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn’t there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.” the Wonder Woman actress told BBC Arabic’s Sam Asi.

Controversy erupted in October after Gadot announced that she would star in and co-produced the film. The Guardian’s Hanna Flint called it “a backwards step for Hollywood representation”, while director Lexi Alexander said a black actress should be cast, citing a reconstruction of Cleopatra’s face.

Gadot said: “I have friends from across the globe, whether they’re Muslims or Christian or Catholic or atheist or Buddhist, or Jewish of course… People are people, and with me, I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honour this amazing historic icon that I admire so much.”

She said other people were welcome to make their own films. “You know, anybody can make this movie and anybody can go ahead and do it. I’m very passionate that I’m going to do my own too.”

Cleopatra, born in the ancient Egyptian capital Alexandria, was the last ruler in the dynasty founded by Alexander the Great’s Macedonian general Ptolemy, whose descendants ruled Egypt for 300 years.

They have long been thought to have been white with a high degree of inbreeding. But there is a mystery over the identity of her mother, leading to speculation that Cleopatra may have been of mixed heritage.

In 2008, Egyptologist Sally Ann Ashton from the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge created a reconstruction of her face from images on ancient artefacts. It showed her with mixed ethnicity.

“She probably wasn’t just completely European,” Dr Ashton told The Daily Mail at the time. “You’ve got to remember that her family had actually lived in Egypt for 300 years by the time she came to power.”

The following year, a BBC documentary about the discovery of the possible skeleton of Cleopatra’s sister Arsinoe suggested she may have had mixed ancestry.

But earlier this year, Kathryn Bard, Professor of Archaeology and Classical Studies at Boston University, told Newsweek: “Cleopatra VII was white – of Macedonian descent, as were all of the Ptolemy rulers, who lived in Egypt.”

The celebrated queen has been played on screen by a string of white actresses, most famously Elizabeth Taylor in the big-budget 1963 film.

POLITICS : Ondo PDP suspends five chieftains over alleged anti-party activities

 

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has suspended five stalwarts of the party indefinitely.

The suspension was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday night by the party.

The chieftains of the party, who were suspended indefinitely over alleged anti-party activities included the former Chairman of the party, Ebenezer Alabi and former Publicity Secretary of the party in South West, Ayo Fadaka.

Others were the former Chairman, National Sports Commission, Rasheed Elegbeleye; Chief Oyedele Ibini and Hon. Lad Ojomo.

In the statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Kennedy Peretei, added that the Elders’ Committee of the party in the state had also been dissolved.

According to sources, the suspension was not unconnected with the visit of the suspended members alongside others to the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.

The statement read, “Pursuant to Section 58(1)(a)(b)(f)and (h)of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution (2017 as Amended) the under listed persons are hereby suspended indefinitely from the party for anti-party activities and gross misconduct: Chief Oyedele Ibini; Hon. Lad Ojomo; Mr.Ayo Fadaka; Hon. Rasheed Elegbeleye and Hon. Ebenezer Alabi.

“By this decision, they are expected to stop parading themselves as members of the party. All organs of the party are to take note in this regard.

“They stand suspended until the outcome of the report of the State Disciplinary Committee.

“In another development, the State Working Committee has dissolved the State Elders Committee. In accordance with the provisions of our constitution (2017 as Amended), another State Elders Committee will be constituted in due course.

“We also want to put it on record that, the State Executive Committee of the PDP in Ondo State did not send any delegation to anywhere to represent the Party. Whoever lays claim to such is an impostor and does not represent the opinions of our teaming supporters in the State,” the statement read.

NEWS : DSS raises alarm over plot to bomb places of worship, recreational centres during Yuletide

 

The Department of State Services (DSS) has alerted Nigerians about plot by “enemies of state”, to unleash terror on places of worship as well as recreational centres during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

It said the plot would be executed through the use of explosives, suicide bombing and other dangerous weapons.

The DSS spokesperson for the Service, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Tuesday, however, assured that the security forces had taken measures to avert such plans.

Afunanya stated, “The Department of State Services wishes to inform the public about plans by some criminal elements to carry out violent attacks on public places including key and vulnerable points during the yuletide seasons.

“The planned dastardly acts are to be executed through the use of explosives, suicide bombing and other dangerous weapons.

“The objective is to create a general sense of fear among the people and subsequently undermine the government.”

The DSS further called on Nigerians to remain extra vigilant and report strange movements to security and law enforcement agencies.

NEWS : COVID-19 second wave: Full text of President Buhari’s speech on Tuesday

 

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, received the end of year report of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19

The event took place at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari, in his address, noted that the year 2020 has been most challenging for the whole of humanity as a result of the havoc wreaked by the pandemic on lives, livelihoods, global and national economies, governance structures, health, social welfare and other systems.

Here is the full text of the President’s speech:

It has consumed an inordinate amount of resources deployed to address it by countries of the world, without abating.

Sadly, the COVID 19 pandemic has also taken and keeps taking precious lives of our loved ones, leaving several homes, families and associates to mourn. May the Almighty God grant all those that have lost their lives to this deadly virus eternal rest.

Closely associated with the foregoing is the need to speedily and strategically access and administer the COVID vaccine in a safe, effective and timely manner. This is an important obligation that we owe Nigerians as we go into year 2021 and it must be carried out through efficient machinery.

Accordingly, I have authorised the following measures for implementation:

a. The extension of the mandate of the PTF for a further period till the end of March, 2021 bearing in mind the new surge in the number of cases and the bid for vaccines;

b. That the PTF should coordinate the process for planning and the strategy for accessing, delivery and administration of the vaccines using the existing health structures that have worked in the past in vaccine administration;

c. Authorised the PTF to engage with the States for them to assume full ownership of this stage of the response by deploying legal structures and resources, including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions. Details of the advisory measures have already been announced; and

d. Authorised the PTF and the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that all in-bound passengers who failed to show up for post -arrival COVID-19 test are sanctioned within the ambit of the law, for breaching the public health protocols.

The nation is clearly in a perilous situation given the virulent nature of this second wave and we must act decisively to protect our people. I therefore urge all sub-national entities, traditional rulers, religious and leaders of thought to collaborate with the PTF by taking up the responsibility for risk communication and community engagement at all levels. Now is the time for collective efforts to be intensified.

As the festive season approaches, I urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and stay safe. Non-essential trips and large social gatherings should be avoided or shelved completely

NEWS : Third Mainland Bridge to be shut down during Christmas

 

The Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State, Olukayode Popoola, has announced a 72-hour total closure of the Third Mainland Bridge, in order to cast concrete on the expansion joints.

Popoola on Tuesday told NAN that the shutdown will take effect from midnight on Saturday to midnight on Tuesday.

According to him, the construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints.

Last week, Popoola said “On the Island-bound lane where we are working now, the contractor is ready to cast another three expansion joints this weekend, but because of the festive period we have a lot of vehicles on the road.

“We were advised to leave it until next week, maybe during the public holiday where we will do the total closure.”

He noted that the work on the surface of the bridge was over 70 per cent done, but the entire project was 22 per cent completed.

NEWS : COVID-19 second wave, FG issues fresh order to civil servants as lockdown begins

 

The Federal Government on Tuesday directed civil servants from grade level 12 and below to stay at home.

They are to remain at home for five weeks following the second wave of the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria.

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, HOCSF, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, made this known in a circular in Abuja.

He pointed out that the development was as a result of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 around in the country.

The circular reads in part; “Following Mr President’s approval of recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in the light of the second wave of the infection in Nigeria, officers on grade level 12 and below are hereby, directed to stay at home for a period of five weeks, effective from Wednesday Dec. 23 and await further directive,” the HOS said.

The HoS said that the measure became imperative to streamline the number of officers who come to work daily.

She said those affected by the directive are expected to work from home, while officers on grade level 13 and above are to adhere to preventive measures.

NEWS : Ondo, Fayemi commiserates with Akeredolu over commissioner’s death

 

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with his Ondo State counterpart, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), and the people of the state on the passing of the state’s Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Prof Bayonile Ademodi.

Ademodi, a Professor of Chemical Engineering, died last Saturday, aged 68 years.

Governor Fayemi in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described the late Prof Ademodi as a highly cerebral scholar, diligent public servant and a seasoned administrator who undertook every assignment with diligence and a high level of integrity.

He credited the late Commissioner for the central role he played in the establishment of the Dawn Commission where he demonstrated his organisational skills and a deep understanding of how a region could aggregate its areas of comparative advantage to advance socio-economic development.

Fayemi noted that the late professor, as a dependable ally of Governor Akeredolu, worked assiduously with others to actualise the Governor’s victory in the 2016 APC primaries in Ondo State and in the eventual election and had remained one of the outstanding figures in the administration until he breathed his last.

The Governor recalled his personal relationship with the late Prof Ademodi, when he served as a member of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere during his first term in office and as a colleague in the Yoruba Academy and Afenifere Renewal Group.

He said the late Commissioner was not only a man of honour, but a man of action who had a great knack for delivering set goals with precision.

“Prof Ademodi’s death is not only a loss to the Government and the good people of Ondo State, it is a personal loss to me. We shall miss his amiable personality, dedication to duty and great insight to development issues.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with my brother Governor, Akeredolu, the immediate family of the late Prof Ademodi and the good people of Ondo State on this irreparable loss. Our prayer is that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.