Join Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Iyanya at the 2013 All Star Weekend

The yearly All Star Weekend is here again and this year promises to be a blast. Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Iyanya, Sean Tizzle, Dj Cuppy (UK), Dj Sai (UK), Dj Neptunes would be headlining at the brand new Cafe Vanessa.

The All Star weekend boasts of the biggest red carpet at any event in Lagos, make sure you don't miss the fun and excitement on the 15th of November.

Venue: 1089B Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

Date: 15th November, 2013. Time: 10pm

Sponsored by UBA and supported by Cafe Vanessa, Pravada, Classic FM 97.3

Beyoncé Was First Choice for Princess and the Frog Role

 She's Queen B to her fans, but Beyoncé nearly had the chance to become Disney's first-ever Black princess. The actress was the first choice to play the princess in the animated hit The Princess and the Frog, a new memoir by the film's casting director Jen Rudin reveals, but passed on the part when the director asked her to audition.

"Beyoncé expected an offer, but wouldn’t audition and so she didn’t get one," Rudin reveals in the tell-all. She also says that Alicia Keys "auditioned three times" and Tyra Banks came in with a CD of herself singing, but neither A-lister landed the role. Jennifer Hudson also lobbied hard for the part, says Rudin.

The role of the princess went ultimately to Anika Noni Rose. Beyoncé made her animation debut in this year's Epic, while Keys and Oscar winner Hudson collaborated on the indie drama The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete earlier this year.

Celebrity Birthday: Annie Macaulay Adds Another Year

Up and coming actress, Annie Macaulay is a year older today, Wednesday, November 13, 2013. The former contestant of the Next Movie Star, which has produced celebs like Tonto Dikeh, Uti Nwachukwu, Karen Igho, amongst others, is a wife and mother.

Annie married 2Face Idibia in 2013 after dating him for over a decade. She has a daughter for the renowned singer named Isabella. She is presently expecting her second child for 2Face.

She will be marking her birthday outside the shores of the country today.

 

2014 World Cup: Brazil set to be without anti-doping laboratory

 

Lagos -  The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), on Wednesday said that the 2014 FIFA World Cup host, Brazil, would be without an accredited anti-doping laboratory for the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup is slated to hold from June 12 to July 13, 2014.
It will be recalled that WADA had in September revoked the accreditation of LADETEC, the laboratory Brazil was planning to use for the World Cup.
A statement by WADA disclosed that a new laboratory in Rio de Janeiro was being set up, but unlikely in time for the World Cup.
It said that FIFA had confirmed that samples collected from players during the tournament would have to be flown back to Lausanne, Switzerland for analyses.
The statement quoted the WADA president, John Fahey, saying: “Rio didn’t measure up there. We will work with them through our science team to get that back (lab accreditation).
“I don’t think that’s going to happen in a hurry, certainly not before the World Cup. Clearly that will involve another laboratory.
“You can move samples these days with aircraft and regular flights and I am sure that as the event organiser, FIFA will come to that conclusion. It’s their responsibility”.
It said Fahey noted that in spite of time constraints, the laboratory would not be fast-tracked because of the 2016 Rio Olympics and Paralympics.
“We will do our best to ensure it happens as soon as possible but without compromising the quality that is essential for the work the laboratories must do,’’ Fahey said.
Meanwhile, following Fahey’s comments, the World football governing body has confirmed in a statement that the analysis of samples would be carried out outside of Brazil.
“As WADA confirmed that following due process the LADETEC laboratory would not be able to achieve re-accreditation in time for the World Cup.
“FIFA has no other option but to handle the analysis of samples abroad,’’ FIFA statement said.
It added that the LAD laboratory in Lausanne was already mandated on the occasion of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 for the handling of the analysis for the biological profile of athletes. (NAN)