Theresa Dion mother of singer Celine, dies at 92

Therese Dion, the mother of “Titanic” singer Celine and affectionately known as “Maman Dion” has died at the age of 92, the performer said Friday.

“Maman, we love you so much… We dedicate tonight’s show to you and I’ll sing to you with all my heart,” said the singer, who was to perform later in Miami.

The star also posted on social media an old black and white family photo showing the matriarch surrounded by her husband and their 14 children.

“Maman Dion died peacefully at home, last night, surrounded by her family,” said Productions Feeling, which manages Celine Dion’s career.

Therese Dion was the wife of Adhemar Dion, who died after a long illness in 2003, and the mother of 14 children, the youngest of whom, Celine, has sold almost 250 million albums.

She launched her 12-year-old daughter’s career when she sent a cassette recording of her singing to Canadian music producer Rene Angelil in January 1981.

He was impressed by her voice, and took her on. They later married, in 1994.

Therese Dion hosted a cooking show on television for many years, launching her own line of dishes called “Pates de Maman Dion.”

She also launched a foundation to provide school clothes and supplies to underprivileged children in Quebec.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences to her family, saying on Twitter that the elder Dion “has a special place in our hearts — she was an icon in her own right and a generous philanthropist.”

Quebec Premier Francois Legault paid tribute to “a remarkable woman, so generous, so loving, who devoted her entire life to the well-being of her family.”

“Our greater Quebec family weeps at her departure,” he added.

“We have only one mom, and the one who raised and supported one of the biggest voices in the world died.

All my condolences to the Dion family,” Canada’s heritage minister Steven Guilbeault said.

A grandmother of 32, Dion had 48 great-grandchildren and was great-great-grandmother to six others, the Canadian channel TVA said.

Celine Dion is currently on her first international tour in a decade, promoting her album “Courage.” (Vanguard)

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Nigeria’s FG to partner with Dundee university on nano technology

The Federal government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is to partner the University of Dundee, Scotland to develop a technical committee that will focus on the study of Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Forensics and Information Communication Technology (ICT) for mutual benefits.

The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi said this on Thursday, when he received the Associate Dean of the University of Dundee, Prof. Mceleavy and the Nigerian chapter of the University’s Alumni association in his office in Abuja.

The Minister praised the University for being a top destination of study for Nigerian students from the Undergraduate levels to Doctorate levels

Barrister Abdullahi said the Ministry will tap into the University’s trove of knowledge, because Science, Technology and Innovation is the key to the future.

He said that the Ministry would sponsor its scientists to study at the University, which would be of huge benefits to both parties.

Earlier in his address, the Associate Dean of International studies Dundee University, Prof. Peter Mceleavy, said his University was focused on developing close and mutual ties with the country and especially the Ministry.

He further hailed the track-record of Nigerian students in the University and how they have excelled in their studies and contributed positively to the global society. (Vanguard)

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The Rock’ breaks silence on father’s death

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson paid tribute to his late father, Rocky Johnson, on Friday with an emotional letter to the WWE Hall of Famer on Instagram.

The “Jumanji” star, who is of Samoan and Black Nova Scotian heritage, shared a video from one of Rocky’s wrestling matches and credited his father for helping him embrace his diverse background.

“You broke color barriers, became a ring legend and trail blazed your way thru this world,” he said.

“I was the boy sitting in the seats, watching and adoring you, my hero from afar.

The boy you raised to always be proud of our cultures and proud of who and what I am.”

Dwayne, 47, shared that as he grew older, he realized Rocky had “other deep complex sides that needed to be held and understood,” but said, “That’s when my adoration turned to respect. And my empathy turned to gratitude.”

“Dad, I wish I had one more shot to tell you, I love you, before you crossed over to the other side,” he added.

“But you have ripped away from me so fast without warning. Gone in an instant and no coming back.”

The WWE superstar then admitted, “Im in pain. But we both know it’s just pain and it’ll pass.”

Celebrities, including Dwayne’s “Jumanji” co-star Kevin Hart, showed their support in the comments section. “Love you bro,” Hart, 40, wrote with several prayer hand emojis.

Rocky whose real name was Wayde Douglas Bowles died at age 75 on Wednesday. The cause of death has not been revealed.

The Cauliflower Alley Club a pro-wrestling non-profit was the first to confirm the news of his passing on Twitter, writing, “His accolades in this business, all the people he influenced, all his accomplishments, and we are so deeply sorry and wish his family nothing but the most love at this time.” (Vanguard)

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Bob Marley Foundation to celebrate reggae legend’s 75th birthday

The Bob Marley Foundation has said that arrangements have been concluded to celebrate the post-humous birthday of Jamaican reggae legend, Bob Marley, on Thursday, February 6, 2020 under the theme, ‘Marley 75: Redemption.’

The Foundation disclosed this during a recent event held in Kingston, Jamaica.

According to online magazine, ‘UrbanIslandz,’ activities for the celebration will include a concert featuring Marley’s sons and brand ambassadors at the Bob Marley Museum on Hope Road in Kingston.

Other activities include a children’s music and book festival, a children’s petting zoo and an artisan village.

The foundation also noted that the diamond jubilee celebration’s theme was inspired by the Marley classic, ‘Redemption Song’, which was his last record before he died in May 1981.

Ranked 66th amongst the Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2014 and listed in 2010 by the New Statesman as one of the Top 20 Political Songs, ‘Redemption Song’ is also the final track on Uprising, which was Bob Marley and the Wailers’ ninth album.

The song was also used as the headline for an article published in The Economist magazine on November 9, 2019 about Jamaica’s economic recovery. About four weeks ago, it was used by a group of Indian musicians protesting against a citizenship law.

 Marley was born in Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica to Norval Marley, a Jamaican of English descent, and Cedella Booker, a black teenager.

He is reputed to have sold more than 20 million records throughout his career, making him the first international superstar to emerge from a Third World country. He died in Miami, Florida, on May 11, 1981. (Punch)

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Australia to lose billions as bushfires deter tourists

Australia will lose billions of dollars in tourism revenue as international visitors cancel trips in droves due to bushfires raging across the country, an industry body forecast Friday.

The number of travellers booking visits to Australia has fallen 10-20 per cent since the fires began in September and the slump will cost the economy an estimated AUS$4.5 billion ($3 billion) this year, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) said.

“International visitors are cancelling because of fears around air quality, safety and the impact fires have had on our tourism offering as well as a lack of certainty on how long it will take for us to recover,” ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley said.

Global media have given extensive coverage to the wildfires, which have killed at least 28 people, burned an area larger than Portugal and blanketed the key tourist cities of Sydney and Melbourne in toxic smoke.

ATEC said the disaster had hit travel from the US, UK and Europe the hardest, coinciding with the December-February period which traditionally sees 50 per cent of the annual tourist bookings from those markets.

Shelley said the industry and government need to urgently get the message out that many key tourism destinations are largely unaffected by the fires.

“There is no doubt our industry will take a hit,” he said. “The sooner we can communicate a strong, positive message, the better.”

Australia’s conservative government, which has come under intense criticism for its response to the fires and to the global warming which scientists say has been a major contributing factor to the crisis, has announced an AUS$2 billion “bushfire recovery plan”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday that this would include a significant boost for the tourism industry, with details to be unveiled next week.

Tourism Australia was forced to suspend an upbeat advertising campaign launched in the middle of the crisis featuring pop star Kylie Minogue after the ad was met with incredulity about what many saw as poor timing. (Punch)

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