Iyanya in Abuja for his concert, visits Charly Boy at his office

Iyanya is currently in Abuja for his concert which will hold this Sunday February 24th at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. He visited the Area Fada at his Gwarinpa office to receive his blessings before his show. See more exclusive photos below..................................................................

Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z announce 'Legends of the Summer' tour

Justin Timberlake and Jay Z have officially announced their 'Legends of the Summer' tour, revealing plans for 12 concerts at stadiums throughout the U.S. and Canada which will begin at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on July 17. See the full list of tour dates above.

Inside the bathroom where Blade Runner' shot dead his girlfriend

The bathroom is now the focus of a murder inquiry.

Meanwhile Boxes of 'steroids, testosterone' and needles were found at the Blade Runner's home where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead after 'non-stop' arguing, a court heard today.
The details were revealed by the prosecution on the second day of the 26-year-old athlete's bail hearing at Pretoria Magistrates' Court where he faces a charge of premeditated murder.
Pistorius looked distraught and sobbed with his head lowered as the packed court heard the post-mortem showed three entrance wounds - the bullets hit the right side of Miss Steenkamp's head, her right elbow - which resulted in a broken arm - and her hip.

In the first half of the morning session damning allegations surfaced that the police and prosecution say undermine his defence, but after a recess his defence team fire tough questions at the main witness, chief investigative officer Hilton Botha. 

As the prosecution began setting out its case on Wednesday, they claimed a witness heard gunshots, saw the lights on, heard 'a female screaming' and then more shots.Mr Botha - the first officer on the scene - told the packed court a separate witness said they heard an hour-long fight between 2.am and 3.am before the sound of gunshots rang out. 

Earlier Mr Botha said he arrived at the upscale Pretoria house at about 4.15am last Thursday and the 29-year-old model had already been declared dead - 'she had on white shorts and black vest. She was covered in towels.' 

Pistorius, who underwent below-the-knee amputations when he was 11 months old, said he shot through the toilet cubicle door while on his stumps but the court heard the bullets' trajectory was through the top of the door.

Mr Botha said he believed the bullets were fired down, suggesting that Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs when the shots were discharged.

Lawyers and police studied plans of the bedroom and bathroom - a projector was used to beam the plans up for the public and press to see.

Gerrie Nel, the chief prosecutor asked Mr Botha if the shots were fired directly at the toilet basin and he agreed. 

'If you fire straight at the door, you miss the toilet,' he explained. 

Police believe a cricket bat found in the bathroom was used to break down the door to the toilet - part of the door was lying in the bathroom. One bullet cartridge was found outside bathroom while three others were inside.

On the shower mat in the en-suite bathroom lay a firearm and an iPhone 4 and iPhone - there was blood spatters on one of the phones. 

Mr Botha said four phones in total were found in the athlete's home and none of them had been used to call emergency services. 

The court also heard that two boxes of testosterone and needles were found in Pistorius' bedroom. where they also found an overnight bag was on a couch on the left hand side of the bed as well as slippers.  

Mr Botha said he wanted Pistorius charged additionally with a weapons violation after unlicensed .38 calibre ammunition was found in the athlete's bedroom safe - though the defence later claimed the ammunition belonged to the athlete's father Henke. 

Pistorius has said he had been a victim of crime and received death threats, but today the court heard there were no records of this.

The athlete made notes with a silver pen as the case progressed.

Mr Botha said there was 'no way' he believed Pistorius's version of events.

He said he believed Pistorius, who won two gold medals and a silver at London’s 2012 Paralympic Games, was a flight risk and he was opposing bail.

He told the court Pistorius has offshore accounts and a property in Italy - which was later disputed by Pistorius' team - and said that he saw the runner's family looking for documents and a specific memory stick with details of offshore accounts.

Discussing extradition he said: 'We don't want another Dewani to happen. We're still waiting to get him back in the country.'

He was referring to Shrien Dewani who is wanted in South Africa over the honeymoon murder of his wife in November 2010, but is now fighting extradition in Britain. 

Today details were released of a row he allegedly had with a man over a girl at Kyalami racetrack where Pistorius allegedly threatened to "f*** up" the rival.

It was also claimed he was involved in another shooting at a restaurant in Johannesburg in January and asked the gun owner to take responsibility for the incident.

The defence will have to prove the extenuating circumstances that would justify granting bail so Pistorius will be free until the trial starts.

It is not expected to begin for at least four months - it would be heard by a judge sitting alongside two assessors – typically magistrates or retired magistrates - as the South Africa legal system does not have a jury system. (Daily Mail UK)

German government agrees to send up to 330 troops to Mali

The German government has approved the deployment of up to 330 military personnel to Mali to back France in its war on the West African country.

Berlin announced the decision on Tuesday and said the troops are tasked with training the Malian army as well as providing logistics and transport for French and West African soldiers. 

Meanwhile according to a statement by government spokesman Steffen Seibert, the German mission will not be allowed to participate in fighting. 

The mission requires the approval of the German Bundestag lower house of parliament that is due to vote on the deployment on February 22.

The Tuesday’s decision came shortly after European Union foreign ministers formally approved the final phase in setting up the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) to purportedly train the Malian army forces. 

As many as 180 German soldiers are to join the EUTM in Mali while another 150 soldiers will assist in transporting African and French troops and fuel planes during the one-year mission, Berlin said. 

France launched its war on Mali on January 11 under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters in the country. The war has left thousands of Malians homeless. 

Some political analysts believe that Mali’s abandoned natural resources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind the French-led war. 

On February 1, Amnesty International condemned “serious human rights breaches” including the killing of children in the French war in Mali.    

Abducted French family moved to Nigeria: Cameroon

Cameroon's foreign ministry says unidentified men who kidnapped seven French tourists in northern Cameroon have taken them into neighboring Nigeria.

“The kidnappers have gone across the border into Nigeria with their hostages,” said the ministry in a statement released on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, a source close to the French embassy said that gunmen kidnapped seven French tourists in northern Cameroon near the border with Nigeria. 

“Seven French tourists were captured today by men, apparently on motorbikes, in the Cameroonian locality of Dadanga on the frontier with Nigeria,” the source said. 

According to the source, the tourists including three adults and four children, were “returning from the Waza natural park,” located in the Far North Region. 

Following the incident, France urged its citizens “to leave the area as quickly as possible.” 

France’s President Francois Hollande also issued a statement saying that “This is the first time that children have been taken hostage in this manner…We are doing everything with the help of authorities in Cameroon and Nigeria to find our compatriots.”

While hostage taking often takes place off the Cameroonian coast, it is the first time that tourists from Western countries have been abducted in Cameroon. 

Abducted French family moved to Nigeria: Cameroon

Cameroon's foreign ministry says unidentified men who kidnapped seven French tourists in northern Cameroon have taken them into neighboring Nigeria.


“The kidnappers have gone across the border into Nigeria with their hostages,” said the ministry in a statement released on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, a source close to the French embassy said that gunmen kidnapped seven French tourists in northern Cameroon near the border with Nigeria.

“Seven French tourists were captured today by men, apparently on motorbikes, in the Cameroonian locality of Dadanga on the frontier with Nigeria,” the source said.

According to the source, the tourists including three adults and four children, were “returning from the Waza natural park,” located in the Far North Region.

Following the incident, France urged its citizens “to leave the area as quickly as possible.”

France’s President Francois Hollande also issued a statement saying that “This is the first time that children have been taken hostage in this manner…We are doing everything with the help of authorities in Cameroon and Nigeria to find our compatriots.”

While hostage taking often takes place off the Cameroonian coast, it is the first time that tourists from Western countries have been abducted in Cameroon.

Rapper Iceprince now dating Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson

Okay now I know why designer Yvonne Nwosu dumped her boo, rapper Iceprince. Iceprince is now dating ex-girlfriend Yvonne Nelson. Yes, I said ex-girlfriend! Y'all didn't know this and I wasn't going to say anything but since they are kinda stepping out together again, then let me spill...:-). Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson dated Iceprince sometime last year before ending things with him to date Iyanya.

Iceprince later met and started dating designer Yvonne Nwosu. Yvonne Nwosu declared today on her Twitter account that she was single again. A source told me it has something to do with Iceprince's rekindled love affair with Yvonne Nelson after starring in one of her movies recently. 

Yvonne Nelson and Iceprince were spotted together at celebrity stylist Nancy's birthday party at her home in Lekki on Saturday February 16th. Karen Igho and Tonto Dikeh were also at the private bash. Yvonne Nelson and Iceprince, who came together and left together, couldn't keep their hands off each other according to the paparazzi who was also at the party.

From one gorgeous Yvonne to another. Iceprince is the man, mehn! Lol 

Goldie's autopsy report out. Reveals she died of Hypertension

A report from her label, Kennis Music, below...

Report following the autopsy carried out after her  sudden death  at the Lagos State  University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos  revealed that the Kennis Music star, suffered a terminal ‘hypertensive heart disease’ which resulted to’ intracerebellar haemorrhage.’  The autopsy carried out February 19, was  signed by Dr. O.O Oyewole of the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine. The burial arrangement for the former  Big Brother Africa house mate will be announced by the family.

Goldie  died on Valentine’s Day shortly after she returned from Los Angeles, United States where she attended the 55th Grammy Awards.

Adidas congratulates Nigeria

Adidas congratulates Nigeria: http://www.punchng.com/sports/adidas-congratulates-nigeria/ Shared via Nigeria News for Android.

At least 17 dead as Syria anti-regime protests spread

At least 17 dead as Syria anti-regime protests spread: http://www.punchng.com/news/world/at-least-17-dead-as-syria-anti-regime-protests-spread/ Shared via Nigeria News for Android.

Countdown begins to a frail pope's humble farewell

Pope Benedict XVI has taken one of the most momentous steps in modern Catholic Church history with very little fuss.
In a speech in Latin, the 85-year-old Benedict told a group of cardinals on Monday that his advancing age meant he could no longer carry out his papal duties.
"I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals," the frail pontiff said in a whisper.
The leader of 1.2 billion Catholics admitted he no longer had the "strength of mind and body" to keep up with a modern world "subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith."
The simplicity of the words contrasted with Cardinal Angelo Sodano's reply to the pope that his action was "like a lightning bolt in a clear blue sky".
The scene was modest and startlingly sincere -- in keeping with the sober style of a German theologian who has struggled to get a grip on the burning issues of the day for the Catholic Church in his eight-year pontificate.
The momentous news, that will make the pope only the second pontiff to resign of his own free will in 2,000 years of history, reverberated around the world.
But the pope has continued unruffled with his usual schedule, urging an end to "rivalry" within the Church at his last public mass on Wednesday and calling for "spiritual renewal" at an audience with Roman priests on Thursday.
"I will always be close to all of you and I am sure you will remain close to me even though I will be hidden from the world," he said.
"The pope is living through these days calmly even though they're very emotional and packed," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
At the Ash Wednesday mass, which marks the start of a period of penitence for Christians before Easter, the pope appeared relieved and smiling.
When waves of applause broke out in St Peter's Basilica, the pope cut short the outpouring of emotion with a curt: "Let us return to prayer".
After a week-long spiritual retreat starting on Sunday, the pope will have only very few public engagements before he formally steps down on February 28.
Benedict will receive Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on February 23, celebrate his weekly Angelus prayer on February 24 and hold a final audience in St Peter's Square with tens of thousands of followers on February 27.
The Vatican has received 35,000 bookings so far for the general audience but is expecting many more to come from around the world and Rome city authorities have set up a special task force to make security arrangements.
The event is specifically not intended as any grand institutional ceremony with world leaders or celebrities according to the pope's wishes.
On the 28th at 1600 GMT, a helicopter will whisk the pontiff away to his temporary abode, the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome.
The pope will dine, greet pilgrims from his window and pray in a private chapel for the poignant final moments of his eight-year pontificate. At 1900 GMT, he will no longer be pope and will begin a life of quiet contemplation.
Asked why the pope had chosen 8:00 pm instead of midnight for the resignation, Lombardi said simply it was "the end of a normal working day".
"We should not expect any very formal or very solemn act. There will be no great ceremony with a great speech on the 28th," Lombardi said.
"He has already said he is renouncing his post and that is enough," he said.
The pope will eventually reside in a former monastery within the Vatican grounds, setting up an unprecedented situation for the Church in which a pope and his predecessor will live within a stone's throw of each other.
The exact role and title that the pope will have after he steps down is still undetermined although Lombardi has indicated Benedict who will revert to his name of Joseph Ratzinger could provide spiritual guidance to his successor.
"He will remain Benedict for us, that cannot change, but if we bump into him in the street I'm not sure what we'll call him," Lombardi said this week.
There have even been questions about whether the former pope will be allowed to wear white like a pontiff or will have to revert to the black cassock.
Mindful of the precedent of two or even three popes reigning at the same time, senior prelates say the prospect of a pope and his predecessor living in the Vatican will be untenable and Ratzinger will eventually have to move.
A return to Germany or a move to another monastery have been mooted.
But Lombardi has insisted the pope "never even considered any alternative" arrangement and will live out his old age in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery together with his housekeepers and his private secretary Georg Gaenswein.
"The pope has very modest needs. People who know him know that well."

Britain blasts judges for 'ignoring' deportation rules

Britain's interior minister slammed the judiciary on Sunday, accusing judges of "subverting" democracy by ignoring rules aimed at deporting more foreign criminals.
Home Secretary Theresa May, writing in The Mail on Sunday newspaper, said some judges had chosen to "ignore parliament's wishes" by disregarding guidance making clear that convicted criminals' rights to a family life had limits.
The guidance dating from last year was aimed at ending a string of cases where Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights was being used to justify granting foreign criminals the right to remain in Britain rather than being deported.
May said some judges had "got it into their heads that Article 8... is an absolute, unqualified right.
"Unfortunately, some judges evidently do not regard a debate in parliament on new immigration rules, followed by the unanimous adoption of those rules, as evidence that parliament actually wants to see those new rules implemented," she wrote.
"It is essential to democracy that the elected representatives of the people make the laws that govern this country -- and not the judges.
"Yet some judges seem to believe that they can ignore parliament's wishes if they think that the procedures for parliamentary scrutiny have been 'weak'. That appears actually to mean that they can ignore parliament when they think it came to the wrong conclusion.
"The law in this country is made by the elected representatives of the people in parliament. And our democracy is subverted when judges decide to take on that role for themselves."
Judges who allowed criminals to stay in Britain merely reinforced public perceptions of human rights as simply "legal dodges that allow criminals to escape proper punishment and to continue to prey on the public."
May said she would now bring forward new laws making clear that deportation should be the norm in everything except "extraordinary circumstances".
"The inevitable delays inherent in passing primary legislation will mean that there will be many more foreign criminals who successfully avoid deportation on the basis that they have a family here," she wrote.
"There will also be more victims of violent crimes committed by foreigners in this country -- foreigners who should have been, and could have been, deported."

Bloodied cricket bat found at Pistorius home: report

South African police have found a bloodied cricket bat at the home of Oscar Pistorius, a local newspaper reported Sunday, following the Valentine's Day killing of his model girlfriend.
The star Olympian and Paralympian athlete was charged on Friday with the murder of 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead at his luxury Pretoria home in a case that has gripped the world.
Police sources close to the investigation told the independent City Press newspaper that Steenkamp's skull had been "crushed".
"There was lots of blood on the bat," one source told the paper.
Police are investigating whether the bat was used to assault Steenkamp, who was shot four times in the early hours of Thursday, or if she used it to defend herself.
Police have dismissed initial suggestions that Pistorius, 26, could have mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder, and City Press said she was wearing a nightie at the time of the killing.
"The suspicion is that the first shot, in the bedroom, hit her in the hip. She then ran and hid herself in the toilet... He fire three more shots," a police source told City Press.
Pistorius -- a national icon who inspired people around the world when he became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in the Olympic Games last year -- is spending the weekend in a police cell after being charged with murder.
He is due to apply for bail at a new court hearing on Tuesday, the same day a memorial service will be held for his slain girlfriend.
Pistorius, who had been going out with Steenkamp since late last year, faces a life sentence if convicted of premeditated murder, as alleged by state prosecutors.
His family have indicated that the star athlete, who broke down sobbing during his initial court appearance on Friday, would plead not guilty.
"We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the state's own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all," his uncle Arnold Pistorius said in a statement Saturday.

Reeva Steenkamp appears in reality TV show

Covergirl Reeva Steenkamp, who was allegedly shot dead by her lover Oscar Pistorius, will appear in a pre-recorded celebrity reality TV show in South Africa on Saturday, two days after her death shocked the nation and the world.
The 29-year-old, who was shot four times at the Olympic athlete's home in the early hours of Valentine's Day (Thursday), will make a posthumous prime-time debut in "Tropika Island of Treasure" which is expected to draw a vast audience.
On Saturday Pistorius, the 26-year-old South African Paralympian gold medallist, faced a third night in police custody, accused of murdering Steenkamp, the woman who described him as her "boo" and "an amazing person".
The reality show, shot on location in Jamaica, features the slain model and law graduate as well as several local personalities competing for one million rand ($113,500) prize money.
Producers decided not to shelve the show, instead casting its broadcast as a tribute to Steenkamp.
Forensics teams are still working at Pistorius's home to try and establish what took place before and after Steenkamp was shot in the head and hand.
"She was happy, healthy, beautiful and vibrant and that's the way she should be remembered," said executive producer Samantha Moon said in a statement.
In an earlier statement Moon said the decision to broadcast Tropika Island of Treasure 5 was taken after "much deliberation."
"This week's episode will be dedicated to Reeva's memory."
The show will be broadcast on state television channel SABC1, Steenkamp's mother had given the showing her blessing.
"Yesterday the mother agreed that we should go ahead and we are free to go ahead and we are working on how to pay tribute to her," said Kaizer Kganyagon, a spokesman for SABC.
The audience is expected to be much larger than normal, although viewer figures were not immediately available.
"The number that we expect will be obviously more than the normal because now everybody wants to see this person that was killed two days ago."
A special tribute will be broadcast ahead of Saturday's show at 6:30 pm (1630 GMT).
Trailers for the series shows a beaming and vivacious Steenkamp clad in a bikini and other skimpy clothing.
The show's website carries a picture of burning candle with a message: "We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva's family and friends."
The series is now in its fifth season.
The hour-long show, screened on Saturday evenings is described as "pure adrenaline-fuelled drama... Whether diving off 75-foot Jamaican cliffs into the ocean, recreating 'Cool Runnings' or meeting Jamaican celebrities".
Born in the southern city of Port Elizabeth, Steenkamp moved to Johannesburg six years ago to pursue her modelling career. She had dated Pistorius for a year.
After a tear-filled court appearance Friday which saw Pistorius break down repeatedly in the dock, a source at Brooklyn police station in Pretoria said the track star had "slept very well."
The 26-year-old had sobbed as Pretoria magistrate Desmond Nair announced a single charge of killing Steenkamp.
The medal winner was expected to receive visits on Saturday from family and from members of his defence team, who are preparing for a bail hearing that will begin Tuesday and what is expected to be a lengthy trial.
The state is expected to strongly oppose any effort to allow him to return to his home pending trial.
Prosecutors will argue the murder was premeditated, meaning he could face a life sentence.
In a statement issued by Pistorius's family and management company after the court appearance, the fallen star said "the alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms."
He also offered his condolences to those close to his former lover.
"Our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family -- regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy."

Malaysia detains Australian politician at airport

Malaysia detained an Australian politician at Kuala Lumpur airport Saturday, branding him a "prohibited immigrant" ahead of his expected deportation, in a move Canberra described as "disappointing".
Nick Xenophon, an outspoken independent senator who has been critical of Malaysia's electoral system, was held at the international airport near the capital Kuala Lumpur upon his arrival from Melbourne.
He is expected to be deported back to Melbourne later Saturday.
Immigration director general Alias Ahmad said in a text message to AFP that Xenophon had "tarnished the image of the country" and been classified as a "prohibited immigrant", without elaborating.
Xenophon told AFP that he was informed he was a security risk.
"I'm shocked this action has been taken," he said via telephone from the airport. "It seems that the government is fearful of scrutiny... This in my mind confirms that they (elections) won't be" fair.
He and other Australian lawmakers were planning the Malaysia trip to try to ascertain the freeness of upcoming national elections, due by June.
The other lawmakers have cancelled their trip after Xenophon's detention, he said.
Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was quoted by The Star daily online as saying foreigners being denied entry was a "normal thing".
"Being a senator doesn't make him special," he said.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said officials were in touch with Xenophon and were seeking his "swift release" and a "full explanation" of the incident.
"Senator Xenophon's detention is a surprising and disappointing act from a country with which Australia routinely maintains strong diplomatic relations," he said, adding that he had been in Malaysia for "peaceful purposes".
Xenophon has previously travelled to the country several times, including to study the polling system at the invitation of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
On this visit he was to meet members of electoral reform group Bersih and others including Anwar and Election Commission officials.
Anwar condemned Xenophon's detention "in the strongest terms", saying allegations that he was a security threat were "completely without foundation".
"I would like to remind Prime Minister Najib Razak that he has no right to treat visitors as enemies of the state merely because they are critical of his... administration," he said in a statement.
The upcoming polls are expected to be the toughest ever test for Najib's coalition, which has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1957 but has lost support in recent years.
Najib has touted reforms to boost the economy and allow for greater civil liberties, but rights group have dismissed the changes as window-dressing to get votes.