October 29, 2008

Dancing Drops to Six


Another celeb had to go Tuesday on Dancing With the Stars. No, really. Someone absolutely had to go.

Find out if Julianne has reason to kick her recovery up a notch, whether Brooke and Susan's injuries hurt them in the eyes of America, and if the cynical folks over at Vote for the Worst finally gave it a rest last night.

Did your least favorite get the boot, or will you be Houghing and puffing next week, as well?

Sorry, folks. It was bound to happen eventually.

Cloris Leachman took her final funny bow and, well, we'd say that she made her final quips, as well, but she'll probably be back for the finale.

"You know, I'm not leaving," said the 82-year-old Oscar winner, who made Samantha Harris and Tom Bergeron conduct the first-ever seated goodbye Q&A. "I should get a pretty costume and be here next week. I'm going to sit right over there. I can't go home—are you serious?"

Besides, "I can't get up now," she joked.

But she managed to right herself again, of course. "Thank you, everybody," she said, giving the crowd a wave.
Cloris Leachman, Dancing with the Stars ABC/KELSEY McNEAL

Also, to quell further controversy, she told Carrie Ann Inaba, "I know you didn't mean what you said, and I love you," in reference to the judge's remark last night that she was sad because Toni Braxton was eliminated before Leachman.

In the bottom two for the second week in a row, meanwhile, was Susan Lucci, who will need all of everyone's children to vote for her next week if she wants to stick around.

Figuring there wouldn't be much drama in making them sweat it out, Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer were the first declared safe tonight after a 27-caliber jive left them at the top of the leaderboard Monday.

"It's nice to know that our hard, hard work paid off," Bass said backstage.

Also not made to quake in their boots (or hospital gown) was Cody Linley and the absent Julianne Hough, who underwent an appendectomy today and will miss about a week of DWTS preparation. Edyta Sliwinska will let Linley twirl her around in rehearsal while Hough recuperates.

Afterward, the always amusing Tom Bergeron weighed in with an update on Hough's health: "She's just completed the bicycle portion of the Ironman Triathlon," he quipped. And more seriously, "Come back soon, my dear."

Following a performance by elimination-show staple Pussycat Dolls, this time joined by Missy Elliott, Warren Sapp, who toned down the bounce for his sensual rumba, and Kym Johnson were ushered to safety.

Then, after guest judge Michael Flatley had tapped up a firestorm, Brooke Burke and Derek Hough got the good news.

Finally, Maurice Greene and Cheryl Burke (the latter pair actually had the second-lowest score last night—a 22—after the judges were way too generous to Lucci) learned that they were safe for another week.

Next Monday, each star will be judged on a team dance, as well as on their partner numbers.

Well! Was tonight's elimination positively weeks in the making, or were you kinda sad to see Cloris go? Better yet, who's next? Do share—and there's no need to accentuate the positive or eliminate the negative!

October 28, 2008

Sean Kingston Beautiful World Concert - City People Magazine


All is now set to host the Jamaican Reggae sensation, Sean Kingston, in a world class concert tagged 'Beautiful World with Sean Kingston'. The concert is billed to hold in Abuja and Lagos on the 24th and 26th of Oct at the Eagle Square and Exp Centre respectively. The show will feature Sean Kingston live alongside Gotti, from the R-Kelly stable plus Ikechukwu, Naeto C, Durella and others. Be there!

Nadia Buari and Michael Essien set to wed in Dec - Juliana Orji


According to reliable sources, Ghanaian actress, Nadia and her long time beau, Chelsea striker, Micahel Essien are scheduled to be married this Dec in Accra. The most famous couple have decided to tie the knot after their much publicised engagement.

Obama leads in five key states


Barack Obama leads John McCain in five of eight crucial battleground states one week before the United States presidential election, with McCain ahead in two states and Florida dead even, according to a series of Reuters/Zogby polls released on Monday.

Obama held steady with a five-point lead over McCain among likely US voters in a separate Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby national tracking poll, the same advantage he held on Sunday. The national telephone poll has a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

Republican McCain is struggling to defend about a dozen states won by President George W. Bush in 2004, including all eight of the states surveyed over the last three days.

Breakthroughs by Obama in any of those states could move him close to or above the 270 electoral votes he needs to win the White House on November. 4.

Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, held narrow leads over McCain in Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio and Nevada, most within the margin of error of 4.1 percentage points. McCain had a solid 10-point lead in West Virginia and a 6-point edge in Indiana.

The two candidates were tied at 47 percent in Florida, the largest of the battlegrounds with 27 electoral votes and the state that decided the disputed 2000 election.

Most polls show Obama comfortably ahead in all of the states won by Democrat John Kerry in 2004, but the Reuters/Zogby polls show McCain in serious danger in several states won by Bush.

”If Obama holds the Kerry states, he is in line now to get enough electoral votes to win the White House,” Zogby said, noting McCain faces a difficult fight in a handful of states where Republicans have a long history of success.

”These polls are a measure of what an uphill battle McCain faces to win,” Zogby said.

”These are all Republican states and McCain has a very tough challenge, but they are all close.”

The state polls showed Obama leads in Virginia by seven points, 52 per cent to 45 per cent, and in neighbouring North Carolina by four points.

October 18, 2008

New signing threatens to bench Martins


Former Deportivo la Coruna striker and Newcastle United new signing, Xisco, has threatened to deploy every weapon in his arsenal to bench Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins and rivals when they return to full action after several months of injury.

The £5.7m forward who arrived at St James’ Park, just before the storm of Kevin Keegan’s departure erupted vowed to grab his chance under Joe Kinnear with both hands, insisting that he is ready to stake a tall claim in the starting line-up.

While revealing that he is determined to take it, the Spaniard noted: "I will get better and I will take my chance when it comes. Things always get better after more training and more games. I hope that is the case at Newcastle. You always need to become more familiar with people when you arrive at a new club."

He argued that his 6ft 3in frame advantage over Martins, could be tailor-made for the brutal nature of the Premier League, adding: "Football is different in Spain, but I think I can adapt fast. I wanted to come and play in the Premier League because it is a big league. Along with La Liga, it is the strongest league in the world. Most players who have the opportunity to come here do so. I just want to take my chance."

He expressed confidence that even with the return of rivals like Martins, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith after injury, he was in the box seat to stake his claim, even as he noted that he would be an ideal partner with England striker, Michael Owen. "I think Owen and I can play together. Of course we are different players on the pitch, but I think the combination is good. It is one that can work," he quipped.sunonline

Grandfather arrested in drug-related abduction, dispatcher says


LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- The man wanted for questioning in the drug-related abduction of his 6-year-old grandson in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been apprehended in California, a dispatcher for a San Bernardino County detention center said early Saturday.
A nationwide Amber Alert has been issued for Cole Puffinburger, 6, of Las Vegas, Nevada.

A nationwide Amber Alert has been issued for Cole Puffinburger, 6, of Las Vegas, Nevada.

The dispatcher, who did not give her name, said Clemens F. Tinnemeyer, 51, was arrested late Friday night in Riverside, California.

Earlier Friday, Las Vegas police said they wanted to question him in the case of his grandson's abduction.

Cole Puffinburger was snatched from his Las Vegas home Wednesday by three armed men who tied up the boy's mother and her fiance.

Police Capt. Vincent Cannito told reporters that Tinnemeyer has been involved in "significant drug dealing" worth millions of dollars.

Tinnemeyer owns a sightseeing motor home service and works as a driver, police said.

He was last seen in Las Vegas on May 21. At the time, he was driving a white Dodge extended-cab pickup with Mississippi license plates KA6251.

He last contacted his family in August and was reported missing in September.

Authorities said Thursday that the case is related to "illegal narcotics activity" and that the family was targeted; Cannito said Friday that Cole was kidnapped by drug dealers attempting to recover lost money and property.

"These are extremely dangerous people," Cannito said. "This is as bad as it gets."

At least two of the three suspects posed as police officers to enter Cole's home about 7:25 a.m. Wednesday, police said. They tied up the boy's mother and her fiancé and ransacked the house before kidnapping the boy when no money was found, they said.

In a story published Friday, The Las Vegas Review-Journal quoted unnamed sources as saying a member of the boy's family owes a Mexican drug cartel between $8 million and $20 million, describing the relative as an alleged money launderer for the cartel and saying the person was in hiding.

A search for the boy spans much of the American Southwest, and a nationwide Amber Alert was in effect.

Cole is described as being 3 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 48 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a sweat shirt, dark jeans and silver-rimmed prescription glasses, authorities said.

The kidnappers were described as three Hispanic men who spoke with heavy accents.
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National and local authorities have said that such drug-related abductions are occurring more frequently in communities near the Mexican border.

Anyone with more information is asked to call Las Vegas Metropolitan Police at 702-828-5678

Want to See HSM3 Early? How's Your French?


Quelle scandale!

While hometown Wildcats fans are waiting until next Friday to see High School Musical 3: Senior Year, audiences in France—France!—get the movie on Wednesday.

Wednesday!

A dastardly plot by Old Europe to have Zac Efron all to itself—at least for 48 hours?

Uh, no.

For one thing, says Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, movies in France traditionally open on Wednesdays, not Fridays.

For another thing, Troy Bolton is dreamy in any language.

Yes, the HSM franchise, that all-American saga of young love, basketball and jazz hands, just so happens to have a fanatical following overseas.

"The music and the dancing really does travel," Zoradi says. "Music tends to travel really, really well."

And so do the HSM stars, as they and the paparazzi who worked their recent red carpet premieres in Europe could attest.

"The response was just fantastic," Zoradi says. "It was equal to what we've seen in the U.S. here."

Indeed, the first two HSM movies, both produced for and aired on cable, were watched by a combined 550.7 million worldwide, per Disney Channel stats. Viewers in the U.S. only made up about 20 percent of that audience, compared to 35 percent for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Next weekend, HSM3 will make its theatrical debut in more than 20 countries. Like France, the United Kingdom and Scandanavia will be treated to Wednesday launches.

Americans, take heart. The HSM3 crew was back in the continental home of East High for last night's Hollywood premiere.

France may get to experience Efron and company on the big screen earlier, but the States gets them forever.

Until they take off for Japan in about a week or so.

Travis Barker Released From Hospital


Earlier this morning, Travis Barker told fans he was "healing up quickly" and would be out of the hospital "b4 you know it."

He wasn't kidding.

On Friday, exactly four weeks after surviving a private plane crash, the former Blink-182 drummer was released from Sherman Oaks' Grossman Burn Center, the Los Angeles-area facility where he has been receiving treatment since Sept. 29.

The 32-year-old rocker will continue his recovery at home and has requested privacy while he continues to recover from the second- and third-degree burns he sustained in the Sept. 19 Learjet crash.

Prior to his California return, Barker was treated at Georgia's Joseph M. Still Burn Center for 10 days. He relocated to his SoCal home base on a specially equipped bus staffed by medical personnel.

Like his friend and fellow surviving passenger Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, Barker is expected to make a full recovery.

For his part, AM is slowly but surely resuming his precrash life, having triumphantly returned to the spinning scene this week by joining Jay-Z onstage for a Hollywood concert.

An investigation into the crash, which killed the other four onboard, is ongoing.eonline

October 16, 2008

Janet Jackson Resumes Rockin' Witchu


Love doesn't have to do without Janet Jackson anymore.

The 42-year-old pop diva performed as if she had never heard of a thing called vertigo as she finally resumed her Rock Witchu Tour Wednesday night in Washington, D.C.

Miss Jackson had been sidelined since Sept. 29 with migraine-associated vertigo and, on doctors' orders, was forced to postpone nine shows, including one originally scheduled for tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

But the sell-out crowd gathered at the Verizon Center tonight got lucky. Jackson made her entrance amid fireworks and theatrical smoke and then, knowing what works, kicked off the show with a medley of "The Pleasure Principle," "Control" and "What Have You Done for Me Lately," all off of 1986's Control.

"It feels so good to be back after being down just a little bit," the artist said during a brief break in the evening's lineup, which also included her latest single, "Feedback," "Miss You Much," "Nasty" and "Rhythm Nation."

October 10, 2008

Mehrshad Kamizi- the 20kg baby

IRANIAN OF THE DAY
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EFCC arraigns Amaechi’s aide over N5bn fraud


The Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Ezebunwo Wike, was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja High Court for allegedly converting over N5bn belonging to the state into personal use.
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The The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri

His arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission coincided with the demand by the state government for the payment of N3bn compensation to Wike by the EFCC.

Two of the charges read, “That you, Wike, sometime between 2007 and 2008, at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, converted to your own use, N3.5bn, belonging to the Rivers State Government, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 532 of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

“That you, Wike, sometime between 2007 and 2008 did dishonestly convert to your own use, N129m belonging to the state, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 532 of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.”

The Chief of Staff, who pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge brought against him, was however granted bail in the sum of N50m by Justice Adebukola Banjoko.

He is also to produce two sureties that must be resident in the Federal Capital Territory .

Earlier, one of the lawyers to the accused person, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had told Banjoko that the governor’s aide, who had practised as a lawyer for more than 10 years, would neither tamper with EFCC’s investigations nor jump bail.

Fagbemi, who led two other SANS— Damien Dodo and Sunday Ameh— also informed the justice that the state High Court in Port Harcourt had ordered the release of Wike.

He said, “The accused person walked into the office of the EFCC on Monday and has been in detention since then, I want to present before this court, an order of the Rivers State High Court that declared the arrest, detention and continued detention of the accused person as illegal.

“The court also ordered that he should be released from custody henceforth pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The counsel for the EFCC, Mr. James Binang, did not oppose the oral application for bail but he said the condition should be stringent.

Binang said, “We have been served with a copy of the order of the High Court, we want to submit that his (Wike) arrest and detention was lawful as it was based on the reasonable suspicion that he has committed a crime.

“He was also brought to court with reasonable time; we brought him to court within 48 hours, so the EFCC will not obey that order unless this court says so.

“All conditions for his bail now rest with this court. Our investigations disclosed both felony and money laundering, and it is only the Federal High Court that has the jurisdiction to entertain money laundering cases.

“We urge the court to, in considering the bail application, take into cognizance of the amount of money involved and to put conditions that would make him attend his trial.”

After listening to the argument, Banjoko granted the accused bail and ordered him to submit two passport photographs to the court’s registry.

“I have taken cognisance of the fact that the offences for which the accused person is standing trial are bailable, therefore bail is granted in the sum of N50m with two sureties who must be resident in the FCT. They must swear an affidavit showing evidence of payment of their taxes for three years,” he said.

The judge consequently adjourned hearing on the matter till October 24.

But the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Magnus Abe, described the arraignment of Wike as persecution.

Abe, who was released on Wednesday by the EFCC, said that the government would do everything possible to meet the bail conditions.

The Resident Media Consultant to Amaechi, Mr. David Iyofor, told journalists that Abe was at the commission’s office to submit a letter explaining the whereabouts of other members of the government under investigation when he was detained.

The other officials that were invited by the anti-graft agency in connection with the fraud are the Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Thank God Ideozu; the Accountant-General of the State, Mr. Ngozi Abu; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. A. E. Dokubo.

Iyofor said, “As a law abiding citizen, the SSG had only gone to appraise the commission of the location of the officers of government, when he was picked up and detained unlawfully for more than 48 hours.

“Now, the commission claimed he was arrogant and uncooperative. Since when did it become a crime to be arrogant? That is what we want the EFCC to explain to us.”

The government also accused the anti-graft agency of infringing on Wike’s rights by detaining him “unconstitutionally.”

In an application it filed at the High Court in Port Harcourt, the government condemned the arrest and detention of Abe for about 48 hours without any cause.

The state, therefore, sought leave of the court to enforce Wike’s rights and the payment N3bn to him by the EFCC.

“The court should compel the commission to, within 14 days or such time as may be ordered, pay to the applicant (Wike) the N3bn or any such sum as may be deemed appropriate as monetary compensation or aggravated damages for the infringement of his fundamental rights, ” it said.

It was learnt on Thursday that the governor had returned to the country from his overseas trip and may be meeting with management of the EFCC.punch online

Michelle Obama not offended by 'that one' comment


(CNN) -- The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told CNN's Larry King on Wednesday that she is not offended by a much-publicized comment made toward her husband in Tuesday night's debate.
Michelle Obama talks about Williams Ayers, Hillary Clinton and her husband's campaign on Larry King Live.

Michelle Obama talks about Williams Ayers, Hillary Clinton and her husband's campaign on Larry King Live.

In the presidential matchup at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, GOP nominee John McCain criticized his Democratic rival for supporting the 2007 Bush-Cheney energy bill.

"It was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies, billions for oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. ... You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," he said, gesturing toward Obama. "You know who voted against it? Me."

When asked whether McCain's reference to Obama as "that one" was offensive, Michelle Obama simply said "No," adding that the issue has nothing to do with what's affecting average Americans hurting from the economic downturn.

"I think there are two conversations that have been going on throughout this whole election. There's the conversation that's been happening with the pundits ... and then there's the conversation that's been happening on the ground," she said. Video Watch Michelle Obama talk about McCain's comment »

She said Americans "right now are scared" and "nervous about the economy."

"They don't care about the back and forth between the candidates. ... They want real answers about how we're going to fix this economy and get the health care benefits on track so, you know, this is part of politics," she added.

King asked Obama about the McCain camp bringing up her husband's ties to William Ayers. Ayers was a founding member of the Weather Underground, a 1960s radical group known for bombings of police stations, the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. Fact Check: Is Obama 'palling around with terrorists'?

Ayers is a university professor who lives on the South Side of Chicago, where Obama cut his political teeth.

Michelle Obama said her husband served on a Chicago education board with Ayers.

"I don't know anyone in Chicago who is heavily involved in education policy who doesn't know Bill Ayers," she said. "But, you know, again I go back to the point that, you know, the American people aren't asking these questions."

"You don't think it affects the campaign?" King asked.

"You know, I think that we've been in this for 20 months and people have gotten to know Barack. He's written a book, books have been written about him. He, like all of the other candidates have been thoroughly vetted. And I think people know Barack Obama. Video Watch Michelle Obama discuss William Ayers »

"They know his heart, they know his spirit, and the thing that I just encourage people is to judge Barack and judge all of these candidates based on what they do, their actions, their character, what they do in their lives rather than what somebody [else] did when they were 8."

Michelle Obama was referring to the fact that Ayers allegedly committed his most radical acts when Barack Obama was a child.

McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, has lobbed some intense attacks on Barack Obama over the Ayers issue. "Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," Palin told a crowd of supporters this week.

King played the clip and asked Michelle Obama if that statement made her "mad."

Obama replied, "I don't watch it."

"What do you make of her running for a vice president and having many kids and being a good parent and bouncing all the balls?" King asked.

"I think she provides an excellent of example of all the different roles that women can and should play," Michelle Obama responded. "I'm a mother with kids and I've had a career and I've had to juggle. She's doing publicly what so many women are doing on their own privately. What we're fighting for is to make sure that all women have the choices that Sarah Palin and I have."

At one point, King asked her if her husband likes McCain. "Do these two candidates, as has been reported, not like each other?" King asked.

"I can only speak for Barack, and I know that Barack has the utmost respect for Sen. McCain. He said so on so many occasions," she said. "I think this has been a long, tough fight. And politics sometimes leads to things said between the candidates. But again, what we found is that people are really focused on who is going to -- who has got the vision that's going to take us to the next level?"

She said campaigning is exhausting but she likes it more than she expected.

"When I'm tired, I get more energy coming out of a rally where I get the -- get hugs and I see people on the rope lines tearing up because they never thought they'd see this moment," she said. "I see kids who are focused and engaged in a way that I've never seen before. That gives us both energy."

Obama also talked about Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"Are you happy with the way she's supporting your husband?" King asked.
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"She has been phenomenal. ...She has always been just cordial and open. I've called her, I've talked to her. She's given me advice about the kids," Obama said. Video Watch Michelle Obama call Hillary Clinton 'phenomenal' »

Obama holds advertising advantage over McCain


Barack Obama spent $3.3 million in TV advertising on Monday. At that rate, the Democrat will spend more than $90 million on ads through Election Day - more than all the money Republican rival, John McCain, has to spend on his entire fall campaign, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.
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Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama

McCain’s ad spending Monday, totaled about $900,000 and the Republican National Committee weighed in with about $700,000 worth.

All whopping numbers, but the disparity between Obama and the Republicans is so wide that it has allowed Obama to spend in more states than McCain, to appear more frequently in key markets, and to diversify his message by both attacking McCain and promoting his own personal story.

With national and state polls showing him building a broader lead over McCain, Obama has switched to a more positive pitch. Last week, only 34 percent of his ads attacked McCain directly while virtually all of McCain‘s ads attacked Obama, according to a study by the Wisconsin Advertising Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

One of Obama’s most recent ads came as Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate, made an issue of Obama’s connections to 1960s radical, Bill Ayers, and argued that Obama “is not a man who sees America like you and I see America.”

The ad bespeaks Americana. In it, Obama recalls being a child, sitting on his grandfather’s shoulders and waving an American flag as they watched astronauts return from a splashdown. “And my grandfather would say, ‘Boy, Americans, we can do anything when we put our minds to it.”

The ad offers a direct response to Palin. But it also illustrates Obama‘s continuing need as an African-American to reassure voters about his candidacy.

Boosted by an economy in crisis and a saturation of advertising, Obama has built up his margins over McCain in Democratic-leaning battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania and Michigan. He has tilted Republican-leaning states such as Colorado and New Mexico toward his side. And he has created contests in such reliably Republican states as Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina.

At the same time, outside groups have weighed in on both sides. VoteVets.org, a group critical of Bush war policies, on Wednesday began spending $350,000 on ads in Virginia criticising McCain for opposing full college scholarships for those who serve three years in the military.

The AP reported that Health Care for America Now, a coalition that includes unions and patient advocates, is airing an ad in Ohio and on national cable criticising McCain‘s health care plan, echoing a similar message in an Obama ad.

By now, McCain’s allies had hoped the Arizona senator would have established his dominance in states won by President Bush in 2000 and 2004 and would have focused on winning two of the three key Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.punch

Recuperating Janet Ready to Rock Witchu Again


Janet Jackson is ready for more onstage escapades.

A rep for the veteran pop star said Wednesday that Jackson is ready to continue the North American leg of her Rock Witchu tour after sitting out a handful of dates to recover from an unspecified ailment.

Due to all the reshuffling, she has decided against playing NYC's Madison Square Garden on Oct. 16 but will be back on the road Oct. 11 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

"Janet, who has been under her doctor's care and recuperating over the last week, is excited about getting back on the road and again being able to share with her fans what she feels is one of her best stage shows ever," a rep for tour promoter Live Nation said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

The Grammy winner was forced to postpone shows in Montreal, Philadelphia, Boston, Greensboro, N.C., Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after falling ill Sept. 29 in Montreal. She was rushed from rehearsal to Royal Victoria Hospital, where she spent several hours before being discharged.

All fans were asked to hang on to their tickets, which will be honored at future makeup dates. So far, the Atlanta and New York shows have been rescheduled for Oct. 19 and Nov. 1, respectively.

Hefner's Shannon Twins Packing Legal Baggage


Hugh Hefner's new gal-pals aren't quite as innocent as they look. Um, anyway?

Florida police records show that 19-year-old twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon, who appear to be seeking permanent quarters in the Playboy Mansion, are currently on probation for a battery bust in St. Petersberg.

The sisters were arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 10 and booked on suspicion of felony aggravated battery, per arrest reports obtained by E! News. They were released from custody after posting $10,000 bonds and were later given probation and ordered to pay restitution for the incident, the details of which have not been determined just yet.

Prior to that run-in with the law, Karissa Shannon was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery last November.

No further information about their dual arrests was available, but their records do indicate that the blonde, blue-eyed twins aren't exactly identical.eonline

October 9, 2008

Robbers on the rampage on Lagos Island, kill two

Different gangs of armed robbers operating on motorcycles on Wednesday caused a stampede on Lagos Island as they went on the rampage in some areas.


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Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro
Two persons, whose identities could not be ascertained as at press time, were reportedly shot dead by the robbers.

The confusion forced many banks, especially on Victoria Island to beef up security around their premises, while some others hurriedly closed to customers.

One of the victims was reportedly killed by the robbers near the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, while the other was killed close to some banks on Victoria Island.

The intervention of mobile policemen attached to Police Mobile Force 2, Keffi, led by Mr. Patrick Ejedawe, a superintendent of police, later led to the arrest of two of the robbers.

One of the suspects, who identified himself as Ifeanyi George, was paraded before journalists while drenched in blood at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, shortly after he was arrested.

Amidst groaning and requesting for water, George told journalists that he was operating on motorcycle with one Sherriff.

One of the victims of the robbers‘ raid, Bolarinwa Segun, said he was robbed of N410,000 in front of a bank located on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, shortly after he withdrew the money.

He said, ”I have been to some banks where I was turned back. They said they were not attending to customers because of robbers. I later found one (bank) that opened to customers at Akin Adesola.

“I withdrew the money and kept it inside an envelope before putting it inside a polythene bag.

”Immediately I stepped out of the bank, a guy ran towards me with a pistol and snatched the money from me. He quickly mounted a waiting motorcycle and ran away. Some commercial motorcyclists who witnessed the scene from a safe distance mobilised and pursued them.

“Mobile policemen around Falomo joined in the chase towards Onikan roundabout before they veered towards MUSON Centre where they had a collision with a Toyota Corolla car.

“A mobile policeman shot one of them but the rider escaped. They recovered some of the money.”

The robbers, THE PUNCH learnt, stationed themselves at different spots close to the bank premises with the aim of robbing unsuspecting customers.

A top police source told our correspondent that policemen initially had difficulty in arresting the suspects because they (the policemen) did not want innocent citizens to be killed in the process.

Another Booted from Top Model's Body Beautiful


And now there are seven, bringing the collective weight of the remaining America's Next Top Model contestants down by at least 30 pounds.
Find out whose award-show-faux-pas picture was not in Tyra Banks' hands at the end of tonight's episode…
Unfortunately, Lauren Brie Harding didn't just turn blonder this season—she got blander, too.
Targeted for her waning personality and mannequin-like presence, the 20-year-old student from Virginia (second from right) became the latest aspiring catwalker to be eliminated from ANTM.
Tyra & Co. spotlighted Lauren "It's just me" Brie's inability to convey any emotion in recent weeks during photo shoots and, despite the fact her I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-up Fiercy Awards pic showed a beautiful girl, the judges started attributing L.B.'s success to the hair-and-makeup guys instead.
Almost run out of town, meanwhile, was Sheena Sakai, who's been slipping in the judges' eyes from week to week. (They obviously don't care that, so far, she's the nicest girl in the house.)
The buxom Harlem resident is a good-tempered, willing listener—and she promptly toned down the hooch appeal when Tyra asked her to—but she let her eyes get away from her tonight in her someone's-stepping-on-my-dress photo.
On a more promising note, Marjorie Conrad's nerves got the best of everyone else for a change. The wide-eyed fille won tonight's pose-off challenge—utilizing her bird-like limbs to evoke a starving French girl a more appealing Hunchback of Notre Dame—and was rewarded with an $8,700 diamond pendant from Rafinity, a prize she shared with Analeigh Tipton, who picked out a $3,200 peace sign necklace from the L.A. jeweler.
The oft terrified-looking Marjorie also kicked butt when she took to a bathroom stall to pose as an award show attendee who had to pee but couldn't quite maneuver out of her full-length gown.
Another favorite from the photo shoot, despite not being able to zero in on a "signature pose," was Analeigh. The adorable Sacramento, Calif., native fully embodied the role of bitchy interviewer and she finally got Paulina Porizkova to admit that the girl is model material.
Also still in the running to go abroad in two weeks, not to mention become America's Next Top Model, are Joslyn Pennywell, who recaptured some of that early-cycle magic in her someone's-wearing-my-dress photo; boxing enthusiast McKey Sullivan; runway flasher Samantha Potter; and control queen Elina Ivanova, who cried for goodness sake and still couldn't sell emotion in her film.
So, are you surprised that Lauren Brie took a bow this early in the competition? Who should walk the runway plank next week? Was Tyra really known that much for her fierce stare back in the day? They walked the walk, now you talk the talk...

October 8, 2008

NIGERIA SAFE FROM GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS - WORLD BANK

Following wide spread fears of the global financial crisis presently distressing many of world’s large economies, the World Bank has at last assured that the effect, after all, may not impact negatively on the Nigerian economy. The assurance is coming barely one month after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had similarly, during its latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting envisaged a minimal impact of the global financial turmoil on the Nigerian economy, owing basically to what it referred to as very strong macro-economic fundamentals. But the World Bank believes that with the Nigerian banking system not having significant foreign ownership, especially in the United States, for instance, it stands the least chance of experiencing the current turbulent situation of the U.S. banking system. Presently, Nigeria and South Africa which have the largest economies in Africa have foreign ownership share of just less than five percent compared with a developing country average of about 40 percent. Secondly, the World Bank believes that even if the present financial market turmoil results to a global recession, for oil exporters like Nigeria whose reference budget price is below $70, a drop in oil price would not be as damaging as in the past episodes. Again, the Bank envisages there could be a ‘cut-back’ in foreign capital inflows into the African region which could seriously affect growth and poverty but with Nigeria’s current Aid assistance from donors standing at about only one percent of its budget, such low inflows might not really affect the country’s economy. At a Video Conference organised by the Bank to brief the African press and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on crucial global and regional issues in preparation for it’s up-coming Annual Meetings in Washington Mid-October yesterday, Shanta Devarajan, World Bank’s Chief Economist expressed these views but warned that caution should be taken in formulating and implementing policies to avoid impact of the financial crisis on the Nigerian economy. BusinessDay, p.4