Christina Milian throws Lil Wayne a surprise birthday bash...

Christina Milian arranged a secret bash at the Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards last Wednesday, September 24, 2014 so that her rapper beau, Lil Wayne could celebrate turning 32 in style and surrounded by his close friends. However, the surprises didn’t stop there as the brunette beauty also treated Lil Wayne – whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. – to a custom-made white chocolate cake, which had been made in the shape of a skateboard and decorated by Platinum Event Decor. Although, it appears most of the calorific treat ended up on the floor as the party broke out into a food fight. Taking to her Twitter account the day after (Thursday, September 25, 2014), Christina wrote: ‘Cake Fights Allllll Night.. Too much fun.. Happy Early Bday Boss @LilTunechi #CakeDay Part 2 Best Time Ever (sic).’ Meanwhile, the couple first sparked speculation they were dating after they were pictured holding hands at the beginning of July and then again looking very cosy at the 2014 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 16. A source said at the time: ‘It is totally true. They are hooking up.’ However, the rumours came as a shock to fans as Christina only split up with her fiancé Jas Prince just over a month before. Christina also has a daughter, four-year-old Violet, with her ex-husband The Dream, whom she married in 2009 before splitting just two years later. Wayne was previously married to Antonia Wright between 2004 and 2006, with whom he has a daughter, Reginae, and he also has three other children who were all born to different mothers.
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Realgist: Change on M.I’s new album release date..

Realgist: Change on M.I’s new album release date..: M.I dropped a comeback track titled ‘King James’ a few weeks back to announce his return to mainstream music....  Fans of Jude Abaga ‘M.I’...

Change on M.I’s new album release date..

M.I dropped a comeback track titled ‘King James’ a few weeks back to announce his return to mainstream music.... Fans of Jude Abaga ‘M.I’ might need to wait a little longer for the release of his 4th studio album titled Chairman which was earlier scheduled to drop on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 as earlier announced by the rapper himself, has been pushed to a further date. NET gathered that the album will now be released in the last week of October, as the rapper and his record label, Chocolate City are trying to get their acts right with the distribution and other little details to ensure the album release comes as hitch free as possible. In anticipation of this new album, the rapper M.I dropped a comeback-track titled ‘King James’ a few weeks back to announce his return to mainstream music after he has been away for a while.... 

Boko Haram looting our armoury – DHQ

Boko Haram group

The Defence Headquarters has said that it was aware that members of the outlawed Islamist sect, Boko Haram, were in the habit of looting its armoury.

The military authorities stated that they were making efforts to secure all armouries in its various formations across the country.

Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, made the disclosure during his first real-time Twitter chat which held on Sunday night.

The army general was, however, not categorical about the grades of weapons just as he did not name the armouries that have so far been looted by the insurgents.

“We are taking measures to ensure that our armouries are secured. We agree and are aware Boko Haram has stolen arms,” Olukolade said while responding to an inquiry by one of the participants of the Twitter chat.

King Of Fuji Music Saheed Osupa Reportedly Buys Land For All His Band Members

Saheed Osupa

Fuji star, Saheed Osupa reportedly bought a large parcel of land which he gifted to each of his band members who have been with him throughout his sojourn in music. According to City People, the four acre of land which is located in Ota, Ogun state was shared among the members last month. That's so nice of him!

Ebay and paypal set to split up

The online auction site eBay is planning to split off its payments system PayPal into a separate company.

It expects to do that in the second half of 2015.

EBay’s chief executive John Donahoe said: “A thorough strategic review… shows that keeping eBay and PayPal together beyond 2015 clearly becomes less advantageous to each business strategically and competitively.”

PayPal’s revenues are growing at 19 per cent a year, twice as quickly as eBay’s.

PayPal’s annual revenue is $7.2bn, while eBay’s is $9.9bn and is growing at 10 per cent a year.

Earlier this year the activist investor, Carl Icahn, began pressing for eBay to sell PayPal, a plan that was resisted by the eBay board. He stopped pushing after failing to gain enough support.

eBay bought PayPal in 2002 for $1.5bn (£905m), and the payments company is now the Silicon Valley firm’s fastest-growing business, with 143 million active users at the end of 2013, up 16 per cent from a year earlier.

Nadia Buari shares new photos from her Reality Show ‘The Buari’s Ville’

Nadia Buari is taking the step of her best friend ‘Jim Iyke’ as the ghollywood screen Diva is shooting a reality show titled ‘The Buari’s Ville’. Here are few photos she released for her fans.

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I Managed Ekiti Treasury With Integrity – Fayemi

Governor Fayemi

 Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said that he is always ready to give account of how he managed the finances of the State in the last four years of his administration.

The Governor who was addressing citizens during his Thank You tour of Ajoni , Ekiti South East, Ekiti East, Ayekire and Gbonyin council areas of the state on Tuesday, said he had managed the finances of the State with integrity and this was why the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had no reason to come to the State since he became Governor in 2010.

Governor Fayemi added that he had no reason to tamper with public funds in order to earn a living; saying that his source of livelihood is not hinged on the State’s treasury.

He stressed that he came into politics with a name that is reputed for integrity and will not quit politics with a soiled name.

The Governor while sharing information on how he has managed the state treasury to a jubilant crowd at the receptions held in his honour at the headquarters of the councils, said he would be waiting for anyone who has any information that can indict him for financial misappropriation.

Fayemi asserted that he had always given prominence to Ekiti State in all his dealings and that was why the development of Ekiti is Paramount to him.

“I need not steal from the coffers if Ekiti state before I can make living. Anyone who has information that Ekiti money is missing should come and meet me or take me to court. I have a name to protect and so I need not do anything that can soil my name. I am not like some people who do not have Ekiti development at heart”, he asserted.

The Governor added that the State is an open book even as his government made accountability and transparency its watchword.

He said the commitment to transparency led to the domestication of the freedom of information act in the State.

Fayemi stressed that he is the only Governor who declared his assets and even published it in national dailies as part of commitment to accountability.

Crazy look! Nollywood Actress Biodun Okeowo Show Off Londoner Hairstyle

Nollywood actress Biodun Okeowo has embraced a new look few days after she featured in an upcoming movie where she performed the role of a gangster woman.

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Nollywood Actress Chika Ike shares picture with new baby

We all have that one thing that makes us happy and puts a smile on our faces, actress Chika posted 
this bedroom photo of her adoring her Nephew, She addresses the baby as her bundle of joy and that one thing that makes her feel complete.
Chika Ike was married for a year before breaking out of the marriage because of domestic violence though she had no child out of the marriage, but it seems now the actress is eager to have a baby of her own after feeling the sweetness of being a mother as she took time out to babysit her little nephew…

Ini Edo’s marriage crashes & Husband collects her bride price

This is so touching and i must say its sad. Well

According to blogger Stella of SDK:

She exclusively reported that Ini Edo‘s marriage to her hubby Phillip has crashed. The Marriage which was contracted in November 2008 is whispered to have been hopping on one leg before finally crashing over five weeks ago.
A close friend of the actress squealed that the marriage broke down due to very strong allegations of ‘serial cheating with evidence’ but that the couple who are pretending to still be in talking terms might cite irreconcilable differences.
My source alleges that Phillips Ehiagwina demanded to have back the bride price he paid to marry Ini Edo and his wishes were granted by her people.
Ini Edo and Phillips got married in an American ceremony and the whispers also indicate that part of the union may have also been dissolved.
Efforts to contact Mr Ehiagwina to find out why he collected back the bride price he paid on our darling actress met a brick wall as his American and Nigerian phones were switched off

There are also strong whispers that a group of ladies accosted actress Ini Edo recently and beat the living daylights out of her. The whisperers say that the reason is that ”One of the girls who is dating a Lekki big boy named Lewa alleges that Ini has been dating her boyfriend for the past 3 years and it was time to stop and face her marriage but unfortunately Ini’s marriage was already over by the time they accosted her……”

Sir Shina Peters Signs Multi-Million Naira Deal, Becomes MTN Ambassador

Afro Juju Creator and Grand Master of Juju Music, Sir Shina Peters (SSP) has joined the prestigious list of Ambassadors of Nigeria’s leading telecommunication company, MTN.

Signs he has joined MTN played out yesterday in Ibadan where the telecommunications company rolled out several activation materials including billboards, POS, and flyers, TVC and radio with his pictures and one of his signature tunes, 777, a winning streak number from his album, Ace. The multi-million naira deal comes with full package.

When E24-7MAGAZINE contacted the hitmaker on Monday, he gleefully confirmed the development. “Yes, my brother, I have joined the big family in MTN, Nigeria’s biggest telecommunications network. It’s a great moment for me, my career and my fans. I appreciate the decision of MTN to get me on board and I have promised to add value to the brand, join hands with other young talents already on board and see how we can continue to grow the family and its teeming subscribers.

Sir Shina Peters, (SSP) as he is fondly called by fans was born May 30 1958) as Oluwashina Akanbi Peters. He began his. music career while playing the guitar with General Prince Adekunle, where he was a kid star for his dexterity on guitar. He later found in one of his peers, a juju maestro too, Segun Adewale and both joined hands to float the young and dynamic Juju band, Shina Adewale. Both ruled the music scene churning out hit albums back-to-back in the 8os. Due to some circumstances, especially third party influences and exuberance, they parted ways and went to pursue their respective solo careers. SSP later formed the “Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars”. 

Their first album release, Ace (Afro-Juju Series 1) in 1989 went double platinum and. It turned out a career defining album that catapulted Sir Shina Peters back into the limelight. “Ace” was a musical fusion between Juju and Afro beat; a rhythmic collaboration which broke ethnic, cultural and language barriers in Nigeria. 

The second album release Shinamania (Afro-Juju Series 2) went on to further prove that Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars were on the verge to change and revolutionize the Juju Music scene in Africa. Sir Shina Peters is still regarded as the creator of a well-respected music genre, Afro Juju) that exists in its own class till this day and with many new generation artistes following his steps. 

SSP with several awards home and abroad, featured in international music festivals alonside great music acts has close to 20 albums to his credit.

Aderiye’s Murder: Ekiti Police arrest woman, 18 others

ADO EKITI—Ekiti State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested  19 suspects including a woman over the gruesome murder of the former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Omolafe Aderiye last Thursday.

This is coming just as the  Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Mr. Christopher Dega and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, have met with traditional rulers in the state as well as other stakeholders in their bid to fully restore peace in the state, following days of violence.

The Police source hinted that the level of culpability of each of those arrested was being determined.
The Police said those arrested were picked up between Saturday and yesterday.

According to the Public Relations Officer of Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Victor Babayemi; “All the 19 are still with us as we are investigating their levels of culpability.”

Babayemi said the police would, however, not reveal the identity of of those in its custody yet, saying this would be made known at the appropriate time.

Also, AIG Dega and CP Lakanu yesterday met with representatives of the traditional rulers in the state to fashion ways of ensuring lasting peace in their domains and in the state.

Eight traditional rulers, namely: Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola (the Onitaji of Itaji and Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers); Oba Adebayo Adewole, the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti; Oba James Adedapo Popoola, Oore of Otun-Ekiti; Oba M. G. Adedeji, Owa Ooye of Okemesi; Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, Alara of Aramoko; Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye kingdom and Oba S. O. Ajiboye, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti attended the meeting.

The CP was said to have charged the traditional rulers on the need for them to maintain peace and help sustain it.
The CP was said to have also told them they have high of influence on their subjects and they should talk to them and prevail on them to maintain peace, pointing out that; “Police is here not because of any particular political party but for the peace of the state.”

Lagos offers to fund Iwu’s abandoned Ebola research work

Prof. Maurice Iwu

 LAGOS—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, expressed readiness of his administration to fund Prof. Maurice Iwu’s abandoned research work on infectious diseases, such as the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, if he so desired to benefit from the state’s N142,239,000 million research grant.

The governor, also tasked scientists in Africa and Nigeria in particular to get involved in ground breaking work that will contribute to the development of Africans.

Fashola made the remarks at the presentation of research grants, drawn in cheques to seven tertiary institutions, both Federal and states, including a neighbouring state at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Julius Berger repairs Ajegunle link road abandoned for 14 yrs

the road before repair

Ajegunle to the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa expressway, residents, Sunday, heaved sigh of relief as construction giant, Julius Berger, JB, Plc commenced repairs on the road. The road was abandoned for at least 14 years .

the road after repair

FG to stop funding road projects by 2019 — Maku

Labaran Maku

Indications emerged penultimate weekend that the Federal Government will divest its funding of road construction in the country. The government plans to cede the construction of road projects to the private sector in 2019. These facts were disclosed by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku at the Ministerial press briefing organised by his ministry for the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja.

The Federal Government said at the briefing that it has spent N1.765 trillion on 184 on going projects across the six geo-political zones of the country.

Speaking at the briefing during which the Minister of Works, Arc  Mike Onolememen, presented his score-card, Maku explained that by 2019, the construction and maintenance of roads will principally be handled by the private sector.

Ready for your personal Robot?

City life in 2030: Here's what to expect

The robotic revolution has already started, but the ultimate dream of robot makers worldwide is to fill the planet with anthropomorphic robots -- the stuff of science fiction movies. 

They will take on the role of personal assistants, both at home -- to help with chores, for example -- and in public spaces, to offer guidance to tourists or lend a hand with your shopping. 

Pictured above is the REEM robot, built by Spain's PAL Robotics. It is already available, and it can give an idea of what's to come in the more distant future. 

It has a touch screen to display information and can sustain basic conversations, responding to inquiries in spaces such as shopping malls, museums, and airports. 

Tinubu calls for revolution

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says there is a need for the country to undergo a “common sense” revolution.

Tinubu, who is a national leader of the All Progressives Congress said the many years of misrule by successive Peoples Democratic Party presidents had continued to sink the country further into crisis.

The former governor said this in a statement titled ‘A Return to Decency’, on Monday.

He described the 16 years of PDP rule at the federal level as a period of steady decline into disaster.

He said, “The longer they rule, the less benefit the people derive. Nigeria now needs a ‘common sense revolution,’ a revolution that calls forth a return to decency, probity, transparency of process and fairness in outcome.

“This is done not by subterfuge, divide and rule and turning Nigeria in a field of discord or a street of broken institutions. It is accomplished by honouring the principles of democratic good governance and economic justice. It is done by persuading the people they are better off as one instead of better off tearing at one another’s throats.

“Nigerians should be prepared for change. We must rescue Nigeria from those set to cause it irreparable harm. The change I talk about is the only route to our deliverance from 16 years of the PDP locusts. Nigeria is ours to keep and its democracy is ours to save.”

He advised that this year’s Independence Day should be a time of sober reflection because other countries that received independence at the same time as Nigeria had since surpassed the country.

He described the Nigeria of today as the nightmare of its founding fathers. Tinubu further berated the PDP-led Federal Government of using religion to divide Nigerians.

He said, “We commemorate this Independence Day because the nation has survived despite its many challenges. We dare not celebrate because the nation has not flourished as it should. Fifty four years our national trek began with hope and promise, peace and unity.

“Today, the nation staggers beneath the weight of trouble multiplied by hardship. Peace and unity seem to have yielded the moment to violence and discord. We exist as a political unit on a map but we do not prosper as brothers and sisters in one nation, under one flag and pursuant to one accord.”

“Never has an elected government in Nigeria employed religion as a tool to divide the people, setting Nigerian brother against brother in a manner that allows this administration to function at the basest level of governance while seeking to establish a political domination that seeks no greater purpose than its self-perpetuation.”

He described attempts to stigmatise and physically intimidate the APC and the militarisation of elections as features of a perverse democracy.

He described President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda as an avenue to siphon funds through a dubious blueprint.

“They do not have a national blueprint or vision. They do have a blueprint and vision for excessive self-enrichment. Their equation is simple: You work, they feast. You toil, they grow fat. You seek a decent wage; they pilfer the collective treasury to enjoy a king’s ransom,” he said.

He said rather than promote religious tolerance and harmonious living, Jonathan’s government believes its electoral chances are enhanced by promoting ethnicism, internal divisions and religious suspicion but “successful nations are not built this way, have we not learned the lesson that we paid the high price of civil war to learn.”

60 soldiers face trial for mutiny today

Another set of 60 soldiers are to be arraigned before a General Court Martial by military authorities in Abuja on Tuesday (today)   for mutiny.

The soldiers allegedly committed mutiny on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join troops in Maiduguri for “an operation.”

Fayose asks NJC to probe Ekiti judiciary crisis

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has asked the National Judicial Council to investigate the allegation that he was involved in the beating of a serving judge in the state.

Fayose said the investigation would open what he described as cans of worms in the state judiciary.

He said it would be wrong for Nigerians to rely on what they were being fed by members of the All Progressives Congress on the issue, saying he was begging the NJC to look at all the issues at stake dispassionately and be guided by the truth.

Fayose, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Monday, said that all the news about his involvement in the Ekiti violence was a part of a plot by the APC to cause crisis in the state with a view to prevent his inauguration on October 16.

He said, “What I’m saying is that the National Judicial Council should conduct a thorough probe of the happenings in Ekiti State judiciary and through that, the rot in the system will be exposed.

“A lot of things are happening there and there are signs that some judicial officers are conniving with the outgoing governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the APC.

“The current crisis is an agenda of the APC and their sole aim is to try and get through the back door what the people of the state did not give them on June 21 when they voted overwhelmingly for me and the Peoples Democratic Party.”

He said there was no way he, as a former governor, could have raised his hand to beat a judge, adding that he was not even capable of beating a house help.

Fayose said he was being portrayed in bad light in order to create the impression that he is a bad person.

He said, “I did not and cannot slap a judge. I cannot slap a houseboy, let alone a High Court Judge, and I have utmost respect for judicial officers.

“The media propaganda that I beat up a judge is an APC agenda to portray me in bad light having failed to take my mandate through the back door.

“The Ekiti State Attorney General, Wale Fapounda, has disclosed that he has spoken with the judge in question, and he spoke on Sunrise programme on Saturday morning on Channels TV where he made it clear that the news that I slapped the Judge was all lies.

“I did not enter Justice John Adeyeye’s court because I had no business to transact there. The Tribunal venue, where I went to, is quite a distance from Adeyeye’s court. Then the pertinent question is, ‘at what point did I meet him?’

“Is it that the Judge left his courtroom with his robe to face so-called protesters? Investigation will reveal all this.

“Up till now, nobody has been able to provide photo or video evidence that I slapped the judge.”

The governor-elect noted that PDP leaders were aware of the various petitions written to the NJC by APC leaders in Ekiti, saying investigation would reveal the truth.

He also stated that the actions and utterances of Fayemi in recent times showed a collaboration between him and some judicial officers.

He said, “For the information of all, I am openly expressing my readiness to appear before the committee to be set up by the NJC even after I must have been sworn in, to testify on the issue, if need be.

“The whole issue was part of a grand plan by the APC to cause mayhem and through it, install the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly as acting governor, which the people of Ekiti has seen through, and are ready to stop at all cost.”

New Afghan president sworn in after disputed vote

Afghanistan's new president, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (left), stands next to Afghanistan's Chief Justice Abdul Salam Azimi as he takes the oath during his inauguration as president in Kabul on September 29, 2014. Picture: Omar Sobhani

In his first speech, Ghani Ahmadzai called on the Taliban and other militants to join the country's political process and lay down their weapons. However, extremist violence Monday killed at least 12 civilians and police officers as foreign forces prepare to withdraw from the country at the end of the year.

"We are tired of war," Ghani Ahmadzai said in a televised address. "Our message is peace, (but) this doesn't mean we are weak."

Ghani Ahmadzai, a former World Bank official and Afghan finance minister, wore a dark black turban popular in the country's south as he swore in his two vice presidents and then Abdullah.

Abdullah, a former foreign minister, spoke first and thanked Karzai for his service and the people of the country for casting votes in the millions despite the threat of attack from Taliban militants who tried to thwart the election process.

"We are committed as one in the national unity government," Abdullah said. "Our commitment will be fulfilled together as unified team to create national unity."

Ghani Ahmadzai then congratulated Karzai for a peaceful and democratic transition of power, and he thanked Abdullah for making the national unity government possible. The new president also promised to confront the country's endemic corruption.

"We want to be held accountable. I am your leader but I am no better than you. If I make mistakes, you should hold me accountable," Ghani Ahmadzai said.

Karzai - the only president Afghanistan and the West have known since the invasion - wore a wide smile as he greeted his presidential guards upon entering the palace. Karzai has said he is glad to be stepping down after more than a decade of what the U.S. ambassador recently said was one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

The inauguration caps a nearly six-month election season that began when ballots were first cast in April. A runoff election in June between Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdullah stretched on for weeks as both sides leveled charges of fraud. The United Nations helped carry out what it said was the most thorough recount in its history, a count that reduced Ghani Ahmadzai's vote percentage from 56 percent to 55 percent, but still gave him the win.

But the real power struggle was taking place in marathon talks between the two sides, often brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other U.S. officials. The political deal the sides agreed to created the new position of chief executive that Abdullah will now fill.

The inauguration took place eight days after the political deal was signed between Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdullah. Though Kerry played a big role in the political deal, the short notice of the inauguration date and events elsewhere in the Middle East did not allow him to attend. Instead, the U.S. was represented by John Podesta, counselor to President Barack Obama. Other notable guests included Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

U.S. officials have said they expect Ghani Ahmadzai to sign a security agreement with the U.S. shortly after his inauguration to allow about 10,000 American troops to stay in the country after the international combat mission ends on Dec. 31.

Even as the inauguration unfolded in the heavily guarded presidential palace, two bomb attacks took place on the road connecting the country's main airport with the palace. One roadside bomb did not result in any deaths or injuries, but a second attack about a kilometer (half mile) from the airport by a suicide bomber killed six or seven people, police officer Abdul Latif said.

A bigger attack took place in the eastern province of Paktia. Police Capt. Mohammed Hekhlas said that a car bomb exploded near a government compound as gunmen attacked, sparking a gun battle that killed seven Taliban militants. Another police official, who gave his name as Azimullah, said four police officers and two civilians also were killed.

For Afghans watching the inauguration, that threat of violence and insecurity remained one of their top concerns.

"I hope Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai can bring peace and the rule the law in Afghanistan as former Afghan President Hamid Karzai could not bring peace," said Abdul Rahman, a 30-year-old police officer. "Our people have been suffering from the instability and poverty."

Mystery over N.Korean leader fuels health rumors

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea's authoritarian leader makes no public appearances for three weeks, skipping a high-profile event he usually attends. An official documentary shows him limping and overweight and mentions his "discomfort." What follows is a smorgasbord of media speculation about what's eating Kim Jong Un.

Maybe it's gout, unidentified sources tell South Korean reporters, or diabetes, or high blood pressure. A thinly sourced British report says the Swiss-educated dictator has been laid low by a massive cheese addiction. A headline in Seoul offers up the possibility of a common South Korean obsession: fried chicken and beer.

So what's going on? Maybe not much.

As is always the case, much more than what's seen publicly is happening behind the well-guarded scenes with North Korea's No. 1. But just the fact that Pyongyang acknowledges that Kim is ailing suggests that he may not be suffering from anything particularly serious. The hugely micromanaged state media, for instance, were tight-lipped when Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, suffered major health problems late in his rule.

The intense outside fascination with even scraps of information creates a scramble in South Korea and the West to play up any hint of change or turmoil in a country notorious for resisting outside prodding and for releasing information only as it sees fit.

North Korea is unique: a poor, largely cloistered, fiercely proud, nominally Stalinist country led from its founding in 1948 by a family that has passed down power through three generations. It's also in possession of a handful of crude nuclear bombs and working toward producing nuclear-armed missiles that could target the mainland United States.

Because of this, there's powerful curiosity about what would happen should Kim Jong Un be incapacitated. Kim is believed to have been groomed for the leadership by Kim Jong Il after the elder man suffered a stroke in 2008. Kim Jong Un, who is thought to be 31, reportedly has at least one young daughter but no adult heirs.

The recent health speculation started when Kim, always a large man, began showing up in pictures and video noticeably heavier, and with a distinct limp. For more than three weeks, he hasn't been seen performing his customary public duties in state media coverage, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry, which monitors the North.

And then, on Thursday, his usual seat was empty at a session of the country's rubber stamp parliament. Although Kim Jong Il occasionally missed the meetings, it was the first no-show for Kim Jong Un since he took over after his father's death in late 2011, Seoul officials said.

The same day as the parliamentary meeting, the North aired a documentary with footage from August that showed a limping Kim inspecting a tile factory. "Our marshal continues to light the path for the people like a flame despite his discomfort," a narrator said.

The documentary, which was shown again Monday, marked the first and only time state media have made a direct comment on Kim's health since he took power, the Unification Ministry said.

South Korean officials told reporters Monday they don't think anything serious is happening, but that hasn't stopped the rumors.

North Korea's propaganda specialists carefully construct their media images, especially those of Kim, with an eye on the domestic elite and, to a lesser extent, on foreign, mostly South Korean, audiences.

The recent images of Kim limping and the documentary are "an attempt to quell rumors within the North Korean public and show confidence that Kim's health problems are trivial," said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul.

Kim Jong Il was reportedly a very sick man in the last years of his life, but state media was silent about the reported 2008 stroke.

Kim Jong Un is usually a near-constant one-man show in state media, but he has kept a low profile before. In 2012, he wasn't seen publicly for about three weeks, South Korean officials say.

Senior North Korean officials do vanish on occasion - sometimes for good.

After surviving several earlier purges, Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was publicly shamed and then executed on treason charges in December 2013. In 2012, North Korea purged its army chief, which also caused wild speculation in Seoul, including a report from a South Korean newspaper, citing "unconfirmed intelligence reports," that Ri Yong Ho may have been wounded or killed in a blaze of gunfire when soldiers loyal to him resisted an armed attempt to detain him. Ri's fate is still unknown.

Whatever's going on, avid North Korea watchers will get another chance for a carefully staged look on Oct. 10, when the North stages a celebration of the founding anniversary for the ruling Workers' Party.

Paper publishes cover mocking Clinton baby

New York Post calls Chelsea's new baby girl 'another liberal crybaby'

The New York Post couldn't help but have a little fun at Chelsea Clinton's expense after she gave birth Friday evening to baby girl Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky.

Chelsea and husband Marc's first child was welcomed into the world by the notorious tabloid under the headline: "Another liberal crybaby for Dem Clintons: PARTY POOPER."

Though meant to be tongue-in-cheek, many democratic-leaning publications and other took offense to the cover.


Huffington Post immediately jumped on the opportunity to call the Rupert Murdoch-owned rag the "world's classiest tabloid."

The Daily Intelligencer wrote: "the conservative tabloid welcomed Bill and Hillary's first grandchild in true Post fashion, complete with partisan rancor, irrational outrage, and multiple pieces of wordplay."

The controversial cover was met with a range of reactions ranging from anger to amusement on Twitter andFacebook.

Britain eases travel restrictions on Kenya

The British government on Monday relaxed its travel advisory against Kenya in the latest move that will encourage more visitors to the east African nation.

A brief statement from the British embassy in Nairobi said the government has removed its advice to its nationals travelling to low income areas in Nairobi except Eastleigh area which is inhabited by Kenyans of Somali origin and which has been a scene of grenade attacks in the past.

“Britain has removed advice against all but essential travel to low income areas of Nairobi, except the Eastleigh area,” the advisory reads.

In May 2014, the British government advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Kenya, especially the coastal island of Lamu, after a string of attacks and massacres there.

However, the British embassy in Nairobi said its Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had decided to relax the advisor which takes effect on Monday.

The FCO does advise against travel to Kenya’s popular safari destinations in the national parks, reserves and wildlife conservancies, including the Aberdare National Park, Amboseli, Laikipia, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Meru, Mount Kenya, Samburu, and Shimba Hills, Tsavo.

The embassy says most visits to game reserves and other tourist areas are trouble-free. “If you visit reserves, use reputable tour operators and arrive at your destination in daylight hours. Don’t buy safari tours from touts,” it said.

The changes in the advisory in June prompted the British FCO to close its consulate in Mombasa, saying it would provide normal consular assistance to its nationals through the Nairobi office.

Increased grenade and terror attacks in the coastal city of Mombasa and Nairobi prompted Britain to issue fresh travel advice on May 14 to its nationals visiting Nairobi and the tourism resort city especially in areas near the border with Somalia.

The British government said the move to close the consulate was informed by an assessment of threats faced by its nationals in the area.

Kenya’s coastal towns are the backbone of the country’s thriving tourism industry, which has been hit by the fear of terror attacks and the kidnapping of foreigners by Somali pirates from resorts near the border with Somalia.

The British government was the first to issue travel advisories in May, warning its citizens not to visit the coastal beaches, Nairobi and the north-eastern region. France, Australia and the U. S. followed with updated advisories.