Pope Benedict XVI to Resign on February 28

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign on February 28. He will be the first ever pontiff that will do that in 600 years. His decision sets the stage for the council to elect a new pope before the end of March 2013.
The 85-year old pope announced this in Latin during the meeting of the Vatican cardinals earlier today, February 11. He explained that the reason behind his decision is his diminishing strength and old age.
The world will welcome a new pope soon!

KELLY CLARKSON, GRAMMY IDOL

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  View PhotoAssociated Press - Kelly Clarkson accepts the award for best pop vocal album for "Stronger" at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

• View PhotoKelly Clarkson performs on stage …

Kelly Clarkson had the best acceptance speech of the night, at least according to Pink.

"Congrats to Kelly Clarkson for the award and that loveable speech," tweeted Pink. "You made me laugh. Can't wait to hear that song with Miguel."

After winning the trophy for pop vocal album, a nervous Clarkson rambled during her acceptance speech, apologizing for taking so long to come on stage and appealing to R&B singer Miguel to collaborate.
"Miguel, I don't know who the hell you are, but we need to sing together," she said.
Clarkson later posted a photo of herself and Miguel backstage on Instagram.
The original "American Idol" champion returned to the stage to perform and present the best country album.

After she flubbed winner Zac Brown's name and instead said Zach Braff, the "Scrubs" star tweeted Clarkson: "THANK YOU! My second GRAMMY!!!!"

Braff won the compilation soundtrack Grammy in 2005 for his film "Garden State."
— Derrik J. Lang — Twitter: http://twitter.com/derrikjlang
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EDITOR'S NOTE — Show Bits brings you the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

Philippine town mourns largest captive crocodile

• View PhotoAssociated Press/File - FILE-In this Sept. 4, 2011 file photo, residents watch as Mayor Cox Elorde of Bunawan township, Agusan del Sur province, pretends to measure a huge crocodile, later named "Lolong," after …more 

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A southern Philippine town plans to hold funeral rites for the world's largest saltwater crocodile and then preserve its remains in a museum to keep tourists coming and prevent their community from slipping back into obscurity, the town's mayor said Monday.

The 1-ton crocodile was declared dead Sunday a few hours after flipping over with a bloated stomach in a pond in an eco-tourism park in Bunawan town, which had started to draw tourists, revenue and development because of the immense reptile, Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said.

"The whole town, in fact the whole province, is mourning," Elorde said from Bunawan in Agusan del Sur province. "My phones kept ringing because people wanted to say how affected they are."

In a news conference Monday, Elorde fought back tears as he recalled how the town took care of the crocodile not as a beast but like an "adopted son."

Guinness World Records had proclaimed it the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity last year, measuring the giant at 6.17 meters (20.24 feet). The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 5 meters (17 feet) and weighed nearly a ton.

The crocodile was named Lolong, after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to help capture the beast. The crocodile, estimated to be more than 50 years old, was blamed for a few brutal deaths of villagers before Bunawan folk came to love it.

The giant reptile has come to symbolize the rich bio-diversity of Agusan marsh, where it was captured. The vast complex of swamp forests, shallow lakes, lily-covered ponds and wetlands is home to wild ducks, herons, egrets and threatened species like the Philippine Hawk Eagle.
Wildlife experts were to perform an autopsy as early as Monday to determine the cause of its death, Elorde said.
Bunawan villagers planned to perform a tribal ritual, which involves butchering chicken and pigs as funeral offerings to thank forest spirits for the fame and other blessings the crocodile has brought, Elordie said. A group of Christians would separately offer prayers before the autopsy.
The rites would be held at the eco-tourism park, where the reptile had emerged as a star attraction, drawing foreign tourists, scientists and wildlife reporting outfits like the National Geographic to Bunawan, a far-flung town of 37,000 people about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila.
The crocodile's capture in September 2011 sparked celebrations in Bunawan, but it also raised concerns that more giant crocodiles might lurk in a marshland and creek where villagers fish. The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a hunt prompted by the death of a child in 2009 and the later disappearance of a fisherman. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area.
About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck.
Elorde's town wanted to launch a new hunt for a larger crocodile, which he said he and other villagers saw lurking near a river shortly before Lolong was captured. But he said the town needed to get permission from wildlife officials, who have banned such hunting expeditions amid an ongoing survey of the crocodile population in Agusan marsh.
Philippine officials had planned to construct a road to the park to accommodate the growing number of tourists, Elorde said, adding that he planned to have Lolong preserved and placed in a museum so Bunawan villagers and tourists could still marvel at it.
"I'd like them to see the crocodile that broke a world record and put our town on the map," he said.

Carnival cruise ship adrift off Mexican coast after fire

• View PhotoReuters/Reuters - A Carnival cruise ship, Carnival Triumph, is seen in this undated handout picture provided by Carnival Cruise Lines to Reuters on February 10, 2013. Carnival Triumph which was carrying over …more 

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Carnival Triumph, a cruise ship owned by Carnival Corp under its Carnival Cruise Lines brand, was adrift 150 miles off southern Mexico's Yucatan peninsula on Sunday after a fire that caused no injuries, the company said in a statement.

The engine room fire, which took place in the morning, had been extinguished and the ship was without propulsion, and operating on emergency generator power, the company said.

None of the 3,143 guests nor 1,086 crew were injured, and a tugboat was on its way to drag the vessel to the Mexican port of Progreso, where it was expected to arrive on Wednesday afternoon, Carnival said.

The company said the U.S. Coast Guard had been notified.
"Another Carnival ship, the Carnival Elation, is currently on scene and transferring additional food and beverage provisions to the Carnival Triumph," the statement said.

In January last year, the Costa Concordia, a 114,500 tonne luxury cruise ship operated by the Carnival Corp-owned Costa Cruises, capsized and sank off the Tuscan island of Giglio in Italy, killing 32 people.

Last month, Costa Cruises said Italian investigators were looking into the vessel owner's potential responsibility for the shipwreck.
The Carnival Triumph set sail from Galveston, Texas, on Thursday, and was due back on Monday February 11.
Carnival said all passengers would receive a refund and "cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage." The ship's next two voyages, scheduled for departure next week, were canceled, the company added.
(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; editing by Christopher Wilson)

Nollywood Actor, BOB MANUEL Appointed As Special Adviser to Anambra State Govt

Political Appointment --- ....Popular Nollywood Actor, BOB MANUEL UDOKWU has Been Appointed As Special Adviser to Anambra State Government...... News making the rounds says renowned actor and former Gulder Ultimate Search Host, Bob Manuel Udokwu has been called up to serve in the Peter Obi Administration. He was appointed as the Senior Special Adviser on Creative media to Governor Peter Obi. He received his letter of appointment on Friday 8th February 2013, Bob Manuel said the work scope was wide. He added that a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government was scheduled for Monday where he will receive proper briefing. Congrats to him.

I Get Money O: Iyanya Acquires N30m 2012 Aston Martin Vintage Sports Car

Who God has bless eh, No one can curse eh, You say? I Say:

Tiwa Savage's Fiance, TeeBillz's Pictures Of His Baby Mama And Kids Re-Surface

Is it desperation that makes our so-called celebrities settle for less? Talented song writer, and singer "TIWA SAVAGE" and her five-day-old fiance "TEE BILLS" are in the news again! Tiwa & Tee Billz                                              Baby mama & Tee Billz According to the gist making rounds on the internet,Tee was dating the said lady in the picture above, he got her pregnant, she has a baby and wasn't ready to commit. Three years later he still didn't commit and she has another baby. Tee Billz with his youngest baby He meets another lady (TIWA) who has a bright future and he wastes no time in putting a ring on her finger. What this story teaches us is that having babies for a man doesn't keep him for you - you just have added responsibilities taking care of the kids. With a future of uncertainty. Ladies be wise! Also see a photo of Teebillz in Toilet at Burj Al Arab

 I'm engaged but I'm not wearing a ring.....Should I go ahead and buy my own enga 
 
I'm engaged but I'm not wearing a ring. My boyfriend proposed to me during the Christmas holidays but didn't give me a ring because he couldn't afford to buy me one he knows I will appreciate..



He told me he will get me the ring before our wedding in August but it's becoming embarrassing because whenever I tell people I'm engaged they look at my fingers to see the ring and there's nothing there.
Everytime I see an engagement ring I like I feel really sad. I make far more money than my fiance and can afford to buy the ring of my dreams.
Should I go ahead and buy my own engagement ring? My man will be mad and disappointed but I'd rather that than the way I feel at the moment.

BREAKING NEWS: Channels TV Presenter, Joe Ighile Is Dead (Read 11006 times)

Reports coming out say a veteran TV broadcaster, JOE IGHILE has died.

Death came calling unexpectedly last night (Friday, February 8, 2013) for the Head of Sports Channels Television Joe Ighile when he died while presenting the 9’0clock Sports programme live.



Joe,who introduced the programme,on suspecting some discomfort, asked for a break on television and requested to be taken to the hospital immediately. Just few minutes after getting to the hospital ,he was pronounced dead. He is married and blessed with two beautiful children.

He was a staff of the station for nine years. Mr Ighile only just returned from South Africa where he had been covering the on-going 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Aged 48 years, the late Ighile was a graduate of the then Bendel State University, now Edo State University, Ekpoma, where he studied English and Literature.

He began his career in the media at the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) in the early 80s, where he was involved in youth programmes. He joined Channels Television in 2003 as a reporter/producer and before his death was the head of the Sports desk.
A multiple awards winner and member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) media and publicity committee as well as the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), the late Ighile is survived by his wife, Ngozi, and two children, Favour and Mercy.

Burial arrangements will be announced by his family.

Photos, Governor Sullivan Chime Finally Arrives Enugu In Good Health

Visibly elated Chime arrived Enugu on Friday and met a large crowd of friends, family, well wishers and party faithfulls who struggled to behold his face after a long while.



>>>CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS<<<

Security agents had herculean task trying to control the crowd.
Anxious journalists were, however, disappointed as Chime refused to grant media interview. Acknowledging cheers from the crowd, he waved and made straight for the Enugu Government House where a grand reception ceremony has been organized for him.

Pose on Friday: Four’s Company

Meet the winners: Grammy Awards 2013

Here is the full list of winners for the 2013 Grammy Awards.
- Pop/duo group performance: Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye featuring Kimbra
- Traditional pop vocal album: Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney
- Rap performance: N****s in Paris, Jay-Z, Kanye West
- Rap song: N****s in Paris, Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis, Kanye West
- Rap album: Take Care, Drake
- R&B performance: Climax, Usher
- Traditional R&B performance: Love on Top, Beyonce
- R&B song: Adorn, Miguel Pimentel
- R&B album: Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment
- Rock song: Lonely Boy, The Black Keys
- Rock album: El Camino, The Black Keys
- Hard rock/metal performance: Love Bites (So Do I), Halestorm
- Alternative music album: Making Mirrors, Gotye
- Dance recording: Bangarang, Skrillex featuring Sirah
- Dance/electronica album: Bangarang, Skrillex
- Latin pop album: MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition, Juanes
- Latin rock, urban or alternative album: Imaginares, Quetzal
- Latin jazz album: Ritmo!, The Clare Fisher Latin Jazz Big Band
- Tropical Latin album: Retro, Marlow Rosado Y La Riquena
- Country duo/group performance: Pontoon, Little Big Town
- Country song: Blown Away, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins
- Gospel song: Go Get It, Mary Mary
- Gospel album: Gravity, Leerae
- Blues album: Locked Down, Dr. John
- Folk album: The Goat Rodeo Sessions, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile.
- Americana album: Slipstream, Bonnie Raitt
- Bluegrass album: Nobody Knows You, Steep Canyon Rangers
- Reggae album: Rebirth, Jimmy Cliff
- World music album: The Living Room Sessions Part 1, Ravi Shankar
- Children’s album: Can You Canoe?, The Okee Dokee Brothers
- Spoken word album: Society’s Child: My Autobiography, Janis Ian
- Comedy album: Blow Your Pants Off, Jimmy Fallon
- New age album: Echoes of Love, Omar Akram
- Jazz vocal album: Radio Music Society, Esperanza Spalding
- Jazz instrumental album: Unity Band, Pat Metheny Unity Band
- Large jazz ensemble album: Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You), Arturo Sandoval
- Pop instrumental album: Impressions, Chris Botti
- Compilation soundtrack album: Midnight in Paris, various artists
- Score soundtrack album: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
- Song written for visual media: Safe & Sound (From The Hunger Games), Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams
- Musical theater album: Once: A New Musical, Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti
- Producer of the year, classical: Blanton Alspaugh
- Producer of the year, non-classical: Dan Auerbach
- Instrumental composition: Mozart Goes Dancing, Chick Corea.
- Orchestral performance: Adams: Harmonielehre & Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony)
- Opera recording: Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen, James Levine and Fabio Luisi
- Choral performance: Life & Breath: Choral Works by Rene Clausen, Charles Bruffy
- Short-form music video: We Found Love, Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
- Long-form music video: Big Easy Express, Mumford & Sons.
- Historical album: The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set), Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wolfe

The Red Carpet: 55th annual Grammy Awards, 2013

The much-anticipated 55th annual Grammy awards is come and gone. Pulses have risen and fallen. Pupils were dilated and constricted. Heartbeats have raced faster than the speed of a Jaguar and are back to their snail speed thumps. Now the Grammy Awards is over. The awards of been given out.

Find the full list of winners here.

So let’s feast a bit on what our favorite celebrities wore to the event. Remember CBS warned that people should cover up to the event and they were like “Don’t do this ish… and don’t do that”. Did people comply?

Well, Jennifer Lopez wore a one-shoulder Anthony Vaccarello gown with a thigh-high slit a la Angelina Jolie at the 2012 Academy Awards, and she joked about it as she took the stage to present an award. Katy Perry showed down-to-there cleavage in a seafoam gown. Kelly Rowland, in a Georges Chakra outfit, also showed a lot of skin.

Man who saved an 11-year-old boy could face charges for shooting pit bulls

A man could face a year behind bars and a $1000 jail term if he is charged for shooting  pit bulls that attacked an 11-year-old boy. His charges may arise from his violation of Washington D.C’s gun laws.

The yet-to-be-identified man rushed into his home and grabbed his gun to shoot that dogs that viciously attacked an 11-year-old boy  who was riding his new bike on his home street in the Brighton neigbourhood on Sunday. The boy who lies critically injured in the hospital was said to have collided with a pack of unattended pit bulls who bit him viciously in his arms, legs, stomach and chest, leaving him in need of surgery.

A police officer who heard the gun shots raced to the scene and shot the other two dogs, stopping the attack, a police report noted.

While he may have saved the life of the boy – who later underwent surgery on his wounds – the man could face charges for firing his gun on a D.C. street, rather than on his personal property. The man who had left his dogs unattended was cited for failing to leash his dogs and for ‘menacing people’ which could carry a total of just $175 in fines.

Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said that the incident, including whether the man legally owned the gun, remains under investigation.

OMG: Is Rihanna engaged to Chris Brown

It was four years ago when Chris Brown�savagely attacked girlfriend Rihanna�on the eve of the Grammy Awards in 2009.

His actions left Rihanna’s face a bloody mess with bruising and swelling around her eyes and mouth.

But now in 2013, it appears Chris has been given full forgiveness for his actions.

The pair arrived separately on the red carpet but when they were seated inside for the ceremony at�the 55 annual Grammy Awards, they couldn’t hide their feelings for each other.

Ironically,�Chris�was dressed in all-white like some kind of Biblical saint that we all know he isn’t while Rihanna wore a striking red that left her almost completely covered up.

She’s fine. They’re fine. IT’S ABSOLUTELY FINE.

Getty Images

Rihanna would cozy up to her controversial boyfriend and rest her head on his shoulder and happily posed for photos.

But when the Bajan beauty went on stage to perform, she was pictured with a ring on her engagement finger.

Maybe she was just trying to promote her single Diamonds – or maybe she’s made the worst decision of all time.

One user posted on Twitter: ”Rihanna is wearing a diamond on her left ring finger. Really?’

While another added: ‘OMG! Is Rihanna actually wearing an engagement ring?’

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Rihanna said dating Chris again makes her happy and �if it�s a mistake, it�s my mistake.�