As Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was beginning his latest visit to London more than a month ago, a new series of Big Brother Nigeria was getting under way.
A former military ruler known for his no-nonsense style would appear to have little in common with a reality TV show where contestants engage in attention-seeking behaviour.
But both subjects were soon generating headlines for the same reason - neither of them were in Nigeria.
It turned out that Big Brother was actually being filmed in South Africa - a decision that led Nigeria's information minister to launch an investigation.
While the howls of protests from outraged Big Brother fans soon died down, the clamour over Nigeria's leader's extended medical stay in London is not going away.
President Buhari's absence comes as Africa's most populous nation is gripped by its worst economic crisis in decades, and faces the threat of famine in north-east Nigeria, which has been devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.
And unlike Big Brother, there are no constant updates - in fact, President Buhari, 74, has not given a single interview since arriving in the UK.
Instead, the Nigerian public is relying on pictures - posted on Twitter - of their leader meeting senior UK officials as proof that he still is alive.
The latest statement issued by the government said there was "no cause for worry" about the president's health but his medical leave was being extended.
His month-long stay so far has angered some Nigerians after he promised to crackdown on "medical tourism" by officials last year.
Last June, President Buhari spent nearly two weeks in London receiving treatment for an ear infection.
But the bigger issue this time is that officials have repeatedly refused to disclose his illness and are not saying when he will return to Nigeria.
'Urgent decisions'
In a country where rumours are rife, the presidential statements have done little to dampen the speculation about the leader's health.
Nigerians are acutely sensitive to leaders travelling abroad for medical reasons after President Umaru Yar'Adua died while in office in 2010.
For months, the public was kept in the dark while he received treatment in Saudi Arabia.
The period of uncertainty created deep political instability in the country.
The current president's supporters say that is emphatically not the case this time.
They point to the fact that President Buhari constitutionally handed over power to his vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, as he has done on previous trips, rather than governing from afar.
He did take one phone call while in London, however, from the US President Donald Trump - the first between the two leaders.
"There is no vacuum at the top," says political analyst Jibrin Ibrahim.
"President Buhari takes his constitutional role seriously, and has not personalised power, unlike other African leaders.
Lack of authority?
"My chief criticism is that his government has been acting like it has all the time in the world, when in fact urgent decisions needed to be made in regard to the economy."
But, perhaps, one of the most striking things about President Buhari's absence has been the go-getting style of the acting leader.
Yemi Osinbajo is preparing to launch an economic recovery plan.
He also led a high-profile delegation to the Niger Delta to voice support for a government agreement with local militants groups that have seriously disrupted the region's oil production.
But critics say that despite all his activity, the vice-president has no real authority.
"He cannot perform because ministers and other political appointments are not obliged to be loyal to him as he didn't appoint them," said Isuwa Dogo, a political analyst, and a member of the opposition party.
"President Buhari is a public figure and there is no need for him to hide behind his health issues.
"I want him to be back in the county. If there are successes, he will get the credit. If there are failures, he will get the blame."
So, while Big Brother fans will know in April who has been crowned the series winner, for now, no-one seems to know when Nigeria's president will come back home.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Iraqi forces begin operation to retake take IS-held Mosul airport
US-backed Iraqi forces have moved to retake Mosul's main airport and a nearby military base from Islamic State.
The assault, backed by jets, drones and gunships, is part of the ongoing campaign to retake full control of the city from the jihadist terror group.
Iraqi police forces attacked the disused airport, on the southern approach to the city, which they want to use as a base to launch a final onslaught on the west of Iraq's second-largest city.
Special forces led the assault on a military base adjacent to the airport, moving in from the south and engaging extremists in fierce fighting at the edge of the Ghazlani base.
The latest advance comes days after the operation to liberate western Mosul, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, led by the regular Iraqi army and federal police, began on Sunday.
The battle for that part of the city is expected to be especially difficult, as the old, narrow streets mean forces will need to leave the protection of their military vehicles and engage in close-quarters fighting.
The operation is likely to be complicated by the terror group's use of IEDs and the estimated 750,000 civilians still living there.
Mosul is roughly split in half by the Tigris river, with government forces winning back control of the east in January following months of fighting.
100,000 Iraqi troops, alongside Kurdish fighters and Shi'ite militias, are involved in the campaign to retake the city where IS declared its self-styled caliphate after sweeping into vast areas of Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The assault, backed by jets, drones and gunships, is part of the ongoing campaign to retake full control of the city from the jihadist terror group.
Iraqi police forces attacked the disused airport, on the southern approach to the city, which they want to use as a base to launch a final onslaught on the west of Iraq's second-largest city.
Special forces led the assault on a military base adjacent to the airport, moving in from the south and engaging extremists in fierce fighting at the edge of the Ghazlani base.
The latest advance comes days after the operation to liberate western Mosul, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, led by the regular Iraqi army and federal police, began on Sunday.
The battle for that part of the city is expected to be especially difficult, as the old, narrow streets mean forces will need to leave the protection of their military vehicles and engage in close-quarters fighting.
The operation is likely to be complicated by the terror group's use of IEDs and the estimated 750,000 civilians still living there.
Mosul is roughly split in half by the Tigris river, with government forces winning back control of the east in January following months of fighting.
100,000 Iraqi troops, alongside Kurdish fighters and Shi'ite militias, are involved in the campaign to retake the city where IS declared its self-styled caliphate after sweeping into vast areas of Iraq and Syria in 2014.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
North Korea Denies That It Was Behind the Killing of Kim Jong Un's Half-Brother
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) — North Korea denied Thursday that its agents masterminded the assassination of the half brother of leader Kim Jong Un, saying a Malaysian investigation into the death of one of its nationals is full of "holes and contradictions."
The North's response came a day after Malaysian police said they were seeking two more North Koreans, including the second secretary of North Korea's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, in connection with the Feb. 13 killing of Kim Jong Nam at a Malaysian airport.
Malaysia police have not directly pinpointed North Korea as being behind the death of Kim Jong Nam, but have already arrested a North Korean man working at a Malaysian company along with three other people. They are searching for several more North Koreans.
The Korean Jurists Committee, a legal body affiliated with North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament, said in a statement Thursday that the Malaysian investigation lacks fairness and was influenced by the South Korean government, which blames Pyongyang for the death.
The North has not acknowledged that the dead man is Kim Jong Nam. Thursday's statement described the man only as a North Korean citizen bearing a diplomatic passport.
It said that South Korea had "kicked up a fuss" and had plotted to have North Korea blamed for the killing.
"The biggest responsibility for his death rests with the government of Malaysia as the citizen of the DPRK died in its land," the statement said. The DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, the country's official name.
Malaysian police said Wednesday that the two women suspected of fatally poisoning Kim Jong Nam were trained to coat their hands with toxic chemicals and then wipe them on his face.
Police say the substance used remains unknown, but it was potent enough to kill Kim before he could make it to a hospital. Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters that the women, one Vietnamese and the other Indonesian, knew they were handling poisonous materials and "were warned to take precautions." The women have been arrested.
Surveillance video showed both keeping their hands away from their bodies after the attack, he said, then going to restrooms to wash. Those details are not clear in video obtained by media outlets.
But the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has already ridiculed the police account and demanded the immediate release of the two "innocent women."
An embassy statement asked how the women were able to survive if they also had the deadly toxins on their hands.
Malaysian police said the women washed their hands soon after poisoning Kim.
Khalid said the women had practiced the attack at two Kuala Lumpur malls. "We strongly believe it is a planned thing and that they have been trained," he said.
Khalid couldn't confirm whether North Korea's government was behind Kim's death but added, "What is clear is that those involved are North Koreans."
The North Korean Embassy's statement also questioned the fairness of the Malaysian investigation, which it said was based on lies and biased presumptions and has been tainted by South Korean influence.
At least one of the women has said she was tricked into attacking Kim Jong Nam, believing she was taking part in a comedy prank TV show.
The case has perplexed toxicologists, who question how the two women could have walked away unscathed after handling a powerful poison.
Kim had spent most of the past 15 years living in China and Southeast Asia. He is believed to have had at least three children with two women. No family members have come forward to claim the body.
South Korea's spy agency believes North Korea was behind the killing, but has produced no evidence.
North Korea has a long history of ordering killings of people it views as threats to its regime. While Kim Jong Nam was not thought to be seeking influence, his position as eldest son of the family that has ruled North Korea since its founding could have made him appear to be a danger.
He was at the airport to fly to Macau, where he had a home.
The North's response came a day after Malaysian police said they were seeking two more North Koreans, including the second secretary of North Korea's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, in connection with the Feb. 13 killing of Kim Jong Nam at a Malaysian airport.
Malaysia police have not directly pinpointed North Korea as being behind the death of Kim Jong Nam, but have already arrested a North Korean man working at a Malaysian company along with three other people. They are searching for several more North Koreans.
The Korean Jurists Committee, a legal body affiliated with North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament, said in a statement Thursday that the Malaysian investigation lacks fairness and was influenced by the South Korean government, which blames Pyongyang for the death.
The North has not acknowledged that the dead man is Kim Jong Nam. Thursday's statement described the man only as a North Korean citizen bearing a diplomatic passport.
It said that South Korea had "kicked up a fuss" and had plotted to have North Korea blamed for the killing.
"The biggest responsibility for his death rests with the government of Malaysia as the citizen of the DPRK died in its land," the statement said. The DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, the country's official name.
Malaysian police said Wednesday that the two women suspected of fatally poisoning Kim Jong Nam were trained to coat their hands with toxic chemicals and then wipe them on his face.
Police say the substance used remains unknown, but it was potent enough to kill Kim before he could make it to a hospital. Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters that the women, one Vietnamese and the other Indonesian, knew they were handling poisonous materials and "were warned to take precautions." The women have been arrested.
Surveillance video showed both keeping their hands away from their bodies after the attack, he said, then going to restrooms to wash. Those details are not clear in video obtained by media outlets.
But the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has already ridiculed the police account and demanded the immediate release of the two "innocent women."
An embassy statement asked how the women were able to survive if they also had the deadly toxins on their hands.
Malaysian police said the women washed their hands soon after poisoning Kim.
Khalid said the women had practiced the attack at two Kuala Lumpur malls. "We strongly believe it is a planned thing and that they have been trained," he said.
Khalid couldn't confirm whether North Korea's government was behind Kim's death but added, "What is clear is that those involved are North Koreans."
The North Korean Embassy's statement also questioned the fairness of the Malaysian investigation, which it said was based on lies and biased presumptions and has been tainted by South Korean influence.
At least one of the women has said she was tricked into attacking Kim Jong Nam, believing she was taking part in a comedy prank TV show.
The case has perplexed toxicologists, who question how the two women could have walked away unscathed after handling a powerful poison.
Kim had spent most of the past 15 years living in China and Southeast Asia. He is believed to have had at least three children with two women. No family members have come forward to claim the body.
South Korea's spy agency believes North Korea was behind the killing, but has produced no evidence.
North Korea has a long history of ordering killings of people it views as threats to its regime. While Kim Jong Nam was not thought to be seeking influence, his position as eldest son of the family that has ruled North Korea since its founding could have made him appear to be a danger.
He was at the airport to fly to Macau, where he had a home.
Pop star Cheryl confirms pregnancy in campaign launch
Singer Cheryl has confirmed her pregnancy by cradling her baby bump during a photoshoot for the launch of a new campaign aimed at raising the confidence of young people.
The pop star and former X Factor judge had refused to comment that she was expecting a baby with One Direction star Liam Payne, although she has been pictured with a bump.
In the image the 33-year-old can be seen holding her hands underneath her stomach in the image alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Kate Piper.
The Prince's Trust and L'Oreal Paris have launched a three-year collaboration to help 10,000 young people in the UK struggling with self-doubt.
Entitled All Worth It, it was inspired by figures from the trust that show one in three young people do not believe in themselves.
Former X Factor winner Louisa Johnson and YouTube vlogger Marcus Butler are among the figureheads of the campaign.
Cheryl said: "Young people are currently facing more and more problems with self-confidence and we have to address these issues as a real priority.
"My hope is that this partnership will help young people feel accepted and valued for who they are and make sure that they get the support they need to make the most out of life."
Dame Helen said: "We have a responsibility towards this generation to lead by example in what we say, how we act and what we do. I wholeheartedly support this initiative."
The trust will be offering a confidence training programme in 18 of its centres.
The pop star and former X Factor judge had refused to comment that she was expecting a baby with One Direction star Liam Payne, although she has been pictured with a bump.
In the image the 33-year-old can be seen holding her hands underneath her stomach in the image alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Kate Piper.
The Prince's Trust and L'Oreal Paris have launched a three-year collaboration to help 10,000 young people in the UK struggling with self-doubt.
Entitled All Worth It, it was inspired by figures from the trust that show one in three young people do not believe in themselves.
Former X Factor winner Louisa Johnson and YouTube vlogger Marcus Butler are among the figureheads of the campaign.
Cheryl said: "Young people are currently facing more and more problems with self-confidence and we have to address these issues as a real priority.
"My hope is that this partnership will help young people feel accepted and valued for who they are and make sure that they get the support they need to make the most out of life."
Dame Helen said: "We have a responsibility towards this generation to lead by example in what we say, how we act and what we do. I wholeheartedly support this initiative."
The trust will be offering a confidence training programme in 18 of its centres.
Tears as Nigeria Bids Environment Minister Farewell
Emotion ran high on Wednesday as the Federal Executive Council held a valedictory session in honour of the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, who is leaving the cabinet to take up an appointment at the United Nations.
She has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations.
Mohammed, who is billed to resume at the UN headquarters in New York, in March, attended her last council meeting on Wednesday.
The session, which was presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, saw the minister as well as the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, shedding tears.
Ministers took turns to eulogise Mohammed before Osinbajo rounded the emotion-laden session off with his remarks.
The ministers described her as a role model, a goal-getter and a source of pride to Nigeria.
Osinbajo lauded the contributions of Mohammed to the present administration’s achievements.
He said the minister seemed to be knowledgeable in practically all fields, including law.
Mohammed later thanked her colleagues for the honour.
She promised to keep Nigeria’s flag flying at the world stage when she resumes at the UN headquarters soon.
She has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations.
Mohammed, who is billed to resume at the UN headquarters in New York, in March, attended her last council meeting on Wednesday.
The session, which was presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, saw the minister as well as the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, shedding tears.
Ministers took turns to eulogise Mohammed before Osinbajo rounded the emotion-laden session off with his remarks.
The ministers described her as a role model, a goal-getter and a source of pride to Nigeria.
Osinbajo lauded the contributions of Mohammed to the present administration’s achievements.
He said the minister seemed to be knowledgeable in practically all fields, including law.
Mohammed later thanked her colleagues for the honour.
She promised to keep Nigeria’s flag flying at the world stage when she resumes at the UN headquarters soon.
Gales and heavy snow as Storm Doris triggers weather warnings in UK
Parts of Britain are braced for bad weather as Storm Doris is set to bring gale-force winds and heavy snow.
The Met Office has warned the storm could damage buildings and send debris flying when it hits the UK this morning.
Winds of up to 80mph have been forecast and Highways England has issued a weather alert on major roads.
:: Wales
Amber warnings for strong winds and heavy rain are in place for north Wales from 6am.
Areas including Conwy, Powys, Ceredigion and Flintshire are included in the warning area, with travel disruption likely.
:: Scotland and North-East
Up to 15cm of snow could fall across parts of Scotland and north-east England, with blizzard-like conditions.
Weather warnings have been upgraded to amber across Scotland's central belt, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside and Fife.
On ground above 300m there could be up to 30cm of snow, the Met Office has warned, with strong winds and heavy rain for other areas.
:: North-West, Yorkshire, Midlands and the East
Drivers are "strongly advised" to avoid travelling on exposed stretches of roads, with high-sided vehicles particularly at risk.
Gusts of 60 to 70mph are likely, with up to 80mph on coasts and hills.
Heavy rain is forecast and warnings of disruption to ferries have been issued.
Storm Doris is expected to move quickly across the UK, with the worst of the weather clearing by Thursday evening.
Atlantic gusts will bring more rain and win into the weekend and next week, however.
It comes after visitors to Kew Gardens, in west London, enjoyed temperatures of 18.3C on Monday, with parts of London and the South warmer than Ibiza.
The Met Office has warned the storm could damage buildings and send debris flying when it hits the UK this morning.
Winds of up to 80mph have been forecast and Highways England has issued a weather alert on major roads.
:: Wales
Amber warnings for strong winds and heavy rain are in place for north Wales from 6am.
Areas including Conwy, Powys, Ceredigion and Flintshire are included in the warning area, with travel disruption likely.
:: Scotland and North-East
Up to 15cm of snow could fall across parts of Scotland and north-east England, with blizzard-like conditions.
Weather warnings have been upgraded to amber across Scotland's central belt, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside and Fife.
On ground above 300m there could be up to 30cm of snow, the Met Office has warned, with strong winds and heavy rain for other areas.
:: North-West, Yorkshire, Midlands and the East
Drivers are "strongly advised" to avoid travelling on exposed stretches of roads, with high-sided vehicles particularly at risk.
Gusts of 60 to 70mph are likely, with up to 80mph on coasts and hills.
Heavy rain is forecast and warnings of disruption to ferries have been issued.
Storm Doris is expected to move quickly across the UK, with the worst of the weather clearing by Thursday evening.
Atlantic gusts will bring more rain and win into the weekend and next week, however.
It comes after visitors to Kew Gardens, in west London, enjoyed temperatures of 18.3C on Monday, with parts of London and the South warmer than Ibiza.
Brit Awards honour David Bowie with best male solo artist and best album gongs
David Bowie has been honoured with two Brit Awards - 13 months after his death at the age of 69.
The star beat Skepta, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka and Craig David to be named best British male solo artist.
It is the third time Bowie has won the category and the first time anyone has won a posthumous award in the event's history.
He also won Album of the Year for Blackstar - which was released just two days before his death from cancer in January 2016.
Picking up the award, Bowie's son Duncan Jones said: "I lost my dad last year but I also became a dad, and I was spending a lot of time after getting over the shock of trying to work out what would I want my son to know about his
granddad.
"And I think it would be the same thing my dad's fans have taken over the last 50 years, that, he's always been there supporting people who think they're a little bit weird or a little bit strange, a little bit different.
"He's always been there for them. So, this is for all the kooks and the people who make the kooks."
Earlier, Emeli Sande collected the prize for best British female solo artist and The 1975 won best British group.
There was a pause in the ceremony to remember some of the other musicians who died during 2016, including George Michael, Prince and Leonard Cohen.
At one point in the show Coldplay's Chris Martin sung Michael's A Careless Whisper, harmonising with the singer who was seen in a clip on a screen in the background.
Little Mix, who opened the ceremony with their chart-topping song Shout Out To My Ex, collected their first Brit Award for the track.
The British Breakthrough award went to Rag'n'Bone Man whose debut album, Human, went straight to the top of the charts earlier this month.
During a performance of her new single, Katy Perry introduced two skeleton puppets dressed as Donald Trump and Theresa May.
Dancers wearing model houses over the upper-half of their bodies surrounded the puppets, with one taking a stumble off stage onto a table.
In full: The 2016 Brit Award winners
:: British Male Solo Artist - David Bowie
:: British Female Solo Artist - Emeli Sande
:: Best British Group - The 1975
:: British Breakthrough Act - Rag'n'Bone Man
:: British Single - Little Mix's Shout Out To My Ex
:: Album Of The Year - David Bowie's Blackstar
:: British Artist Video Of The Year - One Direction's History
:: International Male Solo Artist - Drake
:: International Female Solo Artist - Beyonce
:: International Group - A Tribe Called Quest
:: Global Success Award - Adele
The star beat Skepta, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka and Craig David to be named best British male solo artist.
It is the third time Bowie has won the category and the first time anyone has won a posthumous award in the event's history.
He also won Album of the Year for Blackstar - which was released just two days before his death from cancer in January 2016.
Picking up the award, Bowie's son Duncan Jones said: "I lost my dad last year but I also became a dad, and I was spending a lot of time after getting over the shock of trying to work out what would I want my son to know about his
granddad.
"And I think it would be the same thing my dad's fans have taken over the last 50 years, that, he's always been there supporting people who think they're a little bit weird or a little bit strange, a little bit different.
"He's always been there for them. So, this is for all the kooks and the people who make the kooks."
Earlier, Emeli Sande collected the prize for best British female solo artist and The 1975 won best British group.
There was a pause in the ceremony to remember some of the other musicians who died during 2016, including George Michael, Prince and Leonard Cohen.
At one point in the show Coldplay's Chris Martin sung Michael's A Careless Whisper, harmonising with the singer who was seen in a clip on a screen in the background.
Little Mix, who opened the ceremony with their chart-topping song Shout Out To My Ex, collected their first Brit Award for the track.
The British Breakthrough award went to Rag'n'Bone Man whose debut album, Human, went straight to the top of the charts earlier this month.
During a performance of her new single, Katy Perry introduced two skeleton puppets dressed as Donald Trump and Theresa May.
Dancers wearing model houses over the upper-half of their bodies surrounded the puppets, with one taking a stumble off stage onto a table.
In full: The 2016 Brit Award winners
:: British Male Solo Artist - David Bowie
:: British Female Solo Artist - Emeli Sande
:: Best British Group - The 1975
:: British Breakthrough Act - Rag'n'Bone Man
:: British Single - Little Mix's Shout Out To My Ex
:: Album Of The Year - David Bowie's Blackstar
:: British Artist Video Of The Year - One Direction's History
:: International Male Solo Artist - Drake
:: International Female Solo Artist - Beyonce
:: International Group - A Tribe Called Quest
:: Global Success Award - Adele
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