Bieber Anne Frank Comments Cause Controversy!

Justin Bieber has said he hopes Anne Frank "would have been a belieber", after visiting the museum at the Holocaust victim's former home.

The Canadian popstar has received widespread criticism for the comments, which he wrote in the guestbook at Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Fans - who are known as 'beliebers' - defended the 19-year-old, while a museum spokeswoman sought to play down any controversy caused by his remarks.

Bieber wrote: "Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber."

The Anne Frank Museum wrote about the visit in posts to its Facebook page , prompting a series of accusations over Bieber's perceived insensitivity.

But museum spokeswoman Maatje Mostart said the museum was happy to receive the singer and did not see anything offensive in his remarks.

Ms Mostart said he had called ahead and was given a guided tour. The Buzzfeed website later reported that a tour guide at the museum had pointed out that Miss Frank was a fan of pop culture and may have been a fan of his.

Media commentators and some Twitter users expressed displeasure at the comment.

Comedian Ricky Gervais posted on his Twitter account: "I agree with Justin Bieber. Anne Frank would've loved his stuff. It's perfect for being played really really quietly so no one can hear it."

Scott Simon, host of US-based National Public Radio, said on Twitter: "Anne would be wise enough to just laugh."

Others commended Bieber for caring enough about Anne Frank's story to visit the Amsterdam museum, which is built into the house where she and her family hid before their arrest.

Anne Frank, who died at the age of 15 at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, is one of the most well-known and celebrated Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

First published in 1947, her diary has been read by millions across the world and details the deprivations and personal triumphs she and her family experienced in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

Chad says troops unsuited to guerrilla war, quitting Mali!

Chad will withdraw its troops from Mali where they risk being bogged down in guerrilla war after helping to drive Islamists from northern towns, President Idriss Deby said in comments broadcast on Sunday.

His words came days after a suicide bomber killed three Chadian troops in the northern town of Kidal, demonstrating how al Qaeda-linked Islamists are still able to strike in the heavily-defended towns they once controlled.

Some 2,000 Chadians have fought alongside French troops in the heaviest fighting to drive Islamists from remote northern towns, mountains and deserts they previously occupied.

"Face-to-face fighting with the Islamists is over. The Chadian army does not have the skills to fight a shadowy, guerrilla-style war that is taking place in northern Mali," Deby told French media, including TV5 Monde, RFI and Le Monde.

"Our soldiers will return to Chad. They have accomplished their mission. We have already withdrawn a mechanised battalion," he added in the interview.

Deby said Chadian troops, selected to accompany the French as they are among the region's best, would be available for an eventual 10,000-strong United Nations force to be deployed once combat operations wind down.

Only last month, and citing an earlier suicide attack, Chad's foreign minister warned France and African allies against hastily withdrawing troops from Mali even though much of the country had been cleared of rebels.

Chadian and French forces have spent weeks scouring valleys in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountain range, once seen as impenetrable bases for al Qaeda's North African wing, which last year seized Mali's north alongside other Islamists.

Chad has suffered the highest number of casualties in the fighting having lost about 30 soldiers.

Underscoring the nervousness of troops in liberated towns, residents and officials of Kidal said Chadian soldiers on Sunday fired shots into the air and at unidentified gunmen.

The Chadians appeared to be trying to secure parts of the town, which is still occupied by separatist Tuareg rebels who moved in when the Islamists fled the French advance.

France launched its offensive in Mali in January warning Islamists could use it as a launchpad for terrorist attacks .

Several high-level Islamist leaders have been killed during the operations but the troops have not yet found any of seven French hostages that were believed to be being held there.

Deby said he believed the hostages were still alive but he was not sure if they were still in northern Mali.

France has started withdrawing its force, currently around 4,000 men, and plans to have just 1,000 by the end of the year.

Diplomats say these troops might make up a rapid reaction force that will operate alongside U.N. peacekeepers and be tasked with tackling remaining pockets of extremists.

Mali is due elections in July but experts warn of problems from insecurity, hundreds of thousands of people still living in refugee camps and a stalled political process.

10 killed in Delta as villagers, herdsmen clash!

Nigeria:

NO fewer than 10 persons have been reportedly killed following a bloody clash between villagers in Ogume community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State and herdsmen who were challenged by the villagers for allowing their cattle to vandalise farmlands in the area.

There is growing tension in the community following the  clash which commenced on Saturday evening. Both warring parties were still at daggers-drawn at press time, although security has been beefed up in the area

A community leader and human rights activist from the community lamented the late arrival of security agents, saying: “My community was invaded by Hausa herdsmen using AK 47 rifles and six people were killed while three persons still missing are believed to have been killed too. The most painful aspect was that all efforts to make the police to come to our rescue were abortive.”

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr.  Lucky Uyabeme, confirmed the story,  saying: “I have got in touch with the DPO in charge of the area and 10 bodies have been confirmed recovered. Investigations are on.”

Brother of NNPC GMD killed!

Unidentified gunmen today killed the younger brother of Andrew Yakubu, the Group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Sources close to the family in Kaduna revealled that Yohanna Yakubu who is also a staff of NNPC was killed by unidentified gunmen suspected to be hired assassins.

“We are sure the killers must be assassins because, Yakubu has been receiving series of threats in recent time,” the source stated.

He also expressed strong belief that the target might have been the NNPC boss,Andrew Yakubu, “but since they could not get him , they unleashed terror on his brother perhaps to make a statement”.

Information however gathered that the killers who drove in a tinted glass vehicle ambushed Yakubu’s younger brother along Kaduna-Kachia Road this morning and opened fire on the car.

He was traveling with his wife and child to attend a funeral service at Zango-Kataf in honour of the late father of a close friend .

culled from PM News.

Most Spoiled Celebrity Kids!

If your parents can ever be described as “famous,” “a star” or “a celebrity” chances are you are spoiled rotten. Pretty sure there aren’t any unspoiled Hollywood kids, but here are the most ballin’ out kids.

David Beckham's Kids: Brooklyn, Romeo and Harper Beckham

Brooklyn, Romeo and Harper looking like quite the golden family. Look at those little boy suits! One of those buttons probably costs more than your entire outfit!

Christina Aguilera's Kid: Max Aguilera

Not actually sure if Christina’s son Max took HER last name, but it doesn’t matter. Also, we have no proof that her son is spoiled, but Christina is rich so…really this whole gallery is a kind of d’oh!

Mariah Carey's Twins: Moroccan and Monroe Carey-Cannon

Uhh, the Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon twins. They’re not even grown enough to hold their heads up and one of them is wearing a three-piece suit! It’s probably Tom Ford!

Beyonce's Kid: Blue Ivy Carter

There were rumors that Blue Ivy Carter has a gold rocking horse and a Swarovski-encrusted baby crib, which might be true and when she came into this world, her ma (Beyoncé) rented out an entire floor of the hospital.

Angelina Jolie's Kids: Zahara and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt

Angelina Jolie and just two of her dozens of kids, Shiloh and Zahara. Don’t let their cotton/polyester blend tops fool you, those kids live in a castle in France and probably eat rubies for cereal.

Will Smith's Kids: Willow and Jaden

Will Smith’s offspring being way too cool for school at the Kids' Choice Awards. Is she wearing Chanel boots? Oh, these two and just OVER IT.

Charlize Theron's Kid: Jackson Theron

Charlize Theron’s totally chill son Jackson. Look at him, laying back in that stroller like a low-rider.

Kate Hudson's Kids: Ryder Robinson and Bingham Hawn Bellamy

Kate Hudson’s two sons. These boys look pretty down to earth, look at Ryder in his Ugg boots and Bing carrying a grocery store football.

Gisele Bundchen's Kid: Benjamin

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen's first child is a boy named Benjamin and later they had daughter Vivian. We can only imagine the privileged life these kids will lead with almost perfect DNA and the castle their parents are building to house their family

Angelina Jolie's Twins: Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt

The Jolie-Pitt twins Knox and Vivienne who happen to look exactly like their other kid, Shiloh.

Matthew McConaughey's Kid: Vida McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey’s daughter Vida in what we can only assume is a couture jacket.

Jessica Alba's Kid: Haven Alba

Jessica Alba’s daughter Haven looking very pouty and also looking nothing like her mother. Her daughter is a redhead!

Ben Affleck's Kid: Samuel

Ben Affleck and Jen Garner’s youngest son Samuel walking around with his dad. Cuteeeee!

Rachel Zoe's Kid: Skyler Berman

Rachel Zoe’s son Skylar in head-to-toe couture. He had a fully stocked walk-in closet before he was even born.

Snooki's Kid: Lorenzo LaValle

Snooki’s son Lorenzo being adorable. Not sure how spoiled he is, I mean, how much shopping opportunity is there in New Jersey?

Sarah Jessica Parker's Twins: Tabitha and Marion Broderick

Sarah Jessica Parker’s fabulous twins Tabitha and Marion. OMG one of them is giving total red-carpet duck lip face. WORK!

Tom Cruise's Kid: Suri Cruise

Katie Holme’s dear daughter Suri Cruise who goes to the fanciest and newest private school in NY and flies on private jets when she visits her dad, Tom.

Sandra Bullock's Kid: Louis Bardo Bullock

Sandra Bullock’s son Louis is a total cool kid already.

Married Nollywood actor, Solomon Akiyesi's wedding to mistress disrupted by wife!

Lagos:
Solomon and his wife on their wedding day.
 

Nollywood actor, Solomon Akiyesi married Lilian Akiyesi seven years ago, after the two dated for six years. (Pictured above on their wedding day). So they've been together for thirteen years. After trying for years to conceive, Lilian finally got pregnant last year...but unknown to her, her husband was having an affair with a Lagos based lady. (Lilian and Solomon are based in Port Harcourt).

Solomon's Lagos based girlfriend got pregnant and the two started planning a wedding that was supposed to take place today April 13th. Fortunately for Lilian, she got wind of the wedding plans just days ago. And according to what her friend told me, Solomon sent money to Lilian just yesterday Friday April 12th and promised to return home next week. He told Lilian that he was in Lagos to shoot a movie.

When Lilian confirmed the wedding was really going to happen today, she contacted the police, took some family members and friends and stormed the wedding venue - Overcomers World Outreach located at Overcomers Close, off Ramlat Timson str, in Aguda, Surulere. Fortunately someone deemed it fit to invite me to the party...lol

Lilian, who is eight months pregnant, stormed the church and managed to stop the wedding before the pastor could pronounce her husband and his mistress 'husband and wife'. The police were later called to return sanity to the place

Pictures of the incident below:

















The church where solomon Akiyesi was to wed mistress has released a statement thus : See their statement below, written by Chika Moses, who is a journalist and the daughter of Bishop N.E. Moses, the General Overseer of the Overcomers Church. "What was meant to be a day of celebration – the wedding ceremony of one of our members Uloma Agwu to Mr. Solomon Akiyesi at the Overcomers Church World Outreach in Aguda – was sullied by an ugly incident. Immediately following the praise and worship session and before the officiating commenced, a woman who claims to be the lawful wife ofthe groom disrupted the ceremony. She was accompanied by people who sought only to wreck havoc in the church. They were unruly and violent. Continue... We regret the ugly series ofevents that followed this brash display. At the Overcomers Church, we do our due diligence to ensure a couple set to wed is right in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of God. To the bestof our knowledge, Mr. Akiyesi, was unmarried. The Overcomers Church World Outreach regrets that the woman who disrupted the wedding chose such a time to do so. There is no ideal situation here, but it would have been right that she bring the case before church officials in a manner befitting a house of worship. This was not the case. The groom, Mr. Akiyesi, has apologized to the Church, his bride-to-be, Ms. Agwu, and family and friends that gathered for the wedding. “This happened because I tried to cut corners,” he said. He admits he did not properly dissolve his previous marriage to his first wife and says he is determined to do what is necessary to rectify the awful situation. We apologize for the ugly scene this caused at our Church and apologize to those who witnessed it. It is not exemplary behavior and not who we are as a Church. The General Overseer of the Overcomers Church World Outreach, Bishop N.E. Moses, addressed the congregation after order was restored. Bishop Moses prayed for the couple, Mr. Akiyesi and Ms. Agwu, but he did not legally wed them – no documents were signed so as not to disobey the law. Mr. Solomon Akiyesi and Ms Uloma Agwu will not be legally joined together until the matter is properly settled by lawful authorities. Our Bishop has urged us to take a lesson from this and be careful of the decisions we make in life, so the consequences don’t hurt us in the future. It is a lesson we take well. We stand by Ms. Agwu. She has been a dedicated member of the church and we will continue to support her and Mr. Akiyesi. It is our hope and prayer that in all of this, God is glorified and His house of worship above reproach. Chika Moses Media Representative, Overcomers Church World Outreach"

Solomon, the man in the middle of it all, responds:

French police hunt gangster after dramatic prison break!

 Forensics experts at Sequedin prison on Saturday near a door blasted open by inmate Redoine Faid. 

French police were on a manhunt Sunday for a notorious armed robber who staged a dramatic prison break in northern France after briefly taking several guards hostage.

Lille prosecutor Frederic Fevre said about 100 investigators were involved  in the hunt for Redoine Faid, known for brazen attacks on cash-in-transit vehicles, after he blasted his way out of a jail in the northern town of Sequedin on Saturday.

Faid, a 40-year-old who risked a heavy new sentence over the 2010 death of  a policewoman, used explosives to blast through five prison doors and took  hostage four prison guards, who were later released.

Investigators were Sunday trying to determine how Faid had managed to  obtain explosives inside the prison and whether he had any accomplices.

“A thorough investigation has begun. Obviously he had one or more  accomplices. The investigators will now determine how he was able to obtain explosives and a weapon,” Fevre told AFP.

On Sunday police detained a brother who had regularly visited Faid in  prison for questioning, Fevre said.

“No potential lead can be ignored. The doors must be closed one after the  other,” he said, adding that the brother had been at the prison on Saturday to  meet Faid but had not been able to do so.

French officials have warned that Faid is considered armed and “especially dangerous”.   

France has issued a Europe-wide arrest warrant and called in Interpol for help, amid fears he may have already fled across the border into Belgium.

Police have said the breakout was planned with meticulous precision and authorities have insisted there was no fault on the part of prison workers.

A getaway car used in the escape was found burnt in Lille, where Faid is believed to have switched to a second vehicle. Of the four hostages he escaped  with, one was released just outside the prison, another a few hundred metres (yards) away and the last two along the highway.

Faid is known for co-authoring two books after a decade in prison for robbery, about his delinquent youth and rise as a criminal in Paris’s impoverished suburbs.

He said his life of crime was inspired by American films such as “Scarface” and “Heat” — where Robert De Niro’s armoured car heist has been cited as the  model for real life attacks in South Africa, Colombia and other countries.

“Movies for me were like a user’s guide for armed robbery,” he told the LCI  news channel when his autobiography was released in 2010.  

After his first robbery, Faid, of Algerian extraction, fled to Israel where he wore the Jewish skullcap and picked up Hebrew to blend in.

Despite vowing he had turned his back on crime, Faid was in 2010 suspected of being the mastermind of an armed robbery in which a young policewoman was  killed in a shootout.

Faid, nicknamed “The Writer”, landed back in prison in 2011 for failing to  comply with his parole conditions and was due to serve the remaining eight  years of his original sentence.

He potentially faced 30 more years over the policewoman’s death