Russian ambassadors keep dying in mysterious ways

Russia's ambassador to Sudan was found floating dead in a swimming pool in his Khartoum home on Wednesday.

Mirgayas Shirinskiy, 63, "was found in his residence with evidence of an acute heart attack," Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, told BBC on Thursday.

While the cause of death is initially being considered natural, since Shirinskiy suffered from high blood pressure, seven Russian ambassadors have died in mysterious ways over the last two years.

Two of them died from heart attacks, and Shirinsky would be the third.

Most notable was former Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, who died of a heart attack in February in New York. The US State Department asked the New York City medical examiner's office to not release his autopsy.

Roman Skrynikov, the former Russian ambassador to Kazakhstan, also died of an apparent heart attack in December 2016.

Police gun down husband of slain "Nairobi's prettiest thug"

Months after his wife and partner in crime met her death in the hands of the police, notorious thug Mwaniki aka Mwanii Sparta has been gunned down.

Mwanii, one of the most wanted criminals in Nairobi, was killed by police last weekend at Witeithie Estate in Juja.

Actress Eucharia Anunobi's son passes on at age 15 from sickle cell anemia

The 15-year old son of Nollywood actress and Evangelist, Eucharia Anunobi, Raymond Ekwu, has passed on. Raymond who she had by her ex-husband, Charles Ekwu, in 2002, has been living with Sickle Cell Anemia since birth. He died from complications associated with the disease on Tuesday, August 22nd.  

May his soul rest in peace...Amen.

Anatoly Antonov named new Russian ambassador to US

Antonov takes the job at a time when US-Russia relations are badly strained [File: AP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has named Anatoly Antonov, a career diplomat who is on the European Union's sanctions list because of Moscow's role in the Ukraine, as Russia's new ambassador to the United States.

Antonov, whose appointment was announced on Monday, takes the job at a time when US-Russia relations are badly strained following the approval of a new wave of US sanctions against Moscow, and the Kremlin's decision to sharply cut American diplomatic personnel in Russia.

Antonov succeeds Sergei Kislyak, who found himself in the centre of controversy amid claims of Russia's interference in the US presidential vote.

Kislyak's contacts with members of Trump's team have been part of congressional and FBI investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Russia has denied any interference in the US election.

Tensions in Togo as anti-Gnassingbe rally turns deadly

Togolese forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in Lome [Photo courtesy Emmanuelle Sodji]

Tensions have erupted in Togo after protests against the ruling Gnassingbe family dynasty over the weekend turned deadly. 

Two protesters were killed and 12 gendarmes were wounded in Sokode, 338km north of the capital, Lome, when security forces opened fire to break up demonstrations, the security ministry said on Saturday. 

Tikpi Atchadam, Togo's opposition leader and president of the PNP party, put the death toll at seven on Saturday night. 

President Faure Gnassingbe has been in power in the West African country since the 2005 death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had been at the helm for 38 years.

BLAC CHYNA Sure, She Gave Rob Lambo and Ferrari THEY WERE LEASED!!!

Blac Chyna was so incensed Rob Kardashian kept the Range Rover she gave him, some eyewitnesses say she tried to steal it ... but we've learned none of the whips in question were owned by either of them.

We broke the story ... Chyna and Rob met at a Century City office building to try and hash out their custody dispute, Rob called the valet to get the Rover but stayed back until Chyna left.

10 New Artists You Need to Know: August 2017

Once again, we talked to 10 of the hottest artists who are climbing the charts, breaking the Internet or just dominating our office stereos. This month: "Everyday We Lit" hitmaker YFN Lucci, Chicago producer Knox Fortune, genre-blurring Argentinean trio Fémina and more.

YFN Lucci

Terrence Navalta

Sounds Like: The next sing-song Atlanta rapper to take over the radio

For Fans of: Future, Fetty Wap, Rich Homie Quan

Why You Should Pay Attention: YFN Lucci was a success story this summer, earning a radio hit with "Everyday We Lit" featuring PnB Rock, working in the tradition of melodic Atlanta MCs like collaborator and former labelmate Rich Homie Quan. Though the single peaked at Number 33, it spent weeks in the Top 40, accumulating 45 million Spotify streams and earning a remix featuring Wiz Khalifa and Lil Yachty. Last year he teamed with Migos and Trouble for "Key to the Streets," another warm weather radio staple.

He Says: "I have my own style," he says. "A bunch of people from Atlanta don't really rap about what I rap about: I rap about things that happened. I'm talking about what I been through. I ain't just talkin' 'bout the money I have. I talk about how I grew up. I grew up in the struggle. A lot of people can relate to the struggle."

"Everybody tryin' to make the same-sounding beats, same type of shit – Metro Boomin and shit," Lucci adds. "June [James, producer of many of Lucci's recent songs] give me another sound."

Hear for Yourself: In "Everyday We Lit," the piano stays serene while the drums communicate exuberance. "I got the hottest 16, one of the best you've ever seen," Lucci boasts. "But she like it when I sing on it." Elias Leight