SOUTH AFRICA RELEASES BANK NOTES BEARING FORMER PRESIDENT "NELSON MANDELA'S IMAGE"

One of the world's greatest statesmen, anti-apartheid activist and the first democratically elected president of South Africa - President Nelson Mandela, 93, has been honoured by his countrymen with his image on the country's bank notes.

His face repaces designs featuring the "big five" safari animals - Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. All five notes - 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand will now bear Mandela's face on the front.

What a way to honour him and thank God he's still alive to see it!

LIL WAYNE SENDS SHOTS AT JAY-Z & KANYE WEST AT PRE-GRAMMY PARTY

Lil Wayne continues doling out not-so-subtle shots at Jay-Z and Kanye West's group, The Throne.

It seems as though Lil Wayne still hasn't move on from Jay-Z's "Baby money" line from the Watch the Throne song "H.A.M. ," as he is still firing shots at Jay-Z and Kanye West.

At the Cash Money Pre-Grammy party, Lil Wayne tossed a few bars out for the crowd: "I met a bad red bone, I took the bitch home / I asked her what she want to watch, she said surely not The Throne."

Lil Wayne and Jay-Z have been sending thinly-veiled shots back and forth for years, but when Jay-Z's line on "H.A.M." suggested that Baby - Bryan "Birdman" Williams - exaggerated his wealth, Lil Wayne took particular umbrage to the line.

Even though Wayne previously responded on "It's Good ," Jay has yet to return fire, simply acknowledging that beef is part of the sport of Hip Hop.

WHITNEY HOUSTON AUTOPSY SCHEDULED FOR TODAY

The autopsy on the body of Whitney Houston will be performed today, but we're told any results will be deferred pending a toxicology report.

Although the cause of death is unknown, it is increasingly looking like Whitney may have fallen asleep or lapsed into unconsciousness in the bathtub and drowned.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Beverly Hills cops retrieved approximately a half dozen pill bottles from Whitney's room ... including Xanax. No illicit drugs were found.

Whitney had been drinking the night before and authorities believe a combination of Xanax and alcohol could have fatally sedated her -- although our sources say it is simply too early to draw any firm conclusions.

WHITNEY HOUSTON ROWDY EARLIER, HOTEL ROOM A CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

Whitney Houston was found dead in her Beverly Hilton hotel room and per TMZ.com, the room in which she was found, has been sealed off with crime scene investigation tape and the Beverly Hills Police will not enter until they have obtained a proper search warrant.

A top-to-bottom search will then be conducted in Ms Houston’s hotel suite, where the police had earlier entered and emergency workers had given Whitney CPR but were unable to revive her. Thus far, no search has been conducted.

According to other reports and eye-witness accounts from hotel staff, Whitney Houston had partied pretty hard the night before and left a nightclub all sweaty and disheveled, with blood dripping from her leg!

Whitney and her friends were drinking and pretty rowdy at a hotel bar that they stood out from all the Grammy festivities.

Ms Houston was married to Bobby BrownBobby Brown between 1992 and 2007 and they had one child together, daughter Bobbi Kristina.

The couple was in the media from time to time due to a rocky relationship, but upon learning of Whitney’s death, Bobby Brown was “in and out of crying fits” over her untimely passing during his concert performance in Mississippi, where he was reported as being consoled by other band members of his group New Edition.

'I PLANNED TO KILL BARACK OBAMA' ADMITS 22-YEAR OLD ULUGBEK

A 22-year old man name Ulugbek Kordirov of Uzbekistan who had been staying illegally in the US in Leeds, Alabama has admitted to hatching a plot to assassinate US President Barack Obama.

This young man had entered the US on a student visa in June-2009 but did not enroll in any school – hence, his visa had been revoked in 2010 but he stayed on illegally.

He had apparently been influenced by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and felt it to be his moral duty to kill the President. This organization is believed to be a terrorist organization as per the US Department of Justice.

In order to attain his objective, Ulugbek Kordirov wanted to buy weapons and, the FBI stepped in - an undercover agent arranged the deal to sell him his chosen weapons. Out of an M15-A1 machine gun, a sniper rifle with telescopic lens and four disassembled hand grenades, he selected the machine gun and the hand grenades.

The FBI arrested him before he could leave the motel in Alabama in July-2011.

WHITNEY HOUSTON'S DEATH: NEW DETAILS EMERGE

As police investigate what happened leading up to the death of Whitney Houston, new speculatory details have emerged since the singer's tragic passing.

According to TMZ, a search of the Beverly Hilton Hotel room in which the 48-year-old was staying found no illegal drugs, though prescription medications were located.

TMZ adds that there's a chance Miss Houston died from drowning in the bathtub, but since her body was removed from the water before EMTs arrived the conclusive determination must await an autopsy.

Along with tapping Jennifer Hudson to perform a tribute at tonight's (February 12) GRAMMY Awards ceremony, it has also been announced that Whitney will be remembered on Tuesday night's episode of "Glee" titled 'Heart' - during which Amber Riley will perform "I Will Always Love You”.

'I WISH IT WAS A BAD DREAM' - CELEBS COMMENT WHITNEY'S DEATH

The news last night, of the passing of one of the brightest singing stars of the century, Whitney Houston, was met with great shock among members of the entertainment industry specifically.

Our reporters gathered reactions from some Nigerian and foreign celebrities, most of whom expressed their shock through popular social networking site, twitter.

I wish this was some bad dream RIP WHITNEYHOUSTON – Stephanie Okereke

RIP Whitney, life is short. Lord help us make the most of it while we are here.- Banky W

She was and still is great all. We have to do is press play!!!- Sound Sultan

Am still in shock! Absolute shock!! Whitney Houston dead?! God we look to you. Rest in peace Legend. You will be surely missed.- Segun Arinze

My heart is broken … Rip Whitney Houston- Eva Longoria

Rest in peace Whitney Houston. You will always be remembered for your incredible talent.- Rita Dominic

Whitney is dead? No, father please no! – Waje

Jesus Christ!!! So Whitney is gone? Just like that??? - Damilola Purple

May God be with us all.- Don Jazzy

I just can’t talk about it now… It’s so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen.- Aretha Franklin

Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms Whitney Houston. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.- Mariah Carey

(On stage in Southaven, Missouri) First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, I love you Whitney. The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage. – Bobby Brown

Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song [I Will Always Love You], and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you’. You will be missed – Dolly Parton

She was just a gift in voice. She was just so innocent in the business, and that voice was so pure and her life was so pure. That’s what I’m holding on to. I think what we’re going to do in the long run of her life story is focus on the voice. Not the tragedy, but the voice.- Lionel Ritchie

I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney’s passing… I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly.- Quincy Jones

She was a legend. These people don’t come around often. No one could sell a song like Whitney… And to hear this news, it’s really, really upset me.- Simon Cowell

We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney’s family. She will be missed.- Christina Aguilera

Whitney was always so sweet to me! Was rooting for her through her struggles! Such a shame…I’m truly saddened by this news!- Gloria Estefan

I’ve known Whitney since she was a little girl and I loved her. She was like family to me. I will miss her.- Smokey Robinson

This is a sad day today, all I want to talk about is her music. She was the most beautiful woman I think I ever saw…. Thank you for giving us your talent, and one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. – Elton John

She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us.- Barbra Streisand

As a spokesperson for the Academy, the industry, I guess I would sum it up by saying, there’s only one Whitney Houston. There will probably never ever be another. -Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy

I truly, truly adored Whitney Houston. Her album ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ was the very first album I ever bought.- Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child

Without a doubt, her voice, for me, and for the world, was the gold standard. She had it all, she broke all barriers.- Tommy Mottola, former chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment

The morning of the Grammys, the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird.” – Rev. Al Sharpton, who called for a national prayer to honour Houston and support her family

Whitney was the reason many of us do what we do. – Pink

At the apex of her career, Whitney had no peer, with a voice that shaped a generation. She has left behind a musical and film legacy that will endure…. she will be sorely missed by us all. – Bishop T.D. Jakes

KLINT DA DRUNK AND WIFE WELCOME 2ND CHILD!

Nigerian comedian Klinton Afamefuna Igwemba better known as Klint da Drunk and his wife have taken delivery of their second child; a baby boy today Sunday, February 12, 2011.

‘Praise the Lord!!! God has blessed us with yet another bouncing baby boy!!!!! I thank you Lord!! God is wonderful! Wife n baby doing fine!!‘, the comedian posted on his Facebook wall. His manager David later confirmed the news.

Calls made through to Klint himself were not answered as at the time of the report.

The couple met a few years ago and welcomed their first child Denzel in February 2009.

WHITNEY HOUSTON FOUND UNDERWATER

Whitney Houston was found in the bathtub of a Beverly Hills hotel yesterday ... with her face underwater ... people close to Whitney tell TMZ.

According to our sources, her stylist, hairdresser and two bodyguards were among the people in the room at the time. We're told they became worried about Whitney because she had been in the bathroom for over an hour and it was time to start getting ready for the Clive Davis party.

Our sources say they began to knock on the door and there was no answer. We're told the hairdresser, who is female, went in to check on Whitney. She immediately screamed and, according to our sources, one of the bodyguards came running in and pulled her out of the tub.

We're told Whitney's face was below the water and her legs were up ... like she had slid down the back of the tub.

According to our sources, her body was very cold and the bodyguard attempted CPR. That's when hotel security was called.

Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter, but Whitney was pronounced dead at 3:55 PM.

WHITNEY HOUSTON DEAD AT 48 YEARS OLD

The troubled singer suddenly passed away, though the cause of death is unclear.

Veteran singer Whitney Houston has reportedly died at the age of 48.

According to her publicist Kristen Foster, the troubled singer passed away earlier today, though the cause and location of death are currently unclear.

The songstress rose to fame with in the '80s with singles like "How Will I Know" and "Saving All My Love For You," continuing success in the '90s with her hit "I Will Always Love You." In recent years, she was believed to have been addicted to drugs, though had recently been showing signs of improvement. She most recently filmed a role in the upcoming big screen adaptation of Sparkle.

In the Hip Hop realm, Houston worked with Wyclef Jean on a Dub Plate version of "My Love is Your Love," and collaborated with several R&B singers including Mariah Carey and Faith Evans.

Purpleworld Entertainment sends its condolences to Houston's family during this difficult time.