Benedict Cumberbatch 'bowled over' by engagement reaction

 

New York - Benedict Cumberbatch fans might be weeping on the inside over the Sherlock star's engagement — but he's seeing nothing but their love, he says.

"It's a crazy old love bomb to drop and the amount of love that comes back to you, that was the thing that (fiancee Sophie Hunter and I) are both just sort of bowled over by. It's wonderful."

Nigerian cleric backs vigilantes in Boko Haram fight

Kano - One of Nigeria's most powerful Muslim leaders, the emir of Kano, has voiced support for vigilantes fighting Boko Haram, urging others to form civilian militias and questioning the competence of the military.

The comments were made by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who became emir earlier this year after being sacked from his post as the central bank governor, where he was one of the government's most high-profile critics.

Justin Bieber summoned to Argentina for alleged photographer assault

Buenos Aires - Pop music star Justin Bieber has been ordered to appear before a court in Argentina for the alleged assault last year of a photographer outside a Buenos Aires nightclub.

A justice ministry official told AFP that Argentine Judge Facundo Cubas gave the singer and one of his bodyguards 60 days appear in court or face arrest.

Producer defends Aaliyah TV movie after social media backlash

New York - Though the Lifetime movie Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B drew criticism from fans upset with casting and the way it depicts Aaliyah's life, executive producer Wendy Williams says she wouldn't do anything differently if she had it to do again.

Zambia sets date for presidential by-election

Lusaka - Zambia's interim leader announced a presidential by-election on 20 January and called for calm and tolerance amid concerns about a tense contest to succeed President Michael Sata, who died in office last month.

Interim president Guy Scott, who became the continent's first white leader since the 1994 end of apartheid in South Africa, said he hoped all contestants, both from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition parties, would desist from violence.