After Amputations, Brazilian Model Dies
Mariana Bridi da Costa, a beautiful 20-year-old Brazilian model, was living the good life and on her way to international stardom less than one month ago. But now, even after having both hands and feet amputated to save life from a deadly rare disease, her family is mourning her death. “Unfortunately Mari couldn’t resist any longer .She passed away at 3 a.m. today,” the executive director of Miss World Brazil, Henrique Fontes, told CNN Saturday.   Da Costa’s illness is called necrosis, a disease where the body’s tissue dies rapidly. The necrosis was caused by septicemia which can lead to organ failure.  It was destroying her body so much, the doctors had to do the amputations, take out a portion of her stomach and both of her kidneys. She first came to the hospital late last month after saying she was sick. The doctors diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection, but it had developed into septicemia by the time it was found. During her rise, da Costa was recruited by the world’s top agencies. “All the agencies were very interested in knowing her. I know for a fact that they would have loved her because Mariana is beautiful,” Dilson Stein, the model scout with whom da Costa signed, told a Brazilian paper. She came in sixth in last year’s Miss Bikini International competition and came in fourth in the contests to represent Brazil in the Miss World Pageant in 2007 and 2008, reports CNN. In her last days she expressed a willingness to live to her fiancé, Thiago Simoes. “She told me she was praying to stay alive, that she still had a lot to do on this Earth, that she wanted to go on with her plans,” he said. He also denied rumors that her illness had to do with dieting. Although little is known about da Costa’s illness, in the United States, it’s the 10th-leading cause of death.

Nigerian Police Detain Goat Suspect
A goat, suspected of trying to steal a car, is being held by Nigerian police. Yes, you read that right. And the story gets stranger. A vigilante group in Nigeria’s Kwara State claims that a man attempting to steal a car used witchcraft to transform into a goat, reports the BBC. One police spokesman was quoted as saying that the “armed robbery suspect” would remain held pending investigation. A Nigerian paper has a photo of the goat and reports that the police displayed the animal before journalists in Kwara’s capital, Ilorin. But another police spokesman denies the claims, saying that the goat was only being held until an owner wanted to claim it. And about the reports that the goat “suspect” was paraded in front of the media, spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said, “The vigilante group arrested the goat and took it to the police, then they told the media.” Members of the media showed up to the station and demanded to see the goat, he said. “But of course, goats can’t commit crime.” Police reform activists say this is just further proof of how uneducated a lot of officers in the country are. “There are officers who don’t even have a secondary school education, and the police have a big job to do in finding these people and getting rid of them,” Innocent Chukwuma, an activist from the Cleen Foundation told the BBC. He also said that politicians had let some unqualified and corrupt officers in because they knew they could be easily bribed and would be able to cover up their own criminal activities. Vigilante squads, like the one that caught the “robber” goat, often patrol some areas at night where the nation’s police officers won’t. Squads are also known to have lynched suspects before the real police were able to investigate, Chukwuma said.

Musician Wyclef Jean pitches in to help Haiti, Zimbabwe leaders are all smiles and the search for is on for Kenya’s next top model. See these pictures and more.
 

S.A.prosecutors plan to appeal ruling for Zuma. South African prosecutors announced they are planning to appeal a ruling made by the nation’s High Court dismissing charges against Jacob Zuma, head of the African National Congress. Zuma, who plans on running for president of the nation next year, had the charges dismissed on a technicality; the prosecutors did not inform him of the charges before filing them, reports the Associated Press. But, after they consult Zuma, they are welcome to file new charges, the court ruled. Nevertheless, the ANC had angry words for the prosecutors, who they accuse of trying to ruin Zuma’s chance of becoming president. “By not accepting the court’s ruling, the NPA has lost valuable opportunity to bring the relentless pursuit of Jacob Zuma to an end. The decision suggests that personal pride, rather than reason, is driving the actions of the NPA,” ANC said Wednesday. The charges against Zuma include corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.

Mike Jones is left bloody in scrap with Trae the Truth.

A reported fight backstage at the Ozone Awards left rapper Mike Jones with a bloody face after he apparently took a punch from Trae the Truth. The Houston rhymers apparently argued before at least one blow was exchanged. Jones is shown on Web video with a facial injury from the scrap. Trae released a video of his own, saying Jones had been “running his mouth too much.” He adds, “It’s a good thing it happened before the awards and I didn’t f**k up the awards.” Maybe Trae’s a candidate for “From G’s to Gents” after all.

Michael Misick and LisaRaye separate

Michael Misick, the premier of Turks and Caicos, who has been accused by his actress wife LisaRaye of cheating on her, released a statement late Tuesday acknowledging that the high-profile couple has split up. “I am announcing that I am separated from LisaRaye McCoy-Misick,” he told BET in a statement. “I am committed to dissolving the marriage amicably. I believe that this is a private matter and will have no further comments. I hope that our privacy will be respected.”

Tyra wants performers to move over for up-and-comers. Talk show host and “America’s Top Model” star Tyra Banks says Hollywood actresses and performers are taking contracts from the new breed of supermodels. Without calling names, Tyra observes that singers and actresses are recruited for product endorsements. “I think all supermodels now are losing out to celebrities,” says ex-model Banks. “It’s celebrities who are getting the cosmetics contracts.” Beyoncé and Queen Latifah are among the faces associated with cosmetics lines. Beyoncé recently drew some criticism for her appearance in a L’Oreal ad that some suggest depicts her with digitally lightened skin.

The actor says he may retire from movies.

Actor Eddie Murphy says his fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop comedy/action series could be the final film of his career. Originally a stand-up comedian, Murphy says he misses his club roots. “Thirty years and I have close to 50 movies and it is like, ‘Why am I in the movies? I’ve done that part now,’” Murphy says. “I’ll go back to the stage and do stand-up.” next film to hit theaters is the comedy Meet Dave.

Joy Bryant gives up single life
Joy Bryant, who co-stars in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins, among other films, is married. The beauty, 31, wed her stunt man boyfriend David Pope, 37, this past weekend in New York . The pair reportedly met on the set of Welcome Home,