Prince Harry condemns press 'abuse' of girlfriend

 The statement said the couple were "a few months into a relationship" and it was "not right" that Ms Markle should be subjected to such treatment.
It said the prince rarely took formal action over "fictional stories".
"But the past week has seen a line crossed," it added.
In recent days a number of newspapers have carried front page stories about the 35-year-old actress, best known for playing Rachel Zane in the TV drama Suits.
 The statement issued by the prince's communications secretary said: "His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment.
 "Some of this has been very public - the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.
 "Some of it has been hidden from the public - the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life."
 The 32-year-old prince has long had an uneasy relationship with the press, having grown up aware of the impact that intense media intrusion had on the life of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
When he was 20, he was caught up in a scuffle with a paparazzi photographer outside a London nightclub.
In 2012, naked photographs of him in a Las Vegas hotel room were published online and on newspaper front pages, prompting a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.
But he has also attracted positive coverage of his charitable interests and military service.

Royal Helicopter turns into an exquisite home for couple

   A farmer, Martyn Steedman and his wife Louise have transformed a military helicopter which they reportedly bought from UK Ministry of Defense's online auction in March, into an exquisite home.
  According to reports, the couple spent nearly £40,000; approximately (N22.6m), to convert this singular helicopter into a luxury accommodation for the family to live in.

Thai king death: Thousands mourn at royal palace

   Thousands of Thais have gathered at Bangkok's royal palace for late-night vigils to mourn King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on Thursday.

   His body was brought to the palace in a convoy as mourners lined the streets weeping. Millions watched live on TV.
   Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has been named as successor, but has asked for a delay in the process. A regent has been appointed.
   King Bhumibol was the world's longest-reigning monarch.He had been ill for a long time and died on Thursday. Official mourning will last a year.
   The cabinet declared Friday a government holiday, and flags are to fly at half-mast for the next 30 days.
People have been asked to wear black, and avoid "joyful events" during this period. Cinema screenings, concerts and sports events have been cancelled or postponed.
   News websites have turned their pages black and white. All television channels in Thailand aired state media programmes including live coverage of the day's events.
 The crown prince travelled in the convoy carrying the king's body to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Royal Palace.
  "We no longer have him," AFP news agency quoted Phongsri Chompoonuch, 77, one of those who lined the streets for the procession, as saying.
  "I don't know whether I can accept that. I fear, because I don't know what will come next."
After the convoy arrived at the temple, the crown prince conducted the bathing ceremony of the king's body, a traditional Thai Buddhist funeral rite.
  Buddhist monks then said prayers over the king's remains. His body will be on display for people to pay their respects.

  Thousands of people have now gathered at the palace complex.
  It could be months before the late king's cremation.
  King Bhumibol earned the devotion of Thais for his efforts to help the rural poor, including agricultural development projects and works of charity.
  The monarch was also seen as a stabilising figure in a country often wracked by political turmoil.
Thailand remains under military rule following a coup in 2014.
 The country has suffered from political violence and upheaval over the past decade, as well as a long-running Muslim separatist insurgency in the southern provinces which sees regular small-scale bomb attacks.
  Though a constitutional monarch with limited official powers, many Thais looked to King Bhumibol to intervene in times of high tension. He was seen as a unifying and calming influence through numerous coups and 20 constitutions.
  However, his critics argued he had endorsed military takeovers and at times had failed to speak out against human rights abuses.
SOURCE: www.naijacop.com