Insecurity: Nigerians know we have done our best - President Buhari

President Buhari says Nigerians know that his administration has done its best in fighting insecurity.

 

A statement from the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President said this when he spoke to state house correspondents after observing the Eid El-Kabir prayers with his family members and close aides at the presidential villa in Abuja today, July 31.

 

According to President Buhari, his administration inherited security challenges and have worked effectively to tackle them all.

 

“I want Nigerians to be very conscious of their country and what we inherited when we came in 2015 was Boko Haram in the north-east and the militancy in the south-south… Nigerians know that we have done our best.

What is coming up in the North West and North Central is very disturbing indeed but I believe the military, the police, and other law enforcement agencies from the report I am getting, I think they could do much better.

They could do much better, but we are keeping them on the alert all the time to do their duties.” the President is quoted as saying

 

The President said while much has been achieved security-wise, more still needs to be done.

“He (the President) said considering the security situation on ground when he came to office, ‘Nigerians know that we have done our best. However, what is coming out of the North West and the North Central is very disturbing’ Shehu said in a statement.

Responding to a specific question on the performance of the service chiefs which recently, he said needed to get better, the President said that the military, the police, and other security agencies are working hard.

We are making available resources to them to even do better,” he assured, adding that “from the reports I am getting, they could do much better…they could do much better. But we are keeping them on the alert all the time to do their duties.”

Victor Osimhen becomes Nigeria's most expensive player after signing a €50m deal to join Napoli from Lille

Victor Osimhen has officially become Nigeria's most expensive player after completing a big-money move from Lille to Napoli. 

 

The Nigerian international striker, who scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for the French club in the 2019-20 season, moves to Naples in a five-year deal worth €50 million (£45m/$59m).

 

The Serie A side announced the signing in a statement via its website and Twitter page on Friday, saying: 'SSC Napoli are delighted to announce the signing of Victor Osimhen from Lille on a permanent transfer.'

 

 

The big-money move also makes Osimhen the most expensive signing in Napoli’s history, a record that was set last summer by Hirving Lozano when he signed from PSV Eindhoven for €38m plus bonuses.

 

He is also expected to be handed the No.9 jersey and will be presented to the media in Naples after his summer vacation.

 

A delighted Osimhen wrote on Twitter: 'Can’t wait to put on this iconic jersey,thank you for the warm welcome.'

 

I’m concerned for the world that feels I shouldn’t cry about the thought of aborting my first born" - Kanye West tweets

Billionaire rapper and fashion designer, Kanye West, has reacted to the ridicule he received for crying out during a rally early this month when he revealed that his wife, Kim Kardashian nearly aborted his first daughter.

The 'Jesus Walks' rapper, revealed how his dad almost made his mum abort him, then started crying as he revealed his wife would have almost aborted his daughter, North West.

Kanye, after the rally went into a mental breakdown as he revealed in series of tweets that he has been trying to divorce his wife for two years.

 

His tweets brought about reports that he and his wife were having marital issues leading Kim to reveal the rapper was suffering from bipolar disorder while urging fans to respect his privacy.

Kanye has since apologized to his wife publicly, but has now resurrected the abortion story in a pair of tweets on Friday afternoon.

 

According to Kanye, everyone was concerned about him for crying about the thought of aborting his child, when he is even concerned for the world that feels it's not a subject worth crying about.

 

"I cried at the thought of aborting my first born and everyone was so concerned about me... I’m concerned for the world that feels you shouldn’t cry about this subject." Kanye tweeted.

In another tweet, Kanye wrote;
"There is a tactic of 4 D’s, Distract, Discredit, Dismiss, To Destroy. I am quite alright Take a second and think about what is being projected here."

Ellen DeGeneres apologises to her staff over allegations of racism, intimidation and maltreatment

TV Host and entrepreneur, Ellen DeGeneres has apologized to her staff after Warner Bros Media inc. ordered an investigation into allegations of racism, maltreatment and intimidation by current and former staff.

 

According to the story published by Buzzfeed news early this month, the accusers claimed the workplace was toxic and "dominated by fear" and that some workers had been fired after taking medical leave or bereavement days to attend family funerals. Others said they were also instructed not to speak to DeGeneres if they saw her around the office.

 

One employee said she experienced racist comments, actions, and "microaggressions" during her 18 months on the show, a stark contrast to the public image of DeGeneres and her show.
Ellen, who has presented the show for 17 years has a mantra "be kind to one another", and described her programme as "a place of happiness".

"That 'be kind' [stuff] only happens when the cameras are on. It's all for show," one former employee told Buzzfeed. "I know they give money to people and help them out, but it's for show."

In an email to staff obtained by the Hollywood reporter, Ellen apologised and said she was "committed to ensuring this does not happen again".

"On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness - no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect," she wrote.

"Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case.

"And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it's the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show."

"People who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am, and that has to stop".

"As someone who was judged and nearly lost everything for just being who I am, I truly understand and have deep compassion for those being looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or - worse - disregarded. To think that any one of you felt that way is awful to me."

"I am so proud of the work we do and the fun and joy we all help put out in the world. I want everyone at home to love our show and I want everyone who makes it to love working on it. Again, I'm so sorry to anyone who didn't have that experience."
"We all have to be more mindful about the way our words and actions affect others, and I'm glad the issues at our show were brought to my attention," she added.

Queen Elizabeth's bodyguard arrested for having nine bags of cocaine and ketamine after white powder is found in St James's Palace bathroom

One of Queen Elizabeth's bodyguards was arrested on suspicion of drugs possession after white powder was found in a bathroom at St James's Palace. 

 

The bodyguard was said to have nine bags of cocaine and ketamine among his possessions after police searched his room and car at Wellington Barracks by Buckingham Palace. 

 

The Coldstream Guardsman was arrested on Tuesday, July 28, by the Royal Military Police and has been removed from ceremonial duties pending the outcome of the investigation. 

 

According to The Sun, officers launched an investigation after white powder was found in the guardroom toilets where the soldier had been on duty. 

 

They then uncovered five bags of what was suspected to be cocaine and four of ketamine, a horse sedative that is also a Class A drug. 

 

An Army spokesman told MailOnline: "We can confirm that a soldier from the Coldstream Guards has been arrested for a suspected drug offence by the Royal Military Police. 

 

"It would be inappropriate to comment further."

Brazil's President Bolsonaro says he has 'mould' in his lungs and has been feeling weak as his wife tests positive for Coronavirus

Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro has said he has 'mould' in his lungs, having spent weeks in isolation after testing positive for Coronavirus.

 

The 65-year-old also said in his weekly Facebook live address that the antibiotics he has been taking for an undisclosed illness has left him feeling weak.

 

He said: "I've just taken a blood exam. I was a bit weak yesterday. They have also found a bit of an infection. I'm taking antibiotics now. It must have been those 20 days inside the house, we catch other things. I've caught mold, mold in my lungs. It must be that."

 

The far-right president spent nearly 20 days in semi-isolation, after testing positive for the virus on July 7 and on July 25, he announced via Twitter that he had tested negative.

 

His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, the Science and Technology Minister has also tested positive for Covid-19, according to a statement from the President's press office on Thursday, July 30.

 

In his Thursday address, the President also thanked God and hydroxychloroquine for his health.

 

"I'm healed from COVID. I have antibodies, no problems. In my particular case, I first thank God, and secondly, the medication prescribed by the presidential doctor: hydroxychloroquine," Bolsonaro said.

 

"The following day, I was already OK. If it was a coincidence or not, I don't know. But it works," the president added.

President Buhari observes Eid-Kabir prayers with his family and aides in Abuja

President Buhari was joined by members of his immediate family and his aides to observe the Eid-Kabir prayers in the Presidential villa today July 31.

 

See more photos below..

 

'We've had elections every November since 1788' -10 top Republicans openly dismiss Trump's calls for postponing presidential elections

Top Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate have openly dismissed President Donald Trump's suggestion on Thursday July30, that November's presidential election should be delayed till when people can go out and vote safely without fear of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

On Thursday, Trump tweeted, "With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???"

 

Mail-in voting is a type of voting system where people don't have to go to the voting booth, as they can vote from the safety of their homes using mails.

 

Trump fearful of loosing at the polls to Biden this November has argued that the election could be marred by large scale rigging and voting irregularities.

 

According to the Republicans, most of them Trump allies, the President has no authority to change the voting date because the Constitution gives Congress the power to set the date for voting.

 

Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said in an interview on Fox Business on Friday July 30; "No, we're not going to delay the election," adding, "We're going to have the election completed and voting completed by Election Day."

"I don't think that's a particularly good idea." Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican said to CNN

"I think that's probably a statement that gets some press attention, but I doubt it gets any serious traction," "I think we've had elections every November since about 1788, and I expect that will be the case again this year," Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, a member of Republican leadership told CNN when asked about Trump's tweet.

 

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois tweeted, "Reminder: Election dates are set by Congress. And I will oppose any attempts to delay the #2020Election."

 

House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California said;
"Never in the history of federal elections have we ever not held an election and we should go forward with our election," 

"No way should we ever not hold our election on the day that we have it."

 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responding to his tweet, said in an interview with WNKY."Never in the history of the country, through wars, depressions and the Civil War, have we ever not had a federally-scheduled election on time. We'll find a way to do that again this November 3rd," the majority leader said 

 

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said, "Election fraud is a serious problem we need to stop it and fight it, but no the election should not be delayed."

 

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said of Trump's tweet, "I wish he hadn't said that, but it's not going to change: We are going to have an election in November and people should have confidence in it."

 

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, said: "The election is going to happen in November period."
"The election is going to be held in November. Absentee ballots in North Carolina are strongly encouraged, as has the President encouraged them. The safe side to a mail-in vote, I hope we get it mostly... Because otherwise they're gonna undermine the integrity of the election," 

 

Senate Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa said; All I can say is that, it doesn't matter what one individual in this country says. We still are a country based on the rule of law. And we must follow the law until either the Constitution is changed or until the law is changed."

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, also joined in with her own rebuttal, posting a tweet quoting Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, that gives Congress the authority to "determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Vote."

 

Abramovich would have sent me to Siberia if i came fourth" - Former Chelsea coach Avram Grant

Former Chelsea coach, Avram Grant has joked he would have been "sent to Siberia" by Roman Abramovich had he led Chelsea to a fourth-placed finish just like Frank Lampard did with the club this season.

 

Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Wolves on the final day of the season placed them in fourth position and ensured Lampard's side will be playing in the Champions League next season.

 

In his only season at the club in 2007-08, Grant guided Chelsea to a second-placed finish in the Premier League, while the club lost to Tottenham in the EFL Cup final before losing to Manchester United on penalties in the Champions League final.

 

Grant was immediately sacked after the Champions League finale, and now says Abramovich did not give him such liberty back in his time like he is giving to Lampard now.

"I think it's a good season, especially compared to how it began, without being allowed to buy players," Grant told Stats Perform News.

 

                

 

"Compared to the requirement of Roman Abramovich, if I told him some years ago that fourth place would be good for him, probably he would send me to Siberia, but because of the situation before, I think it's a good place. For Frank, I think it's a big achievement.

"It's his first year as a coach in the Premier League. Of course, he was a player with a lot of experience, but you cannot compare a player to a manager, and I think he's managed the team very well.

"A lot of young players and he knew how to play them, how to give them a rest and when to push them. It's a good base for the future, I was very pleased with his performance."

Grant also believes Lampard always had the right mentality as a player to become a top-level coach.

"I was sure, because he was always a leader. When you spoke with him, he had a different view about football," Grant said.

"In my team at Chelsea there was a lot of leaders. I thought [Michael] Ballack would be a good coach, Didier [Drogba], John Terry, because there was a good personality and a lot of knowledge about football.

"Of course, having the knowledge is not the same, you have to pass the knowledge to players, you have to deal with the owner, the media, you have to deal with the supporters, but at the end of the day, you depend on the performance on the pitch – it's results, especially at the top."

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West 'have been living apart for a year' amid tension in their marriage

Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West have reportedly been living apart for a year amid tension in their marriage. 

 

The new reports come days after the reality star reunited with the rapper at his $14 million Wyoming ranch following his bizarre presidential campaign rally and his Twitter meltdown in which he announced that he had been planning to divorce her. Read here and here. 

 

It has now been claimed that the pair - who tied the knot in 2014 - have been living in different states for 12 months; with Kim, 39, based in their Calabasas mansion and Kanye, 43, residing at his Wyoming ranch.

Us Weekly reports that Kim would visit only once a month with their four children North, seven, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, one.

A source told the outlet: "Kanye has been in Wyoming for the last year. Kim goes about once every five weeks and brings the kids."

The source added: "They haven't been spending time together because he moved his life completely to Wyoming and that's not where their life is, their family is, their kids are in school or the larger family is."

Another report added that Kanye lives 'full time' in Wyoming as it is 'best for his creativity' according PageSix. 

PEOPLE also reported that Kim has been thinking they 'need to be apart' right now. 

 

A source told the outlet: 'She knows that it's not healthy for her to be around him now, and it's honestly not healthy for the kids. He needs to get his stuff together before he can be any sort of partner or father.'

 

Kim is also said to have urged Kanye to quit his bid for the 2020 presidency, after his controversial first campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina, where he spoke about how he encouraged Kim to abort their first baby, daughter North. 

Doctor who helped deliver a baby girl 25 years ago also helps to deliver the girl's baby

A woman who recently gave birth to a baby revealed that the doctor who helped to deliver her baby is the same doctor who helped her mum to give birth to her 25 years ago.

 

Lauren Cortez recently welcomed a son with her husband. When she went to the hospital to give birth, the doctor on duty, who helped her deliver her baby, turned out to be the same doctor on duty who helped her mother to birth her.

 

Lauren shared photos of the doctor carrying her on the day she was born 25 years ago and another photo of the same doctor carrying her son after he was born days ago.

 

She wrote: "25 years later, the doctor who delivered me also delivered our son!!"

 

 

Below are photos of Lauren shortly after she was born and photos of her son being carried by the same doctor soon after his birth.

 

Lauren as a baby with the doctor who helped deliver her

Lauren and her newborn son with the same doctor

Beyonce does Leg work, Gbese and other Nigerian/African dances in 'Already' video featuring Shatta Wale and Major Lazer

The music video for Beyonce's song 'Already', featuring Shatta Wale and Major Lazer has been released.

 

The American singer shared the video on her Instagram. She revealed that shooting the video started in her backyard. She added that some scenes were shot in Shatta Wale's hometown, Ghana.

 

 

The singer performed a number of Nigerian and African dances in the video, including the popular Leg work and Gbese dance moves.

 

Tamar Braxton breaks silence after a possible suicide attempt

Tamar Braxton is speaking out for the first time since being hospitalized following a possible suicide attempt. 

 

The reality star was rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles after she was found unresponsive by her Nigerian boyfriend David Adefeso in her hotel room on Thursday, July 16.

 

 

Adefeso called 911 to report his girlfriend had been drinking before she took an unknown amount of prescription pills following a possible suicide attempt.

 

He explained that she was having issues with the TV network (We TV) that airs her reality show, 'Get Ya Life!'

 

The 43-year-old "Braxton Family Values" star has now taken to Instagram to issue a lengthy statement, where she addressed some of her personal problems and reality television’s impact on her mental health.

 

She began her post by thanking her fans for their support, writing : 

 

"Thank you to each and every individual who has prayed for me, thought of me, sent me their love and has showered me with their support. In this present moment, it is my only responsibility to be real with myself and to be real with the ones who truly love me and care for my healing. I have without fail, shared with you my brightest days, and I know that sharing with you what has been my darkest will be the light for any man or woman who is feeling the same defeat I felt just only a week ago. "

 

She then opened up on the pressures of her career and her reality TV series.

 

"Every one of us has a desire, whether small or big, to make it out of where we come from to an ideal future place that includes, freedom to be who we choose, security for our children and families, and fortune to share with the ones we love. We believe these things can co-exist with just being happy. I believed that, that as a black woman, as an artist, an influence, a personality I could shape my world, and with whom I believed to be my partners, they could help me share my world."

 

"Over the past 11 years there were promises made to protect and portray my story, with the authenticity and honesty I gave. I was betrayed, taken advantage of, overworked, and underpaid. "

 

"I wrote a letter over 2 months ago asking to be freed from what I believed was excessive and unfair. I explained in personal detail the demise I was experiencing. My cry for help went totally ignored. "

 

"However, the demands persisted. It was my spirit, and my soul that was tainted the most. There are a few things I count on most to be, a good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good sister, and a good person. Who I was, begun to mean little to nothing, because it would only be how I was portrayed on television that would matter."

 

 "It was witnessing the slow death of the woman I became, that discouraged my will to fight. I felt like I was no longer living, I was existing for the purpose of a corporations gain and ratings, and that killed me."

 

Ending her post, Braxton declared that “Mental illness is real. We have to normalize acknowledging it and stop associating it with shame and humiliation. The pain that I have experienced over the past 11 years has slowly ate away at my spirit and my mental."

 

The singer/actress then promised that she will now do “everything in my power to aid those from mental illness, including those of us who’s mental illness was only a result from the toxic systematic bondage that dwells television.”

Trump's actions threaten US democracy - Barack Obama

Former US President Barack Obama has condemned President Donald Trump's use of federal agents against protesters and his attempts at voter suppression in the United States.

 

Obama, giving a eulogy at the emotional funeral service in Atlanta of civil rights leader John Lewis on Thursday night, July 30, blasted alleged Republican attempts to suppress the minority vote and Trump's repeated attacks on mail-in voting less than 100 days ahead of the November elections.

 

      

 

Criticizing Republican president Trump, who used troops to clear protesters outside the White House and sent federal agents to put down demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, Obama said;

"Today we witness with our own eyes, police officers kneeling on the necks of Black Americans," 

"We can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators," the former president said.

"Even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision, even undermining the postal service in the run-up to an election that's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don't get sick," he said.

"These actions threaten US democracy.

 

Paying tribute to Lewis, a 17-term Democratic congressman from Georgia, who died on July 17 at the age of 80, Obama said the congressman's fight for African-Americans' civil rights had paved the way for him to become the first Black president of the US.

 

Lewis did "everything he could to preserve this democracy and as long as we have breath in our bodies, we have to continue his cause", Obama said.

"As long as young people are protesting in the streets hoping real change takes hold, I'm hopeful," he said.

"But we can't casually abandon them at the ballot box. Not when few elections have been as urgent on so many levels as this one."

Three teenagers who dragged a British policeman to his death are jailed for total of 42 years on manslaughter charges

The three teenagers who dragged a British policeman to his death when he got caught on their vehicle have been jailed for a total of 42 years.

 

Henry Long, 19, was behind the wheel of a Seat Toledo with 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers in the passenger seats as they pulled PC Andrew Harper down a Berkshire country lane for more than a mile.

 

 

The policeman was killed in August 2019 as he attended to the scene of a reported bike robbery in Berkshire, west of London when his feet became entangled in a tow rope when the thieves fled the scene. 

 

They argued it was a “freak” incident and were acquitted of murder, but today they were sentenced for the manslaughter of PC Harper as well as the conspiracy to steal the quad bike.

 

Mr. Justice Edis sentenced Long to 16 years behind bars and jailed Cole and Bowers for 13 years. All must serve two-thirds of their sentence.

 

He said the defendants killed “a talented and brave young police officer” and “rejected” the suggestion that the defendants showed remorse for their actions.

 

Justice Edis added: “In better language, you killed a talented and brave young police officer who was going above and beyond his duty in order to provide a public service.

 

“You did so because you have deliberately decided to expose any police officer that got in your way to a risk of death.”

 

PC Harper’s heartbroken widow Lissie broke down in tears in court and described the “indescribable trauma” she has endured since her husband's death.

 

“My husband was brutally killed four weeks after our wedding day”, she said. “My life often feels bleak, hopeless, irreparable.”

 

She told the court: “Not only did these men take this man from me, they took our future too. They took more than one life away that day, they stole the person I used to be.”

Cristiano Ronaldo 'splashes £8.5m on The Bugatti Centodieci' to become one of 10 owners of the rare supercar after buying a luxury yacht for £5.5m

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly bought The Bugatti Centodieci to celebrate Juventus' ninth consecutive league title. 

 

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has scored 31 goals for Juventus in the league, splashed £8.5 million on the luxury car, according to Corriere della Sera.

 

 

The publication also said Ronaldo decided to splash the hefty amount on the expensive car to celebrate his club's league title.

 

 

The supercar, one of only ten in the world, will be delivered to him by the end of the year with the vehicle described as officially purchased. With an 8 litre W16 engine and 1600 horsepower, the Centodieci can do 0-62mph in just 2.4 seconds - and reach a ridiculous top speed of 236 mph.

 

 

The expensive purchase comes days after it was revealed that the former Real Madrid striker had also bought a new £5.5m luxury yacht. 

British-Ghanaian rapper, Solo 45 is jailed for 24 years for holding four women against their will and raping them 21 times

British-Ghanaian rapper, Solo 45, has been jailed for 24 years for repeatedly raping and assaulting four women while he held them against their will.

 

The Grime star, whose is real name is Andy Anokye was known by his stage name Solo 45. He was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of 30 charges relating to a two-year period.

 

The 33-year-old was convicted of 21 rapes and five counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration and two of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by a court in the southwestern city of Bristol.

 

The offences were committed between February 2015 and March 2017.

Police began investigating Anokye in 2017 after one of his victims told friends and police that she had been raped. After his arrest, officers discovered harrowing footage filmed by Anokye on his mobile phone, and this led police to three other women.

 

He met these victims at his gigs and developed relationships with them before assaulting them, his trial heard.

 

One of his Anokye's victims who testified in court told the Guardian newspaper: "He put me on the bed and put a flannel over my face and poured a bottle of water over it, which made feel like I was drowning," she said.

 

Another said she was stabbed in the thigh and held at knifepoint.

 

Anokye told the court that all the acts were consensual role play in a game called "catch me, rape me".

 

The trial heard he forced one woman to lie in a bath of freezing cold water, held a shotgun to the head of another woman. and made one sit with a bottle of water tied to her finger with a shoelace.

 

According to prosecutors. his abuse included holding a cloth covered in bleach to women's faces, with one woman telling jurors he had forced a mobile phone down her throat.

 

Giving evidence, Anokye told the court he had dacryphilia - sexual arousal from tears.

 

Graphic video clips filmed by Anokye were played to the jury, in which the rapper was seen interrogating the women about previous sexual partners, slapping them, insulting them, and raping them.

 

One clip showed a woman crying and saying 'I hate you', with the musician laughing and making a thumbs-up sign to the camera.

 

The videos were so intimate and extreme that Judge William Hart cleared the public gallery of the courtroom when they were shown.

 

During sentencing, Judge William Hart imposed an extended sentence, meaning Anokye will serve 24 years in prison and five on licence, and ordered he must sign the sex offenders register for life.

 

The judge told Anokye, who appeared by video link from HMP Long Lartin, he had 'no sexual boundaries or empathy for those concerned'.

 

He said Anokye had 'become addicted' to the 'perverted pleasure' he took from abusing the women in the case.

 

The judge added: 'You have a background that includes gang associations and criminal violence.

 

'I'm entirely satisfied that your career as a music artist was flourishing at the time of this offending and that you would have gone to great heights.

 

'You were part of a well-known collective - Boy Better Know. The fellow artists from that collective have achieved great success.'

 

The judge said none of those fellow artists were aware of Anokye's behaviour, or 'dark side'.

 

'They are in no way tarnished by your misdeeds which you carried out in a private way,' the judge told Anokye.

 

'Your convictions have deprived you of that career but the fault is yours alone.'

 

Anokye, who was signed to Island Records and had collaborated with Stormzy, JME and Wiley, was described as a 'violent, controlling narcissist and a bully' by prosecutors during the case.

Sevilla star, Nemanja Gudelj tests positive for Covid-19 days before Europa League clash starts

Sevilla have confirmed star player Nemanja Gudelj has tested positive for Coronavirus, putting it's Europa league clash with Roma next week at risk, as a fresh wave of the virus hits Spain.

 

The Spanish club and another Spanish club Zaragoza reported new infections on it's players days after Real Madrid revealed player Mariano had tested positive.

 

Gudelj was tested on Sunday along with coaching staff and the rest of the first-team squad, before the results were returned on Monday. Two further tests have since been carried out on the rest of the squad and the coaching staff but results won't be back until Thursday.

 

According to the club's statement posted to fans on Twitter, Gudelj is asymptomatic and self-isolating at home, but the club has suspended training sessions.

 

 

"Good afternoon everybody, after confirming my positive Covid-19 test I want to tell you all that I am perfectly fine, I have no symptoms," Gudelj posted on Twitter.

"I hope to be back with my team-mates soon and help the club reach its goals at the end of this season. 

"Thanks for all your messages of support, we are still here training and we'll see you soon."

Zimbabwe offers £2.7 billion compensation to 4,500 white farmers whose land was seized by Robert Mugabe

The Zimbabwean government has signed an agreement with the country’s dispossessed commercial white farmers to compensate them with US$3.5 billion after their land was seized under Robert Mugabe's regime. 

 

Over 20 years ago, Robert Mugabe forcibly took more than 4,000 farms from the country's 4,500 white large-scale commercial farmers. He justified the land grabs as a payback to correct historical wrongs, claiming they were forcibly taken from the nation's blacks.

 

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mthuli Ncube officially signed the compensation agreement with former commercial farmers on Wednesday, July 29.

 

'In the agreement, we have given ourselves 12 months to run around the world, around Zimbabwe to think of ways of raising this funding,' Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said at the signing ceremony in Harare.

 

'We are determined that we achieve that. It's also about pledges not necessarily about cash being put on the table. It's about commitment.'

 

Mugabe's successor Emmerson Mnangagwa said the Wednesday deal was 'historic in many respects'.

 

'It brings closure and a new beginning in the history of the land discourse in Zimbabwe,' Mnangagwa said.

 

'The process which has brought us to this event is equally historic as it is a reaffirmation of the irreversibility of land as well as a symbol of our commitment to constitutionalism, the respect of the rule of law and property rights,' he said.

 

According to the report, the cash-strapped government set up a committee made up of farmers and donors to raise the money as they do not have the funds to make the payouts.