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    The Biden administration has announced additional sanctions against Russia’s central bank by prohibiting Americans from doing any business with the bank as well as freezing its assets within the United States over the invasion of Ukraine.  The new measures will also target the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to share Washington’s thinking, said the new sanctions will take effect immediately.   “We wanted to put these actions in place before our markets open because what we learned over the course of the weekend from our allies and partners was the Russian Central Bank was attempting to move assets and there would be a great deal of asset flight starting on Monday morning from institutions around the world,” the official said, on a conference call with reporters.   “Our strategy to p...

More than 400 Russian mercenaries have reportedly been flown in from Africa to assassinate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.  A private militia known as the Wagner Group allegedly has orders from Vladimir Putin to take out Zelensky - and 23 other government figures - to allow Moscow to take over its eastern European neighbour. According to the Times, the army-for-hire, run by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin a close ally of the Russian president who is often dubbed 'Putin's chef' - was flown in five weeks ago and is being offered a huge sum for the mission. The highly-trained operatives are said to be waiting for the green light from the Kremlin to proceed, with their hit list also including Ukraine's prime minister, the entire cabinet, mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir - both boxing champions who have become iconic figures on the front lines of the capital. However, the plans were rumbled after they reached the upper echelons of ...

Kodak Black is of the opinion that men and women have different standards when it comes to bodily hygiene. The rapper was interviewed by Atlanta's 105.3 The Beat. During the interview, the topic of hygiene came up. The female host, Jo Jo Alonso pointed out that a number of men don't take their hygiene seriously and they stink. "Men, y’all don't be smelling good all the time," Jo Jo said.  Responding, Kodak said it's not mandatory for men to bathe on a daily basis. He said: "Niggas, we can rock. We ain't even got to hop in the sprayer every day for real. "We aint really got to hop in the sprayer for real like that."   Alonso noted that men too have body odor that needs to be taken care of, but Kodak stood his ground. He said men don't have to bathe daily but that women, on the other hand, require daily showers. He said: "But [women], y'all gotta hop in that bitch every day. "Soon after we [have sex] all kinds of shit and...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given an update on the number of Nigerians that have exited Ukraine and moved into Poland, Romania, and Hungary. In a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, 130 Nigerians have safely moved from Ukraine to Bucharest, Romania, and have been provided with accommodation and are now being processed for final evacuation to Nigeria. The statement adds that 74 Nigerians have safely exited Ukraine to Hungary while another 200 are being expected. 23 other Nigerians have safely crossed to Poland. See the statement below... .

Ukraine’s President is freeing prisoners with military experience to join the battle against invading Russians. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today, Feb. 28, that Ukrainian prisoners with combat experience will be released from jail and allowed to serve their debt to society on the front lines of the conflict with Russia. Zelensky said in a video address this morning that inmates will be able to "compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots". "Under martial law, Ukrainians with real combat experience will be released from custody and will be able to compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots of the conflict," Zelensky said. "We have taken a decision which is not easy from the moral point of view, but which is useful from the point of view of our defences. "The key is now defence." Zelensky also made an appeal to the European Union to grant his country immediate membership in the face of the Russian assault.

  Nigerian singer, Omah Lay has said that he has not had sex in a long time. "Been such a long time since I had sex" the singer tweeted on Saturday.   

Four NATO members, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland and the Netherlands have announced they would send reinforcements to assist Ukraine in its battle against Russia. The Czech Republic committed on Saturday, February 26, to send a “shipment of weapons to Ukraine” worth over $8.5 million to a “place of Ukrainians choice."   “The government has approved a shipment of weapons to Ukraine. We are sending machine guns, submachine guns, sniper rifles and pistols and their corresponding ammunition valued at CZK 188 million,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala tweeted.   “We are doing everything we can to help Ukraine,” Fiala added. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said Friday that the country would be sending reinforcements to join Ukrainian soldiers on the ground to help secure their borders as this “is a war against the freedom of self-determination of a democratic country and therefore it is also a war against the freedom of self-determination and against democ...

  Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich has announced he is handing over the reins of the club to the "trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation" amid Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine. Abramovich released a statement on Saturday night, February 26, that he was handing the "stewardship and care" of Chelsea to the club's charitable foundation. But the Russian billionaire will remain Chelsea owner having invested over £1billion into the Stamford Bridge club since purchasing it in 2003.  He will not be asking the club to repay the loans it owes him, meaning the long-term future of the club remains secure. He said on Chelsea's official website: "During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the Club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.   "I have always taken decisions ...

Singer BurnaBoy was involved in an accident in Lekki, Lagos on Saturday evening, February 26. The singer was riding in his Ferrari when he had the accident. In a post shared on his page, Burna stated that his leg hurts a little but he is fine. He added that people were more interested in filming him after the accident instead of helping him.  

The Ukrainian military has revealed Russian soldiers have suffered more than expected casualties after invading the East European country. The Ukrainian military published what they claim is a breakout of Russia's losses. According to a post on its Facebook page, more than 3,500 Russian soldiers involved in the invasion have been killed and almost 200 taken prisoner. The Ukranian Ministry of Defence added that Russia has also lost 14 aircraft, 8 helicopters, and 102 tanks so far.      The Russian Ministry of Defence has so far not acknowledged any casualties but reports claim president Vladimir Putin is angry with the turnout of the war so far and has ordered a full onslaught of his military troops on Ukraine .... Unconfirmed reports also claim he sacked one of his military generals due to the high losses Russia has incurred the last 3 days. Meanwhile Ukraine's military is asking people to remove the names of streets, cities and villages from road signs i...

Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly told European Union leaders in a video call Friday night that it could be the last time they see him alive.   Walla News Diplomatic Correspondent Barak claims two people briefed on the call told him.  

The Federal Government has called on the Russian government to withdraw its troops in Ukraine and stop the approach of aggression in the country. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama made the call on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria when he met with envoys of the G7 countries in Nigeria today February 25. Onyeama expressed worries over the Russian-Ukraine conflict with a call for peace to resolve the conflict. He said Nigeria does not condone the approach of aggression by Russia, calling on Russia to pull back.   “Peace and diplomacy to be prioritised by both sides. We support every effort being made to stop the aggression and Russian troops to return to Russia,” Onyeama said.   Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Birgitt Ory, who is also chair of the G7 Group, appreciated the African Union on its statement on the situation. The German envoy who commended Nigeria for putting in its ...

Russia has been stripped of hosting the Champions League final by UEFA  with St. Petersburg replaced by Paris after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The men's final will still be held on May 28 but now at the 80,000-seat Stade de France after the decision by UEFA's executive committee. A statement confirmed: ‘The UEFA Executive Committee today held an extraordinary meeting following the grave escalation of the security situation in Europe.   ‘The UEFA Executive Committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.   ‘UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic President Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis. ‘Together with the French government, ...

Jay-Z has recorded a big win in an ongoing court case with the perfume company Parlux as an appellate court ruled Parlux owed the rapper $4.5 million in royalties from their previous business relationship. The hip-hop mogul, 52, was initially sued for $68 million in 2016 by Parlux, who alleged that he didn't fulfill his contractual obligations set forth in 2012 to promote the fragrance, which was called Gold Jay Z, Page Six reported. The case went to trial in New York City last fall for three weeks and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, testified for two days, according to the outlet. In the trial on Thursday, the jury said that Jay-Z, who was represented by attorney Alex Spiro, was not responsible for the $68 million, and Parlux did not owe the $4.5 million in outstanding royalties the Big Pimpin artist asked for in a counterclaim.  Justice John Higgitt of the Appellate Division, First Department said that results of an appeal determined that Jay-Z and his organ...

US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has said that he's "convinced" Russian President Vladimir Putin will attempt to overthrow the Ukrainian government. Blinken made the comments during an interview on ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir on Thursday in response to a question asking if he's "convinced Putin’s going to overthrow this government." "I’m convinced he’s going to try to do that," Blinken said, adding that Putin has alienated Ukrainians from Russia. "One of the things that Vladimir Putin has done, starting back in 2014 when they first went into Ukraine, seizing Crimea, seizing a part of eastern Ukraine, is to totally alienate the Ukrainian people from Russia.  Before 2014, actually, Russia was pretty popular in Ukraine," Blinken said. "It had a 70 percent favorability rating.  Right now, it’s exactly the opposite – more than the opposite.  Ninety percent of Ukrainians now, if I can use the word, ‘detest...

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and 316 soldiers have been wounded since the Russian invasion began early on Thursday. Zelensky in a video message posted on his Facebook page also said other states were “afraid” to support Ukraine’s accession to NATO.  The country’s Interior Ministry of Defense also announced on Thursday that all Ukrainian men ages 18 through 60 will be barred from leaving the country. The message reads: “The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports that due to the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, the departure of a certain category of citizens from Ukraine is temporarily restricted. “In particular, male citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine. “Such a rule will apply for the period of martial law. We ask citizens to take this information into account.” This follows the Ukrainian government’s decision to give firearms to any citizens who ...

The Swedish Football Association has said it is unfathomable to play their crucial 2022 FIFA world cup qualifier against Russia amidst the crisis between Russia and Ukraine . Even as a Russian military invasion of Ukraine is now underway, sporting activities will certainly be affected, with Russia due to take part in world cup qualification matches. But the chairman of the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) says that a clash with Russia is “almost unthinkable” at this stage, following the decision of Vladimir Putin to send troops into Ukraine. With the winner of a meeting between Russia and Poland on March 24 due to face the winners of a tie involving Sweden and the Czech Republic, the two home fixtures could take place on Russian soil. Karl-Erik Nilsson, chairman of the Swedish FA, says that his country would find it difficult to make such a trip. He told Reuters: “It's a possible scenario. Spontaneously around the feelings we have as we wake up this morning ar...

On Thursday, thousands of people protested President Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Ukraine in cities across Russia, displaying a show of anger over their country's invasion of Ukraine.   So far, more than 1,700 people were arrested in at least 47 cities across the nation, according to rights group OVD-Info. The group was declared a foreign agent last year, when Putin launched a sweeping crackdown on activists, rights groups, and opposition figures.   Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Thursday spoke out against the attacks during a court hearing, as members of the Russian political elite either remained silent or celebrated. “I have no method of communicating with the outside world,” Navalny said at the Lefortovo District Court hearing. “I ask that my appeal to the court and to the world be recorded,” he said.   “I am against this war. I believe that this war between Russia and Ukraine is being waged to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens a...

Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts, who have been married for nearly two years, have made history as the first queer couple to cover Essence magazine. They graced the cover of Essence's March/April 2022 issue, officially becoming the first same-sex couple to do so.   "Making H E R S T O R Y" Nash, 52, wrote on Instagram, celebrating the historic cover. "Thank you @essence for choosing The Betts as your FIRST same sex couple to cover you [sic] magazine!"  In the new issue, which hits newsstands on March 1, Nash and Betts open up about their love story.   Niecy, who had been married twice to two men, before marrying Jessica, a woman, told Essence: "The least of my attraction is gender.   "What I was and am still attracted to is Jessica's soul. She was the most beautiful soul I had ever met in my life. Now that I've experienced it, I can't imagine going through life without it."     Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts, a singer-songwr...

Watford striker, Emmanuel Dennis is set to return to the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s World Cup play-off against Ghana next month after holding clear-the-air talks with the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Anaju Pinnick. Recall Dennis did not play at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, with the NFF claiming Watford were “baring fangs” over the situation. The forward had not originally been named in Nigeria’s squad for the tournament as he was out of favour under former boss Gernot Rohr. But when Rohr was sacked before AFCON, Dennis was to join as a late call-up, but he stayed back after his club refused to let him join the Super Eagles squad. The 24-year-old, however, could return to international duty next month after holding talks with Pinnick last week, according to  Standard.co.uk. Pinnick met with a number of Nigerian players including Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho and held talks with them in London. Nigeria’s team secret...

The Fédération of International Football Association (Fifa) has suspended Kenyan and Zimbabwean football federations due to government interference. This was contained in a statement by FIFA on Thursday February 24. “Without prejudice to investigations by national authorities or other judiciary bodies, the FIFA Council has decided to suspend the Kenya Football Federation and the Zimbabwe Football Federation with immediate effect for undue influence by a third party,” part of the statement read. FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave details on the reasons for the suspensions, referring at a press conference to “government interference in the activities of the football federation”.  The world soccer body ordered Zimbabwe to reinstate its soccer officials by Jan. 3 but delayed any action, allowing Zimbabwe to compete at the men's African Cup of Nations in Cameroon in January and February. The bans on the two African nations will be lifted if their governments allow the...

Famous South African rapper, Riky Rick has reportedly died at the age of 34.  The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear, but some South African tabloids and online reports are claiming he committed suicide by hanging.  Rick born Rikhado Makhado allegedly took his life at his estate home in the north of Johannesburg on Wednesday morning 23 February. According to Sunday World, a source close to the situation alleged that the rapper was found by his management team at about 8.30am.  Riky Rick who once revealed that he was struggling with depression last tweeted: “I’ll return a stronger man. This land is my home.”     A few years ago, Riky Rick took a break from live performances to deal with chronic depression.   Speaking on his podcast Lab Live in 2020 the award-winning rapper opened up about losing his father saying grief had put him in a ‘dark space’.   He said: “I lost my father at a time when I need...

Rapper Erigga is of the opinion that no woman can go three months without having sexual intercourse. He shared this opinion on his Twitter handle.   ''No woman can go three months without sex … argue with ur wig brush'' he wrote

Roman Catholic church leader, Pope Francis has reacted to the threat of Russian war on Ukraine. According to the Vatican, the threat of war in Ukraine causes "great pain in his heart" and he condemned actions "destabilising coexistence among nations and discrediting international law".   The West have accused Russia of flagrantly violating international law by ordering troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and recognising the breakaway separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent republics.  The West has also levied sanctions on Russia over it's moves in Donetsk and Luhansk, saying an invasion has begun.  Francis, speaking in an emotional tone at the end of his weekly general audience on Wednesday February 23 ,  urged politicians to make "a serious examination of conscience before God" about the effects of their actions. He proclaimed Ash Wednesday, on March 2 this year, as an international day of fasting and prayer fo...

The United Nations has warned that the world is facing a moment of peril" as fears of a full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia grow. Millions of Ukrainians live permanently in Russia while Russians also live in Ukraine and people have family in both countries. On Monday, President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to enter into Donetsk and Luhansk, occupied regions of Ukraine, a breach of International law while also saying Ukraine was not a 'real country' and that it was controlled by the US.  On Wednesday, several Ukrainian government websites went down, the target of an apparent cyber-attack while Ukraine has declared a state of emergency that will last 30 days. Ukraine is also conscripting reservists into the regular military as it braces for a possible invasion by Russia who have surrounded Ukraine with close to 190,000 soldiers. Speaking on Wednesday, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that "the world is facing a moment of peril" and it was 'a m...

  The Super Falcons of Nigeria have booked their place at this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco after they defeated Lady Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in Abidjan on Wednesday evening, February 23.  Following the 2- 0  victory in Abuja last Friday, the Super Falcons stunned the Ivorians with an 88th-minute strike at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan to win 3-0 on aggregate.  Esther Okoronkwo’s 84 minutes strike was enough to seal the win for the Super Falcons to guarantee their qualification.  This year’s edition of the Africa Women Cup of Nations will feature 12 teams. Teams that have qualified are: Morocco (Host) Nigeria Cameroon Uganda Burundi Senegal Togo Zambia Tunisia Burkina Faso Botswana South Africa or Algeria

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has revealed he cannot see himself moving away from Old Trafford ahead of facing his former side Atletico Madrid. The Madrid native will face his boyhood club for the first time since his 2011 move to United on Wednesday in their Champions League last-16 tie. Despite returning to his hometown, the Spaniard claimed he now considers himself a Manchester local and suggested he intends to stay at United. ‘I like the fact I was born in Madrid, but at the end of the day, it’s just a city,’ he told UEFA.   ‘Now I feel as if I’m from Manchester; I just feel like anyone else from Manchester. Where you are loved and welcomed is your home. ‘I’ve been here for many years and, obviously, anything can happen in life, in the world of football, but honestly I don’t see myself away from Manchester United. Of course, I’m going back home [for this tie], I’m going back to the club that gave me the opportunity to be who I am today. But this is ju...

Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim, has said that it's offensive that men only wait till their girlfriends become pregnant before proposing. "I find it quite confusing and offensive that most guys nowadays will only propose and think of proposing to a woman ‘only’ when she says she’s pregnant,” she wrote. "So, you’ll be chopping somebody’s daughter for months/years and it won’t click to you that she’s wife material all those period but only when she says ‘I’m pregnant,’ you’ll now remember she’s fit to be wife material? "It’s like everybody is playing a game everywhere I turn now. What’s happening to this generation? Anyway, what do I know?”  

Colombia's constitutional court has decriminalized abortions if it happens within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Under the new rule, no woman will be prosecuted for having an abortion within if it's less than 24 weeks. Since 2006, abortions are only allowed in Colombia in cases of rape, when the woman's life is at risk, or if the pregnancy is not viable. The ruling on Monday, February 21 which comes as good news for Colombia, a country with deeply conservative values and a Catholic majority, comes after other Latin America countries Mexico and Argentina decriminalized abortion.   The ruling came about as a result of a lawsuit filed by the umbrella group Causa Justa (Just Cause), a group whose aim is to have abortion removed from the penal code. Causa Justa argued that because abortions were defined as a crime outside of the three cases allowed under the 2006 ruling, doctors who performed abortions and their patients were stigmatised. The group said that 90% o...

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has sacked his Chief of Staff (CoS), Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen. The Secretary to State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, announced Inyangeyen’s sack in a letter dated 22nd February, 2022. "On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor, government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I write to convey to you His Excellency, the Governor’s profound appreciation of the worthy contributions you made to the development of our dear State while you served as Chief of Staff to the Governor," the letter reads. "However, given the urgent need to match skill set and competencies to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic development in peace, your services are no longer required and you are hereby relieved of your position, as Chief of Staff ( CoS) to His Excellency, the Governor with immediate effect.   "You are therefore directed to handover all property of government in your possession, to the Secretary to St...

The former University of Alabama vice president for student life, Myron Pope, has resigned after being arrested on charges of soliciting prostitution by the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. Pope’s arrest was one of 15 in a sting in which men arranged to pay for s3x through an online app and were arrested after speaking to an undercover officer at the agreed-upon location, the Crimson White reported. “I have difficult news to share today. Vice President of Student Life Myron Pope has resigned from the University following his recent arrest,” University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell told the campus community Friday.   “We understand this news will be difficult for our community. I will appoint an interim Vice President of Student Life and that person, along with the many professionals in the division, will remain available to all of us. Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another.” Multiple media outlets report Pope was booked into the Tus...

  A 61-year-old Florida woman has been charged with first-degree murder after police she allegedly stabbed her husband more than 140 times.  Joan Burke, who is being held without bond, appeared before a Palm Beach County judge on Sunday, February 20, via video conference, according to court documents obtained b CNN affliate WPTV.    In an incident report, officers with Palm Springs Police said they responded to Burke's home on the evening of February 11 after receiving a call from a man who identified himself as the son of the suspect.   The caller said he had arrived home from work and discovered the body of his stepfather, Melvin Weller, 62, lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood. When asked by the 911 dispatcher if anyone else was at home at the time, the caller "paused for several seconds and then said his mother Joan Burke was there," the report stated.   When officers arrived, they found the victim in a large pool of blood tha...