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The Cesar Awards, France's version of the Oscars, has barred anyone being investigated for sexual misconduct from its glitzy Paris ceremony. The decision by the organisers comes after protests broke out at the event on February 25 over the latest #MeToo furore involving newcomer Sofiane Bennacer, who is being investigated by police on two allegations of rape and one of violence against a partner. Bennacer, 25, who denies any wrongdoing, had been seen as an awards frontrunner for his part in 'Les Amandiers' (titled 'Forever Young' abroad) about a sexually promiscuous group of drama students in the 1980s. It also follows protests at the 2020 ceremony when Roman Polanski, convicted of raping a child in the 1970s, won best director - which triggered a major reorganisation of the Cesar Academy.     In a statement, the Academy said anyone facing a potential prison sentence for 'violence, notably of (a) sexual or sexist nature' would be excluded from...

738 Peruvian children have reportedly been named after Brazilian football legend, Pele following his death.  According to the list published by the Peruvian National Civil Registry at the end of 2022, a total of 738 babies were registered as Pelé, Rey Pelé, Edson Arantes or Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the real name of the triple world cup champion. On Monday January 2, thousands of football fans and dignitaries gathered at the stadium of Brazilian club Santos, where he played from 1956 to 1974, to bid a final farewell to the Brazilian player who died on December 29 at the age of 82. Among Peruvian girls, 551 were baptized as either Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth the Second or Elizabeth II, after the British monarch who died in September after 70 years on the throne.  Despite Pele’s passing, the most popular famous name used by Peruvian parents was that of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, with Ronaldo or his full name chosen 31,583 times.

Footballer, Lionel Messi is reportedly set to sign a one-year contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain this week. The Argentine's current deal expires at the end of the season and there had been speculation linking him with a return to former club Barcelona, while there was some suggestions that David Beckham's Inter Miami could sign him.   But Messi gave PSG an assurance that he would sign a new deal with them last month.   Spanish publication, Marca now says the 35-year-old will put pen to paper on a new one-year deal "until June 30 2024 as early as this week."   Messi had scored 12 times in 19 games for the French champions before the World Cup break Messi joined PSG in an emotional move from Barcelona in 2021. In his first season he scored 11 times in 34 games and although the French side regained their Ligue 1 championship, it took time for Messi to settle at the club.  But this season, the World Cup winner already surpassed his performances a...

  An Iranian chess player was reportedly warned not to return to Iran for competing without a hijab at an international tournament in Kazakhstan.   In solidarity with other Iranian women, Iran chess player Sara Khademalsharieh, born in 1997, appeared with uncovered hair Monday, Dec 26, at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, an international chess tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan. A source close to Sara, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Sara subsequently received multiple phone calls in which individuals warned her against returning home after the tournament, while others said she should come back, promising to "solve her problem".     The source also said Khadem's relatives and parents, who are in Iran, had also received threats, without giving further details. Due to the threats, newspapers including Le Figaro and El Pais reported last week that Sara would not be returning to Iran and moving to Spa...

Founder and General Overseer Of The Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin is currently trending on all social media platforms as he presumably hosts the historic largest CrossOver Service in Africa, as everybody seems to be talking about the massive, gigantic crowd in Mercy City Warri to CrossOver with PapaJ.     Twitter users have gone agog over a video currently trending on social media where a mammoth crowd of worshipers stormed Mercy City, Warri Nigeria to crossover into the new year 2023 with the famous Billionaire Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin.     The Man Of God who is very popular for his philanthropy, who just recently gave over one hundred million naira cash gifts and truckloads of noodles to Nigerians in celebration of Christmas, is on the news again.   This time, his Mercy City Warri church was packaged out as millions of worshipers floods the massive Christ Mercyland Prayer City, Warri, Nigeria....

A new report claims that Cristiano Ronaldo's lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr could see him return to the Premier League to join Newcastle United if they make the top four. When Ronaldo became a free agent, it was claimed that the Portuguese star was seeking Champions League football. But he instead opted to go to Saudi Arabia, away from Europe's top club competition. According to Marca, Ronaldo could be back to the Premier League sooner than expected.    A clause in Ronaldo's new contract is reported to say he will be allowed to join Eddie Howe's Newcastle on loan if they finish in the top four, and qualify for Champions League football in 2023-24.  A takeover of the Tyneside club by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund was completed in October 2021.    Over the past 15 months, they have invested heavily in players, and turned around the club's fortunes from the relegation spots to being in the r...

Brighton star, Alexis Mac Allister has revealed that he and his Argentina teammates are pushing Lionel Messi to feature in another World Cup for Argentina.  Messi had shelved his international retirement plan after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  Ahead of the next tournament scheduled to hold in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026, Mac Allister disclosed that they want Messi to stay.    He said;    “We don’t want him to leave the national team. He said he was going to be his last World Cup but we don’t want that. We want him to stay with us. He knows it. So let’s see what happens. He sent a message to us yesterday, wishing us a very good year. He was very grateful to us. After the game we couldn’t speak too much because we wanted to celebrate. I think we still don’t realise what we achieved, but in the next five or 10 years we will.”   On what it feels like playing alongside Messi who completed his medal colle...

Borussia Dortmund striker, Sébastien Haller has returned to training after undergoing surgeries and chemotherapy to treat a testicular tumour discovered in July.   The forward received the shocking news in July after joining the German club for £29million on a four-year deal and required chemotherapy to treat cancer - and the 28-year-old eventually had two operations as part of his treatment.   “Happy New Year to all! And it’s off to a great start for me because it means getting back on the field,” the 28-year-old Ivory Coast international wrote on Twitter, posting images of himself working out at the gym. “2022 wasn’t the easiest year but it prepared me for all the new challenges that 2023 will bring.”     In a video message posted by Dortmund Haller said: “I’m finally back. It was not that easy but with your support it was better and easier to do, so I am just looking forward to seeing you in the stadium for some victories...

A newly wedded couple were among the four people killed when two helicopters crashed in mid-air near Sea World on Australia’s Gold Coast.   Visitors at Sea World were having a good time when they heard "a massive, massive bang" and they realised two Sea World helicopters had crashed into each other.   Holiday visitors and people enjoying the water rushed to help the injured as debris covered an area that police said was difficult to access.   Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, from Merseyside in England, were in one of the helicopters and died in the crash. They only married in 2021.     The 40-year-old pilot, Ash Jenkinson, who reportedly grew up in the West Midlands, was named as the third British victim. He had worked as a chief pilot at Sea World Helicopters since 2019.   Friends praised his mentorship and the assistance he provided during catastrophic floods in the New South Wales town of Ballina last year. The Gold Coas...

Former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, says the gunmen who attacked his convoy at Oriagu,Ehime Mbano in Imo state on Monday evening, January 2, came to kill him. Four police escorts were killed after the gunmen threw a bomb into their escort vehicle. Speaking to newsmen after the attack, Ohakim attributed his being alive to his bulletproof car. According to him, after his attackers rained bullet on his vehicle and tyre,they kept on moving. He stated that the attackers were professional in their action.   “We were driving between Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano. These people blocked us at a place called Umualumaku. They attacked us from behind and were firing at our vehicles consistently. I thought I was a dead man and I was with two of my children, my son and daughter. What saved me was the bulletproof vehicle. That I am alive today is by the special grace of God and the bulletproof vehicle. But unfortunately for me they killed four ...

Ex Super Eagles player, Augustine Okocha, popularly known as Jay-Jay Okocha and his wife, Nkechi, are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today, January 3, 2022.  The couple got married in 1998 and have two children, Ajay Okocha and Daniella. The football legend shared a photo of himself and Nkechi on his Instagram page and captioned it:  "Happy 25th wedding Anniversary to the wife of my youth" Their daughter also celebrated them on her Instagram story.  "Happy 25th anniversary to my faves" she wrote.   

  At least 30 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed alongside three commanders in fresh airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).  Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that the operation was conducted on Sunday, January 1, around the Sambisa forest.   Four Boko Haram camps; Bula Jitoye, Halka Kojoye, Halka Alai and Bulamaye in Bama LGA of Borno were destroyed in the airstrikes.    One of the commanders killed in the air force onslaught on Bula Jitoye is popularly called ‘Captain’ or ‘Doctor’. The two other commanders were said to have been killed in Halka Kojoye and Halka Alai.   Sources told the publication that the coordinated joint air and ground offensive by the Nigerian military was carried out hours after Boko Haram fighters and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) engaged in deadly clashes.   The two-minute 50 seconds video obtained by the publication s...

A Brazilian mum died on New Year’s Eve when a firework got stuck into her clothes and exploded, according to reports. Video captured the tragic death of 38-year-old mother of two Elisangela Tinem, as the firework exploded on the beach in Sao Paolo, killing her in front of her two children, the Daily Mail reported. In the video, a crowd is seen watching fireworks on the beach when the camera turns to show an explosion.   "I saw a huge flash just as it turned midnight and I was hugging my mum and then everyone started screaming," one witness told a local newspaper, according to the Mail.   "I saw a woman lying on the ground bleeding when I went to look and the boy who was with her was also on the ground."   The firework did not belong to Tinem or her family, prompting local police to investigate the incident as a homicide, the report said.   "I cannot believe what has happened," one family member posted on social media. "My love to all the ...

Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived in Riyadh ahead of undergoing his medical with Al Nassr on Tuesday December 3.    The former Machester United star arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday night with the club expected officially unveil him at 7pm local time (4pm GMT) in the Saudi capital.    The 37-year-old Ronaldo appeared to be in good spirits after touching down at a private airport in Saudi Arabia.  He was seen smiling and waving to his fans. He also took pictures with the kids that handed him flowers upon his arrival.  SSC [Saudi Sports Company] will broadcast and stream the unveiling of Ronaldo at Mrsool Park live on their channels for fans to watch. Thousands of supporters are expected to attend Ronaldo's unveiling in person on Tuesday afternoon.      According to the Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Al Nassr are ready to 'throw a party' at the same level of Ronaldo's Real Madrid unv...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has revealed that the world football governing body, will ask Nigeria and other countries in the world, to name a stadium after Pele following his death last week, aged 82.    Infantino will ask countries to honour one of the all-time greats with the gesture. “We are going to ask that all countries in the world have at least one stadium with the name of Pele,” said while commenting at Pele’s funeral which began in Santos on Monday, January 2. He said that the reason behind this idea would be ‘so that children know Pele’s importance’. Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, first at the 1958 edition in Sweden, in Chile in 1962 and Mexico 1970.  During his more than 20 years as a professional footballer, Pele also amassed over 1,200 career goals.  An emotional Brazil began paying its respects to football legend Pele today, as his coffin arrived at the stadium where he first took the world’s breath ...

French President, Emmanuel Macron has ordered pharmacies to disperse free condoms to young people under the age of 26. In what Macron called “a small revolution in preventative healthcare.” the new health strategy aims to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among young people in France.  The move came into place on New Year’s Day and was announced by Macron in December. It was initially aimed at those aged 18-25, but was later extended to minors. Emergency contraception will also be available for free to all women without a prescription as of January 1, according to a tweet from government spokesperson Olivier Veran on Monday, January 2.   The latest measures come as health authorities estimate that the rate of STDs in France increased by about 30% in 2020 and 2021, Reuters news agency reported. “It’s a small revolution in preventative healthcare. It’s essential so that our young people protect themselves during sexual intercourse,” Macron sai...

Uchechukwu Eberechukwu Nwaneri, an American football guard who played in the National Football League for seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has died at the age of 38. He died on Friday, Dec. 30, Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Monday afternoon, Jan. 2.     Nwaneri was at his wife’s home in West Lafayette, Indiana, after driving up from Georgia, last week when he apparently collapsed, according to the Lafayette Journal and Courier.   His wife found him unresponsive in a bedroom around 1 a.m. and called police.   Preliminary results from an autopsy indicate a possible heart attack.   Officials have found no signs of foul play.   Nwaneri played in the league for seven seasons from 2007-2013.   The Jaguars selected him in the fifth round of the 2007 draft out of Purdue.   He briefly signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014, but did not end up making their roster.   Since he retired, Nwaneri started...