Archive September 2, 2025

Rachel Stevens ‘splits from soulmate Dancing On Ice star as they drift apart’

By in Entertainment News, News

Rachel Stevens, S Club star, reportedly broke up with her Dancing On Ice pro boyfriend, who she described as “soulmate.” The singer, 47, is alleged to have broken up with Brendyn Hatfield, leaving her with her for the first time in 20 years.

According to legend, they “blended family” and “drifted apart” and struggled with their relationship. Her divorce comes after her marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Alex Bourne, broke down three years later.

A source described the split as “incredibly sad and relatively recent.” “Both Rachel and Brendyn believed there was no way for them to move forward,” they said.

Rachel Stevens
Once praised their blended family, Rachel and Brendyn (instagram/ @msrachelstevens).
Rachel Stevens (L) and Alex Bourne
She previously had a relationship with Alex (Getty Images).

According to a source, “Rachel recently took herself to Marbella with her two daughters to get some much-needed headspace,” and Brendyn and his young son have since moved into a flat.

They claimed that while Rachel and Brendyn’s relationship is “not regrettable,” tensions “got too high.” According to the former couple, the split was a “huge transition” and they did not want to row in front of their children.

Despite the romantic ending, Rachel and Brendyn reportedly want to keep in touch. In November of this year, the couple announced their romance.

They collaborated on ITV’s Dancing On Ice, and it was followed by that. Rachel admitted to the Mirror earlier this year that “my life has drastically changed over the last few years.

My life has really taken a whole new direction as a result of my divorce, moving, and selling our family home. Although having my kids and having them as my top priority haven’t changed much, the situation has.

She continued, “She filled her cup by having one-on-one nights with both of her daughters, as well as one for herself and Brendyn, who she described as a “lovely person, a lovely soul.”

Alex, Rachel’s ex-husband, revealed in May that he is expecting their first child together with their new wife. Just one month before their 13th wedding anniversary, the couple split in 2022.

She claimed that while they were no longer “partners in marriage,” “they would continue to be” parents to raise their two daughters, Amelie, 12, and Minnie, 9, respectively.

Although Alex acknowledged that their separation was “terrifying,” she praised how they had united for their children. He said, “We handled it really well, and it was terrifying at the beginning and it’s not easy. I suppose we are a blended family, which is totally acceptable.

He said, “I’m happily in a relationship and have a supportive partner, who my kids adore,” and he was referring to both himself and Rachel’s finding love. My ex-wife and I have a fulfilling relationship, and we support one another very much.

Rachel’s representatives have been contacted by The Mirror for comment.

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Cricket: India lose sponsor for T20 Asia Cup after online betting games ban

By in News, World News

After the government banned real-money online gaming last month, leaving the world’s richest cricket board scrambling to find a new lead sponsor to replace Indian fantasy sports platform Dream11.

After the central government forbade real-money online games as well as their promotion, including fantasy sports, Dream11, which had signed a three-year contract worth about 3.6 billion rupees ($44m) through 2026, can no longer sponsor the national team.

The Bill 2025 Promotion and Regulating Online Gaming Act was passed last month in India’s upper house of parliament.

Due to cricket’s popularity and the country’s diverse population, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) established a September 16 deadline for new bid submissions.

Although the Asia Cup will begin on September 9 and there will be no front-of-shirt sponsors on the field in the opening week, which includes the marquee game against Pakistan on September 14, the auction is unlikely to remain unsold.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the board is seeking 35 million rupees ($397.6k) per match for bilateral matches and 15 million ($170.4k) per match for India’s participation in the International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council tournaments in a three-year sponsorship cycle, according to a citing a source with knowledge of the matter.

Over an estimated 140 games in the 2025-28 cycle, the BCCI expects to generate about 4.52 billion rupees ($51.3m), about 940 million ($10.7m) more than under Dream11’s deal, which was 3.58 billion ($40.7m) for the period July 2023 to March 2026 – an uplift of more than 20 percent.

Afghanistan beat Pakistan to lay down early T20 Asia Cup marker

By in News, World News

Before Afghanistan’s formidable starting batting duo, Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal slammed their own deep batting lineup for an 18-run victory in the first T20 of their tri-series, Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal each hit six half-centuries.

In their first match of the tournament, the spin trio of Pakistan’s captain Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad, who took six wickets, limiting Pakistan to 151-9.

After Khan won the toss and was chosen to play for the field, Afghanistan posted 169-5, adding to their 113-run performance against the United Arab Emirates from the previous day.

The tri-series saw the successful defense of totals for the fourth straight game. In a battle between Pakistan and Afghanistan, UAE both lost.

In the tournament’s opening game, Haris Rauf had led Pakistan by 39 runs when the number 10 batter top-scored with 34 not out of 16 balls on Tuesday. After Afghanistan’s spinners had almost sealed the game by squeezing Pakistan to 111-9 in 17 overs, Rauf’s blitz arrived too late.

With two wickets in the powerplay, Afghanistan’s fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi won the game. When Saim Ayub feathered a catch off a misplaced pull shot to the wicketkeeper, the left-armer was dismissed without scoring.

Sahibzada Farhan (18) hit two sixes, but Farooqi’s clean bowling from a delivery that slammed back at the right-handed batter and hit the off-stump prevented Farooqi from getting the better of the two.

After the Afghan spinners bowled from both ends, Fakhar Zaman was unable to convert a successful start of 25 runs from 18 balls. At the non-striker’s end, Khan brilliantly ran out of Salman Ali Agha after slicing an easy catch to short third off Nabi.

Ibrahim Zadran from Afghanistan was one of the two half-centurions in the victory over Pakistan [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters].

Before Mohammad Haris’ run of poor form continued and he holed out deep square leg of Nabi as Pakistan stuttered to 82-6 in the 12th over, Hasan Nawaz was unable to clear Ahmad’s first ball, a low leg side full toss.

After a Pakistani batter’s second error saw him take two wickets from Mohammad Nawaz, Khan rattled Shaheen Afridi’s stumps before Rauf denied Khan the hat trick. Noor then clean-bowled Ashraf off his final ball to end a flawless day.

Before Ashraf’s 4-27 prevented Afghanistan from scoring freely in the death overs, Zadran and Atal had already shared a century.

When Ayub bowled three sparse overs in the powerplay and took Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s wicket (8-1) for the first wicket, both batters joined.

With Rauf and the two spinners Nawaz and Sufiyan Muqeem contributing 95 runs from their combined eight wicketless overs, Zadran and Atal led their partnership well after the powerplay.

As Afghanistan couldn’t accelerate in the final five overs, Zadran and Atal were caught in the outfield while deceiving Azmatullah Omarzai and Nabi with their slower deliveries, picking all four of Ashraf’s four wickets in the final three overs.

After three games, Pakistan and Afghanistan each have four points, while the UAE, which faces Pakistan on Thursday, has none.

US judge orders Google to share search data with competitors

By in News, World News

A judge in Washington has ordered Alphabet’s Google to share information with rivals in order to promote online competition.

The court’s request to force the internet giant to sell its well-known Chrome browser is also rejected by the decision made on Tuesday.

Sundar Pichai, the head of Google, was accused at a trial in April of worrying that the US Department of Justice’s request for data-sharing measures might allow Google’s rivals to reverse-engineer its technology.

It may take years before Google is required to take legal action in response to US District Judge Amit Mehta’s decision because it has previously stated that it intends to appeal.

Additionally, Mehta has forbid Google from entering exclusive agreements that would prevent manufacturers from installing rival products on new devices.

Google claimed that the only appropriate course of action was to loosen its agreements with device manufacturers, browser developers, and mobile network operators. According to the documents presented at trial, Samsung Electronics, Motorola, and wireless providers AT&amp, T and Verizon can now load rival search offerings, according to its most recent agreements with device makers.

One of the world’s most successful businesses and its parent country, the US, were involved in the decision, which came after Mehta declared last year that it had an illegal monopoly on online search and related advertising, for five years.

Prosecutors argued in the trial in April for drastic measures to reinvigorate competition and stop Google from limiting its search dominance to artificial intelligence.

Google claimed that the proposals would give away its technology to rivals because they went far beyond what was legally necessary.

Google is suing over its dominance in other markets in addition to the search controversy.

In a lawsuit brought by “Fortnite” maker Epic Games, the company recently announced it would continue to fight a ruling that would require it to overhaul its app store.

In a separate case brought by the Justice Department, where a judge determined that Google holds illegal monopolies in online advertising technology, the company is scheduled to go on trial in September to determine remedies.

The Justice Department’s two cases against Google are just one more example of the US’s wider, bipartisan crackdown on big tech companies, which included those brought on by Amazon and Apple during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Tinubu Orders Security Review In Katsina, Backs State Police

By in News, Nigeria News

With a pledge to use advanced military equipment and surveillance devices to combat banditry, President Bola Tinubu has ordered an immediate review of security operations in Katsina State.

The president made the statement while addressing a delegation of top Katsina citizens led by Governor Dikko Radda at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.

Tinubu defended the country’s security challenges as being manageable, adding that the Federal Government is considering establishing state police and upgrading forest guards to improve local security.

Tinubu emphasized the need for security personnel who are knowledgeable about the state’s security operations and the local environment.

“We can overcome the security challenges that we face,” he said. I’ve instructed all security agencies to work up more energy and examine the strategies I just released. The President stated that the additional drone acquisition has been approved.

He continued, noting that his administration would consider creating state police in its entirety and was reviewing every aspect of security.

See the following statement in its entirety:

Press release from STATEHOUSE

PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF FOREST GUARD UPGRADE, ASSURES OF STATE POLICE, AND SECURITY OPERATIONS IN KATSINA.

In order to stop the recent spate of attacks on innocent citizens by bandits, President Bola Tinubu stated on Tuesday in Abuja that the armed forces would deploy more sophisticated military equipment and surveillance equipment in Katsina State.

The President addressed the State House to a delegation of prominent state residents led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who stated that the federal government would take into account the state police’s operations and to properly equip the recently deployed forest guards.

President Tinubu, who decried the politicization of proposed state police, said the need for security in some states will call for the deployment of organizations that are knowledgeable about the people’s terrain and their unique culture and have a strong network at the grassroots.

“We can overcome the security challenges that we face,” he said. We do indeed have porous borders. We inherited flaws that could have been fixed earlier. We must address this issue, which we are currently facing.

I’ve instructed all security agencies to work up more energy and examine the strategies I just issued. He continued, “We have approved the additional acquisition of drones.”

The President also gave daily updates on Katsina’s operations.

I need to establish a state police because I’m reviewing every aspect of security. We are examining that in a whole. We can get rid of insecurities. Our children, our population, our way of life, our places of worship, and our outdoor spaces must be protected. The President continued, “They can’t intimidate us.”

The President assured the world’s leading figures that Muhammadu Buhari would be remembered for posterity, keeping his promise.

We all suffer because of President Buhari’s loss, which we have all experienced. God Almighty has done what he has already done, but in a good way. The most crucial thing was that he left behind a defeated nation and a battered political system, not a defeated nation and a failed political system.

We just need to pray that Almighty Allah will grant him Aljannah Firdausi and enable the rest of us to stand up and lead Nigeria forward. To move forward in success rather than to look back in sorrow.

If the other parties had won the elections, “it would have been regretful.” The President noted that there are no other things he would have liked besides the Presidency and Katsina State intact.

The Governor of Katsina State thanked the governor for his ongoing support for the state, which included the appointment of indigenous peoples in key positions in the state and the construction of infrastructure.

There has never been a time I approached the President with a request that he rejected, and I would like to thank you very much.

“We appreciate your sharing with Katsina, Mr. President. You are truly the State of Katsina. You first visited and spent a night in Katsina, as I recall. For the privilege, we thank you.

He said, “We are here again, Mr. President, and I am aware of the state’s problems.”

According to Radda, the state would require more assistance in the fields of infrastructure, youth empowerment, and security.

Former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, thanked the president for hosting a “true state funeral” in a vote of thanks.

Masari assured the president of the state’s commitment.

Sen. Ibrahim Ida, the governor of Katsina, praised President Tinubu’s efforts to bring the state’s Kano-Maradi Rail project and other infrastructure projects to completion in his remarks.

According to Ida, the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport needed to be upgraded to increase usage.

He claimed that the federal government should provide more security support to Katsina, particularly in the southern region.

The former President was honored by having him buried in a state cemetery, which the Waziri of Kastina also thanked.

Insecurity: Ribadu Should Not Join Issues With El-Rufai, Baba-Ahmed — APC Chieftain

By in News, Nigeria News

Farouk Aliyu, the head of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA, not to be drawn into the discussions between Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 vice presidential candidate, over how the country handled insecurity.

“Let me beg my brother, Nuhu Ribadu, not to join conflicts with Datti Baba-Ahmed or Nasiru El-Rufai, let me use this opportunity to beg him.” No.

He shouldn’t speak because he is beyond that. Aliyu said on Tuesday’s episode of Channels Television’s Politics Today show that he should allow other people to discuss it because they are discussing politics.

The former House of Representatives Minority Leader cautioned against politicising the issue, but acknowledged that insecurity still poses a national challenge.

“The same El-Rufai spoke about insecurity and politics when he first spoke.” Yes, there are insecurity issues in this country, and this government is taking steps. How is it possible to serve in power while allowing the destabilization of yours? He continued.

Read more about Baba-Ahmed’s “Cannot Run Away” and El-Rufai’s “Payment Of Bandits” from APC From Inception.

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Advisor, and El-Rufai in a photo together

Aliyu criticized El-Rufai’s earlier remark that “killing them all,” and that such assertions were ineffective.

He served as governor for eight years. What is better in terms of insecurity, El-Rufai’s governorship of Kaduna or what has it been these two years? He chose not to execute everyone, which was his plan. Sadly, today’s government does not negotiate with terrorists.

Baba-Ahmed Blames El-Rufai, APC, in a sense of insecurity

Datti Baba Ahmed and Nasir El-Rufai are the COMBO.

Datti Baba-Ahmed, who appeared on the same program, criticised El-Rufai’s recent claim that the government was paying bandits, arguing that the former governor had no right to release himself from responsibility.

El-Rufai is a member of it, so he can’t run away. Nasiru’s claim that he was a part of the APC from 2013 is what I find repulsive. He was one of the architects of it all, he claimed to you.

He “wants] to come and absolve himself all of a sudden,” he said, “no, not at all. Nasiru is essential to everything that has been happening. Baba-Ahmed claimed that Nasiru’s mismanagement in Zaria caused us to suffer and to be victims.

The Kaduna-born politician urged the NSA to consider El-Rufai’s statement.

Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman, he is not a qualified lawyer, according to Baba-Ahmed, adding that El-Rufai should be “writing some statements to the police, to the courts.”

El-Rufai’s Critique of the Kaduna government and the FG

On Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, August 31, 2025, Nasir El-Rufai.

El-Rufai claimed in an interview on Sunday Politics that both the Federal and Kaduna State governments were “empowering bandits” by providing them with food and subsidies in the name of non-kinetic measures.

“I won’t pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send them food in the name of non-kinetic,” I say. The former FCT minister claimed that we are empowering bandits. “It’s nonsense.

He continued, “The only repentant bandit is a dead one,” keeping his position in tact. Kill everyone, please. Let’s bomb them until they are completely destroyed before the remaining 5% who still want to be rehabilitated can be rehabilitated.

Government of FG and Kaduna government rejects claim

El-Rufai’s claims have been dismissed by the Federal Government, who has characterized them as being unsupported.

The ONSA, or any other branch of government under this administration, has never engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals, according to Zakari Mijinyawa’s signature for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Major General Emeka Onumajuru, the military’s head of defense operations, reiterated this on a similar note.

He instead cited Operation Safe Corridor’s already-existing Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program.

El-Rufai’s comments were also condemned by the Kaduna State Government as “calculated, malicious lies designed to undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality.”

Suleiman Shuaibu, the country’s commissioner for internal security, warned that Kaduna State would not tolerate attempts to stifle peace.

a mix of former governors Uba Sani and Nasir El-Rufai.

El-Rufai claimed that security forces were behind the “greasing the palms” of criminal organizations and that the ONSA was politicizing national security in a post on his social media accounts.