Dani Alves, a former Barcelona and Brazil defender, has had her rape conviction overturned on appeal in Spain.
The 41-year-old’s appeals division unanimously accepted his appeal and acquitted him, claiming that the case against him had “consistences and contradictions.”
After being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022, Alves was given a four and a half year prison sentence in February of that year.
While a higher court heard his appeal, the former full-back, who won 126 international caps, was freed on bail in March 2024.
The original court case’s ruling, according to the appeal court, “contains a number of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions regarding the facts, the legal assessment, and their consequences.”
Further, the court determined that the complainant’s claim that she feared that Alves’ friends might follow her did not seem reasonable.
Instead, the alleged victim “voluntarily entered the bathroom area to be with the defendant in a more intimate space.”
Alves’s entire restrictions, including a travel ban and a restraining order, were also lifted by the Catalan court. The Supreme Court can still hear the case, though.
Alves is very content, he says. That is evidence that he is innocent. His attorney, Ines Guardiola, reported to RAC1 radio that justice had spoken.
At the age of 38, Alves helped Brazil win two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold medal, while also having trophy-filled spells with Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris St-Germain.
Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife Linda Clardige, who claimed he is a “sex addict,” revealed she could never get married again after the family split, which left the family racked up.
Hulk Hogan’s ex wife has claimed the family have been left in the ‘worst mess’(Image: FilmMagic)
Hulk Hogan’s former wife emotionally broke down as she accused the WWE star of being a “sex addict”. Linda Claridge, 65, was married to Hulk, 71, for 26 years before they split in 2009.
They welcomed two children together – Brooke, 36, and Nick, 34 – and Hulk, real name Terry Gene Bollea, has moved on to his second marriage since splitting with Linda. He tied the knot with Sky Daily last year after the breakdown of his marriage to Jennifer McDaniel in 2021.
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Linda has since attacked the wrestler because their family has crumbled. She claims that they once had a close family but that marriage has been postponed due to their recent “worst mess”
In a heartfelt video where Linda broke down in tears, she said, “I have to be open about what my marriage went through. And what it ultimately resulted in.
Linda became emotional as she opened up on her marriage(Image: Instagram)
He is a total liar, he claims. He has an addiction to sex. He continues on, “Oh, I’m promoting my own beer, look at me.” I’ve given him the chance to reunite with his family. Someone please explain that it’s 20 years and I’m still feeling this sad.
Linda continued, “I do enjoy living alone. I have no desire to marry again after him, so be it. She revealed to her daughter Brooke that she and her husband are not on any terms with her.
She continued, “I’m okay with most things, but something happened today.” My family is in the worst mess, and it has been 15 or more years since I left Hulk Hogan.
“Brooke doesn’t talk to us,” She has twins. She secretly married, but she fought head-on with Terry. She cut me out too, but I’m not sure how that reflected on me.
She has been talking to me for almost eight years. God bless Nick, who still has such good character. The dynamics of a family unit change over time as we all do with our own families.
I’ve chosen to focus on people and things that heal my heart and are in line with my own personal beliefs, objectives, and values in order to heal and be happy.
Linda claims that the family has been “left in the worst place.”
Brooke has kept her distance from her famous father as well, as she didn’t attend his wedding to Sky. Hulk is said to have popped the question inside a Tampa restaurant with a six carat diamond engagement ring worth $100,000. They announced their engagement during a speech at actor Corin Nemec and his wife Sabrina Nova’s wedding.
Hogan Knows Best, Linda and Hulk’s reality series, and their children became household names. According to Linda’s publicist, Hulk allegedly cheated on Linda with daughter Brooke’s best friend Christiane Plante, leading to their divorce.
He informed E! According to the time, Linda made the decision to end her marriage when she learned that Hulk had an affair with Brooke’s best friend Christiane Plante.
In the phrase “HULK’S CHEATING!”, almost every statement that comes out of Hulk’s mouth is a diversionary tactic to divert attention away from the actual cause of Linda’s divorce.
It’s unfortunate Linda Hogan will do almost anything to keep herself in the public eye, Hulk’s lawyer David Houston said in a heated exchange. By making what amounts to heartless pleas for attention, we won’t negatively impact this process or the family any longer.
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After their explosive split, Hulk went as far as telling Rolling Stone that the whole thing made him sympathise with OJ Simpson, who was infamously accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, something he still denies to this day.
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Since joining EastEnders, Michael Greco has played theater, streaming, and film roles, and just recently earned his biggest audience-role.
The actor was an EastEnders legend(Image: BBC)
Beppe di Marco, the enigmatic and moody former police officer who lived in Albert Square between 1998 and 2002, is perhaps best remembered by British television viewers as Michael Greco.
But in the years since leaving EastEnders, Greco has quietly built a diverse and resilient career – one that now includes a major role in a blockbuster Hollywood franchise, a high-stakes presence in the professional poker world, and a deeply personal transformation off-screen.
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Greco is not forgotten, unlike he was once a fixture on British tabloid scene and soap award circuits. However, he has largely remained untrained as his transition from Walford to the global stage.
Greco was a cast member in the 2023 film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a well-known follow-up to the Francis Lawrence-directed original Hunger Games series. It is a far cry from Walford’s cobbled streets. Greco portrays Sejanus Plinth, the main character in the movie, as the father of the brutal sponsor of the Olympics.
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Greco has recently surprised a lot of fans by showcasing a remarkable physical transformation, which he attributes to regular fasting and a disciplined lifestyle. He’s now 55, and he frequently shares updates from the gym, drawing admiration and surprise from followers who find his physique to be impressive.
“Nearer 60 than 50! Never too old to purchase an eight-pack”! In 2023, he captioned one viral post. He has emphasized consistency and mindset in interviews, particularly for older people. People in their late teens or early 30s are the most popular users of social media, he said. “I’m about to turn 56, and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been.”
He adheres to a diet that includes intermittent fasting between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., moderate exercise three to four times per week, and strict eating habits. He acknowledged that “I do have a little bit of chocolate every day,” but it’s about balance.
Greco has suggested that he might use his platform to motivate older people to take their health and well-being seriously. Joe Wicks has dominated the health sector, but he said there might be room for someone with a little older to energise people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Michael Greco made his big-screen debut with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and made his EastEnders appearance in the spotlight.
Beppe di Marco, a brooding single father with a complicated past in the vice squad, was Michael Greco’s first appearance on EastEnders in 1998. His arrival was a part of the wider Di Marco family’s expansion, which was meant to compete with the show’s recognizable Mitchells.
Beppe remained for another two years, entangled in romantic plots, family tension, and business ventures, including ownership of the club E20, while the rest of the family was gradually wiped out by 2000.
His departure, however, was unexpected and underwhelming, according to Greco. He described it as “disappointing” in a 2023 interview with FruitySlots.com, citing “there were circumstances that prevented me from having a bigger send-off… I just took a cab, didn’t I? I had a packet of crisps with me as I left Lynne in the cafe before driving to Leicester.
Greco has consistently refuted tabloid claims that he was fired as a result of tension in the backstage and dissatisfaction with the stories. He told Daily Express, “I resigned because I no longer desired celebrity status,” adding that he still values the show highly.
In February 2025, Ross Kemp (Grant Mitchell) and other former stars joined EastEnders to celebrate its 40th anniversary, which was celebrated more than 20 years later. Greco has publicly acknowledged his disappointment and acceptance in the absence of an invitation to return.
There hasn’t been a day since my agent contacted me to ask me to come back, he told The Independent. “I left more than 20 years ago. “That’s fine. I have no ties to any of the characters. There is no way for me to return.
After EastEnders, Greco continued to act in film, television, and theatre. His screen credits include roles in Doctors, Casualty, The Dumping Ground , and the Netflix docudrama Queen Cleopatra (2023), where he played Pothinus. In 2022, he portrayed real-life serial killer Raymond Fernandez in Scary Tales of New York – a role he later described on Instagram as “one of my favourite characters to have ever portrayed.”
Greco has also kept a steady presence on stage, taking on dynamic parts in productions like Chicago (as Billy Flynn), Twelve Angry Men (Juror 7), and multiple pantomimes, including Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk. He recently appeared as the villain Fleshcreep in the latter at Ipswich Regent Theatre over Christmas 2024, a performance he proudly promoted on social media: “Having two young children myself, I’m looking forward to them watching their Daddy entertaining the audiences.”
Michael Greco has undergone a personal transformation that he openly shares with his Instagram followers. When his partner Helen Harris gave birth to their son Gianluca in July 2021, he became the first father. Gianluca, who was born prematurely with a uncommon condition known as Gastroschisis, needed immediate surgery and spent several weeks in Great Ormond Street Hospital’s intensive care unit.
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Greco was honest about how much love and suffering that year brought on. He shared his first breast removal operation on social media with the caption “Baby has already had his first operation.” “This is by far my life’s best day.” Gianluca, you are more special to me than I can ever imagine.
With the birth of his second son, Gianni, two years later, in June of this year, Greco remarried. In a sincere post, he wrote, “I am truly grateful to be given another beautiful, baby boy.” “I’ve grown up the way I’ve always been,” said the father.
A Spanish appeals court overturned former Brazilian football player Dani Alves’ conviction for rape on Friday, arguing that his trial had “shortcomings” and “inaccuracies” and was biased.
A young woman raped in a Barcelona nightclub’s VIP bathroom on December 31, 2022, and Alves was given a four-and-a-half year jail sentence in February of that year.
After posting the one million euros ($1.1 million) bail set by the court, the 41-year-old, who won the Champions League three times with Barcelona, was released from jail in March. He is currently appealing his release.
The player’s conviction was “annulled” by the appeals court, which according to the appeals court’s four judges “unanimously” accepted.
The court also rejected the public prosecutors’ appeal for a nine-year, more severe jail term.
In its decision, the court said that Alves’ trial contained “a number of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions regarding the facts, the legal assessment, and its consequences.”
According to the prosecution’s witness statements, the victim claimed that Alves had violently forced her to have sex despite begging him to let her go, causing her “anguish and terror” while she testified behind a screen to protect her identity during the trial.
Alves first claimed he had never met the woman, but later later claimed they had sex over a sexual encounter.
The victim’s attorneys claimed during the trial that she had been “glued” to the player while dancing in a nightclub.
Alves was a key member of a formidable Barcelona team that won 126 caps for Brazil and the Copa America twice, winning the title six times.
Along with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, he also won European league titles.
Fans are all saying the same thing about the stores, and the WHSmith name will go off the high streets for the first time in 233 years after agreeing to a £76million sale deal and name change.
WHSmith has been around as a brand since 1792(Image: PA)
Many of us will remember the days of popping into WHSmith for school supplies, to find a new book, or look for a greetings card. But sadly, hundreds of the best-known retail stores will disappear from the high street.
The owner of nearly 500 WHSmith stores has agreed to sell the UK chain to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital in a £76million deal. Like many businesses following Covid-19 and the impact of the rising cost of living crisis has left the stationary retailer struggling. The WHSmith will name will disappear after 233 years from town centres.
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Under Modella Capital’s ownership, all the 480 stores and 5, 000 employees that run high-street businesses will relocate. Additionally, the company revealed that the stores will rebrand as TGJones. If the sale proceeds, it is thought that the Post Offices will remain inside the stores.
Earlier this year, WHSmith CEOs confirmed that they were considering a “potential sale” of its high street stores in order to concentrate on its travel locations. Over the previous few months, the retailer had been slowly closing high street locations, starting with its first store in 1792. This year, there are nine stores in locations like Basingstoke, Winton, Rhyl, and Bolton, with the final six of those stores scheduled to close in April, at least six.
Many shoppers are saddened by the news that the nostalgic high street name is leaving, but others claim they have not been surprised by the decision.
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After Good Morning Britain shared an update on the sale on Thursday morning – and a segment was shared on X – fans rushed to comment their thoughts.
One customer responded, “Hardly surprising, they sell overpriced items that can be purchased from Amazon for half the price.” One person continued, “Nobody shops there anymore,” while another continued, “Nobody shops there.” Another chimed in, “Too expensive and not moved with the times,” while another chimed in, “Sad, but everything is expensive.”
Another customer wrote, “Last time I entered a WHSmith was before the pandemic,” and that they had not been to the store for years. understaffed and overpriced.
One more person concurred and said, “When I was younger, I always shopped there, but their prices kept going up, so I looked elsewhere for better deals.” I only occasionally visit to pick up greeting cards.
Another person remarked, “Sadly, their business model is incredibly outdated and the pricing is ridiculous. They haven’t changed to meet customer needs. Shame because the magazine and book sections are excellent, but the price of 7 pens for 2 is “a bit high.”
Another person expressed their concern about the decline in the high street name, saying that nostalgia was a significant contributor to what was keeping their name alive. They have simply eliminated the nostalgia. They have three years, I say.
This is a crucial time for WHSmith as we continue to fulfill our strategic goal of becoming the largest global travel retailer as we transition from a business primarily focused on travel, according to Carl Cowling, Group Chief Executive. We are constantly innovating to deliver strong returns and satisfy the needs of our customers and partners while operating in 32 fast-growing markets.
“Our travel business currently accounts for 85% of the group’s trading profit and revenue, or about 75%. We are in our strongest ever position to increase growth as we advance as a pure play travel retailer because of the continued strength of our UK travel division and the size of the growth opportunities in both North America and the rest of the world.
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“Our UK high street business has sunk significantly less than the WHSmith Group as our travel business has grown.” High Street has a strong management team, which is profitable, and generates a lot of cash. Given our rapid expansion abroad, it’s appropriate to bring a new owner into the high-street store and allow the WHSmith leadership team to concentrate solely on our travel division.
I wish the High Street team the best of luck. I’m excited about the Group’s future prospects as a simplified, travel-focused group. We are well-positioned to deliver significant growth and value for all stakeholders with a clear strategy, a strong balance sheet, and operations in high growth and attractive markets.
