Ademola Lookman, the rumored African football player of the year, made a Thursday visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Lagos residence.
The Atalanta forward, 27, received the 2024 Africa Player of the Year CAF trophy from the President during a visit.
L-R: President Bola Tinubu and Mallam Shehu Dikko, the national sports commission’s chairman, during Lookman’s visit to the president’s residence in Lagos.
Lookman won the title of Africa’s best in Marrakech, Morocco, last December, along with fellow compatriot Victor Osimhen.
Lookman’s outstanding contributions to the Super Eagles and his Atalanta club are recognized in the award. Atalanta won their first European trophy with his hat-trick in the Europa League final in 2024.
Lookman also scored 15 goals to help Atalanta advance to the UEFA Champions League in his 2024/2025 campaign.
Following a successful season in Italy, the Super Eagles star is currently taking a vacation in Lagos.
Russell Brand, a British comedian and actor, entered a not-guilty plea on Friday in a London criminal court on charges of rape and sexual assault.
Four women were the victims of rape, oral rape, two sexual assaults, and one indecent assault against the media personality turned anti-establishment influencer between 1999 and 2005, all of which occurred on a national scale.
After receiving conditional bail at a previous hearing, Brand, 49, was given conditional bail at a previous hearing and was given a plea hearing in an open-buttoned shirt and dark blazer.
In the early 2000s, he gained widespread recognition as the husband of pop star Katy Perry, but he is more well-known in the UK for his hypersexualized and frequently lewd comedy routines and TV and radio appearances.
Russell Brand, a British comedian and actor, leaves Southwark Crown Court on May 30, 2025, following a hearing there. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)
Brand, who is now residing partially in the US, made an appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London earlier this month, where he showed no emotion as the prosecution read out the charges against him.
Brand stood stock-still and looked straight ahead as he made his pleas on Friday when he showed up in court flanked by two officers.
On June 3, 2026, he will be tried in court the following year.
Following a police investigation into allegations that were made public in a 2003 Channel 4 documentary, Brand was charged by the prosecution.
Following a 1999 incident in the southern Bournemouth area, he is accused of raping one woman in a hotel room.
Another charge involves a woman’s sexual assault and oral rape in central London in 2004.
Four women are accused of being involved in the assaults, including two who worked for the radio station and one who worked for the TV.
Brand expressed his gratitude for the “opportunity” to defend himself in a video response to the charge on X in April.
Conservative Guru  ,
Russell Brand, a British comedian and actor, leaves Southwark Crown Court on May 30, 2025, following a hearing there. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)
Before I lived in the light of the Lord, I was a fool. I was an imbecile, sex addict, and drug addict before becoming an addict. He claimed in the video that he had never engaged in any non-consensual behavior.
Born in 1975 in Essex, east of London, Brand started a stand-up career as a teenager, eventually becoming an MTV presenter and host of a spin-off of Big Brother.
He hosted a radio program on the BBC Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008, but he left after pulling an offensive voicemail for Andrew Sachs, the actor who plays the “Fawlty Towers,” about his granddaughter.
Russell Brand, a British comedian and actor, arrives in Southwark Crown Court in South London on May 30, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)
He once campaigned for the left and became a Hollywood star before rebranding himself to his millions of followers on social media as a conservative guru.
In his anti-establishment videos, Brand frequently paves the road to conspiracy theories and shares wellness advice. He claimed that he converted to Christianity after receiving a baptism in the Thames River last year.
A multi-million dollar takeover of Rangers has been completed by a US-based consortium that includes the San Francisco 49ers’ investment arm.
Following months of negotiations, the group, led by private healthcare mogul Andrew Cavenagh, has purchased 51% of the Ibrox club.
Following a share issue, the club claims to have made an additional £20 million of investment available this summer.
At the end of June’s annual meeting, Cavenagh will be chosen as the club’s new chairman. His vice-chair will be Paraag Marathe, the current chairman of Leeds United.
After discussions involving dual interests, with 49ers Enterprises holding full control of Leeds United, the Scottish Football Association approved the takeover.
Patrick Stewart will continue as the company’s chief executive, joining Mark Taber, Andrew Clayton, and Gene Schneur as board members.
As Graeme Park, Julian Wolhardt, and Alastair Johnston depart, current board members Fraser Thornton, John Halsted, and George Taylor will remain.
The Rangers’ board, shareholders, staff, and supporters have placed a tremendous trust in us, Cavenagh said.
The club’s history and traditions speak for themselves, but history doesn’t win games. We are aware that performance will be the only way to truly honor the club’s heritage.
“Our goals are straightforward: elevate performance, deliver results, and restore Rangers to their former best levels,” he said.
With the appointment of new sporting director Kevin Thelwell on Monday, Cavenagh and Marathe, the president of 49ers Enterprises, will have full control over all facets of the organization.
The search for a new head coach is nearing its conclusion, with former Southampton boss Russell Martin and former Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti reportedly being the top contenders.
Marathe remarked, “Our deep connection to the clubs and communities we serve is what drives our driving force.” “At 49ers Enterprises, we have a track record of success in both the sporting and business sectors.
In a new era for this iconic club, Andrew and our other consortium of investors are bringing us something that supporters will be proud of for generations to come.
I have been excited and confident in the shared vision and what it might mean for Rangers’ future, according to Chief Executive Stewart.
Beginn of a new era for Rangers fans: analysis
McLaughlin, Chris
Correspondent of BBC Scotland’s Sports News
The takeover announcement is not surprising given the months of speculation, but it does provide the first glimpse of the new consortium’s mission.
Fans have been forced to endure yet another season of Celtic dominance, but the looming takeover has provided some hope for the fans at the end of what has initially seemed like a tunnel with no end.
This fan base is afflicted by believing in saviors who have, in recent years, made numerous promises but failed to fulfill them. They should be forgiven for observing any group or individual who claim that the situation will change this time.
The new group has so far said very little about that, but it will be widely welcomed to learn about a £20 million investment.
The majority of that money will be thrown at football operations, but where and how will it be spent are now important questions for those who want to believe that a new era of success has begun.
Those who had hoped the San Francisco 49ers’ entire force would be thrown at Ibrox on day one might turn out disappointed. That was never going to happen, though.
Will the club’s $ 20 million, which was lacking last week, be sufficient to achieve the supporters’ desire for immediate success?
The solution to footballing problems is only partially financially viable. This new group believes that their financial resources and expertise will be equally significant, which will be interesting to watch closely. A significant milestone in the takeover announcement is reached with this announcement.
In a clear sign that their romance is blossoming, Louis Tomlinson and his girlfriend Zara McDermott have been pictured wearing the PDA while they are on a romantic trip to Costa Rica together.
On the PDA, Zara McDermott and Louis Tomlinson are pictured.
Singer Louis Tomlinson has been snapped getting handsy with his girlfriend Zara McDermott as their romance hots up.
The singing sensation, 33, was seen playfully and affectionately grasping and patting 28 year old Zara’s bottom as the pair share a romantic kiss in exclusive pictures and video obtained by the Mirror.
As they enjoyed a tropical adventure in Costa Rica, Louis, who was recently captured passionately kissing Zara, reveals his playful side. As the newly-loved couple embraced and kissed, they were seen looking through the neighborhood.
READ MORE: Zara McDermott is ‘obsessed’ with Ninja’s £30 blender that’s a ‘game changer’ for food prep
Louis is seen playfully squeezing Zara’s bottom as he plants a kiss on her lips(Image: BACKGRID)
With a turquoise tie-neck bikini under her top, Zara looked radiant in a white strapless top and matching pants, ready for any adventure her romantic trip with Louis might lead. She complemented her look with a beige cap and pair of gold hoop earrings tied in a sweet plait.
The former Love Island beauty turned documentary-maker kept her valuables in a designer bag for the outing, which comprised of wicker-style material and leather straps.
Zara sweetly place her hand on Louis’ neck as he gave her a kiss(Image: BACKGRID)
As he cheekily rested his hand on Zara’s bottom and kissed her, Louis meanwhile donned a pair of white shorts, an orange top, a pair of sunglasses, and a pair of pastel-orange shorts. Zara was warmly received as she affectionately placed her hand on Louis’ neck as she placed her hand on her neck.
As the cherished youngster cigarette-heavy and posed as though he was dancing, the beloved man looked incredibly at ease in Zara’s company. While one photo shows Louis and Zara mucking around together while he pretends to be serious while holding out his arm and extending his arm, it appeared the pair are enjoying being playful.
The smitten pair look comfortable in one another’s company(Image: BACKGRID)
The pair then sported a wide smile as they both grinned as they mucked around with one another during the playful exchange.
Later, Louis and Zara were seen jumping on a red ATV quad bike as they continued their action-packed journey, taking in the sights around her while the Bigger Than Me singer led the way.
Louis is seen striking a funny dance pose in front of girlfriend Zara(Image: BACKGRID)
Zara reportedly flew 5, 000 miles with Louis for a romantic trip while he was putting together his upcoming album earlier this month. After she attended the TV BAFTAs, insiders claim Zara paid Louis thousands to fly her first class from London to Costa Rica.
The pair first struck up romance rumours earlier this year as they were photographed on a cosy date in Suffolk in March, just a few weeks after Zara’s split from her long-term boyfriend Sam Thompson, who is now dating Samie Elishi.
Lovebirds Louis and Zara hopped on an ATV to soak up the sights Costa Rica has to offer(Image: BACKGRID)
Louis and Zara then enjoyed a cosy trip together in Los Angeles, with Zara finally unveiling her romance on Instagram as the pair enjoyed a brunch date together.
Zara’s ex Sam Thompson is now dating Samie Elishi(Image: gabbydawnallen/Snapchat)
Continue reading the article.
Their romance has since grown increasingly popular, with Zara supporting Louis in Costa Rica. However, she won’t be playing for Soccer Aid at Old Trafford because Louis will be joining Zara’s ex-boyfriend for the charity game the following month.
According to a new report, “industrial scale theft” of premium video services, especially live sports, is being made possible by big tech companies.
Enders Analysis’ research accuses Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon of “ambivalence and inertia” over a problem that it claims costs broadcasters money and puts users at higher risk of cyber-crime.
The research was co-authored by Gareth Sutcliffe and Ollie Meir, who claimed the Amazon Fire Stick is “a piracy enabler” and that it is used by many to access illegal streams.
The issue of piracy
The total value of media rights in the world exceeded the $ 60 billion (£44 billion) mark last year, making sports broadcasting a lucrative industry.
Fans at home are paying more for their favorite sports because of the rising cost of rights deals, especially if they choose to pay for multiple services to watch their team play.
Some people turn to big-time events’ illegal streams to get around this.
According to Enders, there are frequently multiple streams of individual events, such as high-profile football games, that can have tens of thousands of viewers for each.
Previous warnings have been made by executives from Sky and DAZN, two of the biggest rights holders, citing financial crisis in the broadcast sector.
Users also run a risk.
Fire Stick in the firing position
The researchers concentrated on Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon while looking at the European market.
The owner of Facebook, Meta, was criticized for producing illegal stream advertisements, but the other three’s technology was to blame for the rise in piracy.
According to the report, the problem is primarily caused by the Amazon Fire Stick.
The device connects to TVs, giving the viewer thousands of options for watching programs from trusted services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Additionally, they are being used to access illegal streams, particularly live sports.
A Liverpool man who sold Fire Sticks that he had modified to make it illegal to stream Premier League football games was jailed in November of last year.
He promoted the unauthorised services on Facebook after they were uploaded to the Amazon product.
After modifying fire sticks and selling them on Facebook and WhatsApp, another Liverpool man received a two-year suspended sentence last year.
According to data collected for the first quarter of this year, 59% of UK residents who claimed to have watched pirated content on a physical device last year claimed to have used an Amazon Fire product.
Technology is depreciated, which encourages piracy.
Images courtesy of Getty
The researchers also made mention of the “continued depreciation” of DRM systems, particularly those from Google and Microsoft.
This technology enables devices to stream premium content in high definition. PlayReady from Microsoft and Widevine from Google are two of the big players.
The authors claim that PlayReady and Widevine are now compromised across various security levels because the DRM’s architecture has largely remained unchanged.
According to Mr. Sutcliffe and Mr. Meir, this has “a seismic impact across the industry, and ultimately given piracy the upper hand by allowing the theft of the highest quality content.”
The DRM solutions offered by Google and Microsoft are in decline, according to them, after twenty years.
Chelsea’s imminent signing of Liam Delap was a result of three factors: champion football, Cole Palmer, and having the youngest Premier League squad.
Following Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League, a £30m release clause was activated, which attracted strong interest from Manchester United, Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle.
After selling Delap for £20 million last summer, Manchester City decided against using it. However, they did so in a buy-back option.
Ipswich gave Delap permission to speak with a number of interested clubs earlier this month.
With the upcoming European Under-21 Championship and Club World Cup, a decision was anticipated before the opening summer transfer window, which will open on June 1 through June 10.
Manchester United and Chelsea were the two teams’ choices over the past week, but it seems that one of the decisive factors was the Blues’ final-day victory over Nottingham Forest, which confirmed Champions League qualification, was one of them.
The 22-year-old was spotted at Stansted Airport that evening before a medical on Friday, and the interested parties were informed on Thursday that he had made his decision.
His next big choice might be whether to follow England manager Thomas Tuchel’s advice and play for the Under-21s this summer or to join his new club for the inaugural summer Club World Cup.
Delap has been a hot commodity for Chelsea all season, and it is thought that co-owner Behdad Eghbali met with the player’s top agent David Mannasseh in Dubai. Before the Conference League final, Embahi even expressed his admiration for the player to Chelsea fans in Wroclaw.
Images courtesy of Getty
Delap thinks Chelsea’s play style will work well for him and that they will fit the bill. Additionally, several former City Academy graduates who will work at Stamford Bridge, including Palmer, Tosin Adarabioyo, Romeo Lavia, and Jadon Sancho, have urged him to make the move.
Delap and Maresca both shared a top development squad with City, Chelsea’s top recruiter Joe Shields is well-known for having a positive relationship with the player and his family, and academy director Glenn van der Kraan is one of the two Premier League players with whom Maresca also has a strong relationship.
After being interviewed for the position of manager last summer, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna also maintains good relations with the Chelsea hierarchy.
And he hopes that will lead to Marc Guiu’s potential move, who wants to take Delap on loan.
What will Man Utd do next?
Simon Stone
Chief football newscaster
Manchester United can take a positive out of a negative in these circumstances, as they always do.
They both felt that their pursuit of Delap was coming at the end of the tunnel, and it was Chelsea’s fault. They are now aware that they have failed.
The positive is that they can move on once the decision is made. That contrasts starkly with 2022, when Erik ten Hag made a month-long delay in an ultimately fruitless move to sign Frenkie de Jong and United panicked at the end of the transfer window and spent £150 million on Casemiro and Antony.
But that leaves out the important question: Who are they currently trying to help?
Delap exemplified their ideal model of a developing, eager young player with scope to excel at a high standard, for a fixed fee.
Apart from the first one, Rasmus Hojlund, who is four days younger than Delap, also met the same requirements. Additionally, it hasn’t worked.
Nothing about United’s post-season trip to Asia has inspired me to believe they have the solution to their club’s goalscoring issues. It is quite the opposite, to put it simply.
Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford and Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace are the “safe” but expensive choices. However, Mbeumo and Mateta are both 27 years old and will travel to Cameroon for a month to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Then there is a risk.
At the age of 34, Danny Welbeck, a former United striker, scored 10 goals in the Premier League. Is it worthwhile to reinstate Hojlund and relieve some of the pressure off him, or has Ruben Amorim come to the conclusion that the 22-year-old Danish international will never be good enough?
Impressive performances by Moyes and Everton
Delap also attracted interest from Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Everton.
Although it is believed that Everton and Moyes’ pitch had a positive impact on Delap, the club always accepted that they were underdogs.
Moyes remarked before the final game of the season against Ipswich at Goodison Park: “We would certainly be interested if he was interested in us.
Despite receiving a hostile reception following encounters with Jake O’Brien and Jarrad Branthwaite, Everton fans made their best effort to persuade Delap to play at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium following the game.
As he visited 37 Goodison Road, a home across the street from the stadium with a wall full of footballers’ signatures, supporters urged him to relocate to Merseyside.
