Former TOWIE star James Argent could risk jail time with his apparent ‘desperation’ to talk to his ex despite having a restraining order. The reality TV star, 37, was given the order after he pushed Nicoline Artursson down some steps while on holiday in Spain.
The moment of anger left the disgraced star banned from going anywhere near the Swedish model, 32. Argent, who is also known as Arg, was handed a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year restraining order this week after admitting to pushing Nicoline during an argument during their trip to La Cala de Mijas.
A source has now claimed that the reality star and wedding singer is desperate to talk to his girlfriend, who is currently being consoled by her mum after the attack.
A source told The Sun: “He is in bits, just wants to hide from everyone, but he also is desperate to talk to Nicoline.” However, while James is said to be desperate, there is no indication to suggest he is intending to break the order.
As part of the court’s ruling, it is thought he may now also complete a ten-week domestic violence rehabilitation course in Spain, which includes listening to the stories of abuse survivors.
Arg broke his silence on Thursday following the ruling. He said in a statement: “I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what’s happened.”
Nicoline and Arg were on vacation on May 5 when a diner at a nearby restaurant claimed to witness a commotion between the pair from across the road. They said the TV star threw clothes off a balcony and screamed before running out of the house with a bag.
The Mirror revealed earlier in the week that Nicoline had to be consoled by a witness at the time. They had came to her aid just moments after the bust-up, according to sources.
She is said to have told the passerby: “I’m in total shock…my life with Arg was so happy before this. I can’t believe what’s happened…we planned to have a family.”
Nicoline was said to have been crying a lot and appeared very nervous and agitated on the street, according to the witness. They claimed the bust-up occurred around 11pm and both the police and the Swedish model’s mother later arrived after Arg had left.
Spanish police said Argent was later arrested for “an alleged crime of domestic violence”. He later appeared before the Court of Violence against Women, in Fuengirola, where he was later handed the suspended prison sentence for a gender violence offence.
The pair had announced their relationship to the public in September last year. Arg later opened up on his plans to start a family with her.
He told OK! magazine at the time: “We’d both love to have a family one day, absolutely.”
A recent United States ambassador to Ukraine has published an opinion column explaining her decision to resign her post, and criticising President Donald Trump for siding with Russia over Ukraine.
On Friday, former diplomat Bridget Brink published an article in the Detroit Free Press, a newspaper in her home state of Michigan, expressing concern about current US foreign policy.
The US has long been an ally of Ukraine, and since 2014, it has provided the war-torn country with military assistance, as it fends off Russia’s attempts at invasion and annexation.
But Brink wrote that there has been a shift since President Trump returned to office for a second term in January.
“I respect the president’s right and responsibility to determine U.S. foreign policy,” she wrote.
“Unfortunately, the policy since the beginning of the Trump administration has been to put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia.”
Brink pointed out that her time at the US Department of State included roles under five presidents, both Democrat and Republican. But she said the shift under the Trump administration forced her to abandon her ambassadorship to Ukraine, a position she held from 2022 until last month.
“I cannot stand by while a country is invaded, a democracy bombarded, and children killed with impunity,” she said of the situation in Ukraine.
“I believe that the only way to secure U.S. interests is to stand up for democracies and to stand against autocrats. Peace at any price is not peace at all ― it is appeasement.”
Brink’s position as ambassador has spanned much of the current conflict in Ukraine. After annexing Crimea and occupying other Ukrainian territories starting in 2014, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Brink assumed her post that May.
But the slow-grinding war in Ukraine has cost thousands of lives and displaced many more. While campaigning for re-election in 2024, Trump blamed the war’s eruption on the “weak” foreign policy of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.
He also pledged to end the war on his first day back in office, if re-elected. “I’ll have that done in 24 hours. I’ll have it done,” Trump told one CNN town hall in 2023.
Since taking office, however, Trump has walked back those comments, calling them an “exaggeration” in an interview with Time Magazine.
Still, his administration has pushed Ukraine and Russia to engage in peace talks, as part of an effort to end the war. How those negotiations have unfolded under Trump, however, has been the source of scrutiny and debate.
Ukraine and its European allies have accused Trump of sidelining their interests in favour of his one-on-one negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They also have criticised Trump and his officials for seeming to offer Russia concessions even before the negotiations officially began.
On February 12, for instance, his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told an international defence group in Brussels that Ukraine may never regain some of its occupied territory.
“We must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” he said, adding that membership in the NATO military alliance was also unlikely. “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”
Trump has gone so far as to blame Ukraine’s NATO ambitions as the cause of the war, something critics blast as a Kremlin talking point.
Amid the negotiations, the relationship between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has grown increasingly testy. Already, during his first term, Trump faced impeachment proceedings over an alleged attempt to pressure Zelenskyy by withholding military aid.
During his second term, though, Trump upped the ante, calling the Ukrainian president a “dictator” for not holding elections, something prohibited under Ukraine’s wartime laws.
One public display of frustration came in the White House on February 28, when Trump shouted at Zelenskyy, calling him “disrespectful” during a gathering with journalists.
The US president also used the appearance to defend his warm relationship with Russia’s president. “ Putin went through a hell of a lot with me,” Trump told Zelenskyy.
The shouting match led to a brief suspension of US aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
In the months since, their two countries have agreed to a deal that would establish a joint investment fund that would allow Washington access to Ukraine’s mineral resources — a long-desired Trump goal.
The US president has voiced concern about the amount of money invested in Ukraine’s security, with Congress appropriating more than $174bn since the war began in 2022. He has also argued that a US mining presence would help deter foreign attacks in Ukraine.
But peace between Russia and Ukraine has remained elusive. Talks between the two warring parties on Friday ended after less than two hours, though they did agree to an exchange of 1,000 prisoners each.
In her op-ed column, Brink was clear that she held Russia responsible for the ongoing aggression.
“Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, it has done what can only be described as pure evil: killed thousands of civilians, including 700 children, with missiles and drones that hit their homes and apartments in the dead of night,” she wrote.
She added that Europe has not experienced “violence so systematic, so widespread and so horrifying in Europe since World War II”.
Brink warned that, if the US did not stand up to Russia, a domino effect could occur, paving the way for military assaults on other countries.
No fewer than 23 farmers and fishermen were killed in an attack by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the village of Malam Karanti near Baga, in the Kukawa Local Government Area of the northern part of Borno State, sources have said.
Our correspondent gathered that the attack occurred on Thursday morning in Malam Karanti, a village five kilometres from Baga.
Sources said the terrorists gathered farmers and fishermen near the village and killed 23 bean farmers.
“The terrorists spared an elderly man, who later alerted the community. The terrorists assembled people in Malam Karanti and killed them. Most of the victims were bean farmers,” a source said.
Residents attempting to recover bodies were forced to retreat after ISWAP launched another attack.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Attacks Military Base, Kills Two Teachers In Borno
“We tried to organise a rescue mission with security agencies to recover the victims’ bodies, but the terrorists returned and prevented us. Many families are waiting for their loved ones,” another source said.
Malam Karanti is an ISWAP enclave where civilians often farm and fish despite risks.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, during his visit on Thursday, assured residents of Borno State and the North-East that the military is frantically working to deal with the terrorists and flush them out of their enclaves to end the crisis.
He added that the military is synergising with friendly countries such as Russia, France, among others, to deploy sophisticated weapons that could bring the war quickly to an end.
General Musa added that recharging of the Lake Chad will also enable troops to navigate the Lake Chad axis to eliminate the terrorists, especially the ISWAP, who have capitalised on the economic fortunes of the Chad Basin, such as fishing and farming, to boost their logistics base.
On Friday, General Musa assured Nigerians that the military is committed to addressing the recent surge in insecurity.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Has Approved More Air Assets To Tackle Insurgency — CDS
General Musa gave the assurance while briefing the State House correspondents immediately after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu and defence chiefs at the Aso Rock Villa.
He stated that additional equipment has already been procured to strengthen the fight against terrorists, who have intensified their attacks in recent months, particularly in the northern region of the country.
“Mr President has given a directive as to what to do next for us to intensify all efforts, collaborate with all our sister countries around us, because it is the porous nature from there that is aggravating our own issues on the ground.
“And so all our theatres have been enhanced, equipment has been bought, and Mr President has given us much approval for air assets, and other aspects of security and as we said, it is not only the kinetic aspect, the non-kinetic aspect is most important.
Pep Guardiola says he asked for Manchester City’s Premier League game against Bournemouth to be moved from next Tuesday, believing it should “definitely” be played later in the week.
City face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday (kick-off 16:30 BST) and host the Cherries just three days later as they attempt to finish in the Premier League’s top five, having dropped down to sixth place following Friday night wins for both Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Scheduling City’s game against Bournemouth for next Wednesday would have clashed with the all-English Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United.
Guardiola, though, pointed to Tottenham’s Premier League game at Aston Villa being brought forward two days from the original date of 18 May to give them more time to prepare for the European final.
He saw that as an indication of the league having the ability to be flexible.
Asked if he would have preferred the Bournemouth game to be pushed back to the Wednesday or Thursday, Guardiola replied: “Definitely.”
City’s Spanish manager added: “Tottenham Hotspur play against Aston Villa on Friday [because of] the Europa League final, yeah? Good decision.
Early exits from the Champions League and EFL Cup mean City will play a total of 57 games in all competitions this season.
Last season they played 59, while in the 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign they had 61 games.
With 60, Tottenham and United will both play more matches than any other Premier League club this season following their runs in the Europa League.
City are preparing for their third straight FA Cup final, and they have also travelled to Wembley for seven consecutive semi-finals in the competition, which Guardiola called a “huge achievement”.
This season was the first time during that sequence in which City have played their FA Cup semi-final on a Sunday.
In the previous six campaigns, they always had a Champions League or Premier League fixture on the preceding Wednesday.
Guardiola said: “We play all the time quarter-finals and semi-finals, quarter-finals and semi-finals on a Wednesday away. We play [FA Cup] semi-finals on a Saturday but this time on a Sunday and we didn’t need that extra day.”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss suggested his side have been chosen to play FA Cup semi-finals on a Saturday so often because broadcasters feel there are “more followers” for the Sunday game, with Guardiola saying: “They are tired to see us.”
The next few days will define City’s season in terms of whether they pick up any major silverware and where they lie in their battle to qualify for the Champions League next season.
It is why Guardiola thinks there should have been a greater willingness to nudge back City’s game after the demands of a cup final.
Guardiola added: “We have been fighting against this situation for nine years – every single season. Nothing [happens]. [We are told] ‘That is the deal, go’.
“We are going to play Tuesday night against an intense, physical, direct and powerful team in the Premier League like Bournemouth who are playing to qualify for the Europa Conference League. We have to deal with that.
Chelsea ensured that qualification for the Champions League remains in their own hands as Marc Cucurella’s winner beat Manchester United 1-0 to climb to fourth in the Premier League.
United are gearing up for next week’s Europa League final against Tottenham but ran the Blues close as Ruben Amorim named a stronger line-up than expected.
However, the Red Devils ultimately slipped to an 18th league defeat of the season and remain 16th in the table.
Chelsea and Aston Villa, who beat Spurs 2-0 in Friday’s other Premier League match, both leapfrog Manchester City into the top five.
City have a game in hand at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday as they face Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
But Chelsea will be assured of a return to Europe’s top competition after a two-year absence should they beat Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.
READ ALSO: FA Cup Success ‘Massively Important’ For Man City, Says Guardiola
United’s miserable season can only be saved by victory in Bilbao in five days’ time but Amorim resisted the temptation to rest his key men at Stamford Bridge.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Casemiro were among those to start as Amorim named close to his strongest available side.
Chelsea were without a recognised striker due to Nicolas Jackson’s suspension and the continued absence due to injury of Christopher Nkunku.
Teenager Tyrique George, a natural winger, was forced to lead the line in an unfamiliar role up front and the Blues’ lack of a focal point saw them easily snuffed out.
United’s bright start was nearly rewarded when Harry Maguire fired in Fernandes’ inviting cross only for a VAR review to show the centre-back had strayed centimetres offside.
Chelsea’s best effort before half-time saw Reece James’ long-range effort come back off the post.
Cole Palmer was the one creative spark for Enzo Maresca’s men and nearly produced a moment of magic with a dipping shot that Andre Onana palmed into the path of Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentine somehow fired over over with the goal gaping and was grateful to the offside flag for sparing his blushes.
A match littered with stoppages for minor injuries and VAR checks did not allow either side to hit their rhythm.
United started strongly again in the second period but failed to make it count as Mason Mount fired wide on his return to Stamford Bridge, before Fernandes blasted over.
On the hour mark a VAR review came to the visitors’ aid when referee Chris Kavanagh initially pointed to the penalty spot after a challenge between George and Onana.
However, replays showed the goalkeeper clearly played the ball and the spot-kick was overturned.
With Chelsea’s forward players lacking inspiration, the match-winning moment was created and converted by their full-backs 20 minutes from time.
James turned nearly on the edge of the box and clipped in a cross that Cucurella met perfectly to head in his seventh goal of the season.
Noni Madueke should have doubled the lead within seconds when he skewed wide after a slick pass from Palmer.
That miss could have been costly had Robert Sanchez not denied Diallo at his near post.
But Chelsea held their nerve to edge towards the brink of a return to the riches and glamour of the Champions League.