Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to more than four years in prison on Friday for his conviction on prostitution-related charges.
Prosecutors had sought 11 years behind bars for Combs but Judge Arun Subramanian handed down a 50-month sentence after an emotional daylong court hearing.
Combs’s lawyers had urged the judge to sentence the 55-year-old hip-hop star to 14 months, which would effectively have been time served since he has been incarcerated in Brooklyn for more than a year.
Addressing the court before the judge handed down the sentence, Combs said he was “truly sorry” for his actions and asked the judge for “another chance.”
“I ask your honor for mercy,” he said. “I beg your honor for mercy.”
Diddy Combs was acquitted by a jury in July of the most serious charges against him — sex trafficking and racketeering — but convicted of two counts of transporting people across state lines for prostitution.
Combs’s former girlfriend Casandra Ventura submitted a letter to the judge asking him to consider “the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control.”
Ventura, the 39-year-old singer known as Cassie, described in wrenching detail the physical, emotional and sexual abuse she suffered while in a more than decade-long relationship with Combs.
Ventura and another woman, identified as Jane, said they were coerced into performing so-called “freak offs”: sexual marathons with hired men that Combs directed and sometimes filmed.
“The entire courtroom watched actual footage of Combs kicking and beating me as I tried to run away from a freak off in 2016,” Ventura wrote. (Vanguard)
Hamas said on Friday it was ready to release hostages held in Gaza under a peace deal proposed by but wantDonald Trumped negotiations on the details and a say in the future of the Palestinian territory.
“The movement announces its approval for the release of all hostages — living and remains — according to the exchange formula included in President Trump’s proposal,” Hamas said in a statement, adding it was ready to enter talks “to discuss the details”.
The peace plan for Gaza, presented by Trump this week and backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In the statement, Hamas said it agreed to hand over power in Gaza to a body of Palestinian technocrats but said decisions on the territory’s long-term future would need to be discussed within a Palestinian framework “in which Hamas will participate and contribute responsibly”.
Hamas’s statement made no mention of its intentions on disarmament, a key part of the US president’s plan and a move the group has previously resisted.
Following the announcement, Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official, told AFP the group welcomed Trump’s proposal, but that “without clear terms, criteria, and transparency, we need clarification and confirmation through a negotiated agreement”.
“The American proposal is vague, ambiguous, and lacks clarity,” Mardawi said.
Hamas had “made our position clear, and we are now waiting to see how the details of the terms will be implemented and clarified”, he added.
Under the US plan published on Monday — which has been welcomed by world powers, including Arab and Muslim nations — a post-war transitional authority for Gaza would be headed by Trump himself.
Earlier on Friday the US president gave Hamas until Sunday night to respond to the plan, and warned the group it faced “all hell” if it did not agree to the terms. (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday in Owerri, launched a menstrual health intervention, themed “Flow with Confidence,” under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is aimed at achieving a one-year supply of sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls in rural communities nationwide.
The RHI procured the customised disposable sanitary pads, worth N2.5 billion, from a local company, Uniglory Nigeria Ltd., to promote domestic production.
Speaking at the launch in Owerri, the First Lady emphasised that the intervention aimed at ensuring that no girl should miss school because of her inability to afford sanitary products.”
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the Wife of Imo Governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, said it was unacceptable that girls missed classes due to menstrual issues.
“The programme is critical because girls in rural areas miss school days every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads, leading to them falling behind or dropping out.
“Each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will receive 10,000 packs of the pads for distribution to deserving girls in rural communities, with the goal of supporting their education.
“The initiative believes that no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu, who stressed the link between menstrual health and academic success, said the programme’s success required community ownership.
The First Lady specifically appealed to Local Government Area chairmen to take ownership of the intervention to ensure supplies reached the right beneficiaries.
She stressed that the pads were not to be sold under any circumstances and urged traditional and religious leaders to monitor the distribution exercise in their communities.
The programme launched simultaneously in eight states: Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, and Lagos, with other states set to follow upon receiving their supplies.
Mrs Tinubu charged the beneficiaries to stay in school, study hard, support one another, and never allow shame or stigma to take away their confidence.
Earlier in a lecture, a Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Dr Emily Akuabia-Nzeribe, said the programme would empower women, enhance environmental sustainability and support vulnerable communities.
Akuabia-Nzeribe, who spoke on menstruation confidence, advised secondary school girls present at the event to maintain healthy hygiene and not be ashamed.
She explained that menstruation came with physical, social, economic, and psychological burdens.
“The physical boarding could come with some health risks and infections, as well as infertility, if not properly managed.
“For the social burden, it comes with stigmas, discrimination and bullying,” she said.
The consultant noted that RHI was more focused on treating the economic burden that came with menstruation.
“The economic burden of period poverty occurs among many young girls, who cannot go to school because they do not have the appropriate menstrual product to use.
“Some of them stay at home because their parents cannot afford the right menstrual products they need.
“This is the problem the renewed hope initiative is trying to solve and we must be grateful for that,” she added.
NAN reports that the programme was themed: “Empowering School Girls through Menstrual Health.” (Vanguard)
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has outlined the conditions under which he could consider the release of native doctors currently standing trial in the state.
The detained individuals — Chigozie Nwangu (popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki) from Oba, Eke Hit from Okija, and Onyeze Jesus from Nkpor — were arrested in February on allegations of promoting get-rich-quick practices, preparing charms for suspected criminals, and misleading youths into believing in wealth without hard work.
Responding, Soludo emphasized that the matter was now in court and beyond his unilateral control.
“You are asking for the release of Akwa Okuko, but I want to say that there is a process. There is a process for me to follow, and there is a process for the court to follow too. Where we are now is the process of the court,” Soludo said.
He acknowledged the concerns of the youths but cautioned that the actions of the detained individuals had negatively influenced young people.
“What we should be praying for is a speedy trial. If he is found guilty and convicted, after that, your leaders can meet with me, and we can discuss the possibility of a pardon. But until the judicial process is concluded, my hands are tied,” he added.
The governor further urged the youths to support efforts to rid Oba and other communities of social vices such as drug abuse, kidnapping, and the pursuit of “fast money,” stressing that the state government is committed to restoring values of hard work and integrity. (Vanguard)
Spotify has named Afrobeats star, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, as one of the top Afrobeats artists of the year.
The list, unveiled by the streaming service in an Instagram post on Monday, is dominated by Nigerian artists.
Ranked alongside Burna Boy are Divine Ikubor, known as Rema; Balogun Ayodeji, popularly called Wizkid; Ahmed Ololade, Asake, and Ayra Starr, as the only female artist on the latest ranking.
Spotify posted: “Afrobeats continues to expand its reach, with fans streaming artists such as #heisrema, #wizkidayo, and #burnaboygram from Nigeria to Brazil.
“Check out some of the top songs, artists, and countries fuelling the genre’s discovery and growth globally.”
The platform also unveiled the top Afrobeats songs on Spotify for 2025.
Accordingly, top songs are Santa by Ayra Starr; Rauw Alejandro; and Rvssian; Shake It To The Max (FLY) – Remix by MOLY, Shenseea, Silent Addy, and Skillibeng; Calm Down (with Selena Gomez) by Rema, featuring Selena Gomez, WE PRAY by Burna Boy, Coldplay, Elyanna, Little Simz, and TINT; and People by Libianca.Spotify also said Afrobeats songs were most discovered in 2025 in the US, Brazil, France, the UK, Germany, and Nigeria. (Vanguard)
The draw for an expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place on December 3, organizers said Wednesday, with host Australia confirmed as kicking off the tournament at Perth Stadium.
Twenty-four teams will be divided into six pools of four, with 52 games across six weeks from October 1 to November 13. A round of 16 will be played for the first time.
The last World Cup in France, won by South Africa, featured 20 teams.
“I’m thrilled to see the tournament draw date revealed,” said World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson. “Expanding the men’s Rugby World Cup to 24 teams is a landmark moment for our sport. It means more nations, more matches, and more opportunities for fans around the world to connect with rugby.”
World Rugby rankings at the end of the November international window will be used to determine which teams head each of the six groups, making every win crucial ahead of the draw.
South Africa are currently ranked one ahead of Ireland, New Zealand, France, England and Argentina, with hosts Australia seventh. Scotland, Fiji and Italy round out the top 10.
The top two from each pool plus the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the knockout phase.
“The introduction of a round of 16 will deliver even more knockout rugby, ensuring every match counts and every team has the chance to make history,” said Robinson.
“Importantly, we’ve been able to achieve this within a streamlined tournament window that protects player welfare while enhancing the spectacle. This is a huge step forward for rugby and a reflection of the game’s global growth.”
Sydney had already been announced to host the final and both semi-finals, along with a third-place playoff and a string of other knockout and pool stage games.
The rest of the schedule is split between Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide and Townsville.
Some 2.5 million tickets will go on sale in February, with one million priced under A$100 (U.S.$66) in a bid to make it the most family-friendly tournament yet. (JapanToday)
Jannik Sinner won the 21st title of his career by thrashing American teenager Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 in the China Open final on Wednesday.
The Italian lifted the trophy for the second time on Beijing’s hard courts, having done so on his tournament debut in 2023, and is eyeing a return to world number one.
The 24-year-old’s only loss on Beijing’s centre Diamond Court has been to great rival and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s final in three gripping sets.
“A very, very special place for me,” said the victorious Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion and top seed this week.
Alcaraz was not defending his title in the Chinese capital and on Tuesday won the Japan Open in Tokyo.
Sinner broke immediately in the first set on the way to outclassing the 19-year-old Tien, who was in his first ATP final.
“Congrats to Jannik on a great week, another title, an honour to share the court with you today,” he told the world number two afterwards.
The world no. 52 got a rare chance to break in the second game of the second set but Sinner quickly retook control, ending a one-sided match with 10 aces over the 1h 12min final.
Tien would have been Beijing’s lowest-ranked champion in tournament history.
At 19 years and 9 months old, Tien would also have been the second-youngest American Tour champion since Andy Roddick in 2002.
As it was, he was never really in it, despite some flashes of his rich potential.
“You are showing throughout the whole season what a talent you are,” Sinner said in the aftermath.
Sinner’s emphatic win was his third title this season, after victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Sinner may now have a chance to snatch back the top ranking before the season ends after Alcaraz pulled out of the Shanghai Masters injured on Tuesday.
The Spaniard took the world number one ranking from Sinner when he defeated the Italian in the U.S. Open final.
Sinner will be the top seed in Shanghai, which began this week. (JapanToday)
Title-holders Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 with a last-minute goal in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Manchester City had to settle for a draw in Monaco despite Erling Haaland’s double.
Elsewhere there were comfortable wins for Arsenal and Newcastle United, as Napoli and Borussia Dortmund were among the other teams to claim victories on the second matchday of the league phase.
The meeting at Montjuic of the Spanish champions and the reigning French and European champions was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the opening stages of this season’s competition.
It lived up to its billing, despite Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele missing out injured for an understrength PSG, with Lamine Yamal showing flashes of his brilliance for the hosts.
Barcelona went ahead in the 19th minute as a well-worked move ended with Marcus Rashford setting up Ferran Torres to score.
Senny Mayulu equalised late in the first half for PSG, and Achraf Hakimi set up substitute Goncalo Ramos to net a 90th-minute winner as PSG made it two victories from two outings in this season’s Champions League.
“It was a great game between two really good sides,” PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus. “It shows the strength and mentality of our side that whoever is on the field we play like a real team.”
Haaland scored twice in the first half to move to 52 career Champions League goals from 50 appearances, but 2023 tournament winners City were held 2-2 in Monaco.
Jordan Teze’s stunning hit in between Haaland’s strikes kept Monaco in the game until they won a late penalty as Nico Gonzalez was penalised following a VAR review for a high boot on Eric Dier.
Dier got up to convert from the spot and give Monaco their first point in the competition, denying City a second win from as many outings.
“I don’t know if it was a penalty but it was given. So that’s that,” City coach Pep Guardiola told TNT Sports. “It is what it is. We have a point and we will take it.”
Arsenal maintained their 100 percent record with a 2-0 defeat of Olympiakos in London, with Gabriel Martinelli following in to score a 12th-minute opener after a Viktor Gyokeres attempt hit the post.
The Gunners sealed the points in stoppage time as substitute Bukayo Saka scored with a shot that squirmed under Greek goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis.
“Winning in the Champions League is always very complicated. It is yet another clean sheet for the boys in the competition, which is remarkable,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
Earlier, Newcastle got their campaign up and running by cruising to a 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels.
Nick Woltemade diverted a Sandro Tonali shot into the net for the opener, his third goal in four starts for the club.
Anthony Gordon then scored two penalties, either side of half-time, before substitute Harvey Barnes wrapped up the success late on.
Dortmund were also impressive winners, as the beaten 2024 finalists tore into Athletic Bilbao, winning 4-1.
Daniel Svensson put them ahead in the first half and Carney Chukwuemeka made it two soon after the interval.
Gorka Guruzeta got one back for Athletic, but Serhou Guirassy and Julian Brandt sealed a fine win for the German club.
In southern Italy, Rasmus Hojlund bagged a brace as Napoli claimed their maiden European victory this season, beating Sporting 2-1. Luis Suarez had equalised for the Portuguese champions at one point in the second half with a penalty.
Juventus, who drew 4-4 with Dortmund in a thriller in their opening game, played out a 2-2 stalemate with Villarreal in Spain.
Georges Mikautadze gave the hosts the lead, only for Federico Gatti to equalise with an overhead kick before Chico Conceicao gave the Italians the advantage.
But Renato Veiga, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus from Chelsea, headed in to earn Villarreal a draw.
Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 in Germany, with Christian Kofane giving the hosts the lead only for Ismael Saibari to equalise for the Dutch side.
Qarabag are the sensation of the competition so far, the club from Azerbaijan following a win over Benfica two weeks ago by beating FC Copenhagen 2-0 in Baku.Abdellah Zoubir and Emmanuel Addai got their goals and Qarabag are one of six teams on six points, along with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Inter Milan and Arsenal. (JapanToday)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wednesday, urged Nigerians to stop speaking negatively about the country, declaring that Nigeria is a nation of proud, confident, and dedicated people destined for success.
Speaking at the reopening of the renovated National Theatre, now the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, which coincided with the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
Tinubu said the landmark’s revival was proof that the country could overcome setbacks and achieve greatness.
“Let’s believe in Nigeria, let’s put this country first. If you have a bad dream, forget it—Nigeria will succeed,” the President told the gathering, adding: “This is the giant of Africa; it won’t fall, it won’t disintegrate in my hands.”
Tinubu said the theatre’s rebirth must create jobs and expand opportunities in the creative economy. He directed CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, and the Bankers’ Committee to set up an endowment fund, pledging his own contribution.
“The worst is over; we have turned the corner. With proper management, prosperity will come,” he assured.
Speaking at the event, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the transformation of the National Arts Theatre into the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s youths, Nigeria’s stories and rightful place on the global cultural stage.
The CBN Governor explained that the ₦68 billion funding from the Bankers’ Committee was not corporate social responsibility but a deliberate stake in the creative economy.
“This is more than a building; it is an investment in our youths, in our stories, and in Nigeria’s rightful place on the global stage,” he said.
He recalled the Theatre’s FESTAC ’77 legacy, years of neglect, and its revival into a modern hub with world-class performance halls, cinemas, galleries, and upgraded facilities.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State, and cultural partners, urging that the Centre remain a beacon of creativity and national pride.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has applauded the Bankers’ Committee for championing the transformation of the National Arts Theatre, describing it as a landmark rebirth of Nigeria’s cultural pride.
Soyinka said he accepted the honour with mixed feelings, warning against the indiscriminate naming of monuments after leaders. He recalled challenging a past ruler for dedicating a public space to “a brutal dictator.”
The playwright lamented the neglect of Africa’s theatre pioneers but praised those who turned the once-derelict complex into a world-class hub. With humour, he recalled how poor design once “nearly electrocuted actors” during performances.
Soyinka thanked President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State, and the Bankers’ Committee, urging that the revived theatre remain a stage for African creativity, unity, and global cultural expression.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has hailed the restoration of the National Arts Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Center for Culture and Creative Arts, as a landmark in Nigeria’s cultural revival.
Sanwo-Olu said the theatre, once host to FESTAC ’77 but later abandoned, has been restored through federal, state, and private collaboration. He described it as a foundation for future creative possibilities and a global hub for culture.
The renaming honours Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, while Sanwo-Olu praised Tinubu’s support, calling the edifice a beacon of unity, pride, and Nigeria’s artistic rebirth. (Vanguard)
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has accepted the renaming of Nigeria’s National Theatre in his honour despite his past criticism of public monuments named after individuals.
At the reopening of the refurbished venue in Lagos on Thursday, the 90-year-old playwright acknowledged “mixed feelings” about the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, as the complex in Iganmu is now known.
“I am notorious for having criticised many appropriations of public monuments by some of our past leaders, where everything is named after them,” Soyinka said.
“However, when I examined the history of theatre in Nigeria, and the lack of recognition for my predecessors, I believe somebody has to carry the can.”
The renaming, announced in July 2024 by President Bola Tinubu’s administration without Soyinka’s prior knowledge, sparked debate given his opposition to self-glorifying tributes.
The National Theatre, built in the 1970s under military rule, had fallen into disrepair, which Soyinka once described as a “slum” unfit for cultural events.
He recalled a near-fatal incident in the 2000s when exposed wiring endangered actors during a performance of his play Camwood on the Leaves.
The building’s Bulgarian-inspired conical design, which he had mocked as a “general’s hat,” became a symbol of neglect.
On Thursday, Tinubu inaugurated the restored theatre, rehabilitated with funding from Nigerian banks after years of decay. Soyinka, who staged Death and the King’s Horseman there in 1977, praised the effort as a “tasty morsel” of redemption, reversing his earlier support for a private takeover.
The centre is expected to host international festivals and youth programmes aimed at strengthening Lagos’s creative sector.
Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel literature laureate in 1986, used the event to recognise figures such as Hubert Ogunde and Duro Ladipo, who helped establish Nigerian theatre during colonial and post-independence periods.
A co-founder of the Orisun Theatre Company in the 1960s, Soyinka’s works, including The Bacchae of Euripides, combine Yoruba traditions with global themes. His activism, including imprisonment during the 1967–1970 Biafran War, has also defined his public life.
Tinubu described the naming as a tribute to a figure of rare stature. (Guardian)
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