Usher & GF Jenn Goicoechea welcome baby girl

Singer Usher is a dad for the third time.

The 41-year-old R&B crooner announced the birth of his 'beautiful baby girl' Sovereign with girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea, 36, in an Instagram post on Wednesday. 

It's been less than a year since the couple embarked upon their whirlwind romance, as they were first linked together last October.

UN calls on Nigeria to scrap death penalty for musician Yahaya Aminu Sharif who was sentenced to death by Sharia court

The UN has called on Nigeria to scrap the death sentence handed to a musician by a Sharia court for sharing a 'blasphemous' song on WhatsApp.

Yahaya Aminu Sharif, 22, was handed the death penalty last month by a Sharia court in Kano, in Nigeria's mostly Muslim north, and faces being hanged. 'Music is not a crime,' read a joint statement from the group of UN officials on Monday. Application of the death penalty for artistic expression or for sharing a song on the internet is a flagrant violation of international human rights law, as well as of Nigeria's constitution,' said Karima Bennoune, a UN expert on cultural rights. 

'Artistic expression of opinion and beliefs, through songs or other media – including those seen to offend religious sensibilities – is protected in accordance with international law,' the statement added. 'The criminalization of these expressions is unlawful. Music is not a crime.' 

The rights experts said Nigeria should overturn the death sentence and guarantee the singer's safety while he launched an appeal. Protesters enraged by the song burned down Sharif's family home on March 4 amid protests demanding he be punished. The singer had gone into hiding after sharing the song, which praised an imam from the Tijaniya Muslim brotherhood to the point where it gave him higher status than the Prophet Muhammad, the BBC reported. 

Islamic gospel musician Sharif belongs to a separate branch of Tijaniyya Sufi order.

ISIS use donkey strapped with explosives to ambush Governor Babagana Zulum's convoy

ISIS have used a donkey strapped with explosives to ambush a Nigerian governor's convoy.

The animal was blown to pieces when guards shot its bombs before it could reach them as Governor Babagana Zulum returned to the Borno state capital of Maiduguri. As the explosives detonated, militants appeared from cover and opened fire on the convoy. 

Fortunately nobody in the convoy was injured in the attempt on the governor's life, the second in as many days in the war-ravaged northeast of the country.

Kuwait's ruler His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah dies aged 91

The ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has died at the age of 91. 

Sabah had been in hospital in the United States since July following surgery for an unspecified condition in Kuwait that same month.

'With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn... the death of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,' said Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, the minister in charge of royal affairs, in a television broadcast. The leader of the US ally came to power in 2006, after decades as the country's top diplomat, following a vote to oust his predecessor just nine days into his rule. 

Nicknamed the 'dean of Arab diplomacy', Sabah stood out for his efforts to resolve a bitter dispute between Qatar and other Arab nations that continues to this day. But as Kuwait's ruling emir, he struggled with internal political disputes, the fallout of the 2011 Arab Spring protests and seesawing crude oil prices that chewed into a national budget providing cradle-to-grave subsidies. 

His successor is his brother, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

Musicians Who Have Become Successful Actors

From music to television and films, these stars can do it all!

1. Harry Styles

Harry Styles may have gotten his start in a boy band, but after One Direction split, he went on to launch both a solo career and an acting career.

In 2017, Harry made his debut in Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning film “Dunkirk.” It was recently announced that Styles will replace Shia LaBeouf in “Don’t Worry Darling,” taking the lead in the upcoming thriller starring alongside Florence Pugh.

2. Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly, AKA Colson Baker, kicked off his music career in 2006, but by 2014 he had landed his first acting gig. He made his debut in romantic drama “Beyond the Lights” and two years later was cast in a recurring role in the Showtime series “Roadies.”

He most recently joined the cast of action-thriller “One Way,” where he will play a criminal on the run — and met current girlfriend Megan Fox working on “Midnight In the Switchgrass.”

3. Halsey

Halsey may not have many acting roles under her belt besides a guest appearance — playing herself — in “A Star Is Born,” but she’s about to make her small screen debut.

She just landed a role in “The Player’s Table,” based on Jessica Goodman’s novel “They Wish They Were Us.” Halsey will produce the series as well as portray an emotionally troubled young woman who returns to her Long Island prep school to help prove her brother is not guilty of murder.

4. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga made a few small on-screen appearances — like an uncredited role in “The Sopranos” and a role in “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” — before being cast in two seasons of “American Horror Story.” She took home a Golden Globe for her role as the Countess in “AHS: Hotel.”

But Gaga’s biggest break was her starring role in “A Star Is Born,” which earned her critical acclaim including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and a win for Best Original Song.

5. Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake made his acting debut while still in *NSYNC, appearing on Disney Channel’s “Model Behavior.”

After parting ways with his boy band and launching a solo career, Justin also delved into acting. Since then, he’s appeared in multiple films including “Bad Teacher,” “Friends With Benefits,” and “The Social Network,” where his portrayal of Sean Parker allowed him to transition into more dramatic roles.

His next film, “Palmer,” will follow an ex-convict who strikes up a friendship with a boy from a troubled home.

6. Beyonce

Before Beyoncé had even broken away from Destiny’s Child, she’d already landed roles in MTV’s made-for-TV “Carmen: A Hip Hopera,” as well as a role in “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

She went on to appear in “The Fighting Temptations” and “The Pink Panther,” before being cast as one of the leading ladies in “Dreamgirls.” She has also appeared in “Obsessed,” “Cadillac Records” and most recently voiced Nala in the live action version of “The Lion King.”

7. Mandy Moore

While many fans may know Mandy Moore from her starring role in “This Is Us,” she actually started her career as a pop star.

Amid her success as a musician, she landed a minor role in “The Princess Diaries,” before her notable starring role in the tear-jerking adaptation of “A Walk to Remember.” She went on to appear in “Saved!” and “47 Meters Down,” before making her TV debut as Rebecca in “This Is Us.”

8. Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson got her start when she came in seventh place on “American Idol.” Her amazing vocal chops landed her a role in “Dreamgirls,” later taking home both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her portrayal of Effie. She went on to appear in “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Winnie Mandela,” “Lullaby,” “Chi-Raq,” and “Cats.”

Jennifer is also set to star in the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect,” a role which she was hand-selected for by Aretha herself.

9. Rihanna

During Rihanna’s first film appearance in “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” she may have portrayed herself, but she has since moved on to more serious roles.

In 2012, she played a petty officer in “Battleship” and later landed a role in the “Bates Motel” television series. She’s also appeared in “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” “Guava Island” and most recently portrayed hacker Nine Ball in “Ocean’s Eight.”

10. Cardi B

After her music career skyrocketed her to fame, Cardi B made her big screen debut in 2019’s “Hustlers.” After the film’s major success, Cardi will be appearing in the ninth installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise, “F9.”

We don’t doubt she’ll have more film and TV roles to come!

11. Tim McGraw

If you’re not a country fan, you may not have realized that music superstar Tim McGraw has also had some major success as an actor.

His first foray into acting was a minor appearance on “The Jeff Foxworthy Show,” later landing a role in “Friday Night Lights.” He was highly acclaimed for his role in “The Blind Side,” and has since been cast in “Country Strong,” and “The Shack.”

12. Will Smith

When Will Smith was still a teenager, he and Jeff Townes launched a massively successful rap career under the name DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.

By 1991, NBC had developed a show around Will, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which lasted for six seasons. Will then segued to roles in “Bad Boys,” “Independence Day,” and “Men in Black.” He’s even earned Oscar nods for his roles in “The Pursuit of Happyness” and ‘Ali.”

13. Queen Latifah

In 1989, Queen Latifah’s hit record “All Hail the Queen” led her to one of her first on-screen roles on Fox sitcom “Living Single,” for which she also wrote and produced the music.

In 1999, she found her breakout in “The Bone Collector” and since then, has appeared in numerous film and television shows including “Chicago,” “Beauty Shop,” “Hairspray,” “Girls Trip,” and “Star.”

14. Cher

Cher’s illustrious career began in the 1960s as part of Sonny & Cher, with the duo eventually landing two of their own television shows.

From there, she headed to Broadway to star in “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” which earned her a role in the film adaption as well as a Golden Globe nomination. Cher went on to appear in “Mask,” “Moonstruck,” and “Mermaids.” She most recently appeared in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”

15. Madonna

Just a year after releasing her debut album “Like a Virgin,” Madonna made her big screen debut in “Desperately Seeking Susan.”

After receiving praise for the role, Madonna went on to appear in “Dick Tracy,” “A League of Their Own,” and in 1996, earned a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in “Evita.” She also co-starred in “The Next Best Thing” and made a cameo in “Die Another Day.”

She’s also directed two feature films and is set to direct her own upcoming biopic, co-written by Diablo Cody.

16. Mark Wahlberg

In the early ’90s, Mark Wahlberg kicked off his music career under the moniker Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and his debut album went platinum.

Several years later, he landed his first film role in “The Basketball Diaries” alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, before starring in “Fear” opposite Reese Witherspoon.

One of his most notable roles came in 1997, when he was cast in “Boogie Nights” and in his portrayal of a dishwasher turned porn star. Since then, Mark has appeared in films like “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “The Departed,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “The Fighter.”

17. Ice-T

After launching his career as a rapper in the 1980s and as frontman of heavy metal band Body Count, Ice-T made an unexpected foray into television the following decade.

In 1991, he landed a role playing a police detective “New Jack City,” later appearing in “Ricochet,” “Tank Girl,” “Trespass,” and “Surviving the Game.” In 2000, he was cast as sergeant Odafin Tutuola on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” who has gone on to be one of the most iconic cop characters on television.

Why Google will block ads related to the US presidential election

Google will block ads related to the US presidential election after polls close on November 3 in a bid to avoid confusion among the public.

Google is set to block ads related to the US presidential election after polls close on November 3. The tech giant will implement its sensitive event policy, which is rolled out during fast moving events in order to avoid confusion among the public. 

In the email to advertisers, Google states it will not allow ads 'referencing candidates, the election, or its outcome, given that an unprecedented amount of votes will be counted after election day this year.' Google said the amount of time the block will stay in place has not been determined, as it will have to 'examine a number of factors before deciding to lift this policy.' 

YouTube will also remove videos promoting efforts to interfere with the voting process such as telling viewers to create long voting lines.

PLEASE READ: Top 20 Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Inflammation is part of the body’s defense mechanism and plays a role in the healing process.

When our body is exposed to inflammatory factors, it releases white blood cells to defend our other cells and tissues.
So what causes this chronic inflammation? 

Research has identified a range of factors, including environmental pollution and toxins; lifestyle issues such as stress, smoking and excess alcohol; and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. 

If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or blocked arteries, or are obese or suffer from an autoimmune condition, the science indicates you are already experiencing chronic inflammation. symptoms of chronic inflammation include pain; chronic fatigue and insomnia; depression and anxiety; gastro-intestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhoea, and acid reflux; weight gain or weight loss; and frequent infections.

• Tomatoes
• Red wine 
• Apples
• Cherries
• Carrots
• Nuts 
• Tea and coffee (in particular green tea and white tea, available from health food shops — white tea is made with young or less processed leaves)
• Onions
• Courgettes
• Aubergines
• Green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach and broccoli
• Yoghurt that has been minimally processed
• Oily fish, including salmon, sardines, herring and anchovies
• Beans
• Olives
• Seeds, such as linseed, pumpkin and chia
• Turmeric
• Dark chocolate
• Red peppers
• Peaches

Vladimir Putin is nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize

Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The leader was put forward by a group of Russian writers led by Sergey Komkov, according to Russian news agency TASS. 

They submitted the application in Oslo on September 10, putting him alongside Donald Trump in the list of potential candidates for the prestigious award.

Rio Carnival postponed for the first time in 100 years because of #coronavirus

The Rio de Janeiro Carnival which was set to hit the streets next February has been postponed for the first time in 108-years due to coronavirus.

The carnival attracts millions of visitors to Brazil each year. But Brazil has been one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic with 4.5 million infections and more than 138,000 deaths. Samba schools involved in the parade typically spend the entire year preparing for the event. 

They had warned in July that it would be difficult to organise the carnival, which was to run between Friday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 17, without a vaccine.

Packed crowds dance through the streets and flock to the iconic Sambadrome for massive parades which feature scantily clad dancers, small armies of drummers and all night partying. This event has now been postponed indefinitely. 

The is the first time the event has been cancelled since 1912. 

It was not held then due to the death of the long-time foreign minister Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos Junior.

REVEALED: #TIME100's 'Wokest' 2020 Most Influential People

Dr Anthony Fauci, President Donald Trump and the founders of Black Lives Matter have been named to TIME magazine's 2020 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Introducing the 2020 #TIME100 featuring the pioneers, artists, leaders, icons and titans who have had the most impact this year:

PIONEERS

• Megan Thee Stallion
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Ibram X. Kendi
• Nathan Law
• Tomi Adeyemi
• Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir
• Julie K. Brown
• Cecilia Martinez
• Maya Moore
• Chase Strangio
• Zhang Yongzhen
• Tourmaline
• Waad al-Kateab
• Abubacarr Tambadou
• Gabriela Cámara
• Camilla Rothe
• Rebecca Gomperts
• Ravindra Gupta
• Lauren Gardner
• Shi Zhengli
• Shiori Ito

ARTISTS

• The Weeknd
• Ali Wong
• Michael B. Jordan
• Selena Gomez
• J Balvin
• JoJo Siwa
• Halsey
• Phoebe Waller-Bridge
• Jennifer Hudson
• Yo-Yo Ma
• Dapper Dan
• Anaïs Mitchell
• Michaela Coel
• Bong Joon Ho
• LASTESIS
• Julie Mehretu
• Ayushmann Khurrana

LEADERS

• Anthony Fauci
• Kamala Harris
• Tsai Ing-wen
• John Roberts
• Xi Jinping
• Donald Trump
• Caesar
• Angela Merkel
• Joe Biden
• Jair Bolsonaro
• Nancy Pelosi
• Narendra Modi
• William Barr
• Anne Hidalgo
• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• Mary Kay Henry
• Nemonte Nenquimo
• Ursula von der Leyen
• Jung Eun-kyeong
• Bonnie Castillo
• Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum
• Yousef Al Otaiba

TITANS

• Gabrielle Union
• Dwyane Wade
• Sundar Pichai
• Tyler Perry
• MacKenzie Scott
• Robert F. Smith
• Lewis Hamilton
• Jerome Powell
• Eric Yuan
• Patrick Mahomes
• Claire Babineaux-Fontenot
• Greg Berlanti
• Shari Redstone
• Tony Elumelu
• Zhong Nanshan
• Kristalina Georgieva
• Lisa Nishimura
• General Charles Q. Brown Jr
• Daniel Zhang
• Gwynne Shotwell
• Tunji Funsho

ICONS

• Amy O'Sullivan
• Black Lives Matter Founders Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi
• Ady Barkan
• Billy Porter
• Naomi Osaka
• Angela Davis
• Chi Chia-wei
• Megan Rapinoe
• Felipe Neto
• Allyson Felix
• Sister Norma Pimentel
• David Hill
• Arussi Unda
• Nury Turkel
• Lina Attalah
• Bilkis

Read more HERE.

President Trump reveals when he will announce his SCOTUS pick

President Donald Trump said he will announce his nominee for the Supreme Court at 5 pm on Saturday.

'I'm getting very close to having a final decision made, very close,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday evening, of his pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reported to be at the top of his short list with Judge Barbara Lagoa in second. Trump has vowed to pick a woman to replace Ginsburg, a feminist icon and hero to liberals. Whomever he picks, the president is expected to shift the court to the right with his decision. 

Saturday's announcement will come shortly before the president leaves for Pennsylvania, where he will hold a rally in Middletown in the crucial 2020 battleground state.

Photos: Single mother Sammy Wilson, 26, aims to have the smallest waist in the world

A single mother who wants to break the record for the world's smallest waist has revealed that she wears a corset for 18 hours a day to shrink her already tiny 21.5-inch torso.

Sammy Wilson, 26, from Georgia, started waist training in April 2019 to help add some curves to her frame after losing weight. She can now squeeze into a 15-inch corset, and she's determined to whittle her 21.5-inch waist down to 14 inches. 'I want to have the smallest waist in the world,' she explained. 

'If I get down to 14 inches my waist will be roughly the same size as an average newborn baby's head and one inch smaller than the current world record.'