NBA legend Dwight Howard is heading for divorce just six months after tying the knot with rapper and reality TV star Amy Luciani.

According to court documents filed on July 1 in Georgia, Luciani cited that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” and said there are “no prospects for reconciliation.” She is requesting alimony and a fair division of marital assets. A mutual restraining order was also filed the following day.

Howard, 39, and Luciani got married on January 11, 2025, just weeks after publicly announcing their engagement in December 2024. The couple had shared loved-up photos and videos on social media, celebrating their new life together.

Luciani, known for her role on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, is also an entrepreneur and children’s book author. In 2023, she launched her first book titled Amy’s World.

Neither Howard nor Luciani has made a public statement regarding the divorce. Howard, who now plays in the Big3 League following a decorated 18-season NBA career, was recently named to the 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Chelsea will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid.

The announcement came just a day after FIFA revealed it has opened a new office inside Trump Tower in New York—a move seen as strengthening ties between world football’s governing body and the US administration.

The United States is hosting the inaugural expanded edition of the Club World Cup and will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. MetLife Stadium, the venue for Sunday’s final, is also set to host the World Cup final next year.

Trump, who previously attended the Super Bowl in February, currently chairs a White House taskforce overseeing preparations for both tournaments. Speaking on the growing partnership, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “We have received such big support from the government and from the president with the White House taskforce for the FIFA Club World Cup and for the FIFA World Cup next year.”

Infantino explained FIFA’s decision to set up its latest US office in Trump Tower, saying, “FIFA is a global organisation and to be global you have to be local, you have to be everywhere, so we have to be in New York.”

FIFA already operates an office in Miami, but its presence in Trump Tower places the body at the heart of US political and business activity.

Despite ongoing concerns over Trump’s immigration policies—including a travel ban affecting 12 countries and possible expansion to 36 more—Infantino has assured fans they will be welcomed in the US during the tournaments.

Trump has maintained a high profile in sports during his second term, becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl and confirming that Washington DC will host the 2027 NFL Draft. He has also been a frequent guest at UFC events and recently announced plans for the White House to host a UFC event next year.

Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has been handed a one-year prison sentence by a Spanish court over tax fraud linked to image rights earnings during his time as Real Madrid manager in 2014.

The 66-year-old Italian was also fined €386,361. However, he will not serve any jail time, as Spanish law allows first-time offenders to avoid prison for non-violent sentences under two years.

The Madrid court delivered the ruling on Wednesday, finding Ancelotti guilty of failing to declare income from image rights during his first spell at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015.

During the proceedings, Ancelotti reportedly told the court it was never his intention to evade taxes and that he “simply did as he was told by the club.”

He was cleared of similar allegations for the year 2015 after the court determined he had not resided in Spain long enough that year to incur tax obligations. Ancelotti left Spain for London following his dismissal from Real Madrid in May 2015.

Olympique Lyon have won their appeal against administrative relegation and will remain in Ligue 1 for the upcoming season.

The French football financial watchdog, DNCG, had initially ruled that Lyon be demoted to Ligue 2 due to financial irregularities, including a mounting debt exceeding €500 million. However, following an appeal hearing on Wednesday in Paris, the club presented a revised financial recovery plan that satisfied the authorities.

As a result, Lyon’s place in Ligue 1 has been restored, and they are now cleared to participate in next season’s UEFA Europa League after finishing sixth in the previous campaign.

The decision, while a major relief for Lyon, could complicate matters for Crystal Palace. Due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, Palace’s Europa League qualification is now under review since both clubs are linked to American businessman John Textor. UEFA may block both teams from competing in the same tournament unless ownership conflicts are resolved.

Textor is reportedly trying to sell his stake in Palace to comply with UEFA rules, and a final decision from the governing body is expected soon.

Lyon’s reinstatement ends weeks of uncertainty for the club and their fans, securing their top-flight status and preserving their European ambitions.

New signing Joao Pedro struck twice on his first Chelsea start to fire the Blues into the Club World Cup final with a 2-0 win over Fluminense at the MetLife Stadium.

The Brazilian forward opened the scoring with a clinical finish in the 18th minute of the semi-final clash and added a second just before the hour mark, setting up a final showdown with either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

Pedro, 23, joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion last week in a deal reportedly worth $79 million. He cut short his holiday to feature off the bench in the quarter-final win over Palmeiras, and was handed his full debut in place of the suspended Liam Delap.

Facing his boyhood club, Pedro chose not to celebrate either goal out of respect. He made 36 senior appearances for Fluminense before moving to England with Watford in 2020.

The defeat ends a memorable run for Fluminense, who had stunned Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, edged Inter Milan in the round of 16, and knocked out Al-Hilal—the team that had eliminated Manchester City—in the quarter-finals.

Their exit also ends any hope of a South American champion at the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, while Chelsea secured back-to-back wins over Brazilian opposition to book a spot in the final.

As widely expected, the title will be contested between two European giants, with both finalists among the last five winners of the UEFA Champions League.

“It is a great achievement. It has been a fantastic season – top four in the league, winning the Conference League, and now reaching the final of this competition. We are so, so happy,” said Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

“Now finally, it’s the last game of the season, and hopefully we can win the tournament.”

Fluminense manager Renato Portaluppi had described his side as the “ugly duckling” of the tournament due to their smaller budget compared to the other semi-finalists. His team, led by 40-year-old captain and former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, ultimately fell short.

“This was a wonderful Club World Cup,” said Portaluppi. “There is no crying over spilled milk now. We wanted to get to the final for our fans, but we leave with our heads held high and return to our reality stronger than before.”

Kylian Mbappe has officially withdrawn his complaint of moral harassment against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, according to his lawyer.

“We are withdrawing our civil action,” said Pierre-Olivier Sur, one of Mbappe’s legal representatives, on Monday—just two days before the Club World Cup semi-final between his current club, Real Madrid, and PSG.

The Paris prosecutor’s office had opened an investigation last month after the French international accused PSG of mistreatment at the start of the 2023–2024 season. Mbappe alleged that he was isolated from the main squad and made to train with players the club was planning to sell after he refused to sign a contract extension.

The reported sidelining drew criticism across the football community and triggered a wider conversation about the treatment of professional players in similar circumstances. The French players’ union also filed a complaint last year against such practices.

Mbappe, 26, was excluded from PSG’s pre-season tour of Asia in 2023 and did not feature in the team’s opening match of the season. However, he was later reintegrated into the squad following talks with club officials.

The French striker joined Real Madrid last summer after seven years with PSG. During his time in Paris, he scored 256 goals in 308 appearances. Interestingly, PSG went on to win their first-ever UEFA Champions League title the season after his departure.

Despite dropping the harassment complaint, Mbappe remains locked in a legal dispute with PSG over €55 million in unpaid wages and bonuses, which he insists the club still owes him.

Sex workers in Akure, the Ondo State capital, are mourning the tragic death of one of their colleagues following a violent encounter with a male client.

The incident, which occurred at a brothel in the Cathedral area, has sparked calls for improved safety measures and access to healthcare for those in the industry.

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased was hired by a male client for an overnight session after he paid ₦15,000. However, by the following morning, the man reportedly became aggressive when his expectations were not met.

A close friend of the deceased, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the victim had not been feeling well that night but still agreed to the client’s request.

“She was unwell but didn’t want to lose the money,” the friend told The Hope. “After he paid, he became violent when he wasn’t satisfied. Others intervened and tried to calm him down.”

The client later returned to the brothel demanding a refund, but by then, the woman was too weak to respond, and no one could access her phone due to a locked screen.

“We asked him to return later, hoping she would regain strength, but when he came back, the situation worsened. That was when we called the police,” she added.

The case has underscored the ongoing vulnerability of sex workers in Akure, many of whom operate without basic health insurance or formal protection.

“If she had health insurance, she could have gone to a hospital when she started feeling sick,” her friend lamented. “We live with constant health and safety risks, and no one seems to care.”

Another sex worker expressed emotional distress over the nature of the job and urged the government to intervene.

“This job is physically and emotionally draining. We need policies that protect us and channels to report abusive clients before it’s too late,” she said.

“That man clearly wanted more than what was agreed. Only used condoms were found in the room. If there were proper regulations, she might still be alive.”

The women are now urging both the government and brothel operators to implement safety protocols and provide access to healthcare and support systems.

One of the sex workers, Patricia Uwonkolo, highlighted the health challenges they face and the limited resources available.

“We have no choice but to protect ourselves. Nobody else will do it for us,” she said. “Some of us have formed support networks to manage drug use.

We don’t want to become addicts, but we use certain herbs or drugs to stay functional.”

She added that some charitable organizations have stepped in to offer basic medical support, including medications for treatment and recovery.

When approached for comment, the brothel owner declined to speak on the incident. “I’m not in the mood to say anything, please. If you want information, go to the police,” she said.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola stating that investigations are ongoing.

“The suspect allegedly mobilized some of his peers to forcibly retrieve the ₦15,000 from the woman. Our officers arrested three of his accomplices alongside him, while others fled. The matter is under investigation,” Olushola confirmed.

Former Croatia international Ivan Rakitic has officially retired from football at the age of 37, closing the curtain on a distinguished career that spanned top European clubs and historic moments on the international stage

The ex-Barcelona and Sevilla midfielder announced his decision in an emotional message shared on social media:
“Football, you gave me more than I ever dreamed of. You gave me friends, emotions, joy and tears. Now it’s time to say goodbye. Because even if I walk away from you, I know you’ll never walk away from me. Thank you, football. For everything.”

Rakitic began his professional journey at Basel, later moving to Schalke 04, before making his mark at Sevilla, where he won two Europa League titles. He later starred for Barcelona, playing a key role in the club’s 2015 treble-winning season, which included the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey titles.

On the international stage, he earned 106 caps for Croatia and was an integral part of the squad that reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, where they finished runners-up to France.

Rakitic briefly joined Saudi side Al Shabab in 2023, before spending his final season at Hajduk Split, where he wrapped up his storied career.

Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi made history at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, becoming the first African ever to break the 22-metre barrier in men’s shot put.

The 32-year-old launched a massive throw of 22.10m, smashing the African record and finishing third in what has been hailed the most competitive shot put event in history.

“It’s the highest result score of my career,” said Enekwechi, whose performance earned him 1246 points. He now holds seven of Africa’s top ten all-time shot put marks.

The event, part of the ninth leg of the 2025 Diamond League, saw five athletes throw beyond 22 metres for the first time ever. American Joe Kovacs won with 22.48m, followed by Roger Steen (22.11m), Enekwechi (22.10m), Adrian Piperi (22.09m) and Rajindra Campbell (22.04m).

The 2025 Prefontaine Classic also earned the distinction of being the highest-scoring single-day athletics meet ever, racking up a total of 98,121 points.

Team Nigeria delivered strong performances across the board:

• Tobi Amusan finished second in the women’s 100m hurdles with 12.38s, behind Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent who ran 12.32s.
• Rosemary Chukwuma placed fourth in the women’s 100m Invitational, clocking 11.09s.
• Favour Ofili secured fifth place in the main women’s 100m race.
• Ezekiel Nathaniel, making his Diamond League debut, impressed with a third-place finish in the men’s 400m hurdles in 47.88s.

The day was capped by two world records. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet shattered the women’s 5000m world record with 13:58.06, while Faith Kipyegon reclaimed her 1500m world record in 3:48.68.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has reportedly agreed to join Galatasaray on a permanent deal. According to Nigerian broadcast journalist Buchi Laba, who is said to be close to the Super Eagles forward.

Osimhen has given the green light to continue his career with the Turkish champions.

Laba shared the update on X, writing:
“Exclusive: Victor James Osimhen says YES to Galatasaray & wants to continue with the Turkish Team.
– Napoli for weeks have been pleading with Victor Osimhen to stay.
– Osimhen has made it very very clear that he wants to leave.
– Galatasaray and Napoli are currently in negotiations for the payment of his release clause.
– More information soon.”

Negotiations between both clubs are ongoing, as Napoli seeks a resolution over the striker’s release clause.