Diddy sued by man claiming he was forced to give him oral s£x on commercial set

Disgraced hip-hop mogul,  Sean "Diddy" Combs'  has been accused of s£xual ass@ult in a new civil lawsuit.

An anonymous man from Southern California, filing as John Doe, alleged Combs s£xually ass@ulted him on the set of a commercial in either 2022 or 2023, in a New York County Supreme Court complaint obtained by USA TODAY.

He claims that while filming a "high-profile commercial," Doe describing himself as a "photographer/production assistant"  "struck up a conversation" with Combs.

After Combs allegedly invited Doe into his trailer, he demanded Doe perform oral s£x on him and promised to "make your career take off." Doe called the alleged incident "blatant sexual quid-pro-quo."

"Combs framed this meeting as an opportunity for (Doe) to advance his career. (Doe), although hesitant, could not turn down what appeared to be a career-defining moment few ever receive," the lawsuit reads. "The implication was clear, also, that if (Doe) did not perform oral s£x on Combs to his satisfaction, his career would be over."

Doe, who "does not recall" why Combs was on set but noted high-profile people aren't always named on call sheets, accuses Combs of sexual battery and requests a jury trial in the case.

Combs' legal team, in a statement to USA TODAY, maintained their stance on his innocence, writing: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed — especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims — it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or s£x trafficked anyone; man or woman, adult or minor."

The statement continued, "We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court."

Niger coup leader sworn in as president for five years

Niger's military ruler has been sworn in as the country's president for a transitional period of five years.

Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani has led the country since 2023 after he deposed Niger's elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger has been plagued by jihadist attacks for many years - one of the issues junta leaders cited when staging their coup. The military takeover followed a string of others in the region - neighbouring Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are also run by juntas.

All four countries have severed ties with former colonial power France and forged new alliances with Russia and all except Guinea, have pulled out of ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc.

On Wednesday, March 26, Gen Tchiani took the presidential office under a new charter that replaces the country's constitution.

He was also promoted to the country's highest military rank of army general and signed a decree ordering that all political parties be dissolved.
 
During a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, Gen Tchiani said of his new military rank: “I receive this distinction with great humility... I will strive to live up to the trust placed in me.”

The transition to democratic rule is in line with recommendations that a commission made following national discussions.

This five-year time period is "flexible" depending on the country's security status, the new charter says.

Niger's relations with Ecowas broke down when the junta proposed a three-year transition period to democratic rule straight after the coup. Ecowas called this plan a "provocation" and threatened to intervene with the use of force, before later backing down.

Gen Tchiani's administration is prosecuting former President Bazoum on allegations of committing high treason and undermining national security. Bazoum is still being held in the presidential palace with his wife, while his son was granted a provisional release last January.

National assembly didn’t get two-thirds to ratify Rivers emergency rule - Tambuwal

Aminu Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto South, has stated that the National Assembly did not garner the required two-thirds majority before ratifying the emergency rule in Rivers State.

Last Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the prolonged political crisis and vandalization of oil installations. The proclamation led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six months. In their place, Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator of the state.

On Thursday, March 20, the Senate and the House of Representatives controversially approved Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule. Several stakeholders, including the South-South Governors’ Forum, have condemned the decision.

Section 305 (6) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a proclamation of emergency must be supported by a two-thirds majority of all members in both chambers of the National Assembly. With 360 members in the House of Representatives and 109 in the Senate, Tinubu needed at least 240 votes in the lower chamber and 73 in the Senate for the approval to stand. However, both chambers ratified the decision through a voice vote, a method that does not determine the exact number of lawmakers in support or opposition.

Speaking tp The Sun, Tambuwal argued that the National Assembly erred in approving the emergency rule.

“I will be speaking to you from the point of view of being a lawyer, a member of the body of benchers and a life bencher for that matter and not necessarily as a lawmaker who is a member of the 10th Senate, and, in addition to that, possibly my experience as a former presiding officer, former Speaker of the House of Representatives who presided over a matter such as this in 2013,” he said.

“Section 305 of the constitution is very clear. It is unambiguous, the language is very plain, of the constitution as to first, how the president can declare a state of emergency and what is required of the legislature, the two chambers — both the Senate and the House of Representatives before passing such a resolution.

“What is required is that you must obtain and have two-thirds of all the members of either of the two chambers in support of the resolution.

“In the case of what happened in the Senate, where I belong, I don’t know whether members of your team who are members of the press corps had the privilege of checking the (Senate) register to see whether there were up to 72 or 73 senators on the floor. From what I saw, there was no such number on the floor on that day.

“So, if you juxtapose that to the requirement of the constitution which says that the Senate must have two-thirds of its members, all of its members to pass that resolution in support of it, not just present and voting. No. Supporting it. It means that what was done fell short of the provision of the constitution.”

Tambuwal further argued that the National Assembly ignored precedents in handling the emergency rule declaration.

“Parliament is supposed to be guided by the constitution, its rules and its precedents,” he said.

“State of emergency was declared under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Two-thirds had to be garnered in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“State of emergency was declared during the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2013 in Borno State. Also, in Adamawa and Yobe. We had to garner two-thirds.”

On March 21, Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa West, said Tambuwal was among the lawmakers who opposed the decision during the closed session.

First Black Republican woman to be elected to the US House d!es at 49 after brain cancer battle

Mia Love, the child of Haitian immigrants who went on to become a City Council member, mayor, and the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, has d!ed after a three-year-long battle with brain cancer. She was 49.

Love’s family posted news of her de@th on Love’s X account.

She had undergone recent treatment for brain cancer and received immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial at Duke University’s brain tumor center.

Her daughter said earlier this month that the former lawmaker was no longer responding to treatment.

Love died at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, according to a statement posted by the family.

“With grateful hearts filled to overflowing for the profound influence of Mia on our lives, we want you to know that she passed away peacefully,” her family said. “We are thankful for the many good wishes, prayers, and condolences.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to Love as a “true friend” and said her legacy of service inspired all who knew her.

Love entered politics in 2003 after winning a seat on the city council in Saratoga Springs, a growing community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. She later became the city’s mayor.

In 2012, Love narrowly lost a bid for the House against the Democratic incumbent, former Rep. Jim Matheson, in a district that covers a string of Salt Lake City suburbs. She ran again two years later and defeated first-time candidate Doug Owens by about 7,500 votes.

In an op-ed published earlier this month in the Deseret News, Love described the version of America she grew up loving and shared her enduring wish for the nation to become less divisive. She thanked her medical team and every person who had prayed for her.

Love said her parents immigrated to the U.S. with $10 in their pocket and a belief that hard work would lead to success. She said she was raised to believe passionately in the American dream and “to love this country, warts and all.” America at its roots is respectful, resilient, giving, and grounded in gritty determination, she said.