Rabbi, several others arrested in public benefits fraud case

A New Jersey rabbi and his wife and three other couples defrauded state and federal public assistance programs out of more than $1 million by underreporting their incomes, according to criminal complaints released Monday.

One of the couples continued to receive Medicaid assistance for their children despite making more than $1 million in both 2012 and 2013, according to one criminal complaint.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said more arrests are expected as a result of the investigation centered on Lakewood, a town near central New Jersey's shore that is home to a large and growing ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Rabbi Zalmen Sorotzkin, of Congregation Lutzk in Lakewood, and his wife, Tzipporah, were charged with collecting more than $338,000 in benefits prosecutors said they weren't entitled to. They were charged in state court along with Mordechai and Jocheved Breskin, who prosecutors said collected more than $585,000 in benefits.

Zalmen Sorotzkin's brother, Mordechai, and his wife, Rachel, were one of two couples charged in separate federal complaints with conspiring to fraudulently obtain Medicaid benefits.

The couple made more than $1 million in 2012 and in 2013, the complaint alleges, but still received more than $96,000 in Medicaid benefits, including $22,000 to pay for medical expenses when their sixth child was born in November 2013.

"Everything is going to work out and all will be vindicated," said Rachel Sorotzkin's attorney, Fred Zemel.

The couples charged in federal court were given $100,000 bond and their travel limited to New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, while the couples charged in state court were released without bail, but have to surrender their passports.

According to a federal complaint, Yocheved and Shimon Nussbaum hid their income by creating companies that they controlled and were run by relatives. The couple made approximately $265,000 in 2011, more than double the maximum allowed to receive Medicaid benefits and more than triple the maximum for Section 8 benefits, according to the complaint.

The investigation was initiated by the FBI and the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller. It later expanded to include U.S. Social Security Administration, the state Department of the Treasury and the Ocean County prosecutor's office.

"Financial assistance programs are designed to alleviate family hardships for those truly in need," Coronato said in a statement. "My office gave clear guidance and notice to the Lakewood community in 2015 of what is considered financial abuse of these programs.

"Those who choose to ignore those warnings by seeking to illegally profit on the backs of taxpayers will pay the punitive price of their actions." - Associated Press

EU effort to halt migrants founders in Libya's chaos

When Libya's coastguard received the first of a long-awaited batch of patrol boats from Italy last month, two of the four vessels still had mechanical problems and one broke down on the way to Tripoli.

As Italy's interior minister later flew in to present the boats officially at a naval base in the Libyan capital, coast guards grumbled that the vessels were old and had little deck space for rescued migrants.

"They want us to be Europe's policeman. At the same time, that policeman needs resources," said naval coastguard spokesman Ayoub Qassem. "I challenge anyone to work in these conditions."

Half a million people have crossed the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy over the past four years, mainly sub-Saharan Africans who pay smugglers to shepherd them across the desert to Libya, and onward to Europe in unseaworthy dinghies. An estimated 13,000 of them have drowned.

European governments want to stop the migrants and break the grip of the smugglers. But more than four months after Italy and the European Union launched a new push to tackle the crisis, accounts by migrants, aid workers and officials show that effort is all but failing to make a difference.

When Libyan authorities do catch migrants, they take them to detention centres nominally under the control of the government, which already house about 8,000 people. Though Europeans have pledged funding to improve the camps, some are still so cramped that migrants have to sleep sitting up.

At Tripoli's Tariq al-Siqqa migrant centre, where visiting dignitaries are brought, flowers have been planted in the courtyard and wash-basins installed. But behind a padlocked metal gate hundreds of migrants still languish, crammed side to side on mattresses in a single unventilated room.

"They shut us up, they imprison us, they ask us for money," said one 22-year-old from Guinea, who has been in the centre since March, when he was intercepted by the Libyan coastguard with about 120 other migrants shortly after they set off for Italy. "They hit people. They don't like black skin."

NO TURKEY DEAL IN NORTH AFRICA
The sea route from the Libyan coast is one of two main routes in the biggest flow of migrants to Europe since World War Two. The other, by sea from Turkey to Greece, was largely shut down last year after an agreement between the EU and Ankara, but the flow from Libya has only increased.

This year has already seen 70,000 people make the journey, with the summer peak season for the voyage only just beginning. An estimated 2,000 have died so far this year.
Unlike Turkey, Libya is still seen as too dangerous for Europeans to send migrants back, so those who make it into international waters usually end up in Italy.

Libya's people-smuggling networks flourished amid the upheaval that followed the revolution that toppled dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011, and their trade surged after 2014, when conflict spread and rival governments were set up in Tripoli and the east.

Since last year, the EU has made a push to cooperate with a new Libyan government backed by the United Nations. Coastguard training began on board EU ships in October. In February, Italy signed a memorandum of understanding with Tripoli that the EU quickly endorsed, earmarking 90 million euros.

But Europe has delivered little concrete support, said Tarek Shanbour, a senior coastguard official. "We meet, we talk, we take decisions, we make agreements, but on the ground there is no execution."
The Libyan government has little sway outside the capital or even over some of the ministries within it. Its authority has been rejected in the east and is barely felt in the south where smugglers bring migrants in across the Sahara.

"So far we can't say as the European Union we've achieved much," a European official said on condition of anonymity. "The point is we need short term solutions but there are no short term solutions. There is no Turkey deal in North Africa."

MIGRANTS ABUSED
As European policy makers study longer-term schemes to improve security on Libya's southern borders, wean communities off smuggling, and provide aid in migrants' countries of origin, Libyan officials worry that numbers inside Libya will swell.

They say they have little capacity to host migrants in a country deep in economic crisis, where nearly 250,000 are still internally displaced.
European funding has helped increase voluntary repatriations of migrants caught in Libya who agree to return home, but this is unlikely to surpass 10,000 this year. [nL5N1H76Q6]
Migrants caught by the Libyan coastguard at sea or swept up in nighttime raids are detained in migrant centres, both official ones nominally run by the government and others run by an array of armed groups.

Those running the centres raise money by making migrants or their families pay for their release, selling them back to smugglers or hiring them out for labour, migrants say. Sexual abuse is common, according to a former member of staff at one of the Tripoli centres.

In unofficial centres and holding houses in western and southern Libya, run by militias or even by smugglers themselves, conditions are said to be far worse. Migrants say video or audio of them being tortured is relayed to their families to extort cash transfer payments.

Migrants at Tariq Siqqa who were previously held at another, half-built camp near Tripoli's Mitiga airport said they were forced to build the centre themselves. Several had died from untreated illnesses. A Reuters  request to visit the centre was declined.

Detention centre staff say they lack resources, and sometimes have to use force with desperate or unruly migrants.
Mohamed Bishr, the head of Tripoli's Department of Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), dismissed reports of abuse and killings, saying migrants were detained for their protection.

"Given the security situation inside the Libyan state they cannot leave the detention centres because they do not have identification documents," he said, speaking in a roomy, air conditioned office inside the Tariq Siqqa centre. "They might face the worst if they leave."

Real Madrid the latest to be linked with Cedric

Southampton defender Cedric Soares enjoyed a superb season, and a host of top European clubs have been linked with him ahead of a summer move.

The latest to join the race are Real Madrid, according to reports in Portugal.
A Bola, as reported by Sport Witness, have reported today that all three of Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona are keen to sign Cedric from Saints this summer.

The Portugal international had his best ever season last term and with full-backs becoming all the more sought after, it should come as no surprise to see such interest in the defender this summer.
It’s stated in the report that Sporting CP will take 15% from any future sale of Cedric, but Saints will be keen to keep hold of the defender ahead of next season.

Real Madrid already have both Dani Carvajal and Danilo at their disposal, so it’d be somewhat surprising to see them move for another right-back.

Traore signs for Lyon

Chelsea Football Club have today confirmed the departure of attacker Bertrand Traore to Lyon.

The versatile forward joins the French side on a permanent deal having enjoyed a superb season with Ajax on loan last term.
Traore was judged not to have had a future at Stamford Bridge and this has subsequently led to his sale, leaving the club to sign for Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

The young forward impressed under Peter Bosz in the Eredivisie last season and helped Ajax to a hugely successful campaign in the Europa League. The Dutch outfit reached the final of the illustrious competition but were defeated by Manchester United in Stockholm.

Traore will now look to kick on and make an impression at Lyon.

Nigerian rapper, SauceKid handed two-year jail term in US for credit card fraud

Nigerian rapper, Babalola Falemi, popularly known as SauceKid, has been sentenced to two years in jail in the US for credit card theft.
SauceKid was accused of stealing $15,388 from bank card numbers and was arrested at the Boise Airport in Idaho, US.

Police say he was able to withdraw cash from bank ATMs and bought merchandise from stores between July 23 and 26, 2016. The rapper was caught with a card-encoding device and about $6,000 cash.

According to Idaho Statesman, SauceKid pleaded guilty to one of the counts of aggravated identity theft, after which other charges were dismissed.

He has also been placed on one year of supervised release, after he might have served his prison term.

Chris Brown and Migos' entourages 'involved in brawl at BET Awards after-party'

Chris Brown and Migos' entourages reportedly came to blows at a BET Awards after-party in Los Angeles on Sunday (25.06.17).

The 28-year-old singer had just finished premiering his new music video with Future at the event near the Microsoft Theater when he came across the hip-hop trio and the situation is said to have spiralled out of control.

A member of Chris' entourage pushed rapper Quavo, according to TMZ, which claims that someone from the Migos camp then became embroiled in the situation and was punched.
Chris, for his part, kept his distance from the scuffle - but Migos and some friends reportedly followed the controversial musician to his car, where they surrounded him.

However, the tension soon died down and Chris was able to walk away from the situation without any further problems being caused.
And by the time police officers had arrived on the scene, everyone involved in the earlier incident had gone their separate ways.

Earlier this month, meanwhile, Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year restraining order against Chris.
The model told a court how her ex-boyfriend issued violent threats against her after they had split up almost three years ago.

Karrueche, 29, also claimed the singer sent her messages which said things like: "I'm not being nice to you no more, if I see you out in public again and I'm there I will make you hate me even more, don't be anywhere I'm out in public, I'm going to ban you from all events."

In her testimony, Karrueche alleged that the 'Yeah 3x' hitmaker - who was previously convicted of assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna - had beaten her before.
Karrueche said she feared for her safety and needed permanent protection, a request the judge ultimately agreed with.

David and Victoria Beckham Danced Their Way Through Ed Sheeran's Glastonbury Set

Just six years after he played the festival's smallest set, Ed Sheeran headlined Glastonbury last night - and no one was happier than Victoria and David Beckham who watched from the sidelines.

The happy-looking couple filmed the singer's show on their phones and couldn't resist dancing along themselves. Victoria threw her hands in the air, while David kept it cooler with a pared-back head bop.

The designer arrived at Glastonbury via helicopter, naturally, enjoying the luxury version of the festival.



She shared a few Instagram stories of her weekend, including a shot of two engraved his-and-hers hip flasks featuring their initials, as well as image of a nice bottle of wine.

How I was duped by Nigerian pastors – Super Eagles player, Opabunmi

Former Super Eagles winger, Femi Opabunmi has revealed how he was swindled by some pastors in the South West part of Nigeria in a bid for him to regain his sight.

The player told Complete Sports that he suddenly lost his sight during training with his French second division side, Niort in 2006.

He said after two unsuccessful surgery in France, he returned to Nigeria in search of a cure for his partial blindness, but according to him, he was duped by Nigerian pastors.

He said, “Many believed I was cursed, even my mother, because in Paris the doctors medically said there was nothing wrong with my eyes.”
Opabunmi was one of the best players at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he helped Nigeria reach the final.

“Funds were given to me to survive by my former teammates (including Osaze Odemwingie) and well wishers.

“I gave pastors some of the money, hoping that if I got healed I would start afresh with a coaching career.
“I visited several churches and mountains in search of a cure but it never happened.

“They duped me of my small cash. I paid more that N400,000 to pastors to see that I got cured but nothing happened.
“I also went to see some Imams as well. But they all turned out to be false men of God who duped me all the way.”

South African Church bars blacks

A South African Church has barred blacks from attending service.

The church on Sunday disallowed two black journalists from entering

The Afrikaanse Protestante Kerk church in Orania, told the journalists “the church is only for whites”.
Orania is an Afrikaans-only South African town located along the banks of the Orange River, in the arid Karoo region of the Northern Cape Province.

The journalists were on an assignment and decided to attend a Sunday service before returning to Pretoria but they were intercepted by a church leader, identified as Mr. Theunis Oukamp, at the door.

According to Africa Review, Oukamp said allowing black people into an all-white church would be violating the “rights of Afrikaans people”.
“I am now in a difficult situation. You know that Orania, is only for white people, this is why we are here.

“You must understand I know you want to serve God and everything but I have to protect the rights of Afrikaans people. So I cannot let you in, you guys can go to any other church, but this one is only for white people,” Mr. Oukamp told the journalists.

Mr. Langton Ndlovu, a Christian, described the move as ‘diabolical’.
“This is demonic, in this day and age, I never thought this was real. That’s unacceptable. I wonder how they read the scripture that says “there is neither Greek nor Jew” but we’re one in Christ,” said Mr. Ndlovu.

The president of the South Africa Union Council of Independent Churches, Archbishop Modiri Patrick Shole, expressed shock that there was still segregation in the body of Christ, 23 years after apartheid ended.

“We don’t discriminate in church because before God we are one – whether white or black. I find it weird that we still have discrimination in the church,” he said. - NAN

Leicester eye Iheanacho move

Leicester are interested in signing Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City, according to Sky sources.

Sky Sports News HQ understands manager Craig Shakespeare has prioritised the signing of a new striker this summer and has identified the Nigeria international as one of his top targets.
Iheanacho's current contract runs until 2021 and Sky Sports News HQ understands City value him at £20m.

West Ham have already submitted a £20m bid for the 20-year-old, but City are yet to decide whether to accept the offer.
Iheanacho featured 28 times for City last season, scoring seven goals.

However, he made just one start for City in 2017, with that appearance coming back on January 2 in the 2-1 win over Burnley.
Iheanacho joined City's academy in 2014 and made his first-term debut in the 2-0 victory over Watford in August 2015.

He scored his first City goal on his second appearance for the club and went on to net a further 13 goals during the 2015/16 campaign, which included a hat-trick against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Antonio Conte's agent claims Chelsea move was close

.Antonio Conte’s agent Federico Pastorello has claimed that the Blues were close to signing Inter Milan midfielder Antonio Candreva back in January, speaking to Rai Sport.

Pastorello told Rai Sport:

“This past January, Chelsea wanted to sign Antonio Candreva. They needed a replacement for Oscar and Antonio would have been a good one. However, he had just joined Inter and Suning do not want to sell their best players. I don’t know if he’ll stay at Inter, I’ll talk to [Inter Directors] Ausilio and Sabatini.”

Candreva only joined Inter from Lazio at the start of last season in a deal worth €22 million and with Champions League football back at Stamford Bridge, Conte may well reignite his interest in Candreva this summer if Inter Milan are willing to do business with the Premier League champions.
Candreva and Conte have previously worked with each other when Conte was in charge of the national side and it is believed that the pair have a good relationship.

Nnamdi Kanu : Goodluck Jonathan was incompetent

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu berated immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan as the real cause of Nigeria’s problems.

Kanu, who spoke with the Sun over the weekend, said Jonathan’s wife, Patience, would have been a better president than her husband.
He said, “Jonathan is my uncle, yes. I was one of those who said Jonathan’s tenure was more or less an Igbo presidency; it’s on record I said that.

“But, he knew I never liked his regime because he was weak and incompetent.
“I don’t support evil; if you do good, I will tell you, if you do bad, I will say it the way it is; I don’t curry favours.

“He was weak, I said I wish it was aunty Patience Jonathan who was in-charge, she would have done better.
“Look at where Jonathan dropped us today; he never finished building the East/West Road, but, he built railway line from Abuja to Kaduna, so they will love him.  

“Who told you that if they did not love Zik, that they will love you?”

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho posts touching photo on Instagram after dad Felix dies aged 79

Jose Mourinho's father Felix has died at the age of 79.

Paying tribute to his dad on Instagram, the grieving Manchester United boss posted a touching black and white picture of them together from when he was a child.

Benfica, managed by the Special One in 2000, also took to social media to express their condolences.
The Premeira Liga side tweeted: "Sport Lisboa e Benfica addresses the most heartfelt condolences to Jose Mourinho, on the death of his father Felix Mourinho."

Jose Manuel Mourinho Felix made more than 250 appearances as a goalkeeper for Portuguese sides Vitoria and Belenenses, winning one senior cap for Portugal.
He also coached Jose during his son's early playing days as part of a 20-year managerial career, which took in some 11 clubs.

 statement on the Belenenses website said: "At this particularly difficult moment, and on behalf of the entire Belenese family, the football club sends all his family and friends, especially his wife and son Jose Mourinho, the deepest condolences.

"The club also informs that the body will be from Monday morning in the Chapel of Socorro, in Setubal. A mass is held on Tuesday at 10am, with the funeral going out at 11am."
Vitoria's website added: "Vitoria FC regrets to inform the death of its former player, coach and leader Jose Manuel Mourinho Felix and expresses its deep solidarity and condolences to the bereaved family.

"Jose Manuel Mourinho Felix was a goalkeeper for Vitoria FC for more than a dozen seasons and came to represent the national team.

"After finishing his career as a player, he was a coach for more than two decades and finished his football career as a sports director for Vitoria FC.


"One of the highest points of his career was his participation in winning the first Portuguese Cup for Vitoria FC in 1964/1965, with a 3-1 victory over Benfica in the final.
"The body of Jose Mourinho's father goes to Socorro Chapel on Monday morning. At 10am on Tuesday there is a mass and the funeral takes place at 11am."

Felix is believed to have been suffering ill health for several months, with 54-year-old Jose flying back to Portugal last season to see him.
He was in and out of hospital during his son's second stint at Chelsea and was rushed into care suffering with pneumonia last June. - UK Mirror

Lady Gaga goes hiking in casual outfit

Lady Gaga wouldn't let a little thing like nature stop her from wearing whatever the hell she wants.

She's known for her wacky sense of style.

That's why she stepped out for a hike wearing nude heels, a tight black fishtail skirt and a one-shouldered crop top for a walk in the countryside this week.
The chart-topper, 31, cut a fabulous figure as she enjoyed a stroll through Montauk, which is located on the eastern end of Long Island's South Shore

Currently holidaying there with new boyfriend Christian Carino, she was clearly enjoying some alone time.
Wearing a black crop top and tan pumps, Gaga - real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - flaunted her flat tummy and bare arms in the unusual ensemble.

Scraping her hair back into a casual bun, she capped the look with a pair of designer sunglasses.

Restaurant worker claims she was sacked for refusing to wear a bra while on shift

A restaurant worker has claimed she was fired for refusing to wear a bra on her shift.

In a Facebook post, she alleged an "inappropriate sexual remark was made to me" at the Bird and Beer, in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
The post racked up hundreds of shares, comments and likes in a short space of time.

A day after it was uploaded the status had 464 shares and 943 likes - along with 302 comments on the matter, reports Hull Daily Mail.

Her post started with: "So I've just got home after being sacked from my job, for refusing to wear a bra.

"This was said to me in front of three other staff members and customers. Leaving me feeling body shamed and completely shocked that the blame was being put onto me that I had been sexually harassed at work.”
She claimed she was called “stupid and silly” for being upset.

"I am absolutely disgusted, with the unprofessional-ism, and blatant lack of respect for my right as a woman to wear whatever makes me personally comfortable,” she continued.
"Nobody should EVER feel the need to hide themselves in order to stay away from unwanted sexual comments/behaviour.”

The restaurant was forced to turn off the comments section on its Facebook page after the remarks sparked fury on social media.
Some were so outraged they began leaving bad reviews for the establishment on Google.

But the Bird and Beer has denied the claims and said nobody has been sacked from the restaurant.

They released the following statement: "In response to the recent alleged allegations towards Bird and Beer, we wish to make the following statement.

"We can confirm that no employees have been dismissed from the company regarding these allegations.

"We have a duty of care to protect all of our employees from any discrimination or sexual harassment within the work place and we take any comments towards our employees very seriously and act upon them immediately in a professional manner." - Mirror

‘Senegal is bigger than Liverpool’ – Diouf in fresh Gerrard swipe

El Hadji Diouf insists that he has no problem with former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, but could not resist what appeared to be another pop at the former England midfielder.

Diouf spent three seasons contracted to Liverpool from 2002 until 2005, spending one on loan at Bolton, frequently causing controversy with his on-field antics and even falling out with his team-mates. They continue to spat in the media, with the former attacker apparently taking another dig at Reds legend Gerrard when speaking to the BBC.

“I have no problem with him,” he said. “Gerrard is a strong character and I am a strong character. 'Stevie G' was a very good player, people like him in Liverpool but he never did anything for his country. I am Mr El Hadji Diouf, Mr Senegal but he is Mr Liverpool and Senegal is bigger than Liverpool and he has to know that.”

During his time in the Premier League, when he also played for Sunderland and Blackburn, Diouf earned something of a bad-boy reputation – an image he insists is ill deserved.
“I am a lion, I am a bad loser and it's not wrong to be a bad loser,” he argued. “I have got character and I want people to respect me.

“I am an easy target. It's easy to talk about El Hadji Diouf and I let them talk but I know in my heart I am a good guy. My family know, my population knows, my continent  knows I am a good guy and that's the best thing. The rest is not my problem.”

In particular, he earned a reputation for spitting at opponents – and on one notorious occasion during a UEFA Cup clash, a Celtic fan.
“Maybe they used to tell me something I didn't want to hear. I did that, I paid and now it's finished,” he said.

Nevertheless, he is proud of what he achieved during his playing days and cited Senegal’s victory over France in the 2002 World Cup as his highlight.
“We put Senegal on the world map,” he said. “Before the World Cup nobody knew Senegal, but after the World Cup everybody wanted to know where Senegal was. What Maradona did for his country [Argentina] is what I did for Senegal. I was one of the biggest men at the 2002 World Cup.

“We were colonised by France, most of the businesses are run by French people here and to beat them was a big thing for us. Before the game, they used to say: 'The reserve team is going to play against the first team' - because most of the players used to play in the French league. I used to be in Lens, Salif Diao [Sedan], Khalilou Fadiga [Auxerre], most of the players played in the French league but we used to say: 'Be careful before you kill the lion.'” Goal.com