Author: News Room
Taylor Swift’s appearance at the 2026 NBA Finals sparked backlash from some basketball fans — but New York Knicks player Jose Alvarado is all about Swiftie mania. Alvarado, 28, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, June 18, that it was “amazing” having Swift, 36, sitting courtside during Game 4 of the Knicks’ championship series on June 10 against the San Antonio Spurs. “That’s a surreal superstar, and I was happy she was cheering us on,” the point guard said while promoting his partnership with Bacardi Rum during the post-parade celebration at Tonita’s Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn. “And [she] seemed…
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has deployed a total of 5,500 operatives for the Ekiti Governorship election on Saturday. The Deputy Commandant-General of the Corps in charge of operations, Philip Ayuba, while conducting the deployment on Friday, also directed officers deployed for the election duty to remain strictly apolitical throughout the electoral process. Mr Ayuba said the deployment was carried out across all 16 local government areas of the state. He further called for professionalism, discipline, and neutrality. He warned that the credibility of the election would depend largely on the “impartial conduct of security…
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, speaks with BANKOLE TAIWO about the government’s efforts to address the recurring gas leaks in and around Ijebu-Ode, which have left more than 200 students requiring medical attention over the past two months There have been repeated gas leak incidents in Ijebu-Ode and its environs over the last two months, raising public health concerns. What happened? Well, if you look at the gas leakage in Ijebu-Ode, it was something very unusual. Although Ogun is a highly industrialised state, Ijebu-Ode is not one of the cities with a high concentration of industries. So,…
Father’s Day is set aside to honour and celebrate fathers and father figures for their sacrifices, leadership, and contributions to their families. While social media is filled with tributes and cherished memories of fathers, many children will also carry emotions that are far more complicated. Some will remember a father who was physically present but emotionally absent; others will remember disappointments, castigation, neglect, years of estrangement from their fathers, and lost opportunities. The wounds left by a father can be among the deepest a child experiences. Therefore, beyond the cards, gifts, and celebrations, there is an invitation to find the…
Economists have attributed Nigeria’s strong revenue performance in the first five months of 2026 to the impact of recent tax reforms, improved revenue administration and stronger earnings from the oil sector, following government collections of N15.8tn during the period. According to data from the Nigeria Revenue Service reported by Bloomberg, government revenue rose by 49 per cent year-on-year from N10.6tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. The figure also exceeded the government’s baseline growth target of 11.6 per cent, providing early evidence of the gains from fiscal reforms aimed at widening the tax base, improving compliance and strengthening revenue…
African Taekwondo champion Harun Usman speaks about his journey into taekwondo, becoming Africa’s best Poomsae athlete, overcoming financial challenges, his Olympic dream and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO How did taekwondo start for you? I started taekwondo in school simply to fill my free time, stay fit and learn self-defence. While many of my peers were drawn to football, I was always attracted to things that stood out. Taekwondo gave me that feeling. It is a martial art rooted in tradition, discipline and dedication. What started as curiosity gradually grew into a passion that I cannot imagine my…
MTN Nigeria has unveiled the 2026 edition of its flagship student engagement initiative, the MTN Live it 100 Campus Tour, a nationwide programme designed to empower students through learning, creativity, entertainment and digital opportunities. The telecommunications company said the tour would visit seven tertiary institutions across the South-West, North-West, South-East, South-South and North-Central regions between June and November 2026. According to MTN, the initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to support young Nigerians by creating meaningful experiences that align with their aspirations, interests and lifestyles. Speaking on the programme, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, said tour was…
The S token, the native utility asset behind the Sonic blockchain, fell 5% on Friday after Sonic Labs, formerly known as the Fantom Foundation, announced the resignation of three former executives from its board. The S token fell to 0.031 on Friday, down 5% over 24 hours. The resignations include Michael Kong, a former CEO of the Fantom Foundation and director at Sonic Labs; David Richardson, who served as executive chairman of Sonic Labs; and Andre Cronje, who previously served as its chief technology officer. Statement from Andre Cronje about his resignation from the board. Source: Andre Cronje“These are the people who…
Sydney Sweeney isn’t hiding her love for boyfriend Scooter Braun. “Happiest of birthdays to the man with the biggest heart I know ❤️,” Sweeney, 28, gushed via her Instagram Story on Thursday, June 18, while marking Braun’s 45th birthday. Sweeney shared a photo of herself kissing Braun on the cheek as he grabbed her leg and pulled her close. In a second photo, Braun dipped the actress on the dance floor. “Thank you for all the living room dances and making me smile again,” Sweeney wrote. “A good man is rare. A man like you is once in a lifetime.”…
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has thrown his weight behind a Bill seeking the establishment of the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute (SIMI), describing the proposed institution as a critical mechanism for strengthening intelligence-driven governance, policy formulation, implementation, and strategic management in Nigeria. According to Mr Ribadu, the bill, currently before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, represents a significant milestone in advancing Nigeria’s domestic and external security architecture at a time of mounting geopolitical uncertainty and increasingly complex security challenges. He noted that the proposed institute would help Nigeria navigate the shifting currents of…
