Author: News Room
Lil Tay and Josh Seiter are just some of the celebrities who had to clarify that they are still alive after being pronounced dead on the internet. In August 2023, Lil Tay’s Instagram account released a statement claiming she and her brother had passed away. Us Weekly subsequently received a response from the email address listed in the rapper’s Instagram bio. “With profound regret, we confirm the accuracy of the statement,” the comment read. Lil Tay issued a statement one day after her death was reported. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. “I want to make it clear that my…
The federal government has announced the release of six Nigerians who had been detained in Côte d’Ivoire since October 2025 over alleged economic crimes, following months of diplomatic and consular engagements between both countries. In a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said four of the detainees were released on 22 June, while the remaining two regained their freedom a day later after sustained interventions by the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan. The names of the Nigerians and the specific economic crimes allegedly committed were not disclosed. The ministry described the development as the result…
The Nigerian Army has announced a major reshuffle of its senior officers, with changes affecting key operational, command, training and staff appointments. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the reshuffle is part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve operational effectiveness across the country. The statement added that the postings affected field commanders, school commandants and principal staff officers at the Army Headquarters. It noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, approved the strategic redeployment of senior officers, saying the move was aimed…
The death toll from the three-storey building that collapsed in the Alakija area along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway has risen to nine following the conclusion of rescue operations. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency disclosed in a statement on Friday that 27 people were rescued alive from the rubble. PUNCH Online had reported that the building collapsed at about 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, prompting an emergency response by rescue agencies. The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, had earlier said a coordinated rescue operation was underway to locate and extricate victims trapped beneath the debris. By about 5 p.m. on…
World Cup debutants Cape Verde will face reigning champions Argentina in the knockout rounds after drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia on Friday to extend their fairytale journey. The stalemate in Houston and Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay meant the team ranked 67 finished runners-up behind Spain in Group H. Having drawn all three group matches, the archipelago nation of just over 500,000 will play Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami on July 3 in another chapter to their remarkable story. The players of Cape Verde — the third-smallest team in World Cup history by population — were in tears afterwards, as…
A controversy erupted on social media following comments by rapper, Ycee, criticising what he described as a growing culture of celebrating ignorance over academic excellence in Nigeria; a trend he referred to as the “Peller culture” and the “Olodo uprising.” In a widely circulated clip from the Afropolitan Podcast, Ycee argued that Nigerian society is increasingly de-emphasising education while normalising mediocrity. He said, “Nigerian society is no longer celebrating academic excellence. It’s not even Yahoo culture anymore; now we have a ‘Peller culture.’ This ‘Olodo’ uprising we are witnessing is terrible. It feels like we are trying so hard to…
Tokenization platform Securitize says it expects to raise $400 million in its upcoming public debut through a merger with a company backed by Cantor Fitzgerald. Securitize said on Friday that its final redemption results showed less than 30% of shareholders in Cantor Equity Partners II (CEPT), the special purpose acquisition company that will take Securitize public, had elected to redeem.The company said it expects to receive approximately $400 million in gross proceeds from the merger, including related private investment in public equity, or PIPE, financings and excluding transaction-related expenses.Securitize is set to be the latest buzzy crypto-related public debut as Wall…
Hockey fans were treated to a surprise when Justin Bieber dropped by the 2026 NHL Draft to help announce the first pick at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on Friday, June 26. Bieber, 32, is an avid hockey fan and a lifelong supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had the No. 1 pick. As expected, Justin announced Toronto’s selection of Penn State’s Gavin McKenna to get draft night started. “What an incredible night,” Bieber said from the draft floor. “The child in me is ecstatic right now. I’ve been a Leafs fan since I was just a little…
Security agencies last week arrested seven suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as they returned from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina State, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced on Friday. Mr Tunji-Ojo disclosed the development at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law. According to the minister, the suspects were intercepted at the Katsina airport on Thursday last week and handed over to the State Security Service (SSS, also called DSS). “I’m…
Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to book their place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup on Friday, securing their first win of the tournament to finish on top of Group G in Vancouver. A double strike from Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers carried the Red Devils into the last 32 in first place ahead of Egypt on goal difference. Egypt claimed the runners-up spot after a 1-1 draw with Iran in Seattle. The Iranians finished third in the group. Belgium dominated a lopsided first half and had alarm bells…
