Author: News Room

Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is under investigation over alleged betting-related offences, has been granted permission to travel to Canada for his country’s World Cup fixture against the German national football team, the Ivorian football federation said. According to ESPN on Friday, the federation had earlier indicated that the 23-year-old would be unable to travel. Still, it later confirmed in a revised statement that the required authorisations had now been secured. PUNCH Online quoted Athletic on Thursday as saying that French police arrested Wahi in May as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged spot-fixing activities. Wahi started in…

Grief and sorrow enveloped the campus of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, on Thursday as armed robbers reportedly shot dead Lawanson Abiodun, a 100-level student of the Department of Arts and Social Science Education of the university. The incident forced the management of the school to declare Thursday lecture-free to mourn the sudden demise of the student while also commiserating with the student body and the family of the deceased over the irreplaceable loss. This was contained in a statement issued by the management of the university and signed by Niyi Oduwole, the spokesman of the institution. The Vice Chancellor…

Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo says the Black Stars are heading into their FIFA World Cup clash with England intent on “prove a point” after grinding out a dramatic 1-0 win over Panama on Wednesday night in Toronto. A stoppage-time strike from Caleb Yirenkyi settled a tense Group L contest that Ghana largely struggled to control, with Panama dominating extended spells and repeatedly forcing the Black Stars onto the back foot. The win, however, leaves Ghana second in the group’s early standings behind England, who opened their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. Attention now turns to a high-stakes meeting…

A Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie, has criticised Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli for releasing a movie featuring the late actor Alex Ekubo shortly after his burial, describing the move as an attempt to profit from grief. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Ossai expressed disappointment over Oboli’s decision to premiere ‘The First Lady’ on her YouTube channel, arguing that the timing of the release was inappropriate despite her pledge to donate the proceeds to Ekubo’s family. The movie poster…Photo Credit: IMBD “I’m disappointed in Omoni Oboli for using Alexx Ekubo’s burial…

Goldman Sachs lowered its year-end gold forecast by $500 an ounce, citing expectations that the US Federal Reserve won’t cut interest rates this year. The revised target places gold at $4,900, down from earlier estimates of $5,400. It comes on the assumption that the next Fed cuts could be pushed to March 2027 and December 2027. “Our gold price views remain structurally constructive but tactically cautious, with near-term downside risk and medium-term upside risk,” Goldman Sachs commodity analysts Lina Thomas and Daan Struyven said, according to Bloomberg. A delay in US interest rate cuts could also weigh on cryptocurrencies, as lower interest rates…

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck and her husband, Zac Affleck, are expanding their family again with baby No. 4. Showing off her baby bump in a carousel of photos posted via her Instagram on Thursday, June 18, Jen shared the happy news. “Chapter Four. 🤍,” she captioned the post. Jen, 27, and Zac, 29, met on the Mormon dating app Mutual in 2018. The pair tied the knot the following year and went on to welcome kids Nora, 4, Lucas, 2, and Penny, 11 months. The couple’s pregnancy announcement comes two months after fans speculated that Jen…

The federal government has approved several international routes for United Nigeria Airlines, including services to New York, Dubai and Canada, in what authorities describe as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigerian carriers and increase their share of international passenger traffic. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Thursday during the unveiling of two newly acquired Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft by the airline. According to Mr Keyamo, the route approvals form part of ongoing efforts to reposition domestic airlines to compete more effectively on international routes, traditionally dominated by foreign operators. “We are…

The Supervising Deputy Inspector-General of Police for the Ekiti State governorship election, Mustapha Fayoade, has assured voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders of adequate security before, during and after Saturday’s poll. Fayoade said that “the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, has put in place robust security arrangements, including adequate deployment of personnel and logistics”. The Supervising DIG gave the assurance on Thursday evening in Ado Ekiti during an engagement with police officers and other security stakeholders ahead of the election. He urged security personnel deployed for the exercise “to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, discipline,…

The Edo State Police Command has killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested another member of a gang linked to the abduction of a woman at the vegetable market in Benin City. The state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, disclosed this on Thursday while parading suspects at the command headquarters in Benin City. Agbonika said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a 32-year-old suspect, Marvelous Issac, in connection with the kidnapping, which occurred on June 14, 2026. According to him, another suspect, identified simply as Precious, was killed during a gun duel with police operatives. “Following…

Canada thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 to secure their first-ever World Cup victory on Thursday, as Switzerland reignited their campaign with a resounding defeat of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tournament co-hosts Canada had lost all six of their previous matches at the World Cup, at the 1986 and 2022 finals, but brought that run of losses to a halt in spectacular fashion at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium. With Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney — wearing a replica Canada shirt — among a fired-up crowd, Jesse Marsch’s side ran riot to secure a win that leaves them needing only a point against Switzerland to finish…