American actor and producer Tom Cruise was honored with an honorary Oscar at the 16th Governors Awards in Los Angeles, marking the first Academy Award of his decades-spanning career. The 63-year-old, best known for roles in “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun,” received a standing ovation as he accepted the golden statue on stage among peers and collaborators such as Colin Farrell, Emilio Estevez, and director Steven Spielberg.
Cruise, a four-time Oscar nominee, delivered a heartfelt speech praising cinema’s ability to inspire adventure, knowledge, and humanity. The honorary Oscars, awarded annually by the Academy, recognize lifetime achievement and contributions to film. Cruise’s award was presented by acclaimed filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, who also directed Cruise in the upcoming movie “Judy.” The evening saw additional honorees, including Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton, recognized for their impact on the industry and humanitarian work.
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Nancy Isime: How Nigerian actress and TV host built her career into a household name
Nancy Isime is a Nigerian actress, model, and television personality from Edo State who has become a household name in Nollywood and Nigerian entertainment. She was born on December 17, 1991, in Edo State, and is from the Esan tribe. Nancy lost her mother at the age of five and was raised by her father, an experience she credits with building her resilience and strength. She grew up in Lagos, where she completed her primary and junior secondary school education, then moved to Benin City to finish senior secondary school. For tertiary education, she first enrolled in a six-month foundational course at the University of Port Harcourt, then proceeded to the University of Lagos where she obtained a diploma in Social Work. Nancy began her acting journey in 2011 with the TV series Echoes. She later hosted several TV shows […]
Three teams knocked out of 2026 FIFA World Cup
Tunisia, Haiti, and Türkiye are the first three teams to face elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after early group stage defeats. Tunisia became the latest team knocked out after a heavy 4-0 loss to Japan in Monterrey on Sunday. The Carthage Eagles had already lost 5-1 to Sweden in their opening Group F match, leaving them with zero points from two games and no chance to reach the Round of 32. With only three points still available from their final match, elimination was confirmed. Haiti became the first team officially eliminated after losing both opening matches. A 3-0 loss to Brazil followed an earlier defeat to Scotland, leaving them at the bottom of Group C with zero points and a goal difference of -4. Their final game against Morocco on June 24 is now irrelevant. Türkiye's tournament ended […]
US disputes Iranian claims about closing Strait of Hormuz
The United States has rejected Iranian claims that its military closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying there is no evidence of a closure and that commercial ship traffic through the waterway has actually increased. Iran announced on Saturday that its military had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, in retaliation for what it calls a "blatant breach" of a recently signed US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding by the United States and Israel. Iran's top joint military command ordered the closure and warned that no ships or vessels should approach the waterway. US Vice President JD Vance disputed the closure during an interview with Fox News on Saturday, stating that there is no evidence Iran closed the Strait. US Central Command released a statement shortly after Iran's announcement, confirming that commercial ship traffic through the strait increased on June 20. "CCommercial ship […]
NDLEA arrests two grandfathers selling drugs to students in Abia
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two elderly men, aged 84 and 75, for allegedly selling illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State. The two men, described as grandfathers, were identified as Pa John Ofiel, 84, and another elderly suspect, 75 years old. They were arrested following credible intelligence that they were involved in drug peddling targeting students in the area. According to reports, the suspects were supplying drugs to secondary school students, raising serious concerns about the exposure of young people to illegal substances and the involvement of elderly individuals in such criminal activities. NDLEA operatives have been conducting raids across the country to crack down on drug trafficking networks. The arrests come as part of a nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trade that has resulted in the seizure of skunk and other narcotic […]
NAF boosts national security with 111 new special forces operators
https://punchng.com/naf-strengthens-national-security-with-111-new-special-forces-operators The Nigerian Air Force has graduated 111 new special forces operators to strengthen national security operations across the country. The personnel completed Special Forces Course 13/2026 at the Nigerian Air Force Regiment Training Centre in Jos, Plateau State. The course focused on advanced skills needed for counter terrorism, counter insurgency, and other high risk operations. According to the Air Force, the graduation marks another milestone in efforts to build a robust pool of elite forces capable of responding swiftly to emerging security threats. The new operators received intensive training in weapons handling, small unit tactics, assault operations, intelligence driven missions, and survival skills in hostile environments. The Chief of Air Staff, represented at the event, charged the graduands to maintain high levels of discipline, professionalism, and dedication as they join ongoing operations in different theatres nationwide. He noted that […]
SERAP demands N110bn refund for luxury cars and unlawful allowances
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has demanded that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas refund N110 billion to the public treasury after a Federal High Court in Lagos declared the National Assembly's spending on luxury SUVs and unlawful allowances illegal. The court ruling on the 5th of May came in a suit SERAP filed in 2023, challenging the 10th Assembly's plan to spend N40 billion on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars and N70 billion as holiday allowances for new lawmakers. Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court held that the N110 billion spend violated section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and lawmakers' constitutional oath of office. The judgment found that the spending breached the principle that public funds must be used judiciously, especially at a time when […]
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Nancy Isime: How Nigerian actress and TV host built her career into a household name
Nancy Isime is a Nigerian actress, model, and television personality from Edo State who has become a household name in Nollywood and Nigerian entertainment. She was born on December 17, 1991, in Edo State, and is from the Esan tribe. Nancy lost her mother at the age of five and was raised by her father, an experience she credits with building her resilience and strength. She grew up in Lagos, where she completed her primary and junior secondary school education, then moved to Benin City to finish senior secondary school. For tertiary education, she first enrolled in a six-month foundational course at the University of Port Harcourt, then proceeded to the University of Lagos where she obtained a diploma in Social Work. Nancy began her acting journey in 2011 with the TV series Echoes. She later hosted several TV shows […]
Ghana actor Van Vicker earns first class law degree from Wisconsin University
Award-winning Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Joseph Van Vicker has earned a first class Bachelor of Laws degree from Wisconsin International University College in Ghana. Sharing the achievement on Instagram on June 19, 2026, Van Vicker reflected on the significance of graduating with first class honours. He noted that academic success alone does not guarantee professional excellence in the legal field. Van Vicker is a celebrated figure in African cinema and television. He previously earned a first class degree from the African University College of Communication for his undergraduate studies. He is also currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy degree at the University of Education, Winneba. The actor enrolled at Wisconsin International University College to study the Bachelor of Laws program after completing his first degree. He has been active in the entertainment industry for many years, producing films and television […]
Otedola’s wife Nana: I am Egba, not Ghanaian
Nana Fatimah Attah Otedola, wife of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola and mother of media personality DJ Cuppy and actress Temi Otedola, has clarified her ethnic and national identity, confirming her Egba heritage. To clear up years of speculation, Nana declared in a viral video: "I'm an Egba woman, and that's the part I'll gladly claim as a Nigerian. I am not a Ghanaian; my roots are in Abeokuta," tracing her ancestry to Abeokuta in Ogun State. For years, many people assumed Nana was Ghanaian, largely due to her appearance and name, but she said this assumption could not be further from the truth. Nana disclosed that she was born in Kaduna State and lived there for almost two decades, explaining that living in northern Nigeria for such a significant period may have influenced how people perceive her identity. Despite her […]
Timi Dakolo advocates rest for men, says fatigue does not mean laziness
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Bloody Civilian: I have no plans to get married yet
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Bloody Civilian has said she has no plans to get married yet, stating that marriage is not something she is thinking about at all. Bloody Civilian, whose real name is Emoseh Khamofu, is considered one of the most important and pioneering names in Nigerian alternative music. She recently revealed that she is going offline and dropped her phone number for fans to connect directly with her, showing her focus on maintaining closer ties with her audience. Her music has gained international recognition, including being featured on the soundtrack of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," which highlighted her global impact. Bloody Civilian has released several tracks including spaceified songs like SpaceFuji and Head Start, as well as Mad Apology from her "Anger Management" EP. She believes genres are limitations and continues to create music that defies traditional […]
Nicki Minaj: Fame made me stop going to church
Global rap superstar Nicki Minaj has revealed that fame changed her relationship with church, explaining that she stopped going when her career started taking off. Minaj explained that she was working on Friday nights and Saturday nights, which meant the last service she could attend would be on Sunday, making regular church attendance difficult. She emphasized that she stopped going to church not because she didn't want to go or did not believe, but because her busy schedule made it impossible to attend consistently. Minaj said she still wanted to go to church during those years, but the demands of her career and the timing of her work commitments prevented her from attending regularly. The rapper later reflected on her spiritual journey during an appearance at Turning Point USA AmericaFest in Phoenix, where she shared how fame and the music […]