Author: starconnect
By SCM Correspondent MEXICO CITY — Following a spectacular opening ceremony headlined by global pop icon Shakira, the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicked off with an absolute thriller at the historic Estadio Azteca. Co-hosts Mexico walked away with a crucial 2-0 victory over South Africa, but the scoreline barely scratches the surface of a chaotic, card-heavy match that will go down in tournament folklore. It did not take long for Mexico’s attacking talents to light up the roaring home crowd. In the 9th minute, a costly midfield giveaway by South Africa’s Sphephelo “Yaya” Sithole allowed Brian Gutiérrez to…
BY SCM Art & Showbiz Desk BRITAIN’S most-loved art rebel David Hockney has died at the age of 88. The legendary Bradford-born painter—famous for his bleach-blonde hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and sun-drenched pictures of California swimming pools—passed away peacefully at his home yesterday, just weeks before his 89th birthday. His long-time publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed the heartbreaking news, paying tribute to “one of the most important figures in contemporary art of both the 20th and 21st centuries.” Tributes have poured in from around the globe for the working-class Yorkshire lad who conquered the global art world while refusing to play…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, June 12.2026 PORT HARCOURT — The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable development across the Niger Delta region through strategic partnerships and robust collaborative initiatives designed to support vulnerable and underserved groups. The interventionist agency made this commitment during a high-profile courtesy visit by the reigning Miss World Nigeria 2026, Miss Tamunosoye Karibi George, to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday. Receiving the beauty queen, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized that the…
By SCM Foreign Desk WASHINGTON — In what could represent the most seismic geopolitical shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy in a generation, Iranian state media and the White House have signaled that the United States and Iran are on the verge of a sweeping breakthrough agreement to end their devastating three-month-old war. According to reports broadcast by Iranian state television on Friday, the tentative framework—structured as a detailed memorandum of understanding—would see Washington lift a raft of major economic and oil sanctions on Tehran. In return for Iranian security commitments and a reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz,…
By Our Political & Bureau Correspondents ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday marked the 2026 Democracy Day with a sweeping national broadcast, challenging Nigerians to transition from the political freedoms won during the historic June 12, 1993 struggle to a new frontier of absolute “economic freedom.” In a speech laced with policy rollouts, security updates, and emotional tributes to the architects of the nation’s modern democracy, the President declared that for democracy to remain potent, its dividends must actively reflect in the quality of citizens’ lives, declaring: “Democracy must be felt in the pocket.” 27 Years of Unbroken…
By Emmanuel Thomas I Friday, June 12.2026 In a decisive move to curb rising security challenges and deny criminal elements anonymity, the Ogun State Police Command has launched a statewide enforcement operation against vehicles with covered, obscured, defaced, or missing registration number plates. The clampdown, which takes immediate effect, is in strict compliance with a directive from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) aimed at strengthening public safety across the country. According to a press statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ogun State Command, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP…
BY SCM REPORTER A TOP international referee has spoken of his utter devastation after being turned away at the United States border, destroying his lifelong dream of officiating at the FIFA World Cup. Somali referee Omar Artan, widely regarded as one of Africa’s rising stars in football officiating, revealed he has been left traumatized after being denied entry to the US, despite possessing what he insists was valid documentation. Speaking exclusively about the heartbreaking ordeal, a shattered Artan said: “The biggest dream of my professional life has been SHATTERED.” For elite referees, reaching the World Cup is the…
Titus Eleweke, South East Editor I Thursday, June 11.2026 AWKA, Anambra – Human rights activist, Comrade Osita Obi, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the frequent non-sitting of Magistrate Court 4, Amawbia, and has called on the Anambra State Government to urgently reform the magistrates’ court system to better serve the people. The case between Comrade Osita Obi and the Catholic Diocese of Awka over alleged cyberbullying and defamation could not proceed on Thursday at Magistrate Court 4, Amawbia, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, as the presiding magistrate was absent. The Catholic…
Admin I Thursday, June 11, 2026 AWKA, Anambra – The African Development Bank (AfDB) is expected to arrive in Awka, the capital of Anambra State on Sunday as part of activities under its African Cities Programme. Acciona, an international urban development and infrastructure planning firm selected by the AfDB as the programme’s technical consulting partner, will represent the bank in conducting a comprehensive urban development assessment of the city. It would be recalled that the AfDB officially admitted Awka into its African Cities Programme, a major urban development initiative designed to prepare rapidly growing African cities for large-scale infrastructure…
Admin I Thursday, June 11, 2026 ABUJA, Nigeria – The closing ceremony of this year’s FIFA Young Talent (Referees) programme will take place on Friday, 12th June in Abuja, even as the Nigeria Football Federation has concluded all arrangements for the commencement of the FIFA Member Association’s Elite Referees Course that will begin on Monday, 15th June 2026. The FIFA Young Talent programme, which is targeted at discovering and nurturing those with passion for the vocation of refereeing from a young age, began alongside the Beach Soccer Course on Monday, 8th June 2026 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium,…