Author: damazah@gmail.com

Deadline reported exclusively earlier this month that James Bond producers and director Denis Villeneuve have begun informing talent who have made the next round of auditions, which will occur later this summer. There is no confirmed list, but that hasn’t stopped fans and the media from throwing out names like Callum Turner, Harris Dickinson and Jacob Elordi. But one person who knows something about casting 007 says none of them fit the bill. Debbie McWilliams cast the last three Bonds and all the films they were in, from For Your Eyes Only to No Time to Die. That’s 40 years in His Majesty’s…

By Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim Daniel Nduka Okonkwo’s June 27, 2026 article Monopoly, An Embattled IPO, and the Dangote Refinery presents itself as a work of investigative journalism. A careful reading reveals it to be something else: a curated assembly of allegations, framed questions, and atmospheric insinuations designed to cast doubt on Africa’s most consequential industrial project at the precise moment it approaches a historic capital market transaction. The article rehashes old and discredited narratives thrown at the refinery about monopoly, self-interest and so on and so absurdum, as if Nigeria did not have refineries before Dangote came along. Okonkwo’s analysis,…

Ukrainian oligarch reported to be among injured in explosion at residential building in the Mediterranean principality.Published On 30 Jun 202630 Jun 2026Police in Monaco and neighbouring France are hunting for a man suspected of detonating a makeshift bomb in the centre of the wealthy Mediterranean principality, which seriously injured several people, officials said.Three people, including a teenager, were hurt in the explosion that struck at about 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday in a residential building in Monaco, according to authorities in the micro-state on the French Riviera, known as a haven for billionaires and their luxury yachts.Recommended Stories…

The BBC’s Jessica Parker reports from the scene of the shooting that killed six people in northern Germany.

China’s factory and non-manufacturing activity fared better than expected in June. BofA’s Helen Qiao says the supply-side factors have been “pretty resilient for some time,” but the “question is really on the demand-side – consumption and investment.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of a Russian state cyber group that has compromised thousands of Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to investigative reporters and US government employees. The operation has been active since at least March, when the FBI published an advisory warning of ongoing phishing campaigns targeting high-value targets by attackers associated with Russian intelligence services. Messages masquerading as automated support communications ask that users click a link or provide verification codes or account passcodes. In the event the user complies, they unknowingly link…

Sen. Seriake Dickson, National leader of the NDC. The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would be defeated in the 2027 general elections if the polls are conducted freely and fairly. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Dickson said widespread dissatisfaction with the APC-led administration would translate into electoral defeat for the ruling party. “As leader of the NDC, and as a Nigerian who knows the feelings and yearnings of Nigerians, and who also knows that their aspirations have not been…

Brazil came from behind to defeat Japan 2-1 on Monday to secure a place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup A dramatic stoppage-time winner by Gabriel Martinelli sealed victory for the Samba Boys. The victory at Houston Stadium marked Brazil’s first comeback win in a FIFA World Cup knockout match since their victory over England in the 2002 tournament. Japan took the lead in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano, who capitalised on a loose ball in midfield before driving a low shot beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Brazil starting XI vs Japan (PHOTO CREDIT:…

NBA free agency will officially begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, but plenty of impactful deal agreements have already been announced. The trades, meanwhile, haven’t slowed down following the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster on the eve of the 2026 NBA draft. That being said, the vast majority of business around the league — and many key roster decisions that could help swing the 2026-27 season — has yet to be decided.Let’s examine all 30 franchises’ plans for free agency, including priority signings, top trade targets and the draft assets that could be used in the next superstar deal.Jump to:Top 5 free…

The trailer for The Angry Birds Movie 3 reveals that perhaps not everyone sees an empty nest as a bad thing. Paramount Pictures is set to release the latest film from the animated franchise on Dec. 23. Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Rachel Bloom and Danny McBride reprise their voice roles for the new installment in the series that includes 2016’s The Angry Birds Movie and its 2019 sequel. The Angry Birds Movie 3 follows Red (Sudeikis), a temperamental cardinal who attempts to save the world while raising three youngsters, alongside the help of his pals Chuck (Gad), Bomb (McBride) and…