The protesters gathered at the Ikeja Underbridge area of Lagos as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day, carrying placards with inscriptions demanding urgent action to tackle insecurity, kidnapping and the country’s worsening economic crisis.
President Trump is set to host an unprecedented UFC cage fight on the White House lawn for his 80th birthday, sparking both excitement and controversy.
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Human rights lawyer Femi Falana calls for the immediate rescue of abducted Oyo pupils and teachers, highlighting their suffering and broader national issue
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Discover 20 potential World Cup records that could be broken by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and top nations at the 2026 tournament.
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NAFDAC warns that heatwaves compromise drug potency, leading to treatment failures. Learn how to protect your medications and where to buy safe drugs.
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President Tinubu appeals to Nigerian youths to stay and build the nation, highlighting initiatives to expand opportunities amidst the ‘japa’ emigration tre
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France prepares for the state funeral of former first lady Bernadette Chirac. Discover details of the ceremony, attendees, and her legacy.
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Pope Leo XIV addresses migrants in the Canary Islands, stating “all of us are migrants” and calling for more help for irregular immigrants. Read more.
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Benue APC Chairman Benjamin Omale reaffirms the party’s unwavering support for President Tinubu and Governor Alia, committing to deepen democracy and deliv
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Q: Let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment and assume the Celtics do it to the Heat again with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Tyler Herro would be less than enthused to return. – Eddie.
A: OK, I’ll bite. First, Tyler Herro has 33 million reasons to be enthused, as in his salary for the coming season, in the final year of what was a generous contract extension offered four years ago against the Heat. So there’s that. But this also is what is to be expected, of other offers and suitors coming into view the closer it gets to closing time for the Bucks, which now appears to fall in the time frame between the end of the NBA Finals and the NBA draft. The Finals could be over as soon as Saturday night, with the first round of the draft on June 23. Just because the Heat were a frontrunner never made them a given. The NBA trade landscape has long been defined by twists and turns. It’s just that it all too often has turned in a twisted direction for the Heat.
Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!
Q: If the Heat offer to trade of a lottery pick, two more No. 1s, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. was enticing enough to the Bucks, would they not have already pulled the trigger? – Brian, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Why not? Because there is no rush, with no games to be played for four months and no draft picks to be made for more than a week. Which is why you wait, then suddenly find Boston re-engaged, and perhaps come out with more than the Heat even have available to offer.
Q: Ira, I think you’re missing the point about the Heat not using No. 13. If they don’t get Giannis Antetokounmpo, how many young players do you want Erik Spoelstra to have to manage? – Franklin.
A: Which is where we stood before all this Giannis Antetokounmpo conjecture changed the conversation. If there is no deal for Giannis, then you’re talking about a roster that already would have the youth of Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic and the two-way guys.
Barcelona face growing obstacle in bid to keep veteran defensive star
Barcelona signed Joao Cancelo on loan from Al Hilal back in January on a six-month deal, and the Portuguese international gave a very good account of himself under Hansi Flick.
Fans were initially sceptical about the arrival of a player in his 30s who had spent close to two seasons in Saudi Arabia.
However, Cancelo put all doubts to bed with his performances at left-back. By the time the season ended, he had displaced Alejandro Balde from the starting berth.
Barcelona understandably want to keep the Portuguese defender on a permanent basis. However, as per Mundo Deportivo, negotiations between Barcelona and Al Hilal have seen no meaningful progress in recent weeks.
The lack of advancement is significant because Barcelona would ideally like greater clarity on several squad situations before the start of pre-season.
Barcelona are facing difficulties. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
For much of the past year, there has been an expectation that Barcelona would eventually attempt to keep Cancelo beyond his temporary spell.
The defender has become an important tactical option under Flick. Whether operating at right-back, left-back or stepping into midfield zones during possession, his value is visible.
That said, Barcelona’s interest has always needed to align with financial reality. Any agreement with Al Hilal would have to come on terms that are suitable for the Catalan club.
As of now, there seems to be a gap between the two parties and work needs to be done in negotiations.
Cancelo wants to play for Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
The concern for Barcelona here is that this situation is looking increasingly uncertain. The Catalan club have several priorities to look at this summer.
While Cancelo remains highly valued by Flick, sporting admiration alone will not be enough to complete the operation.
The longer this drags on, the further Barcelona will be pushed into looking at alternatives. For now, Cancelo’s future is as open as it can possibly be.
Unless there is movement from one side in the coming weeks, this is a transfer saga that could drag on for a while and come to a close towards the end of the summer window.
Nov 7, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope fives guard Kam Williams (3) as he returns to the bench during the first half against the Valparaiso Beacons at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
As Mark Pope prepares for his third season as Kentucky’s head coach, he is having an interesting approach to team building. He is having all 14 scholarship players live together in the Wildcat Coal Lodge throughout the summer. Practice and summer workouts are set to begin on Monday, June 15, and will last for an eight-week period.
While many upperclassmen typically live in their own apartments during the NIL era, Pope wants every player under one roof during the offseason.
“The guys are all living in the lodge full-time during the course of the summer,” Pope said in an interview with UK Sports Network. “That’s a little bit of a new experience for some of these guys. They’re going to get to know each other in all the ways they want to know each other and all the ways they don’t want to know each other, so that’s really important.”
Pope knows that building team chemistry requires more than just practicing together, which is why he also plans for the team to remain active in the community throughout the summer.
“Our first meeting is always a service meeting, so that’s the first thing we do when we get together as a full team in any concentrated fashion,” Pope said. “Then the team plans out something to do each week.”
During the eight-week period, NCAA rules allow Kentucky eight hours per week for weight training, conditioning, and skill instruction, with no more than four hours dedicated to on-court work. The Wildcats will also have two days off each week while continuing to organize pickup games and individual workouts.
Rodri admits to Man City uncertainty as Bernardo Silva reunion possibility emerges at Real MadrdRodri says he doesn’t know where Enrique Riquelme agreement claims originated fromThe 2024 Ballon d’Or winner insists he hasn’t even thought about his club futureMan City midfielder is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has dismissed claims of an agreement with Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, insisting he has no idea where the suggestion came from.
Riquelme claimed during his election campaign that a player like Rodri would play for Real Madrid under his presidency, with the candidate repeating the assertion on multiple occasions in the build-up to the June 7 vote.
Rodri had already responded to the claims, insisting his future would wait until after the FIFA World Cup, though it has since been reported that Real Madrid president and recent election victor Florentino Perez does not want to sign the Spaniard and that direct communication between the clubs confirmed as much.
Truth revealed on Rodri’s Man City contract impasse ahead of Real Madrid presidential election
In a recent interview on international duty in North America ahead of the FIFA World Cup, Rodri addressed the claims of an agreement with Riquelme.
“Honestly I don’t know where this came from,” the 29-year-old said, as quoted by El Larguero. “I understand that it’s part of the game. I haven’t even thought about my future.
“My focus is on the World Cup. I still have a contract with City, where I think we have had a good season. That’s my situation right now.”
The reference to his Manchester City contract and the season just gone is consistent with everything Rodri has said publicly since the campaign ended, with the 29-year-old repeatedly batting away speculation while on international duty with Spain.
City have tabled a contract offer for Rodri amid a strong belief the two parties are not far away from an agreement and the midfielder taking his time to consider the proposal.
The Real Madrid route has effectively closed in recent weeks, with Perez understood to have no intention of pursuing the Ballon d’Or winner this summer as he focuses on other targets, having recently engineered a deal to bring former Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Rodri takes emotional trip down Spain memory lane amid Man City contract impasse
Rodri’s repeated insistence that his focus is solely on the FIFA World Cup has been entirely consistent, with Spain among the favourites in North America and the midfielder central to Luis de la Fuente‘s plans.
A resolution on his Etihad Stadium future is expected once the tournament concludes, with director of football Hugo Viana hopeful of securing a renewal that would close the most important contract question of City’s summer.
The Georgia Bulldogs have lost out on a major defensive line recruit. Four-star defensive lineman Kasi Currie has committed to the Texas Longhorns, according to Hayes Fawcett. Currie chose Texas over Georgia, Oregon, and Ohio State.
Currie is a four-star prospect from the class of 2027. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive lineman plays high school football for Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. He is the No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 37 overall recruit in the nation.
It’s another big recruit for the Texas Longhorns to add. They have the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation, with one five-star and five four-stars. Wide receiver Easton Royal is the No. 15 prospect in the nation, while Currie, edge Cameron Hall, cornerback Karnell James, and tight end Brock Williams are all top 10 in each of their positions.
Meanwhile, Georgia has the No. 25 class in the nation. They’ve earned two five-star commitments from running back Kemon Spell and tight end Jaxon Dollar. Four-star offensive lineman Kelsey Adams, four-star linebacker Joakim Gouda, and four-star quarterback Colton Nussmeier are also committed to Georgia.
The Bulldogs earned a lot of recruiting momentum recently, but they lost out on a big recruiting battle for their defensive lineman. They’ve earned one commitment on their defensive line from three-star Waylon Wooten, but their history of earning blue-chip recruits at that position suggests they should get another one this season. Marcus Fakatou, who’s the No. 3 DL in the country, listed Georgia in his top five schools, and with Texas landing Currie, Georgia could spend more resources recruiting him.
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Kasi Currie has Committed to Texas, source told @Rivals
The 6’5 310 DL chose the Longhorns over Georgia, Oregon, and Ohio State
He’s ranked as a Top 5 DL in the 2027 Rivals Industry Rankings 🤘https://t.co/DrXteNtAF5pic.twitter.com/Vutfpn46eX
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 11, 2026
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Nation’s No. 2 DL Kasi Currie announces commitment
The Carolina Panthers have several positions that could still use an upgrade before the 2026 NFL season begins. But no area of concern may be greater than the tight end spot.
While the room is adequate enough to run what the Panthers do on offense, none of its inhabitants stand out as a legitimate pass-catching threat. In fact, Carolina hasn’t had one of those since Greg Olsen.
At the top is Tommy Tremble—who’s a great blocker, but has only scored 11 touchdowns since he was drafted back in 2021. 2024 fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders has yet to emerge as a reliable weapon and it’s too early to tell what 2025 fifth-rounder Mitchell Evans can be.
Nevertheless, quarterback Bryce Young told reporters earlier this week that he’s confident in the group.
“I’m super confident in the room… Great group of guys that work really hard. The one thing that I think I’ve really seen the growth in – it’s been a stable room – those guys have come in and been really smart. Their willingness to work, we’ve thrown a lot at them over this offseason… they’ve done a great job of playing fast through that. And you’ve seen them take ownership, you see us having a lot more conversations . . .”
But what if the production needs to be kicked up a notch?
As far as free agents go, Jonnu Smith is the last name worth exploring. Once he finds a landing spot, the Panthers will have little choice but to wait until next year’s draft to address this spot—unless they feel like making a trade.
However, given how few resources they have devoted to tight end the last few years, it’s difficult to see them pursuing a deal for a real difference-maker. Hopefully this changes. At the moment, there’s no concrete solution in sight, though.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers QB Bryce Young shares praise for his TEs
Skyy Boxing will present the 10th annual Hall of Fame Boxing Show on Saturday, June 20, at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa. The event will begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.
The Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2026 during the event.
The inductees are:
Pro boxer: Larry Marks of SelmaAmateur boxers: Napolean Cleveland of Selma and Lem Franklin of MobileOld timer: Bob Scanlon of MobileManager/trainer/promoters: Charlie Hutchinson of Tuscaloosa, Roy Jones Sr. of Georgiana and Pensacola, Florida, and Oliver Miller of Columbus, MississippiSupport personnel: Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa and Jeff Dodson of West Blocton and Woodstock
The evening will also feature a six-bout professional fight card, with local boxers Deon Nicholson and Ke’Eric Hinton scheduled to compete.
In addition to the professional bouts, yearly amateur awards will be presented to Alabama’s top Golden Glove athletes.
Tickets are $50 for general admission and $100 for ringside seats. For purchases and more information, contact Jay Deas at 205-799-1696.
This story was created by Dan Spears, dspears@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame induction set for June 20
It’s been well-documented that the success or the failure of the 2026 Oklahoma Sooners will very likely fall on the level of play OU gets from the offensive side of the ball. With head coach Brent Venables in charge, there’s belief that Oklahoma’s defense will be a strong unit each and every year. On special teams, the Sooners return all of last year’s production from a strong group.
That leaves the offense, but more specifically, the pressure is on redshirt-senior starting quarterback John Mateer in 2026. So often in football, the QB position dictates how good or bad the offense is. While the Sooners made the College Football Playoff last year, they were held back at times by an offense that was still figuring things out, including Mateer. Now in his final collegiate season, OU’s offense will go as he goes.
Each year, each program in the country has a chance to make a change at key positions within the program like head coach or starting quarterback. Sometimes, those changes are mandatory, as a coach leaves or a QB goes to the NFL, but the majority of the time, teams get the opportunity to make that decision, especially at quarterback in college football’s player movement era. OU has already chosen to stand behind Venables, even after a couple of difficult seasons, and he rewarded that belief with a CFP trip in 2025.
Oklahoma chose to run it back with Mateer, just as Mateer chose to run it back with Oklahoma. This season will determine whether or not the two parties made the right call, but it sounds like there’s no doubt about OU’s quarterback inside the Barry Switzer Center.
Gabe Ikard, a former OU standout offensive lineman and the co-host of “The Oklahoma Breakdown with Ikard and Lehman” appeared on the On3 Sports podcast “Crain & Cone” to preview the Sooners ahead of the new season. When asked about Mateer, he assured that there’s no question within the program that he was the guy for them all along.
“I’d say the best way to describe it is everyone in that building completely believes in that guy,” Ikard said. “… Ultimately, I’m not worried about John Mateer. I’m not. I think the guy’s talented. I think he’s he’s got the stuff you want your leader to have. He’s got the stuff you want your starting quarterback to have. If the other 10 guys around him on the field do their job at a high level, Mateer’s going to be fine.”
Belief is a very good thing to have on your side in college football, especially when you’re the starter under center at a historic blue-blood program like Oklahoma. When faced with a decision after OU’s playoff loss this past December, Mateer made the choice to come back to Norman, but that also means that Venables, general manager Jim Nagy, and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle also made the choice to bring Mateer back, and made the choice to believe that he was the right guy for the job.
According to Ikard, that belief in Mateer has spread throughout the building, and it’s a belief he’s earned based on his leadership, his play, and his overall mentality since getting to Norman. This fall will let us know whether or not those in charge were right about Mateer, as the Sooners chase a deep playoff run in 2026.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: John Mateer has everyone on the Sooners believing in him in 2026
BEREA — Shedeur Sanders is among the most popular celebrity athletes in the NFL, and Deshaun Watson is the least likable quarterback in the league.
The dynamic has made Sanders the people’s champion in the competition to become the starting QB of the Browns.
The Browns wrapped up their three-day mandatory minicamp on Thursday, June 11, with neither Sanders nor Watson separating himself enough to compel coach Todd Monken to declare a winner.
Judging spring practices can be foolish because real football is not on display, but if you’re thirsty for a QB derby update, just know Sanders built a bit of momentum during minicamp while Watson labored to tread water.
The QB duel will resume when training camp begins in late July, with Sanders and Watson alternating at the controls of the first-team offense, Monken said. Unlike organized team activities and minicamp, fans will be able to attend training camp.
The last time Watson performed in front of Browns fans, he suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, 2024, against the Cincinnati Bengals and heard members of the Cleveland crowd cheer for his demise.
“I had emotions at the time, but you grow out of it,” Watson said June 10.
Watson ruptured the same Achilles tendon on the comeback trail, underwent a second surgery in January 2025 and sat out all of last season.
Unfortunately for the Browns, they have yet to outgrow their disastrous Watson era. In March 2022, the Browns traded six draft picks, including three in the first round, to the Houston Texans in the ill-fated deal for Watson. The Browns also gave him a five-year contract worth $230 million fully guaranteed.
Several NFL teams explored the possibility of acquiring Watson despite more than two dozen women accusing him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massage appointments when he played for the Texans. The Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints even met with Watson and presented recruiting pitches. However, only the Browns begged Watson with a record-setting deal for guaranteed money after his camp had informed Cleveland he would not waive his no-trade clause for the Jimmy Haslam-owned franchise.
Watson’s Browns career has yielded an 11-game suspension stemming from the aforementioned allegations, a starting record of 9-10, surgery to his throwing shoulder in November 2023 and two surgeries to his right Achilles tendon.
As Watson’s rehabilitation continued last year, the Browns ended Sanders’ stunning 2025 NFL Draft slide by picking him in the fifth round (No. 144 overall) out of Colorado. He started the final seven games of his rookie season and went 3-4. The Browns finished 5-12, fired coach Kevin Stefanski and hired Monken.
In many ways, the coaching change has given Watson a fresh start with the Browns. A year ago, many people inside Browns headquarters could not have envisioned Watson as a viable candidate to start for Cleveland again.
The most honest words a Browns official has uttered in public about Watson came from Haslam when he called the trade with the Texans “a big swing and miss” during the NFL owners meetings in March 2025. The vast ripple effect of the blockbuster backfiring has contributed to other franchise-altering decisions, including the recent Myles Garrett trade.
Yet, here we go again with Watson because the Browns have put him in contention to start when they open the regular season Sept. 13 at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Browns starting Watson over Sanders would defy logic because one quarterback is a potential future option for the rebuilding organization and the other is not, or at least should not be.
Although Sanders cannot possibly be considered a long-term answer at this point, the Browns ought to further develop him and learn more about what he could become in the NFL. Watson is in the final year of his contract, and general manager Andrew Berry has said “there’s no rule against” extending Watson’s deal. But extending a 31-year-old QB (it’ll be Watson’s age in September) who has a surgically repaired throwing shoulder and a twice-surgically repaired Achilles tendon would not make sense.
Berry and Browns ownership are obviously holding out hope about the worst trade in NFL history miraculously being salvaged. It’s human nature, but it’s also embarrassing.
The concept of marketability must be a factor in the big-picture quarterback outlook, too. Monken said he only cares about “whoever gives us the best chance to score,” but NFL organizations often expect a starting quarterback to serve as the face of the franchise.
The Browns included Sanders in their 2026 schedule release video while excluding Watson. The truth is the response to Watson in Northeast Ohio has been a mixed bag. There are many fans who are willing to overlook what he has been accused of doing and support him if he wins. There are others who want nothing to do with the Browns as long as he’s on the roster.
Four years ago, Browns ownership essentially said it’s understandable for fans, especially survivors of sexual abuse, to be triggered by the Watson trade. This year, fans have received a lecture about needing to back Watson.
“If he’s our starting quarterback, I know there are people that probably won’t be supportive,” Browns managing partner JW Johnson, the son-in-law of Jimmy and Dee Haslam, told ESPN Cleveland WKNR (850-AM) in April. “But they should need to be supportive as much as they can. And if he plays great, then, hey, awesome. If he doesn’t, then it is what it is, and we’re looking ahead to the future.”
There’s a chance Sanders could be the future. Based on charisma alone, he is capable of uniting a fan base at odds over Watson. There appears to be some reluctance, though. Sanders is seemingly aware of his status as the people’s champ but not necessarily comfortable with the notion of being pitted against Watson.
Iron sharpens iron and competition brings out the best in everyone, unless a combatant is fearful of stepping on another’s porcelain toes.
“See, I think the way how y’all [in the media] look at things is different than how we look at things,” Sanders said June 10. “We look at coming to practice every day, being the best player we can be as an individual and as a good teammate. Y’all look at it as like a competition.”
Sanders also took exception to a media member’s question about whether he would attend player-orchestrated workouts organized by Watson or invite teammates to his own training sessions this summer.
“I just think that was just a question to try to start something, honestly,” Sanders said. “I think we’re a team. If one of us chooses to do something, we’re all going to do it together as a team. It’s not no individual thing. So that’s the thing — the quarterback room, we’re all connected. We’re all cool.
“There’s nobody’s single, individual idea because that creates separation with, ‘OK, now, what receivers are gonna show up for this guy?’ Nah, we’re all a team. We’re all gonna come [together] as one. We’re all gonna get together as one team and get things done. [Each quarterback hosting his own workout] causes separation and just a messed-up vibe, and it’s like that’s not really what we’re on this year. We’re on being a great team.”
It’s commendable for Sanders to oppose any whiff of a divided locker room, yet Sanders feeling the need to push back so strongly against questions about competition is awkward.
Then again, Cleveland’s entire Watson experience has been awkward, and it will continue to be the case this summer in training camp.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Shedeur Sanders is people’s champ in Browns QB duel vs. Deshaun Watson
