Iran’s assembly of experts reaches decision on new supreme leader
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, date and time undisclosed. (Photo: Turikiye Today)Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader, has reportedly reached a decision on a successor to the late Ali Khamenei, though the identity of the chosen figure has not yet been publicly disclosed. “The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined”, Alekasir said on Sunday. In recent days, Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late leader, has been suggested as a possible frontrunner. Under Iran’s constitution, the 88-member Assembly of Experts holds the exclusive authority to appoint the supreme leader, a position that Khamenei held for nearly four decades until his death in a joint U.S.–Israeli strike on Tehran on February 28.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 19:35 UTC
Punch The Monkey Visited By Fellow Celebrity
Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo is the latest zoo to benefit from one of their animals having a viral moment online. Other macaques at the zoo, oblivious to the outcast's rising fame, have been documented bullying poor Punch. Now Punch is hanging out with real-deal celebrities. Yesterday Lisa from Blackpink posted photos on her Instagram stories of herself visiting the macaque exhibit at Ichikawa City Zoo, holding up an orangutan plushie in Punch's honor. Judas Priest’s Rob Halford has also showed off his Punch merch.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 17:26 UTC
10 facts about new police spokesperson DCP Anthony Placid
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Placid as its new Force Public Relations Officer. The development was announced in a statement on Sunday by the outgoing spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, who signed the notice from the Force Headquarters in Abuja. University of Uyo graduateHe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo. Holds a master’s degree in diplomacyPlacid also obtained a Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. Studied law at NOUNHe further studied law at the National Open University of Nigeria, Calabar Centre, where he pursued a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 17:16 UTC
IG appoints DCP Anthony Placid new Police PRO, replaces Hundeyin
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anthony Placid, as the new Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force. Placid replaces the outgoing Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin. This was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by Hundeyin, who signed as the outgoing spokesperson at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. According to the statement, Placid is a seasoned police officer with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training and international peacekeeping. Placid is married with children and enjoys listening to music and playing football, basketball, table tennis and badminton.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 16:52 UTC
Blackpink’s Lisa Visited Viral Monkey Punch in Japan
Punch went viral for being alone at the zoo and emotionally supported by a stuffed monkey toy. This weekend, pop star Lisa from Blackpink went to Tokyo, Japan, for an adorable visit to the viral monkey star, Punch. He went viral online after being rejected by the other monkeys in his enclosure and offered a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort. In September 2025, Lisa spoke to AnOther magazine about her role on HBO’s The White Lotus season 3, talking about working with the creator Mike White. “Then I flew to Thailand to meet up with Mike White and we had a great initial conversation.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 16:21 UTC
Punch in your area: Blackpink's Lisa meets Internet's favourite 'lonely monkey'
PETALING JAYA: Blackpink’s Lalisa Manobal, popularly known as Lisa, has brought smiles to fans worldwide with her surprise visit to see the Internet's latest darling: Punch, the Japanese macaque. The snaps, which quickly went viral, feature Lisa with a plush orangutan toy similar to the comfort object Punch is often seen hugging. Punch, a juvenile Japanese macaque, garnered international sympathy as the “loneliest monkey on the Internet” after clips of the infant primate clutching a small stuffed orangutan began circulating on social media. Caretakers provided the lonely monkey with the stuffed toy to ease his anxiety. However, the young macaque is reportedly showing promising signs of independence, leaving his plush toy behind and learning to interact with the other monkeys in the troop.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 15:44 UTC
Man charged over one-punch attack in Perth city
AdvertisementNationalWACourts Man charged over one-punch attack in Perth city Hannah Murphy March 8, 2026 — 9:44am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Got it Share A A AThe homicide squad says a man who allegedly carried out a one-punch attack in Perth city at the weekend had stolen a bank card off another man just hours before. The 37-year-old from Scarborough was arrested nearby shortly after the one-punch hit, and has been charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated grievous bodily harm, stealing, and gain benefits by fraud. The news comes after Tim Picton’s alleged attacker, who has also been charged with a one-punch assault against the young father, was released on bail last week. Related Article Courts WA Labor figure Tim Picton’s alleged killer granted bail Premier Roger Cook said at the time his government would investigate what further action could be taken to crack down on one-punch assaults.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 15:23 UTC
CITA Energies earns three global ISO certifications
Jamiu Badmos; Director of Corporate Affairs,CITA Energies, Modupe Adegbenjo; Director, Chairman’s Office, CITA Energies, Ajibola Olayinka; and Executive Director/COO, CITA Energies, Titilayo Olaore, during the ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 Certification Award Ceremony of CITA Energies in Lagos. Photo credit: CITACITA Energies Limited has secured three International Organisation for Standardisation certifications for quality, environmental management and occupational health and safety systems. The company secured three globally recognised management system certifications: ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management System, ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management System, and ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety Management System. Awe, whose airline has partnered with CITA Energies for several years, disclosed that the company currently supplies 50 per cent of ASKY Airlines’ fuel requirements in Nigeria. Recipients who also received N200,000 cash prizes included Mrs Modupe Adegbenjo (Outstanding ISO Champion Award), Toluwvalase Oyedokun (Most Dedicated ISO Contributor Award), Titilayo Olaore (ISO Leadership and Support Award), and Tomiwa Oroge (ISO Implementation Coordination Award).
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 12:34 UTC
BREAKING: Two feared killed in Adamawa communal crisis
Two people have been feared killed in renewed clashes between the Chobo and Bachaman communities in Adamawa State, Lamurde Local Government Area. Confirming the incident to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the Adamawa State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said the crisis erupted on Saturday night. PUNCH Online reports that this marks the latest escalation in a protracted dispute over land between the two communities. Local sources told PUNCH Online that the two victims were killed in the early hours of Sunday while on their way to church. At the time of filing this report, the Adamawa State government had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 12:12 UTC
Tokyo zoo’s ‘Punch’ learns monkey life after early rejection
Punch the baby orphan macaque is outgrowing the orangutan plushie that comforted him through early rejection from his mother and other monkeys. Images of Punch dragging around the toy bigger than him drew attention to the residents of a zoo near Tokyo. When other monkeys shooed the baby away, Punch rushed back to the toy orangutan, hugging it for comfort. "Helping Punch learn the rules of monkey society and being accepted as a member is our most important task,” said Kosuke Kano, a 24-year-old zookeeper. Punch still sleeps with his toy every night, but Mizushina said the next thing keepers want to see is Punch bunched up with other monkeys to sleep.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 10:12 UTC
PDP factions signal reconciliation after Appeal Court advisory
The development followed an advisory by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, urging both sides to resolve their differences amicably in the interest of the party. The court is expected to hear the two appeals seeking to set aside conflicting judgments earlier delivered by the Federal High Court, Ibadan, and the Oyo State High Court over the legitimacy of the party’s Ibadan convention. Following the conflicting rulings, both factions approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja and Ibadan, seeking to overturn the respective judgments. Ememobong clarified that the Court of Appeal did not issue a final ruling but merely advised the factions to resolve their differences internally. Ememobong added that the court adjourned the matter to allow both factions explore the possibility of reconciliation.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 09:31 UTC
OpenAI executive resigns over Pentagon AI contract
OpenAI’s top robotics executive, Caitlin Kalinowski, said on Saturday that she had resigned over the artificial intelligence giant’s deal with the US government to allow its technology’s deployment for war and domestic surveillance. The company behind ChatGPT secured a defence contract with the Pentagon last month, hours after rival Anthropic refused to agree to unconditional military use of their technology. “To be clear, my issue is that the announcement was rushed without the guardrails defined,” she wrote. These are too important for deals or announcements to be rushed.”Anthropic’s refusal to authorise use of its Claude AI models had prompted backlash from US officials. Kalinowski previously worked at Meta, developing their augmented reality glasses.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 09:25 UTC
Explosion hits US embassy in Oslo, Norway; no injuries
The US embassy in Oslo, Norway, was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, but no one was injured, police in the Norwegian capital said, adding the cause was not immediately known. The explosion occurred around 1:00 am local time (0000 GMT), the Oslo police department said in a statement. We arrived shortly afterwards and confirmed that there had been an explosion that hit the US embassy,” he told NRK. A 16-year-old identified only as Edvard told TV2 that he was watching television when he heard the blast. But Dellemyr said there was no indication as yet that the incident at the embassy in Oslo was connected to the conflict.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 08:52 UTC
Trump rejects UK aircraft carriers for Middle East war
US President Donald Trump has said that “two aircraft carriers” from Britain are not needed “any longer” to aid his war in the Middle East — his latest critique of London’s stance. “The United Kingdom is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer,” Trump posted to his Truth Social account on Saturday. “We don’t need people who join Wars after we’ve already won!”Trump posted the message shortly after attending the return of the first six US service members killed in the Middle East war, at Dover Air Force Base in the northeastern state of Delaware. British media reports say the Royal Navy is preparing the HMS Prince Wales, an aircraft carrier currently at Portsmouth in southern England, for possible deployment to the Middle East, but no final decision has been made.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 08:38 UTC
Lookman, Atletico edge Copa del Rey final rehearsal
Atletico de Madrid forward Ademola Lookman plays during the match between Club Brugge KV and Atletico de Madrid at the Jan Breydelstadion for the Champions League - KO play-offs - 1st leg season 2025-2026 in Brugge, Belgium, on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto) (Photo by Stefan Koops / NurPhoto via AFP)Ademola Lookman and Atletico Madrid edged past Real Sociedad 3-2 in a thrilling La Liga encounter on Saturday that served as a timely dress rehearsal for next month’s Copa del Rey final between the two sides, scheduled for April 18 in Sevilla. Nico Gonzalez gave Atletico the lead after converting Antoine Griezmann’s sublime back-heel assist, but Mikel Oyarzabal responded immediately with a thunderous effort to level again. With 10 minutes remaining, Gonzalez headed Atletico back in front from the penalty spot, and this time there was no way back for Sociedad. The result extended Atletico’s unbeaten run against Real Sociedad in La Liga to 13 matches, while the visitors’ away form remains a concern heading into the cup final, with only three wins on the road all season.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 08:34 UTC