🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Michael Jackson biopic achieves record-breaking $217 million global opening
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The new Michael Jackson biopic, "Michael," has achieved a record-breaking global box office opening of $217 million, making it the highest-grossing debut for a biographical film. The movie, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, surpassed previous records held by "Bohemian Rhapsody" $124 million and "Oppenheimer" $180 million. Adam Fogelson, Chairman of US distributor Lionsgate, attributed the success to strong turnout across diverse audiences. Despite a mixed critical reception, with a 38% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has garnered a 97% audience rating. "Michael" continues a trend of successful musical biopics and incorporates Jackson's original vocals, focusing on his musical legacy. The film notably omits the child sexual abuse allegations against the singer, concluding its narrative in 1988, prior to the allegations becoming public. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the production faced challenges including costly reshoots for its reported $200 million budget.
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A new study reveals that the number of years British people enjoy good health has decreased by over two years in a decade, with more individuals experiencing ailments before retirement age. Between 2012-2014 and 2022-2024, healthy life expectancy HLE in the UK dropped from 62.9 years for men and 63.7 years for women to just under 61 for both. Andrew Mooney, principal data analyst with the Health Foundation and co-author of the study, stated that "The UK’s health is deteriorating and slipping further behind comparable nations." The study defines HLE as the average number of years a person expects to live in good health, based on current mortality rates and self-reported good health. The findings indicate a "watershed moment" as years of good health now fall below the retirement age of 66, which will rise to 67 in 2026. The UK is one of only five high-income countries where healthy life expectancy fell between 2011 and 2021, experiencing the second steepest decline, with only the United States now having a lower healthy life expectancy. The report also highlighted widening inequalities, with the gap in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas in England reaching 19.4 years for males and 20.3 years for females. For example, HLE for men in wealthy Richmond is 69.3 years, while in Blackpool, it is 50.9 years. The report attributes this to successive governments failing to take long-term action, leading to economic, fiscal, and human costs.
Must ReadThe Nigerian Army is facing significant criticism following the death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a National Youth Service Corps member, in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja. The Army, through Lieutenant Odunola Olawuyi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, stated that Jamiu was caught in a crossfire during a gun duel between troops responding to an armed robbery distress call and fleeing suspects. However, relatives and friends of Jamiu have challenged this account. A TikTok user, identified as #Zarah.2 and claiming to be Jamiu’s relative, alleged that soldiers scaled a fence, entered Jamiu's residence around 2:00 a.m., and shot him twice through his door, hitting his head. She also claimed soldiers cleaned blood from the floor. A friend, #Mohamazinggg on X, corroborated these details, stating that three armed military men forced their way into the house where Jamiu was with his younger siblings, shot through his locked door multiple times, hitting him in the head and stomach. The friend further alleged that soldiers prevented Jamiu’s sister from seeking help and called local vigilantes to clean the scene. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with protests demanding "Justice for Samad." A Community Note on the Army's official X post highlighted the contradiction between the Army's crossfire claim and witness accounts. The Nigerian Army has announced that a thorough investigation has commenced, and its findings will be made public.
The United States government, through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, has funded modern audiovisual interrogation rooms for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA in Nigeria. These facilities were handed over in Abuja by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC, which implemented the project. UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Toure, stated that Nigeria is no longer a permissive environment for international drug cartels due to the NDLEA's intensified enforcement efforts. Toure highlighted that transnational drug trafficking fuels corruption, funds violence, and destroys communities, and commended the NDLEA's leadership under Brig Gen Buba Marwa retd for reversing the trend of Nigeria being a target and transit hub for global criminal networks. Toure described the US funding as an investment in transparency and the rule of law. Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa Rtd, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, thanked the US-INL and UNODC, noting that the facilities upgrade the integrity of the agency's investigative process and align with its digital transformation. Marwa emphasized that the equipment enhances investigative capacity, improves professionalism in handling suspects, and reinforces the NDLEA's commitment to transparency, extant laws, and global best practices in criminal justice.
Transcorp Power Plc has declared a total dividend of N41.25 billion for the 2025 financial year, following improved earnings driven by higher generation output and operational efficiency. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Emmanuel Nnorom, announced this at the company’s 13th Annual General Meeting in Abuja, stating the payout reflects a commitment to shareholder value. The dividend comprises an interim dividend of N1.50 per share and a final dividend of N4.00 per share, totaling N5.50 per share. Nnorom highlighted the company's resilient performance in 2025 despite macroeconomic and sectoral pressures, with revenue rising from N305.9 billion in 2024 to N398 billion in 2025, and profit after tax increasing by 14.25 percent to N91.4 billion from N80 billion. He attributed this to stronger generation capacity and disciplined cost management amid challenges like elevated inflation and rising operating costs. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ikenga, noted the company consolidated its growth trajectory despite operational headwinds, including grid constraints, and increased available capacity from 505MW to 625MW. He also mentioned strengthening gas supply and advancing discussions to diversify fuel sources. Ikenga pointed to persistent challenges in the power sector, such as transmission constraints, but affirmed the company maintained stable electricity supply. Transcorp Power recorded gains from in-house execution and reduced downtime through lean operat