Archive June 10, 2025

ITV The Chase star Mark Labbett commits ultimate blunder during Celebs Go Dating

By in Entertainment News, News

Mark Labbett, best known to The Chase fans as quizmaster “The Beast”, was reportedly spotted committing the faux pas during a date with a mystery woman while filming Celebs Go Dating

“The Beast” from The Chase, real name Mark Labbett, found himself in an amusing pickle on Celebs Go Dating after reportedly dozing off during a date.

Labbett, 58, well-known for his sharp intellect and straight-talking on the hit ITV quiz show, seemingly succumbed to sleepiness while the cameras captured the moment mid-date.

The latest series of Celebs Go Dating, which was filmed last month, saw an insider reveal that there wasn’t much spark between the quizzing legend and his suitor.

An anonymous tipster dished:

“Mark was yawning a lot and drifted off briefly. It was a bit of an awkward moment. It’s safe to say there wasn’t much of a spark between them.”

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Previously weighing as much as 29 stone, Mark Labbett tied the knot with second cousin Katie in 2014 but called it quits after six years.

He then dated TV host Hayley Palmer in 2023; however, the couple split after just one year together, reports the Express.

A source said:
A source said: “Mark was yawning a lot and drifted off briefly. It was a bit of an awkward moment. It’s safe to say there wasn’t much of a spark between them.”(Image: IG)

Discussing his break up with Hayley, 43, Labbett confided in The Sun:

“She’s a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year, and as I said: it’s me, I got old.”

He continued: “There’s been no one since Hayley. I’m not saying there won’t be another one. But I’m certainly not looking.”

Delving into his love life, Labbett reminisced:

“I was single, not coincidentally, for a long, long time when I was a 29st maths teacher who knew it was quite hard to attract a partner then. So I’m quite comfortable without a partner.”

Mark’s representative quipped a witty retort when questioned about the drowsy date:

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“If his date was as boring as you have suggested, I’m surprised he didn’t take a pillow with him!”.

Chinese man in US pleads guilty to exporting guns, ammo to North Korea

By in News, World News

A Chinese man living illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to exporting guns, ammunition and other military items to North Korea at the direction of Pyongyang, the US Department of Justice has said.

Shenghua Wen, of Ontario, California, admitted to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act – a 1977 law that empowers the president to restrict commerce with countries on national security grounds – and one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, the Justice Department said on Monday.

Wen, 42, shipped at least three containers of guns bound for North Korea in 2023, one of which arrived in Nampo, North Korea, via Hong Kong, according to prosecutors.

To facilitate the scheme, Wen bought a firearms business in Houston, Texas, and used false paperwork to conceal the contents of his shipping containers, according to prosecutors.

Wen, who was arrested in December, also allegedly bought approximately 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition and obtained “sensitive technology”, including a chemical threat identification device, for shipment to North Korea.

Wen was allegedly directed to procure the weapons and sensitive goods by North Korean officials he met at the North Korean Embassy in China before entering the US on a student visa in 2012.

Wen was allegedly transferred about $2m to carry out the scheme.

“Wen admitted that at all relevant times he knew that it was illegal to ship firearms, ammunition, and sensitive technology to North Korea. He also admitted to never having the required licenses to export ammunition, firearms, and the above-described devices to North Korea,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a press release.

“He further admitted to acting at the direction of North Korean government officials and that he had not provided notification to the Attorney General of the United States that he was acting in the United States at the direction and control of North Korea as required by law.”

During questioning by the FBI, Wen said he believed the North Korean government wanted the weapons and ammunition to prepare for an attack against South Korea, according to a criminal complaint filed in September.

Wen is due to face court for sentencing in August.

Osun Communities Protest Poor Road Conditions, Appeal For Govt’s Intervention

By in News, Nigeria News

Residents of 25 communities along the Olu-omo Junction-Kelebe area to the ATMAN area in Osogbo, Osun State, staged a protest on Monday to draw the government’s attention to the deplorable state of their access road.

The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Osun Govt., Road project is our primary” and “Gov. Adeleke, our road is no longer motorable,” demanded government intervention to address the road’s poor condition.

The affected communities, including Araromi, Asejere Oke-odo, Aratumi, Akogun, Kuliya, and Alagbede, among others, have been facing numerous challenges due to the road’s deplorable condition.

According to the protesters, the bad road has caused significant damage to their vehicles, and commercial motorcycle riders now refuse to ply the route.

They said the road has multiple failed portions, with some areas threatened by erosion.

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Despite communal efforts to maintain the road through periodic grading, the protesters argue that the situation has become unsustainable and demand total construction.

They expressed disappointment that despite reaching out to the government and relevant agencies, their pleas have gone unanswered.

The communities appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration to prioritize their road project, noting that while the current administration has constructed several roads in the state, theirs has been neglected.

The protesters emphasized that the road has never been constructed by any government and urged the state government to yield to their demands.

Troops Arrest 43 Suspects, Uncover 27 Illegal Refining Sites In Niger Delta

By in News, Nigeria News

In fresh efforts against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested 43 suspects and uncovered 27 illegal bunkering sites across the Niger Delta region.

The operation, which took place between May 26 and June 8, 2025, also led to the recovery of over 161,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in coordinated raids spanning four states.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.

“In Rivers State, troops intercepted a fibre boat, a wooden boat and a large wooden barge filled with over 27,000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” the statement read.

It also confirmed the arrest of eight suspects in connection to the intercepted products.

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Around Dorger Land in Okrika LGA, a wooden boat laden with 18,980 litres of PMS was also seized, with three suspected oil thieves apprehended. Troops made further seizures in Okarki Forest, Banana Creek in Ahoada West and Degema LGAs of Rivers State. At Egbema-Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, an illegal refining site was uncovered with drums, cooking ovens, receivers and over 3,000 litres of crude oil recovered.

In Oyingbo, a truck with registration number SML 204 VJ was intercepted with crude oil hidden in sacks. Similarly, at Omoku waterside, 2,700 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) were intercepted in 45 sacks.

“In Bayelsa State, along Zarama-Joinkrama 4, troops discovered an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10 connected to a refining site,” the Army noted. Five cooking ovens, dugout pits, reservoirs, a generator and over 30,000 litres of crude were recovered.

At Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, troops found two more illegal connection points, along with 19 pots, 36 drum receivers and over 31,000 litres of stolen crude and AGO.

In Akwa Ibom, a suspect was arrested at Ekparakwa in Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam LGA with 63 nylon bags containing over 1,900 litres of AGO in an Infinity Jeep.

Two others were nabbed in a Toyota Camry along Abak-Ikot Abasi Road with 31 bags filled with 840 litres of PMS.

“In Delta State, troops discovered two wooden boats loaded with over 3,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 120 cellophane bags concealed in a creek,” the Army added.

Meanwhile, in the Bennett Ogboloja area of Warri South LGA, troops also uncovered illegal refining sites with ovens, pumping machines and drums of illegally refined AGO, estimated to be over 500 litres. At Urakpa Gana in Sapele LGA, four suspects were arrested with 57 sacks of stolen condensates, while two vehicles loaded with 1,630 litres of condensates were also intercepted.

Return of the Mack star Mark Morrison’s team hit out as his battery charge dropped

By in Entertainment News, News

Mark Morrison, whose song Return of the Mack topped the UK charts in 1996, was taken into custody on Saturday but denied that any battery occurred at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach, Florida

Mark Morrison’s battery charge has been dismissed

A battery charge against British singer Mark Morrison – best known for his 1996 hit Return of the Mack – has been dropped.

The musician, 51, was taken into custody on Saturday after an alleged altercation at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach, Florida. However, the star’s lawyers have today confirmed he was at the restaurant to talk to the manager and attempt to collect payment on behalf of a local singer who had performed at the venue.

Although the “conversation escalated”, Mr Morrison’s lawyers said no physical altercation happened and now police have been able to dismiss the battery charge. In a statement, King Legal Group said: “The decision to nolle prosse (formally decline prosecution) ends what should never have been a criminal matter in the first place.

“Mr Morrison has consistently and unequivocally denied that any battery occurred. There was no physical altercation—only a demand for fairness and accountability. The evidence never supported criminal intent or conduct.”

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The musician, who grew up in Leicester,
The musician, who grew up in Leicester, had attempted to help a singer collect money they were owed for a performance
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The legal team explained how Mr Morrison, whose track Return of the Mack spent two weeks as UK number one in April 1996, values standing up for what he believes in. However, they suggested race may have played a role in how the singer was treated.

“While we are relieved the State has dismissed the charge, the underlying context cannot be ignored. The refusal to pay — coupled with how quickly the situation was criminalised — raises legitimate concerns about whether race played a role in how Mr Morrison was treated. It’s not lost on us that advocating for fair pay, especially as a Black man in a position of leadership, can be met with suspicion instead of dialogue,” the statement added.

“Mr Morrison has spent years supporting local artists and standing up for what’s right. That won’t change. He is grateful for those who stood by him, and he remains committed to uplifting the artistic community in Palm Beach County and beyond. Towards that end, and in furtherance of Mr Morrison’s commitment to his community, he is donating the $1000.00 (£730) bond used to secure his appearance, to Little Smiles, a local children’s charity.”

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US Judge Dismisses Actor Baldoni’s $400m Lawsuit Against Blake Lively

By in Entertainment News, News

A US judge on Monday rejected a $400 million lawsuit that actor Justin Baldoni filed against former co-star Blake Lively and The New York Times after she accused him of sexual harassment and other misbehaviour.

Back in December the Times reported that Lively had filed a complaint against Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath for allegedly inappropriate behavior and comments during the shooting of the movie “It Ends with Us.”

The complaint said Baldoni — who also directed the film — had spoken inappropriately about his sex life and sought to alter the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed to.

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It also said Heath had watched Lively while she was topless, despite having been asked to turn away. It further said Baldoni waged a PR campaign to wreck Lively’s reputation.

A lawyer for Wayfarer, the studio behind the film, said in a statement released to the New York Times at the time that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively.

“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media,” lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote in December.

Baldoni filed suit in January against the actress, her husband Ryan Reynolds and the Times, arguing that an article the paper ran in December defamed him.

On Monday, Judge Lewis Liman of the US District Court in Manhattan dismissed the lawsuit filed by Baldoni.

The judge said the Times had simply reported on Lively’s original legal filing alleging harassment on set and a retaliatory smear campaign, and that it had taken the trouble to seek a reaction from Baldoni to the actress’s allegations.

The judge also rejected allegations by Baldoni that Lively, whose Instagram account has more than 43 million followers, had tried to seize control of the film and its promotion. Baldoni accused her husband, Reynolds, of wrongly describing him as a sexual predator.

In a statement carried by US media, Lively’s lawyers celebrated what they called a “total victory” over Baldoni’s “retaliatory lawsuit.”

Baldoni’s lawyer did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.