Hitchins calls out Haney after title defence

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Richardson Hitchins called out Devin Haney after claiming a dominant win over George Kambosos Jr to retain his IBF light-welterweight title.

The 27-year-old headlined a show in his hometown New York for the first time and stopped Kambosos with a left hook to the body in the eighth round.

Hitchins was making his first defence of the title he earned by beating Liam Paro in December.

He dominated throughout at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, landing a far greater number of blows than Kambosos, a former world champion at lightweight.

After being floored in the eighth round, the Australian rose to his feet before the count of 10 but was still grimacing in pain and was unable to continue.

Victory meant Hitchins extended his unbeaten record to 20-0, including eight knockouts.

“I’ve been telling the boxing world I was coming and they should have listened,” he said.

“I told his [Kambosos’] dad: ‘If you love your son, you’ll stop the fight.’ He was tough, a true competitor, but I was just the better man tonight.”

Kambosos shocked Teofimo Lopez at the same venue in 2021 to become the unified lightweight champion.

But the 32-year-old then lost back-to-back fights to Haney and has now lost four of his past six fights for a 22-4 record.

Hitchins added: “I knew I had to go to some unsafe places to get some good shots off. I put myself in harm’s way.

“He caught me with a couple of good shots, but they didn’t hurt me, so I just went for the [finish].”

WBO champion Lopez entered the ring after the fight but Hitchins called out the unbeaten Haney, who moved up to welterweight to beat Jose Ramirez last month.

Haney later said on X: “We could get it at 147 (welterweight).”

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Umahi Says No Bias Against North In Federal Projects

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed claims that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is prioritising the South in infrastructure allocation across the country.

While addressing the media during a two-day inspection tour of federal road projects in Rivers and Bayelsa states, Umahi described the claims as “misleading,” saying the North currently holds 52 per cent of legacy projects compared to the South’s 48 per cent.

“Projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Road, Calabar-Abuja Highway, and Akwanga-Jos Road are ongoing in the North. When you measure by mileage and cost, the distribution is balanced,” Umahi said.

He accused those behind the claims of spreading false narratives and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to equitable infrastructure development nationwide.

READ ALSO: Tinubu In Lagos To Flag Off Construction Of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road

Meanwhile, Umahi has said that the Bonny-Bodo Road in Rivers State will be completed and inaugurated by November 2025.

Umahi, who gave the assurance while speaking at the Bonny-Bodo project site, commended the construction firm, Julius Berger, for the pace and quality of work.

He confirmed that 5.3 kilometers of concrete pavement had already been completed and directed that stone base and asphalt be applied on the section to prepare it for the commissioning ceremony.

Umahi said the pavement was tested and confirmed durable enough to support a presidential helicopter landing.

“All work must stay within the existing ₦200 billion contract sum — no adjustments will be approved,” he stated.

He added that the Federal Government plans to expand the road into a dual carriageway and install solar-powered streetlights, with the potential for an operate-maintain model to ensure sustainability.

Project engineers said the road was 85 per cent complete, with the remaining section awaiting ground settlement.

Julius Berger officials projected that major construction work would end by September, with finishing work by October.

The Bonny-Bodo Road features nine mini-bridges and three major bridges and is currently open to limited traffic.

President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Works, David Umahi, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and Aliko Dangote, on Thursday, June 5, 2025, during the official commissioning of the Deep Sea Port Access Road in Lagos.

Progress On East-West Road, Others

Umahi also inspected sections of the East-West Road in Eleme and Ahoada (Rivers State), as well as Zarama in Bayelsa, where portions damaged by the 2023 flood were undergoing reconstruction.

In Bayelsa, he said the contractor, ROC Result, has completed 60 per cent of the repair work and opened one carriageway to traffic.

He also visited one of three collapsed bridges between Rivers and Delta states, awarded to SETRACO under a 2023 supplementary appropriation.

One bridge is nearing completion, while piling is ongoing on the other two.

Umahi said the ministry was targeting the completion and inauguration of several key roads and bridges by December 2025.

Seven killed in helicopter crash in India’s Uttarakhand state

Seven people, including a toddler, have been killed in India’s northern Uttarakhand state when a helicopter ferrying them for a Hindu pilgrimage crashed in the Himalayas, officials say.

Officials from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority told reporters the chopper took off at about 5:30am (00:00 GMT) on Sunday from the temple town of Kedarnath for Guptkashi, a town some 37km (23 miles) away, but crashed shortly after takeoff.

The deceased have been identified as the pilot, Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, and passengers Vikram Rawat, Vinod Devi, Trishti Singh, Rajkumar Jaiswal, his wife Shraddha Jaiswal and their two-year-old daughter, Kashi.

The bodies were badly burned in a fire that followed the crash, authorities said.

Uttarakhand’s State Disaster Response Force told the ANI news agency that the crash site is located in a remote and dense forest area, adding that the rescue operation is under way in coordination with the local police.

Officials said the crash was believed to have been caused by poor weather conditions.

In a post on X, Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called the incident “very sad”.

Kedarnath, standing at an altitude of 3,584 metres (11,759 feet), is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu temple shrines and receives tens of thousands of pilgrims each year during the summer season.

To avoid the arduous trekking in the mountainous terrain, affluent pilgrims often use helicopter charter services. But mishaps are common in the treacherous region, where sudden weather changes and high-altitude flying conditions can pose risks.

On June 7, a helicopter operating in the Kedarnath Valley made an emergency landing on a highway due to a technical fault shortly after taking off. The pilot was injured, but all five passengers on board were unharmed.

Last month, a helicopter crashed in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, killing six people, including the pilot. One person survived.

JoJo Siwa postpones all US tour dates as Chris Hughes romance heats up

JoJo Siwa has blindsided fans by postponing all the dates of her upcoming US tour. The Dance Moms star, who is currently dating Chris Hughes, hinted in a statement that she will be spending the summer in Europe instead.

The website detailing her live shows now reads: “I’ve got some news that breaks my heart to share… my US tour has to be postponed.

“I promise I’ll be back before you know it to perform for all the beautiful people in the US!… Announcements will be coming soon, including some Europe shows!:)

“Thank you so much for your understanding and support. I can’t wait to see you all soon! To my Dream Guest VIPs, my team will be reaching out to you individually to plan something special. Refunds will be issued at point of purchase.”






Jojo performed at London festival Mighty Hoopla this year but won’t be hitting the road in the US
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It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for JoJo who was also dropped by her record label. The reality star had been signed to the record company Columbia in 2024, and she released her single Karma and EP Guilty Pleasure with the label.

But less than a year later, the US reality star is no longer working with the label with her latest single Bulletproof released independently.

However, in better news the star has reportedly bagged her own ITV2 reality show with boyfriend Chris Hughes. The pair are in talks for their own series documenting the early stages of their romance.







Chris deleted a photo of him and JoJo topless in bed together
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SNAPCHAT)

The romance between the pair has been going from strength to strength since they met on Celebrity Big Brother.

After stunning viewers with their flirty antics in the show, the pair did not wait long to go public.

The news unravelled after JoJo’s heartbroken partner Kath announced on social media the morning after the afterparty that JoJo had dumped her. Kath was particularly hurt as she’d jetted to meet JoJo and was left alone in London after the snub.

In an interview with Capital Radio, JoJo confirmed that she and Chris were now exclusive. She announced: ‘I’m sure it’s no secret to people, I am in a lovely relationship with a sweet boy named Christopher Hughes.’

She also gushed about her feelings for the Love Island star in an interview with The Guardian when asked whether things between them were still platonic.

‘It’s not platonic anymore, and it’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way,’ she told them.

Six-piece plant set worth £80 that’s perfect for new gardeners gets slashed to half-price

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a green-thumbed beginner, this six-piece collection is a great addition to your garden, allotment or patio – and right now it’s half-price

Six-piece plant set worth £80 that’s ideal for new gardeners gets slashed by 50%(Image: Getty)

Calling all gardeners looking to expand their current plants and flowers, this six-piece set is an absolute bargain as it plummets to half price. Normally, this Hebes collection would retail for £79.95, but is now up for grabs for the reduced price of £39.95 while this Gardening Express deal lasts.

This impressive collection of hardy evergreen Hebes will add a variety of lovely colours and textures to your garden all year round. They require minimal maintenance while offering a maximum impact on your outdoor space. Featuring a random mix of six plants, this is an unnamed selection of superb hardy varieties.

READ MORE: 7-foot climbing Wisteria that blooms vibrant flowers twice a year plummets to under £60 in sale

READ MORE: Save £250 on a giant Tuscan olive tree that will transform any patio into a Mediterranean haven

Selection of 6 Outstanding Hardy Evergreen Hebe Plants
This selection includes 6 outstanding hardy evergreen Hebe plants(Image: Gardening Express)

Hebes are touted as the ultimate foliage plant, growing in uniform, compact and colourful arrays. These wonderful shrubs are also evergreen, so they keep their spectacular foliage all year, giving your garden a bright and impressive flair from the first day of the year to the last.

Named after the Greek Goddess of youth, Hebes plants will add a breath of fresh air to any garden, patio or allotment with their vibrant colours and spectacular growth. Hebes are loved for their low-growing domes of densely packed leaves, ensuring they don’t take up too much room, block natural light or grow wild. They are excellent for providing contrast and texture in a border of your garden, but they will also thrive in patio containers.

Hebes are virtually maintenance-free evergreen shrubs, fully frost hardy and tolerant of drought, shade, sun and poor soil, so they are more than comfortable in the UK’s turbulent climate. They are also very slow-growing, meaning you can plant them pretty much anywhere and just leave them to be.

All Hebes in this collection complement each other and are supplied as strong healthy plants in approx. 1.5-2.5 litre containers. All you have to do is simply plant and stand back, making this set the new best friend of new or inexperienced gardeners.

Here’s a list of some of the Hebes that may be selected in the set:

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  • Hebe Heartbreaker
  • Hebe Emerald Green Globe
  • Hebe Sapphire Hebe Purple
  • Hebe albicans Red Edge
  • Hebe Vernicosa
  • Hebe Pewter Dome

Laura Anderson takes veiled swipe at ex Gary Lucy in Father’s Day post

Laura Anderson appears to take aim at her ex partner Gary Lucy in a Father’s Day post as sarcastically praises fathers who ‘financially’ take care of their children

Laura Anderson take a veiled dig at ex Gary Lucy with Father’s Day post(Image: instagram/@lauraanderson1x)

Since the arrival of their daughter two years ago, the relationship between Laura Anderson and Gary Lucy has been far from smooth-sailing. And it seems despite the fact the pair parted ways in February 2023, after attempting to rekindle their relationship before the birth of their daughter, Laura’s bitterness towards Gary is still ever present.

On Father’s Day, Laura posted a tribute to :”Great dads who show up and financially support their children. You children love you.”

According to reports, it was Gary’s children from a previous relationship that forced him to make the difficult decision to split with Laura after she proposed he move to Scotland in order to raise their daughter Bonnie, two.

Laura’s Father’s Day message caused a stir online

Back in October last year, Gary was at the receiving end of Laura’s frustration when he posted a series of pictures showing off his relationship with Bonnie..

And at the time she posted: “Instead of posting videos of the one time you saw your daughter this year, can you please reply to my text from 2weeks ago please, that would be great.”

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Her post attracted a string of attention but left Gary feeling the need to retaliate, in a desperate bid to counter her claims of being an absent father.

Taking to his social media at the time, he posted a picture of himself with his youngest son Theodore and responded saying: “I could eat him all up.”

Laura Anderson take a veiled dig at ex Gary Lucy with Father's Day post
Laura Anderson take a veiled dig at ex Gary Lucy with Father’s Day post(Image: Instagram/lauraanderson1x)

But his hashtags underneath his post appeared to be evidence that he was fuming at Laura’s suggestion he was not present in his daughter’s life.

He ended his post saying: “#handsomeboy, #deadbeatdad.” And this was followed by an emoji of the middle finger.

Last year, Laura opened up on life as a single mum to the Mirror.

She explained: “But that’s the cards I was dealt in the end. Of course, I’m going to make it work for my child, even more so. I feel like I’m a really good mum, to be honest.”

She added: “Prioritise what you need to do, it’s just me. I have to make it work. I am tired but of course, I’m going to be tired. I’m bringing up a human soul, that’s what I signed up for.”

When asked her advice for other parents in a similar situation, she replied: “[Bonnie’s] great, your social life does a take a little bit of a backseat but most people, your good friends understand that.”

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READ MORE: My dad said this last minute activity was the best Father’s Day gift he’s ever received