Entertainment
Valentino Garavani, Italy’s fashion king, dies at 93
Best known as just Valentino, the designer’s creations — many of them in “Valentino red” — were worn by the who’s who of the international elite, from Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Nancy Reagan to Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow in recent years.
•Valentino Garavani / Getty image
Valentino Garavani, Italy’s fashion king has died at his home in Rome. He was 93.
Valentino launched his label in 1960 and found worldwide fame dressing European royals, American first ladies, and stars of the day.
“Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” wrote his Rome-based foundation on social media.
A funeral is planned for Friday in the Italian capital, with a lying in state on Wednesday and Thursday.
Best known as just Valentino, the designer’s creations — many of them in “Valentino red” — were worn by the who’s who of the international elite, from Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Nancy Reagan to Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow in recent years.
When the empress of Iran, Farah Pahlavi, escaped the country during the 1979 revolution, she was wearing a coat made by Valentino.
Dubbed “the Sheik of Chic” by Women’s Wear Daily in the 1980s, Valentino was celebrated by the New York Times in 1997 for his “single-minded dedication to glamour.”
Entertainment
AGN President Jetting to London for UK–Nigeria Creative Roundtable and Awards
I am honoured to participate in the creative roundtable and awards in collaboration with Elegant Flix 3D Magazine, themed: ‘Global Partnerships for Sustainable Cultural Heritage and Integrity’, which is in line with United Nations Social Development Goal17
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, has been billed to participate in the upcoming UK–Nigeria Creative Roundtable and Awards.
The event, scheduled to hold annually, will take place on Thursday, March 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in London
Commenting on the event, Yakubu affirmed that his participation would focus on engaging global industry leaders and fostering collaborations that promote Nigerian culture and talent on the world stage.
He said, “I will be in London for our forthcoming international engagement. I am honoured to participate in the creative roundtable and awards in collaboration with Elegant Flix 3D Magazine, themed: ‘Global Partnerships for Sustainable Cultural Heritage and Integrity’, which is in line with United Nations Social Development Goal17.
“I am looking forward to the event, and I know it will be an interesting and fruitful venture.”
Key stakeholders expected at the gathering include: Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy; founder, Elegant Flix 3DM Magazine – HRM Florence Okonkwo (Queen of the red carpet); Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, (MON, emeritus president, AGN); Chief Steve Enoh (Chairman, organising committee); Hon. Desmond Elliot; Chioma Akpotha (host); Ifeoma Okeke – Ozzoude ( moderator/ event producer), among others.
Entertainment
Papa Ajasco rebrands as Bondu Alaska
” Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning Nigerians. My name is Bondu Alaska. The one and only Bondu Alaska. I want to use this medium to thank Nigerians because they have done a lot for me in my life. I’m a new person now, and I promise that I will not let you down”.
Abiodun Ayoyinka, the veteran actor behind the iconic character Papa Ajasco, is now bearing a new stage name called Bondu Alaska.
The move follows a public dispute with Wale Adenuga Productions over the use of the Papa Ajasco brand.
In a video announcing the rebranding on Instagram, Ayoyinka expressed gratitude for the support he received following his recent viral interview and promised to make a fresh start as Bondu Alaska.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning Nigerians. My name is Bondu Alaska. The one and only Bondu Alaska. I want to use this medium to thank Nigerians because they have done a lot for me in my life. I’m a new person now, and I promise that I will not let you down”, he said.
He has since then changed his Instagram handle to @bondualaska_ and is encouraging fans and brands to connect with him under his new persona.
The rebranding appears to be a strategic response to legal constraints related to his Papa Ajasco role.
Entertainment
JUST IN: Movie Star Chuck Norris Dies at 86
Hollywood and martial arts legend Chuck Norris, the iconic tough-guy actor known for his unbreakable on-screen persona and the long-running TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, has passed away at the age of 86.
Norris died on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Hawaii following a recent medical emergency that led to his hospitalization, according to multiple reports and his family’s announcement. He was surrounded by loved ones and passed peacefully.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family stated in a post on Instagram. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.
“Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, he rose to fame as a world champion martial artist before transitioning into acting. His breakthrough came in the 1972 film” The Way of the Dragon”, where he famously battled Bruce Lee in the Colosseum.
Norris went on to star in a string of 1980s action hits, including the “Missing in Action” trilogy, “The Delta Force” , and “Code of Silence”, cementing his image as an indestructible hero who delivered justice with roundhouse kicks and steely resolve.
He reached even wider audiences as Cordell Walker in the CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001), which ran for eight seasons and became a cultural staple with its mix of martial arts, moral lessons, and high-kicking action.
Beyond the screen, Norris inspired the viral “Chuck Norris Facts” internet meme phenomenon in the mid-2000s, where exaggerated jokes portrayed him as superhumanly invincible jokes that fans playfully referenced even in tributes following the news of his death.
Norris was also a U.S. Air Force veteran, author, and outspoken advocate for fitness, faith, and conservative values throughout his later years.
His passing marks the end of an era for action cinema and has drawn an outpouring of tributes from fans, fellow actors, and admirers worldwide.
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