Donald Trump appoints Bill Pulte as acting intelligence director while he retains housing roles
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
United States President Donald Trump has appointed Bill Pulte, chief of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will also continue to oversee federal housing and mortgage policies, including his roles at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Pulte, 38, replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in late May. Trump stated on Truth Social that Pulte possesses "deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets." Pulte is known as an outspoken ally of President Trump and has been described by some US media as the president's "attack dog." He has publicly attacked Trump's political opponents, including accusing Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James of falsifying mortgage application documents. The Wall Street Journal reported an internal complaint at Fannie Mae alleging Pulte improperly accessed the mortgage records of James and other Democratic officials. Pulte has also championed a mortgage fraud case against US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. He has polarized many, even within Trump's circle, due to his aggressive political actions, which include firing internal ethics watchdogs investigating his allies, characterizing these actions as ending diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at Fannie Mae. Pulte has also proposed a 50-year mortgage in the United States. Reports indicate he has had disagreements with his family over the PulteGroup company and
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Nana Otedola, mother of actress Temi Otedola, expressed surprise upon learning that her daughter and singer Oluwatosin Ajibade, known as Mr Eazi, were expecting their first child shortly after their wedding. Speaking on the couple's How Far podcast, Nana initially anticipated that the newlyweds would enjoy a few years of married life before starting a family. Temi reminded her mother that she and Mr Eazi had already dated for five years before marrying. Nana stated that she has since learned not to be presumptuous about the couple's decisions. She also believes that Temi and Mr Eazi complement each other well. Temi and Mr Eazi announced their pregnancy in May, approximately nine months after their private wedding in Reykjav铆k, Iceland. The couple, who got engaged in April 2022 after four years of dating, married in August 2025 at Hallgr铆mskirkja Church in Reykjav铆k. Temi cited Mr Eazi being her best friend as the reason for their marriage, while Mr Eazi noted that Temi helped him understand genuine love and valued his time and effort over material gifts.
Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, has suspended Ven. Cornelius Eze, an Anglican priest and Practical Biology Technologist, following allegations of serious sexual misconduct involving him and a female student. The university's management announced the indefinite suspension on July 17, 2026, stating it is a preliminary administrative measure pending the outcome of internal disciplinary processes and investigations by law enforcement agencies. The allegations were brought to the university's attention on July 14, 2026, prompting immediate intervention and involvement of security agencies to prevent a breakdown of order among students. The university emphasized its commitment to integrity and a safe learning environment, stating it does not condone sexual harassment or misconduct and will deal with any culpable individuals according to due process. The institution also noted that counseling and therapeutic support are being provided to the affected student and other community members, urging the public to avoid speculation.
The Federal Government has launched a Digital Standards Platform to enhance Nigeria鈥檚 quality infrastructure, improve access to industrial standards, and strengthen public procurement, aiming to boost the competitiveness of Made-in-Nigeria products. Developed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Bureau of Public Procurement, and Goringo Consult Limited, the platform digitizes access to Nigerian Industrial Standards, certification services, and compliance tools. This initiative also makes the Nigerian Industrial Standards Attestation Certificate a mandatory bid document for all Federal Government procurement involving goods, works, and services where these standards apply. Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, described the platform as a landmark reform that will deepen industrialization, improve the ease of doing business, and strengthen President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 Nigeria First Policy. He noted that the platform addresses the long-standing issue of poor access to standards, which particularly affected Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Okeke, stated that the platform serves as a single digital gateway to Nigeria鈥檚 quality infrastructure, providing access to standards, certification services, certified manufacturers, and verified products. He added that it offers affordable access to internationally recognized standards and will help eliminate counterfeit products by allowing c