Ecuador declares public holiday after World Cup victory against Germany
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
President Daniel Noboa has declared Friday a nationwide public holiday in Ecuador following the national football team's 2-1 victory over Germany in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This historic win, achieved at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, secured Ecuador's progression to the knockout stage for only the second time in the country's history. President Noboa praised the team and coaching staff on X, acknowledging their resilience in overcoming criticism to bring joy to the nation. Ecuador, needing a win in their Group E clash, equalized through Nilson Angulo in the ninth minute after Germany's early lead, and Gonzalo Plata scored the winning goal in the 77th minute, securing their place in the last 16.
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The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps sealed seven suspected illegal mineral buying and processing centers in Kontagora, Niger State, and arrested four individuals for alleged violations of Nigeria鈥檚 mining laws. ACC John Onoja, Commander of the Mining Marshals, stated that the operation, conducted on June 12, 2026, aimed to curb illegal mining activities and restore order in the solid minerals sector. The sealed facilities include 17 Mines & Minerals Limited, LALO Mining Limited, AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited, SIMASS Mining & Trading Company Limited, YMJ Minerals & Mines Nigeria Limited, Dating Company Industry Limited, and another mineral buying facility. Preliminary investigations indicated that some companies operated without required approvals and sourced strategic minerals from unverified suppliers, violating the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011. Representatives of some companies admitted purchasing Monazite from suppliers who lacked valid mining leases, Small-Scale Mining Leases, Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals, or Mineral Buying Centre Licences. Officials of AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited and 17 Mines & Minerals Limited also admitted purchasing minerals without verifying suppliers' legal authority. Investigators found no documentary evidence that some firms possessed valid Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals or Mineral Buying Centre Licences.
The highly anticipated rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been indefinitely postponed, according to Pacquiao's camp. This decision follows reports that a planned Mayweather exhibition in Greece was canceled after an events company sought an injunction. The two Hall of Famers, who generated 4.6 million pay-per-view buys in their 2015 bout, have been in disagreement since Mayweather stated a Netflix-announced September rematch would only be an exhibition, a claim Pacquiao contested. Pacquiao's camp cited "a volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock completely surrounding the Mayweather camp" as reasons for the postponement. Events company CSI recently sued Mayweather, seeking to recover at least $4.65 million for exclusive promotional rights to the Pacquiao rematch and a failed exhibition bout with Mike Tyson. The earliest a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could now occur is early 2027. If Mayweather and CSI resolve their contractual disputes, promoters may reschedule a postponed exhibition between Mayweather and Mike Tyson for September 12. Mayweather, 49, retired from boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record. He was scheduled to fight Greek kickboxing star Mike Zambidis in an exhibition on Saturday in Athens.
The Bank of Agriculture BOA has launched a strategic roadmap to modernize its operations, expand grassroots financial inclusion, and accelerate agricultural transformation, aligning with the Federal Government鈥檚 food security agenda. Ayodeji Sotinrin, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, stated that the institution is implementing operational upgrades and forming strategic partnerships to improve agricultural intervention programs and empower smallholder farmers. The BOA is strengthening its agricultural delivery architecture through collaborations with state-level platforms, licensed input suppliers, and international development partners. A key part of this strategy is a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme UNDP, which links the bank鈥檚 revitalization agenda with the UNDP鈥檚 Integrated Smart States Programme. This partnership aims to transform Nigeria鈥檚 agricultural sector into an investment-ready system capable of attracting blended and climate finance, while supporting the One Million Hectare Tree Crop Initiative. Sotinrin emphasized the vision to deploy capital intelligently and efficiently to reposition the BOA as a catalyst for food security and rural prosperity, bringing farmers, especially the youthful population in hinterlands, into the financial net. The bank has also overhauled its verification framework to eliminate fraudulent beneficiaries, incorporating Bank Verification Number checks, Know Your Custo