馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
LeBron James praises Folarin Balogun's World Cup goal and 'Silencer' celebration
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Basketball superstar LeBron James congratulated Folarin Balogun after the footballer scored for the United States in their World Cup victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun, 24, emulated James's signature "Silencer" celebration after scoring, prompting James to post on X, "THE Silencer HAS Arrived at the World Cup! Helluva goal there, Young King!" The post garnered nearly four million views. Balogun, who was born in New York, raised in London, and plays in France, is a basketball enthusiast. American soccer scouts reportedly offered him NBA courtside tickets to persuade him to play for the US. Balogun has scored three goals in the current World Cup, helping the US reach the last-16, but will miss the upcoming match against Belgium due to a red card in the Bosnia game. James, 41, recently announced his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers to play an unprecedented 24th season with another franchise.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the National Youth Service Corps' NYSC traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric. This initiative, confirmed by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, aims to promote local manufacturing and support the Nigerian economy. The minister stated that Adire is produced in various Nigerian states, including Ogun and Kwara. Additionally, the NYSC scheme will undergo reforms to ensure corps members are posted according to their fields of study, with education graduates, for instance, being deployed to schools. For security reasons, the government is considering posting prospective corps members to regions where they studied and are familiar with the environment, particularly in areas with security challenges. This measure is intended to alleviate parental concerns and streamline the deployment process. Olawande also clarified that reports of the military being removed from the NYSC are a misconception, stating that the military will continue to provide security support, while the scheme's operational leadership will be headed by a civilian. These reforms, approved by the Federal Executive Council, mark the first major overhaul of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973, with directives for the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations.
The All Progressives Congress APC has reinstated six serving senators and other aspirants to its National Assembly ticket list for the 2027 elections, overturning earlier primary results in nine states. This move, based on recommendations from the party's Primary Election Appeal Committee, has led to the replacement of previously declared winners in Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi. The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has stated it will only accept candidates whose names align with the outcomes of primaries monitored and uploaded by the commission, potentially creating a conflict with the APC's revised nominations. INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna clarified that the commission's electronic nomination portal is designed to reject any candidate names that do not match the results uploaded by its officials after monitoring primaries. This safeguard aims to prevent arbitrary substitutions and reduce litigation, a common issue after previous elections. The APC's review process involved lobbying, interventions from governors, traditional rulers, and the Presidency, with some states seeing power-sharing arrangements to resolve internal conflicts. For example, in Ondo State, a compromise was reached between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while a similar agreement was brokered in Benue State between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George
BreakingIran's chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has urged a massive turnout at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ghalibaf stated that the public presence at the ceremonies, which begin Saturday, should "write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran" and that "the nation's call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world." Khamenei, 86, died on February 28 in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the war. His funeral, delayed during the Middle East conflict, will proceed as Iran and the United States observe a ceasefire. The ceremonies are expected to attract 15 to 20 million mourners, potentially making it the largest state funeral in Iran's history. Public holidays have been declared in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with traffic and airspace restrictions in Tehran. After ceremonies in Tehran, Khamenei's body will be taken to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq before burial on July 9 in Mashhad. Representatives from approximately 30 countries are anticipated to attend.