馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Real Madrid signs Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for 55 million euros
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Real Madrid has announced the signing of Spanish defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for a reported fee of 55 million euros. The 27-year-old left-back will join Real Madrid for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2032. Cucurella, who previously played for Brighton and Getafe after coming through Barcelona's academy, joined Chelsea in 2022. He is currently with the Spanish national team at the World Cup, making him the sole Real Madrid player in Luis de la Fuente's squad. Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, was re-elected earlier in June, and the club recently appointed Jose Mourinho as coach. Cucurella had two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, where he won the Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League in 2025.
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The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN has voiced alarm over escalating attacks on electricity infrastructure in Niger State, reporting that vandals have destroyed 14 tower spans of its 132-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line in the Lambata axis of the Gurara Local Government Area. TCN described these acts as economic sabotage, threatening power supply, endangering lives, and hindering efforts to improve power distribution and industrial growth. Musa Shuaibu, General Manager, Transmission, Abuja Region of TCN, spoke at a security and community engagement meeting in Lambata, stating that the company is seeking support from traditional rulers, vigilante groups, and security agencies due to repeated vandalism. The affected 132kV line, built over four decades ago during former President Shehu Shagari's administration, was crucial for supplying electricity from the Shiroro axis to the Federal Capital Territory. Shuaibu noted that the line operated without major interference until recently, when criminals began targeting its conductors. He lamented that restoring the 14 vandalized spans would cost approximately N32 million, diverting resources that could have been used for infrastructure improvement. The TCN official warned that power disruptions affect hospitals, businesses, and households, and that residual voltage from fallen conductors poses a fatal risk. He emphasized that these transmission lines supply distribution companies like AEDC, and their destruction impedes the
Must ReadThe Federation Account Allocation Committee FAAC distributed N2.26 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and local government councils as April 2026 revenue. This represents an increase of N217 billion from the N2.04 trillion shared in the previous month, marking a 10.6 percent rise. The total gross revenue available in April was N3.184 trillion. The distributable revenue included N1.260 trillion in statutory revenue, N747.088 billion in Value Added Tax VAT revenue, and N250 billion in augmentation. Gross statutory revenue increased to N2.378 trillion in April from N1.699 trillion in March, while gross VAT revenue rose to N806.617 billion from N664.425 billion. The committee attributed the improved revenue performance to increased collections from Companies Income Tax, CGT, SDT, Import Duty, Oil and Gas Royalty, and Value Added Tax, despite decreases in Petroleum Profit Tax and Hydrocarbon Tax. Of the N2.257 trillion distributable revenue, the Federal Government received N787.351 billion, state governments received N772.360 billion, and local government councils received N540.152 billion. Oil-producing states shared N157.254 billion as 13 percent derivation revenue.
US President Donald Trump announced plans for a major rally in Washington on July 4 to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary. This event will be in addition to a concert scheduled for June 24. Trump stated the July 4 event, named "TRIBUTE TO AMERICA," will be held at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, featuring flyovers, airshows by military pilots, and keynote remarks from him. He also promised the "LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY." The June 24 event is described as the "kick off" of a summer-long celebration, with performances by military bands, tenor Christopher Macchio, and Lee Greenwood, and military flyovers. Trump has been involved in renovating the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool and previously staged a mixed martial arts fight on the White House lawn for his 80th birthday.