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FIFA World Cup final draws record viewership

Nearly 63 million Americans tuned in to watch Spain beat Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, shattering viewership records and underscoring football’s growing appeal in the US after decades of efforts to broaden its audience.

Held in New Jersey, the final remained scoreless until Spain broke through in the 106th minute to secure a 1-0 victory in extra time.

Fox’s English-language broadcast attracted 38.9 million viewers while Comcast’s Telemundo TV network and Peacock streaming platform pulled in another 23.9 million viewers for the Spanish-language coverage, the companies said. The combined audience far exceeded the 22.3 million US viewers who watched the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

The strong viewership capped what analysts said was a solid run for the tournament’s broadcasters, with Fox and Comcast paying roughly $ 485 million and $ 600million, respectively, for rights packages that included the World Cup, according to media reports. Several knockout-stage matches also outperformed recent championship games in other major US sports.

The round of 16 meeting between England and Mexico drew nearly 45 million viewers, well above the roughly 27 million who watched Game 7 of Major League Baseball’s World Series when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings, and the nearly 25 million who tuned in for Game 5 of the NBA Finals when the New York Knicks ended a 53-year title drought by defeating the San Antonio Spurs.

While the figures remained below the nearly 126 million viewers who watched Super Bowl LX when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots, they marked a significant milestone for a sport long overshadowed in the US by American football, basketball, and baseball.

The World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico for the first time, benefitted from prime-time kickoff slots for US audiences. Fans were also drawn by what could be the final World Cup appearances of a generation’s biggest stars, including Argentina’s Lionel Messi and his long-time Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The last time the US hosted the tournament was in 1994.

Fox broadcast all 104 fixtures on its English platforms, and US viewership remained strong even after the USA were eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16 on 6 July.

The next World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 2030, followed by Saudi Arabia in 2034. Both tournaments are likely to feature less favourable kickoff times for US viewers, which could weigh on future ratings.

Pax Silica seen drawing up to $70-B investments

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it expects the planned Pax Silica development in New Clark City to generate as much as $70 billion in investments over the long term, while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and positioning the Philippines as a hub for advanced technology industries.

During a Pax Silica press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang said the project is targeting an initial investment of $10 billion to finance core infrastructure, establish industrial zones and attract anchor locators.

Once the 1,620-hectare development reaches full buildout and becomes integrated into global supply chains for artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, total investments are projected to reach $40 billion to $70 billion, according to the BCDA presentation.

The agency also projects the development will generate between 130,000 and 190,000 direct jobs, with an additional 500,000 to 800,000 indirect and induced jobs expected across supporting industries and supply chains.

Over a 25-year period, the project is projected to generate P60 billion in lease income, while annual withholding tax collections are estimated at P68 billion to P75 billion. Export potential is projected to reach $200 billion annually once the development is fully operational.

The project is being positioned as a technology-focused economic hub anchored on industries such as AI, semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced industries.

In a Facebook post published on Wednesday, the BCDA quoted Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo as saying the project could help the country capture more value from emerging technology industries.

‘Do we want to just be observers? Do we want to just be recipients of technology, of gadgets, of computer programming capacity? Or do we want the Philippines to be there participating actively in this ecosystem?’ Rodolfo said.

‘We are open to partnering with all countries [on this]. What’s important for our Philippine interest is defined by this: being able to add more value to the resources we have. Value adding, job creation and knowledge creation,’ he added.

The BCDA also cited comments previously made by American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe, who said the Luzon Economic Corridor accounts for about 50 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

‘As we continue to develop it, the impact on the country’s economy will be significant,’ Hinchliffe said. ‘Looking at New Clark City, for example, plans are underway to build an aerotropolis.’

‘This initiative goes beyond infrastructure such as railways, seaports, and airports-it also encompasses agriculture, food security, digital connectivity, power and power distribution, and critical minerals.’

Earlier this week, Malacañang said it supports the Pax Silica project while emphasizing that the administration will continue to uphold Philippine sovereignty.

Similarly, during the unveiling of the marker for the planned AI hub in New Clark City on May 18, Bingcang also said the government rejected proposals that would have placed portions of the project outside Philippine jurisdiction.

Gunmen kill Rivers vigilante commander, 3 women

Gunmen have killed four people, including a vigilante commander, in an attack along Oba Road in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The victims were three women and Ozomela Stephen Nwaocha, the Omoku Zonal Commander of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC).

The attack occurred on Monday evening while Nwaocha was relaxing with his sister and her friend near his residence.

The incident sparked panic in the community, forcing residents to flee while shop owners hurriedly closed their businesses for fear of further attacks.

Although no group has claimed responsibility, residents said the killing has raised fears of a return to the violent attacks that plagued the area before the establishment of OSPAC.

They also noted that several members of the local security outfit had been killed in recent times.

Confirming the incident, OSPAC Public Relations Officer, Comrade Nkem Godknows, said the gunmen opened fire on the victims around 5pm.

He said three women died on the spot, while two other victims sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment in the hospital.

Godknows urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that OSPAC and other security agencies would investigate the attack.

He also appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to support the outfit, saying its members were poorly funded and unpaid.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident.

Police spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko, assured residents that those responsible would be brought to justice and appealed to members of the public to provide useful information to aid the investigation.

APM: Tinubu fears Makinde’s rising profile ahead of 2027

MThe Allied People’s Movement (APM) has accused the Presidency of launching attacks against its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, because of what it described as growing concern over his increasing popularity ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party said recent comments by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, reflected what it called the Tinubu administration’s unease over Makinde’s emergence as a major contender for the presidency.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the APM argued that the Federal Government had resorted to personal attacks because it lacked convincing achievements to present to Nigerians. The party maintained that Makinde would defeat President Bola Tinubu at the 2027 polls.

Bwala had, during an interview with journalists on Monday, dismissed both Makinde and the APM as insignificant players in the forthcoming presidential race.

Responding, the opposition party criticised the Presidency for what it described as a decline into political mudslinging rather than engaging issues affecting Nigerians.

‘It is rather pathetic that the Tinubu Presidency has fallen so low into ignominy that it now relies on internationally discredited and politically inconsistent characters like Daniel Bwala to speak for it on national TV; a situation that further confirms that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu no longer commands the support of credible Nigerians.

‘Since Daniel Bwala’s March 6, 2026, scandalous interview with Al Jazeera, Nigerians can always see through the antics of President Tinubu’s handlers. Daniel Bwala would soon eat his own words against Governor Makinde.

‘In any event, the 2027 presidential race would be between Governor Seyi Makinde, standing shoulder to shoulder with millions of Nigerians who are determined for a new beginning, and a failed President Tinubu, who only has the feeble support of a handful of sycophantic, corrupt, arrogant and morally depraved minions on his payroll.

‘The APM is, therefore, not surprised that the Tinubu Presidency is deflated and intimidated because it has no tangible scorecard of achievements to present to the public, given its abysmal failures, for which Nigerians across the board have reached a consensus to replace President Tinubu with Governor Makinde at the 2027 election, given Makinde’s outstanding performance as Governor of Oyo State.’

The party said it had no intention of engaging in an exchange of insults with the Presidency, insisting that its focus remained on presenting solutions to the country’s challenges.

It also argued that Makinde’s performance in Oyo State had strengthened his credentials for higher office.

‘Of course, President Tinubu should be jittery because Governor Makinde is coming into the contest with an intimidating record of performance, including transforming Oyo State into a foremost economically viable state, surpassing the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, according to data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), a feat Nigerians want him to replicate at the national level.

‘The Tinubu Presidency is edgy because Nigerians are determined and eager to elect Governor Seyi Makinde as the next President of the country so that they can enjoy the benefits of his blueprint to revamp the economy, rejig our security architecture, rebuild collapsed infrastructure, revitalise the productive sectors, provide jobs, end corruption and bring a new lease of life to the people.

‘Of course, why won’t the Tinubu Presidency be jittery when Governor Makinde is coming with the full support of over 50 million young Nigerians whose destinies are being caged by the Tinubu administration and who are now rallying with our presidential candidate as the face of the new Nigeria they eagerly seek and for which they are ready to vote in 2027 and defend their votes to the very end?

‘To suggest that a presidential candidate with such an army of support is ‘inconsequential’ says more about the anxiety within the corridors of power than it does about the candidate.

‘In fact, before noon on election day, the Presidency will know who actually is inconsequential in this race.’

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 23/07/2026

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Highest

Lowest

Nicosia (Athalassa)

Larnaka Airport

Limassol (New Port)

Pafos Airport

Frenaros

Prodromos

Polis Pafos

Rita Avila reveals husband got into accident, asks for understanding

Rita Avila revealed that her husband, director FM Reyes, was rushed to the hospital following an accident on the same day she attended a promotional event for her upcoming project, ‘Someone, Someday.’

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 22, Avila shared that Reyes injured his wrist after a grinder fell on his hand. In filmmaking, a grinder is a special effects tool that technicians use to simulate intense sparks and create a visual illusion of electrical fires, or clashing weapons in action sequences.

It is not immediately known whether the accident happened while he was filming.

Avila asked for understanding that she may give off an ‘aloof’ demeanor at work events due to the situation at home.

‘Smile smile ako sa event pero ‘yung isip ko ay nag-aalala. Kaya wag kayong malupit sa artista kung hindi nakangiti o nakakaway sa inyo, minsan may dinaramdam din kami,’ she wrote.

(I might be smiling at the event, but my mind is full of worries. So, please don’t be harsh on celebrities if we don’t smile or wave at you; sometimes, we’re going through something, too.)

The post was accompanied by a photo of Avila posing for the camera while her husband lies in the hospital bed in the background.

The actress said the injury came dangerously close to major blood vessels that could have put her husband’s life at risk.

‘Isang hibla ang layo sa mga ugat na pwedeng ikamatay ng asawa ko,’ she said. ‘Sugod ako sa ospital matapos ang event. Inoperahan sya at ngayo’y nagpapagaling na.’

(It was a hair’s breadth away from the blood vessels-something that could have killed my husband. I rushed to the hospital after the event. He underwent surgery and is now recovering.)

Avila is set to appear in the upcoming romance drama ‘Someone, Someday,’ top-billed by Kathryn Bernardo and James Reid.

The seasoned actress will be playing the abusive mother of Maja Salvador’s character, Abi.

Industry Minister concludes official visit to India to advance industrial and investment ties

At the invitation of the Union Minister of Textiles of India, Shri Giriraj Singh, the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development of Sri Lanka, Sunil Handunneththi, concluded a successful official visit to India from 14 to 18 July 2026, undertaking a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in industry, investment, textiles, agribusiness and technology.

At Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi on 14 July, Minister Handunneththi met with the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, and the Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs, Shri Pabitra Margherita. The discussions focused on enhancing India – Sri Lanka cooperation in the textiles and apparel sector, promoting investment, strengthening value chain linkages, expanding trade and industrial collaboration, and advancing capacity building.

On 15 July, the Minister visited the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) Neemrana Japanese Zone in Rajasthan to gain first-hand insights into India’s successful model of attracting foreign direct investment through dedicated industrial parks. Discussions highlighted industrial infrastructure, investment facilitation, skills development and integration into global manufacturing value chains.

On 16 July, the Minister participated in a business roundtable organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), where he engaged with Indian business leaders on opportunities to expand trade, investment and industrial partnerships between Sri Lanka and India.

The Minister further met in New Delhi, with the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav, to explore opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the State of Madhya Pradesh. Recalling the ancient civilisational links between Sanchi and Sri Lanka, the Chief Minister invited Minister Handunneththi to participate in the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2027 to be held in Bhopal in January 2027. He also encouraged the exploration of direct air connectivity between Colombo and Bhopal to facilitate tourism, business partnerships and greater people-to-people exchanges.

Recognising the importance of agricultural modernisation and value addition, the Minister visited the Indo – Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Haryana on 17 July, where he was briefed on advanced technologies in protected cultivation, precision irrigation, nursery management and farmer capacity building. He also toured the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) Mega Food Park in Sonipat to study integrated food processing, cold chain infrastructure and value addition systems that support agricultural productivity, rural development and market connectivity.

The visit underscored the growing momentum in the Sri Lanka – India economic partnership and reflected the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation across manufacturing, investment, innovation, agriculture and food processing, while strengthening capacity building, tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity.

Trader relief as old bottled water stocks exempt from tax stamps surrender order

Stocks of bottled water manufactured or imported before July 1, 2026 have been exempted from a directive requiring traders and manufacturers to surrender all unused excise stamps after the commodity was removed from the list of excisable goods through the Finance Act, 2026.

‘Taxpayers holding unused V4 excise stamps for bottled water as at 1 July 2026 are required to return the stamps to the Kenya Revenue Authority in accordance with these guidelines,’ the Kenya Revenue Authority said.

‘However, taxpayers should note that bottled water lawfully manufactured or imported and stamped before July 1, 2026 may continue to be sold with the affixed stamps.’

The exemption is expected to provide relief to traders and manufacturers who may now avoid the logistical challenges of a multiple-step procedure of surrendering unused stamps.

A schedule by KRA showed that those returning excise stamps would initiate the process by logging in to the Excise Goods Management System (EGMS). Upon submission of the excise stamps return request in the EGMS system, KRA shall process the application and either approve or reject the request.

This would be followed by a physical surrender of the paper stamps before any reimbursements would be processed.

Excise duty on bottled water was charged at Sh6.41 per litre until late last month, when it was abolished by the Finance Act, 2026.

This marked the end of nearly a decade of excise taxation on one of Kenya’s fastest-growing consumer products.

As an excisable product, every bottle of water sold in Kenya was required to bear an excise stamp to track production and confirm that the requisite tax had been paid.

An excise stamp is a revenue marker affixed to excisable goods to demonstrate that excise duty -popularly referred to as the “sin tax”- has been paid by the manufacturer.

The removal of the tax came against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding bottled water market, fueled by growing health consciousness, rapid urbanisation and persistent concerns over the quality and safety of piped water supplies.

The government first introduced excise duty on bottled water through the Excise Duty Act, 2015, as part of broader tax reforms aimed at widening the tax base and increasing domestic revenue collection. The move also reflected an expansion of excise taxation beyond its traditional focus on alcohol and tobacco to include selected non-alcoholic beverages and other consumer goods.

To safeguard revenue collection, KRA requires all licensed manufacturers and importers of excisable goods to purchase digital excise stamps, which are affixed to products before they leave the factory.

The stamps, administered through the EGMS, enable the taxman to monitor production volumes, verify tax payments and curb tax evasion and illicit trade.

Initially introduced for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, the digital stamps were later extended to bottled water, juices, soft drinks, energy drinks and cosmetics as the government intensified efforts to plug revenue leakages.

Navy foils human trafficking attempt, rescues victims

The Nigerian Navy said it has foiled a suspected human trafficking attempt and rescued two victims during an intelligence-led operation in Badagry, Lagos State.

The victims were intercepted by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry on July 17 and were formally handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at its Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja on July 19 for rehabilitation and further investigation.

Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the victims were processed at the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk, where they underwent documentation, biometric capture and other procedures in line with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures for handling trafficking victims before being transferred to NAPTIP.

Folorunsho said the successful operation highlighted the Navy’s determination to combat human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime through intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with relevant security agencies.

He added that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend members of the trafficking syndicate responsible for the failed operation.

Court declines to hear Miyetti Allah’s Bodejo’s request to vary bail conditions

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday turned down the request to hear a fresh application by detained National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, seeking to vary the conditions attached to the bail recently granted him.

Bodejo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering $ 2.63 million.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted him bail on July 20 at N2billion, with two sureties in the like sum.

The judge ordered that one of the sureties must present three years’ tax clearance evidence and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety must have land worth N2 billion in Abuja.

At the mention of the case on Thursday, Bodejo’s lawyer, M. E. Sheriff, informed the court about the application by his client, seeking, among others, the variation of the conditions attached to the bail granted him.

Lawyer for the prosecution, Fatai Erewunmi, said he was served with the application and has responded by filing a counter affidavit.

Intervening, Justice Ekwo said upon looking at the tenure of the application, which is being contested, the court may be unable to conclude proceedings in the application before the court’s vacation.

The judge then advised parties to approach a vacation judge (during the court’s vacation) to hear the application and, subsequently, return with the substantive case for trial before his court.

He adjourned till October 5 for the commencement of trial.

Bodejo is, in count one, alleged to have, on or about January 11, 2022, in Abuja, without lawful authority, accepted a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General (AG) of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force.

The EFCC said the sum exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5million prescribed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.

He was said to have committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act,’ it read.

In count two, Bodejo is alleged to have, on or about the Jan. 21, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of the sum of $200,000.00 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former AG of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force, which exceeded the transaction threshold.

He is, in count three, accused of accepting a cash payment of another $100,000.00 on or about Oct. 26, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority from Abubakar.

In count four, Bodejo ia alleged to have, on or about Feb. 7, 2024 in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of the sum of $980,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar.

Bodejo is, in count five, accused of accepting $750,000.00, on or about March 3, 2024 in Abuja, from Abubakar without lawful authority.

In count six, he is alleged to have, on or about March 20, 2024 in Abuja, accepted a cash payment of $500,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar without lawful authority.

The EFCC said the amount exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5 million prescribed under Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.