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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.

BARBADOS-HEALTH – Barbados weighs national colorectal cancer screening programme

Barbados is considering the introduction of a national colorectal cancer screening programme as part of efforts to improve early detection and reduce cancer-related deaths, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has announced.

Speaking at the St. Philip Ideas Forum earlier this week, Mottley said the Ministry of Health is assessing the cost and logistics of implementing the programme but has not yet given final approval.

‘I know that the Ministry of Health is looking at it,’ she said. ‘They are trying to settle the numbers both in terms of the cost, the individual unit costs, and the overall scope of the programme.’

The announcement came after gastroenterologist Dr. Marek Stobinski urged the government to prioritize colorectal cancer screening, warning that the disease is increasingly affecting younger adults. He cited the recent diagnosis of colorectal cancer in an otherwise healthy 40-year-old patient, stressing that early detection can prevent the disease from spreading.

‘In the early stage, we can remove polyps in about 15 minutes and prevent them from developing into cancer,’ Stobinski said.

Mottley underscored the importance of screening, recalling the 1999 death of Barbados and West Indies cricket legend Malcolm Marshall from colon cancer at age 41. She said routine colonoscopies and the removal of precancerous polyps can dramatically reduce the risk of developing the disease.

St. Philip North Member of Parliament and physician Dr. Sonia Browne said follow-up care for patients identified as high risk remains a challenge but argued that screening and early intervention are far more cost-effective than treating advanced cancer.

Mottley also said the government is examining the potential introduction of GLP-1 anti-obesity medications, including drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, as part of a broader strategy to reduce chronic diseases.

While acknowledging the high upfront cost of the medications, she said they could lower long-term healthcare spending by reducing obesity-related complications such as diabetes, amputations and kidney disease.

‘We’re not going to end up being penny wise and pound foolish, but we will be strategic in our deployment of resources to help people help themselves and to save lives,’ Mottley said.

JUST IN: LPPC confers SAN rank on 69 lawyers

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has announced the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 68 legal practitioners.

LPPC’s Secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

Akanbi said the LPPC took the decision at its 174th plenary session, held on July 23, 2026.

Part of the statement read, ‘The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred as a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics, contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.

‘In accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all shortlisted prospective Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) conferees are required to attend and successfully complete the pre-swearing-in induction programme.

‘Participation in this programme is a mandatory prerequisite for the conferment of the rank of SAN. The date shall be communicated in due course.

‘Furthermore, in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the provisions of Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, all shortlisted conferees must refrain from publishing and discourage the publication of advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment.

‘Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules, as expressly stated.

‘The swearing-in of the 68 successful applicants is scheduled to be held on Monday, the 12th day of October, 2026.’

Some of the conferees include Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu, Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor, Goodwill Achibong Umoh, Sunday Samuel Obende, Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe, Jimson Ejovi Okodaso and Olalekan Lawrence Bade-John.

Others are Olaotan Thomas Olusegun, Philemon Audu Daffi, Adenrele David Adegborioye, James Eromosele Agbonhese, Alexander Nduka Muoka, Onome Okodiya, Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye and Ikhide Ekhighelua.

Ford Philippines opens new learning center, appoints Pushparaj Muthusamy as customer service director

FORD Philippines has officially opened the doors of its newly built Ford Learning Center in Calamba, Laguna, a facility that now serves as the central hub for technical and non-technical training of dealer personnel nationwide. The move underscores Ford’s intent to strengthen its dealer network and elevate the customer ownership experience in the country.

The Learning Center spans 1,500 square meters and houses seven mechanical bays-including one dedicated to electric vehicles-four classrooms, a Ford showroom, meeting rooms, office spaces, and a cafeteria. It replaces the brand’s former 110-square-meter training area at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, marking a significant expansion in both scale and capability. With state-of-the-art tools, equipment, and globally aligned processes, the facility is designed to deliver a higher level of training that ensures every customer interaction is seamless, professional, and reassuring.

‘The opening of the Learning Center is not just about opening a new building; it is about building the future of Ford in the Philippines. It represents our strong commitment to this market-to our customers, our partners, and our people,’ said Ford Philippines managing director Pedro Simoes. ‘At Ford, we believe that great vehicles are only part of the ownership journey. What truly makes the difference is the experience-how we support, serve, and care for our customers every day.’

Workshop and hands-on training

THE mechanical bay is a 451-square-meter workshop area that enables multiple simultaneous training sessions. It provides real-world learning for technicians and non-technicians, mirroring the environment of a Ford dealership. The bays are equipped with two-post and four-post lifts, allowing comprehensive training across both internal combustion and electric vehicles.

This setup ensures that participants gain practical experience in diagnostics, repairs, and certifications, preparing them to handle the full spectrum of Ford’s product lineup.

Showroom and classrooms

THE Learning Center also features a 195-square-meter reception and showroom space, capable of accommodating a Ford vehicle display. This allows immersive product training and walkarounds for dealer sales personnel and service advisors.

Four modern classrooms, with flexible configurations, can host more than 100 participants per session. These spaces are designed to support lectures, workshops, and interactive learning modules, ensuring that both technical and customer-facing teams receive comprehensive training.

Support facilities

ASIDE from the workshop and classrooms, the Learning Center includes meeting rooms that can accommodate small groups of two to seven participants. These spaces are intended for coaching, assessments, and focused discussions.

A 72-seat cafeteria provides a central hub for interaction and knowledge sharing, while a 24-seat extension office supports employees working within the facility. Together, these amenities create an environment conducive to both formal training and informal collaboration.

Strengthening after-sales service

THE Learning Center is part of Ford’s broader commitment to modernize its after-sales operations. This follows the opening of the Ford Parts Distribution Center in Laguna in 2024, which improved parts availability and accessibility nationwide.

Customers today benefit from a range of service offerings, including online service booking, mobile service vehicle, express service, service price calculator, and pickup and delivery. These initiatives are designed to enhance convenience, ease of service, and peace of mind-further reinforcing Ford’s focus on customer satisfaction.

Leadership transition

Meanwhile, Ford Philippines also announced the appointment of Pushparaj Muthusamy as director of Ford Customer Service Division. Based in Manila, Raj reports directly to managing director Pedro Simoes. He succeeds Joyce Laxamana, who has been appointed parts supply and logistics director for Ford Asean.

‘As vehicle technologies rapidly evolve-from advanced connectivity to sophisticated safety features and electrified systems-our dealership teams must be equipped with the highest level of technical mastery, product knowledge, and customer-handling skills. We are confident that this Ford Learning Center can help standardize, elevate, and future-proof our operational capabilities,’ said Muthusamy.

In his new role, Raj will lead Ford’s after-sales operations in the Philippines, focusing on enhancing the ownership experience, driving service retention through data-driven initiatives, and strengthening relationships with dealer partners.

‘Raj’s expertise in data analytics and his customer-centric approach have already delivered significant results for our operations. His leadership will be pivotal as we continue to modernize our service offerings, build long-term loyalty with our customers, and enhance the Ford ownership experience with a focus on after-sales,’ said Simoes.

NCC advocates regulation to boost broadband penetration

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has called on African telecommunications regulators to embrace evidence-based regulation as a critical tool for accelerating broadband penetration across the continent.

Maida made the call on Tuesday while declaring open the Heads of Regulators Roundtable held on the sidelines of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Meeting in Abuja.

He noted that although African countries operate under different legal frameworks, market sizes and national priorities, regulators across the continent face similar challenges that require coordinated and collaborative solutions.

According to him, discussions among regulators have increasingly expanded beyond traditional regulatory issues to include investment, infrastructure resilience, satellite communications, cybersecurity, affordability, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

He stressed that these shared challenges make regular engagement among African regulators essential for exchanging practical experiences and strengthening regulatory institutions.

‘Very often, the challenge that one regulator is trying to solve has already been encountered in one form or another by a colleague elsewhere on the continent,’ Maida said.

‘The question is how we make that exchange of experience more deliberate, more systematic and more useful to our institutions.’

Speaking on the theme of the roundtable, ‘Building Africa’s Network Intelligence Ecosystem for Evidence-Based Regulation,’ Maida said the forum offered regulators an opportunity to examine how data, market intelligence and evidence could improve regulatory decision-making.

He urged participants to openly share successful initiatives, lessons from unsuccessful approaches and areas where collaboration could help regulators avoid duplicating efforts while strengthening policy outcomes across Africa.

Also speaking, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Ms. Rimini Makama, said Africa’s digital communications ecosystem had become increasingly complex with the rapid expansion of broadband, satellite services, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital public infrastructure.

She observed that conventional regulatory approaches were no longer adequate to address the evolving realities of the communications sector.

Makama noted that while regulators now have access to unprecedented volumes of technical, market and consumer data, the real challenge lies in converting such information into effective regulatory actions.

‘The challenge is not collecting data. The challenge is turning it into better decisions,’ she said.

‘As our digital markets become increasingly interconnected, we share common responsibilities in protecting consumers, promoting competition, attracting investment and ensuring resilient communications networks.’

She added that the roundtable would provide a platform for regulators to exchange practical experiences, identify common challenges and deepen collaboration among member states of the African Telecommunications Union.

Makama also disclosed that the NCC would showcase its regulatory intelligence ecosystem, which integrates quality-of-service and quality-of-experience data, consumer complaints, compliance analytics and market intelligence into a unified platform designed to support evidence-based regulatory decisions.

TRINIDAD-COURT – Appeal Court orders expedited hearing in Hadeed detention challenge

Trinidad and Tobago’s Appeal Court has ordered an expedited hearing of the judicial review and constitutional challenge brought by businessman Dominic Hadeed and his wife, Genevieve, over Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs) issued against them during the State of Emergency.

The ruling came after attorney Gerald Ramdeen, representing the State, told Justices of Appeal Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell and Joan Charles that, while the State was not consenting to the application, it was not opposing an expedited hearing in light of the couple’s continued detention and fresh medical evidence indicating that Dominic Hadeed’s health has deteriorated.

Ramdeen said the new medical evidence justified urgent consideration of the case and argued that it would be more beneficial for the matter to proceed quickly before the High Court than continue with the procedural appeal.

The Appeal Court subsequently ordered that the judicial review and constitutional claim be given accelerated and urgent treatment.

The Hadeeds had appealed a July 17 decision by High Court Justice Vigel Paul to adjourn the proceedings until mid-September.

The latest ruling comes one week after another panel of the Appeal Court ordered that the couple be released from prison and placed under house arrest. However, they remain at the Golden Grove Prison after a separate panel, led by Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, stayed that order pending the State’s appeal to the London based Privy Council.

The Privy Council has since advised that the appeal cannot be heard before October, meaning the Hadeeds are expected to remain in custody until at least September 17, when the State of Emergency expires, unless the stay is lifted.

Also being held under a Preventive Detention Order is 70-year-old Star Sabga, a relative of the Hadeeds, whose constitutional challenge is scheduled to be heard before the High Court on Friday

Legal 500 named Home Credit Philippines’ CLO as Southeast Asia’s In-house Legal Leader of the Year

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) achieved a distinguished international recognition as its Chief Legal Officer, Atty. Alicia Juliet ‘Alice’ Salita, got recognized as In-house Legal Leader of the Year at the prestigious Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026.

The annual regional award, organized by international legal research and ranking directory, The Legal 500, honors operational excellence, innovation, and standout achievements across corporate counsel and private practice in the Southeast Asian market. Atty. Salita’s recognition highlights her strategic leadership in transforming HCPH’s legal operations into an agile business engine.

As the head of HCPH’s Legal, Compliance, and External Affairs (LCEA) department, Atty. Salita masterfully oversees the critical pillars of Corporate Legal, Litigation, Compliance, and External Affairs. Under her leadership, the Corporate Legal division has successfully executed major high-value acquisitions, while the Compliance function has safeguarded the organization’s digital integrity amid evolving market dynamics. Her balanced execution of defensive legal structures and proactive regulatory strategies has successfully turned the LCEA team into a key driver of growth for Home Credit.

‘Receiving this regional honor from The Legal 500 is a testament to the high-performance culture we have collectively built at Home Credit Philippines,’ Atty. Salita said. ‘I deeply value the trust placed in me by the company’s leadership and their continuous encouragement to strive for excellence. Home Credit’s dynamic environment has empowered our team to challenge conventional institutional barriers and implement forward-thinking legal strategies that safeguard both the company and millions of consumers.’

Driven by a commitment to corporate modernization, Atty. Salita has successfully spearheaded key digital transformations at HCPH. Her notable achievements include fully digitizing the company’s legal workflow and launching a pioneering Digital Legal Library. This legal library centralizes and indexes over ten years of corporate contracts and regulatory archives for streamlined operations.

Beyond leadership in Home Credit Philippines, in 2025, Atty, Salita was re-elected as President of the Legal Management Council of the Philippines (LMCP), the country’s oldest organization for corporate counsel. In this role, she actively collaborates with the Supreme Court of the Philippines to institutionalize specialized Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) programs tailored specifically to the shifting regulatory demands of modern in-house corporate practices.

For the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph, or follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers may likewise download the Home Credit App to get pre-approved, available on Google Play, the App Store, and HUAWEI AppGallery.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

TRINIDAD-RESCUE-Crew member rescued at sea dies

The Trinidad and Tobago government late Wednesday night confirmed that one of the six crew members aboard the fishing vessel, St Vincent VII, who were reportedly rescued alive after spending several days in distress at sea, has died.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said that ‘in the hours following the rescue of the six-member crew of the fishing vessel ST VINCENT VII, one member of the rescued crew, 66-year-old Trinidadian Anthony Murray started exhibiting signs of shallow breathing, although appearing stable and showing no signs of pain or discomfort.

‘The Ministry of Defence was subsequently advised by the crew of the MV MARVEL KITE that Mr. Murray appeared lifeless within a few hours of the observation, whilst the vessel was en route to St. Lucia for a rendezvous with the crew of Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard vessel CG25.’

It said that following the passing of Murray, a decision was made to divert to St. Vincent for the delivery of the body and a formal declaration of death as well as for medical examination and treatment of the remaining rescued crew members.

The ministry said that once medically examined, the remaining rescued crewmen would be returned to Trinidad by the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard.

‘The Ministry apologizes for the delay in disseminating this announcement as a decision was taken to withhold the announcement of the passing of Murray until his immediate family members were first notified.

‘The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago wishes once more to express its heartfelt gratitude to the crew of MV MARVEL KITE and all others who participated in the search and subsequent rescue of the crew of ST VINCENT VII and to offer sincere condolences to the family of Murray upon his untimely and unfortunate passing.’

The vessel departed Chaguaramas on July 6 with a six-member crew employed in the yellowfin tuna fishing industry. Four of the crew are Trinidad and Tobago nationals, while the others are a Vincentian and a Guyanese captain, Eshwar Persaud, also known as ‘Shanie’.

According to relatives, the fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. (local time), on July 13 while the vessel was operating near the maritime border between Suriname and French Guiana. There has been no contact with the crew since then.

Amanda Suraj, the wife of crew member Shannon ‘Joey’ Mohammed, had appealed for immediate assistance from neighbouring countries and vessels transiting the area.

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has since been informed that ‘another of the rescued crewmember’s condition is deteriorating’. The sources did not provide the name or nationality of that crew member.

Union Bank Pensioners’ Day empowers independent retirement

Union Bank successfully hosted Union Bank Pensioners’ Day at the Bank’s Head Office, bringing together pensioners for a dedicated event focused on their financial wellbeing, healthcare and lifestyle needs.

The event coincided with the Bank launching Sri Lanka’s most competitive pension Loan extending a loan of Rs. 8 million at the lowest interest rates along with added benefits including Rs. 30,000 worth of free PickMe rides annually to Government Pensioners.

The Banks primary objective is to empower pensioners for an independent retirement. Based on the theme ‹Make your retirement a strength not a burden› Union Bank pensioners day event was attend by the Director General of Pensions Department Chaminda Hettiarachchi and featured a range of value-added services offered through partnerships with BYD JKCC Sri Lanka Nawaloka Hospitals, Vision Care, Lifeserv, and several other organisations, providing medical benefits, health screenings, and essential services to the attendees from across the country who gathered at Union Bank for an engaging day.

Pensions Department Director General Chaminda Hettiarachchi said that this is the first time a private bank has taken such an initiative to conduct event focused on empowering pensioners. He also highlighted that the Pensions Department has empowered and provided flexibility to the pensioners to obtain the pension loan from a bank if their choice.

Troops kill ISWAP commander, media chief in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have confirmed the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) raid commander and chief propagandist, during a failed terrorist attack on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Acting Media Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, in a statement, said the development underscores the impact of the military’s sustained offensive against the terrorist group.

The confirmation followed the release of an ISWAP obituary video announcing Salim’s death. The three-minute, three-second video, narrated in Arabic, showed Salim filming terrorists’ operations.

According to Goni, the publication of the obituary is an admission by ISWAP of another significant loss within its dwindling ranks.

He said Salim was killed alongside members of his media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman, during the failed attack on a military base at Cross Kauwa on July 12.

‘The elimination of Abu Salim-led ISWAP mobile media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa on 12 July 2026 further underscores the devastating impact of Operation Hadin Kai’s sustained offensive operations,’ Goni said.

He explained that Salim led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before being reassigned to the group’s media wing, where he was responsible for photographing and filming of attacks, producing propaganda materials and glorifying the group’s atrocities to recruit new members and mislead the public.

Goni said troops eliminated several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national and a Quaid identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another Arab mercenary remainedmissing.

He added that several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.

He assured that Operation Hadin Kai would sustain relentless, intelligence-led operations to hunt down and eliminate the remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP.

The military spokesman added that troops would continue to dismantle the terrorists’ support and propaganda networks, deny them freedom of action and restore lasting peace and security across the Northeast.

Also, the troops of the Joint Task Force (Northwest), Operation Fansan Yamma, have foiled a kidnap attempt in Zamfara State, rescued three kidnapped victims in Katsina State and arrested suspected terrorist logistics suppliers with 10 motorcycles in Kebbi State.

The operations, conducted on July 19 and 20, dealt another blow to terrorist networks in the Northwest.

The Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt.-Col Aliyu Danja, said the troops responded to a distress call from residents of Shiyan Abiyola community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara after terrorists attempted to abduct residents from a house.

According to him, the prompt intervention forced the terrorists to abandon the operation and flee into nearby bushes, while several residents were rescued unhurt.

He added that troops dominated the area to prevent the attackers from regrouping or launching another assault.

In another operation in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, troops rescued three kidnapped victims who escaped from a terrorist hideout during a downpour while their captors were asleep.

The victims, the military said, were abducted on July 14 while working on their farms in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

They have since been handed over to the appropriate authorities for reunification with their families.

In Kebbi State, troops intercepted a vehicle conveying 10 motorcycles suspected to be supplies for terrorist groups during a routine stop-and-search operation.

Military authorities said preliminary investigations led to the arrest of four more suspects believed to have been sent to receive the motorcycles for a known terrorist collaborator.

The suspects, alongside the recovered motorcycles, are in military custody as investigations continue.

Commending the troops for their vigilance and professionalism, the Theatre Command said the operations underscored the military’s determination to deny terrorists freedom of movement and dismantle their logistics network across the Northwest.

The command also urged the public to sustain their support by providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, assuring that ongoing operations would continue until terrorist and criminal networks are decisively degraded.