IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Thomas Tuchel spoke like a man who knew the best night of his England reign was coming from the moment he landed in Belgrade. The German heard questions about his methods after the dire World Cup qualifier win against Andorra on Saturday - a fourth successive competitive victory, but one that ended with thousands of supporters at Villa Park voting with their feet long before the end.

"I see what I see. I feel what I feel. I am convinced we will improve, then get better and better," said Tuchel before England's qualifier against Serbia. He echoed that message as he basked in the elation of Tuesday night's 5-0 triumph. Tuchel's side delivered on that promise - and then some - with a masterclass that swept Serbia aside in their own Belgrade fortress, the predicted hostile crowd silenced from virtually the first whistle by a performance of total domination.

And, on what was the perfect night for Tuchel, he not only got the emphatic victory that puts England only five points away from World Cup qualification with three games left, he left Belgrade with the most pleasant of selection headaches to resolve. England finally showed attacking flair, doing it without Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka - regarded as certain starters by most observers. Chelsea forward Cole Palmer was also missing, as was Phil Foden, hoping to rebuild his international career through his Manchester City performances.

In their absence, Noni Madueke excelled with a goal and a fine individual display. He has now made five goal contributions in nine England appearances. Elliott Anderson built on the good impression he made on his debut against Andorra, while Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers was an increasing influence, looking at home at this elite level. Bellingham is always regarded the natural for England's number 10 position, but Rogers staked his claim and showed Tuchel he has alternatives should he want to utilise them. 

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday met with officials of domestic airline operators in the country. The meeting held in Abuja followed concerns raised about flight disruptions, the attitude of some airline staff, among other issues.

According to sources in the Authority, the purpose of the engagement was to speak to regulatory issues around unruly passenger behaviour and passenger handling protocols, unresolved refund or compensation issues, as well as the enforcement of phone switch-off instructions, protection for cabin crew, and improved travel experience for passengers.

Core TV News reports that the engagement stems from the increasing concerns from some recent confrontations between air customers, crew members, and airline operators.

NCAA stated that there has been an increase in the number of complaints from customers. The regulator urged operators to stick to its regulations in their operations. 

The Federal Government has published the full list of 26 trade areas approved under its revised technical-education curriculum. A statement signed on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Bon Folasade, said the revised curriculum will convert all Federal Science and Technical Colleges to Federal Technical Colleges from the 2025/2026 academic year.

Announced by Education Minister Dr. Maruf Alausa and Minister of State Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the overhaul requires each college to offer a minimum of six and a maximum of ten trade courses. Students are expected to offer between nine and ten subjects (one core trade, five to six general subjects, two to three trade-related subjects, and one elective).

The ministry said the streamlining and modernisation of these trades responds to current industry demand across construction, energy, agriculture, automotive, creative media, and digital services sectors.

“The reform is designed to reduce overload, build strong trade competencies, align with global standards, and prepare young Nigerians for the jobs of the future,” the statement read. The reform also introduces Citizenship and Heritage Studies alongside core science and language subjects.

Below is the full list of the 26 approved trades:

1. Brick laying, block laying and concreting

2. Woodwork, carpentry and joinery

3. Plumbing and pipe fitting

4. Computer hardware & GSM repair and maintenance

5. Refrigeration & air-conditioning works

6. Mechanised agriculture (mechanisation / smart agriculture)

7. Autobody works

8. Catering craft practice

9. Solar PV installation and maintenance

10. Fashion design and garment making

11. Livestock farming/animal husbandry

12. Fish farming (aquaculture)

13. Motorcycle & tricycle repairs

14. Painting, decoration and finishes (interior design)

15. Welding & fabrication

16. Auto-electrical wiring

17. Automobile mechanics

18. Beauty therapy & cosmetology

19. Creative media (digital media production/operations)

20. Electronic systems maintenance craft

21. Furniture making & upholstery

22. Networking & system security (including satellite TV antenna installation and maintenance)

23. Social media content creation and management

24. Tiling & cladding (tiling and decorative stonework / floor-cover installation)

25. Automobile CNG conversion and maintenance

26. Leather works 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by a former senate president, David Mark. The confirmation which was displayed on the website of INEC on Wednesday.

The recognition came after an internal restructuring that resulted in the emergence of national officers to reposition the party further ahead of the 2027 general elections. Aside from Mark, who was appointed as the interim chairman, INEC listed a former Osun governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary. Other principal officers now officially recognised by the electoral body are a former Edo governor, Oserheimen Osunbor, as National Legal Adviser; Ibrahim Mani as National Treasurer, and Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary.

The opposition coalition officially adopted the ADC as it political platform on July 2, 2025, with the aim of contesting the presidential and other elections in 2027. The coalition said it was set to rescue the country from collapse and rebuild its democracy. “Let it be known to all that this coalition of national political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.

“The mission is clear: Rescue Nigeria. Rebuild Nigeria. Return power to the people,” said Mark. The former leader of the senate alleged that the Federal Government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had hijacked all democratic institutions, and sent the country on a “creeping descent into total civilian dictatorship” in the last two years. Mark also said the current government was “consumed with politicking” and had abandoned governance.

“The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective: to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027. This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party sadded. he added. 

Former Leicester striker Jamie Vardy said "age is just a number" as he opens a new chapter of his career with Italian side Cremonese. The 38-year-old, who is regarded among Leicester's greatest players, left the club at the end of last season, calling time on a 13-year spell at the club where he scored 200 goals in 500 appearances.

He notched 24 of those in their Premier League title-winning 2015-16 season. Vardy signed for newly-promoted Serie A side Cremonese on a free transfer earlier this month and he could make his debut for the northern Italian side on Monday, against Verona. Asked if he, and other veterans such as Kevin de Bruyne and Luka Modric who have also moved to Serie A this summer, are still motivated to perform at the highest level, he replied: "You must be one of the doubters. You're one that I'll have to prove wrong.

"For me age is just a number. As long as my legs are doing exactly what they used to and still feel as fresh as they do then I will carry on. "At the moment there are no signs of them slowing down so I'll keep going and I will be giving my all for this club. "I will learn Italian, but [for now] it is not a problem: football has its own language, with the ball," he said. Cremonese have enjoyed an impressive start to the season, opening their campaign with a surprise 2-1 win over AC Milan before beating Sassuolo 3-2.

"The main task is making sure we stay in the league, and that's how it was when I was at Leicester," Vardy said. "It was never any, 'we are going to go for this', it was always, 'we need to stay in the league', that's the main thing. So all you do, you go out, you take each game one-by-one, give your all, what will be will be." 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted what it described as “premature” campaigns by political parties and candidates in the lead up to the 2027 elections. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who spoke at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Premature Political Campaigns organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI) at its headquarters in Abuja, highlighted the commission’s major challenge in tackling the issue: a gap in the electoral legal framework.

Citing Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which stipulates the 150-day campaign period. Yakubu revealed that “there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election. Here lies the challenge for the Commission.” The INEC chief said the action, “undermine the Commission’s ability to track campaign finance limits as politicians, prospective candidates, and third-party agents expend large amounts of money that cannot be effectively monitored.”

In his keynote address at the event, a former INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega described premature campaigns as a “serious threat to elections” that “undermine the integrity of the entire electoral process.” Jega was particularly critical of the use of third-party groups and incumbent officials. The former INEC chief said, “premature election campaigns are actually being perpetrated by premature democrats,” and proposed that “all candidates and their parties, and especially incumbent office holders and their political parties, should be vicariously held responsible and penalized for premature campaigns for them by third parties.”

The roundtable featured presentations from the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, the Inspector General of Police, and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), alongside contributions from the IPAC Chairman. Meanwhile, INEC has recognised the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by a former senate president, David Mark.

The development was displayed on the INEC website which indicated Mark as the party’s chairman. The recognition came after an internal restructuring that resulted in the emergence of national officers to reposition the party further ahead of the 2027 general elections.