Archive August 4, 2025

FG Rewards D’Tigress With OON, Each Player Gets $100,000, Flat

Each of the players receiving $100, 000, and a flat is a gift from the Federal Government to D’Tigress, Nigeria’s female basketball team, as part of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honors program.

Additionally, each member of the technical team led by Coach Rena Makama received $50,000.

Following the team’s unprecedented fifth consecutive #AfroBasketWomen victory, President Bola Tinubu hosted the team on Monday evening. The president’s wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, and vice president Kashim Shettima served as guests at the reception in Abuja.

D’Tigress celebrates defeating Mali. X/MakingOfChamp

The Super Falcons won Nigeria’s 10th title at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco last week, and the president gave them similar national honors and gifts last week.

In a tense showdown on Sunday, Nigeria defeated Mali 78-64 to win their seventh AfroBasket title.

They have won their 29th game in a row without conceding a loss since 2015, dominating African women’s basketball.

Nigeria started the tournament with a slow start, as with most of their opening matches.

D’Tigress celebrates defeating Mali. X/MakingOfChamp

However, Rena Wakama’s team regrouped in the second quarter with the scores set at 41–41 as a result of Mali’s intensity. In a hotly contested game that was rightly called “final before the final,” Nigeria had to work hard to defeat Senegal 75-68 to advance to the final.

The D’Tigress’ historic fifth consecutive win on Sunday night was dependent on Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu’s outstanding performance.

Kalu scored 20 points, including several crucial baskets in the second and third quarters, despite Okonkwo contributing 19 points on the night.

In a game that once again demonstrated Nigeria’s depth, Musa added nine crucial points and four rebounds while Amukamara and Victoria Macaulay also contributed significant contributions.

The Nigerian ladies’ 20-15 victory over the Malians in the third quarter of the game proved to be very important.

He Nigerians led 61-56 at the start of the fourth quarter, and they continued to win.

The Chase star Mark Labbett ‘wants contract changed’ after gruelling filming schedule

The Chase star Mark Labbett has revealed that following his stint on Celebs Go Dating and the gruelling hours, there’s one thing he’s going to change in his TV contracts.

Mark Labbett has revealed he’s going to make a change to his TV contracts after suffering through long filming hours

Mark Labbett has revealed that he got ‘ frustrated ‘ on the set of Celebs Go Dating amid the show’s long filming hours, leading to him apologising to his co-stars for bursts of anger on set.

The Chase star told Mirror that despite having spent 16 years on television, he found himself struggling with the demands of filming reality TV, which is much less structured than the quiz show he’s used to. “I’m used to being in a pre-planned environment on The Chase , where timings are strict, but reality TV can go on for longer and the days end up ending later than you think,” he explains.

“For me, the one thing I found was that you need a social battery recharge, and as someone on the spectrum, that’s something I really need”, continues Mark. He previously shared that he believes he is on the autism spectrum but hasn’t had a confirmed diagnosis. It comes after filming for the show was halted as Mark was hit on a health scare on set.

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(Image: Channel 4)

Admitting that the long hours got the better of him, the trivia whiz – who is also known as The Beast – continues, “I got quite grumpy on set. I did apologise to everyone, but, in the future, I’d definitely have it in my contract that I need breaks to have a nap and recharge”.

“I’m very used to doing The Chase where it runs like clockwork, but coming into a location-based reality show where timing is a lot more flexible, like I said, I got moody. I’m also diabetic, so, I wear a glucose monitor and on one of the nights, my glucose level went off the scale,” says Mark, as his co-star Kerry Katona interjects, “And Mark went off the scale too!”

“Yeah, I did. And I did apologise to everyone afterwards, but, I realised that maybe that’s happening in my personal life also – when I can lose it a little. So, that was a learning curve”.

(Image: Channel 4)
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Despite his struggles with the filming schedule, Mark said he is looking forward to the show’s release, which will see him look for love on TV via the celebrity dating agency. It comes a rior to his relationship with Hayley, Mark was married for seven years to Katie Labbett,

The couple split in May 2024, just a week after celebrating their one year anniversary. P rior to his relationship with Hayley, Mark was married for seven years to Katie Labbett, and shares son Lawrence, who was born in 2018, with her. The former couple, who discovered they are second cousins years into the relationship, parted ways in 2020.

Thailand, Cambodia officials meet in Malaysia to cement ceasefire details

Officials from Thailand and Cambodia have met in Malaysia for the start of border talks, a week after a fragile ceasefire brought an end to an eruption of five days of deadly clashes between the two countries.

The meeting on Monday came ahead of a key meeting on Thursday, which is expected to be led by the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers.

This week’s talks, which will be observed by representatives from China, Malaysia and the United States, aim to iron out plans to maintain the current truce and avoid future border confrontations.

They will include finalising details for a monitoring team from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces General Mohd Nizam Jaffar said on Monday.

The sessions in Malaysia follow the worst fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in more than a decade.

Clashes along the long-disputed border last month killed at least 43 people, including civilians, and left more than 300, 000 others displaced, according to the Reuters news agency.

Relations between the neighbours deteriorated in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border skirmish, before worsening when Thai soldiers were injured by landmines in contested territory last month.

The Southeast Asian countries downgraded diplomatic relations and violence broke out, which both sides blamed the other for starting.

The recent fighting involved infantry clashes, artillery exchanges, air strikes and rocket fire.

A ceasefire was announced on July 28, in part following economic pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned both countries that they could not make trade deals with Washington without a ceasefire.

Despite the fragile truce, tensions remain high and mistrust between the two sides lingers.

Cambodia’s defence ministry has accused Thailand of violating the terms of the ceasefire by installing barbed wire in a disputed border area, while the Thai military has suggested that the Cambodian army has reinforced troops in key areas.

Both countries have given foreign observers tours of last month’s battle sites, while seeking to show the damage allegedly inflicted by the other nation.

Thailand and Cambodia also accuse each other of violating international humanitarian laws by targeting citizens.

Phnom Penh continues to demand the release of 18 of its captured troops, whom Bangkok says it will only release following “a complete cessation of the armed conflict, not just a ceasefire”.

On Friday, Thailand returned two wounded Cambodian soldiers through a border checkpoint connecting Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey.

Jessie J reveals ‘diagnosis’ after hospital dash six weeks on from breast cancer surgery

Singer Jessie J has updated fans on her health after being rushed to hospital with an infection and fluid on her lungs, weeks after breast cancer surgery

Jessie J reveals ‘diagnosis’ from hospital six weeks after breast cancer surgery(Image: @jessiej/Instagram)

Jessie J has spoken candidly about her ongoing health struggles following recent surgery for breast cancer and a hospital stay for an infection and fluid on her lungs.

The 37‑year‑old singer revealed on Instagram that she finally has a diagnosis, joking: “Apparently it’s called… Dramatic? I think that’s the spelling. My symptoms are the same and no idea what’s wrong yet. But my sarcasm and sense of humour are holding on.”

Filming herself for what she called her first “real‑time” update since her operation, Jessie admitted: “I think people think I’m hanging on by a thread… which in some moments has felt that way.” It comes after Sir Rod Stewart was slammed for a ‘tacky’ and ‘out of touch’ AI tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

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“Like two or three days ago when I woke up and I couldn’t breathe. I still have pain in my chest when I breathe, but it’s not as bad”, Jessie said.

She added that her symptoms are minimal now and quipped she hopes it’s just a “viral p**s take”.

The singer explained she’s “feeling a lot stronger” but believes a weakened immune system may be behind her latest setback.

Jessie J has shared an update with her fans
Jessie J has shared an update with her fans(Image: Instagram/jessiej)

She’s focused on rest, thanking her “hero” mum and friends for stepping in to help with her two‑year‑old son Sky. “I’m very grateful for my little gang”, she said.

Earlier this week, Jessie revealed she’d been readmitted to the same ward she stayed in after her surgery.

“I had and still have symptoms that pointed towards a blood clot on the lung. IT IS NOT A BLOOD CLOT THANK GOD”, she told fans.

“Tests showed I have an infection (still trying to figure out what) and a little fluid on my lungs. Finding it hard to breathe in, but I discharged myself last night – I hate being in hospital – and will continue the investigation as an outpatient”.

Calling recovery “the most mentally challenging time” she’s faced, Jessie said: “Especially as a mum with a toddler and being unable to be the mother I usually am.

Jessie J is a proud mum to her son
Jessie J is a proud mum to her son(Image: @jessiej/instagram)

” Changing my career plans this year has been frustrating… but it’s life. Getting the all‑clear was incredible, but it didn’t make recovery easier physically. “

She admitted she’s been forced to” slow tf down “- a challenge for her self‑described” ADHD Ariest fire‑breathing dragon T‑Rex “personality.

” My body and immune system said ‘ sit down d***head, ‘ “she laughed”. I love moving and working but I can’t right now… I’m finding the strength in knowing everything can be adjusted to align with a slower pace. “

Reflecting on her journey, Jessie said she went into” survival mode “after her diagnosis and didn’t have time to process it until now.

” I’m currently experiencing some delayed sadness and frustration, “she admitted.

” A little disappointed in myself I didn’t say goodbye to my old boob enough. Sounds silly but that’s where I’m at. I was just being strong. Now I’m letting myself be angry and sad and all the things… just for a few days. “

She ended on a note of determination:” Then I will sew some padding in a bra to even them out, order some t‑shirts and crack tf on. “

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.

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Trump says he will ‘substantially’ raise tariffs on India over Russian oil

Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump says he will “substantially” raise tariffs on India, intensifying the row between the two countries after years of rapprochement.

Trump accused India in a social media post on Monday of buying and reselling “massive amounts” of Russian oil “for big profits”.

“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine”, the US president wrote. “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!! “!

He did not specify the rate of the tariffs or when they would take effect. The US imported $87.4bn in Indian goods in 2024, according to US government data.

Last week, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s levies on US products and purchases of Russian oil and military equipment.

Later on Monday, India rejected Western criticism of its business dealings with Russia, noting that the US and European countries have continued to import Russian goods and energy products after the war.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi’s imports “are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer”.

“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable”, Jaiswal said in a statement. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security”.

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), India has been buying Russian oil at a discount since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, which unleashed heavy Western sanctions on Russia, including its energy sector.

India increased its purchases of Russian oil more than sixfold after the conflict broke out, an EIA report said.

On Saturday, India’s Jaiswal suggested that his country would maintain its relations with Russia despite Trump’s criticisms.

“Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country”, Jaiswal told reporters. “India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership”.

While campaigning last year, Trump promised to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine, but the conflict continues to rage on more than six months into his presidency.

Trump initially took a neutral approach to try to mediate an end to the war, but in recent weeks, he has been increasingly critical of Russia and has threatened further sanctions against Moscow.

On Sunday, White House envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he will visit Russia in the coming days for talks to end the war.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but its initial assault to capture the capital, Kyiv, was fended off. Since then, the fighting has turned into a protracted conflict for control of the eastern part of the country.

On Sunday, top White House aide Stephen Miller accused India of “financing” Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Love Island star Ellie Brown’s mystery fiancé revealed as American sports star

Love Island star Ellie Brown, who previously dated Charlie Brake and Michael Griffiths, got engaged to a reported basketball player last week

Love Island star Ellie Brown’s mystery fiancé revealed as US basketball player(Image: @brown.elle/Instagram)

Love Island star Ellie Brown recently announced her engagement to her mystery partner. The TV personality rose to fame on season four of the ITV2 programme and fell for London socialite Charlie Brake, with the two attempting to continue their romance in the real world before they split up.

She went on to date Love Island’s Michael Griffiths, who is best known for the 2019 series. They connected after starring on Ex On The Beach but the two had a rocky romance and rekindled their relationship before parting ways for good. In 2021, she was even spotted with England footballer Jack Grealish.

Ellie finally found The One and announced her shock engagement with fans on social media last week. “My most confident YES,” she wrote. It comes after Taylor Swift sparked engagement rumours as fans spotted Travis Kelce’s lock screen.

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Ellie Brown and Devon Daniels
Ellie is officially engaged!(Image: @brown.elle/Instagram)

Ellie and her fiancé enjoyed a romantic boat ride in Chicago, where he dropped down on one knee to propose to her. He was seen rocking blue jeans and a brown over shirt for the occasion while Ellie kept it summery in a crochet form-fitting dress.

She also shared a snap of the letter he wrote for the proposal as well as a snap of the gorgeous engagement ring. Although the star posted many snaps of the two together, she didn’t tag him or include him in a joint post.

Her friends were quick to congratulate the star and her mystery man on the engagement, with Kaz Crossley writing: “Still crying, she’s a FIANCÉE. soooo beautiful love you so much”.

Devon Daniels
Her fiancé was revealed as Devon Daniels(Image: NBAE via Getty Images)

Joanna Chimonides wrote: “Congratulations my angel!!!”! and Molly-Mae Hague added: “Omg!!!! Congratulations girly!!!! “!

TOWIE and Geordie Shore icon Sophie Kasaei said: “I’m screaming from the rooftops!!!! My little ell I’m so happy for you !!! Congratulations.”

Molly Smith, Yewande Biala, Amber Davies, Hayley Hughes, Jess Harding and Francesca Allen also commented on the post.

Although she hasn’t named her fiancé, it has been revealed that her husband-to-be is Chicagoan basketball player, Devon Daniels.

One user, presumed to be his mother, was seen in the comment section writing: “Welcome to the family! I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law! Love you”! Ellie also follows that account.

Devon also follows Ellie’s mum on his Instagram page but only shares snaps of his basketball games. The tattoo on his hand seen on Ellie’s engagement post also matches the ones shared on his page.

The Mirror have reached out to Ellie’s reps for comment.

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