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Reps Walk Out FIRS Chair Over Budget Dispute, Threaten To Reject 2026 Estimates
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday walked out the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, during a closed-door session.
A lawmaker in the session told Channels Television that Adedeji was ordered out after members accused him of arrogance while responding to questions.
The executive session centred on delayed releases for zonal intervention projects.
Members have complained for weeks about unpaid contractors caused by stalled budgetary disbursements.
According to the lawmaker, Finance Minister Wale Edun informed the House that the 2024 budget must be fully funded within 48 hours.
READ ALSO: FG Directs MDAs To Defer 70% Of 2025 Capital Budget To 2026
He added that the 2025 budget will be extended to April, with 30% funding to begin immediately and 20% released before December ends.
Members insisted that these commitments must be fulfilled before any further budgetary processes.
Who are the separatists that claim control of all south Yemen?
Yemen’s Southern Transition Council has declared itself in control of the country’s south, raising fears they will declare independence. Members of the internationally-backed government have fled. So what is the STC? Soraya Lennie explains.
Would you like to see Meghan Markle reconcile with her dad? Take our poll and have your say
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly been trying to contact her estranged father amid his health struggle
Meghan Markle has reportedly been desperately trying to contact her father, Thomas Markle Snr, amidst his ongoing health issues, despite the pair being estranged for seven years. The Duchess of Sussex’s 81-year-old father was reportedly rushed to hospital in early December after his foot “turned black” from a blood clot in his leg.
According to Thomas’ younger son and Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Jnr, Mr Markle underwent a below the knee amputation of his left leg in a hospital in Cebu, Philippines. After the news broke of Thomas’ health scare, Meghan reportedly began trying to reach out to her estranged father.
Dr Neil Sanico amputated Mr Markle’s foot and lower leg during a three-hour operation after a massive blood clot cut off circulation to the limb, as he told the Daily Mail : “There was no option but amputation.”
“The clot was so large we could not risk removing it first and then having the infection from the foot spread around his body and cause sepsis. There was a danger of gangrene setting in. He has a long road ahead of him but I am pleased with the way he came through surgery and the positive attitude he has shown since. He is a strong and brave man.”
Just days after the life-altering operation, Thomas shared via the publication that he has been moved out of the intensive care unit and into a standard hospital room, and has started gentle physical therapy sessions. If you can’t see the poll, click here.
He said: He said: “I am determined to walk again. I sometimes get a weird feeling that my leg is still there. The doctors said it was a common thing for people to feel ‘phantom’ limbs. I know I have a long journey ahead of me. I am thankful for the excellent care I have received here in Cebu and for the wonderful Filipino doctors and nurses who saved my life.”
As his health battle continues, Meghan is said to have personally made phone calls to hospitals in the Philippines in an urgent bid to establish the hospital logo seen in photographs on her father’s hospital gown, in order to get in contact with him.
Meghan was left with no option but to email her father on a previous attempt to establish contact following the surgery as she does not have a current phone number for her father, who she fell out with in the run-up to the royal wedding in 2018.
But sources say Thomas Markle does not have his phone available to him, and therefore is out of contact. Meghan has reportedly asked her PR team to reach out to journalists from publications who are in contact with her father to ask for information on his address and whereabouts, as she wants to send him a handwritten letter.
Meghan has not had any contact with her father since her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018. Thomas had been set to attend the wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, but was unable to travel due to suffering two heart attacks on the eve of the wedding.
Before Harry and Meghan tied the knot in their fairytale wedding, there was tension brewing between the Duchess and her father as he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to the big day. Mr Markle then suffered a heart attack, with King Charles stepping in at the last minute to walk Meghan down the aisle.
Mr Markle went on to repeatedly speak to the media and later claimed he had been “shunned” by Meghan. He criticised the duchess but still said he wanted to reunite with her, and publicly pleaded to be able to see Archie and Lilibet, who he has never met, saying in 2023: “She is not the person I knew as my daughter.”
What do you think? Should Meghan Markle reunite with her estranged father? Take our poll and have your say in the comments below.
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What Home Improvement cast did next – arrests, Harvard, vegan cheese and submersibles
Home Improvement, a huge hit in the 1990s, followed power tool enthusiast Tim and his TV show, Tool Time, along with the challenges of his family life
Millions grew up with the Taylor family from classic sitcom Home Improvement, tuning in every week to laugh at dad Tim’s clumsy DIY attempts and the chaos caused by his kids.
The show centred on power tool enthusiast Tim Taylor , who hosted his own show, Tool Time, and his futile attempts to balance his family life with his messy hobby.
It wasn’t just a comedy – the show was a cultural touchstone, launching the careers of its young stars and cementing Tim Allen as a household name.
Decades after the final episode aired in 1999, fans might wonder what became of the beloved cast. Some pursued long careers in Hollywood, others left the spotlight entirely, and a few have faced personal challenges far from the cameras.
Zachary Ty Bryan, has had a particularly turbulent time since the show, and was arrested just last month for the sixth time in five years, this time for a violation of his probation terms.
Here’s a closer look at what the Taylor boys, their parents and Tool Time co-host Al Borland, have been up to since Home Improvement ended more than 25 years ago.
Zachery Ty Bryan (Brad Taylor)
Zachery Ty Bryan shot to fame as Brad Taylor on the ABC sitcom and his hijinks at school were central to many of the show’s storylines. After the show ended, he continued acting with roles in films such as The Clown at Midnight (1998).
However, Bryan’s also faced a series of legal troubles. Last month, the 44-year-old was arrested in Oregon after allegedly violating the terms of his probation stemming from a prior domestic violence conviction – with his three kids placed with a family member.
It marked the sixth time in five years that he’s been taken into custody, Fox Los Angeles reported. Back in January, he was detained after allegedly choking and punching an unidentified woman during a domestic dispute in South Carolina.
In 2023, he told the Hollywood Reporter that it “was actually really difficult” to find stability as an actor after the ABC sitcom concluded in 1999.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Randy Taylor)
Jonathan Taylor Thomas became a teen heartthrob during the show’s run, praised for his charm and intelligence as Randy Taylor. After Home Improvement, he focused on his education, attending Harvard University and Columbia University where he studied philosophy and history.
Now 44, he’s continued acting in voice roles, including in The Lion King as young Simba, but largely avoided high-profile acting projects as an adult. Jonathan has occasionally returned to TV for cameos and interviews, maintaining a low profile.
Today, he leads a largely private life, occasionally speaking about childhood fame and the challenges of growing up in the public eye. However, fans continue to celebrate him as one of the most talented young actors of the 1990s.
Taran Noah Smith (Mark Taylor)
Taran Noah Smith portrayed the youngest Taylor son, Mark. Following the show, he left acting entirely and became a successful businessman, founding an organic farming project that specialised in vegan cheese.
The 41-year-old has deliberately stayed out of the spotlight, choosing a private lifestyle focused on family and entrepreneurship rather than acting, offering occasional interviews reflecting on his time as a child star.
Smith married Heidi van Pelt, 16 years his senior, in 2001, but the pair divorced in 2007. He continues to manage his business interests, occasionally sharing insights about balancing childhood fame with adult privacy. He’s also a manager of a Community Submersibles Project, where he teaches people how to pilot submarines.
Patricia Richardson (Jill Taylor)
Patricia Richardson played the matriarch Jill Taylor and has stayed active in the entertainment industry since the show ended. She appeared in TV series like drama Strong Medicine and continued guest-starring on a range of projects.
Richardson, 74, has been involved in advocacy and public speaking, often discussing mental health and parenting, drawing on her experiences both on and off-screen.
While she never returned to the same level of household-name fame, she continues to act in theatre and television, starring in shows like Law and Order. She married fellow actor Ray Baker in 1982 and they have three children together.
Tim Allen (Tim “Tool Man” Taylor)
Tim Allen, the star and co-host of Home Improvement, has remained one of the most visible cast members. After the show, he returned to stand-up, voiced Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story franchise, and led the sitcom Last Man Standing .
The 72-year-old has also made occasional guest appearances on other TV shows and movies, keeping his signature comedic persona alive.
In 1998, he was arrested for driving under the influence in Birmingham, Michigan, and sentenced to one-year probation. He also attended a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol abuse.
In 2021, he criticised Donald Trump and those who took part in the Capitol attack, calling it “horrible, embarrassing and shameful”.
Debbe Dunning (co-host Heidi Keppert)
Debbe Dunning portrayed “Tool Time” co-host Heidi Keppert, Tim’s enthusiastic assistant. Following the series, she has appeared in a handful of television shows and smaller film projects, but largely stepped back from acting to focus on family life.
She was a model as well as an actor, and appeared in 1980s comedy Dangerous Curves along with the American Gladiators Celebrity Challenge.
Now 59, Dunning has occasionally returned for Home Improvement reunion events and interviews, reflecting on her experiences as part of the show and the lasting bond with her co-stars.
Richard Karn (co-host Al Borland)
Richard Karn played Tim’s loyal co-host, Al Borland, whose awkward humour made him a fan favourite. After Home Improvement, Karn continued acting in television and film, but also became well-known as the host of the game show Family Feud from 2002 to 2006.
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He has made guest appearances on various shows and occasionally participates in nostalgia panels and reunions, keeping his association with Al Borland alive.
Linda Robson says ‘she wasn’t a fan of that’ as she issues Pauline Quirk admission
Linda Robson opened up about working with former Birds of a Feather colleague Pauline Quirke as she admitted there was one aspect of the job Pauline “wasn’t a fan” of
Actress Linda Robson admitted her Birds of a Feather co-star Pauline Quirke “wasn’t a fan” of one thing in particular.
Pauline, 66, sparked huge public support when it was announced she was suffering from dementia earlier this year, triggering her retirement from acting.
She is most synonymous with Birds of a Feather, the BBC sitcom she co-starred in with Robson and Lesley Joseph. Pauline played Sharon Theodopolopodous in the popular programme, but she apparently did not enjoy the live shows.
Speaking to Bella, Linda, 67, said: “We did a thing where we did Birds of a Feather for years and years and years. We’d do a group hug, and then we’d do a group pelvic thrust.
“Any new cast members coming in, we’d include them and do a group pelvic thrust. We had little routines like that.
“Pauline used to get herself in a state, she hated doing the live show and touring around the country, she wasn’t a fan of that. I think she felt safer in the TV studio.”
Birds of a Feather ran from 1989 to 1998 on BBC One, before it was revived from 2014 to 2020 on ITV.
It comes after Linda shared an emotional update about her friend and former colleague as Pauline continued to battle against dementia.
She appeared on BBC Breakfast alongside Pauline’s son Charlie, who is about to embark on a 140km trek to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK following her diagnosis.
Linda has known Pauline since they were 10 years old when they attended the same theatre school. The pair are still meeting up despite her condition.
The actress said: “We met up about three or four weeks ago at a restaurant.
“It was so lovely. She was just giggling, and just really enjoying it, she ate everything as well. I left there happy because she was happy, and I knew they were looking after her really well.”
Charlie started his mammoth trek yesterday (Monday, December 8) and is set to finish on Friday (December 12). It will see him visit. places from Pauline’s past before finishing at the family home.
Speaking out Pauline’s son, Linda added: “I’ve known him since he was in the womb, really, he’s a good boy.
“There’s so many people now that get dementia now, my mum for instance had it really, really bad and it’s the worst thing ever I think.’
Charlie added: “We’ve got to raise awareness for it, and this trek is about my mum’s career and her life, and it’s just nice to be here with Linda, and get the ball rolling with the trek.”
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