Ethel Caterham, recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person, has turned 117.

Caterham celebrated her birthday on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, Surrey, where she lives.

“Thank you for all of the kind birthday wishes. Even at 117, I’ve had many firsts this year, from stroking a llama to holding hands with the King!” Caterham said in a birthday message shared through her care home.

“I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings!”

Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Caterham is the last known surviving person born during the reign of King Edward VII.

She became the world’s oldest living person in April 2025 after the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas at the age of 116. Guinness World Records also recognises her as the oldest living woman.

Caterham travelled alone to India at 18, where she worked as a nanny for a British family.

She later met British Army officer Norman Caterham at a dinner party in 1931. They married in 1933 and lived in several countries, including Hong Kong, where Caterham set up a kindergarten.

The couple later returned to Britain and raised two daughters. Norman died in 1976. Caterham has since outlived both daughters and is now a grandmother of three and great-grandmother of five.

Her long life has spanned two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also survived COVID-19 at the age of 110.

Caterham has previously said she believes avoiding arguments has helped her live a long life.

“Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,” she said.

One of the highlights of Caterham’s past year was meeting King Charles III in September 2025.

During their meeting, she recalled watching his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969, when he was 21.

“All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you,” she told the King.

Caterham later described meeting Charles and holding his hand as two of the memorable “firsts” she experienced during her 116th year.

The world’s oldest living man, Brazil’s João Marinho Neto, also sent birthday wishes to Caterham, according to Guinness World Records.

Despite reaching 117, Caterham remains five years short of the verified record for the oldest person ever. That record belongs to Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.

For now, Caterham continues to celebrate life with her family and friends while looking ahead to another milestone year.

The National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) has extended warm congratulations to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on the occasion of his 30th wedding anniversary with his beautiful wife, Mrs. Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, describing the milestone as a reflection of the stability and discipline the IGP has brought to both his home and his office.

Mrs. Disu, who doubles as National President of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), the umbrella body for wives and spouses of police officers nationwide, has been a steady presence alongside her husband through a career that has spanned more than three decades of policing, culminating in his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the nation’s 23rd indigenous Inspector-General in February 2026.

In a statement signed by NAOSNP National President, Mayor Oki O. Samson, the Association described the union as “a partnership that has clearly shaped a man now trusted with the safety of over 200 million Nigerians,” adding that “thirty years of marriage is no small feat, and we join well-wishers across the country in celebrating the IGP and his amiable wife on this golden occasion.”

The Association noted that Mrs. Disu’s leadership of POWA has itself been an extension of her husband’s community-first approach to policing, with the association playing a quiet but consistent role in supporting the welfare of officers’ families across the Force. This is a mission that mirrors IGP Disu’s own emphasis on troop and personnel welfare since assumption of office.

Beyond the celebration, NAOSNP used the opportunity to reflect on what it described as the sterling contributions IGP Disu has made to President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing security architecture reforms in his first six months in office. The Association recalled that the IGP’s appointment came at a pivotal moment in the country’s history, as the Presidency pursued the most far-reaching restructuring of Nigeria’s security institutions since the Civil War. The reforms include the State Police bill now passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, and the rollout of the Forest Guard corps.

“IGP Disu has actively complimented the reform agenda of Mr. President Tinubu,” Mayor Oki said. “From his welfare-driven leadership of the rank and file to his insistence on intelligence-led and community-rooted policing which were the same approach that made him a celebrated name at the Lagos RRS, he has shown that the Force under his watch is a willing and capable partner in Mr President’s vision for a secure Nigeria.”

NAOSNP also heaped praises on the IGP for the Force’s professional conduct during the just-concluded Osun State governorship election held on August 15, 2026. The Association noted that IGP Disu personally directed a massive security deployment led by DIG Ishyaku Mohammed to the State. The Police deployment included Police mobile units across all 30 local government areas, air and drone surveillance. The Police also engaged with civil society groups such as Yiaga Africa ahead of the poll to strengthen public trust in the process.

Despite isolated incidents, the election was widely adjudged as peaceful and credible, with candidates across party lines, INEC officials, media and residents commended the professionalism of Police officers on ground. Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party was declared winner, defeating APC’s Bola Oyebamiji by over 66,000 votes, in a contest that many observers say passed a key credibility test ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Osun has once again proven that when the Police lead with professionalism and neutrality, Nigerians reward that conduct with confidence in the process,” Mayor Oki Samson stated.

NAOSNP concluded its statement by wishing IGP Disu and his wife many more years of marital bliss, and expressing confidence that the same discipline, patience and grace that has sustained their union will continue to guide his stewardship of the Nigeria Police Force in the months ahead.

Gunmen who kidnapped the chairman of Jezco Group, Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, have reportedly increased their ransom demand from N700 million to N1.5 billion for his release.

Ezeokafor, a septuagenarian businessman, was reportedly abducted in Anambra State about a week ago.

The kidnappers initially demanded N700 million from the businessman’s family.

Unofficial reports quoting an anonymous source said the kidnappers had established contact with the family after the abduction.

The source said the family accepted the initial N700 million demand as part of efforts to secure Ezeokafor’s release.

However, the kidnappers later increased the ransom to N1.5 billion.

The source said the family remains willing to negotiate with the abductors, but the kidnappers have allegedly stopped further communication.

The development has reportedly left the family in a difficult situation, as attempts to restore contact with the abductors have not yielded results.

Ezeokafor was kidnapped on Tuesday at about 2am after he reportedly left his home for a prayer ground as part of his annual spiritual rejuvenation.

He was said to have left his security details behind when he stepped out of his residence, which the kidnappers capitalized on, to abduct him.

One week after the incident, the police and the State government authorities have yet to make any official statement on the businessman’s abduction.

The Anambra State Police Command has also not publicly commented on the incident.