Author: starconnect
BY OUR REPORTER I June 23, 2026 TERROR has struck the heart of Lagos after a devastating bomb explosion rocked the densely populated district of Mushin—while tone-deaf politicians and police chiefs were busy sipping tea and patting themselves on the back. As panic-stricken residents fled for their lives through smoke-chilled streets, Nigeria’s top brass were holed up in a lavish government house, spinning a bizarre alternate reality where Lagos is supposedly “the safest state in the country.” The shocking blast shattered the peace in Mushin, leaving locals reeling and demanding to know how bombers managed to penetrate Nigeria’s economic capital. Yet,…
: By SCM Correspondent LAGOS, NIGERIA — The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign from office immediately. Obi labeled the current administration a “monumental failure in governance,” pointing to a sharp increase in economic hardship, a breakdown of security, and the rapidly declining standard of living across Nigeria. The former Anambra State governor made the demand in a statement released via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday. According to Obi, his call for the President’s resignation was prompted by…
Me BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN DALLAS LIONEL MESSI proved once again that he is not from this planet, overcoming a rare moment of human frailty to rewrite the history books and fire reigning champions Argentina into the World Cup knockout rounds. On a sweltering afternoon under the retractable roof of the Dallas Stadium, the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of boots endured a rollercoaster of emotions that would have broken lesser men. Two days shy of his 39th birthday, the little magician missed a crucial early penalty, leaving a stadium packed with thousands of fanatical, blue-and-white…
HAdmin I Monday, June 22, 2026 LONDON – The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Climate Group, formally marking Lagos State’s entry into the Under2 Coalition, the world’s largest network of states and regions committed to achieving net-zero emissions and building climate-resilient economies. The signing took place on Monday in London as part of the London Climate Action Week 2026, underscoring Lagos State’s growing role in global climate leadership and reinforced its commitment to advancing innovative solutions that drive sustainable development, economic growth and climate resilience. Convened by Climate Group,…
sECBy Our Foreign Desk WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday imposed counterterrorism sanctions on a sophisticated network of financial intermediaries operating across three continents, a move American officials say exposes how a decentralized Islamic State continues to move money through cryptocurrency, explosive specialists, and West African currency exchanges. The designations target three individuals and six entities spread across France, Syria, Türkiye, and Nigeria. U.S. officials described the network as a vital logistical spine keeping the fragmented terror group interconnected. Among those blacklisted is a Syria-based operator accused of using digital tokens to transfer funds to ISIS associates globally,…
By Our Foreign Desk BRUSSELS has pumped a massive €11 million (£9.2 million) into Moldova to help the frontline nation smash “hybrid attacks” blamed on Vladimir Putin. The European Commission confirmed the emergency funding package is designed to boost defenses against a wave of hidden warfare, including cyber-attacks and fierce disinformation campaigns. Moldova—a former Soviet republic nestled between Ukraine and Romania—has found itself squarely in the crosshairs of Moscow’s covert aggression since the invasion of Ukraine. Eurocrats say the cash injection will directly counter alleged Russian influence operations aimed at destabilizing the country’s pro-Western government. ”Hybrid attacks” use non-military…
By SCM Foreign Desk LUCKNOW, India – A fast-moving fire tore through a crowded three-story commercial building in northern India on Monday afternoon, killing at least 14 people, most of them young students trapped on the upper floors, local officials said. The blaze broke out around 3 p.m. in the Aliganj neighborhood of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. The building, located in a dense mixed-use zone, housed a veterinary clinic and a pet shop on its ground floor, while the upper levels contained a student library, a collegiate coaching institute, and a…
By SCM Reporter NIGERIAN politics has been thrown into absolute meltdown after a newly chosen Vice-Presidential candidate threatened to sue his own party if they don’t upload his name to the official election website immediately. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has issued a fierce ultimatum to the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—Nigeria’s main opposition party. Amaechi is demanding that the party top brass submit his details to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal on or before June 27, 2026. If they fail to hit the deadline, he is taking them straight to court. The legal threat comes as a civil…
Admin I Monday, june 22, 2026 ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The announcement was made on Monday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Professor Ogundipe, 66, succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position after less than a year in office. Professor Aina had been appointed by President Tinubu in July last year, with the board subsequently…
BY SCM SPORT REPORTER ROME, Italy – IT WAS pure, unadulterated drama under the Roman lights as the world’s elite skateboarders kicked off their epic Road to the LA28 Olympics with a night of historic triumphs and brutal heartbreaks. Overlooking the iconic Colosseum, the World Skateboarding Tour World Cup in Rome wrapped up a wild fortnight that saw pre-tournament favourites utterly crash out, while a phenomenal Aussie teenager rewrote the history books. The night belonged to Australian teen sensation Chloe Covell, who put on the performance of her life to absolutely obliterate the Women’s Street finals. The teenage wonderkid…