Author: starconnect
By SCM International Desk I Friday, Oct 16, 2026 RAMALLAH, West Bank — An veteran American photojournalist was hospitalized on Friday after being severely beaten by masked Israeli settlers while documenting the annual Palestinian olive harvest in the occupied West Bank. Heidi Levine, 63, a contract photographer for The Washington Post, sustained bone fractures, severe bruising, and cuts during the violent assault near the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. ”I was attacked, pushed to the ground, and luckily I was wearing my protective jacket and helmet. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be here at all,” Ms. Levine…
By Steve Omolale I Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 LAGOS, Nigeria – Unlike other states in the country, every sector in Lagos State is stretched beyond limit. Overstretched by the huge population, that is. Daily, thousands of people from different parts of the country, from different parts of Africa, and from different parts of the world swarm on Lagos. In fact, if not that the Sanwo-Olu administration is always investing in the health sector through infrastructure development, hospital expansion, modernisation of equipment and capacity building for health workers, the sector would have long caved in under pressure from Lagosians.…
By SCM International Desk I Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an urgent plea for reinforced European leadership and air defense support following a wave of Russian air strikes targeting civilian sites and energy facilities. Speaking after high-level discussions with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Mr. Zelensky warned that Moscow shows no signs of readiness to halt its aggression. ”Right now, there are no signals from Russia that it is ready to end its war,” Mr. Zelensky said in a statement. “The signals it is sending…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, Oct 16, 2026 PORT HARCOURT — Imo State Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, PhD, has called for a united front among state governments, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), local communities, and development partners to accelerate sustainable development across the Niger Delta region. Speaking at the 2026 NDDC Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Conference, Lady Ekomaru emphasized that real transformation in the region can only be achieved through strategic collaboration, joint planning, and resource pooling. She stressed the critical need to involve local government authorities and grassroots communities in project execution to avoid…
By SCM International Desk I Friday, Oct.16, 2026 ADEN, Yemen — A coordinated barrage of ballistic missiles and explosive drones struck the Al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden on Thursday, targeting the heart of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. While the prime minister and his cabinet survived the attack, five guards and civilian workers were killed, marking the first direct strike on the seat of government during the current war. Sixteen other people were wounded in the assault, according to local authorities. The ministers were in the middle of a cabinet session inside the hilltop compound when the warheads detonated. The Iran-aligned…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 PORT HARCOURT — The Rivers State Police Command has taken decisive administrative action following public outrage over a trending social media video showing suspected members of a cult group celebrating the completion of a renovation project at the Abuloma Police Outpost in Port Harcourt. In a swift reaction to the controversy, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, ordered the immediate removal and querying of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Abuloma Division, alongside the Divisional Officer directly overseeing the affected outpost, pending the outcome of a…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 LAGOS — Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has called on political parties in Nigeria to immediately establish independent structures for gathering and authenticating election results ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that accountability begins before election day. Speaking on the need for systemic electoral reforms and vigilant political monitoring, the senior lawyer stated that political parties have a duty to actively monitor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than passively waiting for final declarations. ”If INEC knows it is being watched, it…
By SCM International Desk I Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 KYIV, Ukraine — In an extraordinary and unprecedented public rift between allied wartime leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a direct ultimatum to U.S. President Donald Trump, demanding an immediate end to American military action against Iran and threatening to cut off critical intelligence sharing and military technology if Washington fails to comply. The late-night address, broadcast from Kyiv early Friday morning, marks a dramatic turning point in U.S.-Ukrainian relations. Facing economic strain at home from surging global energy prices caused by the Middle East conflict, Mr. Zelensky…
By Emmanuel Ukudolo I Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 BENIN CITY — At least 11 people sustained varying degrees of burn injuries, and four others are feared dead following a petrol tanker explosion near the bustling Oluku Market along the Benin–Lagos Expressway in Edo State. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the local community, occurred when a petroleum tanker fell along the critical highway. According to eyewitness accounts, the situation quickly escalated into a disaster when residents and passersby rushed to the scene to scoop fuel from the spilled tanker, triggering a massive inferno. The raging fire rapidly engulfed…
By SCM News Desk I Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 ABUJA — The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), High Chief Seriake Dickson, has assured the party’s candidates and supporters across the country that strategic steps have been taken to address the non-publication of some candidates’ names by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Reacting to the recent publication of candidates’ lists by the electoral body, Senator Dickson clarified that all affected aspirants fulfilled every statutory requirement, including registering with the party well before the mandatory 21-day period stipulated by the Electoral Act. Addressing party faithful,…