Author: starconnect
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 UNITED NATIONS — In what could mark a monumental turning point for the Middle East, Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza have agreed for the first time to lay down their weapons and relinquish governing authority to a U.N.-recognized transitional administration, a senior diplomat told the United Nations Security Council. Addressing the 15-member council, Nickolay Mladenov, High Representative of the Board of Peace for Gaza, presented the agreement as an unprecedented opportunity to resolve a decades-long conflict that has destabilized the region. “For the first time, Hamas and the…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 WASHINGTON — A federal judge has ordered the Department of Justice to immediately roll back extensive redactions in previously released records concerning late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, directing officials to unmask the identities of alleged co-conspirators or face formal contempt proceedings. The ruling, issued by Senior U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, marks a significant judicial rebuke of the Justice Department’s execution of the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act. In a sharp 48-page opinion, Judge Sullivan rejected government claims that broad blackouts were necessary to protect personal privacy, concluding…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA — A California real estate operator has been sentenced to 52 months (4 years and 4 months) in U.S. federal prison following a complex, multi-million-dollar real estate investment fraud. Matthew Campbell, 43, of Fresno, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston after pleading guilty to federal wire fraud charges. The prosecution followed an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office. According to court records released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, Campbell originally operated two legitimate…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2025 THE HAGUE — Defying severe financial penalties and travel bans imposed by the United States, Judge Tomoko Akane, the president of the International Criminal Court, declared on Wednesday that she would not be intimidated by Washington’s expanding sanction campaign against the tribunal, asserting firmly that “justice will prevail”. Addressing journalists during a press conference organized by the Japan National Press Club, Judge Akane rejected allegations by American officials that the court had overreached its authority. She delivered a stinging defense of international law, describing Washington’s coercive measures against judicial…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 26,2026 BENIN CITY — In a major effort to end years of severe commuter hardship and economic paralysis across the South-South region, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works, and the Edo State Government have initiated an emergency joint intervention to rehabilitate the critical Benin-Sapele-Warri and Benin-Agbor highways. The multi-agency intervention follows a direct directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda, responding to outcry over the total collapse of key transit corridors linking Edo and Delta States. A high-powered delegation carried out an on-the-spot…
By SCM Entertainment Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 NASHVILLE – In an era of fleeting social media fame and hyper-curated celebrity personas, Dolly Parton stands as a rare, universally beloved monolith of pop culture. Dressed in shimmering rhinestones, sky-high blonde wigs, and 5-inch heels, her aesthetic might suggest artificiality—yet everything underneath is pure, unvarnished authenticity. With a career spanning over six decades, Parton is far more than the “Queen of Country Music.” She is a master songwriter, a savvy business mogul, a barrier-breaking film star, and one of the most generous philanthropists of our time. From a…
By SCM I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 LAGOS, Nigeria – For decades, sending money from Lagos to other African countries was harder than sending it from Lagos to London. A Nigerian exporter selling rice to a buyer in Ghana would pay in dollars. The naira would be converted to dollars, fly through correspondent banks in New York or London, pay fees at each stop, and land as cedis days later. The cost was high, the time was slow, and Africa traded with itself through third party currencies and correspondence banking. That is the problem the Pan African Payment…
Titus Eleweke I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 AWKA, Anambra – Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has stated that becoming a lawyer does not automatically translate into wealth, influence, or professional success. Ejiofor made the submission in his Wednesday Musings titled “From Rookie to Rainmaker: The Price of Building a Reputable Legal Practice,” in which he reflected on the realities of building a successful and reputable legal career. According to him, the legal profession is not an ATM machine into which one inserts a wig and immediately…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2026 DODOMA, Tanzania — In an unprecedented political shift, Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi announced his resignation from office and complete retirement from active politics. The sudden departure of the 54-year-old politician—effective September 4—marks the first time a sitting vice president has voluntarily stepped down since the East African nation achieved independence in 1964. Dr. Nchimbi, who took office less than ten months ago following a heavily contested national election, made his decision public on Tuesday. He shared his formal resignation letter addressed to President Samia Suluhu Hassan across social media channels,…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 26, 2026 LAGOS — The Nigerian media fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the sudden passing of veteran journalist and media entrepreneur, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, founder and Managing Editor of popular web newspaper The Eagle Online. He was 56 years old. Oladipo passed away on Tuesday after suddenly falling ill while working at his office. In a display of his characteristic resilience, he reportedly drove himself to a nearby hospital for medical attention after experiencing physical discomfort. Tragically, he passed away a few hours after being admitted. His death was officially…