Author: starconnect
By Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, Sept 14, 2026 AWKA — Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential hopeful, Mr. Peter Obi, has issued a fiery rebuttal to claims by the Anambra State Government that the current administration is still servicing debt liabilities incurred during his tenure. Vigorously defending his financial stewardship, Obi staked his entire political future on his record, daring anyone to prove he left government with unpaid debts or abandon his political ambitions altogether. “I left office as Governor nearly 13 years ago,” Obi stated. “On the day I left office, I was not owing any…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, Sept 14, 2026 A VULNERABLE child has been rescued from the streets in a heart-wrenching discovery that highlights a dark and growing crisis. The youngster was picked up earlier today, September 14, in the Galadima area of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Officers stepped in to safeguard the child, but the identity of the boy or girl—and the whereabouts of their family—remains a total mystery. Police bosses have issued an urgent plea to the public to help reunite the innocent youngster with loved ones, while warning that child abandonment in local communities is…
Admin I Monday, Sept 14, 2026 WASHINGTON — Political scientist and outspoken scholar Norman Finkelstein triggered sharp pushback after asserting in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that allegations of sexual violence committed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, were “totally made up” and supported by “non-existent” evidence. During the broadcast, Finkelstein questioned the official reports compiled by Israeli task forces and human rights observers. Pointing to claims that authorities had collected tens of thousands of digital files, he argued that despite the abundance of photographic data, no visual proof directly verified acts of rape by militants.…
Admin I Monday, Sept 14, 2026 ABUJA – The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep sadness at news of the death of Coach Christopher Alor, who was a member of the technical crew of the Nigeria U20 women national team, Falconets, to the 2010 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Germany. The respected tactician passed on at the age of 75. Alor was in the crew that tactically and technically prepared the team for the draws with England and Mexico, and defeat of Japan in the group phase, before the famous penalty-shootout defeat of United States of…
Admin I Monday, Sept 14, 2026 ABUJA – The West African Football Union Zone B has selected 14 referees from the regional ‘Young Talents’ refereeing course that took place in Ghana six months ago, to officiate at the 2nd edition of the WAFU-B U17 Girls Tournament taking place in Yamoussoukro, 15th – 28th September. This initiative marks an important step in motivating, encouraging and inspiring the young arbiters who were at the course that took place in Ghanaian Centre of Excellence in Prampram, 21st – 25th March 2026. Two referees were selected from each of the seven countries within…
Admin I Monday, Sept 14, 2026 ABUJA – A total of 25 top-flight coaches in Nigeria have commenced intensive theoretical and practical classes in a two-module CAF A-License coaching course that kicked off in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Monday. The course marks Nigeria’s return to the CAF A-License Convention, and is the first time that the country will organise the CAF-A course in the past nine years. However, the NFF had continued to organise coaching courses in the D-License, C-License and B-License categories, including an exclusive CAF C-License course for women that involved three modules over…
By SCM International Desk I Monday, Sept 14, 2026 KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to halt Ukraine’s strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, proposing a mutual moratorium on attacks targeting food, power, and essential civilian supply networks. The proposal, which aims to safeguard vital infrastructure, comes as daily long-range strikes continue to damage power grids, port logistics, and agricultural supply chains across the region. Key Details of Zelenskyy’s Proposal Scope of Protection: Zelenskyy outlined protections covering energy facilities, power grids, maritime ports, logistics corridors, food warehouses, and pharmaceutical distribution centers. Reciprocal Commitment: If Ukraine’s partners…
Admin I Monday, Sept 14, 2026 LAGOS, NIGERIA — Interswitch Group, Africa’s integrated payments and commerce company, is set to return as the headline sponsor of the Inspire Africa Conference, marking the third edition of the conference supported by the company. The partnership, which has spanned almost 3 years since 2023, underscores Interswitch’s continued commitment to platforms that bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, product leaders and other relevant stakeholders to exchange ideas, build capabilities and explore solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges. This year’s conference, themed “From Problems to Products,” is scheduled to hold from 14th to 15th October 2026 at…
By BLAISE UDUNZE I Monday, Sept. 14, 2026 LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s economic story is increasingly beginning to resemble a tale of two countries, which is a troubling contradiction at the heart of Nigeria’s economic story. The tale is that on one side of the country, the numbers on the government’s economic dashboard are improving as being celebrated. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.43 percent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 4.23 percent in the corresponding period of 2025 and 3.89 percent in the first quarter. With this recent development, the Federal Government is now…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, Sept 14, 2026 ABUJA — In a major push to revive commercial exchanges to historic peaks, Nigeria and India have agreed to deepen their strategic economic relationship, with New Delhi signaling a strong interest in resuming large-scale purchases of Nigerian crude oil. The diplomatic and economic commitment was solidified during a high-level bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the just-concluded BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. Bilateral trade between Africa’s largest economy and India reached an all-time high of $14.95 billion during…