Author: starconnect
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 19, 2026 LAGOS — In a dramatic fall from grace that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s high society, prominent Lagos socialite and businesswoman, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, widely known as “Ariket,” has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for her role in running a high-profile narcotics trafficking ring. The conviction, handed down by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, brings an abrupt end to years of court battles and exposes the illicit underbelly of an empire built on international drug smuggling and money laundering. From High-Society Glamour to Maximum Security The…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 19, 2026 ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF). The appointment takes effect on August 27, 2026. The announcement was made public on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in an official State House press statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Mr. Enitan succeeds Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who is set to step down from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 19, 2026 ABUJA – The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other participants in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding information ecosystem against the use of their platforms to spread misinformation, hate speech, inflammatory material and other content capable of undermining peaceful elections. The warning comes as political campaigns for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections commence Wednesday, August 19, 2026. In a statement released by Moses Jolayemi, the Technical Adviser to the Director-General of the NBC, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, the Commission said the commencement of political campaigns…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 19,2026 WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump said he expects to meet with North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un, later this year, signaling a potential revival of the personal summitry that defined his first-term foreign policy toward Pyongyang. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Trump defended his approach to the nuclear-armed state while criticizing previous American leaders for permitting Pyongyang’s weapons program to grow. ”I get along with him very well… and he’s going to be fine,” Mr. Trump said, referring to Mr. Kim. “As long as we have a smart president, he’s…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 19, 2026 TEHRAN — Iran earned approximately $7.5 billion in foreign currency from oil sales in the four months following recent conflict, according to reports published by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency citing figures from the Ministry of Petroleum. The total represents a 50 percent increase compared to the roughly $5 billion recorded during the same period a year earlier. All proceeds from the sales have been transferred to the Central Bank of Iran, where Iranian officials anticipate the funds will cover the government’s foreign exchange needs through late December. The…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 19,2026 MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Marking World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations issued a sharp warning over worsening conditions in Nigeria, appealing for immediate international support to combat severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks while calling for an end to attacks on frontline relief staff. Mohamed Malick Fall, the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, visited health clinics and cholera treatment centers in Maiduguri, the epicenter of the country’s prolonged humanitarian crisis. During his visits with patients, government health officials, and frontline workers, Fall emphasized the escalating risks faced by personnel providing…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 19, 2026 PORT HARCOURT — In a major bid to enhance operational efficiency and improve the welfare of its workforce, the Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has inaugurated a high-powered Committee for the Negotiation and Review of Staff Terms and Conditions of Service. The inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, marks a significant step towards creating a harmonized, structured, and modern work environment within the interventionist agency. Establishing a Standardized Work Framework Speaking during the ceremony, the Executive Director, Finance and…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 19, 2026 KANO, Nigeria — Khalifa Aminu, a young Nigerian inventor, has unveiled a prototype for AI-powered smart glasses designed to grant visually impaired individuals greater independence, offering an alternative to traditional guide dogs and walking canes. The wearable technology integrates artificial intelligence, spatial sensors, and real-time GPS tracking to help users safely navigate physical environments. Unlike standard commercial smart glasses focused on multimedia or augmented reality displays, Aminu’s device prioritizes obstacle detection, spatial awareness, and remote monitoring. ”This glass combines AI, sensors, and GPS to help the user detect things in front…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 19, 2026 GAZA STRIP — The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that its legal division will initiate criminal investigations into two separate lethal incidents involving aid workers and civilians in Gaza, while clearing commanders of criminal wrongdoing in three other high-profile attacks, including the April 2024 strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) employees. The decisions, issued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Military Advocate General Corps following reviews by the General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM), mark a rare step toward formal accountability for military personnel amid growing international…
By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 19, 2026 THE HAGUE — The governing body of the International Criminal Court issued a sharp rebuke on Wednesday, expressing “deep concern” after the United States extended its sanctions regime to target the tribunal’s president and a senior trial attorney. The Assembly of States Parties, which acts as the oversight and legislative body for the 125-nation court, condemned Washington’s latest measures as an effort to impede global justice. The statement follows financial penalties and travel restrictions enacted under Executive Order 14203 against ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye…