Author: starconnect
By SCM International Desk I Tuesday, August 18, 2026 HARARE, Zimbabwe — At least 92 people have been confirmed dead after an overloaded ferry capsized in Zimbabwe, marking one of the nation’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent memory. Local authorities reported that the vessel was carrying passengers far beyond its legal capacity when it lost stability and overturned. Search and rescue operations were launched immediately following the incident, but officials fear the death toll could rise as emergency crews continue to search the surrounding waters for missing passengers. Severe overcrowding is believed to be the direct cause of the…
By SCM International Desk I Tuesday, August 18, 2026 KYIV, Ukraine — As the threat of winter approaches, Ukrainian officials are launching a race against time to fortify the nation’s fragile power infrastructure, expanding equipment stockpiles while quietly courting foreign allies for critical financial, technical, and security guarantees. In an internal executive update detailing the state of the nation’s energy network, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal outlined both immediate restoration efforts and long-term strategic plans designed to prepare the country for the upcoming heating season. The briefing underscored the daily strain placed on Ukrainian…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, August 18, 2026 In a major leap toward modernising national digital infrastructure and eliminating decades-long addressing inefficiencies, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced October 1, 2026, as the official go-live date for the nation’s new Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System. Disclosed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, [Dr. Bosun Tijani](https://technologytimes.ng/nigeria-to-launch-digital-alphanumeric-postcode/), the landmark initiative will assign every home, business premises, and public building nationwide a unique, precise, and digital postcode. Built for a modern digital economy, the new infrastructure moves Nigeria away from informal, landmark-based navigation toward a machine-readable geospatial…
By SCM International Desk I Tuesday, August 18, 2026 TRIPOLI, Libya — On paper, the agreement offered a rare direct pathway for humanitarian assistance to reach civilians in the Gaza Strip. Libyan authorities had formally agreed to allow a volunteer aid convoy to pass through the country’s territory, providing safe passage for humanitarian workers transporting food, medical supplies, and relief items bound for the blockaded enclave. Instead, according to a comprehensive legal report released on Tuesday, the mission ended in arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, military violence, and the complete dismantling of the humanitarian operation. The report details…
By SCM International Desk I Tuesday, August 18, 2026 OAKLAND, Calif. — Inside a federal courtroom in Oakland, California, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms is facing what legal scholars are calling the largest consumer protection case in American history. The trial, which kicked off on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, pits the tech giant against a coalition of state attorneys general. The core charge: that Meta deliberately designed its flagship platforms, Instagram and Facebook, with psychologically addictive features to hook young users, systematically trading the mental health of…
By SCM International Desk I Tuesday, August 18, 2026 TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on state television that Washington’s multi-pronged strategy to subdue Iran had completely collapsed, asserting that every American attempt to force Tehran’s capitulation had ended in failure. Speaking in an interview broadcast on state-run broadcaster IRIB, Mr. Araghchi leveled a direct critique against the United States. He stated that Washington initially demanded “unconditional surrender” from Tehran before pivoting to covert operations, internal destabilization, and attempt at regime change. ”The United States has failed at every attempt to bring Iran to its knees,” Mr.…
By Emmanuel Ukudolo I Tuesday, August 18, 2026 PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched a strategic artificial intelligence capacity-building program designed to transition young people in the region from traditional job seekers into technology-driven entrepreneurs. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the NDDC Artificial Intelligence Training and Capacity Building for Innovative Opportunities in Port Harcourt, NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku urged participants to look past physical geography and tap into global digital markets. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Obegha Oworibo, Ogbuku delivered a keynote address titled “From the Creeks…
By SCM International Desk I Aug. 18, 2026 CARACAS, Venezuela — A moderate 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Venezuela in the early morning hours on Tuesday, rattling residents, waking coastal communities, and sending localized tremors across the Caribbean region. According to seismic monitoring authorities, the tremor occurred at a shallow depth, which amplified the shaking felt on the surface despite its moderate energy yield. While there were no immediate reports of widespread structural destruction, severe casualties, or regional tsunami threats, the event triggered brief panic across coastal settlements as security cameras captured the sudden, violent…
By Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, August 18, 2026 ABUJA – SHE WAS once the wild child of African cinema—a glamorous screen siren whose tempestuous personal life and fiery outbursts kept millions of film fans spellbound across the globe. Now, former Nollywood megastar Tonto Dikeh has swapped movie sets for the pulpit, launching a plush £150,000 (₦300 million) prayer ministry in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. But her dramatic transformation into “Evangelist Tonto” has provoked an almighty row among the nation’s religious elite. Dikeh, 40, unveiled the high-tech New Wine Prophetic Tabernacle (NWPT) in the exclusive Jabi district, billing it as…
By SCM Tech Correspondent I Tuesday, ABUJA — In a decisive step toward solidifying Nigeria’s position as West Africa’s premier technology hub, the Federal Government has unveiled the National Digital Cloud Policy, a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to attract $750 million in private investment into cloud computing and data infrastructure within 24 months. Unveiled by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ’Bosun Tijani, the framework aims to transition Nigeria from a consumer of offshore cloud infrastructure to a exporter of digital services across the African continent. Key Pillars of the Cloud Framework Speaking on the framework,…