Author: starconnect
Supports Oyedokun’s Family With ₦1m, Schorlarships Admin I Wednesday, June 10, 2026 OYO, Ibadan – The Director of City Boys Movement in Oyo State, Hon. Olufemi Onireti, has donated medical equipment and other healthcare supplies to the people of Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The donation was made during a condolence and solidarity visit to the community following the recent abduction of teachers and pupils in the area. Speaking during the visit, Onireti expressed optimism that the kidnapped teachers and pupils would soon regain their freedom, noting that government authorities were actively working to…
By SCM Staff Writer BRUSSELS — In its ongoing effort to choke off the economic lifelines fueling Moscow’s war machine, the European Union has turned its crosshairs toward an unexpected battlefield: the seafood aisle. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the bloc’s 21st sanctions package against Russia. While the sweeping proposal targets familiar economic pain points—such as clamping down on Russia’s maritime “shadow fleet,” placing new restrictions on cryptocurrency platforms, and cutting off 31 additional Russian banks from transaction networks—it also crosses a major threshold by targeting one of the last remaining unsanctioned arenas of trade:…
By SCM Business Correspondent NEW YORK — Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has drawn more than $250 billion in investor demand for its highly anticipated stock market debut, according to people familiar with the matter. The staggering wave of interest leaves the offering nearly four times oversubscribed, positioning the rocket and satellite enterprise for the largest-ever initial public offering (IPO) on record. The massive capital influx completely dwarfs the $75 billion the aerospace firm initially sought to raise by selling roughly 555.6 million Class A shares at $135 apiece. Wall Street bankers and institutional investors say the…
Defiant Okonkwo threatens to open Cankerworms in Court By Our Political Correspondent LAGOS, Nigeria – The fragile peace within Nigeria’s opposition political landscape shattered completely this week as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, initiated a massive ₦5 billion libel action against his former close ally and campaign spokesperson, Dr. Kenneth Okonkwo. The legal salvo, delivered via a blistering pre-action notice from Obi’s legal team, marks a dramatic falling-out between the former Governor of Anambra State and the veteran Nollywood actor-turned-politician. The two were once inseparable faces of the alternative political movement that…
By SCM Staff Writer WASHINGTON — In a characteristic burst of digital diplomacy and martial bravado, President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Iran’s military capabilities have been thoroughly shattered, claiming that a peace deal once favorable to Tehran is now slipping away. Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Mr. Trump asserted that the Islamic Republic’s conventional armed forces had essentially dissolved under the pressure of ongoing regional conflict. ”Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore – They have been completely defeated,” Mr.…
Admin I Wednesday, June 10, 2026 LAGOS, Nigeria- Stanbic IBTC reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators and creative thinkers at its annual Blue Kids Day event. Held in partnership with the National Theatre, this year’s ToonTopia-themed edition, spotlighting Nigeria’s second Children’s Animation Festival, delivered a vibrant and immersive experience designed to spark creativity, inspire imagination, and promote learning among young minds. This was not just an event, it was a launchpad for discovery, expression, and boundless potential. Launched in 2022, Stanbic IBTC Blue Kids Day has grown into a dynamic platform dedicated to enriching…
LAGOS, Nigeria – Interswitch Group, Africa’s first homegrown technology unicorn and the continent’s foremost digital payments infrastructure company, participated as AI and Innovation Pavilion co-chair and corporate thought-leader at the 3rd Invest in Lagos Summit, held at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, from June 8–9, 2026. The high-profile summit, convened under the auspices of the Lagos State Government and themed ‘Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa’ expectedly drew a distinguished gathering of public and private sector leaders from across Africa and the global investment community, including His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of…
By SCM Correspondent ROME — Italian prosecutors have placed Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, under formal criminal investigation following allegations of kidnapping and torture involving international humanitarian activists detained during a recent naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The investigation, led by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office, has been quietly underway for “several weeks,” according to Italian judicial sources and first reported by the Italian news agency ANSA. The legal probe marks an escalation in European judicial scrutiny over Israeli officials’ conduct, building on an initial inquiry opened after the interception of the “Global Sumud”…
By SCM Staff Writer JERUSALEM — In an escalation of wartime rhetoric that has further strained the internal dynamics of Israel’s ruling coalition, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on the government to arrest and imprison Lebanese women and children as a mechanism to deter Hezbollah. The remarks, made during a closed-door meeting of Israel’s high-level political-security cabinet and first reported by the Israeli daily newspaper Maariv, drew immediate attention to the broadening fissures within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government regarding the rules of engagement and the strategic scope of the military campaign in Lebanon. According to leaks confirmed by…
Citing a surge in settler violence and plans to demolish a Bedouin village, MPs urge the Foreign Office to align with international court rulings By SCM Foreign Desk LONDON — In a significant escalation of internal party tensions over Middle East policy, nearly 140 British Labour lawmakers have signed a letter demanding that the United Kingdom government ban all trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The coordinated push, led by prominent members of the governing Labour Party, represents a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cautious diplomatic approach. It underscores growing outrage within the United…