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Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, yesterday berated the management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, andEmmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, over what it described as their alleged refusal to implement approved pension increases for retirees by Governor Seyi Makinde. This is just as it threatened to stage protests in the two institutions from August 18 if they failed to implement the governor’s directive, insisting that the action of the affected managements amounted to disobedience of constituted authority. The state Secretary of the union, Olusegun Abatan, while addressing journalists…

Twenty five states sued President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday over a wave of tariffs against dozens of countries.The US says the tariffs, which range between 10% and 12.5%, were imposed due to trading partners – including the UK, China and the European Union – failing to properly tackle forced labour.In a legal document seen by the BBC, the coalition of Democratic states said the decision was “arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law.”In response, White House spokesman Kush Desai said the US is “using its lawful authority” to address practices that burden American businesses.Desai added that any foreign countries failing…

Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister, speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Kiyoshi Ota | Via ReutersJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pushed forward with her plan to slash the consumption tax on food, which reportedly would be the first time the tax will be cut since its implementation in 1989 if she succeeds. On Tuesday, the ruling Liberal Democratic party advanced the bill through key committees, with Nikkei reporting Takaichi wants cabinet approval by this month, and for the bill to be tabled in parliament in the autumn.Takaichi…

Removable panels on the Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope provide a look at the instruments and equipment inside. Credit: LEGO Removable panels on the Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope provide a look at the instruments and equipment inside. Credit: LEGO As part of its storied history, the Hubble telescope was visited by astronauts five times, first to correct for an optical flaw and then to upgrade its capabilities. This Lego model is configured to reflect the Hubble’s current configuration, following its fifth servicing in 2009. Included in the build are the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS),…

The federal government has announced a seven-week roadmap, including a call for memoranda on how to seamlessly transition Nigeria from a unitary policing system to one that allows for state police. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, said the “Presidential Working Group on the proposed National Policing Bill has invited Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy proposals as part of efforts to establish a comprehensive legal and operational framework for state policing.” President Bola Tinubu has made the creation of state police one of his cardinal programmes to address insecurity across Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reports…

As Ian Machado Garry prepares for the biggest fight of his career, he pinpoints a change he made to his diet five years ago as being crucial to his rise in the UFC.Despite a winning debut in the promotion against Jordan Williams, behind the scenes Machado Garry had been struggling with his physical health.During weight cutting for his fights, the Irishman says he caught a number of bugs and infections because his immune system was depleted.It was then that Machado Garry decided to transition to a vegan plant-based diet – and the 28-year-old has not looked back since.After winning nine…

A representative for the US actress and singer told People magazine on Monday that the star would be taking a “well-earned break” after her appearances led to “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.The actress and singer told the audience on Monday that she wanted to speak directly to her fans because “sometimes when a story comes out that isn’t directly from me, it can get a little blown out of proportion.”She added: “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me as this love…

The leader of the opposition in the New South Wales upper house has admitted to leaking a confidential draft report from a 2023 parliamentary inquiry to a member of a group of young conservative Liberal powerbrokers now under investigation by the corruption watchdog, an inquiry has heard.On Tuesday, Damien Tudehope, the NSW shadow attorney general and Liberal leader in the upper house, gave evidence as part of the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (Icac) Operation Rosny.The inquiry is investigating allegations the Reformers solicited or accepted illegal donations to recruit or renew members to the party, a practice known as branch stacking,…

Okonjo-Iweala sees state as Nigeria’s next industrial hub Shettima calls for healthy competition among states for growth, prosperity Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Eromosele Abiodun, Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and Sylvester Idowu in Warri In a bid to attract investors, Delta State Government yesterday announced a $100 million (N136.5 billion) viability gap fund to de-risk investments in the state. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori unveiled the fund at the state’s on-going economic and investment summit in Asaba. Oborevwori said the move was a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring that agreements reached at the summit were executed without delay. Speaking at…

Oriarehu Bonny Shareholders of Fidson Healthcare Plc have approved a dividend of N1.50 per 50 kobo ordinary share, amounting to N3.6 billion, at the company’s 27th Annual General Meeting held virtually. In a statement, it was noted that the approval comes against the backdrop of a year in which the Company achieved key milestones in its growth trajectory.  The statement remarked that the approval it also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the smooth transition of leadership at both the Board and Management level, a transition shareholders acknowledged as a testament to Fidson’s strong corporate governance culture and succession planning. …