Author: damazah@gmail.com

Lanre Olagunju When news broke that the children abducted from the Oriire Community had been rescued, it brought a collective sigh of relief across the country. For their families, the nightmare had finally ended. For the security personnel involved, it was the successful conclusion of what must have been days of painstaking intelligence gathering, operational planning and immense personal risk.** But as the celebrations subside, perhaps the more important question is not simply how the children were rescued, but what the operation tells us about the future of security in Nigeria. For years, insecurity was viewed through institutional silos, with…

With renewed urgency and a shared commitment to reshape Africa’s development future, the fifth edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 2026), co-convened by Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Lagos State Government, brought together over 2,000 leaders, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, development partners, business executives, innovators, and young changemakers from across Africa and beyond to drive bold conversations, create transformative partnerships, and unlock the financing needed to build resilient and inclusive economies. Held under the theme, “Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies,”the summit reinforced…

Kyiv, Ukraine – One of the 70 missiles Russia fired at Ukraine in an hours-long attack early on June 15 exploded above Mariya Prokopchuk’s apartment building.It shook the neighbourhood in eastern Kyiv with an ear-splitting boom, but most of its debris fell into a nearby algae-blanketed pond, startling a dozen ducks.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe shockwave shattered hundreds of windows in the area, blowing razor-sharp shards of glass or plastic and dust clouds into the apartments.“Three more centimetres, and [the shards] would have pierced my skull,” the doctor told Al Jazeera.She said she “felt no fear” about…

SK Hynix Inc. signage at the company’s office in Seongnam, South Korea, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSemiconductor shares tumbled Tuesday, extending a rout in chipmakers after another weak session on Wall Street.SK Hynix plunged 14.65% at the close, while Samsung Electronics fell more than 13%. Other AI-linked names also saw heavy selling, with Samsung SDI dropping 11.37%, LG Innotek fell 16.29%, Seoul Semiconductor falling 8.78% and LG Chem losing 7.5% at the end of its trading day.Japan’s chip names also declined. Tokyo Electron dropped 10.96% at the close, Advantest slid over 10%, while…

The long-awaited trial between the social media company Meta and the state of Tennessee began proceedings on Monday. Attorneys for Tennessee told a jury in Nashville that Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, disregarded internal research about its platform’s impact on teenagers, while the company sought ⁠to maximize profit from those young users.During ⁠opening statements in a seven-week ​trial in state court, the state’s lawyers said Meta researchers repeatedly flagged teenagers’ compulsive use of the platform – leading to eating disorders, depression and self-harm. But despite those warnings, Meta did not ⁠disable features such as autoplay, notifications and infinite scroll…

Group B of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations burst into life on Monday as Tanzania pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets so far with a dramatic 2-1 victory over powerhouse South Africa, while Côte d’Ivoire announced their return to the continental stage with an emphatic 4-1 triumph over Burkina Faso. The two results leave Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire level on three points after the opening round of matches, setting up a fascinating battle for the quarter-final places. Tanzania shock South Africa Tanzania produced a disciplined and spirited display to claim a historic 2-1 victory over South…

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has intensified following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup, with England captain Harry Kane leading the latest power rankings ahead of the official shortlist announcement. The award will recognise the best-performing footballer over the 2025-26 European season, with performances from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, taken into account. France Football is expected to unveil the 30-man shortlist in August before the winner is crowned at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October. Spain’s World Cup triumph has reshaped the rankings, with several of its stars climbing into contention. However, Kane remains…

It’s finally here, and judging by initial reactions, it’s going to be a monster hit. Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day held its glitzy, star-packed world premiere at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Monday night, and not long after the screening ended, the first reactions began to flood social media. Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Brand New Day is the fourth standalone Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — as well as the 38th film overall in the MCU — and picks up the action after 2021’s near $2 billion-grossing Spider-Man: No Way Home. The films once again are…

The Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) Dialogue between Nigerian and the United Kingdom, held recently in Abuja, undoubtedly underscored the growing breadth of cooperation between both countries in addressing increasingly complex security challenges. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that beyond the traditional military collaboration, the dialogue produced commitments spanning counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber resilience, human rights, illicit finance and regional stability, reflecting a shared recognition that today’s security threats require coordinated, multi-sectoral responses Undoubtedly, the security relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom has evolved far beyond conventional military cooperation. Why is that you may wonder?  Over the years, what began as a defence partnership…

• Pledges support for widows and spouses of frontline troops Linus Aleke in Abuja The federal government has announced plans for a new pay rise for military personnel as part of ongoing efforts to improve their welfare, boost morale, and strengthen the country’s security architecture. The government said the anticipated salary adjustment was intended to recognise the sacrifices and dedication of members of the armed forces while enhancing their motivation and overall well-being. Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), disclosed the plan while delivering the keynote address at a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives…