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Hundreds of thousands of care workers could be exempted from the home secretary’s plans to toughen up the immigration system under proposals being considered by Andy Burnham as he looks for ways to relieve pressure on the social care sector.The prime minister will give a speech next week spelling out his determination to start creating a National Care Service before the next general election as he looks to accelerate the process set up by his predecessor, Keir Starmer.In a highly personal speech, Burnham will talk about his experience of the care system through his father, Roy, who has Alzheimer’s, and…

The ocean waters around the Galápagos Islands are hot. Very hot. Observed for centuries in the Pacific by fishers, the El Niño weather phenomenon begins when the prevailing trade winds slow, allowing warm water to spread east along the coast of South America. Right now, the pattern is in full flow and will build from this year into next, likely bringing record temperatures to an already overheating world.If 2026 is not the hottest year on record, 2027 surely will be – and the Galápagos archipelago is in the centre of this climate crisis.More on the consequences of this, after this…

In the darkest days of the past 12 months, full of public vitriol and a contentious labor negotiation, Cathy Engelbert leaned on teachings and advice she had gathered over 40-plus years in corporate America. One leader who has stuck with her for more than a decade is retired four-star admiral Bill McRaven, who went viral for a 2014 commencement address at the University of Texas where he shared life lessons from his Navy SEAL training.McRaven’s most well-known piece of advice is “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” But Engelbert focused on another teaching…

In June 2024, the singer said that doctors had found a tumor in his esophagus and he would have to undergo treatment Lou Koller, the frontman for Sick of It All, has died. The singer had been battling adenocarcinoma cancer. The band announced his death on Friday in a social media post. “It’s with unbelievable sadness that we announce to our worldwide hardcore family the passing of our brother Lou Koller. The level of loss that we feel at this time is overwhelming,” wrote the group, which noted this year would have marked Sick of it All’s 40th anniversary together.…

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja  Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African leaders to develop a new financing architecture that enables the continent to mobilise its own resources, attract investment and drive sustainable development, saying Africa can no longer rely primarily on foreign aid. Obasanjo made the call while receiving the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) 20th Anniversary Special Recognition Award at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Receiving the honour, the former president expressed appreciation to ARDA for the recognition and reaffirmed his confidence in Africa’s ability to shape its own future. “The future of Africa lies in…

The House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to establish the State Security Service Research and Development Bureau, a specialised institution designed to strengthen research, innovation and technological advancement within the Department of State Services. The bill is expected to provide a legal framework for the bureau to coordinate intelligence research, develop indigenous security technologies and enhance the operational capabilities of the country’s domestic intelligence agency. Presenting the report of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence before its clause-by-clause consideration on Thursday, the Committee Chairman, Ahmed Satomi, said the proposed legislation was aimed at closing existing gaps…

Linus Aleke in Abuja Troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with the Yobe State Hunters Group, have apprehended five suspected kidnappers and recovered weapons during an intelligence-led operation at Jegalari Village in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State. Confirming the operation in a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer of Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops of the 233 Battalion, deployed at the Damaturu Military Cantonment, carried out the raid following credible intelligence on the activities of the suspected criminal elements. He disclosed that the operation led to…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Alphabet’s Waymo is exploring options to exit its Uber partnership, with the relationship between the two tech groups souring amid an intense lobbying battle over the future of robotaxis. The self-driving car company has held internal talks about ending its current deals with the ride-hailing group, which operates services in Austin and Atlanta, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Waymo has already notified Uber that it plans to enter these markets independently in January 2028 when their contract allows, the…

Salve, Victoria from Techpoint here, Here’s what I’ve got for you today: Uganda steps up telecom vandalism crackdown Zambia updates postal laws for digital economy Kenya mandates one-year warranty on phones Uganda steps up telecom vandalism crackdown Telecoms mast Uganda is turning up the heat on people who vandalise telecom infrastructure, and this time it’s backing the warnings with prison sentences. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has welcomed the conviction of two offenders in separate cases this week, saying the rulings send a strong message that damaging telecom infrastructure or breaking SIM registration rules will no longer be treated lightly.…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the application filed by the Sen. David Mark-led leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) challenging Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s plan to amend his suit. Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of ADC, had, in his suit, prayed the court to stop Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party. Gombe, in a motion filed by his lawyer, Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, had sought to amend the reliefs in his originating summons but Mark and Aregbesola raised objections. Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling, held that the objections by Mark, the…