Author: damazah@gmail.com

The UK government has defended its seizure of a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the English Channel, after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to “respond in kind”.The Smyrtos has been anchored off Weymouth after Royal Marines Commandos intercepted and boarded the vessel in a first-of-its-kind operation to disrupt the sanctioned tanker in June.The vessel’s captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions, accused of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil.Overseeing Russian navy drills in the Pacific Ocean, Putin scolded Western countries for “seizing our vessels”, branding such action “nothing other than piracy and banditry”.Western…

Alexander Ionides, a consultant eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London says if you have damaged your eyes, the symptoms will start to come on within a few hours.”It’s a central spot in the visual field, whatever you’re looking at, if you’re looking at someone’s face, or the writing of the page or the clock on the wall, you may have a distortion.”It’ll be a grey or a yellow or a dark spot right in the very centre of your vision.”It doesn’t hurt, there’s no pain like what a burn might be considered to be like, and it can…

Some of Latin America’s greatest arthouse directors –Celina Murga, Mariana Rondón, Santiago Loza, Matias Mariani and Christopher Murray– feature among 15 projects set to be unveiled at San Sebastián’s 2026 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, the Spanish festival’s biggest industry centerpiece. The selection also frames hot emerging director such as Ernesto Martínez (The Devil Smokes”) and first features which are sure to create interest. One case in point: Selma Cervantes’ “Mourning Sound,” set up at Teorema, founded by Michel Franco and partner Eréndira Núñez Larios and behind award-winning films such as “Memory,” “New Order,” “Heroic,” “Flies,” “Chronic” and “From Afar.” Galvanised…

The Nigeria Customs Service has dismissed allegations of increased smuggling, revenue leakage, recruitment impropriety and manipulation of succession within the service, describing them as a misrepresentation of its operations and administrative processes. The service’s National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this in a response released on Thursday to an investigative report published by a media outlet (not PUNCH) on August 7, 2026. The report had alleged intensified smuggling along the Seme, Idiroko, Ilaro, Ipokia and Igbeti-Kishi corridors, as well as manipulation of the 846 valuation code at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and PTML Area Commands. Maiwada…

The police in Anambra State say they have uncovered an alleged plot by four men to murder a Nigerian man and then take over his landed properties in the state. Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesman in the state, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the incident happened in Ukwulu, a community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state. The spokesman said the police uncovered the alleged murder plot following “strategic intelligence emplacement” of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nnanna Oji. “The breakthrough was recorded on the evening of 12th…

The University of Abuja (UniAbuja), now Yakubu Gowon University, has launched Africa’s first Enterprise University, an initiative designed to transform university education by moving students beyond classroom learning into practical entrepreneurship, innovation, research commercialisation and enterprise creation. Launched under the theme ‘Innovative Agriculture as a Tool for Sustainable Enterprise Growth and Youth Empowerment’, the programme was organised through the University of Abuja’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Students Mentorship (CEDSM) and brought together representatives of government, development partners, academia and the private sector. Speaking at the event, Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, Professor and Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, described the initiative as…

Doorbells have evolved. Today, they watch us as we approach, let the people inside the home know we’re coming sooner than our finger can hit the button, and give them a good look at our faces before they open the door. They’re essentially security cameras with a chime function.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.If you haven’t already installed one of these handy tools, there’s a huge array available. Choosing the best video doorbell can be a bewildering task, with various factors to consider, including how much of…

Businesses could face costs of up to £2.9bn a year because of a crackdown on zero hours contracts, according to the government’s own analysis.Labour’s employment reforms are set to cut the number of hours staff can work before they must be offered guaranteed time.Official analysis released on Wednesday showed it could cost employers between £350m and £2.9bn, based on the eventual threshold of hours the policy impacts.Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith said the reforms would ensure workers are “fairly paid” but business groups said the cost to employers was “disproportionate” compared to how much it would help workers.Government analysis said…

Reykjavík, Iceland, falls into complete darkness as the solar eclipse reaches totality on 12 August Continue reading…

Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu has defended his team selection and tactical decisions ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off against South Africa. Speaking alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade at the pre-match press conference, Madugu responded to criticism of his squad rotation and tactics following Nigeria’s disappointing quarter-final exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The coach said his decisions were always aimed at helping Nigeria win. “The ones that I win, you say it is the players that are good, but when we lose now, it is the coach that is bad,” Madugu said. “Every…