Author: damazah@gmail.com

By Davies Iheamnachor, Port Harcourt Youth leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-South geopolitical zone have warned against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections in the region, insisting that the polls must be free, fair and credible. The youths also pledged to mobilise 30 million votes from the region for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, in the 2027 election. The position was reached at the end of a two-day strategic leadership awakening summit organised by South-South ADC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Speaking at the event, the National Youth…

Donald Trump has rejected Iranian claims to have closed off the strait of Hormuz, as both sides battled for control over the waterway, leaving a ceasefire agreed last month at the point of collapse.US forces said they had attacked 140 targets in Iran on Saturday night and Sunday morning, after Tehran struck and disabled a container ship in the strait, whose transit it said had not been approved. In a statement, US Central Command said its targets had included missile and drone sites, naval facilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and surveillance locations.Iran on Sunday struck back with drone and missile…

While ancestral Polynesians were highly adaptable and accustomed to seasonal droughts, prolonged and severe droughts during times of high population density might mean an island could no longer support its human population. Ultimately, island survival hinges on a single critical resource: rainfall. Unlocking the climate record Until recently, scientists lacked evidence from the Tonga and Samoa region of what the climate was like in this critical migration era. But we were able to reconstruct these past changes by analyzing hydrogen isotopes—slightly different forms of the same element—preserved in ancient mud from swamps and lakes. In the tropics, the isotopic composition…

There has been an outpouring of shock and grief from across the political divide following the news of her death.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Widdecombe, describing her death as a “significant loss” as he called on people to “rise above” political differences.”My heart is breaking for her family,” said Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, describing Widdecombe as a “very fun and feisty woman”. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who visited Dartmoor to pay his respects to Widdecombe, described her as a “remarkable individual” and “the fiercest defender of free speech”. “She was an extraordinary lady,” shadow chancellor Mel…

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has ruled that lawyers serving in the Nigeria Police Force but not appointed as legal officers can only prosecute criminal cases and are barred from performing any other legal practitioners’ functions for their employer. The judge, Olufunke Anuwe, declared in her judgement delivered on Friday “that police officers who are lawyers but not appointed or upgraded as legal officers in the Nigeria Police Force are in breach of the provisions of Rule 8(1) and (2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, by their actions of functioning and…

South Africa’s Chippa United have officially welcomed Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali back to the club, bringing an end to the speculation surrounding the Nigerian international’s immediate future. The Premier Soccer League side confirmed Nwabali’s return in a brief but significant statement on Sunday evening, expressing their delight at having one of their most influential players back in the Eastern Cape ahead of the new season. “Chippa United Football Club is delighted to welcome Stanley Nwabali back to the Chilli Boys,” the statement read. “After taking time away, Stanley Nwabali returns to the Eastern Cape, and we are pleased to…

Reality TV star and entertainer, Hazel Onou, popularly known as Whitemoney, has decried the rising financial expectations in dating in Nigeria, humorously asking fans for a “referral code” to help him find a compatible partner. The 34-year-old Big Brother Naija Season Six winner shared his frustration in a video posted on his Instagram page, @whitemoney_, on Sunday. “I can’t even lie, I’m getting old. Dating culture in Nigeria is becoming something else. “Abeg, where them dey see better woman now? Una get referral code? “Any small thing, billing. Small hello, billing. How are you? Billing,” he said. The News Agency…

Young Ghanaian comedian, Abdul Latif Musah, popularly known as MUSAH, is steadily carving a niche for himself in Ghana’s digital entertainment space through his hilarious and relatable social media skits. The comic actor, who is also a digital creator and model, has built a loyal fan base across various social media platforms with his unique storytelling and engaging performances. MUSAH first gained national recognition in 2022 after winning Best Influencer and Best Actor of the Year at the Ghana TikTok Excellent Awards, a milestone that established him as one of the country’s promising young content creators. His passion for entertainment…

Linus Aleke in Abuja Troops of the 65 Battalion, Nigerian Army, have intercepted a truck conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road following actionable intelligence received from a credible source, the Service said. According to the Nigerian Army, the intelligence-led operation, conducted on July 9, 2026, resulted in the successful interception of the vehicle and the arrest of its driver. The latest seizure comes amid sustained efforts to combat drug trafficking across the country. According to statistics released by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the agency intercepted no fewer than 5,305,484.88 kilogrammes of…

The US insists the Strait of Hormuz is open, despite Iran saying it has closed the waterway amid renewed strikes.Hostilities, which flared up again this week, continued on Saturday after the US said it had struck more than 140 targets across Iran.The attacks were a response to Iranian forces hitting a ship passing through the strait, which it said was using an unapproved route. Iran has been trying to assert control over the waterway, and early on Sunday said it was closed until further notice.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also launched wide-ranging attacks on US bases and allies across…