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By Juliet Ebirim Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UTM Offshore Limited, Julius Rone has carved a distinct path in Nigeria’s energy sector. At 52, the businessman has spent decades turning the country’s vast, under leveraged gas reserves into a platform for serious commercial enterprise. The result is a career that has made him one of the most recognized figures in Nigerian energy and earned him a nickname, “King of Gas”. Rone built his reputation the hard way, distinguishing himself through operational discipline, long-term thinking and an ability to read the market. At 52, colleagues describe him as…

A bandit attack in Zamfara State has displaced 484 people, including 271 children, as the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Nigeria’s North-west approaches 800,000, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The figures are contained in Flash Report 291, released by the IOM on 19 June, following a rapid assessment of the 15 June attack on Gamo Gidan Bita in Birnin Magaji Ward of Gummi Local Government Area, Zamfara State. According to the report, residents fled to Ubandawaki in neighbouring Magaji Gari Ward after armed bandits attacked the community. The IOM said it activated its Displacement Tracking…

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has summoned the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Ikechukwu Dozie, over his appointment of 24 aides less than a week after assuming office. In a letter dated 25 June and signed by the Acting Director of University Education, Kareem Lateef, the minister described the appointments as irregular and directed Mr Dozie to withdraw them in line with extant regulations governing appointments in federal universities. The minister also invited the vice-chancellor to the ministry on 29 June for discussions on the appointments and other issues relating to institutional governance, administrative accountability,…

The US military has conducted strikes on Iranian targets after President Donald Trump accused Iran of a “foolish violation” of its truce following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it had struck missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions on Friday, in response to a drone attack on a cargo ship on Thursday which halted a planned evacuation of sailors stuck in the region. Tehran said the cargo ship was attacked because it was using an unauthorised route to transit through the Gulf waterway.After the US strikes, Iran in…

…Shelve reform till after 2027 election, Obi tells Tinubu Political parties and other Nigerians have expressed sharply contrasting views over the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police, with supporters hailing it as a landmark solution to insecurity while critics warn it could become a dangerous political tool. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed the bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (SB.1055).” The…

Sveiki, Victoria from Techpoint here, Here’s what I’ve got for you today: Kenya changes tax filing deadlines under Finance Act 2026 Tala to cut 10% of Kenya’s workforce Vodacom bundles Amazon Prime for South African customers Kenya changes tax filing deadlines under Finance Act 2026 Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Kenya has officially changed how tax returns will be filed after President William Ruto signed the Finance Act 2026 into law on June 23. The biggest change is that salaried employees and other individual taxpayers will no longer wait until June 30 to file their annual returns. Starting in…

Seattle, United States – There were goals. There were jubilations and heartbreak. There were raucous crowds, confrontations and comradery. There were protests, politics and Palestinian flags. There was a missed penalty. There was joy. There was disappointment.Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran in Seattle at the FIFA World Cup on Friday had it all. Iran is still in contention to qualify as one of the eight best third-place finishers, depending on Saturday’s results.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listWild celebrations among the Egyptian fans erupted outside the stadium after the match, as the country proceeded past the World Cup group…

A sample is collected from a rock art figure in Tebellín, SpainABAMIA ARKEOS-ALBERTO MARTÍNEZ VILLA Ancient human DNA can survive on cave walls and rock art for thousands of years, a study of caves in Spain and Portugal has found. This opens up new ways to understand prehistoric humans and answer questions about whether Neanderthals painted on cave walls too. “It’s the start of a new era,” says Genevieve von Petzinger at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. “This gives us the potential to meet the actual artists, the individual who did this art. It’s extraordinary.” Between 2022 and…

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes the Atlas Lions have earned the right to dream of lifting the 2026 FIFA World Cup after sealing qualification for the Round of 32 with a dramatic 4-2 comeback victory over Haiti. The North Africans twice came from behind in a pulsating Group C finale in Atlanta before producing a dominant second-half display to complete the turnaround and finish the group stage unbeaten on seven points. Morocco ended level on points with Brazil but narrowly missed out on top spot on goal difference, meaning they will face the Netherlands in the round of 32.…

Warner Bros. Animation, hugely active this year at Annecy, unveiled Friday at Annecy a new “Dark Shadows” animated series,  confirming the studio’s push in adult animation into other genres beyond adult comedy.  Reimagining the 1960s cult TV series, the show is in very early development stages, with Lisa Holdsworth, creator of Channel 4’s “Dreamers” and a writer on Sky’s “Discovery of Witches” and BBC’s “Call the Midwife,” set as executive producer and showrunner. Cathy Curtis, Tracy Curtis, Eric Homan, Kevin Kolde and Fred Seibert serve as executive producers.  The announcement was made Friday at a WBA adult animation showcase at…