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Jim Deddes, Tenzing Woing and Somali-American actor Barkhad Abdi, known for his Oscar-nominated role in “Captain Phillips,” lead the cast of “Maalstroom,” which has just wrapped. Variety has been given the first-look image. The Dutch-Belgian co-production was written and directed by Teddy Cherim, and produced by Marten van Warmerdam. In “Maalstroom,” a struggling barge skipper Jan takes on an urgent shipment of sand from Dunkirk to Rotterdam in a last attempt to save himself from financial ruin. Shortly after setting off, he discovers 11 refugees hidden in his cargo. As Jan races north along the canals, his unwanted passengers force…

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame Less than a year after assuming office as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke has strategically leveraged international partnerships and defence diplomacy to significantly enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), resulting in improved mission readiness, stronger regional cooperation and increased pressure on terrorists, bandits, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements threatening national security.  Guided by his command philosophy of enhancing and sustaining a highly motivated, professional and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive air power effects in synergy with surface forces, the CAS has pursued…

By Folarin Kehinde ABUJA — The National Population Commission, NPC, has raised the alarm that only about 40 per cent of births in Nigeria are currently registered, despite more than five million children being born in the country annually. The Commission disclosed this in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, CRVS, Day. Speaking at the event, Chairman of the NPC, Dr Aminu Yusuf, said the low registration coverage, particularly of births and deaths, remained a major challenge to Nigeria’s efforts to build a comprehensive and reliable national population database. Yusuf, however, said the…

*NMDPRA: Infrastructure, capital, data critical to price benchmark *Lokpobiri: Deregulation has unlocked investment in Nigeria’s downstream *Eyesan says rising refining capacity, oil output good for market integration *Verheijen: Why refining capacity alone can’t guarantee energy security *S&P advocates more liquidity to make regional benchmarks work Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja West African petroleum regulators Tuesday intensified efforts to establish an integrated regional refined petroleum products market capable of supporting credible pricing benchmarks and positioning the sub-region as a major fuel trading hub. The push formed the central focus of the 2026 West African Refined Fuel Market (WAFRFM) Conference, organised by the…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The head of one of HSBC’s most important businesses has resigned, as the bank continues to overhaul its global operations and the industry grapples with uncertainties around an insurance tax crackdown by Beijing.Edward Moncreiffe, global chief executive of HSBC’s insurance arm, has left after more than two years in his current role and 20 years at the bank, according to a person familiar with the matter.The move comes as Europe’s largest bank presses on with an overhaul of its global portfolio, including…

AI-driven productivity gains enable more planet-heating pollution from fossil fuels than they avoid from renewables, a study has found.Researchers modelled the technical potential for AI to boost clean power generation along with projections for how it can help produce coal, oil and gas. Across 64 scenarios, they found net yearly carbon pollution rose by 0.47-1.8 gigatonnes, or about 1-5% of the energy sector’s annual emissions.The study is the first to quantify the climate impact of AI across the full power sector. Previous research has explored its indirect climate benefits – such as reducing renewable downtime and optimising electricity grids –…

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic primary race for Senate in Minnesota on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, defeating a centrist congresswoman in the latest victory for the party’s left wing.Ms. Flanagan, 46, campaigned as an anti-establishment fighter, calling for universal health care and a higher federal minimum wage. She prevailed over Representative Angie Craig, a moderate Democrat from a swing district, leading by nearly 20 percentage points with more than 95 percent of votes counted.In her victory speech, Ms. Flanagan signaled that she would focus on the rising cost of living in the general election, and reveled…

Somalian referee Omar Artan will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday, completing a remarkable turnaround after he was denied the opportunity to officiate at the World Cup following his refusal of entry into the United States. The 34-year-old referee was thrust into the international spotlight shortly before the World Cup began in June after he was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport, despite being among the referees selected by FIFA for the tournament. The incident ended his hopes of officiating at the global showpiece and sparked widespread debate. “It…

Jeremy FowlerCloseJeremy Fowlersenior NFL national reporterJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com., Dan GrazianoCloseDan Grazianosenior NFL national reporterDan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New…

The 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival will have Oscar royalty in the house on Wednesday evening – well, on its big 8,000-seat square, the Piazza Grande, to be precise. It will bestow its Vision Award, presented by Ticinomoda, upon Rick Baker, a seven-time Oscar winner, a record in the makeup and hairstyling field, and the creator behind some of cinema’s most fantastical creatures. While at the Swiss festival, Baker is also presenting two key films from his career, namely An American Werewolf in London (1981) and The Nutty Professor (1996). The former marked his first Oscar win in 1981, followed by Harry and the Hendersons…