Author: damazah@gmail.com

The streets of Calabar came alive on Saturday as a mammoth crowd of youths, women, elders and political supporters poured into the city for a solidarity walk organised by the Evidence Group, signalling an intensifying grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election. From the early hours of the day, the atmosphere around the procession was charged with music, colourful displays, dancing and political chants, as participants marched through major routes of the Cross River capital in an emphatic show of solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu. At intervals, the crowd erupted into chants of…

Runners gathered in South Africa to pay tribute to Elizabeth Moselakgomo after her body was found east of Johannesburg. She is one of nine women found in the Kempton Park area, since July.The jogger, known as “Tsontso”, went missing during a routine run.Runners organised an event in city of Centurion to honour her and defend women’s right to run freely.”This is for her – we just want to live and go running and come back home without having to think that it may be one of us”, said Nonhle Mpohlo.In Cape Town, people gathered in a vigil to honour the…

The National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) appointed Arese Ugwu as its new Acting Managing Director, after serving a five-year regulatory suspension from capital market activities. The over-the-counter market and self-regulatory organisation disclosed the appointment in an X post on Thursday, noting that it is subject to the approval of the Securities & Exchange Commission. “The Board of Directors of NASD PLC has appointed Ms. Arese Ugwu as Acting Managing Director. Her appointment to act in this capacity is subject to the approval of the Securities & Exchange Commission,” NASD said. Ms Ugwu succeeds the immediate past Managing Director, Eguarekhide…

When reporters asked Donald Trump this week if he supported calls to slow down the development of artificial intelligence out of growing fears for cybersecurity, public safety and the fate of humanity, he said no. His argument: China.“We’re leading China in AI,” Trump said. “We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to ⁠keep it that way, because whoever wins AI, wins.”Trump was echoing a message the AI industry has put out for years. The US is in a heated technological race with China, companies including Anthropic and OpenAI have argued, and any regulation that would…

British politics is increasingly being funded by individual billionaires with a wave of mega-donations having flooded into UK political parties over the past two parliaments.A total £179m has been donated by wealthy individuals since 2019, research reveals.The figures from the IPPR thinktank show how big money is playing an ever more influential role in Westminster, with a particular rise in mega-donations of more than £1m.The research found that contributions from individual donors has accelerated since the Brexit party got £10m from the Thailand-based billionaire Christopher Harborne and the Liberal Democrats were given £8m by David Sainsbury, the supermarket tycoon, who…

The uncrewed Spectrum launch vehicle is the first commercial rocket to be sent into orbit from continental Europe.Credit: Isar AerospaceMomentum is growing for Europe to develop its own sovereign space capabilities, including satellite launches and human spaceflight, and reduce its dependence on the United States as divisions grow across the Atlantic.“Our security on Earth increasingly depends on our security in space,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said at the inaugural International Space Summit in Paris, France on 10 September. “Europe must act together, invest at scale, and turn our market into a competitive advantage.”Europe currently relies on NASA…

Amid the spat between the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the APC governors over Mr Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, has commended the minister for the infrastructure across Rivers during his (Wike’s) tenure as governor of the state. Mr Wike was the governor of Rivers from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023. Mr Nwuche, chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission, praised the minister during a thank-you visit by the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers, Solomon Ochoma, to his hometown of Ochigba Community on 12 September. The…

Fidson Healthcare Plc has mobilised its staff and volunteers to clean communities in Lagos as part of activities to mark World Cleanup Day 2026. The exercise, held on Saturday morning, took place around Obanikoro, Fadeyi, Palmgrove and Shomolu axis of Lagos state, with employees of the company and volunteers participating in the cleanup and environmental hygiene advocacy. The initiative, tagged Project Clean Sweep 2026, was organised by Fidson in partnership with the African Cleanup Initiative (ACI) as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiative. The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) also participated in the exercise, with its…

Omolabake Fasogbon African businesses face rising costs, production delays and shortages as geopolitical tensions, and changing trade policies expose weaknesses in supply chains, stakeholders have said. They spoke recently at the second African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) conference in Lagos, themed, “From Fragility to Foresight: Securing Africa’s Supply Chains amid Geopolitical Shifts.” Director General, ACSC, Dr. Obiora Madu, said businesses could no longer rely solely on efficiency and urged companies to diversify suppliers and identify vulnerabilities across their supply chains. “Efficiency is not enough any longer because disruption will kill you completely,” Madu said. He said companies should maintain…

Chinese space company reveals Raptor 3-like engine design. The Chinese launch startup Space Pioneer, which has raised nearly $1 billion, showcased a new design for its Tianhuo-21 methane-liquid oxygen engine this week, which was subsequently shared on social media. From outward appearances, the engine looks strikingly similar to SpaceX’s Raptor 3 engine. Its thrust, 2,450 kN at sea level, is also virtually identical to that of the Raptor 3. Would it be difficult to replicate? … In response to Space Pioneer’s engine design, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said copying Raptor 3 would not be easy. “I would recommend against a…