Author: damazah@gmail.com

Key eventsLet’s drop in to court 18, where the last-Brit-in-the-singles standing, Arthur Fery, has a chance to make it into the second week. He plays Belgian Zizou Bergs, named after Zinedine Zidane – as was my next door neighbour’s mums’ dog.Huge applause for Fery as he hands his towel to the ballboy and prepares to serve. He’s in a white forward facing baseball cap and polo shirt. The first point is his as Bergs hits into the net but the game flicks to and fro to settle on deuce. Fery gets advantage with an ace; Bergs, in backwards baseball cap,…

Spotify has partnered with Afro Nation Portugal as the festival’s official streaming partner for its 2026 edition, giving fans access to festival content before, during and after the event. Afro Nation is an annual three-day music festival organised by global entertainment company The Malachite Group (TMG), founded in 2019 to unite the African diaspora in a celebration of dance, food, fashion, and music. The streaming platform announced the partnership in a statement on Tuesday, saying it would launch a dedicated Afro Nation destination on Spotify featuring the festival’s official playlist, participating artists, selected performance videos and other exclusive content. According…

Charles Ajunwa Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc, has graduated the 16th cohort of its Business Empowerment Programme for Women (BEPW), strengthening its commitment to creating opportunities, empowering communities, and driving inclusive economic growth. The BEPW is one of Transcorp Hotels Plc’s flagship sustainability initiatives, reflecting the company’s commitment to creating long-term social, economic, and environmental impact. A statement explained that the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme provides young women with hands-on tailoring training, as well as skills in business, financial management, marketing, and customer service. Established in 2016 in partnership with ACE Charity, BEPW has…

* Says oil-rich region cannot remain Nigeria’s cash cow without critical infrastructure Sunday Aborisade in Abuja  The apex body of the oil-rich South-south geopolitical zone, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has mounted a strong challenge to the Federal Government over the distribution of the N3.9 trillion road projects recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), declaring that the South-south had once again been grossly shortchanged despite serving as Nigeria’s economic backbone through its oil and gas resources. The socio-political organisation of the South-south geopolitical zone urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently review the allocation of the projects, warning…

Fatima is losing count of the number of drone attacks on the besieged city of El Obeid in Sudan, but says the attacks this past weekend were the most violent so far.The drones hit schools and fuel stations, killing more than 20 people, including students, she says. “Over the past few months, seeing 40 or 45 drones is the norm. You can literally count them,” said the aid volunteer, whose name has been changed for fear of retribution.El Obeid, a city of half a million people, is a key battleground in the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and…

By Progress Godfrey The Federal Government has called for stronger development finance and greater private capital mobilisation to support its $1 trillion economy ambition, stressing that public funds alone cannot finance the country’s plan. Speaking at the Bank of Industry (BoI) Development Partners’ Roundtable and presentation of the 2025 Annual Development Impact Report (ADIR) in Abuja, yesterday, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said Nigeria must reposition its development finance institutions to attract investment and support productive sectors. She said the country’s economic reforms were aimed at creating an economy that attracts investment, expands enterprise and…

Qoray Mobility & Energies Ltd (QORAY), a clean energy and sustainable mobility company operating across Nigeria, today formally introduced its founding Executive Leadership Team. Led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Olabanjo Alimi, alongside Co-Founders Akinkunmi Akingbogun (Vice President, Mobility) and Ayo Falola (Vice President, Renewable Energy), the team has collectively driven the deployment of 2,150+ electric vehicles, over 7MWh of decentralised solar systems, and more than ₦20 billion in clean energy assets across Nigeria. “Our mission is to drive Africa’s transition to clean energy and sustainable mobility through community, innovation, and partnerships. QORAY exists to power progress sustainably and…

Scientists have uncovered evidence that could change how doctors think about a common form of stroke and why standard preventive treatments often fail. New research suggests that lacunar ischemic stroke is not primarily caused by fatty plaque building up inside arteries, as many have assumed. Instead, the strongest link appears to be with changes in the brain’s blood vessels themselves, specifically the enlargement and widening of arteries. The findings may help explain why commonly prescribed stroke prevention medications such as aspirin and other antiplatelet drugs have had limited success in preventing this type of stroke. Researchers say the results are…

From the jubilant streets of Cairo to the packed stands in Dallas, Egypt’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign has reached another unforgettable milestone. The Pharaohs booked their place in the Round of 16 for the first time in the nation’s history after defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash at Dallas Stadium. It was another landmark moment for a team that arrived in North America determined to rewrite Egypt’s World Cup story, and they have done exactly that. As the decisive penalty found the back of the net, celebrations erupted on…

Donald Trump may not have been invited to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding, but he did manage to insert himself into the festivities in the form of a meme. The White House responded to the couple’s marriage on Twitter, posting a riff on the signs that appeared outside Madison Square Garden on Friday night after they officially tied the knot. “IT’S HAPPENED!!!” the page wrote along with the meme, which showcased signs reading “Trump Is Your President” instead of “JUST&T MARRIED.” The New York City venue, which hosted the wedding, displayed numerous illuminated signs right after Swift and Kelce…