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Russia has attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones, killing two people and leaving at least 21 injured after strikes across Kyiv and the surrounding area, authorities say.The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Timur Tkachenko, said the “enemy is once again massively attacking the Kyiv region”.During the attack, which started after midnight on Wednesday, air raid alerts were in place for more than an hour as waves of ballistic missiles hit the city and its outskirts. Kyiv officials said a woman was killed and regional authorities said another person was killed in Bucha, west of the city. At least 21others…

The stock market closed on a negative note on Tuesday, reversing the gains recorded in the previous trading session as investors lost N599 billion. This followed a day bullish streak in the market. The downturn was driven by selloffs in stocks such as Multiverse Mining, Livingtrust Mortgage Bank, Mc Nicholas, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria, Eterna and 35 other declining equities. Market capitalisation fell by 0.38 per cent, shedding N599 billion from an opening value of N158.614 trillion to close at N158.015 trillion. Similarly, the All-Share Index declined by 927.70 points or 0.38 per cent, dropping from 245,730.53 to close at 244,802.83.…

FireTracking’s cameras are currently surveying a million hectares, mainly in France.The cost? In the French département of Indre-et-Loire, the company has installed 11 detection sites.”In all €1.2m [$1.4m; £1m] was spent to cover the whole 6,000 sq km area [2,300 sq miles],” says Chaudier.It is mainly agricultural land. Crop fires are a huge and expensive problem with some 300 a year in this département alone, Chaudier says.AI fire detection is going to get better over the coming years. The French civil protection service has a programme called Condor, for example, which is testing solar-powered drones that carry out continuous patrols…

Ministers will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young people back into work.As part of a government push to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training (Neets) in the UK and boost regional growth, public sector buyers will double the consideration they give to whether companies will get more people into jobs, rather than if they can show they are improving social and environmental wellbeing. Government procurement contracts account for about £90bn of taxpayers’ money…

Tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) is valued because it can withstand intense wear, pressure, and repeated use. That exceptional hardness makes it ideal for industrial tools, but it also creates a major manufacturing challenge. The material is difficult to shape, expensive to produce, and often requires more raw material than ultimately ends up in the finished component. Researchers have now tested a different way to manufacture WC-Co cemented carbide using additive manufacturing (AM, also commonly known as 3D printing). Their approach could reduce waste and lower production costs while preserving the strength and hardness that make the material so useful. The study…

Not every sporting journey is smooth. Some athletes become champions at the first attempt. Others have to endure disappointment before finally getting their moment. For Team Nigeria, the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games became a story of second chances. Several athletes who left Birmingham 2022 disappointed returned four years later to rewrite their stories with medals and memorable performances. PREMIUM TIMES spotlights five athletes who proved that patience, hard work and belief can change everything. Ezekiel Nathaniel [Credit: MakingofChampions] Ezekiel Nathaniel: From sixth place to Commonwealth champion Ezekiel Nathaniel’s journey is perhaps the biggest redemption story of the Games. At the…

Theatre director, playwright and actor Peter Gill, who has died aged 86, has been described as a “gentle man with a fierce intelligence” who had a “quietly seismic” influence on British theatre.Cardiff-born Gill performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in films including HMS Defiant and Zulu before embarking on a successful theatre directing career.Among those to pay tribute was Welsh actor Luke Evans, who credited Gill with launching his own career.Gill’s agent Mel Kenyon said his work had a “rare emotional delicacy” that was “beautifully observed and finely tuned”.Gill is closely associated with his work at the Royal…

Get the latest School Assembly News Headlines August 4, 2026 including National, International, Economy, Sports, Education and Science & Technology updates. Stay informed with today’s top news for …

By Progress Godfrey Nigeria’s foreign reserves have surpassed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) annual target, rising above $52.5 billion as of July 17, 2026, the highest level recorded in 17 years. The apex bank disclosed this on Tuesday, attributing the increase to renewed investor confidence and sustained capital inflows into the economy. Speaking at a CBN Fair in Gombe, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department of the CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, who delivered the opening remarks of the CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, said the growth reflected improved foreign exchange inflows and increased participation…

Nigeria has reclaimed its position as Africa’s leading venture capital destination, demonstrating that its innovation ecosystem remains one of the continent’s strongest despite years of global funding headwinds. Venture financing is becoming more sophisticated, with startups embracing venture debt, blended finance, mergers and acquisitions, and institutional capital beyond traditional fintech. At the same time, investment is expanding into clean energy, logistics, agritech, healthcare, and other sectors solving fundamental infrastructure challenges. This evolution signals an important shift: investors are no longer funding bold ideas alone, they are backing businesses that demonstrate resilience, credibility, and long-term viability. In this environment, strategic public…