Author: Mohammad Adamu

India and the African Union have postponed a major summit originally scheduled for New Delhi next week, citing a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. India’s foreign ministry said both sides agreed it would be advisable to reschedule the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit, which had been set for May 28–31, in light of “the emerging public health situation on the continent.” The outbreak, declared last Friday in eastern DRC, has already produced around 600 probable cases with 139 suspected deaths — making it the country’s 17th Ebola episode. The World Health Organisation noted Wednesday that the virus…

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted to keep the Monetary Policy Rate unchanged at 26.5%, following its 305th meeting held on May 19 and 20, 2026, attended by all 11 members. Announcing the decision, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said the committee retained the Standing Facilities Corridor around the MPR at +50/-450 basis points, while all other key policy parameters remained unchanged. The Cash Reserve Requirement for Deposit Money Banks stays at 45%, Merchant Banks at 16%, and 75% for non-TSA public sector deposits. The decision to hold rates was driven by persistent inflationary pressures and the…

Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth hands Gunners the title they’ve waited two decades forArsenal Football Club are Premier League champions once again. After 22 years of heartbreak, near-misses, and three consecutive runner-up finishes, Mikel Arteta’s side have finally ended their long wait for top-flight glory confirmed on Tuesday night as Manchester City could only draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The result left Arsenal an unassailable four points clear at the summit with one game remaining, sparking wild celebrations inside pubs, streets, and homes across North London and beyond. It was Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi who lit the fuse,…

US President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that he had been on the verge of launching a major military assault on Iran before backing down at the request of Gulf Arab leaders, even as he warned that a full-scale attack remained authorised and could be executed at any moment if diplomatic efforts collapse. Trump disclosed that the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates personally intervened to ask him to hold off, citing active negotiations now underway between Washington and Tehran. He announced the development on his Truth Social platform, stating that he had instructed the US…

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has upheld the bench warrant earlier issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, after she again failed to appear in court over charges of alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of $1.3 million and N746.7 million in public funds. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, who presided over Tuesday’s proceedings, expressed visible frustration at what he described as deliberate attempts to delay the trial, warning that he would not tolerate further postponements. Farouq is being prosecuted alongside two co-defendants — Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed — by…

Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to China, has cautioned that the establishment of state police in Nigeria will only yield meaningful results if it is built on strict professionalism and shielded from political interference by state governors. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dambazau warned that placing state police under the direct control of governors risks turning the force into a tool for settling political scores, adding that this must be prevented through clear structural safeguards. He called for rigorous profiling, vetting, and training of personnel, as well as the adoption…

Arsenal moved to the brink of their first Premier League title since 2004 after grinding out a 1-0 victory over already-relegated Burnley on Monday, opening up a five-point lead at the summit.Kai Havertz proved the difference, powering home a header from Bukayo Saka’s corner delivery on 37 minutes — the Gunners’ 18th set-piece goal of the league campaign — to send an expectant Emirates crowd into raptures. The Gunners could be crowned champions as early as Tuesday night if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth, who are riding a 16-game unbeaten run. Even if City navigate that hurdle and defeat…

Nigerian filmmaker urges diaspora to move beyond goodwill, become witnesses to Africa’s untold stories For Precious Osuji, there exists a mission that is deeply personal, born from loss, shaped by responsibility, and fueled by an unshakable belief that the global African diaspora must become more than observers of the continent’s future…we must become the living architects of it. Today, through diaspora engagement, humanitarian advocacy, and a growing commitment to strengthening Africa’s creative and economic ecosystems, Osuji is building bridges between global influence and local impact. And on this journey, one of her first calls was to Michael Chineme Ike, the…

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has officially announced that the Standing at Mount Arafat — the spiritual climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage — will take place on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with Eid-al-Adha to follow the next day, Wednesday, May 27. The declaration came after the court confirmed Monday, May 18, as the first day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH, following the verified sighting of the crescent moon. “The Crescent Sighting Department of the Supreme Court reached the decision after reviewing testimonies submitted by witnesses regarding the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent,” the court stated. The official account of…

The World Health Organisation has declared the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), citing fears the crisis is far larger than official figures suggest. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the declaration on Sunday after consulting with both affected countries, confirming that the outbreak — caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus — does not, however, meet the threshold of a pandemic emergency. As of Saturday, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths had been recorded in DRC’s Ituri Province, spanning at least…