Author: Maryam Sulaiman

‎‎‎The Federal Government has authorized a reduction in the fees required for evaluating and ranking educational materials to relieve publishers and authors of financial stress prior to launching the National Textbook Ranking System.‎‎This revision was disclosed through a official press statement personally issued by Salisu Shehu, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), in Abuja on Wednesday.‎‎‎Details provided by the council show that evaluation charges for books have dropped to ₦1,500 per page from the previous ₦2,000, while the expense to rank each title has been lowered to ₦750,000 from ₦1 million.‎‎The NERDC indicated that authors…

In a major diplomatic pivot, Senegal has officially endorsed former President Macky Sall in his bid to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, putting aside recent political animosities.‎‎The decision follows a high-profile meeting between Sall and current President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, marking Sall’s first return to Dakar since stepping down from power in 2024.‎The endorsement represents a significant shift in posture for President Faye’s administration.‎‎Previously, the government had steadfastly refused to support Sall’s candidacy, accusing his former administration of political repression and misrepresenting economic figures during his final years in office, issues that continue to split the nation politically.‎‎Setting aside…

Morocco is accelerating its preparation strategy for the 2030 FIFA World Cup by significantly increasing its hospitality infrastructure.Marking a historic milestone, the country will co-host the international tournament alongside Spain and Portugal. To ensure seamless hosting capabilities, Moroccan authorities plan to add 60,000 hotel beds by 2030, according to statements from the tourism minister. Beyond tournament logistics, government officials intend to leverage the momentum generated by the national team’s historic run to the quarterfinals. The initiative also aims to reinforce a tourism industry that generates thousands of employment opportunities and contributes roughly 7 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product.…

Newly installed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham assumed office on Monday, immediately clearing out cabinet members loyal to his predecessor while outlining a 10-year strategy to tackle cost-of-living challenges and signaling a turn toward left-wing policies. After replacing Keir Starmer at Downing Street, Burnham launched straight into official duties, conducting individual phone calls with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prior to naming his ministerial appointments. The 56-year-old leader committed to re-industrializing the nation, decentralizing political power, and eradicating street homelessness following his meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, where he officially accepted the mandate…

The United States has launched a 10th consecutive night of bombardment against Iranian targets, with blasts hitting Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Shiraz, Isfahan, Chabahar, and Konarak as Middle Eastern tensions intensify. This latest series of strikes comes alongside Iranian counterattacks, fresh warnings from US President Donald Trump, and a naval blockade declared by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia, fueling concerns over a wider conflict and disruption to global energy supplies. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Monday evening that the latest operation targeted Iranian military capabilities that were reportedly being utilized to attack commercial vessels in the…

Although Nigeria’s national headline inflation rate showed a slight decrease in June 2026, severe financial strain continues to afflict households in more than half of the nation’s states. Annual inflation rates surpassed 30 percent in 19 states alongside the Federal Capital Territory. Data from the Consumer Price Index published by the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that headline inflation eased marginally to 15.91 percent in June, down from 15.93 percent recorded in May. However, a regional breakdown indicates that 20 out of Nigeria’s 37 sub-national divisions, comprising 54.1 percent of the states and the FCT, faced annual all-items inflation rates…

A Ghanaian High Court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence with hard labor to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, following his conviction for illegal mining. Boasiako is a prominent corporate figure and serves as the opposition New Patriotic Party regional chairman for the Ashanti Region, which is the political party’s traditional stronghold. The legal ruling determined that Boasiako alongside his firm, Akonta Mining, engaged in unlawful mining operations inside a protected forest reserve situated close to Samreboi in the Western Region of Ghana. Judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay stated that Boasiako had illegally transferred mineral rights without obtaining…

Andy Burnham officially assumed the role of British prime minister on Monday following a formal meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. The new leader is preparing to outline his plans for the nation after succeeding Keir Starmer. Earlier on Monday morning, Starmer left Downing Street, using his final address to maintain that his two-year tenure had left Britain in a better position. Following Starmer’s formal resignation, the monarch met with Burnham to invite him to form a new government, an invitation Burnham accepted. At 56 years old, Burnham becomes the sixth prime minister to lead the country in…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an order for the permanent forfeiture of N941,994,079.86 to the Federal Government. The funds are tied to suspected ghost workers discovered within the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.Justice Binta Nyako delivered the ruling after considering an application presented by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. In her judgment, Justice Nyako ruled: “That an Order is hereby made for the Final Forfeiture to the Federal Republic of Nigeria the Sum of N941,994,079.86 seized during investigation into the IPPIS Payroll scam in the year 2024.” The details of the…

The United States military launched fresh aerial assaults against Iran on Sunday, marking the eighth night in a row of American strikes. According to the pentagon, the operation was executed to swiftly punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after an attack killed two American service members, left one missing, and sent four others to the hospital. Iranian news agencies Tasnim and Mehr reported that the early Sunday morning operations targeted Qeshm Island and an area near Sirik in the Hormozgan province. The strikes occurred at 1:30 am local time in Sirik, followed by twin hits on Qeshm Island at 3:38…