Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first attempt by the three Sahel neighbours to stage the continental football tournament together. The Malian Football Federation announced that officials from the three countries met with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice…
United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership and commitment to tackling insecurity in Nigeria, reaffirming Washington’s support in the fight against terrorism. The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and disclosed on Wednesday in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser…
Britain’s annual inflation rate fell more than expected to 2.6 per cent in June, driven largely by lower petrol and diesel prices, according to official figures released on Wednesday. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 2.6 per cent in the 12 months to June, down…
By Ayomide Otitoju Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the death of renowned Islamic scholar and Head of Imam Ratibi of Lagos, Sheikh Imam Tijani Olubodun Shehu Gbajabiamila. In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, the governor described the cleric’s passing as a…
By Ayomide Otitoju MTN Nigeria has announced the eighth edition of the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee, opening entries to primary and secondary school students aged between nine and 15 across the country. The nationwide literacy competition will run from July 20 to November 28, 2026, combining online participation with regional physical contests before culminating in…
By Ayomide Otitoju First HoldCo Plc has reported a strong financial performance for the first half of 2026, posting gross earnings of ₦1.93 trillion and a profit before tax (PBT) of ₦653.5 billion, reflecting significant growth across its banking and non-banking businesses. The group’s unaudited results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, showed…
The Ebola outbreak declared in mid-May has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO). A WHO situation update published on Wednesday showed that nearly 2,500 Ebola cases have been confirmed across the two countries since the…
By Ayomide Otitoju FirstBank has been named Nigeria’s Best Bank for Large Corporates and Nigeria’s Best Bank for Customer Experience at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 held in London. The awards recognise outstanding performance in the global banking industry, with winners selected through a rigorous assessment of financial performance, innovation, customer impact, service delivery…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, appointing Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty as his replacement amid growing tensions within the country’s military leadership. Zelensky announced the appointment on Tuesday, thanking Syrsky for his service and praising Ukrainian troops for maintaining strong positions on the frontline. “I have decided…
