The CAF technical experts’ visit to the East African countries will also be highlighted by Motsepe’s visit to Tanzania on Friday. “CAF’s inspections form part of a broader strategy to raise standards on and off the pitch across African football. CAF experts will also inspect Amaan Stadium and Fumba Stadium, a venue that the Tanzania Local Organising Committee has earmarked for the tournament. They include Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium and Talanta Sports Stadium, as well as key training sites such as the Ulinzi Sports Complex and the Kenya Academy of Sports. “CAF will continue to work closely with the three host nations, their governments and LOC structures to support delivery planning and ensure that preparations intensify for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania 2027,” the African football governing body added.

The Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, says technology is a crucial factor in the implementation of the new tax laws. Adedeji made the statement on Wednesday during the inaugural convocation lecture at the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area, Oyo State, titled “The Role of Technology in Implementing Nigeria’s New Tax Laws: Challenges, Prospects, and Implications for National Development”. They are quietly redefining how authority operates within the tax system. “One of the most important prospects of a technology-driven tax administration is the ability to expand the tax base without increasing tax rates. The institution’s governing council chair, Yakubu Datti, commended Adedeji for leading the re-engineering of Nigeria’s tax architecture.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to take part in the Informal EU Leaders Retreat at the Alden Biesen Castle, central Belgium on February 12, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / POOL / AFP)Europe should stop sending money to Ukraine if it is serious about reviving its economy, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday as he headed into talks with EU leaders. “Don’t send your money to somebody else if you need it for your competitiveness, so don’t send the money to Ukraine,” Orban told reporters. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the EU, the nationalist premier, has consistently expressed scepticism about the European Union’s support for Ukraine. Hungary has frequently been a thorn in the side of EU leaders over Ukraine.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe addressing young lawyers at the 2026 NBA Young Lawyers Forum Maiduguri Branch Summit. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN, has raised concerns over the alleged misuse of the Cybercrimes Act to suppress free speech in Nigeria, describing it as a deliberate muzzling of expression under the pretext of combating cybercrime and defamation. “Free speech is being muzzled in Nigeria under the guise of charging people to court and investigating them for cyber crime and criminal defamation. The NBA president warned that such actions transform the courts into “an oppressive tool.”“This is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and an abuse of the democratic space. Originally enacted in 2015 and amended in 2024, the law seeks to address online fraud, cyberterrorism and related offences.

Israel Adesanya has revealed he could retire from the UFC by 2027, with less than 10 fights remaining in his career, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The former two-time middleweight champion, who faces Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle on March 28, admitted on his YouTube channel that the countdown clock is ticking. The prospect of facing a grappler like De Ridder on just five or six weeks’ notice had excited Adesanya, offering a new challenge he had never experienced in his UFC tenure. The Last Stylebender also criticised the current state of the UFC middleweight division, describing it as “bland” compared to when he was champion. Adesanya, who holds the record for the second-longest winning streak in middleweight division history behind Anderson Silva, said the division lacks the excitement it had during his reign.

Former presidential aide and ambassador-designate, Reno Omokri, has said that the opposition stands little chance of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. He said, “If the opposition could not defeat Tinubu with about 20 governors in 2023, how are they going to be able to defeat him right now with 30 governors? Omokri further argued that Nigeria’s economy has recorded notable improvements since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, particularly in gross domestic product and manufacturing capacity. ALSO READ: 2027: Tinubu not my friend — El-Rufai – Tribune Online“Right now, we have the second-largest manufacturing capacity in Africa. “Since Bola Tinubu became president, they (Nigerians) have never had to queue at the petrol station to get fuel.

United States President, Donald Trump, has said he urged that nuclear negotiations with Iran continue during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Trump, however, warned that the United States could take action against Tehran if a nuclear agreement is not reached. Iran has indicated it is willing to restrict parts of its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but has rejected wider demands. He also insisted Iran was “not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons” and was ready for verification. Israeli officials have said Israel reserves the right to take military action if Iran does not reach a nuclear agreement with the US.

The Tata Punch EV facelift has been spotted on the road for the first time ahead of its launch on February 20, 2026. The Punch facelift in its ICE form was launched in India in January this year, and the EV derivative follows suit. Also Read: Tata Punch EV Facelift Revealed Ahead Of LaunchNew here is the rear of the Punch EV facelift, which is identical to its facelifted ICE counterpart. Also Read: Tata Punch EV Facelift To Be Launched On February 20One of the more noticeable changes appears to be the LED DRL treatment. Also Read: Tata Punch Facelift Launched At Rs 5.59 Lakh; Gets Turbo-Petrol Engine OptionThe updated Punch EV is likely to receive a new powertrain.

The engagement comes ahead of a comprehensive field mission to Gombe State by the consortium to identify, structure and commence implementation of joint projects. Leading the TUCAD delegation, the Vice President of the Consortium, Issam Ben Youssef, said the mission was designed to align Tunisian technical expertise and investment capacity with Gombe State’s clearly defined development priorities. “Our objective is to deploy Tunisia’s proven experience in infrastructure, energy, water systems and industrial development to support Gombe State’s growth aspirations, while building sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships,” he said. “Gombe State is open for serious, value-driven investments, especially the Africa-Africa model. Our development strategy is anchored on infrastructure, energy security, water sustainability, agriculture and industrial growth.

Wife of Nigerian media personality, Victor Udochukwu Nwaogu, popularly known as Nkubi, has revealed how a medical doctor allegedly advised her to conceive for another man instead of her husband. Nkubi’s wife shared the disturbing experience in a video posted by Pulse Nigeria on Instagram on Wednesday, explaining that the incident occurred after she underwent an abnormality scan during pregnancy. According to her, the doctor had asked whether there was any history of dwarfism in her family. Recounting the moment, she said, “When I did my abnormality scan and gave the result to the doctor, he asked if anyone in my family had the trait of dwarfism. That is what a doctor told me.”She described the remark as shocking and discriminatory, saying it reflected the way people living with certain conditions are treated unfairly.

A study published in Molecules found that extracts from the plant’s leaves and roots can reduce the harmful effects of carpet viper venom. Blood clotting improved as the extracts countered the venom’s effect of speeding clotting, helping blood clot normally. It inhibited venom enzymes and slowed blood clotting but was less effective at protecting red blood cells than the full plant extracts, suggesting that multiple compounds in the plant work together for protection. The forest cobra’s venom disrupts clotting, destroys red blood cells, and damages muscles and nerves, potentially causing paralysis or death. Laboratory tests showed that water-based extracts and oils from the root bark of Toona ciliata protected rats from lethal venom doses.

The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, said on Wednesday that his administration has destroyed over 62 criminal camps in the state. He added, however, that with the suspension of the sit-at-home, over 45,000 shops reopened on Monday at the Onitsha Main Market, with business activities at their peak and traders in jubilation. Professor Soludo stated this while speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said: “When I assumed office, so far since I came into office, about 62 criminal camps have been dismantled in Anambra, and we’re not resting for one second. In Anambra, we pride ourselves on being the safest — if not, modestly, one of the safest — states in the country, and security is key.”

The crushed Toyota car after a granite-laden truck fell on it at Eleko Junction, Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Lagos. Photo: LASTMA on XA motorist was killed on Thursday morning while his wife was critically injured after a granite-laden truck toppled onto their Toyota saloon car at Eleko Junction along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Lagos State. This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq. LASTMA said the impact caused the truck to overturn and crush the smaller vehicle, trapping the driver inside the wreckage. The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as avoidable, urged motorists and truck drivers to ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and warned against reckless driving.

People carry belongings on a flooded street in Monteria, Colombia on February 9, 2026. (Photo by AFP)Colombia declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after floods killed 18 people and left thousands of families displaced in the country’s northern cattle belt. Water submerged homes after a dam and rivers overflowed in Cordoba, one of the worst-hit departments, where more than 150,000 residents have been affected. The floods have destroyed more than 4,300 homes and submerged vast swathes of the country used for grazing and agriculture, authorities said. Colombia’s disaster relief agency had reported 22 deaths nationwide on Monday, but later revised the figure down.

National Assembly legislative aides appointed on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday formally declared their support for the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, pledging to mobilise voters for him nationwide. The declaration was made by the National Coordinator of the group, Ayoola Fakunle, at the inauguration of members of the National Assembly Legislative Aides into the APC Support Groups Council in Abuja. “We have legislative aides at the National Assembly, State Assembly and local government. So, legislative aides abound everywhere you go. “Today’s inauguration of legislative aides is an added advantage to the APC, because we need more members and groups like this.