A 69-year-old woman, Jann Alhafny, suffered four broken vertebrae after a police altercation at a Sydney protest, following clashes at a rally against the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, according to the woman and witnesses. The protest was held within a designated “major event” zone under state legislation, which gives police expanded powers during Herzog’s visit. Labor MP Stephen Lawrence, who attended the protest, said the state should have enabled a peaceful demonstration. I don’t deserve this.”On Tuesday, Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore called for an independent investigation into police actions at the Sydney protest and a broader review of protest policing. “What an unacceptable thing that they have done.”The case has renewed attention on policing at the Sydney protest, where a 69-year-old woman suffers four broken vertebrae after police interaction at Sydney protest, raising further calls for accountability.

In the bustling markets of 2026, the battleground for Nigerian commerce has shifted entirely to the chat window. The Trust Deficit and the “Human” FactorThe driving force behind this shift is the unique psychology of the Nigerian consumer. Unlike Western markets where “Add to Cart” is a reflexive action, the Nigerian market is built on negotiation and relationship verification. For a fashion vendor in Balogun Market, a well-optimized WhatsApp Business profile now generates more revenue than a Shopify store ever could. For the mass market, WhatsApp is the internet.

Nigeria has again been ranked among the world’s most corrupt countries, placing 36th on the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, a global anti-graft coalition monitoring corruption trends worldwide. Despite sliding two places from its 140th position in 2024, the West African nation retained its status as the 36th most corrupt globally alongside other low-scoring countries. No African nation made the global top ten least corrupt list, which continues to be dominated by European and Asia-Pacific countries with strong governance systems. At the opposite end of the spectrum, South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela were identified among the most corrupt countries in the world, scoring in the lowest tier of the index. Corruption challenges in NigeriaExperts say corruption remains deeply entrenched in Nigeria, affecting key sectors of governance and public service delivery.

He made this known at the Foreign Policy Lecture Series titled Elections and Democracy in Africa, organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos. Jinadu linked the challenges to what he described as a toxic political environment and a growing amoral political culture in some African countries, especially Nigeria, where he said politics had increasingly become criminalised. He argued that while independent electoral management bodies were important, they alone could not guarantee credible elections without a supportive political culture and strong accountability institutions. According to him, the factors create conditions where even the deployment of advanced technology and technical expertise by electoral bodies may fail to deliver credible elections. He warned that excessive focus on constitutional design and electoral reforms, without addressing the moral foundations of political culture, would limit democratic progress.

Nigeria Integrity Watch (NIW), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has commended Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for placing housing and far-reaching institutional reforms at the centre of the Nigerian Army’s transformation within his first 90 days in office. The CSO said the scale and speed of reforms under Shaibu signal a decisive shift in Nigeria’s military strategy at a time of worsening security challenges across the country. According to the organisation, the Army Chief’s emphasis on intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and modern warfare training demonstrates a clear understanding of Nigeria’s evolving security threats. While urging sustained implementation of the reforms, NIW said the initiatives had raised expectations that improved welfare, enhanced training and stronger coordination would translate into better security outcomes nationwide. Nigerians will now be watching to see tangible gains on the battlefield and in the safety of civilians,” the statement added.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the immediate deployment of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion of special forces to Plateau State. This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on late Monday night by the Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chiñonso Polycarp Oteh. “The troops who are already in the state to aggressively and decisively deal with the recent resurgence of banditry attacks will be a game changer in addressing the threat of insecurity,” the statement read. ALSO READ: Insecurity: Army adopting intelligence-driven technology approach — COASIt explained that while receiving the troops at Headquarters 3 Division, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, represented by the Chief of Staff, Operation Enduring Peace, Brigadier General Senlong Sule, welcomed the troops and urged them to be decisive and ruthless in carrying out offensive operations against the bandits. The statement added that the GOC appreciated the proactive leadership posture of the COAS for providing the needed combat enablers and other logistics requirements for the effective actualisation of the troops’ mandate.

Nigeria and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening South–South cooperation and expanding bilateral relations as officials, diplomats and subnational leaders gathered in Abuja to mark the 47th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Speaking on bilateral relations, the ambassador described ties between Iran and Nigeria as longstanding and rooted in mutual respect and shared interests. He described the event as a significant milestone in Iran’s national history and an opportunity for reflection on governance and national development. Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, also emphasised the importance of Iran to Nigeria and Africa, particularly in trade, commerce and economic self-reliance. “We are here because we want to learn, to enhance our bilateral relations and to reassure investors from Iran that Nigeria is a friendly country where they can thrive,”Bala wishes Iran continued national development, cohesion and prosperity.

Less than four months to the commencement of this year’s Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has resigned his appointment. “The chairman has repeatedly expended funds without the board’s approval and executed contracts far beyond approved budgetary limits. “One implication of this strain was the initial reduction of Nigeria’s pilgrim quota from 95,000 in 2025 to 50,000 for the 2026 Hajj operations. Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the commission assured that it remains focused on its statutory responsibilities, describing leadership matters as administrative. “We are aware of the reports circulating, but we in NAHCON remain focused on our statutory responsibility to ensure a smooth and successful Hajj.

Tata Motors has recently launched the facelifted Punch with a starting price of ₹5.59 lakh (ex-showroom). It gets a refreshed design, several new features, and a new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine. The Punch has also gained an AMT gearbox for the CNG variant. We drove both versions, focusing mainly on the CNG, and here’s what we think of the updated model. Watch the full video to find out.

Public school pupils and students across Oyo State are set to benefit from improved learning environments as the state government continues the renovation of 36 public primary and secondary schools spread across the five geo-political zones of the state. ALSO READ: Gov Makinde approves N9.97bn for renovation of Oyo schools“This intervention is not about renovating a few schools in selected locations. It is a deliberate effort to reach schools across the state and address the most pressing infrastructural challenges facing our public education system,” Tiamy said. In Ibadan, renovation works are ongoing at Ikolaba Grammar School, Ikolaba High School, Ikolaba Primary School, Methodist Grammar School, Community Grammar School, Mokola, Emmanuel College, Agbowo, as well as St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Apata; I.M.G. Primary School, Oke Bola; and Islamic Mission School, Bode.

US President, Donald Trump, has threatened to block the opening of a bridge linking the United States and Canada unless Washington is “fully compensated for everything” it has given to its northern neighbour. It remains unclear how Trump could prevent the bridge from opening, though he said negotiations would begin immediately without further details. ALSO READ: ‘Absolutely terrible’, Trump blasts Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime showConstruction of the bridge began in 2018 after years of disputes between the two countries. In his post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States should own “at least one half of this asset” and claimed Canada controls both sides of the bridge. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is developing the project, is wholly owned by the Canadian government.

While the House endorsed real-time transmission provisions, the Senate version adopted conditional transmission, triggering widespread public criticism. “I think Nigerians are confusing the seamless display of PU results with real-time transmission of results. We want to address issues around electronic real-time transmission in our elections. “They have the constitutional power and authority to ensure that there is real-time electronic transmission of results. Similarly, Adegboruwa described the debate over electronic transmission as unnecessary at Nigeria’s current stage of democratic development, insisting that mandatory electronic transmission is essential to safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot.

When world leaders gather at the United Nations each September, the atmosphere is typically thick with rhetoric, promises, and photo opportunities. WHEN the United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945, it carried the hopes of a world scarred by two devastating wars. Lastly, the United States, wielding its influence, has historically shielded Israel from accountability. If African leaders can be indicted, so too should leaders of powerful states when evidence demands it. “On humanitarian activities, no organisation can do what the United Nations has been doing.

The report, released yesterday, shows that Nigeria’s Internet speed has taken a hit, slipping to 85th worldwide. While Nigeria grapples with infrastructure bottlenecks, South Africa has pulled ahead to claim the top spot in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting a widening connectivity gap. Kenya ranked 80th, recording a median download speed of 45.37 Mbps. Côte d’Ivoire made the biggest progress in SSA, taking the 103rd position in December 2025, with a median download speed of 58.17 Mbps. While this is lower than other countries such as Senegal, South Africa and Kenya, it outperformed them in median download speed.

With multiple court cases, conflicting rulings, and appeals surrounding the legitimacy of PDP leadership, the party risks entering the 2027 cycle without a legally secure framework to field candidates nationwide. Legal observers say this creates a precarious environment where competing authorities claim legitimacy — a scenario that could directly affect how and by whom candidate primaries are conducted. Nigerian jurisprudence is unequivocal: where the body organising primaries lacks legal standing, the resulting nomination is void. Judicial interpretation has repeatedly reinforced that internal party democracy becomes justiciable once candidate nomination is involved. For the PDP, whose leadership structure is presently contested, legal analysts say the margin for error is dangerously thin.