She was arrested for holding a protest sign in small-town California: ‘This is a testing ground’
She had been prepared to spend six months in the custody of the Shasta county sheriff’s office. View image in fullscreen The Shasta county courthouse in Redding, California. Residents in the community of 180,000 people directed their ire locally at their county board of supervisors. Photograph: Shasta county boardShe made a point to speak warmly, even while frustrated, to show that even people who disagreed could be kind to one another. Instead of investigating the jail, O’Connell-Nowain’s time has been spent at home, writing about what she’s experienced and, of course, sending emails to the county board of supervisors.
Source:The Guardian
March 09, 2026 15:31 UTC
Blackpink's Lisa delights fans with visit to viral macaque Punch in Japan
Fans of Thai singer Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal were thrilled after she posted an Instagram Story of her visiting Punch, the beloved macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture. The member of K-pop girl group Blackpink was seen carrying an orang utan plush toy identical to the one the seven-month-old macaque is often seen clutching. Blackpink fans and animal lovers alike flooded social media with comments praising Lisa for her affection towards Punch. He was later seen constantly lugging around an orang utan plush toy, and holding it close as a substitute for a mother’s embrace. Punch has started to leave the plush toy behind more often and is beginning to approach other monkeys in the troop with greater confidence.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 15:02 UTC
UPDATED: Appeal court affirms judgment stopping INEC from recognising PDP Ibadan convention
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The appellate court stressed that compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the party’s constitution and guidelines is fundamental to democratic governance. The appellate court consequently dismissed the appeal and awarded N2m in costs against the appellants. Justice Omotosho also ruled that notices and correspondence issued by the party’s National Chairman without the endorsement of the National Secretary were invalid. Those listed as defendants in the suit included INEC, the PDP, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Baturrle; the PDP National Working Committee; National Executive Committee; Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 14:38 UTC
2026 IWD: UN advocates inclusive representation, says Nigerian women brightest yet underutilised
“It remains a dream for women and girls in Nigeria, and also for men who support gender equality,” she said. The country representative also raised concerns over persistent cases of violence against women and the difficulty many survivors face in accessing justice. “We are advancing the UN Secretary-General’s call for zero tolerance and zero excuses for violence against women,” she said. “It remains a dream for women and girls in Nigeria, and also for men who support gender equality,” she said. “We are advancing the UN Secretary-General’s call for zero tolerance and zero excuses for violence against women,” she said.
Source:The Guardian
March 09, 2026 13:41 UTC
Iraq seeks World Cup play-off delay due to conflict
Iraq’s head coach Graham Arnold has called for the country’s decisive World Cup play-off match later this month to be postponed because of travel disruptions caused by the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The winner of the inter-continental play-off will secure a place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada starting on 11 June. He added that qualifying for the World Cup carries deep emotional significance for supporters in Iraq. The winner of that match is set to meet Iraq for a spot alongside 47 other nations at the 2026 World Cup. “Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup, we play the winner in the US.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 13:12 UTC
Debt Servicing in Nigeria Exceeds Capital Spending by N3.9tn
The data also revealed that the actual spending on debt servicing exceeded budget projections in both years. In 2024, debt servicing overshot the budget by about N4.07tn, as actual payments rose to N12.63tn compared with the N8.56tn initially approved. According to the brief, the increase in debt servicing was largely driven by macroeconomic factors rather than new borrowing. Despite the pressure from debt servicing, the government maintained relatively high capital spending during the period. In 2025, the gap widened further, as debt servicing of N14.57tn exceeded capital spending of N11.7tn by about N2.87tn.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 11:47 UTC
Nigeria fuel prices rise despite new Dangote refinery
Officials, however, warned that the intervention may not immediately translate into lower petrol prices for consumers. This would mean the third surge in petrol prices within a week, following adjustments that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre. “There are crises everywhere in the global energy market, and thankfully, we now have the Dangote refinery. If the refinery was not operating, petrol prices in Nigeria could easily have reached N1,500 per litre,” Olatide added. Meanwhile, the Dangote refinery has continued to manage operational realities in a deregulated environment.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 11:23 UTC
FAAC Gets N11.5bn for 2026 Budget Planning Operations
The Federation Account Allocation Committee has approved the transfer of N11.5bn from the 0.5 per cent Stabilisation Fund to finance the operations of its sub-committees working on preparations for the 2026 national budget framework, according to official documents obtained by The PUNCH. The document indicated that N11,500,000,000.01 was withdrawn from the account on January 28, 2026, specifically for the sub-committees handling the preparation of the 2026 proposed budget. The document showed that by February 20, 2026, the Stabilisation Fund account had recorded a closing balance of N54.27bn. Economic and fiscal experts say the use of the fund to support FAAC budget sub-committees underscores the growing fiscal coordination required among federal and sub-national governments in planning national budgets. The FAAC sub-committees typically work on critical components of the fiscal framework, including revenue projections, expenditure planning, oil price benchmarks, and macroeconomic assumptions, which ultimately shape the national budget and revenue distribution to the three tiers of government.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 10:49 UTC
Accident Causes Power Outage in Oyo Communities
Credit: Facebook| Okeke Oluchukwu JonathanThe Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has announced a power disruption affecting some communities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The outage follows a vehicular accident that damaged a high-tension pole along the Akala Expressway. The company assured customers that its technical team was working to ensure power supply is restored as quickly as possible. On Sunday, PUNCH Online reported that Kaduna Electric informed customers of a reduction in power supply across its franchise area, citing gas supply constraints affecting generation on the national grid. Similarly, Eko Electricity Distribution Company had earlier informed customers in Lagos State of a planned power outage scheduled for Saturday, March 14.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 10:13 UTC
Army rescues two kidnapped bank workers in Taraba
Nigerian Army troops under the Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued two bank employees kidnapped in Benue State. Marwan Abubakar, 40, and Leng’en Cakop, 37, both staff members of Unity Bank, were reportedly kidnapped in Zaki Biam Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. According to the military, they were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation carried out in Gborgbor village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. “Acting swiftly on the intelligence, OPWS troops conducted an aggressive search-and-rescue mission aimed at locating the terrorists and safely recovering the victims,” Mr Zubairu said. The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Moses Gara, commended the troops for their swift response and professionalism.
Source:The Guardian
March 09, 2026 09:28 UTC
Middle East War: Latest on US, Israel & Iran Conflict
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. After waves of Iranian strikes targeted the country’s energy installations, Bahrain’s state-owned Bapco energy company declared force majeure. Israel, Iran trade fireIran fired its first missiles towards Israel after the appointment of the new supreme leader, state broadcaster IRIB said, with Israeli medics reporting one woman wounded. The Israeli military said it launched a new wave of strikes targeting “regime infrastructure”, including internal security command centres and missile launch sites, in central Iran.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 08:07 UTC
BLACKPINK’s Lisa Shares Adorable Moments With Viral Monkey Punch in Japan
Trending on BillboardBLACKPINK’s Lisa took a break from her busy schedule to visit Punch the monkey. To show her support, Lisa brought her own stuffed orangutan and held it up for Punch to see. In the photos shared on her Instagram Story, the BLACKPINK member flashed a huge grin while wearing a gray hoodie, blue jeans, and a light-colored knitted beanie. LISA, ROSÉ and JENNIE each released their debut solo albums — Alter Ego, Rosie and Ruby, respectively — while JISOO debuted her EP, Amortage. Check out photos of Lisa’s visit with Punch the monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo on TMZ.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 02:38 UTC
PSC Denies N5m Police Promotion Bribery Allegations
The Police Service Commission has denied allegations that senior police officers paid N5m each to secure promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police. A report by Sahara Reporter alleged that officers bribed officials of the commission to secure promotion from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police. The commission said the promotion of senior officers from CSP to ACP followed due process and established guidelines. “PSC has noted with grave concern a publication by Sahara Reporters alleging that senior officers paid N5m each to secure promotion to the rank of ACP. It explained that the role of the Inspector General of Police in the promotion process is limited to forwarding recommendations based on vacancy and performance, while the final approval rests with the commission.
Source:Punch
March 09, 2026 01:55 UTC
Group tells FG: Release El-Rufai or file charges now
The Coalition Political Action Committee has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to either file formal charges against Nasir El-Rufai or release him immediately, warning that any continued detention beyond the legally permitted period would violate the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law. COPAC made the statement through its convener, Aminu Datti-Ahmed, in Abuja on Sunday, emphasising that the rule of law cannot be suspended for political convenience. COPAC also expressed concern over a growing trend in Nigeria where state institutions allegedly use investigative powers selectively against political figures. The Constitution is not optional, and the rule of law must never become a selective weapon,” COPAC warned. The coalition concluded by urging the federal government to either press charges if there is evidence or immediately release El-Rufai, reinforcing that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a police state.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 22:00 UTC
2027: SDP cautions PDP against turning Oyo into battleground
The state Chairman of the SDP, Michael Okunlade, gave the advice in a statement issued in Ibadan. PUNCH Online reports that hoodlums suspected to be political thugs attacked local government congresses organised by a faction of the PDP loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He stated, “We learned about the violence during the PDP congress via radio and social media yesterday (Saturday). “Furthermore, we caution the PDP against turning the state into a battleground in the run-up to the 2027 elections. I urge all SDP members to remain loyal and dedicated as we prepare to assume leadership in 2027.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 19:59 UTC