International

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Israel’s military has confirmed it carried out strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, targeting the country’s nuclear program.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” reportedly killed several senior Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists, including Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, overall commander of the Iranian army and the IRGC.

According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes were aimed at thwarting Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel believes poses an existential threat.

“If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The attack has sparked a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran. Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned the attack, calling on countries worldwide to denounce Israel’s actions.

“The attack exposes global security to unprecedented threat,” the ministry said, adding that the US will be held responsible for the consequences.

The US has strongly denied any involvement in the attack. US President Donald Trump said he was aware of Israel’s plans beforehand but emphasized that the US played no part.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” Trump said, expressing hope for renewed negotiations.

Global oil prices have surged over 10% following the news, amid concerns that the conflict could disrupt energy supplies. The UN chief has condemned the strikes, calling for maximum restraint to avoid deeper conflict.

Individuals confirmed dead include Hossein Salami, Commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Gholamali Rashid, Commander of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters; Fereydoon Abbasi, Nuclear scientist and former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Nuclear scientist involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons program; Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s armed forces.

Israel has declared a state of emergency, anticipating counter-attacks from Iran. The situation remains volatile, with uncertainty surrounding potential retaliatory actions.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Nigerian-born Australian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for allegedly trafficking 15 students from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and forcing them into unpaid labour on farms in Queensland.

Abubakar, 56, was taken into custody on Wednesday at Brisbane Airport shortly after returning from PNG, where she had reportedly been operating from.

Her arrest marks the culmination of a two-year investigation launched in July 2022 by the AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team, following a report received from Queensland Police.

The AFP stated, “A group of PNG nationals who had moved to Australia to study were instead allegedly forced to work against their will on farms.”

According to investigators, Abubakar used her company, BIN Educational Services and Consulting, to lure young people aged between 19 and 35 into Australia under the false promise of full educational scholarships.

The company had advertised itself as offering a “holistic and modern approach to education, training, and employment.”

However, after their arrival in Australia between March 2021 and July 2023, the students were allegedly compelled to sign legal agreements binding them to repay various undisclosed expenses, including tuition, flights, visa fees, insurance, and legal services.

Authorities alleged that, to repay these supposed debts, the students were forced to work long hours on fruit farms in areas such as Lockyer Valley and Stanthorpe.

Police say the work arrangements often breached their visa terms.According to the AFP, “The students were made to work 10 hours a day, seven days a week,” and their earnings were allegedly collected by Abubakar.

“The farmers did not know of Abubakar’s alleged scheme,” the police added.

The situation reportedly worsened when some of the students resisted.

Police claimed Abubakar intimidated them with threats of deportation or warned their families back in PNG.

“She would allegedly receive the wages on the workers’ behalf and withhold them. If they refused to comply, Abubakar allegedly threatened to have the students deported or intimidated their family in PNG,” authorities said.

Abubakar is facing 31 criminal charges.

These include four counts of trafficking in persons, 14 counts of deceptive recruiting for labour or services, and 13 counts related to debt bondage.

Although she has been granted conditional bail, Abubakar is due to appear in court again on September 19.

Reacting to the arrest, AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said, “The AFP is committed to protecting vulnerable foreign workers who are targeted by those driven by greed and profits.”

He further noted, “Victims of debt bondage and other human trafficking offences can be lured to Australia with a promise of a dream career or free education—things they may not have access to in their country of origin. If the conditions of that promise change, it can leave victims in an extremely vulnerable situation in a foreign country, where they are likely to have little financial or emotional support and face issues with language barriers.”

Telfer urged the public to report suspected cases of exploitation and reassured them of the AFP’s continued focus on safeguarding victims. “The AFP can help people who are exploited. We are focused on ensuring the welfare of victims,” he said.

This case comes shortly after German authorities arrested 13 suspected members of a Nigerian criminal syndicate in a separate crackdown on transnational crime.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

In a historic academic achievement, Dr. Zaidu Jibril Muhammad, a lecturer at Sule Lamido University (SLUK), Kafin Hausa, has become the first African recipient of the prestigious King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation.

Dr. Zaidu, who lectures in the Department of Arabic, Faculty of Humanities, clinched the 2025 award for his Hausa translation of the Arabic literary masterpiece Maqāmāt al-Ḥarīrī, published under the title Dandalin Hikimomi. The Prize’s Board of Trustees praised the translation for its scholarly depth and cultural resonance, calling it a significant contribution to African scholarship and global cross-cultural understanding.

Born on May 15, 1985, in Shungurum village, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Dr. Zaidu holds a Ph.D. in Arabic Language among other qualifications.

Dr. Zaidu is also a prolific author, with four major Hausa translations of classical Arabic works. In addition to Dandalin Hikimomi, his works include Dandalin Dabaru (from Maqāmāt Badī‘ al-Zamān al-Hamadhānī), Bakandamai Bakwai(from Al-Mu‘allaqāt al-Sab‘a), and a Hausa version of a widely used Arabic academic guide for university students. He has also published fifteen academic articles in national and international journals.

Currently serving as a Lecturer I and a member of the International Union of Arabic Language, Dr. Zaidu’s groundbreaking achievement has been described as a landmark not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent.

By Muhammad Abubakar

A young Indian family’s new life abroad ended in tragedy when Air India flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed this morning, killing 241 people on board, with one miraculous survivor.

Among the victims were Dr Pratik Joshi and Dr Komi Vyas, both accomplished medical professionals, and their three children: aged 9, 6, and just 18 months. Their story, tragically, has come to embody the human cost of an unthinkable disaster.

Dr. Joshi, 38, had been living and working in London for the past six years, laying the foundation for a new life in the UK. Tirelessly working through the red tape of immigration and professional certification, he had long dreamed of reuniting his family abroad and offering them a brighter, safer future.

That dream was finally within reach. Just two days ago, Dr. Komi Vyas resigned from her job at a government hospital in Gujarat. The couple had packed up their lives, said their goodbyes, and looked forward to turning the page. Friends and relatives recall their excitement and plans to settle in South London, enrol their children in school, and continue their medical careers.

Before boarding the flight, the family took a photo after boarding and sent it to relatives with the caption: “One way to a new beginning.” Minutes later, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control moments after taking off.

The Indian diaspora in the UK, especially among the medical fraternity, is mourning the loss. “Pratik was more than a colleague; he was a friend and a father trying to do right by his family,” said Dr. Meena Chauhan, who worked alongside him at St. George’s Hospital in London. “He was so excited they were finally joining him. It’s just incomprehensible.”

Back home in Vadodara, grief has swept through the neighbourhood. Friends and family gathered at the now shuttered family home, still echoing with recent packing sounds. A neighbour, clutching the last family photograph, said, “They were finally going to be together. They had waited so long.”

In a world fixated on the future, this family’s tale serves as a profound reminder to value the present—to embrace life, to express love, and to never delay happiness.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

A devastating tragedy unfolded near Ahmedabad early Thursday morning as AI171, a commercial flight carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after taking off. Authorities have confirmed that there appear to be no survivors.

Ahmedabad’s city police commissioner told The Associated Press that rescue teams at the scene found no signs of life amid the wreckage. “It is with deep regret that we believe all 242 people on board have perished,” he said.

Emergency responders and investigators are working to secure the site and begin efforts to identify the victims. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with aviation officials and forensic teams en route.

The flight, operated by Air India, was en route to London. Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke and hearing a loud explosion in the area shortly before dawn.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences via social media, calling the incident “a heartbreaking loss.” Grief counselling and support services have been offered to the families of those on board.

More updates will follow as the investigation continues.

By Maryam Ahmad

Anti-migrant riots have spread across parts of Northern Ireland, with violent mobs attacking police and targeting migrant communities.

Clashes erupted in several towns, leaving police vehicles damaged and officers injured. The unrest, sparked by anti-immigrant rhetoric online, began in a Belfast suburb and quickly spread.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland condemned the violence and confirmed multiple arrests. Community leaders and rights groups have called for calm and urged protection for vulnerable communities.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation.

By Uzair Adam 

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a former advisor to Donald Trump, admitted on Wednesday that he went too far in some of his social media criticisms of the US president after their public fallout last week.

“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk posted on his social media platform X.

Musk’s apology came just days after Trump warned the billionaire of “serious consequences” if he tried to punish Republican lawmakers who supported a controversial spending bill.

Their dramatic split played out on social media last Thursday, when Musk harshly criticised Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill, which Congress is considering.

Some Republican lawmakers opposed the bill and urged Musk, a major Republican financial backer in last year’s presidential election, to fund primary challenges against those who voted for it.

“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump, who called Musk “disrespectful,” told NBC News on Saturday, though he did not specify the consequences.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A court in Russia’s Kursk region has sentenced a Colombian citizen to 28 years behind bars after finding him guilty of fighting as a “mercenary” with the Ukrainian Armed Forces against Moscow.

The sentencing was announced on Tuesday, with Russian authorities stating that the man took part in combat operations within Ukraine’s military, including in the border region of Kursk.

In its ruling, the court declared that the individual had participated “in the armed conflict as a mercenary in the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” and added that he was “sentenced to imprisonment for 28 years.”

Russian officials have consistently maintained that foreign nationals who support Ukraine on the battlefield are violating Russian law.

The Colombian’s involvement on the side of Kyiv further reflects the international dimension of the ongoing war.

The conviction comes amid continued hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, which have seen rising casualties on both sides.

It also aligns with Moscow’s broader efforts to clamp down on foreign fighters it accuses of aggravating the conflict.

The Russian government has not released the name of the convicted individual, nor has it provided further details regarding the specific charges or dates of the alleged combat activities.

The situation remains a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the war, now drawing individuals from different continents into its orbit.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Pep Guardiola, the renowned Manchester City manager, delivered a moving and heartfelt speech on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester this week.

In an emotional address, Guardiola veered from the usual ceremonial tone to speak about the suffering in Gaza, calling for compassion and courage in the face of ongoing violence. 

“It is so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts all my body,” he said, his voice weighted with emotion. “It is not about ideology but the love of life. It is about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most.”

Guardiola, known as much for his principled stances as for his tactical brilliance on the pitch, received a standing ovation from many in the audience, including faculty, students, and dignitaries.

The University of Manchester awarded Guardiola the honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to sport and his influence as a global figure. Yet, it was his candid acknowledgement of human suffering and his call for empathy that left a lasting impression.

Social media erupted in praise following the speech, with many highlighting Guardiola’s words as a rare and courageous gesture from a figure in elite sport.

As tensions and humanitarian concerns continue to mount in Gaza, Guardiola’s remarks have added a prominent voice to the growing international calls for peace and justice.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Khaby Lame, the Senegal-born TikTok sensation who rose to global fame for his silent comedic videos, has voluntarily left the United States after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his visa.

The 25-year-old, who officially became an Italian citizen in 2022, was held at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for immigration violations. Lame had been in the U.S. on a temporary visa, which reportedly expired before his detention.

Lame, known by his handle @khaby.lame, boasts over 162 million followers on TikTok, making him one of the most followed creators on the platform. His signature style—wordless, expressive reactions to overly complicated life hacks—catapulted him to viral fame during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His detention comes amid intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has renewed crackdowns on visa overstays and undocumented immigrants.

Sources close to Lame say he has returned to Italy and cooperates fully with authorities. Neither Lame nor his representatives have made a public statement regarding the incident.