International

By Hassana Abdullahi

South African jurist Navi Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her contributions to international law, human rights and the prosecution of war crimes and genocide.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on October 9, praising Pillay’s role in advancing international justice and strengthening the global rule of law.

Pillay, 85, previously served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court.

Her judicial work contributed to establishing that rape and sexual violence could constitute crimes against humanity and genocide. She also chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel rejected the commission’s findings.

The Nobel Committee recognised Pillay’s longstanding efforts to hold individuals and states accountable for international crimes and to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts through international law.

Born in Durban during apartheid, Pillay built a distinguished legal career defending human rights and challenging discrimination. Her award highlights the role of international justice institutions in addressing atrocities and protecting human dignity.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir 

Ghana has introduced a cedi-to-yuan payment system aimed at facilitating imports from China and reducing the country’s reliance on the US dollar for trade transactions.

Stanbic Bank Ghana is currently piloting the system, while Ghana Commercial Bank is developing a similar service, according to reports.

The new arrangement allows payments to be processed through China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), enabling direct yuan payments from cedi-denominated accounts.

By bypassing the need for US correspondent banks, the system is expected to cut transaction costs and shorten processing times for China-related trade.

The move marks a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to diversify its payment infrastructure and strengthen trade ties with China, its largest import partner.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir 

A viral video showing Chinese passengers covering their noses around an African woman has triggered a heated debate online over racism, cultural differences and the use of perfume.

The woman, identified on X as Teebebe (@Acupoftii_), appeared to interpret the passengers’ reaction as racist. The video has since attracted widespread attention, with social media users offering competing explanations for the behaviour.

One of those responding was X user Zhao DaShuai, who argued that the incident may have had less to do with race and more to do with the strength of the woman’s perfume.

“It’s your perfume,” Zhao wrote.

He said many East Asians carry a variant of the ABCC11 gene linked to reduced production of certain compounds associated with underarm odour. According to Zhao, this may mean people in East Asia are less accustomed to strong fragrances.

The claim has prompted further debate, with some users questioning whether covering one’s nose should be interpreted as evidence of racial discrimination, while others argue that the gesture could have been a simple reaction to an unfamiliar smell.

Scientists have established a relationship between variations in the ABCC11 gene and differences in underarm odour, although the prevalence of the relevant variants varies considerably between populations.

The genetic explanation, however, does not establish why the passengers in the video covered their noses. Nor does the video, by itself, provide enough context to determine whether the behaviour was motivated by racism, discomfort with a strong fragrance, or another reason.

The incident has nevertheless revived an online conversation about race, personal fragrance and cultural differences in perceptions of smell, highlighting how an apparently ordinary gesture can carry very different meanings across cultural and racial contexts.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

US President Donald Trump has promised to give $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans win control of Congress in the November midterm elections.

Trump said the proposed payment, which he called a “Trump Dividend,” could be funded partly by revenue from tariffs.

However, the plan has not been approved by Congress. The proposed payments could cost about $1.2 trillion, meaning significant legislative and financial challenges remain.

For now, the $5,000 payment is an election promise and is not a guaranteed government benefit.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Saudi authorities have denied reports circulating on social media that a suicide bomber was arrested at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The Saudi security authorities said a man was arrested after allegedly harassing passersby and causing fear and panic among people at the holy site. He was dealt with immediately, and legal procedures were initiated before the case was referred to the Public Prosecution.

Authorities stressed that there was “no truth” to the claims that the incident involved a suicide bomber or an attempted attack.

The clarification followed the circulation of videos and social media posts alleging that a man wearing an explosive vest had approached the Kaaba before being apprehended by security personnel. Saudi authorities did not provide further details about the arrested man.

The incident highlights the need to verify reports about events at the Grand Mosque with official sources before sharing them on social media.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of multiple breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations covering a nine-season period from 2009/10 to 2017/18.

The Premier League said most of the charges related to the club’s failure to cooperate fully with its investigation.

According to the findings released by the League, Manchester City entered into what the commission described as “sham” commercial agreements with several sponsors. The arrangements allegedly misrepresented the actual agreements between the parties and helped the club inflate its reported revenue while reducing its costs.

The commission also found that the club submitted accounts that did not accurately reflect its financial position and concealed information from its auditors and football regulators.

Manchester City was further found to have significantly breached both Premier League and UEFA spending regulations during the period under review.

The commission also upheld three of four alleged breaches relating to the club’s cooperation and good-faith obligations during the Premier League’s investigation.

The League said the commercial arrangements formed part of a disguised funding structure. Under the arrangement, some sponsors paid only part of the agreed sponsorship fees, while Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club at the time, provided the remaining funds.

The Premier League said the arrangement meant Manchester City did not accurately report its income and expenditure under the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Rules.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said the commission’s decision had established the facts surrounding the case.

“The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.

“It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City.  While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

“It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.

“This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.”

The Premier League said the issue of sanctions for the breaches remains to be determined as the disciplinary process continues.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has decided not to assign Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt to another player during the upcoming international windows.

The decision comes as Messi prepares for what is expected to be his final appearance for Argentina, with a specially arranged farewell match against Benin scheduled for October.

Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, confirmed that the shirt will remain vacant until Messi’s final international appearance.

“Until Leo Messi’s match, nobody will wear the 10,” Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, said.

The decision means Argentina will enter their upcoming friendly matches against Bolivia and Burkina Faso without a player wearing the No. 10 shirt.

The AFA is expected to determine who will inherit the famous jersey after Messi officially ends his international career.

Messi has worn the No. 10 shirt throughout much of his Argentina career and has led the national team to major honours, including the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 Finalissima.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

California has officially recognised Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law on September 28, 2026.

The new law adds the two major Islamic festivals to California’s list of state holidays. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, while Eid al-Adha is observed during the Islamic pilgrimage season and commemorates the sacrifice associated with Prophet Ibrahim.

The legislation also allows state and school employees to observe the two holidays using existing personal holiday credits or other available leave. K-12 public schools and community colleges may also close for Eid through locally negotiated agreements.

However, the law does not automatically require every school or workplace to close on the two occasions. It also excludes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha from California’s judicial holidays.

The move formally recognises two important religious observances of California’s Muslim community and reflects the state’s religious and cultural diversity.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump has urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop any form of Chinese assistance to Iran, according to the US ambassador to China, David Perdue.

Perdue disclosed the matter after Trump and Xi met at the White House, saying Washington considers any support from Beijing to Tehran unacceptable.

The ambassador said Trump “did a great job making sure China knows this is unacceptable,” and indicated that the US had observed some movement from China on the issue.

“We’ve seen movement on that already,” Perdue told Fox News. “That’s what commitment is. They assured us they aren’t doing that.”

Trump and Xi met again at the White House on Friday before visiting the National Archives, as the Chinese president concluded a three-day conference.

During remarks over tea in the White House Red Room, both leaders spoke positively about relations between the two countries.

“America is very happy about this visit,” Trump stated. “I’m sure China is very happy also.”

Xi described China-US relations as having reached a state of “strategic stability”.

The Chinese president also said he looked forward to meeting Trump at the APEC summit in China and the G20 summit in Miami.

Xi’s visit took place amid the ongoing 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. However, the Chinese president did not attend the gathering of world leaders.

The reported discussion over Chinese assistance to Iran comes amid heightened tensions involving Tehran and the United States and its allies.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A senior Iranian military adviser has warned that Iran could expand the battlefield to the Indian Ocean if the United States or Israel launches another attack.

Yahya Rahim Safavi said the conflict has already spread from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz toward the Red Sea, and that further escalation could push fighting into the Indian Ocean.

The warning carries strategic significance because the Indian Ocean hosts key military installations, including the US-British base at Diego Garcia.

Safavi’s remarks came as Iranian and US representatives continued indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, aimed at preventing further escalation.

Iran maintains that sanctions relief and the unfreezing of its assets are essential to ending the conflict and restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.