News

By Muhammad Abubakar

Anti-Muslim racism is widespread in Germany’s public institutions, with most Muslims reporting discriminatory treatment when dealing with state authorities, according to a recent survey highlighted by anti-racism advocates.

The findings, cited by the alliance against anti-Muslim hatred CLAIM, show that around 80 per cent of Muslims surveyed reported experiencing discrimination in their interactions with public institutions and authorities. The study examined experiences involving government agencies, public services, and other state institutions.

Researchers said the results point to persistent forms of institutional racism that affect Muslims in areas such as employment services, migration offices, law enforcement, and public administration. The study is among the most comprehensive investigations of racism within German federal institutions to date.

The survey comes amid growing concern over anti-Muslim hostility in Germany. A separate civil society report presented by CLAIM this week documented 4,096 anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in 2025, up from 3,080 cases in 2024. The incidents included discrimination, insults, threats, property damage, and violent attacks. Women accounted for nearly two-thirds of recorded cases where gender was identified.

CLAIM and other advocacy groups have called for stronger measures to combat anti-Muslim racism, including improved complaint mechanisms, better monitoring of discrimination, and expanded anti-bias training within public institutions.

Germany is home to more than five million Muslims, making it one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. Recent studies have warned that discrimination and exclusion continue to pose significant challenges to social cohesion and equal participation in public life.

By Maryam Ahmad

A United Nations commission of inquiry has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, alleging that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children and inflicted conditions aimed at destroying the future of the Palestinian population.

In a report released on Monday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry said children accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the more than 67,000 Palestinians reported killed during the conflict. The commission argued that the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas, attacks on essential services, and severe humanitarian conditions demonstrated genocidal intent.

The inquiry also documented widespread psychological trauma, attacks on healthcare facilities, and worsening conditions for children in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Israel strongly rejected the findings, describing them as false and politically motivated. Israeli officials said the military takes measures to minimise civilian casualties and blamed Hamas for operating within civilian areas and diverting humanitarian resources.

The report is likely to intensify international debate over the conduct of the war, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and has since resulted in heavy casualties and widespread destruction across Gaza.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Federal Government has renamed the PTDF College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna in honour of the late Nigerian statesman, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

According to a statement issued by the management of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the institution will now be known as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology. The renaming follows a presidential directive by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

PTDF said the decision recognises Yar’Adua’s contributions to national unity and Nigeria’s democratic development. The fund assured stakeholders that all academic programmes, partnerships, and institutional operations would continue without disruption under the university’s new identity.

The institution is expected to maintain its focus on research, specialised training, and engineering technology development aimed at supporting Nigeria’s oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

China has removed or suspended more than 12,000 university degree programs as part of a sweeping reform aimed at aligning higher education with the country’s economic and technological priorities.

According to data from China’s Ministry of Education, universities revoked or suspended about 12,200 undergraduate programs between 2021 and 2025 while introducing roughly 10,200 new ones. The changes affected more than 30 per cent of university programs nationwide. The cuts were concentrated in arts, humanities, foreign languages, and management-related disciplines.

Programs such as English literature, product design, and public administration were among those affected as universities reviewed courses deemed obsolete or less closely aligned with current labour-market needs.

The reforms come as China seeks to address a graduate employment challenge and strengthen its position in advanced technology industries. Officials and university administrators have increasingly emphasised programs that are seen as supporting national development goals and emerging sectors.

To replace the discontinued programs, universities introduced thousands of new degree offerings focused on advanced technologies and strategic industries. New majors include embodied intelligence, semiconductor engineering, and brain-computer interface technologies, among other fields linked to artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing.

The overhaul reflects Beijing’s broader ambition to build a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting innovation, technological self-reliance, and long-term economic growth. Supporters argue the reforms will improve graduate employability, while critics warn that reducing opportunities in the humanities could weaken intellectual diversity and critical inquiry within universities.

As China continues to reshape its higher education system, the reforms are likely to attract close attention from policymakers and educators around the world who are grappling with similar questions about the future of work and the role of universities in a technology-driven economy.

By Muhammad Abubakar

A renowned mathematician and infectious disease modeller, Professor Abba B. Gumel, has been elected President-Elect of the Society for Mathematical Biology (SMB), becoming the first African to attain the prestigious position.

The announcement was celebrated by academics and researchers across the world, including Dr Salihu Sabiu Musa, who described the achievement as a major milestone for mathematical biology and African scholarship.

The Society for Mathematical Biology is one of the world’s leading professional organisations dedicated to advancing research and education at the intersection of mathematics and the life sciences.

Professor Gumel is internationally recognised for his pioneering contributions to infectious disease modelling, particularly in the study of epidemics and public health challenges. His work has influenced scientific understanding of disease transmission and informed public health responses globally.

According to Dr Musa, Professor Gumel’s election reflects his outstanding scholarship, leadership, and commitment to mentoring students and early-career researchers. He noted that the professor has inspired and supported countless scientists worldwide through his research and academic guidance.

Scholars have described the development as a significant achievement for Africa, highlighting the growing global impact of African researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Professor Gumel is expected to help shape the future direction of mathematical biology as the field continues to play an increasingly important role in addressing global health and environmental challenges.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A 26-year-old housewife, Fatima, is in police custody in Kano State after allegedly stabbing her husband, Auwalu, to death on Sunday in the Rimin Kebe quarters of the metropolitan area.

The couple, who had been married for less than two months, reportedly engaged in a heated argument that turned violent. Neighbors said the marriage was not one of mutual affection, with the wife having consistently expressed reluctance to the union.

According to a local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the deceased emerged from their home crying for help after the attack.

“Fatima struck his throat with a knife. He came out shouting that it was his wife who stabbed him. He was rushed to the police station and later to a hospital, but he died before arrival,” the source told.

The suspect was promptly arrested by officers from the Zango Police Division in Dantamashe.

“Their marriage is less than two months old. The wife is presently under police custody,” the source added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that NATO has been unable to achieve its objective of defeating Russia through the conflict in Ukraine, as he renewed criticism of the Western military alliance.

Putin made the remarks at the Kremlin during a meeting with military personnel involved in what Moscow describes as its special military operation. The event formed part of activities marking Russia Day.

According to the Russian leader, his country is confronting what he called the collective West, led by NATO, with several nations backing actions against Russia.

”It was them (NATO) who started the war,” he emphasized. “I have said this many times, we did not initiate the conflict when the special military operation began (in 2022).”

Putin maintained that developments in Ukraine before the outbreak of hostilities forced Russia to take action. He argued that what he described as NATO’s “coup d’etat in Ukraine” and the deployment of military systems prompted Moscow to protect residents of Crimea in 2014, which later contributed to fighting in eastern Ukraine.

“We did not wake up one day and decided that we would start a war tomorrow,” he said. “For eight years, we attempted to achieve a peaceful settlement.”

The Russian president also recalled efforts by Moscow to encourage dialogue between Ukrainian authorities and residents of southeastern Ukraine. He said Russia repeatedly received assurances that existing agreements would be implemented.

Putin further claimed that recent statements from Western officials showed that the Minsk Agreements were used to give Kyiv time to strengthen its military capabilities before continuing the conflict.

He also criticized countries that joined NATO, alleging that some did so “in the hope of securing their share of the benefits.”

Addressing ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine and several European countries, Putin said Russia remains open to discussions. However, he stressed that any agreement must take into account Moscow’s “long-term” interests.

”There is only one piece of advice we can offer our adversaries: do not fight Russia. Never attempt to do so,” he warned. “Those (talks) must be genuine negotiations, not ultimatums.”

The comments come as diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict continue, more than four years after the war escalated in 2022.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has attributed Nigeria’s long-running electricity problems to what she described as poor public policy, despite the country’s abundant oil and gas resources.

Badenoch made the remarks during a recent interview with The Spectator, where she reflected on her upbringing and discussed a range of issues.

According to her, the presence of natural resources alone does not guarantee development if government policies fail to support their effective use.

“My belief that we need to drill our oil and gas comes from growing up in a country… Nigeria is an oil-producing country that has never had electricity,” she said.

“It is very easy to have resources under the ground, but stupid public policy means that you can’t use them,” she added.

Her comments come at a time when Nigeria continues to face persistent power supply shortages despite reforms and the privatisation of the electricity sector over the years.

Available data shows that the country’s electricity generation has largely remained between 3,500 and 5,000 megawatts, a figure many analysts consider inadequate for a population estimated at more than 250 million people.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently assured Nigerians that his administration would continue efforts to tackle the challenges facing the power sector.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Mrs. Abubakar, wife of retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar, following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The rescue operation, conducted under the ongoing Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, was launched after intelligence reports confirmed the abduction of the retired senior officer’s wife and other family members.

Military sources told Zagazola that troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga village during a search-and-rescue mission. The armed group came under heavy military pressure and fled the scene.

“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding, we have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source said.

The victim was immediately stabilized by troops before being evacuated to a medical facility for further treatment.

Military authorities have since intensified follow-up operations in the area, with troops maintaining a coordinated pursuit of the fleeing bandits and suspected kingpins linked to the attack and abduction.

Security sources assured that the ongoing clearance operation under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III will continue until all criminal hideouts are dismantled. The military remains committed to tracking down those responsible and ensuring they face justice.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a public holiday to mark the commencement of the Islamic New Year, 1448AH.

The announcement was contained in a circular issued on Monday by the Office of the Head of Civil Service, stating that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf approved the holiday in recognition of the significance of the Islamic calendar and the state’s tradition of observing the beginning of the new Hijrah year.

According to the circular, all workers in the state are expected to observe the holiday on Tuesday, which corresponds with the 1st of Muharram, 1448AH.

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has granted approval for Tuesday, 16th June, 2026 (1st Muharram, 1448AH), which marks the commencement of the Islamic New Year, to serve as a public holiday for all workers in the state,” the statement said.

The government called on civil servants and residents to use the occasion to offer prayers for peace, unity, stability and continued development in Kano State and Nigeria.

The circular was signed by Safiyya Ali Suleiman, Director of Administration and General Services, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service.

With the declaration, government offices and public institutions across the state will remain closed on Tuesday to enable residents observe the beginning of the new Islamic year.