FG Opens Access to 250,000 Free Business Name Registrations

The Federal Government has opened applications for 250,000 free business name registrations for eligible entrepreneurs across Nigeria as part of efforts to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The initiative, approved under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is aimed at reducing the cost of formalising small businesses and encouraging more Nigerians to register their enterprises.

Eligible entrepreneurs interested in benefiting from the programme have been advised to apply through the official SMEDAN portal.

The registration is completely free, with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) expected to process the business name registrations without charging applicants.

The government has also warned applicants to beware of fraudsters who may attempt to exploit the programme. Entrepreneurs have been advised not to pay anyone claiming to have the ability to fast-track or secure their registration.

Applicants are therefore encouraged to use only the official SMEDAN platform and avoid making payments or sharing personal information with unauthorised agents.

7 Dead in Stampede at Temple in India

At least seven women have died and several others were injured after a stampede at the Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai district of India’s Bihar state, officials said on Monday.

The incident occurred early Monday after an electricity pole reportedly fell near the temple. A rumour then spread among devotees that a live electrical wire had fallen on people, triggering panic and a rush among women waiting in a queue.

According to senior civil official Shailendra Kumar, the pressure in the queue caused several women to fall on top of one another.

“Seven devotees died, while the exact number of injured is still being determined,” Kumar said.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said instructions had been issued to the authorities to ensure that the injured receive proper and urgent medical treatment.

Authorities are continuing to assess the situation and determine the full number of casualties.

Israeli Settlers Establish New Outpost in Occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers have begun setting up tents for a new settlement outpost near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, while another group continues to besiege Palestinian families in the village of Qusra near Nablus.

The new outpost is being established in the Wadi Zeytun area near Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah. Palestinian officials say settlers have also started establishing another outpost in the nearby village of Burqa.

If completed, the new outposts would increase the number of Israeli settlement outposts surrounding the two villages to six.

According to Palestinian reports, Israeli settlers have taken control of large portions of land belonging to Umm Safa and Burqa. Residents say the expansion has severely restricted their access to their farmland.

Meanwhile, in Qusra, 15 Palestinians, including two children, remain confined to their homes as a settler siege enters its second week. Israeli soldiers have reportedly positioned themselves near the homes and erected a tent in the area.

Palestinian Red Crescent teams have also reported being blocked from reaching areas affected by settler attacks.

Other incidents were reported in Beit Imrin, Nab’a al-Kaabneh, Turmus Aya and Hebron, where Palestinians were reportedly attacked or detained.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese accused Israel of allowing settlers to carry out coercive actions against Palestinians, saying the settlers were being used to advance what she described as an “ethnic cleansing” campaign.

Palestinian National Initiative Secretary-General Mustafa Barghouti described the situation in the West Bank as “extremely dangerous,” alleging that settler groups were carrying out around 30 attacks each day.

The United Nations considers Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law.

Lagos Government Trains Over 200 Professionals to Strengthen Public Institutions

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to improve the effectiveness of its public institutions by training more than 200 engineers, human resource professionals and local government planning officers.

The training programmes, organised by the Ministries of Economic Planning and Budget and Establishments and Training, focused on strengthening data management, professional skills and evidence-based decision-making across the state.

Speaking during a capacity-building session for Heads of Planning, Research and Statistics from the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Olayinka Ojo, stressed the importance of accurate data in development planning.

She noted that local councils are particularly important because of their close relationship with communities and their ability to provide reliable information about residents’ socio-economic conditions and needs.

Ojo urged planning officers to improve the collection, management and use of grassroots data, noting that reliable information should guide government budgeting, policy formulation, programme implementation and monitoring.

The training, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ikeja, brought together officials from relevant government departments and development organisations to share technical knowledge and practical approaches to improving data systems.

In a separate programme held at the same venue, the Ministry of Establishments and Training commenced specialised training for engineers and human resource officers in the state civil service.

The engineering participants received training on “Effective Engineering Solutions for Public Sector Challenges,” while human resource officers focused on “Human Resource and Organisational Management.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Establishments and Training, Dr Olubusola Abidakun, encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions, acquire new skills and share professional experiences.

The programmes are part of the Lagos State Government’s broader efforts to build a more capable workforce, strengthen public institutions and ensure that government policies are effectively translated into results.

One Killed, Four Injured in Shooting at Kentucky Park

One person was killed and four others injured after a shooting at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington on Saturday evening, police said.

Lexington police responded to reports of gunfire shortly before 7 p.m. and found five victims at the scene. One victim later died at a hospital, while the other four suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

According to local media reports, Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said two children, aged 4 and 14, were among those injured in the shooting.

Police have not released details about a suspect. Chief Weathers said authorities did not believe there was any ongoing threat to the public.

He urged anyone with information about the shooting or anyone who may know of someone planning to use a weapon to contact police.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Trump Orders Major Reduction in US-South Korea Military Drills

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, saying he is unhappy with the drills and citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump said the exercises were costly and could send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea. He also argued that Pyongyang had remained relatively respectful and unthreatening toward his administration.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to run from August 17 to 27 and involve about 18,000 South Korean troops alongside US forces. The drills are designed to strengthen the allies’ ability to respond to potential threats from North Korea.

However, South Korea’s Ministry of Defence said the exercises would proceed as previously scheduled, despite Trump’s announcement.

North Korea has repeatedly condemned the military exercises, describing them as preparations for an invasion. Pyongyang recently warned that growing military cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea could lead to a nuclear alliance.

Trump previously criticised US-South Korea military exercises during his first presidential term. Following his 2018 summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, he described the drills as expensive and provocative.

The latest decision comes as Trump continues to emphasise his relationship with Kim and seeks to reduce military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea Landslide Kills One as Heavy Rains Batter Southern Region

One person has died and three others were injured after a landslide struck a residential apartment building in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, amid torrential rainfall across southern South Korea.

According to media reports, the landslide buried the building’s first floor. Rescue workers managed to pull three residents from the building, but one of them later died in hospital.

South Korea’s weather agency has issued heavy-rain warnings for parts of the southern region, where some areas have received up to 800 millimetres (31.5 inches) of rain since Saturday. The rainfall has been accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

In Geoje, a coastal city near Busan, overflowing rivers and flooded roads have disrupted traffic and left some residents stranded.

Authorities are also evacuating about 100 residents in Geoje because of the risk of additional landslides, while emergency teams are working to rescue around 20 people trapped in the area.

Officials have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert as heavy rainfall continues to raise the risk of flooding and landslides.

Opposition Parties Boycott Bauchi Local Government Elections

Several opposition political parties in Bauchi State have announced their decision to boycott Monday’s local government elections, describing the exercise as a “kangaroo election” allegedly designed to favour the ruling Allied People’s Movement (APM).

The coalition comprises the African Democratic Congress (ADC), African Action Congress (AAC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The parties announced their decision during a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Bauchi on Sunday.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, ADC National Spokesperson Dr Ladan Salihu said the parties had agreed to jointly reject the election under what they described as an unfair electoral arrangement. He added that the Bauchi State APC chairman was also expected to join the coalition.

The opposition parties raised concerns over the legal framework guiding the election, nomination and administrative fees, the compressed electoral timetable, and the limited period available for campaigns and internal party processes.

They accused the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) of imposing excessive fees and creating additional financial burdens for political parties and candidates.

The coalition also criticised the requirement that election-related forms be processed exclusively at the BASIEC headquarters in Bauchi, saying this would impose unnecessary transportation and administrative costs on candidates and political parties.

According to the opposition parties, the electoral arrangements appeared to favour the ruling party, which they alleged had greater access to government machinery and public resources.

The coalition insisted that its decision to boycott the election should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from democracy.

“Our decision not to participate under the present arrangement must not be mistaken for weakness or withdrawal from a democratic process,” the parties said.

They called on BASIEC to postpone the election and address their concerns by providing what they described as a genuine and level playing field for all political parties.

The opposition parties said they would reconsider their boycott if the alleged restrictions and concerns were addressed, while reaffirming their commitment to peaceful democratic participation in Bauchi State and Nigeria.

Hundreds of Migrants Arrested Near Ceuta Border as Morocco Tightens Security

Moroccan security forces have arrested nearly 300 migrants attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by land and sea, as authorities intensify security along the border to prevent another mass crossing.

Morocco’s state broadcaster Medi 1 TV reported that 294 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were arrested on Saturday while attempting to enter Ceuta. Authorities also detained 61 Moroccan nationals accused of facilitating the migration attempts.

The latest arrests come about two weeks after more than 72,000 people reportedly attempted to reach Ceuta in a major migration crisis. At least 90 people died, according to official figures, while human rights organisations said the actual death toll could be higher.

The attempted crossings were reportedly encouraged by social media posts urging migrants to travel towards Ceuta. In response, Moroccan and Spanish authorities have significantly increased security along the border.

Migrants Demand Asylum

On Sunday, hundreds of migrants staged a protest on a beach in Ceuta, calling on Spanish authorities to grant them asylum rather than return them to Morocco.

An estimated 5,000 to 8,000 migrants remain in Ceuta following the mass crossing two weeks ago. Many are living in difficult conditions on beaches and on the outskirts of the city while waiting for opportunities to continue towards mainland Europe.

Protesters carried Spanish flags and banners reading “We don’t want to go back to Morocco” and “We are also human.”

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said migrants who entered the enclave irregularly would generally not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain or obtain legal status, except in exceptional cases involving extreme vulnerability.

Morocco has reportedly deployed more than 20,000 security personnel along the Ceuta border each day.

Thousands of migrants from across Africa and beyond travel through Morocco every year, fleeing poverty, conflict and instability while seeking opportunities to reach Europe. Many attempt to enter the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla before travelling onward to mainland Spain.

Israeli Minister Urges Killing of 30–40 Palestinians Every Night in Gaza

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for Israeli forces to kill between 30 and 40 Palestinians in Gaza every night, including people who may not pose an immediate threat.

Ben-Gvir made the remarks during a podcast discussion with former Israeli captive Rom Braslavski. He also described some Palestinians as “not worthy of life” and called for targeted killings to be expanded.

The minister criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to reduce military strikes under the current ceasefire, arguing instead for renewed targeted assassinations in Gaza.

Although Ben-Gvir does not have direct authority to order military strikes, he is a member of Israel’s security cabinet, which plays a role in shaping national security and war policy.

He also expressed support for Palestinians leaving Gaza permanently and for new Israeli settlements in the territory, saying he viewed “all of Gaza as ours.” International lawyers have warned that forced or engineered mass displacement could amount to ethnic cleansing.

Ben-Gvir has long faced international criticism over his hardline views and policies toward Palestinians. He has also strongly supported Israel’s death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,250 people in Gaza since the current ceasefire began in October.

DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in Nation’s History

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with 2,325 people confirmed dead and 4,945 infections recorded.

The latest figures from the DRC’s National Public Health Institute show that 101 new cases were detected within 24 hours, highlighting the rapid spread of the virus.

The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, has now surpassed the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak.

United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the outbreak as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record and called for an urgent response.

«“We need speed, scale, and solidarity before this virus gets even further ahead of us,” Fletcher said.»

The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak could continue to worsen if its current pace is not contained.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Weak healthcare infrastructure, remote communities and ongoing conflict near the DRC’s borders with South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda have made containment more difficult.

The case fatality rate has also increased sharply, rising from about 20 percent in early June to 46 percent, meaning nearly half of confirmed patients have died.

Health experts say many patients are being identified too late, sometimes only after they have died in their communities, reducing the chances of successful treatment.

A limited number of experimental vaccines and therapies are currently being evaluated, while international health authorities continue to investigate whether existing Ebola treatments could help protect patients.

The United Nations and global health organisations are urging a rapid expansion of testing, treatment, contact tracing and other emergency measures to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.

El-Rufai Files N10bn Suit Against ICPC Over Alleged Denial of Family Access

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a fresh N10 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that the agency has prevented his wife and son from visiting him while in custody.

The suit, filed through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, also names the ICPC Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026.

El-Rufai is seeking several declarations and orders, including a declaration that his fundamental human rights remain protected despite his detention.

He alleged that repeated denial of access to his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, had prevented them from providing him with food, medication and other necessities.

According to the former governor, the alleged actions of ICPC officials violated his rights to dignity and private and family life under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He also alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7, describing the incident as an unlawful interference with his family relationship.

El-Rufai is asking the court to order the ICPC to grant him unhindered and reasonable access to his family members and legal representatives throughout his detention.

In an affidavit supporting the case, his Principal Secretary, Mohammed Shaba, said El-Rufai’s wife had previously visited him regularly and provided food, medication, clothing and other personal necessities.

Shaba further stated that the Federal High Court in Kaduna had earlier ordered the ICPC to allow El-Rufai access to his lawyers and personal physicians whenever necessary.

El-Rufai maintained that detainees should not be held incommunicado and that the ICPC remains subject to judicial oversight regarding the conditions of his detention.

The former governor is currently being detained by the ICPC in connection with a criminal case pending before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

The allegations contained in the suit remain subject to determination by the court.