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As Nigeria gears up for the crucial 2027 presidential election, the political landscape is becoming increasingly dynamic, with key figures emerging to challenge the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu. Among these potential contenders is Dr. Gbenga Hashim, a businessman and activist whose profile is rising sharply. In a recent article for AllAfrica, Chief Paschal Mbawuike lauds Hashim as "the best new hope" for Nigeria’s leadership. Mbawuike acknowledges that while Hashim may not yet wield the same political power as the…

France's National Rally (RN) fell short of its ambition to capture Marseille and Toulon in yesterday's municipal ballots, a setback that offered a boost to embattled mainstream parties as they eye next year's presidential contest. In a separate high-stakes race, Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Gregoire prevailed in the Paris mayoral contest, defeating conservative ex-minister Rachida Dati and keeping the French capital under left-wing control. These municipal votes were watched nationwide for signals ahead of the 2027…

By STEVE DOUGLAS Wednesday March 18, 2026 What once sounded fanciful now feels within reach: Arsenal’s push for a quadruple of major trophies is very much alive this season. The players scarcely have a moment to dwell on it. Arsenal booked a place in the Champions League quarterfinals by defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Tuesday, clinching a 3-1 aggregate win. Mikel Arteta’s side also sits nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, meets Manchester City in Sunday’s English League Cup final, and has already…

Guinea: Government Dissolves Political Parties, Sparking Outcry The government of Guinea has taken a controversial step by dissolving 40 political parties, a move critics say underscores the potential shift towards a one-party state under President Mamady Doumbouya. This significant action includes the dissolution of well-known parties such as the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea and the Rally of the People of Guinea, which is associated with former president Alpha Condé. In a sweeping measure, the government has also…

GLASGOW, Scotland — Glasgow Central, Scotland’s biggest train station, remained closed Monday after a major fire tore through a neighboring 19th-century building off Union Street, causing a partial dome collapse and leaving only the facade of the corner property at Gordon Street and Union Street standing. No injuries have been reported, but officials said the closure is likely to continue until Wednesday, disrupting thousands of journeys in and out of the city center. The blaze broke out Sunday night in a building adjacent…

Somalia says senior al-Shabab planner behind 2025 attacks killed in Lower Shabelle strike MOGADISHU, Somalia (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Tuesday it killed a senior al-Shabab leader accused of orchestrating several of the extremist group’s deadliest operations last year, including the assault on the Godka Jilacow detention complex in Mogadishu. NISA said the March 1 operation took place in the Hantiwadaag area of Awdheegle district in the Lower Shabelle region and was conducted in…

U.S., Israel launch major strikes on Iran as Trump urges uprising; Tehran fires missiles at Israel, U.S. bases The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran on Saturday, opening a new chapter of military confrontation as President Donald Trump urged Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Within hours, Iran said it fired a “first wave” of missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted U.S. military sites across the Gulf. Strikes reported near…

GENEVA — The United States pressed Iran to shut down and dismantle core parts of its nuclear program during a third round of talks here in February 2026, demanding the closure of three major sites and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, according to details emerging from the negotiations. U.S. negotiators called for the destruction of facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — installations widely seen as the backbone of Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity — and proposed that Tehran’s stockpiled…

Kenya foils major terror plot in Nairobi during Ramadan NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s National Intelligence Service and the elite Special Operations Group have foiled a major attack planned for Nairobi during the holy month of Ramadan, disrupting a network authorities believe is linked to Somalia-based extremist group Al-Shabaab. Officials said Thursday the arrests were made late Tuesday at a Nairobi hideout where suspects were allegedly finalizing plans for a coordinated assault. The raid capped weeks — possibly months — of…

A massive winter storm is bearing down on the United States with a hazardous mix of freezing rain and heavy snow threatening some 160 million people through the weekend, prompting states of emergency across at least 14 states and Washington, D.C., and warnings of “catastrophic” icy conditions. The National Weather Service said the sprawling system could bring catastrophic ice accumulation capable of downing trees and power lines, leading to long-duration power outages and making travel extremely dangerous or impossible. The…