Reports indicate that multiple bomb explosions hit Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday, March 16, 2026. Initial accounts suggest there are several casualties, with many residents and worshippers feared dead. The blasts occurred at the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two local markets, known as Post Office and the Monday Market, according to Sirajo Abdullahi, head of operations at Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, in Maiduguri. This attack follows a pattern of violence in the region, including a major suicide bombing at the Al-Adum Juma'at Mosque in December 2025 that killed five people and injured 35 others. Maiduguri remains a focal point for insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP. Security operatives are expected to cordon off the affected areas to allow for emergency response and preliminary assessments. Residents are generally advised by authorities to remain vigilant and avoid crowded areas during these periods of heigh...

Chelsea FC has been fined £10.75 million ($14m) and handed a suspended one-year first-team transfer ban by the Premier League for historical financial breaches between 2011 and 2018 under Roman Abramovich's ownership.  The club also faces an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban due to undisclosed payments.  Secret payments to agents and third parties, totaling over £47m, which were not properly disclosed.  The investigation has identified transfers associated with these undisclosed payments, which include: Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Willian, David Luiz, and Nemanja Matic.    A £10.75m fine, a suspended one-year transfer ban (valid for two years), and an immediate nine-month academy restriction.  The breaches were self-reported by the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium after they acquired the club in 2022. The investigation involved player transactions including Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, and Willian, but the club avoided a points deduction becaus...

  In a statement issued on March 12, 2026, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called for maximum restraint and immediate de-escalation following a series of alarming security incidents along the shared borders of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The regional bloc expressed "deep concern" over escalating territorial friction in the Mano River Basin and announced the deployment of a technical assessment mission to evaluate current crises. Reports indicate heightened border tensions in the Mano River region: Liberia Border (Lofa County): Security incidents, including reported incursions and construction disputes in Foya District, have occurred as of March 11, 2026. Sierra Leone Border (Yenga & Falaba): Ongoing disputes, notably around Yenga, have caused friction, with reports of detained security personnel during border construction. ECOWAS is deploying a technical team to investigate the disputed Yenga border area and the Lofa border.  Guinea-Bissau’s P...

As of March 15, 2026, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has publicly vowed to "pursue and kill" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling him a "child-killing criminal". This threat follows a significant escalation in the regional conflict that began on February 28, 2026, with a joint U.S.-Israeli operation that resulted in the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei The IRGC declared on its official website and via affiliated media that if Netanyahu "is still alive, we will continue working to hunt him down and kill him with all our strength". The pledge follows reports of Israeli strikes on key Iranian leadership and the alleged killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, prompting intense retaliation from Tehran. The IRGC claimed to have launched missile attacks against the office of Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and the headquarters of the Israeli Air Force commander in "surprise" operations. Unverified Rumors: The threat ca...

  On March 13, 2026, the Red Cross Society of China announced a $200,000 donation to the Iranian Red Crescent Society for families of students killed in a February 28 missile strike on a girls' school in Minab, Iran, describing the incident as an "indiscriminate" attack violating international law. The funds are specifically intended for "condolences and compensations" to the parents of students killed at the Shajareh-Tayyebeh school in the town of Minab.  The donation will be channeled through the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the strike as a "severe violation of international humanitarian law" and called for an end to "indiscriminate attacks against civilians".  Iranian media reported at least 165 fatalities, many of whom were schoolgirls. While the United States initially suggested Iranian responsibility, a subsequent U.S. military investigation reportedly indicated that a U.S. Tom...

  The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released a preliminary report following the February 11, 2026, engine incident involving an Arik Air Boeing 737-700 (registration 5N-MJF).  The flight, W3-740 from Lagos to Port Harcourt, was forced to make an emergency diversion to Benin City after a "loud bang" and severe vibrations from the left engine. While all 80 passengers and seven crew members disembarked safely, the NSIB identified 23 distinct aircraft components or impact points that sustained substantial damage. The number six fan blade was found broken off at the root. The remaining 23 fan blades were all found to be chipped or damaged. The engine inlet cowling was missing entirely, and the inboard and outboard cowling covers were folded upward, exposing internal accessories. Damage was recorded on the engine-driven pump (EDP), which was found loose, as well as the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) oil cooler and the anti-ice duct.  Investigators found deep...

  X has proposed changes to its blue checkmark system in the European Union following a €120 million fine under the Digital Services Act (DSA).  The EU found the paid subscription model deceptive, arguing it created false trust by confusing subscribers with formally verified public figures. Regulators are now reviewing these proposed remedies. The European Commission fined X in late 2025/early 2026 for violating the DSA. The main issue was that the blue checkmark—once a sign of identity verification—was sold to any subscriber, causing potential deception. X submitted changes to how verified accounts are labeled and presented within the EU to comply with the commission's rules, although specific details of these changes were not initially disclosed. The European Commission is currently evaluating the proposed solutions. Additionally, X faces a deadline for further improvements in transparency, specifically regarding advertiser logs and, according to Xinhua, is required to submi...