Dr. MKO Balogun

Donald Trump called Barack Obama’s Syria “red line” reversal “a disaster.” But Obama’s red line flip-flop looks like the model of careful policymaking compared to Trump’s many about-faces during the Iran war. My take:

Trump and Israel are systematically bombing research centers and top universities across Iran. Assassinating 200+ teachers and students. Destroying 600+ schools in just 28 days. This isn’t liberation. This is calculated destruction of Iran’s knowledge and future — the deliberate killing of the next generation of scientists and thinkers. This is a war crime and a crime against humanity.

Pope Leo said God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have "hands full of blood," in unusually forceful remarks as the Iran war entered its second month. Addressing tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, the celebration that opens the holy week leading up to Easter for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, the pontiff called the conflict "atrocious" and said Jesus cannot be used to justify any wars. bit.ly/4bNOK5b 📸: Remo Casilli/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

BBC Verify says footage and expert analysis indicate a U.S. Precision Strike Missile was likely used in the March 9 strike on a sports hall in Lamerd, Iran, where children were training, killing at least 21 people, including young girls. trib.al/UGUzuwS

Crowds of people protested Saturday against the war in Iran and President Trump's actions, in "No Kings" rallies across the U.S. and in Europe. U.S. organizers had estimated that the first two rounds of No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people in June and 7 million in October. On Saturday, they estimated that at least 8 million participants took part in more than 3,300 events worldwide.

Huge crowds of protesters took to the streets in more than 3,000 cities and towns across the country Saturday to again call out President Trump and his polices, with organizers saying this one could be the biggest so far. Read more: abcnews.link/V8aeJEv

Amnesty International warned that millions of fans heading to the 2026 World Cup faced serious human rights risks and that the tournament no longer felt like the 'safe, free and inclusive' event promised by FIFA eight years ago

Proud to join half a million people marching against racism and the far-right. This is just the beginning. Tomorrow, we carry on organising, carry on mobilising, and carry on campaigning for a more equal and peaceful world.

Israeli police prevented a top Vatican cardinal from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday mass for the first time in centuries. 🔗: telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…

South Africa 🇿🇦 President Cyril Ramaphosa becomes the first African President to openly and publicly oppose US-Israel attack on Tehran and other areas. "The illegal war that is being raged by the US and Israel is another act of imperialism".

For the first time in centuries, Catholic leaders have been barred from Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, according to church authorities in the holy city. cnn.it/47s8ybz

Today my heart is filled with deep joy as we announce the Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters— a ₦12 billion research funding scheme designed to place ideas, evidence, and research at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation. This programme is being funded under Project BRIDGE, our initiative to deploy 90,000km of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria to expand connectivity and enable a modern digital economy. As we deepen our digital infrastructure coverage , thoughtful evidence based approaches are required to be deployed in society to ensure everyone benefits from this significant investment. Too often, the ideas shaping digital policy come predominantly from markets and political cycles rather than from research, evidence, and long-term thinking. A quote that captures this sentiment comes to mind: “The state of a society is a reflection of the ideas that dominate it — when good ideas spread, nations prosper; when bad ideas prevail, nations decay.” Through this programme, Nigeria will establish six national research clusters across key pillars of the digital economy: • Connectivity, Access, and Meaningful Use • Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Government • Digital Skills, Education, and Human Capital • Digital Economy, Jobs, and Livelihoods • Trust, Safety, Consumer Protection, and Online Harms • Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies These research clusters will be led by up to 36 distinguished professors, from 36 Nigerian universities working with international academic partners. Across the clusters, over 200 researchers, including Postdoctoral Fellows and PhD candidates will generate rigorous, policy-relevant research to guide Nigeria’s digital economy for years to come. For me, the goal goes beyond research output. We are looking for better policies that lead to stronger institutions and a more prosperous society. Despite the scale of the other initiatives we are delivering at the Ministry, this is one of the most meaningful to me personally, because it plants seeds that will grow long after any one administration. If you are part of an academic or research institution committed to producing rigorous, policy-relevant research, you can review the Terms of Reference (TOR) in the EOI we are releasing today here - b.link/EOI-NDULRC and submit proposals to lead and participate in these national research clusters. Because nations that lead the future are not simply those that deploy infrastructure — they are the ones that cultivate ideas. In the coming week, we will host a press conference to further elaborate on this announcement. I encourage Vice-Chancellors of universities across Nigeria to look out for detailed information and engagement opportunities. #NigerianExcellence

Israeli soldiers talked of revenge after targeting Palestinians and detaining a CNN crew in the West Bank. cnn.it/3NIiLtR

WHY ARE WE IN IRAN?

BREAKING: Three people have been killed, including two journalists, after an Israeli strike on a media car in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military have said those killed worked for Hezbollah affiliated channels. Live updates: trib.al/zwq2QxL

BREAKING: Three Lebanese journalists have been killed in an Israeli air strike targeting their car in southern Lebanon, according to a military source cited by AFP. 🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/vcbfkd

Protesters in Yemen took to the streets to voice support for Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon amid ongoing US and Israeli attacks. Houthi representatives expressed their readiness to intervene militarily.

Meaningful discussion with President @JDMahama following the adoption of the resolution establishing the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, under his leadership on the International Day of Remembrance. Ghana shines as a beacon of democracy in Africa, shaping global health priorities and investing in sustainable development.

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION PRESS STATEMENT RE: REVISED TIMETABLE AND SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2027 GENERAL ELECTION At the meeting of the Commission with the Political Parties on Tuesday, 24th March 2026, concerns were raised on the timeline for the submission of Political Parties’ Registers of Members under the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election, which was originally fixed for 1st April 2026 to 21st April 2026. The Commission, at the said meeting, agreed to adjust the period for the submission of the Political Parties’ Registers of Members to align the 21 days prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the actual dates fixed by political parties themselves. Political parties are accordingly informed that they are free to fix the dates of their primaries within the approved period from the 23rd of April 2026 to the 30th of May 2026. It is imperative that parties adhere to this timeline to ensure a smooth electoral process. The register of party members must be submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries. This means that the final deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members is extended to 10th May 2026, from the 21st April 2026 originally contained in the revised Timetable. Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman,Information and Voter Education Committee. Friday, 27th March, 2026.

Vice President @KashimSM has charged members of the National Council on Skills (NCS), comprising federal ministries, state governments, and the private sector, to ensure that Made-in-Nigeria products and services remain synonymous with world-class standards. He urged the council to leverage the restless, inventive spirit of the Nigerian people, evident across streets, schools, and workshops, by tapping into this energy to power the nation’s ongoing industrial revolution. The Vice President, who gave the charge on Thursday while chairing the 8th NCS meeting at the Presidential Villa, stressed that as the council moves towards inaugurating the National Working Committee for WorldSkills Nigeria, the weight of the responsibility extends beyond preparations for Shanghai 2026. The 48th WorldSkills Competition, organised by @WorldSkills, will bring together skilled young professionals from across the globe.