France confirms first domestic Ebola case from Democratic Republic of Congo
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
France has reported its first confirmed case of Ebola within its borders, involving a doctor who returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the first time Ebola has been detected in mainland France, although two patients diagnosed abroad were transported to France during the 2014 West African outbreak. The health ministry stated the individual was isolated upon arrival, prior to official diagnosis. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation. The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC, its 17th, began on May 15 in Ituri province and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Public health experts assess the global spread risk as low due to the virus's relatively low contagiousness.
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Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, has been recognized as Nigeria's top university in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings, achieving 72nd place globally. This makes it the only Nigerian institution to be listed among the top 100 worldwide. The rankings, released by Times Higher Education, evaluated 1,646 universities across 116 countries and territories based on their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. ABUAD scored 90.8 overall, with strong performance in Climate Action, No Poverty, and Affordable and Clean Energy. It placed second in Africa, behind the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, which ranked 39th globally. Other Nigerian universities in the rankings include Covenant University and Redeemer's University 201–300 global band, Landmark University 301–400 category, and the University of Lagos 601–800 band. The University of Manchester in the UK maintained the top global position. The assessment covers all 17 SDGs, including poverty reduction, quality education, gender equality, climate action, clean energy, sustainable cities, and partnerships for development. Times Higher Education noted that it evaluated universities' performance in advancing sustainability using indicators such as research output, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and teaching activities related to sustainable development. Institutions qualify for the overall ranking by submitting data for SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has been elected President of the Forum of African Regions. The election took place in Tangier, Morocco, during the UCLG World Congress. AbdulRazaq will lead a new team that includes four regional vice presidents: Mr. Ousmanou Oumarou for Central Africa, Ms. Mbarka Bouaida for North Africa, Mr. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o for East Africa, and Mr. Panyaza Lesufi for Southern Africa. The Forum's mandate is to accelerate socioeconomic development, deepen decentralization, and position subnational governments as key drivers of continental integration. Governor AbdulRazaq emphasized the importance of collaboration among African nations and subnational governments to achieve sustainable growth, highlighting infrastructure and connectivity as crucial for overcoming developmental challenges. He called for a shared vision of integration and development, stressing that collective action and cooperation can create sustainable linkages for trade, innovation, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth across the continent.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, swore in four newly elected senators on Wednesday following their victories in recent by-elections. The new lawmakers are Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Rivers South-East; Envulu Anza of the All Progressives Congress, representing Nasarawa North; Ikeje Asogwu of the APC, representing Enugu North; and Dayo Faduyile of the APC, representing Ondo South. These by-elections filled vacancies created by the deaths of former senators Barinada Mpigi, Godiya Akwashiki, and Okechukwu Ezea, and the appointment of former senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office. Akpabio congratulated the senators, urging them to prioritize national interest and familiarize themselves with the 1999 Constitution and Senate Standing Orders. Dignitaries including Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, attended the ceremony.