SUICIDE BOMBING AT A SHIITE MOSQUE ISLAMABAD — A suicide bomber targeted a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, killing 31 people and wounding at least 169 others, officials said, a rare bombing in Pakistan's capital as its Western-allied government struggles to rein in a surge in militant attacks across the country. Television footage and social media images showed police and residents transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals. Some of the wounded in the attack on the sprawling mosque of Khadija Al-Kubra were reported to be in critical condition. Rescuers and witnesses described a harrowing scene, with bodies and wounded lying on the mosque's carpeted floor. Hussain Shah said he was praying in the mosque courtyard when he heard a sudden, loud explosion. "I immediately thought that some big attack had happened," he said. He then went into the mosque to utter chaos — many of the wounded were screaming and crying out for help. Shah said he counted around 30 bodies inside the mosque, while the number of the wounded appeared to be significantly higher. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion, but suspicion is likely to fall on militants such as the Pakistani Taliban or the Islamic State group, which has been blamed for previous attacks on Shiite worshippers, a minority in the country. Militant groups across Pakistan often target security forces and civilians. Though attacks are not so frequent in Islamabad, Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months, largely blamed on Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which is a separate group, but allied with Afghanistan's Taliban. A regional affiliate of the Islamic State group has also been active in the country. In the initial aftermath of the explosion, a lower number of casualties was released, but Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon gave the latest tolls. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif wrote on X that preliminary findings suggest the suicide bomber had been on the move to and from Afghanistan. Asif said the mosque's security guards tried to intercept the suspect, who opened fire at them and then detonated his explosives among the worshippers. The condition of the guards was not immediately known. Pakistan often accuses Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized power again in August 2021 as American and NATO troops were withdrawing after a 20-year war, of harboring militants and members of the Pakistani Taliban. Kabul denies the accusation. Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Friday saying that the "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan condemns such attacks that violate the sanctity of sacred rituals and mosques and target worshippers and innocent people." The attack also drew condemnation from the international community, including the United Sates and European Union. Condolences and condemnation also poured in from various embassies in Islamabad. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended condolences to the families of the victims in sperate statements and asked that all possible medical assistance be provided for those wounded. "Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity," Zardari said. "The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time." "Those who are responsible must be identified and punished," Sharif said. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack. Friday's attack occurred as Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is on an official two-day visit, was attending an event with Sharif. The event in Islamabad was several miles away from the site of the explosion. A top Shiite leader, Raja Nasir, expressed deep sorrow over the attack at Khadija Al-Kubra. "Such a terrorist act in the federal capital is not only a serious failure in protecting human lives but also raises significant questions about the performance of the authorities and law enforcement agencies," he said and asked for people to give blood as the hospitals in Islamabad were in urgent need for blood supplies for the wounded. The last deadliest attack in Islamabad was in 2008, when a suicide bombing targeted the Marriott Hotel in the capital, killing 63 people and wounding over 250 others. In November, a suicide bomber had struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 people. The latest attack came nearly a week after the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks in insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, killing about 50 people. Security forces responding to those attacks also killed more than 200 "terrorists," according to the military. 8th February,2026

U.S., IRAN TO HOLD NUCLEAR PROGRAM TALKS The United States and Iran are set to have high-stakes talks in Oman today to negotiate Iran's nuclear program. Typically, if both sides in a negotiation can't reach a deal, the diplomats go home, regroup and decide whether to hold another round of talks. But NPR's Greg Myre tells Up First that the U.S. has spent a month moving Navy ships and warplanes to the region, and if a deal isn't reached this time, President Trump could launch an attack on Iran. concessions during the negotiations, says Myre. The country has endured several setbacks over the last two years, including the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign against its nuclear facilities last June. Myre says a limited nuclear agreement from Iran will probably not be enough for Trump. The U.S. wants to discuss broader issues, including limits on Iran's ballistic missiles. The U.S. also seeks to stop Iran from supporting militant proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Democrats released a 10-point plan for the Department of Homeland Security's immigration law enforcement agents in a letter to the GOP. In addition to their original demands, which include removing officers' masks, Democrats want officers to wear identifying information, such as their last name. Lawmakers also want these officers to have standard uniforms and equipment, aligning them with civil enforcement officers. 8th February,2026

JAPAN'S POLITICS SHIFT TO THE RIGHT Polls show Japan's first female prime minister and her coalition within reach of a decisive win in snap elections on Sunday. Sanae Takaichi got an additional boost in the form of an endorsement from President Trump, which appears to be the first time a U.S. president has backed a Japanese leader in an election. "While Trump is often an outlier," noted a Kyodo News Agency report, "it is very rare for the leader of any country to back a specific political figure ahead of a national election in a foreign country." Despite robust approval ratings mostly in the 60% range, Takaichi, whom Trump praised as "strong, powerful and wise," has a fragile new coalition with a narrow majority in the lower house of parliament, and a minority in the upper house. Polls predict she could win a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, which could empower her to pursue a conservative agenda, with policies that, by her own admission, could prove highly controversial. "I also want to resolutely take up challenges that include bold policies and reforms that could split public opinion," Takaichi said last month, as she tried to convince the public why elections were needed only four months into her administration. Takaichi is leveraging her popularity to increase her political power, turning the election into a sort of referendum on her and her policies, says Koichi Nakano, a political scientist at Sophia University in Tokyo. "This election is really like a presidential election," Nakano says. Takaichi's message seems to be: " 'Give me power,' without really specifying what she's going to do." But Takaichi has previously made many of her priorities clear. She is a protégé of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and shares his ambition to cast off post-war stigma and restrictions on Japan's military and make it a "normal" country. Since its establishment in 1955, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has sought to revise the country's post-war constitution, especially its Article 9, in which Japan renounces the right to wage war as a means of resolving international disputes. At one of Prime Minister Takaichi's recent campaign rallies, 50-year-old Koichi Sato, who came with his family, said he's worried about global instability, and he thinks Takaichi can address that. "In 10 or 20 years, our children will still have a future ahead of them, so I want Japan to be a place where they can live and feel safe." Another supporter, Manami Itoga, says she didn't pay much attention to politics before Takaichi became Prime Minister. Just weeks after she took office, Takaichi's comments about Taiwan triggered a diplomatic spat with China, but Itoga says she's on the same page as Takaichi. "I'm worried that Japan will somehow be taken over by Chinese people," she says, "because the number of Chinese [in Japan] is increasing rapidly. Things like that are circulating on Instagram and other social media, aren't they?" 8th February,2026

JUNE DEADLINE TO REACH PEACE AGREEMENT KYIV, Ukraine — The U.S. has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a deal to end the nearly four?year war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters, as Russian strikes on energy infrastructure forced nuclear power plants to cut output on Saturday. If the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it, he added. "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule," Zelenskyy said, speaking to reporters on Friday. Zelenskyy's comments were embargoed until Saturday morning. "And they say that they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all events," he said. He said the U.S. proposed holding the next round of trilateral talks next week in their country for the first time, likely in Miami, Zelenskyy said. "We confirmed our participation," he added. Zelenskyy said Russia presented the U.S. with a $12 trillion economic proposal — which he dubbed the "Dmitriev package" after Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Bilateral economic deals with the U.S. form part of the broader negotiating process. Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued with over 400 drones and about 40 missiles launched overnight Saturday, Zelenskyy said in a post on X. Targets included the energy grid, generation facilities and distribution networks. Ukrenergo, the state energy transmission operator, said the attack was the second mass strike on energy infrastructure since the start of the year, forcing nuclear power plants to reduce output. Eight facilities in eight regions came under attack, it said in a statement. "As a result of missile strikes on key high-voltage substations that ensured the output of nuclear power units, all nuclear power plants in the territories under control were forced to reduce their load," the statement said. It said the power deficit in the country has increased "significantly" as a result of the attacks forcing an extension of hourly power outages in all regions of Ukraine. The latest deadline follows U.S.-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi that produced no breakthrough as the warring parties cling to mutually exclusive demands. Russia is pressing Ukraine to withdraw from the Donbas, where fighting remains intense — a condition Kyiv says it will never accept. "Difficult issues remained difficult. Ukraine once again confirmed its positions on the Donbas issue. 'We stand where we stand' is the fairest and most reliable model for a ceasefire today, in our opinion," Zelenskyy said. He reiterated that the most challenging topics would be reserved for a trilateral meeting between leaders. Zelenskyy said no common ground was reached on managing the Russian?held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and expressed skepticism about a U.S. proposal to turn the Donbas region, coveted by Russia, into a free economic zone as a compromise. "I do not know whether this can be implemented, because when we talked about a free economic zone, we had different views on it," he said. He said in the last round of talks the negotiators discussed how a ceasefire would be technically monitored. He added that the U.S. has reaffirmed it would play a role in that process. Repeated Russian aerial assaults have in recent months focused on Ukraine's power grid, causing blackouts and disrupting the heating and water supply for families during a bitterly cold winter, putting more pressure on Kyiv. Zelenskyy said the U.S. again proposed a ceasefire banning strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukraine is ready to observe such a pause if Russia commits; but he added that when Moscow previously agreed to a one-week pause suggested by the U.S., it was violated after just four days. 8th February,2026

TRUST FUND SUPPORTS MIDWIFE TO UNDERGO BRAIN SURGERY Hope has been restored for 36-year-old Rebecca Odarquaye, a midwife, through the support of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCare) after it provided GH¢210,840 for her to undergo a life-saving brain aneurysm surgery Facing a critical medical emergency, Ms Odarquaye’s situation had grown increasingly dire as time worked against her. On the day of the procedure at the Euracare Spring Hospital, skilled surgeons successfully performed the complex operation, marking a major turning point in her battle for survival. The surgery was successful and Ms Odarquaye is now out of danger, bringing immense relief to her family, colleagues and all who followed her journey For Ms Odarquaye, the experience had been an emotional transformation. The fear and uncertainty that once weighed heavily on her have given way to gratitude and renewed strength. Tears once shed in despair have been replaced with tears of relief, as hope — once nearly lost — has been fully restored. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund expressed deep appreciation to the surgical team at the Euracare Spring Hospital, led by Professor Benjamin Sarkodie, whose expertise and dedication made the successful outcome possible. Their professionalism and commitment have given Ms Odarquaye not just survival, but a renewed chance at life. She is expected to return to the work she loves most — caring for pregnant women and helping bring new life safely into the world. Through interventions such as this, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund continues to demonstrate that its work goes beyond treating illnesses, transforming lives and restoring hope where it is needed most. On March 12, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as MahamaCares, a landmark initiative to provide financial assistance to individuals living with chronic diseases nationwide. The fund seeks to cover the cost of care and medication for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) not currently covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), thereby complementing the NHIS by supporting critical aspects of these conditions. Additionally, the fund will invest in health infrastructure, medical equipment, specialist training and research to enhance access to quality care. 8th February,2026

MAIZE, BEANS PRICES IN ATEBUBU-AMANTIN Farmers in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality of the Bono East Region are grappling with a sharp decline in maize and bean prices despite a bumper harvest, raising concerns about their livelihoods, future production, and the stability of the local rural economy. Checks by the Daily Graphic at Akokoa and surrounding farming communities in the municipality show that prices of the two major staples have dropped by more than half compared to previous years. Beans, which sold for between GH?2,500 and GH?3,000 per bag in 2024, are now selling for between GH?700 and GH?1,000 while maize has declined from GH?1,000 and GH?1,200 to GH?300 and GH?400 per bag. Farmers say the price dip has left many unable to recover production costs, especially those who relied on loans or personal savings to cultivate their farms. Even last year, when prices were not good, it was still better than this year,” a farmer at Akokoa Ebenezer Wayome told the Daily Graphic. Now we are forced to sell at a loss or keep our produce at home. The impact of the falling prices is being compounded by high production costs. Farmers report that a box of agrochemicals or weedicide sells for about GH?1,200, fertiliser costs between GH?350 and GH?500 per bag, while tractor services remain expensive, ranging from GH?350 to GH?400 per acre. As a result, many farmers say they are reconsidering their scale of operation ahead of the next farming season. A farmer, Baye-Uchan, in the municipality said he plans to reduce his cultivated land by half this year. “Last year, I cultivated about 50 acres, but this year, I’m considering reducing it to 20 because of the price fall and the high cost of inputs,” he said. Produce buyers in the municipality said the depressed market has affected their operations, as financiers are reluctant to release funds due to the risk of losses. This has led to reduced purchasing activity in farming communities. The slowdown, farmers said, has affected transport operators, casual labourers, and petty traders who depend on the movement of grain for income. Rural and community banks in the municipality are also feeling the effects of the downturn. With farmers earning less, savings have declined, while loan repayments have slowed, weakening the financial position of some institutions. Bank officials said the situation could limit the availability of credit for farming and small businesses if it persists. At the household level, falling incomes are affecting the ability of families to meet basic expenses, including school fees, health care and utility bills. Community members also report an increase in youth idleness as farming-related jobs decline. “We, the youth working as loading boys here, are out of jobs. The low prices of grains over the past two years have hit us hard, and many young people are turning to crime or facing police harassment out of frustration. The government must intervene to address the situation,” one of the loading boys said Farmers and produce buyers are therefore calling on the government and relevant agencies to intervene to stabilise prices through improved storage facilities, expanded market access, and structured buying arrangements to absorb surplus during bumper harvests. They warn that without intervention, reduced farm investment could affect future production and food security in the municipality. 8th February,2026

MOBILE MONEY'S FESTIVE SURGE SMASHES RECORDS The value of transactions processed through Ghana's mobile money platforms surged to GH¢518.4 billion in December 2025, cementing the technology's position as the undisputed backbone of the nation's retail economy, according to newly released central bank data. The record figure, captured in the Bank of Ghana's Summary of Economic and Financial Data, represents the highest monthly throughput for the year and underscores a decisive and accelerating shift away from traditional payment methods. The December boom, a significant increase from the GH¢420.1 billion recorded in November, was propelled by festive season spending and the deepening integration of digital wallets into daily commerce. The sheer volume of activity reached 982 million individual transactions in the month, up from 892 million in November, highlighting both the frequency and scale of its use. Underpinning this growth is a rapidly expanding user base. The data shows the number of active mobile money accounts rose to 26.7 million in December, while total registered accounts surpassed the 80.5 million mark. Concurrently, the agent network—a critical infrastructure for cash-in, cash-out services—grew to include 491,000 active agents by year's end. Perhaps most indicative of public confidence is the swelling value stored within the system itself. The balance held on mobile money floats reached GH¢39.6 billion in December, the highest level recorded in 2025, suggesting Ghanaians are increasingly comfortable using their mobile wallets not just for transactions but as a secure store of value. The data paints a stark picture of the changing financial landscape. While mobile money soared, the value of cheques cleared in December stood at GH¢37.3 billion—a fraction of the digital platform's activity. Even modern, high-speed electronic systems like GhIPSS Instant Pay, which processed GH¢73.3 billion in the same month, operated at a scale dwarfed by the pervasive mobile money network. The growth in interoperability, which allows transfers across different telecom networks and banks, also strengthened, with transaction values rising to GH¢5.8 billion in December. This seamlessness is viewed as a key enabler for the ecosystem's continued expansion. 28th January,2026

WE CLEARED 3 OUT OF 4 CONTAINERS A former Managing Director of the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), Albert Adu Boahen, has said 30 VDL buses and three 40-foot containers of spare parts out of four supplied by the Dutch manufacturer VDL and arrive in Ghana in April 2024, were cleared from the port before he handed over office to his successor in March 2025. The buses and spare parts were handed over to the MMTL through a state-to-state arrangement between the government of Ghana and the Belgian government; therefore, taxes were excluded from the arrangement. According to Mr Adu Boahen, there were, however, delays in clearing the buses and the spare parts from the port due to issues with tax in the initial stages and later, the shipping line costs at the time the buses and spare parts arrived in Ghana in April 2024. He said MMTL was initially not getting a full tax exemption from the government, hence the delay in clearing the buses and sparts from the port He said by the time they succeeded in negotiating for tax exemption with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance, the issue of shipping line costs also cropped up. By the time the MMTL was able to get the Ministry of Finance to issue a waiver for the imports, the shipping line costs had also become an issue, with estimated charges of over GH¢300,000. This, he said were the reason for the delay in clearing the containers by the MMTL, and that they were able to clear three containers, leaving one behind, and all this information was made available in his handing over notes. Mr Adu Boahen was reacting to an announcement by the current MD of MMTL, Kale Cezar that a container loaded with spare parts supplied by Dutch manufacturer VDL has remained at the port for more than two years. This, according to Mr Cezar, had compounded the operational and financial challenges confronting the state-owned transport company. Mr Cezar said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic and disclosed that the container was imported under the company’s previous management, but was never cleared from the port, leading to mounting charges and missed opportunities to deploy much-needed buses onto the roads. Reacting in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM on Tuesday [January 27, 2025], monitored by Graphic Online, the former Managing Director of MMTL, Mr Albert Adu Boahen said the container arrived in April 2024 and described the shipping line charges as the main issue holding up its release. “I was challenging the shipping line charges because they were too high,” Mr Adu Boahen said. “I petitioned the ministry to engage the shipping line to reduce the amount He said the container formed part of several consignments that arrived with the VDL buses and were cleared after extended engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority during his tenure. Mr Adu Boahen said three of the containers carrying spare parts were cleared, while one remained at the port at the time he left office. “I was left office in March. In my handing over notes, I personally told him that the parts were at the port and that he should clear them,” he said and added, “after one year, if they have not been cleared, I do not think anybody should blame Adu Boahen.” He disputed claims that the container had been at the port for more than two years and said the spare parts arrived in April 2024 alongside the VDL buses. The containers came together with the VDL buses around April 20, 2024,” he said. “We were given an exemption by the government, but it was not a full exemption.” Mr Adu Boahen said the delay affected the company’s ability to maintain and deploy buses, adding that the spare parts were intended for the VDL fleet. “They are spare parts for the VDL buses,” he said. “I am not too sure these parts are for the brand new buses.” 28th January,2026