Author: Zara Lianne

OpenAI has announced plans to open its first office in Seoul, South Korea, marking a significant step in its Asian expansion. The move comes as demand for ChatGPT continues to surge in the country, which now ranks second only to the United States in the number of paid ChatGPT subscribers. The company has already established a legal presence in South Korea and is actively recruiting local talent. OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, emphasized that the decision was driven by South Korea’s strong AI ecosystem, robust digital infrastructure, and highly engaged user base. “South Korea stands out with its blend of hardware and software expertise, as well as a tech-savvy population that embraces innovation,” Kwon said. The Seoul office will support local collaborations, including a major partnership with South Korean tech firm Kakao Corp. The two companies are working together to integrate ChatGPT into Kakao’s services and develop an AI-powered platform called Kanana, designed to deliver more personalized and interactive digital experiences to Kakao’s 50 million users. In a bid to meet local data privacy expectations, OpenAI also plans to introduce a data residency option for enterprise and education customers in South Korea. This will allow users to store their data within the country, an important move to align with regulatory standards and reassure organizations concerned about data security. During his visit, Jason Kwon is also scheduled to meet with key political leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties, reinforcing OpenAI’s commitment to engaging with South Korea’s policy and innovation communities. This expansion follows similar office launches in Tokyo and Singapore, highlighting OpenAI’s growing presence in Asia as it seeks to bring advanced AI solutions closer to users around the world.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is set to elect a new president this week in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, as the institution faces mounting financial pressure from proposed funding cuts by the United States. Outgoing president Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the bank since 2015, will step down in September after serving two five-year terms. His successor will inherit a complex landscape, with the U.S. government planning to slash its support to both the AfDB and the African Development Fund by over $500 million. This marks one of the most significant funding challenges the bank has ever faced. Five candidates are in the running to replace Adesina: Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa): Former AfDB vice president and the only female contender, Tshabalala is focused on improving the bank’s infrastructure impact and financial innovation. Amadou Hott (Senegal): A former economy minister, Hott emphasizes boosting domestic resource mobilization and strengthening partnerships with the private sector. Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia): Currently with the World Bank, Maimbo aims to advance intra-African trade and regulatory reform. Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania): An experienced development finance expert, Tah is advocating for economic independence and climate-resilient projects. Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad): A seasoned central banker, Tolli plans to enhance governance and expand access to digital finance. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure at least 50.01% of the votes from African member countries and a majority of votes from all 81 member nations, including global partners such as the U.S., China, and Japan. The winner is expected to be announced on Thursday. The new president will have to move swiftly to address the funding shortfall, either by negotiating with the U.S. for a reversal, attracting more investment from non-regional partners, or increasing African nations’ contributions. This transition also comes as the U.S. shifts its Africa strategy from aid to trade, posing additional strategic challenges for the AfDB. The election outcome will shape the future of one of Africa’s most critical development institutions at a time when innovative leadership is needed more than ever.

Tension is rising in Nigeria’s university system as the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has threatened to go on strike if the Federal Government fails to review the allocation formula for the recently approved N50 billion for university-based unions. The unions are protesting what they describe as an unfair distribution plan, which they believe heavily favors the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the expense of non-academic staff. According to JAC, this violates previous agreements that promised a fair and inclusive sharing of earned allowances among all university unions. NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that repeating the same mistakes of unequal disbursement could lead to renewed unrest in the education sector. He recalled previous instances where non-teaching staff were shortchanged, triggering prolonged strikes. SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim also called on the government to honor its commitments, stressing that failure to equitably share the funds would be seen as a breach of trust. In addition, the unions criticized the government for failing to remit third-party deductions such as cooperative and union dues, despite recently paying two months of withheld salaries. They are demanding full payment of all outstanding entitlements to avoid further disruption in the nation’s higher education institutions. As university workers grow increasingly impatient, the ball is now in the government’s court to prevent another round of strikes that could paralyze academic activities nationwide.

Pakistan has unveiled a bold new initiative to power its digital economy by allocating 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national plan targeting Bitcoin mining and AI data centres. According to the Ministry of Finance, the move is part of a wider strategy to make use of the country’s excess electricity, which has grown due to increased solar adoption and underutilized capacity in the national grid. By redirecting surplus power to energy-intensive industries like cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence processing, Pakistan hopes to create jobs, attract foreign investors, and generate revenue. The plan is being driven by the newly formed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), a government-backed body established in March 2025 to regulate and promote blockchain technology and digital assets. The council is chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, with Bilal Bin Saqib as CEO and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao serving as a strategic adviser. Special energy tariffs are expected to be introduced to support the initiative and make Pakistan a competitive destination for global tech firms. Site selection for mining centres will prioritize areas with surplus electricity supply. This development signals a major policy shift for Pakistan as it positions itself at the intersection of technology and energy, following in the footsteps of other nations tapping into crypto and AI for economic transformation.

Bangor University has introduced a groundbreaking university course that uses virtual reality (VR) technology to help tackle violence against women. It’s the first of its kind in Wales and is designed to train students and professionals to better understand coercive control — a hidden but harmful form of abuse. The course is aimed at criminology students, trainee police officers, and social service professionals. By wearing VR headsets, participants are placed in real-life scenarios where they witness subtle signs of abuse, such as gaslighting, manipulation, and emotional isolation. These simulations show how abusers control their victims’ money, movements, and communication, helping users see the emotional impact from the victim’s point of view. The VR program is a joint effort between Bangor University, North Wales Police, and a community organization called Mother Mountain Productions. It’s part of the policing degree at Bangor and is also available to students in related fields. Dr. Tim Holmes, who leads the Criminology and Policing program at the university, said the course is helping raise much-needed awareness. “It’s a powerful tool that helps future police officers and support workers recognize the signs of coercive control in different forms,” he explained. Before taking part, all students are screened to ensure they’re emotionally prepared for the experience. The goal is not just to teach theory, but to build empathy and prepare participants for real-world situations involving domestic abuse. This initiative supports wider efforts across Wales to educate people and prevent violence against women and girls through innovative learning methods.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) resit. This special exam was organized for candidates who faced technical issues during the original UTME at certain centres, particularly in Lagos and across five South-East states. According to JAMB, a total of 336,845 candidates were scheduled for the resit. However, 21,082 of them were absent. Among those who sat for the exam, over 71% scored below 200 out of a possible 400. The results were carefully reviewed before being released. A special committee led by Prof. Olufemi Peters, Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University, alongside Prof. Boniface Nworgu who handled psychometric analysis, ensured that the integrity of the results was maintained. JAMB also announced that candidates who missed the resit due to valid reasons will be given another opportunity to write the exam during a mop-up exercise. In a rare move, JAMB released the results of underage candidates and those linked to examination malpractice — such as the use of ‘WhatsApp Runs’. However, these results will not be considered for admission. How to Check Your Result Candidates can check their resit results by sending UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number they registered with. They can also visit the official JAMB portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng to access their results online. Some candidates have shared their excitement online after seeing significant improvements in their scores. Many believe the resit gave them a fairer chance, especially after the technical issues that affected their initial performance. Stay tuned for more updates on JAMB and admission processes.

Doctors and teachers across England are set to receive a 4% pay increase after the UK government accepted recommendations from independent pay review bodies. The decision aims to recognize the vital contributions of public sector professionals amid ongoing concerns about recruitment, retention, and the rising cost of living. The announced raise slightly exceeds the current inflation rate of 3.5% and surpasses earlier government projections, which had budgeted for a 2.8% increase. Other public sector workers are also included in the pay review package: NHS Staff: Nurses, midwives, and physiotherapists will receive a 3.6% increase, while junior doctors (now referred to as resident doctors) will get an average 5.4% raise, including a £750 top-up. Armed Forces: Personnel will receive a 4.5% pay boost, with senior officers seeing a 3.75% rise. Senior Civil Servants: Awarded a 3.25% salary increase. However, concerns have been raised about how these pay hikes will be funded. The government has indicated that departments must manage the increases within their existing budgets, prompting warnings from unions and policy experts about possible service reductions or pressure to improve productivity. Reactions from unions have been mixed. The British Medical Association (BMA) described the offer to doctors as “inadequate,” noting that real wages have yet to recover from over a decade of stagnation. Meanwhile, the National Education Union (NEU) welcomed the raise but cautioned that without additional school funding, educational outcomes could suffer. The announcement comes in the wake of months of industrial action and negotiations, with public sector morale and staffing levels under continued scrutiny.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global academic community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students for the 2025–2026 academic year. The decision, announced on May 22, 2025, follows the suspension of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—a federal requirement for U.S. institutions that admit international students. As a result, nearly 6,800 foreign students at Harvard now face uncertainty, with some potentially needing to transfer schools or leave the country to maintain their legal status. Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, claim that the university failed to meet certain federal requirements. Allegations include tolerating antisemitic activity and having undisclosed ties to the Chinese government. Harvard has strongly denied these accusations, calling the decision politically motivated and a violation of federal procedures. The university is pursuing legal action to reverse the decision and has pledged full support to affected students during this challenging period. International response has been swift. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the U.S. government’s move and promised to protect the rights of Chinese students studying abroad. This development raises major questions about academic freedom, international cooperation, and the politicization of higher education in the United States.

A U.S. federal judge has issued a significant legal setback to the Trump administration by blocking its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. This ruling marks the first time a court has declared the administration’s extensive restructuring plans unlawful. The judge’s decision prevents the administration from laying off more than 1,300 Department of Education employees and transferring crucial functions, including the management of federal student loans, to other government agencies. The court emphasized that such a major dismantling of a federal department cannot proceed without congressional approval. While the administration argues that the changes were intended to increase efficiency, critics warn that these actions would severely undermine the department’s ability to carry out its vital responsibilities such as managing the nation’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio and enforcing civil rights in education. The administration has filed an appeal against the ruling, but the judge’s injunction remains in place, preserving the department’s current structure for the time being.

In a disturbing turn of events, students of Unity Model Secondary School in Asaba, Delta State, were reportedly made to write a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) paper late in the evening under poor lighting conditions. According to reports circulating online, the exam went on despite the lack of electricity at the school. A video now trending on social media shows students hunched over their desks, using torchlights to see their exam scripts as darkness fell over the hall. The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many Nigerians questioning how such an important examination could proceed without basic infrastructure like electricity. Critics say the situation not only reflects the fragile state of the country’s educational facilities but also highlights the lack of adequate planning by examination authorities and school administrators. As of the time of reporting, neither WAEC nor the Delta State Ministry of Education has issued an official statement regarding the incident. Education advocates are calling for a thorough investigation and swift action to ensure students are no longer subjected to such unfavorable and stressful conditions. This incident serves as a wake-up call for stakeholders in the education sector to prioritize the provision of reliable infrastructure, especially during critical national examinations.