Gaza City — The Israeli military has directed residents of Gaza City to move south to the designated “humanitarian zone” of Al-Mawasi, warning of an imminent ground assault to seize control of the territory’s largest urban centre. In a statement issued on Saturday, army spokesman Avichay Adraee urged civilians to relocate without delay. “Take this…
Mumbai, India — In a historic move to strengthen ties between two of the world’s largest film industries, India is set to dub Nigerian films into major Indian languages, opening new doors for Nollywood in the vast Indian entertainment market. The initiative was announced ahead of the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES),…
Abuja, Nigeria — The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Ugandan government have deepened ties to enhance transparency and accountability in tracking government-funded projects. This partnership was underscored during a study visit by Uganda’s Parliamentary Budget Committee to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where both parties explored strategies for effective…
Washington D.C., USA — The United States military has launched precision airstrikes in Somalia targeting key members of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group, according to President Donald Trump. In a social media statement, Trump disclosed that the strikes specifically aimed at a senior ISIS attack planner along with other militants under his command. “This…
Gaza — Hamas has released three Israeli hostages in exchange for 183 Palestinian detainees as part of a ceasefire deal. The hostages, identified as Yarden Bibas (34), Ofer Kalderon (53), and Keith Siegel (65), were handed over to the Red Cross on Saturday morning. The exchange follows an agreement brokered last month to ease ongoing…
Berlin, Germany. — Germany mourns the loss of Horst Köhler, former President of the Federal Republic, who passed away at the age of 81. According to an official announcement from the German presidency, Köhler died on Saturday in Berlin following a brief but serious illness. His family was by his side during his final moments….
Abuja, Nigeria — Bilateral trade between Nigeria and China reached a remarkable $20 billion in 2024, marking a major achievement in the partnership between the two nations. The announcement was made by Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, during the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year celebration held in Abuja. Reflecting on the past year, Ambassador…
Bamako, Mali — The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced plans to roll out a Confederation of Sahel States (AES) passport, effective January 29, signaling a formal departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The announcement was made by General Assimi Goita, Malian junta leader and current head…
Washington, D.C. — Donald Trump officially became the 47th President of the United States on Monday after taking the oath of office during an indoor ceremony held at the Capitol Rotunda due to harsh weather conditions in the capital. In his inaugural address, the 78-year-old declared, “The new golden age of America begins right now,”…
Gaza City, Gaza — The first day of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel saw the release of hostages and prisoners, marking a critical step after 15 months of devastating conflict. Hamas freed three Israeli hostages, while Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners in an exchange that triggered celebrations across Gaza and the West Bank. In…
Washington, D.C.— President-elect Donald Trump has called for at least 50% ownership of the Chinese-owned short-form video app TikTok by U.S. investors as a condition for its continued operation in the United States. Speaking to supporters at a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, Trump emphasized that TikTok must have significant U.S….
Tel Aviv, Israel. — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Israel reserves the right to resume military operations in Gaza if ongoing negotiations fail. Speaking less than 12 hours before a scheduled ceasefire was set to begin, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of securing the release of 33 Israeli hostages as part of the…
Washington, D.C. — The outgoing Biden administration announced on Friday that the decision to enforce a ban on China’s widely used TikTok app in the United States will rest with incoming President Donald Trump. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged the timing of the situation, noting that the responsibility for implementing the law now falls to…
Washington, D.C. — TikTok is making preparations to shut down its platform for users in the United States this Sunday if the Supreme Court does not intervene to halt an impending federal ban. According to a report by The Information on Tuesday, the move follows heightened pressure under a law signed by President Joe Biden….
Redmond, USA — Microsoft has unveiled plans to invest approximately $80 billion in AI-enabled data centers worldwide, with a significant portion of the funding dedicated to bolstering Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation in the United States. The announcement was made by Microsoft’s vice chairman and president, Brad Smith, in a blog post outlining the company’s strategic…
Matusadona Game Park, Zimbabwe — Tinotenda Pudu, a seven-year-old boy, survived five perilous days in the Matusadona Game Park, a wilderness teeming with deadly wildlife. The young boy wandered 49 kilometers (30 miles) from his home, relying on wild fruits for sustenance and using his exceptional knowledge of the wild to stay alive. Tinotenda dug…
A devastating incident occurred in New Orleans’ French Quarter on Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, leaving 10 people dead and 30 injured. The tragedy unfolded around 3:15 p.m. local time when the driver sped into a densely packed area. Witnesses reported that the individual exited the vehicle and…
Former President Arnold Rüütel of Estonia, a pivotal figure in the nation’s path to independence, has died at 96, the presidency announced on Tuesday. Rüütel, remembered as one of the architects of Estonia’s return to sovereignty in 1991, served as a communist official during the Soviet era before becoming a key figure in the Baltic…
A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Yoon, who was suspended from office earlier this month, faces insurrection charges over his controversial attempt to impose martial law on December 3, plunging the nation into its worst political crisis in decades. Parliament impeached him…
Former England manager Gareth Southgate has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list, recognizing his outstanding contributions to English football. The 54-year-old stepped down from his managerial role in July after leading England to the final of Euro 2024, where they suffered a narrow defeat to Spain. This marked Southgate’s second consecutive…
A passenger plane carrying 181 people crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in southwestern South Korea on Sunday, leaving over 100 feared dead. According to officials, the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok overshot the runway, struck a barrier, and erupted into flames. While most passengers are presumed dead, two survivors have been rescued, and…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has firmly dismissed allegations by Niger Republic’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing Nigeria of conspiring with France to destabilize Niger. In a statement issued Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, described the claims as baseless fabrications, emphasizing Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability and peaceful…
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will formally withdraw from the regional bloc on January 29, 2025. The decision was outlined in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in…
The 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government is set to commence on Sunday under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who serves as the Chairperson of the regional bloc. Key items on the agenda include regional security challenges, particularly ongoing crises in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso….
Vice President Kashim Shettima has left Abuja for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of a $315 million oil production and storage facility owned by Nigerian firm, Oriental Energy Ltd. The commissioning, scheduled for December 14, highlights the achievements of indigenous companies in the global oil and gas…
The 93rd Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers has commenced in Abuja, with discussions centered on strengthening regional cooperation, fostering economic integration, and addressing pressing security concerns. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is presiding over the two-day session, which has brought together leaders and policymakers from across the region. In his…
The 53rd Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial level convened in Abuja to address the region’s pressing political, security, and humanitarian challenges. The meeting reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to fostering collective security, democratic governance, and economic development amid growing instability in West Africa. In his opening address, Nigeria’s Minister of…
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced changes to its immigration visa application process, effective January 1, 2025. Under the revised procedure, applicants with scheduled interviews must visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice during the application process. In a statement posted on its official X account, the embassy explained that the new process…
The Federal Government has dismissed a circulating list of ambassadorial nominees on social media as fake, urging the public to disregard it. In a statement issued on Sunday, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarified that no such appointments have been made. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to…
Exiled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family after fleeing Syria, following a sweeping rebel offensive that led to the fall of his regime, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Kremlin sources confirmed that Russia granted Assad and his family asylum. The rebel offensive, which began on November 27, saw opposition…
World leaders have expressed diverse reactions to the abrupt yet anticipated fall of Syria’s long-standing president, Bashar al-Assad, following the capture of Damascus by opposition forces. Assad, who ruled Syria for over two decades, reportedly fled the country after failing to resist a swift rebel advance that has drastically shifted the nation’s political landscape. The…
