Gaza City, Palestine — Hamas has halted the planned release of Israeli hostages, citing Israel’s alleged failure to uphold ceasefire commitments, further complicating ongoing negotiations. The announcement, made by Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida via Telegram, stated that the scheduled release, set for Saturday, would be postponed indefinitely. “The handover of the Zionist prisoners set…
Washington, D.C. & Pretoria, South Africa — U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent offer to resettle white South Africans as refugees has been met with skepticism, even among Afrikaner advocacy groups who prefer to address land reform challenges domestically. The proposal, which follows Trump’s executive order cutting U.S. aid to South Africa, was signed last Friday…
Abuja, Nigeria — The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have solidified their partnership with the adoption of a comprehensive 2025 workplan aimed at enhancing legal protection and support for vulnerable populations in West Africa. The initiative was formalized…
Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), calling for its immediate closure. Trump made the demand in a statement on his Truth Social platform, declaring, “THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!” His remarks reflect his…
Lilongwe, Malawi — President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the withdrawal of Malawian troops from their peacekeeping mission in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The troops were initially deployed to help combat armed groups in the region. However, last week’s deadly attack on Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, resulted in at least…
Panama City, Panama — The Panamanian government has denied US claims that it has waived transit fees for American government vessels using the Panama Canal. In a post on X, the US State Department asserted that its government ships could now cross the canal free of charge, a move it said would save the US…
Washington, D.C. — Former US President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States could take control of Gaza, a proposal that has sparked widespread controversy. Speaking at a joint White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump floated the idea as an alternative to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. His…
Abuja, Nigeria— The ECOWAS Court of Justice is set to officially launch its upgraded Electronic Case Management System (ECMS), marking a significant step toward digital transformation. The Communications Division of the Court announced that a comprehensive Quality Assurance Workshop and Group Training will precede the platform’s Go-Live Ceremony. The workshop, scheduled for February 2–5, 2025,…
Abuja, Nigeria. — The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has congratulated Amanda Azubuike on her promotion to Brigadier General in the United States Army. In a statement from Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa hailed Azubuike’s elevation as a remarkable achievement reflecting her unwavering dedication, resilience, and outstanding service. Born in London to…
Abuja, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he joined other African leaders at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit. The two-day event, hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Union, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank, culminated in the adoption of the…
Washington, D.C. — The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has listed 3,690 Nigerians among nearly two million non-citizens slated for deportation, as part of a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative. According to a report from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), obtained by Fox News, as of November 24, 2024, over 1.4 million individuals…
Columbia, South Carolina — A 24-year-old Nigerian, Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal from Osun State, has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to sextortion, which allegedly led to a minor’s tragic death. Lawal was transferred to US custody on Saturday through a diplomatic agreement with the Nigerian government that ensures he will not…
Abuja, Nigeria — The European Union (EU) has restated its commitment to enhancing economic cooperation with Nigeria, describing the nation as a key partner in Africa. During his maiden press briefing in Abuja, the EU’s new ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, highlighted the deep economic ties between the two entities, noting that total trade between…
Bolu, Turkey — A devastating fire at the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu has claimed the lives of at least 76 people, with dozens more injured. The blaze broke out at 3:27 am local time (00:27 GMT) during the peak holiday season, with 234 guests at the popular ski resort. Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali…
Abuja, Nigeria — The management team of the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) is undertaking a one-week study tour of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to enhance its capacity to provide accurate and reliable data for The Gambia. The Statistician General of GBoS, Mr. Nyakassi Sanyang, explained that the decision to visit Nigeria’s NBS…
Jerusalem, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday that the Israeli cabinet is set to finalize a deal with Hamas, paving the way for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued unabated, with Palestinian authorities reporting at least 86 fatalities on Thursday, a day after…
Doha, Qatar — A breakthrough ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas marks the end of a 15-month-long war that has left the Gaza Strip in devastation. The announcement was made on Wednesday by mediators in Qatar, following intensive negotiations aimed at bringing relief to the region. The agreement includes provisions for the phased release of…
Abeokuta, Nigeria — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to the late former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, describing him as a “titan and a man of peace” who risked his reputation to secure Obasanjo’s release from prison under the late General Sani Abacha’s regime. Speaking during a memorial service held at the Chapel of…
Ottawa, Canada — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation, signaling the end of his tenure after nearly a decade in office. The announcement came on Monday evening, as Trudeau revealed his decision to step down once the ruling Liberal Party selects a new leader to guide the nation. “I am resigning as party…
Iran has announced 2025 as a pivotal year for its nuclear agenda, targeting the United States and Israel, amid escalating tensions. Speaking in Beijing on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araqchi stated, “2025 will be an important year regarding Iran’s nuclear issue.” His remarks suggest Tehran may be preparing for potential reimplementation of the…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally apologized to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev over a tragic incident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which crash-landed on Wednesday near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The crash claimed at least 38 lives. The Kremlin revealed on Saturday that Flight J2-8243, traveling from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region, was forced to…
Protests have erupted across Syria after a Christmas tree was burned in Suqaylabiyah, a predominantly Christian town in central Syria. The incident, which occurred on Christmas Eve, has sparked outrage among Christian communities demanding better protection for minorities. Videos circulating online show masked individuals setting the tree on fire, leaving uncertainty about whether their intention…
Swedish authorities have confirmed the death of 20-year-old rapper Gaboro, who was fatally shot in a parking garage in Norrköping on Thursday morning. Police discovered Gaboro critically injured at the scene and immediately transported him to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A disturbing video, allegedly captured by the perpetrator using a…
The United States has reinforced its commitment to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage by awarding a $400,000 grant to support the documentation and conservation of Sungbo’s Eredo, a historic 100-mile system of earthworks in southwestern Nigeria. The funding, facilitated through the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), was first awarded in 2019 and initiated a…
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 Nigerian government has extended its congratulations to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on her groundbreaking election as Namibia’s first female president. In a statement released by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria hailed Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory, which was confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Namibia. As the current Vice President, her win…
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has announced plans to seek an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority. The charges stem from a violent crackdown launched in August 2017, which the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing….
Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, are reportedly on the verge of finalising a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict that erupted 14 months ago during the Gaza war. The violence has claimed thousands of lives. Officials from both Israel and Lebanon expressed optimism on Tuesday about concluding the deal, which could…
President Bola Tinubu has conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), one of Nigeria’s highest national honors, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The presentation took place during a bilateral meeting at the State House in Abuja on Sunday. The honor was awarded to Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his…
Liam Payne, who gained global fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, has died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. The 31-year-old English singer’s death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians around the world. Fans of the globally successful band gathered outside the…
Ambassador Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, President and International Director of the United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC), has called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel. Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Adesanya-Davies, a linguistics expert, expressed concern over the prolonged violence, which has caused immense suffering, displacement, and economic…
