Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appointed a new Vatican ambassador to the United States as diplomatic tensions persist over Washington’s war with Iran and its strict migration policies. The Vatican announced that Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, who previously served as the Holy See’s representative to the United Nations in New York, has been named apostolic…
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to intensify military strikes on Iran, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed the country would never surrender despite a new wave of U.S. and Israeli air raids that set part of a Tehran airport ablaze. Israel confirmed some of its largest attacks since the aerial bombardment of Iran…
By Ayomide Otitoju Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore joined the wives of detained Nigerian military officers on Friday in Abuja to demand that authorities either formally charge the officers over an alleged coup plot or release them. The protest comes amid heightened concern over the prolonged detention of at least 16 senior officers accused of…
By Ayomide Otitoju The family of former Nasir El-Rufai has called for his immediate and unconditional release from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), asserting that his continued detention lacks legal basis. In a statement signed by his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the family said the former Federal…
Three former US presidents—Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden—gathered on Friday in Chicago for a public memorial service honoring the life of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17 at the age of 84. The service drew hundreds of attendees as a blue-lit projection of Jackson graced a giant screen behind…
By Ayomide Otitoju Qatar’s Saad al-Kaabi has warned that exports from the Gulf region could stop “within weeks” if the conflict involving Iran intensifies, threatening global energy markets with severe disruption. In an interview with the Financial Times published Friday, al-Kaabi said prolonged hostilities would impact worldwide economic growth. “Everybody’s energy price is going to…
By Ayomide Otitoju Russia has urged a “cessation of hostilities” in what it described as US President Donald Trump’s “aggression against Iran” following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered to mediate the conflict, while President Vladimir Putin expressed “deep concern” over the unfolding crisis. Meanwhile,…
By Ayomide Otitoju A Federal High Court, Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and their son Abdulaziz Malami, in an ongoing money laundering trial. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the bail at ₦200 million each, with two sureties of equal value. One of the sureties…
By Ayomide Otitoju The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has forced the World Health Organization (WHO) to suspend operations at its global emergency logistics hub in Dubai, the UN agency’s chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, announced Thursday. Speaking at a press briefing, Tedros warned that the impact of the war, triggered by US and Israeli attacks…
