Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

The United States and Iran are set to engage in a new round of nuclear talks on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment in their fraught diplomatic relationship. While U.S. President Donald Trump declared the discussions would be direct, Iranian officials insist that the talks will be conducted indirectly, with Oman serving as a mediator. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the meeting late Monday in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Representing the U.S. will be Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East. “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s…

Celebrated German filmmaker Werner Herzog will be honored with the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, organizers announced on Tuesday. Known for his haunting, visionary style and fearless storytelling, Herzog, 81, has become one of cinema’s most iconic voices. With a prolific career spanning over six decades, he has written, produced, and directed around 70 films — seamlessly navigating between narrative features and documentaries. His works such as Fitzcarraldo and Grizzly Man have garnered global acclaim, often blurring the line between fact and myth. “I have always tried to be a good soldier of…

The Trump administration is putting plans in place to fine migrants under deportation orders up to $998 a day if they fail to leave the United States and to seize their property if they do not pay. The fines stem from a 1996 law that was enforced for the first time in 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. The Trump administration plans to apply the penalties retroactively for up to five years, which could result in fines of more than $1 million, a senior Trump official said, requesting anonymity to discuss non-public plans. The Trump administration is…

Five persons, including a pregnant woman, were killed as a commercial bus rammed into Damagum market in Yobe State. Also, 19 others were injured in the accident caused by the 18-seater Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number KTG 283 XA. The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Livinus Yilzoom, confirmed the number of casualties on Tuesday, saying the incident happened when the pedestrian victims were closing from the market. The statement said, “Note that five persons who died were not occupants of the vehicle, rather, they were pedestrians who were by the roadside waiting…

The Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau has arrested three Nigerians, alongside several accomplices for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering in India. The Indian anti-narcotics operatives also recovered cocaine and MDMA worth Rs 12.5 lakh from the suspects on Monday. Per The Times of India, the arrests stemmed from an ongoing investigation that uncovered a sophisticated financial web used by drug cartels to launder proceeds from illegal drug sales. The detectives identified multiple shell companies operating in Mumbai and Delhi, which were allegedly being used to funnel drug money into foreign accounts while tracing the financial transactions of known…

As part of new travel restrictions ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia has slammed a temporary suspension of specific visa categories on 14 countries, including Nigeria, India, and Pakistan. Saudi authorities are reportedly suspending the issuance of Umrah ,family visits, and business visas for citizens from the listed countries beginning in April 2025. The report said the ban is expected to remain in effect through June, when the Hajj season concludes. However, officials clarified that the suspension does not affect pilgrims properly registered for the Hajj. Nigerians and others intending to perform the religious rites in Makkah and…

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s latest salvo in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, Chinese manufacturers are scrambling to keep their heads above water. From tableware to flooring, companies across various sectors are warning investors of tumbling profits, while rapidly revising strategies and accelerating offshore expansion to survive the economic storm. Trump’s recent introduction of a staggering 34% tariff on Chinese goods—on top of earlier levies—has brought total tariffs on China to 54% this year alone, sending shockwaves through global markets. While some Chinese firms have downplayed the immediate impact, corporate filings reveal a different picture: emergency plans, supply…

In the early hours of Monday, chaos struck once again on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a private vehicle veered off the Otedola Bridge and plunged to the ground below, leaving behind a scene of twisted metal, shattered glass, and shaken commuters. The vehicle, reportedly carrying four passengers, crashed off the bridge under still-unclear circumstances. Eyewitnesses described the incident as “horrific,” recounting how the vehicle somersaulted mid-air before landing with a heavy thud. Miraculously, the driver survived the fall and was promptly rescued by first responders. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. The…

Despite warnings from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian youths on Monday stormed the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and other major cities in a wave of coordinated protests against what they described as growing authoritarianism and worsening economic conditions. The nationwide protest, led by the Take-It-Back Movement and several civil society organisations, drew attention to pressing national issues, including the alleged abuse of the Cybercrime Act, inflation, insecurity, and political instability—particularly the crisis rocking Rivers State. In Lagos, demonstrators were seen in Ikeja, chanting slogans and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.”…

US government attorneys have argued that a federal judge did not have the authority to order the Trump administration to broker the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported from the U.S. to a notorious El Salvador prison, as they urged an appeals court to suspend the ruling. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis on Friday ordered the administration to “facilitate and effectuate” Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. by late Monday night. Justice Department lawyers asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to immediately pause the judge’s order. “A judicial order that forces the Executive to…