NEWS

The White House has responded to criticism after Donald Trump shared a video on Truth Social that included imagery depicting former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. The 62-second video, which focuses on allegations about voting machines during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, shows the Obamas’ faces briefly superimposed onto the bodies of apes near the end of the clip. The segment appears for about one second while the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” plays. A watermark from X user @XERIAS_X, a pro-Trump account, is visible over that portion of the video. The post prompted swift backlash from political figures and commentators. Obama was the first Black president of the United States, and depictions of Black public figures as primates have long b...

The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, has suspended its nationwide strike after 84 days of the industrial action. JOHESU suspended the strike at the end of its expanded national executive council, NEC, emergency meeting held in Abuja on Friday. The meeting was is said to have been convened to review the outcomes of the Federal Government-JOHESU conciliation meeting held on Thursday at the federal ministry of labour and employment headquarters. According to a communique issued after the meeting, the union said the strike has been suspended to allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements. Details shortly…

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, yesterday, Feb. 5, announced a six-week partial closure of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.  This is to enable repairs on expansion joints at Kara Bridge, Magboro Bridge and Arepo–Punch Bridge. The ministry said the closure became necessary to resume critical rehabilitation works earlier suspended on the Lagos-bound section of Kara Bridge following public complaints over prolonged traffic congestion. Addressing journalists at Kara Bridge, the Ogun State Federal Controller of Works, Michael Komolafe, apologised to motorists for the inconvenience and assured that improved traffic management arrangements would be put in place to ensure swift and durable repairs. Komolafe explained that the expansion joints on the three bridges had det...

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has clarified that the sit-at-home observed on February 2 in parts of Onitsha was a one-off action and not a return to the weekly Monday lockdowns previously seen in the South-East. IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said the action was a reaction to what the group described as the increasingly authoritarian posture of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, particularly following tensions with traders in Onitsha. He stressed that IPOB has not reinstated any policy of weekly sit-at-home. Powerful recalled that the Monday sit-at-home began in August 2021 to demand the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was then in the custody of the Department of State Services. He said the action was later cancelled on Kanu’s directive after wides...

Norwegian authorities have opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland following fresh revelations about his ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The probe was launched after documents released by the United States Department of Justice revealed years of communication between Jagland and Epstein, including emails suggesting the former Norwegian leader may have stayed at Epstein’s residence. Jagland served as Norway’s prime minister from 1996 to 1997 and later held influential international roles, including head of the Nobel Committee and secretary-general of the Council of Europe. Økokrim, Norway’s agency responsible for investigating white-collar and financial crime, said it found “reasonable grounds” to suspect ag...

US president Donald Trump has announced plans for a national prayer event at the National Mall in May to "rededicate America as one nation under God" during the yearlong celebration of the country's 250th anniversary. Trump discussed the event, dubbed the National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving and planned for May 17, during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5 as he touted his administration's efforts to return "religion back" to the public arena. "To support this exciting renewal, this morning I'm pleased to announce that on May 17, 2026, we're inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray, to give thanks." "We're going to rededicate America as one nation under God," he added, drawing long applause from th...

Canada and France will open consulates in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Friday, February 6, in a strong show of support for the Danish autonomous territory, as both countries oppose US President Donald Trump’s stated desire to control the island. Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has repeatedly argued that Washington needs to control the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island for security reasons. Last month, however, he appeared to soften his stance, saying he had reached a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to secure greater American influence without taking control. A joint US–Denmark–Greenland working group has since been set up to address Washington’s security concerns in the Arctic, although details of the discussions have not been...

A Catholic priest has di£d after collapsing suddenly in front of the congregation during Sunday mass. The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he "suddenly" collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna. "Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church," the statement said. The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes. The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highl...

Ten inmates of the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Ogun State, have gained admission into Yewa Central College of Education to study various courses for free. The inmates, comprising of seven males and three females, were admitted into the departments of English Language/Social Studies, Economics/Social Studies, Political Science/Social Studies, Business Education, Physical Health Education, Economics/Political Science and  Economics/Computer Science. Speaking at the matriculation ceremony held at the correctional facility on Friday, the Provost of the College of Education, Dr Mary Bamgbose, welcomed the newly admitted inmates into the 2025/2026 academic session and urged them to be of good conduct. She maintained that they have been corrected and reformed, express...

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has hailed the life imprisonment of Okpara Onyekachi as a landmark victory for justice and road safety enforcement in Nigeria. The Lagos State High Court, TBS Division, delivered the judgment in suit number LD/24692C/2024, arising from a fatal accident that claimed the life of a serving FRSC officer. In a statement on Friday, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed explained that the incident occurred on November 16, 2023, at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, during a routine traffic patrol. The officer, Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Ajomale, was on duty when a container-laden truck, driven by Onyekachi at excessive speed, collided with a stationary mini truck flagged down for inspection. “Investigations established that the driver failed to exercise due care...