NEWS

Venezuela has begun freeing a significant number of political prisoners, including foreign nationals, a development praised by US President Donald Trump as a positive step toward cooperation following the removal of former leader Nicolas Maduro. The releases, which started on Thursday, mark the first such action since Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, assumed leadership with backing from Washington. Trump has indicated he is willing to support her administration provided the United States gains access to Venezuela’s oil resources. In a social media post on Friday, Trump described the prisoner releases as a gesture of “seeking peace,” calling it a “very important and smart move.” He said relations between Washington and Caracas were improving and revealed that he had cancelled ...

Union jack flagon pole and Big Ben The United Kingdom has issued a renewed warning to Nigerians and other migrants against taking up jobs without proper authorisation, cautioning that anyone found working illegally will be arrested, detained and deported. UK authorities said enforcement actions against illegal employment have intensified nationwide, with immigration raids now taking place more frequently. Officials noted that enforcement teams are actively visiting workplaces to identify individuals violating immigration regulations. According to the UK government, migrants caught working without valid permission will face immediate action, including possible removal from the country. The Home Office stated that it remains committed to strict enforcement of immigration laws a...

Iran was thrown into a nationwide internet shutdown on Thursday night, January 8, as widespread anti-government protests swept across the country. Demonstrators took to the streets chanting slogans against the ruling theocratic system, fueled by mounting frustration over economic hardship and intensified security crackdowns. Authorities severed internet access and telephone services shortly after protests broke out in Tehran and other major cities. Despite the blackout, videos of the demonstrations continued to surface online as the unrest entered its second week. Cybersecurity analysts say such nationwide shutdowns are often imposed when authorities anticipate the use of lethal force, with the aim of curbing information flow and reducing international scrutiny. Protests have erup...

The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved a ₦4.4 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, following the adoption of the report from the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget. Committee chairman Sa’ad Olumoh presented the report during Thursday’s plenary, outlining the assumptions, projections, and structure of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, dubbed the “Budget of Shared Prosperity.” The budget marks the third cycle of the current administration and the final new-cycle budget of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. It aligns with the state government’s development agenda, which is built on four strategic pillars: human-centric development, modern and adaptive infrastructure, a thriving 21st-century megacity economy, and governance that surpasses citizens’ expectatio...

Turkish Airlines has cancelled all five flights scheduled for Friday, Jan. 9, to the Iranian capital Tehran, amid protests against the rising cost of living, according to the Istanbul Airport app. Five other flights operated by Iranian airlines have also been cancelled, according to the airport app, while seven others remain scheduled. Turkish authorities have not commented so far on the situation in Iran, where protesters have challenged the authorities under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian government was already battling an economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering from the war against Israel in 2025. Rights groups have accused Iranian security forces of opening fire on demonstrators. Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said Thursday, Jan. 8, that sec...

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, has tasked Governor Monday Okpebholo on sustained security efforts, strengthened governance and inclusive development in 2026. The State Chairman of the body, Dr James-Wisdom Abhulimen, gave the charge in the 2026 message to the Edo State Government, members of the organisation, as well as all stakeholders committed to good governance and sustainable development. According to him, security remains fundamental to development. Continued investment in professional policing, intelligence-led operations, and rural safety measures is crucial for protecting lives, enhancing productivity, and fostering an environment that attracts investment and opportunity. “As the administration consolidates its gains, we urge su...

The Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, has formally lodged a corruption complaint against Farouk Ahmed, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters. This was confirmed in a statement released by the Dangote Group’s media team on Friday. Dangote had previously approached the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding Ahmed’s alleged misuse of $5 million for his children’s secondary education in Switzerland. That petition was recently withdrawn, though the ICPC pledged to continue its investigation. According to the statement, the decision to move the case to the EFCC was “a strategic step to expedite th...

Residents of Oloka village in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have continued to flee the community following a deadly bandit attack on the National Park Service office earlier this week, despite the deployment of heavy security personnel. Community members say fear, shock, and psychological trauma persist after suspected bandits struck on Tuesday, January 6, leaving at least five forest guards dead and forcing villagers to run for safety. Many houses remain locked, streets are largely deserted, and both commercial and social activities have come to a standstill. A resident, who spoke anonymously, described Oloka as virtually deserted, noting that many villagers had taken refuge in neighbouring communities, while those who remained did so largely because of the presence of se...

The judgment of the Court of Appeal restricting the functions of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) strikes at the heart of one of Nigeria’s most persistent traffic regulation crises. The real lesson is the need to ensure that traffic regulators, in whatever guise, do not overstep their bounds while enforcing traffic laws. In particular, officers charged with enforcing road safety practices should not constitute themselves as roadside oppressors. Besides, the court decision calls for reform of traffic regulations to streamline the functions of agencies and prevent duplication of roles.  The Appeal Court, in its judgment, barred the VIO from stopping motorists on the road, impounding or confiscating vehicles, and imposing fines on citizens. In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel ...

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, January 8, accused the United States of “breaking free from international rules” and warned that Washington is “gradually turning away” from some of its allies, in remarks underscoring growing tensions between Europe and the U.S. Entertainment center Macron delivered the comments at the Élysée Palace during his annual address to French ambassadors, as European powers debate how to respond to what they consider an increasingly assertive U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. “The United States is an established power, but one that is gradually turning away from some of its allies and breaking free from international rules that it was still promoting recently,” Macron said. “Multilateral institutions are functioning less and less...