By MAHMOOD MALIK MUSA (M.M.M.) IBRAHIM NIGERIA has signed a new $230 million arms supply deal with Pakistan for aircraft, drones, and armored vehicles, following the suspension of an earlier agreement. The revised contract covers 30 K-8 trainer/attack aircraft, 40 Shahpar-2 drones, 200 MR-10 drones, and 230 ASV Mohafiz-IV armored vehicles. Director of the Defense […]
By MAHMOOD MALIK MUSA (M.M.M.) IBRAHIM SAUDI Arabia has introduced new, tougher health requirements for the 2026 Hajj to safeguard public health during the pilgrimage. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, all intending pilgrims must be physically and mentally fit and comply with an expanded vaccination regime before being allowed entry. The Kingdom listed […]
By OBI DAVIES CHINA and Nigeria have renewed their commitment to promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and cultural collaboration through the Chinese Women Film Festival held in Abuja. Speaking at the event, Mr. Zhou Hongyou, Minister at the Chinese Embassy, highlighted China’s progress in advancing women’s status, noting that women make up 43% of the […]
By DIANA CHUKWUKA ON a humid Lagos afternoon, E.O. Obanor sits on the veranda of his one-room apartment, watching his children play. Three years ago, he was a bakery supervisor earning ₦220,000 monthly. Today, he’s unemployed, battling debt, and fighting thoughts that frighten him. “I never thought I’d come this low,” he says quietly. “When […]
By ANDERSON (ANDY) CLIFF US President Donald Trump has lost the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize despite mounting a strong campaign for it. The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded the prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her “tireless struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.” […]
By ANDERSON (ANDY) CLIFF IN an age when strongmen tighten their grip and democracy teeters under the weight of repression, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize could hardly have found a more fitting recipient. The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to honour Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader and relentless advocate for democracy, is more than an […]
By ANDERSON (ANDY) CLIFF THE World Trade Organization (WTO) has raised its 2025 global trade growth forecast to 2.4% from 0.9%, citing rising demand for AI-related goods and a surge in exports to the US ahead of new tariff hikes. However, the WTO cut its 2026 projection to 0.5% as the impact of President Donald […]
By ANITA KNIGHT THE Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has pledged stronger support for the wellbeing of orphans across the country. Deputy Chief of Mission, Inbar Garden, made the commitment during a visit to the Hope for Survival Orphanage in Gishiri, Abuja, where the embassy donated food items and hosted a buffet for the children. “We […]
By ANITA KNIGHT THE United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerian students seeking higher education opportunities in America. Speaking at the 2025 EducationUSA Nigeria Fair in Abuja, U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Officer Brian Neubert said the U.S. remains dedicated to empowering Nigeria’s next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers. The annual fair, themed […]
By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE GLOBAL leaders from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and European Union (EU) have renewed their joint pledge to strengthen peace and sustainable development efforts across Africa. In a communiqué issued after their sixth trilateral meeting in New York, the organisations vowed deeper cooperation to end conflicts, support stability, and address […]