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Washington, April 29, 2026 – The State Department is rolling out limited-edition U.S. passports to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The new passport designs, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, prominently feature President Donald Trump’s image on the inside cover. Mock-ups show Trump’s image surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence and American flag along with the president’s signature in gold. Another page features the famous painting of the founding fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The passports, which are set to be …

Washington, April 28, 2026 – The White House said US officials were discussing Iran’s latest proposal but maintained “red lines” on any deal to end the eight-week war, including preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that President Donald Trump convened national security officials to review the proposal. “His red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear,” she said, adding that Trump would address the matter “very soon.” The comments followed reports that Tehran proposed an interim …

Lagos, April 28, 2026 – The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has paid the outstanding one-month arrears of the ₦32,000 pension increment to eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). Olugbenga Ajayi, the PTAD Head of Corporate Affairs, disclosed this on Monday in a statement on its X handle.  He said a total of ₦1.7 billion was disbursed to 54,206 pensioners, marking the full settlement of arrears arising from the pension increment approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which took effect from July 29, 2024. The …

Abuja, April 28, 2026 – Nigeria’s external reserves dropped to $48.45 billion as of April 23, 2026 from $49.18 billion on April 1. The drop represents an average weekly decline of about $233 million and cumulative drop of $731 million in the first three weeks of the month. The drop has also been attributed to renewed pressure on the reserves and follows similar pattern in March when the reserves dropped from over $50.08 billion on March 12 to $49.61 billion by March 23. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), however, …

Lagos, April 28, 2026 – The Nigerian currency, the Naira, depreciated further at the official foreign exchange market on Monday, closing at N1,369 to the dollar, from N1,361 on Friday. The currency has been sliding against the dollar at the market in the last four trading days. The naira had depreciated from N1,355 to the dollar on Thursday and N1,348.10 to the dollar on Wednesday. Bid rates offered by dealers at the market on Monday ranged from N1,359.50 to N1,370 to the dollar. Meanwhile, the naira is being traded at …

Singapore, April 28, 2026 – Oil prices rose nearly 2% on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session, as efforts to ‌end the U.S.-Iran war appear stalled, with the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway still mainly shut, keeping energy supplies from the key Middle East producing region out of the reach of global buyers. U.S. President Donald Trump is unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal aimed at ending ​the war, a U.S. official said on Monday. Iranian sources disclosed on Monday that Tehran’s proposal avoided addressing its ​nuclear program until hostilities cease …

Washington, April 26, 2026 – President Donald Trump and officials in his administration were the likely targets of a suspect who fired on a security agent guarding the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday. The man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel ‌before being tackled and arrested. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the dinner. “It does appear that he, he did, in fact, set out …

Port Harcourt, April 26, 2026 – Officers of the Nigerian Army have confiscated N250 million worth of stolen crude oil, destroyed 10 illegal refining sites and arrested nine suspected oil thieves in different parts of the Niger Delta region. Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Sunday. The statement said 130,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 26,000 litres of diesel, worth N250 million, were confiscated. Danjuma said the soldiers achieved this during nearly …

Abuja, April 26, 2026 – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of Captagon, a highly potent stimulant, in Kwara State. Captagon is a highly addictive amphetamine-type stimulant widely abused in parts of the Middle East. The drug produces intense euphoria, suppresses fatigue, and can keep users awake for days while reducing fear and increasing reckless behaviour. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Spokesman, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. According to the statement, the drug, with street value of as much as $25 a pill, was …

Lagos, April 26, 2026 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have sued the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for threatening to sanction broadcasting stations and presenters for expressing personal opinions, bullying or intimidating their guests. This was disclosed by SERAP in a statement on Sunday. It filed the suit, number FHC/L/CS/854/2026, on Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos. In the suit, SERAP and NGE are asking the court to determine whether the various provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code relied upon …