Foreign

Abuja, May 21, 2024 – The United States says the late Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, had a “lot of blood on his hands.” The White House disclosed this on Monday in a condolence message after Raisi’s death. Raisi and some officials were involved in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan province. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Raisi was responsible for “atrocious” rights abuses in Iran and had supported regional proxies, including Hamas. Addressing reporters, Kirby said: “This was a man who had a lot of blood on …

Dubai, May 20, 2024 – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday. The charred wreckage of the helicopter which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers and crew was found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions. “President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in …

Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip), May 19, 2024 – An Israeli airstrike killed 20 people in central Gaza, mostly women and children, and fighting raged across the north on Sunday as Israel’s leaders aired divisions over who should govern Gaza after the war, now in the eighth month. Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from his own War Cabinet, with his main political rival,Benny Gantz, threatening to leave the government if a plan is not formulated by June 8 that includes an international administration for postwar Gaza. U.S. national security adviser Jake …

Abuja, May 18, 2024 – Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, has felicitated with the newly-elected Executive Council of the African Public Relations Association (APRA). They were elected at the 35th APRA Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from May 13 to May 18, 2024. The Minister, also a Fellow of APRA, acknowledged the significance of the election for the advancement of public relations practice across Africa. He said that while it was a pivotal moment for APRA, the collective expertise, …

By Paul Ejime Abuja, May 16, 2024 – The “Abuja ‘Road to Schuman Forum” jointly organized by the EU Delegation in Abuja and Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Advisor, was held in the Nigerian capital on Wednesday, 15th May 2024 as part of efforts for the strengthening of regional partnerships. Held under the title: “Reducing vulnerabilities through partnerships*, the Forum attended by diplomats accredited to Nigeria and ECOWAS, EU and ECOWAS Commission officials, independent experts, civil society representatives and opinion leaders is a precursor conversation …

London, May 15, 2024 – A Nigerian, Olubunmi Abodunde, who murdered his wife, Taiwo, with a skateboard and blamed his loss of control on medication has been jailed for life in the United Kingdom. Media reports had indicated that Abodunde, 48, a resident of Exning Road, in Newmarket, Suffolk killed his wife on 28 November, 2023. He admitted to killing Taiwo, who suffered “catastrophic brain injuries”, according to BBC reports. Ipswich Crown Court heard “a degree of ferocity” was involved in her death at the couple’s family home in Exning Road. Abodunde …

Abuja, May 13, 2024 – Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has commended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for their philanthropic works to society, especially to the injured, sick and traumatised soldiers and war veterans. She gave the commendation at the welcome banquet held in their honour in Abuja by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa.  The NiDCOM boss said their kind gestures would empower the wounded soldiers. “The initiative for the proposal to site the …