Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has urged wealthy nations to adopt a fairer and more respectful approach to trade and investment with Africa, warning against the extractive “resource grab” mindset that has long defined global economic engagement with the continent. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar likened the exploitative attitude of some developed nations to playing the popular video game Minecraft, where players mine materia

The Nigerian Senate has approved a new law prescribing life imprisonment  for anyone found guilty of defiling a minor, as part of efforts to strengthen protection for children and deter sexual offences nationwide. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), initially proposed a 20-year jail term for offenders. Oshiomhole argued that defilement is one of the most damaging crimes against humanity, stressing that minors cannot give valid consent. “A minor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Dr. Bernard Doro from Plateau State as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His name has been forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation. The nomination follows the elevation of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, who was elected as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July. Special Adviser to the President on Information and

A Nigerian teenager, Joy Ogah, has made history by symbolically taking over the seat of Vice President Kashim Shettima for one day a gesture highlighting the urgent need to empower and educate the nation’s girls. The event, held on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was organised in collaboration with PLAN International Nigeria as part of a global advocacy campaign promoting girl-child education and gender equality. Sitting in the Vice President’s c

Japan has made history with the appointment of Sanae Takaichi  as its first female prime minister , following a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Takaichi, 64, a conservative lawmaker known for her strong nationalist views and close ties to the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was confirmed by Japan’s lower house after securing the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) earlier this month. According to verified reports, Takaichi takes off

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy  has begun serving a five-year prison sentence  following his conviction for criminal conspiracy  in connection with alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, becomes the first former head of an EU country to be jailed, marking a historic moment in French political history. He arrived at La Santé Prison in Paris on Tuesday morning amid tight security, as dozens of supporters ga

Agency Report Senator Ned Nwoko has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to come up with plans to stop some desperate Nigerians from embarking on dangerous journeys that often end in tragedy and bring disrepute to the nation. Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District and chairs the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday. “The reason many Nigerians end up in for

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Angola have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral financial cooperation, technical collaboration, and cross-border supervision between the two African nations. The agreement was sealed on Thursday on the sidelines of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Annual Meetings in Lima, Peru. CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, and his Angolan counterpart, Mr. Manuel

Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina has been officially sworn in as the new president of Madagascar following a dramatic military takeover that forced former leader Andry Rajoelina to flee the country earlier this week. The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Constitutional Court in the capital Antananarivo, marked the formal transfer of power from Rajoelina’s civilian administration to a military-backed government. The event was attended by top military commanders, political fi

Kenya held a state funeral for revered opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi on Friday, a day after security forces opened fire on huge mourning crowds, killing at least three people. Odinga, 80, died from a suspected heart attack at a health clinic in southern India on Wednesday, triggering an outpouring of grief across much of his home country. Affectionately known as “Baba” (father), Odinga was widely regarded as the most influential political figure of his generation

The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His confirmation followed a rigorous three-hour screening session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday. Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu earlier in the week, fielded questions from lawmakers on his qualifications, past affiliations, and plans for Nigeria’s electoral reforms. D

Photo by KABIR DHANJI / AFP Tension gripped the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Thursday as gunfire and teargas disrupted a public viewing ceremony for Kenya’s late opposition leader, Raila Odinga , sending thousands of mourners scrambling for safety. According to eyewitnesses and AFP reporters on the scene, security forces fired live ammunition and teargas to control surging crowds attempting to view Odinga’s body, which had been flown back from India earlier in the day. At l

A United States federal judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s plan to lay off thousands of federal workers as the ongoing government shutdown stretches into its third week. District Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco issued the restraining order on Wednesday following a lawsuit filed by major labor unions, which argued that the mass layoffs violated federal law and endangered workers’ welfare. According to court documents, the Trump administration had alread

Eight local government chairmen in Bayelsa State have announced their resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared their loyalty to Governor Douye Diri, following his decision to quit the party on Wednesday. The chairmen made the announcement during a press briefing held at the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital. Their defection marks another wave of political realignment in the state, coming less

Madagascar’s ousted president, Andry Rajoelina, has confirmed that he fled the country following the military coup that toppled his government and thrust the Indian Ocean island nation into deep political crisis. In an official statement issued late Wednesday and transmitted to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Malagasy presidency said Rajoelina left the country between October 11 and 12 after “explicit and extremely serious threats” were made against his life. The statement re

Israel has threatened to resume its military campaign in Gaza if Hamas fails to comply with the terms of a United States–brokered ceasefire that temporarily halted months of devastating warfare. The warning, issued Wednesday by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, came shortly after Hamas handed over the remains of two additional deceased Israeli hostages. The militant group said it had exhausted its ability to recover more bodies from Gaza’s ruins without specialized equipm

The Nigerian Senate will on Thursday, October 16, 2025, conduct the screening of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Information at the National Assembly, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, the screening will take place inside the Senate Chamber at the National Assembly Complex. Members of the Senate Press Corps and tel

Former Kenyan Prime Minister and long-time opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has died at the age of 80 while receiving medical care in India. His office confirmed the news early Wednesday, bringing an end to a political era that defined Kenya’s democracy for more than four decades. Odinga reportedly collapsed during a morning walk in the southern Indian city of Kochi and was rushed to Devamatha Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead following a cardiac arrest. He had been

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to unite in combating false narratives and misinformation that threaten the nation’s unity and global image. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters. In a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim, the mini

The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who commenced a two-week warning strike on Monday. The directive, was issued through a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. It ordered all university heads to ensure strict compliance with existing labour laws, which stipulate that emplo