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Category: International

  • FBI commends EFCC for role in international sextortion crackdown

    FBI commends EFCC for role in international sextortion crackdown

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for their cooperation in Operation Artemis, an international law enforcement effort targeting financially motivated sextortion networks that prey on minors.

    The commendation was conveyed in a letter signed by FBI Director Kash Patel, who praised the EFCC for its assistance in the investigation, arrest and extradition of two Nigerian suspects facing federal charges in the United States.

    In the letter addressed to Olukoyede, Patel acknowledged the commission’s contribution to the operation.

    “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has played a vital role in Operation Artemis, a joint effort focused on disrupting financially motivated sextortion rings targeting juveniles,” he said.

    Patel said the EFCC, under Olukoyede’s leadership, designated personnel to support the investigations and facilitate the transfer of suspects from Nigeria to the United States to face prosecution.

    He specifically commended the commission for apprehending Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, who were indicted in the United States in 2023 over allegations relating to the sexual exploitation and extortion of minors.

    The two suspects were extradited to the United States in August 2026, with the EFCC facilitating the process following investigations and extradition proceedings.

    According to the FBI, the suspects face federal charges relating to sexual exploitation involving minors whose deaths were linked to the alleged schemes.

    Patel said the successful outcome of the cases would not have been possible without the EFCC’s assistance and commitment to international law enforcement cooperation.

    “The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration,” he said.

    The FBI director also expressed appreciation to Olukoyede and the commission for their commitment to justice and continued cooperation, while expressing optimism about strengthening the partnership between both agencies.

    “Please accept my sincere appreciation for your commitment to justice and steadfast cooperation. I look forward to the continued partnership with the EFCC,” Patel said.

    The extradition of Adekunle and Olawale followed FBI investigations into separate sextortion schemes targeting male minors in the United States.

    The investigations linked the alleged activities to two teenage victims who died by suicide after reportedly being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.

    Sextortion involves threatening to release a person’s intimate images or other sexual material unless the victim complies with demands, which may include money or additional explicit content. Authorities have warned that such schemes can cause severe psychological distress, particularly among young victims.

    The EFCC’s cooperation with the FBI underscores the role of international law enforcement partnerships in investigating cybercrime and pursuing suspects across national borders.

  • Spain train collision death toll rises to at least 64

    Spain train collision death toll rises to at least 64

    TOLEDO, Spain (NPA) —At least 64 people have died after two high-speed trains collided in Spain’s central Toledo province on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as rescue workers continued searching the wreckage for more victims.

    The collision occurred near Urda, along the Madrid-Seville high-speed rail corridor, in the country’s second deadly railway accident this year. Reuters reported that several carriages derailed, with at least three plunging down an embankment. 

    The crash involved a train operated by private rail consortium Iryo and another operated by state-owned rail company Renfe. According to a person briefed on the incident, the Iryo train had stopped following a signal fault and instructions from rail infrastructure manager Adif before the Renfe train struck it at high speed.

    Renfe said its train had been authorised to continue its journey before the collision, but the Iryo train remained stationary for reasons that were not yet known.

    “The exact sequence of events, the traffic conditions and the circumstances of the impact will have to be established by the investigation,” Renfe said in a statement. 

    Emergency crews, including firefighters, police officers, medical teams and specialist rescue personnel, were deployed to the scene. Ambulances and helicopters transported injured passengers to hospitals, while rescuers examined the wreckage for additional victims.

    The trains were carrying hundreds of passengers when the collision occurred. The impact left twisted metal and broken panels scattered around the scene, with several carriages severely damaged.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed shock over the tragedy and said the government was monitoring the emergency response. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also conveyed their condolences to the victims and their families, while emergency services continued rescue and recovery operations. 

    Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the reported signalling fault and the authorisation for the Renfe train to proceed while the Iryo service remained on the track.

    Authorities have yet to establish the precise sequence of events or determine responsibility. The investigation is expected to examine the operation of the railway’s safety systems, communications between train operators and infrastructure controllers, and the decisions taken before the impact.

    Rail infrastructure operator Adif suspended services on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line following the collision, disrupting journeys between Madrid and destinations in southern Spain. 

    The disaster has renewed concerns about railway safety in Spain, following another deadly high-speed train collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province in January, which killed 46 people.

    Rescue and investigative teams continued working at the Toledo crash site as the country mourned the victims and authorities sought to establish what led to the collision.

  • Netanyahu condemns Houthi’s missile strike on Riyadh Airport as death toll reaches 12

    Netanyahu condemns Houthi’s missile strike on Riyadh Airport as death toll reaches 12

    JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA)  — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned what he described as a horrific terrorist attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following reports of casualties from a Houthi missile strike.

    In a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, Netanyahu expressed condolences to the families of those reportedly killed and wished the injured a full recovery.

    “On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those murdered and our wishes for a full recovery to the injured,” he said.

    Netanyahu added that terrorism targets innocent people and seeks to spread fear and instability, stressing that it must be confronted with resolve.

    He also said Israel looked forward to a stronger Middle East united against threats, protecting its people and building a future of security, cooperation and prosperity for the region’s population.

    According to casualty figures circulating in reports, 12 people were killed and 309 injured in the alleged strike. The reported fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and Palestine.

    The casualty figures and circumstances of the reported strike have not been independently verified by Newpost Africa as more information about the strike is being awaited.

  • Media Freedom Coalition demands justice 20 years after Anna Politkovskaya’s assassination

    Media Freedom Coalition demands justice 20 years after Anna Politkovskaya’s assassination

    LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Media Freedom Coalition has called on Russian authorities to bring all those responsible for the assassination of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya to justice, including those who ordered her killing.

    Politkovskaya, a correspondent for the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was murdered in Moscow on October 7, 2006, after years of reporting on human rights abuses, including in Chechnya.

    In a statement marking the 20th anniversary of her assassination, members of the Media Freedom Coalition said impunity for crimes against journalists and media workers must not be allowed to continue.

    The coalition said Russia has systematically eroded media freedom and independent journalism over the past two decades, with repression intensifying since Moscow launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.

    It cited Russia’s ranking of 172nd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index as evidence of the severe pressure facing journalists in the country.

    According to the coalition, journalists and media organisations in Russia have faced designation as “foreign agents” and “undesirable” organisations, as well as threats, intimidation, detention, prosecution, criminal cases in absentia and lengthy prison sentences.

    It also raised concerns over the so-called “civic death law” and what it described as increasing transnational repression against journalists.

    The coalition said it stands with journalists and media workers who continue to document Russia’s war against Ukraine, corruption, repression and human rights abuses despite censorship, prosecution, restrictive legislation, forced exile and other forms of pressure.

    It urged the Russian Federation to allow journalists to work freely and safely, release people it said had been unjustly detained or imprisoned, and end the transnational persecution and criminalisation of journalists.

    The coalition also called on Russian authorities to end impunity for crimes against journalists and ensure accountability for those who order, facilitate or carry out attacks.

    It further urged Russia to uphold its international human rights obligations, including the right to freedom of expression.

    The statement was signed by Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

  • Former US federal employee pleads guilty to $194 million government fraud scheme

    Former US federal employee pleads guilty to $194 million government fraud scheme

    WASHINGTON, DC, US  (NPA) — A former US federal employee has pleaded guilty to defrauding the US government of approximately $194 million, using his position to obtain government funds that he spent on gold bars, luxury properties, watches and high-end vehicles.

    David J. Rush, 49, of Ashburn, Virginia, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, to executing a scheme that exploited his senior government position and resulted in the fraudulent acquisition of approximately $193.59 million in federal funds.

    According to court documents, Rush held a senior executive-level position at a federal agency and had a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.

    Prosecutors said Rush obtained the position, in part, by providing false information about his education and military experience.

    He later allegedly used his position and access to government resources to create fictitious government authorities, including a fabricated Special Access Program, which he used to obtain federal funds for his personal benefit.

    After receiving the money, Rush directed approximately $145 million in wire transfers and used the proceeds to purchase luxury real estate, watches, vehicles and other valuable assets.

    He also acquired 298 gold bars, which cost the government approximately $46 million.

    FBI Recovers Gold Bars, Cash and Luxury Watches

    The FBI searched Rush’s residence on May 19, 2026, recovering 298 gold bars, approximately $2.1 million in cash, €104,795 and numerous luxury watches.

    Under the terms of his plea agreement, Rush has agreed to forfeit the gold bars and currencies recovered from his residence, as well as properties obtained through the fraud.

    He will also forfeit 30 luxury watches, many of them Rolexes, and two 2026 BMW Alpina vehicles. At least one of the vehicles is valued at approximately $172,000.

    US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the case demonstrated the government’s commitment to prosecuting federal employees who misuse their positions for personal gain.

    “Federal employees are entrusted with serving the American people, not themselves,” Blanche said.

    CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency had referred the matter to the FBI after an internal investigation identified potential criminal conduct.

    He said Rush had abused his position and betrayed the public trust.

    FBI Director Kash Patel also accused Rush of betraying his oath and the American people, saying the guilty plea demonstrated that government positions, security clearances and access to public resources do not place individuals above the law.

    Sentence Due in January

    Rush is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2027.

    He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as up to three years of supervised release, forfeiture, restitution and a fine.

    A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The case is being prosecuted by attorneys from the US Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and prosecutors from the Eastern District of Virginia.

    The US Navy’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service also assisted with the investigation.

    The Department of Justice said its investigation remains ongoing, while the Director of National Intelligence has requested that the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community open a separate investigation.

  • Rubio says US will never forget October 7 Hamas barbaric attack on Israel

    Rubio says US will never forget October 7 Hamas barbaric attack on Israel

    Washington D.C., US (NPA) —US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States will never forget the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, as Israelis mark the third anniversary of the assault that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

    In a statement marking the anniversary on Wednesday, Rubio said Hamas fighters had killed about 1,200 people and abducted hundreds of others during the attack.

    “Three years ago today, Hamas terrorists tortured, mutilated, and murdered 1,200 innocent civilians in Israel,” Rubio said, adding that the victims included babies, people with disabilities and elderly people.

    “Among those slain were men, women, and children — including dozens of Americans. We will never forget this act of barbarism against an ally and recommit ourselves to the defense of civilization,” he added.

    The October 7 attack, which involved Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups entering southern Israel from Gaza, killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, according to current figures cited by Reuters.

    Israel declared war on Hamas in response and launched a sustained military campaign in Gaza with the stated objective of dismantling the group’s military and governing capabilities and preventing another attack.

    Three years later, however, the conflict remains unresolved. Hamas continues to operate in parts of Gaza, while Israel maintains control over large areas of the enclave and military operations have continued despite a ceasefire framework.

    The war has also widened beyond Gaza, with Israel confronting armed groups allied with Hamas, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, while tensions involving Iran have further complicated the regional security situation.

    The October 7 anniversary comes as Israelis remember those killed in the attack and the hostages taken into Gaza, while Palestinians in the enclave continue to grapple with the destruction and humanitarian consequences of the war.

    The anniversary has also renewed international attention on the unresolved questions surrounding Gaza’s future, including the disarmament of Hamas, Israeli military withdrawal, governance of the territory and reconstruction as key elements of the post-war framework remain stalled.

  • Russia accuses Ukraine of attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

    Russia accuses Ukraine of attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

    MOSCOW, Russia (NPA) — Russia has accused Ukraine of continuing attacks and provocations against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), warning that the alleged attacks could increase the risk of a serious nuclear accident.

    Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the allegation in a statement issued on October 5, 2026.

    According to Zakharova, Ukrainian forces used a drone on October 4 to strike the plant’s laboratory and Support Building No. 2, located about 200 metres from the reactor units.

    She also alleged that Ukrainian forces shelled the radioactive waste processing building twice, saying an attack on the facility could damage equipment needed for the safe handling of radioactive materials.

    Zakharova further claimed that a truck carrying food supplies for plant personnel was targeted near Melitopol on October 4, killing the driver.

    The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the driver’s family and relatives.

    Zakharova accused Ukraine of targeting the ZNPP and related infrastructure in an effort to disrupt the plant’s operations and increase the risk of a nuclear accident.

    She also criticised Western countries for what she described as an inadequate response to the alleged attacks, accusing them of encouraging further strikes by continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine.

    According to the statement, Russia also questioned the commitment of Western countries to nuclear safety and security at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations and other international forums.

    The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the IAEA leadership to condemn what it described as Ukraine’s actions and those of its supporters.

    Ukraine has not yet responded to the specific allegations in Zakharova’s October 5 statement. This report will be updated when an official response becomes available.

    The allegations contained in the Russian statement could not be independently verified.

    The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power facility, has remained a major security concern since Russia took control of the site during the war in Ukraine.

  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv as Zelenskyy reports Russian drone strikes across Ukraine

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv as Zelenskyy reports Russian drone strikes across Ukraine

    KYIV, Ukraine (NPA) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched another wave of drone attacks across Ukraine, killing one person and injuring six others.

    Zelenskyy said a Russian drone struck the Pivnichnyi Bridge in Kyiv on the morning of the attack, coinciding with a visit to the Ukrainian capital by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

    He said Russian drones also struck a pharmaceutical warehouse in Sumy, killing one person, while a communications facility in Dnipro was attacked, leaving six people injured.

    According to Zelenskyy, Russia launched 135 attack drones against Ukraine overnight, more than 50 of them jet-powered.

    He said the Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions came under attack, with residential buildings and critical infrastructure among the targets.

    Zelenskyy said power outages were reported in some communities, while emergency and response services were working at the sites hit by the attacks.

    “It is important that Ukraine is not left alone against this terror,” he said.

    The Ukrainian president said Russia had used more than 1,900 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs and 25 missiles against Ukraine during the week.

    More than 800 of the drones were jet-powered, he said, adding that Russia must be held accountable for what he described as an escalation.

    Zelenskyy also welcomed the visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Kyiv, describing Germany as a country that had consistently demonstrated leadership in protecting Ukrainian lives from Russian attacks.

    He thanked Germany for its support, saying the two countries were preparing decisions aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and improving Europe’s ability to protect itself.

    “There will be important agreements between Ukraine and Germany. Russia must be stopped together,” Zelenskyy said.

  • 27% of EU young people lived in overcrowded homes in 2025 — Eurostat

    27% of EU young people lived in overcrowded homes in 2025 — Eurostat

    BRUSSELS (NPA) — About 27 per cent of young people in the European Union (EU) lived in overcrowded households in 2025, highlighting continued housing pressures among young people across the bloc, according to Eurostat.

    Eurostat said 26.9 per cent of young people aged 15–29 lived in overcrowded households in 2025, 10.1 percentage points higher than the rate for the total population, which stood at 16.8 per cent.

    The overcrowding rate among young people decreased with age, falling from 30.1 per cent among those aged 15–19 to 28.7 per cent for those aged 20–24 and 21.8 per cent among those aged 25–29.

    Among young people aged 15–29, Romania recorded the highest overcrowding rate at 60.4 per cent, followed by Latvia at 54.9 per cent and Bulgaria at 52.8 per cent.

    The lowest rates were recorded in Cyprus at 3.5 per cent, Ireland at 7.4 per cent and Malta at 7.7 per cent.

    In three EU countries, the gap between the overcrowding rate among young people and the total population was at least 20 percentage points.

    Bulgaria recorded a rate of 52.8 per cent among young people, compared with 32.5 per cent for the total population, while Greece recorded 48.4 per cent against 28.3 per cent.

    In Romania, 60.4 per cent of young people lived in overcrowded households, compared with 40.4 per cent of the total population.

    The figures underscore significant differences in housing conditions among young people across EU member states.

  • WHO, Netherlands strengthen partnership on Ebola, global health security and emergency response

    WHO, Netherlands strengthen partnership on Ebola, global health security and emergency response

    GENEVA, Switzerland (NPA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Netherlands have reaffirmed their longstanding partnership on Ebola, global health security, emergency preparedness and response, and resilient health systems.

    The commitment was renewed during a meeting on Sept. 30 between WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

    Tedros thanked Sjoerdsma for the Netherlands’ continued leadership on shared priorities, including health security, emergency preparedness and response, resilient health systems, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

    He said the partnership reflected the Netherlands’ Global Health Strategy 2023–2030, which recognises that protecting global health also helps protect health in the Netherlands.

    Tedros welcomed the Netherlands’ continued commitment to flexible and predictable financing, saying it strengthens WHO’s capacity to prepare for and respond to health emergencies worldwide.

    Dutch support contributes to WHO’s work in Gaza, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping to deliver essential health services, disease surveillance, outbreak control and medical supplies.

    The two sides also discussed the evolution of the Ebola outbreak and the need to ensure access to essential health services for Palestinian patients from Gaza.

    They examined ways to strengthen cooperation on health emergencies and ensure rapid action when crises emerge, including mechanisms that would make financing more readily available to contain outbreaks before they escalate.

    Tedros and Sjoerdsma further discussed the growing number of attacks on healthcare and reiterated the importance of protecting health workers, patients and health facilities, while ensuring continued access to essential services in humanitarian settings.

    Tedros thanked the Netherlands for its longstanding leadership in advancing SRHR, particularly for women, girls and people in vulnerable situations.

    Through its partnership with WHO and the WHO-hosted Human Reproduction Programme, the Netherlands has helped translate research and evidence into practical improvements in women’s health, according to the WHO.

    The two sides also exchanged views on WHO’s ongoing transformation and organisational priorities, with both reaffirming the need to ensure that resources, expertise and international cooperation deliver greater impact for countries and communities.