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Category: International

  • Trump administration releases declassified UFOS files in new transparency initiative

    Trump administration releases declassified UFOS files in new transparency initiative

    WASHINGTON, U.S. (NPA) — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the release of previously classified government files relating to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs, as part of what officials described as an unprecedented transparency initiative.

    In a statement issued Friday, the U.S. Department of War said the initial batch of files was released under a new interagency programme known as the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE).

    According to the department, the initiative involves coordination among the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Energy, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other intelligence agencies.

    The newly declassified materials, including videos, photographs and original source documents, are expected to be published on a dedicated government portal, with additional releases planned on a rolling basis.

    The administration said the move followed directives from Trump to begin identifying and declassifying files related to UAPs “in the interest of total transparency.”

    The statement described the release as the most extensive disclosure effort by any U.S. administration on the issue.

    “The American people can now access the federal government’s declassified UAP files instantly,” the department stated, adding that the materials had undergone security reviews, although some had not yet been fully analysed.

    U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the release was intended to address longstanding public speculation surrounding classified UAP investigations.

    “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” Hegseth said.

    Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the intelligence community was coordinating a comprehensive review of government holdings related to UAPs.

    “Today’s release is the first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort,” she stated.

    FBI Director Kash Patel described the move as a “landmark release,” saying the American public now has “unfettered access” to declassified government records on anomalous phenomena.

    NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also welcomed the initiative, saying the agency would continue to apply scientific research and data analysis in studying unexplained aerial phenomena.

    “We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered,” Isaacman said.

    The release is expected to intensify global interest in UAP investigations, an issue that has increasingly attracted attention from governments, researchers and intelligence agencies in recent years.

  • Pope Leo XIV marks first anniversary of papacy with pilgrimage to Pompei and Naples

    Pope Leo XIV marks first anniversary of papacy with pilgrimage to Pompei and Naples

    POMPEI, Italy (NPA) — Pope Leo XIV commemorated the first anniversary of his election to the papacy with a pastoral visit to southern Italy, placing his pontificate under the protection of the Virgin Mary during celebrations in Pompei and Naples.

    In Pompei, the Holy Father celebrated Mass before an estimated 20,000 faithful gathered outside the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary. The date coincided with the feast of the Supplication to the Virgin, a devotion closely tied to the shrine and to St. Bartolo Longo, canonized as the “apostle of the rosary.” In his homily, Pope Leo reflected on the significance of the rosary, calling the repeated Hail Mary “an act of love” and “an invitation to joy.” He urged believers to see the prayer as a source of mercy and peace in a world scarred by war and division.

    Before the Mass, the pope visited the shrine and greeted the sick and people with disabilities. He also met members of the “Temple of Charity,” a local organization assisting those in hardship, underscoring the Church’s mission of compassion.

    Later in the day, Pope Leo traveled by helicopter to Naples, where he visited the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary. There, he prayed before the relic of St. Januarius, blessing the faithful gathered in the packed chapel. Addressing priests, religious, and laypeople, he called for a shift from “pastoral maintenance” to “missionary pastoral ministry,” urging the Church to engage directly with the realities of inequality, youth unemployment, and fragile family life.

    At Piazza del Plebiscito, where authorities estimated 50,000 people were present, the pope delivered a message centered on peace and justice. He described peace as beginning in the human heart and expanding outward to neighborhoods, cities, and nations. He also highlighted the “Neapolitan paradox” — a city experiencing booming tourism yet struggling with deep social divides and organized crime.

    Pope Leo encouraged collaboration among institutions, the Church, and civil society to protect children, confront hardship, and restore Naples’ vocation as a “capital of humanity and hope.”

  • Former U.S. Mayor Mike Arnold questions Jonathan’s 2027 readiness, urges leadership capable of confronting violent extremism

    Former U.S. Mayor Mike Arnold questions Jonathan’s 2027 readiness, urges leadership capable of confronting violent extremism

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — A United States-based conservative activist and founder of Africa Arise International, Mike Arnold, has questioned whether former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan possesses the resolve needed to confront Nigeria’s worsening security crisis should he contest the 2027 presidential election.

    Arnold, a former mayor of Blanco City in Texas, made the remarks in a statement titled “A Question for President Goodluck Jonathan.”

    In the statement released Friday, Arnold described Jonathan as “a good man,” saying the former president is remembered as “gentle, thoughtful and prayerful,” qualities he said are rare in African politics.

    “I have sat with him. I have looked him in the eye. He is gentle, thoughtful, prayerful — a rare combination at the top of African politics,” Arnold stated.

    However, he argued that Nigeria’s current security and humanitarian challenges require leadership prepared to confront violent extremism and insecurity more aggressively.

    “Nigerians can no longer afford a leader who lays down the fight in the name of peace. The blood is already on the ground. The peace has already been broken,” he said.

    Arnold alleged that since 2015, insecurity has claimed the lives of more than 185,000 Nigerians, cutting across both Christians and Muslims. He asserted that 125,000 Christians and 60,000 peaceful Muslims were slaughtered by the same machinery of violence. In addition, over 19,000 churches were destroyed, while between 10 to 12 million Nigerians were displaced from their ancestral lands. He further described the crisis as marked by mass slavery, mass starvation, and mass forgetting. Against this backdrop, Arnold warned that the scale of the nation’s challenges is so severe that the leadership of a single “good person,” so to speak, would not be sufficient to contain the prevailing insanity.

    NPA could not independently verify the casualty figures cited in the statement.

    The American activist further argued that Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election, widely praised at the time as a statesmanlike move, continues to raise questions about whether he was willing to fully confront the forces behind Nigeria’s insecurity.

    Jonathan famously conceded defeat to former President Muhammadu Buhari after the 2015 election, stating at the time that his political ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    Arnold said while the concession elevated Jonathan’s global image as a statesman, he believes the political struggle at the time went beyond personal ambition. “The fight was not about his political ambition. It was about life. It was about liberty,” he stated.

    He also claimed that during Jonathan’s administration, Nigeria experienced relative stability and stronger resistance against insurgent groups compared to subsequent years.

    According to Arnold, the worsening security situation since 2015 has heightened concerns about the country’s future ahead of the 2027 elections. He said reports suggesting Jonathan may contest the presidency again had prompted renewed debate over the type of leadership Nigeria requires.

    “Mr President — now more than perhaps any time in Nigerian history, your people need a fighter,” Arnold said.

    He challenged Jonathan to explain what lessons he learned from the 2015 election and what he would do differently if given another opportunity to lead the country.

    As of the time of filing this report, former President Goodluck Jonathan had not publicly responded to the statement. Addressing a group of supporters in Abuja yesterday — mostly young people urging him to contest — Jonathan cautioned that running for the Nigerian presidency “is not like playing a computer game.” He added that he is still consulting widely before making any decision.

  • Kemi Badenoch hails Conservative comeback as Labour suffers major losses in local elections

    Kemi Badenoch hails Conservative comeback as Labour suffers major losses in local elections

    LONDON, United Kingdom (NPA) — The Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said the Conservatives are returning to mainstream political leadership in Britain following early results from the 2026 UK local elections, which show the Labour Party losing at least 254 council seats across England.

    Badenoch said voters across several key areas were signalling renewed confidence in the Conservatives.

    “From Westminster to Wandsworth, Harlow to Bexley, Fareham to Broxbourne, people can see the Conservative Party is renewed. There is much more to do, but we have the plan and team to get Britain working again,” she said.

    Earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the scale of Labour’s losses, describing the outcome as “tough results for Labour” and conceding that the party had lost “brilliant representatives who stood up for their communities.”

    The opposition Labour Party, led by Starmer, suffered its worst performance in several key regions, with at least 254 council seats lost across England, according to early confirmed results.

    The defeats were particularly pronounced in northern and working-class strongholds, including parts of Greater Manchester and Hartlepool, long considered core Labour territory.

    The election also saw significant gains by Reform UK, while the Green Party and Liberal Democrats recorded modest advances, further weakening Britain’s traditional two-party dominance.

    Political analysts say voter dissatisfaction over the economy, public services, and the perceived slow pace of reforms contributed to Labour’s losses.

    Starmer admitted public frustration, saying, “People are still frustrated. Their lives aren’t changing fast enough. We haven’t offered enough hope or optimism for the future,” reflecting growing pressure on the party’s leadership following the results.

  • Labour’s local election huge losses signal deeper political shifts in the UK

    Labour’s local election huge losses signal deeper political shifts in the UK

    LONDON, United Kingdom (NPA) — Prime Minister Keir Starmer has openly acknowledged the scale of Labour’s losses in the 2026 local elections, describing the outcome as “tough results for Labour” and conceding that the party has lost “brilliant representatives who stood up for their communities.” His remarks underscore the gravity of the setback and the mounting challenges facing Labour’s leadership.

    Labour lost at least 254 council seats across England, according to early confirmed results, with Reform UK making significant inroads into traditional Labour strongholds. The Greens and Liberal Democrats also registered gains, signaling a broader erosion of Britain’s two-party dominance. Particularly striking were Labour’s defeats in northern and working-class councils, including parts of Greater Manchester and Hartlepool, areas long considered central to the party’s base.

    Analysts point to voter dissatisfaction with the economy, public services, and the perceived slow pace of reforms as key drivers of the electoral backlash. Starmer himself admitted that “people are still frustrated. Their lives aren’t changing fast enough. We haven’t offered enough hope or optimism for the future.” His candid assessment reflects both the scale of discontent and the urgency of recalibrating Labour’s message.

    Despite the losses, Starmer, in a statement on Friday, insisted that his determination remains intact. “I was elected to change this country. These results do not weaken my determination — they strengthen it,” he declared, framing the setback as a catalyst for renewed resolve rather than retreat.

    The outcome highlights two critical dynamics: the rise of smaller parties reshaping local governance, and the vulnerability of Labour in constituencies once considered secure. Reform UK’s gains, in particular, suggest a shifting political map that could complicate Labour’s national strategy ahead of future contests.

    For Labour, the challenge now lies in restoring confidence among disillusioned voters, articulating a clearer vision of economic and social renewal, and countering the momentum of insurgent parties. The 2026 local elections may thus prove less a temporary setback than a warning sign of deeper structural changes in British politics.

  • Iranian attack on U.S. Navy Destroyers repelled in Strait of Hormuz as America launches retaliatory strikes

    Iranian attack on U.S. Navy Destroyers repelled in Strait of Hormuz as America launches retaliatory strikes

    WASHINGTON, U.S. (NPA) — The United States says its naval forces successfully repelled an attack by Iranian forces targeting three American destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with no damage recorded on the U.S. vessels.

    According to the U.S. government, the incident occurred on May 7 as the guided-missile destroyers — USS Truxtun (DDG-103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) and USS Mason (DDG-87) — were transiting toward the Gulf of Oman.

    The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iranian forces launched missiles, drones and small boats at the American warships, but the attacks were intercepted and neutralised by U.S. forces.

    CENTCOM added that American forces subsequently carried out what it described as self-defence strikes against Iranian military facilities allegedly linked to the attack.

    No casualties or damage to U.S. vessels were reported.

    Reacting to the development, U.S. President Donald Trump said the Iranian attackers suffered significant losses during the confrontation. In a statement, Trump noted that several small boats used in the attack were destroyed, while incoming missiles and drones were intercepted before reaching the destroyers.

    “The attackers were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy,” Trump said.

    He further stated that the U.S. destroyers would rejoin ongoing naval operations in the region, which he described as a “Wall of Steel.”

    Trump also renewed criticism of Iran’s leadership and warned of stronger military action if they refuse to make a deal with the United States as tensions escalate further.

    Iran had not officially responded to the latest U.S. claims as of the time of filing this report.

  • Israel’s UN envoy accuses Flotilla organisers of links to Hamas, criticises Spain

    Israel’s UN envoy accuses Flotilla organisers of links to Hamas, criticises Spain

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has criticised the Spanish Government over calls for the release of activists detained by Israeli authorities, urging Madrid to instead investigate the identities and background of those behind the flotilla mission.

    In a series of posts on X on Thursday, Danon alleged that organisers of the flotilla, identified as GSF, were linked to criminal activities and militant groups. “The truth about the organisers of the flotilla has been revealed: arrests in Tunisia for money laundering, insurance fraud, incitement to terrorism, and even sexual harassment,” he wrote.

    “Those who are led by terrorists should not preach to Israel about morality or international law.”

    Danon further claimed that the individuals involved were “Hamas operatives in disguise” rather than genuine human rights activists.

    “Instead of Spain demanding the release of the ‘activists,’ it should check who is really behind this flotilla,” he stated.

    “When the flotilla’s leaders are Hamas terrorists, the goal is not aid, but terror and provocation.”

    The Israeli envoy also criticised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over the decision to honour United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese.

    Danon described the recognition as “shameful,” accusing Albanese of anti-Israel bias and alleging that Spain was legitimising what he termed a campaign of incitement against Israel.

    “Israel’s detractors join together, but their hatred is laid bare for all to see,” he wrote.

    “While many countries reject this evident campaign of incitement, Spain decides to officially legitimise it.”

    Sánchez had earlier defended the recognition, stating that public responsibility carried a moral obligation “not to look the other way,” while describing Albanese as “a voice that upholds the conscience of the world.”

    The latest exchange highlights growing diplomatic tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the wider international debate over humanitarian missions, human rights concerns, and accusations exchanged between Israel and its critics.

  • U.S. Treasury sanctions Iraqi oil official, Iran-backed militias over oil smuggling, terror financing

    U.S. Treasury sanctions Iraqi oil official, Iran-backed militias over oil smuggling, terror financing

    WASHINGTON, U.S. (NPA) — The United States Department of the Treasury has announced sweeping sanctions targeting Iraq’s oil sector and senior figures linked to Iran-backed militias, accusing them of diverting Iraqi oil revenues to finance terrorism and destabilising activities across the Middle East.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the sanctions form part of Washington’s intensified “Economic Fury” campaign aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran and disrupting its regional proxy networks.

    Among those sanctioned is Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly, Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Oil, who U.S. authorities accused of abusing his office to facilitate the diversion and smuggling of Iraqi oil for the benefit of Iran and allied militia groups operating in Iraq.

    The Treasury Department also sanctioned senior figures linked to the Iran-aligned militias Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, both of which Washington has designated as terrorist organisations.

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused the Iranian Government of exploiting Iraq’s natural resources to fund militant operations.

    “Like a rogue gang, the Iranian regime is pillaging resources that rightfully belong to the Iraqi people,” Bessent said.

    “Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran’s military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against the United States and our partners.”

    According to OFAC, Maarij allegedly used several official positions within Iraq’s oil sector, including his former role as head of the Iraqi parliament’s oil and gas committee, to support a network controlled by oil smuggler Salim Ahmed Said.

    U.S. authorities claimed the network mixed Iranian crude with Iraqi oil and exported it using forged Iraqi government documentation to evade international sanctions.

    The Treasury Department alleged that millions of dollars worth of oil were transported daily from Iraq’s Qayarah oil field to export terminals linked to the smuggling operation.

    Washington also accused militia-linked economic officials of using front companies, government contracts, and the oil trade to finance armed groups and coordinate activities with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), which the United States classifies as a terrorist organisation.

    Among those designated is Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili, also known as Sayyid Awn, described by the U.S. as a senior economic official within Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq.

    The Treasury Department further announced sanctions against four Iraqi companies allegedly controlled by Al-Behadili and operating in the country’s oil and transport sectors.

    Additional sanctions were imposed on senior officials of Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, including Ahmed Khudair Maksus Maksus and Mohammed Issa Kadhim al-Shuwaili, whom U.S. authorities accused of facilitating weapons procurement and coordinating financial transactions with members of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

    Under the sanctions, all assets and financial interests belonging to the designated individuals and entities within U.S. jurisdiction are to be frozen, while American citizens and businesses are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

    The Treasury Department warned that foreign financial institutions and companies doing business with sanctioned individuals or entities could also face secondary sanctions and restrictions under U.S. law.

    Washington said the measures are part of broader efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to block Iran’s access to revenue streams used to fund militant operations and regional influence networks.

  • Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Arnold to Release “Sokoto Declaration” on May 30

    Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Arnold to Release “Sokoto Declaration” on May 30

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) —Aloy Ejimakor, activist lawyer and counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, says the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has authorised the announcement of a new document titled “The Sokoto Declaration.”

    According to Ejimakor, the declaration was jointly authored by Kanu and Mike Arnold, founder of Africa Arise International and former mayor of Blanco City, Texas.

    Kanu is currently serving a life sentence following his conviction on terrorism-related charges by a Nigerian Federal High Court on November 20, 2025.

    In a statement accompanied with a campaign banner, Ejimakor said the declaration represents “a statement of common cause, a call to all who value human rights and self-determination, and a light for the path ahead.”

    “As Counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, I have been authorized by him to announce that he has been working with Mazi Mike Arnold, and together they have drafted The Sokoto Declaration,” the statement partly read.

    Ejimakor disclosed that the document would be formally released on May 30 through Biafra Radio.

    Arnold had earlier attracted attention on March 26, 2024, after publishing a lengthy article titled “Great Britain’s Dirtiest Secret,” in which he criticised the British Government’s handling of Kanu’s case.

    In the article, Arnold argued that Kanu, a British passport holder and founder of IPOB, had been targeted for advocating Igbo rights and self-determination.

    He also alleged that IPOB was designated a terrorist organisation in 2017 under former President Muhammadu Buhari without trial or sufficient evidence, although subsequent court rulings reportedly challenged aspects of the designation.

    As of the time of filing this report, details of the contents and specific direction of “The Sokoto Declaration” remain unclear, particularly regarding its implications for Kanu’s agitation, IPOB’s objectives, and the broader issues surrounding the separatist movement.

  • U.S. congressman accuses Nigerian Government of failing to stop killings of Christians

    U.S. congressman accuses Nigerian Government of failing to stop killings of Christians

    WASHINGTON, U.S. (NPA) — US Congressman Riley Moore, who heads the congressional committee mandated by President Donald Trump to investigate alleged killings of Christians, has accused the Nigerian Government of indifference and failure to act.

    In a post on his X account Thursday, Moore recalled his visit to Nigeria, noting that while the government swiftly intervened to quell a coup in neighboring Benin Republic, it has stood idle as Christian citizens are slaughtered in Plateau State. He described the scenes as “absolutely horrific” and “unconscionable.”

    Moore was reacting to a circulating video showing Christians gathered for a mass burial of victims from a previous attack, where mourners were again targeted and murdered in cold blood by alleged radical Islamic terrorists.

    The congressman chaired the committee that pushed for Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing systematic assaults on Christian communities. The committee, which included Chairman Tom Cole and members of the House Appropriations Committee, declared: “Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian. Christians face ongoing violent attacks from well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the destruction of churches and schools, and widespread kidnappings. Blasphemy laws in northern states are used to silence dissent, target minorities, and justify convictions without due process.”

    Moore insisted that Nigeria has the capacity to root out terrorism but fails to act, even when forewarned of attacks. “Enough is enough,” he said, urging the Trump Administration to take “forceful action” to defend Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, which he described as the epicenter of an ongoing genocide.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, met yesterday with US Charge d’Affaires David Heffern to discuss security cooperation and bilateral relations.

    Her statement described the talks as “constructive,” covering security and defence, border and migration challenges, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, visa concerns, and broader regional stability. Both sides also addressed Nigeria’s CPC designation.

    Ojukwu affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continued engagement with US authorities to review the designation and strengthen cooperation aimed at reversing it, while deepening bilateral ties.

    The CPC status remains a flashpoint in Nigeria–US relations, especially amid Washington’s concerns over religious violence and insecurity in parts of the country.