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  • Iran’s Foreign Minister Reports Progress After Nuclear Talks with U.S. in Geneva

    Iran’s Foreign Minister Reports Progress After Nuclear Talks with U.S. in Geneva

    GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Following high-level discussions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the two sides had exchanged views and made progress.

    Araqchi told Iranian media that “different ideas have been seriously discussed, and ultimately we have been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles.” He added that future negotiations would build on these principles as the parties move toward drafting the text of a potential agreement.

    Further rounds of talks are expected in the coming days and weeks.

    U.S. Demands

    Ahead of the latest meeting, Washington outlined several conditions for Iran to avoid military confrontation:

    • Nuclear Program: Scale back or halt uranium enrichment and return to compliance with nuclear deal terms.
    • Missile Development: Limit ballistic missile testing, which the U.S. views as destabilising.
    • Regional Activities: Reduce support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other militias across the Middle East.
    • Human Rights: End violent repression of protests, which the U.S. has linked to its military buildup.

    President Donald Trump warned that if no deal is reached, the U.S. is prepared to take “something very tough” military action.

    Iran’s Response

    Iran has maintained a firm stance:

    • Scope of Talks: Insists negotiations should focus solely on its nuclear program, rejecting U.S. demands on missiles and regional influence.
    • Defiance of Threats: Officials argue U.S. military threats are provocative and accuse Washington of seeking regime change.
    • Sovereignty: Frames U.S. demands as interference in domestic affairs, particularly regarding protests.
    • Preparedness: Warns that it will respond strongly if attacked, raising the risk of regional escalation.

    The U.S. has deployed a “massive armada” of ships and aircraft near Iran, signalling readiness for strikes should diplomacy fail. With Israel also a factor in the regional equation, analysts warn that the risk of military escalation remains high as neither side shows willingness to compromise on core demands.

  • U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    WASHINGTON, D.C. / ABUJA: The United States government has sanctioned eight individuals in Nigeria for alleged links to Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgent group responsible for widespread violence across Nigeria’s northeast, northwest, and north-central regions, as well as in the wider Lake Chad Basin covering Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram, designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the U.S. in 2013, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since its insurgency began in 2009.

    The sanctions were announced in a publication by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which blocks the property and interests of designated persons. Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu (a.k.a. Salihu Yusuf), born August 23, 1990, who was convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. Others named include Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, Khaled Al-Barnawi, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki.

    The U.S. indictment alleges that all sanctioned individuals actively participated in Boko Haram’s operations in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

    This action follows the October 31, 2025, designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, after reports that jihadist groups killed more than 7,000 Christians and abducted 7,800 others in the first seven months of 2025.

    On December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day), the U.S. military launched Tomahawk missile strikes against suspected Islamic State (ISIS) camps in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria. The operation, coordinated with the Nigerian government, targeted militants linked to the Islamic State–Sahel Province and its affiliate, Lakurawa. The U.S. Africa Command confirmed the strikes, describing them as aimed at “ISIS terrorists in Nigeria.”

    In early 2026, the U.S. deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking the first official American military presence on the ground in support of counterterrorism operations.

  • Trump Says No Definitive Outcome with Netanyahu as Israeli Leader Concludes Washington Visit

    Trump Says No Definitive Outcome with Netanyahu as Israeli Leader Concludes Washington Visit

    WASHINGTON, D.C., US: President Donald Trump has wrapped up talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House amid heightened tensions in the Middle East over Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which continues despite pressure from both Washington and Tel Aviv.

    In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the meeting as “very good,” highlighting the “tremendous relationship” between the United States and Israel. He added, however, that “nothing definitive” was agreed upon, aside from his insistence that negotiations with Iran should continue to determine whether a deal can be reached. “If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be,” Trump wrote.

    The president’s cryptic remarks have left foreign policy analysts uncertain about the concrete results of the meeting, particularly as the US continues to deploy aircraft carriers and other military assets to the region.

    Trump, signalling a preference for diplomacy over direct confrontation, warned Tehran against repeating past mistakes: “Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — that did not work well for them. Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible.”

    Meanwhile, tensions remain high across the Middle East, with speculation mounting over possible US military action in response to Iran’s human rights abuses. Recent protests in the Persian Gulf nation reportedly resulted in mass casualties, further fuelling uncertainty about Washington’s next steps.

    Photo credit: Facebook/The Prime Minister of Israel

  • Trump granted permission to seek dismissal of hush money case

    Trump granted permission to seek dismissal of hush money case

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    New York judge on Friday granted Donald Trump permission to seek dismissal of his hush money criminal case, in which he was found guilty earlier this year, in light of his victory in the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

    Trump, 78, had been scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26. But prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office earlier this week asked New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to consider deferring all proceedings in the case until after Trump finishes his four-year presidential term that begins on Jan. 20.

    Lawyers for Trump, a Republican, have argued that the case must be dismissed because having it loom over him while he was president would cause what they called “unconstitutional impediments” to his ability to govern.

    Bragg’s office said they would argue against dismissal, but agreed Trump deserved time to make his case through written motions.

    Merchan on Friday set a Dec. 2 deadline for Trump to file his motion to dismiss, and gave prosecutors until Dec. 9 to respond.

    -Reuters

  • Trump To Appoint Former ICE Director Tom Homan As US ‘Border Czar’

    Trump To Appoint Former ICE Director Tom Homan As US ‘Border Czar’

    Tom Homan, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar”, said on Monday he would prioritize deporting immigrants in the United States illegally who posed safety and security threats as well as those working at job sites.

    Trump, who takes office in January, said in a social media post overnight that the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from his first administration would be in charge of the country’s borders in his new administration starting Jan. 20.

    The president-elect made cracking down on illegal immigration the central element of his campaign, promising mass deportations. He is expected to mobilize agencies across the U.S. government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants in an operation that Vice President-elect JD Vance has said could remove an estimated 1 million people per year.

    “Public safety threats and national security threats will be the priority…they pose the most danger to this country,” Homan told Fox News in an interview, adding: “Worksite operations have to happen.”

    Trump, in a post, opens new tab on his Truth Social platform late on Sunday, said Homan will be “in charge of our nation’s borders (“The Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” including the deportation of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

    Immigrant advocates have warned that Trump’s deportation effort would be costly, divisive and inhumane, leading to family separations and devastating communities.

    REUTERS NEWS AGENCY

  • Obi Congratulates Trump, Says No Democratic Election Is Complete Unless The People’s Will Is Reflected Through The Ballots

    Obi Congratulates Trump, Says No Democratic Election Is Complete Unless The People’s Will Is Reflected Through The Ballots

    Peter Obi, prominent Nigerian politician and businessman, and the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria has congratulated President Trump on his successful return as the 47th President of the United States in the election he won a landslide in a political comeback of the century.

    In a statement, Obi expressed his optimism that Trump’s victory will reinforce democracy worldwide and contribute to fostering much-needed global peace.

    The former Anambra State Governor from 2006 to 2014, Born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, with a strong following among Nigerian youths, and respected across the board for his political ideology focused on national development, education, and reducing poverty, described the peaceful conduct of the U.S. elections, “along with the efficient transmission and release of results” as an example and an inspiration for Nigeria.

    He described the development as a model and an urgent call to “abandon outdated practices such as electoral malpractice, vote-buying, election violence, and network disruptions that continue to hinder our democratic process”.

    The banker-turned-politician emphasised that “no democratic election is complete unless the people’s will is genuinely reflected through the ballots.” He urged Nigeria to work together “to restore the integrity of our electoral system and ensure that our process for choosing leaders is free, fair, and reflective of the people’s true desires”.

    Recall that Obi and the Obedient Movement, who believed that their mandate was stolen, challenged the result of the Nigeria 2023 presidential elections up to the Supreme Court. The court ultimately decided in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC). With the next presidential election beckoning, Obi’s political moves and realignments across six geopolitical zones of the country show his preparations to enter the 2027 political ring.

  • Donald J. Trump Declares Victory, Reiterates Campaign Agendas

    Donald J. Trump Declares Victory, Reiterates Campaign Agendas

    Trump reiterated his campaign promises of cracking down on illegal immigration and running a prosperous booming economy to benefit all Americans. He acknowledged the support of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, to his victory, describing the tech giant as a “new star” and promised to repay his supporters for the victory.

    Donald J. Trump, the Republican Candidate for the US 2024 presidential election, has declared victory. In the early hours of Wednesday, he spoke to many of his supporters at his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida. He described his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House as “the greatest political movement of all time” and his comeback heralding what he described as a “Golden Age of America.”

    Describing the high level of support for him and the Republican Party in the elections, he noted that the party has also won a majority in the US Senate and is optimistic it will also control the House of Representatives.

    Following the development, torrents of congratulatory messages to him have poured in from several world leaders, pledging to work with his administration. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu wrote: “Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship.”         

                                                                                                                                                            

    Also, the French President, Emmanual Macron, in his message expressed his readiness to “work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”

    Trump reiterated his campaign promises of cracking down on illegal immigration and running a prosperous booming economy to benefit all Americans. He acknowledged the support of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, to his victory, describing the tech giant as a “new star” and promised to repay his supporters for the victory.