New Post Africa

Category: North America

  • 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.

  • White House unveils drug policy priorities to tackle illicit drug crisis

    White House unveils drug policy priorities to tackle illicit drug crisis

    WASHINGTON, D.C., United States (NPA) — The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has released the Trump administration’s drug policy priorities, outlining a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing the impact of illicit drugs across the United States.

    The framework, announced on April 3, 2025, details urgent actions to be implemented within the first year to address rising drug use, trafficking, and overdose-related deaths.

    According to the White House, the policy focuses on six key areas, including reducing overdose fatalities—particularly those linked to fentanyl—securing global supply chains, strengthening border controls, preventing drug use, expanding access to long-term treatment, and advancing research and data-driven strategies.

    Speaking on the initiative, ONDCP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director, Jon Rice, said the administration is adopting a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to combat the crisis.

    “Terrorists, cartels, and other drug traffickers are taking hundreds of thousands of American lives by poisoning them for profit,” Rice said. “The priorities in this framework outline the first steps to kick cartels out of our country, free Americans from the deadly grip of addiction, and guide America back to health and safety.”

    The administration said it would intensify efforts to disrupt drug supply chains, targeting production and distribution networks through a combination of law enforcement actions, economic measures, and advanced technology.

    It also emphasised the need for a balanced domestic response that recognises substance use disorder as a complex public health issue, requiring expanded prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

    Officials noted that collaboration across all levels of government and with stakeholders—including law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, first responders, and community organisations—would be critical to achieving the policy’s objectives.

    The White House added that the new priorities build on existing executive actions by President Donald Trump aimed at strengthening border security, countering drug trafficking organisations, and holding source countries accountable for the flow of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals into the U.S.

    While the current framework outlines immediate priorities, the administration said its broader drug control strategy would continue to evolve in response to emerging threats in order to safeguard communities and reduce the long-term impact of illicit drug use.

  • Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ amid progress in Iran talks

    Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ amid progress in Iran talks

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — United States President Donald Trump has announced a temporary pause to “Project Freedom,” the operation activated over the weekend to safeguard commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and protect vessels from alleged Iranian attacks in the strategic waterway.

    In a post on his Truth Social account on Wednesday, Trump said the decision followed requests from Pakistan and other countries, as well as what he described as “great progress” toward a “complete and final agreement” with representatives of Iran.

    Part of the president’s statement read:

    “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.”

    The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz has remained a major flashpoint in the confrontation between the United States and Iran, with both countries trading accusations over military activities in the Gulf region.

    Speaking on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said American naval assets and commercial vessels had continued to transit the Strait safely despite heightened tensions. Iranian authorities, however, disputed the claim and reportedly issued a fresh navigation directive for vessels operating in the area.

    Iran has also resumed the launch of projectiles toward parts of the Gulf in the last two days, although Hegseth maintained that the incidents did not signal the collapse of the ceasefire efforts, insisting that diplomatic engagements to end the conflict were ongoing.

    Trump, while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, reiterated Washington’s opposition to Iran possessing nuclear weapons, warning that the United States was prepared to take further action if necessary.

    “We’ll never let Iran have nuclear weapons. We have to make a journey down to Iran to take the nuclear weapon. These are sick people,” the president said.

  • US man of Nigerian descent Victor Kolawole, accomplice plead guilty in multi-million-dollar U.S. bank fraud scheme

    US man of Nigerian descent Victor Kolawole, accomplice plead guilty in multi-million-dollar U.S. bank fraud scheme

    BOSTON, United States (NPA) — Two Massachusetts men have pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to their roles in a multi‑million‑dollar scheme to defraud banks across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

    Victor Kolawole, 26, of Brockton, and Keith Wainaina, 24, of Lowell, admitted to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Julie E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2026 and September 9, 2026, respectively. The pair were arrested in July 2025 alongside four others.

    Prosecutors said that beginning no later than December 2022, Kolawole and Wainaina conspired with Phalentz Vernot and others to steal customer data from local banks, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and account details. Imposters were recruited to pose as customers using fake identification documents, withdrawing large sums in cashier’s checks.

    Wainaina and Kolawole then deposited the checks into accounts they controlled, later purchasing additional cashier’s checks payable to Vernot. Vernot used part of the proceeds to pay imposters and bank insiders who helped bypass verification protocols.

    According to court filings, Wainaina deposited or attempted to deposit more than $762,000, while Kolawole deposited approximately $373,000 in cashier’s checks drawn on victims’ accounts. Vernot pleaded guilty in December 2025 and is scheduled for sentencing on July 22, 2026.

    The charges carry severe penalties: up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering, and a mandatory two‑year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentences will be determined by the court under federal guidelines.

  • U.S. issues security alert as multiple explosions rock Khartoum International Airport

    U.S. issues security alert as multiple explosions rock Khartoum International Airport

    KHARTOUM, Sudan (NPA) — The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has issued an emergency security alert following reports of multiple explosions at Khartoum International Airport and other locations across the Sudanese capital on Monday.

    In the alert released on May 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of State said it had been informed of explosions at the airport, warning that additional sites within Khartoum may also have been affected amid the worsening security situation in Sudan.

    The embassy advised residents and U.S. citizens in the area to immediately seek secure shelter, closely monitor local media for updates, inform relatives and friends of their safety, and prepare contingency plans to leave the country if necessary.

    “The Department of State has been alerted to multiple explosions at the international airport in Khartoum,” the statement said, adding that “other locations may have been impacted as well.”

    The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has remained suspended since April 2023 following the outbreak of armed conflict between rival military factions in Sudan, with Washington stating that it is unable to provide routine or emergency consular services to American citizens in the country due to the deteriorating security environment.

    The alert directed affected individuals to seek assistance through the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and emergency contact lines operated by the U.S. Department of State.

    The latest explosions come amid continued instability and armed confrontations in Sudan, where fighting between military forces and rival paramilitary groups has triggered a prolonged humanitarian and security crisis across several parts of the country.

  • U.S. launches “Project Freedom” to escort neutral ships through Strait of Hormuz

    U.S. launches “Project Freedom” to escort neutral ships through Strait of Hormuz

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has announced that Washington will assist neutral countries in freeing their ships currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid the heightened tensions in the Middle East.

    Trump said numerous nations, uninvolved in the ongoing regional dispute, had requested U.S. support to secure the safe passage of their vessels. He emphasized that the initiative, dubbed Project Freedom, is intended as a humanitarian gesture to protect neutral ships and crews caught in the crisis.

    According to the president, U.S. representatives have assured affected countries that their ships will be guided safely out of restricted waterways beginning Monday morning, Middle East time. He noted that discussions with Iran are ongoing and could yield positive outcomes for regional stability.

    Trump stressed that many of the stranded ships are running low on food and essential supplies, underscoring the humanitarian urgency of the operation. He described the effort as goodwill toward Iran, the Middle East, and the wider international community.

    The president warned that any interference with the humanitarian process would be met “forcefully,” while reiterating that the primary goal is to free neutral nations, companies, and crews who are “victims of circumstance” and have no involvement in the regional conflict.

  • U.S. warns shipping firms against paying Iran for Strait of Hormuz passage

    U.S. warns shipping firms against paying Iran for Strait of Hormuz passage

    WASHINGTON, United States (NPA) — The United States Department of the Treasury has warned shipping operators, financial institutions and maritime service providers against making payments to Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, citing serious sanctions risks.

    In an alert issued on May 1, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it had received reports of alleged Iranian threats to commercial shipping and demands for “toll” payments in exchange for secure transit through the strategic waterway.

    According to the advisory, the payments could take several forms, including fiat currency, digital assets, informal swaps, offsets and charitable donations allegedly directed to Iranian-linked organisations and embassy accounts.

    OFAC warned that both U.S. and non-U.S. entities could face sanctions exposure for participating in such transactions.

    The agency stated that U.S. sanctions generally prohibit American persons and U.S.-owned foreign entities from engaging in transactions involving the Government of Iran or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington designates as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

    The Treasury Department also cautioned that non-U.S. financial institutions involved in the transactions risk secondary sanctions that could restrict access to the American financial system. “Non-U.S. persons engaging with blocked Iranian digital asset exchanges may also risk sanctions for operating in or supporting the sanctioned Iranian financial sector,” the statement said.

    The advisory further warned insurers, reinsurers and other maritime-linked businesses that facilitating such payments could expose them to civil and criminal liability under U.S. sanctions laws.

    OFAC urged maritime service providers to conduct enhanced due diligence on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and to investigate possible dealings with Iranian authorities.

    The agency advised operators to examine voyage plans for signs of transit through Iranian territorial waters and seek details from counterparties regarding any safe-passage arrangements involving Iran.

    The U.S. government also reiterated that vessels entering or departing Iranian ports remain subject to multiple sanctions authorities targeting Iran’s shipping, petroleum and petrochemical sectors.

    Mariners were encouraged to coordinate with U.S. naval authorities, including the Fifth Fleet and NAVCENT NCAGS, for operational guidance in the region.

    The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil and gas shipments amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.

  • Trump survives assassination attempt; Netanyahu, Modi react

    Trump survives assassination attempt; Netanyahu, Modi react

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPA) —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed shock over the alleged attempted assassination of President Donald Trump last night in Washington, D.C., saying he was relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong.

    Netanyahu, alongside his wife Sarah, extended best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and saluted the U.S. Secret Service for their swift and decisive action.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reacted to the incident, stating he was relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady, and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the security breach at a Washington, D.C. hotel. He extended his best wishes for their continued safety and well-being, stressing that violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

    Earlier, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”

    Trump described the incident as “quite an evening in D.C.,” praising the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting quickly and bravely. He confirmed that the shooter had been apprehended and noted that while he recommended that the event “LET THE SHOW GO ON,” final decisions would be guided by law enforcement. “Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,” he added.

  • CENTCOM Denies claims Iranian vessels evaded US blockade

    CENTCOM Denies claims Iranian vessels evaded US blockade

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has dismissed reports that Iranian vessels successfully breached the ongoing American blockade against Iran.

    In a statement, CENTCOM confirmed that US forces have directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of enforcement operations. Media reports had alleged that several commercial ships — including M/V Hero II, M/V Hedy, and M/V Dorena — slipped past the blockade to deliver millions of barrels of oil.

    CENTCOM described these claims as inaccurate. It clarified that Hero II and Hedy remain anchored in Chah Bahar, Iran, after being intercepted earlier in the week, while Dorena is under escort by a US Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean following an earlier attempt to violate the blockade.

    The command stressed that evading a US blockade is “impossible,” citing America’s global reach. “American forces are operating and enforcing the blockade across the Middle East and beyond,” the statement said.

    The blockade has been a major source of tension between Washington and Tehran. Iran recently withdrew from a second round of talks with the United States, accusing the blockade of violating ceasefire terms.

    US President Donald Trump has insisted the blockade will remain in place until Washington secures agreement with Iran on key demands and a pathway to ending the war.

  • US Senator Cruz laments continued killings of Christians in Nigeria, urges Trump to hold state, federal governments officials accountable

    US Senator Cruz laments continued killings of Christians in Nigeria, urges Trump to hold state, federal governments officials accountable

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — United States Senator Ted Cruz has again condemned the killings of Christians in Nigeria, accusing authorities of complicity and urging the U.S. government to hold both state and federal officials accountable.

    In a video, today, posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Cruz said: “More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. Since 2009, Islamic jihadists have murdered more than 50,000 Christians in Nigeria, and more than 20,000 churches, schools, and religious institutions have been destroyed, most burned to the ground.”

    He added that scores of Christians and others were kidnapped during Holy Week, alleging that “Nigerian officials have been, unfortunately, complicit in facilitating these atrocities.”

    “At the state level, a dozen Nigerian states implement Islamic blasphemy and Sharia laws. At the federal level, the government looks the other way at Islamic violence. The result is, unsurprisingly, yet more jihadist violence,” he said.

    The Texas senator recalled introducing the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which seeks to return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list to compel stronger action.

    He lamented that despite assurances from Nigerian officials during visits to Washington, the situation had not improved.

    Cruz also claimed that the U.S. government is aware of officials allegedly enabling the violence and should take action against them. “I’m sorry to say that Nigerian officials are, at minimum, in denial,” he said.

    He criticised Nigerian authorities, saying they had pushed back against his comments while doing nothing to stop the attacks on Christians, even as he continued to call for an end to the killings.

    Recalling meetings with senior defence officials last year, Cruz said: “They told me they are committed to ending the violence.” However, he added that he would judge their words by results, noting that months later, “those results are yet to materialise.”

    He further urged President Donald Trump to follow through on commitments to use all instruments of statecraft to address the crisis and ensure the protection of Nigeria Chrsiatians.

    Calling the promises of Nigerian officials “infuriating and hypocritical,” Cruz reiterated his call for decisive action by the United States Government to halt the violence.

    The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected claims of targeted killings of Christians by Islamic jihadists, stating that attacks across several communities are not directed at any specific group. It noted that Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers have all been victims of violence by terrorist groups in the country.