Category: Politics

  • BREAKING: Sweden confirms Execution of citizen in Iran amid war tensions

    BREAKING: Sweden confirms Execution of citizen in Iran amid war tensions

    Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, announced on Wednesday that Iran has executed a Swedish citizen. The announcement follows confirmation from Iranian officials that this marks the first execution of a man convicted of spying since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war.

    Stenergard described the development as deeply troubling, noting that it underscores the heightened risks faced by foreign nationals in Iran during the ongoing conflict. The execution is expected to further strain diplomatic relations between Tehran and Stockholm, while adding to international concerns over Iran’s use of capital punishment in politically sensitive cases.

  • Israeli President Herzog visits Ramat Gan after deadly missile strike

    Israeli President Herzog visits Ramat Gan after deadly missile strike

    MIDDLE EAST (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has visited the site of last night’s Iranian missile impact in Ramat Gan, where two elderly civilians were killed in a cluster missile attack.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Herzog said he embarked on the visit to embrace and comfort the affected family and residents of the city over the heavy losses. He sympathised with them over what he described as “precious lives cut short in an instant, with unimaginable cruelty, leaving a great fracture and deep pain in the family’s heart and in the heart of the entire people of Israel.”

    The president warned that the danger from missile attacks is real, urging vigilance and responsibility. He stressed that the nation’s spirit will not be broken, calling on Israelis to stand together to prevail over the current situation.

    Since the outbreak of war between Israel, the United States, and Iran on February 28, there have been repeated exchanges of attacks. Israel and its allies have targeted Iranian military facilities and infrastructure, while Iran has launched barrages of missiles and drones at Israel and several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

    In the past forty-eight hours, Israel announced it had targeted three prominent Iranian officials for elimination, with the escalation showing no sign of abating.

  • Nigeria’s Information Minister meets Presidential Amnesty Programme Beneficiaries in the UK, hails Tinubu

    Nigeria’s Information Minister meets Presidential Amnesty Programme Beneficiaries in the UK, hails Tinubu

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Wednesday, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, met with beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) studying in the United Kingdom.

    The minister described the occasion as “very heartwarming to witness the impact of the program first-hand and interact with beneficiaries.” He emphasised that President Tinubu is committed to ensuring all Nigerians, especially the youth, are given opportunities to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.

    Reflecting on the Niger Delta’s past, Idris noted that its story was once marked by deprivation and disorder, but initiatives like PAP have helped transform the region.

    According to the minister, Programme Administrator Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro reported that over 8,000 students are currently studying in Nigeria under PAP, while more than 220 are pursuing various studies in the United Kingdom.

    Idris gave a pass mark to the amnesty programme and praised the Tinubu-led administration for repositioning and strengthening it to deliver greater impact.

  • U.S. Treasury Department lifts restrictions on Venezuela, grants license for Petróleos de Venezuela

    U.S. Treasury Department lifts restrictions on Venezuela, grants license for Petróleos de Venezuela

    NORTH AMERICA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Wednesday issued a license authorising American entities to engage in business transactions with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and its subsidiaries.

    The agency said the license will benefit both the United States and Venezuela, while supporting the global energy market by increasing available oil supply and encouraging new investment in Venezuela’s energy sector.

    In a statement, the Treasury Department noted: “Today, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a license broadly authorising established U.S. entities to engage in many types of transactions with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and its subsidiaries.”

    “This license will benefit both the United States and Venezuela, while supporting the global energy market by increasing the supply of available oil. It will also help incentivise new investment in Venezuela’s energy sector.”

    The U.S. Treasury Department had previously sanctioned Venezuela over human rights abuses, corruption, election fraud, and ties to drug trafficking and armed groups. Those measures, which began in 2014, expanded into broad economic restrictions on Venezuela’s oil and gold sectors.

    The consequences were severe: Venezuela’s economy contracted sharply, foreign investment dried up, and access to international financial markets was restricted. While sanctions weakened the Maduro government’s ability to fund operations, they also worsened living conditions for ordinary citizens, contributing to shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, while pushing Caracas to deepen ties with Russia, China, and Iran.

  • Nigerian Military crushes Boko Haram: 61 terrorists wiped out in fierce Borno battle

    Nigerian Military crushes Boko Haram: 61 terrorists wiped out in fierce Borno battle

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The Nigerian Military has achieved a major success with the elimination of more than 61 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the Malam Fatori axis of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.

    According to Zagazola Makama, a security publication in the region, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), working closely with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), neutralised the insurgents during a foiled infiltration attempt in Abadam Local Government Area. Images of the operation have flooded social media, with military leaders praising the troops.

    Chief of Defence Staff, General Oloyude, is currently in Borno to encourage forces battling the insurgents. Sources disclosed that the terrorists launched the attack early Wednesday, advancing on foot and deploying armed drones in a desperate bid to breach defences at the 68 Battalion location.

    The assault, which came through Bravo Company’s frontage from the Duguri area, was met with overwhelming firepower and superior coordination between ground forces and air components. Precision airstrikes supported troops in a fierce battle that inflicted heavy casualties.

    “Our forces executed four highly effective air interdiction strikes on enemy concentrations, decimating their fighting capability. The synergy between air and land forces denied the terrorists freedom of movement and forced a disorderly withdrawal toward the Arege area,” an officer said.

    Additional strike support from allied Nigerien air assets compounded pressure on the fleeing insurgents, though battle damage assessment is ongoing. Four Nigerian soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement and have since been stabilised.

  • Nigeria declares Thursday and Friday public holidays for Eid al-Fitr

    Nigeria declares Thursday and Friday public holidays for Eid al-Fitr

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20, 2026, as public holidays to mark Eid al-Fitr, the climax of the holy month of Ramadan.

    The announcement was contained in a statement from the Ministry of Interior, signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary. Quoting the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the government extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to Muslim faithful on the successful completion of Ramadan.

    The statement urged Muslims to sustain the virtues of love, generosity, peace, tolerance, and sacrifice, which were emphasised during the holy month. It further called on all Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for continued peace, unity, and prosperity across the nation.

    The Minister encouraged citizens to celebrate responsibly, extend acts of kindness to the less privileged, and uphold values that strengthen national unity. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.

  • BREAKING: Iran holds funeral for top security chiefs killed in Israeli strikes

    BREAKING: Iran holds funeral for top security chiefs killed in Israeli strikes

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — A funeral procession is underway at Revolution Square in Tehran for Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, both killed in recent Israeli airstrikes.

    On Tuesday, Israel’s Chief of Defence Staff confirmed that the two senior officials were deliberately targeted in an overnight strike on the Iranian capital.

    The ongoing funerals followed another reported strike on the residence of Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Ismail Khatib. Khatib, who has led the Ministry of Intelligence since 2021, is considered a central figure in Iran’s leadership, with a career spanning the nation’s security and judicial institutions, including service under the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. His fate remains unclear.

    Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Al Jazeera, insisted that Israel’s campaign of targeted eliminations “will not weaken the regime,” vowing resilience despite mounting losses and sheer uncertainties among senior officials.

    The back-to-back strikes have rattled Tehran’s leadership, raising fears of further escalations and leaving many officials questioning who might be next on Israel’s list.

  • DRC and Brazil in first-ever multisectoral talks to tackle domestic and international challenges

    DRC and Brazil in first-ever multisectoral talks to tackle domestic and international challenges

    AFRICA (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Brazil held their first-ever multisectoral consultations on Tuesday, March 17, in Brasília, marking a significant step toward strengthening ties between the East African nation and its South American counterpart.

    The DRC delegation was led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms Noëlla Ayeganagato Nakwipone, who co-chaired the meeting alongside Ambassador Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, Brazil’s Secretary for Africa and the Middle East.

    According to a statement from Kinshasa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consultations are expected to usher in a new phase of cooperation in agriculture, energy, mining, trade, and training. Discussions also touched on major multilateral issues such as climate change, global governance, and collaboration within ZOPACAS (Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic). Officials described the talks as a reflection of a strengthened dynamic aimed at building a strategic partnership between the two countries.

    The meeting comes at a time when Congo is increasingly looking outward to address multidimensional challenges at home. Beyond economic development, the country continues to grapple with insecurity in the Kivu region, where M23 rebels backed by Rwanda have kept government forces under pressure. By deepening ties with Brazil, Congolese officials hope to diversify partnerships and bolster resilience against both domestic and international challenges.

  • Shockwaves in Tehran as latest Israeli strike targets Ismail Khatib, Iran’s spy chief

    Shockwaves in Tehran as latest Israeli strike targets Ismail Khatib, Iran’s spy chief

    MIDDLE EAST (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — Tehran was rocked overnight as another Israeli airstrike reportedly zeroed in on Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Ismail Khatib, at his residence. Khatib, who has led the powerful Ministry of Intelligence since 2021, is regarded as a key figure in Iran’s inner circle, with a career spanning the nation’s security and judicial apparatus, including service under the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

    Under his watch, the ministry has been accused of crushing domestic dissent, spearheading counterintelligence operations, and orchestrating activities against Israeli and Western interests. The United States previously placed a $10 million bounty on Khatib, fueling speculation that the strike may have been a calculated attempt to “cash in” on his head. His fate remains uncertain — whether he was killed or survived the attack.

    The strike comes just 24 hours after the killing of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. That assassination sent shockwaves through Iran’s leadership, with officials reportedly trembling and frantically calling colleagues to ask who might be next.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to the U.S. Ambassador yesterday, chillingly declared he still has “names of the bad guys” to cross out.

    Iranian authorities have yet to issue any statement on Khatib’s condition.

  • Soludo begins second term with bold mega-city vision, vows faster transformation of Anambra

    Soludo begins second term with bold mega-city vision, vows faster transformation of Anambra

    AWKA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 17, 2026 — Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has been inaugurated for a second term, outlining plans to deepen development and accelerate the state’s transformation.

    Speaking at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on Tuesday, Soludo recalled that his first term began without fanfare, focusing immediately on security and urgent social needs, starting with interventions in Okpoko. He said his administration has delivered over 90% of its promises, earning widespread public support and a 73% electoral victory, which he described as a strong endorsement of his development agenda.

    He cited major achievements, including dismantling criminal camps and restoring security, extensive road construction and dualization, and urban renewal projects across Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia. Other milestones include revived water schemes, environmental efforts, and digital skills training for more than 300,000 youths. Programs such as 1Youth 2Skills and agricultural initiatives, including the distribution of millions of seedlings, have supported job creation and household incomes.

    In education and healthcare, the government recruited over 8,000 teachers, expanded free education, upgraded public schools, and recorded improved national performance. In healthcare, free antenatal and delivery services have benefited over 200,000 women, while new hospitals and primary care investments have strengthened access. The state has also received recognition for fiscal transparency and sustainable public finance management.

    Soludo reiterated his long-term vision to transform Anambra into an “African Dubai–Taiwan–Silicon Valley,” driven by commerce, industrialisation, and technology, under the Anambra Vision 2070 framework.

    Looking ahead, he pledged to prioritise security and electricity while advancing major infrastructure projects, including new cities, an industrial hub, an innovation district, and planned rail and gas systems. He said land banking and structured urban planning are critical to managing future population growth.

    The governor also emphasised social reorientation, warning against criminality and promoting values of hard work and integrity among youths.

    He called for unity among political actors, collaboration with the federal government, neighbouring states, and investors, and greater participation from citizens and the diaspora. Soludo reaffirmed his commitment to governance over politics, promising to dedicate the next four years to building a secure, livable, and prosperous Anambra.