Category: iNTERNATIONAL

“No Nigerian life lost in Lebanon” – FG

Aminu Imam
FG on Lebanon2

…Set to begin evacuation The Federal Government has said that no Nigerian life has been lost in Lebanon, amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. As Israel increases strikes in Lebanon, the Nigerian government said it has commenced preparation for the evacuation of Nigerians in Lebanon. In an issued statement yesterday, signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, the Government said that the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon has been actively working to protect its nationals. “The Federal Government has begun preparations to evacuate…

Read More

Middle-East conflict: Iran launches about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel

Aminu Imam
Iran launches

Iran fired several waves of ballistic missiles at Israel yesterday evening, in a sudden assault that raised the likelihood of a direct all-out war between two of the most powerful militaries in the Middle-East. The attack from Iran was the culmination of a dizzying sequence of events over less than 24 hours, which began with Israel launching a ground invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia. Israel pounded Lebanon from the air throughout yesterday, as its troops advanced on the ground and Hezbollah fired rockets deep into…

Read More

“Hezbollah chief’s killing will lead to Israel’s destruction”’ – Iran’s VP

Aminu Imam
Hezbollah chief

Iran’s First Vice-President, Mohammad Reza Aref, has vowed that the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike in the Lebanese capital will bring about Israel’s “destruction”. Iran’s ISNA news agency yesterday, quoted Aref as saying, “We warn the leaders of the occupying regime that the unjust bloodshed… especially of Hezbollah’s secretary general, martyr Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, will bring about their destruction”. Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, armed and financed by Iran, confirmed yesterday that Nasrallah had been killed, after Israel said it had “eliminated” him in an air strike…

Read More

Japa: Sweden to pay immigrants $34,000 (N55m) to return home

Aminu Imam
Japa Sweden

Sweden’s government says it would drastically increase grants for immigrants who choose to leave the country. The right-wing government, which is propped up by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, made these known in a statement yesterday. As of 2026, immigrants who voluntarily return to their home countries would be eligible to receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor ($34,000). This is up from the current 10,000 kronor. The amount, $34,000, is N55,930,000, using the recent exchange rate of N1,645/$. The move is to encourage more migrants to make the choice. Currently, immigrants…

Read More

Turkey raises departure fee for citizens by 233%

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Türkiye said on Monday that it had increased departure fee for Turkish citizens flying to international destinations by 233 per cent to enhance tax revenue. According to the Turkish Revenue Administration, citizens traveling abroad on international flights are now to pay 500 Turkish liras (14.89 U.S. dollars) for the exit tax stamp starting at midnight. To prevent potential inconveniences at border crossings, the administration has allowed travelers to make the fee payments in advance and introduced an online option. The tax package, which includes raising the departure fee from 150…

Read More

More than 47,000 die of heat in Europe in 2023 – Study

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Experts estimate that more than 47,000 people died as a result of high temperatures in Europe in 2023, the world’s warmest year since records began. The figure is revealed in a modeling study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, published in the journal Nature Medicine on Monday. However, the international research group also reports that society appears to have adapted to the heat. The team used mortality data from the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) on 96 million deaths to estimate the heat-related mortality burden in 2023 for 823…

Read More

Israel: War cabinet minister vows to quit if there is no post-war plan for Gaza

Aminu Imam
Israel Gaza war

Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, has threatened to resign unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets out a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip. Gantz set an June 8 deadline for a plan to achieve six ‘strategic goals’, including the end of Hamas rule in Gaza and the establishment of a multi-national civilian administration for the territory. Gantz was speaking just days after another war cabinet member, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, urged Netanyahu to state publicly that Israel had no plans to take over civilian and military rule in Gaza.…

Read More

Structural reform: Nigeria, 11 countries seek adequate, affordable financing

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
structured trade finance

Nigeria and 11 other members of the African Consultative Group (ACG) have called for adequate and affordable financing to ensure that structural reform agendas produce the desired result. The members made this known at the end of their meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C. The ACG comprises the Fund Governors of a subset of 12 African countries belonging to the African Caucus (African finance ministers and central bank governors) and Fund management. In a joint statement issued on Friday, at the end of the meeting by the…

Read More

ICJ could order Israel to immediately suspend its military operation against Gaza

Aminu Imam

In a significant development, South Africa, a State Party to the Genocide Convention, has lodged an 84-page application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The application, submitted on December 29, alleges that Israel’s actions in Gaza are of a genocidal character, with specific intent to destroy the Palestinians of Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group. South Africa’s detailed application asserts that Israel’s conduct violates its obligations under the Genocide Convention, pointing to well-documented evidence. Among the…

Read More

ICJ to hear S/Africa’s genocide case against Israel on Gaza Jan. 11

Aminu Imam

Israel is to face accusations of genocide before an international court, with hearings based on a South African complaint scheduled for January 11 and 12. The dates were announced yesterday, by the International Court of Justice, (ICJ), the highest United Nations (UN) court, in The Hague. According to the court, South Africa will make its case on January 11 and Israel on January 12, with two hours planned for each side. South Africa had invoked the Genocide Convention in its complaint filed with the court on Friday. Both South Africa…

Read More