Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Trump Announces End To US Sanctions On Syria In Bid For Regional Stability. President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria, offering a vital economic lifeline to a nation ravaged by nearly 14 years of civil war and decades of authoritarian rule under the Assad family. The surprise announcement, made during a business forum in Riyadh, was met with resounding cheers and a standing ovation from the audience. The decision comes ahead of Trump’s first meeting with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, scheduled for Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. Al-Shara, who led the…

Ukrainian Families Reunite With Loved Ones In Emotional Prisoner Exchange. Hundreds of families gathered in a car park in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region on Tuesday, their hearts brimming with hope and trepidation, as they awaited the return of 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) released from Russian captivity. The 64th prisoner exchange of the ongoing conflict, one of the largest to date, brought scenes of joyous reunions tinged with anguish for those whose loved ones did not step off the buses. Among the crowd were sisters Anastasiia Dobrieva, 31, and Inha Palamarchuk, 38, clutching a chocolate cake adorned with candles…

Trump Floats World Cup Incentive For Russia To End Ukraine War. US President Donald Trump has proposed that allowing Russia’s men’s national football team to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualification process could serve as an incentive for Russia to halt its war in Ukraine. The suggestion came during the inaugural meeting of the White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup, held in the East Room on Tuesday. Russia’s national teams and domestic clubs have been barred from international competitions since February 2022, following the country’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The suspensions, imposed by FIFA and…

Lamido Urges Tinubu To  Settle ₦45 Billion Debt Owed To MKO Abiola’s Family. Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to resolve a longstanding ₦45 billion debt owed to the late Chief MKO Abiola by the Nigerian government. The call came during the public presentation of Lamido’s book, Being True To Myself, held in Abuja on Tuesday. Addressing the audience, Lamido emphasised the need to close the chapter on the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely believed to have been won by Abiola but annulled, denying him the presidency. “I would like to…

Central Bank Of Nigeria Launches Non-Resident BVN Platform For Nigerians Abroad. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), has unveiled a groundbreaking Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) platform, a move set to transform banking access for Nigerians living overseas. The NRBVN platform allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain their Bank Verification Number (BVN) remotely, eliminating the previous requirement for physical presence in Nigeria. This development is expected to streamline financial transactions, enhance banking security, and foster greater financial inclusion for Nigerians abroad. Announcing the launch, the CBN highlighted the…

PDP Faces Existential Crisis Ahead Of 2027 Elections, Warns Senator Gabriel Suswam. Former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has issued a stark warning that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks collapse before the 2027 general elections unless its leadership urgently resolves the party’s deepening internal conflicts. Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, Suswam described the PDP as being in an “Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” with its survival hinging on swift and effective intervention. Suswam pinpointed two primary sources of the PDP’s turmoil: a prolonged dispute over the national secretary position and the intensifying feud between…

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr Makes Stellar Debut For Portugal U15 In 4-1 Victory Over Japan. In a moment that will surely be etched in football history, Cristiano Ronaldo Júnior, the eldest son of global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, made his much-anticipated debut for Portugal’s Under-15 national team on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. The young forward, aged just 14, entered the pitch in the 54th minute during a commanding 4-1 win against Japan at the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament in Croatia, marking the start of what many hope will be a remarkable career. The match, held at Sveti Martin na Muri, saw Portugal…

JAMB Engages IT Experts To Investigate Alleged UTME Technical Issues. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the engagement of leading IT professionals and educational assessment experts to probe reported technical glitches in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The decision follows widespread concerns raised by candidates regarding the recently released results, which saw over 1.5 million of the 1.9 million participants scoring below 200 out of a possible 400 marks. In a statement issued on Monday, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the board is fast-tracking its annual system review to address…

House Of Representatives Rejects Bill On Rotational Presidency Across Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones. Nigeria’s House of Representatives has voted down a constitutional amendment bill that sought to mandate the rotation of the presidency and vice presidency among the country’s six geopolitical zones. The decision, made during a plenary session on Tuesday, has sparked widespread debate about political representation and national unity. The bill, formally titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and Vice President among the…

What I Told Fubara When We Met, Wike Reveals. Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has shed light on a recent meeting with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike disclosed that Fubara visited him alongside two governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While Wike refrained from divulging specific details of their discussion, he revealed that he was candid with Fubara about the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. “I told him I don’t think you…

Kano High Court Rejects Ganduje’s Bid To Halt Multi-Billion Naira Fraud Trial. In a significant development, a Kano State High Court has dismissed an application by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, former Governor of Kano State and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to stop a high-profile fraud case against him. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, paves the way for Ganduje and seven others to face trial over allegations of bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira. The court, presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, rejected Ganduje’s challenge…

Governor Fubara Urges Peace, Signals Resilience In First Speech Since Suspension. In his first public address since his suspension as Rivers State Governor on March 18, 2025, Siminalayi Fubara delivered a heartfelt and resolute speech at a Night of Tributes in Port Harcourt, calling for calm and unity amid the state’s ongoing political turmoil. The suspended governor, whose leadership has been at the center of a prolonged crisis, struck a tone of introspection and determination, urging supporters to align with his vision for peace and reconciliation. Fubara, addressing a gathering that included dignitaries like Senator John Azuta Mbata, Senator…