Author: Editor

THE United States has imposed the first batch of sanctions against Iran since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, as the president pushes to reimpose “maximum pressure” on Tehran. The US Treasury announced the sanctions on Thursday, saying that they are aimed at Iran’s “oil network”. The measures targeted firms, ships and individuals affiliated with companies already sanctioned by the US. Under former President Joe Biden, the US routinely issued such penalties to enforce existing sanctions. “The Iranian regime remains focused on leveraging its oil revenues to fund the development of its nuclear program, to produce its deadly ballistic…

INDIA’s foreign minister threatened a “strong crackdown” on illegal migration on Thursday, a day after a US military airplane flew back 104 migrants as part of President Donald Trump’s overhaul of immigration. Thousands of unregistered migrants have been arrested across the United States since Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Trump’s flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling immigration to the United States is estimated to impact 11 million undocumented migrants. “It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad,” Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told parliament. Chief of the US Border…

MALAWI’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the military to begin preparing to withdraw from their peacekeeping mission in the volatile eastern Democratic of Congo. The Malawian troops are part of the southern African regional bloc’s military mission (SAMIDRC) deployed to DR Congo to help tackle armed groups. At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans and three Malawians, were killed as the M23 rebels captured the key city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week. President Chakwera said on Wednesday that his decision was meant to “honour the declaration of a ceasefire by the parties”, even though…

AN online influencer in Gabon has been detained after broadcasting images shot inside a hospital emergency department plunged into darkness by a long power cut, sources said Thursday. Several activists reported on social media the arrest of Novelas Overmax after his last message in which he described himself as “wanted”. The post appeared on Monday, a day after his video was shared on TikTok. The influencer was “placed in custody” late on Wednesday and taken to the central prison in the capital Libreville, one of his friends Eric Otsetse wrote on Facebook. Authorities have not confirmed or denied the account…

NEWCASTLE United, on Wednesday, secured their place in the EFL Cup final after a commanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the semi-final second leg, sealing a 4-0 aggregate win over the Gunners. Goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon ensured Eddie Howe’s side progressed to the final, leaving Arsenal with yet another cup disappointment. The match began with a controversial moment in the seventh minute when VAR intervened, but the score remained level. However, it did not take long for Newcastle to assert dominance. In the 19th minute, Jacob Murphy found the back of the net to put the Magpies…

SAUDI Arabia reacted swiftly and sternly to US President Donald Trump’s pledge to “take over” the Gaza Strip, reiterating no normalisation deal with Israel will occur until Palestinians receive their own independent state. “The establishment of the Palestinian state is a firm, unwavering position,” the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a lengthy statement on X on Wednesday. “His Highness [Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman] has affirmed this position in a clear and explicit manner that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances. “His Highness stressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not stop…

THE Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he was ready for direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as “empty words”. Talk of a negotiated end to the nearly three-year conflict has risen with Donald Trump — who has pledged to end the fighting — back in the White House and Ukraine’s troops struggling on the battlefield in the east. Asked how he would feel if he sat opposite Putin at a negotiating table, Zelensky told British journalist Piers Morgan in an interview published Tuesday: “If that is the only set-up in which we can bring…

MORE than 100 female prisoners were raped and then burned alive during a jailbreak in the Congolese city of Goma, according to the UN. Hundreds of prisoners broke out of Munzenze prison last Monday, after fighters from the M23 rebel group began to take over the city. Between 165 and 167 women were assaulted by male inmates during the jailbreak, an internal UN document seen by the BBC says. The report states that most of the women were killed after the inmates set fire to the prison. The BBC has not been able to verify the reports. Goma, a major…

THE UK government has denied claims made by the prime minister of Mauritius that it faces paying billions more under a renegotiated deal over the future of the Chagos Islands. Last October, the UK announced it would hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius but would maintain a 99-year lease over the UK-US military airbase on the largest island, Diego Garcia. However, shortly after the deal was struck, Mauritius elected a new prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who wanted to reopen negotiations. He told his MPs on Tuesday new conditions had been negotiated meaning the UK’s lease payments would be…

THERE have been 13 video assistant referee (VAR) mistakes in the Premier League so far this season – down from 20 at the same point last term – say league bosses. Four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions from the first 23 rounds of games have been found by the competition’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel. There have been 70 VAR interventions in 239 league games this season – around one every three matches. The league says the accuracy of ‘Key Match Incidents’ is at 96.4% – up from 95.7% at the corresponding point last term. “Nobody here underestimates…

FOR nearly two weeks, 11 bodies lay in the morgues of Jenin as Israeli raids ravaged the city and its refugee camp. Their families were too frightened to bury them in Jenin because of Israeli snipers, drones and artillery. “Families are afraid to bury their loved ones in the camp cemetery because Israeli snipers are stationed on high buildings,” Mahmoud al-Saadi, director of emergency services in Jenin, said on Monday. “Some bodies have been in the morgue for over 13 days. We need Israeli clearance just to conduct a burial, and even that has been delayed multiple times.” In the…

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order withdrawing Washington from a number of United Nations bodies, including its Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and setting up a broader review of US funding for the multilateral organization. The executive order said it withdrew Washington from UNHRC and the main UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), and would review involvement in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The moves were made in protest against what White House staff secretary Will Scharf described as “anti-American bias” at the UN agencies. The 47 members of the UN Human Rights…

THE alliance of rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a humanitarian ceasefire starting on Tuesday. In a statement, the group – which includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels – cited “humanitarian reasons” for the ceasefire, after it has been capturing territory in eastern parts of the country. The UN said at least 900 people have been killed and 2,880 injured in recent fighting in and around Goma, DR Congo’s largest eastern city, after it was seized by rebels. The G7 nations and the EU have condemned the offensive as a flagrant violation of DR Congo’s sovereignty. The…

UGANDA has launched a trial of a vaccine against the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, following an outbreak in the country that has killed one person and infected two others. The first patient, a 32-year-old male nurse, died last week. On Monday, the initial participant in the trial, who is currently in isolation, received a dose of the vaccine, which was developed by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative, a global non-profit organisation. There is currently no approved vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola. One does exist, however, for the Zaire strain, which has been prevalent in the past…

ASTON Villa have signed Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Asensio and agreed a deal for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi. Both players join the club on loan until the end of the season. The duo follow the arrivals of Marcus Rashford, Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia at Villa Park during the winter transfer window. Villa will reportedly cover the wages of three-time Champions League winner Asensio but do not have an option to make the move permanent. They will pay a £5m fee to loan Disasi but again there is no purchase option. Villa sold Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro…

ISRAELI forces have killed 70 people, including 10 children, in the occupied West Bank since the start of the year, the Palestinian Ministry of Health says. According to the ministry’s tally – released on Monday – Israel’s sweeping raids have killed 38 people in Jenin, 15 in Tubas, six in Nablus, five in Tulkarem, three in Hebron, two in Bethlehem and one in occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli military launched a major offensive dubbed “Iron Wall” in the territory last month, shortly after the ceasefire in Gaza. The operation is especially focused on targeting Palestinian armed groups from the Jenin…

EU leaders meeting in Brussels Monday warned there would be no winners in a trade war with the United States, insisting they would hit back if President Donald Trump imposes tariffs. French President Emmanuel Macron said the European Union must show its muscle if US President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to target the bloc with a volley of tariffs. “If we are attacked in terms of trade, Europe — as a true power — will have to stand up for itself,” Macron said. The leaders of the EU’s 27 nations were huddling in the Belgian capital with…

THE Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa has stated plans to take control of over 70 per cent of global cocoa production, noting that Africa has the competitive and comparative advantage to achieve the feat. In a statement signed by the Global Coordinator of COFAA, Comrade Adeola Adegoke and made available to this newspaper on Monday to officially unveil its COFAAA chapter on February 12, 2025, in Oyo State, he said the landmark event aims to foster regional cooperation among African cocoa-producing countries, ensuring a more sustainable and farmer-focused cocoa industry. According to Adegoke, Africa is not only the leading…

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday hit back at his United States counterpart, Donald Trump over the latter’s threat to cut funding to the African nation after accusing it of “confiscating” land and “treating certain classes of people very badly.” Trump on Sunday announced he was cutting off all future funding to the country pending an investigation. “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people very badly. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Later,…

ARSENAL moved to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool by thrashing Manchester City at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, who knew only a victory would suffice with Liverpool opening a commanding lead at the top of the table after winning at Bournemouth, responded by overpowering the fading champions in emphatic fashion. Arsenal have played a game more than Liverpool, but this impressive victory at least means they remain within touching distance of Arne Slot’s pace-setters. City, as they had done against Chelsea eight days previously, gifted their opponents an early lead, this time inside two minutes when defender Manuel…