Iraq
Blackwater founder Erik Prince accused of helping evade U.N. Libya sanctions
Erik Prince, the private security executive and supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, “at the very least” helped evade an arms embargo on Libya, according to excerpts from a United Nations report seen by Reuters.
Algeria hands death penalty to jihadist in French beheading trial
An Algerian court on Thursday sentenced to death a jihadist for the kidnapping and beheading of French mountaineer Herve Gourdel six years ago after a high profile one-day trial.
Iraq rocket attack hits U.S. forces, killing contractor
A rocket attack on U.S.-led forces in northern Iraq on Monday killed a civilian contractor and injured a U.S. service member, the U.S. coalition in Iraq said, in the deadliest such attack in almost a year.
Oil price hits $60 per barrel as Iraq, Kazakhstan cut output
The price of oil has risen to $60 per barrel in the international market as Iraq and Kazakhstan commit to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC oil cut deal.
Pope Francis to meet Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric on March visit
Pope Francis is set for an historic meeting with Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, during a trip to Iraq planned for March, the patriarch of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church said on Thursday.
Lloyd Austin becomes first African-American US defense secretary
Lloyd Austin has become the first African American to be appointed the Secretary of Defense in the United States.
Twitter suspends account of Iranian Supreme Leader after apparent Donald Trump threat
Twitter suspended an account linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader on Friday, hours after it carried the image of a golfer resembling former President Donald Trump apparently being targeted by a drone alongside a vow to avenge the killing of a top Iranian general in a U.S. drone attack.
Senators to ask Joe Biden to restore POW-MIA flag to White House after Donald...
Several lawmakers plan to urge President Joe Biden on Friday to restore a flag honoring missing war veterans to the White House, according to a copy of a letter seen by Reuters, after former President Donald Trump angered some veterans by moving it.
Italy jails suspected al Qaeda foreign fighter caught in Turkey
A 24-year-old Italian suspected of fighting in the Middle East since 2014 with al Qaeda-affiliated groups was arrested in Turkey and jailed in Italy, police said on Wednesday.
Donald Trump grants clemency to 143 people, but not himself or family members
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly used his clemency authority as a political tool rather than an act of mercy, issued a final wave of pardons and commutations on his last night in office, delivering relief for a mix of beneficiaries that included former strategist Stephen Bannon, Republican Party and Trump fundraiser Elliott Broidy, and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, found guilty in 2013 of corruption charges.
Donald Trump pardons Steve Bannon, rapper Lil Wayne
US President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to his disgraced former aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations during his final hours in office, White House officials told the Reuters news agency and New York Times newspaper.
IEA: Resurgence in coronavirus cases slows oil demand rebound
Oil demand recovery will take a hit from a spike in new coronavirus cases before vaccine roll-outs and stimulus measures help in the second half of the year, International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday.
Meet the Bidens: America’s new ‘first family’
Biden has made his family a major focus throughout his career, and his 2020 presidential campaign thrust them fully into the spotlight — with some members causing controversy but others breaking barriers.
Borno governor says there are white men, Asians, Christians among Boko Haram sponsors
Zulum said, “I’m from Borno State, and many of our children are into Boko Haram. I’m not denying the fact. But again, they are being sponsored by many people across the world. Among Boko Haram, we have white men, Asians, Africans, Muslims and Christians.”
Iran test-fires ballistic missiles on targets at sea
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards test-fired ballistic missiles against targets in the Indian Ocean as they wrapped up a two-day exercise, their official website reported Saturday.
U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on Iran in final days of Donald Trump presidency
The United States on Friday sanctioned companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and on three Iranian entities over conventional arms proliferation.
OPEC: Nigeria’s daily oil production drops to 1.17 million barrels in December
According to the January Monthly Oil Market report, this is 155,000 barrels lower than the 1.32 million barrels per day produced in November and 173,000 barrels lower than the 1.34 million barrels per day produced in October.
CAF appoints four female referees with one Nigerian among 47 for African Nations Championship
The Referee Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed 47 referees and assistant referees – including Video Assistant Referees – from 31 countries in the continent for the 6th edition of the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) holding in Cameroon from 16 January to 7 February 2021.
Japan leads 2021 world’s most powerful passport
The passports were rated according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Iran asks Interpol to arrest Donald Trump over killing of Qassem Soleimani
Tehran has applied to Interpol for an international arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump in connection with the murder of the Iranian top general Qassem Soleimani a year ago.
Iraqis chanting anti-US slogans mark year since Soleimani killing
Tens of thousands of Iraqis chanting anti-American slogans streamed to Baghdad’s central square on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Iran’s foreign minister urges Donald Trump to avoid Israel ‘trap’ to provoke war
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday not to be “trapped” by an alleged Israeli plan to provoke a war through attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.
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NDLEA: Nigerian kidnappers now ask for ransom payment in drugs
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd) has expressed regret that the drugs abuse situation in the country is so bad that criminal elements especially kidnappers and armed bandits now ask for payment of ransoms in drugs.
Minister: Unifying Naira’s exchange rate will take time
The total borrowing of the country as of 31 December is 21.6 per cent of the GDP. So, if we were not looking at adding the other category of loans that I mentioned, we don’t even need to increase that at this time As of 2019, the debt to GDP ratio was 19.2 per cent so only two per cent was added.
Minister inaugurates 259 monitors for N-SIP projects in Adamawa
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, has inaugurated training for 259 Independent Monitors to supervise Integrated National Social Investment Program (N-SIP) at community level in Adamawa state.
Northern governors to wade into spat between Samuel Ortom, Bala Mohammed
The Northern State Governors Forum has expressed commitment to ending the nomadic grazing of cattle across the country as part of measures to resolve the herders-farmers conflict and end the activities of some criminal herdsmen.
Ekiti acquires computerised vehicle inspection equipment
The Ekiti government has acquired and installed a computerised vehicle inspection equipment to identify the level of road worthiness of vehicles in the state.
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Coronavirus: Torino game against Sassuolo postponed
Italian club Torino’s league game on Friday against Sassuolo has been postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak in the club, the Lega Serie A confirmed.
Edo records 10 new coronavirus cases, four deaths
The Edo government on Wednesday in Benin said the state recorded 10 new cases and four more deaths from coronavirus as the government intensified efforts to contain the second wave of the pandemic.
Hutu rebels accuse DRC, Rwanda over Italian ambassador’s killing
Rwandan Hutu rebels on Tuesday denied allegations they were behind the killing of the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo and instead accused the armies of the DRC and Rwanda.
Enugu governor assures new AIG, Zone 13 of support
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has assured the new Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 13, Dunukofia, Anambra State, AIG Mohammed Hafiz, of his administration’s continued support to enable the zone perform more effectively.
TETFund increases budget by 40% to N500 billion for tertiary institutions in 2022
The Chairman Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Kashim Ibrahim Imam, has said the intervention agency would require the sum of N500 billion for its activities in 2022, an increase of 40 percent from this year’s spending.