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United States

Headlines

U.S. revokes visas of 80,000 Nigerians, other nationals for terrorism, over-stay

by Folarin Kehinde November 7, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

The United States government has announced the revocation of visas for foreign nationals.

The U.S. Department of State disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The visa revocation, it said, was “promises made, promises kept” by the President Donald Trump administration.

The statement noted that Mr Trump “will always put the safety and interests of the American people first”.

Major reasons for these revocations include assault, theft, and driving under the influence. The State Department said 16,000 of those driving under the influence, 12,000 of those involved in assault, and 8,000 of those involved in theft had their visas revoked, respectively, in 2025.

Other reasons for these visa revocations include terrorism, supporting terrorism, public safety threats, and overstaying visas.

November 7, 2025 0 comments

Africa & World

Elon Musk Resigns from Trump Administration

by Nelson Ugwuagbo May 29, 2025

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has formally announced his departure from President Donald Trump’s administration, where he served as a senior advisor and de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk, who was appointed to the role in November 2024, made the announcement on Wednesday night via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his term as a Special Government Employee had come to an end.

“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote. “@DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

Reuters reports that Musk exited the administration without holding a formal conversation with President Trump. His resignation came just hours after he publicly criticized the president’s newly introduced tax bill on Tuesday.

No official statement has been released by the White House regarding Musk’s departure.

May 29, 2025 0 comments

Headlines

Terror alert: US Orders Departure of Non-emergency Staff

by Folarin Kehinde October 27, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The United States government has authorised the departure of its government employees and their families from Nigeria over potential terrorist attacks..

The US State Department announced the approval of the evacuation in its updated Nigeria travel advisory on Tuesday evening.

The United States and United Kingdom had on Sunday warned of a possible terrorist attack in the capital Abuja, especially aimed at government buildings, places of worship and schools, among other targets.

“On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks,” the advisory read.

“The U.S. Embassy Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate in Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria.”

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information had dismissed the security alert, stating that Nigerians are safer now, stating that the Nigerian Armed Forces were on top of security challenges in the country.

“Our country is safer today than at any time in recent times, thanks to the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.

“We do not discountenance the fact that terrorists, bandits and their kind would always want to do whatever it takes to disrupt our nation’s peace, security and stability. But our security forces have been proactive.”

Nigeria’s Department of State Services said the United States had previously issued similar warnings and urged citizens to remain alert.

The nation’s capital city came under heavy attack months ago following the Boko Haram raid on Kuje Prison and an attack on the Presidential Guards Brigade at Bwari in which three elite officers were killed.

Schools in Abuja were also shutdown over security concerns during the period.

The Nigeria Police Force was yet to react to the report of the authorisation of the exodus of US government workers and citizens from the country.

Calls by our correspondent to the force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday were unanswered and WhatsApp and text messages were yet to be returned.

However, in a statement on Monday, Adejobi disclosed that the Force would review the US and UK security advisories while strengthening security structures across the country for proactiveness.

He also noted that a review of the advisory was necessary, adding that the police, as the lead agency in internal security, would not take any threat intelligence, either actionable or not, for granted.

In a statement, he said, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby reassures Nigerians and all other residents and visitors in the country that it will effectively review the United States of America Embassy in Abuja’s security advisory which was issued, widely circulated, and published by the media on October 23, 2022, indicating an elevated risk of terror attacks in the country, particularly in the capital city of Abuja.”

Assuring the nation of the police plan to secure the nation, the Force Headquarters said more deployments will be made to enhance national security.

“As part of its security strategy, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered all 36 states Commissioners of Police, including that of the FCT, and the head of police tactical squads, to re-strategise the security management within their jurisdictions.

“He also has announced a counter-terrorism incident simulation exercise which will take place in the nation’s capital, tagged, “Operation Darkin Gaggawa.”

October 27, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

United States ‘Democracy’ Spreading Instability In Africa – South African Minister

by Folarin Kehinde August 11, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The South African minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, has described the continuous conflicts in African countries as a consequence of external interference on the continent by the United States and other western countries.

She made this known in a Joint press availability with the United States Secretary of States Anthony Blinken, held in Pretoria, South Africa.

Minister Naledi accused the United States of trying to bully African nations into isolating nations like China and Russia which are at loggerheads with the USA.

A draft bill has been passed by the United States house of Representatives that seeks to penalize and sanction African countries who trade anything apart from grain with Russia. The passed bill is called ‘Containing Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act’.

While condemning the war by Russia on Ukraine, minister Naledi has called described the bill as ‘offensive legislation’. She opines that it is a bill that looks down on the sovereignty of African countries and its ability to choose who its want to relate with.

She defended South Africa’s neutrality on the conflict and called for the issue to be resolved diplomatically. She also berated the for giving lesser attention to the conflict in the middle east between Israel and Palestine. Saying all these conflicts should be giving same attention as no oppressed people is better than another oppressed people.

She said that Africa had a right to choose who it’s want to relate with and will not succumb to ‘patronizing bullying’ by the United States and other western powers.

In her words; ‘All nations are equal according to the United Nations Charter. Every nation can hold different opinions and are not under any obligation to make the United States enemies its own enemies’.

‘Though we might differ in economic might or ability to wield influence in other nations, African nations should still be treated with respect and should not be looked down upon.’

Minister Naledi went further to accused the United States of spreading instability in African countries in the guise of spreading democracy.

‘America comes to you, trying to teach you how democracy works when in reality, they are after your mineral resources in your country’.

The United States and other western powers are a destabilizing force only interested in exploiting the natural resources that can be obtained in your country.

We’ve seen this play out during the cold war era and most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also in Africa, Libya has been on the receiving end of the brutality of western imperialist.

The minister opined that the presence of these mineral resources is what attracts the presence of the united states and other external influences who do not have the interest of Africa at heart.

August 11, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Another War Looms As US Angers China Over Taiwan

by Folarin Kehinde August 3, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The speaker of the United States House of Congress, Nancy Pelosi, yesterday visited Taiwan despite warnings from China that a visit to Taiwan is a threat to China’s territorial integrity.

Pelosi is the first sitting speaker of the house to travel to Taiwan in 25 years and Beijing has threatened “serious consequences” over her visit to the island, which China claims as its own.

The independence of Taiwan has been contested for decades. As at today, only 14 countries recognize it as an independent country, even the United Nations consider the island as an independent province of China.

China is planning to ramp up large-scale military drills around the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which began as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew into Taipei for a visit that has angered Beijing.

The unprecedented six days of military exercises began on Tuesday night after Pelosi landed on the island, featuring J-20 stealth fighter jets and test firing of conventional missiles, according to the Global Times tabloid.

On Wednesday morning, it announced a series of trade restrictions, including a ban on sand exports and the import of certain foods.

They military exercises are a “stern deterrence” against the United States over Taiwan, and a “serious warning” for supporters of Taiwan independence, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman at the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement, according to the Global Times.

China Central Television (CCTV) aired video that showed J-20 stealth fighter jets participating in the Tuesday night drills.

On Wednesday, the Eastern Theater Command said a multi-force exercise involving the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Joint Logistics Support Force took place in the air and sea to the north, southwest and southeast of Taiwan. They practised various exercises, including simulated sea and land attacks.

Many experts have said these events looked like what happened before the war between Russia and Ukraine took place, calling the move by Pelosi as careless and arrogant in the face of multiple global crisis.

August 3, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Health

US President Tests Positive for COVID-19

by Folarin Kehinde July 21, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

United States President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19.

A statement by the White House said the President on Thursday morning tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated and twice boosted.

He is said to be experiencing very mild symptoms.

“He has begun taking Paxlovid. Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.

“He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.

Consistent with White House protocol for positive COVID cases, which goes above and beyond CDC guidance, he will continue to work in isolation until he tests negative. Once he tests negative, he will return to in-person work,” the statement said.

The White House, the statement said, will provide a daily update on the President’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.

“Per standard protocol for any positive case at the White House, the White House Medical Unit will inform all close contacts of the President during the day today, including any Members of Congress and any members of the press who interacted with the President during yesterday’s travel.

“The President’s last previous test for COVID was Tuesday, when he had a negative test result,” the statement said.

July 21, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

We did not spread Monkeypox through Nigerian Labs – US

by Folarin Kehinde June 1, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The United States has denied social media speculations that the US-controlled laboratories are being used to spread Monkeypox in Nigeria.

The embassy in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘U.S.-Nigeria collaboration on infectious disease threats’, explained that the collaborative work between Nigeria and the US has provided opportunities for technical assistance in capacity building, equipment, commodities/consumables, and funding to critical public health programme, hospitals and laboratories which contribute greatly to the prevention and amelioration of global disease outbreaks.

The statement read in part, “Recent misleading posts on social media wrongly speculate on the origin of the current global outbreak of Monkeypox disease and supposedly call for the World Health Organisation to investigate the so-called ‘U.S.-controlled laboratories’ in Nigeria.

“Such reports are pure fabrication. There is zero merit to any allegations regarding the use of US-assisted Nigerian laboratories in the spread of Monkeypox. Furthermore, there are no “US-controlled” laboratories in Nigeria.

“These falsehoods detract from the work that the United States, in close coordination with Nigeria and multilateral partners, accomplish together on public health that includes disease surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and control.”

June 1, 2022 0 comments

Africa & World

US Lifts Sanctions In Syria

by Leading Reporters May 15, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The United States has exempted territories in Syria run by the Kurdish militia, the People’s Protection Units (YPG) from wide-ranging sanctions.

This is a decision which neighbouring Turkey has condemned as an attempt to legitimise the group.

The move by the US Treasury Department on Sunday lifted numerous prohibitions from areas primarily under the control of the YPG.

The Middle East Monitor added that it would enable companies to engage in the fields of agriculture, telecommunications, power grid infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, trade, finance, and clean energy.

The ruling also allows some foreign investment into the areas which span from the Aleppo governorate in the northwest to the Hassakeh governorate in the northeast.

Oil from those exempted areas can also now be purchased, on the condition that it does not benefit the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Business with the Assad regime is still generally covered by the sanctions and is officially prohibited, as is the importing of Syrian oil to the US.

Turkey has condemned the move with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telling reporters in Istanbul that the YPG is a terrorist organisation.

Over the past five years, the US has supported and armed the YPG and its umbrella Kurdish partner group the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). That support has over the years angered Turkey, which has accused the US and European nations of essentially supporting terrorism and threatening Turkish national security.

May 15, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Africa & World

US college offers course on pornography

by Leading Reporters April 25, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The course description mentioned that as part of it students will watch porn together in class, and discuss the sexualisation of race, class and gender. However, the petition says that teachers and students watching pornography together in the classroom together creates an unsafe environment for students while normalising pornography in culture. Photograph:( Others )

Pornography depending on who you talk to is either the bane of society or an expression of sexuality, albeit in a perverse way. Whatever your opinion may be of it, we can all accept that porn exists and it is very easily available, readily accessible on the wonder that we call the internet.

You surely must’ve heard about the negative impacts of porn on a person’s psyche or the many problems that society finds in its easy accessibility. But have you heard of a college that offers pornography as a subject?

Look no further, because we bring you details of exactly that.

Westminster College, a private college in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States is offering a course titled “Gender 3000 – Porn” during its May term.

The May summer term at Westminster, according to ABC4, is designed to provide courses that are different from the norm every year, including this one. The course is an optional, elective course at Westminster, and is not mandatory for any student.

Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry and this elective course includes a study of the industry “both as a cultural phenomenon that reflects and reinforces sexual inequalities (but holds the potential to challenge sexual and gender norms) and as an art form that requires serious contemplation.”

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

Utahns however are not very thrilled by it. A change.org petition created by Utah citizens is demanding that the course be removed. The petition says that “Pornography is devoid of educational value and has no place in the classroom.

The course description mentioned that as part of it students will watch porn together in class, and discuss the sexualisation of race, class and gender. However, the petition says that teachers and students watching pornography together in the classroom together creates an unsafe environment for students while normalising pornography in culture.

“This is not education. It makes me sick something like this offered. Im so disappointed that anything like this would be offered at an educational institution”, comments user Minta Valentine on the petition.

What do you think? Is the course something you may be interested in? Is it normalising deviant sexual behaviour or exploring the normalisation of the human body in all its forms? Let us know!

(With inputs from agencies)

April 25, 2022 0 comments

Africa & World

Trump vs Biden: Gun violence doubles in Joe Biden’s first year in office

by Leading Reporters January 25, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a US gun violence monitoring group, reported that there were over 5,000 more fatal shootings during Joe Biden’s first year in office compared to Donald Trump’s first year as president.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States saw 44,868 gun deaths in Biden’s first year as president.

The total number of murders, justifiable self-defence homicides, and accidental homicides involving firearms were 20,783 in 2021, compared to 15,727 in 2017 when Trump took office.

This means that in the past few years alone, gun violence has increased by 32 per cent.

It is alarming to note, that there were 693 mass shootings in 2021, up from 348 in 2017. In addition, there were 1,060 deaths or injuries among children, compared to 724 in 2017.

In 2021, there were 24,090 suicides committed using a firearm in the United States. Prior to 2019, no national suicide statistics are available, but the site uses an estimate of 22,000 for previous years.

As of January 21, there had been 2,627 shootings in the United States, of which 1,518 were suicides and 1,109 intentional homicides, including 26 mass shootings and one mass murder.

Based on the current trend, the United States may end the year with over 19000 killings and 450 mass shootings.

In response to the sharp increase, a school gun control group March For Our Lives (M4OL) has called on Biden to put an end to the bloodshed.

The M4OL group, founded by the survivors of the 2018 mass shooting at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, stated that Biden has only “tinkered” with gun control measures in his first year in the White House.

Activists from a student-led group said that they were horrified by the escalating epidemic of violence that have continued under his administration.

“As a candidate, the president pledged to end the epidemic of gun violence, but as our leader in the White House, he has simply tinkered at the edges, rather than coordinating a whole-of-government response that treats this crisis like the emergency that it is.”

Taking to Twitter the group said “While @POTUS has taken welcome and overdue steps to address this epidemic, he has not met the bare minimum of what’s necessary to reverse this trend.”

As 44,855 gun deaths loom over @POTUS 1st year in office, we demand to know… what's the plan?

We were hopeful that his administration would be as bold and progressive as the gun violence prevention platform he ran on – but that’s not what we’ve seen so far. 1/4
— March For Our Lives ☮️🟧 (@AMarch4OurLives) January 20, 2022

On the President’s anniversary, on the heels of a year where gun deaths broke historical records, we must ask @POTUS bluntly: Have you done enough? We fear his answer is "yes", and boldly demand action for the sake of our lives. 4/4
— March For Our Lives ☮️🟧 (@AMarch4OurLives) January 20, 2022

In its statement, the group noted that 2021 is one of the deadliest years in American history for gun violence, and asked bluntly: “Mr. President, have you done enough?”

Gun violence has become a persistent social issue in the United States without any apparent solution.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that 17 million guns were sold between January 2021 and November 2021. In the first four days of 2022, around 400 Americans were killed in gun violence, according to the GVA.

In 2018, Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured the same number during a rampage on Valentine’s Day, at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He used a semi-automatic military assault rifle to commit the crime.

In light of the event, more people have called for restrictions on gun ownership and purchasing, with Trump calling on state legislatures to act – where the federal Congress has failed to act for decades. Credit Wion

January 25, 2022 0 comments

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