Author: Vincent Osuwo

US President Joe Biden stated on Tuesday that the Israeli administration was opposed to a two-state solution with the Palestinians and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “change” his government. After weeks of firmly supporting Israel’s assault on Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas strikes, Biden’s remarks to Democratic donors exposed a rare schism with Netanyahu. “Bibi’s got a tough decision to make,” Biden said, referring to Netanyahu and his hardline right-wing government. “This is the most conservative government in Israel’s history,” he said, adding that the Israeli government “doesn’t want a two-state solution.” Biden went on to…

Beta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has stated that the sum allotted to her ministry in the 2024 budget is insufficient to combat poverty in the country. The Minister revealed this on Tuesday, when she appeared before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, chaired by Senator Idiat Adebule, to defend her 2024 budget. She stated that her ministry was given an overhead maximum of N532.5 billion, a 28% increase over the 2023 budget, to buffer the effects of inflation. It is important to highlight that the 28% increase in the overhead…

Troops of Exercise Golden Dawn III raided camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the Orsumoghu area of Anambra State on Monday. The operation was carried out in collaboration with personnel from the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Police Force, and local vigilante operatives, according to a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s official X handle on Tuesday. The statement reads, “During the raid operations, the gallant troops cleared and destroyed IPOB and ESN camps. One of the terrorists was naturalized while others escaped with gunshot wounds, and one pump-action rifle was recovered.”…

The Osun State Government has launched an investigation into the reported case of about 18 students from James Primary School B in Osogbo who reportedly ended up in hospitals after eating a mid-day meal provided by the state government’s free school feeding program. The Osun State government also ordered that no more food be cooked at the affected school until the investigations were completed.According to a statement obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday by the state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor, Ademola Adeleke, directed immediate action when the matter was reported to him. The victims, according…

Didier Drogba has congratulated Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala on their victories in the 2023 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards. Drogba posted photos of Osimhen and Oshoala on his Instagram account to celebrate their victories on Tuesday, writing, “Long live the new King and Queen of Africa #victorosimhen9 #asisat_oshoala #caf_online. “Congratulations, my Nigerian people; we are waiting for you in January 2023.” The Super Eagles striker defeated Morocco and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, as well as Egypt and Liverpool forward Mo Salah, to win Nigeria’s first POTY title in 24 years. Also, at the CAF Awards 2023, Oshoala…

Operatives of the Ahmedabad police’s Cyber Crime Division arrested Hitendra Pithadiya, an Indian Congress leader on Tuesday allegedly for posting morphed naked images of a woman with the Ayodhya priest on social media. Hitendra Pithadiya was arrested after the images he shared went viral on several social media platforms. Confirming the arrest, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime, Ajit Rajian, told reporters that Hitendra Pithadiya has been held for posting the deepfake images of the woman under the charges of 469 (forgery) and 509 (intending to insult the modesty of a woman). The case has been registered against Pithadiya…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to go on strike over the “low” budgetary allocation for education by the Federal Government as well as low staff salaries. ASUU Chairman Prof. Emmanuel Oshodeke explained to journalists on Monday that during the campaign and election earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu promised to increase the budget for education to at least 15%. Similarly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization recommended a 26% benchmark allocation for the education sector for member countries. He complained that Nigeria was the country with the lowest pay for professors in the world.…

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has set January 8 for judgment in the N1 billion fundamental rights suit filed against the Federal Government by former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele filed the lawsuit to challenge his prolonged detention in the Department of State Services’ custody. The Chronicle NG reports that the ex-CBN helmsman was arrested on June 10, shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu. The suit names as defendants the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and its chairman.He is asking the court to…

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress’ new caretaker committee has denied reports linking the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to the defection of 27 members of the House of Assembly. The Chronicle NG reported earlier that 27 of the 32 Rivers State lawmakers defected from the governing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the opposition APC. Top party members have refuted reports that Wike must have initiated the move to unseat the current state governor, Sim Fubara, just hours after the Tony Okocha-led committee welcomed the 27 new converts at its party secretariat in Port…

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in Canada has extended a policy that allows certain international students to work more than the standard 20-hour-per-week limit for off-campus employment. The policy, which was implemented in 2022, was supposed to expire on December 31, 2023, but it has now been extended until April 30, 2024. Prior to the extension, international students could only work a maximum of 20 hours per week for off-campus work during sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. While providing an update on the policy extension, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, stated that the policy…