Author: Vincent Osuwo

The US is set to tighten its assessment of the public charge requirement for certain green card applicants from September 18, 2026, following updated guidance issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The updated guidance, which was posted on the USCIS website, specifies how USCIS officials will decide whether an immigrant wanting to adjust status to lawful permanent residence is likely to become a public charge at any moment. A public charge is commonly defined as an immigrant who is expected to rely heavily on government help for support. The new policy requires officers to evaluate five statutory…

Canada has invited 1,000 people to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class via its Express Entry system. The invitation round took place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, according to the most recent ministerial instructions provided by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. According to the department, candidates must have a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 523 or higher to be invited. “Number of invitations issued: 1,000,” the notice stated. It further stated that candidates who were among the first 1,000 qualified foreign nationals in the group were eligible for invitations. The round began at 10:13:44 UTC on August…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set Saturday, August 22, 2026, for its primary elections to select candidates for four restored State House of Assembly constituencies in Delta and Kogi states and legislative by-elections in Gombe, Bauchi, Delta, and Kano states. The party announced this in a calendar and program of operations signed by its national organizing secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, and distributed on Wednesday. The APC said the timetable followed the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to reinstate “four previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies in Delta and Kogi States.” It named the impacted seats in Delta…

Five-time Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo on Tuesday became the first African to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place under palm trees and picture-perfect California skies and was attended by film stars and music industry titans. “We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world,” the 66-year-old said. “Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet.” After thanking her crew and family, Kidjo burst into song as the audience sat transfixed. Kidjo was born in Benin and has had a successful international career spanning over 40 years and 18…

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has revealed why the club ultimately failed to sign Rodri, despite making a significant offer for the Manchester City midfielder. Rodri was one of Madrid’s top targets this summer, but their pursuit ended before the midfielder moved to Barcelona. Mourinho has now revealed that Rodri’s personal hesitancy was a major factor in the deal falling through. The Portuguese manager stated that he personally spoke with Rodri throughout the discussions and revealed that Madrid offered a strong offer to persuade the Spain international. He claimed that Madrid had a solid relationship with Manchester City and had…

A fire at a hotel in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday killed at least nine people and injured several more, according to a senior fire department officer. “Nine people were killed, including a child, in the inferno that broke out early on Wednesday,” Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, told AFP. “Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the bathrooms.” According to Sharma, preliminary evidence suggests that an air conditioner in the budget motel exploded, causing the inferno. He also stated that nine people—six men, two women, and a child—were rescued and transported to…

A 30-year-old man, Sunday Pada, was beaten to death by a mob in the Korokpan district of Minna, Niger State, after being accused of stealing. Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, announced in a statement on Tuesday that four individuals had been apprehended in relation to the event. In separate operations throughout the state, the command said it apprehended 15 more suspects for alleged theft, damage, extortion, fraud, and other offenses. According to Abiodun, the event involving Pada occurred on August 10, 2026, when an alarm was sounded accusing him of theft. He said police from the…

Women from the Bin-Per community in Ruff, Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, held a peaceful protest on Tuesday in response to the massacre of 24 people by terrorists. The protest occurred while the fatalities were given a mass burial in the neighborhood, while several more injured in the attack were being treated in hospitals. The women, who turned out in large numbers, clutched leaves as they marched through the hamlet, grieving the killings and demanding immediate government action to safeguard inhabitants. The demonstration came after a nighttime raid in which armed men allegedly invaded homes in the…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently resolve the lingering salary dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions, warning that failure to revive negotiations could trigger another industrial crisis in the health sector. The NLC issued the call in a letter dated August 6, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment and signed by its President, Joe Ajaero. The letter follows the Joint Health Sector Unions’ July 31 message, in which they expressed concern with the slow pace of efforts to fulfil their requests, particularly the revision of the Consolidated Health Salary…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has recommended changes to Nigeria’s approach to election security, citing the enormous deployment of security forces and political mobilization seen during off-cycle elections. His positions came after the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, when over 15,000 police officers were deployed ahead of the ballot, along with many governors, political leaders, and other top government officials. Jonathan, in a statement titled “Osun and the Need to Set New Boundaries for Political Conduct in Off-Cycle Elections,” praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, security services, political parties, and Osun voters for the election’s peaceful conduct. However, he…