Author: Vincent Osuwo

Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk and social conservative, became Japan’s first female prime minister on Tuesday after forming an 11th-hour coalition accord. Japan’s fifth prime minister in as many years will lead a minority administration and has a busy calendar, including a visit from US President Donald Trump next week. On Tuesday, the lower chamber of parliament chose Takaichi, a Margaret Thatcher admirer, as prime minister after she surprisingly earned a slender majority in the first round of voting. Looking solemn, the 64-year-old stood and bowed numerous times to lawmakers. The upper chamber then voted in her favor, albeit in…

US President Donald Trump warned to “eradicate” Hamas if it violated a cease-fire agreement with Israel, as Vice President JD Vance traveled to the region on Tuesday to support the shaky Gaza truce. The Trump administration has stepped up its attempts to cement the fragile Gaza peace accord it helped broker after Israel accused Hamas of delaying the return of captives’ bodies and deadly violence erupted in the area over the weekend. “We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice,” Trump told reporters at the White…

The Labour Party has renewed debate about opposition unity ahead of the 2027 general election, with a section loyal to Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti claiming that only a united front can defeat President Bola Tinubu. In a conversation with our correspondent, Prince Tony Akeni, the LP’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his presidential ambitions and support Obi if he truly wants to save Nigeria from “the agony of misrule.” “If Atiku can go deep inside his soul and demonstrate that he truly loves this country by standing up to…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized the claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that “key ADC figures” would be received into the ruling party next week. The ADC condemned the statement as more evidence of a ruling party increasingly trying to buy legitimacy through defections. Over the weekend, APC national leader Professor Nentawe Yilwatda branded the ruling party as the new bride, revealing that numerous notable ADC members will join the ruling party next week. He made this statement in response to a recent influx of new members from opposition parties. Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State,…

A magistrate court has ordered two prominent TikTok content makers, Idris Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to marry within 60 days. The injunction was issued on Monday by Magistrate Halima Wali after a series of viral videos in which the couple were seen engaging in romantic displays deemed “indecent” by the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board. The court’s judgment, which many have described as unique and controversial, directs the Kano State Hisbah Board to enable the marriage of the two social media stars. Magistrate Wali cautioned that failure to carry out the marriage within the time frame…

The Nigeria Police Force has defended its implementation of a court order preventing the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest from entering critical government districts in Abuja, claiming that its personnel followed the law and only deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer, stated this in an interview with Channels Television on Monday. He noted that the decision followed a lawful Federal High Court order issued on Friday. According to him, the injunction prohibited demonstrators from gathering at or marching to critical locations such as the Aso Villa, Supreme Court, National Assembly, Eagles Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, among…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has resolved to issue a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government should it fail to conclude negotiations with all tertiary institution-based unions. The NLC also attacked the government’s no-work-no-pay policy, which was implemented as a sort of retribution against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities for daring to go on a statewide strike. Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, made this known at an ongoing interactive session with labor journalists in Abuja. The interactive session followed the NLC’s meeting with leaders of tertiary institution-based unions at its headquarters in Abuja. “We have decided…

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and captain Marquinhos were added to Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League squad list on Monday following return from injury. The duo’s return for Tuesday’s league stage match will be a welcome boost for coach Luis Enrique, whose team has struggled with injuries this season. Dembele, 28, has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with France in early September. Dembele, the newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner had been rehabilitating at a specialist clinic in Qatar before returning to training last week. Dembele missed PSG’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Strasbourg on Friday, but…

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged tertiary institutions across the country to introduce compulsory drug testing for both fresh and graduating students as part of their clearance process. NANS stated that the decision will help combat the growing problem of substance addiction on campuses and enhance discipline among undergraduates. Olushola Oladoja, president of NANS, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja during a campaign to raise awareness about drug usage and the importance of a drug-free student community. According to Oladoja, the idea, which will be overseen by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and tertiary…

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the introduction of a contactless biometric capture system for driver’s license issuance, marking a significant shift toward digitalization in Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration. The development was announced as the FRSC launched its 2025 Ember Months Traffic Safety Campaign, which aims to reduce traffic accidents during the hectic festive season. The FRSC campaign, which started on Monday in Abuja, is titled “Tech Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.” It targets unsafe driving behaviors that have been connected to an increase in crashes between December 15 and January 15. During the flag-off, the…