President Donald Trump has threatened the BRICS countries with 100% tariffs if they move away from using the US dollar for international transactions. Trump issued the warning via his Truth Social platform, stating, “The idea that BRICS nations are trying to abandon the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is over. We will demand a commitment from these countries to not create a new BRICS currency or back any alternative to the US dollar. If they refuse, they will face 100% tariffs and lose access to the US economy.” BRICS, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in early 2024 with the addition of Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the UAE, and Indonesia joined in January 2025. The group seeks to counterbalance the influence of the G7, the leading Western economic powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the US dollar’s dominance and is pushing for a new payment system within BRICS to lessen Russia’s dependence on the dollar, especially in ligh...

U.S. officials have confirmed that there are no survivors from the midair collision between a passenger jet carrying 64 people and a military helicopter over Washington’s Potomac River. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly announced the transition from a rescue to a recovery operation, with 28 bodies recovered so far, including one from the helicopter. Emergency responders battled freezing conditions overnight, navigating ice-covered waters and strong winds. The cause of the crash remains unclear, though air traffic recordings revealed repeated warnings to the helicopter before the collision. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested the tragedy was “absolutely preventable.” Among the victims were athletes, coaches, and officials, including Russian figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Bombardier jet, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, was approaching Reagan National Airport when it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk on a training flight. The P...

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has issued a strong warning against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state without legal authorization. In a statement personally signed by him on Tuesday, Abiodun maintained that no individual or group has the authority to create a court outside the legal framework established by the Nigerian Constitution. The statement was in response to a circulating notice announcing the launch of a Sharia Court in the state. The governor explained that only constitutionally recognized courts, such as Magistrates’ Courts, High Courts, Customary Courts, and appellate courts, have jurisdiction in Ogun State. He stated that Sharia law is not part of the state’s judicial system. Abiodun, however, said the government would uphold and protect the rights of individuals to practice the religion of their choice, or to subscribe to no religion. He counseled that this freedom does not extend to forming unauthorized courts or institutions. He directed those beh...

No fewer than 5,144 Nigerians are set to be deported from the United States as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to remove undocumented immigrants. Among them, 3,690 are on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders, while 1,454 are currently in detention, including 772 arrested for criminal convictions or pending charges. The Federal Government has established an inter-agency committee to respond if mass deportations occur, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). ICE’s latest directive aligns with Trump’s immigration policy, ramping up daily arrest and deportation operations to between 1,200 and 1,500 individuals. President Trump has repeatedly said his administration will prioritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. Consequently, ICE  officials have been directed to aggressively ramp up the number of people they arrest. Hours after taking office, Mr. Trump indefinitely paused the U.S. refugee ...

Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar The Sultanate Council of Sokoto has urged Muslims across Nigeria to look out for the new moon of Sha’aban 1446 AH on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, corresponding to the 29th of Rajab 1446 AH in the Islamic calendar. In a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Waziri of Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, the council instructed Muslims to report moon sightings to their nearest District or Village Head, who will forward the information to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, for official confirmation. The sighting of the Sha’aban moon is a key Islamic tradition, as it marks the month preceding Ramadan, aiding Muslims in their preparations for the holy month of fasting. The statement concluded with a prayer: “May Allah (SWT) help us in the discharge of this religious duty. Amen.” This announcement underscores the Sultanate Council’s role in guiding the Muslim Ummah on moon sighting and other religious observan...

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed at removing what he described as “transgender ideology” from the military, marking a rollback of LGBTQ rights. During announcements aboard Air Force One, Trump also called for the development of a US version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. The orders reinstated service members dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and expanded efforts to dismantle diversity programs within the armed forces. “To ensure we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military,” Trump stated during a Republican congressional retreat in Miami. Trump’s order claimed that the military had been influenced by “radical gender ideology” to appease activists and argued that adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s biological sex was incompatible with military service. Additionally, a separate order condemned diversity programs, arguing they undermined leadersh...

New Jersey: Victoria Ogunremi, a Nigerian-American based in New Jersey, returned $5,700 she found in the restroom at her workplace. Her act of honesty has been widely praised by her employer, colleagues, and the money’s owner, who expressed immense gratitude. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Ogunremi revealed that her decision was driven by empathy for the person who lost the money and her strong Christian values. “I didn’t hesitate because my faith teaches me that honesty brings peace of mind. The thought of the distress this loss could cause inspired me to act,” she explained. Ogunremi located the money’s owner before notifying her workplace management, who commended her integrity. She noted that her late father’s teachings on morality have shaped her life and emphasized the importance of instilling such values in future generations. “Whether someone is watching or not, doing the right thing matters. A good name is priceless, and peace of mind is golden,” Ogunremi sai...

President Trump on Sunday vowed swift and punishing retaliation after the Colombian government over the weekend blocked the arrival of  deportation flights  from the U.S., objecting to the Trump administration's efforts to use  military planes to deport migrants . Earlier on Sunday, Petro said he rejected the deportation flights because the deportees were being transported in military aircraft, arguing such a move treated migrants as criminals. "The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them," Petro wrote on social media. He added that he would accept deportation flights, as long as they were conducted on civilian planes. Mr. Trump posted on social media on Sunday that his administration will put in place several actions against Colombia, including a 25% tariff — that he said will be raised to 50% after one week — on all goods coming into the U.S. from Colombia. He also announced a travel ban ...

Ezra Vandan, a 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model known as Azranur AV, has been arrested in Istanbul for publicly declaring her intention to sleep with 100 men in a single day. Vandan's announcement, made on January 14, 2025, to broadcast the event live on social media, was deemed "obscene" and "damaging" to the country’s morals. Her post, featuring a photo of herself in red lingerie with the caption, “My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record! I’m starting with 100 men in 24 hours,” sparked widespread controversy. The Istanbul Security Branch Directorate’s Morality Bureau initiated an investigation, leading to her arrest at a hospital while awaiting cosmetic surgery. Captured on video, Vandan was seen being escorted by female officers, handcuffed and led to a police van. She later shared a half-naked photo, reportedly taken by a police officer, alongside a caption stating, "I had the photo taken by one of the officers, he didn’t objec...

Image by  Gerd Altmann  from  Pixabay Hundreds of transgender federal inmates are facing fear and uncertainty following an executive order by President Donald Trump mandating their transfer to prisons aligned with their biological sex rather than gender identity. President Donald Trump on Monday signed executive orders  proclaiming that the U.S. government will recognize only two sexes , male and female, and  ending "radical and wasteful" diversity, equity and inclusion programs  inside federal agencies. Legal advocates have raised concerns about the potential dangers transgender individuals may face in male facilities. Attorney Moira Meltzer-Cohen, representing transgender inmate Donna Langan, warned of possible violence, describing the policy as “incredibly dangerous” and fearing a “bloodbath.” The order, signed on Trump’s first day in office, also restricts access to gender-affirming spaces like bathrooms and dormitories, limits federal funding for ...

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting the issuance of U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil to parents without legal status. The directive, titled "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," was signed shortly after Trump assumed office. It mandates federal agencies to deny citizenship, including passports, to children born in the U.S. unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The policy, effective February 19, targets children born to mothers in the U.S. illegally or on temporary visas if the father also lacks legal status. This measure is part of a broader push to reverse Biden-era immigration policies, heighten border security, and address undocumented communities, potentially sparking legal challenges. Great number of countries, including France, New Zealand, and Australia, have abandoned birthright citizenship in the past few decades. Ireland was the last country in the European Union to...

Donald Trump was sworn in for a second non-consecutive term as the United States President on Monday and announced a series of executive actions, announcing that the "golden age" of America had begun.  In a dynamic dedicatory address, the 47th President referred to January 20 as "liberation day" and declared that "America's decline is over," vowing rapid changes. Trump returned to the White House aiming to reset US policies across various areas such as immigration, tariffs, and energy.  Here’s the full text of President Donald Trump's speech: Thank you. Thank you very much everybody. Well, thank you very, very much. Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the United States Supreme Court, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and my fellow citizens. The Golden Age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be ...

  The United Nations estimates that billions of dollars will be required to rebuild Gaza after a 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. Over 46,000 lives were lost in Gaza, and Israel reported 1,200 fatalities. Sunday marked the start of a truce between Israel and Hamas, ending a 15-month-long conflict that has enraged the Middle East and destroyed the Gaza Strip, reported news agency Reuters.   UN assessments reveal massive devastation, with 69% of Gaza's structures impacted and infrastructure damage totaling $18.5 billion. The conflict has set Gaza’s development back 69 years, with more than 1.8 million people now in need of emergency shelter. Clearing 50 million tonnes of rubble, contaminated with asbestos and holding human remains, could take 21 years and cost $1.2 billion. Agricultural and water systems have been severely damaged, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

  A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos has restrained the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from arresting vehicles with faded number plates. Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order on Friday and also restricted the FRSC from imposing any fine or punishment on any drivers for driving with a faded vehicle plate number. The court made the orders while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a legal practitioner, Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube against the FRSC. Ezebube in his Originating Summons filed on February 13, 2024, had asked the court to determine among other things: “Whether the Defendant, pursuant to Section 5 (g) and Section 10 (3)(f) of the Federal Road Safety Commission Act 2007 being the sole designer and producer of Vehicle Number Plates in Nigeria, is not absolutely responsible for the quality and durability of the vehicle number plates as are produced by it? “Whether the defendant can make it an offence and impose a penalty against the plaintiff and or other Nigerians for...

  Outgoing US President Joe Biden has granted clemency to over 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, marking the largest single-day clemency action in US history. In a statement, Biden explained that those whose sentences were commuted had been serving sentences that were disproportionately long compared to what they would face today. He called the decision an essential step toward addressing historical injustices, correcting sentencing disparities, and allowing individuals to reunite with their families. “With this action, I have now granted more pardons and commutations than any other president in US history,” Biden remarked. He further stated that additional clemencies could be issued before his term ends and President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on Monday. This follows Biden’s commutation of nearly 1,500 sentences and pardoning of 39 individuals last month, including his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing prison over gun and tax-related offenses. Biden h...