A Russian nuclear-powered submarine and other naval vessels arrived in Cuba Wednesday for a five-day visit to the communist island off Florida’s coast in a show of force amid spiraling US-Russian tensions. The submarine Kazan, which Cuba says is not carrying nuclear weapons, was accompanied by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, as well as an oil tanker and a salvage tug. The Kazan and Admiral Gorshkov, which is one of Russia’s most modern warships, could be seen just off Havana, which is about 90 miles (145 km) from the tip of Florida. The tanker Pashin and the tug, flying the white,…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public warning about the increasing number of cholera cases in the country as the rainy season intensifies. From January 1 to June 11, 2024, the NCDC reported a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera, with 30 resulting deaths, across 96 local government areas in 30 states. Ten states—Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos have been identified as contributing 90 percent of the cholera burden. The NCDC, led by Director-General Dr. Jide Idris, is working with a multi-sectoral National…
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged the Nigerian federal government to swiftly acquire new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. This recommendation follows a detailed assessment by the committee’s technical subcommittee on the current state and safety of the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF). The committee’s report raised concerns about the high maintenance costs and frequent grounding of President Tinubu’s 19-year-old plane. These issues have led to increased operational expenses and reduced the fleet’s reliability. Legislators stressed the necessity of providing safe and dependable transportation for the nation’s highest officials, citing…
Former President Donald Trump and establishment Republicans largely achieved their goals in Tuesday’s primaries across five states. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s efforts to unseat his detractors hit a roadblock as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), one of the “Gaetz Eight” who voted to oust him, successfully fended off a primary challenge. Despite substantial financial backing from McCarthy-affiliated groups, Mace secured a decisive victory with a nearly 30-point lead over her closest competitor, Catherine Templeton. The upcoming primary in Virginia’s 5th District, featuring Rep. Bob Good, is the next test for McCarthy’s influence, though Good lacks Trump’s endorsement. Candidates endorsed by Trump…
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday firmly denied the State Houses of Assembly’s request to join the lawsuit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors, seeking full autonomy for the country’s 774 local governments. The apex court, led by Justice Garba Lawal, concluded that the State Houses of Assembly had no legal standing or jurisdiction to be involved in the case. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, representing the Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, had applied for the assembly to be joined as a defendant. However, Justice Garba Lawal…
The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a bid to restrict an abortion pill widely used in the United States to terminate pregnancies. The court, in a unanimous opinion, said the anti-abortion groups and physicians challenging the medication, mifepristone, lacked the legal standing to bring the case. Abortion rights are one of the key issues in the November election and the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden had urged the court to maintain access to the drug, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000. His opponent Donald Trump leads a Republican Party broadly favoring blocks to…
Hamas has responded to a US-backed cease-fire proposal aimed at ending the eight-month conflict in Gaza. The response, delivered to mediators in Egypt and Qatar, calls for changes before Hamas will agree to a deal. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both designated as terrorist organizations by the US and the European Union, emphasized the need to halt aggression against the Gaza Strip. “The response prioritizes the interest of our Palestinian people, and the necessity of completely stopping the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip,” they said in a joint statement. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the US…
Hunter Biden’s conviction on three felony charges has sparked attention as the first time a sitting president’s child has been found guilty of felonies. However, experts from both political parties suggest that this historic verdict will likely have a muted impact on the 2024 presidential election. GOP pollster Robert Blizzard noted that the conviction is not expected to significantly influence voter behavior. He pointed to the recent felony conviction of former President Donald Trump, which did not substantially shift poll numbers, as an indicator that Hunter Biden’s conviction may similarly fail to move the electoral needle. Republican strategist Rob Stutzman…
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ramped up security measures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Dr. Olusola Odumosu, the FCT Commandant of NSCDC, announced the deployment of 5,112 personnel to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the festive period. The deployment spans across all six area councils, the city centre, and other critical locations vulnerable to criminal activities. According to the command’s spokesperson, Samuel Idoko, the NSCDC is committed to safeguarding lives and property, as well as protecting critical national assets in the FCT. To enhance security operations, specialised…
The United States Army’s newly established Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) in the Pacific represents a great development in military strategy and technology integration. This innovative unit, stationed in Hawaii, is equipped with advanced technologies, including high-altitude balloons, Precision Strike Missiles, cyber warfare units, and unmanned systems. It marks the first real-world implementation of the lesser-known second pillar of the Australia-UK-US defense pact, Aukus. While Aukus Pillar 1, focusing on nuclear-powered submarines, has received significant attention, Pillar 2, which emphasizes advanced capabilities like hypersonics, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, is equally crucial. According to the agreement, Australia, the UK, and the…
Russia and Iran’s Strategic Partnership Treaty has encountered an unexpected delay due to diplomatic challenges following the tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash in May. Since the onset of the Ukraine war in February 2022, Iran has bolstered Russia’s military efforts by providing equipment such as the Shahed drone, crucial for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. This military collaboration had strengthen the ties between Moscow and Tehran. In September 2022, discussions on a new treaty were initiated between Putin and Raisi. By January, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership…
USAID Administrator Samantha Power and World Bank Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg have discussed partnership opportunities aimed at mitigating lead exposure globally. The discussions focuses on the significance of precise measurement of blood lead levels and environmental lead, alongside effective policy interventions to reduce exposure. During the meeting, Power and van Trotsenburg explored strategies to enhance existing development portfolios with lead mitigation measures. They underscored the need for robust coordination among national governments, development organizations, philanthropies, and the private sector to achieve significant reductions in lead exposure. This partnership aims to address the pressing issue of lead…