Sweden has formally called on China to assist in investigating the damage to two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, after a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng Three, was linked to the incidents. The cables—one connecting Sweden to Lithuania and the other linking Finland to Germany—were damaged on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial … Read more
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to submit the list of ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for screening and confirmation in the coming days. The list, which will include ambassadors and high commissioners to represent Nigeria in various countries and multilateral organizations, is anticipated to be sent to the Senate in early December. This … Read more
Donald Trump has announced plans to impose new tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada on his first day in office, aiming to pressure these nations to curb illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States. Trump stated that immediately following his inauguration on January 20, he would sign an executive order imposing a 25% … Read more
The Israeli cabinet is set to meet to discuss the approval of a ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia. According to reports, the proposed truce would last for an initial 60 days and involve the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. In exchange, Hezbollah would vacate areas south of the Litani … Read more
Israel’s military reported that approximately 250 rockets were launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon, marking one of the most intense attacks on Israel since hostilities escalated in September. The strikes caused injuries and property damage in northern and central Israel, including areas near Tel Aviv, according to Israeli police. EDITOR’S PICKS Electricity Meter Costs Rise Again … Read more
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, including 20 fatalities from a devastating attack that destroyed a multi-story residential building in central Beirut overnight, according to Lebanese authorities. In the densely populated Basta district of the capital, rescue teams on Saturday searched through the rubble for survivors. The state-run … Read more
Russia possesses a stockpile of advanced missiles “ready for use,” President Vladimir Putin announced in an unscheduled television address, a day after a ballistic missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin highlighted the capabilities of the Oreshnik missile, claiming it is “impossible to intercept” and promising further tests, including in “combat conditions.” The … Read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his forces launched a new intermediate-range missile, codenamed Oreshnik, during an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. He described the strike as a direct response to Ukraine’s recent use of US and UK long-range weaponry to hit targets inside Russia. In a televised statement, Putin … Read more
The Presidency has emphasized that Nigeria’s economic significance and population size position the country as a strong candidate for admission into the G20 economic group. In a statement released on Monday, the Presidency highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s participation in the G20 Summit in Brazil serves as an opportunity to advocate for Nigeria’s inclusion in … Read more
Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Brazil, marking the first in-person meeting between a UK prime minister and the Chinese leader since 2018. The UK government has emphasized a commitment to maintaining “stable and pragmatic engagement” with China. Sir Keir plans to highlight areas of … Read more
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed a commitment to collaborating with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump following his final meeting with outgoing leader Joe Biden. The two leaders convened on Saturday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, where they reflected on the “ups and downs” of U.S.-China relations during Biden’s tenure. Despite … Read more
Protesters stormed the parliament of Abkhazia, a Russian-backed breakaway region in Georgia, on Friday, demanding the resignation of its leader over a controversial investment agreement with Moscow. The region’s self-proclaimed president firmly rejected calls to step down or flee, stating that discussions with opposition representatives were underway. Russia expressed concern over the unfolding “crisis situation” … Read more
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly criticized a recent phone call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as opening a “Pandora’s box” that undermines international efforts to isolate the Russian leader. “This is exactly what Putin has been wanting for a long time: it is extremely important for him … Read more
Thousands of police officers are being deployed in Paris to secure Thursday’s France-Israel football match, following last week’s violence in Amsterdam where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked. Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez announced that 4,000 officers will be on duty, with 2,500 stationed at the Stade de France in the northern suburbs and additional … Read more
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has accused Israel of committing “collective genocide” in Gaza, marking some of his most severe criticism of the country since the conflict began last year. Speaking at a gathering of Islamic leaders in Riyadh on Monday, MBS said: “The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of … Read more
President-elect Donald Trump of the United States and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have agreed to work towards “a return to peace in Europe” during their first call since the US election, according to a German government spokesperson. In a statement on Sunday, Scholz’s spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, said, “Both leaders exchanged views on the German-American relationship … Read more
Russia has experienced its highest monthly casualty rate since the beginning of the Ukraine war, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff has revealed to the BBC. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin reported that Russian forces sustained an average of around 1,500 dead and wounded each day in October, pushing total losses to 700,000 since the conflict … Read more
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in New York to represent the country at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The announcement was made in a statement on Monday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President). Shettima touched down at John F. … Read more
After his official visit to China and a brief stopover in the United Kingdom, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to return to Abuja today (Sunday). EKO HOT BLOG reports that the details of President Tinubu’s trip were shared on X by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President. Tinubu departed … Read more
The US State Department announced on Thursday its decision to release $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt without conditions. EKO HOT BLOG reports that this release comes amidst close collaboration between Cairo and Washington on brokering a ceasefire in Gaza. Previously, the United States had tied a portion of its annual aid to Egypt … Read more