Connect with us

Foreign News

Trump Moots Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities as Talks Continue

Published

on

Share

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his threat of drastic consequences for Iran over its nuclear programme, including a potential attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

During a meeting at the White House with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump said: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon, and they got to go fast, because they’re fairly close to having one, and they’re not going to have one.

“And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it.

And I’m not doing it for us.

“I’m doing it for the world, and these are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

When questioned by a reporter if this included an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump affirmed, “Of course it does.

The U.S. government and other Western states as well as Israel aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

During his first term in office in 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Vienna nuclear deal, which was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear programme and lift sanctions in return.

Following this, Tehran also ceased adhering to the agreement’s stipulations.

Last Saturday, the U.S. and Iran resumed talks about a possible new nuclear agreement after years of deadlock, with Oman acting as a mediator.

The next round of talks is expected to hold on Saturday in Rome.

Trump confirmed the scheduled date and expressed confidence in resolving the issue with Iran, describing it as “almost an easy” problem.

Earlier Monday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced that he would travel to Tehran this week ahead of the next round of nuclear talks.

According to Iranian media reports, Grossi is expected in Tehran on Wednesday.

“Continued engagement and cooperation with the agency is essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,” Grossi wrote on X on Monday.

Tehran’s lack of cooperation with IAEA inspectors is a main cause of the growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, along with its production of near weapons-grade uranium. (dpa/NAN)

Foreign News

Israel Rejects Latest Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

Published

on

Share

 The Israeli Government has rejected the latest proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, local media reported on Monday.

“The proposal received by Israel cannot be accepted by any responsible government,’’ the Times of Israel quoted an unnamed senior official as saying, who didn’t give any further details.

According to the ynet news website, the proposal was made by a Palestinian-American businessman who has reportedly been involved in direct negotiations with Palestinian extremist group Hamas for some time.

According to Hezbollah-affiliated Arab broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, the proposal involves a 70-day ceasefire to allow both sides to conduct negotiations on an end to the war.

With Hamas is to release five living hostages and the bodies of a further five from Gaza.

The draft is far removed from the proposal drawn up by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, ynet quoted an Israeli official as saying.

Witkoff’s recently submitted draft provides for the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for 45 to 60 days of ceasefire.

According to Israeli sources, at least 20 hostages are still being held alive in the Gaza Strip, with the fate of three further abductees unclear.

In addition, the Islamists are still holding the bodies of 35 hostages abducted from Israel during the attacks it launched on Oct. 7, 2023. (dpa/NAN)

Continue Reading

Foreign News

Fate of Nigerian Medical Students from Sudan Hangs in Balance

Published

on

Share

A group of 47 Nigerian medical students who escaped war-torn Sudan in May 2023 are now struggling to register for the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) examination due to a document snag.The students, many of who fled or were evacuated by the Federal Government without exit visas, are currently racing against time to meet the registration deadline, with their future careers hanging precariously in the balance.

Report says that these students, who were enrolled at Sudan International University (SIU), were evacuated to Nigeria during the 2023 conflict in Sudan while in final year of study.
According to the students, with the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC), they were permitted to continue their academic programme at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.
Speaking to NAN on Sunday in Abuja, one student said: “We successfully completed our studies and graduated in 2024, receiving our certificates as students of SIU.”He added that they were currently preparing to sit for the MDCN examinations.The student, however, added that one of the requirements was presenting a first entry visa and a last exit visa.“Unfortunately, none of us have these documents as most of our passports remained in Sudan due to the emergency evacuation.“We respectfully request permission to sit for the examinations scheduled for June 2025,” he said.The President of the Nigerian Students Association at SIU, Najid Hassan, confirmed that due to the war in Sudan, Nigerian students were evacuated by the Federal Government.Hassan explained that with NUC approval, the affected students were allowed to continue their academic programme at UDUTH following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SIU and UDUTH.“After the MoU, we resumed studies at UDUTH in December 2023 and spent one year there.“We completed clinical rotations, lectures in gynaecology, pediatrics, surgery, and medicine, and graduated in October 2024.“We took examinations supervised by consultants at UDUTH,” Hassan said.He added that after graduation, students were awarded certificates bearing the SIU name.Hassan, however, said that when they approached MDCN for registration, the process, expected to be seamless, became challenging.“We are currently preparing for the MDCN exams, but one requirement is the submission of a ‘first entry visa and a last exit visa.’“Unfortunately, none of us have these documents because most passports remain in Sudan due to emergency evacuation,” Hassan said.He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene.NAN reports that MDCN is the regulatory body for Medicine and Dentistry in Nigeria and was established by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.The Act had been operational since Dec. 18, 1963, and updated under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.The council’s statutory functions include setting and reviewing standards for medical and dental education.Section 9(3) and (4) of the Act empowers the council to conduct assessment exams for holders of foreign medical or dental qualifications recognised by their countries of origin.Candidates expected to sit for these examinations are trained outside Nigeria at institutions listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.One of the application requirements is submitting relevant portions of international passports, including visa and arrival/departure stamps.In a 2024 publication addressing students returning from conflict zones, MDCN Registrar Dr Fatima Kyari, reaffirmed these rules but expressed sympathy for students affected by COVID-19 and conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.“The council has held extensive consultations and developed remediation pathways to facilitate integration.”“Students graduating in 2023 or later were advised to return to a designated campus of their foreign university to complete studies physically.“They can also transfer to an accredited Nigerian university, subject to NUC approval; or integrate into a Nigerian university per NUC guidelines.“Many students from Sudan and Ukraine have successfully integrated through these pathways, exempting them from the foreign-trained medical and dental graduates (FTMDG) exams if graduating from Nigerian institutions,” Kyari said.She explained that the MoU with UDUTH was an academic collaboration and did not equate to clinical training for medical qualification recognised by MDCN.She noted that students who properly transferred and graduated from Nigerian universities approved by MDCN had been indexed, graduated, and registered as doctors.The Federal Ministry of Education, through the Director of University Education, Hajiya Rakiya Ilyasu, acknowledged the situation.She advised the affected students to formally write to the Minister of Education, including their names, and to copy the Director of Education Support Services to help facilitate a resolution.Similarly, NUC Deputy Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, confirmed awareness of the development and advised students to contact the Ministry of Education to resolve the issues.However, all efforts by NAN to obtain a response from Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), regarding the students’ plea proved unsuccessful.Similarly, all efforts to get a reaction from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) failed.The Deputy Provost of the Medical School, said he had no authority to speak on the issue, while the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Garba, said he was on transit and would respond appropriately.(NAN)

Continue Reading

Foreign News

Philippine President Calls for Resignation of All Cabinet Secretaries

Published

on

Share

 Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked all of his Cabinet secretaries to submit their resignations on Thursday in what he called a “bold reset” of his administration following last week’s mid-term elections.

The elections saw more opposition candidates win crucial Senate seats, signaling shifting political tides.

Marcos, the 67-year-old son of the late Philippine dictator overthrown in 1986, won the presidency in a landslide in 2022, a stunning political comeback marked by a call for national unity.

However, his vice-presidential running mate, Sara Duterte, also widely popular, later distanced herself from Marcos in a falling-out that had sparked intense political discord.

Marcos had since emerged as one of the region’s most vocal critics of China’s aggression in the disputed South China Sea, bolstered by support from the United States and other allies. Domestically, he continued to face significant challenges, including high inflation, unfulfilled promises to lower rice prices, and growing concerns over kidnappings and other crimes.

“This is not business as usual,” Marcos said in a government statement.

“The people have spoken and they expect results, not politics, not excuses. We hear them and we will act.” (AP/NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS6 minutes ago

Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval for N757bn Bond to Settle pension Arrears

SharePresident Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate’s approval for the issuance of a N757 billion Federal Government bond to settle...

Education9 minutes ago

We will Capture Out-of-school Children in Our Education Programmes – Enugu Govt

Share The Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ndubueze Mbah We will Capture Out-of-school Children in Our Education Programmes – Enugu Govt says...

NEWS36 minutes ago

NAFDAC Burst Fake Drugs Factory in Delta

ShareNational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has bursted a fake drug factory in an uncompleted three...

Health1 hour ago

We want Nigeria Where No Child Is Exploited, Excluded – Children’s Parliament

Share National Children’s Parliament has urged stakeholders to build a Nigeria where no child faces violence, forced labour or exclusion. The...

General News3 hours ago

Nigerian Children Have Glorious Future Ahead, says Uzodimma

Share Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has reaffirmed the commitment of the state to ensure a brighter future for Imo children,...

POLITICS3 hours ago

PDP NEC Gets Under Way in Abuja

Share By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja All is set for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 99th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting...

Entertainment/Arts/Culture4 hours ago

‘Sikandar’ top Netflix Nigeria Chart

Share ‘Sikandar’, an action movie about a grieving king who finds new purpose by waging war against powerful enemies, has topped...

Entertainment/Arts/Culture4 hours ago

‘Ori: Rebirth’ tops Nollywood Box Office

Share ‘Ori: Rebirth’, a star studded Nollywood movie, is the highest-grossing Nollywood film for the fourth consecutive weekend. FilmOne Entertainment, the distributing company...

Entertainment/Arts/Culture4 hours ago

Box Office: ‘My Mother is a Witch’ opens at N26m

Share‘My Mother is a Witch’ a movie starring Mercy Aigbe and Efe Irele, opened with N26 million at the box...

Entertainment/Arts/Culture4 hours ago

‘A Working Man’ Tops Prime Video Nigeria Chart

Share ‘A Working Man’ a movie about a construction worker who must use his training to rescue his boss’s daughter from...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc