Author: Prima News

The State Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible family members from the U.S. embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said on Monday, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran. “We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel,” said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The Embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to…

A visit from a romantic partner of infamous cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” led to his capture and death, Mexican authorities said in an assessment of Sunday’s operation, after which 25 members of the National Guard military police were killed in retaliatory violence. Oseguera, Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, was the mastermind of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The U.S. had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. He died in a helicopter after being injured in a military operation by Mexican special forces in a wooded area outside the town of Tapalpa in the…

Cuban doctors are essential to keeping local hospitals running in Italy’s southern Calabria region, its governor told a senior U.S. diplomat on Monday, rebuffing Washington’s effort to halt the recruitment of medics from the Caribbean island. However, Roberto Occhiuto said in a statement that he had told Mike Hammer, the U.S. charge d’affaires to Cuba, he would review plans to hire even more Cuban doctors this year and seek hospital staff from other parts of the world. Washington announced in January that Cuba posed an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security — a claim Havana has rejected — and is looking to…

The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe appeared in a South African court on Monday, charged with attempted murder after a gardener was shot and wounded last week at the Johannesburg mansion where Mugabe’s son had been staying. Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe was not asked to enter a plea. The case against him and a second suspect was postponed until March 3 to allow for further investigations. Bellarmine Mugabe, believed to be in his late 20s, will remain in custody until his next court appearance, the court heard. Both men also face a charge of defeating the ends of…

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was “pivotal” in the murder of thousands of people during his rule, prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Monday, as they pushed for his trial to go ahead. The prosecutors at the Hague-based war crimes court have charged Duterte with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity, involving dozens of victims that accusers say were only a fraction of the real death toll in his clampdown on alleged drug users and criminals. “Duterte’s so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims…

Joseph is one of an increasing number of children who are joining gangs in Haiti, a Caribbean island nation which is experiencing overlapping security, humanitarian and governance crises.Some 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of gang violence and thousands more have died. More robust protection measures for children in gang-affected communities are being highlighted in a new report released by the UN in Haiti.Read Joseph’s account of gang life:“I grew up in a poor neighbourhood where gangs controlled everything. I saw armed men in the streets all the time. Some were well-dressed, had nice cars, and…

LoftyInc Capital, a pan-African venture capital firm, has co-led a $4 million seed round in Moroccan fintech startup WafR, one of the first investments from its newly launched Alpha Fund, signaling a stronger bet on North Africa. The round was co-led alongside Attijariwafa Ventures and Almada Ventures, with participation from UM6P Ventures and First Circle Capital. The funding highlights Morocco’s rising profile in Africa’s venture landscape; the country’s startups raised $58 million in 2025, placing seventh on the continent for capital raised. It also signals a broader shift in fintech strategy. As capital begins flowing more deliberately across regional boundaries, investors…

El-Rufai has slammed N1bn suit against ICPC over illegal Abuja home search.   NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other parties, alleging that the search of his Abuja residence was unlawful.   The suit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks a declaration that the search warrant used to enter his home was invalid.   El-Rufai described the warrant as “null and void,” citing what he termed lack of specificity, drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters,…

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a comprehensive review of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 (NTP), 26 years after its approval, citing rapid technological advancements and shifting market dynamics as the primary catalysts for the reform. In a consultation paper released to the public, the commission said it is seeking input from stakeholders, including telecom operators, tech companies, legal experts, and the general public, on proposed revisions designed to reposition Nigeria’s telecommunications framework to match current digital demands. Submissions are expected by March 20, 2026. The NTP 2000 marked a turning point in Nigeria’s telecom landscape.…

By Olasunkanmi Akoni LAGOS — Fire has gutted part of Terminal 1 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, destroying some items in the process. The cause of the fire, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, is yet to be determined. Teams from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Fire Service are currently battling to bring the blaze under control. Margaret Adeseye, Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident. The post Fire guts part of MMIA Terminal 1 in Lagos appeared…