International

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Burkina Faso has released a detained Nigerian Air Force aircraft and its 11 military personnel, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed Wednesday night.

The release followed a meeting in Ouagadougou between Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

“The aircraft and personnel have been released,” ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stated.

The Nigerian military plane had been held after making a forced landing in Burkina Faso earlier.

The swift diplomatic resolution underscores ongoing efforts to maintain regional cooperation amidst political shifts in the Sahel.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Nick Reiner, 32, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder following the deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, authorities said Sunday.

Police reported that the couple were found dead at their residence earlier in the day. Investigators have not released details about the circumstances of their deaths, citing the ongoing investigation.

Reiner was taken into custody without incident, according to law enforcement officials. He is expected to make an initial court appearance in the coming days.

Officials emphasised that the charges are allegations and that the investigation remains active. No further information was immediately available.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

A political controversy erupted on Tuesday after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen pulling down a woman doctor’s hijab during a public event, triggering sharp reactions from opposition parties and civil society groups.

The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, occurred at an official function where the chief minister was interacting with health workers. In the footage, Kumar appears to reach out and adjust the doctor’s headscarf, an action many have described as inappropriate and disrespectful.

Opposition leaders condemned the act, questioning the chief minister’s judgment and mental state, and demanding a public apology. “This is not only an insult to a professional woman but also an affront to personal dignity and religious freedom,” a senior opposition spokesperson said.

The ruling Janata Dal (United) has sought to downplay the incident, with party members suggesting there was no malicious intent. However, the controversy has continued to spark debate nationwide about consent, gender sensitivity, and respect for religious symbols in public life.

As of press time, the chief minister had not issued a formal statement addressing the incident.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Cameroon’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign is in turmoil due to a major power struggle between FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto’o and head coach Marc Brys, who remains under contract until 2026. Eto’o unilaterally declared Brys’s role was over.

The dispute has resulted in two rival 28-man AFCON squads.

Eto’o’s faction released a list naming David Pagou as coach and controversially omitted stars Andre Onana, Eric Choupo-Moting, and captain Vincent Aboubakar. Reports suggest Aboubakar was dropped to protect Eto’o’s national scoring record.

Coach Brys responded with his own squad announcement, restoring the high-profile players and questioning the team’s ability to compete in Morocco without them. This internal conflict severely undermines the Indomitable Lions’ preparations.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has condemned what it describes as the “sectarian and deeply troubling” conduct of a recent United States congressional delegation to Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC faulted the visit of Congressman Riley Moore, who publicly emphasised meetings with Christian and traditional leaders during the trip, including bishops in Benue State and a Tiv traditional ruler. Moore, a vocal proponent of the claim of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, said on his X account that he came “in the name of the Lord” and held discussions on alleged Fulani-led attacks.

MPAC argued that the delegation’s failure to engage the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim community—particularly the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)—was a deliberate snub rather than a scheduling issue. It accused the U.S. team of avoiding Muslim victims and communities affected by violence and warned that such selective engagement risked reinforcing “extreme voices and anti-Muslim narratives” within U.S. policy circles.

The organisation said the pattern of “selective listening, selective engagement, and selective outrage” threatens Nigeria’s delicate interfaith balance. It called on international partners, especially the United States, to demonstrate neutrality and ensure that foreign policy on Nigeria is not shaped by religious lobbies or sectarian biases.

MPAC reaffirmed its commitment to justice and peaceful coexistence, urging Nigerians to question why key Muslim institutions and victims were excluded from the delegation’s itinerary.

By Maryam Ahmed

Florida is poised to carry out its 18th execution of the year on Tuesday, marking the state’s deadliest year on record, after death row inmate Mark Geralds declined to challenge his death warrant.

Geralds, convicted of the 1989 murder of a woman in Panama City, spent more than three decades on death row before Governor Ron DeSantis signed his execution order last month. In a rare move, Geralds informed officials that he would not pursue the final round of appeals typically filed by inmates facing imminent execution.

His execution by lethal injection will also contribute to a national surge in capital punishment, pushing the United States toward its highest annual total in nearly twenty years. Florida, which has significantly accelerated its use of the death penalty in recent years, now accounts for a large share of the country’s executions in 2025.

The spike has intensified debate among legal experts, civil-liberties groups, and faith leaders, many of whom warn that the growing pace leaves less room to identify wrongful convictions or address longstanding concerns about racial bias, mental health, and sentencing disparities.

State officials, however, argue that the system provides ample opportunity for review and that carrying out sentences brings long-delayed closure to victims’ families. Geralds’ execution, they say, follows decades of litigation, during which multiple courts upheld his conviction and sentence.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has ignited fresh debate over media bias in football after highlighting what he sees as unequal treatment between himself and fellow striker Harry Kane. 

Speaking in a recent interview, Salah recalled a past spell when Kane went 10 matches without scoring, yet continued to receive strong backing from commentators.

According to Salah, the tone was markedly different when he experienced similar difficulties. “The media were like: ‘Oh, Harry will score for sure.’ When it comes to Mo, everyone is like: ‘He needs to be on the bench,’” he said. The Egyptian forward stressed that his point was not a personal jab at Kane, adding humorously, “I am sorry, Harry!”

Salah’s comments quickly circulated on social media, garnering millions of views and sparking widespread discussion. Analysts and supporters have since weighed in, with many arguing that the incident reflects broader inconsistencies in how players from different backgrounds are portrayed in mainstream football coverage.

The episode has added a new layer to ongoing conversations about fairness, perception, and representation in global sport, especially in Europe.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Arewa Community Germany has formally disassociated itself from a video circulating online about a so-called “Hausa International Protest” organised by Hausa Tsantsa Development Association, staged in Berlin.

In a letter addressed to Nigeria’s Consul General in Frankfurt, Ambassador Yakubu A. Dadu, the group said it had no role in organising or endorsing the demonstration and warned that the protest’s message conflicts with its core values.

The association, represented by Alhaji Tijani Garba, Dr. Ummah Aliyu Musa and Buhari Abubakar, stressed that it was founded on the principle of unity among all northern Nigerian peoples. It noted that Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Tiv, Nupe and other groups share a common heritage, adding that the organisation “does not draw lines” between northerners and will not support any activity that promotes ethnic profiling or elevates one group above another.

According to the statement, the Berlin protest risks fueling division and misunderstanding among Arewa communities in the diaspora, where the group says cohesion is especially important. The association reaffirmed its focus on cooperation, peaceful engagement and presenting a positive image of Northerners living in Germany.

The Arewa Community Germany also cautioned the public against linking its name to the protest, emphasising that any event involving the association will be announced through its official channels.

The group concluded by reaffirming its stance on harmony, mutual respect and a united Arewa identity.

By Uzair Adam

Witnesses reported gunfire in Benin’s economic capital, Cotonou, on Sunday after a military group claimed they had ousted President Patrice Talon.

The president’s office, however, confirmed that he was safe and that the regular army was regaining control of the situation.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” a presidency spokesperson told AFP.

“The city and the country are completely secure. It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal.

”Earlier on Sunday, soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) appeared on state television, announcing that they had removed Talon from office. The broadcast was later cut.

A military source confirmed that the situation was under control and that the coup plotters had not seized the presidential residence or offices.

Access to some areas, including the presidency and state television, was temporarily blocked, while other parts of the city, including the airport, remained unaffected.

Residents continued their daily activities amid the heightened security presence.President Talon, 67, a former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is scheduled to leave office in April next year after ten years in power.

His tenure has been marked by significant economic growth alongside rising jihadist violence.West Africa has seen several coups in recent years, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and most recently, Guinea-Bissau.

Benin itself has experienced multiple coups and attempted coups since gaining independence in 1960.

Talon has been praised for advancing Benin’s economy but faces criticism from opponents who accuse him of authoritarian tendencies.

With his term ending next year, the ruling party is preparing to contest the elections against a moderate opposition, while the main opposition party has been barred from the race.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Netflix is set to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, including HBO Max and the company’s historic film studios, in a landmark deal valued at $83 billion, marking one of the most significant shake-ups in modern entertainment history.

The agreement brings together Netflix’s vast global streaming footprint with Warner Bros’ deep library of iconic franchises, from DC superheroes to the Wizarding World, and critically acclaimed HBO series such as Game of Thrones and Succession.

As part of the arrangement, Warner Bros Discovery will first spin off its cable networks — including CNN, TNT and TBS — into a separate entity before the sale is finalised. The merger still faces regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe, with critics warning that the consolidation could suppress competition and limit creative diversity.

If approved, the tie-up would create a powerhouse straddling both Hollywood tradition and streaming dominance, reshaping the future of global media.