A retired senior Nigerian military officer and his wife have been kidnapped by armed men in north-west Nigeria, the army has confirmed. Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, who had a high-profile job as military spokesman between 2015 and 2017, was abducted from his car on Saturday while travelling in Katsina state. Efforts are now under way to rescue the couple and track down their captors, military spokesman Gen Michael Onoja told the BBC. The kidnapping highlights the continuing security challenges facing parts of north-west Nigeria, where criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, as well as…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Japan’s defence minister rebutted Beijing’s claim that his country is engaging in a “new militarism” – criticising China for its military expansion and lack of transparency. Speaking on the last day of a defence summit in Singapore, Shinjiro Koizumi argued it was actually China and its “huge arsenal” of weapons that was of “serious concern” to the international community. His remarks were some of the most pointed yet from Tokyo in response to China’s repeated criticism of Japan’s military build-up under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two countries have a long history of tensions stemming from Japan’s invasion of China…
Colombia is heading to the polls to choose a new president. The election is being held after months of public recrimination between current left-wing President Gustavo Petro and his US counterpart Donald Trump over a number of issues including drug trafficking and American intervention in the region. Petro cannot seek re-election and has thrown his support behind Iván Cepeda. Challenging him are right-wing candidates Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia. The outcome of the election could redefine which countries the Latin American nation aligns itself with and how the government intends to tackle drug gangs amid spiralling violence. Voting…
South Africa’s sports minister has demanded an explanation following reports the country’s football team has been delayed in travelling to Mexico ahead of the World Cup due to visa issues. National broadcaster SABC said an “administrative bungle” meant some players had not been issued with visas. No other details were given. In response, sports minister Gayton McKenzie said he had told the South African Football Association (Safa) “I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess”. “We are being made to look like fools,” he added on X. Safa has not yet commented. The…
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) urged the government and regional partners to focus Ebola containment efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The doctors warned against plans to establish an Ebola treatment and quarantine facility in Kenya. Addressing the press on Saturday, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah said the most effective way to stop the spread of the disease is to concentrate resources at the epicentre of the outbreak rather than setting up facilities in countries that have not reported cases. “The best way of containment of any outbreak is through the epicentre; the…
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen Saturday called on parents and leaders to set a good example for the younger generation. He said many of the challenges witnessed in schools are a reflection of behaviours exhibited by adults. Murkomen noted that young people often emulate the conduct they observe from leaders and the broader political culture in the country. He urged leaders at all levels to demonstrate responsibility and discipline, as they serve as role models to the youth. “As leaders, we need to set example to the children for a better future,” he said. Murkomen was speaking…
The US, UK and Australia say they will develop underwater drone technology to protect undersea cables and boost defence, under their military alliance known as Aukus. The uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV) technology is expected to be ready by next year. While the project’s total cost was not stated, British defence secretary John Healey said the UK would contribute £150m ($201m). The announcement, made by the countries’ defence ministers at a security summit in Singapore, follows claims of slow progress in Aukus’s projects. Acknowledging the criticism, Healey said “for too long in Aukus, we talked too much and delivered too little”,…
The US military are not “turning our backs” on Asia while fulfilling “global obligations” such as the Iran war, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has told a top regional defence forum in Singapore. Hegseth sought to reassure Asia-Pacific allies about US commitment to the region, including fulfilling arms deals in the wake of a suspended Taiwan weapons package – even as he reiterated calls for Asian partners to spend more on defence. While noting the threat of China’s military build-up in the region, Hegseth also said the US wanted to avoid “needless confrontation”. Hegseth was speaking weeks after US President…
Donald Trump’s doctor says the US president is in “excellent health” following his annual medical exam. Capt Sean Barbabella wrote a memo released by the White House on Friday that Trump, who turns 80 next month, had “strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function”. Barbella addressed Trump’s weight and the bruising on his hand, but said he was “fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State”. Trump visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday for the exam, writing on his Truth Social platform afterwards that “everything checked out perfectly”. It…
GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Friday that 906 suspected Ebola cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including 223 suspected deaths currently under investigation, as an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain continues to expand across eastern DRC and into neighboring Uganda. The outbreak, first declared by the DRC Ministry of Health on May 15 after reports of eight laboratory‑confirmed cases and 246 suspected infections in Ituri Province, has now been confirmed in three provinces: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. According to WHO data, the DRC has recorded 125 confirmed cases, including 17…
Chicago is one of America’s most exciting travel destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year. From iconic skyscrapers and beautiful parks to world-famous museums and waterfront attractions, the city offers something for everyone. When travelling with a group, choosing a Chicago bus rental can make sightseeing more convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable. Whether you’re organising a family vacation, corporate outing, school trip, church event, or group tour, a bus rental allows everyone to stay together while exploring Chicago’s most popular attractions. Instead of dealing with traffic, parking fees, and multiple vehicles, travellers can focus on enjoying the city’s incredible sights. Millennium…
Why Companies Are Turning to AI Sales Agents for Faster Customer Response Customer expectations have changed. People no longer want to wait a day or two for a reply after sending a message about a product, service, course, booking, or quote. If they ask a question through WhatsApp, Instagram, or a website chat, they expect a useful response while their interest is still active. For companies, this creates a new kind of pressure. Every message can be a potential sale, but not every team has enough people to respond instantly. A customer may ask about price, availability, delivery, service details,…
The former head of China’s famous Shaolin Temple – known as the birthplace of kung fu – has been sentenced to 24 years in jail for crimes including embezzlement and bribery. Shi Yongxin had misappropriated temple assets worth more than 282m yuan ($42m; £31m) from 2003 to 2025, a court in the central Henan province said. It said Shi had also used his official position to illegally obtain millions from temple construction projects, as well as offering huge bribes to Chinese officials. Shi – whose birth name is Liu Yingcheng – had earlier admitted his guilt, China’s state Xinhua news…
Five people have died and nearly three dozen have been injured after a bus in the US state of Virginia struck six vehicles, police say. Friday’s early morning crash occurred on the southbound side of Interstate 95 as traffic slowed for a work zone, Virginia State Police said. At least 34 people were taken to hospital, with three in critical condition, police said in a statement. The five who died were in vehicles hit by the bus. Police are still investigating the multi-vehicle crash. Their early investigation indicates that the bus “failed to slow for traffic” and struck the six…
A federal judge has temporarily stopped the creation of a $1.8bn government fund to compensate individuals who claimed to be targets of political investigation by previous presidential administrations. In a two-page order on Friday, the judge barred the justice department from taking any steps to stand up or operate the fund – including processing or dispersing claims – until a preliminary hearing on 12 June. Last week, the justice department announced it was establishing what it called the “anti-weaponisation fund”. It was part of an agreement with President Donald Trump to end his $10bn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service…