ONE WORD

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Washington has previously proposed unconditional talks with Tehran. "They (Americans) are resorting to childish behavior... They were claiming every day 'We want to talk, with no preconditions' ...and then they sanction the foreign minister," Rouhani said in remarks carried live on state television. "This means they have lost the power of rational thought." Zarif, a critical figure in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, dismissed the action and said it would not affect him. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal last year and ramped up sanctions to put pressure on Iran's economy. The move dismantled part of President Barack Obama's legacy and upset U.S. allies who were party to the agreement, which was designed to restrict Tehran's pathway to a nuclear bomb in exchange for sanctions relief. Strains between Washington ...

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has called on its citizens to work toward creating a new development model to place the country on the ranks of developed nations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 55-year-old king made the call in a speech celebrating his 20 years on the throne. The speech was made available to NAN on Tuesday by the Embassy of Morocco in Abuja. Mohammed, a member of the Alaouite dynasty, was enthroned in Rabat, Morocco’s Capital, on July 30, 1999 after the death of his father, King Hassan II. Although the country has made a lot of progress in all sectors under his watch, the Monarch said that the effects of the achievements had not been felt by all segments of the Moroccan society. He therefore assured that the country was working toward a new development model to tackle social inequalities, while urging a government reshuffle. He said a government advisory body would be set up to make suggestions to improve reforms in education, health, agric...

China orders business owners to take down Arabic, Islamic signs Authorities in the Chinese capital have ordered halal restaurants and food stalls to remove Arabic script and symbols associated with Islam from their signs, part of an expanding national effort to “Sinicize” its Muslim population. Employees at 11 restaurants and shops in Beijing selling halal products and visited by Reuters in recent days said officials had told them to remove images associated with Islam, such as the crescent moon and the word “halal” written in Arabic, from signs. Government workers from various offices told one manager of a Beijing noodle shop to cover up the “halal” in Arabic on his shop’s sign, and then watched him do it. “They said this is foreign culture and you should use more Chinese culture,” said the manager, who, like all restaurant owners and employees who spoke to Reuters, declined to give his name due to the sensitivity of the issue. The campaign against Arabic script and Islamic...

A police officer has been caught on camera collecting bribe from a bus driver in the city of Lagos.     A policeman was caught on camera on Wednesday receiving a bribe from a motorist at Igboelerin road, along the Lasu-Ojo Expressway in Lagos State, Punch Metro reports. The eyewitness who sent in the photographs said it was a usual practice by policemen along that route. He said,  “They usually demanded between N50 and N100  from the commercial bus drivers. “If a driver delays in paying, they will seize his car keys and keep the passengers, mostly Lagos State University students waiting for hours.   See more photos below:      

Nigerian Senate during plenary The Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has urged the Senate to set a parameter or criteria for confirmation and rejection of ministerial nominees and others sent to it by the president, to ensure transparency. The Convener and leader of the coalition, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Olajengbesi said such criteria would guide the process and ensure fairness and patriotism during screening rather than the “take a bow” method granted to most of the nominees in the just-concluded exercise. “The Nigerian Senate has just announced the completion of the screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees and Nigerians are made to wonder if the Senate is aware of its onus as an important body vested with constitutional powers to carry out this crucial assignment. “The entire screening process was a demonstration of disloyalty to the Nige...

Afro pop star, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke has become the most viewed Nigerian artist on streaming platform, YouTube. The News Agency of Nigeria reports  that the ‘Aye’ singer has amassed over 500 million views across all his uploads on the platform to achieve this feat. In January, Davido’s hit song, ‘Fall’ beat out Yemi Alade’s ‘Johnny’ to become the most viewed Nigerian music video on YouTube. He then became the first Nigerian artist to reach over 100 million views on YouTube racing ahead of Yemi Alade and Tekno. As the head of his label, DMW, Davido’s YouTube page also streams the tracks and videos of his label mates including Mayorkun, Peruzzi and Dremo. In 2017, Davido had an unprecedented career resurgence with his row of hits including ‘If’, ‘Fall’, ‘Fia’ and ‘Like Dat’. Davido was the first Nigerian artist to reach one million, two million, five million and nine million followers on Instagram and now one of the most bankable Nigerian on the platform. NAN report...

A boat load of migrants crossing the sea to Europe. Spain now favourite destination At least 15 Ethiopians died after the boat trying to smuggle them into Yemen broke down and left them stranded in the sea without food or water for a week, the U.N. migration agency said. Survivors said some died from hunger and thirst and others drowned themselves, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said. “A number reached Yemen but died before they could get medical help,’’ it added. Yemen is more than four years into a civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the impoverished nation to the brink of famine. But thousands of migrants mostly from the Horn of Africa arrive there every year in the hopes of moving on to wealthy Gulf Arab states and escaping poverty and unemployment at home. “The migrants were travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when the smugglers’ boat broke down,’’ IOM said on Twitter late on Tuesday. “Those on board reported that live...