Tinubu Travels To Rome For Aqaba Counter-Terrorism Meeting

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Rome, Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process heads of state and government meeting — a global platform dedicated to counter-terrorism and regional security cooperation. The Aqaba Process was launched in 2015 by Jordan’s King Abdullah II and is co-chaired by Jordan and the Italian government. It brings together world leaders, defence chiefs, and security experts to strengthen coordination against terrorism and transnational crime. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the upcoming session will focus on the security crisis in West Africa. Opening on October 14, the meeting will gather presidents, top intelligence and military officials from African countries, as well as representatives from international and non-governmental organisations. Discussions will cover the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing connection between organised crime and terrorism, and the increasing link between land-based insurgencies in the Sahel and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Participants will exchange intelligence reports, assess the current security environment, and design strategies to improve cooperation in combating threats across borders. They will also explore new approaches to tackling online radicalisation and shutting down digital platforms that spread extremist propaganda and aid recruitment. Tinubu is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit to deepen regional partnerships and discuss joint responses to the rising insecurity across West Africa. He will be accompanied by Bianca Ojukwu, minister of state for foreign affairs; Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence; Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser; Mohammed Mohammed, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency; and other senior government officials.  

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Madagascar Soldiers Join Antigovernment Protests as Movement Gains Momentum

By Trend Brio News Desk | October 11, 2025 In a dramatic escalation of unrest in Madagascar, groups of soldiers have defied orders and joined thousands of antigovernment protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, as demonstrations demanding President Andry Rajoelina’s resignation intensify. The youth-led protesters entered the historic May 13 Square for the first time on Saturday, marking one of the largest rallies since demonstrations erupted on September 25. Inspired by youth-led “Gen Z” protest movements in Kenya and Nepal, the rallies have grown from anger over persistent power and water shortages into a broader movement against the government. Police fired stun grenades and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds, but tensions shifted when members of the elite CAPSAT military unit arrived and were met with cheers from demonstrators. CAPSAT, which once played a key role in bringing Rajoelina to power during Madagascar’s 2009 political crisis, appeared to side with the protesters in defiance of military command. In a video message shared on social media, soldiers from the Soanierana barracks urged unity among the armed forces and called on colleagues to refuse orders to fire on civilians. “Let us join forces — military, gendarmes and police — and refuse to be paid to shoot our brothers and sisters,” the soldiers said. They also urged troops at the airport to halt flights and those in other camps to “close the gates” and “refuse orders from superiors.” Local footage showed soldiers escorting demonstrators into May 13 Square, a symbolic site for political uprisings in Madagascar that had been heavily guarded for weeks. The country’s armed forces minister, General Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo, appealed for calm, urging soldiers to “prioritise dialogue.” He reiterated that the army “remains a mediator and the nation’s last line of defence.” The United Nations condemned the use of excessive force after reports of police brutality went viral, including footage showing officers beating a protester unconscious. The UN said at least 22 people have been killed and 100 injured since the unrest began, though President Rajoelina disputes the figures, claiming only 12 “looters and vandals” died. Rajoelina initially responded to the protests by dissolving his government, but he has since taken a harder line, appointing military officer Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister and filling key cabinet posts with members of the security forces. Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations, has a long history of political instability. The island nation has seen several mass upris  

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Tinubu Pardons Maryam Sanda Six Years After Conviction For Killing Husband

Tinubu Pardons Maryam Sanda Six Years After Conviction For Killing Husband

President Bola Tinubu has granted a state pardon to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute in Abuja. The president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the clemency on Saturday, revealing that Sanda, 37, had regained her freedom after serving six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre. Onanuga explained that the decision followed appeals from her family, who said her release would allow her to properly care for her two young children. He added that her remorse and good conduct in custody also influenced the president’s decision. In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court found Sanda guilty of culpable homicide, ruling that she fatally stabbed her husband during an argument at their home. The court concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The victim, Bilyaminu Bello, was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Haliru Bello. Sanda was first arraigned in November 2017 and granted bail on health grounds in 2018 after several failed attempts. Her trial lasted more than two years, marked by frequent adjournments and changes in her legal team. She is among 175 inmates who benefited from President Tinubu’s latest round of clemency and sentence reductions approved earlier this week.  

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Dave Umahi Claps Back At Makinde Over Comments On Lagos-Calabar Highway Cost

Minister of Works David Umahi has responded strongly to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s criticism of the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the governor misunderstood the technical and financial details behind the project. During an inspection of the Keffi Bridge and Nasarawa–Toto Road projects on Saturday with Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Umahi said the project’s cost was based on internationally accepted engineering standards and should not be turned into a political talking point. Governor Makinde had, in a viral video on Friday, accused Umahi of “dancing around” the figures, saying the Ministry of Works was not being transparent enough about the project’s cost structure. In his response, Umahi described Makinde as “a brother and friend” but said it was wrong to make such comments publicly without understanding the technical background. “I heard that my brother and friend, Governor Makinde, said something about the cost per kilometre. I don’t want to join issues with him,” he said. “He’s an engineer, while I’m an electrical engineer — and this road construction matter, ‘elect-elect no reach there’.” Umahi continued, “I’m his senior both in governance and in engineering practice. So, anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask. I respect him a lot, but he should withdraw the statement that I’m dancing around. I never danced around anything. If he insists, he should come for a debate — that’s very important.” Clarifying the figures, the minister explained that the “cost per kilometre” can be expressed in two ways — as an estimated cost and as an average cost — both of which serve different purposes. “The estimated cost includes contingencies and variations that may not eventually be used. When the project is completed and you remove those, what remains is the actual cost,” he said. Umahi also mocked those who sought clarification from Artificial Intelligence on the issue, saying AI’s response backed his explanation. “When someone who doesn’t understand the topic goes to ask AI about the difference between estimated and average cost, I’m glad AI confirmed exactly what I said,” he remarked. He further noted that practical field experience in engineering qualifies as expertise, saying, “The National Universities Commission recognizes that a person can become a professor through practical experience. I believe God has made me one in field engineering — and that’s not something anyone can take away.”  

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Crypto Investor Kostya Kudo Found Dead In Lamborghini Amid Market Meltdown

Ukrainian Crypto Blogger Kostya Kudo Found Dead In Lamborghini After Market Crash

Ukrainian crypto investor and popular blogger Konstantin Galish, better known by his online alias Kostya Kudo, was found dead in a Lamborghini in Kyiv on Saturday, shortly after a major crash hit the global cryptocurrency market. Reports from Ukrainian media stated that the 32-year-old’s body was discovered in the Obolon district of the capital. His death came just a day after Bitcoin, Ethereum, and several other digital currencies suffered severe losses following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 100 per cent tariff on “any and all critical software” imports from China. A post on Galish’s official Telegram channel confirmed his passing and said authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Binance Square, a social platform for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, reported that Galish died by suicide. News of his death has sent shockwaves through the crypto community, with many users taking to social media to pay tribute and express sorrow over the loss of the influential investor.  

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Macron Reappoints Lecornu As Prime Minister Days After Resignation

French President Emmanuel Macron has reinstated Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, just days after accepting his resignation following the sudden collapse of his short-lived government. In a statement on Friday, the presidency confirmed the decision, saying Macron had reappointed Lecornu and instructed him to form a new government. Taking to X, Lecornu acknowledged France’s deep political divisions and vowed to restore stability. “We must put an end to this political crisis that is exasperating the French people and to this instability that is detrimental to France’s image and its interests,” he wrote. Lecornu’s initial appointment had already stirred controversy. After unveiling his first cabinet on Sunday, backlash erupted both inside and outside his camp. By Monday morning, he resigned, and Macron accepted. Yet in a dramatic turnaround, the president later tasked him with leading consultations with opposition leaders to find his replacement. After two days of intense talks, Macron decided to bring him back — a move that highlights the growing political uncertainty surrounding his administration. Reactions were swift and fierce. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called the decision “a bad joke, a democratic disgrace, and a humiliation for the French people.” Marine Le Pen demanded new elections, saying Lecornu’s return proved “Macron’s contempt for voters.” On the far left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon mocked the reappointment, writing, “Macron can do nothing other than Macron.” France is currently battling a budget crisis and rising comparisons to Italy’s pattern of unstable governments. Determined to avoid further turmoil, Lecornu pledged to build a more inclusive administration and promised that issues raised in consultations would now face open parliamentary debate. He also introduced a new condition for ministers — anyone joining his cabinet must abandon any presidential ambitions before the 2027 election. “All ambitions are legitimate and useful,” he wrote, “but those who join the government must commit to disengaging themselves from the presidential ambitions for 2027.” The rule could exclude several key figures from both sides of the political divide. Lecornu’s earlier cabinet had already faced criticism for being dominated by Macron loyalists, despite promises of political renewal.  

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Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on China Over ‘Aggressive’ Trade Moves

Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on China Over ‘Aggressive’ Trade Moves

By Trend Brio News Published: October 11, 2025 | Updated: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing in what could become the sharpest trade confrontation in years. In a post on his Truth Social platform late Friday, Trump accused China of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive position” on trade, saying Beijing had issued an “extremely hostile letter to the world” and introduced sweeping export controls on key goods, including rare earth materials vital to global manufacturing. “Starting November 1st, 2025 — or sooner, depending on China’s actions — the United States will impose a tariff of 100% on China, over and above any existing tariffs,” Trump wrote. “It is impossible to believe China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is history.” The move marks a major escalation in the long-running US-China trade dispute, sparking renewed fears for global economic stability. The White House said the new tariffs come in direct response to Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports, which China claims are necessary for “national security.” The US, however, views them as economic retaliation. Trump also announced plans to impose US export controls on “all critical software” bound for China, intensifying the technology standoff between the two nations. On Friday, Trump suggested he may cancel a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, originally set to take place during his visit to South Korea later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. “I was to meet President Xi in two weeks at APEC in South Korea, but now there seems no reason to do so,” Trump posted. The trip is expected to include stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, with the US president hinting at “other countermeasures under serious consideration.” The announcement sent Wall Street tumbling, with the S&P 500 falling 2.7% on Friday — its worst single-day drop since April — as investors feared a renewed trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Beijing has not yet issued an official response, but analysts warn that a 100% tariff could disrupt global supply chains and increase costs for US consumers. Relations between the US and China had shown tentative signs of stabilization in recent months, but Trump’s announcement signals a fresh rupture between “the world’s biggest factory” and “its largest consumer.”

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Dele Alake Triples Security Following Death Threats Over Revoked Mining Licences

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has boosted his personal security after receiving multiple death threats from individuals and companies whose mining licences were revoked for failing to comply with government regulations. Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the 10th Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja, Alake said the threats, including direct text messages to his phone, became so serious that he had to triple the number of armed personnel protecting him. The event, scheduled for October 13 to 15, 2025, will gather policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders under the theme “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance” to evaluate the sector’s growth. Alake said his strict enforcement of long-neglected mining laws and revocation of dormant licences had angered some powerful individuals and companies. “I’ve had to triple my security because of threats from those whose licences were revoked,” he said. “One even sent me a text message directly threatening me.” He added that some affected parties have resorted to intimidation, media attacks, and blackmail to stop the reforms. “They’ve tried everything to make us reverse our decisions. But we are battle-hardened and will not retreat,” he said. Under Alake’s leadership, 3,794 mining titles have been revoked, including 1,263 licences in the last two years. Expanding his security detail goes against President Bola Tinubu’s directive limiting ministers to five security personnel and three convoy vehicles as part of federal cost-cutting measures. The minister said the crackdown targets inactive licence holders to restore transparency and credibility to the sector. “We found operators holding licences for over a decade without paying fees or carrying out exploration,” he said. “Enforcing these regulations is essential to stop this impunity.” Alake also revealed that some companies have threatened international arbitration after failing to meet local requirements. “One firm that hasn’t paid fees for years is now threatening international arbitration. I want to see a court side with a company that violated our laws,” he said. Describing the threats as “the price of reform,” Alake said the ministry would continue its efforts to sanitize the solid minerals industry. “This is about principle, not personality. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expect different results,” he said. He noted that the ministry is enforcing the “use it or lose it” clause in mining licences, similar to global land ownership rules. “Just as a certificate of occupancy requires development within a set time, mining licences must be used or forfeited,” he explained.  

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