Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted by suspected terrorists in northern Kebbi State more than a week ago.

“I am relieved that all 24 girls have been accounted for,” Tinubu said in a statement late Tuesday, after local authorities reported that the students had been freed unharmed. 

The girls were kidnapped on November 17 from their dormitory at the Government Girls’

 

Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in the Wasagu/Danko Local Government Area.
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris told mediapersons that all girls were “all in good health” and that arrangements were underway for them to reunite with their families.

The abduction had sparked copycat incidents in the central part of the country last week, including the kidnapping of 38 worshippers during service at a local church in Kwara and over 300 students at another school in the state of Niger. All the kidnapped worshippers and 51 of the students were released on Sunday. 

"Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping," the president said.

According to officials, armed assailants stormed the Kebbi school, killing two staff members before abducting 25 students, two of whom escaped shortly after. The circumstances surrounding the release of the remaining girls have not been disclosed, though Tinubu praised security forces for their “swift response.”

Nigeria continues to grapple with a surge in mass kidnappings. More than 1,500 schoolchildren have been abducted since 2014, when 276 girls were taken from Chibok in an attack that shocked the world.

Most recently, at least 300 children and staff were seized on Friday from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria, which reported that more than 250 remain unaccounted for, the BBC reported. 

The latest wave of attacks prompted President Tinubu to cancel his trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa to address the crisis. He has ordered security forces to intensify operations, stating, “We must urgently deploy more personnel to vulnerable areas to avert further kidnappings.”

In a separate post on X, the president said the Air Force would maintain continuous surveillance over remote regions, coordinating with ground units to “identify, isolate, disrupt, and neutralise all hostile elements.”

 

 

Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that Beijing is increasing "psychological" pressure in an apparent effort to undermine the island’s sovereignty.

“In addition to military force, China is intensifying the legal, psychological, and media war, trying to eliminate Taiwan's sovereignty on a global scale,” Lai said during a security consultation, as reported by the Taiwan Central News Agency.

Beijing is also reportedly attempting to "undermine national identity and weaken Taiwan's unity," Lai added, noting that Taiwan’s administration has developed two action plans to safeguard national security.

Earlier, Lai told the Washington Post that Taiwan plans to propose an additional military budget of USD 40 billion, which will be used to purchase weapons from the United States. In August, Lai stated that Taiwan’s defence budget would exceed 3 per cent of GDP by 2026 and reach 5 per cent by 2030.

Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing, however, regards the island as a Chinese province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country without formally declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts between foreign states and Taipei and considers its sovereignty over Taiwan indisputable.

Tensions around Taiwan escalated in August 2022 when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island. Beijing condemned the visit as a symbol of US support for Taiwanese separatism and conducted large-scale military exercises around the island.

 

 

French President Emmanuel Macron said that France and Britain will launch a workshop to coordinate security guarantees for Ukraine with the involvement of the United States. 
He made the remarks after a video conference of about 30 countries in the "Coalition of the Willing," joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Macron said the coming days would be used to define the contributions of the parties ready to provide guarantees once a ceasefire is reached. 

France and other European Union members are also working on a plan to provide financial support for Ukraine, Macron said. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Macron told the RTL broadcast that France could consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of "reassurance forces" alongside British and Turkish units after a ceasefire. However, he stressed that "the first security guarantee" for Ukraine remains the Ukrainian army.

 

 

The Chinese mainland criticised Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te on Wednesday for publicly siding with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her recent remarks on Taiwan, slamming Lai's statements and actions as "disgusting."

At a press conference, Peng Qing'en, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, accused Lai of "eating the food of ingratiation towards Japan and engaging in acts of selling out Taiwan." Peng said Lai's words and deeds once again exposed his "ugly face of forgetting the heritage, betraying the motherland."

The spokesperson warned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that "any act relying on external forces will only lead to disgrace, and any traitor who betrays the nation will inevitably face the judgment of justice."

Peng was responding to a question on Takaichi's recent comments on Taiwan, which have triggered sustained protests across the island. Lai defended her and posted a photo of himself eating Japanese cuisine on social media, claiming it showed the "solid friendship" between the island and Japan.

The mainland spokesperson said Takaichi's remarks grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, gravely undermined the post-war international order, and seriously breached the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan. Peng urged the Japanese side to "immediately reflect and correct its mistake" and withdraw the "erroneous statements" concerning Taiwan.

 

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late Tuesday voiced his agreement to proceed with the US-brokered settlement framework for ending the country's devastating, four-year-long war with Russia. However, he stressed that this must directly involve US President Donald Trump for resolving all lingering disputes, with European partners at the table.

Trump's 28-point initiative had caused much controversy over its alleged pro-Russian stance, with negotiators in both Washington and Kyiv attempting to mitigate their differences over the peace accord, with Kyiv having long maintained that it wouldn't be forced into any agreement which was geared towards its total submission to Moscow. 

"Security decisions about Ukraine must include Ukraine, security decisions about Europe must include Europe," he said. "When something is decided behind the back of a country or its people, there is always a high risk." 

In a speech delivered to the 'coalition of willing' allies, Zelensky urged European leaders to finalise a framework for deploying a "reassurance force" to Ukraine and to maintain long-term backing until Moscow showcases a genuine willingness towards reaching actual long-term peace. 
"We firmly believe security decisions about Ukraine must include Ukraine; security decisions about Europe must include Europe," he stated. 

"That framework is on the table, and we're ready to move forward together with the USA, with the personal engagement of President Trump," Zelensky added. 

Trump, who is noted to have a history of trying to boost negotiations by floating artificial deadlines — including one last week on Thursday — surprisingly softened his own position on Tuesday evening, regarding the document. 

"The deadline for me is when it's over," he told reporters. "Everybody's tired of fighting." He further reiterated his initial stance, cautioning that the 28-point plan published last week should not be seen as any kind of concrete, finalised blueprint, but rather just an informal roadmap, calling the document "a map… a concept". 

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted that only "a few remaining points of disagreement" persisted. 
He directed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected in Kyiv this week for talks with Ukrainian officials. 
"I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon — but ONLY when the deal to end this war is final or in its final stages," Trump wrote. 

A Ukrainian diplomat, highlighting the gravity of the problems posed by Russia's demands for Kyiv's willing assent to making territorial concessions, cautioned that this demand could very well derail talks and emerge as a potential deal breaker. 

"These are really tough questions for us," the diplomat said, underscoring the tensions and sensitivity of the issue. 

 

 

Syria has recently experienced a surge of security disturbances, ranging from sectarian unrest in the central province of Homs and coastal protests to anti-terror operations in northern Aleppo, highlighting the fragility of the country’s stability.

Tensions escalated following last week’s killing of a Sunni Bedouin couple in Homs, which authorities described as an attempt to provoke sectarian conflict. Retaliatory attacks in Alawite-majority neighbourhoods prompted a 12-hour nightly curfew and increased security measures.
The incident also sparked rare Alawite-led protests along the coastal region on Tuesday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in at least 42 locations to denounce sectarian incitement.

The Britain-based war monitor additionally reported isolated unrest, including an attempted statue vandalism in Tartous and a shooting in Latakia that left one man seriously injured.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddin al-Baba, speaking to state-run al-Ikhbaria TV, emphasised that the right to protest is protected but cautioned against attempts to exploit sectarian divisions. “We advise our people not to be drawn into agendas promoted by groups outside the country,” he said.

In a separate development, authorities announced that security forces had dismantled an Islamic State (IS) cell in Afrin, northwestern Aleppo, arresting several militants and seizing weapons and bomb-making materials.

Meanwhile, state media reported that an armed attack on a security checkpoint west of Sweida province killed one officer and injured two others, with investigations ongoing.

These incidents underscore the complex security challenges Syria faces amid its ongoing political transition.

The country has been engulfed in civil war since 2011. In December 2024, Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim leader, assumed power, replacing former president Bashar al-Assad.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Johannesburg to attend the G20 Summit being hosted by South Africa, where he will present India's perspectives on critical topics.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said he looks forward to holding productive discussions with world leaders on key global issues.

“Landed in Johannesburg for the G20 Summit-related engagements. Look forward to productive discussions with world leaders on key global issues. Our focus will be on strengthening cooperation, advancing development priorities and ensuring a better future for all.” 

The MEA spokesperson said in a post that the PM arrived at a warm and ceremonial welcome. 
The PM's three-day visit will focus on strengthening India’s engagement with the Global South and advancing discussions on key global challenges.

This is PM Modi's fourth official visit to South Africa.

He is expected to speak in all three sessions of the Summit. 

These sessions are on: i. Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Leaving No One Behind: Building our economies; the role of trade; financing for development and the debt burden 
ii. A Resilient World – the G20’s Contribution: Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transitions; Food Systems 

iii. A Fair and Just Future for All: Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence 
On the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg. 

 
Prime Minister will also be participating in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting being hosted by South Africa.

 

 

Russia and South Africa continue to develop space cooperation even after the opening of a Russian space debris monitoring complex in South Africa, Russian Ambassador to South Africa Roman Ambarov told Sputnik in an interview.

"Space cooperation between Russia and South Africa is developing both bilaterally and on international platforms, primarily BRICS," Ambarov said. Ambarov added that in July 2023, Russia opened an optical-electronic complex for monitoring space debris in the South African area of Hartbeeshoek. 

That is why it was no coincidence that South Africa was one of the first BRICS members to support Russia's initiative to create a BRICS Space Council, the ambassador said. BRICS members consistently advocate for the exclusively peaceful use of outer space and the prevention of its weaponisation. 

For instance, final declarations of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the 16th in Kazan supported the Russian-Chinese Draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space (PPWT), as well as the initiative on prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS). Creating the BRICS Space Council was also highlighted in the final declaration.

 

 

President Donald Trump has rolled back a 40 per cent tariff on more than 200 Brazilian agricultural and livestock products, including beef, coffee, cocoa, vegetables, and some ammonia-based fertilisers.

The tariffs were originally part of a broader trade dispute, but they have been reduced as part of the Trump administration's effort to lower consumer costs for Americans. The move follows negotiations with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The White House issued an executive order to eliminate punitive tariffs on some agricultural products from Brazil on Thursday. 

The refund of the duties collected since April 13, when the executive order took effect, will be handled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The newly added exemption list covers around 250 categories in the 8-digit subheadings of the Harmonised Tariff Schedule of the United States, including coffee, bovine meat, tomatoes, tea, spices, fruits and nuts. 

Trump initially imposed a 10 per cent tariff on nearly all countries and later added a 40 per cent penalty specifically on Brazil, bringing some goods’ total tariffs to 50 per cent. 

The punitive tariffs were imposed in response to the prosecution and 27-year prison sentence of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula. 

Last week, the general 10 per cent tariff on Brazilian agricultural goods was already lifted. 

Trump had signed the original executive order on July 30, citing “politically motivated persecution” of Bolsonaro and labelling Brazil’s actions a “threat to U.S. national security and the economy.” 

 

 

US President Donald Trump hosted nearly all of the former Gaza hostages freed under last month's ceasefire deal, calling them "heroes" as he welcomed the Israeli delegation to the White House.

"You're not a hostage anymore… today you're heroes," Trump told the group in brief remarks released by the White House. Twenty-six former hostages took part in the visit on Thursday, including 17 of the 20 living captives released in the October agreement brokered by Washington. 
"It's an honour to get to know all of you," Trump said. "We love you all, and our country loves you all… you're amazing people." He also presented each former hostage with a special presidential coin. 

The Israeli delegation of the former captives arrived in Washington on Tuesday and met on Wednesday with a bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill. 
The former hostages had said ahead of the visit that they hoped to thank Trump for securing their freedom and urge him to continue pushing for the return of the remains of three hostages still held in Gaza, reports Channel 12.

Thursday's event marked Trump's third time hosting the delegations of the recently freed Israelis, following the two deals he brokered — the first reached in January 2025, when he was president-elect, and the second in October after eight months of renewed fighting. 
Several members of the delegation brought personal gifts to the president. Among them was Matan Angrest, whom Trump singled out for praise, noting the excessive brutality he had to endure at the Hamas terrorists due to his service in the IDF. 

"Matan was subjected to severe beatings… he went through hell. Matan never broke, and today he's a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people," said Trump, hailing him. 

The twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with a mezuzah that survived the fire Hamas-led gunmen had set in their Kfar Aza home during the Oct 7, 2023, massacre that triggered the Gaza war. They retrieved the mezuzah during their first return to the community since their release on Oct 13.

"To our great hostages who now carry a weight, a story and experience that you never asked for… We will be your friends for life. We will be your advocates for life. We will continue to wear our pins, and we will continue to tell your story," Democratic Representative Haley Stevens said during the meeting, according to a readout from the Israeli embassy. 

"Today we were able to bring both sides of the House, Democrats and Republicans, together into one room," said Danny Miran, the father of recently released hostage Omri Miran, who was also part of the delegation. 

"This is an opportunity to thank you, American Jewry, and all those who took the trouble and laboured and made efforts to bring these wonderful children home. In less than a month, we will be celebrating Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights – thank you very much for all these lights you have lit for us."