Foreign Affairs

WHO, WHAT, WHY AND WHEN: AN EXPERTS VIEW ON THE CONCLAVE The announcement of the date for a conclave kicks off a process that could see a successor to Pope Francis elected by the end of next week. John L. Allen Jr, editor of the online Catholic newspaper Crux and author of numerous books on the Vatican, offered AFP some …

CONCLAVE TO ELECT NEW POPE STARTS MAY 7 – VATICAN The Vatican said on Monday that the conclave to replace Pope Francis will begin Wednesday, May 7. Cardinals are expected to convene at the Vatican to begin the process of finding a new pope, who will become the Catholic Church’s 267th leader. W ith the passing of Pope Francis, who …

OVER 900 NIGERIANS DEPORTED FROM US SINCE 2019 A total of 902 Nigerians were deported by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between 2019 and 2024. The figure was contained in the 2024 annual report of US ICE. According to the report, 286 Nigerians were deported from the US in 2019; 199 in 2020; 78 in 2021; 49 …

UK CONSERVATIVE PARTY MULLS REPLACING KEMI BADENOCH AS PARTY LEADER Unrest within the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party could see Kemi Badenoch booted out as leader after poll ratings for the party have dipped ahead of next week’s local elections. The Tories are expected to lose a significant number of seats in the elections. Polls indicated that Badenoch has performed poorly …

UK CONSERVATIVE PARTY MULLS REPLACING KEMI BADENOCH AS PARTY LEADER Unrest within the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party could see Kemi Badenoch booted out as leader after poll ratings for the party have dipped ahead of next week’s local elections. The Tories are expected to lose a significant number of seats in the elections. Polls indicated that Badenoch has performed poorly …

UK DEPORTS 43 NIGERIANS, INCLUDING FAILED ASYLUM SEEKERS, OFFENDER The United Kingdom has deported 43 Nigerians as part of its latest move to tighten immigration controls, according to a report published on the official government website, gov.uk, on Friday. Among those deported were 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had completed their prison sentences. Additionally, seven …

ISRAEL DELETES SOCIAL MEDIA POST EXPRESSING SORROW FOR DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS A message on the country’s verified X account that read “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing” was taken down hours after it was posted on Monday. Israeli diplomatic missions around the world were ordered to delete any similar messages and not to sign …

FAREWELL TO THE PEOPLE’S POPE BYKAYODE KOMOLAFE The progressive signature of Pope Francis on the Vatican was unmistakable from the beginning of his papacy. Since the Catholic pontiff died on Easter Monday the remarkable positions taken by the Bishop of Rome on many socio-economic and political issues have been amply acknowledged in tributes from diverse quarters. The Pope stood for …

FRONTLINE CARDINALS WHO MAY SUCCEED POPE FRANCIS Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a period known as sede vacante, which is Latin for “the seat being vacant”. This triggers the centuries-old process of selecting a new pope. With no clear frontrunner, attention has turned to a number of high-ranking cardinals considered potential …

FRONTLINE CARDINALS WHO MAY SUCCEED POPE FRANCIS Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a period known as sede vacante, which is Latin for “the seat being vacant”. This triggers the centuries-old process of selecting a new pope. With no clear frontrunner, attention has turned to a number of high-ranking cardinals considered potential …