Global oil prices surged to about $108 per barrel after Iran dismissed a United States proposal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, describing it as biased and unfair.

The increase—nearly 6 percent in a single day—reflects growing market anxiety over prolonged instability in the region and potential disruptions to global oil supply. 

Iranian officials criticised the U.S. 15-point peace plan, arguing that it largely favours American and Israeli interests. Despite rejecting the proposal, Tehran signalled it has not completely ruled out diplomacy but insists that any agreement must align with its strategic demands. 

A key sticking point remains Iran’s insistence on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil. The country describes this control as a “natural and legal right,” making it central to any potential settlement. 

Earlier in the week, oil prices briefly dropped to around $98 per barrel following indications of possible talks between Washington and Tehran. However, renewed tensions and Iran’s rejection of the proposal quickly reversed that trend. 

The ripple effects are already being felt in Nigeria, where petrol prices remain elevated. Retail prices in Abuja have climbed significantly compared to pre-conflict levels, highlighting the local impact of global energy volatility. 

Analysts warn that continued conflict and uncertainty around key supply routes could keep oil prices high, with broader implications for inflation and global markets.

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The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed a significant hike in premium processing fees for immigration applications, effective March 1, 2026.

The fee increase, which averages 5.6%, is expected to impact thousands of businesses, students, and immigrants seeking expedited processing for work permits, residency applications, and student visas.

Why the Fee Increase?

The DHS explained that the fee adjustment is necessary to combat the rising costs of inflation and to stabilize the agency’s budget. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the increased revenue will be directed toward enhancing immigration services, reducing processing backlogs, and improving adjudication infrastructure. The new pricing will also help support the naturalization process for eligible applicants.

A USCIS spokesperson stated, “These adjustments are vital to maintaining the integrity of our services. The funds raised will be used to improve our adjudication processes, tackle ongoing backlogs, and ultimately enhance our naturalization services.”

What’s Changing for Immigrant Applicants?

The fee hikes will affect a wide range of applications under premium processing, a service designed to expedite immigration decisions. Key changes include:

• Form I-129 for H-2B or R-1 non-immigrant visas: Fee increases from $1,685 to $1,780.
• Form I-765 for student employment authorization (OPT and STEM-OPT): The fee will rise to $1,780.
• H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN visa petitions: The processing fee will increase from $2,805 to $2,965.
• Form I-140 for employment-based immigrant petitions: The fee will also increase to $2,965.
• Form I-539 for changes in student or exchange visitor status: Fees will increase from $1,965 to $2,075.

What Does This Mean for Immigrants and Businesses?

The fee increase is particularly impactful for businesses seeking skilled foreign workers and students applying for work authorizations. It could also have far-reaching effects for those looking to extend or adjust their visa status. The DHS urges all applicants to ensure that their payments are in compliance with the new fees, as any application postmarked after the March 1 deadline without the updated payment will be rejected.

Adapting to the Changes

Applicants are reminded that premium processing is only available for specific immigration categories where the service has been officially announced. With the upcoming fee increase, U.S. immigration services are prioritizing both faster decisions and necessary infrastructure improvements.

The USCIS remains committed to streamlining the immigration process, but the fee increase is a necessary step to ensure the ongoing strength and efficiency of the system in the face of rising operational costs.

For businesses and individuals planning to file applications under premium processing, it’s essential to plan ahead to avoid delays or complications related to these changes.

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Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this after Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He highlighted key government efforts to strengthen the healthcare system, including the approval of N12 billion for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment across six tertiary health institutions.

“People are now coming from the subregion and even from distant places like the UK and the US to receive quality healthcare in Nigeria,” Pate said. “Despite challenges, significant progress is being made, and the transformation promised by President Tinubu is taking shape.”

The approved contracts include the procurement and installation of MRI machines and CT scanners at:

• University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom
• Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Ogun State
• Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State
• Federal Medical Center, Keffi, Nasarawa State
• Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Adamawa State
• Federal Teaching Hospital, Kebbi, Kebbi State

Pate emphasized that this investment in critical diagnostic infrastructure is part of broader efforts to expand the nation’s healthcare capacity and enable tertiary institutions to offer world-class medical services.

Another key decision from the FEC meeting was Nigeria’s ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, aimed at harmonizing medical regulatory standards across the continent. The treaty, adopted by the African Union in 2019, seeks to improve access to safe, high-quality medical products through a unified regulatory framework.

“So far, 37 African Union member states have signed the treaty, with 26 having ratified it. Today, FEC directed that Nigeria take all necessary steps to fully implement this treaty,” Pate said.

The move is expected to expand Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, allowing locally manufactured medical products to meet continental standards and gain wider recognition.

“What we produce will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria’ but will also be recognized as ‘Made in Africa.’ This is a crucial step towards self-sufficiency in medical products and pharmaceutical industrialization,” the minister added.

Pate credited President Tinubu’s leadership for driving these reforms, stating that while challenges remain, Nigeria’s health sector is on a transformative path.

“We are investing in infrastructure, human resources, and regulatory frameworks to build a healthcare system that Nigerians can rely on and that attracts patients from around the world,” he said.

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The money is being sent back to Nigeria from the US, whose authorities allege that Alison-Madueke enriched herself, and others, while leading Nigeria’s state oil firm by awarding contracts in exchange for bribes.

The US alleged that the money was then used to buy a 65-metre superyacht called the Galactica Star plus multiple luxury properties in California and New York.

Alison-Madueke, 64, has always denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Her alleged ill-gotten gains are also under scrutiny in the UK, where two years ago she was charged with bribery offences including gifts of Louis Vuitton luxury goods, payment of private school fees, and at least $127,000 in cash.

 

 

A key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, she also served as the first female president of the oil exporters group Opec.

Her time as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources began in 2010 and ended in 2015. She previously served as transport minister, and the minister for solid minerals and steel development.

The US Department of Justice announced in 2023 the final resolution of two civil cases on the forfeiture of assets that were reportedly laundered in and through the US by Alison-Madueke and her associates.

 

 

On Friday, the US and Nigeria confirmed that the sum of $52.88m would be repatriated to the West African nation.

This will be the first repatriation to Nigeria of assets outside the West African country linked to Alison-Madueke, the Reuters news agency reports.

Speaking at the formal signing ceremony in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the return of the funds marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption.

Fagbemi said $50m of the money will go through the World Bank to support rural electrification projects, and the remaining $2.88m will be directed to the International Institute of Justice to strengthen the justice system and promote anti-corruption efforts.

Meanwhile the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has emphasised the need for accountability as well as the careful monitoring of the returned funds.

“The ministry of justice must guarantee that these funds are used transparently and effectively to improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

In November 2022, the US government repatriated to Nigeria, $20.6m in assets allegedly stolen by former Nigerian military leader Gen Sani Abacha.

Five years ago, Washington transferred $311.8m to the Nigerian government as part of a previous agreement to repatriate assets that traced back to the Abacha regime.

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Mr Trump will assume power as U.S. president on January 20 as a convicted felon.

Mr Trump has fought tooth and nail to have his conviction overturned with a last-minute hearing at the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the sentencing.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Juan Merchan, spares Mr Trump from any jail time or probation.

“I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office,” Mr  Merchan said during the proceedings.

He described the unconditional discharge as “the only lawful sentence, without encroaching upon the highest office of the land.”

The case stems from allegations that Mr Trump directed illegal payments to silence individuals with damaging claims about him during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Prosecutors accused him of falsifying business records to conceal the payments, which violated campaign finance laws.

The New York Times reports that the hearing began shortly after 9:30 a.m. in a Lower Manhattan courtroom, where Mr Trump appeared virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

“This has been a very terrible experience,” Mr Trump said during the hearing.

He described the case as a “tremendous setback” for New York’s judiciary but maintained his innocence, stating, “The fact is, I’m totally innocent.”

Tying the case to his ongoing presidential campaign, he added that voters “got to see this firsthand,” reiterating his claims of political interference.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass outlined what he called “overwhelming evidence” against Mr Trump but supported the recommendation for an unconditional discharge.

While lenient, the sentence drew sharp criticism from Mr Steinglass, who accused Mr Trump of undermining public trust in the justice system.

“Far from expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct, the defendant has purposefully bred disdain for our institutions and the rule of law,” Mr Steinglass said.

He added that Mr Trump’s actions had caused lasting damage to public confidence and endangered court personnel.

Mr Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, contested the prosecutor’s remarks, reiterating the president-elect’s frequent claim that the case was politically motivated.

“This is a sad day for the Trump family and the country,” Mr Blanche said, arguing the case amounted to election interference.

Although the sentence avoids immediate legal consequences for Mr Trump, it marks an unprecedented moment in U.S. history as the president-elect prepares to take office amid ongoing legal controversies.

Source: gazettengr

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A compilation of official figures by AFP confirms 201 fatalities across North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia. More than half of the deaths were in flood-ravaged North Carolina.

Helene is the deadliest on the US mainland since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,392 people.

Despite hundreds of rescues across six states and an enormous response including more than 10,000 federal personnel assisting local responders, the death toll from the sprawling storm is expected to rise, with many residents still unaccounted for in a mountainous region known for its pockets of isolation.

“We are continuing to find survivors,” North Carolina’s Buncombe County, the epicenter of the tragedy where more than 60 people are confirmed dead, said in its latest update, adding there are residents still cut off from the outside world due to landslides and destroyed bridges.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families of those that had just experienced this heartbreak and this tragedy,” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp told a briefing n his state, where he said the number of confirmed dead has risen to 33.

US President Joe Biden was undertaking a second straight day of visits to affected states, traveling Thursday to Florida, where Helene blew into the state’s northern Gulf shore last week as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds of 140 miles (225 kilometers) per hour.

Biden took an aerial tour of the coast to survey the devastation, then walked past rows of destroyed homes and buildings in Keaton Beach, near where the storm made landfall.

He next heads to neighboring Georgia.

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