General News
Trump says Iran Has Reached Out for Talks After Deadly Strikes
U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Tehran has initiated contact for possible negotiations following the recent escalation in hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump said Iran reached out seeking talks and that he agreed to engage.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk,” Trump told the magazine’s reporter, Michael Scherer, during a telephone interview. “They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.”
The president also stated that several Iranian officials who were previously involved in negotiations are no longer alive, referencing the recent strikes.
“Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone because that was a big hit,” Trump said.
The remarks come in the wake of coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iranian strategic sites. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as well as the country’s armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi. Reports also indicate that members of Khamenei’s immediate family, including his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, were among those killed.
Following Khamenei’s death, Iran is said to be under transitional leadership as the country’s Assembly of Experts prepares to select a successor.
Trump did not provide details about who is directly handling or overseeing the renewed diplomatic outreach from Tehran.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled plans to stage a nationwide mock presidential election as part of its build-up to the 2027 general elections.
The electoral body said the exercise will simulate real voting conditions across the country to evaluate its result transmission technology and address operational gaps identified in previous elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure in Abuja during the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026. He explained that the mock poll would serve as a nationwide stress test of the commission’s digital infrastructure, particularly the electronic transmission of results.
Amupitan assured Nigerians that the commission is prioritising transparency, improved logistics, and technological upgrades to ensure the 2027 elections meet higher standards of credibility and efficiency.
He added that data and feedback from the simulation would guide further refinements in planning, deployment of personnel, and management of election-day processes.
INEC also confirmed a revised timetable for the 2027 polls. Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027.
According to the commission, early system testing and strategic preparation remain central to restoring public trust and guaranteeing a smooth, transparent electoral process nationwide.
National Police Council Ratifies Disu’s Appointment as Acting IGPThe National Police Council has ratified the appointment of Olatunji Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police.
The decision was reached during a council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
The session marked the third National Police Council meeting under his administration since assuming office.
Disu was nominated by the President last week following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun. He is expected to appear before the Senate for confirmation, the final step before he can assume the position in a substantive capacity.
The National Police Council is vested with the responsibility of overseeing the organisation, administration, and operational control of the Nigeria Police Force, including the appointment and discipline of senior officers.
Governors of Kwara State, Ogun State, Lagos State, Ondo State, Enugu State, and Plateau State were in attendance, alongside the Ministers of Police Affairs, the Federal Capital Territory, and Interior.
Twelve Nigerians have been rescued after a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, conveying 18 persons, sank in South African waters late Saturday night. One person has been confirmed dead, while five others remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
The Federal Government confirmed the incident on Monday in a statement signed by Dr. Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
According to the statement, South African transportation authorities reported that the vessel, which had travelled to South Africa for repairs, ran aground about 18 nautical miles offshore in stormy conditions between Cape Town and Durban while returning to Lagos.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the South African Ministry of Transportation confirmed the rescue of 12 occupants and one fatality, with five persons still unaccounted for.
“The South African Ministry of Transportation informed us of this development,” she said.
She added that the South African Maritime Safety Authority had conveyed that the rescued survivors were being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials of the Nigerian High Commission were en route to receive them.
The minister further assured that search and rescue efforts remain ongoing, as South African authorities continue coordinated operations to locate the missing crew members.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary consular assistance to the affected Nigerians and their families.