The United States government is reportedly preparing to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to support the country’s armed forces with training and operational assistance as they continue campaigns against militant groups.

According to a U.S. official cited by The Wall Street Journal, the soldiers will help strengthen Nigeria’s military capacity through specialised training and collaboration with local forces.

The planned deployment comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump approved airstrikes targeting what he described as Islamic State positions.

Reports indicate that a small number of American military personnel are already in Nigeria, with the U.S. military confirming last week that a limited team had been sent, though it did not disclose the size.

That announcement marked the first public confirmation that U.S. troops were on the ground following airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day.

The additional 200 personnel are expected to reinforce the existing team and work closely with Nigerian forces to enhance their response to militant attacks. The U.S. Africa Command did not immediately comment further on the reported deployment.

Separately, reports suggest the United States has been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from Ghana since late November to monitor security threats.

Washington has in recent months increased pressure on Nigeria over its handling of security challenges, particularly after Trump accused the country of failing to adequately protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militants in the northwest.

Nigerian authorities have rejected the claim, insisting there is no organised persecution of Christians and maintaining that military operations target armed groups irrespective of religion.

Nigeria has battled insurgent violence for about 17 years, with groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) carrying out attacks against both civilians and security personnel.

The country, with a population exceeding 230 million, is almost evenly divided between Christians largely in the south and Muslims, predominantly in the north, and the conflict has affected communities across both faiths.

Mexican authorities have unveiled robotic dogs that will assist police operations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as part of efforts to strengthen security at tournament venues.

Officials in Guadalupe, a municipality within the Monterrey metropolitan area, announced that the four-legged robots will be used to enter potentially dangerous locations and transmit live video feeds to officers before tactical action is taken. The city is one of the host locations for matches during the tournament, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

According to local authorities, the robotic units were purchased by the Guadalupe city council for 2.5 million pesos (about $145,000). Demonstration footage released by the municipal government shows one of the machines walking through an abandoned building and climbing stairs while streaming real-time visuals to officers trailing behind.

In the video, the robot is also seen confronting an armed individual and issuing a command through a loudspeaker instructing him to drop his weapon.

Guadalupe Mayor Hector Garcia said the devices are intended to support officers during initial interventions and reduce risks to personnel. He explained that the robots would be deployed during any incident requiring heightened caution in order to protect the physical safety of police.

The BBVA Stadium to be known as Estadio Monterrey during the competition is scheduled to host four World Cup matches.

Authorities say the deployment is part of broader preparations to ensure security and rapid response capability during one of the world’s largest sporting events.

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has escaped impeachment after the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to dismiss complaints filed against him.

The decision followed an earlier move by the House justice committee, which last week threw out two impeachment petitions, ruling that they lacked sufficient legal basis. The complaints accused Marcos of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and violations of the constitution.

Announcing the outcome on the House floor, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin declared that all impeachment complaints against the president had been formally dismissed.

For an impeachment to proceed, at least one-third of the more than 300 members of the lower house would have had to support it. Instead, 284 lawmakers voted to dismiss the complaints, while only eight backed impeachment and four abstained. Under constitutional rules, no new impeachment complaint can be filed against Marcos until next year.

Attention is now shifting to Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing fresh impeachment efforts after surviving a similar attempt last year.

Marcos, 68, was accused by petitioners of abusing his authority in the use of public funds, particularly in relation to a flood-control project scandal. He was also criticised for allowing his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to be arrested and transferred to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court over thousands of deaths linked to his controversial “war on drugs.”

One of the complaints further alleged that Marcos was unfit to govern due to supposed drug use an allegation he has repeatedly denied.

Since the restoration of democracy in 1986, only one Philippine president, Joseph Estrada, has been impeached. His 2001 trial, however, collapsed after prosecutors walked out when senator judges voted against opening an envelope believed to contain key evidence against him.

In the country’s history, five top government officials have been impeached, but only one; a former chief justice was ultimately convicted and removed from office.