International
Filipinos Seeks Freedom, Demand Right To Divorce
The Philippines is the only place outside the Vatican where divorce is outlawed, as a Philippine mother-of-three, Stella Sibonga is desperate to end a marriage she never wanted. But divorce in the Catholic-majority country is illegal, and a court annulment takes years.
Pro-divorce advocates argue the ban makes it harder for couples to cut ties and remarry, and escape violent spouses.
People wanting to end their marriage can ask a court for an annulment or a declaration that the nuptials were invalid from the start, but the government can appeal against those decisions.
The legal process is slow and expensive — cases can cost as much as $10,000 or more in a country plagued by poverty — with no guarantee of success, and some people seeking a faster result fall for online scams.
“I don’t understand why it has to be this difficult,” said Sibonga, who has spent 11 years trying to get out of a marriage that her parents forced her into after she became pregnant.
Sibonga’s legal battle began in 2012, when she applied to a court to cancel her marriage on the basis of her husband’s alleged “psychological incapacity”, one of the grounds for terminating a matrimony.
After five years and $3,500 in legal fees , a judge finally agreed. The former domestic worker’s relief was, however, short-lived.
The Office of the Solicitor General, which as the government’s legal representative is tasked with protecting the institution of marriage, successfully appealed the decision in 2019.
Sibonga said she requested the Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling, but is still waiting for an answer.
“Why are we, the ones who experienced suffering, abandonment and abuse, being punished by the law?” said Sibonga, 45, who lives near Manila.
“All we want is to be free.”
International
US Releases Full List, Identities of Nigerian, Firms Designated as Terrorist Financiers
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities accused of facilitating financial support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its West Africa affiliate (ISIS-WA).
The designations, issued on June 22, 2026, focus on a Nigerian national and several Lagos- and Kano-based bureau de change (BDC) firms.
According to the US Treasury, these actions aim to disrupt ISIS’s decentralised financial networks that enable the group to move funds across regions, including West Africa, to support terrorist operations.
Key Designations from the US Sanctions List:
- Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad (also known as Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu or Adamu Mukhtar Muhammad): A Nigerian national born on August 2 or 3, 1990. He resides at No. 45, Abimbola Street, off Capital Road, by Morcas, Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria. Designated as an ISIS-WA financial facilitator who has conducted money transfers on behalf of the group. He holds Nigerian passports A11904741 and A07422697.
Associated Entities (Bureau de Change Firms):
- Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited: Based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established January 9, 2019. Registration Number RC 1555604. Owned, controlled, or directed by Muhammad.
- Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited: Located at No. 59 Murtala Mohammed Way, Wapa, Kano, Nigeria. Established January 26, 2021.
- Nine To Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited: Located at Block 7, FAAN Complex, Airport Road by Beesam Bus Stop, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Established August 22, 2017. Registration Number RC 1462752.
These entities are accused of acting on behalf of Muhammad to support ISIS-WA activities through money service businesses.
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended. As a result, all property and interests in property of the designated persons and entities within US jurisdiction are blocked. US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, and foreign financial institutions risk secondary sanctions for significant dealings.
This latest action forms part of a broader global effort by the US to target ISIS financial facilitators operating in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Nigerian authorities have been intensifying domestic measures against terrorism financing, including their own sanctions lists on BDCs and individuals.
No immediate official reaction from the Nigerian government or the affected individuals was available as of press time. Affected parties can petition OFAC for removal from the list if they meet delisting criteria.
International
US warning Nigerian visa defaulters
” Whether you’re studying, working, or visiting the United States, always honour the terms of your visa. Follow the rules. Stay only for as long as you are authorized. Keep your documents updated,”
The United States Mission in Nigeria has advised Nigerian travellers to comply fully with the terms of their visas, warning that violations could affect their chances of travelling, studying or working in the country in the future.
The mission gave the advice in a message posted on its official X account under the #VisaWiseTravelSmart campaign, urging visa holders to stay only for the period approved by US immigration authorities.
It said adherence to immigration rules remained important for Nigerians seeking to preserve future opportunities in the United States.“Staying compliant with U.S. immigration laws isn’t just the right thing to do; it protects your future and keeps opportunities open for Nigerian travelers,” the mission said.
The embassy urged visitors, students and workers to keep their travel documents valid, comply with visa conditions and avoid actions that could lead to future ineligibility.
“Whether you’re studying, working, or visiting the United States, always honour the terms of your visa. Follow the rules. Stay only for as long as you are authorized. Keep your documents updated,” the post added.
International
Japan hikes visa fees first time since 1978
The visa fee revisions – the first since 1978 – were made to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations”, said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
Japan has implemented a five-fold increase to visa fees for all foreigners, marking the first price hike in nearly 50 years.
From 1 July, single-entry visa fees will be raised from the current 3,000 yen ($18.69; £14) to 15,000 yen, while multi-entry visas will now cost 30,000 yen, up from 6,000 yen.
The visa fee revisions – the first since 1978 – were made to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations”, said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
“We do not anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism,” he added.
The Japanese yen has been weakening continually since 2021, and is now hovering near historic 40-year lows.
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