International
Buhari satisfied with 2023 general elections
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction in London with the conduct of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria considering the turnout of voters and the generally peaceful atmosphere under which it took place. He added that the country learnt lessons which would make subsequent polls even better.
The President stated this while addressing his colleagues at the Commonwealth Leaders Summit as part of the major events leading to the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Commonwealth.
The theme of the event focused on the future of the Commonwealth as a body and the role of the Youth.
According to the President, “these elections saw a remarkable turnout of voters and proof that Nigeria’s democracy is maturing. Despite some pockets of violence, we have demonstrated that a government can be elected peacefully and fairly.
“Lessons have been learnt and moving forward, we hope to perform even better. Based on this, I am delighted to note that we have taken another step towards deepening our democracy with peaceful, transparent and credible outcomes. Though we are aware that challenges still exist, we are committed to working towards a greater participation of all Nigerians in the democratic process, including those in the diaspora.”
While thanking the Commonwealth for sending a team to witness the conduct of the elections, he noted that the elections were generally free and fair, and the mood of the Nation after the announcement of the winners so far shows that democracy in Nigeria is maturing and can only get better.
President Buhari highlighted the key role Nigerian youths played during the elections as well as in support of national development, attributing a great part of this youth participation in the General Elections to the assent of ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill signed into law by his Administration in 2018.
He announced that Nigeria would also host the Commonwealth Youth and Students Summit for African Region, with the theme, ‘Making Change Happen’ in Abuja from May 9-11, this year.
The Nigerian leader used the opportunity to bid farewell to his colleagues, expressing joy at shared aspirations and values within the period:
“As I come before you today, I am also mindful that this would be my last official engagement with His Majesty The King and some of you as I leave office on 29 May 2023. I, therefore, feel both humble and grateful for this extraordinary and significantly important moment.
“Over the years, I have worked cordially with the leaders of Commonwealth to achieve the values and principles of the Commonwealth which are shared by its members – the aspirations of the Commonwealth family which include positioning it to be a strong and respected voice in the world and improving the lives of all its citizens are being vigorously pursued,” he said.
International
Trump orders Iran to open Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday or face ‘hell’
The president threatened to bomb the country’s power plants and bridges.Trump subsequently posted “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” without further explanation.
President Donald Trump gave Iran until Tuesday to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants.
Consequently, U.S. crude oil futures for May pared earlier gains to rise 0.5% at $112.08 per barrel at 9:28 p.m. ET. International benchmark Brent prices for June delivery also scaled back to 1.3%, trading at $110.47 per barrel.
Trump gave the warning on Sunday in an expletive-filled social media post that Iran would be “living in Hell” if they do not open the Strait.
The president threatened to bomb the country’s power plants and bridges.Trump subsequently posted “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” without further explanation.
Iran has effectively kept the Strait closed through attacks on oil tankers.
The sea route connects the Persian Gulf to world markets. About 20% of global supplies passed through the Strait before the war.
The closure of the Strait has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history. Crude, jet fuel, diesel and gasoline prices have surged since the war started.
Crime
Vietnam Police Dismantle Multi-Billion Dollar Cryptocurrency Fraud Operation
Vietnamese authorities have busted what officials describe as one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency scams, arresting key suspects in a multi-billion dollar Ponzi-style scheme that allegedly defrauded thousands of investors both domestically and overseas.
The operation, centered around a fraudulent digital token known as Paynet Coin (PAYN), was dismantled by police in Phu Tho province in August 2025. Authorities charged at least 20 individuals, including the alleged ringleader, Nguyen Van Ha, a 45-year-old entrepreneur and founder linked to the Hahalolo platform.
According to reports from local state media, including Công an Nhân dân, the suspects operated an illegal multi-level marketing (MLM) network disguised as a legitimate cryptocurrency investment platform.
Victims were lured with promises of high returns through the Paynet Coin scheme, which authorities labeled as the biggest crypto fraud uncovered in Vietnam to date. The operation reportedly spanned multiple provinces and attracted investors from abroad.
Police seized evidence related to the scheme and charged the suspects with fraud and organizing illegal MLM activities. Estimates of the total scale have varied in reports, with some describing losses in the billions of dollars, though exact figures for victim losses and assets recovered have not been fully disclosed publicly.
This bust is part of a broader crackdown on cryptocurrency-related crimes in Vietnam, where digital asset trading has grown rapidly in recent years but has also attracted scammers exploiting regulatory gaps.
Other recent cases include arrests tied to platforms like ONUS and HanaGold for alleged price manipulation, as well as smaller scams involving fake exchanges and investment schemes totaling millions of dollars.
Vietnamese law enforcement has intensified efforts against online fraud, Ponzi schemes, and unlicensed crypto operations amid a surge in investor complaints. Officials have warned the public to exercise caution with high-yield crypto investments promising unrealistic returns.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging additional victims to come forward. This case highlights the risks in Vietnam’s booming but largely unregulated crypto market, where millions of citizens hold digital assets.
No further details on trial dates or additional arrests have been released as of the latest reports.
International
Two Pilots Killed, Dozens Injured After Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck
Two pilots were killed and at least 41 people were hospitalized after an Air Canada regional jet struck a Port Authority fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, officials said.
The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. on March 22, 2026, when Air Canada Flight 8646 — operated by Jazz Aviation as an Air Canada Express service — was landing after departing from Montreal.
The Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, collided with the airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle, which was crossing the runway in response to a separate incident.
Both the captain, identified as 30-year-old Antoine Forest, and the first officer, Mackenzie Gunther, died in the crash. The impact heavily damaged the cockpit area of the jet.
At least 41 passengers and crew were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, while additional people were treated at the scene. Two Port Authority workers in the fire truck were also reported injured.
Passengers described the collision as sudden and violent, with some crediting the pilots’ actions for helping mitigate a worse outcome.
CCTV and other video footage captured the moments leading up to and during the collision, showing the aircraft striking the emergency vehicle. Air traffic control audio reportedly included urgent calls of “Stop, truck 1. Stop” just before impact.
LaGuardia Airport was temporarily closed following the crash, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations across the New York area. It reopened on Monday at reduced capacity as investigators continued their work on the scene.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with Canadian aviation authorities and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, have launched a full investigation into the runway incursion and collision.
Preliminary reports suggest the fire truck had been cleared to cross the active runway.
Air Canada expressed condolences to the families of the deceased pilots and said it is cooperating fully with investigators.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic event,” the airline stated. This marks a rare fatal ground collision at a major U.S. airport in recent years, raising fresh questions about runway safety protocols and vehicle movements during active landings.
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