Ayoola Atitebi

Six American detainees have been released by Venezuela following direct talks between President Nicolás Maduro and Richard Grenell, a senior Trump administration official, in Caracas. The development was announced simultaneously by President Donald Trump and Grenell on social media. Grenell shared a photograph of the freed individuals aboard his aircraft, showing them wearing the light blue uniforms characteristic of Venezuela's prison system. While their identities weren't disclosed, Grenell reported that they had expressed gratitude to Trump in a phone conversation during their journey home. Prior to the release, the White House had issued a warning to Venezuela, demanding the liberation of what they termed "US hostages" and cooperation on accepting deported Venezuelan criminals, or face unspecified consequences. The discussions took place against a backdrop of complex diplomatic relations. Venezuelan state media characterized the talks as respectful, with Maduro stating they […]

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has announced his resignation amid ongoing protests triggered by a fatal railway station accident. The decision comes after months of public demonstrations following the November collapse of a concrete canopy at a Novi Sad railway station that claimed fifteen lives. Explaining his departure, Vucevic stated he was stepping down "in order to avoid further complicating things" and to prevent "further raising tensions in society." The incident has sparked widespread demonstrations across Serbia, with protesters demanding accountability and highlighting concerns about corruption and construction oversight. Student-led protests have been particularly impactful, featuring daily traffic disruptions and university blockades. The movement gained further momentum when businesses joined a general strike last week, bringing tens of thousands of demonstrators to Belgrade's streets. The protests culminated in a 24-hour blockade of Belgrade's main road junction by students on Monday. […]

A leaked government memorandum, verified by CBS News, reveals that President Donald Trump has implemented a pause on federal grants, loans, and other government assistance programs. The directive, issued through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), instructs government agencies to review their spending to ensure alignment with Trump's priorities. The memo, signed by acting OMB chief Matthew Vaeth, specifically targets "financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal." While Medicaid and Social Security benefits remain unaffected, agencies must halt both new awards and disbursements under existing programs by 5:00 PM EST, with a February 10 deadline to report paused programs. Democratic leaders have responded with strong opposition. Senator Patty Murray and Representative Rosa DeLauro sent a joint letter to the White House expressing "extreme alarm," describing the scope as "breathtaking, unprecedented" […]

A diplomatic clash between the US and Colombia was swiftly resolved after President Trump threatened 25% tariffs on Colombian goods in response to the country blocking two US military deportation flights. The conflict began when Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused entry to US military flights carrying deportees, insisting migrants should return on civilian aircraft "without treating them like criminals." Trump retaliated by announcing tariffs and visa sanctions through Truth Social. Petro initially stood firm, posting on X that Trump's "blockade" didn't frighten Colombia, "the country of beauty" and "heart of the world." However, within hours, Colombia agreed to accept migrants on US military aircraft "without limitation or delay," according to a White House statement. The White House termed this a victory for Trump's approach, though warned that drafted tariffs would be implemented if Colombia breached the agreement. Visa sanctions and […]