U.S. Representative James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said on Friday that he agreed with first lady Melania Trump’s call for congressional hearings with victims of Jeffrey Epstein, saying “we will have hearings.”
Melania Trump, the wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, said on Thursday that the public hearings were needed for Epstein victims to tell their stories under oath, raising the prospect of further public attention on an issue the president wants to go away.
“I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have hearings,” Comer told Fox News’ America Reports program.
Comer said the House Oversight Committee’s attorneys have been in constant contact with Epstein’s victims. He said some victims are willing to come in, while others are not.
“We have always planned on having a hearing with Epstein victims once the depositions have been completed, so we’ve still got some more high-profile men that are coming in,” Comer said.
Epstein has been the center of political discussion in recent months after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of files related to the late financier, who was facing federal charges of sex-trafficking minors when he died in jail in what was ruled a suicide.
More than 1,200 victims of Epstein were identified in documents that have been steadily released by the U.S. Justice Department since late-2025.
In her rare Thursday remarks, which thrust the Epstein matter back into the spotlight after her husband had sought to put it behind him, the first lady denied that she had any connection with Epstein and said she was not one of his victims. (JapanToday)
FIFA added new, even more expensive tiers of tickets for this year’s World Cup, asking up to $4,105 for a front category 1 seat at the U.S. opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12.
Last week, FIFA had asked for a top price of $2,735 for category 1 tickets for the match but added new “front category” pricing.
FIFA also added a front category 2 tier to its ticket sales website without public announcement, asking $1,940 to $2,330 for those tickets for the U.S. opener. The new categories were first reported Thursday by The Athletic.
The World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Soccer’s governing body had in its Sept. 9 “ticket products and categories” information called category 1 “the highest-priced seats, located primarily in the lower tier” but appears to have withheld some seats from that category. It had labeled category 2 as “positioned outside of category 1 areas, available in both lower and upper tiers.”
FIFA did not respond to an email sent to its media office seeking comment.
FIFA added seats at up to $3,360 in front category 1 for Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
For round of 16 games, it added $905 seats in Philadelphia.
FIFA last week raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were $7,380, up from $5,575, and category 3 cost $5,785, an increase from $4,185.
No tickets appeared to be available for the final on Thursday on FIFA’s ticket site. (JapanToday)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
Trump’s announcement on social media represented an abrupt turnaround from earlier in the day, when he issued an extraordinary warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if his demands were not met.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the ceasefire, said in a post on X that he had invited Iranian and U.S. delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday.
Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Iran’s agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said in a statement that Tehran would stop counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway.
“This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.”
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council portrayed the deal as a victory over the U.S., claiming Trump had accepted Iran’s conditions for ending hostilities.
In response, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue.”
The war, now in its sixth week, has claimed more than 5,000 lives in nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran, according to tallies from government sources and human rights groups.
Two White House officials confirmed that Israel has also agreed to the two-week ceasefire and to suspend its bombing campaign on Iran. The agreement includes a cessation of Israel’s campaign in Lebanon, Sharif said.
It was not immediately clear how soon the ceasefire would take full effect. Israeli media reported it would begin once Iran reopened the strait and that Israel expected Iranian attacks to continue in the interim.
More than an hour after Trump’s announcement, the Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran, and explosions from intercepted missiles could be heard in Tel Aviv. Gulf countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also issued near-simultaneous alerts and activated air defenses.
Trump, who has issued a series of threats in recent weeks only to back away, said progress between the two sides had prompted him to agree to the ceasefire. He said Iran had presented a 10-point proposal that was a “workable basis” for negotiations and that he expected an agreement to be “finalized and consummated” during the two-week window.
Markets breathed a sigh of relief, with U.S. stock futures rising in the minutes following Trump’s message. Oil prices fell sharply, with U.S. crude futures touching their lowest price since March 26. (JapanToday)
Prosecutors are seeking Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records from a pharmacy, a week after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Prosecutors in Florida on Tuesday said they planned to issue a subpoena seeking copies of all prescription medication records for the legendary golfer on file at Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach, FUnited lorida.
Prosecutors in Martin County, Florida, want the times the prescriptions were filled, the number of pills, the dosage amounts and any instructions that accompanied the pills, such as warnings about driving while taking them, according to documents in an online court docket.
Neither Lewis Pharmacy nor Woods’ attorney, Doug Duncan, immediately responded to an emails seeking comment.
Woods pleaded not guilty in his driving under the influence case in Florida last week, hours after a sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled over on its side.
Woods said last week that he is stepping away to seek treatment.
It’s the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, he took a leave of absence to work on being a better person. That lasted four months and he returned at the Masters.
He also was in a 2021 car crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputati(JapanToday)
The broadcast of a racial slur that was shouted during the Bafta Film Awards breached the BBC’s editorial standards, the corporation’s executive complaints unit (ECU) has ruled.
A Tourette syndrome campaigner shouted an involuntary racial slur while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting one of the categories at the event in February.
The shout was not edited out of the subsequent TV broadcast, which aired on BBC One on a two-hour delay, and the ceremony remained available to stream on iPlayer until the morning after.
On Wednesday, the BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips said the ECU “found this should not have made it to air and it was a clear breach of our editorial standards”. However, she noted, it also “found the breach was not intentional”.
The ECU received “a large number of complaints” about the BBC’s Baftas coverage, and upheld those relating to editorial standards on harm and offence.
Last month, outgoing director general Tim Davie said the BBC “profoundly regrets” what happened, adding that the team editing the ceremony had not heard the word and did not intentionally leave it in.
The ECU’s findings said: “The ECU found that the inclusion of the n-word in the broadcast (which was also streamed live on iPlayer) was highly offensive, had no editorial justification and represented a breach of the BBC’s editorial standards, but that the breach was unintentional.”
Phillips explained that “the production team did not hear the n-word at the time it was said and therefore no decision was taken to leave the word within the broadcast”.
She added: “The ECU accepted this was a genuine mistake, especially as the team did correctly identify and edit out a subsequent use of the same word, in line with the protocols that were agreed in advance of the event regarding offensive and unacceptable language.”
The ECU said leaving the coverage on iPlayer until the Monday morning was also a “serious mistake” and breached guidelines.
“The fact that the unedited recording remained available for so long aggravated the offence caused by the inadvertent inclusion of the n-word in the broadcast,” its report said.
Phillips said: “There was a lack of clarity among the team present at the event as to whether the word was audible on the recording. This resulted in there being a delay before the decision was taken to remove the recording from iPlayer.
“The ECU has been clear that this was a serious mistake and commented that the fact the unedited version stayed up overnight made the severe impact of the inadvertent inclusion of the n-word worse.”
Phillips said the BBC “must learn from our mistakes and ensure our processes are as robust as they can be”, and set out measures to improve pre-event planning, production at live events, and the iPlayer takedown processes.
She added that she had written to Lindo, Jordan and Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku, as well as Tourette’s activist John Davidson, to “apologise directly”.
Best supporting actress winner Mosaku told Entertainment Weekly she had “no hard feeling” towards Davidson, but that the BBC’s failure to edit out slurs had “tainted” the event and later kept her awake at night and brought tears to her eyes.
Davidson said the BBC should have “worked harder to prevent anything that I said” from being aired, and questioned why he had been seated near a microphone.
He attended the ceremony because a film based on his life story, I Swear, was among the nominees, and went on to win three awards.
Director Kirk Jones said Davidson was “let down” by how the events unfolded.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy called the broadcast “completely unacceptable and harmful”, while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the BBC had made “a horrible mistake”.
Bafta ceremony host Alan Cumming apologised after the “trauma-triggering” show.
Elsewhere, the ECU dismissed “many complaints” about the BBC editing the words “Free Palestine” out of an acceptance speech.
Director Akinola Davies Jr made the remark as he ended his speech to accept the prize for best debut for My Father’s Shadow.
Davies Jr and his brother Wale, the film’s writer, spoke on stage for two-and-a-half minutes, but their speeches were edited to about one minute for broadcast, which the BBC said was due to time restrictions.
The ECU supported that explanation, concluding: “The production team’s decision did not hinge on considerations of impartiality. The principal consideration was that approximately three hours of recorded material had to be edited to fit a two-hour transmission slot.” (BBC)
Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Saudi Arabia as he visits Gulf allies after the US and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire.
The prime minister is expected to “discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire”, according to No 10. He will return to the UK on Friday.
The ceasefire comes after Donald Trump threatened “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not agree to end the war and unblock the Strait of Hormuz – comments that led Downing Street to call again for “de-escalation”.
Sir Keir said: “I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.”
He added: “Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.”
Sir Keir is also expected to meet UK military personnel in the region as part of his Gulf trip, which was planned before the ceasefire announcement.
For the Conservatives, shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly told BBC Breakfast the ceasefire is an “opportunity for Iran to make some serious choices” about how it behaves at home and abroad.
Former foreign secretary Sir James said the war was initiated to ensure Iran “never acquires a nuclear weapon” and that remains an “absolute priority”, adding: “So we’ll welcome this two-week ceasefire, but it’s time that mustn’t be wasted.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the ceasefire but questioned whether the UK could trust Trump, labelling him a “totally unreliable ally”.
Sir Ed said the Strait of Hormuz needed to be opened otherwise people would “pay a heavy price in inflation and lower growth”, adding: “So whatever it takes, but I do think we’ve got to stand up to America.
“America has caused this problem so we’ve got to work with allies who we can trust.”
Last week the UK hosted a virtual summit in which representatives from more than 40 countries began work to assemble a coalition capable of ensuring security in the Strait after the fighting has stopped.
This was followed by a military planning conference on Tuesday.
Iran and the US agreed to the conditional ceasefire on Tuesday, just over an hour before the expiry of the deadline Trump had set for Iran to make a deal.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the ceasefire was “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz”.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Iran would agree to a ceasefire “if attacks against Iran are halted”.
“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible,” he added.
The war began in February, when the US and Israel launched co-ordinated attacks on Iran over concerns Tehran was accelerating efforts towards building a nuclear weapon.
In response, Iran has launched strikes on its neighbours across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.
It also placed a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that serves as a critical shipping route through which a fifth of the world’s energy shipments usually transits.
The conflict caused the price of crude oil to spike, with sharp increases in petrol and diesel costs, leading to concerns about the cost of living in countries across the world. (BBC)
President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that the country will ultimately overcome banditry and terrorism despite current challenges.
He made the remarks while delivering a speech at the commissioning of the state-owned Gateway International Airport and Ogun State’s aircrafts in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area.
The president emphasised that Nigeria is on a path of development and greatness, driven by ongoing reforms in critical sectors of the economy, which have restored investor confidence.
“We will win over banditry and terrorism. I gave you the assurance that we will invest more in our people. Thank God for our youths, they are committed, brilliant and working hard. Nigeria, our country, is resolved to be great and is on the path to greatness once again,” Tinubu said.
The President added, “I sincerely appreciate the opportunity we have today to celebrate the remarkable vision of a governor and his predecessors. Today, we commission the economic nerve centre of our corridor.”
“In less than seven years, you, Dapo Abiodun, have demonstrated commitment, vision, and patriotism to grow Nigeria. We celebrate your contribution to national development. I have no regrets for whatever we have done with you.
“As your President, I am pleased to see that the increase in federal allocations is being effectively and judiciously used to build our country. I congratulate the people of this great state for supporting a government that is delivering measurable progress, and I thank you for your continued faith in our nation.”
Highlighting the people-centered nature of his administration’s investments, Tinubu said, “The Lord is liberating Nigeria from past mismanagement. We are back as a nation, well respected and highly recognized.”
He noted that the Gateway Airport is connected to investments in gas and energy and praised Governor Abiodun’s broader development projects, saying they reflect a commitment to progress that must “touch every level.”
Tinubu also commended Abiodun’s agricultural initiatives and the rollout of 1,000 electric bikes, describing them as “a smart response to modern transportation needs.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also attended the ceremony, thanked Tinubu for making the effort to participate and called the event a significant milestone in Ogun State’s history.
He commended Governor Abiodun for building the airport, noting that it is a landmark project.
“I’ve landed here from Abuja, and it took me 45 minutes to reach my home — at least 25 minutes shorter than if I had landed in Lagos. I want to thank our governor for doing us proud. I am happy to witness this historic occasion,” Obasanjo said.
He also recalled being part of the “conspiracy” to create Ogun State 50 years ago and noted that the level of development achieved under Abiodun is beyond what anyone could have imagined.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio lauded Tinubu for reforms that have, in his view, relieved states of salary arrears and other financial burdens. He also commended Governor Abiodun for constructing the Gateway Airport and for the judicious use of increased federal allocations.
Governor Abiodun, visibly elated by the president’s presence, described it as deeply symbolic. He praised Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” saying it has positioned Nigeria as a competitive investment destination and inspired confidence among local and international investors.
He highlighted that when he assumed office, he realized that for Ogun State to maximize its proximity to Lagos, the administration had to close the infrastructure gap.
Over the last seven years, Abiodun said, his government has enhanced trade mobility, expanded infrastructure, and positioned Ogun as one of the fastest-growing economies in Nigeria through deliberate policies that promote economic development.
Abiodun also highlighted accomplishments in transportation, housing, healthcare, energy, agriculture, security, and environmental sustainability.
He noted the construction of over 1,600 kilometers of roads, including the Epe-Ijebu Ode Expressway, Sango-Abeokuta Expressway, Ilishan-Iperu Road, and the Sagamu–Iperu–Ode Remo–Sapade Expressway, now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Expressway, which serves as a bypass to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The state has also developed the Muhammadu Buhari Estate, offering 100 semi-detached and fully detached housing units, and over 7,000 affordable homes.
In healthcare, Abiodun pointed to 140 completed and equipped primary healthcare centers and the 200-bed Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence, now affiliated with the Abuja Medical Centre of Excellence, which he said reduces the need for medical travel and positions Ogun as a hub for medical tourism. Energy projects, including the 34.1-megawatt Onijanganjangan Independent Power Project, are supporting industrial growth and economic expansion, while mechanized farming initiatives are strengthening food security across the state.
The administration has also deployed 100 pickup vehicles and other infrastructure to support law enforcement, and introduced electric bikes to promote sustainable urban transportation and mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by governors of Zamfara, Bayelsa, Taraba, Ekiti, Ondo, Niger, and Lagos states, as well as the deputy governors of Oyo and Lagos. Former Ogun State governors Senators Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Ambassador Femi Pedro, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, chairmen of Dangote and BUA Groups, Femi Otedola, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, CEO of Zenith Bank, and Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi were also in attendance. (Channels)
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has felicitated Christians in the state and Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration.
Oyebanji said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which was the essence of the Easter celebration, remained the greatest sacrifice for the redemption of mankind, which should be cherished.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, made available in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, urged Christians to emulate Christ’s virtues of humility, love, perseverance and compassion.
The governor said, “I wish all the people of Ekiti State and Christians across the country and other parts of the world, happy Easter as we celebrate God’s greatest sacrifice to mankind.
“Events leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were epochal in the annals of Christianity and humanity. They remind us of his virtues of sacrifice, love, harmony and peaceful coexistence among humanity.
“As Christians, this period offers us an opportunity to rethink our relationships as individuals, as communities and as a nation. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ typifies love, affection and tolerance.
“I want to urge Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ by positively impacting the lives of friends, colleagues, associates, neighbours and family members,” the governor said.
Oyebanji also solicited prayers from the people of the state and other Nigerians for a peaceful and successful conduct of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti.
He admonished governorship aspirants, party leaders, other politicians and their supporters “to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner before, during and after the election. Ekiti interest supercedes personal and partisan interests”. (Punch)
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has distanced himself from the contest over who succeeds him, stating that the people will determine the next governor in 2027.
Speaking on Saturday at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Yola, Fintiri dismissed speculation that he was backing any governorship aspirant, stressing that the choice of leadership rests solely with the electorate.
“The power to choose leaders rests with the people; no one will decide for them,” he said.
The governor maintained that he would remain neutral in the unfolding political process, urging aspirants to engage directly with the grassroots and earn their mandate through credible interaction with voters.
“Democratic leadership cannot be imposed but must be freely given by the citizens,” he added.
Fintiri also assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly governorship aspirants, of a level playing field.
His declaration appears to have reassured party aspirants who had expressed concern about their prospects following his defection to the APC in February, a move that positioned him as the party’s leader in the state.
Prior to his clarification, there had been growing speculation that the governor was keen on influencing the emergence of his successor. (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu in his Easter message yesterday, urged Nigerians, particularly political leaders to embrace restraint, responsibility and civic maturity ahead of the 2027 general elections, while also assuring citizens of his administration’s commitment to building a safer and more secure nation through intensified efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry, and other security threats.
Also yesterday, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, canvassed for care of the needy and less privileged in society, while Governors and other political leaders charged Nigerians to leverage on the spirit of the season to show love and tolerance for one another.
In his Easter message, addressed to Nigerians at home and abroad, the President acknowledged that, despite the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, challenges to national security have persisted.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Tinubu called for political responsibility, restraint, and civic maturity, stressing that the Election Act must guide the conduct of political parties and actors to safeguard democracy, peace, and national stability.
His words: “As the nation gradually approaches another electoral cycle, this season also serves as a call to civic duty and maturity. The Electoral Act must guide the conduct of our political parties and political actors. Let our choices be guided by a shared commitment to peace, continuity, stability, and the long-term good of our country. Democracy flourishes where responsibility, restraint, and informed participation prevail.”
The President expressed optimism that the country is on the path to recovery, citing improving economic indicators as evidence that the right choices are being made.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians to keep faith with the administration’s vision of a safer, stronger and more prosperous nation.
“Fellow Nigerians, you have been very supportive of my administration because you trust our ability to make our nation better. I will continue to serve to retain your trust. I enjoin you to keep the faith and never cease to contribute to the progress and greater future we seek, each in our own way, to the emergence of a democratically stronger, more prosperous, and safer nation,” Tinubu further said.
According to him, the government was making available the necessary resources and strengthening foreign partnerships to enable security agencies to deal decisive blows to terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
His words: “Despite the good efforts of the administration and the gallant efforts of our men and women of the Armed Forces who leave behind their families to confront the evil actors in our land, challenges to our security have remained. However, my administration continues to make resources available and forge foreign partnerships to enable us to deal decisive blows to the agents of terror and banditry.”
Tinubu noted that following his condolence visit to Jos, Plateau State, where he commiserated with victims of the recent deadly attack, security chiefs had given strong assurances of progress, while international support was also mobilised to reinforce Nigeria’s response.
He added: “On Thursday, I was in Jos to commiserate with people of Plateau State, share in their grief, and offer reassurances of better days to come. The leaders of the nation’s security institutions have given strong assurances of progress. We have also sought and are receiving assistance from outside our shores.”
He further assured residents of other parts of the country facing one form of insecurity or another that concerted government actions are beginning to produce results, urging citizens to support lawful efforts, remain united, and reject forces that threaten the country’s collective peace and stability.
“I am reassured that the citizens appreciate our efforts. I will continue to remind us of the imperative of unity and oneness. No nation can thrive where fear prevails, and no progress can be sustained without peace.”
The President said no nation can make meaningful progress where fear prevails, assuring communities affected by violence that better days lie ahead.
Tinubu said Easter season symbolises sacrifice, resilience, and the triumph of light over darkness, noting that its message resonates strongly with Nigeria’s present realities as the nation navigates economic stress and security challenges.
Also, wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, charged Nigerians to remember the needy in society and extend necessary support to them.
In her Easter message, the First Lady in a four-paragraph release titled ‘The Blessed Hope in Christ’s Resurrection,’ stated, inter alia: “Easter is a reminder of the enduring power of love and the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the hope His resurrection brings to all humanity.
“As we celebrate Easter with our loved ones, friends, neighbours and communities, let us remember those in need and extend compassion and support wherever we can.
“May the spirit of Easter inspire us to uplift the vulnerable, love one another, make sacrifices when necessary and work together to build a peaceful and prosperous nation for all.” (ThisDay)
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