Iran not planning to attend talks with US in Pakistan
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Iran has stated it is not currently planning to attend talks with the United States, according to state media. This announcement follows President Donald Trump's directive for US negotiators to travel to Pakistan for discussions, just days before a Middle East ceasefire is set to expire. A significant point of contention is the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports. The situation escalated when a US destroyer fired upon and seized an Iranian ship that reportedly attempted to evade the blockade. Tehran indicated it would retaliate, with reports of Iran sending drones towards US military ships after the vessel's seizure. Iranian sources cited by state broadcaster IRIB stated there are "currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks." Earlier reports from Fars and Tasnim news agencies, citing anonymous sources, suggested the overall atmosphere was not positive and that lifting the US blockade was a precondition for negotiations. State-run IRNA also pointed to the blockade and Washington's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands," concluding there was no clear prospect for fruitful negotiations under these circumstances. The ceasefire, which halted the Middle East war ignited by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, is nearing its end. The only prior negotiating session in Islamabad on April 11 ended inconclusively. President Trump, who has been under pressure to address Iran's actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stated he was offering a "very fair and reasonable DEA
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Tottenham Hotspur has condemned racist abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso following their 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton. Danso made an error in stoppage time, leading to Brighton's equalizer and keeping Spurs in the relegation zone. After the match, the 27-year-old was targeted with "vile, dehumanising racism" on social media. Tottenham stated on Sunday that the abuse has been reported to the police and relevant authorities, vowing to pursue strong action against those responsible. The club emphasized that performance on the pitch does not justify discrimination and affirmed their unconditional support for Danso. The incident occurred during the Premier League's "No Room For Racism" campaign weekend. Danso responded on Instagram, stating the abuse "doesn't define me" and would not distract him. The Premier League also condemned the abuse, warning of bans and potential legal prosecution for offenders. Anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out supported Danso, noting a rise in online abuse cases. This incident is part of a series of similar cases this season, prompting calls for stronger action against racism in football.
Iran's foreign ministry stated on Monday that the United States is not serious about diplomacy, citing alleged violations of a two-week ceasefire. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei pointed to a US attack on an Iranian cargo ship, a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon as "clear violations." Iran has been in conflict with Israel and the United States since February 28, following strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite a fragile ceasefire that began on April 8, a previous round of negotiations failed to yield a deal. US President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators would travel to Pakistan for further talks, but Baqaei indicated that Iran currently has no plans for the next round of negotiations. Key unresolved issues include Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Baqaei clarified that transferring enriched uranium to the United States has never been discussed as an option.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has issued a public warning regarding the circulation of unregistered and suspected counterfeit Colgate toothpaste. The alert follows a complaint received by its Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate concerning the distribution of these products in Kaduna State. An investigation by NAFDAC officials at an outlet selling the items led to the discovery of two suspected counterfeit products branded as “Coglaet ActivGel 100g” and “Coglaet Herbal 100g.” The shop owner stated the products were bought from a door-to-door sales representative, but no proof of purchase was provided. NAFDAC emphasized that these products have not met regulatory standards for registration and quality assurance, posing potential public health and safety risks. The agency has removed the items from circulation and is investigating to identify and track distributors. The affected products, “Coglaet Crema Dental Herbal 100g” and “Coglaet ActivGel 100g,” lack batch numbers and NAFDAC registration numbers. They are labeled as manufactured by Guangzhou YECAI Oral Cleaning Products Co., Ltd in China, with manufacturing dates in August 2025 and expiry dates in August 2029. NAFDAC has instructed its zonal directors and state coordinators to increase surveillance and remove counterfeit products. The agency advises distributors, retailers, and consumers to verify product authenticity before purchase and report suspected cases to NAFDAC via the
BreakingOil prices increased on Monday following Iran's decision to reclose the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil and gas transit point, citing the United States' blockade of its ports. This action occurred just a day after the strait was reopened. Despite this, Asian equities saw gains due to ongoing hopes for a resolution to the seven-week crisis, even though Tehran stated it currently has no plans to attend peace talks. US President Donald Trump indicated that a deal was "very close," but Iran quickly countered, asserting that its enriched uranium stockpile would not be transferred. The US blockade of Iranian ports has been a major point of contention in negotiations. Iranian sources indicated that there are no current plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks, with the lifting of the US blockade cited as a precondition for negotiations. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude contracts both saw significant jumps. The Revolutionary Guards warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the strait without permission would be considered cooperative with the enemy and targeted. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the blockade a "violation" of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Asian markets including Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai rose, while European markets like London, Paris, and Frankfurt dropped. The dollar, a safe haven, advanced against its main peers.