World News
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega dies at 83
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, a onetime U.S. ally who was ousted by an American invasion in 1989, died late Monday at age 83.
Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela wrote in his Twitter account that “the death of Manuel A. Noriega closes a chapter in our history.”
Varela added, “His daughters and his relatives deserve to mourn in peace.”
Noriega ruled with an iron fist, ordering the deaths of those who opposed him and maintaining a murky, close and conflictive relationship with the United States.
After his downfall, Noriega served a 17-year drug sentence in the United States, then was sent to face charges in France. He spent all but the last few months of his final years in a Panamanian prison for murder of political opponents during his 1983-89 regime.
He accused Washington of a conspiracy to keep him behind bars and tied his legal troubles to his refusal to cooperate with a U.S. plan aimed at toppling Nicaragua’s leftist Sandinista government in the 1980s.
In recent years Noriega suffered various ailments including high blood pressure and bronchitis.
In 2016, doctors detected the rapid growth of a benign brain tumor that had first been spotted four years earlier, and in January a court granted him house arrest to prepare for surgery on the tumor.
He is survived by his wife Felicidad and daughters Lorena, Thays and Sandra.
Following Noriega’s ouster Panama underwent huge changes, taking over the Panama Canal from U.S. control in 1999, vastly expanding the waterway and enjoying a boom in tourism and real estate.
Today the Central American nation has little in common with the bombed-out neighborhoods where Noriega hid during the 1989 invasion, before being famously smoked out of his refuge at the Vatican Embassy by incessant, loud rock music blared by U.S. troops.
Known mockingly as “Pineapple Face” for his pockmarked complexion, Manuel Antonio Noriega was born poor in Panama City on Feb. 11, 1934, and was raised by foster parents.
He joined Panama’s Defense Forces in 1962 and steadily rose through the ranks, mainly through loyalty to his mentor, Gen. Omar Torrijos, who became Panama’s de facto leader after a 1968 coup.
As Torrijos’ intelligence chief, Noriega monitored political opponents and developed close ties with U.S. intelligence agencies guarding against possible threats to the canal. Two years after Torrijos died in a mysterious plane crash in 1981, Noriega became the head of the armed forces and Panama’s de facto ruler.
Noriega was considered a valued CIA asset and was paid millions of dollars for assistance to the U.S. throughout Latin America, including acting as a liaison to Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Noriega also helped the U.S. seize drugs at sea and track money laundering in Panama’s banks, and reported on guerrilla and terrorist activities.
Washington ultimately soured on him, especially after a top political opponent was killed in 1985 and Noriega appeared to join forces with Latin American drug traffickers. Foes in the Panamanian military attempted several coups but failed, and their leaders were summarily executed by firing squad.
The beginning of his downfall came in 1988 when federal grand juries in the Florida cities of Miami and Tampa indicted Noriega on drug-trafficking charges.
Initially he reacted with defiance at U.S. economic sanctions designed to drive him from power. He famously waved a machete at a rally while vowing not to leave, and in 1989 he nullified elections that observers say were handily won by the opposition.
U.S. President George H.W. Bush ordered the invasion in December 1989, and Noriega was captured and taken to Miami. During the operation, 23 U.S. military personnel died and 320 were wounded, and the Pentagon estimated 200 Panamanian civilians and 314 soldiers were killed.
Prosecutors accused Noriega of helping Colombia’s Medellin cocaine cartel ship “tons and tons of a deadly white powder” to the United States.
The defense cited court documents describing him as the “CIA’s man in Panama” and argued that the indictment “smells all the way from here to Washington.”
Jurors convicted Noriega in April 1992 of eight of 10 charges. Under the judge’s instructions, they were told not to consider the political side of the case — including whether the U.S. had the right to invade Panama and bring Noriega to trial in the first place.
During his years at a minimum-security federal prison outside Miami, Noriega got special prisoner of war treatment, allowed to wear his Panamanian military uniform and insignia when in court.
He lived in a bungalow apart from other inmates and had his own television and exercise equipment. He was said to be a TV news junkie and a voracious reader about politics and current events.
After completing his 17-year sentence in 2007, Noriega was extradited to France and received a seven-year sentence for money laundering.
But Panama wanted Noriega to return to face in-absentia convictions and two prison terms of 20 years for embezzlement, corruption and murder of opponents, including military commander Moises Giroldi, who led a failed rebellion on Oct. 3, 1989, and Hugo Spadafora, whose decapitated body was found in a mailbag on the border with Costa Rica in 1985.
In mid-2011, France approved his extradition to Panama.
Despite amassing great wealth, Noriega had worked hard to cultivate an image of a man of the people. He lived in a modest, two-story home in an upper-middle-class neighborhood in Panama City that stood in stark contrast with the opulent mansions customary among Latin American dictators.
“He would only say ‘hello’ very respectfully,” said German Sanchez, who lived next door for 16 years. “You may think what you like of Noriega, but we can’t say he was anything but respectful toward his neighbors.”
“The humble, the poor, the blacks, they are the utmost authority,” Noriega said in one speech.
While some resentment lingers over the U.S. invasion, Noriega has so few supporters in modern-day Panama that attempts to auction off his old home attracted no bidders and the government decided to demolish the decaying building.
“He is not a figure with political possibilities,” University of Panama sociologist Raul Leis said in 2008. “Even though there’s a small sector that yearns for the Noriega era, it is not a representative figure in the country.”
Noriega broke a long silence in June 2015 when he made a statement from prison on Panamanian television to ask forgiveness of those harmed by his regime.
“I feel like as Christians we all have to forgive,” he said, reading from a handwritten statement. “The Panamanian people have already overcome this period of dictatorship.”
But for the most part Noriega stayed mum about elite military and civilian associates who thrived on the corruption that he helped instill — and which still plagues the Central American nation of some 3.9 million people, a favored transshipment point for drugs and a haven for money laundering.
“He kept his mouth shut and died for the sins of others,” R.M. Koster, an American novelist and the biographer of Noriega, said in a 2014 interview. “Nobody else ever went to prison.”
Meanwhile, families of more than 100 who were killed or disappeared during his rule are still seeking justice.
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Israel has informed U.S. President Donald Trump that it will refrain from further attacks on Iran in a conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday
Netanyahu’s office said.
Trump had stressed his confidence in the stability of the ceasefire he had announced earlier, the report said.
Trump announced the ceasefire late Monday, and it was confirmed by Israel and Iran on Tuesday.
But both sides accused the other of violations, and Trump also stated that both had broken the ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu’s office reported those, four hours before the ceasefire was to go into effect, Israeli forces had killed hundreds of Iranian security personnel and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran had in turn launched a barrage of missiles shortly before the ceasefire deadline, a single missile six minutes after the ceasefire had gone into effect and a further two missiles around three and a half hours later, it said.
“These missiles were either intercepted or fell in open areas, and caused neither casualties nor damage,” Netanyahu’s office said.
“In response to Iran’s violations, the Air Force destroyed a radar installation near Tehran,” it added.
In the conversation with Netanyahu, Trump had expressed his great appreciation for Israel, which achieved all of its objectives for the war, as well as his confidence in the stability of the ceasefire, Netanyahu’s office said.
…As NGO backs NDLEA, urges investment in drug prevention
An NGO, Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA), has stressed the critical role of community-led initiatives in curbing the rising menace of drug abuse and trafficking among young people.
The Executive Director and Founder of VGADA, Dr Hope Omeiza, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja in commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Omeiza maintained that communities remained the most powerful force in combating drug abuse.
He emphasised that long-term success in prevention could only be achieved when community structures like families, schools, faith groups, and traditional institutions were actively involved.
The international observance, held annually on June 26, is themed “Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention” this year.
“This reflects a growing global consensus that prevention, rather than punishment, is the most effective, sustainable approach to addressing substance abuse, particularly among youth.
“Prevention is not a one-time event. It is a continuous, community-driven process that requires trust, access, and sustained engagement.
“That is why VGADA works closely with local leaders, teachers, and parents in addressing the drug crisis from the ground up,” he said.
Omeiza explained that VGADA’s community-based approach had included training peer educators, establishing school drug-free clubs, organising town hall meetings, and providing mental health support for at-risk youth.
He noted that while law enforcement remained essential, the demand side of the drug problem required just as much attention.
“Over the past year, the organisation has reached thousands of young Nigerians through these initiatives.
“We can’t keep waiting until young people become addicted. By then, we’re already playing catch-up. The solution lies in early education, mental health support, and community vigilance,” he said.
The NGO boss commended NDLEA’s inclusive approach to the World Drug Day activities, noting that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) bring the voices and experiences of everyday Nigerians into the national conversation.
He called on stakeholders, including local government councils, health institutions, security agencies, and the media, to decentralise prevention efforts and support ongoing advocacy at the community level.
He also urged corporate organisations and development partners to invest in prevention projects that have direct reach and measurable impact, especially in underserved areas.
“The fight against drug abuse must be localised. When communities take ownership of prevention, the outcomes are more sustainable and culturally relevant.
“VGADA also urges governments at all levels to increase funding for drug prevention programmes and to integrate drug education into formal and informal learning systems.
“We also call on parents, teachers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and the private sector to work together in protecting young people from the lure of drugs.
“Drug abuse does not discriminate. It affects all segments of society, the rich and poor, educated and uneducated, urban and rural. Our response must be just as widespread and inclusive,” Omeiza maintained.
The Newsmen reports that as part of the observance, VGADA will be engaging in sensitisation rallies, media appearances, and interactive sessions with young people across Abuja, Lagos, and selected states in Northern Nigeria.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was established by the United Nations in 1987 to promote global awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse.
Also marked to strengthen international cooperation in achieving a drug-free world.
In another development, the Anti-Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse Initiative (AKH-TRACADA), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for increased investment in drug abuse prevention efforts across the country.
The Founder and Executive Director of the NGO, Primate Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The Press reports that the NDLEA had earlier commenced the week-long observance with a press conference on Wednesday, June 18, in collaboration with UNODC, and set Monday, June 23, as NGOs Day.
The theme for the 2025 World Drug Day is tagged Evidence is Clear; Invest in Prevention.
Ezeanyaeche, who said that the organisation threw its weight behind NDLEA, commended them for dedicating a day during the anti-drug awareness week to spotlight the work of NGOs.
He, however, believed that the move would further strengthen the synergy between government agencies and grassroots advocates.
He emphasised that only a proactive and community-driven approach could address the root causes of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, especially among young people.
He urged governments at all levels, stakeholders, and the private sector to prioritise prevention strategies as a sustainable approach to ending the drug crisis.
“Drug abuse continues to destroy the future of our youth and weaken the fabric of our society.
“The evidence is clear; investing in prevention reduces crime, saves lives, and strengthens families.
“Our communities must no longer treat drug use as a hidden issue but one that demands bold, early, and sustained intervention.
“We believe prevention is not only possible but also the most effective and cost-efficient solution. Our experience working in vulnerable communities has shown that prevention works.
“We have seen youths turn away from drugs after being educated, supported, and empowered with alternative pathways.
“The time has come to shift more resources and attention towards prevention, not just enforcement and rehabilitation,” he said.
Ezeanyaeche outlined the organisation’s contributions, which included community-based sensitisation campaigns, youth mentorship programmes.
This, he added to include school outreach and provision of psychosocial support for drug-dependent individuals, among others.
“We have our ongoing work in schools, rural communities, and among at-risk youth, where we offer counselling, sensitisation, and empowerment programmes.
“We also provide referrals for rehabilitation and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to curb drug demand at the grassroots,” he added.
Ezeanyaeche, however, reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the NDLEA and other relevant agencies to combat drug abuse and related crimes.
He called for the integration of drug education into school curricula, stronger parental involvement, and the establishment of community-based prevention programmes nationwide.
“While enforcement remains vital, it cannot work in isolation. The future lies in prevention. Nigeria must invest in protecting its most valuable resource, which is its young people, “he said.
It was reported that the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed globally on June 26, is an annual reminder of the urgent need for united action against drug abuse, especially among youth.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reiterated
commitment to raising public awareness about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) care and services.
The agency’s Director in Jigawa, Mr Ahmad Tijjani, gave the assurance in Dutse on Thursday at an event to commemorate the 2025 World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD).
The Newsmen reports that WSCD) It is annually marked on June 19 to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease. It also serves as a platform to highlight the challenges faced by patients and families impacted by the disease.
The global observance has “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Self-Advocacy” as the theme for 2025.
SCD is a group of inherited haemoglobin-related blood disorders which cause red blood cells to adopt an abnormal sickle-like shape under certain circumstances, making them unable to pass through capillaries, causing blockages.
Sickle cell disease occurs when a person inherits two abnormal copies of the β-globin gene that makes haemoglobin, one from each parent.
The NOA director, therefore, called for increased sensitisation about the genetic blood disorder, saying that the agency remained committed to raising awareness so as to encourage community participation and self-advocacy for effective management and support for SCD patients.
According to him, the sensitisation also includes an effort to combat myths and misconceptions about the disease.
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