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WHEN LIES GO VIRAL: DEFENDING TRUTH IN NIGERIA AND WEST AFRICA’S DIGITAL PUBLIC SPHERES

Across Nigeria and West Africa, digital technology has reshaped how citizens engage with information, governance, and public debate. Mobile phones and social media platforms have become dominant sources of news, especially for young people and communities with limited access to traditional media. While this transformation has expanded civic participation and freedom of expression, it has also intensified the spread of misinformation, posing serious risks to democracy, public health, and social cohesion. Misinformation is no longer a marginal problem. It is a structural challenge that affects elections, security, development communication, and trust in public institutions. Addressing it requires coordinated action that combines ethical journalism, media literacy, platform accountability, and evidence based policy responses. THE DIGITAL INFORMATION LANDSCAPE IN NIGERIA AND WEST AFRICA Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of its most digitally active societies. So...

Why are Arab countries worried about the possible collapse of Iran’s government?

After tensions flared between Washington and Tehran following the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on protesters, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman launched a major effort to prevent U.S. President Donald Trump from attacking Iran, out of fear that such a move would trigger a “devastating reaction in the region,” a senior Saudi official told AFP. The Saudi official said the three Gulf countries carried out intense diplomatic efforts to persuade the U.S. president to give Iran’s leaders an opportunity to show remorse, adding that communication channels remain open to help build mutual trust. How do the Persian Gulf countries view their “neighbor plagued by instability,” and what are their concerns about its current situation? Gulf diplomacy in a critical moment. The possibility of U.S. military action against Iran has been a key issue causing serious concern in Arab diplomatic efforts, especially among countries of the Gulf region. This concern stems from their proximity to...

Iran seeks talks with us after threat of attack – Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Iranian authorities have contacted the United States to seek talks, following his threat to take military action over the killing of protesters in the country. Trump made the statement while speaking to journalists, saying that a meeting between the two sides has already been planned, but that the United States might take some action before the meeting takes place. Meanwhile, a human rights organization in Iran says it has confirmed the deaths of nearly 500 people since the outbreak of the protests. Likewise, some circulating video clips show a site outside Iran where bodies are being kept, with people going there to search for the remains of their relatives who have gone missing.