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The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has quietly revoked visas for numerous Nigerian citizens without prior notice, affecting professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travelers and families.

According to Business Insider Africa, the federal facility has annulled these documents, citing “new information” under Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, but provided no further explanation, evidence or appeal process.

This latest move in the immigration crackdown affects Nigerians holding valid visas that were issued months or even years ago, many of whom had previously traveled to the United States without difficulty.

The revocations highlight ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Nigeria regarding immigration policies. Olufemi Soneye, the former chief corporate communications officer of Nigeria’s national oil company, NNPC Ltd, first noticed the action and described how longtime Nigerian travelers have now been blocked from re-entering the United States.

Nigerian citizens face humiliation following visa revocations

“Each had to abruptly cancel engagements, refund tickets, and explain to partners abroad why they could no longer show up. In some cases, the humiliation has been unbearable: travelers discovering at the airport, sometimes even at boarding gates, that their visas had been quietly invalidated,” Soneye wrote in an article for The Cable, a Nigerian-based newspaper, per Business Insider Africa.

He continued, “A few were briefly detained by immigration authorities before being sent home in shame,” noting that they were humiliated at local airports due to the revocation of their documents.

The sudden visa cancellations appear to be the latest in broader U.S. visa restrictions enforced by the Trump administration. In late August, Blavity reported that the U.S. Department of State had revoked over 6,000 international student visas, citing law violations like assault, driving under the influence, burglary and “support for terrorism.”

The effects of national U.S. visa cancellations

In June, the administration also rolled out new guidelines for international students looking to study in America on visas, which include having their social media accounts public to screen for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”

In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke out about the thousands of visas revoked for international students in an effort to protect colleges and universities.

“I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do,” he said at the time. “We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities.”

NBA YoungBoy recently went viral for giving back to local communities, including New Orleans. In his latest effort, he donated to several Dallas organizations ahead of his Make America Slime Again Tour.

The rapper, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, made rounds throughout the city before kicking off the highly anticipated tour Monday night. The tour already has three sold-out shows at the American Airlines Center, according to HotNewHipHop.

Which two nonprofits did NBA YoungBoy donate to?

YoungBoy donated a total of $50,000 to two Dallas-based nonprofits that support residents and public safety efforts. The first $25,000 went to Manifest Freedom, which his former attorney, Brittany Barnett, founded to help formerly incarcerated individuals launch their own careers through entrepreneurship, advocacy and reshaping narratives.

According to her website, she employs “effective investment models” to support people affected by the criminal legal system. Having grown up with a formerly incarcerated mother, Barnett has dedicated her life to advancing criminal justice. She also works to help incarcerated women and girls who are impacted by maternal incarceration.

YoungBoy gave the other $25,000 to Urban Specialists, a national nonprofit that recruits and trains local leaders from diverse backgrounds to drive positive change and strengthen communities. Since its inception in 1997, the organization has dedicated itself to combating violence and crime, creating safer neighborhoods for area residents.

‘I just want to help in any way I can’

WAFB reported that Atong Lucky, founder of Urban Specialists, said the 25-year-old Baton Rouge native’s support “sends messages throughout America that redemption and transformation are real for these young people.”

“You know, a lot of people be getting hurt, so it ain’t really cool at this point to me,” YoungBoy told WFAA about the donations. “I just want to help in any way I can.”

In May, Blavity reported that YoungBoy was the latest person to be pardoned by President Donald Trump after being cleared of a federal gun charge, for which he was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,” YoungBoy said in a statement shared online. “This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.” 

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has a new security detail, courtesy of the California Highway Patrol. The move comes as Trump continues to use his power to target political adversaries.

The reported new security arrangement comes just after President Trump cancelled Secret Service protection for Harris, his opponent in the 2024 presidential election. As Trump continues to target political rivals like Harris, officials within the state have stepped up to guarantee the vice president’s safety.

Newsom, Bass reportedly coordinate a new security detail for Harris

The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that the California Highway Patrol has come up with an arrangement to provide protection for Harris, who resides in Los Angeles. The reported security arrangement came one day after the Trump administration announced that it was ending the Secret Service detail for Harris. The exact details of the arrangement, including how long it will last, have not been made public, as the Secret Service, California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles Police Department do not generally share such specific information about their operations.

The new security agreement was reportedly created in consultation with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. nd A spokesperson for Newsom said that “our office does not comment on security arrangements,” but added that “the safety of our public officials should never be subject to erratic, vindictive political impulses.” A statement by Mayor Bass describes Trump’s decision to cancel Secret Service protection for Harris as “another act of revenge following a long list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more.” Bass added that “this puts the former Vice President in danger and I look forward to working with the governor to make sure Vice President Harris is safe in Los Angeles.”

Trump targeting political opponents

As Blavity previously reported, the Trump administration issued a letter on Thursday that cancelled Secret Service protection for Harris, effective September 1, 2025. Vice presidents typically retain a Secret Service detail for six months after leaving office, but President Biden granted Harris an additional year of protection, as allowed by federal law.  Cancelling the extended protection for Harris appeared to many to be a vindictive act by Trump, especially as it comes weeks before Harris begins a multi-city tour to promote her new book, 107 Days, a memoir reflecting on her 2024 presidential campaign.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has used the power of the presidency to go after political opponents. In March, Trump cancelled Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, the adult children of President Biden, breaking with tradition. Trump and other officials within his administration have made accusations of criminal wrongdoing against various figures, including Presidents Biden and Obama, as well as Federal Reserve Board governor Lisa Cook, whom Trump is attempting to fire based on an allegation of mortgage fraud made against Cook by one of Trump’s appointees. In addition to Harris, other California politicians have been targeted by Trump, including Mayor Bass, one of several Black women in positions of leadership who have been singled out by Trump. Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has been trolling the president with Trump-like posts on social media as part of a months-long feud between the governor and the president.

Now, Newsom and Bass appear to have worked together to protect Harris, even as all three continue to face the wrath of President Trump. For now, at least, an arrangement has been made to try and guarantee that Trump’s apparent vindictiveness does not compromise the safety of the former vice president as she prepares to tell the world more about her campaign against Trump.

Black St. Louis residents are demanding justice as they argue that the U.S. Army sprayed dangerous chemicals in their neighborhood in the 1950s without their knowledge. Per NewsNation, the residents are specifically speaking out against the Army’s use of zinc cadmium sulfide, which contains carcinogenic substances, in the St. Louis housing complex of Black Pruitt‑Igoe. While the government argues that the chemical is harmless, advocacy groups say it was a dangerous experiment that brought serious health issues and other consequences to the community.

Why did the Army spray chemicals in a Black St. Louis neighborhood during the Cold War?

The government admitted that the Army sprayed the chemicals in St. Louis in an effort to mimic Moscow’s environment during the Cold War. St. Louis was chosen as one of the cities for the experiment because the city is similar to Moscow in terms of population density and terrain, NewsNation reported.

Spraying chemicals from planes, rooftops and cars, the government conducted the test in St. Louis and about 30 other cities in the U.S. and Canada. James Caldwell, a St. Louis native, recalls the tests he witnessed during his childhood.

“It was a regular flatbed truck, but it had a big machine on the back, and it had a big nozzle that sprayed a fog. You couldn’t even see through it; it was that thick, and it would adhere to our skin,” Caldwell told NewsNation. “And as far as the guys on top of the buildings, they tried to portray them to us as maintenance workers, but what are the maintenance workers doing in a hazmat suit? They had masks and goggles.”

Cecil Hughes, another St. Louis resident, said she remembers getting sick from the chemicals: “My momma had to take me to the emergency room,” Hughes said.

Residents are taking their complaints to Congress

St. Louis residents are demanding justice; Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., is among the elected officials who are listening to the residents’ concerns.

“When American citizens have been impacted and exposed to chemicals because — specifically because of the federal government — I think that we should, as Democrats and Republicans, we should all do the right thing and make certain to make these folks whole again,” Bell told NewsNation. “Get them the compensation they deserve and the treatment that they need and also deserve.”

One of the key steps for the residents is to prove that they have been affected by radiation exposure. Ben Phillips is among the residents who are fighting to prove how he and many others were affected.

“My parents’ friends started dying,” Phillips told NewsStation. “I went to 10 funerals, and about seven or eight of them were cancer-related deaths.”

Phillips added that he lost his hearing because he had a tumor removed from his left eardrum. He also said his sister was struggling with convulsions as a baby.

How is the government responding?

In response to NewsNation, the Army pointed to a study conducted by the National Research Council in the 1990s. Per the Army, the study shows that the test in St. Louis didn’t cause a health risk. However, NewsStation also revealed another part of the NRC study, which concludes repeated exposure to zinc cadmium sulfide can cause health issues such as bone toxicity or lung cancer. Additionally, the NRC study was incomplete because it relied mostly on data provided from the Army, NewsNation reported.

Costco is undergoing some big changes after Labor Day Weekend.

According to USA Today, the retail warehouse chain’s extended hours and additional perks for its executive members have taken effect. Costco informed its members of the new policy back in June, and many were not happy to learn of the executive membership’s new rewards.

“Our Executive Members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco,” the retail warehouse chain wrote in an internal staff email, Newsweek reported.

What are Costco’s new executive member hours?

As of Monday, Costco will open for its upper-level members at 9 a.m., one hour before the chain’s other members can access the store, USA Today reported. Costco locations will also open a half-hour earlier on Saturdays—at 9:30 a.m.—for its executive members.

See Costco’s executive membership hours below:

Monday-Friday: 9-10 a.m.

Saturday: 9-9:30 a.m.

Sunday: 9-10 a.m.

What additional perks will executive members receive?

In addition to more time in-store and on top of the benefits of Costco’s Gold Star membership, executive members will also receive a $10 monthly credit for orders of $150 made via the company’s Same-Day service or Instacart.

According to Newsweek, Costco attributes 73% of its sales to its executive members, who make up 50% of its customers. The chain hopes the changes will offer executive members less crowded shopping experiences.

Executive memberships cost $130 a year, while Gold Star members pay $65. Costco also offers a business membership.

Donald Trump‘s health continues to be one of the biggest question marks of his presidency. Trump, who was seen with bruises on his hands in recent months, has now disappeared from the public spotlight for days, leading to wide speculations about the severity of his health condition.

When was Trump’s bruised hand first spotted?

The bruise on Trump’s hand was first seen in public in 2024. The dark mark appeared to be bigger when it was seen again in February as Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, New York Magazine reported. Trump’s bruise was also captured in a Getty photo, which stated that the President and his staff may be trying to cover the mark with makeup. As Trump’s bruise became even more visible in recent days, the public is still left with questions about his health.

What is the White House saying about Trump’s bruised hand?

Trump and his team claim that his bruise comes from too much handshaking: “It’s from shaking hands with thousands of people,” Trump said when he spoke to Time for the “Person of the Year” interview, according to New York Magazine.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt continued to echo Trump’s explanation when she spoke with NBC News: “President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day,” she said.

Still, the President’s team gave a different explanation during a press conference in June.

“I know that many in the media have been speculating about bruising on the president’s hand and also swelling in the president’s legs,” Leavitt said at that time. “So in the effort of transparency, the president wanted me to share a note from his physician with all of you today.”

As she proceeded to read a note from Dr. Sean Barbabella, Leavitt revealed that Trump is diagnosed with “chronic venous insufficiency.” The doctor’s note, according to Leavitt, states that it’s a “common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”

What are health experts saying about Trump’s chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis?

The Cleveland Clinic states that Chronic venous insufficiency is a result of damaged veins in the legs. CVI damages the valves in the leg veins—which are supposed to keep blood flowing to the heart, the Cleveland Clinic states. The damaged veins lead to swelling, ulcers and other symptoms. Although the symptoms may be mild at first, doctors say it can lead to serious complications over time.

What did JD Vance say about the possibility of taking over for Trump?

In an interview with USA Today, JD Vance said he’s prepared to step into Trump’s role if necessary.

“I’ve gotten a lot of good on-the-job training over the last 200 days,” the Vice President told USA TODAY. “If, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.”

Still, Vance didn’t show any concerns about Trump’s health: “The president is in incredibly good health,” he said. “He’s got incredible energy.”

Labor Day is a rest day for many people, but it’s also a day to complete some unfinished business for others. Those busy bodies who refuse to rest will have plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining, or other tasks such as home remodeling.

What are some of the popular stores that will open on Labor Day?

Some of the stores open on Labor Day include Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods. Walmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday while Target stores will vary depending on the location, USA Today reported. TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods will be open during their regular hours.

Other popular stores that will be open on Monday include Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace Hardware. While the hours for Home Depot and Ace Hardware vary by location, Lowe’s stores will operate during their regular hours.

Macy’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s and Nordstrom will also operate on the holiday. Macy’s, JCPenney and Kohl’s will be open during regular hours. Nordstrom hours will vary by location.

Victoria’s Secret stores will be open as well, and the hours will vary by location. For the outdoor enthusiasts, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s will open on Monday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

IKEA stores will operate during regular hours, while REI stores will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Burlington stores, also open on Labor Day, will have various hours in different locations.

Readers can visit most Barnes & Noble stores during regular hours on Monday. Some Barnes & Noble stores may have reduced hours.

Pet owners can visit PetSmart stores from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Petco will also be available during regular hours.

For office needs, Office Depot and OfficeMax stores will be open during regular hours.

When did Labor Day start?

Labor Day first became a holiday in 1882 in New York City, per USA Today. In the next 12 years, 12 states adopted Labor Day. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland officially declared that the first Monday in September would be a national holiday every year.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the special day celebrates “the social and economic achievements of American workers” and “recognizes the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.”