Author: Alade Adisa

We need Russia to stop attacks, Zelenskyy says, backing calls for truce in air, at sea Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to overnight attacks by Russia, saying that “the first steps toward real peace must include forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop such attacks against life.” He also reiterated his call for a limited truce in the skies and at sea, as originally proposed by French president Emmanuel Macron. Here is what he said: ”Last night, the Russian army carried out another massive attack on our energy infrastructure. ”Various facilities were targeted in several regions…

The United States and Israel have rejected a Gaza Strip reconstruction plan that sees the devastated enclave being fully rebuilt without displacing Palestinians, as envisioned under President Donald Trump’s proposal to transform the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Under the $53 billion reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt at an emergency summit in Cairo on Tuesday, Gaza, which has been largely destroyed in Israel’s nearly year-and-a-half military offensive in the enclave, would be rebuilt over the span of under six years. Artificial intelligence-labelled images, released as part of a version of the plan agreed at a summit that…

A former presidential media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has challenged just-suspended lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti to undergo a lie detector test following her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In a detailed video posted on social media, Omokri revealed that Akpoti-Uduaghan made similar allegations against him in 2021. He said: “On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Natasha Akpoti had a dispute with me and after the dispute, she went on social media and accused me of sexually harassing her. “She claimed that at a state banquet at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, held by President…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has announced her intention to challenge the six-month suspension slammed on her after her spat with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements in the senate in court. Victor Giwa, the legal counsel to the Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissed the Senate resolution as a violation of a court order. Giwa spoke with journalists on Thursday after the Kogi lawmaker was suspended by the senate and walked out from the National Assembly complex. This comes as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi expressed displeasure over the handling…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the employment of 774 National Health Fellows, a pivotal initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Health to foster sustained improvements within Nigeria’s healthcare system. The president announced the fellows‘ employment on Thursday during the programme’s launch at the State House in Abuja. Nigeria’s development partners, senior government officials, and traditional leaders, including the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III attended the ceremony. The employment of these fellows, selected from each local council, stemmed from the recommendation of Professor Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Professor Pate lauded their selection as the…

A prominent Nigerian physician, politician, and former director general of the Labour Party campaign organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has died. He passed away at the age of 72 on Thursday. According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise. His health had reportedly deteriorated significantly, prompting concern among his loved ones and supporters. According to reports, his death was linked to cancer, marking the end of a long struggle with the illness. In October 2023,Okupe was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment. However,…

President Donald Trump on Thursday issued exemptions on tariffs for a wide range of goods coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, two days after putting in place sweeping 25% tariffs that rattled stock markets, as businesses warned the move would increase prices for consumers. The exemption would apply to goods compliant with the North American free trade agreement reached during Trump’s first term and will last until April 2, when Trump plans another round of retaliatory tariffs on goods from a range of countries. About half of goods coming into the U.S. from Mexico would fall under the…

Former president Barack Obama sat courtside at a Los Angeles Clippers game Wednesday — but notably without his wife, Michelle. Instead, Obama was spotted third-wheeling with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie Snyder, TMZ reported. The 44th president appeared to still have a blast watching the LA squad take down the Detroit Pistons 123-115. Former president Barack Obama sat courtside at a Los Angeles Clippers game Wednesday — but notably without his wife, Michelle. Getty Images When his attendance was announced on the big screen at the brand new Intuit Dome, Obama jumped to his feet and waved…

The state department has ordered an immediate pause on most US foreign assistance to South Africa, according to a cable seen by the Guardian, officially implementing a contentious executive order by Donald Trump. The directive, issued on Thursday, implements Executive Order 14204 targeting what the administration called “egregious actions” by South Africa. It orders all state department entities to immediately suspend aid disbursements, with minimal exceptions. “To effectively implement EO 14204, all bureaus, offices and missions shall pause all obligations and/or dispersion of aid or assistance to South Africa,” reads the cable, signed by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio.…

Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has reacted to the six months suspension slammed on her by the Senate after her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, had earlier recommended her suspension and also advocated that her salary and security details be withdrawn during the period of her suspension. The recommendations were subsequently put to voice votes and the lawmakers unanimously agreed that the Senator representing Kogi Central be suspended for six months. However, while the lawmakers were still voting on the recommendations, Senator Natasha told her…