Author: Alade Adisa

Hamas is willing to cede political power and administrative governance of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian unity government, but would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is achieved, Dr. Basem Naim, a senior political official for Hamas, told NBC News. “We are ready today, if not yesterday, to step back from governance to hand it over to a body, a government, a committee, that is ready to run the Gaza Strip,” Naim said. Naim made his comments during a critical impasse: the first phase of a tenuous deal between Hamas and Israel is set to end on Saturday,…

…With ‘reciprocal’ duties planned for April President Donald Trump said Thursday that 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico would go into effect Tuesday. In a post on his Truth Social app, Trump said the tariffs were needed to combat the continued flow of illicit drugs into the United States. “We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA,” he wrote, adding that the tariffs would be imposed “until it stops, or is seriously limited.” Trump also said reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, which he threatened earlier this month, were slated to take effect April…

….As Hamas returns bodies of four hostages Militant group, Hamas has handed over the bodies of four hostages, and Israel has released more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, as the five-week-old ceasefire appeared to get back on track after a breach that had brought fears of a return to war in Gaza. The bodies of the hostages were transferred to the Red Cross in southern Gaza and driven to the border point at Kerem Shalom at about midnight, when immediate identity checks were carried out using dental records. By dawn on Thursday morning, three out of the four had been positively…

By the look of things, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who was impeached as speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, looks set to return to his former post. It was gathered that his security details have been restored just as those of his former deputy, who was elected to replace him after his ousting, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, have been withdrawn. After Obasa’s removal, the house unanimously elected Meranda, making her the first female to occupy the position in the history of the state. Though she is yet to officially resign as the Speaker of the House,…

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced that the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion and will soon take its maiden flight. Project Manager at NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, Engr. Kareem Aduagba, while speaking at a Focus Group Engagement in Kaduna on Wednesday, said significant progress had been made on the indigenous helicopter, which would soon be officially recognized as the “Nigerian Chopper.” The engagement session, organized by NASENI, brought together inventors, manufacturers, government officials, industry leaders, and academics to promote local innovation and discuss policies that will drive Nigeria’s industrial and technological…

An agency of the United States government, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said North Korea was behind the theft of $1.5 billion worth of digital assets, described as the largest crypto heist in history. According to reports, the theft took place last week. “(North Korea) was responsible for the theft of approximately $1.5 billion USD in virtual assets from cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit,” the FBI said in a public service announcement. The bureau said a group called TraderTraitor, also known as the Lazarus Group, was behind the theft. It said they were “proceeding rapidly and have converted some of…

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will impose 25 percent tariffs on the European Union (EU) “very soon” and claimed the bloc was “formed in order to screw the United States.” The US president made the remarks while holding his first wide-ranging cabinet meeting at the White House since his inauguration in January. The world’s richest man Elon Musk, who leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but is not a cabinet member, was among those present. During his second term as president, Trump has sparked fears of a global trade war by either imposing, or threatening to…

Pope Francis’s condition showed “a further, slight improvement”, the Vatican said Wednesday, while continuing to maintain the prognosis for the 88-year-old fighting pneumonia in both lungs was “reserved.” “The clinical conditions of the Holy Father in the last 24 hours have shown a further, slight improvement,” said the Vatican in its nightly bulletin on the health of the pontiff, who has been in hospital since February 14. “Although a slight improvement is being recorded, the prognosis remains reserved,” it said. The Argentine pope was originally admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital with breathing difficulties and bronchitis, but his condition subsequently deteriorated,…

A referee has reportedly been banned for six months after asking Lionel Messi for his autograph at the end of an Inter Miami game. WHAT HAPPENED? Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava approached Messi at the final whistle of Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup win over Kansas City last week and asked for his autograph to give to a family member with special needs. North America’s controlling football body (CONCACAF) opened disciplinary action against the 36-year-old. According to ESPN, Ortiz Nava has been ‘banned from officiating in CONCACAF competitions for six months’. THE BIGGER PICTURE This is not a good look…

Cristiano Ronaldo, Mane on target as Al Nassr bounce back Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane’s second half strikes secured crucial three points for title aspirants Al-Nassr against Al-Wehda in Saudi Pro League. The match started an hour after the scheduled kick-off time as Al-Nassr’s team bus broke down en route to The King Abdulaziz Sports City. The visitors started the game without two star players Marcelo Brozovic and Jhon Duran who missed due to suspension. To make matters worse, star defender Aymeric Laporte was forced to leave the pitch with an injury in the 12th minute of the match as…