Author: New Daily Prime

Moscow — With the faint hope of a ceasefire in Ukraine on the horizon, Russia is preparing for what it sees as an early Christmas gift: the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Behind the scenes, Kremlin officials are already compiling wish lists of which penalties they hope Washington will remove first. The Biden-era restrictions, followed by more under Trump’s second administration, have left Russia facing the world’s most extensive sanctions regime—over 6,500 U.S. measures since February 2022. But recent diplomatic gestures, including a statement from White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia’s promise to ensure safe passage through the Black Sea,…

IT IS becoming an odd tradition: America’s secretaries of state use their final days to catalogue their failings in the Middle East. John Kerry did it in 2016. Antony Blinken took his turn on January 14th. In a speech at the Atlantic Council, a think-tank, he described a litany of problems in Gaza: the misery of civilians; the failure to find an alternative to Hamas; the lack of a broader peace plan. As a piece of analysis, it was spot-on; as a farewell from America’s top diplomat, it was self-indictment. Joe Biden never worked out how to exert American power to achieve…

President Donald Trump unleashes a new wave of tariffs and touts his renewed focus on America’s military alliances in Asia, the expectation might be that China—America’s primary strategic competitor—is on the defensive. But behind closed doors in Beijing, the sentiment is far from anxious. Instead, Trump’s return to his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) agenda is inadvertently giving China a rare geopolitical and economic opening—one that President Xi Jinping appears both prepared for and eager to exploit. Tariffs That Hurt—But Also Help Trump’s latest executive action imposes a steep 34% tariff on Chinese imports, bringing the total burden to 65%…

By Dominic Penna Nigel Farage’s party stands to do well at county council elections after ex-Conservative candidates tear up membership cards At least 60 of Reform UK’s council candidates at the local elections next month have defected from the Conservatives. New analysis shows dozens of former Tory activists, councillors or candidates have torn up their membership cards and are now standing for Reform. Reform has surged in popularity in the nine months since the general election and overtook the Conservatives in the opinion polls at the start of this year. It stands to perform well at the county council elections, while Kemi…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has removed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Usaini Gumel, and redeployed him to the Force Headquarters department of Community Policing, Research and Planning, following comments he allegedly made criticising the federal government’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State. Gumel’s sudden transfer is believed to be connected to his offhand remark describing the March 18 declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy as “unconstitutional.” According to insider reports, Gumel made the statement casually during…

The management of Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Eleyele, has confirmed that 75 of its students have successfully received financial support through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The college’s Provost, Gbonjubola Owolabi, made the announcement during a meeting with the management staff on Friday at the college’s premises in Eleyele, Ibadan. The funds, she revealed, were received on Thursday, April 3, and they will help ease the financial burden on the students pursuing their education at the institution. Owolabi expressed her gratitude for the initiative, highlighting that a total of 78 students had applied for the loan, and…

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has praised Governor Monday Okpebholo for his victory at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal, describing the outcome as a sign that his ancestors had brought him to restore the lost glory of Edo State. During a solidarity visit by Governor Okpebholo to the Oba’s palace in Benin on Thursday, April 3, the monarch expressed his support for the governor and his administration. The visit followed the tribunal’s ruling that upheld Okpebholo’s election as the rightful governor of the state, a decision that was widely celebrated by his supporters. Oba Ewuare II, who spoke in…

The newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has called on the indigenes and residents of the ancient town to celebrate his forthcoming coronation with moderation, stressing the importance of peace and communal unity for the town’s growth. In a statement issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade, who ascended the throne in January 2025 following the passing of the late Oba Adeyemi, reminded the people of Oyo that “beating the drums of vendetta, persecution, and acrimony” would not serve their collective interest. “Promoting peace and communal unity is a collective responsibility of every…

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, following a unanimous ruling by a five-member panel. The apex court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had previously recognised Abure as the party’s national chairman. In its judgment, the Supreme Court stated that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to make such a declaration, as the case primarily concerned internal party matters, which are outside the judicial domain. The court stressed that disputes over party leadership fall within the realm of internal party affairs…

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.), has revealed that preparations for the state’s 2025 budget are well underway, with a sharp focus on healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and job creation. Ibas made the announcement on Thursday, April 3, during a meeting with a delegation of the Rivers State National Assembly caucus, led by Senator Barinada Mpigi, at Government House in Port Harcourt. The administrator explained that the new budget is being developed in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the state’s previous budget. He emphasised that efforts are being expedited to draft a…