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FG sets July date for petrol pricing summit

The Federal Government has fixed July 23 and 24, 2025, for a national stakeholder forum to address mounting concerns over petrol pricing and supply dynamics in the downstream sector, amid growing agitation by independent marketers for price regulation.

The planned summit, organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, is expected to bring together industry operators, marketers, refiners, and government officials to deliberate on petroleum pricing standards, feedstock adequacy, and strategies to stabilise the deregulated market.

The Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installation and Transportation Infrastructure at the NMDPRA, Francis Ogaree, confirmed the date and summit at the just concluded 24th Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week held in Abuja.

The director further stressed the need for dialogue to build a resilient pricing system in the post-subsidy era. Recall that there has been agitation and concerns expressed by petroleum marketers over sudden changes in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, without prior notice by the Dangote refinery.

The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, has repeatedly emphasised the need for a stable market and consistent energy security, advocating for mechanisms to analyse price fluctuations and ensure they don’t negatively impact the industry.

Gillis-Harry called for transparency in pricing, particularly in relation to the impact of Dangote’s price reductions on retailers who may have purchased fuel at higher prices. They have also called for fair pricing practices and the avoidance of untoward practices in the industry.

Similarly, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria last month questioned the petroleum pricing regime, stressing that petroleum marketers are exploiting Nigerians through inflated petrol prices and insisted that the current pump price of PMS should range between N700 and N750 per litre.

Responding to these concerns, Ogaree said the NMDPRA was aware of the operational uncertainties confronting players in the sector, and has taken concrete steps to standardise pricing while encouraging more investment in local refining.

Speaking during the panel session titled, “Building a resilient and competitive refining sector”, he said, “We are engaging stakeholders at our forum, where we address the issues and proffer solutions. I would like to remind you that the NMDPRA has only been in existence for three and a half years. And in that period, we have achieved giant strides in the number of licenses we have given and in addressing the issues.

“Even on the issue of petroleum pricing, which is another one that we are facing now and relates to standardisation. It is a work in progress, and that is why at the latter part of this month, exactly on July 23 to 24, a two-day event, we will be talking about petrol pricing. Again, that is to allay some fears and put in some standards. The issue of pricing, everyone knows that it is a sensitive one and peculiar from one country to another, and the authority is working.”

On the outlook for refining capacity and supply security, Ogaree revealed that Nigeria now has a total of 10 operational and near-operational refineries, including the three NNPC refineries, the 650,000bpd Dangote refinery, and six modular refineries.

He added that some of the upcoming refineries would require between 1,000 and 200,000 barrels per day and are expected to commence operations by 2026.

“We have about 10 refineries right now. The three Nigerian National Petroleum Company refineries. We have Dangote refinery and six modular refineries. When I look at the combined capacity for those refineries, we need about 1,124,000 barrels per day.”

He noted, however, that the success of the downstream market hinged on the availability of crude oil feedstock to serve the growing number of licensed refiners.

“We know our current production capacity. These are just operating refineries. When I think about new refineries coming up very soon. Some of them need 200,000 barrels to 1,000 barrels, and I compute them together. Some of them would be on onstream by 2026.

“You know that this number of barrels has to grow, and there has to be more production if we are to meet up. The apparent fear, and I must be sincere, is on the feedstock. We have given out 47 licenses, all of which are to do establishments, construction, and they all go into operation. We must be able to meet their demands when they all go on stream.” (Punch)

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Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has confirmed he will have a successor, putting to rest speculation over whether the 600-year-old institution will end when he dies.

In a video message keenly-awaited by his followers, he said only the trust that he founded could appoint his successor and “no-one else has any authority to interfere in this matter”.

According to Tibetan tradition, Dalai Lamas are “reincarnated” after they die. China annexed Tibet in 1950 and the current Dalai Lama lives in exile in India, making succession a highly contentious issue.

Beijing rejected the statement, saying his successor would be from inside China and must be approved by the government.

Hundreds of followers gathered on Wednesday to hear the long-awaited announcement in the Indian town of Dharamshala where the Dalai Lama lives.

The Dalai Lama Library and Archive centre, where the video message was broadcast, resembled a sea of maroon with monks from all over the world in attendance.

“I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Dalai Lama’s statement said.

He reiterated that “the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama… should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition”.

Dharamshala is holding the Dalai Lama’s milestone 90th birthday celebrations which began on Monday – his birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar – and will conclude on 6 July, his official birthday.

Celebrations will be attended by more than 7,000 guests, including a number of Indian ministers. Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a long-time follower, is also taking part.

In the past, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism had been torn between whether to continue with the post of Dalai Lama or not. A few years ago, he said his successor might be a girl, or that there might be no successor at all.

But in recent years, he had also said that if there was widespread support among Tibetans-in-exile for the post – which there is – then it would continue and his office would choose a successor.

He has always insisted that his successor must be born outside China and his reiteration of the same on Wednesday did not go down well with Beijing.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation must comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as “religious rituals and historical conventions” and would need to be approved by Beijing.

Even though the Dalai Lama has always advocated a “middle way” to resolve the status of Tibet – genuine self-rule within China – Beijing regards him as a separatist. It says the standard of living of people in Tibet has greatly improved under its rule and denies suppressing their human rights and freedom of expression.

The Dalai Lama’s message “affirming that the continuation of the institution” has been welcomed by his followers.

Tsayang Gyatso, a 40-year-old businessman, said that for most Tibetans, the announcement is “a great relief and a moment of happiness”.

“I always had a belief that the reincarnation will come. But having heard it from His Holiness, I feel elated,” he told the BBC in Dharamshala.

Mr Gyatso, who had travelled from Delhi, said he felt “blessed to be here in person to witness His Holiness’s birthday”.

He said there was “a lot of propaganda from China on the appointment of the next Dalai Lama” which made him fear that the appointment process could be corrupted “but all that has been put to rest by His Holiness’s announcement”. (BBC)

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NDLEA seized over 200 million Tramadol pills, arrested 95 drug barons in one year — Marwa

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), has revealed that the agency seized over 200 million pills of Tramadol and arrested 95 drug barons in the past year as part of its intensified war against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.

Speaking during the 7th Public Lecture of the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Marwa said the NDLEA also arrested 66,000 drug traffickers and peddlers, impounded over 11 million kilograms of hard drugs, and secured 12,000 convictions within the same period.

Marwa linked the rise in drug abuse to growing mental health challenges in the country, stressing the urgent need for a holistic approach. “We are acutely aware of how substance abuse and mental health are intertwined,” he said. “Every day, we see lives shattered due to trauma, depression, anxiety, and social isolation, which often drive people to drugs.”

He shared a personal anecdote from his time as Nigeria’s defence adviser to the United Nations, recounting a 1994 incident in Yugoslavia where a mentally disturbed Nigerian officer on a peacekeeping mission killed a colleague—highlighting the dangers of unaddressed mental illness.

Marwa described the cost of drug abuse as both personal and societal, citing increasing cases of violence and theft among young addicts. “Behind every drug user is a family in distress and a society bearing the cost of lost productivity, rising healthcare expenses, and social instability,” he said.

He praised the PSN for its efforts in sanitising the pharmaceutical sector, particularly through the enactment of the Pharmacists Council Act of 2023, which strengthened regulations against prescription drug misuse.

However, Marwa raised concerns about the unchecked proliferation of illegal patent medicine stores across the country. “While 60,000 stores are properly licensed, over one million operate illegally—many of them selling controlled substances like Tramadol without prescriptions,” he stated.

Marwa revealed that a 40-foot container of Tramadol is worth N80 billion on the black market, emphasising the massive scale and profitability of the illicit trade. He disclosed that an informant once tipped him off about an attempt to smuggle 50 containers into the country.

To address the crisis, the NDLEA has intensified public advocacy efforts, conducting over 11,000 sensitisation campaigns in schools, motor parks, markets, and communities nationwide. The agency has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Narcotics Control Bureau, targeting the major source of illegal Tramadol shipments to Nigeria.

He concluded by calling pharmacists “strategic partners” in Nigeria’s drug war and promised to consider greater inclusion of pharmacists in NDLEA operations.

“We must keep working together to strengthen prescription regulations and promote responsible medication use,” he said. “Your profession sits at the critical intersection of public health and drug control.”

Earlier, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, spoke on mental health, lamenting the prevalence of mental health disorders in the country. He explained that Nigeria needs mentally sound citizens who can contribute meaningfully to national development.

“A community with a high prevalence of mental health disorders is not only destabilised but also lacks progress. It is, therefore, important that we take collective responsibility to ensure that our communities are mentally healthy. Socio-economic development is deeply tied to mental health,” he said.

“The World Health Organisation rightly asserts that there is no health without mental health. A nation with a high burden of mental health disorders will undoubtedly suffer a decline in productivity, a decrease in quality of life, and a strain on health resources.

“In the legislative assembly and personally, we have prioritised the issue of mental health, which is why we initiated the Lagos State Mental Health Law of 2018, which provides for the protection and care of individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.” (Sun)

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Supreme Court reserves judgment in Edo gov election appeal

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, over the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.

The apex court made this decision after hearing arguments for and against the appeal.

The appeal challenges the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which announced Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.

The appeal was heard by a five-member panel of justices led by Justice Garba Lawal.

Ighodalo’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Mozia, asked the court to overturn the judgments of the lower courts, which had upheld INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as winner.

On May 29, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the ruling of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Both courts dismissed Ighodalo’s petition, describing it as lacking merit.

On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and Ighodalo, citing the petitioners’ failure to prove claims of over-voting and electoral irregularities.

The petition, marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, alleged that Okpebholo did not win the highest number of lawful votes and that the election was marred by widespread irregularities, over-voting, and violations of the Electoral Act.

The PDP and Ighodalo alleged that the election involved incorrect collation of figures, errors in vote computation in 765 polling units, and a failure by INEC to serialise ballot papers or pre-record sensitive materials.

They claimed this enabled electoral malpractice in favour of the APC and its candidate.

During the trial, the petitioners called 19 witnesses and subpoenaed a Senior Technical Officer from INEC’s ICT department, who brought 154 BVAS machines from 133 polling units to support claims of over-voting.

INEC did not present any witnesses.

Okpebholo called one witness, while the APC presented four.

While the PDP asked the tribunal to nullify the election based on the evidence, the respondents countered that the case lacked merit.

They argued that Ighodalo failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he won the election or that there was significant non-compliance with the law.

Justice Kpochi, in the tribunal’s judgment, said, “We hold that the failure by the petitioners to call polling unit agents, presiding officers or other registered voters was fatal to the case.

“It still remains the law that documents do not speak for themselves. A petitioner must prove their evidence. The allegation of non-compliance must be proved.

“The BVAS machines were clearly dumped and remain dormant. None of the witnesses could speak to the BVAS machine. The machines were not demonstrated to prove the allegations of over-voting.

“All the evidence documents tendered by the petitioners to prove over-voting fall short of the requirements. The law requires that the petitioners shall call witnesses to link the evidence rendered.”

On the petitioners’ claims that INEC did not comply with electoral guidelines, Justice Kpochi ruled, “The petitioners failed to prove that the first defendant did not comply with the provisions of the electoral act or INEC rules of conduct as required by law.”

Regarding claims of missing serial numbers on ballots, the tribunal ruled, “There are figures here.”

The court also dismissed claims of a lack of prior recording of materials used in the poll.

In the final result announced by INEC, Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes while Ighodalo came second with 247,655 votes. (Punch)

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Ukraine fears increased Russian aggression after US halt of weapons supply

Kyiv has warned that an interruption of US weapons shipments will encourage Russia to prolong the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

On Tuesday the White House said it had cut off some weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

The decision was taken “to put America’s interests first” following a defence department review of US “military support and assistance to other countries”, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the two countries were now “clarifying all the details on supplies”, while the foreign ministry warned any delays “would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace”.

The ministry particularly emphasised the need for Kyiv to strengthen its air defences – as Russia continues to pummel the country with missiles and drones on a near-nightly basis.

A Kyiv-based US diplomat was invited to the foreign ministry for talks on Wednesday.

However, Ukraine’s defence ministry said it had not received any official notification from the US about the “suspension or revision” of the weapons deliveries, and urged people not to speculate on the basis of partial information.

But in a statement the defence ministry also said the path to ending the war was “through consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor”.

At the weekend Ukraine endured its biggest aerial attack since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with more than 500 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles launched at its cities.

US officials did not immediately say which shipments were being halted.

According to American broadcaster NBC, the weapons being delayed could include Patriot interceptors, Howitzer munitions, missiles and grenade launchers.

The US has sent tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, leading some in the Trump administration to voice concerns that US stockpiles are too low.

The Kremlin, for its part, welcomed news of the reduction in weapons shipments, saying reducing the flow of weapons to Kyiv will help end the conflict faster.

“The fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Fedir Venislavskyi, an MP for Ukraine’s ruling party, said the decision was “painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine… it’s a very unpleasant situation”.

A Ukrainian military source quoted by the AFP news agency said Kyiv was “seriously dependent on American arms supplies, although Europe is doing its best, but it will be difficult for us without American ammunition”.

Ukraine’s European allies have spent billions in military aid over the last three-and-a-half years.

However, military support for Kyiv is not endorsed by everyone on the political spectrum.

Czech President and former top Nato official, Petr Pavel, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine – but he told BBC Russian he could “not guarantee” continued ammunition support for Kyiv, as that was dependent on the result of forthcoming Czech elections.

“I don’t know what will be the priorities of a new government,” he said.

The Pentagon’s move is based on concerns that US military stockpiles are falling too low, a source told CBS News, although Anna Kelly stressed “the strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned – just ask Iran”.

Separately, the US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, said in a statement the Pentagon “continues to provide the President with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine”.

However, he added “the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces’ readiness for Administration defence priorities”.

The pause comes less than a week after President Donald Trump discussed air defences with Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit in the Netherlands.

Trump said US officials “are going to see if we can make some of them available” when asked by the BBC about providing extra Patriot anti-missile systems to Ukraine.

Referring to his conversation with Zelensky, Trump said: “We had a little rough times sometimes, but he couldn’t have been nicer.”

The two had a heated confrontation in the Oval Office in February. Afterwards, Trump said he was pausing military aid to Ukraine that had been earmarked by the previous Biden administration. Intelligence sharing with Ukraine was also suspended. (BBC)

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Court convicts social media influencers for Naira abuse in Oyo

Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has convicted two social media influencers, Bukola Rufai and Abdulateef Jimoh, for abusing naira notes.

This was contained in a statement released by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday.

The statement reads, “The convicts were prosecuted on a joint one-count charge that bordered on currency mutilation by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”

The charge read, “That you Bukola Rufai and Abdulateef Jimoh on or about the 25th day of September, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did match on Naira Notes, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 21 (3) of the Central Bank Act 2007 and Punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.”

They pleaded “guilty” when the charge, following which the prosecution counsel, Lanre Suleiman, reviewed the facts of the case, tendered incriminating evidence and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel, O.D. Ajadi told the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the duo are first offenders and have become remorseful of their actions.

Agomoh convicted “both offenders without a sentence and gave them N50,000 option of fine each.”

The statement added that both convicts paved their way for arrest and prosecution when they made a video of themselves, spraying and trampling on Naira notes and posting it on TikTok. (Punch)

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Ex-Int’l football player, 4 others arrested over 22.6kg cocaine at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a former international football player, Segun George Hunkarin, and his associate, Ntoruka Chinedu, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Chinedu, a regular traveller known for importing clothes from Turkey and exporting foodstuffs from Nigeria, was arrested on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, upon arrival from Turkey via an Ethiopian Airlines flight with a stopover in Addis Ababa.

A statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday stated that a search of his hand luggage uncovered 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grammes, which he had reportedly collected in Ethiopia before heading to Nigeria.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Hunkarin, a former professional footballer who had spent years playing in Brazil.

“Investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on an Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria. Further checks revealed that an accomplice, who turned out to be the former professional footballer Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport car park to collect the consignment from him.

“Hunkarin, who had spent years in Brazil playing for football clubs, was promptly tracked and arrested at the car park. In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but had never brought any to Nigeria,” he added.

In another development, Babafemi said a Europe-based businessman, Amen Okoro Godstime, was arrested at Lagos airport on Friday, June 27, while attempting to smuggle 5,000 tablets of tramadol (225mg) disguised as malaria drugs such as Lonart, Amatem, and Aluktem.

He added that Okoro was caught at Terminal 2 during the clearance of passengers for a Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain via Casablanca. Okoro claimed he intended to move the drugs to Italy through France, where he resides.

At Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted two drug traffickers arriving from different parts of the world on June 27.

He noted that one, 38-year-old bar attendant Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, was arrested with 17.5kg of methamphetamine and 3.05kg of cocaine concealed in bedsheets. He had travelled from Johannesburg via Addis Ababa.

The second, 54-year-old Azu Follygan Kpodar, arrived from São Paulo, Brazil, with a plastic liquid soap container that, upon analysis, was found to contain 1.25kg of liquid cocaine. Kpodar, who trades in toys in Brinquedo, São Paulo, claimed he bought the substance while shopping for his upcoming wedding in Nigeria.

Babafemi said, “At Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, NDLEA operatives on Friday, June 27, intercepted a Maputo, Mozambique-based bar attendant, Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 17 cardboard-sized parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.5 kilogrammes and three parcels of cocaine weighing 3.05 kilogrammes.

“The 38-year-old suspect was coming from Johannesburg, South Africa, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight when he was interdicted and subjected to a search, during which the illicit drugs concealed in bedsheets packed in his bags were discovered.

“Another passenger on the same Ethiopian Airlines flight, 54-year-old Azu Follygan Kpodar, was also intercepted at Enugu airport by NDLEA operatives. When Azu, who arrived from São Paulo, Brazil, was searched, a liquid soap plastic container marked YPE was discovered in his luggage. The substance was promptly taken for analysis at the NDLEA forensic and chemical laboratory, Enugu, where it tested positive for cocaine. The substance, which turned out to be liquid cocaine, weighed 1.25kg. The suspect, who is a toy seller in Brinquedo, São Paulo, Brazil, claimed he purchased the substance while shopping for his wedding ceremony in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives at the Seme border in Badagry arrested 26-year-old Vode Jean-Luck, a Beninese national, on June 24 while attempting to smuggle 69 balls of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 29.5kg, into Nigeria.

In Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Babafemi said operatives on 25 June raided the residence of a notorious drug dealer, Mary Bolanle Oladele, also known as “Iya Nafi,” recovering various quantities of skunk, tramadol, and flunitrazepam.

In another operation in Delta State, 72-year-old Christy Ejaro was arrested in the Niger CAT area of Warri on June 24. Several sachets of skunk packed for retail were recovered from the grandmother. (Punch)

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Trump says Israel has agreed to conditions for 60-day Gaza ceasefire

Israel has agreed to the “necessary conditions” to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that during the proposed ceasefire the US would “work with all parties to end the War”.He did not provide details on what the ceasefire would entail.

“The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope… that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump wrote.

Israel has not confirmed it agreed to the conditions of a deal. A Hamas official told the BBC the group is “ready and serious” to reach an agreement if it ends the war.

Hamas is “prepared to agree to any proposal if the requirements for ending the war are clearly met or if they lead to its complete end,” said Taher al-Nunu.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar posted on X that there is majority support in the government “for a framework to release hostages,” and this opportunity “must not be missed.”

For Israel, the key component of any deal will have to be the release of most, if not all, hostages still being held in Gaza.

Of the 50 or so hostages remaining in captivity, more than 20 are still thought to be alive and their plight has been at the forefront of regular demonstrations in Israel calling for an end to the war.

A recent Israeli newspaper poll suggested that a significant majority of Israelis want the war to end – but polling on Wednesday, from the Israel Democracy Institute, also suggests that most Israelis still don’t trust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or his intentions.

Netanyahu has for months insisted on “complete victory” over Hamas before ending the war. It’s unclear if his position will now change under renewed pressure from Washington – and the answer could be pivotal to reaching a deal.

Trump’s announcement comes before a meeting with Netanyahu scheduled for next week, in which the US president has said he would be “very firm”.

He earlier said that he believed Netanyahu wanted to end hostilities in Gaza. “He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.

Hamas has already indicated it would be willing to agree to a ceasefire if it led to the end of the war. But without that provision, Hamas negotiators might question the value of releasing all the hostages if the Israeli military is likely to resume bombing Gaza.

Another consideration before an agreement can be signed – perhaps while Netanyahu is in Washington next week – is Hamas’s demand for a partial Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, at least for the duration of the ceasefire.

The international community is also likely to lobby hard for the resumption of full-scale UN-backed aid deliveries into Gaza.

Prior to Trump’s announcement, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the BBC Israel was “absolutely” ready for a ceasefire.

Speaking on the BBC News channel, Danon said that Hamas was “playing hardball”.

“We are putting pressure on Hamas, and if they will not come to the table, the only option we will have to bring back the hostages, is to apply more military pressure,” Danon said.

“The war will end when the hostages are back home,” he added.

Last week, a senior Hamas official told the BBC mediators have increased efforts to broker a new ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, but that negotiations with Israel remain stalled. (BBC)

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New Ondo CP assumes office, seeks cooperation

The newly deployed Commissioner of Police to Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Razaq, has resumed the office on Monday as the 46th police commissioner in the Sunshine State.

Razaq took over from Mr Wilfred Afolabi, who had recently been deployed out of the state following the order of the Inspector General of Police , Mr Kayode Egbetokun.

At the handing over ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Ondo State Police Command, Akure, the state capital, the new CP called on the stakeholders and other sister security agencies in the state to support him in the fight against crimes and criminals across the state.

He said, “I want to appreciate what you’ve been able to do in this command. I’ve seen it as a very big shoe, but I have the confidence that with the management team around me and with the support of the good people of Ondo State, and of course, gentlemen of the press, they are going to summon everything. It’s not a speaking day, but however, I’ve taken the responsibility, it’s a challenge. I want to assure everybody that I will live up to expectations. All I request is the support of everyone, the stakeholders, because security is not sole responsible for the police. So I’ll call on all the stakeholders, the military, civil defense, non-state actors to give all the support that they gave my predecessor.

“The areas where we need to address, where we need to re-strategize, he (Afolabi ) has briefed me, and we are going to work on those areas. I want to thank the Inspector General of Police for giving me this opportunity, for being rewarded for coming to this command, to take charge, and I want to assure him that I will not disappoint. ”

Earlier, in the remarks , the outgoing CP, Wilfred Afolabi, who expressed appreciation to the IGP for giving him opportunity to serve in the state, said transfer was a normal development in the police force. He described the new CP as a thorough bred professional.

Afolabi also called on the men and officers of the command to cooperate with their new boss. He also sought the collaboration of other security agencies with the new CP for better and improved security of the state.

“I wish him success and at the same time, please, the type of cooperation you give to him, the same must be extended to him. You are all involved in these successes we are talking about. So it must be sustained and what that implies is that you must give him more support even than you have given to me. I have equally taken time to speak to all the officers too. The police job is one family.

“When I came in, I saw this problem of mutual trust and it dawned on me that that is one area I really need to work on. Mutual trust between the police and members of the public. And then we came up with this initiative of community safety partnership which has taken us even across the river.

“Whenever I go, I normally share my numbers with them. Which this number now, immediately I leave here now. I have to remove it. As a result of these meetings mutual trust that maybe had issues before improved. People felt more, they had confidence more in the police to share information with us. And I can tell you that 70 percent of the information that assisted us in having most of the major breakthroughs we had, came from members of the public,” he said. (Punch)

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Paramount to pay Trump $16m to settle 60 Minutes lawsuit

US media company Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million (£13.5m) to settle a legal dispute with US President Donald Trump regarding an interview it broadcast on CBS with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump filed a lawsuit last October, alleging the network had deceptively edited an interview that aired on its 60 Minutes news programme with his presidential election rival Kamala Harris, to “tip the scales in favour of the Democratic party”.

Paramount said it would pay to settle the suit, but with the money allocated to Trump’s future presidential library, not paid to him “directly or indirectly”.

The company noted the settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret.

CBS, which is owned by Paramount, previously said the case was “completely without merit” and had asked a judge to dismiss it.

The settlement marks the latest concession by a US media company to a president who has targeted outlets over what he describes as false or misleading coverage.

According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas, CBS aired two versions of the Harris interview in which she appeared to give different answers to the same question about the Israel-Gaza war.

Interviewer Bill Whitaker asked the Democratic nominee about the Biden administration’s relationship with Israel. The network later aired two different versions of her response, according to the claim.

One clip aired on Face the Nation and the other on 60 Minutes. Trump claimed Harris’s “word salad” answer had been deceptively edited in one version to shield her from backlash.

CBS said it edited Harris’s answer for time, in accordance with television news standards.

Trump sued, originally claiming for $10bn (£8.5bn) but that figure was later increased to $20bn ($17bn) for damages.

In May this year, the company offered $15m (12.7m) to settle the suit but Trump wanted more than $25m (£21m).

In a statement released on Tuesday, Paramount confirmed the settlement fee included the president’s legal fees, and that it had agreed that 60 Minutes will release transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates.

According to both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, the settlement was agreed – with the help of mediator – so as to not affect Paramount’s planned merger with Skydance Media, which the Federal Communications Commission has been reviewing and therefore Trump technically has the power to halt.

During the month-long settlement talks, some CBS News executives including chief executive Wendy McMahon have left their roles, due to their unwillingness to issue an apology to Trump.

There were also reportedly concerns over whether paying to settle the lawsuit could be viewed as bribing a public official.

A spokesman for Trump’s legal team said the settlement was “another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit.”

He added that CBS and Paramount “realised the strength of this historic case.”

CBS has said the broadcast was “not doctored or deceitful”.

The Paramount settlement follows a decision by Walt Disney-owned ABC News to settle a defamation case brought by Trump. (BBC)