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UK Bars Israeli Officials From Attending London Arms Fair Amid Gaza Row

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UK Bars Israeli Officials From Attending London Arms Fair Amid Gaza Row

The UK government has announced that Israeli officials will not be invited to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair in London next month, a decision that has sparked a sharp backlash from Israel’s defence ministry.

“We can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025,” a UK defence ministry spokesperson said Friday. However, Israeli defence companies will still be permitted to participate in the biennial event.

The move comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government intensifies diplomatic pressure on Israel over its ongoing military operations in Gaza. In recent months, Britain has suspended arms export licences for weapons intended for use in Gaza, halted free trade talks with Israel, and sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers.

“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong,” the UK statement said, calling for “an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages, and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”

Israel’s defence ministry condemned the decision as “a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination,” declaring that it would withdraw from the exhibition and forgo establishing a national pavilion.

The announcement follows Starmer’s pledge last month that Britain will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to agree to a truce in Gaza.

Elsewhere in Europe, France in June blocked several Israeli arms manufacturers from displaying “offensive weapons” at the Paris Air Show. EU foreign ministers are set to meet in Copenhagen on Saturday to consider fresh sanctions against both Israel and Hamas, with Sweden and the Netherlands among those pushing for stronger action.

Fenerbahce Sack Jose Mourinho After Champions League Exit

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Fenerbahce Sack Jose Mourinho After Champions League Exit

Fenerbahce have dismissed Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, just over a year after his appointment, following the club’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League playoffs at the hands of Benfica.

“We are parting ways with Jose Mourinho, manager of our professional A team since the 2024–2025 season,” the Turkish side announced in a statement on Friday.

Mourinho, who joined Fenerbahce in June 2024, leaves after failing to guide the club into the Champions League group stage. His departure marks yet another short spell in management for the veteran coach, who has previously managed Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Roma.

Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan Face Imminent Shortages of Life-Saving Food for Malnourished Children — Save the Children

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Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan Face Imminent Shortages of Life-Saving Food for Malnourished Children — Save the Children

At least four African countries — Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan — are expected to run out of specialised therapeutic food for severely malnourished children within the next three months, international aid group Save the Children has warned.

The group said stocks of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) such as high-energy biscuits and the peanut-based Plumpy’Nut paste were reaching critically low levels following major aid cuts. Some clinics have already begun resorting to less effective alternatives.

“At a time when global hunger is sky-rocketing, the funding that could save children’s lives has been cut,” said Yvonne Arunga, Save the Children’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

In Kenya, where about 2.8 million people suffered high levels of acute food insecurity during this year’s March-to-May rainy season, RUTF stocks are projected to run out by October. Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan are also expected to deplete supplies within the next three months.

Save the Children did not directly identify the donors responsible for the shortfall, but funding reductions by the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s administration and by other Western governments have sharply affected aid delivery. Earlier this year, cuts left 60,000 to 66,000 metric tons of food stranded in warehouses, including 1,100 tons of fortified biscuits. Nearly 500 tons expired and had to be destroyed, while 600 tons were later handed to the U.N. World Food Programme.

Globally, the funding cuts are expected to prevent 15.6 million people across 18 countries from accessing nutrition treatment this year, including 2.3 million severely malnourished children.

Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department announced $93 million in support for RUTF supplies to treat more than 800,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 13 countries, among them Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Government officials in the affected countries have not yet commented on the crisis.

AC Milan Agree £36m Deal To Sign Chelsea Forward Nkunku

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AC Milan Agree £36m Deal To Sign Chelsea Forward Nkunku

AC Milan have reached an agreement worth £36 million, including add-ons, to sign Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku.

The 27-year-old has been cleared to undergo a medical and is expected to accept a pay cut in order to finalize the move. He will sign a five-year contract with the Italian club, ending his two-year spell at Stamford Bridge. The deal also includes a sell-on clause in Chelsea’s favour.

Nkunku’s exit is expected to spark further transfer activity at Chelsea, with negotiations ongoing for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, while striker Nicolas Jackson is in talks with Bayern Munich over a potential loan deal that could include an obligation to buy.

Shettima Presides Over NEC Meeting With Governors At Presidential Villa

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Shettima Presides Over NEC Meeting With Governors At Presidential Villa

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday chaired the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In attendance were the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.

Also present were governors from Zamfara, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra, Gombe, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and Ondo states, as well as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

BREAKING: Nigeria Immigration Hikes Passport Fees To ₦100,000 And ₦200,000

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BREAKING: Nigeria Immigration Hikes Passport Fees To ₦100,000 And ₦200,000

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a sharp increase in the cost of international passports, with new rates set to take effect from September 1, 2025.

According to a statement issued Thursday by Immigration spokesman A.S. Akinlabi, the reviewed fees apply only to applications made in Nigeria. A 32-page passport with a five-year validity will now cost ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport with a ten-year validity has been raised to ₦200,000 — representing about a 100% increase from the old fees.

For Nigerians abroad, passport fees remain unchanged at $150 for a 32-page, five-year document and $230 for a 64-page, ten-year passport.

The NIS said the review balances the need for quality service delivery with accessibility for all Nigerians.

The increase comes at a time when Nigeria is witnessing record unemployment and a mass migration wave, popularly known as the “Japa” phenomenon. Large numbers of young Nigerians and middle-class professionals are relocating to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe in search of better opportunities.

Nigerians in the diaspora have become a major contributor to the nation’s economy, remitting over $20 billion annually as of 2023, according to World Bank data.

African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina has described the Japa trend as a significant loss for Africa, urging leaders to invest in the continent’s youth. “I do not believe that the future of our young people lies in Europe; it doesn’t lie in America, it doesn’t lie in Canada, Japan or China; it should lie in Africa growing well, growing robustly and able to create quality jobs for our young people,” he said.

Dangote Signs $2.5bn Deal To Build Fertiliser Plant In Ethiopia

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Dangote Signs $2.5bn Deal To Build Fertiliser Plant In Ethiopia

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has sealed a $2.5 billion agreement with the Ethiopian government to construct a large-scale fertiliser plant aimed at boosting the country’s food security and reducing reliance on imports.

Under the deal signed Thursday in Addis Ababa, Dangote will hold a 60% stake in the facility, while Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) will own the remaining 40%. The plant, to be built in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region, will be connected by pipeline to the Calub and Hilala natural gas fields in the southeast.

Designed to produce 3 million tons of fertiliser annually, the project is expected to take 40 months to complete. EIH said it would cut foreign exchange pressures and provide a reliable supply for Ethiopian farmers.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the agreement as a “landmark” step toward food sovereignty. “This project will create jobs locally, ensure a reliable fertiliser supply for our farmers who have long faced challenges, and mark a decisive step in our path to food sovereignty,” he said.

Dangote, whose group already operates cement plants across Africa and a 3 million-ton fertiliser hub in Nigeria, said the partnership aligns with a broader vision to industrialise Africa. “This partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent,” he noted.

The project marks one of the largest private-sector investments in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector to date.

White House Ousts CDC Director Monarez After Standoff With RFK Jr. Over Vaccine Policy

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White House Ousts CDC Director Monarez After Standoff With RFK Jr. Over Vaccine Policy

The White House has fired Susan Monarez, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after she refused to resign amid a power struggle with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over sweeping changes to vaccine policy.

Monarez, who was confirmed by the Senate less than a month ago, had been under pressure to step aside after declining to endorse Kennedy’s controversial overhaul, which includes restricting access to Covid-19 vaccines and cutting funding for new vaccine research.

Her lawyers said she had not resigned and had received no formal notification from the president regarding her dismissal. “As a presidential appointee, senate-confirmed officer, only the president himself can fire her,” they argued in a statement, rejecting the White House’s termination notice as “legally deficient.”

The White House, however, confirmed the decision late Wednesday. “As her attorney’s statement makes abundantly clear, Susan Monarez is not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again,” spokesman Kush Desai said.

The dismissal triggered a wave of resignations at the CDC. At least five senior officials stepped down, including Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, who said: “I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality.”

Other high-profile departures include CDC’s chief medical officer Debra Houry and Daniel Jernigan, head of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. A union representing CDC workers said staff felt “forced to walk away” because “politics left them no choice,” stressing that “vaccines save lives.”

Monarez, a career health scientist, was sworn in by Kennedy on July 31. Her removal comes amid rising tensions within the CDC, which recently endured an armed attack by a man reportedly motivated by anger over Covid-19 vaccines. Hundreds of current and former employees have since signed an open letter accusing Kennedy of “weaponizing public health for political gain and putting millions of American lives at risk.”

The escalating fallout underscores the deepening crisis at the nation’s top public health agency as vaccine policy becomes a flashpoint in U.S. politics.

Air Peace To Launch Lagos–Brazil Direct Flights in November Following Tinubu–Lula Agreement

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Air Peace To Launch Lagos–Brazil Direct Flights in November Following Tinubu–Lula Agreement

Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, will begin direct flights between Lagos and Brazil in November, following the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Brasília.

Air Peace Chairman and CEO Allen Onyema described the development as a milestone in economic and diplomatic relations between Africa’s largest economy and Latin America’s largest.

“We are looking forward to starting towards the last week of November into December this year,” Onyema said, confirming that the airline will operate three weekly flights covering Lagos–São Paulo and Lagos–Rio de Janeiro routes, with return connections to Lagos.

Onyema praised President Tinubu’s foreign engagements, noting that “most of his shuttles abroad have started paying dividends for the good of our nation.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also confirmed the launch during a joint press conference with President Tinubu in Brasília. “Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies,” he said.

The agreement was signed at the Palácio do Planalto by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos. Additional MoUs were signed on diplomatic training cooperation and political consultations by Nigeria’s Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

Onyema stressed that the direct service will open new opportunities in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. “The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is the largest in Africa. Both countries are very rich in human and natural resources, and they need to tap into this. Without aviation, it will be very difficult for some of these things to be actualized,” he said.

Access Holdings Names Innocent Ike as GMD/CEO, Ogbonna Steps Down From Board

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Access Holdings Names Innocent Ike as GMD/CEO, Ogbonna Steps Down From Board

Access Holdings Plc has announced the resignation of Roosevelt Ogbonna from its Board as a Non-Executive Director, while confirming the appointment of Innocent Ike as the new Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO).

The company explained that Ogbonna, who remains the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, stepped down from the holding company’s Board in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2023 Corporate Governance Guidelines, which limit financial holding company boards to a maximum of nine directors.

In a statement signed by Company Secretary Sunday Ekwochi, the Board commended Ogbonna for his contributions at the group level, noting that his insights helped shape strategic decisions.

Meanwhile, Ike’s appointment as substantive GMD/CEO takes effect on August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval. He succeeds Bolaji Agbede, who has served as Acting GMD/CEO for the past 18 months and will return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support.

Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede praised Agbede’s leadership during a challenging transition period, highlighting milestones such as the company’s N351 billion Rights Issue and two successful Annual General Meetings. “Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the company through challenges and opportunities,” he said.

Ike, a University of Lagos Accounting graduate and Fellow of both CIBN and ICAN, brings over three decades of banking and financial services experience. He previously served as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank, where he launched the award-winning VULTe digital banking platform.

Speaking on his appointment, Ike said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings. I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders.”

El-Rufai Rules Out 2027 Ambition, Vows to Support Credible Leadership

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El-Rufai Rules Out 2027 Ambition, Vows to Support Credible Leadership

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared that he will not contest for any political office in the 2027 general elections, insisting that his renewed political involvement is solely to support credible leadership across the country.

Speaking in Kaduna during a reception for new decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Aliyu Bello, El-Rufai said his initial plan after leaving office in 2023 was to retire from partisan politics. However, he noted that recent national developments compelled him to return — not for personal ambition, but to contribute to efforts aimed at changing Nigeria’s political direction.

“This government does nothing but lie every day. I am not contesting for anything. I don’t want to go to the Senate. I am not contesting for any position. That’s why I am calling on you, let us join hands and ensure we remove the oppressors,” El-Rufai stated.

He stressed that his current focus is on mentoring young people, women, and reform-minded Nigerians to take greater ownership of the political process.

The former governor also urged Kaduna youths to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise. “In Lagos and Osun, at least 600,000 people registered. But in Kaduna, only 60,000. Anyone who is 18 years old should go and register, even with their phone. Registration is what gives you the right to choose who governs you,” he said.

El-Rufai maintained that his return to politics is driven by the need to build a movement that can foster better governance and accountable leadership at all levels.

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