In a busy, terraced house in Bradford, three sisters are animatedly chatting. It's a big day at their home: a beautician sits on their sofa, styling their hair and makeup. The room is warm with fun and laughter. It feels like a scene from a Jane Austen novel: three women in their late 20s, each of them bursting with personality, swapping stories.

And like most Austen novels, the conversation often turns to marriage.

The sisters are preparing for a family wedding at the weekend - where the bride and groom are first cousins. Many people might find this unusual, but in their family and in some parts of Bradford, it's fairly common.

Ayesha, who at 29 is the oldest of the three sisters, also married her first cousin in 2017. She has two children with her husband and their marriage is happy, she says. It felt perfectly normal at the time to marry her cousin. Their mother, a Pakistani migrant, assumed it was what all three of her daughters would do.

But 26-year-old Salina, the youngest of the three, tells us she broke the mould by having what they call a "love" marriage, choosing a partner from outside the family. Salina tells us she is outgoing and ambitious; marrying a cousin simply did not appeal to her. Then there's Mallika, who at 27 is the middle of the three. She's still single and has already decided not to marry within her family.

"I said to my mum that I wouldn't judge my sisters but I wasn't going to do it," Mallika tells us. She says having an education has created opportunities for her. "Before, even if you had an education, you wouldn't be expected to carry on with it. You would be thinking of marriage. Now the mindset is so different."

Worrying new data

In the UK and across Europe, cousin marriage is coming under increased scrutiny - particularly from doctors, who warn that children of first cousins are more likely to experience an array of health problems.

And there's now some new, potentially worrying data from Bradford to add into that mix.

Researchers at the city's university are entering their 18th year of the Born in Bradford study. It's one of the biggest medical trials of its kind: between 2007 and 2010, researchers recruited more than 13,000 babies in the city and then followed them closely from childhood into adolescence and now into early adulthood. More than one in six children in the study have parents who are first cousins, mostly from Bradford's Pakistani community, making it among the world's most valuable studies of the health impacts of cousin marriage.

And in data published in the last few months - and analysed in an upcoming episode of BBC Radio 4's Born in Bradford series - the researchers found that first cousin-parentage may have wider consequences than previously thought.

The most obvious way that a pair of blood-related parents might increase health risks for a child is through a recessive disorder, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease. According to the classic theory of genetics laid out by the biologist Gregor Mendel, if both parents carry a recessive gene then there's a one in four chance that their child will inherit the condition. And when parents are cousins, they're more likely to both be carriers. A child of first cousins carries a 6% chance of inheriting a recessive disorder, compared to 3% for the general population.

But the Bradford study took a much broader view - and sheds fresh light. The researchers weren't just looking at whether a child had been diagnosed with a specific recessive disorder. Instead they studied dozens of data points, observing everything from the children's speech and language development to their frequency of healthcare to their performance at school. Then they used a mathematical model to try to eliminate the impacts of poverty and parental education - so they could focus squarely on the impact on "consanguinity", the scientific word for having parents who are related.

They found that even after factors like poverty were controlled for, a child of first cousins in Bradford had an 11% probability of being diagnosed with a speech and language problem, versus 7% for children whose parents are not related.

They also found a child of first cousins has a 54% chance of reaching a "good stage of development" (a government assessment given to all five year-olds in England), versus 64% for children whose parents are not related.

We get further insight into their poorer health through the number of visits to the GP. Children of first cousins have a third more primary care appointments than children whose parents are not related - an average of four instead of three a year.

What is notable is that even once you account for the children in that group who already have a diagnosed recessive disorder, the figures suggest consanguinity may be affecting even those children who don't have a diagnosable recessive disorder.

Neil Small, emeritus professor at the University of Bradford and the author of the study, says that even if all of the children with recessive disorders visited their GP more than average, "this does not explain the much wider distribution of excess health care usage in the consanguineous children".

The study, he says, is "exciting because it gives the opportunity for a much more accurate development of a response, targeting interventions and treatments".

Growing concern

It is, of course, just one study, and the population of Bradford is not representative of the whole of the UK.

Nevertheless, it adds to a growing concern among scientists that has caught the attention of lawmakers across Europe. Two Scandinavian countries have now moved to outlaw cousin marriage entirely. In Norway, the practice became illegal last year; in Sweden, a ban will come into effect next year.

In the UK, the Conservative MP Richard Holdenhas introduced a private members' bill to outlaw the practice, adding it to the list of illegal marriages (alongside parents, child, siblings, and grandparents). But the Labour government says there are "no plans" to impose a ban. At present, the UK is still following the policy of "genetic counselling", in which first cousin-couples are educated about the risks of having children, and encouraged to get extra screening in pregnancy.

But amid concern about child health and strains on the NHS, some academics are asking whether a beefed-up approach to counselling is needed, with more funding and laser-focused intervention. And there are those who think it's time to follow the Scandinavian example and impose something bound to be difficult and controversial: an outright ban on cousin marriage.

For most in the UK, the prospect of marrying a cousin is largely alien. But it wasn't always so unusual. The father of evolution Charles Darwin married his first cousin, Emma Wedgwood. Their son, the Victorian scientist Sir George Darwin, went on to estimate that cousin marriages accounted for almost one in 20 aristocratic unions in 19th Century Britain. One of them was Queen Victoria, who married her first cousin, Prince Albert. The novel Wuthering Heights is full of fictional examples.

By the 20th Century the proportion of marriages between cousins had declined to about 1%. But it remains a relatively common practice among some South Asian minorities. In three inner-city Bradford wards, almost half (46%) of mothers from the Pakistani community were married to a first or second cousin, according to the most recent Born in Bradford data published two years ago.

'Compounded' effects

For those who want to ban the practice, the public health argument is compelling. When announcing his private members' bill in December, Richard Holden highlighted the higher risk of birth defects. Later, on Talk TV, he pointed to data showing that infant mortality rates are higher for children born to cousin parents, with more heart, brain, and kidney problems due to recessive disorders. He also explained that health effects can be "compounded" when the practice persists through generations.

This risk to child health is one of the reasons Patrick Nash, a researcher and co-founder at the Pharos Foundation research institute, wants to see cousin marriage banned. In a paper published in the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion last year, Nash wrote that a ban would result in "immediate" health improvements, especially in communities where the practice is common. He said: "Banning cousin marriage would improve public health drastically and have no negative health implications of its own."

On the ground in Bradford, it's a more mixed picture. Sam Oddie, a consultant neonatologist and researcher at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, has worked in the city for more than two decades. Over the years he has observed lots of severe genetic disorders. "I've seen fatal skin conditions, fatal brain conditions, fatal muscle conditions". He says it was "immediately clear" these conditions were occurring more in Bradford than elsewhere.

He remembers some tragic examples: families who lost several children, one after the other, to the same genetic disorder. "That's very upsetting and very difficult for the family to get their heads around."

Common ancestors

But crucially, Oddie thinks the main risk to genetic health in Bradford is not cousin marriage, but a similar issue known as endogamy, in which people marry members of their close community. In a tight-knit ethnic group, people are more likely to share common ancestors and genes - whether or not they are first cousins, he says.

Endogamy is not unique to Pakistani communities in the UK. It is an issue too in the UK's Jewish community and globally among the Amish and also French Canadians.

"It's often the case that the exact familial tie can't be traced, but the gene occurs more commonly within a certain group, and for that reason, both parents carry the affected gene," Oddie says. "It's an oversimplification to say that cousin marriage is the root of all excess recessive disorders in Bradford or in Pakistani communities. Endogamy is an important feature."

The power of education

Rather than a ban, he stresses the power of education - or what he calls "genetic literacy". It's a phrase that crops up again and again from the people we speak to. For many years there's been a campaign in Bradford to inform people in the Pakistani community about their genetic risks. Couples are given specialist advice at their GP; at pregnancy classes, information is shared with expectant mothers.

And in Bradford at least, some are taking the message on board. Back at the sisters' house, all three women we interview say that ideas around cousin marriage are slowly changing, in part due to an increased awareness of health risks. They live in the deprived, post-industrial Manningham area of the city. There's a distinct feeling of neighbourliness here. All of the front doors open directly onto the street, which is full of children playing. Occasionally the sounds of their laughter drift inside.

"It has to be something that happens gradually - it's slow, you can't rush it," says Salina, the sister who chose to have a love marriage. "My mum was very young when she came [to the UK from Pakistan]. She had certain views but those changed because she loves us. I just explained to her, 'Mum, how does it benefit you to push cousin marriage?'."

Mallika, her older sister, agrees. "It's also to do with social media and being exposed to different people," she says. "You have new connections... contact with people outside our parents' eyes."

Even Ayesha, the oldest sister who is in a cousin marriage, said she doesn't imagine either of her two children will marry their cousins.

At the time she married her cousin, she says, "I didn't know any different. My parents were strong in their culture. As the generations move on, the culture is disappearing a bit."

She was aware of the genetic risks when she had her two children. Neither of them have a genetic illness.

"We did take that on board," she says, on the topic of genetic health. "But I always feel like if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. If the child is going to be born with a disability then it will happen if you are married to a cousin or not."

Indeed, in Bradford at least, the practice is in decline. The share of new mothers from across the Born in Bradford study who were first cousins with the father of their baby fell from 39% in the late 2000s to 27% in the late 2010s.

This is no coincidence, according to John Wright, chief investigator on the Born in Bradford project. He points out that it is only recently that his team published evidence around the risks of cousin marriage in the UK.

"When we talked to the families 10 years ago it was very clear that people weren't aware of the risks but like all parents they want to do their best for their children. They want to have healthy children," he says.

"Education is the starting point and we've shown in Born in Bradford how powerful that is."

'Coerced into unions'

Aside from health concerns, there's another reason some people want to see cousin marriage banned: its impact on social cohesion. This is what's largely driving the debate in Scandinavia. In Norway, where cousin marriage was banned last year, lawmakers said the practice was linked to forced marriage, with some South Asian immigrant women coerced into unions with relatives.

They also looked at the link with so-called "honour" violence, according to Tonje Egedius, a journalist who covered the story for a Norwegian newspaper.

"[Police] claim that cousin marriage makes it easier for perpetrators to maintain honour in families," she says, "and that marrying within the family is a contributing cause of honour-related violence and abuse".

Jasmina Holten, a senior Norwegian police officer, said in an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK last year that some women coerced into cousin marriage found themselves trapped, with financial dependence on relatives. In those cases, divorce often means ostracism. A ban on cousin marriage could break down that abusive chain, she said.

Likewise, Sweden's justice secretary Gunnar Strömmer said his own country's ban on cousin marriage will liberate women from "oppressive standards of honour".

This cultural argument is becoming increasingly prominent. Proponents of a ban broadly see cousin marriage as an instrument of segregation, siphoning people off from the rest of society. Nash, from the Pharos Foundation, says that a ban on cousin marriage would help reduce ethnic segregation in places like Bradford.

Others are sceptical of the idea that you can force people to integrate through the sharp stick of legislation. They say that even if a ban goes ahead, some couples would continue to marry their cousins through illegal, unregistered unions - and that women in those marriages may feel they no longer have the protection of the state if the relationship goes sour.

Nazir Afzal, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West of England, tells us that "thoughtful legislation" would "offer protections" to people coerced into cousin marriage. "[But] we must respect cultural diversity and personal choice," he says. "Cousin marriage is an important cultural practice in many parts of the world, and legislation should be sensitive to the social and familial values that underlie it."

More broadly, he suggests governments may want to think about boosting education and genetic screening for couples entering cousin marriage - rather than imposing "blanket bans".

'Driving a wedge'

For some, the idea of an outright ban raises the ugly image of certain minorities being targeted over others. Karma Nirvana, a charity that works to end honour-based abuse, described the backbench attempt to ban cousin marriage as "a tool of political point-scoring, inciting hate and driving a wedge between communities".

Richard Holden's bill is awaiting its second reading in the House of Commons. Without government support it has never been likely to pass but its very existence and events in Scandinavia have resulted in cousin marriage being talked about far beyond the communities where it is prevalent.

Of course, for those Britons in a cousin marriage, life goes on much as before.

Back at the Bradford house, the beautician is putting her finishing touches to the hair of the three sisters, ahead of their big wedding at the weekend. Ayesha, the sister who is in a cousin marriage, is reflective and thoughtful about her own near decade-long relationship. "There are difficulties - we've been through lots together, we have sacrificed a lot," she says about her husband. "But we are happy together."

"I think even with love marriages you're going to have problems. They'll just be different ones."

BBC

Nestlé Nigeria Plc announced mixed financial results for the year ending December 31, 2024, with impressive revenue growth of 75.2% reaching N958.8 billion, while posting a loss before tax of N221.589 billion—a 113% increase from the previous year.

The company attributed the loss primarily to significant finance costs resulting from the Naira's devaluation, which impacted the company's foreign currency obligations. Despite these challenges, Nestlé Nigeria's core business showed resilience with operating profit increasing by 35.6% to N167.9 billion compared to N123.8 billion in 2023.

In a communication to the Nigerian Exchange, the company emphasized that these results "indicate a robust operational performance in a challenging market."

The CEO/Managing Director of Nestlé Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the fourth quarter performance, noting, "Q4 2024 standalone results mark a return to profitability with a net profit of N19.7 billion, compared to a loss of N36.4 billion in Q4 2023."

The company has maintained its commitment to growth with substantial investments of N132 billion in operations since 2023, including N72 billion in 2024. These investments aim to strengthen Nestlé's market position and meet consumer demand. The company also expanded its workforce by 8% to support growth across its product portfolio.

Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging inappropriate advances during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom State on December 8, 2023. Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed the incident occurred in the presence of her husband, who she said respects Akpabio greatly.

She recounted that after an event in Akwa Ibom, they visited Akpabio’s home, where he allegedly held her hand, showed her around his house, and made suggestive remarks, including, “I am going to create quality time for us to be together.” She stated that her husband, who was present but on the phone, later expressed concern and advised her against traveling abroad alone, even for legislative duties.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also alleged that Akpabio stepped down a motion she moved on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, telling her in his office, “If you take care of me, you will enjoy a lot. I am the Presiding Officer in the National Assembly.” She claimed the motion was only taken up when the Deputy Senate President presided over the plenary. She likened her experience to “a female student being failed every time because she refuses to sleep with the lecturer.”

The senator further accused Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele of threatening her during a phone call, warning that if Akpabio “goes down,” she would also “go down.” She said

In response, Akpabio’s wife, Ekaette, dismissed the allegations as baseless, describing her husband as a “very responsible and disciplined man.” Speaking to journalists, she defended Akpabio’s character, stating that he respects their family values and has always supported women in government. She questioned the timing and motive behind the accusations, suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband, a close friend of Akpabio, would have intervened if the allegations were true.

Mrs. Akpabio also announced plans to sue Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of her husband, stating, “I am now the one pursuing legal action.” She emphasized that the Senate President’s home is always filled with guests and security personnel, making such behavior impossible.

The allegations come amid ongoing tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio, including a recent dispute over her seating arrangement in the Senate chamber. Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick, over a Facebook post allegedly authored by Patrick following the seating controversy. She has also accused Senate leadership of harassment, claiming she has been excluded from international engagements and stripped of privileges.

The Senate has referred the matter to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for investigation, with a two-week deadline to report its findings. Meanwhile, Akpabio’s office has yet to issue an official response to the allegations. The case has sparked a heated debate, with both sides standing firm on their positions.

The Sultan of Sokoto and Leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, declared on Friday, February 28, 2025, that the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Saturday, March 1, 2025. This announcement marks the start of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, a period observed by Muslims worldwide through fasting, prayer, and reflection.

The Sultan stated that the decision was based on verified and authenticated reports of the sighting of the new crescent moon from various Muslim leaders across Nigeria. He confirmed that these reports had been thoroughly reviewed and accepted.

“Today, Friday, February 28, 2025, concludes the month of Sha’ban. We have received confirmed reports of the sighting of the Ramadan crescent from leaders across the country. After verification and authentication, we have accepted these reports,” the Sultan said.

“Consequently, tomorrow, March 1, 2025, will be the first day of Ramadan 1446 After Hijrah,” he added.

The Sultan urged Nigerian Muslims to begin fasting and to use the holy month as an opportunity to pray for the nation’s leaders, asking for divine guidance to enable them to govern effectively. He also encouraged affluent Muslims to extend acts of charity and support to the less privileged during this sacred period.

Ramadan is a time of spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and communal solidarity, and the Sultan’s announcement sets the stage for millions of Nigerian Muslims to observe this significant religious obligation.

Getting the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to the next phase will be difficult. Here’s why

Israel and Hamas have begun working to advance their ceasefireagreement in Gaza to the next phase, but it’s unclear if they’ll get there and, if not, what comes next.

The first phase of the ceasefire, which paused 15 months of war, freed Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and enabled more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, expires on Saturday. The two sides seem willing to maintain their truce while negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar guide talks aimed at getting to the next phase.

The parties were supposed to have begun ironing out the details of phase two weeks ago. But talks were delayed as the first six weeks of the ceasefire were marred by disputes between Israel and Hamas over alleged violations of the deal.

Under the terms of the truce that began in Jan. 19, the second phase would compel Hamas to release all the remaining living hostages from its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners in Israel, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Over the past six weeks, Hamas has freed 33 living and dead hostages in exchange for more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. The militant group still holds 59 captives, 32 of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel is reportedly seeking an extension of the first phase to secure the freedom of more captives.

Getting to the ceasefire’s next phase will be challenging

Getting to the second phase will be difficult because it will likely force Israel to choose between its two main war goals — the safe return of the hostages and the annihilation of Hamas.

Already, there are signs of strain. The agreement calls for Israel to begin withdrawing troops from a narrow strip of land in southern Gaza this weekend and to complete the process within eight days. But an Israeli official said Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in the Philadelphi corridor indefinitely.

One possibility is that instead of moving to phase two, Israel will try to extend phase one and push for more exchanges of hostages for prisoners. Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy, said in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that he hoped to negotiate the second phase during an elongated first phase.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly supported that idea. He is under pressure from hard-liners in his governing coalition to resume the war against Hamas. But he also faces pressure from the Israeli public to bring the remaining hostages home.

Witkoff said Netanyahu is committed to bringing back all the hostages but has set a “red line” that Hamas cannot be involved in governing Gaza after the war. Netanyahu has also ruled out any role in Gaza for the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, dominated by Hamas’ main rival, Fatah.

Hamas has said it is willing to hand over control of Gaza to other Palestinians, but it has dismissed Israel’s suggestion that its leadership go into exile.

That means the militant group, which does not accept Israel’s existence, would remain entrenched in Gaza. And it says it won’t lay down its armsunless Israel ends its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem —- lands captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war that Palestinians want for a future state.

The ceasefire’s first phase has further embittered both sides

The first phase of the ceasefire has only deepened the mistrust on both sides.

Israelis were shocked to see the captives — some of whom were emaciated— paraded before crowds upon their release. After returning to Israel, hostages said they were held under harsh conditions.

Last Thursday, Hamas handed over coffins it said held the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two small children, who it said were killed in an Israeli airstrike. But Israel said a forensic investigation showed the two children were killed by their captors, and that the third body was a Palestinian woman. Hamas later released another body that was confirmed to be the mother.

On Saturday, Hamas further infuriated Israel by filming two hostages who were forced to watch the release of others. In the footage Hamas released, the hostages turn to a camera and beg to be released. Israel then delayed the release of hundreds of prisoners.

Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by killing dozens of people who the army said had approached its forces or entered unauthorized areas. It also accused Israel of dragging its feet on the entry of mobile homes and equipment for clearing rubble, which entered late last week, and of beating and abusing Palestinian prisoners prior to their release.

Mixed signals from Trump

President Donald Trump took credit for the ceasefire, which Witkoff helped push across the finish line after a year of negotiations led by the Biden administration, Egypt and Qatar.

But Trump has since sent mixed signals about the deal.

Earlier this month, he set a firm deadline for Hamas to release all the hostages, warning that “all hell is going to break out” if the militants didn’t. But he said it was ultimately up to Israel, and the deadline came and went.

Trump sowed further confusion by proposing that Gaza’s population of some 2 million Palestinians be relocated to other countries and for the United States to take over the territory and develop it. Netanyahu welcomed the idea, which was universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, including close U.S. allies. Human rights groups said it could violate international law.

Trump stood by the plan in a Fox News interview over the weekend but said he’s “not forcing it.”

AP

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Stunned by angry Trump exchange, Ukrainians rally around Zelenskiy

Ukrainians on the streets of Kyiv rallied around President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday after his angry exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

Zelenskiy openly challenged Trump over his approach toward Russian President Vladimir Putin at the meeting, urging him to "make no compromises with a killer."

Trump accused Zelenskiy of risking World War Three and of being ungrateful to Washington for the military aid provided to Ukraine.

"Trump finally understood that Zelenskiy is a president that will not just give up," said Mila, an HR manager who did not give a second name, speaking on a chilly night in central Kyiv.

"It is not Ukraine that is gambling with World War Three - more likely we are being used in this game as a bargaining chip," said Oksana, a business consultant.

On social media, Ukrainian officials and other prominent individuals were also supportive of Zelenskiy, calling for unity in a country exhausted by three years of gruelling battle.

"President Zelenskiy has the bravery and strength to stand up for what is right," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who was at the meeting with Trump, wrote on social media.

While most Kyivans Reuters spoke to said Ukraine would be able to keep going whatever lay ahead, some were concerned by the breakdown in relations between the two leaders.

"Without the arms supplied by the United States we will not win this war and I do not know what's going to happen," said Andriy, a 59-year-old university lecturer.

The meeting in Washington was intended to smooth choppy personal relations between Trump and Zelenskiy, with the two men due to sign an agreement that would have shared profits from Ukraine's critical raw material deposits with the U.S.

Instead, it quickly turned into a vicious spat in front of the cameras as Trump visibly irritated Zelenskiy by refusing to condemn Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago and occupied parts of it since 2014.

"The agreement and the participation of the U.S. in the mineral deal would have stabilised relations. Now it is very scary," said Petro, a 20-year-old student.

"I think it could have been approached in a more diplomatic way, but from the individual point of view I can understand Zelenskiy because the tone of the dialogue with Trump and Vance indicated it would end like this."

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

US may halt all military aid to Ukraine — The Washington Post

US President Donald Trump’s administration is considering ending all ongoing shipments of military aid to Ukraine, The Washington Post wrote citing sources.

Military supplies could be halted "in response to remarks" by Vladimir Zelensky at a meeting with Trump in the White House and "his perceived intransigence in the peace process," according to the publication.

The decision, if made, would apply "to billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles awaiting shipment to Ukraine through the presidential drawdown authority," an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic, was quoted as saying.

Earlier on Friday, Zelensky met with Trump at the White House. Their televised exchange suddenly unraveled into a shouting match, with Trump scolding Zelensky for being disrespectful to the US, and Vice President JD Vance saying that Zelensky had never thanked the country for all the support provided to Kiev. A news conference scheduled to follow the meeting was canceled, and the Ukrainian delegation left the White House earlier than planned. Bilateral talks and the scheduled signing of the deal on Ukrainian mineral resources were thwarted.

Reuters/Tass

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has distributed N1.703 trillion in revenue for January 2025 among the Federal Government, states, and Local Government councils. This marks a significant 19.6% increase (N279 billion) compared to December 2024's allocation of N1.424 trillion.

According to a statement released Thursday by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the distributed funds comprised:

- N749.727 billion in statutory revenue

- N718.781 billion from Value Added Tax

- N20.548 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy

- N214 billion in augmentation

Total gross revenue for January reached N2.641 trillion, slightly higher than December's N2.310 trillion. After deductions of N107.786 billion for collection costs and N830.663 billion for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings, the remaining funds were distributed as follows:

- Federal Government: N552.591 billion

- State Governments: N590.614 billion

- Local Government Councils: N434.567 billion

- Derivation Revenue (13% mineral revenue): N125.284 billion

January's statutory revenue increased to N1.848 trillion, up from December's N1.226 trillion, while VAT revenue rose to N771.886 billion from N649.561 billion.

The communique noted improved collections from VAT, Petroleum Profit Tax, Companies Income Tax, Excise Duty, Import Duty, and CET Levies, while reporting significant decreases in EMTL and Oil and Gas Royalty receipts.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a scathing rebuke to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, dismissing her claim that he had acted on her advice to cut the aid budget. Starmer also took aim at her political persona, labeling her a “self-appointed saviour of Western civilisation” in a remark that seemed to underscore her divisive rhetoric and recent controversial comments about Nigeria, the country of her origin.

Badenoch, who has faced criticism in the past for her harsh remarks about Nigeria—where her parents came from—suggested during the session that Starmer had heeded her recommendation to reduce aid spending. She also questioned inconsistencies in the government’s defence budget figures.

“Over the weekend, I suggested to the prime minister that he cut the aid budget, and I am pleased that he accepted my advice. It’s the fastest response I’ve ever had from the prime minister,” Badenoch said. She added, “However, he announced £13.4 billion of additional defence spending yesterday. This morning, his defence secretary said the uplift is only £6bn. Which is the correct figure?”

Starmer, however, flatly denied being influenced by Badenoch’s suggestion and responded with biting sarcasm. “I’m going to have to let the leader of the opposition down gently. She didn’t feature in my thinking at all. I was so busy over the weekend I didn’t even see her proposal,” he said.

The prime minister then escalated his criticism, quipping, “She’s appointed herself, I think, the saviour of Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance.” He continued, “If you take the numbers for this financial year, and then the numbers for financial year 27/28, that’s a £13.4bn increase—the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.”

Starmer’s remarks drew laughter from MPs in the House of Commons, but they also highlighted the ongoing tension surrounding Badenoch’s political style and her past comments. Last year, Badenoch faced backlash for describing Nigeria as a “hopeless” and “corrupt” country during a public event, remarks that many found offensive given her Nigerian heritage. Critics accused her of using such rhetoric to distance herself from her roots while positioning herself as a staunch defender of Western values.

As Badenoch continues to position herself as a leading voice in the Conservative Party, her controversial statements and self-styled role as a guardian of Western ideals have drawn both support and criticism. Starmer’s jab at her “desperate search for relevance” underscores the polarizing nature of her political persona, particularly in light of her contentious remarks about Nigeria and her attempts to shape her image as a defender of Western civilisation.

Trump says ongoing Gaza talks are 'pretty good'

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday there were "pretty good talks going on" regarding Gaza, when asked about the future of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants, but he offered little detail at a White House press conference.

A three-phase ceasefire in Gaza went into effect on January 19 and has led to the handover of 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza and some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.

An initial six-week first phase of that ceasefire is due to expire in two days. Israel said on Thursday it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend the first phase.

Trump was asked whether phase two would come to fruition.

"We'll see what happens. Nobody really knows, but we'll see what happens," he said at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "We have some pretty good talks going on."

Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. The United Nations has described images of both emaciated Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees released as distressing, saying they reflected the dire conditions in which they were held.

Starmer reiterated support for a two-state solution, which calls for creating a state for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel.

"Yes, I believe that the two-state solution is ultimately the only way for a lasting peace in the region," Starmer said in the press conference, when asked about Trump's proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza and a permanent displacement of Palestinians.

Trump's plan has been globally condemned as a proposal for ethnic cleansing.

U.S. ally Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The assault internally displaced nearly Gaza's entire population and caused a hunger crisis.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Reuters