Italy has called for continued harmony within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization following reports of an ostensible plot to suspend Spain.
Speaking on the sidelines of an EU leaders summit in Cyprus, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that the alliance must remain united.
“I don’t view the idea of Spain leaving NATO positively,” Meloni told reporters. “I think NATO must remain united; it’s a source of strength.”
On Friday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared he was “absolutely not worried” about any move against Spain, insisting it remains “a reliable member within NATO.”
Sánchez added that although his country values cooperation with allies, its government will always work “within the framework of international legality.”
The purported plot against Spain stemmed from Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases or airspace to attack Iran. Italy and France also declined.
According to Reuters, an internal Pentagon email detailed options for Washington to penalize NATO partners that have openly opposed the U.S. ongoing military operation.
The action reportedly includes pressing for Spain’s suspension from NATO and reviewing the U.S. position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
Argentina wants new talks with London over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), with the government of Javier Milei arguing that British control is “colonialism.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno stated that negotiations over the remote South Atlantic archipelago are necessary for a peaceful solution.
President Javier Milei is a close ally of President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his stance on Operation Epic Fury.
Umar Sadiq netted for the second consecutive game as Valencia recorded a crucial 2-1 win over Girona at the Mestalla on Saturday.
Sadiq also scored the equalising goal in Valencia’s 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca in midweek
Valencia and Girona failed to register a goal in the first half.
Largie Ramazani gave the hosts the lead five minutes after the break.
Sadiq nodded home José Gayà’s brilliant cross nine minutes later for Valencia’s second goal of the game.
The 29-year-old, who joined Valencia on a permanent transfer from Real Sociedad in January has registered three goals, and two assists in 15 league appearances for Los Che.
Carlos Corberán’s side moved to 11th position on the table following the win.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has sent a message to the former United States mayor of Blanco, Texas, over his support.
His legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed this in a statement on his X account on Saturday.
Recall that Arnold condemned the Nigerian government for jailing Nnamdi Kanu while an imam who offered a one million naira bounty for a pastor’s head goes free.
Reacting to Arnold, Nnamdi Kanu expressed gratitude for his support.
He hailed Arnold for “shedding light on the truth” about his person and the IPOB movement, noting that such support was significant.
Kanu stated that Arnold’s commitment to speaking out stood out, adding that he often reflected on how events might have unfolded differently if more individuals had taken similar positions earlier.
“Dear Mike, I am writing to acknowledge your remarkable effort in shedding light on the truth about me and my people. Your commitment to the truth is commendable, and I often wonder how different things would be if more voices like yours had spoken up sooner. You can count on the support of the Indigenous People of Biafra and myself. May Elohim guide and protect you always. Thank you. IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Nnamdi Kanu stated.
Recall that in November 2025, Nnamdi Kanu was sent to life imprisonment over terrorism-related offenses.
The Adamawa State Government has inaugurated a body of technocrats to select 5,000 qualified candidates from about 18,000 applicants for employment as teachers.
The committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the State Civil Service Commission, and the Office of the Head of Service.
It is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Aisha Abubakar Umar, with the Acting Executive Secretary of PPSMB, Birsan Penuel, serving as co-chair.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Commissioner of Education, Umar Garba Pella, who said the committee has two weeks to screen and select the 5,000 candidates.
Pella urged the committee to ensure that the exercise reflects the administration’s commitment to fairness.
He emphasised that the government expects members of the committee to shun any form of misconduct or personal interest and to uphold integrity in the recruitment process.
Security debates across West Africa are increasingly shifting toward one central idea that lasting solutions to terrorism must come from within the region itself. Recent remarks by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, reflect this growing consensus. Speaking to TRT Africa, he stressed the strong ties between Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, suggesting that unity among these nations is essential to effectively confront armed groups.
This perspective was echoed on April 21, 2026, when Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare participated in discussions at the 10th International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa held in Dakar. During the exchange, the focus was placed on identifying practical frameworks of cooperation between West African states capable of reversing the region’s deteriorating security trends.
According to the Nigerien diplomat, trust and sustained political dialogue at the highest level remain fundamental conditions for any coordinated action. He pointed to the experience of the Alliance of Sahel States as an illustration of what regional alignment can achieve in a relatively short period. Within less than two years, the bloc has established a joint force of six thousand troops and integrated command structures, allowing for more coherent and responsive operations on the ground.
These developments stand in contrast with the results observed during years of foreign military involvement in the Sahel. Despite prolonged external support, insecurity continued to expand, raising persistent questions about the effectiveness of externally driven strategies.
Across the region, a different approach is gradually taking shape. Joint border patrols and coordinated military actions are helping to limit the movement of armed groups and reduce cross-border threats. This shift toward locally driven initiatives reflects a broader understanding that terrorism in West Africa is not confined to one country but represents a shared challenge.
Senegal’s engagement alongside Mali highlights this evolving mindset. The two countries have intensified their cooperation through joint patrols in border areas such as Kayes, following the launch of coordinated operations in Diboli in 2025. The objective is to establish continuous monitoring mechanisms aimed at preventing attacks and curbing transnational crime. The growing coordination between Bamako and Dakar is increasingly viewed as a pragmatic example of African-led security policy.
Similar efforts can be observed in the Gulf of Guinea, where Benin and Nigeria have stepped up bilateral security collaboration along their shared border. However, attention is also turning to other sensitive areas, particularly the frontier between Benin and Niger, where closer coordination could further strengthen regional defenses against armed groups.
What emerges from these developments is a clear pattern. West African countries are progressively relying on collective mechanisms tailored to their realities rather than external military solutions whose outcomes have often fallen short of expectations. In a context where insecurity easily crosses borders, regional cooperation is no longer an option but a necessity.
– Peter Johnson
Writer and specialist in African affairs and international relations
Manchester City on Saturday made history after beating Southampton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final encounter.
Two second-half goals from Jeremy Doku and Nicolas Gonzalez ensured Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Southampton at Wembley Stadium to qualify for the FA Cup final.
The first half had ended in a 0-0 draw before Finn Azaz scored in the 79th minute for Southampton.
However, according to OptaJoe, the win over Southampton means Man City are the first ever team to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals in the history of the competition.
The Cityzens will now face the winner between Chelsea and Leeds United in the FA Cup final.
Chelsea will face Leeds in the other FA Cup semi-final encounter on Sunday.
Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, gathering at Habima Square to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in demonstrations that coincided with High Court hearings on the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.
The protest, organised by the Movement for Quality Government Corruption Watchdog and allied civil society groups, drew demonstrators calling to defend Israel’s judicial system and demanding accountability for what they describe as the government’s failure to prevent the Hamas-led attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis nearly 1,000 days ago.
Anti-government protesters demand an October 7 inquiry at Habima Square, Tel Aviv, April 25, 2026. (Jack Guez/AFP)
Speakers at the rally included a legal scholar, a retired military general, and bereaved parents who criticised Netanyahu’s alleged attacks on the judiciary, his government’s push to codify exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, and what demonstrators called a persistent refusal to accept responsibility for the security failures that preceded October 7.
Among the most prominent voices was Hagit Chen, mother of Itay Chen, an Israeli-American soldier killed on October 7 whose body remains in Gaza. “It’s been nearly a thousand days,” Chen told the crowd. “The truth hasn’t been investigated, and responsibility hasn’t been taken.” She added: “You can’t ask us to bury both our children and the truth.”
In a striking symbolic gesture, a column of approximately 200 protesters marched to the rally from the Hungarian Embassy in Tel Aviv’s Old North neighbourhood, carrying a large Hungarian flag to celebrate the recent election defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close Netanyahu ally. Orbán’s 16-year rule ended last week following a victory by opposition leader Péter Magyar.
Protesters drew direct comparisons between Orbán’s dismantling of Hungary’s judiciary and what they describe as Netanyahu’s similar moves against Israel’s court system.
Chants from the marching bloc included “Seventh of October — the Netanyahu massacre,” reflecting the opposition’s position that government negligence was a central factor in the attacks.
The demonstrations unfolded against a tense legal backdrop. Israel’s High Court of Justice has been holding hearings on whether to compel the government to establish an independent state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures, a move Netanyahu has resisted, arguing any such commission would be biased against him. The government’s position has drawn sharp public criticism, particularly from families of those killed or still held in Gaza.
Saturday’s protests were part of a sustained wave of anti-government demonstrations that have continued across Israel for months. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 1,667 protests have taken place across Israel since October 2023, with at least ten drawing crowds exceeding 100,000.
Police were present at Habima Square but no major arrests were reported during Saturday’s demonstration. At least two right-wing counter-protesters who clashed with demonstrators near the speakers’ stage were removed by officers on the ground.
The protests come as Netanyahu’s government faces simultaneous pressures on multiple fronts, including ongoing war operations, an unresolved hostage crisis, international arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, and deeply contested domestic legislation.
Netanyahu has not publicly responded to Saturday’s demonstrations.
In a show of political strength and growing grassroots appeal, a massive crowd flooded Ribadu Square in Yola on Saturday as 36-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist, Alhaji Abdulrahman Bashir Haske, formally declared his intention to contest the Adamawa State governorship in the 2027 general elections.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement as supporters, party loyalists, traditional leaders, youth groups, and women from across the 21 local government areas gathered to witness what many described as the official take-off of a new political movement in the state.
Mammoth Crowd
Standing before the enthusiastic crowd, Haske framed his ambition not as a personal quest for power, but as a collective mission to transform Adamawa. He declared that his decision was driven by a commitment to “rescue, rebuild, and reposition Adamawa for sustainable development,” drawing loud applause from the audience.
At the heart of his declaration was the unveiling of his policy blueprint – the Adamawa A.R.I.S.E Agenda – a multi-sectoral framework designed to tackle the state’s most pressing challenges.
The agenda focuses on accountable governance, economic resilience, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, social development, and security.
Haske described the A.R.I.S.E Agenda as a practical and data-driven response to the realities facing Adamawa, including high poverty levels, overdependence on federal allocations, and worsening youth unemployment.
He noted that with a reported poverty rate of over 75 per cent and about 87 per cent reliance on federal revenue, the state must urgently rethink its development strategy.
“Our people deserve a government that works, a system that delivers, and leadership that listens,” he said, emphasizing that his administration would prioritize transparency, productivity, and inclusive growth.
He placed particular emphasis on youth empowerment and women inclusion, calling on both groups to take ownership of the state’s future.
According to him, job creation, skills development, and support for small and medium enterprises would form a cornerstone of his economic plan, alongside strategic investments in agriculture and security.
Political leaders and stakeholders at the event noted the symbolic significance of the large turnout, describing it as an indication of Haske’s growing influence within political and social circles in Adamawa.
The presence of former commissioners, local government chairmen, party stakeholders, and community leaders added weight to the declaration and signaled early consolidation of political support.
Adding to the momentum was the mobilization effort led by Hajiya Amina Yuguda, founder of the Haske Aminci Foundation, who brought in a large contingent of supporters from the Verre Zone.
Women and youths were seen chanting solidarity songs as speaker after speaker eulogised the entrepreneur.
Beyond the spectacle, political speakers at the event said Haske’s emergence reflects a broader shift in the state’s political dynamics – one that is increasingly open to younger candidates with private sector experience and a reform-oriented message.
At 36, Haske represents a new generation of political actors seeking to bridge governance with enterprise and innovation. His background as an entrepreneur and philanthropist has earned him recognition, particularly through agricultural support initiatives and humanitarian interventions that have impacted vulnerable communities, they said.
In recent months, he has also gained traction within the All Progressives Congress (APC), with some stakeholders informally backing his aspiration and describing him as a candidate with clarity of vision and developmental focus.
Those following his movement have argued that the early articulation of a structured policy agenda could give Haske an edge in what is expected to be a fiercely contested governorship race.
They noted that voters in Adamawa are becoming increasingly issue-driven, with greater attention to economic recovery, infrastructure deficits, and security concerns, all encapsulated in Haske’s vision.
