Author: Prima News

By Johnbosco bJohnbosco ABUJA — PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Sunday, assured Nigerians that the country will conquer electricity shortages, soaring transport costs, and looming inflation—despite the Middle East war fueling economic strain. After special birthday prayers at Abuja’s National Mosque, Tinubu told State House correspondents: “We are challenged. There is that of electricity, there’s a problem of transportation hike, there’s a problem of expected inflation as a result of the war that we have no control of. “But we will overcome it. We are a resilient nation that is very, very committed and resilient to the way of Almighty God,…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah no longer pose significant threats in the region due to Israel’s degradation of their capabilities. Netanyahu spoke on Sunday at the IDF Northern Command, where he visited alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. “Iran is not the same Iran, Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah, and Hamas is not the same Hamas,” he declared, saying “terrorist armies” are now “battered enemies” fighting for survival. Commending IDF commanders for their participation in Israel’s “multi-arena campaign,” Netanyahu said Israel stepped up “surprising” and “attacking” its adversaries to…

President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has praised Morocco for its strong commitment to hosting major football tournaments on the continent. Motsepe said Morocco has continued to support African football at a time when many countries are reluctant to host competitions due to financial concerns. “When we ask countries to host tournaments, no one steps forward because they are afraid of losing money. Morocco consistently steps in and saves the situation. Morocco has strong infrastructure and a clear willingness to host,” he said. Morocco has built a solid reputation in recent years, having hosted the latest editions…

Portugal on Sunday condemned the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem being denied entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, one of Christianity’s holiest days. “The obstruction of access for Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Palm Sunday celebrations, which were only to be broadcast, deserves deep condemnation,” the Portuguese Foreign Ministry said on the US social media platform X. The ministry said Israeli authorities, who blocked his entry, are “urged to guarantee and uphold freedom of religion and worship.” Israeli police prevented the Latin patriarch from entering the…

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday condemned Israel’s decision to prevent the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, one of the holiest ceremonies on the Christian calendar. “I condemn this decision by the Israeli police, which adds to the worrying increase in violations of the status of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites,” Macron wrote on the US social media platform X. Voicing his support for the patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Macron also said: “The free exercise of worship in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.” In a statement, the Latin…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday said Israel’s move to prevent Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering a church in Jerusalem was an “offense” to religious freedom. “Preventing the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land from entering, especially on a solemnity as central to the faith as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only to believers, but to every community that recognizes religious freedom,” Meloni said in a statement issued by the government. The Italian government expressed its “closeness” to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pizzaballa, who was denied entry to the Church of the Holy…

British counter ‌terrorism officers are assisting police after a driver who struck pedestrians in the city of Derby on Saturday night was arrested on suspicion of ​attempted murder, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred at 2130 ​GMT on Friar Gate, a usually busy street in ⁠the city centre. Seven people suffered serious but not life-threatening ​injuries and were treated at the scene before being taken to ​hospital. Derbyshire Constabulary said it was “keeping an open mind” about the motive, and that while counter terrorism officers were assisting the investigation, the incident was not ​currently being treated as terrorism. The…

Arab foreign ministers agreed unanimously on Sunday to nominate Egyptian diplomat Nabil ​Fahmy as secretary-general of the Arab League, ‌succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit, whose second term in charge ends in June 2026, Egyptian state media outlets ​reported. The decision came during a video ​conference. Under the Arab League charter, the secretary-general ⁠is appointed by at least a two-thirds ​majority. While the charter does not stipulate a ​specific nationality for the post, it has traditionally been held by an Egyptian, except for Tunisian Chedli ​Klibi, who held the position from 1979 ​to 1990, reflecting Cairo’s role as host of the organization’s…

A 118-foot mountain of ice rose over the suburban Paris countryside this weekend as Disney opened its Arendelle kingdom to the world — Elsa’s palace glowing at the summit, a “Frozen” Nordic fishing village below, and the company’s new CEO standing before a crowd of celebrities. World of Frozen, an immersive land themed to the blockbuster animated franchise, opened Sunday as the centerpiece of a 2 billion euro ($2.18 billion) transformation at Disneyland Paris. The transformation renames one of the two theme parks at the Disneyland Paris complex from Walt Disney Studios Park to Disney Adventure World. The inauguration drew Penélope…

Actor James Tolkan, known for his roles as a cigar-chomping naval commander in “Top Gun” and a gruff high school administrator in “Back to the Future,” has died. He was 94. Tolkan died Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, where he lived, his booking agent, John Alcantar, said Saturday. A brief obituary published on the “Back to the Future” website said Tolkan died “peacefully,” but no cause of death was given. In “Back to the Future,” Tolkan portrayed the bow tie-wearing vice principal Gerald Strickland, who eyeballed students for trouble in the halls of the fictitious Hill Valley High School…