President Bola Tinubu, who is distressed by the country’s long-running insurgency, has declared that it will not give in to forces of fear, disloyalty, or terror.
He thanked the soldiers who were on the frontline in Katsina on Friday, praising their valor and steadfastness and highlighting their crucial role in preserving the nation’s sovereignty.
I stand before you as a fellow patriot, not just as your leader and commander-in-chief, as Tinubu once said. Your devout, unwavering commitment, and sacrifice are all very humble.
You protect our children’s future by standing firm against terror and as the shield of Nigeria. ”
The president claimed that the battle between these troops in Katsina and throughout the country is more important than just reclaiming territory. It is also about preserving Nigeria’s core.
Every terrorist you neutralize and every inch of the country’s soil represents a victory for justice, freedom, and the country’s future. The foundation of democracy in our country is your sacrifices. You are our peace’s silent guardians, according to Tinubu.
Tinubu reaffirmed to the soldiers that his administration prioritizes their welfare over the many challenges that the military faces.
We are providing you with advanced equipment, logistics, intelligence, and intelligence to effectively defend this country and defeat all adversaries. However, weapons are not the only thing that matters. Your families, your benefits, your healthcare, and your dignity are all important to us. ”
With initiatives like housing programs, family support, insurance coverage, and better pay already being implemented, Tinubu reiterated his government’s commitment to improving the lives of the soldiers.
Terrorist, bandit, and insurgency threats are all threats that we face. The troops are eager to see if you can defeat these foes and reclaim every inch of our land, he declared.
He urged the soldiers to let their resolve spread throughout the country, urging them to let their enemies in Nigeria know it is all but over. We won’t bow down, and that includes treachery, terror, and fear. Peace will prevail with your will and perseverance. ”
Tinubu promised the military that his government would support them without condition.
Nigeria will not bow to those who seek to destabilize our country, whether they are foreigners or international collaborators. I will always be with you because you are the spearhead of this conflict. ”
Worried by the protracted insurgency of more than a decade in the country, President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria will not capitulate to forces of terror, fear, or disloyalty.
Addressing soldiers deployed to the frontline in Katsina on Friday, he acknowledged their valor and steadfastness, emphasizing their essential function in preserving the country’s sovereignty.
Tinubu said: “I stand before you not just as your President and Commander-in-Chief, but as a fellow patriot. Your courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment are deeply humbling.
“You are the shield of Nigeria, standing firm against terror, ensuring the future of our children.”
The president said the battle being fought by these troops in Katsina and across the nation is more than just about reclaiming territory—it is a battle for the very soul of Nigeria.
“Every inch of ground you secure, every terrorist you neutralise, is a victory for justice, freedom, and the future of this country. Your sacrifices are the foundation of our nation’s democracy. You are the silent guardians of our peace,” Tinubu said.
Acknowledging the numerous challenges faced by the military, Tinubu assured the soldiers that their welfare is a top priority of his administration.
“We are equipping you with superior tools, intelligence, and logistics to not only defend this nation but to decisively defeat every enemy. But it’s not just about weapons. We are committed to your welfare—your families, your allowances, healthcare, and dignity.”
Tinubu restated his government’s commitment to improving the lives of the troops, with initiatives like housing programmes, family support, insurance coverage, and better pay already being rolled out.
“The threats we face—terrorism, banditry, insurgency—will not stand. Nigerians are looking to you to defeat these enemies and reclaim every inch of our land,” he told the troops.
He urged the soldiers to let their resolve echo throughout the nation, stating “Let the enemies of Nigeria know their time is up. We will not bow—not to fear, not to terror, not to treachery. With your strength and discipline, peace will reign.”
Tinubu assured the military that his administration would provide unwavering support.
“To those seeking to destabilise our nation—whether collaborators within or agents from abroad—Nigeria will not bow. You are the spearhead of this fight, and I stand with you, now and always.”
A district judge in the United States has overturned a president’s executive order that targeted Perkins Coie for its handling of Hillary Clinton, the attorney firm’s Democratic presidential rival.
Judge Beryl A. Howell declared the executive order unconstitutional on Friday in a five-page order issued in Washington, DC.
According to Howell, “Executive Order 14230 is unlawful, null, and void in its entirety, and should not be disregarded.”
One of the executive orders Trump has issued against a law firm is permanently invalid with the ruling. His administration is anticipated to file an appeal.
The Trump administration must resume its “ordinary course of business” with the government in accordance with Judge Howell’s order, which also requires the government to end any investigations into Perkins Coie.
Judge Howell outlined her justification in her full 102-page decision, stating that Trump’s executive order was an “unprecedented attack” on the country’s “foundational principles.”
In her opening statement, she said, “No American President has ever issued executive orders like the one that is in this lawsuit.” This action is inspired by a playbook as old as Shakespeare, which says, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
She continued, “Let’s kill the lawyers I don’t like,” in a fresh way by Trump’s executive order.
On March 6, Trump published Executive Order 14230 with the title “Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP.”
The executive order, which cited the law firm’s cooperation with Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign, placed restrictions on its access to government buildings, and mandated that organizations abide by Perkins Coie’s contract terminations whenever possible.
Executive orders also targeted a number of other law firms, including Jenner & Block, Paul Weiss, and WilmerHale. Many of the people had worked for Trump-affiliated organizations or had directly endorsed his policies.
However, it was questioned whether those orders were constitutional because the president had the power to revoke services, security clearances, and even building access because he had a disagreement with one law firm.
Critics argued that the US Constitution’s First Amendment shields individuals and businesses from being subject to reprisals for their free speech. The Fifth and Sixth Amendments, in contrast, safeguard the right to legal counsel from law offices like Perkins Coie.
Many of the clients of the law firm had cases with deep ties to the government’s internal operations. In its filings, Perkins Coie even stated that its attorneys “necessarily interact with the federal government on behalf of their clients.”
In light of the restrictions imposed by the executive order, some of its clients began to consider working with Perkins Coie.
More than 500 law firms signed an amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie in April, arguing that Trump’s actions “would threaten the survival of any law firm” and “would scare away clients.
Judge Howell’s ruling supported those concerns, stating that the law firm had “shown monetary harm sufficient to establish irreparable harm.” She referred to the executive order as an “overt attempt to suppress and punish certain viewpoints.”
However, several well-known law firms made the decision to break with the White House in order to avoid such punitive action.
Paul Weiss, who reportedly offered the administration $40 million in pro bono legal services, was the first to strike a deal. Following suit, firms Skadden, Milbank, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher each agreed to provide free legal services worth $100 million.
Judge Howell argued in her ruling that Trump’s executive orders against law firms could have a chilling impact on the entire field and were equivalent to a power grab.
She wrote that removing lawyers as the body of law’s guardians removes a significant barrier to gaining more authority.
According to her, the Constitution requires that the government “repairs” disputed speech or ideas with “tolerance, not coercion” in response.
Singapore – David Wee has spent the majority of his life living in the same terraced house with his family in the east of Singapore.
But over more than 40 years, the Wee family have been a part of five different electoral constituencies.
Government critics have accused the Singaporean government of gerrymandering, which is deliberately bending constituency boundaries to favor a particular political party, since the election changes that took place shortly before every general election.
According to Singapore’s Elections Department, which is overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, the latest boundary changes – the most extensive in years – were driven by voter growth and future housing developments.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) will take control of Singapore on Saturday despite criticism, which is expected to result in the election of 2.76 million voters.
The PAP has won every election in this prosperous global financial centre since declaring independence in 1965.
Elections in this country are seen as a test of public opinion of the ruling party, despite the PAP’s low chances of losing. This election is also seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took over from former premier Lee Hsien Loong last year.
Prior to the Singapore general election on April 26, 2025, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attended a People’s Action Party (PAP) rally [Edgar Su/Reuters]
Voting is also compulsory in Singapore – where elections are held every five years, and though modelled after the United Kingdom’s Westminster parliamentary system, one of the quirks of Singapore is that voters are either part of a single-member voting constituency or a Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
People in a GRC cast ballots for teams of up to five politicians rather than just for one candidate. Within each team, at least one candidate must be from a minority ethnic group.
The team vote is supposed to ensure minority representation in the city-state’s parliament, but critics claim it is a group-to-group parachute maneuver.
The vote will see 97 members of parliament elected in 33 constituencies made up of 15 single-member constituencies and 18 GRCs. The PAP has already won a walkover for a five-member team, so only 92 seats will be contested today because one of the GRCs has no contest.
For David Wee, constituency boundaries are not really an issue.
He told Al Jazeera, “It’s something that can happen to anyone, especially if you live in a Single Member Constituency, which can be easily absorbed” into a GRC.
What is an issue though, he says, is the rising cost of living, inflation, and other concerns around life and work in one of the world’s richest nations.
He continued, “I will support anyone I believe can best serve the residents,” noting that Singapore’s voters are now more selective and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“Our voters have become more educated”, he said.
After all, he continued, “Singapore is a developed country, not a developing country.”
The Merlion statue in front of Singapore’s business district in 2019]Vincent Thian/AP]
Singapore bling
Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive cities, with some of the highest living standards globally.
It has the most expensive cars in the world, along with a top-notch public transportation system, along with congestion pricing, road tax, and other costs. This is because owners must pay thousands of dollars for a vehicle’s ownership.
“If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it”, said Lim Meng Wee, 57, a consultant in the local real estate capital field who has owned several cars over the years.
“A car is a very expensive luxury,” says one author. It eats into your balance sheet and you will have to keep working harder. He said, “I know of people who bought cars and returned to public transportation after two to three years.
Singapore’s economic success, generally low crime and expectation of personal safety for citizens has come in tandem with a low tolerance for dissent.
That has been put into practice by a number of laws, including those that prohibit racial and religious feelings from being hurt, as well as detention without trial. Labour strikes are outlawed too, and a permit is required for demonstrations, which is strictly observed.
In an effort to make a point about the administration of justice, a prominent dissident was fined for assembly in 2020 for upholding a cardboard sign with a smiley face outside the State Courts.
In February, six people in their 20s were questioned by police and had their electronic devices seized over a protest at a local university against Israel’s war on Gaza.
On April 3, 2022, speakers at Speakers’ Corner in Singapore protested the death penalty.
Critics and media outlets have been the subject of defamation lawsuits by government ministers, while many politicians and activists were imprisoned from the 1960s into the 1980s.
In addition, the majority of the media is unwaveringly pro-establishment, despite the country’s 123rd-placed status as the world’s second-largest press freedom. All media outlets must tread carefully with a government accustomed to taking matters to court when unhappy with coverage.
A defamation lawsuit against Bloomberg News, which is ongoing, was brought by two ministers over a report on multimillion dollar real estate transactions in the nation.
Singapore at 60 – the social compact going strong
This island nation, which has about six million people and is multicultural and multilingual, celebrates its 60th anniversary in August.
It turns 60 as an economic heavyweight, and one of the cleanest, safest, least corrupt places in the world. In 1965, the GDP per person was about $500. Last year, figures from the International Monetary Fund showed the figure was about $93, 000.
All of this has been accomplished under the leadership of Singapore under the leadership of the PAP, which Lee Kuan Yew co-founded and is still the only governing body that the country has ever had a history with.
Over those six decades, Singapore’s version of the social compact has seen its citizens accepting fewer freedoms in exchange for the PAP ensuring stable economic growth and the availability of good jobs. However, it seems to be changing.
The PAP has held a parliamentary supermajority for decades, though the 10 opposition politicians elected at the last election in 2020 represented an all-time high in parliament and forced some soul-searching among the governing party’s leadership.
Political analyst and former newspaper editor PN Balji said, “Lee Kuan Yew’s generation delivered everything that we see here in Singapore.”
“He was a great statesman”, he told Al Jazeera.
On April 28, 2025, a People’s Action Party (PAP) supporter in Singapore’s central business district attends a lunchtime rally in advance of the general election.
However, increasingly, Singaporean voters want a greater say in governance and eschew the “fist in velvet glove” approach to government, along with the authorities ‘ willingness to intervene in citizens ‘ lives, leading to the label of “nanny state”.
Social housing, according to Balji, is an illustration of the PAP’s gloved-fist strategy.
For years, the PAP openly told voters that their residential public housing properties would not be prioritised for upgrading if they voted for the opposition.
All of these policies were put in place when the leadership’s attitude was to “we’ll just push it through.” You don’t vote PAP, you don’t get upgrading? Let’s try this right away, Balji said.
Social media has emboldened Singaporeans to the point where the “fear factor” no longer exists, he said.
In high-tech Singapore, bread-and-butter issues are also dominant, along with the long-standing argument that more opposition voices are required.
Cost-of-living concerns, exacerbated by a two-step rise in a goods and services tax (GST) – now at 9 percent – since 2023, have dominated the political debate.
In response to a $4.9 billion fiscal surplus for 2024, authorities have already allocated just under $1 billion in handouts and rebates to help cover the cost of daily expenses.
But the larger-than-expected surplus led many to question the government’s need for the GST hike, with the main opposition Workers ‘ Party (WP) asserting that it had “turbocharged” inflation.
Workers’ Party supporters attend a rally in Singapore on May 1, 2025 [Edgar Su/Reuters]
United States-imposed tariffs have also heightened economic unease.
The PAP has less frequently cited the claim of Singaporean exceptionalism, according to former WP lawmaker Leon Perera, as a result of slower economic growth in recent years.
“Three generations of Singaporeans grew up with an exceptional leadership that delivered outcomes of a higher standard than other developed countries”, Perera said.
He claimed that other developed nations are increasingly becoming aware of the issues that we face, whether it be inflation, sluggish real wage growth, or high levels of inequality.
“The PAP is at an inflection point because it is the transition to the new prime minister that I think is a catalyst for voters”, he added.
Inderjit Singh, a former PAP lawmaker who served in parliament for almost 20 years, claimed that prior to that time, people “saw their lives improve enormously” and that they “were willing to allow the government to play a dominant role” in their lives.
But Singh acknowledged that the cracks have been showing, with a cross-section of Singaporeans who feel they are “sliding backwards” in terms of the cost of living and the affordability of public housing.
According to Singh, “the younger Singaporeans have had a good life, and they think the future will be more difficult than the present.”
He also pointed to the “huge surge” of new immigrants at a rapid pace that has diluted national identity.
He remarked that all Singaporeans should take pride in the fact that the country has always had a cohesion and prosperity.
Singapore’s ‘ 4G ‘ generation v the founding fathers
Neophyte Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office in May, is a member of the “4G” leadership, which still reigns in Lee Kuan Yew’s shadow.
“One of the biggest issues for Singapore at 60 is leadership”, said Balji, who believes the current PAP leaders cannot be compared with Lee’s generation.
Many Singaporeans appear to agree with online chatter, based on the conversation.
A long-running public dispute between Lee’s children, including Wong’s predecessor as PM Lee Hsien Loong, also continues to divide Singaporeans and generate international headlines. A former transport minister was imprisoned in a high-profile corruption case, which hasn’t improved things.
Another point of contention for many: Singapore has the highest-paid ministers in the world, thanks to the PAP’s insistence that competitive salaries were essential for guarding against corruption.
Wong is the highest-paid global leader with a salary of almost $ 1.69 million annually. A junior minister gets about $845, 000 while a backbencher is paid about $148, 000.
Wong co-chairs the government’s COVID task force, despite not being Lee’s replacement as finance minister.
While the 52-year-old has enjoyed high approval ratings and there is little danger of the PAP losing power in this election, he is expected to improve on or maintain the party’s vote share of more than 61 percent from the last election in 2020 – which was one of its worst performances ever.
A slate of young, highly qualified WP candidates is also facing resurgent opposition, and the ruling party has appeared agitated and vulnerable during the campaign.
The former PAP lawmaker Singh said that while Singapore’s management of the COVID pandemic was exemplary compared with many other countries, the jury is still out on Wong and his peers.
“I believe the 4G leaders haven’t yet demonstrated their ability to solve these problems to Singaporeans’ satisfaction,” he said. Some of the trust in the PAP has eroded in the last 10 years or so”, he said.
He said, “Simply saying, “Feel me,” will not suffice; it will be important to present a compelling plan that people can believe will be successful.
“If the PAP can do it, they should be able to win a good mandate. If not, we can anticipate even more voter eroding.
A Singaporean rides his motorcycle past a Workers ‘ Party board in the Hougang area in Singapore on May 2, 2025]Vincent Thian/AP]
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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland
Finally, Falkirk’s 15 years of suffering are over. The Scottish Premiership is where the Bairns once hoped to be:
After a few hiccups in recent weeks, they did it in a dramatic final-day decider, goodness.
John McGlynn’s team are now the championship champions after beating Hamilton Academical 3-1.
The man who steered the team’s descent into League 1 six years ago has now won two titles and promoted them both in a row.
The champagne has also been on ice while the “Champions 25” t-shirts have been ironed for a few weeks, but Falkirk would not have existed without one more twist in a tale that had appeared storied weeks ago.
How have the Bairns recovered from the big break, which has been extensive and occasionally exhausting?
Favorite moment for a fan of Falkirk?
The club had just finished seventh in their third-tier season when McGlynn was appointed as the new manager of Falkirk in May 2022, just one day after leaving Raith Rovers.
Nine years after their promotion from the top flight, they were relegated to League 1 in terms of goal difference.
Falkirk Daft podcast host John McInally said to BBC Scotland: “I was just so dumbfounded that Falkirk found themselves in that position and then slammed into League 1 with a whimper.
It was just a sad, sad day for the club, they said. The real low point was that.
“League 1 went on a downward spiral until we acquired McGlynn.” He entered and completely rebuilt the side.
The former Hearts boss, as usual, said it was “a big job” and that he and his trusted assistant Paul Smith were “excited at the prospect of trying to get it back where we think it should belong.”
Their initial attempt failed.
They were defeated 7-2 by Airdrieonians over the two-legged play-off semi-final despite finishing only behind runaway league champions Dunfermline Athletic and their local rivals.
League 1 was going to endure a furious fifth season. However, excitement quickly turned to enthralling.
In addition to Nicky Hogarth, Calvin Miller, Ross MacIver, and Brad Spencer, McGlynn also managed to get his hands on some free agents in the summer.
With five games left, the Bairns won the title with the help of smart acquisitions from the previous season, including Gary Oliver, Coll Donaldson, Liam Henderson, and Stephen McGinn.
They won it in style by defeating Montrose 7-1, but they had not yet made their way to the sun loungers. An unstoppable league campaign was in order, but the championship was coming up next.
The Bairns appeared to have lost a heartbreaking match in League 1 against Alloa Athletic in the 84th minute. Then Spencer removed a penalty in order to record the team’s name in history.
One of my favorite moments as a Falkirk supporter was to eventually leave League 1 and pursue it as an invincibles, McInally said.
Complete and complete Roy of the Rovers material.
The Bairns could be forgiven for making the most of their Championship opener on a Friday night in August, after five years of rage and ridicule.
They made sure to include everything, including disco lights and fireworks, but they did not end there.
They seamlessly made the transition back to the second tier after kicking off the campaign with a five-game winning run that included their first win at Dunfermline’s East End Park in five years.
With little fuss on the pitch but plenty of excitement off it, the team remained at the top of the tree the entire time. Landmarks in the season: international breaks, first round of games, and festive fixture.
15 years after his departure, homegrown hero Scott Arfield, the former Rangers, Burnley, and Canada midfielder, made a stunning comeback on February 3rd, elevating that excitement even more.
McInally described the academy product’s resignation as “complete and utter Roy of the Rovers stuff.”
“There were murmurs before I received a few messages from Scott’s friends saying “this is happening.”
I thought, “Shut up, no way. Then, it occurred, and there was a lot of buzz.
Arfield scored a hat-trick against Partick Thistle while wearing the number 37 on his back, which had been and will continue to be since the tragic passing of former team-mate Craig Gowans.
The Bairns now have an 11-point advantage in their final six games after going eight games without a win.
Send the printed t-shirts and the fancy champagne. Back-to-back titles started to seem like when, not as if.
A win over Ayr United in the final game of the season would almost certainly seal the title, but these goods must have made it down to Somerset Park.
However, Ethan Walker’s equalizer in the 93rd minute put the champagne on hold. However, there is no need to be alarmed. There would be a second chance.
Rovers stunned the league leaders with three goals from the 88th minute, and it came and went in a similar manner. attempting to get to the panic station.
It almost unbearably occurred again on Friday at Firhill against 10-man Thistle. The panic button was well and truly battered when Terry Ablade’s incredible winner in the 97th minute.
A final-day decider appeared impossible a few weeks ago. The Championship trophy was still in Linlithgow and was now on its way to Livingston, if necessary.
That was the intended destination, for a while, in the SatNav. Livingston led the pack for the first time this season.
However, they were soon moved when an Ethan Ross free-kick made it all but impossible for the Bairns to claim a comfortable win.
Although McGlynn’s men did it without warning, they will say it was worthwhile for scenes like those that occur full-time.
A Tunisian court has sentenced former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh to 34 years in prison over accusations he facilitated the departure of fighters to Syria – a charge the opposition figure strongly denies.
“I was neither sympathetic, nor complicit, nor neutral, nor lenient towards violence, terrorism,” Larayedh told the judge on Friday, rejecting what he and his Ennahdha party have called a politically motivated prosecution.
The ruling is the latest blow to the Ennahdha party, a major opposition force to President Kais Saied.
Larayedh, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014, has been in detention since 2022.
His sentencing comes just a week after the arrest of vocal Saied critic Ahmed Souab and new prison terms handed down to political opponents, media figures and businesspeople on various conspiracy charges.
According to state news agency TAP, the sentences apply to eight individuals, with prison terms ranging from 18 to 36 years. The court did not name those convicted alongside Larayedh.
Ennahdha denies all terrorism-related allegations, arguing that the case is part of a broader campaign against dissent that has intensified since Saied suspended parliament and assumed sweeping powers in 2021. The government maintains that Tunisia’s judiciary is independent, rejecting claims of political interference.
Human rights groups, however, say the crackdown on opposition voices – including the jailing of Souab – marks a dangerous escalation. Many warn that democratic gains in the birthplace of the Arab Spring in the years since the 2011 revolution are being steadily rolled back.
Growing protests against Tunisian president
Saied faced protests on Thursday as opponents took to the streets of Tunis, accusing him of using the judiciary and police to silence dissent.
The demonstration, the second in a week, comes amid growing alarm over what critics see as an authoritarian drift in the country that sparked the Arab Spring.
Marching down Habib Bourguiba Avenue, anti-Saied protesters chanted slogans including “Saied go away, you are a dictator” and “The people want the fall of the regime” – echoing the calls that fuelled the 2011 uprising that ousted former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Supporters of Saied held a counter-rally on the same boulevard, shouting, “No to foreign interference” and “The people want Saied again”.
The opposition accuses Saied of undermining the democracy won in the 2011 revolution, since he seized extra powers in 2021 when he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree before assuming authority over the judiciary.
