Following a signed Memorandum of Action with the State Government, the organized labor in Ogun State has suspended its week-long industrial action that temporarily paralyzed operations across government offices.
The labor movement declared that work will resume in every state with immediate effect in a press release that was jointly signed by the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Joint Negotiating Council, and the Trade Union Congress.
In laying the groundwork for dialogue and resolution, labor leaders cited interventions from prominent citizens, including supreme rulers, respected labor veterans, and national leaders, as well as respected labor veterans both domestically and internationally.
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The union also praised the government’s commitment and openness during negotiations, noting that the Ogun State Government had a significant influence on their engagement.
Labour emphasized that workers’ interests were well-represented and that significant progress was made through concerted efforts and sacrifices.
The unions emphasized that the fight for workers’ rights is still ongoing despite the suspension of the strike.
They urged all state employees to continue to be steadfast, vigilant, and resolute, and to uphold the spirit of unity as they closely watch the implementation of the agreement with the government.
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No employee in the civil service, metrofile, or local government system will suffer from victimization as a result of their participation in the strike, according to the unions.
As the wealthy Gulf state looks to diversify its energy-reliant economy, Qatar is bidding to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to authorities on Tuesday.
Qatar, one of the Gulf’s smallest and richest nations, has already hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar would host the Olympics as the first Middle Eastern and North African nation, according to Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the prime minister and foreign affairs minister.
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In a statement shared on the official Qatar News Agency, he stated that the Qatar Olympic Committee’s (QOC) official bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games “represents a new milestone in Qatar’s journey.”
Sheikh Mohammed continued, “The bid builds on Qatar’s proven track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Despite Doha claiming only 37 workers on World Cup projects perished and only three in work-related accidents, Amnesty International and other rights organizations claimed thousands of migrant workers perished in the lead-up to the 2022 tournament.
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, the president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, claimed that Doha has “made sport a pillar of our national strategy.”
He stated that we currently have complete national plans to make sure all facilities are fully prepared and that we have the necessary sports infrastructure in place to host the Games.
Countries no longer are required to disclose their Olympic bids.
Every season, the Games are supposed to rotate continents. There are good chances that the 2036 Olympic Games will take place in either Asia or Africa, which would be a first, with the 2024, 2028, and 2032 editions scheduled for Europe, North America, and Oceania.
28 nations, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and a number of European countries, released a joint statement on Monday, telling Israel that the conflict in Gaza “must end now,” which is the most recent instance of growing criticism from Israel’s allies.
The foreign ministers of these nations criticized “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, who seek to meet their most basic needs of water and food,” in a joint statement.
As the occupied Palestinian territory dries up in agony, the world is under increasing pressure from Israel over civilian casualties at aid sites, obstructing humanitarian aid, and violating international humanitarian law.
Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1, 139 fatalities and more than 200 captured, Israel’s war on Gaza has resulted in 140, 000 injuries and more than 59, 000 deaths.
What is the joint statement’s purpose, then? These nations, who are they? And how have Israel and its closest ally, the United States, responded?
What was stated in the statement?
The nations are uniting under the simple, urgent message that “the war in Gaza must end now,” according to the joint statement.
The statement stated that the Israeli government’s aid delivery system is “dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity” and that the suffering of civilians there has “new depths.”
They demanded that the Israeli government “observe its obligations under international humanitarian law” and immediately lift the restrictions on the flow of aid.
The group of nations called for the captives’ immediate and unrestricted release and noted that Hamas has “cruelly held” them and that they continue to “suffer terribly.”
A negotiated ceasefire offers “the best chance of bringing the captives home and putting an end to their families,” they claimed in the statement.
What else did the nations say about settler violence and demographic change?
The nations criticized Israel’s “completely unacceptable” plan to create a concentration zone, which is Israel’s attempt to relocate the entire Palestinian population to a fenced, heavily controlled zone built on the ruins of Rafah.
According to the joint statement, “permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.”
The group of nations also reaffirmed their opposition to “any steps toward territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” and pointed out that the E1 settlement plan, which it claimed would split a Palestinian state into two, “marking a flagrant violation of international law and critically]undermining] the two-state solution.”
They also criticized the rise in settler violence against Palestinians while the “settlement building across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has accelerated.” This must end.
Which nations ratified the joint statement?
The 28 foreign ministers of the 28 countries who signed the joint statement:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malta, Malta, Malta, Malta, Malta, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
These governments, many of whom are allies of Israel, have condemned the obstructing aid in the occupied Palestinian territory in some of their most vehement language.
On January 22, 2025, Palestinian homes and structures were uncovered in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Which of those nations ratifies Palestine?
Nine of these 28 nations, according to the joint statement, acknowledge the State of Palestine as a sovereign state.
Shortly after the 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence, Malta, Poland, and Cyprus all granted Palestinian recognition.
Iceland followed in 2011, and Sweden in 2014. In 2024, Slovenia, Spain, Norway, and Ireland all recognized Palestine.
What was Israel’s response?
The group of nations’ joint statement, which Israel rejects, is “distrupt from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas,” according to Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on X.
Further, Israel claimed that Hamas is “occupied running a campaign to spread lies about Israel” and was purposefully causing friction and harm to civilians who receive humanitarian aid instead of agreeing to a ceasefire.
Hamas “stubbornly refuses to accept” a “concrete proposal for a ceasefire deal,” according to the statement.
What is Hamas’ position on the ceasefire?
Israel was the one who rejected a ceasefire agreement to release all prisoners held in Gaza, according to the military wing’s spokesperson.
Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, stated in a prerecorded video that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers had rejected a “comprehensive deal” that would have immediately released all captives.
Hamas supports a deal that allows the Israeli military to withdraw, the release of humanitarian aid, and the entry of besieged Palestinians, he said, adding that it has become clear that the government of the criminal Netanyahu has no real interest in the captives because they are soldiers.
In Gaza, Hamas is still holding 50 people, with 20 of whom are reportedly still alive.
At a protest against the release of all Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, demonstrators are holding a banner with US President Trump’s image on it near the US consulate in Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 7, 2025 [Ammar Awad/Reuters].
What is Israel’s restriction on entering Gaza, which Hamas claims it can use?
Hamas claims that it could divert or repurpose the necessary humanitarian supplies for military use, so Israel continues to obstruct access to Gaza.
Baby formula, food, water filters, and medicines are among the items that were omitted.
As part of Israel’s “dual-use” restrictions, which claim to be intended to prevent Hamas exploitation in military settings, are medications and medical supplies blocked.
Other medical supplies, such as anaesthetics, oxygen cylinders, and cancer medications, have been restricted.
According to Israeli authorities, some products, such as some chemicals or electronics, may have dual-use potential.
The British and Irish Lions continue to win on Australian soil after going through a difficult examination with First Nations and Pasifika.
The Lions took a raunchy lead into what appeared to be a commanding 14-0 lead on a nervy night at Marvel Stadium, but things started to go wrong once more.
The Scotland wing, who had been parachuted in for this game, was emotional as Graham left the field shortly after he scored because he was injured.
When wing Triston Reilly and flanker Seru Uru crossed for converted scores to level the match at 14-14 at the break, Pasifika immediately rose into contention.
Osborne’s second try gave the Lions a significant advantage over the hosts’ physicality, but the Lions were able to regain lead.
Duhan van der Merwe scored from captain Owen Farrell’s lovely delayed pass just after the hour mark, and the underdogs roared back. This was his fifth try of the tour.
With ten minutes remaining, Rob Leota piled over after another bombardment to give Pasifika the lead. Much to the Lions’ relief, the conversion was omitted, and the gap was five.
Images courtesy of Getty
Graham is inflicted and leaves hurt.
He would have disappointed if head coach Andy Farrell had looked for men to play in the second Test on Saturday.
By far, Pasifika openside Charlie Gamble was the outstanding player.
The flanker’s excellent play was repeated by him in the previous performance against the Lions earlier in the tour.
The Lions had taken a promising first step by taking a commanding lead and appearing to be going to “torch” their foes.
Reilly’s sin-binned for a high shot on Graham helped the Lions’ early momentum.
Then, Osborne, who received a kindly bounce and scored, took advantage of a dink over the top from Farrell, who had a strong game. The conversion was made by Fin Smith.
Smith flung a long pass out to Graham, who continued to have a remarkable try-scoring record for each team he plays for.
He was sidelined before the first quarter was over because he did not get to play for the Lions for much longer.
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Physical Pasifika rises to the occasion
When Blair Kinghorn, who was competing for a test spot on Saturday, got loose with a pass, Reilly intercepted it and ran away before scoring with Kurtley Beale converting.
Physically speaking, Pasifika were breathtaking, enormous men fighting in vain for the Pacific Islands’ heritage. The Lions were irritated by some of the tackles they made.
The tourists were harmed by the outstanding Gamble’s work on the ground and his aggressive behavior in contact, as well as another outstanding Gamble that was in full flow against the Lions for the second time.
Another massive unit, Uru, blasted over, and they were then thrust back into the Lions 22 by the gargantuan Taniela Tupou in the main. The totemic Beale converted, making it 14-14 instead of 0-14.
James Ryan received a yellow card for an illegal attempt to slow down Pasifika’s hammer away at the line in the lead up to Uru’s score, which only made things worse for the Lions.
And it might have been worse since Kinghorn was being intercepted a second time before the break. The man who jumped on his pass, Jack Debreczeni, did not have the required speed to complete the journey.
Images courtesy of Getty
At this point, there were only a few positive things for the Lions, but Scott Cummings was one of the few to make his case for Saturday consideration.
There may be a bench spot for a lock with Joe McCarthy out with an injury, but the Scotland lock made it through a lot.
Soon after the restart, he gained another level of influence when Kinghorn found Osborne for his second of the night when they moved the ball out the backline.
Now it’s a five-point game, and Van der Merwe tries to extend the lead to ten points with a clever blitz from Farrell.
But it never felt at ease when Pasifika were so driven. Leota went over from close range with nine minutes left, and the chance of losing to the Lions was very real.
Leota’s try was not converted by Pasifika, who did not succeed, but did finish strong, but not quite strongly enough.
Replacements: McLeod, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, and Asiata
Kinghorn, Graham, Osborne, Farrell (capt), Van der Merwe, F Smith, White, Schoeman, George, Bealham, Ryan, Cummings, Morgan, Van der Flier, Pollock, and other Irish and British Lions
On BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha discusses England’s decision to stop kneeling at Euro 2025 in response to defender Jess Carter receiving racist abuse.
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