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Politics
Wadud Titilope , Lagos
What is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?
Hamas is a Palestinian armed group and political movement in the Gaza Strip. On 7 October 2023 it attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Hamas, which the US, UK, Israel and many other nations have designated as a terrorist organisation, continued to fire rockets into Israel.
In January 2025, Israel and Hamas agreed a deal to halt the war and release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
What is Hamas and what are its goals?
Hamas started as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987. Its name means Islamic Resistance Movement.
It is opposed to the existence of Israel on what it says is Palestinian land. It wants a state based on Islam in its place and across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
It has, however, signalled its willingness to accept an interim Palestinian state in just the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, without renouncing its claim to all of historic Palestine.
Before the 7 October attacks, Hamas was estimated to have about 30,000 fighters, but Israel said in August that its forces had killed more than 17,000 of them. This can't be independently verified.
Hamas has been the sole ruler in the Gaza Strip since 2007, after winning Palestinian elections and violently ousting rivals.
How Hamas built a force to attack Israel on 7 October
Who are Hamas's leaders?
When Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, the group's main leader was Ismail Haniyeh. He was based in Qatar, where the group has a headquarters.
Haniyeh was assassinated in an explosion in July 2024, while visiting the Iranian capital, Tehran, inan attack which Israel later said it carried out.
He was replaced by Yahya Sinwar, who had been leader of Hamas in Gaza since 2017.
Sinwar was killed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in Gaza in October 2024.
He was the architect of the 7 October attacks and was Israel's most wanted man.
Politics
Wadud Titilope , Nigeria
Israel and Hamas distance themselves from Biden’s optimism on Gaza ceasefire deal
Officials from Israel, Hamas and Qatar have cautioned against US President Joe Biden’s optimism that a hostage-for-ceasefire deal in Gaza could be reached by the end of this week, suggesting that differences remain as negotiators work to secure an agreement.
Politics
Wadud Titilope , Nigeria
Rebuffing Biden, full cabinet rejects Palestinian state recognition as ‘prize for terror’
Entire government backs declaration against ‘international diktats’ * PA, Hamas to hold unity talks next week * US threatens to veto Security Council resolution on Gaza ceasefire
Politics
Wadud Titilope , Nigeria
Gaza death toll nears 28,000 , Alarm as Israel plans Rafah ground invasion
The Israeli prime minister has ordered the military to develop a plan to both evacuate civilians from Rafah and fight Hamas, as Palestine’s UN envoy questions where civilians will be evacuated amid the planned attack.
Health
Friendshots , Nigeria
AI: Stroke patient helped to walk by high-tech trousers
A stroke survivor is learning to walk independently again thanks to high-tech trousers powered by AI.
Julie Lloyd, 65, is part of the UK's first trial of the "smart garment" that she described as a breakthrough for fellow stroke patients.
The "NeuroSkin" trousers stimulate her paralysed leg using electrodes controlled by artificial intelligence.
The Stroke Association said new technologies are giving hope to the UK's 1.3 million stroke survivors.
The developers of NeuroSkin said the invention is already revolutionising stroke care in France, but Ms Lloyd is one of the first involved in the UK's own trial.
"My leg is almost feeling as if it's being guided," she said. Ms Lloyd took part in the UK trial at her physiotherapy clinic in Newport.
After first experiencing an uncomfortable "tingling feeling", she said that within a few minutes she was walking unaided for the first time in six months.
"[My leg] was suddenly propelled up from the floor and made me feel safe walking, and that's the part that I've honestly not felt at all with all the physio I've had," she said.
Politics
Friendshots , Nigeria
Niger coup: Russia warns Ecowas not to take military action
Russia has warned that military intervention in Niger would lead to a "protracted confrontation" after regional bloc Ecowas said it would assemble a standby force.
Such an intervention would destabilise the Sahel region as a whole, the Russian foreign ministry said.
Russia does not formally back the coup.
But the US, which backs efforts to restore deposed leader Mohamed Bazoum, says its Wagner mercenary group is taking advantage of the instability.
On Friday coup supporters, some waving Russian flags, protested at a French military base near the capital NIamey, some chanting "down with France, down with Ecowas".
Both France and the US operate military bases in Niger and they have been used to launch operations against jihadist groups in the wider region.
Military officials from Ecowas countries are reportedly set to meet on Saturday to draft plans for a military intervention.
The bloc has said it remains open to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday that "No option is taken off the table, including the use of force as a last resort".
The US has not explicitly backed military action but has called on the junta to step aside and allow the restoration of the country's democratic constitution.
The Niger junta has not responded to the latest statements from Ecowas leaders.
Science
Friendshots , Lagos
US considers 'sun blocking' to cool the Earth
A White House report confirms that the US is open to researching solar radiation modification, or sun blocking.
It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but some researchers want to cool the earth by reflecting sunlight back into space.
The outlandish idea is currently trending, after the US voiced interested in studying 'solar radiation modification' (SRM) as a possibility, according to a White House report last week.
Advocates claim it could reduce the devastating impacts of climate change, and even refreeze the poles.
"SRM offers the possibility of cooling the planet significantly on a timescale of a few years," the report states.
Earlier in the year, several news outlets also reported that the United Nations are keen to ‘explore’ it.
Technology
Friendshots , Lagos
Apple supplier Foxconn pulls out of $19.5 billion India chip project
Lead Apple
supplier and global manufacturing powerhouse Foxconn
has pulled out of a $19.5 billion joint venture project with Indian conglomerate Vedanta
that would have brought semiconductor and display manufacturing to the Indian state of Gujarat.
“Foxconn has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta,” the Taiwanese company told CNBC. The move is a significant blow to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitions to transform the country into a global, high-tech manufacturing powerhouse.
Foxconn said the decision was by “mutual agreement,” but that it remained “confident” about India’s semiconductor ambitions. Vedanta did not respond to a request for comment.
American companies, Apple among them, have pushed their suppliers to diversify their supply chains beyond mainland China, as geopolitical and economic tensions mount. Foxconn has broken ground on multiple factory sites across India, although the $20 billion joint venture with Vedanta would have been one of the largest.
The breakup comes as U.S. and Chinese leaders and business executives work through an uneasy and oftentimes treacherous path, with both threading the needle between acknowledging their codependence and harshly rebuking their counterparts.
The U.S. government and major technology firms have started to openly identify Chinese technological advancements and manufacturing dominance as a key threat to national security. Some U.S. corporations, long the victim of Chinese state-permitted industrial espionage, are reassessing Chinese operations as part of so-called “de-risking” efforts.
Foxconn continues to build other factories across India, including one in Telangana and one in Bengaluru.
Technology
Friendshots , Lagos
‘Twitter killer’ Threads app hits 100m sign-ups in less than five days
Mark Zuckerberg’s “Twitter killer” Threads app has reached 100m sign-ups in less than five days.
The Twitter rival has grown rapidly since its launch last Wednesday, with Zuckerberg seeking to woo users with a promise that the platform would focus on “kindness”.
Twitter’s Elon Musk has responded with a threat to sue Meta, the parent company of Threads, over its launch of a “copycat” app.
Sports
Friendshots , Lagos
‘Anyone who loves football will love him’ – Casemiro hails Lionel Messi
Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro has hailed Lionel Messi, describing the Argentine as a very competitive player.
Giving a glowing verdict on Messi, Casemiro said anyone who loves football will love the former Barcelona ace.
The 36-year-old Messi and Casemiro, 31, clashed for six years representing Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.
It is a rarity that players from Real Madrid will praise those from Barcelona.
However, Casemiro insisted that if you are a football fan then you should be a fan of the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner.
He told Luiz Castro, via Albiceleste Talk, “Messi made an era and he was always competitive with Barcelona and Argentina and there was no way out.
“Whoever loves football will love Messi. It was a pleasure to play against him.
“He is someone who needs no comment you can only admire.”
Music
Friendshots , Lagos
Wizkid reacts to Shallipopi's new song 'Ex-convict'
Viral Tik Tok singer Shallipopi is slowly warming his way into the hearts of many music enthusiasts and now celebrities since the release of his hit song that took the industry by storm Elon Musk. Before the confirmation of the remix of Elon Musk which featured both Fireboy DML and Zlatan, the singer captured the attention of the YBNL boss who took to his social media platform to show his love for the artist after his release from police custody following his arrest on the allegations of fraud in May 2023.
Technology
Friendshots , Lagos
Twitter threatens to sue Facebook owner Meta over new Threads platform
The company has written to Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg to say it "intends to strictly enforce its intellectual property rights, according to news site Semafor, citing a letter from Twitter lawyer Alex Spiro.
"It demands that Meta take immediate steps to stop using any Twitter trade secrets or other highly confidential information," Mr Spiro reportedly wrote in the letter.
Twitter owner Elon Musk posted on his own platform: "Competition is fine, cheating is not," in response to the report.
It comes after Meta launched its new Threads platform overnight on Wednesday.
By Thursday afternoon, the tech giant, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, claimed there had been 30 million sign-ups to the new platform.
Politics
Friendshots , Lagos
Nigeria’s President Tinubu chosen as new West Africa bloc chief
West African regional bloc ECOWAS has chosen Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as its new chairman at a time of deepening insecurity, including military coups and violent activity from armed groups in the region.
West Africa has witnessed six successful military coups since 2020, marking a backslide of democracy in a region that previously saw progress in shedding its “coup belt” moniker.
There was also an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau whose president Umaro Sissoco Embalo passed on the rotational chairmanship of the bloc to Tinubu on Sunday after a vote.
The Nigerian president has called for swift action against insecurity and coups which he said had reached an “alarming proportion”.
“On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Tinubu pledged to prioritise political stability, peace and security, and regional economic integration in the 16-member ECOWAS.
Politics
Friendshots , Lagos
Retired army officer tells Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu
Hassa Stan-Labo, a security expert, has asked President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to end rising insecurity in South-east Nigeria. Mr Stan-Labo, a guest on Arise TV’s “The Morning Show” on Wednesday, also asked Mr Tinubu to resume dialogue with other pro-Biafra agitators to douse tension in the region. “One major priority area in the South-east, which I think will cool off a great deal of grouse, is for us to bring out (Nnamdi) Kanu. That gentleman, pull him out. Stop this incarceration,” he said.
Technology
Wadud Titilope , Abuja
Elon Musk: Tesla delivers record number of cars after price cuts
It has lowered prices in markets including the US, UK and China to compete with rival manufacturers.
This weekend, major Chinese car makers also reported a surge in sales in June.
Earlier this year, Tesla boss Elon Musk said he believed pursuing higher sales, with lower profits, was the "right choice" for the company.On Sunday, Tesla said it delivered 466,140 vehicles in the second quarter, which was more than 80% higher than a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the company said it had increased vehicle production to nearly 480,000 in the same period.
"Tesla has made a strategic choice to be a volume manufacturer," Bill Russo, the founder and chief executive of advisory firm Automobility, told the BBC.
"This was the main contributor to the sales increase, as its mainly higher-volume Model 3 and Model Y benefitted from the price war," he added.
Dan Ives from investment firm Wedbush Securities told the BBC that "the price cuts in China have been a smart poker move that was massively successful for Tesla".
China is Tesla's second largest market after North America.
The firm been cutting prices in the world's second largest economy, where it faces competition from local electric car makers.
Over the weekend, Beijing based Li-Auto said its deliveries had hit an all-time high of 32,575 in June, marking its third consecutive monthly sales record.
Meanwhile, deliveries by Shanghai-based Nio and Guangzhou-based Xpeng jumped to 10,707 and 8,620 respectively during the month.
Musk vows to bring Tesla to India after meeting Modi
Tesla boss Musk on first China trip in three years
Tesla has also been grappling with increased competition in other parts of the world, and the impact of higher borrowing costs for customers.
It has responded by cutting prices this year.
In April, Tesla said it had no plans to stabilise the prices of its vehicles, even though repeated price cuts had dented profits.
"We're not 'starting a price war', we're just lowering prices to enable affordability at scale," Mr Musk wrote on his social media platform, Twitter.
At the time Tesla said that its overall revenue had risen by almost a quarter in the first quarter from a year ago, as car sales increased.
However, its profit for the same period dropped by 24%, because of price cuts and higher costs of raw materials and other commodities.
The company is due to report its financial results for the second quarter on 19 July.
