Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria’s Senate, has publicly opposed the voice voting procedure used by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to approve President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Kingibe, who is elected under the platform of the Labour Party, argued that the Nigerian Constitution clearly requires the approval of a state of emergency by a “two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly”—a process that she believes cannot be accurately determined through a voice vote.

In her statement on Friday, Kingibe emphasized that a voice vote, where members express their agreement by saying “Aye” or “Nay,” is insufficient to determine whether the required two-thirds majority has been met. She argued that a formal, recorded vote is necessary to ensure the exact number of lawmakers in support of such an important decision, particularly for emergency proclamations.

Kingibe pointed to Section 305(2) and (6)(b) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a state of emergency proclamation must receive the approval of at least two-thirds of all members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. She argued that for such a critical decision, a recorded vote—whether by division, roll call, or electronic means—is essential to accurately comply with the constitutional requirement for a supermajority vote.

The senator also referenced the Senate Standing Orders and House Rules, which generally mandate a roll call or electronic voting system to determine the exact numerical support for significant decisions, such as approving an emergency proclamation.

George Glezmann, an American citizen who had been detained in Afghanistan for over two years, was released on Thursday and is now on his way to the United States. The 66-year-old Delta Airlines mechanic was freed after extensive negotiations led by Qatari and U.S. mediators. Glezmann had been held since December 2022, after traveling to Afghanistan for a short trip to explore the country’s culture and history. The U.S. government declared him wrongfully detained in September 2023.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Glezmann’s release, saying, “Today, after two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan, George Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra.” The release came after weeks of intense negotiations, with Qatar playing a significant role in facilitating the talks with the Taliban.

Glezmann’s family expressed relief and gratitude for his release. His wife, Aleksandra, communicated with him, and they were “overjoyed and grateful” for his return. U.S. officials, including hostage envoy Adam Boehler and former Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, were involved in the negotiations and accompanied Glezmann on his journey back home.

Glezmann had endured harsh conditions during his detention, with limited contact with his family and minimal consular visits. His case had drawn attention, with U.S. lawmakers advocating for his release, citing his poor health during captivity.

This release marks the third American citizen freed from Afghanistan in 2024, following Ryan Corbett and William McKenty’s release in a prisoner swap earlier this year.

Donald Trump has declared that April 2 will be “Liberation Day” for America, a date he plans to introduce “reciprocal tariffs” to reset global trade. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the U.S. has been “ripped off and abused” by other nations for decades and expressed optimism that his new trade policies would help the U.S. regain some of its “money and respect.”

He wrote, “April 2nd is Liberation Day in America!!! For DECADES we have been ripped off and abused by every nation in the World, both friend and foe. Now it is finally time for the Good Ol’ USA to get some of that MONEY, and RESPECT, BACK. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!”

However, economists have raised concerns that these tariffs could potentially lead to a recession, both in the U.S. and globally. The introduction of these tariffs has already prompted retaliatory actions from affected countries, heightening fears of an economic downturn.

Namibia’s newly sworn-in president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is set to lead a country grappling with high unemployment, inequality, and poverty. At 72 years old, she made history as Africa’s second-ever directly elected female president and Namibia’s first female head of state. In her recent interview on BBC’s Africa Daily podcast, Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the pressure that comes with her historic position. She pointed out that if her administration succeeds, it could serve as a positive example, but if any setbacks occur, some might unfairly blame her gender, as often happens in male-led administrations.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who won the 2024 election with 58% of the vote, has been a loyal member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) for decades. Swapo, which has been in power since Namibia gained independence in 1990, was originally a liberation movement resisting apartheid. While the party has contributed to improvements in the lives of the black majority, the legacy of apartheid still lingers, particularly in wealth and land distribution. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted land ownership as a critical issue, noting that white citizens, particularly absentee landowners, still occupy a disproportionate share of the land.

Namibia remains one of the world’s most unequal nations, with a Gini coefficient of 59.1 (according to the World Bank). Poverty is expected to stay high, and the unemployment rate rose to 36.9% in 2023. The president intends to shift the economy from relying on raw material exports to focusing on adding value to the country’s natural resources and bolstering creative industries. She also aims to adapt the education system to the changing economic landscape.

As Africa’s second female directly elected president, following Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nandi-Ndaitwah hopes her presidency will inspire more women to aspire to leadership roles. She expressed a desire to be judged based on her abilities and leadership but also sees her position as a step forward for gender equality in the continent’s political sphere.

For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world, according to the 2025 UN-sponsored World Happiness Report. Experts attribute Finland’s top spot to factors such as access to nature, a strong welfare system, and a high level of social trust. Finland was followed by its Nordic neighbors, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, which also ranked in the top 10.

Costa Rica and Mexico made notable progress, both entering the top 10 for the first time. Experts point to the strong family bonds in these Latin American countries as contributing factors to their rise in the rankings. The report also found that people generally overestimate how unkind strangers are, with the study showing that the actual rate of wallets returned by strangers was almost twice as high as people expected. This finding suggests that belief in the kindness of others is strongly linked to happiness.

The UK and the US both slipped in the rankings, with the US reaching its lowest-ever position at 24th. The rankings are based on people’s evaluations of their own lives, with countries assessed using a three-year average of these scores. Finland, with an average score of 7.736 out of 10, led the list, followed by Denmark (2nd), Iceland (3rd), Sweden (4th), and the Netherlands (5th). Costa Rica (6th), Norway (7th), Israel (8th), Luxembourg (9th), and Mexico (10th) completed the top 10.

In addition to economic and social factors, Finland’s unique cultural aspects, like the popularity of saunas (with nearly 90% of Finns using them weekly), are also considered key to its citizens’ well-being.

The arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has sparked significant unrest in Turkey, with protests and clashes breaking out despite a protest ban in place. Imamoglu, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and a major rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on charges including corruption and aiding terrorist groups. His arrest came just before he was expected to be named as a potential presidential candidate for the 2028 elections.

The protests, which began on Wednesday, have led to police using tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators. Despite the crackdown, some 106 people were detained, and Turkish authorities are targeting those who have made “provocative” social media posts in response to Imamoglu’s arrest, with dozens already arrested. The government has also criticized opposition leaders and protesters, accusing them of orchestrating a “theatrical” response.

Imamoglu’s CHP party and his supporters have condemned the arrest as politically motivated, with accusations that the ruling government is attempting to suppress opposition. In response, opposition leader Ozgur Ozel accused Erdogan’s government of attempting a “coup” against the democratic process, while university students and other protesters have continued to rally against the detention, chanting slogans of defiance.

Despite the protests, the number of demonstrators in Istanbul remains small compared to the city’s population of over 16 million. However, Imamoglu’s arrest has deepened concerns about political repression in Turkey, especially with a growing crackdown on opposition figures, journalists, and activists in recent months. His case also highlights the tense political landscape as Turkey approaches a key phase in its political future, with 2028 elections on the horizon and the possibility of constitutional changes to allow Erdogan to remain in power.

As the situation unfolds, Imamoglu’s supporters continue to rally, with symbolic elections planned across Turkey to show support for the detained mayor, even as the government insists the arrests are part of a legitimate judicial process. The protests reflect broader dissatisfaction with Erdogan’s rule and may signal further political turbulence in the lead-up to the next presidential election.

A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, a London suburb, has caused widespread power outages and significant disruptions, including the temporary closure of London’s Heathrow Airport. The London Fire Brigade has confirmed the fire is now under control, though they will continue to monitor the situation and conduct investigations into the cause of the blaze.

The fire, which forced Heathrow to close, has had far-reaching effects on global air travel, with the aviation industry facing potential financial losses in the “hundreds of millions of pounds.” Aviation expert Shukor Yusof predicts the disruption could last days, or even weeks, as the airport works to resolve the backlog of flights that were canceled or delayed.

The situation is expected to cause significant chaos, especially as Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports, and the ripple effects will likely extend beyond the UK, affecting international travel.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security service, following its failure to anticipate the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack. Netanyahu cited a “persistent loss of professional and personal trust” between the two men, especially after the events of October 7, and stated that this decision was finalized due to ongoing tensions.

This marks the first time in Israel’s history that a prime minister has fired the head of the Shin Bet. The dismissal has sparked significant controversy, with Bar accusing the move of being politically motivated, particularly in the context of ongoing investigations into Netanyahu’s office over alleged ties to Qatar.

Opposition parties and legal figures have criticized the decision, suggesting it could undermine national security and calling it a conflict of interest. However, Netanyahu’s government denies the allegations and insists that the dismissal is based on professional concerns.

The situation in Sudan remains tense as the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to escalate. The recent recapture of the presidential palace by the Sudanese army marks a significant turning point in the ongoing civil war, especially since the RSF had taken control of the capital, Khartoum, nearly two years ago.

The jubilation seen in the army’s social media posts reflects the strategic importance of this victory, but it’s clear that the war is far from over. The army’s spokesperson has indicated that they will continue their offensive until complete victory is achieved. However, the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has vowed to defend the areas it controls, promising further resistance.

The war has been devastating for Sudan, leading to what the UN describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The lack of successful peace efforts and the ongoing human rights violations committed by both sides make it difficult to foresee a peaceful resolution anytime soon. The conflict not only involves control over the capital and key regions but has also led to a widespread humanitarian disaster.

The recent escalation in Gaza has led to significant casualties, with at least 85 Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. This comes after Israel resumed its bombing campaign and ground operations in Gaza earlier this week. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reported intercepting rockets fired by Hamas at Tel Aviv, and they have also launched targeted ground activities in northern Gaza.

Hamas has been holding hostages, with 59 still in captivity, including 24 believed to be alive. Israel’s military has stated that its operations will continue until these hostages are released. The situation has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, with many civilians, including staff members from the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, among the victims.

As the conflict continues, global responses, including missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and condemnation of Israel’s actions, reflect the international dimensions of the ongoing war. The situation remains dire, with growing casualties and a significant humanitarian crisis.