dataDp/1032.jpeg

Worldnews

US Envoy Steve Witkoff Suggests Gaza Ceasefire Deal Is Close

Trump aide says Washington ‘hopeful’ a 60-day truce between Israel and Hamas can be reached by the end of the week. An aide to United President Donald Trump has suggested a Gaza ceasefire is close, saying Washington hopes to see an agreement finalised by the end of the week. “We’re in proximity talks now, and we had four issues, and now we’re down to one after two days of proximity talks,” special US envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. “So we are hopeful that by the end of this week, we will have an agreement that will bring us into a 60-day ceasefire.” Witkoff said the deal would see the release of 10 Israeli captives and the bodies of nine. He added that the Trump administration thinks the deal “will lead to a lasting peace in Gaza”. Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters in Washington, DC, that while Israel “still has to finish the job in Gaza”, negotiators are “certainly working” on a ceasefire. Trump and Netanyahu dined together on Monday at the White House during the Israeli leader’s third US visit since the president began his second term on January 20. The two leaders are to meet again later on Tuesday. “He’s coming over later. We’re going to be talking about, I would say, almost exclusively Gaza. We’ve got to get that solved,” the US president told reporters at a cabinet meeting in the White House on Tuesday. “It’s a tragedy, and he wants to get it solved, and I want to get it solved, and I think the other side wants to.” Qatar confirmed on Tuesday that Hamas and Israeli delegations are in Doha to discuss the ceasefire proposal. “There is a positive engagement right now. The mediation teams – the Qataris and the Egyptians – are working around the clock to make sure that there is some consensus built on the framework towards the talks,” Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 57,500 Palestinians, internally displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave and placed hundreds of thousands of people on the verge of starvation. United Nations experts and rights group have described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a genocide. Netanyahu suggested on Monday that the US and Israel are working to ensure the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza – an idea first proposed by Trump in February. Israeli officials have been framing the push to remove all Palestinians from Gaza Gaza as an effort to encourage “voluntary migration” from the territory. “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn’t be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice,” Netanyahu told reporters. Rights advocates said the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, which would amount to ethnic cleansing, cannot be considered voluntary. Prominent legal expert Ralph Wilde said that with the widespread destruction, siege and daily attacks in Gaza, the concept of free choice to stay there or leave “is a lie”. “It’s forced displacement because that isn’t a choice that is made freely,” Wilde told Al Jazeera. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

profile/5683FB_IMG_16533107021641748.jpg

News_Naija

Budget Ministry Backs Proposal For Digital Policy Access

Policy Vault Africa, a digital platform for public policy, has proposed a landmark partnership with Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and National Planning to digitise and preserve all the Ministry’s policy documents at no cost to the government. The proposal was tabled during a high-level strategic meeting held on June 27, 2025, between the organisation’s leadership and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, in Abuja. Senior Adviser and Partner at Policy Vault Africa, Ikechukwu Ofuani, and Country Manager for Policy Practice, Damilola Atiri, led the delegation. They presented a comprehensive offer to digitise all existing policies, strategic frameworks, and planning documents under the Ministry’s purview, with a commitment to preserve them in their original form to ensure institutional memory, support evidence-based policymaking, and promote public transparency. Reacting to the proposal, Senator Bagudu described the initiative as “laudable” and affirmed the Ministry’s interest in partnering with Policy Vault Africa to advance digital governance and planning transparency. “This partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen institutional memory and ensure that our planning and policy processes remain transparent and driven by accessible data,” the Minister said in a statement on Wednesday. Policy Vault Africa has earned widespread recognition across the continent for its work in making authentic public policy documents accessible to stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, businesses, and citizens. Its approach involves curating unaltered government policies in digital format to enhance continuity, drive accountability, and foster knowledge-based decision-making. Speaking during the meeting, Ofuani said the organisation aimed to safeguard Nigeria’s policy legacy and modernise how policy is stored and referenced. “Nigeria’s policies are rich in vision and technical rigour,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that these resources are preserved and accessible to drive continuity, inclusivity, and effective implementation.” According to Atiri, the proposed partnership would align Nigeria’s public policy infrastructure with global best practices in digital governance and open government frameworks. She noted that the availability of reliable and accessible policy data was crucial for informed decision-making and effective monitoring and evaluation, key components in achieving national development goals. “The ability to access policy documents without delay or distortion strengthens trust, supports continuity in government, and accelerates results,” she added. Stakeholders within the Ministry also expressed optimism about the potential of the proposed collaboration to modernise Nigeria’s governance landscape and support cross-ministerial planning efforts. If approved, the partnership will make Nigeria one of the first African countries to fully digitise its policy ecosystem at the federal level, using a centralised platform built to enhance transparency and access to information.

profile/5683FB_IMG_16533107021641748.jpg

News_Naija

Itel Energy Opens Flagship Centre In Ikeja

Itel Energy has opened its newest flagship Sales and Service Experience Centre in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, as part of efforts to deepen its customer engagement, distributor support, and after-sales service across Nigeria. The launch marks a significant expansion for the solar energy brand, positioning it at the heart of Nigeria’s largest technology and gadget hub amid rising demand for reliable and affordable off-grid power solutions. Speaking at the launch, the PR Manager of itel Energy, Olaotan Fawehinmi, said the Ikeja centre was designed not only for walk-in customers but also for distributors and EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) partners seeking real-time support. “For us at itel Energy, customer experience doesn’t end at the point of purchase. It begins there,” he said in a statement to The PUNCH. “This Ikeja store is purpose-built for distributors and EPC partners to easily access support and logistics while also allowing end-users to experience, understand, and trust the technology they’re buying. “With a three-year replacement warranty on inverters and a five-year warranty on batteries, plus our Carlcare centres across all 36 states, we are redefining what after-sales care means in this industry.” The new outlet, located in the heart of Lagos’ technology ecosystem, provides access to itel Energy’s full range of solar products, including solar panels, batteries, inverters, plug-and-play solutions, and accessories. Customers also benefit from on-site consultations, product testing, and technical support, all delivered under the company’s after-sales service model. During the inauguration, the brand unveiled its latest 3.6 kWh all-in-one solar system, which was met with strong interest and sold out on launch day. The compact unit is aimed at students, small businesses, and urban dwellers in need of portable, plug-and-play energy alternatives. Industry stakeholders at the event praised the move by itel Energy, saying the new centre will improve the speed of transactions, logistics coordination, and general support for solar service providers. General Manager of Flotel Electronics Limited, John Nwoye, described the development as a major boost for the ecosystem. “I’ve worked with several solar brands, but itel Energy stands out,” he said. “The products are reliable, the pricing is competitive, and the after-sales service is unmatched. Having a physical shop and support team here in Computer Village makes doing business faster and far more efficient.” His view was echoed by the Operations Manager of Flotel Electronics Limited, James Agbo, who highlighted itel’s understanding of the local market.  “This is a game changer. Beyond the products, itel understands the Nigerian customer and the Nigerian market,” he said. “From flexible warranty options to nationwide service coverage and instant tech support, it’s clear they’re in it for the long haul.”  The flagship centre also serves as a logistics hub for regional EPC partners, enabling quicker fulfilment of orders and immediate technical support during installations and solar deployments. The company said it is encouraged by the strong market response and announced plans to introduce more portable energy products across its national retail footprint in the coming weeks. This decision, the firm noted, is driven by the growing need for reliable alternatives amid irregular grid supply, rising fuel costs, and the demand for uninterrupted productivity in homes and businesses. With the Ikeja experience centre now operational, itel Energy has reaffirmed its commitment to affordable quality, service excellence, and innovation across Nigeria’s rapidly expanding solar energy space.

dataDp/9958.jpeg

P7as2

Guru Dutt Biopic: The Iconic Dream That Never Made It To The Screen

On July 9, India celebrates the 100th birth anniversary of one of its most legendary film personalities, Guru Dutt. Known for films like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Guru Dutt was more than just an actor or director; he was a poet of the silver screen. Though he passed away at the young age of 38, his contribution to Indian cinema remains unmatched. Even after six decades of his passing, his legacy continues to inspire generations, and conversations around a biopic on his life still spark excitement among fans and filmmakers alike. Over the years, some of Bollywood’s biggest stars have expressed a deep desire to portray Guru Dutt on screen, most notably Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. It all began with a tweet in 2016, where a film journalist suggested that Guru Dutt and Geeta Dutt’s story was “ripe for a sensitive biopic,” ideally helmed by a filmmaker like Imtiaz Ali or Mani Ratnam. The journalist added that no one other than Shah Rukh Khan could portray the pain, romance, and complexity that Guru Dutt carried. SRK, always quick to recognize poetic beauty, responded warmly: “Absolutely. I should do it. And as you lovingly say, my friend, my face is like a beautiful poem… in black & white.” This wasn’t just a passing thought. In an interview with Hindustan Times in 2017, when asked about biopics, Shah Rukh Khan revealed his wish clearly: “I’d love to essay Guru Dutt Saab’s life.” It’s easy to understand why SRK would be drawn to the idea. Much like Guru Dutt, Shah Rukh has built his stardom on intense performances that oscillate between charm, pain, and raw vulnerability. And with his classical looks and deep understanding of romantic tragedy, he could potentially bring Guru Dutt’s spirit alive for a modern audience. But if there was ever someone who got really close to portraying the legendary filmmaker, it was Aamir Khan. In 2008, Aamir recreated the iconic Pyaasa still with Katrina Kaif for a CineBlitz Gold coffee-table book titled Love & Longing in Hindi Cinema. The photographs sparked major speculation: were Aamir and Katrina starring in a Pyaasa remake? As it turned out, the shoot was a tribute, not a teaser. Still, the resemblance was uncanny. At the launch of the book, Aamir shared his process: “I looked at the photograph very closely and tried to be in that headspace to understand what I could feel from watching Guru Dutt ji in that moment.” Karan Johar, also present at the event, was taken aback by the power of the image. “I thought this was a film being made on Guru Dutt. Aamir portrays him so effortlessly,” he said, calling the visual “a befitting portrayal of romance.” Even V. K. Murthy, Guru Dutt’s trusted cinematographer for eight of his classics, once said in a 2010 interview that only Aamir Khan could do justice to a biopic on the icon. “I don’t get impressed by actors easily, but Aamir is in a different league… He reminds me of Guru Dutt.” Interestingly, a biopic almost did happen. Anurag Kashyap, known for his gritty and sensitive storytelling, had written a detailed script on Guru Dutt’s life. The film was to be directed by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, now known for his work in film preservation through the Film Heritage Foundation. What made the project even more authentic was the support from Guru Dutt’s family. His son, Arun Dutt, had not only approved the idea but also personally approached Aamir Khan for the role. Aamir, ever the perfectionist, asked for the script but never gave a public response. Over time, the project quietly faded into the background. The reasons remain unclear. Meanwhile, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, niece of Guru Dutt and daughter of artist Lalita Lajmi, had also planned to make a film on her uncle’s life. However, once she learned about the Kashyap-Dungarpur project, she respectfully stepped back. “My mother told me that Anurag Kashyap is scripting and Shivendra Singh is directing the film. Arun Dutt has also given his nod. So, we’re all for it,” Kalpana had said in support. The biopic may be shelved for now, but the fascination with Guru Dutt’s story hasn’t died. His life, filled with artistic brilliance, romantic intensity, and emotional turbulence, is made for the silver screen. Whether it’s SRK’s poetic longing or Aamir’s quiet immersion, the idea of either of them playing Guru Dutt is enough to stir any film lover’s heart. As we mark the 100th birth anniversary of this cinematic maestro, maybe it’s time the dream is revived with the right script, the right vision, and the right heart. Because some stories don’t just deserve to be told, they demand it.