Announcement comes after Russian leader held a lengthy phone call with US President Donald Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure targets in Ukraine for 30 days after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Putin ordered the Russian military to stop strikes against energy facilities, the Kremlin said in a statement following a lengthy phone call between the two leaders on Tuesday. But he stopped short of accepting a broader US-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has said it is ready to implement. Russia’s leader raised concerns that such a truce could be used by Ukraine to mobilise more soldiers and rearm during a pause in the countries’ three-year war. Putin also indicated to Trump that “the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv”, according to the Kremlin. In a statement, the White House said the leaders agreed that talks on a potential maritime truce as well as a broader ceasefire would begin “immediately” in the Middle East. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the conversation with Putin was a “very good and productive one”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at first that he was open to supporting the US proposal and halting attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, but he warned that Moscow was attempting to delay the negotiations for a ceasefire and weaken Kyiv. Later on Tuesday, Zelenskyy pointed to continued Russian drone attacks, including on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, as proof that Putin had no intention of seeking peace. “It is these types of nighttime attacks by Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal life of Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “And the fact that this night is no exception shows that the pressure on Russia must continue for the sake of peace.” He called on Ukraine’s allies to pressure Russia to accept a peace deal through sanctions and other measures — and to reject its appeal to suspend military aid. “Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said. “It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war.” In Tuesday’s call, Trump and Putin agreed to move towards peace beginning with “an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea”. Attacks on energy targets have been a constant feature of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow’s strikes on critical energy infrastructure regularly forcing power cuts across the country, affecting everything from heating and water distribution to sewage and public health. Thousands of people in central Ukraine were left without electricity on Tuesday following a countrywide Russian attack involving more than 130 drones that damaged critical infrastructure. Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, oil depots and industrial sites have also risen since January. The attacks knocked out up to about 10 percent of Russian refining capacity during some weeks of February when the refineries were hit the hardest, according to an analysis by Reuters news agency. Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher said Kyiv would likely be wary that the proposal is limited to attacks on energy targets. “The Ukrainians will be concerned that the Russians will use this period to try and make more land gains, which is why they’re not agreeing to an entire ceasefire,” he said. “That is a concern for [Kyiv] and something that they had raised with the Americans in the past.” Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, said the call appeared to show there was “some momentum” to the diplomacy. “What the Russians are looking for is guarantees that Ukraine does not use this period to mobilise and rearm. That is certainly a sticking point for Vladimir Putin,” she said. “The Kremlin has made it very clear that this is a condition for any kind of long-term peace settlement,” she added. European leaders said they would continue to bolster their support for Kyiv. “We both agree that Ukraine can count on us, that Ukraine can count on Europe and that we will not let [Kyiv] down,” said outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, while speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at a news conference in Berlin. “We will continue to support the Ukrainian army in its war of resistance against Russian aggression,” Macron said. Scholz said a complete ceasefire should be agreed as soon as possible. “The next step must be a complete ceasefire for Ukraine and as quickly as possible. Of course, it is clear that we both agree on this, too,” Scholz at the news conference with Macron. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

The army says it completed the Morag Corridor as it threatens to expand its operations to ‘most of Gaza’s territory.’ The Israeli military has said it completed the construction of what it calls the Morag Corridor, which cuts off the city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza, as it expanded its attacks on the southern part of the Strip. The Israeli army’s Arabic language spokesperson on Saturday issued new forced displacement orders for several neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, warning of an imminent attack “with great force” in response to alleged Hamas rockets fired at Israel from this area. Residents in Qizan an-Najjar, Qizan Abu Rashwan, al-Salam, al-Manara, al-Qurain, Maen, al-Batn al-Sameen, Jurt al-Lot, al-Fakhari and the southern neighbourhoods of Bani Suheila were ordered to leave their homes and proceed to al-Mawasi, on Gaza’s sea coast. The announcement came amid a barrage of drone attacks and artillery shelling on Khan Younis that killed at least two people. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Morag Corridor effectively turned Rafah into an “Israeli security zone” and added that the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the Strip in two, would also be expanded. “Willful passage” will be granted for Palestinians who wish to flee Gaza, Katz said in a statement, mentioning again US President Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza. Katz told Gaza’s besieged population he was offering them the “last chance to banish Hamas and release all hostages, stopping the war,” or else Israeli operations will spread to “most of Gaza’s territory”. Hamas issued a statement accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war despite repeated calls from within Israeli society to halt the conflict. “The equation is clear: the release of captives in exchange for a cessation of the war. The world accepts it, but Netanyahu rejects it,” it said. “The blood of Gaza’s children and the occupation’s prisoners are victims of Netanyahu’s ambitions to remain in power and to escape prosecution”. Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Jordan’s capital Amman, said the Israeli defence minister had given Palestinians an ultimatum. “Topple Hamas and deliver the Israeli captives, Katz said, that’s the only way to end the war,” Odeh said. About 2.1 million Palestinians are now squeezed into about one-third of Gaza and no trucks carrying aid, food, cooking gas, or fuel have entered the Strip since Israel reimposed a blockade last month. Katz has publicly stated that, since breaking the ceasefire with Hamas on March 18, Israel’s goal has been to apply pressure on the civilian population, the correspondent added. Robert Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in international security at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that while Israel says the creation of the Morag Corridor is purely operational and meant to constrain Hamas, it appears to be part of a longer-term Israeli strategy to control Gaza from afar. “Israel has always sought to control the Gaza Strip, particularly to oversee what comes in and what comes out and ‘security’ over the territories, as Israel would call it,” he said. “These [Morag, Netzarim and Philadelphi] corridors are named after settlements, and the settlements did not appear there randomly. They were put there for this specific purpose: to cut off Gaza’s urban areas and give Israel the ability to squeeze the territory when and if it desires.” Follow Al Jazeera English:...

Media strategist, Esther Ijewere, has accused Nollywood actress, Dayo Amusa, of plagiarism, saying Amusa copied and shared her social media post about singer, Asake, and his father without proper credit. Ijewere originally shared her thoughts on Facebook, reflecting on Asake’s childhood struggles and the emotional weight of his public family issues. She posted on Facebook on March 15 at 1:15am, Amusa posted the same message later on the same day. She has since deleted it when the controversy started. Ijewere’s post emphasized the deep impact of parental rejection, the emotional toll of fame, and the importance of parental presence in shaping a child’s well-being. She wrote, “I had to dig through before I found this photo of Asake from his GQ feature in April 2024. I was looking for an image that reflected both my emotions as a child and his silent response to the ongoing saga. I once left a comment when he changed his look, covering his face with tattoos. I said he was either rebranding or masking a pain he wasn’t ready to confront. “The truth about his childhood remains unclear, aside from scattered blog posts, some painting his father in a bad light, others portraying his mother as bitter and harsh. But I am in no position to judge the father who allegedly raised him partially and then abandoned him, nor will I throw his mother under the bus. What I do know is that Asake deserves love from his family, not a public spectacle that leaves him open to criticism. “In all our hot takes, I hope we remember that beneath the fame, there is a child in this body who likely longs to hear something other than ‘I need money.’ Artists who sing about loneliness or try to detach from vulnerability are often battling deep internal struggles. There’s a void they are trying to fill. Something they crave but cannot seem to find. “Rejection, especially from a parent, can shape a child’s entire existence. It creates a lifelong battle of defensiveness, a feeling of always being misunderstood. A child who grows up hearing ‘I love you’ moves through life differently than one who hears ‘I don’t want anything to do with you.’ “Some wounds cannot be healed by money, fame, or influence. True healing requires conscious effort from within. We can’t force it on people either. “You can tell a person to forgive without asking them to forget their lived experience. Rather than judge, I choose to send light and love to this incredible artist. No child should grow up in a world where age and cultural expectations suppress their emotions. Children raised this way often become defensive adults, struggling to express themselves, or they shut people out completely. “To parents: Please, don’t let the world raise your talented children for you. Be present. Be intentional. Be the voice they hear before the noise of the world tries to define them. A child who feels truly seen and loved at home will have less to prove to the world. I wish him well. Light, always.” Amusa reposted the piece word-for-word on both Facebook and Instagram without crediting Ijewere as the original author. Calling out the actress publicly, Ijewere wrote, “Dear Dayo Amusa, You took my post from my Facebook page and shared it as your own on Facebook and Instagram without giving me proper credit. Please, do the right thing and acknowledge my work. It’s important to respect and credit the original creator.” Following Ijewere’s reaction, Amusa deleted the post from Facebook but left it up on Instagram without acknowledging the author. Meanwhile, several blogs had already credited the post to Amusa, further fueling Ijewere’s frustration. Ijewere wrote, “She has taken down the post on Facebook. Hopefully, she’ll do the same on Instagram. I appreciate the support.” Responding in the comment section of Ijewere’s post, Amusa dismissed the accusations and criticised Ijewere’s approach. She argued that she had simply reshared content she found on a friend’s WhatsApp status, unaware of its original source. She also claimed that the #copied hashtag at the end of her post was sufficient to indicate she was not taking credit for the piece. Amusa fired back in the comments saying, “E dey pain you say I no tag your name abi. Pele baby!!! Like I told you in your DM earlier. I don’t know you, let alone knowing you were the original writer. It was copied from a friend’s WhatsApp, and I even screenshot am for you to see. “I felt the need to share to a wider audience coz I related so well with the circumstances. I am sure you & your soldiers aren’t blind to see the #copied at the end of the post, meaning I take no credit to the post.” She further mocked the situation, adding, “How market? Enjoying the gbasgbos? Have fun and enjoy it while it lasts.”

The Federal Government has launched the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction as part of its efforts to prevent the adverse health consequences of excessive sodium intake. Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the guideline is timely as research shows that the average salt intake in Nigeria far exceeds the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit. Salako, who was represented by the Director, Food and Drug Services Department at the ministry, Olubunmi Aribeana, stated that excessive consumption of sodium is directly tied to the alarming rise in hypertension, now affecting over 35 per cent of adults in the country. He also highlighted the impact of urbanisation on dietary habits, with increasing consumption of processed and packaged foods, which pose new public health challenges, particularly the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases linked to high sodium intake. “The situation is exacerbated in urban areas, where dining habits lean heavily towards saltier prepared meals, unconsciously risking our lives with dietary habits that could lead to devastating, long-term health consequences. “It is with great pride and solemn responsibility that we launch our National Guideline for Sodium Reduction—a carefully crafted framework that symbolises our collective determination to prevent the adverse health consequences of excessive sodium intake,” he said. The minister described the guideline as the first of its kind in Africa, calling it a living manifesto for change that integrates global recommendations with Nigeria’s unique context. He explained that it introduces clear limits on sodium content in processed and packaged foods, ensuring alignment with global health standards through support from the WHO. He also called for public education and behavior change, noting that the strategy leverages mass media, social media, and grassroots outreach to increase awareness about the dangers of excessive sodium intake and encourage healthier dietary choices. The minister also introduced the National Guideline for Food Handlers’ Medical Test, describing it as a vital measure to safeguard the country’s food supply chain. He emphasised that the guideline establishes a standardised framework for regular medical screenings of food handlers, ensuring consistency and strengthening public health protections. “Together, these guidelines form a cohesive framework that directly supports the implementation of the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan, 2023,” he said. “By addressing both individual health awareness and systemic food safety standards, we are fostering a unified approach to achieving safer, healthier, and more reliable food practices across the nation.” In her remark, the Director, Food and Drug Services Department at the ministry, Olubunmi Aribeana, said excessive sodium consumption poses serious risks to public health, and its detrimental effects are well-documented. Aribeana, who was represented by the Director, Food, Cosmetic, Chemicals and Water Safety Division at the ministry, Olufunmilola Yusuf, Olufowobi said high sodium intake has been identified as a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of death associated with non-communicable diseases. “Alarmingly, the WHO reports that NCDs are responsible for over 70 per cent of deaths globally. It is in this context that the Department of Food and Drug Services remains resolutely committed to fostering healthier dietary practices and reducing sodium consumption nationwide,” she said. The Executive Director of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Akinbode Oluwafemi, noted that the effective implementation of the guideline will help in no small measure in reducing excessive sodium intake and reducing cases of cardiovascular diseases and NCDs. “Today marks another major milestone in safeguarding public health in Nigeria through the promotion of a healthy diet. “We remain committed to our partnership with the ministry and its agencies in promoting polices to enhance positive health outcomes. In her goodwill message, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mojisola Adeyeye, said this momentous occasion showcases Nigeria’s unwavering dedication to combating the escalating burden of NCDs, particularly hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Represented by the Director, Food Registration and Regulatory Directorate, Kayode Fagboyo, she said, “As the agency responsible for ensuring food safety and public health, NAFDAC is committed to supporting the effective implementation of this guideline. “Our regulatory oversight will ensure compliance with sodium reduction targets, clear labeling of sodium content in pre-packaged food products, and continuous engagement with the food industry to promote healthier alternatives to sodium.” Senior Advisor Africa Food Policy Programme, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Dr Adeolu Adebiyi, emphasised that the guideline will help to address the growing burden of NCDs. He stressed the need for regulating salt intake to reverse the trend and improve population health, making the government’s current efforts highly significant. “We only have countries like South Africa who has enacted a similar regulation in Africa. And this is a show that we are calling on other governments across the region to stand up to this reality of the burden of NCDs in our society and to come up with very important guidelines. “It is a cost-effective measure, because when people are healthy, they pay less in seeking medical care, or they pay less hospital costs, and they are able to contribute to society economically,” he said.