Israel has cut off the entry of all food and other goods into Gaza in an echo of the siege it imposed in the earliest days of its war with Hamas. The United Nations and other humanitarian aid providers are sharply criticizing the decision and calling it a violation of international law. “A tool of extortion,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said. “A reckless act of collective punishment,” Oxfam said. Key mediator Egypt accused Israel of using “starvation as a weapon.” Hunger has been an issue throughout the war for Gaza’s over 2 million people, and some aid experts had warned of possible famine. Now...

In a statement issued over the weekend, Dangote refinery said it will refund customers who purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at rates higher than the advertised prices from any of its key partners – AP (Ardova Plc), Heyden, or MRS – across Nigeria. This came after the refinery’s reduced its price from N890 per litre to N825 per litre, affirming that it’s part of its efforts to ease Nigerians plight amid the current hardship in the country and in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to stimulate the economy. The refinery confirmed it will refund N65...

An Australian warship on Monday rescued a Lithuanian solo rower who had encountered a tropical cyclone while attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean from California. Aurimas Mockus was taken aboard Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules, where he was undergoing a medical assessment, Vice Adm. Justin Jones said in a statement. “Because of highly unfavorable sea conditions, Mr. Mockus’s boat could not be recovered except for two oars and some personal items,” the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which coordinated the rescue, said in a statement. The 44-year-old adventurer had been stranded for three days in the Coral Sea about 460 miles...

A Michigan woman is asking a judge to declare her three missing sons dead, nearly 15 years after their father didn’t return them after Thanksgiving. The disappearance has tormented a small town near Ohio and remains unsolved. Authorities believe the brothers are deceased and they clearly suspect John Skelton is responsible, though he has not been charged with killing his sons. By November, he is expected to complete a 15-year prison sentence for his failure to give the boys back to Tanya Zuvers, the sole conviction in the saga. A Lenawee County judge will begin hearing testimony Monday at an...

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states respectively, demanding an immediate reversal of their decision to shut schools for five weeks during Ramadan. Samson Adeyemi, the NANS National Public Relations Officer described the policy as a blatant violation of students’ rights to uninterrupted education. Adeyemi explained that the policy would threaten academic progress and discriminate against non-Muslim students. The Association in a statement demanded for reversal of the decision made by the governors: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS National Body) vehemently condemns the...

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states respectively, demanding an immediate reversal of their decision to shut schools for five weeks during Ramadan. Samson Adeyemi, the NANS National Public Relations Officer described the policy as a blatant violation of students’ rights to uninterrupted education. Adeyemi explained that the policy would threaten academic progress and discriminate against non-Muslim students. The Association in a statement demanded for reversal of the decision made by the governors: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS National Body) vehemently condemns the...

Authorities in Oregon on Sunday were searching for a missing 2-year-old boy last seen playing in a yard the day before. Dane Paulsen was reported missing around 4:25 p.m. Saturday, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said. Members of the sheriff’s office and fire and police agencies searched the property and surrounding areas on foot and with drones with thermal imaging equipment Saturday, the sheriff’s office said in a statement on social media. On Sunday, search and rescue teams were conducting methodical searches of an area north of the small city of Siletz, near the Siletz River, using drones, dogs and...