The Middle East is on high alert after Israel confirmed it had killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Esmail Khatib, in a precision strike, marking another major escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

Israeli officials announced that their military has been authorised to target any senior Iranian leader deemed a threat.

“We will continue to thwart them and hunt them all down,” said Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz.

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The Israeli Defense Forces have also vowed to pursue Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained largely out of public view since succeeding his father.

Brigadier General Effie Defrin added, “We will track him down, find him, and neutralize him.”

In response, Tehran promised decisive retaliation for the killing of Khatib and other top officials, including Ali Larijani, Iran’s National Security Council Secretary. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the killings a cowardly act and warned that Iran’s response would be resolute.

“The pure blood of this great martyr… will be a source of honour, power and national awakening against global arrogance,” said Iranian army chief Amir Hatami.

Iran further threatened attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf after Israeli strikes targeted its largest gasfield, South Pars, which it shares with Qatar.

The attacks marked the first direct strike on Iran’s energy sector since the war began, prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to issue a stern warning.

“The fuel, energy, and gas infrastructures of those who attacked Iran will be burned and turned to ashes at the earliest opportunity,” said a spokesperson for IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the conflict’s global consequences would affect everyone, regardless of wealth, religion, or race.

He noted that an increasing number of international voices, including European and US officials, view the war against Iran as unjust.

Meanwhile, the US President urged allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas passage, as Iran has effectively closed the strait, sending global oil prices soaring.

NATO members are reportedly discussing ways to reopen the waterway.

UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the US over repeated public attacks on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing the remarks as “childish” and counterproductive amid growing global tensions.
The conflict has already taken a human toll. Iranian missile strikes killed two people near Tel Aviv, while Israeli and US strikes reportedly killed and injured dozens in multiple locations across Iran. With hundreds displaced and energy markets disrupted, the war continues to send shockwaves through the Middle East and beyond.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has made history at Windsor Castle by addressing a state banquet, pledging to strengthen the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Speaking before British royalty, including King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, Tinubu highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, spanning centuries of shared history, culture, and governance traditions.

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“Standing here in Windsor Castle, one cannot help but reflect on Britain’s impact on modern democratic governance worldwide,” Tinubu said, noting the influence of the Magna Carta and British thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Edmund Burke on democracy globally.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s institutions, including courts, parliament, and civil service structures, have drawn upon British models adapted to the Nigerian context.

Tinubu also praised Nigerians living in the UK, especially doctors and nurses who form a vital part of the National Health Service, and highlighted Nigerian contributions in sports through figures such as Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Anthony Joshua.

Addressing security concerns in West Africa, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with the UK to tackle terrorism challenges in the Sahel.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the UK for providing refuge during Nigeria’s military dictatorship, saying the support he and other pro-democracy activists received remains “etched in our collective memory.”

Concluding his speech, Tinubu toasted to the “special bond between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and to the bright future that we shall build together.”

The Yobe State Government has commenced the early payment of March 2026 salaries to civil servants, providing much-needed financial relief ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

Governor Mai Mala Buni approved the initiative, and the Ministry of Finance confirmed that payments have been processed and sent to banks.

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A statement from the government’s Digital and Strategic Communications unit said the move is aimed at helping workers and their families prepare for the festive period with ease and dignity.

“Since inception, the Buni-led administration has maintained a track record of paying salaries promptly and without fail,” the statement added.

The government also highlighted that while ensuring timely salary payments, it has continued executing key development projects across sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and agriculture.

This early salary disbursement underscores the administration’s commitment to financial discipline, transparent governance, and improving the quality of life for the people of Yobe State.