Spain’s left-leaning government has unveiled plans to make access to abortion a constitutional right, following a heated controversy sparked by a new policy from Madrid’s conservative-led city hall.

The debate erupted earlier this week after Madrid’s municipal authorities, dominated by the Popular Party (PP), endorsed a far-right motion requiring medical professionals to inform women about a so-called “post-abortion syndrome.”

The proposal alleged that abortion could lead to mental health problems, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and even cancer — claims widely dismissed by the medical community as unfounded.

Under intense public backlash, Madrid’s PP mayor, Jose Luis Almeida, later admitted that post-abortion syndrome “is not a recognised scientific category” and clarified that disseminating such information would not be mandatory.

Responding to the uproar, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused the PP of “aligning itself with the far right” and announced his government’s intention to push for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights.

“We will move to ensure that no one can ever again question women’s freedom to decide,” Sánchez wrote on X.

Enshrining abortion rights in the constitution would, however, be a challenging process. Spain’s constitutional reform requires a three-fifths majority in parliament, meaning the government must secure support from opposition lawmakers.

Spain first decriminalised abortion in 1985 in limited cases, rape, foetal malformation, or threats to the mother’s health.

The law was later expanded in 2010 to allow abortion on demand within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Yet access remains uneven, with some doctors in public hospitals refusing to perform the procedure.

If successful, Spain would follow in France’s footsteps, which last year became the first country to constitutionally guarantee the right to terminate a pregnancy.

Hamas has announced its willingness to release all hostages held in Gaza as part of a peace initiative proposed by former U.S President Donald Trump, while insisting on further negotiations regarding the plan’s details and Gaza’s political future.

The Trump-backed proposal, endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outlines a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, Hamas’s disarmament and a phased Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

“The movement announces its approval for the release of all hostages — living and remains — according to the exchange formula included in President Trump’s proposal,” Hamas said in a statement on Friday.

The group, however, emphasized its readiness to engage in discussions “to clarify and finalize the details.”

As part of the proposed arrangement, Hamas said it would be prepared to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a temporary body of Palestinian technocrats.

Still, it insisted that the long-term governance and political direction of the territory must be determined within a broader Palestinian framework that includes Hamas.

Notably, the statement was silent on the issue of disarmament, one of the core conditions in Trump’s peace plan, which the group has historically resisted.

The plan, presented in Washington earlier this week, has drawn cautious reactions across the region, with observers noting that its success hinges on both sides’ willingness to compromise on long-standing points of contention.

Nigerian academic Professor Ogechi Adeola, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Kigali in Rwanda, has been ranked among the world’s top two per cent of scientists in the 2025 Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking.

Adeola, who was recognised in the field of Business and Management, is the only University of Kigali scholar included in this year’s list of 14 Rwandan scientists.

The university, in a statement on Wednesday, celebrated her inclusion, describing her as an exceptional academic whose work stands out in a ranking largely dominated by medical and health sciences.

“The University of Kigali is proud of the recognition of 14 scientists in Rwanda named among the world’s Top 2% most influential researchers in the prestigious Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking (2025 edition),” the institution wrote on its Facebook page.

“We are especially honoured by the inclusion of Prof. Ogechi Adeola for her outstanding contributions in Business and Management.”
Another Nigerian Honoured.

In a related recognition, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) congratulated Dr Ayodeji Amobonye Emmanuel, another Nigerian scholar, for also making the global list.

NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement on Tuesday, praised Emmanuel as “a beacon of excellence and a worthy ambassador of Nigeria in the global scientific community.”

Amobonye, who specialises in Biotechnology, earned his PhD at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa, where he also served as a lecturer and researcher.

He is currently a Research Fellow at the Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania.

According to NiDCOM, his recognition for impactful scientific contributions “not only elevates Nigeria’s image in the diaspora but also inspires young scientists across the country.”

The Stanford–Elsevier Global Scientist Ranking is based on data indexed in Scopus up to the end of 2024.

It highlights the world’s most-cited researchers across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields.

The 2025 edition lists over 200,000 researchers globally, out of which more than 100,000 had the highest citation impact.

This year, 291 researchers affiliated with Nigerian universities and the diaspora were recognised, a notable rise from 233 Nigerians listed in 2024.

By featuring in this list, scholars such as Adeola and Amobonye join the ranks of leading global researchers whose work continues to advance knowledge and influence their scientific communities.

A fresh wave of youth-led activism is spreading across Africa, with members of Generation Z spearheading protests demanding reform, accountability, and improved governance in several countries.

Findings by DAILY GAZETTE reveal that the movement, driven largely through digital platforms such as TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Discord, is part of a growing transnational trend of politically conscious and tech-savvy youths mobilising online for real-world change.

After major youth uprisings in Asia, particularly in Nepal, the Gen Z protest wave has now reached Africa, with mass demonstrations erupting in Madagascar and Morocco.

The momentum for Africa’s current youth-led movements grew after widespread protests in Kenya earlier this year forced President William Ruto’s administration to withdraw a controversial finance bill.

What began as online outrage over increased taxes soon transformed into a nationwide youth revolt, largely unaffiliated with political parties.

Wearing sneakers and armed with smartphones, thousands of young Kenyans livestreamed their confrontations with police, despite facing tear gas and arrests.

Their persistence eventually compelled the government to reverse the tax proposal, a victory that inspired young activists across the continent.

In late September, Madagascar witnessed a similar youth-driven uprising. Anger over persistent power cuts and water shortages triggered violent protests that left at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured, according to the United Nations.

The unrest ultimately led President Andry Rajoelina to dissolve his government.

In Morocco, thousands of young demonstrators have taken to the streets in what observers describe as some of the largest anti-government protests in years.

Organised by a grassroots movement known as GenZ 212, the demonstrations have spread to at least 11 cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Agadir. Protesters are calling for an end to corruption, better public services, and more youth-centered economic opportunities.

Much like their Kenyan and Malagasy counterparts, Moroccan youths have turned to TikTok, Instagram, and Discord to organise and amplify their demands.

The Gen Z-driven unrest follows similar events in Nepal, where a government ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp, sparked mass protests.

Demonstrations over censorship and economic hardship turned violent, resulting in at least 51 deaths and the ousting of Prime Minister Sharma Oli.

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has since been appointed interim prime minister to lead a transition government.

Speaking on the growing youth unrest across Africa, former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said governments on the continent must create enabling environments for young people to thrive.

“African governments should build economies that provide meaningful employment and nurture the legitimate ambitions of their youth. If young people can prosper economically, protests will naturally decline,” he said.

Also commenting, former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon and ex-Director of Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rasheed Akinkuolie, attributed the rising agitation to unemployment and economic hardship caused by decades of failed policies.

He argued that the neoliberal economic reforms imposed by international financial institutions have worsened living conditions in many African countries.

“An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Governments must rethink policies that do not serve their people,” Akinkuolie said.

“Heavy investment in education, especially technical and vocational training, is essential. Africa must process its own agricultural and mineral resources before export and emulate people-centered models like that of Burkina Faso.”

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison following his conviction on prostitution-related charges.

The 55-year-old hip-hop icon was handed a 50-month sentence on Friday by Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan after an emotional daylong hearing.

Prosecutors had pushed for an 11-year term, while Combs’s defense team argued for just 14 months, which would have effectively counted as time served, since he has already spent more than a year in custody in Brooklyn.

Before sentencing, Combs addressed the court, expressing regret and pleading for leniency. “I am truly sorry. I beg your honour for mercy,” he said.

Although a jury cleared him in July of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, Combs was convicted of two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution under the federal Mann Act.

Letters and statements from victims and family members were presented during the proceedings.

His former longtime girlfriend, singer Casandra Ventura (known as Cassie), detailed years of abuse, coercion, and violent incidents during their relationship.

She recalled being forced into “freak offs”, sexual encounters orchestrated and sometimes recorded by Combs.

“The entire courtroom watched actual footage of Combs kicking and beating me as I tried to run away from a freak off in 2016,” Ventura wrote in her statement.

She said she continues to suffer nightmares and flashbacks and has relocated with her family out of fear of retaliation.

Another woman, identified only as Jane, supported Ventura’s account.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued that Combs had shown little genuine remorse.

“It’s as though he thinks the law doesn’t apply to him,” she told the court, pointing out that Combs had already scheduled public appearances in Miami in expectation of a light sentence.

His defense lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, countered by describing Combs as an influential figure who has inspired the Black community and advocated for social justice.

She urged the court not to “warehouse him in a prison,” saying he was “a human being who has made mistakes.”

Several of Combs’s children spoke emotionally in his defense. Quincy Brown, his eldest, called him “a changed man.”

His daughter D’Lila Combs pleaded with the court: “Please, please give our family the chance to heal together. Not as headlines but as human beings.”

Combs’s mother, Janice, and his six children were all present in court for the sentencing.