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Hamas To Release 14 Hostages In Exchange For 42 Palestinians In Second Swap

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On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel.

Hamas is preparing to release 14 Israeli hostages for 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to Egyptian officials.

The exchange will come on the second day of a ceasefire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its attack on Israel on October 7 that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.

On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar a list of 14 hostages to be released, and the list has been passed along to Israel, according to an Egyptian official. A second Egyptian official confirmed the details.

Under the truce agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed, and Israel’s Prison Service had already said earlier on Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release.

It was not immediately clear if any non-Israeli captives may also be released on Saturday.

During the four days of the ceasefire, Hamas is due to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed — something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass.

The start of the truce on Friday morning brought the first moment of quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas.

Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of humanitarian aid convoys on October 21.

Marah Bakir, right, a former Palestinian prisoner who was released by the Israeli authorities, is welcomed at her family home
It was also able to deliver 34,078 gallons of fuel – just over 10% of the daily pre-war volume – as well as cooking gas.

In the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, a long line of people with fuel cans and other containers waited outside a filling station hoping to get some of the newly delivered fuel.

For the first time in more than a month, aid reached northern Gaza, the focus of Israel’s ground offensive. A UN convoy delivered flour to two facilities sheltering people displaced by fighting.

The UN said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City, where much of the fighting has taken place, to a hospital in Khan Younis.

Palestinians walk through Gaza City
The relief brought by the ceasefire has been tempered, however, for both sides – among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the brevity of the pause. The short truce leaves Gaza mired in a humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

Israel has vowed to resume its massive offensive once the truce ends. That has clouded hopes that the deal could eventually help wind down the conflict, which has fuelled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank.

After nightfall on Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. The freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nine and under.

The released hostages were taken to three Israeli hospitals for observation. The Schneider Children’s Medical Centre said it was treating eight Israelis — four children and four women — and that all appeared to be in good physical condition.

Israel Palestinians
It said they were also receiving psychological treatment, adding that “these are sensitive moments” for the families.

At a plaza dubbed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, a crowd of Israelis celebrated at the news.

Yael Adar spotted her mother, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, in a TV broadcast of the release and was cheered to see her walking.

“That was a huge concern, what would happen to her health during these almost two months,” she told Israel’s Channel 12.

But Yael’s 38-year-old son, Tamir Adar, remains in captivity. Both were kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. “Everyone needs to come back. It’s happiness locked up in grief,” she said.

A convoy of Israeli army vehicles near Israel’s border after leaving Gaza on Friday
A convoy of Israeli army vehicles near Israel’s border after leaving Gaza on Friday (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)
The hostages included multiple generations. Nine-year-old Ohad Munder-Zichri was freed along with his mother, Keren Munder, and grandmother, Ruti Munder.

The boy was abducted during a holiday visit to his grandparents at the kibbutz where about 80 people — nearly a quarter of all residents of the small community — are believed to have been taken from.

The plight of the hostages has raised anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. In the West Bank town of Beitunia, hundreds of Palestinians poured out of their homes to celebrate, honking horns and setting off fireworks that lit up the night sky.

The teenagers had been jailed for minor offences such as throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers, and others who had been arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

“As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I can’t really celebrate,” said Abdulqader Khatib, a UN worker whose 17-year-old son, Iyas, was freed. “But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy.”

Palestinians flee to northern Gaza
The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, said the hope is that momentum from the deal will lead to an end to the violence. Qatar served as a mediator along with the US and Egypt.

But hours before it came into effect, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told troops that their respite would be short and that the war would resume with intensity for at least two more months.

Mr Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.

Women and children have consistently made up around two thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.

The ministry says some 6,000 people have been reported missing, feared buried under rubble. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its death tolls.

Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence for its count.

 

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Features

Pr. Monzango Sibo Guy Lambert

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Doctor. Innovator. Medical Entrepreneur. Humanitarian.

In a region where advanced medical innovation is still emerging, Dr. Monzango Sibo Guy Lambert is quietly redefining the future of modern healthcare in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kinshasa, a specialist in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS), and an expert in molecular embryology, he represents a rare profile in Africa’s medical landscape — a physician who bridges academia, surgical excellence, research innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership.

But it is his bold institutional vision that sets him apart.

In 2018, what began as a modest private medical practice evolved into Onyx Medical Center — now one of the most advanced medical facilities in the country. Today, the center operates across two modern buildings, employs nearly 70 healthcare professionals, and stands as a symbol of locally driven medical excellence.

Onyx Medical Center is recognized as:

One of the best-equipped hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The only institution specializing in advanced gynecologic endoscopic surgery in the country

A training hub for physicians

A laboratory for the development and manufacturing of endoscopic medical equipment

Dr. Monzango’s philosophy is simple yet transformative:
Africa must not only consume medical innovation — it must produce it.

That philosophy earned international recognition in 2025 in Casablanca, where he received an innovation award for designing a uterine manipulator engineered to enhance gynecologic surgical precision — a device developed to meet the realities of African surgical environments.

Yet beyond the operating room and research laboratory lies a deeper mission.

Through the Monzango Foundation, he organizes free gynecologic surgical campaigns for underprivileged women — restoring not only health, but dignity. For many beneficiaries, these interventions represent their first and only access to specialized care.

At the intersection of medicine, innovation, enterprise, and humanitarian service, Dr. Monzango is building more than a hospital.

He is building a blueprint.

A blueprint for African medical sovereignty.
A blueprint for sustainable healthcare entrepreneurship.
A blueprint for the next generation of African innovators.

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Events

Nigeria @ 65: Philippines Embassy Marks Independence Day with Style and Diplomacy

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As Nigeria marked her Sapphire Jubilee Years recently, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Philippines joyfully joined numbers of well-wishers to commemorates the country’s 65th Independence at the prestigious Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati, Metro Manila. 

The event brought together a diverse mix of diplomats, host government officials, business leaders and Captains of Industries, and members of the Nigerian community in a colorful celebration that reflected Nigeria’s pride, unity, and global presence.

The event was graced by Resident Ambassadors in the Philippines, Chargé d’Affaires from various Missions, members of the Diplomatic and Consular  Corps, Representatives of International Organizations, Philippine government officials, private sector executives, captains of industries, and members of the Nigerian community, including NIDOPHIL Executives. The atmosphere was one of unity and pride, as attendees joined in celebrating Nigeria’s resilience and achievements over the past six and a half decades.

The celebration was hosted by Mr. Adeshina Edward Oloje, the Acting Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, alongside the dedicated officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Manila. In his opening remarks, Mr. Oloje warmly welcomed guests and highlighted the enduring friendship between Nigeria and the Philippines. He emphasized the Embassy’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, fostering economic collaboration, and deepening cultural understanding between both nations.

The evening featured moments of cultural exchange, inspiring speeches, and expressions of goodwill from friends and partners of Nigeria. It served as a reminder of the importance of diplomacy, collaboration, and people-to-people connections in advancing shared prosperity. The event also showcased the vibrant Nigerian spirit that continues to inspire hope across the diaspora community in the Philippines.

In a gesture of gratitude, the Embassy extended special appreciation to its partners and sponsors who played vital roles in making the event a resounding success. Among them were:

International Container Terminal Services, Inc., DAEWOO E&C, MPL International Corporation, Ethiopian Airlines. FIR International Service Corp., Wipro Splash. Century Pacific Food, Inc., Wesley & Blessing Consultancy Inc., Highlander Overseas Manpower Employment. NIDOPhil Executives, Mindset, Management and Consultancy Services Inc.. TEAM Ministries International, Josmef Medical Corporation. Their generous support and partnership underscored the collaborative bond between Nigerian and Filipino institutions and individuals working together toward shared goals.

Highlights of the event was the singing of national anthems of Nigeria and the Philippines, welcome remarks by the Acting Head of Mission, Mr. Adeshina Edward Oloje, congratulatory remarks by the host government representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Assistant Secretary, Madam Germinia V. Aguilar – Usudan, video display of independence day salutation from Nigerian medical students in Gullas College of Medicine, Cebu City, official toast by Bishop Anthony Marioghae and President of NIDOPHIL, cutting of the anniversary cake and several photo sessions. 

The Embassy used the event to showcase various videos of investment and tourism opportunities that abound in Nigeria to the invited guests at the ceremony. As the evening came to a close, guests were thrilled to a display of rich cultural dance performed by Nigerian students from St. Dominic Savio University in Caloocan, Philippine; taste of deep flavored Nigerian cuisines and musical display by known Nigerian Social Media Celebrities Ishaku Ishaya Isaac Monday (Sabaw) and Daniel Oluwadamilola Oke (Tugue Zombie). The event was not just a commemoration, it was a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s strength, diversity, and global relevance.

Naija Diaspora Magazine congratulates the Embassy of Nigeria in the Philippines and the entire Nigerian community for organizing such a successful and memorable celebration. May the friendship between Nigeria and the Philippines continue to flourish in peace, unity, and mutual respect.

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Business

DANGOTE CEMENT CAMEROON AT 10: Journey Of Trust, Empowerment And Capacity

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Dangote Cement Cameroon is excited to celebrate a significant milestone as it commemorates ten years of dedicated service in the region. The 10TH anniversary activities, which officially launched in April, 2025, will continue throughout the year, Naija Diaspora writes on the successful impact of the firm in Cameroon.

Over the past decade, the company has established itself as a pivotal player in the construction industry, enabling countless projects across the country by supplying high-quality cement at competitive prices. This commitment to excellence has empowered local builders and contractors, ensuring the creation of durable infrastructure that meets the growing demands of African communities.

As Dangote Cement Cameroon reflects on its journey , it proudly acknowledges the positive impact it has made on both the economy and the lives of many, solidifying its role as a trusted partner in development. 

The anniversary celebrations were a lively affair, garnering significant praise for the diverse array of initiatives spearheaded by Dangote to promote community development throughout Cameroon. The company’s impressive journey has not only transformed it into a proactive and engaged enterprise but also highlighted its deep understanding of the unique aspirations and needs of the local communities. 

This celebratory occasion served as a testament to the company’s role as a pillar of support in the region, reflecting its unwavering dedication to building a brighter future for all Cameroonians.

In a poignant announcement issued by the company, it was emphasized: “Today, we gather to reflect on and celebrate the remarkable milestones, achievements, and countless successes of Dangote Cement Cameroon over the past decade. Despite encountering various challenges along the way, we have consistently demonstrated resilience and adaptability. 

From our inception, our primary objective has been to gain a comprehensive understanding of the existing cement brands within the Cameroonian market. Through unwavering commitment, innovative methodologies, and established ourselves as the leading supplier of premium cement.

 

As we proudly commemorate the commencement of our 10th year in business, we reaffirm our dedication to excellence and our vision to further elevate the standards of the construction industry in Cameroon.”

Dangote Cement Cameroon has not only achieved remarkable business milestones but has also demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the company partnered with the global community to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, 2025. This year’s theme, “Fighting Plastic Pollution,” was vividly illustrated through an engaging series of activities spanning an entire week, all spearheaded by CEO Bertrand Mbouck.

The event began with an impactful awareness campaign designed to educate the public about the critical issues surrounding plastic pollution. Through innovative training sessions, participants learned practical strategies for reducing plastic waste in their daily lives. The activities were further enhanced by interactive games that captivated attendees, making the complex topic of environmental conservation accessible and enjoyable.

Through diverse and comprehensive initiatives, Dangote Cement Cameroon not only plays a pivotal role in promoting environmental awareness but also significantly contributes to the socioeconomic development of the region. This commitment reinforces the company’s reputation as a leader in the cement industry, all while advocating for sustainable practices that pave the way for a greener and more hopeful future.

Cameroon is bordered by a host of African countries. To its west sits Nigeria, Chad to its northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, while Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo are to its south.

The country enjoys relatively high political and social stability. This has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, railways, and significant petroleum and timber industries. Cameroon’s major export markets include Spain, and the United Kingdom, with the country aiming to be regarded as an emerging country by 2035. 

As Dangote marks its ten-year anniversary, it reaffirms its dedication to delivering substantial returns to its shareholders through the sale of high-quality products at competitive prices, underpinned by exemplary customer service. The company aims to assist African nations in achieving self-reliance and self-sufficiency in the production of essential commodities by establishing efficient production facilities in strategically located areas adjacent to key growth markets. Additionally, Dangote remains focused on providing economic benefits to local communities, fostering both direct and indirect employment opportunities in all countries where it operates. 

Dangote Cameroon has made substantial advancements in its operational capacity, positioning itself as a leader in governance, sustainability, and environmental conservation. The organization aims to set a benchmark for other companies to emulate. 

– Excellence: Dangote Cement is committed to providing superior products and services to its customers and stakeholders. To attain this objective, the company fosters a culture of teamwork, respect, and meritocracy. 

– Leadership: The organization prides itself on its status as a leader within its industry, markets, and communities. To sustain this leadership, Dangote Cement emphasizes continuous improvement, strategic partnerships, and professionalism. 

Recognizing the driving force behind the organization, Bertrand Mbouck serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement Cameroon. He is a seasoned strategic business leader with over 20 years of experience across sectors such as finance, energy, and manufacturing in Africa. As CEO and a Board Member of the pan-African conglomerate, Mr. Mbouck has played a pivotal role in fostering growth, innovation, and sustainable development within the cement industry. 

Mr. Mbouck is responsible for steering the company’s strategy, business development, and employee performance, with an emphasis on productivity, product quality, market share, and return on investment for shareholders. His leadership is aligned with Dangote’s vision, promoting innovation and competitive advantage both within Cameroon and in export markets. 

   

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