By Francesca Hangeior

The United States and Britain were reportedly set to announce a trade agreement on Thursday that could have implications for President Donald Trump’s tariffs assault, but the scope of the deal could be limited.

The New York Times and Politico reported that the agreement would be with the UK, citing multiple people familiar with the plans, while the Wall Street Journal said it would be a “framework” of a deal.

It would be the first such trade agreement since Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on US trading partners on what he called “Liberation Day” on April 2.

The president slapped 10 percent tariffs on imports from around the world, including Britain, but he temporarily froze higher duties on dozens of nations to give space for negotiations.

Trump on Wednesday wrote that a “major trade deal” would be announced with a “big, and highly respected country”.

However, media and analysts said it was unclear whether a US deal with Britain had been finalised or if the two countries would announce a framework for an agreement that would be subject to further negotiation.

Trump is set to announce the “deal” at a 10:00 am (1400 GMT) news conference in the Oval Office at the White House, and touted it as the “first of many”.

In London, Downing Street said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will give an “update” on trade talks with the United States on Thursday.

“Talks on a deal between our countries have been continuing at pace and the prime minister will update later today,” a spokeswoman said.

Starmer, who like Trump won power last year, had pushed for a trade deal before the president unleashed his tariffs blitz on Britain and countries worldwide.

Reaching a post-Brexit agreement with the United States has been the Holy Grail for Britain since it exited the European Union at the start of the decade.

London is keen to get some kind of accord with Washington, ahead of a EU-UK summit on May 19 due to reset ties with the 27-nation bloc.

A US-UK deal could prove problematic for the EU which is struggling to reach an acceptable trade deal of its own with the United States.

Britain this week struck a free-trade agreement with India, its biggest such deal since leaving the EU, after negotiations relaunched in February following US tariff threats.

The EU remains Britain’s biggest trading partner, while the United States is the UK’s single largest country trading partner.

Trump has for weeks claimed that countries were lining up to strike trade agreements with the United States.

Reports have suggested that Washington may reduce certain tariffs on British products in exchange for relief from the UK’s digital services tax paid by US tech giants.

London had not retaliated against the Trump’s 10-percent tariff imposed on UK imports, nor to the higher 25-percent levies for steel, aluminium and the automotive sector.

“Any deal with the US is likely to be damage limitation rather than an economic boost,” Jonathan Portes, professor of economics at King’s College London, told AFP.

“That is, it is likely to limit the Trump tariffs, but … exporters will probably still be facing higher tariffs overall than they were last year.”

Deutsche Bank analyst Jim Reid said “given that full trade deals take years to negotiate, this will likely be a framework and it will be interesting to see whether the 10-percent baseline tariff stays as that will provide an important template for negotiations with other countries”.

The Bank of England is widely expected to cut its key interest rate by a quarter point Thursday as Trump’s planned tariffs threaten to weaken global economic growth.
Starmer visited Washington at the end of February in part to discuss tariffs and came away hopeful that a long-awaited accord could be reached.

Trump at the time held out the prospect of a “great” deal, hailing Starmer as a tough negotiator.

Starmer, during his visit, handed Trump an invitation to meet King Charles III for an unprecedented second state visit that London hopes will boost transatlantic ties.

The 78-year-old Republican has long been a vocal fan of the British royal family.

He also has a close affinity to the UK as his mother was born in Scotland, where he owns a golf course.

By Francesca Hangeior

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a three-day truce with Ukraine took effect Thursday, a move the Kremlin said would test Kyiv’s readiness for peace but that Ukraine has slammed as a farce.

It was not clear whether either side was observing the ceasefire, even with world leaders — including China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic — in Moscow for commemorations of the end of World War II.

It appeared relatively quiet overnight, though Ukraine’s military said early Thursday that Russian forces had launched air strikes in the eastern Sumy region. Kyiv did not report any damage or casualties.

Putin unilaterally ordered the temporary truce to coincide with Moscow’s Victory Day parade on Friday.

Ukraine never agreed to the proposal, has dismissed it as theatrics and called instead for a 30-day ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has sought to end Moscow’s three-year military assault on Ukraine since his inauguration in January, but has failed to ease hostilities between the enemies.

Hours before Putin’s order was scheduled to enter force, Moscow and Kyiv staged aerial attacks, prompting airport closures in Russia and leaving at least two dead in Ukraine.

Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod airport in the west was closed for about one-and-a-half hours early Thursday “to ensure flight safety of civil aircraft”, according to a Federal Air Transport Agency spokesperson.

The Kremlin has said Russian forces will honour Putin’s order for the duration of the holiday period, but will respond “immediately” if attacked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for a 30-day ceasefire in his evening address on Wednesday.

“We are not withdrawing this proposal, which could give diplomacy a chance. But the world is not seeing any response from Russia,” he said.

Putin announced the truce last month, calling it a “humanitarian” gesture, after pressure from the United States to halt Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire in March.

Ukraine has said it does not believe Russia will adhere to the truce and accused Moscow of hundreds of violations during a previous, 30-hour ceasefire Putin ordered for Easter.

Russia, which launched a full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in 2022, fired over 100 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at its neighbour between late Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, killing a mother and her son, Kyiv said.

The White House has become increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress towards a peace deal between the warring sides, despite Trump’s efforts.

US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday called on the two to enter direct talks.

Russia marks Victory Day with a grand parade of military equipment on Red Square and an address from Putin.

More than 20 world leaders were expected in Moscow for the May 9 parade.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Police Command in Ondo State has confirmed the arrest of a self-acclaimed traditional ruler, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, for allegedly installing himself as the Olujare of Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Four other individuals who allegedly participated in the installation process were also arrested.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olutokunbo Afolabi, while confirming the arrest, said that Aladeseyi was apprehended on the order of the state government.

Afolabi explained that the installation ceremony carried out by Aladeseyi did not follow the legal process, nor received the local government or state government approval.

“This action was necessary to maintain peace and prevent a potential breakdown of law and order in the community.

“The suspects’ conduct was unlawful, and their actions could have resulted in violence,” he stated.
According to him, the suspects will be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.

Some kingmakers and royal families in Ijare had kicked against the alleged installation of Aladeseyi as the traditional ruler of the community, alleging that they were not part of the selection process as required by the law.

The stool of the Olujare, a first-class traditional ruler, became vacant following the death of Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun, Kokotiri II, four years ago.