Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the country’s recent decision to cease trade with Israel was aimed at pressuring the Israeli government to implement a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan made these remarks during a meeting with the board of directors of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association in Istanbul, as reported on the presidency’s website.

He further clarified that the government would collaborate with and seek input from the business community to address the repercussions of discontinuing trade with Israel.

The Turkish Trade Ministry announced on Thursday the suspension of all trade activities with Israel, citing the latter’s ongoing violence against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan also noted that this move could serve as a model for other nations concerned about the current situation in the region.

The University of Abuja, UniAbuja, has affirmed that despite the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), academic and administrative operations on campus will proceed uninterrupted.

In a meeting with Provosts, Deans, Directors, and Heads of academic departments, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah reiterated this stance. The statement was conveyed by Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, in Abuja.

Na’Allah criticized the strike as divisive and unnecessary, asserting the management’s commitment to ensuring the university’s continuity without disruption.

He emphasized that, from the management’s perspective, the institution remains operational despite the strike declaration. Na’Allah highlighted ongoing exams, the continuation of senate meetings, and the maintenance of the university’s calendar as evidence of this commitment.

Na’Allah further stated that the decision to defy the strike was made collectively with the university management. He expressed readiness to address issues raised by ASUU through dialogue and resolution, rejecting the notion of allowing disruptions based on sentiments or unresolved matters.

Regarding ASUU’s allegations prompting the indefinite strike, Na’Allah dismissed them entirely.

Hope Hicks, a former Communications Director at the White House, expressed concerns during her testimony on Friday regarding the 2016 presidential campaign of former President Donald Trump.

She disclosed that there was significant apprehension surrounding the potential fallout from the “Access Hollywood” tape featuring Trump and adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Hicks, testifying in a hush money trial in Manhattan, revealed that the leak of this tape had a profound impact on Trump’s campaign, causing turmoil among his advisors.

The tape, released in October 2016 just weeks before the election, captured Trump making lewd comments about women without their consent. Additionally, it was revealed that Trump had allegedly paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels through his attorney, Michael Cohen, to keep her from publicizing her claims of a sexual encounter with him.

Hicks described her reaction to learning about the tape’s existence and immediately recommended a strategy of denial when approached by a reporter from The Washington Post. She emphasized the significance of the tape as a damaging development that set the campaign back and created obstacles that were difficult to overcome.

Prosecutors called Hicks to testify in their case alleging that Trump orchestrated efforts to suppress damaging stories about his personal life in an attempt to influence the 2016 election illegally. Hicks’ testimony aimed to underscore the gravity of the situation and the extent of Trump’s involvement in managing potential scandals during his campaign.

During her testimony, Hicks stated that Trump initially denied knowledge of the payment to Daniels but later acknowledged the prudence of burying her story before the election. She noted that Trump was primarily concerned with how these issues would affect the campaign, frequently seeking feedback on his public appearances and policies to gauge their impact on voters.