Sarah Jacoby

Natural sweeteners — especially maple syrup and honey — have taken over social media recipes. But which one should you use? And are they actually any healthier than plain old sugar?

Both maple syrup and honey are considered natural sweeteners, registered dietitian Grace Derocha tells TODAY.com. "And that's why they get all the buzz," she says.

But a natural sweetener isn't necessarily better for you than other options. Honey and maple syrup are "still added sugars," says Derocha, who is also a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “You still have to be aware of how much you’re consuming,” Derocha says.

Considering that many of us in the U.S. should probably be eating fewer added sugars, it's important to remember these sweeteners don't get a pass just because they're made from a natural source.

But for most people, sweeteners like these can still part of an overall healthy diet. And, depending on your individual health goals and preferences, they may — or may not — be better choices for you. Here's what to know before you drizzle your breakfast in maple syrup or add honey to your morning smoothie.

Maple syrup nutrition

A tablespoon of maple syrup contains:

• 52 calories
• 13 grams of carbohydrates
• 12 grams of sugar

Honey nutrition

In 1 tablespoon of honey, you'll get:

• 64 calories
• 17 grams of carbohydrates
• 17 grams of sugar

Sugar

Maple syrup and honey are both sweeteners, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the main component of both is sugar.

In 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, you'll find 12 grams of sugar (and 52 calories), while the same amount of honey contains 17 grams of sugar (and 64 calories). And neither of them contain any fat or protein, says Natalie Rizzo, registered dietitian and nutrition editor at TODAY.

Keep in mind that these count toward your daily total of added sugars. And, in general, we should try to minimize the amount of these we eat in a day. The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 25 grams of added sugar in a day while men should avoid eating more than 36 grams per day.

Looking just at their sugar content, maple syrup has just a few fewer grams per serving than honey. But their stats here are "quite similar," Rizzo says.

Glycemic index

The glycemic index of a food is a measure of how quickly a food affects the body's blood sugar and insulin levels.

Food with a lower glycemic index has a slower, less significant impact on those levels and, therefore, may be a better choice for people who need to keep an eye on their blood sugar.

When looking at the glycemic index of maple syrup and honey, again, the two foods are very similar. "Both honey and maple syrup have a glycemic index around 50, which is lower than table sugar," Rizzo says.

Specifically, maple syrup has a glycemic index of about 54 while honey's is around 58, Derocha says, so maple syrup has a slightly lower glycemic index than honey does. But four points "isn't that much" of a difference, Derocha says.

Other nutrients

The main component of both maple syrup and honey is the sugar they contain. However, both of them both also provide small amounts of other nutrients and minerals.

In maple syrup, you'll find a bit of the minerals manganese, calcium and copper, as well as riboflavin (vitamin B2), Rizzo says. Meanwhile, honey contains potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous.

"But both sweeteners only have very small amounts of all of these minerals," Rizzo explains. And the tiny amount of those compounds present in either sweetener is "not enough to really be beneficial to the body," she adds. So you probably shouldn't base your choice of sweetener on the presence of these nutrients.

Both maple syrup and honey contain antioxidants. But you shouldn't be eating either sweetener just for the potential benefits from those antioxidant compound, TODAY.com explained previously, because they are still both primarily sources of added sugar.

Should you use maple syrup or honey?

Maple syrup and honey are both natural sweeteners that contain similar amounts of calories and sugar per tablespoon.

But maple syrup does come with slightly fewer calories and grams of sugar in a serving compared to honey. It also has a mildly lower glycemic index, which may be beneficial for people who need to carefully control their blood sugar levels.

Keep in mind that honey isn't typically considered vegan, Derocha notes, because honey is made by bees. So, people who follow a vegan diet may need to opt for maple syrup over honey for that reason.

Honey does have other health benefits, though, the experts say.

"It has been shown to be a natural cough suppressant in people with respiratory infections," Rizzo explains. "When I was pregnant and couldn’t take cough medicine, I swallowed a spoonful of honey to try to ease my cough, and it does work to some extent."

Honey also has some antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, the experts note, and it has shown some promise in helping to heal topical injuries, like minor burns.

And of course, these two sweeteners have different flavor profiles and traditional uses. Because one isn't necessarily healthier than the other, Rizzo recommends folks simply "choose the one you like the best" or the one that best suits the recipe or dish you're making.

If you're opting for maple syrup, make sure you buy “pure maple syrup,” which is the maple that comes from the tree, Rizzo says. Be aware that some some imitation versions use other types of sugar, like corny syrup, and flavorings to make a processed sugar, sometimes labeled as "pancake syrup."

Today

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a lawsuit against Pat Utomi, accusing him of attempting to establish a “shadow government” in Nigeria—a move the agency describes as a direct threat to the nation’s constitution and democratic order.

In a suit filed on May 13 at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025), the DSS is seeking a judicial declaration that Utomi’s alleged actions are unconstitutional and an attack on the legitimacy of the elected government.

Utomi, who was the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate in 2007, is the sole defendant in the case. The DSS, through its counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, argues that the creation of a shadow government is not only illegal but also capable of inciting political unrest, encouraging separatist tendencies, and destabilizing the country.

The agency is asking the court to declare Utomi’s proposed “shadow cabinet” as unconstitutional and tantamount to setting up a parallel authority not recognized under the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Utomi and his associates from proceeding with the plan.

According to the DSS, the Constitution’s Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 14(2)(a) prohibit any form of governance not derived from democratic elections and lawful authority. The suit argues that Utomi’s actions undermine these provisions and the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.

In a supporting affidavit, the DSS stated that intelligence reports and public materials—including statements and interviews by Utomi—confirm the formation of a “shadow cabinet” allegedly comprising individuals assigned various portfolios. Named members include Dele Farotimi (Ombudsman and Good Governance), and a Policy Delivery Unit Team made up of Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.

The DSS warned that Utomi’s efforts could mislead the public, weaken faith in the elected government, and erode constitutional order. The agency also disclosed that multiple attempts were made to dissuade Utomi from the initiative, including public warnings by the Minister of Information, but he reportedly remained defiant.

The DSS, tasked with safeguarding national security and constitutional governance, insists Utomi’s actions represent a clear danger to Nigeria’s democratic stability. The suit has not yet been assigned to a judge for hearing.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that over 300,000 candidates from 157 examination centers will retake the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) following technical errors that affected the processing of their results.

In a press conference held at JAMB's headquarters in Bwari, Abuja on Wednesday, Registrar Is-haq Oloyede admitted that technical failures by service providers had compromised the integrity of results for candidates who took the examination in Lagos and the South-Eastern states.

"In the process of rectifying an issue, the technical personnel deployed by the Service Provider inadvertently failed to update some of the delivery servers," Oloyede explained. "Regrettably, this oversight went undetected prior to the release of the results."

The error affected 65 centers (206,610 candidates) in Lagos and 92 centers (173,387 candidates) in the Owerri zone, which includes South-Eastern states.

Retests to Begin Immediately

The rescheduled examinations will begin on Friday, May 16, with JAMB contacting affected candidates through text messages, emails, and phone calls. Candidates are directed to reprint their examination slips for the new dates.

JAMB has coordinated with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to avoid timetable clashes for candidates currently taking their Senior School Certificate Examinations.

"Any candidate with a clash of timetable, particularly for Agricultural Science on Friday, would be rescheduled," Oloyede said, adding that most potentially affected candidates have been scheduled for Saturday.

System Failure Despite Quality Assurance Measures

The registrar described the incident as "an easily avoidable error by one or two persons" that overshadowed what should have been "our most successful UTME exercise."

Despite JAMB's extensive quality assurance mechanisms, which include numerous committees, in-house technical experts, and simulation testing, the error occurred during a patch update implemented after an initial issue was detected on April 25.

Oloyede emphasized that the problem was neither a glitch nor sabotage, but rather a failure by one service provider to properly upload patches to center servers during the first three to four days of the examination.

Top Officials and Experts Called In

Following widespread complaints after results were released on May 9, JAMB convened emergency meetings with education experts, stakeholders, and officials, including:

- Boniface Nworgu, an expert in psychometrics from Imo State

- Adenike Osofisan, a technical advisor from the Computer Professionals Council of Nigeria (CPN)

- Kabiru Isyaku, president of the Nigerian Academy of Education

- Representatives from parent-teacher associations and student organizations

- Chief External Examiners from the affected states

Former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka from the Athena Centre also participated in reviewing candidate responses.

Registrar Takes Responsibility

Oloyede took personal responsibility for the failure, stating: "I hold myself personally responsible, including for the negligence of the service provider, and I unreservedly apologise for it and the trauma that it has subjected affected Nigerians to, directly and indirectly."

He described the incident as "a significant setback for the Board's reputation" while affirming JAMB's commitment to transparency, fairness, and equity.

The registrar noted that outside the affected centers, the examination results followed normal patterns, with the highest score in 2025 (374) being the best in the last one-and-a-half decades, though overall performance was "sadly poorer than that of last year."

JAMB has pledged that all affected candidates will be given the opportunity to retake their examinations under fair conditions.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) reversed its recent downward trend yesterday, closing on a positive note as market capitalization increased by N314 billion amid strategic buying in Beta Glass and 39 other stocks.

The All-Share Index (ASI) gained 501.14 points, representing a growth of 0.46 percent to close at 108,762.61 points. Market capitalization rose correspondingly to close at N68.357 trillion.

The market's upward movement was driven by gains in medium and large capitalized stocks, including Beta Glass, Oando, Nigerian Breweries, Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), and Industrial and Medical Gases.

Market Analysts Project Continued Growth

Market analysts remain optimistic about the exchange's short-term outlook. Afrinvest Limited stated: "We expect the bourse to sustain the positive momentum, due to Q1 earnings-driven improved valuation of major tickers and muted activities in the primary market segment for fixed income papers this week."

Similarly, Vetiva Dealings and Brokerage noted: "The market looks like it's finding its footing again — investors are hunting for bargains, jumping on fundamentally sound names. If this steady flow of interest across different sectors keeps up, we could see prices climb further."

Top Gainers and Losers

Investor sentiment improved as measured by market breadth, with 40 stocks advancing while 24 declined.

Top Gainers:

- Chellaram and Oando led with 10 percent gains each, closing at N11.44 and N49.50 respectively

- Transcorp followed closely with a 9.99 percent increase, closing at N46.25

- Beta Glass rose 9.96 percent to close at N194.30

- Caverton Offshore Support Group climbed 9.85 percent to close at N3.68

Top Losers:

- Haldane McCall led decliners with a 9.85 percent drop, closing at N4.21

- Academy Press fell 7.33 percent to close at N4.30

- UPDC declined 6.25 percent to close at N3.00

- ABC Transports depreciated 6.13 percent to close at N2.91

- NPF Microfinance Bank dropped 5.14 percent to close at N2.03

Trading Volume Increases

The total trading volume rose by 20 percent to 498.48 million units valued at N10.782 billion, exchanged in 14,916 deals.

Tantalizer dominated the activity chart with 57.803 million shares valued at N131.323 million, followed by Access Holdings with 36.792 million shares worth N784.432 million. Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 31.844 million shares valued at N2.191 billion, while Fidelity Bank and Nigerian Breweries traded 23.398 million and 21.033 million shares worth N470.486 million and N1.08 billion respectively.

Israel intensifies Gaza bombardment, kills 80 people, as Trump visits Gulf

Israeli military strikes killed at least 80 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, local health authorities said, in an intensification of the bombardment as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East.

Medics said most of the dead, including women and children, were killed in a barrage of Israeli airstrikes on houses in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza.

Later on Wednesday, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders to people in several districts in Gaza City, forcing thousands of Palestinians to leave their shelters.

The areas threatened by the evacuation warnings included several schools and the largest Shifa Hospital, according to a map published by the Israeli army.

Witnesses and medics said shortly after the evacuation orders Israeli planes carried several airstrikes against targets within Gaza City.

"Some victims are still on the road and under the rubble where rescue and civil emergency teams can't reach (them)," the health ministry statement said.

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Israel's military had no immediate comment. It said it was trying to verify the reports.

Reuters television footage showed residents returning to the ruins of their homes. Some sifted through the remains of walls and furniture, looking for documents and belongings.

"They fired two rockets, they told us the house of Moqbel (had been hit)," said Hadi Moqbel, who lost relatives in the attack in Jabalia. "We came running, we saw body parts on the ground, children killed, the woman killed and a baby killed - his head was exploded like a flower. He was two months old."

Israeli press reports on Wednesday cited security officials as saying they believed Hamas military leader Mohammad Sinwar and other senior officials had been killed in a strike on Tuesday on what the Israeli military described as a command and control bunker under the European Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

There was no confirmation by the Israeli military or Hamas. On Wednesday, witnesses and medics said an Israeli airstrike hit a bulldozer that approached the area of the strike at the European Hospital, wounding several people.

Late on Tuesday, Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed militant group allied with Hamas, fired rockets from Gaza towards Israel. Shortly before Israel hit back, its military issued evacuation orders to residents in the area of Jabalia and nearby Beit Lahiya.

TRUMP VISIT

Palestinians hope Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will provide pressure for a reduction of violence. Hamas on Monday released Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage it had been holding.

Trump said in Riyadh on Tuesday that more hostages would follow Alexander and that the people of Gaza deserved a better future. He is not visiting Israel during his Middle East trip.

Ceasefire efforts have faltered. Hamas talked to the United States and Egyptian and Qatari mediators to arrange Alexander's release, and Israel has sent a team to Doha to begin a new round of talks.

On Tuesday, Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler met hostage families in Tel Aviv and said they saw a better chance of an agreement for the hostages' release following the deal over Alexander.

Hamas said on Wednesday the continued attacks indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to "escalate the aggression and massacres against civilians to undermine those (ceasefire) efforts". Israel has blamed Hamas for the continuing war.

The U.S. has presented a plan to reopen humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza using private contractors. Israel, which imposed a total blockade of supplies going into Gaza from March 2, has endorsed the plan but it has been rejected by the United Nations and international aid agencies.

Israel invaded Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken as hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's military campaign has killed more than 52,900 Palestinians, according to local health officials. It has left Gaza on the brink of famine, aid groups and international agencies say.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Kremlin names delegation for Ukraine talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin late on Wednesday named the country’s delegation for proposed talks with Ukraine, expected to take place in Istanbul the next day.

The team will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who headed Moscow’s side during negotiations with Kiev in 2022. The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin and the head of Russia’s military intelligence, Igor Kostyukov.

Apart from the negotiators themselves, Putin unveiled a team of experts who will also participate. It is composed of several senior military and civil officials, as well as diplomats.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian media reports indicated the country’s leader Vladimir Zelensky was set to travel to Istanbul alongside several top officials, including his head of office Andrey Yermak, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga. The exact composition of the negotiating team, however, is expected to be determined by Zelensky on the spot.

Putin offered on Sunday to resume direct talks with Kiev, stating that only negotiations could lead to “some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire.”

“We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their aim is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to achieve a long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective,”the president said.

The offer got a mixed reaction from Ukraine and its supporters, who continued to insist that talks be preceded by at least a 30-day truce. After the proposal was backed by US President Donald Trump, however, Zelensky proclaimed his readiness to negotiate with the Russian president “personally” in Istanbul.

The Kremlin announcement of its team was met with apparent disappointment in Kiev. Zelensky’s aide Mikhail Podoliak launched a personal attack on Medinsky, claiming the Russian official was not the right figure to discuss unspecified “fundamental issues.”

“No, of course not, that’s not the format. The president can’t meet, especially with Medinsky – the status won’t be entirely clear,”Podoliak stated.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Putin, Trump to skip Ukraine's peace talks that Russian leader proposed

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putinindicated they would not attend what could be the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in three years on Thursday, with the Kremlin sending instead a group of experienced technocrats.

Putin on Sunday proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday "without any preconditions". Late on Wednesday, the Kremlin said the delegation would include presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin - but Putin's name was not on the list.

After the Kremlin's delegation announcement, a U.S. official said Trump, who is on a three-nation tour of the Middle East, would not attend. The U.S. leader had said earlier that he was considering the option to participate.

While Putin had never confirmed he would attend in person, the absence of the Russian and U.S. presidents lowers the expectations for a major breakthrough in the war that Russia started in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had challenged Putin to attend the talks "if he's not afraid," in an apparent contest to show Trump who wants peace more, Ukraine or Russia.

While the Kyiv leader was on his way to Turkey late on Wednesday, a Ukrainian official said, he had said he would take part in the talks only if Putin attended.

In his nightly video address on Wednesday Zelenskiy said that Ukraine would decide on its steps for peace talks in Turkey once there was clarity on Putin's participation.

"The answers to all questions about this war – why it started, why it continues – all these answers are in Moscow," Zelenskiy said. "How the war will end depends on the world."

Trump wants the two sides to sign up to a 30-day ceasefire to pause Europe's biggest land war since World War Two, and a Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday there could also be discussions about a huge prisoner of war exchange.

Zelenskiy backs an immediate 30-day ceasefire, but Putin has said he first wants to start talks at which the details of such a ceasefire could be discussed.

MORE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA?

Trump, who is growing increasingly frustrated with both Russia and Ukraine as he tries to push them towards a peace settlement, said he was "always considering" secondary sanctions against Moscow if he thought it was blocking the process.

U.S. officials have spoken about possible financial sanctions as well as potential secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil.

The U.S. delegation to Turkey included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said early on Thursday he had met with Rubio to share Zelenskiy's peace vision and "coordinate positions during this critical week."

Medinsky and Fomin, part of the Russian delegation, took part in the last set of negotiations between the two sides in the first weeks of the war. Other senior military and intelligence officials were also part of the Thursday delegation.

Direct talks between negotiators from Ukraine and Russia last took place in Istanbul in March 2022, a month after Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in what he calls a "special military operation" to root out neo-Nazis.

Ukraine and its allies say the invasion was an unprovoked, imperial-style land grab.

With Russian forces grinding forward in Ukraine and now controlling about a fifth of the country, the Kremlin chief has offered few, if any, concessions so far. In his proposal at the weekend, he said that the talks in Turkey would be aimed at a durable peace.

He specifically mentioned the 2022 talks and the failed draft deal.

Under that deal, among others, Ukraine would have agreed to permanent neutrality in return for security guarantees from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, and other nations including Belarus, Canada, Germany, Israel, Poland and Turkey, according to a draft seen by Reuters.

But officials in Kyiv say agreeing to Ukrainian neutrality is a red line they will not cross.

RT/Reuters

You must have read the news that philanthropist Bill Gates plans to give away his wealth within the next 20 years. His charity foundation, which has been making various interventions in global public health, now has till December 31, 2045, to spend down about $200bn to facilitate health and human development. Even more fascinating is that Bill Gates wants the money to offset some of the imbalances caused by the Donald Trump administration’s abrupt cutbacks to health and development agencies, such as USAID and PEPFAR. Many of us are familiar with the Biblical narrative of a rich young ruler who came up to Jesus to ask what he needed to do to secure eternal life. He was asked to give up his wealth and follow the Saviour. We were told that the young ruler “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions”. Few things in the world can be as hard for the truly rich to give up as their wealth. It must be relatively easier to give from little than to shrink the vast reserves of riches by as much as an inch.

Bill Gates is not only giving money to the world sorely in need of capital to develop, but it is also impressive how much he has committed to learning about issues of health and development in the world. In the interview he gave to the New York Times, he came across as having studied the scale of the problem well enough. This is a man seeking to attain eternal life by helping the most vulnerable people in the world to live.

Ordinarily, I am ambivalent about philanthropy. While I am not against charity, it appals me how the enterprise of giving can reinforce what it seeks to displace. The problem is worse in Nigeria, where faux philanthropy overtakes governance. The leaders who should provide basic amenities, public infrastructure, and a well-coordinated social safety net for the vulnerable will abjure their responsibilities and flaunt charity. You will see Governor So-and-so “empowering” this and that community by dashing them cartons of noodles or Keke Marwa or wheelbarrows! There is perhaps no word in the Nigerian lexicon that has been serially abused by our visionless leaders more than “empowerment”. What Nigerian leaders call “empowerment” is often an exhibition of the poverty of the people they have socially disenfranchised.

In the end, I took a few things away from reading about Bill Gates’ motivations for setting a 20-year clock for human development. One is his optimism that the world we live in can be better. You can see that ethic of hope in his conviction that longstanding problems like malaria can be permanently eliminated in Africa; that maternal mortality can be significantly reduced; that childhood mortality can become a thing of the past; and that the world can live far more prosperous lives. Years ago, I learned the value of hope from reading Olufemi Taiwo’s Africa Must Be Modern. In the book, he argues that hope necessarily propels society towards modernity and development.

Until then, hope was just an abstract idea for me. But reading through that book, I started to understand hope differently. Hope is what galvanises people even when the odds are demonstrably against them. From the field of science where people immerse themselves in experiments that might fail hundreds of times before they succeed to the arena of politics where leaders fight to pull their people from the brink of disaster and set them on the path of prosperity, the hope that what we are doing ultimately matters is what makes all the difference. Without hope, we cannot muster the self-discipline necessary for success. I am of the firm belief that our leaders’ lack of optimism about the ability of their country to make it is one of the reasons they imagine their actions are not consequential. Corrupt African leaders are not just mere thieves bent on despoiling their people; their wantonness expresses their deep cynicism about people’s chances. In his interview, Bill Gates seemed to express more hope for the future of poorer countries to live healthier and prosperous lives than you are likely to hear from their own leaders. He can afford to be detached from reality, but if the world changes, it is also because someone was naïve enough to be optimistic.

The second thing that struck me about Bill Gates’s commitment to alleviating poverty is his understanding of the subject, and that is why I think our renowned prosperity preacher, David Ibiyeomie, can learn something from him. Recently, a clip from a sermon he preached went viral. In the sermon, he proclaimed “God hates poverty” and “God hates poor people”. His subsequent attempts to clarify his message only further unfolded his mindset as someone who is superstitious about poverty. He proof-texts the Bible by overlooking every divine promise of reprieve for those who have been beaten by the hardships of life to select a few verses that support his prejudices. In a country where about 90 per cent (or more) of people live in the extreme conditions of multi-generational poverty and multi-dimensional poverty, it takes a lack of self-awareness to declare that even God hates poor people. If God hates poverty and the materially poor, then he must hate Africans!

Bill Gates, on the other hand, approaches poverty like a scientist. He sees the condition as a mere physiological one that can be treated if one rightly diagnoses it and applies the correct principles. One side is pessimistic and chooses to mythologise what is essentially a treatable condition; the other is optimistic enough to want to facilitate a world where capital investment and the principles of science can produce flourishing for humankind. The difference between the two is not merely the distinctions between “science” and “religion,” but about their respective moral visions. Please note that both religion and science are knowledge means that can be applied to engineer ethical solutions in the world. In the hands of a person who despairs about the fate of humans, the technologies of religion and science will produce nothing but death. The person who is invigorated with hope for humankind will apply principles from either science or religion to produce more life.

Finally, it is also ironic that the same Bill Gates, against whom some churches prayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, is also the person looking out for the good of the majority. It was funny, but churches, where pastors give annual prophecies, were blindsided by the global pandemic, while Bill Gates, who relied on scientific principles, accurately predicted its possibility years before it happened. I guess some of the preachers got envious because they gathered their ignorant flock and asked them to pray against Bill Gates as the “anti-Christ” or the “globalist”. Today, it is the same Bill Gates who is looking out for the good of the world. If Jesus were called to judge between the preachers who say we will be locked out of eternal life because of tithes and Bill Gates, who is demonstrating the ethics of generosity, empathy, and humanity, who do you think he would say practices true religion?

Punch

Marcel Schwantes

Having coached executive leaders for two decades, I know they are bombarded with decisions—big and small—every day. Do I take this call? Launch this product? Respond to that email? Hire this person?

It’s easy to fall into reactive mode, making snap decisions under pressure. Urgency has its place, but rushing to meet other people’s expectations rarely leads to clarity or long-term success. The best leaders learn to pause, step back, and focus on what truly matters—for them, their teams, and their business—before they act.

One of the simplest and most effective tools I’ve come across is the 10-10-10 rule, created by author and speaker Suzy Welch.

What is the 10-10-10 rule?

At its core, the 10-10-10 rule is a simple decision-making framework built around making smarter decisions by thinking beyond the moment. Whenever you’re facing a tough choice, ask yourself three questions:

• How will I feel about this in 10 minutes?
• How will I feel about it in 10 months?
• How will I feel about it in 10 years?

Think of it as your own mental time travel that helps you slow down, step outside the urgency of the now to consider the short-term and long-term impact of your decisions; it may also potentially keep you from making decisions you’ll regret later.

It’s deceptively simple but powerful. What I’ve noticed in countless coaching sessions with senior managers is that so many poor decisions happen because they’re overly influenced by short-term emotions—fear, ego, comfort, or urgency. When I apply the 10-10-10 framework on my high-level clients, it forces them to step back and weigh both short-term feelings and long-term consequences.

For leaders, this kind of mental time travel is more than a mindset—it’s a skill they must learn and apply. The best decisions often require holding two timelines in your head at once: what helps right now and what pays off down the road.

The 10-10-10 rule does exactly that. It gives you a structured way to avoid knee-jerk reactions and develop strategic patience—the kind that separates great leaders from impulsive ones.

How to apply the 10-10-10 rule

Here are a few practical ways to make the 10-10-10 rule work in your daily leadership routine:

1. Use it for hard conversations.

Before firing off that emotionally charged message or making a hasty decision out of fear, pause. Ask yourself:

Will I still feel this angry in 10 minutes?
Will I be proud of how I handled this in 10 months?
Will this action support the culture I want to lead in 10 years?

Chances are good that you’ll take a breath and choose a wiser path.

2. Run decisions by your future self.

When evaluating an opportunity, ask: Will this choice serve the person I want to be a decade from now?

This can help cut through temptations and distractions that do not serve your purpose or mission, and steer you back toward your long-term vision.

3. Make it a leadership habit.

Embed the 10-10-10 check into your leadership rhythm—team meetings, one-on-ones, even strategic planning. Encourage your team to use it too. It builds a culture of thoughtful, long-range thinking rather than reactive firefighting.

4. Write it down.

When facing a tough decision, journal your answers to each “10” timeframe. Be specific. Remember this rule: Writing forces clarity. I force my coaching clients to journal so they can gain more awareness into a situation. And you’ll have a record to reflect on—helpful when evaluating how your thinking has evolved.

Better decisions

No question, leadership requires making some really hard decisions. But here’s the thing: It’s not just about that. It’s about making better decisions—the kind that hold up under pressure, inspire trust, and align with who you want to become.

The 10-10-10 rule doesn’t promise easy answers. But it gives you a dependable compass. Use it regularly, and you’ll notice something powerful: Your decisions start compounding in the direction of your best future.

Inc

Tension is rising in Borno State after Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents attacked four military bases, killing soldiers and stealing military vehicles, between Monday and Tuesday in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Tuesday morning how suspected members of ISWAP attacked a military base in Marte late Monday night, killing seven soldiers and seizing three gun trucks.

Less than 24 hours after that attack on Marte, the insurgents attacked three more military bases in Dikwa, Rann, and Gajiram..

Update on Marte Attack

Suspected members of ISWAP carried out the first attack on the Forward Operation Base, 153 Battalion, located in Marte Local Government Area, minutes before 3 a.m. on Monday.

Sources who spoke to this reporter said the insurgents infiltrated Marte on foot from different directions, cordoned off the area and forced the soldiers to withdraw to Dikwa, a neighbouring community.

“The attack caught the soldiers unaware,” a Civilian Joint Task Force member revealed, adding that apart from the seven soldiers killed, the whereabouts of a few others were still unknown.

However, the source disputed reports that the insurgents stole three gun trucks from the base, stating that the assets were burned down along with the military base and other vehicles, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

A local platform, YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, reported that on Monday morning, the insurgents were seen moving with their stolen motorcycles, weapons, and foodstuffs heading in the direction of Chukungudu, Krenuwa, and Klabariya, all villages within Borno and beyond.

How insurgents attacked Dikwa

In Dikwa, the headquarters of Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno state, the terrorists had a fierce battle with Nigerian Army troops.

They launched the attack about 13 hours after Monday’s attack on Marte. A source in Dikwa, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the troops “dealt with the insurgents”

He explained that the attack, which started around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, was quelled by the army, air force, and the civilian joint task force fighters after an hour.

Rann Attack

The insurgents were also reported to have attacked the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Area of Borno state, almost at the same time as they attacked Dikwa.

Sources, including YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, said the attack began around 12 am on Tuesday. They attacked the military formation with heavy machinery, casting fear among the people of the community.

“Five soldiers were confirmed dead, while six soldiers were injured. They also snatched three gun trucks before leaving the base,’ YERWA EXPRESS NEWS reported, quoting a source.

Gajiram attack

At Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area, sources said the insurgents launched their attack minutes after midnight on Tuesday, but were repelled. The terrorists retreated after an hour of a gun battle with troops.

“The Boko Haram came a minute past midnight. The soldiers chased them away. The terrorists only succeeded in burning a stool in Gajiram, nothing more,” a source in Gajiram told this reporter, requesting anonymity.

Governor Zulum confirms the attack

In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP in various parts of the state.

Zulum also sympathised with the victims of a bomb blast along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which occurred last Monday.

“These acts of terror are deeply condemnable. The recent tragic loss of our education staff, gallant troops, and innocent civilians is a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face.

“I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state,” Zulum said through his spokesperson, Dauda Illiya.

The governor recalled his recent visit to Gwoza, where he engaged with military personnel and the Izge community, as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce resilience and protect lives and property.

“The recent surge in attacks will not deter our resolve to tackle the scourge of the 16-year-long insurgency. I urge the people of Borno to remain resilient and prayerful. This is a partial eclipse — and we shall overcome it, Insha Allah,” the governor assured.

Zulum extended his prayers to the families of the fallen heroes, innocent civilians, and all citizens of Borno State.

The Nigerian military has yet to speak on the attacks.

PT

Nigerians are expected to pay more for their vehicle and drivers license renewals and new ones even as the Joint Tax Board (JTB) has approved an increment in price.

The new price adjustment will be effective Sunday, 8th June 2025.

By this announcement, the JTB, being the apex body for revenue authorities in Nigeria, urges affected members of the public to take note of the new prices, and implores relevant government agencies and Motor Vehicle Licencing Authorities to comply with the price adjustment.

In an advertorial sighted in one of the national dailies, the new approved prices for Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle number plates and driver’s licence as approved are as follows: Motor vehicle driver’s license for three years is N15,000 while for five years is N21,000. For tricycle/motorcycle drivers license, three years is N7,000 while five years is N11,000.

For number plates, the prices range in different categories and are as follow: Standard private vehicle number plate is N30,000; Standard commercial number plate, N30,000; Articulated vehicle number plate is N90,000; Dealer vehicle number plate is N100,000; Out of series number plate is N150,000; Fancy vehicle number plate is N400,000; Government standard vehicle number plate is N80,000; Government fancy vehicle number plate is N120,000.

Motorcycle number plate is N12,000; Fancy motorcycle number plate N50,000; Goverment standard motorcycle number plate – N20,000 and Govemment fancy motorcyle number plate N50,000.

The price adjustment, according to JTB, is due to the introduction of enhanced security features in the number plate and driver’s licence and incidental increase in production cost.

JTB stated that information on the price adjustment is on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) website,www.frsc.gov.ng and the Motor Licencing Authority (MLA) at States’ Internal Revenue Service offices, or Motor Vehicle Administration Authorities across the country.

They noted that the price adjustment applies nationwide.

The Guardian