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  • 1Password acquires Israeli cyber startup Apono in landmark $250M–$300M deal

    1Password acquires Israeli cyber startup Apono in landmark $250M–$300M deal

    TEL AVIV, Isreal (NPA) Canadian cybersecurity giant 1Password has acquired Israeli startup Apono in a deal valued between $250 million and $300 million, marking its first acquisition in Israel and a significant expansion beyond password management into access governance.

    Apono, founded in 2022 by Rom Carmel and Ofir Stein, operates an AI‑powered platform that manages permissions and access to cloud infrastructure. The company eliminates standing permissions by providing dynamic, real‑time access based on business needs and context. Its technology is designed to address the growing challenge of securing both human and non‑human digital identities in the AI era.

    All 80 of Apono’s employees, including 50 based in Israel, will join 1Password, which also plans to expand its local operations with new hires. Carmel, who previously held R&D leadership roles in the Prime Minister’s Office cyber division, and Stein, a former Air Force Ofek unit officer and early developer at Logz.io, bring decades of DevOps and cybersecurity experience to the acquisition.

    Apono has raised $54 million since inception, with investors including Meron Capital, USVP, 33N Ventures, New Era Capital, and others. In December 2025, the company announced its Series B round, led by USVP and 33N Ventures. Board member Ziv Conen of New Era Capital described Apono’s vision as “securing access for AI agents,” highlighting its role in the next frontier of cybersecurity.

    The platform serves Fortune 500 companies and enterprises across the United States, Europe, and Israel, with customers such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Jasper, and Bloomreach. It supports access management across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, Snowflake, and Databricks, and integrates with more than 200 enterprise applications including Slack, Jira, PagerDuty, and GitHub.

    1Password, valued at approximately $6.8 billion, reported annual recurring revenue of more than $400 million at the end of 2025. The acquisition of Apono strengthens its position in identity and access security, expanding its reach into governance and compliance — areas where Israeli firms like CyberArk and Wiz are already major players.

    The deal comes as organizations worldwide adopt artificial intelligence and face a surge in non‑human digital identities. Apono’s system grants access on a just‑in‑time basis and revokes it immediately after tasks are completed, reducing the need for permanent accounts and simplifying deployment.

    By acquiring Apono, 1Password positions itself at the forefront of identity security in the AI era, combining its global scale with Israeli innovation to tackle one of cybersecurity’s most pressing challenges.

  • TCN announces seven-hour power outage in Iwo, Bowen and others for transformer maintenance

    TCN announces seven-hour power outage in Iwo, Bowen and others for transformer maintenance

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) —The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced a planned seven-hour power outage in parts of Osun State to facilitate annual maintenance on a major power transformer at the Iwo Transmission Substation.

    According to a statement issued by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, routine maintenance will be carried out on the 40MVA 132/33kV power transformer at the Iwo Transmission Substation on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    TCN said the exercise forms part of its ongoing efforts to ensure the reliability, stability, and efficient operation of the national transmission network.

    As a result of the maintenance work, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) will be unable to receive bulk power supply from the transmission station during the period. Consequently, electricity consumers in Iwo Town, Bowen University, and Rabbish will experience a temporary power interruption.

    The transmission company assured that power supply would be restored immediately after the maintenance exercise is completed and apologised for the inconvenience the outage may cause affected customers.

  • BREAKING: Peter Obi emerges NDC presidential candidate for 2027 election

    BREAKING: Peter Obi emerges NDC presidential candidate for 2027 election

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

    Obi, the sole aspirant in the party’s presidential primary, emerged as the NDC flag bearer at the party’s special convention held in Abuja on Saturday.

    He was formally presented with the party’s flag by the NDC leadership, led by former Bayelsa State Governor and National Chairman, Senator Seriake Dickson.

    The unveiling marks a major step in the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

    With his emergence, Obi is expected to challenge incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other candidates expected to contest the presidency.

    As of May 30, 2026, several political parties had confirmed their presidential candidates ahead of the next general election. They include President Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), and Sandy Onor of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to receive additional nominations from political parties before the official deadline for candidate submissions.

  • Ebola cases rise to 134 as WHO warns of cross-border spread in DRC, Uganda

    Ebola cases rise to 134 as WHO warns of cross-border spread in DRC, Uganda

    KINSHASA, DR Congo (NPA) — The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda continues to spread, with rising infections and deaths reported across both countries.

    WHO said that as of May 29, a total of 134 confirmed Ebola cases, including nine in Uganda, and 18 confirmed deaths had been recorded.

    The agency also reported 906 suspected cases and 223 deaths among suspected cases in the DRC as of May 27.

    According to WHO, the latest figures represent an increase of 49 confirmed cases, eight confirmed deaths, 160 suspected cases and 47 suspected deaths since its previous update on May 21.

    The organisation said transmission remained concentrated in Ituri Province, as well as North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of the DRC, where insecurity, poor contact tracing, inadequate isolation facilities and challenges in patient referral systems were affecting response efforts.

    WHO said health authorities in the affected countries, supported by partners, had deployed rapid response teams, strengthened surveillance, delivered medical supplies and improved laboratory confirmation efforts.

    In the DRC, 125 confirmed cases and 17 deaths had been reported from 13 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

    The agency said 16 health and care workers were among those infected, adding that investigations were ongoing to properly classify suspected cases and deaths.

    In Uganda, the WHO said nine confirmed cases, including one death, had been reported in Kampala and Wakiso.

    It said 436 contacts linked to the Ugandan cases had been identified and were under monitoring, with exposure risks linked mainly to healthcare facilities and cross-border movements.

    WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited the DRC on May 28 to support ongoing response efforts.

    The agency said the outbreak risk remained very high at the national level in the DRC, high at the regional level, but low globally.

    WHO, however, advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on the DRC and Uganda, stressing the need for stronger surveillance, cross-border cooperation and coordinated public health measures.

  • Lagos Police heighten security for Eid‑el‑Kabir and Children’s Day celebrations

    Lagos Police heighten security for Eid‑el‑Kabir and Children’s Day celebrations

    LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Police Command has announced a comprehensive security operation across the state ahead of the Eid‑el‑Kabir and Children’s Day festivities, deploying personnel to worship centres, highways, recreation parks, and other strategic locations to ensure public safety.

    Commissioner of Police CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, said the deployment aligns with directives from the Inspector‑General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to maintain peace and order during the celebrations. He ordered a massive deployment of officers to critical infrastructures, motor parks, linking and exit routes, and other vulnerable points across Lagos.

    According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Commanders, Mobile Force units, Counter‑Terrorism operatives, EOD‑CBRN teams, and Traffic Officers have been directed to ensure visibility policing, crowd control, and anti‑crime strategies in their respective jurisdictions. The Commissioner also instructed officers to remain professional, courteous, and civil while performing their duties.

    CP Fatai extended festive greetings to Muslim faithful and children across Lagos, wishing them a peaceful and crime‑free celebration. He urged youths to shun violence and criminality, embrace positive values, and remain vigilant.

    The Command advised residents to report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station and called on travellers and motorists to cooperate with officers deployed along highways and duty posts.

  • UN warns Ebola risk ‘very high’ in Eastern DR Congo amid outbreak

    UN warns Ebola risk ‘very high’ in Eastern DR Congo amid outbreak

    GENEVA, Switzerland (NPA) — The United Nations has warned that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) now poses a “very high” national risk as health authorities intensify emergency response efforts across the conflict-ravaged region.

    According to a United Nations report released on Friday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that at least 82 Ebola cases and seven deaths have already been recorded in the DRC, although the actual scale of the outbreak is believed to be far worse, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported.

    The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, is spreading across Ituri and North Kivu provinces amid intensified armed conflict, mass displacement, and widespread mistrust fuelled by misinformation and rumours.

    The UN disclosed that one hospital in Ituri Province was recently set ablaze by angry relatives after authorities reportedly refused to release the body of a deceased family member over fears of contamination.

    In response to the growing crisis, the WHO has deployed 22 international staff members to affected areas, while UNICEF has sent emergency response teams to Bunia to support contact tracing, treatment centres, community engagement, and risk communication campaigns.

    The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, also announced the release of up to $60 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support outbreak containment efforts in the DRC and neighbouring countries. WHO separately released an additional $3.9 million for emergency operations.

    The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, has airlifted nearly 30 tons of emergency supplies, including medicines, tents, and protective equipment, while also providing vehicles and logistical support to frontline responders.

    The report further confirmed that two Ebola cases linked to travel from the DRC have already been detected in Uganda, including one fatality. Two American nationals were also transferred to Europe for treatment and monitoring.

    WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the worsening humanitarian crisis and ongoing violence in eastern Congo continue to complicate containment efforts.

    “Across both provinces, around four million people need urgent humanitarian assistance, two million are displaced, and ten million face acute hunger,” Tedros said.

    The UN and its partners are also accelerating work on experimental vaccines and treatments targeting the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or therapeutic currently exists.

    Aid agencies additionally warned that misinformation and distrust among affected communities could undermine containment efforts, with some residents reportedly believing that Ebola is fabricated.

    UN Women also raised concerns that women and girls could face disproportionate risks during the outbreak due to caregiving responsibilities, frontline health work, and burial practices.

    The United Nations stressed that restoring trust within affected communities remains critical to preventing wider transmission and containing the outbreak.

    Source: United Nations (UN)

  • Osun Correctional Service receives operational vehicles from ALGON to boost efficiency

    Osun Correctional Service receives operational vehicles from ALGON to boost efficiency

    OSHOGBO, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Osun State Command, has received brand-new operational vehicles to strengthen security operations and improve service delivery across the state.

    The vehicle is part of ninety operational vehicles donated by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, to security agencies aimed at enhancing the state’s security architecture and operational effectiveness.

    The donation is expected to improve the Command’s mobility, responsiveness, and operational efficiency in carrying out its statutory responsibilities, including the safe custody, rehabilitation, reformation, and reintegration of inmates, in line with the policy direction of the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche.

    According to a statement signed by ASC Joel Oludare Oyedokun, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Osun State Command, the presentation ceremony held in Osogbo attracted top government officials, heads of security agencies, and other dignitaries, who commended ALGON for supporting security institutions in the state.

    Speaking during the event, ALGON Chairman in Osun State, Hon. Samuel Abiodun Idowu, praised security agencies for their commitment to maintaining peace, law, and order across the state. He stressed that protecting lives and property requires collective support from all levels of government.

    Representing heads of security agencies, Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan described the donation as timely, especially amid prevailing security challenges in the country. He noted that the vehicles would significantly improve the operational capacity and rapid response capabilities of security agencies in Osun State.

    The Controller of Corrections, Osun State Command, Olalekan Rotimi Oluwadele, was represented by Assistant Controller of Corrections, ACC S.O. Johnson, who received the vehicle on behalf of the Service alongside other security commanders.

    The Nigerian Correctional Service, Osun State Command, reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, efficiency, and public safety through effective custodial and non-custodial services.

  • Saudi Arabia backs Trump’s diplomatic initiative to end war, urges Iran to avoid perilous escalation

    Saudi Arabia backs Trump’s diplomatic initiative to end war, urges Iran to avoid perilous escalation

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (NPA) — Saudi Arabia has welcomed the decision by Donald Trump to allow diplomacy another opportunity in efforts to end the ongoing crisis involving Iran and restore security in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said the Kingdom highly appreciates President Trump’s move to prioritise negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and restoring the security and freedom of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to conditions existing before February 28, 2026.

    According to the statement, Saudi Arabia also commended the mediation efforts being led by Pakistan as diplomatic initiatives intensify to prevent further escalation in the region.

    The Saudi government expressed hope that Iran would seize the opportunity to avoid what it described as the “dangerous consequences of continued escalation,” and urgently engage in negotiations capable of producing a comprehensive agreement for lasting regional and global peace.

    Earlier, Newpost Africa reported that President Trump announced he had ordered the suspension of plans to resume military strikes on Tuesday against Iran following interventions by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

    Trump, however, warned that the United States could resume military operations if Iran fails to reach an agreement acceptable to Washington, disclosing that he had instructed Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, to prepare for possible renewed military action against the Persian Gulf nation.

    The standoff between Iran and the United States around the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of rising regional tensions, as international diplomatic efforts continue to focus on preventing a wider conflict in the Middle East amid soaring crude oil prices and growing economic instability across several parts of the world.

  • Women raise alarm over rising gender-based violence cases in Mombasa

    Women raise alarm over rising gender-based violence cases in Mombasa

    MOMBASA, Kenya (NPA) — Women leaders in Mombasa have called for urgent government intervention over what they described as a disturbing rise in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases across the coastal city.

    The leaders warned that the growing crisis is silently destroying families and communities, while urging the government, security agencies, schools, religious institutions and community leaders to intensify efforts against all forms of abuse.

    They stressed that the response to GBV must match the scale of the challenge, particularly as cases involving women, children and vulnerable groups continue to rise.

    Advocate Fatma Bakari Barayan, who handles GBV-related cases in the region, disclosed that reported incidents had increased by 45 per cent since 2022.

    According to her, the violence cuts across gender, age and social class, affecting women, men and children alike.

    “GBV is not only about sexual harassment or sexual assault, but it extends to economic violence and emotional abuse,” Barayan said.

    “Children are being abused by the very parents meant to protect them. This is happening in our homes and in our neighbourhoods, and most of it goes unreported,” she added.

    Barayan cited Articles 27, 28 and 29 of the Kenyan Constitution, noting that citizens are guaranteed the rights to human dignity, freedom from discrimination and protection from cruel treatment.

    She, however, lamented that many vulnerable communities remain unaware of these constitutional protections.

    To address the gap, Barayan announced the launch of free legal clinics in Mombasa to provide residents with access to legal advice and justice without financial barriers.

    “Winning a case in court is not the end. What comes next for the victim? We must think about mental health counselling, economic empowerment, and long-term rehabilitation,” she said.

    Another activist, Sabrina Kanini, said Mombasa was facing social problems that were previously uncommon, including cases involving parental abuse and allegations of abuse linked to some religious institutions.

    Kanini also called for stricter controls on access to pornographic content online, arguing that unrestricted exposure among young people was contributing to sexual violence and behavioural concerns.

    She urged parents to monitor their children’s phone usage more closely, while encouraging teachers to discreetly alert parents when they notice concerning behavioural changes among pupils.

    Meanwhile, Zaina Baraka from Kisauni referenced the unresolved case involving Josephine, a woman who allegedly died following abuse by her intimate partner.

    She appealed to women in abusive relationships to prioritise their safety and leave violent homes before situations become fatal.

    “Do not wait until you end up in a mortuary; put your life first and move out of any abusive marriage,” she said.

  • Sanwo-Olu reaffirms Lagos’ commitment to creative industry at AMVCA

    Sanwo-Olu reaffirms Lagos’ commitment to creative industry at AMVCA

    LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria’s creative and entertainment industry.

    Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Saturday during the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) held at Eko Hotels & Suites.

    The governor attended the event alongside the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, as well as other government officials, filmmakers, actors, producers and creatives from across Africa.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as the undisputed hub of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, noting that the state had continued to provide an enabling environment for creative talents to thrive and compete globally.

    He said the creative economy remained a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, youth empowerment and cultural promotion.

    According to the governor, his administration would continue to strengthen policies and invest in initiatives aimed at supporting filmmakers, content creators and other stakeholders within the entertainment ecosystem.

    Sanwo-Olu added that the increasing global recognition of Nollywood and African content reflected the resilience, innovation and creativity of Nigerian talents.

    The governor also raised concerns over piracy, describing it as a major threat to the sustainability of the creative industry.

    He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, industry stakeholders and private sector partners to protect intellectual property rights and safeguard the future of Nollywood.

    Sanwo-Olu congratulated nominees and winners at the awards ceremony for their contributions to African cinema and storytelling, urging them to continue telling authentic African stories capable of inspiring global audiences.

    He further acknowledged the support of private sector organisations and development partners in the steady growth of the entertainment industry, stressing that partnerships remained critical to creating more opportunities for young creatives.

    The governor said his presence at the event underscored the Lagos State Government’s commitment to positioning Lagos as Africa’s leading destination for entertainment, tourism, arts, culture and creative enterprise.