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National Addictions Authority warns for e-cigarette liquids and herbal material

The Cyprus National Addictions Authority has issued a public health warning for e-cigarette liquids and herbal products with unpredictable contents.

In a press release, it says that during an inspection carried out in cooperation with the Cyprus Police, the Pharmaceutical Services and the Health Inspectorate, e-cigarette liquids, herbal material in cigarettes and other herbal material were seized.

Analysis, it adds, revealed the presence of new cannabinoids, six different cannabinoids were detected in a single e-cigarette liquid.

It notes that of particular concern is the presence of these substances in products that may be perceived as low risk yet may contain potent psychoactive cannabinoids without users knowing their actual composition.

“The effects of many of these substances in humans remain insufficiently studied, and the effects of this mixture are unknown. Use of such products may be associated with a rapid heartbeat, severe drowsiness, confusion, anxiety or panic and, in severe cases, poisoning or psychotic symptoms” it warns.

It urges people to avoid using products with unknown contents, to not combine these products with alcohol or other drugs, and not drive after use.

“If you feel unwell, seek medical help. Tell healthcare professionals which product you used and keep the packaging” it says, calling people to call 112 if severe symptoms occur.

In the event of loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing or seizures, call an ambulance immediately and do not leave the person alone, it concludes.

Iran sees new strategic threat in Trump’s South Caucasus project

On November 2nd, Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, told parliament that his government would soon start commissioning designs for the railway, highway and power lines of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP. Parliament had voted on the ratification days earlier. Deputy prime minister Mher Grigoryan went further: delimitation of the border in Syunik, the southern province the route will cross, might be carried out in an “etraordinary” fashion, ahead of the eisting schedule, so that the infrastructure can proceed. Pashinyan’s own framing was characteristically grand. We all recognize the project’s effectiveness in ending a blockade that has lasted over 30 years.

But one neighbour was not celebrating the idea, as always. The ambassador of Iran in Yerevan, Khalil Shirgolami, said to the press that Tehran recognizes the sovereignty of Armenia but epects above all that there should not be any foreign military forces stationed on the Armenian-Iranian border, nor any threat of Iran coming out of it. Armenian authorities have assured him. However, Tehran seems to need more than assurances.

The shortest border, with the longest worry

The Armenia-Iran border spans just 44km, following the Aras River in the Syunik region. The border is the shortest land border of Iran, and as described by its strategists, is its lifeline to the north – the only direct passage to the South Caucasus, Russia, and further on to Europe. The goods pass across the border checkpoint of Agarak and Norduz, and there have been improvements made in their bridge capacities. Armenia and Iran traded approimately $104.8 million worth of goods in the first two months of 2026, an increase of 6% from the previous year.

It is clear for Tehran that this is more than an issue with lines in maps. TRIPP is a highway and railway that is going to pass close to the Iranian border and will be run by Americans in great numbers; the ambassador has cited plans according to which American companies are to have 74 percent share in management of the corridor. For Iranian strategists, this situation is nothing less than encirclement, despite all assurances of its non-military nature. It is all made worse by the war; the United States and Israel have launched attacks on Iran since February, and Mr Shirgolami has cited them while elaborating his point of view. Well in that point of view, it could easily be said that, perhaps, as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue, Iran views the South Caucasus as the net chokepoint.

This ambition appears to be more limited than obstruction. Iran is not interested in obstructing the route but in shaping it. He mentioned that technical details are being discussed and that the central issue is the modalities that can ensure that TRIPP is implemented in such a way that guarantees Armenian sovereignty, does not allow for any corridor outside Armenia, and ecludes the use of foreign military. He even proposed a special format of negotiations with Yerevan that will make it possible to settle any dispute quickly. In September, he indicated that the best option to address US concerns was an institutional mechanism. According to President Masoud Pezeshkian, who reportedly spoke to Pashinyan in July, “etra-regional powers” should not meddle in Armenian-Iranian affairs.

The tone has varied. A hardline adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, said last year that the route would become a “graveyard” for Trump’s “mercenaries”. The ambassador’s language is gentler, but the aim is the same: to etract, from Armenia, binding rules that outlast political promises. That is a sensible negotiating position. Iran cannot veto the project, and it cannot afford to alienate a government with a fresh electoral mandate. Its leverage lies in being the neighbour Armenia cannot ignore.

Lines and contest of the maps

Where Tehran’s concerns seem to cross into overreach is on delimitation. As presented by Baku in Azerbaijani commentary, the reason delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is of no consequence for the Armenian-Iranian border. Delimitation is a legal eercise and an effort to delineate a pre-eisting boundary between two states. The sequence of actions follows a north-south line and comes to a stop at the point of connection between the Armenian-Azerbaijani and Iranian borders. It involves no changes to land ownership and poses no threat to anyone. On the contrary, the eercise helps reduce uncertainty for all parties involved.

This eplanation is valid, as far as it goes; however, it does not resolve the political concern raised by Mher Grigoryan. Linking the delimitation with the construction of TRIPP and increasing the pace at which it is conducted imbues this process with new political dimensions. First of all, the pipeline goes through the border area and, therefore, the regulatory mechanism behind it, including security measures, becomes important for many years to come. Baku can insist on the irrationality of the fear of delimitation by Tehran and still recognize the need to address the project net to it.

Every party has a reason to be wary. For Azerbaijan and Trkiye, it is the constant connection between the mainland and Nakhchivan, and through Anatolia. For Armenia, it is the chance to leave the isolation zone and receive additional routes for trade and transportation. For the US, it is the possibility of having a strong influence in the region it has long neglected. For Iran, its role as a transit gateway to the south in the region and its Aras corridor, which would also connect Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, would become weaker.

Whether TRIPP brings peace or ignites fire in the South Caucasus depends on how these interests can be reconciled. But the way to achieve this is clear: adopt the rules for implementation of the project, make it impossible for foreign countries to deploy their military forces within the region by writing it down in the documents of the project, and establish the permanent consultation channel between Armenia and Iran that Tehran asks for. It is not a costly option; however, viewing Yerevan as a sort of tributary state or third-degree country will not resolve anything, as this aniety persists. The alternative, a road built over an ally’s objections, in a region where a larger war is already burning, costs a good deal more.

’Victory Round’ to be held in Azerbaijan Premier League on November 6-8

The 21st round of the Azerbaijan Premier League has been designated the ‘Victory Round’ to mark the sith anniversary of the historic victory achieved in the 2020 Patriotic War.

The Professional Football League of Azerbaijan announced the decision.

Under the initiative, Azerbaijan’s national anthem will be performed before all matches scheduled for November 6-8 as part of the 21st round.

The initiative aims to commemorate the anniversary of the victory and honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan.

NMDPRA, EFCC seal off Chinese-linked illegal refinery in Ogun

Officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday raided an illegal refinery linked to the Chinese at Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The officials stormed the facility after the EFCC’s intelligence exposed what investigators described as a well-fenced, crude but technically sophisticated refinery occupying over three hectares of land.

The team spotted underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, waste products from refining, and substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, otherwise known as diesel.

NMDPRA officials sealed off the facility during the inspection.

The State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Dr Atilola Akinyemi, said the facility was operating without permit from any regulatory authority.

According to him, an underground storage facility behind the site has an estimated capacity of more than 90,000 litres, with underground heating systems, water hydrants for cooling, locally fabricated tanks and silos for separation.

‘This facility you see here is very crude and completely illegal. This is not a refinery by any standard. It does not have a permit from any regulatory authority and its operations are unknown to the relevant authorities.

‘They appear to be technically skilled people who have deliberately designed this facility to circumvent government regulations. When we examine their final product, it may look like diesel to the average person, but we cannot classify it as diesel until laboratory tests have been conducted,’ he said.

The EFCC, Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, said, ‘What we have seen here is an illegal refinery with a complete setup, featuring all the processes through which sludge passes before being converted into what is commonly referred to as diesel. Judging by the nature of this facility, it has been operating for years.’

Kalango said the same Ogere axis has become a hub of illegal activities by foreign nationals, recalling that 14 Chinese nationals were arrested a week earlier over illegal lithium processing.

‘Some of them had passports, while others did not. Even among those who had passports, we discovered that some of their visas had expired about three months earlier. Yet, there were still individuals operating there without passports,’ he said.

He vowed that the operators will be brought to book.

Also speaking, Director, Department of Proceeds of Crime Management, EFCC, Mr. Gbolahan Latona, said ‘Imagine allowing saboteurs like these to operate freely and undermine the efforts of legitimate investors like Dangote Refinery. Ultimately, it is Nigerians who will suffer.’

PRESS RELEASE – CUT

A sponsorship agreement worth pound 20,000 between the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the Sievert Larsson Scholarship Foundation will provide financial support to 20 undergraduate students with strong academic performance who come from low-income families.

The agreement was signed on Thursday, 29 October 2026, by the Rector of CUT, Professor Panayiotis Zaphiris, and the General Manager of the Sievert Larsson Scholarship Foundation, Christos Papoutsas.

Under the agreement, 20 scholarships of pound 1,000 each will be awarded to students from different academic departments of the University, with the aim of supporting them in continuing their studies.

Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic and socioeconomic criteria. Specifically, applicants must have successfully completed their first year of studies, equivalent to two academic semesters, and achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 7.5.

Eligible applicants will be ranked according to their socioeconomic circumstances, while gender balance will also be taken into consideration during the selection process.

The scholarships are scheduled to be awarded in December 2026 at a special ceremony held at CUT, during which a representative of the Foundation will present the awards to the selected students.

The initiative strengthens efforts to support students facing financial difficulties, while also recognising their academic commitment and achievements.

Through its collaboration with the Sievert Larsson Scholarship Foundation, CUT is creating additional opportunities to provide financial assistance to its students, contributing to the promotion of equal access to and participation in higher education.

NDLEA repels gunmen attack on Kaduna-Zaria highway

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have reportedly repelled an attack by gunmen along the Kaduna-Zaria highway, forcing the assailants to flee.

The incident occurred around 3 am on Saturday, according to a senior NDLEA official who confirmed the attack to our correspondent.

The official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to journalists, said the gunmen had blocked the highway when one of their victims escaped and alerted NDLEA operatives stationed nearby.

‘Our men engaged them in a shootout and repelled the attack,’ he said.

He added that no one was abducted during the incident, as the operatives arrived in time to disperse the gunmen.

The NDLEA official said the incident occurred four days ago, although the footage circulated on social media on Monday.

The video obtained by Daily Trust showed several vehicles and articulated trucks abandoned along the highway following the encounter.

Some of the trucks were seen with their engines running, but without drivers or passengers inside.

The footage also showed NDLEA operatives patrolling the area and documenting the aftermath of the encounter.

Speaking in Hausa, one of the officers said the suspected robbers had fled upon the arrival of the NDLEA team.

Another officer was heard directing his colleagues to gather the abandoned belongings and load them into a truck for recovery.

When contacted, the Kaduna State NDLEA Public Relations Officer, Sani Garba, promised to provide details after making enquiries but had yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer DSP Mansir Hassan could not be reached on the phone.

Police arrest 18 suspects in Kampala vehicle spare parts theft crackdown

Police have arrested more than 18 suspects and recovered vehicle components in an intelligence-led operation targeting the suspected theft and illegal trade in motor vehicle spare parts at Kisekka Market in downtown Kampala.

The Wednesday operation, conducted by officers from Jinja Road Police Station at Ravens Plaza and Life Arcade, targeted suspected dealers in stolen vehicle components.

It was led by Division Police Commander SP Sulait Kataka and Officer in Charge of Operations ASP Brian Rugaju.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Rachael Kawala confirmed the arrests, saying ‘the operation followed public complaints about the increasing theft of vehicle parts, particularly during traffic congestion along Jinja Road, Ntinda and other areas within the metropolitan policing area.’

She urged motorists to report cases of vehicle parts theft to police.

Recovered items included grilles for Toyota Harriers, Land Cruisers and Noahs, side mirrors and other components suspected to have been stolen from different vehicles.

Among those arrested is Eric Mukisa, who reportedly identified himself as a boda boda rider and transporter of motor vehicle spare parts from Bwaise to Kisekka Market.

Police said Mukisa was found with four vehicle lights suspected to belong to different vehicles. Investigators are seeking to establish how he acquired the items and whether he is connected to a wider network involved in stealing and selling vehicle components.

In a separate discovery, officers found chemicals, sharp objects and other materials in a shop on the first floor of Life Arcade, identified as Shop No. 1-28.

Police suspect the materials could have been used to tamper with vehicle identification numbers by removing existing markings and replacing them, potentially making it difficult to trace stolen components to their original vehicles.

The operation also led to the arrest of a mechanic in connection with a vehicle, registration number UBR 579H, which was reportedly found parked outside Life Arcade without a side mirror.

The mechanic allegedly told police that the vehicle had been brought to his workshop for replacement of the missing mirror. Investigators are yet to establish how the mirror went missing and whether the vehicle is linked to the suspected theft network.

Police informers also pursued other suspects as officers searched several buildings in the area under the supervision of SP Kataka and ASP Rugaju.

The recovered exhibits were taken to Central Police Station (CPS) for examination as investigations continue.

The operation follows growing complaints from motorists about the theft of detachable vehicle components, including side mirrors, lights and grilles, particularly in congested areas where vehicles are forced to slow down or stop.

Police are investigating how the suspected stolen components enter the spare-parts market, the possible distribution networks involved and whether some businesses are being used to alter identifying marks on vehicle parts.

Police have not established ownership of all the recovered exhibits, and investigations into the suspects’ alleged involvement are ongoing.

Katikkiro Mayiga rallies Kalangala fishermen on indigenous conservation, HIV prevention

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged fishing communities across the island district of Kalangala to revive indigenous conservation practices and embrace agriculture to preserve depleting fish stocks in Lake Victoria while diversifying their livelihoods.

Addressing hundreds of islanders at the Lwazi Bubeke Landing Site in Bubeke Sub-county on November 3, 2026, the Premier stressed that traditional norms once played a pivotal role in protecting aquatic life, warning against overreliance on the lake and destructive fishing methods.

‘Practise fishing that saves the lake. In the past, fishermen were not fishing every day because they knew there were days when one should not go fishing to allow fish stocks to increase in the lake,’ Katikkiro Mayiga told the gathering. He noted that historically, fishermen used designated non-fishing days to till the land, a practice that allowed fish to reproduce naturally while ensuring household food security. ‘Whenever fishermen went to the gardens, the fish would return into the lake, and that is how they managed to keep the fish stocks in the lake. Do not catch immature fish. You are the owners of the lake, so you should lead in making sure you handle the lake so well.’

The Katikkiro, who was on an official tour of Ssese County to assess community development and spearhead health sensitization, expressed deep concern over the high prevalence of HIV among the island population. Official district health records indicate an HIV prevalence rate of 12 percent-significantly higher than the national average.

Emphasizing that the virus is preventable, Mr Mayiga urged the islanders to take personal responsibility for their health and strictly adhere to medical advice if diagnosed. ‘HIV/Aids doesn’t enter your body the way malaria does. HIV enters the body when you are well aware of how it enters you. Now, if you know how it enters the body, why don’t you use preventive methods?’ he questioned. ‘If you are found with HIV, it’s not the end of the world. Go get medication and adhere to the advice given by medical doctors. How can you brave these strong winds on the lake and fear taking your medication?’

Echoing the Premier’s call, the Kweba (the Kabaka’s Chief for Ssese County), Mr Augustine Kasirye, challenged local residents to take full ownership of the water bodies surrounding them and actively reject illegal fishing. He urged those engaged in unlawful practices to reform, noting that local vigilance is crucial to stopping outsiders from destroying the lake.

‘There is no one that should be the first to protect this lake more than you who are living in Kalangala District. God gave others oil, but He gave us the lake that we should jealously protect,’ Mr Kasirye said. ‘I ask all fishermen to accept that the full responsibility is theirs, and those coming from other countries or elsewhere should not be allowed to involve themselves in fishing methods that destroy the lake. Now is the time to get a hoe and grow something, and when the fish come back in the lake, you can go fishing and keep the garden to have two economic activities to widen your resource base.’

The call for livelihood diversification comes at a critical time when economic hardship continues to strain social structures in the archipelago. Kalangala District Chairperson, Ms Agnes Lunkuse, highlighted the severe socio-economic toll that recent fishing restrictions have had on families, particularly young girls.

Reflecting on her recent inspection of educational institutions in the area, Ms Lunkuse revealed that the economic downturn following the government’s halt on silverfish (Mukene) harvesting has left many parents unable to provide basic necessities.

‘On my official oversight visit at Kasekuro Primary School, I realised that out of 352 pupils, only 10 could have something to eat while at school. The remaining 342 couldn’t have a meal, and their parents could not afford to buy them sanitary wear,’ Ms Lunkuse revealed. She further warned that the economic slump has escalated vulnerability to sexual exploitation on the landing sites. ‘Commercial sex workers had run away, saying there were no men with money to buy their services. As a result, men began targeting these young school-going girls to satisfy their desires.’

Kingdom officials and district leaders resolved to work together through cultural and administrative structures to push for sustainable fishing enforcement, farming initiatives, and heightened health interventions across the Kalangala islands.

Sabah and Qarabag U-19 teams set for UEFA Youth League matches today

Azerbaijani clubs Sabah and Qarabag will take to the field today for their respective UEFA Youth League fixtures, with both sides looking to improve their positions in the competition.

Sabah will face Norwegian side Viking’s U-19 team in the fourth round of the league phase. The match is scheduled to kick off at 16:00 Baku time.

Sabah have endured a difficult start to their campaign, losing their previous three matches. The Baku-based side suffered a 2-0 defeat against Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, a 3-0 loss to Czech club Slavia Prague and a 5-0 defeat to English giants Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Qarabag’s U-19 team will travel to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg of their second qualifying-round tie. The match will also begin at 16:00 Baku time.

The Aghdam-based side, coached by Rashad Sadiqov, will be aiming to overturn the first-leg deficit after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat in the match played in Baku.

Both Azerbaijani teams will be hoping for positive results as they continue their UEFA Youth League campaigns.

PHOTOS: Crowd Awaits Atiku’s Arrival At ADC’s Inaugural Presidential Campaign

A large crowd has gathered at the venue of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto State, awaiting the arrival of Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The event is expected to formally kick-start the party’s campaign activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Party’s chieftains, elders, supporters are already the ADC Secretariat in Sokoto, venue of the event.

Daily Trust reports that Atiku arrived at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, around 1pm.