48 arrested as hoodlum stabs another to death in Lagos (Punch)
No fewer than 48 suspects have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for causing chaos in Gengere Community in the Mile 12 area of the state.
The hoodlums had gone haywire after one Aliyu Shuaibu stabbed one Sadiq Oloyo to death.
As a result of the incident, some hoodlums, on reprisal attack, went on rampage and caused commotion in the area, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement was titled, ‘Again, Police Arrest 48 Suspects Over Mile 12 Crisis, Adopt 24 Hour Surveillance’. Read more
Strike: Lagos-JUSUN wrong for previously breaking ranks with national body – Lawyers (Guardian)
Some legal practitioners, on Thursday, described as wrong, the decision of the Lagos chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to break ranks with the national body.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that judiciary staff nationwide, on April 6, embarked on an indefinite strike, demanding that state governments grant financial freedom to their respective judiciary.
But the Lagos chapter partially called off the strike.
The state chapter of JUSUN, chaired by Mr Kehinde Shobowale, had in an April 22 memo, ordered a partial reopening of the courts from Wednesdays to Thursdays because the state had so far attained 75 per cent financial autonomy. Read more
Lagos to launch 500 small new buses next week (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to introduce 500 small new buses to the state by next week Thursday in a bid to provide alternatives to local motorcycles.
The Governor said this in a speech on Wednesday to mark the opening ceremony of the Lagos Architect Forum. The forum themed, ‘The City of Lagos: The Next Twenty Five Years’ was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos chapter, at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
The 4-day forum which will run till Saturday had in attendance other dignitaries including the Oniru of Iru Land, HRM Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal; the Lagos State Chairman of the NIA, Arc. David Majekodunmi; SA to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye; and the President-elect of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh. Read more
Young adults with Autism build capacity in Robotics, drones, internship (Guardian)
Globally, a case study has shown that when young adults with special needs integrate with the use of Robotics in life skills, particularly in a repetitive way, it can be a useful tool for enhancing their socialization skills, moreover, new forms of interaction can be proposed in future works in order to stimulate further cognitive and emotional advancements of children and young adults with disabilities.
In commemoration of the World Autism Month of April, the Special Needs Initiative for Growth conducted the STEM, Robotics and Drones Workshop for young adults with Autism of the Patrick Speech Language Center and their special needs educators to enable them discover and scale their passion in STEM, robotics and Drones, so that they can start as early as possible to achieve its maximum efficiency at school, socially and eventually prepare them for a future in the Nigerian labour market.
In Nigeria, one out of every 125-150 children has the Autism condition. This amounts to about 600,000 Nigerian children. Read more
Lagos to strengthen creative sector, train 1000 youths (Punch)
The Lagos State Government says it is set to train 1000 talented youths across 57 Local Council Development Areas in the state.
Governor of Lagos State, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, revealed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, the government has set out plans to strengthen its creative economy.
Sanwo-Olu said through collaborative initiatives, Lagos could become the capital of the creative sector in Africa.
“We plan to strengthen our creative economy and make it the capital of the sector in Africa through carefully thought-out collaborative initiatives,” the governor said. Read more
Osinbajo visits Pastor Adeboye over son’s death (Leadership)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has visited Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), on the passing of his son, Pastor Dare Adeboye.
This was disclosed in a tweet by his media aide, Laolu Akande, on Thursday.
Akande tweeted: “VP Osinbajo visits Daddy G.O, Pastor Adeboye & Mummy G.O this morning commiserating on the sad loss of our beloved Pastor Dare.
“He was accompanied by Gov. Abiodun & Minister Keyamo. May Pst Dare’s memory be blessed & the LORD grants fortitude to Daddy G.O, Mummy, the family and all.” Read more
Gbajabiamila seeks collaboration with anti-graft agencies in corruption fight (Guardian)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has urged anti-graft agencies to organise capacity programmes for legislators to ensure an effective fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila made the call at a workshop organised for House Committee on Anti-Corruption by Konrad Adeneur Stiftung Foundation on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workshop was titled“ The Fight Against Corruption: The Role of the Legislature.’’
Gbajabiamila said that Nigerians were desirous of good governance and were looking up to the legislature to serve as agents that would help combat poverty, corruption and other challenges in the country. Read more
CBN extends Naira4Dollar indefinitely (Leadership)
As Nigerians cash in on the Naira4Dollar incentive in which they are paid N5 for every dollar received as remittance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the policy indefinitely.
The apex bank made this known in a circular from its Trade and Exchange department to all deposit money banks and International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs).
It had commenced the initiative on March 8, 2021 in a bid to encourage remittance inflow through official channels and increase dollar liquidity in the country.
With the policy, banks are required to pay N5 for every dollar that is sent either into the domiciliary account or cash collection from outside the shores of the country. Read more
France murder: Calls for action on guns after woman’s street killing (BBC)
A women’s rights group in France is calling on the government to remove guns from violent partners, after a brutal murder shocked the country.
Chahinez, a 31-year old mother-of-three, was shot and set alight by her husband, less than a year after he was sentenced for domestic violence.
She is the 39th woman to be killed by a partner or ex-partner this year.
Hundreds gathered in Mérignac near Bordeaux on Wednesday, laying flowers and paying tribute to the victim. Read more
Former Ugandan child soldier-turned-rebel commander sentenced to 25 years at ICC (France24)
The International Criminal Court sentenced a Ugandan former child soldier who turned into a brutal rebel commander to 25 years’ imprisonment Thursday, with judges saying that his own abduction as a schoolboy and history as a child soldier prevented him being sentenced to life.
Dominic Ongwen was convicted in February of a total of 61 war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder, rape, forced marriage, forced pregnancy and using child soldiers as a commander in the shadowy Lord’s Resistance Army. His lawyers have said they will appeal the conviction.
Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt said that judges had to weigh Ongwen’s brutality and victims’ wishes for justice against his own tortured past when deciding on a sentence.
“The chamber is confronted in the present case with a unique situation. It is confronted with a perpetrator who willfully brought tremendous suffering upon his victims,” Schmitt said. Read more
Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth in the coming days (CBC)
On April 29, China successfully launched a crew module for a space station that it says will be completed by the end of 2022. But the first stage of the rocket that sent that module into orbit is falling to Earth uncontrollably.
The module, Tianhe, which means “Harmony of the Heavens,” launched on a Long March 5B Y2, China’s largest rocket, on April 29. While most rockets launch in two stages, the first stage usually re-enters in a known location, or some remain in orbit eventually burning up upon re-entry (only the SpaceX Falcon first stage rockets return to Earth in a controlled landing).
However, because the Long March 5B is so large, some space experts predict some of its components may reach Earth. Read more
India Covid aid ‘not reaching those in need’ (BBC)
As India’s devastating Covid-19 crisis mounted last month, countries around the world began sending emergency medical supplies to help stem the surge.
Planeloads of ventilators, medicines and oxygen equipment began pouring into India, from countries including the UK and the US, at the start of last week. By Sunday, some 300 tonnes of supplies on 25 flights had arrived at Delhi International Airport alone.
But – as cases continue to reach record levels across the country – concerns are mounting about delays in supplying the aid to those most in need.
For several days, much of the cargo sat in airport hangars as hospitals called for more support. Read more
Mark Wahlberg is eating 7,000 calories a day – including a dozen eggs – to gain 30lbs to play a priest (Metro)
Mark Wahlberg is eating a whopping 7,000 calories a day to gain 30lb for a movie – but he doesn’t even get to eat ice-cream and pizza. Where’s the fun in that? The 49-year-old has already gained 20lb in his quest to put on 30lb in six weeks to play a boxer turned priest in Father Stu. His personal chef Lawrence Duran has now revealed that Mark is eating 7,000 calories a day to achieve his goal – that’s three times the calories eaten by the average person in a day, and the equivalent of eating 13 Big Macs. Read more
Nick Kamen: Madonna heartbroken by singer and model’s death (BBC)
Madonna has paid tribute to Nick Kamen, the model, actor and singer whose biggest hit was co-written by the star.
Kamen caught the eye in a 1985 Levi’s jeans advert – baring his chest in a launderette – and the queen of pop invited him in on a track the following year. He died this week aged 59.
“Heartbreaking to know you are gone,” the superstar posted online.
The pair had a top five hit with Each Time You Break My Heart, which featured Madonna on backing vocals. Read more
Additive used in sweets, cakes not safe -EU watchdog (Punch)
The EU’s food watchdog on Thursday said that a widely-used additive, known as the artificial colouring E171 on food labels, should “no longer be considered safe” for consumption.
E171 contains nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, and is commonly used in consumer products. In food, it is used mainly as a whitening and brightening agent in sweets, chewing gum, white sauces and cake icing.
But its use in food was suspended in France last year over health fears.
The Italy-based European Food Safety Authority said that following a review of the evidence, there was a risk that titanium dioxide nanoparticles could cause DNA damage, and no safe level for its daily intake could be established. Read more
Ed Sheeran takes love of Ipswich Town to new heights as he becomes new shirt sponsor for club (Metro)
Ed Sheeran has been announced as the new shirt sponsor for his beloved Ipswich Town FC. The move was announced today with the superstar singer – who said he was taking a break from music in 2019 ahead of the birth of his daughter with wife Cherry Seaborn last year – one of the club’s biggest fans. He may be an era-defining artist and arguably one of the most popular touring musicians, so why not add the new string to his bow of shirt sponsor of the club’s men’s and women’s first-teams? Sharing his excitement at the news in a press release on the club’s page on Thursday, Ed said: ‘The Club is a big part of the community and this is my way of showing my support.’ Read more
Nigerian athletes depart for US ahead of Olympics (Punch)
Nigerian athletes and technical hands have departed the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on their way to the United States.
The athletes, 16 of them, will camp in Texas for three weeks during which they will engage in competitions ahead of the Olympics in Tokyo.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who shared photos of their departure at the airport on Thursday.
He tweeted, “Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, I saw off 16 athletes and Technical hands to Texas USA for 3 weeks of camping and competitions ahead of the Olympics. We thank President Buhari who through the Finance Ministry has provided adequate funds.” Read more
Jarryd Hayne: Ex-Rugby League player jailed for 2018 sex assault (BBC)
Former Australian Rugby League player Jarryd Hayne has been jailed for five years and nine months for sexually assaulting a woman in 2018.
Hayne, 33, was found guilty in March of attacking the 26-year-old woman in her house. He had denied the charges.
He must serve at least three years and eight months before being eligible for parole.
The woman told the court in Newcastle, north of Sydney, she had been damaged by the attack “but I’m still standing”. Read more
Formula 1: Red Bull poach 5 Mercedes engineers for in-house engine facility (BBC)
Red Bull have poached five Mercedes engineers for their new in-house Formula 1 engine facility.
It follows April’s appointment of Mercedes engineer Ben Hodgkinson as technical director of the project.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the recruits “provide us with the strongest possible technical platform for the future”.
The facility gives Red Bull the possibility to design their own power-unit for new rules expected for 2025.
The company are taking over the power-units of its current partner Honda when the Japanese company pulls put of F1 at the end of this year. Read more
Manchester United confident of keeping Paul Pogba despite Juventus and Real Madrid interest (Metro)
Manchester United believe Paul Pogba wants to stay at the club and are confident of tying him down to a new contract. The Frenchman will soon enter the final year of his contract at the Theatre of Dreams and his agent, Mino Raiola, had urged the club to cash in this summer by claiming Pogba was ‘unhappy’ at the club in December. United broke the world transfer record to re-sign Pogba in 2016 and conceded they’d have to sell the Frenchman this summer if he refused to sign a new contract. But Pogba’s performances since Raiola’s comments have been superb and the midfielder is playing his best. Read more
Russian tennis star Medvedev makes eventful exit from Madrid Open (RT)
Russian tennis ace Daniil Medvedev ended his run at the Madrid Open by reportedly rowing with fans in the crowd, suffering a familiar nosebleed and crashing out – a loss that ends his hopes of overtaking Novak Djokovic this month.
Despite a mid-match outburst about how he did not want to play on the clay surface he despises, Medvedev broke his wait for a win at the tournament with a comeback victory over Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday to reach the round of 16, having been given a bye in the previous round.Medvedev had ruefully written that he loved clay on a camera after that win, which kept alive his faint hopes as the only player who could have deposed Djokovic as world number one imminently, although he would have needed an excellent run and results in other matches to fall favorably for him in order to do so this month. Read more