Another aircraft, Xejet skids off Lagos airport runway (Vanguard)
An Xejet aircraft arriving from Abuja to Lagos has skidded off the runway, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has confirmed.
Following the incident which happened at 11:29 am, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has shut the Runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Vanguard also learnt that the aircraft, with registration 5N-BZZ, had 52 passengers on board, just as a fire and rescue team were on the ground to help in the evacuation of the passengers. Read more
2 die in Lagos tanker fire accident (Channels)
Two persons have died in a tanker fire accident in the Surulere area of Lagos State, emergency authorities said Saturday.
The Director/CEO of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Margaret Adeseye said the agency received a distress call late Friday about the tanker accident at the Ijesha end of the Cele link bridge in Surulere, Lagos.
“At approximately 23:12hrs emergency services were alerted to a tanker truck, carrying 33k litres of petrol, losing control while navigating the roundabout to ascend the bridge. The subsequent spillage ignited into a large fire, engulfing the surrounding area. Prompt action by the Isolo and Bolade Fire Stations of the agency, contained the inferno, preventing further escalation,” the fire service boss said in a Saturday statement. Read more
Sports can be rehabilitation tool for wounded soldiers – Prince Harry (DailyTrust)
Britain’s Prince Harry has identified sport as a useful way for the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers in Nigeria.
The prince, who disclosed this when he visited Governor Uba Sani at Government House, Kaduna, on Friday, said the focus of his visit was to meet with the wounded and sick men and women who served in the Nigerian armed forces.
He explained that when he founded Invictus Games for wounded soldiers over 10 years ago, Nigeria was the only African nation that joined the game with 10 participants. Read more
Man sentenced to strokes of cane for pretending to convert from Christianity to Islam (Leadership)
A Kano State Shari’ah Court, sitting in Kura, has ordered a 25-year-old Haruna Abdulkarim to be given 10 strokes of cane as punishment for falsely claiming to be a Christian and ‘converting’ to Islam.
Abdulkarim, a resident of Koguna Ward in Makoda local government area of the State, was apprehended by Hisbah personnel in Kura local government area of the State following a tip-off.
He had been attending both daily and Friday congregational prayers, pretending to a Christian wanting to embrace Islam, and soliciting funds under the guise of almsgiving. His actions prompted the Hisbah Commander in Kura LGA, Ali Alkasim Kura, to order his arrest and transfer him to the Police for further investigation. Read more
Radda begs FG to extend Zaria rail, gas pipelines to Funtua (Nation)
Katsina Governor Dikko Umar Radda has called on the Federal Government to extend the current rail and gas pipelines operating from Zaria to Funtua so it can connect the Funtua Inland Dry Port to other major economic centres.
This, he said, will enhance full functionality of the newly commissioned Funtua Inland Dry Port.
The Governor made the appeal at the official commissioning of the Inland Dry Port by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Read more
Residents farming on Niger govt lands won’t be evicted — Gov Bago (Tribune)
Governor of Niger, Rt. Hon Umar Bago has assured that residents of the State farming on government lands would not be evicted.
Gov Bago gave the assurance on Friday while inspecting government lands along Mokwa Road, which were either uncultivated or abandoned.
The governor said that his administration was committed to executing the food security agenda with determination. Read more
2 Ajayi Crowther University sheriffs allegedly rape 300 level student in classroom (Vanguard)
A 300-level student of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, in the Department of International Relations, has reportedly been raped by two university sheriffs in a classroom.
Vanguard gathered that the said 300-level student was in class with her boyfriend at about 7 pm on Thursday when the university sheriffs walked in and demanded N5,000 from them, of which they only had N1,500.
A close friend and hostel mate of the victim, who pleaded strict anonymity, shared with Vanguard that the sheriff sent the boyfriend away and before he could return she was already raped. Read more
Naira declines to N1,510, N1,466.31 at parallel, official markets (DailyTrust)
The local currency depreciated further at the official market, on Friday, closing at N1,466.31 to a dollar at the official market, according to checks by Daily Trust.
The dollar to naira exchange rate increased by N40 between Thursday and Friday having closed to N1,426 to a dollar, according to the National Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the official exchange market.
Daily Trust reports that the naira gain has been reversed in recent times after the currency firmed up against the dollar, exchanging below N1000 with businesses and the government heaving a sigh of relief. Read more
John Krasinski reveals rarely-seen children’s heartfelt Mother’s Day surprise for Emily Blunt (Hello!)
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples – and they’re also the parents to their beloved daughters Hazel, 10, and Violet, eight.
Appearing on the Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon asked how the family does Mother’s Day, as it’s set to take place on May 12. The A Quiet Place director made it clear that his daughters have got the celebration covered.
“It’s the kids now – they run the show”, John explained. “We got a 10 and almost eight, so it’s a lot of like, ‘Dad we got this. We rolled passed the pharmacy, we got her a mug and some BIC pens. We’ve got it covered.’” Read more
Vogue model Sian Scale dies aged 28 from rare cancer (Metro)
Australian model Sian Scale has died from a rare form of cancer as family pay tribute in powerful statement.
The Melbourne-based model, 28, appeared in Vogue and Vanity Fair and worked with major fashion labels Marc Jacobs, Burberry and Chanel under her modelling agency Chadwick.
Tributes have poured in for Scale who was being treated for the rare form of cancer at Melbourne’s Peter McCallum center. Read more
Israeli army orders more evacuations from Rafah as it expands Gaza assault (AlJazeera)
The Israeli military has ordered residents in more areas of eastern and central Rafah to evacuate as it expands its offensive in the southernmost corner of the Gaza Strip, again displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians.
An estimated 150,000 Palestinians, many displaced multiple times, have now fled Rafah, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Saturday. Israel put that figure at about 300,000.
Reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said: “Israeli authorities dropped leaflets and made phone calls for more evacuation orders. They are now ordering people to flee from central areas of Rafah, not only the eastern portions, where battles are now raging.” Read more
Somalia requests UN to end political mission as Al-Shabab attacks increase (AfricaNews)
Somalia has formally requested the United Nations to terminate its political mission within the country, citing strategic priorities in the face of ongoing attacks by the al-Qaida-linked extremist group, al-Shabab.
In a letter addressed to the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi expressed the government’s decision following careful consideration of their strategic objectives. The current mandate of the mission, known as UNSOM, is set to expire on October 31st, prompting Fiqi’s call for swift procedures to conclude the mission by then.
Th mission has played a significant role in collaborating with African Union peacekeepers, with its mandate encompassing support for peace and reconciliation efforts, strategic policy advice, and promotion of human rights and gender equality. Read more
UN warns food supplies will run out tomorrow as shortages ‘cause panic’ in Rafah (Independent)
The United Nations has warned that food supplies in the southern Gaza region where Israel intends to conduct an imminent ground offensive “will run out tomorrow” – as they warn that the lack of aid is “sending panic” through the community.
The shortages have been caused by Israel’s closure of two crossings in the south through which humanitarian aid was being moved into Gaza.
They are currently being blocked by Israeli forces ahead of a ground offensive in Rafah. Earlier today, Israeli forces dropped leaflets ordering Palestinians in certain areas of Rafah to move away ahead of their attack. Read more
Hollywood stars pay tribute to late KTLA 5 entertainment reporter Sam Rubin (UPI)
Dozens of Hollywood stars have taken to social media to pay tribute to Sam Rubin, the veteran KTLA 5 entertainment reporter who died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 64.
Rubin had anchored the station’s morning program since 1991.
“KTLA 5 is profoundly saddened to report the death of Sam Rubin,” the station announced Friday. Read more
1 dead after shooting inside Regal Cinemas theater in Ohio (ABC)
A late night shooting inside an Ohio movie theater has left one man dead, police said.
The shooting took place at approximately 11 p.m. when the Massilon Police Department were notified of a shooting inside a Regal Cinemas movie theater in Massilon, Ohio — some 50 miles south of Cleveland.
“Massilon Police Officers responded and found a male deceased near the front lobby,” authorities said in their statement early Saturday morning detailing the shooting. “The victim was identified to be Daron Davis, 27, from Canton Ohio.” Read more
Nigeria Army chief’s team beat Prince Harry in volleyball game (Punch)
On a three-day visit to Nigeria to promote his Invictus Games, Prince Harry on Saturday played a seated volleyball match with army veterans, most wounded in battle against the country’s Islamist insurgency.
The Duke of Sussex arrived with his wife Meghan on Friday in the capital Abuja where they visited a school for an event on mental health in a trip that also saw the prince meet wounded Nigerian soldiers in the northwest.
At an officer’s mess complex in Abuja, Harry’s team dressed in yellow played off in an exhibition against a team led by Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, the country’s top commander. Read more
I was almost shot for saying Osimhen is A big star, says South Africa coach (Leadership)
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has revealed that he was almost shot in South Africa after he said Nugeria’s Victor Osimhen, and not Percy Tau is a big star.
Broos rated Osimhen and Senegal talisman Sadio Mane ahead of Tau, who is Bafana Bafana’s biggest star.
“They almost shot me for it because I said that Percy Tau is not a big player,” Broos told Sjotcast. Read more
Novak Djokovic hit on head by water bottle while signing autographs for fans at Italian open (People)
Novak Djokovic is recovering from a head injury after being hit by a water bottle at the Italian Open.
The tennis star, 36, was accidentally struck in the head by a fan’s bottle as he signed autographs following his win over France’s Corentin Moutet at the Italian Open in Rome on Friday, May 10.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by The Tennis Letter, Djokovic was captured being hit on the top of his head by a water bottle that slipped out of a fan’s backpack as they leaned over to try and shake his hand. Read more
Judge strikes down NY county’s ban on female transgender athletes after roller derby league sues (NBC)
A New York judge on Friday struck down a Long Island county’s order banning female transgender athletes after a local women’s roller derby league challenged it.
Judge Francis Ricigliano ruled that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman didn’t have the authority to issue his February executive order, which denies park permits to any women’s and girl’s teams, leagues or organisations that allow female transgender athletes to participate.
He wrote in his 13-page decision that Blakeman’s order was aimed at preventing transgender women from participating in girls’ and women’s athletics in county parks, “despite there being no corresponding legislative enactment” providing him with such authority. Read more
Badminton: Nigeria’s Opeyori qualifies for Paris 2024 Olympics (CompleteSports)
Multiple African Men’s Singles Badminton Champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Opeyori who is a two time African Games champion made history by becoming the first Nigerian badminton player to make it to the Olympics back to back (2020 and 2024).
Opeyori dominated Africa in the men’s singles from 2019 till date winning four African Championship titles and two African Games titles. Read more
Nadal falls to Hurkacz in Rome Open second round (France24)
Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Rome Open in the second round on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
Defeat to seventh seed Hurkacz casts doubt over whether clay-court icon Nadal will play at the upcoming French Open, where he has won a record 14 titles.
Nadal has said that he will only play at Roland Garros if he feels competitive after a raft of injury problems over the last two years which have left him languishing 305th in the world rankings. Read more