Breast cancer cases in Nigeria skyrocket by 296% (Leadership)
Nigeria is grappling with a growing breast cancer crisis, as cases have surged by a staggering 296 per cent and related deaths by 223 per cent over the past three decades.
Stakeholders at the Roche Breast Cancer Summit 2025, held in Lagos on Wednesday, sounded the alarm, citing rising treatment costs, limited healthcare access, and widespread misinformation as key drivers behind the escalating epidemic.
A Professor of Surgical Oncology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Emmanuel Ezeome, in a sombre address, described breast cancer as a public health emergency. Quoting data from the British Medical Journal, Ezeome noted that breast cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa has risen by 247 percent in 30 years, with Nigeria accounting for a significant portion of that increase, adding that the country’s age-standardised breast cancer incidence rate jumped from 24.9 to 38.2 per 100,000, while mortality increased from 19.3 to 26.9 per 100,000. Read more
PDP governors can’t stop coalition train, says Atiku (Nation)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who rejected coalition or merger with any other political party.
“Indeed, the Coalition Train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades” Atiku wrote on his X handle yesterday.
This comment is an indication that the former Presidential candidate and his political party have parted ways in the build-up to the 2027 elections. Read more
Alleged Defamation: Bello Petitions IGP, Demands Natasha’s Arrest (Channels)
Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central District.
In the petition signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.
“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance, and spreading false information injurious to public peace,” the lawyer wrote. Read more
Lagos reaffirms Afro-Brazilian heritage with revival of carnival (VON)
Lagos State government has reaffirmed its commitment to cultural preservation and community revitalisation with revival of the Fanti Carnival.
The state’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka,said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos state.
Benson-Awoyinka said the carnival, which would hold on April 20, was a living expression of history rooted in the late 19th-century return of formerly enslaved Africans – many of Yoruba descent – from Brazil and other parts of the Americas. Read more
Army appoints 1st female spokesperson (DailyTrust)
Authorities of the Nigerian Army have appointed Appolonia Anaele as the acting Director, Department of Army Public Relations.
Anaele, a Lieutenant Colonel, will formally take over from Onyema Nwachukwu, a Major-General next week Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Daily Trust reports that Anaele, will be the first female senior military officer to be appointed as the spokesperson for the ground troops. Read more
PDP govs undercover agents for Tinubu, coalition alleges (Tribune)
In response to the emerging coalition of opposition political parties against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election, Salihu Lukman, the spokesman for the coalition, has criticized the governors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), calling them undercover agents of President Bola Tinubu.
Lukman, who is also a former National Vice Chairman for the North West region of the APC, made this allegation in a statement titled “Rescuing Nigerian Democracy,” which he personally signed and released to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
During a meeting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, the PDP governors reaffirmed their position by distancing themselves from the proposed coalition against the APC. Read more
Police confirm abduction of businessman in Eket (Guardian)
The Akwa Ibom Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a businessman in Eket, Eket Local Government Area of the state.
The man, identified as Mr. Dennis Ajah, was reportedly abducted on his business premises at 94 Afaha Eket Road, Eket on Thursday, April 10.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket on Wednesday. Read more
Ciara’s ‘Ecstasy’ makes top 5 debut on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales Chart (RatedRnB)
Ciara‘s new single “Ecstasy” has debuted on multiple Billboard charts.
The alluring bedroom jam opens at No. 3 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart dated April 19. It marks Ciara’s 11th top 10 hit on this chart out of 20 entries.
Her last visit was in 2023 with her Chris Brown-assisted hit “How We Roll,” which reached No. 1, and “Forever” featuring Lil Baby, which maxed out at No. 10. Read more
Ed Sheeran named as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People (Independent)
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has been named as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025.
Sheeran, 34, is the star of one of five worldwide covers with an accompanying interview, as well as a tribute written by Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth and words of praise from producer Benny Blanco.
“Ed Sheeran has an almost supernatural ability to connect,” the Marvel star wrote of Sheeran. “His songs, his voice, his words – they belong to all of us. Whether you’re at home with your headphones on, driving through the countryside, or in a stadium packed with 70,000 people singing at the top of their lungs, his music feels personal.
Gene Hackman and wife laid to rest in private memorial 2 months after death (DailyStar)
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been laid to rest close to two months after their bodies were discovered in their New Mexico home.
People magazine reported that friends and family said goodbye to the Hollywood legend and his pianist wife in a private memorial held in Santa Fe. The French Connection actor’s three children – son Christopher, 65, and daughters Elizabeth, 63, and Leslie, 58, from his marriage to Faye Maltese – were among the mourners.
The couple were found dead at their home on February 26 along with one of their dogs. Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were discovered in separate rooms and the dog’s remains were found in a crate, where it had been recovering from surgery. Read more
Fyre Fest 2 has been postponed indefinitely (NME)
Less than two months before it was due to take place, Fyre Fest 2 has been put on ice. Its postponement was first announced in an email to ticketholders and people who had signed up for the Fyre Festival newsletter before ABC News broke the news publicly.
In Fyre Festival’s notice to ticketholders, they wrote: “The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule.”
The postponement was additionally confirmed by Deadmau5, who shared a screenshot of the announcement. Read more
Francis Davis, a figurehead of jazz criticism, has died (NPR)
Francis Davis, an articulate and gimlet-eyed cultural critic who achieved an eminent stature in jazz, died on Monday at his home in Philadelphia. He was 78.
His wife, Terry Gross, the co-executive producer and host of Fresh Air, confirmed his death to NPR Music. Davis had been under the care of home hospice since last fall, living with emphysema and Parkinson’s disease.
Davis held an influential post at The Village Voice, inheriting its main jazz column from Gary Giddins in 2004. Two years later he started a year-end Jazz Critics Poll at the Voice, running it annually there until 2011. Davis later brought this poll to NPR Music, where it resided from 2013 to 2020; in the years since, it has had a home at ArtsFuse. Wherever it landed, the Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll, as it came to be known, always gestured toward a notion of consensus, underscoring his standing as a leader among his peers. Read more
Hamas rejects Israeli ceasefire, hostage return deal over disarmament demands (Fox)
Hamas appears to have rejected Israel’s latest attempt to secure a ceasefire and the return of nearly a dozen hostages who have been held in the Gaza Strip for 556 days.
The terrorist organization has yet to issue a formal response regarding its rejection of Israel’s ceasefire proposal, but according to remarks by Hamas leader Abu Zuhri to reporters on Tuesday, “Handing over the resistance’s weapons is a million red lines and is not subject to consideration, let alone discussion.”
Fox News Digital could not independently verify the extent of the terms involved in the deal, but sources said the conditions included a 45-day ceasefire and the return of humanitarian aid – which has been blocked since March 2 – in exchange for 11 hostages and the disarmament of Hamas. Read more
Diamond League confirms Amusan for season opener (Punch)
World 100 metres hurdles record holder Tobi Amusan has been officially listed among the entrants for the 2025 Diamond League season opener in Xiamen, China, as she begins her quest for another title-winning campaign on the global circuit, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The entry list for the Xiamen Meeting, published on Tuesday, confirms Amusan’s participation in what is set to be a highly competitive field.
The event will take place on April 26 at the Egret Stadium and will feature nine track and seven field events in the main program, marking the third edition of the Chinese leg of the prestigious athletics series. Read more
Zverev joins Shelton in Munich ATP quarters (JapanToday)
German world number three Alexander Zverev is through to the quarterfinals of the ATP event in Munich after cruising to a straight-sets win over Daniel Altmaier on Wednesday.
Zverev, the top seed at a tournament he won in 2017 and 2018, won 6-3, 6-2 to reach his 99th quarter-final on the ATP tour.
“He makes it complicated. He has beaten lots of top players before. He’s beaten (Jannik) Sinner, he’s beaten me before, so he knows how to make it complicated,” said Zverev. “I’m extremely happy with the win and looking forward to the next match.” Read more
Gabon forward Boupendza dies aged 28 (BBC)
Gabon international Aaron Boupendza has died at the age of 28 after reportedly falling from a building in China.
The forward featured for his country at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon and won a total of 35 caps for the Panthers.
He joined Chinese club Zhejiang FC, based in the city of Hangzhou, from Romanian outfit Rapid Bucharest in January.
Boupendza began his career in his homeland with CF Mounana and went on to have spells with sides in France, Portugal, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Read more
Joe Cole reveals the ‘huge advantage’ PSG have over Arsenal for Champions League semi-final (Metro)
Joe Cole believes Paris Saint-Germain have a ‘huge advantage’ over Arsenal for their Champions League semi-final tie.
The Premier League and Ligue 1 giants go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League final.
Arsenal produced two stunning performances to cruise past Champions League holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Read more
Max Verstappen urged to take salary cut to quit Red Bull (RN365)
Seven-time grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya has suggested Max Verstappen should take a pay cut in an effort to link up with Mercedes next year.
Verstappen has consistently been linked with an exit from the Red Bull squad across the last 12 months amid its slow decline down the F1 pecking order.
The Dutchman has won once in the opening four rounds of the new campaign and suffered a painful event in Bahrain last time out, taking the chequered flag in sixth place – matching his lowest classification from the entire 2024 campaign. Read more