Eid-el-Fitr: Tinubu calls for unity, felicitates Muslims (Tribune)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has felicitated the Muslim Ummah at Eid-el-Fitr, describing it as an auspicious occasion that signifies the end of Ramadan; a hallowed season which reflects total submission to God Almighty and to His command of sacrifice and service to humankind.
In a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President,(Media & Publicity) on Tuesday, the president greeted the Muslim faithful in Nigeria and all around the world, praying that their supplications and sacrifices this season and even after will receive the fitting rewards from Almighty Allah.
According to the statement, as he emphasized during an iftar with Nigeria’s leaders of thought and conscience, President Tinubu appealed to all citizens to come together and rededicate themselves to the noble duty of building the nation, stating: “We are the sculptor, and Nigeria is the clay; we build it the way we desire”. Read more
Police nab woman who stole children in 4 states (Nation)
The Police Command in Ebonyi has arrested a woman who specialises in abducting and selling children and rescued no fewer than six of the children.
The woman, Ngozi Blessing Abia, also known as Mercy Francis, has carried out her nefarious activities in Lagos, Ebonyi, Anambra and Edo.
Investigation into her activities began in January 2024 when one Nkwuda Francis reported that the woman, who posed as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, had kidnapped his two young children. Read more
NCDC confirms outbreak of strange disease in Sokoto (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of a disease of unknown origin in Sokoto state.
The director general of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, said so far, a total of 164 suspected cases have been identified in six (6) wards of Isa local government area in the following wards: Bargaja (22), Isa North (17), Isa South (98), Tozai (12), Tsabre (4), and Turba (11), adding that four deaths have been recorded amongst the suspected cases.
He said the agency was notified by the Sokoto State Ministry of Health on March 21, 2024, of reported cases of children presenting with symptoms which include abdominal distension due to rapid onset of fluids in the abdomen (ascites), fever, vomiting and weight loss from Isa LGA of Sokoto State. Read more
Eid-el-fitr: Atiku lauds Muslims for observing Ramadan fast amid hardship (Vanguard)
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Muslim faithfuls on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.
This is as he advised Nigerian leaders to show more compassion to the people.
Abubakar said this in his Eid-el-fitr message signed by his Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday.
He congratulated Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast saying that the lessons from the fasting should remain abiding, even when the holy month had passed. Read more
Tears as Benue conducts mass burial for victims of Mbakyor massacre (Leadership)
The Benue State Government has conducted mass burial for 15 farmers that were murdered by suspected herdsmen at Mbakyor Community of Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
Remains of the victims who were recently killed by the marauding herdsmen that invaded the community were laid to rest on Tuesday.
President General, Masev Development Association, Prof. Vitalis Tarhule at the event lamented that the attack marked the third time that armed herdsmen attacked the community. Read more
Again, suspected cultists kill 1 in Anambra (Punch)
Death tolls arising from suspected rival cult groups have continued to rise as persons suspected to be cultists late on Tuesday killed a middle-aged at the UNIZIK temporary site junction in Awka, Anambra State capital.
Although the details of the killing were still sketchy, it was gathered that the man whose name was given as “Nwanayoeze” by residents around the area, was shot dead around the Tricycle Park, UNIZIK Junction.
A source and a trader around the area said, “The assailants fled immediately after gunning down the young man. It was later that his cult members quickly arrived at the scene and took away his corpse to avoid security agencies confiscating it.” Read more
Supreme Court advises Lagos, Shangisha landlords to resolve land dispute amicably (ThisDay)
The Supreme Court has advised the Lagos State Government and the Shangisha landlords to resolve their land dispute amicably, stating that it has no power to interpret the judgement it gave 12 years ago that ordered the government to allocate 549 plots of land to the landlords. The judgement, the court said, was unambiguous.
This means that the age-long land dispute between the Lagos State Government and the Shangisha Landlords Association is far from over, as the Supreme Court has again thrown out the State’s Application for the interpretation of its 12-year old judgment which compelled it to allocate 549 plots of land to the landlords within Magodo Estate as a matter of first priority. Read more
Cardi B admits she’s ‘nervous’ about new album despite advice from Missy Elliott (HipHopDx)
Cardi B has been actively hyping up her highly anticipated sophomore album, and she has now admitted that the process has been nerve wracking.
On Saturday (April 6), Missy Elliott caught wind of a Twitter discussion about the new project in which one person wrote: “Your second album is not the time to be experimenting….maybe the third album but definitely not the second..just give the people what they need. She still needs to win people back.”
The rap veteran strongly disagreed: “Absolutely yes it’s the time to experiment take it from someone who experimented and many others which allowed them to NOT be BOXED in to one sound and style… I can name tons who each of there albums sounded nothing like the one before.” Read more
“Civil War’s” Kirsten Dunst was “proud” of Jesse Plemons in terrifying scene (DigitalSpy)
Kirsten Dunst couldn’t be prouder of her husband Jesse Plemons, after working together on Alex Garland’s “Civil War”.
Plemons plays a small antagonist role in Garland’s dystopian action movie, and a terrifying one at that. Dunst, who’s been in a relationship with Plemons since the two met on Fargo season 2, explained how it felt to act with her partner again in an exclusive chat with Digital Spy.
“Because he’s my husband, it’s not terrifying to me!” she said of Plemons’ soldier. Read more
Arizona’s top court allows near-total 1864 abortion ban to go into effect (AlJazeera)
In 1864, the territory of Arizona in the United States passed a law that criminalised nearly all abortions.
Arizona was not even a state at the time of the law’s passage. But now, 160 years later, its state Supreme Court has ruled the near-total ban can go into effect in 14 days.
The court’s decision on Tuesday triggers what would be one of the most restrictive state laws to govern abortion access in the US. Read more
Alec Baldwin lost control on ‘Rust’ set and lied about his actions, prosecutors say (NBC)
Alec Baldwin lost control of his emotions on set, put others in danger and also changed his story in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of a movie in New Mexico in 2021, according to new court documents filed by prosecutors.
Baldwin was making “Rust” at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe when a gun he was holding fired a live round and killed Hutchins, 42. He was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of manslaughter in January and pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors accused Baldwin of “frequently screaming and cursing at himself, at crew members” and of losing control. Read more
Kirsten Dunst says she still gets the ‘Tom Cruise Cake’ that Cruise famously sends during the holidays (People)
Thirty years after Interview with the Vampire, Kirsten Dunst is still reaping the sweet benefits of the movie.
The Civil War actress, who was just 11 years old on the set of the gothic film, said she is “still getting” the “Tom Cruise cake” in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
Every holiday season, Cruise is known to send a $126 white chocolate coconut bundt cake made by Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, Calif. to his famous friends, including Tom Hanks, Jon Hamm and Rosie O’Donnell. The lore of the “Tom Cruise cake” grows every year as celebrities celebrate the arrival of (or mourn no longer receiving) the coconut treat. Read more
Nobel-Prize winning ‘God particle’ physicist Peter Higgs dies aged 94 (Metro)
Peter Higgs, a physicist whose idea of a mysterious particle that could help explain why we all exist ended with cheers and champagne, has died.
He was 94.
The death of the British physicist and Nobel Prize winner was announced by the University of Edinburgh, where he was an emeritus professor. Read more
Mexico releases video of Ecuadorian police raiding its embassy in Quito (NBC)
Mexico released security camera video Tuesday of the moments when Ecuadorian authorities forced their way into Mexico’s embassy, pushed a Mexican diplomat to the ground and carried out Ecuador’s former vice president who had been holed up there.
The action Friday night greatly escalated tensions between the two countries, which had already been tussling since ex-Vice President Jorge Glas, a convicted criminal and fugitive, took refuge at Mexico’s embassy in December.
Ecuadorian police scaled the embassy walls and broke into the building Friday. Roberto Canseco, Mexico’s head of consular affairs and the highest ranking diplomat present since Ecuador expelled the ambassador earlier in the week, tried to keep them from entering, even pushing a large cabinet in front of a door. Read more
Super Falcons qualify for Olympics first time in 16 years (Channels)
The Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Nigeria beat South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the Summer Olympics.
Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot in the first leg of the qualifiers in Abuja on Friday. Read more
Pinnick: Finidi right man to lead Super Eagles (CompleteSports)
Former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick believes Finidi George is the right man to lead the Super Eagles.
Finidi is among the coaches jostling for the Super Eagles top position.
The former Ajax winger handled the Super Eagles in the two international friendlies against Black Stars of Ghana and Eagles of Mali last month. Read more
Rory McIlroy talks patience but exudes an air of urgency at Augusta (IrishIndependent)
Rory McIlroy says patience will be a virtue as he makes his 10th bid for the Grand Slam this week, but his brief chat with the press exuded a sense of urgency in his quest for a coveted green jacket.
Just 30 minutes after driving down Magnolia Lane, the world No 2 arrived five minutes early for his 12.30pm press conference and left after just seven questions – 22 fewer than Tiger Woods.
The Holywood star has tried myriad pre-Masters routines over the past 16 years, and he’s hoping that this year’s ploy – maximum playing time in the build-up followed by minimal time at the venue – will finally lead to the holy grail. Read more
Tiger Woods still capable of winning a sixth Masters ‘if everything comes together’ (BBC)
Tiger Woods says he is still capable of winning a sixth Green Jacket and 16th major “if everything comes together” at this week’s Masters.
Woods has barely played competitive golf since having ankle surgery last April after withdrawing in the third round of last year’s Masters.
The 48-year-old is chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Masters wins and 18 major titles. Read more
Boxing Cuba defeats France in friendly bout ahead Paris 2024 (AfricaNews)
The Cuban boxing team defeated their French opponents in all eight bouts, gaining “mental strength” and “preparation” in a friendly bout on the road to the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
All winners were by 5-0 unanimous decision.
“The French team won, mentally they won,” Dominique Nato, president of the French boxing federation, told to SNTV, who is very clear that the goal is preparation. “We came here to look for mental, technical and tactical strength” he added. Read more
Arsenal fans furious with Harry Kane as ‘he’s still up to old tricks’ claim made (Mirror)
Harry Kane predictably found the net for Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Arsenal at the Emirates but that wasn’t the only moment that annoyed Arsenal fans
Arsenal fans tore into Bayern Munich star Harry Kane for an alleged elbow on Gabriel.
The former Tottenham striker was involved in an unsavoury incident during the second half of the two sides’ Champions League meeting at the Emirates. While tussling with Brazilian defender Gabriel, Kane appeared to throw out an arm, leaving the centre-back crumpled on the ground in pain. Read more