How LUTH bed space shortage aborted female student’s dreams (Punch)
Twenty-year-old Deborah Doofan had many dreams. She planned to graduate from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with honours in 2026, become a first-class banker in one of Nigeria’s prestigious banks at 25, get married two years after, and have a beautiful home with three lovely kids and a doting husband.
According to her elder brother, Prince, she vowed to help their family out of penury. But her dreams never materialised as her life was cut short by poor medical facilities.
Deborah was in an emergency and was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Surulere, Lagos, in the wee hours of Thursday, March 16, 2023, but the federal hospital could not provide her a bed space. She was left out in the cold; in the backseat of a car right in front of the hospital’s emergency centre, where she died. Read more
Funke Akindele deletes political post on Instagram (DailyTrust)
Nollywood star Funke Akindele has removed all political posts from her Instagram page.
Following losing the recently held gubernatorial elections, the actress-turned-politician removed all social media accounts related to her and Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, better known as Jandor, who stood for governor and deputy governor of Lagos state under the People’s Democratic Party.
Remember that Akindele lost her polling unit 019, Ita Aro square, Ijimu ward in Ikorodu, Lagos State, to the current governor of the All Progressives Party, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (APC).
Results from the voting unit show that the PDP received 19 votes, the APC received 77 votes, and the Labour Party received 3 votes. Read more
Maritime workers congratulate Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) led by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has congratulated the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was reelected in the gubernatorial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 18.
According to the union in a statement, the state election, which was keenly contested, left Governor Sanwo-Olu winning the election on a very wide margin; this which gave him an edge over other contestants was a testimony of the love showered on him as the Chief Executive of the state by the people.
“We, in the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, wish to felicitate with the amiable Lagos State Governor on his well-deserved victory during the poll in the state,” Adeyanju Said. Read more
Youth leader, 4 others killed in fresh herders attack in Benue (Vanguard)
A youth leader and four others have been reportedly killed in a fresh suspected armed herdsmen attack on two communities in Agatu and Otukpo Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue state.
It was gathered that the affected communities in the latest incidents which occurred Thursday evening were Atakpa in Agatu LGA where four persons lost their lives and Iwili community in Otukpo LGA where a local farmer was also said to have been killed in his farm at about the same time in an unprovoked attack.
A source in Agatu disclosed that the armed men stormed the community at about 5 pm and started shooting sporadically. Read more
I never said I won’t hand over to Tinubu – Buhari (Leadership)
The Presidency has described as outrageous and fake, a report attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari quoting him as saying that he won’t hand over to president-elect Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said yesterday; “How can you vigorously campaign for somebody, vote for him and then say you won’t hand it over to him? This beggars belief.”
He said the situation of the Sahara Reporters was pretty pathetic since their ownership is politically partisan in today’s politics, and a loser in the presidential election. Read more
CBN confirms evacuation of banknotes to banks (Independent)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country as part of a coordinated effort to ease the circulation of banknotes of various denominations.
The CBN has also directed all commercial banks to open for operation on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, disclosed this in Abuja, late on Friday, March 23, 2023, stating that a substantial amount of money, in various denominations, had been received by the commercial banks for onward circulation to their respective customers. Read more
Commissioner decries rise in TB cases in Plateau (Guardian)
Plateau health commissioner, Dr Nimkong Ndam, on Friday expressed worry over the rise in cases of Tuberculosis (TB) in the state.
Ndam spoke at a sensitisation and screening to mark the 2023 World Tuberculosis Day, in Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area.
Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Mafwalal Masok, Ndam said that 219 out of 100,000 persons in the state suffered from TB. Read more
Rain wreaks havoc in Kwara, 2 escape death (Channels)
Two occupants in a moving car narrowly escaped death on Thursday evening along Unity Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when a political signpost fell on their vehicle during torrential rain.
The rain which fell for a few minutes and was accompanied by a strong windstorm wreaked havoc in the city damaging political signposts, cars, buildings, electric poles and wires.
Channels Television reports that the rain which was accompanied by a strong windstorm also damaged buildings in some parts of Ilorin and Oke-Ero Local government areas of the state. Read more
Selena Gomez defends Hailey Bieber after death threats, hateful negativity (UPI)
Selena Gomez is showing her support for Hailey Bieber amid reported death threats and “hateful negativity.”
The 30-year-old singer and actress spoke out Friday on Instagram Stories after Bieber, 26, reached out to her about the hate she’s receiving online.
“Hailey Bieber reached out to me and let me know that she has been receiving death threats and such hateful negativity,” Gomez wrote. Read more
Gwyneth Paltrow tells court she thought collision on ski slope was a sex assault (Sky)
Gwyneth Paltrow has insisted that she was the “victim” of a skiing collision with a retired optometrist during an accident at a resort in Utah.
The Oscar-winning actress was speaking while giving evidence in a civil case brought by Terry Sanderson, who is suing the actress for $300,000 (£245,000) over the incident at Deer Valley in 2016.
Mr Sanderson, 76, says he was left with several broken ribs and a severe concussion, as well as mental and physical injuries after Paltrow “slammed” into him on the slopes. Read more
Cannes: Egyptian film Feathers wins top prize at Critics’ Week (MEE)
An Egyptian comedy drama about a woman forced to deal with the consequences of a magic trick gone wrong has bagged the top prize at the Cannes Critics’ Week.
In the 112-minute Arabic language film, a mother must face a new reality after her husband is turned into a chicken at a children’s birthday party, leaving her with the responsibility of earning a wage and supporting her family alone. The storyline follows her life and transformation following the event.
Egyptian director Omar El Zohairy was honoured with the Nespresso Grand Prize this week for the film Feathers, and won 15,000 euros ($17,736). Read more
Queen + Adam Lambert unveil North American ‘‘Rhapsody’’ tour dates (Variety)
“These are kind of new glory days for us,” said Queen guitarist and founding member Brian May, who was literally knighted by King Charles III earlier this month. “It’s nice to think that hopefully there will be the demand for that.”
But the guitarist, along with founding drummer Roger Taylor and singer Adam Lambert, was on the other side of the Atlantic in Thursday, in New York to announce the group’s 14-show North American leg of its “Rhapsody” tour — its first since 2019 — which runs from Oct. 4 through Nov. 11.
“Every time I get the call we’re going to do another [tour], Whoo! I get excited!,” Lambert enthused. “Our audiences are unbelievable. They keep getting younger, with multiple generations at the show, which is amazing.” Read more
Jeff Goldblum confirms role in ‘‘Wicked’’ movie, says childhood fear of witches caused tears on set (People)
Jeff Goldblum is heading to the Emerald City!
The actor, 70, confirmed reports that he’s starring as the Wizard in the two-part film adaption of the hit musical Wicked during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday.
“I was just on the set of Wicked. I’m not supposed to talk about that. But it’s been out and about,” Goldblum said as he revealed his sons — Charlie, 7, and River, 5 — had joined him on the set of the movie in London. Read more
Star Wars, DC and Walking Dead stars join new movie musica (DigitalSpy)
New movie musical The End has unveiled a host of impressive names joining the cast.
The film, which comes from The Act of Killing’s Joshua Oppenheimer, focuses on a wealthy family in a palatial bunker 20 years after the apocalypse, who contributed to the world’s destruction due to their involvement in the oil industry.
The movie’s central couple initially celebrate their survival as testament to their success and righteousness, though they begin to become increasingly guilty over the loved ones they lost, as well as their role in bringing about the end of the world. Read more
Supreme Court considers Jack Daniel’s trademark infringement case (Fox)
U.S. Supreme Court justices are looking for a way to resolve whether a dog toy company violated trademark laws or expressed its First Amendment rights when creating a chew toy shaped and labeled to look like a Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottle.
Reuters reported the justices listened to arguments Wednesday from Louisville, Kentucky-based Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc., which is owned by Brown-Forman Corp.
The Tennessee whiskey company is appealing a lower court’s ruling that the Bad Spaniels vinyl chew toy sold by Phoenix-based VIP Products falls under protection of the First Amendment as an “expressive” piece of work. Read more
Peseiro must go, angry fans tell NFF (Punch)
Top football stakeholders in the country have called on the Nigeria Football Federation to sack Jose Peseiro, following the Super Eagles’ uninspiring 1-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Saturday PUNCH reports.
A first-half strike from Mama Balde secured a comfortable win for the Djurtus, who moved one point clear of the Eagles to top Group A, with three games to play.
The defeat dented Eagles’ AFCON qualification hopes, but boosted the Djurtus chances of reaching the continental showpiece for a second consecutive time in Ivory Coast, having appeared at the delayed edition in Cameroon last year. Read more
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez recreates crude World Cup trophy celebration (BBC)
Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez recreated his controversial Golden Glove celebration alongside team-mates on Thursday, in his first international since winning the World Cup.
His gesture after the 2022 World Cup final – performing a rude gesture with his goalkeeper of the tournament trophy – was described as “abnormal” by the French Football Federation and “stupid” by former Crystal Palace manager and ex-France international Patrick Vieira.
At the time, Martinez’s Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he would be having a word with the 30-year-old. Read more
Tottenham want to hold talks with Julian Nagelsmann as uncertainty looms over Antonio Conte’s future (DailyMail)
Tottenham want to hold talks with Julian Nagelsmann as uncertainty reigns over the future of current head coach Antonio Conte.
And Sportsmail understands that in a previous attempt by Spurs to discuss the manager’s position with the German coach, they were informed that the German coach has a soft spot for the north London club – raising hope that he may consider joining.
Bayern Munich are moving to sack Nagelsmann and replace him with former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who had been on Tottenham’s list of possible successors to Conte. Read more
Scotland must aim to be perfect in toughest qualifying group – Andy Robertson (IrishNews)
Andy Robertson believes Scotland must strive for ‘perfection’ as they bid to progress automatically from what he feels is the strongest Euro 2024 qualifying group.
The Scots begin their campaign at home to Cyprus on Saturday knowing they are already assured of a play-off for next year’s finals in Germany by virtue of their Nations League performance last year.
However, after suffering World Cup play-off heartache against Ukraine last summer, captain Robertson is determined to ensure Scotland seal a top-two finish from a group that also includes past winners Spain, Erling Haaland’s Norway and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Georgia. Read more
Okoro’s 3-pointer sends Cavaliers past Nets 116-114 (DailyMail)
Isaac Okoro hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 0.7 seconds remaining and finished with 11 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 116-114 Thursday night.
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Evan Mobley had 26 points and 16 rebounds and Jarrett Allen finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. Cleveland won for the eighth time in 10 games.
Mikal Bridges scored 32 points, Spencer Dinwiddie had 25 points and 12 assists and Joe Harris hit five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points as the Nets lost their fifth straight game. Read more
2 men cleared of being ‘‘spotters’’ in Amir Khan gunpoint robbery of diamond watch (ITV)
Two men have been cleared of being “spotters” in the plot to rob former world boxing champion Amir Khan of his £70,000 diamond-encrusted watch at gunpoint.
The 2004 Olympic silver medallist, 36, was targeted as he and his wife, Faryal Makhdoom, 31, left the Sahara Grill restaurant in Leyton on April 18 last year.
Ismail Mohamed, 24, of Edmonton, and Nurul Amin, 25, of Harringay were accused of plotting an ambush with others in which Khan was forced to hand over his bespoke rose gold diamond-encrusted Franck Muller watch by gunman Dante Campbell, 20. Read more