Nigerian Air Force gets 35 new pilots to battle terrorists (DailyTrust)
No fewer than 35 pilots have been injected into the flying officers pool of the Nigerian Air Force after they graduated at the 401 Flying Training School (FTS), Kaduna.
The new pilots, who will be deployed for “national assignments”, according to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, are to be involved in the ongoing operations in different theatres.
Daily Trust reports that the graduation ceremony for the new 35 pilots came less than six months after the authorities of the force announced the acquisition of 12 additional fighter aircraft to enhance its operational capabilities. Read more
Lassa fever, Mpox kill 135 (Punch)
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, on Friday, said the country recorded 832 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and Mpox between January and April.
Idris, who said this at the national health security press briefing in Abuja, noted that the country also recorded 135 deaths from the diseases in 2025.
He, however, said the agency remained steadfast in its mandate to protect public health by providing timely, transparent, and accurate health information. Read more
Meta threatens to shut down operations in Nigeria over $290 million fine (Guardian)
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, has said it may be forced to shut down its operations in Nigeria after a tribunal insisted that it must pay the $220 million slapped on it in July 2024.
Meta was also asked to pay the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) an additional $35,000 as the “cost of investigation.”
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) fined the company N60bn ($37.5m) and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission $32.8m, bringing the total to $290.3m. Read more
Call your son to order, Atiku tells Tinubu (Sun)
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said President Bola Tinubu must call his family members, particularly his son, Seyi, to order, noting that the country is not a private estate.
Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Friday, said allegations of physical assault and alleged abduction by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Isah, against Seyi Tinubu are disturbing.
The former vice president said it’s unacceptable that the first family would allegedly seek to subjugate NANS or any civil society group. He maintained that the country is a democracy and not a monarchy. Read more
Cholera: NCDC records 1,307 cases, 34 deaths in 30 states (Leadership)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 1,307 suspected cholera cases and 34 deaths across 30 States and 98 local government areas (LGAs), as of April 20, 2025.
This represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.6 per cent significantly higher than the target of less than 1 per cent.
Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this on Friday during a national health security press briefing in Abuja. Read more
Fubara returns to Port Harcourt after 2-week vacation overseas (Channels)
The suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has returned to the state after spending approximately two weeks on vacation overseas.
The governor touched down at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, at about 7PM on Friday.
A video of the governor’s arrival shows him being received by some aides at the Airport. He was led to a waiting SUV, which sped away at once. Read more
CNG-powered taxis in Abuja reduce fares by 40%, says PCNGI boss (Nation)
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Oluwagbemi, on Friday announced a 40 per cent fare reduction by CNG-powered taxis from Motor Park in Area One, Garki, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The discount, according to him, was to lessen the burden of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol subsidy removal on the general public.
Represented by the Regional CNG Coordinator, North, Mr. David Idako at the motor park in Abuja, Oluwagbemi, said the PCNGI management had reduced the price in collaboration with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW) since over 50 per cent of the vehicles in the garage were already converted to CNG fueling. Read more
Nicole Scherzinger shares verdict on Pussycat Dolls reunion after failed 2022 tour (Independent)
Nicole Scherzinger is not ruling out the opportunity to reunite with the former members of her band, The Pussycat Dolls.
The American girl group was founded in 2003 before becoming a worldwide success with some of their iconic songs, like “When I Grow Up,” “Buttons,” and “Don’t Cha.” While the band split in 2010, they reunited in 2019 and made plans to go on tour. However, the event was ultimately canceled in 2022, due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an interview with People published on Thursday, Scherzinger — who just received a Tony nomination for her role in Sunset Blvd — shared that if she had the opportunity to work with her former bandmates again now, she wouldn’t say no. Read more
Dow jumps 500 points, S&P 500 posts longest win streak in 20 years as stocks claw back tariff losses (CNBC)
Stocks rose on Friday as Wall Street digested a better-than-expected nonfarm payrolls report for April, which eased recession fears and lifted the S&P 500 for its longest winning streak in just over two decades.
The S&P 500 advanced 1.47% and closed at 5,686.67. This marked the broad market index’s ninth consecutive day of gains and its longest winning run since November 2004. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 564.47 points, or 1.39%, to end at 41,317.43.
The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.51% and settled at 17,977.73. With Friday’s surge, the S&P 500 has now recovered its losses since April 2, when President Donald Trump announced his “reciprocal” tariffs. This comes a day after the tech-heavy Nasdaq accomplished the same feat. Read more
Russell Brand granted bail after court appearance (BBC)
Russell Brand has been granted bail and left Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, after facing charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.
The broadcaster, comedian and actor faces one allegation of rape, one allegation of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two further counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.
Photographers surrounded his car as he arrived, and he did not speak to the reporters gathered outside the court building. Read more
Animation Guild seeks enhanced California subsidy to combat outsourcing (Variety)
Seeking to combat the longstanding flow of animation jobs to Canada and other locations, the Animation Guild issued a report on Thursday urging California to improve its tax incentive program.
California’s $330 million tax incentive is limited, for now, to live-action films and TV shows. Two bills, SB 630 and AB 1138, would expand the program to $750 million and would include animation for the first time.
The guild report, prepared by CVL Economics, argues that would not be enough. Read more
Ruth Buzzi, comedy sketch player on groundbreaking series ‘Laugh-In,’ dies at 88 (ABC)
Ruth Buzzi, who rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and made over 200 television appearances during a 45-year career, has died at age 88.
Buzzi died Thursday at her home in Texas, says her agent Mike Eisenstadt. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was in hospice care.
Shortly before her death, her husband, Kent Perkins, had posted a statement on Buzzi’s Facebook page, thanking her many fans and telling them: “She wants you to know she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them.” Read more
Syria slams Israeli attack near presidential palace (France24)
Israel’s air force struck near Syria’s presidential palace early Friday after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria.
The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded.
Syria’s presidency condemned the Israeli airstrike, calling it a “dangerous escalation against state institutions and the sovereignty of the state”. It called on the international community to stand by Syria, saying that such attacks “target Syria national security and the unity of the Syrian people”. Read more
Atletico join Lookman chase (Punch)
Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is poised for a high-profile summer transfer, with Spanish giants Atlético Madrid now among the clubs vying for his signature.
Despite having a contract with Atalanta that runs until June 2027, the Nigerian international is expected to depart Bergamo at the end of the season.
The Serie A club are reportedly willing to sell the 27-year-old if their €60m valuation is met, with several European powerhouses monitoring the situation. Read more
Egypt 2025: Nigeria promises Morocco hard fight for early ticket into quarter finals (Sun)
Another North African delicacy is served to the Flying Eagles as they confront Morocco in Group B’s top-of-the-table clash at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening.
Auwal Ibrahim’s 37th minute strike snatched the maximum points against the Tunisians on Thursday, but Morocco then upstaged a very good Kenyan side 3-2 in the day’s second match to crawl to the top of the table on goals’ difference.
For the second time in consecutive games, the Lion Cubs also face the daunting challenge of a sub-Saharan squad weaned on power, pace and clinical delivery, and the night encounter in downtown Cairo promises fireworks and cutting-edge entertainment. Read more
Abakaliki FC battle Nasarawa United for semifinals ticket (Guardian)
Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi State, which shocked Nigerian football followers by beating Enyimba of Aba in the round of 16 of the ongoing President Federation Cup, will lock horns against Nasarawa United in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Against all expectations, the amateur side defeated Enyimba 2-0 to book their place in the last eight of the championship, which will produce a new champion as cup holders, El-Kanemi, has been booted out of the race.
The game will hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, by 4.00 p.m tomorrow. Read more
Pimblett dropped 40lb in weeks before UFC 314 win (BBC)
Paddy Pimblett dropped nearly three stone in weight before his victory against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 last month.
The 30-year-old produced a brilliant performance to stop the UFC veteran for the biggest win of his career to date.
The Liverpudlian is known to balloon in weight between fights and released on his YouTube channel, external that he dropped 40lb – 2st 12lb – in the weeks leading up UFC 314 in order to reach the lightweight limit of 156lb (11st 2lb). Read more
Slot says Liverpool Premier League win was one of “best days of my life” (RFI)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Friday that winning the Premier League title at Anfield was one of the best days of his life as he turned his thoughts towards next season.
The Reds crushed Tottenham 5-1 on Sunday to seal a record-breaking 20th English league title with four games to spare, basking in a sensational atmosphere at their packed home ground.
“Maybe for all the Liverpool fans, but for many of them, one of the best days of their lives, and I think it was the same for me,” said Slot. Read more