Sultan declares Wednesday Eid-El-Fitr (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Wednesday as the first of Shawwal and Eid day, commemorating the completion of the 2024 Ramadan fast.
The Deputy Secretary-General, NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said this in a statement on Monday night.
According to him, this is due to the fact that the new crescent was not sighted in the Kingdom on Monday. Read more
86 traders affected in Lagos market fire (Vanguard)
A three-storey building with 20 built-up shops and three warehouses went up in flames at the Balogun market, Lagos, yesterday, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
Eighty-six traders in the cosmetics and hair attachment section had their shops razed. According to the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, there was no loss of life.
There were, however, conflicting reports on the cause of the fire said to have started about noon.
While the leadership of the market attributed its cause to clustered power-generating sets used by the traders, the latter alleged that it was arson. Read more
Why I embarked on solo trip – Pelumi Nubi (Channels)
Travel and lifestyle content creator, Pelumi Nubi, who travelled from London to Lagos by road said her desire to explore the African continent which is also her place of birth inspired her to embark on the solo trip.
The solo traveller who has been to over 80 African countries was featured on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief on Monday.
“I’ve been a traveller. I’ve travelled to so many places, explored so many cultures and each time I was travelling, it was mostly to like Europe, Asia but my own continent, I barely had any footprint there so I was like I wanna explore more of this place I was born into,” he said. Read more
Lagos-Calabar Coastal road: You goof again, Presidency blasts Atiku (Nation)
The Presidency has slammed the former presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar for misrepresenting facts to the public on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project.
Former Vice President Abubakar, in a statement on Sunday by his Media Coordinator, Paul Ibe, made allusions suggesting lack of openness in the processes surrounding the project as well as misplacing its award with that of another project, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail, which was awarded in 2021 by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The former Vice President, in the last few months of the Bola Tinubu administration, has constantly attacked the President and his policies with. Read more
9-year-old goes missing in Lagos, family seeks help (Punch)
The guardians of a nine-year-old girl identified simply as Patience, who went missing about eight days ago at Rotras Crescent in the Merian area of Lagos State, are seeking help to locate the whereabouts of the minor.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the young girl had left the house on March 31, 2024, to return a food warmer to a neighbour who lives just a few meters from the guardians’ house.
One of the guardians, identified simply as Pastor Olabiyi, who spoke with our correspondent on Monday via a telephone interview, said they had searched the entire community with the help of other neighbours to find the minor, but to no avail. Read more
Rema walks off US stage over poor sound quality (DailyTrust)
Famous Nigerian rapper and singer, Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, stunned off the stage of the 2024 Dreamville Festival in North Carolina, US, on Sunday.
This happened midway into his performance.
He was performing his hit song ‘Calm Down’ on Day 2 of the festival at Dix Park in Raleigh, but stopped to complain about the poor sound before walking off the stage. Read more
Emefiele pleads not guilty to 26-count charge by EFCC (Vanguard)
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to a 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office brought against him by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Meanwhile, a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday remanded the former governor of the CBN in the custody of the EFCC, following his arraignment.
Justice Rahman Oshodi made the remand order after Emefiele and his co-defendants, Herry Omoile, pleaded not guilty to a 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office brought against them by the EFCC. Read more
Binance executive jailed for money laundering (Sun)
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Monday remanded a top official of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigram Gambaryan, in Kuje prison.
Gambaryan was remanded in prison custody by Justice Emeka Nwite till April 18, when his bail application will be determined.
The defendant had earlier entered a plea of not guilty to the money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Read more
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson share red carpet date night at Amy Winehouse biopic premiere (People)
It was date night for Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the “Back to Black” premiere!
The parents of four stepped out together in London at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square for the world premiere of the Amy Winehouse biopic, which Sam, 57, directed.
They took style inspiration from the title of the film, named after the late British singer’s song and album of the same name. Read more
Hamas says Israeli proposal failed to meet Palestinian demands, yet it is under review (StraitsTimes)
Hamas said early on Tuesday Israel’s proposal that it received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions.
However, the group added in a statement it would study the proposal, which it described as “intransigent”, and deliver its response to the mediators.
A Hamas official told Reuters on Monday that the group has rejected the Israeli ceasefire proposal made at talks in Cairo, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah, Gaza’s last refuge for displaced Palestinians. Read more
Zayn Malik shares how being a ‘‘very northern man’’ has shaped his life (BelfastTelegraph)
Former One Direction star Zayn Malik has reflected on how being a “very northern man” has shaped his life and career.
The Bradford-born singer, 31, rose to fame in the boy band alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson after they were brought together on The X Factor in 2010.
Following his departure from the group in 2015 citing “stress”, he embarked on a solo career and his debut studio album Mind Of Mine soared to number one the following year. Read more
Country singer Dustin Lynch “looking for love’’ (MusicNews)
Country singer Dustin Lynch has revealed he’s on the lookout for love.
The Thinking ’Bout You singer has got candid about his love life on the red carpet at the Country Music Television Awards in Austin, Texas.
Lynch, who has just kicked off the first week of his Killed The Cowboy US tour, told Billboard magazine that he’s “looking for love”. Read more
Mia Goth stars in the trailer for Ti West’s new A24 horror movie ‘‘MaXXine’’ (FarOut)
A24 has released the first trailer for their upcoming horror sequel “MaXXXine”, with Mia Goth starring in the final film of Ti West’s trilogy.
The new movie will continue the odyssey of Maxine Minx, played by Mia Goth, who was first seen back in West’s 2022 horror flick X. An adult film star looking to make her first break, Maxine’s efforts were upended by Pearl, a jaded former actor who was jealous of the youthfulness of the performers making movies on her property, with the protagonist barely getting out of the horror comedy alive.
In West’s follow-up prequel, “Pearl”, Goth played the villain of the previous movie, with the film charting how the title character was pumped full of so much venomous jealousy in her youth. Now, just two years after the release of X, Goth and West are set to finish off the trilogy with “MaXXXine”, a murder mystery that sees the lead character strive for fame in the limelight of 1980s Los Angeles, all while the real-life killer nicknamed ‘Night Stalker’ runs riot across the city. Read more
Harold Bishop to return to Neighbours after 15 years (RTE)
Neighbours stalwart Harold Bishop is to return to Ramsay Street 15 years after his departure as a regular character, it has been announced.
The fan favourite, played by Ian Smith, will be back in the Australian soap and its opening titles at the age of 85.
An announcement on the Neighbours X account said: “After 15 years of living away, the legendary Harold Bishop is returning to Erinsborough.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ian Smith back to the show and the opening titles, where he belongs.”
Record floods in Russia’s Urals triggered by melting snow (NBC)
Swiftly melting snow triggered the worst recorded flooding in Russia’s Ural Mountains, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes as some of Europe’s biggest rivers swelled to bursting point.
Russia declared an emergency in the Orenburg region near Kazakhstan after the Ural River, Europe’s third longest river, swelled several feet in hours on Friday, and burst through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk.
The river, which rises in the Ural Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea, will reach dangerous levels on Monday in Orenburg, a city of 500,000 down river from Orsk, and the peak is expected there on April 10, Russia’s emergency ministry said. Read more
Osimhen’s form raises doubts over Chelsea move (Punch)
Napoli’s striker Victor Osimhen’s recent struggles have raised doubts within Chelsea’s hierarchy regarding a potential summer move.
Osimhen’s sparkling form at the start of the season had made him one of the most sought-after strikers in world football, with the Blues among the clubs keen to secure his services.
“At the start of the season and entering into 2024, Osimhen was undoubtedly regarded as one of the best strikers in world football,” remarked football journalist Carlo Garganese. “He scored 31 goals in 39 games in all competitions last season as Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years,” he added. Read more
Everton given 2-point deduction for PSR charge but ‘‘devastating 3rd breach’’ looms (Football365)
Everton have been deducted another two points for their second breach of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
The Toffees have already been docked six points this season for breaching Premier League PSR in the period up to the 2021-22 season, and now they have been given a further sanction after a second complaint was served in January for the period ending June 30, 2023.
Everton had intially been docked ten points but got it reduced to six points on appeal and now the extra two points confirmed by the Premier League means Sean Dyche’s have lost eight points this season. Read more
Falcons stars Kanu, Jiwuaku confident ahead Pretoria battle (Punch)
Super Falcons players, Uchenna Kanu and Linda Jiwuaku, say the team is in high spirits heading into Tuesday’s (today) Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier second leg in Pretoria, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Randy Waldrum’s side head into the encounter with a slender 1-0 win courtesy of Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty goal in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking with The PUNCH in anticipation of the mouth-watering clash, Kanu said the Falcons were prepared for the task. Read more
Carlo Ancelotti set to “suffer” ahead of Manchester City encounter (RTE)
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he is nervous ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Manchester City.
The record 14-time winners host the current holders in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
It is the third season in succession the two clubs have met in the knockout stages, with Real claiming a remarkable comeback victory in the 2022 semi-finals but City avenging that loss in emphatic fashion 12 months later. Read more
Oleksandr Usyk delivers verdict on Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul boxing fight (Mirror)
Oleksandr Usyk insists he has no problem with Mike Tyson coming out of retirement to fight Jake Paul.
Heavyweight legend Tyson will return to the ring this summer when he takes on YouTuber Paul in Texas on July 20. Tyson will be 58 when he steps through the ropes, almost 30 years older than his opponent who is the bookmakers’ favourite to have his hand raised.
No rules have been announced for the showdown with Tyson claiming the fight will be “real” but that it will be classed as an exhibition bout. The fight has been well-received by both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and now Usyk, who takes on Fury next month, has backed the event. Read more
Collins follows Miami title with championship at Charleston Open (GulfToday)
Danielle Collins is loaded with confidence and belief in what she can accomplish in her final season after following her Miami Open title with the Charleston Open championship on Sunday.
Collins powered past 11th-ranked Daria Kasatkina for a 6-2, 6-1 victory, her career-best 13th straight match win as she became the first since Serena Williams in 2013 to follow a hard-court victory at Miami with one on the green clay of Charleston. And she’s open to even more in what is the 30-year-old’s final season on tour.
“I’m just trying to keep this train rolling,” Collins said after winning her fourth WTA title. “Really be myself out there and not think too much about what’s next.” Read more