Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

First Lady Oluremi Launches ‘Free To Shine’ Campaign To Combat HIV/AIDS In Taraba. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday launched the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign in Taraba State, a bold initiative aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis among women of reproductive age. Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Jalingo, the First Lady explained that the campaign specifically targets women and young people, with a key focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission and providing access to treatment for children living with HIV. “This campaign will be carried out across all six geopolitical zones, and what we…

Paramilitary Attack On Displacement Camp In Sudan Leaves Dozens Dead Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis. At least 25 civilians have been killed in Sudan’s war-torn North Darfur state following a brutal assault on a famine-stricken displacement camp, local activists reported on Friday. The deadly incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the battle for control of El-Fasher, the last army-held city in Darfur, intensifies. According to the local resistance committee in El-Fasher—a volunteer aid group operating under siege—shelling and heavy gunfire rained down on the Zamzam…

Arteta Confirms Saka And Rice Fit For Brentford Clash. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are fit and available for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brentford, much to the relief of the club’s supporters. The England duo were instrumental in the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Real Madrid earlier in the week, with Saka winning the free-kicks from which Rice scored twice. However, both players had to be withdrawn from the match after picking up minor knocks, raising concerns over their availability. Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Arteta revealed that the…

Concerns Mount As Afghanistan Carries Out Public Executions Across Provinces. Afghanistan’s Supreme Court has confirmed the public execution of four men on Friday, marking the highest number of executions in a single day since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The executions took place in sports stadiums across three provinces — Badghis, Nimroz, and Farah — bringing the total number of public executions since 2021 to ten, according to an AFP tally. Witnesses in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis province, reported that two men were executed in front of gathered spectators. The men were made to sit with…

China Escalates Tariffs On U.S. Goods To 125% As Trade Tensions Deepen. In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, China has announced it will increase tariffs on all U.S. imports from 84% to 125%, effective from tomorrow, 12 April 2025. The move marks a significant step towards what analysts are calling the “decoupling” of the world’s two largest economies, raising fears of broader economic fallout across global markets. The Chinese Finance Ministry described the tariff hike as a direct response to recent U.S. policies, accusing Washington of undermining fair trade practices. “The U.S.…

Israeli Military Issues New Evacuation Orders Amid Ongoing Offensive In Gaza. The Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for neighbourhoods in eastern Gaza City as it continues its operations across the Gaza Strip. The orders, announced on Friday, targeted areas already designated for evacuation in the previous week, indicating that some residents had remained despite earlier warnings. This latest development comes as part of Israel’s wider campaign in Gaza following the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas in March. The military has since advanced into various parts of the territory, aiming to establish what it terms a “security…

Obasanjo Champions New African Mindset At Premiere Of ‘The Decolonisation Of Africa’. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Africans to embrace a new mindset if the continent is to achieve true decolonisation and take its rightful place on the world stage. He made the statement at the African premiere of *The Decolonisation of Africa*, a groundbreaking documentary hosted by Accelerate Media Group at The Metropolitan Club in Lagos. The film was executive produced by Colette Otusheso, CEO of Accelerate Media, and inspired by a profound conversation with Obasanjo, rooted in the late Dr Herbert Wigwe’s vision of empowering…

Nigeria And Pakistan Deepen Military Ties Through High-Level Strategic Visit. In a significant move to strengthen military cooperation, Nigeria welcomed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan, General Shahir Shamsad Mirza, to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. During his visit, General Mirza held talks with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who commended the engagement as a meaningful step towards reinforcing bilateral defence relations. General Musa expressed Nigeria’s strong commitment to enhancing collaboration with Pakistan, especially in the areas of capacity building and joint training programmes. He highlighted…

Oborevwori Signs Power Sector Bill And Six Others, Declares Delta Open For Investment. Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has signed seven key bills into law, including the landmark Delta State Electricity Power Sector Bill, 2024, which he described as a “game changer” in the state’s quest for rapid industrialisation. Other bills assented to include the Delta State Physical and Regional Planning Bill, 2024; Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill, 2024; Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics (Amendment) Law, 2024; Child Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Delta State Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, 2024; and the Delta…

Adesina Urges Investment In African Youths, Not Handouts. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has emphasised the need for genuine capital investment in young people across Africa, stressing that empowerment should go beyond small handouts and focus instead on meaningful support that transforms ideas into wealth. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Adesina addressed Nigeria’s growing ‘Japa’ trend – a term used to describe the mass migration of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad – describing it as a major loss for both the country and the continent at large. “Young people don’t…

Heroic Ten-Man Rangers Hold Athletic Bilbao In Europa League Thriller. Rangers delivered a spirited and defiant performance at Ibrox to keep their Europa League hopes alive, battling to a dramatic goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao despite being reduced to ten men early in the match. The Scottish side entered the encounter under significant pressure, having suffered a club-record five consecutive home defeats. With the Spanish visitors widely considered favourites, the odds were stacked against the hosts from the outset. Their task became even more daunting just 13 minutes into the match when Robin Propper was shown a red…

Amorim Backs Under-Fire Onana After Europa League Errors. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has offered a strong show of support for goalkeeper Andre Onana, following criticism and high-profile mistakes in the club’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw against Lyon. The Cameroonian was at fault for both of Lyon’s goals in Thursday’s 2-2 result, prompting fresh scrutiny just a day after former United midfielder Nemanja Matic labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history. Despite the criticism, Amorim stood firmly behind his player, admitting his own shortcomings and calling for perspective. “If you look at the…