Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nightclub Fire In North Macedonia Kills 51, Injures Over 100. At least 51 people have died and more than 100 others have been injured in a devastating nightclub fire in North Macedonia, officials have confirmed. The fire broke out at around 2:30 am local time (1:30 GMT) on Sunday at the Pulse club in Kocani, a town approximately 100 km (60 miles) east of the capital, Skopje. Footage shared on social media showed the building engulfed in flames as people scrambled to escape. As many as 1,500 people were reportedly inside the venue attending a concert by DNK, a…

Governor Otti Orders Demolition Of Kidnappers’ Hideout In Abia. Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has ordered the immediate demolition of a building in Osokwa, Osisioma Ngwa Council, which was used as a hideout by kidnappers to detain four victims for five days without food. Governor Otti issued the directive on Saturday night after being briefed on the incident by the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Danladi Isa, who presented the rescued victims. The governor also instructed the State Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner to engage with the community’s traditional ruler to gather further intelligence on the…

El-Rufai Criticises Tinubu’s Leadership, Calls For Opposition Unity.   Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed disappointment in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that he and his allies had hoped Tinubu would replicate his achievements in Lagos at the national level but had “failed woefully.” Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, El-Rufai revealed that despite concerns surrounding Tinubu’s alleged certificate forgery from Chicago State University during the 2023 presidential election, he and his supporters backed him, believing in his ability to transform Nigeria. “What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence…

Mbappe Brace Sends ‘Exhausted’ Real Madrid Top Of La Liga. Kylian Mbappe’s double secured a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid against Villarreal on Saturday, lifting Los Blancos to the top of La Liga despite concerns over fatigue following their gruelling Champions League encounter midweek. Madrid now sit three points ahead of Barcelona, though they have played two games more. The Catalan side will face Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a crucial match that could shape the title race. Madrid Overcome Fatigue to Secure Vital Win Real Madrid had expressed frustration over the scheduling of the match, which came…

NFF Partners With with ValueJet As Official Airline Of National Teams. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially signed a partnership agreement with ValueJet, making the fast-growing airline the Official Airline of the NFF and the country’s national football teams. The partnership, formalised on Saturday at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo, is set to enhance the teams’ travel experience as they compete on continental and global stages. The Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Captain Omololu Majekodunmi, expressed the airline’s excitement about the collaboration, emphasising its commitment to ensuring seamless and comfortable travel for the national teams. “We…

SpaceX Launches Crew To ISS As Stranded Astronauts Prepare For Return After Nine Months.  A SpaceX rocket has successfully launched a new crew to the International Space Station, paving the way for the long-awaited return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after an extended nine-month stay. Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to spend just eight days on the ISS. However, technical issues with their experimental Boeing Starliner spacecraft led to an unexpected extension of their mission. With the arrival of the new crew, which includes astronauts from the United States, Russia, and Japan, Wilmore and Williams…

Federal Government Secures New Financier For Kaduna-Kano Rail Project. The Federal Government has approved the China Development Bank (CDB) as the new financier for the Kaduna-Kano rail modernisation project, paving the way for its completion. The announcement was made by the Senate on 14 March, following the withdrawal of the China Exim Bank (CEB) in 2020, which cited the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges as reasons for stepping away from the project. The update was confirmed in a statement by Dada Olusegun, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, on Saturday. Boost for Transportation and Economic…

Tuchel: I Must ‘Earn the Right’ To Sing England’s National Anthem. England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that he will not sing the national anthem before his first matches in charge, insisting that he must “earn the right” to do so. Tuchel, 51, named his 26-man squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia on Friday. Speaking at a press conference, he explained his decision not to sing God Save the King ahead of those matches. “I feel that it is not just a given. You cannot just sing it. That’s why I decided that I…

Elon Musk Targets 2026 Mars Mission With Optimus Robot Aboard. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has announced plans for the company’s Starship rocket to embark on a mission to Mars at the end of 2026, carrying Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus. If successful, Musk believes human landings could begin as early as 2029, though he acknowledges that 2031 is a more realistic timeframe. “Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his X social network.…

South Africa Regrets Expulsion Of Ambassador Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions. The South African presidency has expressed regret over the United States’ decision to expel its ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, following accusations by Washington that he harbours hostility towards America and President Donald Trump. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that Rasool was “no longer welcome” in the country, labelling him a “race-baiting politician” who allegedly holds anti-American views. In a statement posted on X, Rubio declared Rasool as persona non grata, stating, “We have nothing to discuss with him.” In response, South Africa’s presidency described the…

Kano Attorney General Clarifies Appeal Court Ruling On Emirship Dispute. The Kano State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, has reaffirmed that the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja has not invalidated the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. Speaking to journalists on Friday, Dederi emphasised that the landmark verdict delivered on 10 January 2025, which upheld the Kano State Government’s authority to reappoint Sanusi, remains binding. He asserted that the Court of Appeal does not have the power to overturn its own ruling. Clarification on…

Security Forces Repel Bandit Attack On Zamfara Town. Troops of Operation FANSAR YANMA, in collaboration with local vigilantes, have successfully repelled a bandit attack on Mada town in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, neutralising four of the assailants. The attack, which took place at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, was the latest in a series of retaliatory strikes by bandits following the elimination of a notorious kingpin in the area. Swift Response by Security Forces According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who reported the incident on X, troops acted on intelligence and engaged the attackers in a…