Author: Olukayode Oke

Gold Hits Record $3,500 Amid Market Turmoil And Investor Flight From Dollar. The global price of gold soared to an unprecedented high of $3,500 per ounce on Tuesday, as jittery investors sought refuge from escalating market uncertainty linked to President Donald Trump’s trade policies and growing tensions with the Federal Reserve. According to analysts, concerns surrounding President Trump’s continued imposition of tariffs and his public criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell have rattled global markets, prompting a sharp shift away from traditional investments such as stocks and US Treasury bonds. In response, many investors turned to gold,…

George Bell, Once The Tallest Man In The United States, Dies Aged 67. George Bell, famously known as the tallest man in the United States at 7 feet 8 inches, has passed away at the age of 67. He died on 19 March in Durham, North Carolina, with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office in Virginia—where he served for over a decade—confirming his death. No cause was disclosed. Born on 12 June 1957 in Portsmouth, Virginia, Mr Bell lived with gigantism, a rare condition caused by an excess of growth hormone, which leads to exceptional height. His stature earned him widespread…

Ganduje Inaugurates APC France Chapter, Urges Diaspora Support For Tinubu’s Reforms. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has inaugurated the new executive committee of the party’s France Chapter in Paris, calling on Nigerians in the diaspora to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda and his Renewed Hope vision. The inauguration, which took place over the weekend, brought together prominent members of the APC diaspora community. Speaking at the event, Dr Ganduje emphasised the vital role of unity and collective effort among party members abroad in supporting the administration’s drive for economic…

Police Rescue Newborn Baby In Akwa Ibom, Arrest Child Traffickers. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has successfully rescued a two-day-old baby from an attempted trafficking operation and arrested several suspects linked to the crime. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, revealed in a statement issued yesterday in Uyo that police operatives intercepted a vehicle along the Nsit Atai-Oron Road containing three adults and the newborn. According to the statement, the vehicle—a Mazda with registration number YAB 454 AA—was driven by a man identified as Bethel Anyanwu and carried two female passengers. Upon questioning, the occupants were unable…

President Tinubu Returns To Abuja After Working Visits To France And The United Kingdom. President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following a series of private and official engagements in France and the United Kingdom. The President, who departed Nigeria on 2 April, arrived back in the capital on Monday, 21 April 2025, as earlier confirmed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. During his time abroad, President Tinubu undertook a short working visit to France, where he assessed the mid-term performance of his administration. The visit also served as an opportunity to review ongoing reforms…

NYSC Releases 2025 Batch A Stream I Postings, Cautions Corps Members Against Night Travel. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially released the postings for 2025 Batch A Stream I prospective corps members, urging them to prioritise safety as they prepare for their orientation programme. In a series of announcements made on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the NYSC advised all prospective corps members (PCMs) to avoid night travel while heading to their designated camps, stressing the importance of personal safety during transit. As part of the preparation process, the NYSC highlighted that the…

Breaking: Pope Francis’ Funeral To Take Place April 26th Says Vatican. The Vatican has officially announced that the funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, 26 April at 10:00am local time (09:00 BST, 08:00 GMT), as Catholics around the world unite in grief following the pontiff’s passing. In a solemn rite held at the Santa Marta residence, the body of Pope Francis was placed in an open casket on Monday, marking the declaration of death. The Vatican released poignant images of the late pontiff dressed in a red robe, with the traditional papal mitre on his head…

PIL Berths Largest Container Vessel At Onne Port, Cutting Costs For Nigerian Traders. Pacific International Lines (PIL), one of Asia’s foremost shipping companies, has berthed its largest container vessel, MV Kota Carum, at Onne Port in Rivers State — a move set to significantly reduce logistics costs and freight tariffs for Nigerian importers and exporters. The Singaporean-flagged Kota Carum, measuring an impressive 301.43 metres in length with a carrying capacity of 6,606 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), docked at the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), utilising berths 9 and 10. The vessel is scheduled for a 55-hour port call during which…

Bakare Urges Respect For Democratic Institutions, Warns Against Abuse Of Power. The Presiding Overseer of the Global Community Citadel Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has voiced concern over the current state of governance in Nigeria, particularly the perceived erosion of the National Assembly’s independence and the increasing centralisation of power in the executive arm of government. Speaking during his annual Easter state of the nation broadcast held at the church’s auditorium, Pastor Bakare described the current National Assembly as the “most spineless” in Nigeria’s recent democratic history, alleging that it functions more as an extension of the Presidency than an…

Guala Closures Unveils New Manufacturing Facility In Lagos Free Zone. Guala Closures, a global leader in the production of closures for spirits, wine, water, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and edible oils, has officially inaugurated its new greenfield manufacturing facility in the Lagos Free Zone, marking a significant step in its African expansion strategy. The inauguration ceremony was attended by high-profile dignitaries including Ugo Boni, Consul General of Italy in Lagos; Adesuwa Ladoja, CEO of the Lagos Free Zone; Andrea Lodetti, CEO of Guala Closures; and other top executives from the Group. This development underscores Guala Closures’ strong commitment to…

Union Bank Rewards More Customers In Ongoing Save And Win Palli Promo 4. Union Bank of Nigeria has once again delighted its customers with exciting rewards in the third monthly draw of its *Save and Win Palli Promo 4* campaign, aimed at encouraging savings while offering generous prizes. At the latest hybrid live draw, held at the Bank’s Sabo, Yaba Branch in Lagos, six lucky customers won brand-new motorcycles, while 120 others received cash prizes. The event was conducted transparently under the watchful eye of relevant regulatory institutions, ensuring fairness and credibility. To uphold the integrity of the…

NPSA Urges Political Class To Prioritise National Security Over 2027 Elections. The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) has called on the country’s political class to shift its focus from the 2027 general elections and instead channel efforts into addressing the deepening insecurity across the nation. This appeal comes amid an extension of the National Assembly’s Easter and Eid-el-Fitr recess. Originally scheduled to resume on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, the Senate and House of Representatives will now reconvene on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. According to a statement from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the extension will allow…