A knife-wielding Palestinian assailant stabbed and seriously wounded a female Israeli soldier before being shot dead in annexed east Jerusalem on Monday, police said. Separately, the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces killed a young Palestinian man and seriously injured three others in the town of Halhul, in the south of the occupied West Bank. “A terrorist armed with a knife arrived at Shalem police station and stabbed a female soldier… border police forces neutralised the terrorist by shooting,” police said in a statement. Police said a female soldier was seriously wounded and another suffered light injuries. The Israeli emergency…
Author: Editor Francis
The Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has cautioned currency speculators as the naira continues appreciating against the US dollar. ABCON President Aminu Gwadabe stated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is prepared to clamp down on speculators to support the naira’s rebound. “The CBN has the tools and rationale to sustain the naira’s gains,” Gwadabe said. “It’s now very risky to hoard foreign currency or attack the naira.” Gwadabe described the current market conditions as “panic selling rather than panic buying” of foreign currency. He advised caution in shorting the naira given the CBN’s aggressive defense.…
A group of students from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have filed a lawsuit against Governor Seyi Makinde and other officials over the relocation of the university’s Faculty of Agricultural Sciences to a new campus in Iseyin. The second-year students were recently instructed to transfer to the new Faculty of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin for the current semester, prompting backlash. The lawsuit, filed at the Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso, lists four students – Akintayo Abdulqoyuum Ajibola, Onwi Edet, Ezekiel Ogunmola, and Aderemi Olude – as plaintiffs on behalf of…
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola delivered a remarkable performance, setting a new course record, while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri secured the women’s race victory. Tamirat Tola, the reigning 2022 world champion from Ethiopia, established his dominance by breaking away from the men’s pack at Mile 20, achieving a remarkable course record time of 2:04:58. This victory marked his first-ever Marathon Major win. Tola spent much of the final six miles running independently, showcasing his strength and determination. On the women’s side, Hellen Obiri of Kenya emerged as the victor in a competitive field. In the final stretch inside Manhattan’s Central Park, Obiri made…
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative has opened a new CNG conversion center in Kaduna State, part of efforts to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal. At the inauguration on Saturday, Initiative Steering Committee Chairman Zacch Adedeji said the center will convert conventional petrol vehicles to CNG-powered ones.He noted the facilities represent Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner, more affordable energy solutions. Adedeji stated the transformation will “not only reduce operating costs for vehicle owners but also substantially decrease carbon emissions.” Program Director Michael Oluwagbemi said the event marks major progress towards cleaner, cost-effective, eco-friendly energy. “This…
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a special police force dedicated to combating illegal mining across Nigeria. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, revealed the plans during an interview on NTA’s Weekend File program while outlining strategies to increase mining’s contribution to the economy. Alake said intelligence reports indicate some illegal miners are directly responsible for increased banditry in parts of the country. As a result, he has worked with security agencies and the National Security Adviser on creating the new police force, which President Muhammadu Buhari supports. “We are going to create a special…
A former gang member, long linked to the murder of rap icon, Tupac Shakur 25 years ago, pleaded not guilty in a US court. Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, was charged in September with the murder, even though he wasn’t the one holding the weapon in the Las Vegas gang feud. Davis, a former member of Compton’s South Side Crips gang, had previously admitted his role, claiming he was the “on-site commander” seeking revenge for an assault on his nephew. In a Las Vegas court appearance, Davis denied the charge of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to…
The Lagos Court of Appeal has overturned the victory of Darlington Nwokocha, the Labour Party candidate, in the February 25 election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially declared Nwokocha the winner in Abia Central with 92,116 votes, defeating his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, Augustine Akobundu, who garnered 41,477 votes. Darlington Nwokocha, the incumbent minority whip in the Senate, was challenged by Akobundu, a former Minister of State for Defence, who alleged fraud and non-compliance with electoral regulations by INEC in the election. The election petition tribunal dismissed Akobundu’s petition in September, prompting the PDP candidate to take…
The leadership tussle within the Hausa community of Ibadan took a new turn on Saturday as the Council of Arewa Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in the 17 southern states rejected the suspension of Sarkin Sasa, Haruna Maiyasin, by Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ali Zungeru. The council stated that Zungeru lacks the moral and constitutional authority to suspend Maiyasin, who was appointed by the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Oloyede Asanike, in 1983 and made Chairman of the Council in 1994 by late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha. Speaking on behalf of the council, Sarkin Samari of Shuwa/Arab of…
During a press conference on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated America’s staunch backing of Israel’s right to self-defense while urging increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and long-term efforts toward a two-state solution. The visit, Blinken’s fourth since the major Hamas attack on October 7, came amid criticism that Israel’s military response has been disproportionate. However, Blinken defended its actions, citing disturbing footage of terrorist attacks on Israeli families. Blinken pressed Israeli leaders on concrete steps to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, calling it a legal and moral imperative, as well as strategically important to prevent extremism. He…
Sub-Saharan African nations, with Nigeria at the forefront, have been issued a cautionary note by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), regarding their economic affiliations with China. This warning comes amidst reports indicating that Nigeria’s debt to China had risen to $4.73 billion as of June 30, 2023. Nigeria’s External Debt to China Sees Significant Increase Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), reveals a substantial increase in Nigeria’s debt to China, surging by $800 million in just one year. As of June 30, 2022, the debt stood at $3.93 billion, climbing to $4.73 billion by June 30, 2023. This debt…
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves outlined steps to strengthen economic engagement between the United States and African nations during a press briefing Wednesday in Johannesburg. Graves is leading an American delegation at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum ministerial meetings. He said bolstering bilateral commercial relationships is a top priority for the Biden administration. “Fostering new economic engagement with African countries is a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration. Shared, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth has been at the forefront of the President’s goals at the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit in December and everything since. And since…