Author: Mayor

Barcelona tightened their grip on the LaLiga title race with a narrow 1-0 victory over RCD Mallorca at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, extending their unbeaten run in the league to 14 matches (12 wins, 2 draws). The win moves them seven points clear at the top, although they have played a game more than their closest rivals. Fresh from a dramatic 4-3 comeback against Celta Vigo—where they netted three times in the final half-hour—Barcelona carried their momentum into this tie, despite manager Hansi Flick opting to rotate his side. Key forwards Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha were rested, with Lamine…

An inspector with the Rivers State Police Command, identified as Maxwell Zubu, reportedly took his own life in the Eagle Island area of Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Zubu was said to have served as a security aide to a former chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area. The precise circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear at the time of this report. Preliminary findings indicate the case has been reported to the police outpost at Eagle Island, which falls under the Azikiwe Police Division located at Illabouchi, Mile 2 Diobu in Port Harcourt. A source who spoke anonymously confirmed…

Suspected bandits killed seven people—including a vigilante—in separate attacks on Sunday, April 21, 2025, in Ilesha Baruba and Kemanji communities of Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas, Kwara North Senatorial District. According to the state police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire‑Adeyemi, “The state police command is investigating two grievous incidents that occurred on Sunday, April 21, 2025, in Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas of the state.” At around 9:30 p.m., ten armed men stormed the Ilesha Baruba Motor Park and opened fire on civilians gathered at a nearby relaxation spot. Six people—identified as Alhaji Ja’awire, AbdulJabar, Mohammed Nasamu, and three others—were…

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations that officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) extorted ₦5.2 million from a group of young men traveling from Ekiti to Ondo State. In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde Alao, the minister emphasized that any officer found culpable “will face the full weight of the law.” “We will not tolerate any form of misconduct from our security agencies,” he declared. “We are building a paramilitary that is disciplined, professional and serve Nigeria and Nigerians with…

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the Kremlin confirmed on Tuesday. Putin’s absence is linked to the travel restrictions imposed on him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant against the Russian leader. The warrant accuses him of orchestrating the forced deportation of children amid Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters about whether Putin would travel for the burial ceremony, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “No. The president has no such plans.” Pope Francis’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (9 a.m. BST). Ahead…

Gold prices soared to an unprecedented high on Tuesday, reaching $3,500.10 per ounce before slightly retreating to $3,467.87, as fears of a looming recession in the United States and escalating political tensions gripped global markets. The historic spike comes amid renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. In a heated social media post on Monday, Trump labeled Powell a “major loser” for refusing to cut interest rates, fuelling speculation that the President may be planning to remove the Fed chief. Rania Gule, a senior market analyst at trading group XS.com, attributed the surge in…

U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind two Republican contenders in the race for Arizona’s governorship. The candidates are businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson and Representative Andy Biggs. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump expressed admiration for both candidates and explained his decision to endorse them. “I like Karrin Taylor Robson of Arizona a lot, and when she asked me to Endorse her, with nobody else running, I Endorsed her, and was happy to do so,” Trump wrote. He added that things changed after Biggs unexpectedly joined the race. “When Andy Biggs decided to run for…

The Federal Government has announced the complete closure of the Ijora Bridge in Lagos State starting April 27, 2025, to enable critical repair works. This was disclosed by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, during an inspection of the bridge on Monday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). According to Kesha, Ijora Bridge—which connects the Ijora Causeway to Apapa—requires comprehensive maintenance, particularly the replacement of worn-out bearings beneath the bridge deck. She stated: “This bridge has been awarded for some time now in different phases. We are now at the final phase, which…

Burnley and Leeds United have secured automatic promotion to the Premier League, following pivotal results in the Championship on Monday. Burnley confirmed their top-flight return with a 2-1 victory over third-placed Sheffield United at Turf Moor, a result that also ensured Leeds’ promotion after their commanding 6-0 win against Stoke City earlier in the day. Club captain Josh Brownhill was the hero for Burnley, netting twice to seal the win and cap off a dominant season in which the Clarets have conceded just 15 goals with two games to spare. “I’m speechless,” Brownhill told Sky Sports. “All that hard work…

Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88 following complications from a stroke, the Vatican confirmed on Monday. According to his official death certificate, the stroke led to a coma and eventually caused “irreversible” heart failure. The pontiff died on Monday morning, nearly a month after he was discharged from a five-week hospital stay due to double pneumonia. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official cause of death. The Holy See Press Office released the medical report Monday evening. The report noted that Pope Francis had…