Author: David Great

A magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck off northeastern Japan’s Fukushima region on Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries after the earthquake, whose epicentre had a depth of 40 kilometres (25 miles) and which was also felt in Tokyo. TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, said “no abnormalities” had been detected at the stricken plant or others in the region. Japan, one of the world’s most tectonically active countries, has strict building standards designed to ensure structures can withstand even the most powerful earthquakes. The…

The Federal Government has stated that the recently hiked tariff for “Band A” electricity consumers is to allow distribution companies (DISCOs) maintain its machines and pay for gas The vice president of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musiliu Oseni, revealed this on Channels Television Politics Today on Wednesday. The increase, which was announced by NERC earlier on Wednesday, will see customers pay ₦225 kilowatts per hour, up from the current ₦66. Mr Oseni while explaining that the Commission is empowered by its Act to ensure that the licenses operating efficiently are allowed to recover sufficient revenue for the capital…

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been charged with misconduct after the Belgian protested the referee’s decision to award a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea, England’s Football Association said on Wednesday. Kompany was shown a red card for protesting against the spot-kick decision when Burnley’s Lorenz Assignon received a second yellow card for his foul, reducing the visitors to 10 men. “It’s alleged that the manager’s language and/or behaviour around the 40th minute was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting towards a match official and/or questioned their integrity,” the FA said in a statement. A frustrated Kompany later went on…

Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell is sidelined as he recovers from illness but right-back Malo Gusto is back in training and ready for their Premier League clash against Manchester United, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Wednesday. England international Chilwell also missed Chelsea’s 2-2 home draw against lowly Burnley on Saturday due to a leg injury after returning from international duty, while Frenchman Gusto was replaced by Alfie Gilchrist in the 87th minute. Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez are back in team training. Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu are continuing their…

Left-wing pan-Africanist, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on Tuesday became Senegal’s youngest president, pledging systemic change after years of deadly turmoil and announcing his mentor, opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, as prime minister. Faye, 44, has never previously held an elected office. He swept to a first-round victory on a promise of radical reform just 10 days after being released from prison. He took the presidential oath in front of hundreds of officials and several African heads of state at an exhibition centre in the new town of Diamniadio, near Dakar. He then returned to the capital, with his motorcade greeted by hundreds…

The Nigeria Customs Service has posted a total revenue of N1.3tn revenue for the first quarter of 2024. The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, also revealed that over 572 seizures were made with a duty-paid value of N10bn. Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Adeniyi said, “In the first quarter of 2024, the NCS demonstrated remarkable performance in revenue collection. Total revenue collected during this period amounted to NGN 1,347,675,608,972.75. The collection for the first quarter represents a substantial increase of 122.35% compared to the same period last year, where NGN 606,119,935,146.67. “When compared to the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, on Thursday, arraign Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, two top officials of Binance Holdings Ltd, on five counts of money laundering charges. It was gathered on Tuesday that Binance, Mr Gambaryan and Mr Anjarwalla, who escaped from lawful custody on March 22 and fled Nigeria, will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court. The crypto exchange firm and Messrs Gambaryan and Anjarwalla are listed as the first to third defendants, respectively. But Mr Anjarwalla, who the EFCC describes as “at large” in the counts,…

The Zamfara government has ordered immediate restriction of movement along the state’s borders with Katsina and Sokoto from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The commissioner for information and culture, Manir Haidara, disclosed this to journalists in Gusau on Tuesday. Haidara noted that the directive was part of the decision of the State Security Council Meeting. “As from today, the state government has ordered restriction of movement along Yankara border of Zamfara with Katsina state and Bimasa Zamfara border with Sokoto state from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily. NAF air strikes kill terrorists, destroy hideouts in Katsina, Zamfara “This is…

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a left-wing pan-Africanist, was sworn in Tuesday as Senegal’s youngest president after sweeping to a first-round victory on a pledge of radical reform 10 days after he was released from prison. The 44-year-old has never before held an elected office but several African leaders attended the ceremony in the new town of Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar. “Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfil the office of President of the Republic of Senegal,” Faye said before the gathered officials. He also vowed to “scrupulously observe the provisions of the Constitution and the laws”…

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in Tuesday before parliament for his third term in office as leader of the Arab world’s most populous country. In power for the past decade, Sisi is set to remain president until 2030, after winning a December election with 89.6 percent of the vote against three relative unknowns. The six-year term is set to be the 69-year-old’s last, unless he again ushers through a constitutional amendment prolonging his tenure. The oath also marked the inauguration of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, located in the desert east of Cairo, local media reported. Egypt’s al-Sisi re-elected…