IN many parts of the Christian world, female church leaders are no longer unusual. But until now, the Holy Land – where events in the Bible are set – had not seen a local woman ordained. On Sunday, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, Sally Azar, became its first woman pastor at an event at the Lutheran church in the heart of the Old City, attended by hundreds of international well-wishers. “I got more excited seeing the excitement of other people,” Reverend Azar told me. “It’s an indescribable feeling to take this step with the support of the church.” “I hope that…
Author: Editor
Read More
TEN people have died following a shooting at a ballroom dance studio in the Californian city of Monterey Park, near Los Angeles, police said. Police say another 10 people are injured and the suspect remains at large. The shooting happened at about 22:20 local time on Saturday (06:20 GMT on Sunday). Thousands of people had earlier gathered in the city for the Monterey Park Lunar New Year festival. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they were seeking a male suspect who fled the scene, but did not provide any other details about him. Captain Andrew Meyer said that emergency…
GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, yesterday attended a civic reception in honour of former Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak who exited the service in October last year after attaining mandatory retirement age. Speaking at the occasion, Governor Inuwa described Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak as a great son of Gombe State who uplifted the name of the state and lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. The governor congratulated the former Chief Judge for a peaceful retirement, lauding his contributions to the growth of the Judiciary and development of justice system in the state and the country in…
GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says his government recognises the pivotal roles and contributions of the private sector and businesses in economic growth and the overall development of Gombe State. The governor, who was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executives of Gombe State Inter-Local Market Traders Association held at Custodian Hotel, Gombe, also announced a 250 million Naira grant for the traders to boost their capital with assurance of his readiness to continue supporting their course and interests in order to boost economic activities in the state. Governor Inuwa said considering his background in trade, he is…
THE Edo State Police Command has charged eight suspects to court for the abduction of over 20 passengers and two Nigerian Railway Corporation staff on January 7, 2023, following an attack by gunmen on the Igueben Train Station in Edo Central. In a court document exclusively obtained by our correspondent, the police charged the suspects; Ibadin Hamilton, Ighoko Odion, Okojie Ewa, Okie Patrick, Friday Ighedujiemu, Halilu Umaru, Aminu Ibrahim, and Isah Aliyu for criminal conspiracy and kidnapping. The charge sheet dated January 17, 2023, was filed by the Legal Section State Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters, Benin City. The document…
POLICE in Niger State have arrested 33 suspects over the killing of a Lambata village head, Mohammed Abdulsafur and burning of a police station at Latin Korro. Last weekend, some irate youths of Lambata in large numbers stormed the residence of the village head and killed him. The youths inflicted serious injuries on him and his younger brother, Ibrahim Mohammed for unexplained reasons. Police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said yesterday that operatives led by the area commander in Suleja on the instruction of the commissioner, Ogundele Ayodeji, swung into action and conducted a house-to-house search with some witnesses and 14 suspects…
THOUSANDS of supporters from Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema are flocking to the venue, in the city of Mwanza, of its first rally since a six-and-a-half year ban on such gatherings was lifted a fortnight ago. Some of the party faithful – bubbling with excitement – were clad in their party uniforms as they were moving through the city riding their motorcycles and chanting on top of their voices. Security was equally tight around the city and its surroundings as some police officers had parked their vans besides the roads while others were escorting the procession. John Mrema, a Chadema…
SECURITY forces in Burkina Faso have rescued over 66 women and children after they were kidnapped by suspected militant jihadists in the north of the country last week, state TV reports. In an unprecedented mass kidnapping, the victims were seized while gathering food in an area hit by an insurgency. They were found on a bus at a security checkpoint some 200km (125 miles) south of where they were taken, reports say. It is not clear if their captors have also been detained. On Friday night, state TV showed pictures of the children and women, some with babies on their…
A US air strike assisting government troops in Somalia has killed about 30 Islamist al-Shabab militants, the US military says. The operation happened near the town of Galcad, about 260km (162 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu. Over the past few days, the Somali army and al-Shabab militants have fought for control of the town. Friday’s air strike came as the army was being attacked by more than 100 militants, the US Africa Command says. Earlier the Islamists killed seven soldiers after storming a military base in Galcad. Somalia’s Information Ministry said dozens of the militants were killed. Al-Shabab has…
FORMER Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick to help Lyon into the last 16 of the French Cup with victory over fifth-tier Chambery. All three of striker Lacazette’s goals were poacher’s efforts, slotting in from close range following cutbacks. Laurent Blanc’s Lyon side last won the competition in 2012 and are currently ninth in Ligue 1. Defending champions Nantes travel to fifth-tier side ES Thaon today.
A FIRST-half flurry helped Atletico Madrid thrash Real Valladolid and stay in the top four in the La Liga table. Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and Mario Hermoso all struck before the break for Diego Simeone’s side, who sit 10 points behind leaders Barcelona. The victory, just Simeone’s second in seven games, also included a debut for recent signing Memphis Depay. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to keep pressure on the top two in La Liga. The victory, a fifth in succession in La Liga and ninth straight in all competitions, drew Sociedad level on points with second-place Real…
NAPOLI went 12 points above second-placed AC Milan at the top of Serie A after beating Salernitana. Giovanni di Lorenzo scored shortly before half-time, and Victor Osimhen added another after the break for the visitors. Osimhen is now three goals above Inter’s Lautaro Martinez in the race for Serie A’s Golden Boot. Napoli are looking to end their 33-year wait for a Scudetto, having not won it since Diego Maradona was their captain. Luciano Spalletti’s side have lost only one league match this season, a 1-0 defeat by Inter Milan earlier this month. They have won the Serie A title…
RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike has dared the Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend him or any of the G5 governors as they did to Ekiti State executive committee and some PDP members in the state. The Rivers governor stated this on Saturday at the campaign flag-off rally by the State PDP Campaign Council in Bori, Khana Local Government Area. Wike described Ayu’s action as nothing but despotism, which will not do the PDP any good in the forthcoming general elections. He explained that the reason why the dissolution of the Ekiti…
THE Editor-in-chief of UN Dispatch and host of a global dispatches podcast has attracted criticism after tweeting a thread saying that Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi’s popularity stemmed from the #EndSars movement which he says was inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests and the killing of George Floyd in the US. Mark Leon Goldberg tweeted: “If Peter Obi ends up winning the presidential elections in Nigeria, you could argue that it would represent the most significant political impact of the George Floyd protests anywhere in the world — including the US.” ‘The tweet has had thousands of interactions since…
THE Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri has called on youths to shun electoral violence and use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to elect credible leaders with the capacity to deliver on sustainable development, peace and economic prosperity. The governor said this while addressing youths during a programme tagged, ‘Prosperity Youths Day 2023’, at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene. He described the PVC as a tool that confers political power on the electorate and that what the youths needs is the card, which he said is more powerful than an AK-47 rifle. He said, “The PVC is your AK-47. You…
THE former US astronaut Buzz Aldrin has got married for the fourth time on his 93rd birthday. Mr Aldrin piloted the legendary Apollo 11 spaceflight in 1969, becoming one of the first two people to walk on the moon after the mission’s commander, Neil Armstrong. The former pilot said that he and new wife Anca Faur were as “excited as eloping teenagers”. He is one of only three people alive to have walked on the moon. Pictures from their Los Angeles ceremony were shared by Mr Aldrin on Twitter. “On my 93rd birthday and the day I will be honoured…
AN adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the West’s “indecision” over sending extra weapons to Ukraine is “killing more of our people”. “Every day of delay is the death of Ukrainians,” Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter. His remarks come after Ukraine’s defence minister said he had a “frank discussion” with his German counterpart about German Leopard 2 tanks, which Kyiv is urgently requesting to confront Russian armour. Germany has insisted that it is not blocking the delivery of German-made Leopard tanks, which other countries want to send. “We had a frank discussion on Leopards 2. To be continued,”…
AHEAD of Sunday’s Premier League showdown at the Emirates Stadium, former Super Eagles midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, has predicted that Man United will pick the maximum points against Arsenal. Recall that Erik ten Hag’s men are the only team to beat Arsenal this season, after winning 3-1 at Old Trafford. However, the Nigerian international in a chat with SuperSport, stated that the Gunners have made the Emirates a fortress this ongoing season. “Arsenal have made the Emirates a fortress this season. “But the spoilers (Manchester United) are in town. “So I will predict Arsenal 1 Manchester United 2,” Olofinjana said.
THE two giants, who have been in constant pursuit of major prizes in recent seasons, are currently locked well outside the top four – and how it showed in a dismal game almost devoid of entertainment and quality. Chelsea had an early Kai Havertz strike ruled out for offside by VAR and there was also a lively debut as a second-half substitute for £89m new boy Mykhailo Mudryk, while Liverpool keeper Alisson saved well from another new Chelsea signing, defender Benoit Badiashile. Liverpool’s own £45m recruit Cody Gakpo was quiet – he did force one save from Kepa, but otherwise…
NIGERIANS voting for a new president next month will have 18 contenders to choose from but the three men seen as the leading candidates have been separately accused of trading in narcotics, money laundering and global tax avoidance. None of them has ever been indicted, which would rule them out from running for office, but the high-profile allegations have raised questions over their candidacy. “It is choosing between bad candidates,” said Auwal Rafsanjani, head of the Nigerian branch of anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, pointing out how widespread corruption has caused devastating levels of underdevelopment and poverty in the oil-rich nation.…