TODAY - Latest breaking news and top stories from Nigeria and the world

The highly infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that is predominant in the United Kingdom may be up to 70 percent more deadly than previous strains, according to a report by the government’s scientific advisers.

Nigeria records 51 new coronavirus infections

Insecurity: U.S. warns citizens against travelling to Nigeria

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio has denied the allegation that he bribed the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State.

Senator Akpabio: EFCC did not detain me

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi says the easiest and safest way to end insecurity in the north is to negotiate peace with the bandits that have turned the region into a killing field.

Sheik Gumi: Banditry now war situation

today

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headlines

2. Jorge Masvidal has admitted suffering a knockout in the hands of Kamaru Usman in front of his family and friends really hurts.

Kamaru Usman: I want to maintain my winning formula

Greenfield University

Group demands rescue of abducted students

Traditionalist: Governors, monarchs need ‘big sacrifices’ to curb insecurity in Yorubaland

Nollywood actress Biodun Okeowo has vowed to lay curses on her colleague, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha if he is found guilty of paedophilia.

Nollywood actress: I will curse Baba Ijesha if found guilty

The highly infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that is predominant in the United Kingdom may be up to 70 percent more deadly than previous strains, according to a report by the government’s scientific advisers.

Spain arrests Mallorca man for spreading coronavirus

Greek Cypriots march during a reunification rally along the medieval walls circling the divided capital Nicosia [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]

Cyprus rivals seek ‘common ground’ at Geneva talks

The Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala in 2014. Eric Ireng/Associated Press

Indonesia authorities say 53 submarine crew members dead

business

The Federal Road Safety Corps has alerted Nigerians on the withdrawal of about 10,000 Ampera Motor vehicles by its manufacturer, Frankfurt-Opel.

FRSC ‘bans’ Ampera vehicles on Nigerian roads

The partial closure of Nigeria’s land border with neighbours will continue beyond January 2020 and will only be terminated until the set objectives are achieved.

Ex-NLC leader advocates effective border policing, technology

The Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr Akan Okon discloses this at a session with journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital yesterday.

Akwa Ibom justifies location of Ibom deep seaport, industrial...

Bitcoin can baffle even bigger-fish investors [Dado Ruvic-Reuters]

Bitcoin drops below $50,000

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has said that in October, last year, it removed no fewer than 20,089 unverified pensioners from its payroll.

Insurers deny non-remittance of N17.4 billion pension legacy fund to PTAD

Petrol queues: NNPC increases daily PMS truck-out to 1, 661

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

President Buhari returns ownership of four oil blocks to NNPC

Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, says state and local governments share some of the responsibility to fix roads in Nigeria.

FAAC: Federal government, states, local councils share N680 billion

nigeria

Reddit and Twitter have filed supporting evidence in a lawsuit against the US government, which challenges the requirement that nearly all visa applicants submit their social media handles for scrutiny.

Reddit faces lawsuit over child sexual abuse material

Bandits attack church, kill medical doctor, abduct many in Kaduna

Group demands rescue of abducted students

Traditionalist: Governors, monarchs need ‘big sacrifices’ to curb insecurity in Yorubaland

Gunmen attack JTF, Customs checkpoints in Rivers

africa

Banking services have resumed in the capital of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region for the first time since conflict broke out there on November 4, state-run Fana TV reported on Monday.

Official: Death toll from mid-April ethnic clashes in Ethiopia...

Angola made her Africa’s richest woman, but the tide has turned

Chadian rebels vow to resume advance after Idriss Deby’s funeral

Liberia pledges to prevent attacks on Ivory Coast from its territory

Jeffrey Feltman named U.S. special envoy for Horn of Africa

world

“What I know is the prime minister has personally met the costs of the flat refurbishment and that is what people in Britain want to know,” Liz Truss, Britain’s trade minister, told BBC television on Sunday.

Minister: British premier paid for apartment refurbishment himself

Spain arrests Mallorca man for spreading coronavirus

Cyprus rivals seek ‘common ground’ at Geneva talks

Indonesia authorities say 53 submarine crew members dead

French police worker’s killer watched jihadist videos just before attack – prosecutor

sports

Manuel Neuer has explained his uncharacteristic mistake during Bayern Munich's shock Bundesliga defeat away at Mainz, insisting it was a flutter ball.

Manuel Neuer explains Mainz mistake in shock Bayern Munich...

2. Jorge Masvidal has admitted suffering a knockout in the hands of Kamaru Usman in front of his family and friends really hurts.

Kamaru Usman: I want to maintain my winning formula

Following the successful defence of his welterweight title belt against Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman has declared that he’s now the best fighter in the UFC.

Kamaru Usman: I’m the best fighter in the world!

Liverpool were forced to apologise as the Premier League club ditched their controversial plan to furlough non-playing staff during the coronavirus on Monday, while FIFA urged players and clubs to reach agreement over wage reductions.

FSG rejects £3 billion offer to sell Liverpool

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke believes German football is facing the greatest crisis in its history as it attempts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Borussia Dortmund chief confirms BVB, Bayern Munich reject Super League

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin during a press conference REUTERS-Yves Herman-File Photo

UEFA supremo: European Super League players will be banned from international...

Slovan Bratislava lost its appeal Friday against exclusion from the Champions League by UEFA after players tested positive for COVID-19 in pre-game checks.

UEFA announces new Champions League format with group stage axed

Wales manager Ryan Giggs has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, Kate Greville, it was reported on Monday night.

Ryan Giggs charged with assaulting two women, will not coach Wales...

art

Netflix partners Ikorodu Bois on Oscars film brand campaign

NCAC chief calls for reinforcement of cultural ties between Nigeria, Bangladesh

Omobaba: Male skit makers should stop dressing like women

World Theatre Day: SONTA renews commitment to rebuilding of country

Germany’s move to return stolen Benin bronzes piles pressure on Britain

film

FILE PHOTO: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed, Craig Foster receive Documentary BAFTA award for "My Octopus Teacher", during the 74th British Academy Film Awards in London, Britain, April 11, 2021. BAFTA/Handout via REUTERS

Human-octopus love story up for best documentary Oscar

Ini Edo: I cannot step out without lipstick

Harry Potter star Paul Ritter passes on

HBO announces plans to celebrate 10th anniversary of ‘Game of Thrones’

Ex-BBNaija star Omashola Oburoh debut in new movie

people

Nollywood actress Biodun Okeowo has vowed to lay curses on her colleague, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha if he is found guilty of paedophilia.

Nollywood actress: I will curse Baba Ijesha if found...

Tonto Dikeh: Baba Ijesha must rot in jail

Don Jazzy: Disrespecting wife over bride price is shallow mindset

Caitlyn Jenner announces bid for California governor

South African rapper breaks silence on tragic death of fiancée

technology

SpaceX launched its third crew of astronauts to the International Space Station early Friday morning, reusing a Crew Dragon space capsule to fly humans for the first time. The mission, dubbed Crew-2, is the latest flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and will add four more astronauts to the orbital space station.

Astronauts arrive at space station aboard SpaceX Endeavour

Online racist abuse directed at football players has reached a “crisis point” and social media platforms must join forces with authorities to tackle the problem more quickly, according to Britain’s sports minister, Nigel Huddleston.

British minister: Online racism attack on footballers at ‘crisis’...

Facebook launches coronavirus vaccine awareness in Nigeria

YouTube has suspended Donald Trump’s channel for seven days, saying content had violated its policies on inciting violence. Lucy Nicholson-Reuters

YouTube makes it easier to save on data with new video...

FILE PHOTO: Representations of the Ripple, Bitcoin, Etherum and Litecoin virtual currencies are seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture, February 13, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Nigeria’s crypto crackdown may not be best way forward

SpaceX launched its third crew of astronauts to the International Space Station early Friday morning, reusing a Crew Dragon space capsule to fly humans for the first time. The mission, dubbed Crew-2, is the latest flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and will add four more astronauts to the orbital space station.

Astronauts arrive at space station aboard SpaceX Endeavour

Airtel Africa gets $500 million loan facility to refinance Eurobond

Bejing will announce the name of its first Mars rover on the Space Day of China, which falls on April 24, according to authorities on Monday.

China to announce name of its first Mars rover

opinion

Patrick Olusegun Odegbami

Re-setting button of Nigerian football administration

National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also known as the “Lion of Bourdillon” appears set to roar into action as the race for the 2023 presidential ticket of the ruling party in the country begins in earnest.

2023: Why Senator Tinubu should run for president

The South West presidential hopefuls

Eight Chinese bomber planes and four fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Saturday, and Taiwan’s air force deployed missiles to “monitor” the incursion, island’s Defence Ministry said.

China and Taiwan’s arms build-up

A study in the United States, shows AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine provides strong protection against coronavirus and eliminates hospitalizations and deaths from the disease across all age groups, the company announced on Monday.

COVAX: Unity is delivering for the world