News & Announcements

The Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has rolled out a road map for next year’s 2024 Hajj exercise.

Al-Rabiah unveiled the plan on Friday at the headquarters of the ministry in Makkah in a meeting with the leadership of the hajj missions that participated in the 2023 hajj exercise.

The session was to mark the end of the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage performed by more than two million pilgrims from over 160 countries.

Al-Rabiah disclosed that preparations for next year’s hajj would begin with the issuance of letters to countries that announced the commencement of preparations for the exercise.

The Minister said this would be followed by the issuance of letters of confirmation of the number of pilgrims slots allocated to participating countries.

He said for the 2024 pilgrimage, preparatory meetings would be held from September 16 to November 4 of this year; while an international symposium and exhibition would be organised on January 8.

Al-Rabiah said accommodation and masha’er contracts would be concluded on February 25; while visa issuance would begin on March 1 and close on April 29.

He added that the first set of pilgrims for the next year’s hajj exercise would arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on May 9.

He advised participating countries to prepare early enough for the pilgrimage in order to get their preferred locations at Masha’er (Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah).

At the meeting, Iraq was announced as the winner of the 2023 Labbaikum Hajj Services Award. Gambia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Azerbaijan were also recognised for their performance in various hajj operations.

At least two people were killed and 28 wounded in a mass shooting early Sunday in the US city of Baltimore, police said.

Police received multiple calls about a shooting just after 12:30 am Sunday (04:30 GMT) in the city’s Brooklyn neighbourhood in Maryland state, Acting Police Commissioner Rich Worley said during a press conference.

“Upon officers’ arrival we located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds,” Worley said.

“One adult woman was found deceased at the scene and nine additional victims were transported from the location to area hospitals,” he said.

Twenty other victims went to hospitals in the region, the commissioner added.

The other deceased victim was also an adult.

Three people are in critical condition, he said.

Worley said authorities were working to identify a suspect and determine a motive for the shooting.

“This is an absolute tragedy that did not have to happen,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said at the press conference.

“It again highlights the impacts and the need to deal with the over-proliferation of illegal guns on our streets and the ability for those who should not have them to get their hands on them,” Scott said.

“We will not stop until we find those cowards who decided to just shoot dozens of people, causing two people to lose their lives,” he said.

With more firearms than inhabitants, the United States has the highest rate of gun deaths of any developed country — 20,200 in 2022, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Elon Musk stated on Saturday that Twitter will temporarily limit the number of tweets users could see every day, in an effort to limit the use of the site’s data by artificial intelligence firms.

Verified accounts are limited to reading 6,000 tweets per day. Non-verified users, or free accounts, which account for the vast majority of users, are limited to reading 600 tweets every day.

New unverified accounts would have a tweet limit of 300.

The decision was made “to address extreme levels of data scraping” and “system manipulation” by third-party platforms, Musk said in a tweet Saturday afternoon, as some users quickly hit their limits.

Twitter would “soon” raise the ceiling to 8,000 tweets per day for verified accounts, 800 for unverified accounts and 400 for new unverified accounts, Musk said.

Twitter’s billionaire owner did not give a timeline for how long the measures would be in place.

The day before, Musk had announced that it would no longer be possible to read tweets on the site without an account.

Much of the data scraping was coming from firms using it to build their AI models, Musk said, to the point that it was causing traffic issues with the site.

In creating AI that can respond in a human-like capacity, many companies feed them examples of real-life conversations from social media sites.

“Several hundred organizations (maybe more) were scraping Twitter data extremely aggressively, to the point where it was affecting the real user experience,” Musk said.

“Almost every company doing AI, from startups to some of the biggest corporations on Earth, was scraping vast amounts of data,” he said.

“It is rather galling to have to bring large numbers of servers online on an emergency basis just to facilitate some AI startup’s outrageous valuation.”

Twitter is not the only social media giant to have to wrangle with the rapid acceleration of the AI sector.

In mid-June, Reddit raised prices on third-party developers that were using its data and sweeping up conversations posted on its forums.

It proved a controversial move, as many regular users also accessed the site via third-party platforms, and marked a shift from previous arrangements where social media data had generally been provided for free or a small charge.

Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has urged Nigerian Army (NA) soldiers to supplement their military effort with prayers for the Nigerian Army (NA) to be successful in its operational operations.

The Army Chief issued the rallying cry on Sunday at the Mogadishu Military Cantonment in Abuja during the Interdenominational Church Service commemorating the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2023.

Remember that on Wednesday, the NA began celebrating its 160th anniversary since 1867, when 18 men who became known as the Glover Hausas of the Royal Navy came together to build the formidable force that it is today.

According to Gen. Lagbaja, the NA continues to be a force to be reckoned with in Africa and throughout the world.

He pointed out that the Interdenominational Church Service is one of a number of events planned for all NA formations and units to celebrate the NA’s founding as a sign of racial unification and unity.

“It also provides the opportunity for prayers and supplications to be made to God Almighty on behalf of the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation in general”.

“As we mark our 160th year, I must confess that our journey has not been a bed of roses, as the Nigerian Army, in the course of holding our nation together, has fought a civil war, participated in peacekeeping cum peace enforcement missions and is currently involved in combating terrorism, insurgency and other criminalities across the country”, the Army Chief averred”, he said.

Gen Lagbaja reiterated that the various engagements of the NA within and outside the shores of Nigeria have resulted in the loss of loved ones and breadwinners.

“We have bled, we have piled up the wounded in action, and the population of our widows and widowers as well as orphans has swelled. Our sacrifices are for the love of God, humanity and country,” he stated.

In the belief that God Almighty will grant the NA and the Nigerian Armed Forces success, he advised every member of the NA to consider the security issues and include them in their prayers.

The COAS tasked all personnel with continuing to make every effort to repay the government’s kindness by being obedient, disciplined, patriotic, and unflappable while they face security challenges in the many theaters of operations.

He promised to devote more time to the welfare and well-being of the troops under his charge.

The murderers of Mrs. Martina Itagbor, who was accused of witchcraft in the state’s Akamkpa Local Government Area on June 18, are being sought by the Cross River State Police Command.

The murderers of Mrs. Martina Itagbor, who was accused of witchcraft in the state’s Akamkpa Local Government Area on June 18, are being sought by the Cross River State Police Command.

CP Gyogon Grimah, the police commissioner, issued an order directing the pursuit, capture, and legal prosecution of the offenders.

This information was released to the media on Saturday in the state capital of Calabar by SP Irene Ugbo, the Command’s PPRO.

The Commissioner emphasized that no person or organization has the right to take another life under any pretext whatsoever while describing the situation as regrettable.

Following the passing of two brothers in a car accident, it was learnt that the dead, Mrs. Itagbor, a mother of four, had been accused of witchcraft.

The mother of four was attacked and had her fingers cut off shortly after the charges.

Some enraged youngsters from the Old Netim neighborhood in Akamkpa Council then set her on fire.

CP Grimah claims that because no one has the right to take another person’s life, the police take the practice of “jungle justice” seriously and will stop at nothing to prevent it from happening again.

“The issue of jungle justice is one crime that the Police does not take lightly and, as such, we have already commenced manhunt for those responsible for the dastardly act.

“Those responsible, no matter how highly placed, will be arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

“We are going to treat them like the criminals that they are, and no stone would be left unturned on this matter.

“They can only run but won’t hide. Enough is enough. Jungle justice is not the solution.

“All those involved in the murder of Mrs Itagbor would be brought to book, and the law will take it’s full cause. We won’t relent until they are in our custody,” CP Grimah assured.

Senator Bassey Otu, the governor of Cross River State, has stated that no type of brigandage or criminal activity will be tolerated because the state, like the rest of the nation, is controlled by the constitution.

The governor gave law enforcement agencies the go-ahead to make arrests and make sure that those responsible face the full force of the law, according to a statement from his chief press secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche.

If accurate, the accusation, according to Governor Otu, is not only disgusting but also savage.

Otu said; “My attention has been drawn to the alleged burning to death of a citizen of the state, Madam Martina Itagbor of Old Netim in Akamkpa LGA by some unscrupulous, wild and criminally-minded youths.

“It is sheer savagery and cowardice for the youths or anybody to take the laws into their hands, moreso involving a helpless woman.

“Such abhorrent acts have no place in our constitutional democracy that Nigeria practices which our state is part of.

“Our people must do away with all relics of culture that promotes violence, murder and criminality such as in this instance.

“To this end, I am directing the Commissioner of Police in the state to mobilize all tactical and investigative assets and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice.

“I further wish to warn against all of such acts as we have laws and statutes to deal with such of wrongdoings and disagreements.

“As an administration committed to the People’s First Agenda, my administration will be intolerant to acts capable of breaching the peace, endangering citizens and businesses and portraying the state in a bad light.

“I urge all community leaders, religious institutions and civil society organisations to do more in the area of civic education while championing the crusade for tolerance and respecting constituted authority, especially amongst our youths as anyone found taking the laws into their hands will be made to have their day in court,” Governor Otu said.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God was invaded on Saturday by a group of armed men, who killed the pastor and kidnapped seven worshipers at Abule-Ori in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The incident happened at the vigil about twelve o’clock, according to our correspondent.

The State So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the incident and said his officers successfully freed seven churchgoers from captivity while also killing one of the kidnappers.

Ganzallo, in a statement issued by the So-Safe Corps Director of Information and Public Relations, Moruf Yusuf, said, “The special operation team of the Corps, Owode-Egba Zonal Command, under ACC Jimoh Rasaki Omoniyi, received a distress call that some of the members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Desires of Nations Parish, under Ogun Province 22, Abule-Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, were attacked during a vigil, while seven members of the church were kidnapped and the pastor killed.

“The seven victims were rescued unhurt, while one of the kidnappers was killed and many of the suspects sustained serious injury during a fire exchange.”

Omolola Odutola, the state command’s police public relations officer, also confirmed the occurrence and stated that the command was informed.

Odutola claimed that Adesina Oyesegun, one of the church’s pastors, reported the event to the local police station.

The PPRO added that at about 03:30 pm on Saturday, Oyesegun said, “He was in church with other pastors and church members, when some hoodlums numbering about seven invaded their church, attacked them with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons with intent to Kidnap members.

She said, “The hoodlums were shooting sporadically, and as a result, one Pastor Kayode Oluwakemi, 56, sustained bullet wounds on his chest and unfortunately died on the spot.

“The villagers and security men in the area attracted the neighbouring villagers and security men, who confronted the suspected Kidnappers in a gun duel.

“The kidnapped victims have regained their freedom.

“Some of the Suspected Kidnappers escaped with bullet wounds, one yet to be identified suspected kidnapper was neutralised while combing the bush and the corpse was deposited at Owode Egba General Hospital Morgue.

“Effort is in progress to arrest the other fleeing suspects that are still at large.”

On Sunday, President Bola Tinubu traveled from Lagos, where he had been spending the Sallah holidays, to Abuja.

Tinubu saluted the Nigerian Army parade before leaving the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The president paid a courtesy visit to the chieftains of Ijebu, Egba, and Eko during his five days in Lagos.

He also played host to the President of Guinea Bissau and Chairman, Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, Umaro Sissoco Embalo in his Lagos residence on Saturday.

A bus that caught fire overnight on a highway in western India on Saturday left at least 25 people dead and eight more injured, according to authorities.

After midnight, the bus was headed to the city of Pune when it collided with a pole, crashed, and caught fire from its diesel tank, according to senior police official Baburao Mahamuni, speaking to AFP.

“There were about 30-35 people on the bus. Twenty-five people have died and eight others are injured,” he said.

A hospital at the disaster site in Maharashtra state, around 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Mumbai, India’s financial hub, has admitted the injured, including the bus driver.

Police said they had launched an inquiry into the crash.

“The priority at this moment is to identify the bodies and hand them over to their family members,” local media quoted police superintendent Sunil Kadasane as saying.

Images showed the bus engulfed in flames and later the charred remains of the vehicle overturned on the highway.

Three children were among the dead, a police officer told reporters.

“Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon.”

Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, expressed “deep grief” over the incident and promised the relatives of the deceased victims 500,000 rupees ($6,100) in compensation.

On India’s extensive network of roads, which are infamously unsafe and badly maintained, accidents are frequent.

The biggest contributing factors are driving too fast, failing to use a seatbelt, and not wearing a helmet. Two-wheeler sales greatly outpace those of cars.

Despite owning only 1% of the world’s vehicles, India is responsible for 11% of road fatalities, according to a World Bank report published in 2021.

According to the same statistic, 150,000 people die in car crashes in India each year, or one every four minutes.

The article continued by stating that road accidents cost the Indian economy $75 billion annually and that many accident victims fall into poverty as a result of high medical costs and lost wages.

At least 21 people were killed in a bus crash that occurred off a bridge in India in May, purportedly as a result of the driver dozing off behind the wheel.

Additionally, a bus carrying wedding guests ran off the road in northern India last October, plunging into a steep valley, killing at least 31 people.

Aniekan James, a native of the state’s Ikot Ndot village and Ukanafun Local Government, was accused of killing his only son, Odudu Aniekan James, who was 35 years old, by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday.

While presenting the suspect and 268 other people detained for a variety of offenses, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durusinmi, claimed that Aniekan James was a serial killer who had carried out similar killings in the states of Lagos and Abia.

The culprit was detained on June 16, 2023, according to the police chief, by agents from the Ukanafun Police Division.

“On 16/06/2023, one Aniekan James of Ikot Ndot village in Ukanafun L.G.A was arrested by Ukanafun Division for shooting his 35 years old only son who has been having a war of words with him, one Odudu Aniekan James. The suspect is a habitual murderer who has committed murders in Lagos and Aba Abia State,”.

The commissioner also displayed the kidnapper of a private university vice chancellor who was abducted while returning home by a former domestic service member who had been fired for criminal propensities.

He claimed that in addition to the VC being reunited with his family, the Toyota Corolla utilized in the operation and the remaining kidnapping money of over N2 million were both found.

According to the commissioner, “On the 14th of April 2023, at about 10:30 am, the Vice-chancellor of a private University in the State was kidnapped on his way home.

“Two days later, being the 16th, in a prompt and discreet investigation, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, arrested one Prince Thursday Okon, a former domestic staff of the VC, sacked because of his criminal tendencies who masterminded the kidnapping and two of his gang members, Saviour Sunday Luke and Richard Friday, all of Ikot Ebam Village in Mkpan Enin LGA.

“The sum of one million, two hundred and seventy thousand naira cash was recovered as part of the ransom paid, while two hundred and fifty thousand naira was left in one of the suspect’s accounts. The Toyota Corolla used for the operation was also recovered. The VC has been reunited with his family,” he stated.

A suspected ritualist named Edu Udeme Ime, who was detained by members of the Quick Response Squad of command with a human skull, was also displayed.

“On 15/05/2023 at about 8:05:pm one Edu Udeme Ime of Mbak Etoi village, Uyo was arrested at Urua Ekpa Junction by the command’s Quick Response Squad for being in possession of a human skull. The suspect could not give a reasonable explanation as to why he was in possession of a human but only name the ring leader who is a ritualist,” the commissioner said.

To address concerns related to the recent demolition of several buildings in the Alaba International Market area and some other markets in Lagos, the Lagos State Government will establish a joint working committee.

Some of the ambiguities surrounding the demolition exercise are to be clarified with the committee’s assistance. Market authorities will be included in the joint committee, according to the state administration.

This was said by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a meeting on Friday in Lagos with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Hon. Ben Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and several Igbo businessmen.

Recall that when certain buildings at the Alaba International Market were recently demolished, some people claimed that the Lagos administration was targeting a particular region of the nation.

Sanwo-Olu refuted the charge by claiming that some misunderstandings about the government’s conduct had been cleared up in the meeting and that the committee will go around to confirm the claims.

“We just finished a meeting between myself and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the Deputy Speaker Honourable Kalu and other market leaders of our various Igbo markets in Lagos, some community leaders, and also some state government officials.

“The meeting had gone on successfully, we discussed issues around a common interest, especially issues bordering on the recent demolition around Alaba Market where there has been a lot of wrong information and communication.

“Our conversation here this afternoon has cleared the air. We have seen that indeed there is a need for us to further collaborate. Where wrongs have been expressed we have corrected all of the issues and the views and we have jointly set up a small working committee that will go around, verify, and see things for ourselves and be able to put all of the negative information and media review out correctly,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Sanwo-Olu also urged the populace to go about their daily activities fearlessly, assuring them that the government would always pay attention to their concerns and permit everyone to prosper and operate their enterprises.

Governor Uzodimma spoke and commended Sanwo-Olu for listening to their concerns and taking quick action by forming a committee to investigate the problems right away.