Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Antitrust authorities in the EU and Britain on Tuesday fined a cartel involving some of the world’s biggest carmakers about 550 million euros ($594 million) for preventing competition on vehicle recycling. The European Commission said 15 manufacturers, including BMW, Ford, Jeep maker Stellantis and Volkswagen, and an industry group colluded to avoid paying car dismantlers and lower consumer pressure to recycle more, the commission said. It fined the participants, who admitted their involvement and agreed to settle the case a total of about 458 million euros. “We have taken firm action against companies that colluded to prevent competition on recycling,”…

With American entertainer Kid Rock at his side, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday clamping down on ticket scalping and live event pricing. The directive seeks to prevent “unscrupulous middlemen” from profiting off reselling tickets for concerts and other events at an “enormous markup”. It orders the US attorney general and the Treasury secretary to use “all legal means” to stamp out soaring price gouging, and calls on the Federal Trade Commission to “ensure price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process, including the secondary ticketing market.” “You can buy a ticket for $100. By the…

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies has assured Nigerians that the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, will drop as Dangote Refinery and other local refineries begin operations. Before the fuel subsidy removal, petrol was sold for less than ₦200 per litre. Now, prices have surged to around ₦930 per litre, depending on location. Despite the increase, NIPSS Director-General Ayo Omotayo said there is hope for relief in the future when he featured on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Omotayo explained that as more refineries start working, fuel prices will begin to fall.…

Controversial crossdresser Bobrisky has made a U-turn on alleged arrest by immigration authorities, revealing that his initial post was an April Fools’ Day prank. Bobrisky sparked concern with a social media post claiming he had been arrested and was unaware of the reason. He wrote: “Guys, have just been arrested by immigration in Nigeria. I don’t know what I did o”. Although the prank has been revealed, it’s worth noting that Bobrisky has a history of legal troubles, including a previous arrest at the Seme border. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) had also confirmed an arrest, stating Bobrisky was a…

A massive fire caused by a gas pipeline leak forced people from their homes and injured more than 100 during Eid celebrations near Malaysia’s capital on Tuesday, fire officials said. The inferno, which was visible kilometres away, was caused by “a gas pipeline leak stretching approximately 500 metres (1,600 feet)”, said fire officials in Selangor state near Kuala Lumpur. The valve to the affected pipeline belonging to Malaysia’s state-run oil firm Petronas has been shut off, the fire officials said in a statement. While the early morning blaze was coming under control in the afternoon, more than 100 people were…

Police authorities in Kogi State have asked organisers of a homecoming rally for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to cancel it.  In a statement on Tuesday, the spokesman of the Kogi Police Command, William Aya, hinged the warning on an “intelligence report”. “The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause a disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying,” the statement read. READ ALSO: Senator Natasha Dismisses Rumours, Reaffirms Commitment To Sallah Visit In Kogi Central Aya said,…

Kenya’s President William Ruto sparked protests recently after donating some $150,000 to a Nairobi church just months after saying such hand-outs fuelled corruption. Ruto’s pledge of 20 million shillings to the Jesus Winner Ministry Church led to protesters gathering there a week later, demanding the return of what they called “stolen tax money”, only to be teargassed by police. Church donations and fundraisers are a longstanding tradition in Kenya, and politicians often use pulpits to reach the masses in the predominantly Christian country. It can become political theatre: last year, MP Oscar Sudi, a Ruto ally, drew cheers from the…

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was told by manager Ruben Amorim on Monday that he is “not going anywhere” despite reports of a possible move to Real Madrid. The 30-year-old Portuguese star, who has scored 95 goals in 277 appearances since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, has a contract at Old Trafford until 2027. However, he has been linked in recent days with a £90 million (107.4 million euros) switch to Spanish giants Real. “No, it’s not going to happen,” insisted Amorim. “I want Bruno here because maybe in the lowest moments of our season (he impressed). We want…

Donald Trump said Monday he hopes Tiger Woods and his former daughter-in-law will be happy together in their relationship, describing the golf superstar as “a fantastic guy.” Woods — renowned for guarding his private life over the years — last week confirmed tabloid rumors that he was dating Vanessa Trump, who split from Donald Trump Jr. during his father’s first term in the Oval Office. The US president told reporters in Washington on Monday he was delighted that she had found love again. “Tiger actually called me a few months ago, and we have a very special, very good relationship…

Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull drew chuckles Tuesday as he impersonated Donald Trump, urging the nation’s political leaders to contest a general election next month to “stand up” to the US president. Turnbull, who was Australian prime minister when Trump first took office in 2017, briefly adopted a nasal American accent as he mimicked the US commander-in-chief during a speech. Political hopefuls contesting Australia’s May 3 general election should not be scared of angering Trump, Turnbull said. “That’s the challenge for our leaders — they’ve got to be able to stand up,” he began. “If that means they get…