Elon Musk closes $44-billion Twitter deal

After six months of public and legal battle over the purchase, Elon Musk has finally completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter Inc., according to people familiar with the situation, placing the world's richest man in charge of the faltering social network.

Twitter will run as a private firm and shareholders will receive $54.20 per share. The conclusion brings to an end a complicated process that started in January with the billionaire quietly building up a sizable investment in the business, his mounting displeasure with the way it's handled, and an eventual merger agreement that he later spent months trying to undo.

On October 4, Musk decided to move forward with the terms he had first suggested, and a Delaware Chancery Court judge granted the two parties until October 28 to complete the transaction.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, now has power over Twitter, which he frequently uses but openly criticizes and which he has promised to drastically alter. Shares of the company are not anticipated to trade on the New York Stock Exchange anymore.

One of Musk's first actions was to replace the leadership.According to those with knowledge of the situation, departures from Twitter include Chief Executive Parag Agrawal, Head of Legal, Policy and Trust, Vijaya Gadde, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal, who joined the company in 2017, and General Counsel Sean Edgett, who has served as General Counsel since 2012.

Because many of Musk's suggestions for changing the company are incompatible with the way it has been conducted for years, the company's operations will immediately become disrupted by his ownership. He has stated that he wants to protect "free expression" on the social network, which probably entails lowering the criteria for content moderation. He also aims to reinstate certain well-known accounts that were suspended from Twitter for disobeying the rules, including the former President Trump's. More generally, Musk's activities pose a threat to reverse years of Twitter's attempts to curtail bullying and harassment on the social media site.

As the deadline drew closer, Musk started to personalize the business, tweeting a video of himself entering the office and altering his platform designation to "Chief Twit." According to those with knowledge of the situation, he scheduled meetings between Tesla engineers and Twitter product executives and planned to speak to the workforce on Friday. In an effort to ensure that nothing about the product changes prior to the deal completing, Twitter's engineers were no longer able to make code modifications as of noon on Thursday in San Francisco, the people added.

Since the merger was revealed in April, Twitter staff have been preparing for layoffs, and Musk mentioned the concept of cost reductions to banking partners when he was initially raising money for the deal. According to a person familiar with the situation this month, Musk has informed certain prospective investors that he expects Twitter's income to double within three years and that he aims to slash 75% of the company's current personnel of 7,500.

According to people familiar with the situation, Musk informed employees when he visited Twitter's headquarters on Wednesday that he does not want to fire 75% of the workforce when he takes over the firm.

A Brief History of Crypto

 

It all began in the 1990s when American Cryptographer, David Chaum, created what was considered as the first kind of online money in the Netherlands: DigiCash.

He created DigiCash as an extension of an encryption algorithm that was considered popular during those times, which was RSA. The technology he created, together with its eCash product, was able to generate a huge amount of attention from the media.

The second generation of internet money was born from the learning experiences of DigiCash. Companies from this generation came up with alternative payment solutions and money systems that were also internet-base but with small but important changes. Of these companies, the clear winner was PayPal.

The reason why PayPal trumped its competition was its ability to give users what they really wanted in the first place, which was money on the web browser platforms they were already familiar with.

Appeal Court Discharges IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

Nnamdi Kanu

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has discharged the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu is being prosecuted by the federal government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 count charges bordering, including treasonable felony and terrorism, offences he allegedly committed in the course of his separatist campaigns.

Reports have it that a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal said the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try him in view of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in flagrant violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.

Court has declared Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya illegal, saying it was done in clear and egregious violation of extant international laws.

South African leader Jacob Zuma is released after serving his sentence

 

Jacob Zuma

An official government department announced on Friday that former South African President Jacob Zuma has been released from prison after serving his term for contempt of court.

Due to his refusal to cooperate with a corruption investigation, Zuma was given a 15-month term last year.

On July 7 of last year, when he turned himself in to begin his sentence, his outraged followers rushed to the streets and unleashed the worst violence South Africa had seen in years.

In a statement, Zuma said he felt relieved to be a free man and thanked his supporters.

"The... messages of support on social media and other platforms kept me strong and focused on ensuring that those who wanted to break my spirit and resolve do not succeed," he said.

Zuma was released on medical parole in September 2021. But in December, the high court set aside the parole decision and ordered him to return to jail. Zuma appealed the ruling and remained on parole pending the appeal outcome. 

His appeal had not been determined by the time his sentence expired.

"Mr Zuma complied with his conditions for medical parole as set out during his placement," the Correctional Services department said in a statement.

"All administrative processes have now been concluded and the sentence expiry date marks the end of him serving his sentence under community corrections."

Nigeria at Sixty-two

 

62^nd Birthday for a nation like Nigeria has come with celebrations amid a cacophony of terrorist bomb-blasts and sonic booms from the rattling machine guns of terrorists nationwide. May God Almighty protect Nigeria and her citizens.

There is every need for the Government to rearm and restrategise effectively our dissolute security services to overcome the hit-and-run guerilla warfare antics of the ruthless terrorists.

From the Beginning

It all began when the massed bands of the Armed Forces, conducted by the Late Major Akaahan solemnly rendered the National Anthem at midnight 1st October 1960 and the National Flag was ceremoniously unfurled at lndependence Square Lagos to usher in a new era of hope and great expectations

The entire country went into ecstatic contagious celebrations. The dazzling fireworks that followed immediately ripped through the low cascading murky clouds and brightly illuminated the city's skyline. Nigeria is endowed with multiple untapped mineral resources including gold, silver and other precious stones; the most populous nation in Africa.

This ceremony held out great promise for Africa and indeed the entire black world. With a resilient manpower, Nigeria laid a dominant role in the UN peace-keeping operations round the world.

However, the country's poignant march towards grand statehood was intermittently interrupted by several factors including military coups, malfeasances both in Government and the private sector, dissolute security services rife with incompetence, an inscrutable totally unreliable economy, and unending blood-thirsty terrorist and kidnapping activities.

As the country hobbles and wobbles dangerously towards unknown destination as the politicians gear up for the 2023 General Elections.  may God Almighty sanctify every Nigerian with the spirits of forgiveness, love and compassion as they eschew bigotry  and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with each other in grief and resolve.

Amb Denis Ukume MFR.

 

Binance Global Advisory Board (GAB) to Propel the Future of Web3

 

It is no doubt that blockchain technology has been tried in the furnace and has proven adpatable as a major trend in the global financial market. There have also been a lot of conversations regarding the emergence of Web3. In the paragraphs below, CZ Binance has come up with an Adivsory Board that will help in championing the global adapation of blockchain technology.  Happy Reading! 

From day one at Binance, we've dedicated ourselves to furthering the freedom of money for the world. Crypto assets have provided the means to do this, and supporting their further acceptance will significantly impact social and financial inclusion. We work hard to achieve these goals by building great products, hiring the best team, and closely engaging with our community – but there's still more we can do.

To help chart the best path forward for Web3, crypto, our company, and our users, I have established the Binance Global Advisory Board (GAB). I, and its 11 other members, are taking on a task that no one can do alone. The underlying technology of blockchain holds tremendous promise, and we're here to unlock it together. 

The Binance Global Advisory Board Has a Clearly Defined Purpose

Through my experiences at Binance and the industry as a whole, I've engaged with leaders, regulators, and businesses across a wide variety of sectors. It’s given me a lot of knowledge. But, one of our company’s core values is humility, and I know that I don’t know everything. This is where the GAB will add a lot of value. 

Over the years, we have built a global presence and have actively engaged with leaders in countries from France to UAE. It has been inspiring to see so many of these countries leading the charge and embracing a future where crypto and blockchain are major forces in their economy. We understand that licenses and regulations will require much conversation and compromise, but the trajectory is clear, more and more countries want to find a positive path forward. 

With the speed and pace that Web3, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technology are developing, it’s vital Binance draws on its knowledge, diverse experiences, and backgrounds to help us properly and successfully navigate such a dynamic industry.

Why the Time Is Right for Binance's Global Advisory Board

To many in the community, there will be a question of why we're forming the Global Advisory Board at this moment in time. The answer is simple and self-evident. Both I and Binance as an entity see an inflection point for mass crypto adoption rapidly approaching.

King Charles III returns to London

 

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday after a 70-year reign. The U.K.'s longest-reigning monarch, one of the world's most enduring and instantly recognizable personalities, died at her beloved summer home in Scotland, Balmoral Castle, at the age of 96. 

The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.

Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a "moment of great sadness" for him and his family and that her loss would be "deeply felt" around the world.

He said: "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.

"I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

During the coming period of mourning, he said he and his family would be "comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held".

People in Britain and its commonwealth nations woke up on Friday with a new monarch for the first time in most of their lives. King Charles III returned to London from Scotland to meet the prime minister and address the British people for the first time as their monarch. 

Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had requested a formal "period of Royal Mourning" for his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. 

The following week and a half will see a fastidiously orchestrated process of both mourning and constitutional transition play-out across Great Britain. It will be colored by the grief of a grateful nation mourning a queen with whom many felt a deep connection.  

Tributes continued to pour in from leaders, dignitaries and celebrities from across the globe Friday as thousands of people flocked to Buckingham Palace and the queen's other homes to lay flowers and notes of thanks for Elizabeth's lifetime of dedication and service. King Charles showed up with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, to shake the hands of well-wishers in front of Buckingham Palace.

On Friday, thousands of people flocked to Buckingham Palace and the Queen's other residences to leave flowers and words of gratitude for Elizabeth's lifetime of commitment and service. The tributes came from world leaders, politicians, and celebrities. King Charles showed up with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, to shake the hands of well-wishers in front of Buckingham Palace.

Experts urge FG to stop borrowing as debt levels reach N41.6 trillion.

 

FEC Meeting

As the Federal Government recommends additional borrowing for the 2023 budget year, economists have been harsh with the government. They unanimously urged the government to halt borrowing, just as yesterday's confirmation by Mrs. Patience Oniha, Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), that Nigeria's debt profile as of March 2022 was N41.60 trillion.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited was criticized by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for claiming that billions of naira were spent on petroleum subsidies annually.

In her appearance yesterday at the House of Representatives Committee on Finance's ongoing engagement on the 2023–2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), Oniha blamed Nigeria's high debt profile on a lack of revenues and the National Assembly's approval of the annual budget with a deficit, which increased the country's debt stock.

China's worst heat wave on record is crippling power supplies.

 

Cracked paddy field amid a severe drought in Neijiang, Sichuan province.

A power shortage brought on by a record heat wave and related drought has been causing chaos in Sichuan, a province in southwest China home to 80 million people, for weeks.

It has dimmed skyscrapers, shut factories, darkened subways, and plunged homes and offices into rolling blackouts, forcing air conditioning to be unplugged, and killed thousands of poultry and fish at farms hit by electricity cuts.

From the nearby megacity of Chongqing and the eastern provinces along the Yangtze River to the financial center of Shanghai, where the iconic skyline fell dark this week to conserve electricity, the effects have been felt far and wide.

The severe power shortage has surprised the populace, who have become accustomed to better living conditions and infrastructure in recent decades in a nation that takes pride in economic prosperity and stability.

Novak Djokovic withdraws from the US Open

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, who has won 21 grand slam titles, revealed on Thursday that he would not be competing in the next US Open.

Despite the fact that current US regulations require that all non-US citizens be fully immunized against the virus in order to acquire a visa and visit the country, Djokovic has stayed unvaccinated against Covid-19 throughout the outbreak.

The 35-year-old Serbian wrote: "Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support.”

"Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!"

Stacy Allaster, the tournament director of the US Open, said in a statement: "Novak is a great champion and it is very unfortunate that he will be unable to compete at the 2022 US Open, as he is unable to enter the country due to the federal government's vaccination policy for non-US citizens.

"We look forward to welcoming Novak back at the 2023 US Open."

A "lucky loser" will be included in the draw as a result of Djokovic's withdrawal occurring after the start of the qualifiers, according to the US Open statement.

Djokovic's reluctance to acquire the Covid-19 vaccine resulted in his deportation from Australia in January, which prevented him from competing in the Australian Open.

Djokovic won tennis' most recent major at Wimbledon in July. Due to the same US travel restrictions, he was unable to participate at Indian Wells or the Miami Open in March.

On Thursday at 12:00, the draw will be made for the current US Open. The competition will place between August 29 and September 11.

Car bomb kills daughter of 'spiritual guide' to Putin's Ukraine invasion - Russian media reports

 

The daughter of well-known, ultra-nationalist scholar Alexander Dugin was killed by a vehicle bomb on the outskirts of Moscow, according to Russian authorities, who said Sunday that they had launched a murder probe.

Based on the information previously gathered from the blast, the Russian Investigative Committee stated that it thought someone planned and ordered the automobile explosion that killed Darya Dugina. The investigative committee released a statement on Sunday that stated,  "Taking into account the data already obtained, the investigation believes that the crime was pre-planned and was of an ordered nature,"

According to the press office of the Russian Investigative Committee, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, Dugina passed away at the scene after "an explosive device, presumably installed in the Toyota Land Cruiser, went off on a public road and the car caught fire" at around 9.00 p.m. local time on Saturday, close to the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy.

Author and ideologist Dugina's father is credited as having planned or served as the "spiritual guide" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He was dubbed "Putin's Brain" by Foreign Affairs magazine and is rumored to be a major influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The United States has imposed sanctions on both Dugin and his daughter. In July, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Dugina for spreading false information about Ukraine and the Russian invasion of that country on different online platforms, according to a statement.

Videos of the explosion showed a burning car at the side of the road and shattered auto pieces all over the vicinity. Dugin may be seen in an unconfirmed video taken at the scene.

As the car belonged to Alexander, a friend of Dugina informed TASS that he thought Dugina's father, or possibly both of them, were the real targets of the explosion.

Elon’s refute to join the Twitter Board

 

Elon Musk

As contained in a recent tweet from Parag Agrawal (the CEO of Twitter), Elon Musk has decided not to join the board.

The brief note to the company reads:

“Elon Musk has decided not to join our board. Here’s what I can share about what happened.

The Board and I had many discussions about Elon joining the board, and with Elon directly. We were excited to collaborate and clear about the risks. We also believed that having Elon as a fiduciary of the company where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward. The board offered him a seat.

We announced on Tuesday that Elon would be appointed to the Board contingent on a background check and formal acceptance. Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he will no longer be joining the board. I believed this is for the best. We have and will always value input from our shareholders whether they are on our Board or not. Elon is our biggest shareholder and we will remain open to his input.

There will be distractions ahead, but our goals and priorities remain unchanged. The decisions we make and how we executive is in our hands, no one else’s. Let’s tune out the noise, and stay focused on the work and what we are.

Osinbajo finally declares his interest to run for Presidency come 2023

The ice has finally been broken as Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo declares his interest to run for the Presidency in the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria.

This, he made official in his verified twitter account in the early hours of Monday.

Ukraine Presses NATO For Weapons

 

Ukrainian Soldiers

Ukraine is pressing NATO for more weapons amid expectations that Russia is repositioning its forces before launching a major offensive in southeastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on April 7, as well as with ministers from the Group of Seven, who pledged "additional restrictive measures" on Russia and a "readiness to assist further, including with military equipment and financial means, to allow Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s aggression and to rebuild Ukraine."

The G7, which comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also condemned "in the strongest terms" what it calls the "atrocities" committed by Russia in the town of Bucha and other areas of Ukraine.

"Haunting images of civilian deaths, victims of torture, and apparent executions, as well as reports of sexual violence and destruction of civilian infrastructure, show the true face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and its people," foreign ministers from the G7 said in a joint statement on April 7.

"The massacres in the town of Bucha and other Ukrainian towns will be inscribed in the list of atrocities and severe violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights, committed by the aggressor on Ukrainian soil," it added.

Kuleba said he and G7 ministers had discussed how they could take military, economic, and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine to the next level.

"Ukraine proposes a fair deal: the world provides us with all the support we require; we fight and defeat [Russian President Vladimir] Putin in Ukraine," he said on Twitter after the meeting in Brussels.

Senate confirms Jackson as first Black woman Justice on U.S. Supreme Court

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court in a milestone for the United States and a victory for President Joe Biden, who made good on a campaign promise as he seeks to infuse the federal judiciary with a broader range of backgrounds.

The vote to confirm the 51-year-old federal appellate judge to a lifetime job on the nation's top judicial body was 53-47, with three Republicans - Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney - joining Biden's fellow Democrats. A simple majority was needed, as Jackson overcame Republican opposition in a Supreme Court confirmation process that remains fiercely partisan.

Jackson will take the 83-year-old Breyer's place on the liberal bloc of a court with an increasingly assertive 6-3 conservative majority. Breyer is due to serve until the court's current term ends - usually in late June - and Jackson would be formally sworn in after that. Jackson served early in her career as a Supreme Court clerk for Breyer.

Biden hosted Jackson at the White House to watch the vote on television, posting on Twitter a selfie he took of them smiling after Senate acted.

Jonathan Escapes Unhurt As Aides Die In Abuja Road Accident

Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday confirmed the death of two aides of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the hospitalisation of two others in an auto crash involving the convoy of the former president in Abuja.

The incident happened when Jonathan was said to be coming from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and heading towards his residence in Abuja.

However, confirming the accident on Wednesday, FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, said apart from the aides that died, two other aides were also rushed to the National Hospital in Abuja after they sustained various degrees of injuries.

The FRSC also said the former president was not injured as the car he was in was not part of the ones that crashed.

Jonathan was later seen at the National Hospital after the incident before he eventually returned to his residence.

Meanwhile, Dr Jonathan has expressed  sadness over the  death of two police officers attached to him in the road crash.

In a statement, Ikechukwu Eze, Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, said the former president noted with sadness that the deceased, Inspectors Ibrahim Abazi and Yakubu Toma, were fine officers who were dedicated to their duties and service to the nation.

“The office of the former president has offered condolences to the families of the bereaved and the Police High Command.

“Dr. Jonathan prayed God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and bless their families and the nation with the fortitude to bear the loss”, Eze said

Twitter appoints Elon Musk to its board

In his recent tweets, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal welcomes Elon Musk to the company’s board. Agrawal announced the move via a fresh set of tweets on Tuesday. The newly appointed CEO believes that the Tesla CEO will “bring great value” to the board. Musk also plans to bring “significant improvements to Twitter in coming months”. Who knows, maybe we will finally get the much-awaited edit button. Will we?

“I’m excited to share that we’re appointing @elonmusk to our board! Through conversations with Elon in recent weeks, it became clear to us that he would bring great value to our Board,” Agrawal noted in the announcement tweet.

The Twitter CEO also added that Musk is a “passionate believer and intense critic of the service” and that is exactly what the company and the boardroom require. Agrawal welcomes Elon Musk with the belief that he will make the social media platform “stronger in the long-term”.

FG Instructs Telcos to Bar Outgoing Calls on Unlinked Lines With Immediate Effect

 

Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government, has commended Nigerians and Legal Residents for their support during the exercise to link National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM). As of date, over 125 Million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication.

Similarly, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 Million unique NINs till date.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, gave the directive for the implementation and commencement of the exercise in December 2020, as part of the administration's security and social policies.

The deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to freely comply with the Policy. The FG also took into consideration the passionate appeals by several bodies - Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies and a host of others – for the extension of the deadlines in the past.

Will Smith refused to leave Oscars, faces disciplinary action for slapping Chris Rock

Will Smith was asked to leave the 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony Sunday after slapping presenter Chris Rock, but refused, according to a new statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Wednesday.

The organization behind the Oscars said its board of governors have initiated a disciplinary proceeding against Smith for violating the group’s standards of conduct. During the board’s next meeting on April 18 it will decide what action it will take, if any, including suspension or expulsion.

“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” The Academy said in its statement. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis

Damaged bus after it was set on fire by demonstrators in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 1, 2022. (Reuters)

Amid protests over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades, Sri Lanka government has imposed a curfew across the country from Saturday 6pm to Monday 6 am.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also declared a nationwide public emergency late on Friday. The President invoked tough laws allowing the military to arrest and detain suspects for long periods without trial, as demonstrations calling for his ouster spread across the South Asian nation.

Meanwhile, Lanka IOC, the subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation in Sri Lanka, said Friday it would supply 6,000 MT of fuel to ease the power shortages. On Saturday, Indian traders said they were in the process of shipping 40,000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka, according to a report in Reuters.

Anger against Rajapaksa’s handling of a deepening economic crisis in the island nation of 22 million people spiraled into violence late on Thursday, as hundreds of protesters clashed with police for several hours.

A severe shortage of foreign currency has left Rajapaksa’s government unable to pay for essential imports, including fuel, leading to debilitating power cuts lasting up to 13 hours. 

Ukraine denies reprisal airstrike on major Russian oil depot

Moscow on Friday, accused Ukrainian forces of blowing up a huge oil depot in Russia in an airstrike – an attack that Ukraine denied carrying out.

Russia had warned that the attack could hamper peace talks between the nations, which were due to continue Friday by video. But Ukraine officials scoffed they had nothing to do with the bombing.

“For some reasons, they say that we did it, but according to our information, this does not correspond to reality,” Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said on national TV.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Ukraine was to blame, according to Agence France-Presse.

“Of course, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of negotiations,” Peskov added.

Videos showed a flurry of rockets piercing the night sky in Belgorod at around 6 a.m. – and then a huge fire raging at the storage depot in the Russian city about 21 miles from Ukraine’s border.

“The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike from two helicopters of the armed forces of Ukraine, which entered the territory of Russia at a low altitude,” Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

Gladkov initially said two employees had been hurt but in an update noted, “There are no victims.” Russian energy giant Rosneft, which owns the facility, also said there had been no injuries.

The strike came after Ukraine’s defense ministry posted a social media video pretending to announce Oscars-style awards for its military successes.

Pope Benedict XVI makes historic Indigenous apology for Canada abuses

Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous peoples for the “deplorable” abuses they suffered in Canada’s Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the church's misguided missionary zeal.

Francis begged forgiveness during an audience with dozens of members of the Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities who came to Rome seeking a papal apology and a commitment from the Catholic Church to repair the damage. The first pope from the Americas said he hoped to visit Canada around the Feast of St. Anna, which falls on July 26.

JAMB shifts UTME, extends registration period

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, on Monday, announced new examination dates for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The board made this known in its weekly bulletin made available to journalists by the Director of Public Relations and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

The board explained that the decision to announce a new examination date was to accommodate some exigencies.

The bulletin read in part, “In a bid to accommodate some exigencies, which ultimate goals are to ensure maximal benefits to potential candidates, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has made adjustments to its examination timelines. Given the breakdown of the adjusted timelines, the board disclosed that the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination will be held from Friday, May 6 to Monday, May 16, 2022.

“While the mock UTME exercise earlier scheduled for April 2, 2022 will now be held on April 16, 2022, for candidates who registered early and indicated their willingness to sit the mock UTME.

“The date for the commencement of the sale of the 2022 UTME/DE application document, which was slated to start from February 12 to March 19, 2022, remains as stated earlier.

“This review, as approved by management, is to ensure that the candidates, who will be sitting the examination and others are not denied the opportunity to express themselves in other public examinations without forfeiting any examination.”

The board also added that candidates sitting the UTME could now pick Computer Studies or Physical and Health Education as part of the four required subjects, if they so desired or as dictated by their programme preferences.

The board said the addition of the two subjects to the existing 23 subjects would commence from the 2022 UTME.