News
About 550 Muslims Die At 2024 Hajj

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
It has been reported that about 550 pilgrims died during the 2024 Hajj in the holy city of Mecca in the scorching heat
According to reports, temperatures reached about 51.8C (125F) in the shade in the Saudi Arabian city, as huge crowds of Muslims undertook the annual religious journey.
During performance of one of the five pillars of Islam, pilgrims used umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, as Saudi authorities warned pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours between 1:00am and 3:00pm.
However, stampedes, tent fires and other accidents reportedly caused hundreds of deaths during the Hajj in the past 30 years while about 240 people reportedly died last year.
In the 2024 hajj, which pmbegan on Friday and as usual coincided with the religious holiday, Eid al-Adha. Dozens of deaths have been reported during this year’s Hajj, with the AFP news agency putting the total at 550, citing diplomats.
Statistically, 323 of the dead were Egyptians, most of whom perished due to heat related illness, AFP said.
A 2024 study by the Journal of Travel and Medicine found that rising global temperatures may outpace strategies to deal with the heat. A 2019 study by Geophysical Research Letters said that as temperatures rise in arid Saudi Arabia due to climate change, pilgrims performing Hajj will face “extreme danger”.
A Saudi health official, speaking on Monday before many of the reports of deaths were issued, said authorities had not noticed any unusual fatalities among Muslim pilgrims amid the extremely high temperatures.
The ministry had so far treated more than 2,700 pilgrims who suffered from heat-related illness, he added.
News
Former Plateau deputy governor is dead

Former Plateau State Deputy Governor Professor Sonnie Gwanle Tyoden has died.
He passed away at the age of 74, though the cause of his death was not confirmed as at the time this report was filed.
Tyoden served as the deputy governor of Plateau State from 2015 to 2023, working under Governor Simon Lalong during the administration of the All Progressives Congress.
Before his time in government, he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, a role he held between June 2006 and June 2011.
Born on September 22, 1950, Tyoden was a professor of political science known for his work in academia and politics.
His contributions to the development of Plateau State were well-known, and his death has drawn attention across the state and beyond.
News
“I’m not thinking of a third term agenda -Trump

US President Donald Trump has denied that he is considering running for a third presidential term, a move which experts agree is banned under the US Constitution.
“I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker in an interview that will air on Sunday.
Trump has previously said that he was “not joking” about wanting to serve a third, or even fourth, term as US president.
He later said his statements were meant to troll the “fake news media.”
His company, The Trump Organization, has been selling “Trump 2028” hats, fuelling armchair speculation that he may seek to remain in office after his second term ends in January 2029.
In the interview, recorded from his residence in Florida, Trump said that he has had many “requests” from people asking that he consider seeking to remain in office.
“So many people want me to do it,” Trump said, just days after celebrating his first 100 days of his second term.
“It’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do. I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else,” Trump said.
He added that “there are many people selling the 2028 hat.”
“But this is not something I’m looking to do,” he said, going on to list several Republicans who could take his place, including Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular,” he added.
The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment says that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Changing the constitution would require two-thirds approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as approval from three-quarters of the country’s state-level governments.
However, some Trump supporters say there is a loophole in the constitution, which has been untested in court.
Asked by NBC whether anyone has approached him with these theories, Trump deflected, answering that “in a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things.”
During the interview, Trump also rejected criticism of his handling of the economy.
“Look, yeah. Everything’s OK,” he said after his tariff plan roiled international economies, leading the US economy to shrink for the first time since 2022.
“I said, this is a transition period. I think we’re going to do fantastically,” he added.
Asked if the US economy may continue to shrink, he responded: “Anything can happen. But I think we’re going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country.” [BBC]
News
VDM: Release my guy now, singer Davido tells EFCC

Popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido has appealed to the EFCC to immediately release his guy VeryDarkMan.
The reason for his arrest is still at the time of writing unknown, and the anti graft agency is yet to acknowledge having him in their custody.
Davido took to his X page to remark on the support displayed by individuals for Verydarkman.
Davido speaks up for Verydarkman, calls for his release
Verydarkman.
He noted that the display of support makes him wants to do more for the masses.
The singer asked the powers that be to free his friend, Verydarkman.
His words …
“Outside all the noise it’s good to see that the good one does actually impacts lives and Pple actually appreciate! The support I’m seeing for VDM everywhere is encouraging.. makes one want to do more for the masses FREE MY GUY”
Check out reactions…
@bigwizarrdd said: “So you for address this one but you no fit address wetin Spotify do you, we your fans are tired of the fraud you’re doing on Spotify.. FIX UP”
@TheDamiForeign wrote: “I’m giving Gtbank 24hours to release VDM, or else I will step in!”
@Street__lawyer wrote: “@davido
has the fame, power and resources to bring VDM out. We should all remember his a national figure. OON, is not a small name.”
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