*"We Will Rebuild" Notre Dame, Vows🔊 Macron After Catastrophic 🔥Fire*

The spine-tingling, soul-lifting spire and roof of Notre Dame Cathedral were reduced to ash Monday, as a catastrophic fire spread through a building that has embodied the heart of Paris for more than 800 years.

In an address to the nation just before midnight, President Emmanuel Macron said the worst had been avoided, that the exterior structure had been preserved and that the cathedral would rise again.

"I tell you solemnly tonight: We will rebuild this cathedral," he vowed. "Notre Dame of Paris is our history," Macron continued, emphasizing the structure's unique place in the national imagination. "The epicenter of our lives. It's the many books, the paintings, those that belong to all French men and French women, even those who've never come."

*Extinction Rebellion: Climate ✊Protesters Block Roads*

Thousands of people joined protests across central London as climate change activists blocked roads and vandalised Shell's headquarters.

Extinction Rebellion campaigners parked a pink boat at Oxford Circus and blocked Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus and roads around Parliament Square.

Protester Yen Chit Chong said: "This is our last best shot at survival."

Among a total of 52 arrests, five people were detained on suspicion of criminal damage at Shell's HQ.

The three men and two women were taken to a police station in central London after a glass door was smashed at the offices near Waterloo.

The majority of those arrested were detained on suspicion of public order offences.

*Taliban Team at 🇦🇫Afghan Peace🕊 Talks in Qatar🇶🇦 to Include Women: Spokesman*

Women will be included for the first time in the Taliban delegation to peace talks in Qatar this month, the movement's main spokesman said on Monday, ahead of the latest round of meetings aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.

For a group notorious for its strictly conservative attitude to women's rights, the move represents a step towards addressing demands that women be included in the talks, intended to lay the foundations for a future peace settlement.

The April 19-21 meeting in Doha will be between the Taliban and a delegation comprising prominent Afghans, including opposition politicians and civil society activists. It follows similar talks between the two sides in Moscow in February.

*US 🇺🇸Asks Its👉 Citizens to Reconsider ✈Travel Plans to 🇵🇰Pakistan Due to Terrorism*

The US has advised its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and asked them not to travel to restive Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), identified as the most dangerous areas due to terror attacks.

While Pakistan, in general, has been placed in “Level Three” category in the latest travel advisory issued by the US on Monday, several parts of the country, including Balochistan, KPK province, PoK and India-Pakistan border, have been placed in the most dangerous “Level Four” category, in which US citizens are asked not to travel due to high-risk areas.

Asserting that terror groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan, the State Department said that terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship and government facilities.

Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past, and information suggests they continue to do so, it said.

*Eight Dead ⚰After Tornadoes🌪 Rip Across 🇺🇸US South*

At least eight people have died and dozens were injured after storms triggered tornadoes and flooding across several southern US states.

In Texas, two children died after a tree fell on their family car. The parents, who were in the front seats, were not injured.

Deaths were reported across Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana.

Some of the injured could not be rescued for hours due to debris on roadways, according to US media.

Authorities say at least 11 tornadoes touched down in three states before the storm began moving towards the East Coast.

Tornado warnings have been issued for Monday in Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.

*Extinction Rebellion: Climate ✊Protesters Block Roads*

Thousands of people joined protests across central London as climate change activists blocked roads and vandalised Shell's headquarters.

Extinction Rebellion campaigners parked a pink boat at Oxford Circus and blocked Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus and roads around Parliament Square.

Protester Yen Chit Chong said: "This is our last best shot at survival."

Among a total of 52 arrests, five people were detained on suspicion of criminal damage at Shell's HQ.

The three men and two women were taken to a police station in central London after a glass door was smashed at the offices near Waterloo.

The majority of those arrested were detained on suspicion of public order offences.

*"We Will Rebuild" Notre Dame, Vows🔊 Macron After Catastrophic 🔥Fire*

The spine-tingling, soul-lifting spire and roof of Notre Dame Cathedral were reduced to ash Monday, as a catastrophic fire spread through a building that has embodied the heart of Paris for more than 800 years.

In an address to the nation just before midnight, President Emmanuel Macron said the worst had been avoided, that the exterior structure had been preserved and that the cathedral would rise again.

"I tell you solemnly tonight: We will rebuild this cathedral," he vowed. "Notre Dame of Paris is our history," Macron continued, emphasizing the structure's unique place in the national imagination. "The epicenter of our lives. It's the many books, the paintings, those that belong to all French men and French women, even those who've never come."

*Trump's Sister Retires as a Federal Judge 👩‍⚖️ , Ending Inquiry into Ethics Complaints*

President Donald Trump's sister has retired as a federal appellate judge in Philadelphia, ending a civil misconduct inquiry launched after a report that she participated in Trump family schemes to dodge taxes.

The retirement of Maryanne Trump Barry was revealed in an April 1 order signed by a top court official in New York, where the misconduct case was assigned to prevent conflicts of interest for judges who knew Barry.

A judicial panel began the review in response to four citizen complaints filed in October after The New York Times published a story alleging the president and his siblings evaded inheritance taxes.

The April 1 order said Barry's voluntary retirement ends the review stemming from claims based on the news article alleging that Barry may have committed misconduct relating to tax and financial transactions that occurred mostly in the 1980s and 1990s.

Barry, 82, was not identified by name in the order, but the facts matched her circumstances.

Barry didn't respond to an email seeking comment.

*Buhari Meets🤝 With Security Chiefs Amid Rising Killings🗡 in the North-West*

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with serice chiefs behind closed doors. The meeting started around 11am at the President's office at the Presidential Villa. Top on the agenda of the meeting could be the increasing attacks by bandits in the north-western states, particularly in Kaduna State, and the spate of kidnappings in other parts of the country. The upsurge in banditry in Zamfara, which the Government attributed to illegal mining in the state, among other factors, has already led to an order for the suspension of mining activities by both locals and foreigners in the state. The meeting with the security chiefs was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

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*N24.39tn💰 Debt: IMF Worries Over Nigeria’s🇳🇬 Repayment Capacity*

The International Monetary Fund, on Tuesday, expressed worry over Nigeria's ability to repay its foreign debt which had continued to rise.

The Financial Counsellor and Director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF, Tobias Adrian, while presenting the Global Financial Stability Report at the ongoing joint annual spring meetings with the World Bank in Washington DC, said, "Nigeria has been borrowing in international markets but we worry.

When asked to comment on the risk of Chinese growing investment in Africa, Adrian said, "Lending - capital flows in general and these include flows from China - are, of course, important for development, on the one hand.

Adding that the Sovereign Wealth Funds should not be allowed to undertake extra-budgetary spending, the IMF said, "It is critical to develop a strong institutional framework to manage these resources-including good management of the financial assets kept in sovereign wealth funds-and to ensure that proceeds are appropriately spent.

This remains a significant challenge in many resource-rich countries that, on average, have weaker institutions and higher corruption "The governance challenges of commodity-rich countries- that is, the management of public assets- call for ensuring a high degree of transparency and accountability in the exploration of such resources.

*Anambra Assembly📜 Passes Bill to Stop Expensive⚰ Funerals*

The Anambra State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill to stop expensive funerals in the state.

The bill, which was sponsored by the representative of Anaocha II Constituency, Charles Ezeani, now makes it an offence to hold funerals for more than one day in the state.

The bill says in the event of death "no person shall deposit any corpse in the mortuary or any place beyond two months from the date of the death, while burial ceremonies in the state shall be for one day".

The bill also says "no person shall subject any relation of a deceased person to a mourning period of more than one week from the date of the burial".

Ezeani told reporters that a monitoring and implementation committee would be set up by the Assembly to enforce the law after Governor Willie Obiano had signed it.

*PDP Backs👍 Tinubu Over no VAT Increment*

The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday aligned itself with the call by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on the Federal Government not to increase the Value Added Tax.

Tinubu had during the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja, entitled, 'Next Level, Work for People,' said that an increase in VAT would reduce the spending capacity of the people.

He had said, "I will appeal to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and his team to put a question mark on any increase of VAT please.

Those who are not paying now, even it is inclusive of Bola Tinubu, let the (tax) net get bigger and take in more taxes and that is what we must do in the country instead of additional taxes for now."

"Having ruled for about four years, whatever extra efforts they think they can do to rejig the economy, they should put it on board now and not by imposing measures that will bring anguish and pains on Nigerians."

*Labour Urges💬 Buhari to Sign Minimum Wage💸 Bill Immediately*

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the new minimum wage bill.

The NLC said since the National Assembly approved the new minimum wage of N30,000 and passed it to the President for his assent nothing had been heard about it.

The union's Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, who spoke to our correspondent on the issue, said workers would be grateful if Buhari signed the bill this month.

He said, "The President constituted a committee that worked on the figure that was submitted to him and he sent it to the National Assembly as an executive bill.

This underscores the need for the President to sign into law the N30,000.000 National Minimum Wage Bill so the bodies that will work out the consequential adjustments arising from the new wage can be put in place."

🇬🇧British PM Voices🗣 Regret Over 1919 🇮🇳India Amritsar Massacre*

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expressed regret for a massacre by British troops in India in 1919 but stopped short of a full apology.

"We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused," May told the British parliament, as India prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the killings.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, called for "a full, clear and unequivocal apology".

The April 13, 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in which British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed protesters, remains an enduring scar from British colonial rule in India.

Colonial-era records show about 400 people died in the northern city of Amritsar when soldiers opened fire on men, women and children in an enclosed area, but Indian figures put the toll at closer to 1,000.

Former British prime minister David Cameron described it as "deeply shameful" during a visit in 2013 but also stopped short of an apology.

Picture📷 of Black Hole Revealed for the 1⃣st Time

Astronomers announced on Wednesday that at last they had seen the unseeable: a black hole, a cosmic abyss so deep and dense that not even light can escape it.

The image, of a lopsided ring of light surrounding a dark circle deep in the heart of the galaxy known as Messier 87, some 55 million light-years away from here, resembled the Eye of Sauron, a reminder yet again of the power and malevolence of nature. It was a smoke ring framing a one-way portal to eternity.

To capture the image, astronomers reached across intergalactic space to a giant galaxy in Virgo, known as Messier 87. There, a black hole about seven billion times more massive than the sun is unleashing a violent jet some 5,000 light years into space.

Okorocha Gives APC Chairman New📜 Appointment*

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has appointed the chairman of his faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dan Nwafor, as the head of the governing council for Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA.

The appointment came with less than two months to the end of Okorocha’s administration.

Inaugurating the OCDA governing council and that of 37 other similar state agencies in Owerri the state capital yesterday, the Governor said the appointments were to make sure that government continues ‘running smoothly’ after he has exited office in May 2019.

Okorocha, who was represented by the Secretary to government of Imo (SGI), Mark Uchendu, 
Uchendu, wished the newly inaugurated board chairmen well in their new assignment.

He maintained that, “These people are for government assignment. We know that government is a continuity and you will work for the state."

*Nigerian Minister Audu Ogheh😒 Mocked On American TV Show Over 'Pizza🍕 From Britain' Comment*

Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture, has brought the country 'international recognition', after a comment he made during his presentation before the Senate lamenting the rate of importation in the country.

While addressing the Senate Committee on Agriculture on March 27, 2019, Ogbeh said: "Do you know, Sir, that there are Nigerians who use their cell phones to import pizza from London; they buy in London and bring it on British Airways in the morning to pick up at the airport.

However, reactions have extended far beyond the shores of the country, as Trevor Noah, South African comedian and host of 'The Daily Show', has taken up the matter as a point of reference.

Making Ogbeh's comment the butt of his jokes on his show in the edition published on social media on Thursday, Noah ridiculed the idea of flying across countries to get "British pizza".

Making his face into a mini-frown, tainted with a dash of mockery, he said: "You're telling me Nigerians are flying past Italy to get British pizza?"

*Nigerian Minister Audu Ogheh😒 Mocked On American TV Show Over 'Pizza🍕 From Britain' Comment*

Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture, has brought the country 'international recognition', after a comment he made during his presentation before the Senate lamenting the rate of importation in the country.

While addressing the Senate Committee on Agriculture on March 27, 2019, Ogbeh said: "Do you know, Sir, that there are Nigerians who use their cell phones to import pizza from London; they buy in London and bring it on British Airways in the morning to pick up at the airport.

However, reactions have extended far beyond the shores of the country, as Trevor Noah, South African comedian and host of 'The Daily Show', has taken up the matter as a point of reference.

Making Ogbeh's comment the butt of his jokes on his show in the edition published on social media on Thursday, Noah ridiculed the idea of flying across countries to get "British pizza".

Making his face into a mini-frown, tainted with a dash of mockery, he said: "You're telling me Nigerians are flying past Italy to get British pizza?"

*Policeman Shoots🔫 Lagos Resident Over Bad N100 Change*

A policeman attached to the Special Protection Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, has reportedly shot one Jubril Mobolaji in the Ajiran, Lekki area of the state over a bad N100 note.

City Round learnt that the policeman, one Sergeant Kabiru, who was posted as the orderly to a rich man in the community, had gone to buy a N200 recharge card from a shop operated by one Sherifat.

Kabiru reportedly complained that the N100 note was "bad" and requested a replacement, which resulted in a verbal exchange between him and Sherifat.

He allegedly shot into the ground and inflicted gunshot wound on Mobolaji, who was said to have gone to the shop to buy some items.

The source said, "On Tuesday, March 19, around 10:00pm, Sergeant Kabiru went to buy recharge card from a woman, who has a shop in Ajiran.

*We Did Not Suspend🤔 Issuing Tourist Visas To Nigerian Nationals,🗣 Says UAE*

The United Arab Emirates has dismissed a report alleging that it reviewed the visa validity for Nigerians following the report of some Nigerians arrested for robbing a bureau de change in UAE.

Following the arrest, there were reports that the UAE reviewed the visa validity for Nigerians from three months to one month, however, the UAE has described those reports as inaccurate.

It said, "In the light of the press reports published this morning, and alleging that the United Arab Emirates has suspended issuing tourist visas to Nigerian nationals, the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Abuja would like to announce this news is inaccurate and stresses the importance of getting the news from its official channels."

The suspects who are said to be Nigerians, reportedly barged into the exchange and smashed the glass barrier between the customers and the staff, and stole the money in multiple currencies and fled.

*Another Nigerian🇳🇬 Caught in Saudi Arabia with 1,138g of😨 Cocaine —Abike Dabiri-Erewa*

Another Nigerian has been arrested at Jeddah Airport, in Saudi Arabia, for allegedly smuggling about 1,138g of cocaine, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said on Friday.

Dabiri-Erewa in an interview with newsmen in Abuja expressed disappointment that this was coming shortly after a Nigerian lady was executed in the same country for a related offence.

"The sad thing is that in the midst of talking about 20 Nigerians on death row, even as eight had been executed, just yesterday (Thursday), another Nigerian, Wahid Somade, was arrested at Jeddah Airport with about 1,138g of cocaine.

"After informing her family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially released the name of the lady that was executed in Saudi Arabia a few days ago and her name is Kudirat Afolabi, a widow and a mother of two.

"We pay our condolence to the family and keep begging Nigerians to obey the laws of other countries; and Saudi has replied us officially, saying their law is their law.