Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, is expected to assume the presidency after Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash as the country gears up for early elections.

The Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president take over “in the event of the president’s death, dismissal, resignation, absence or illness for more than two months”.

Raisi, who died on Sunday along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, was nearing the end of his first four-year term as president.

Mokhber’s interim appointment requires the approval of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word in all state affairs.

Presidential elections to pick a permanent successor are to be held within 50 days, according to the constitution.

A council made up of the parliament speaker, head of the judiciary and the vice president are to be tasked with organising the national vote.

Mokhber, 68, was appointed vice president as Raisi took office in August 2021.

The vice president was born in Dezful city in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, where he held several official positions.

For years since 2007, Mokhber chaired the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, a governmental organisation tasked with managing properties confiscated following the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The foundation, established in the 1980s, has over the years grown to become a major state economic conglomerate with shares in various sectors.

Iranians head to the polls for presidential elections every four years since the Islamic Republic’s first vote in 1980.

The constitution sets a two-term limit for Iranian presidents.

The position of prime minister does not exist in Iran, and the president — assisted by several vice presidents — is responsible for appointing and directing the cabinet.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Monday five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has visited the victims of a mosque attack in the Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Obi, who posted the pictures of the victims lying in the hospital beds with various degrees of injuries, made this known on his verified X handle on Monday.

He wrote, “Yesterday, Sunday the 19th, as a follow-up to my earlier condolence message regarding those who lost their lives in the horrific and devastating terror attack on May 16, 2024, in the Gezawa local government area of Kano State during the morning prayer session.

“I visited Murtala Mohammed Hospital in Kano to sympathize with those injured and receiving treatment at the hospital. The visit was to physically show solidarity with the wounded, offer support, and wish them a speedy recovery, as well as to thank and encourage the management of the hospital.

“And most importantly, it was to send a message to the victims that we stand together in condemnation of any senseless act of violence and killing in our country.

“Once again, I sincerely send my condolences to the Government of Kano State, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and the people of Kano over this very sad incident. I extend my thoughts and prayers, especially to the families of the victims,” he wrote.

The former Anambra State governor further urged for peace, tolerance, and understanding in the country while praying that Allah would forgive the sins of the deceased.

The PUNCH reports that the Kano State Police Command on Friday confirmed the death of 15 persons in the mosque attack in Gadan village in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

A man on Wednesday allegedly sprayed the mosque with petrol, locked its doors, and set it on fire, trapping worshippers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview that so far, 15 out of the 24 victims of the incident died.

Initial reports said one worshipper had died from the attack but the death toll later rose after more victims died while receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.

A former Minister of Labour and Productivity under the Interim National Government of Chief Enerst Sonekan, Prince Ajibola Afonja, is dead.

Our correspondent learnt that the former Chairman of First Bank and native of Oyo town, Oyo State, died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, at 82.

He was said to have sustained injuries from a lone accident he was involved in at Ilora, a few kilometres from his country home.

He was thereafter rushed to UCH in Ibadan where he eventually died.

The deceased was at a time the senatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in Oyo Central Senatorial District.

Chairman of Oyo Global Forum, OGF, Taiwo Adebayo confirmed the death of the deceased on Monday.

He described the deceased as a community leader and industrialist par excellence.

“On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82. Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.

Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.

“His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us. For all of us that he inspired, we shall honor his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, the entire Oyo community, and friends and associates throughout the world during this time of mourning,” Adebayo said.

The people of Taraba State were thrown into mourning on Sunday following a fatal motor accident that claimed the lives of six members of the state chapter of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, WOWICAN.

The accident, DAILY POST learnt, occurred on Sunday while they were on their way to Jalingo, the state capital, from Gembu, the administrative headquarters of Sardauna Local Government Council.

The victims were travelling in an 18-seat bus after attending a conference that ended on Saturday in Gembu.

Mourners who spoke with DAILY POST described the incident as a black Sunday, not only to the Christian community but to the people of the state at large.

Describing the news as heartbreaking and devastating, Governor Agbu Kefas, who swiftly condoled with the families of the victims, noted that it was a black Sunday for the state.

The governor further stated that the circumstances of their deaths are regrettably tragic, as they were returning from the women’s CAN Conference, which ended in Gembu on Saturday.

While praying for the repose of their souls, the governor pledged his administration’s continuous commitment to safer roads, especially within areas that posed great threats to life. He said he has already directed that local government chairmen maintain existing roads with proper traffic controls, signage, and basic repairs.

His administration, he promised, would work hard to minimise the sad occurrences of road mishaps occasioned by bad roads in the state.

The Police Command in Lagos State has confirmed the sudden death of a man, who came to watch television at a beer parlour in the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

Hundeyin said that the owner of the beer parlour, whose name was not mentioned, reported the case to Elere Police Division on Wednesday at about 7.00 pm.

He said that the report revealed that a customer (now deceased), whose name and address were yet unknown, in his 50s, came to the beer parlour located along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at about 6.15 pm.

The image maker said the bar owner said the customer walked into the open bar to sit and watch television like any other customers, while some were drinking.

“He was later observed to be sleeping on the chair and there was an attempt to wake him up, but they discovered that he was lifeless.

“The scene was visited by detectives of the division and the body was seen lifeless on the chair without any mark of violence.

“The body has been removed to Mainland General Hospital Mortuary Yaba, Lagos for autopsy. Efforts to trace his family is in progress,” he said.

Nigeria’s table tennis star, Fatima Bello, has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics holding in France.

Ms Bello joined the duo of Edem Offiong and Olajide Omotayo, who both qualified for the Games on Friday at the African Olympic qualifying event in Kigali.

Ms Bello, who secured a maiden ticket to the Games, fought hard to defeat Algeria’s Lynda Loughrabi 4-2 in the women’s final of the tournament on Saturday.

Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision points defeat on a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia as Oleksandr Usyk became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.

On a grand stage and on a legacy-defining night, Briton Fury began well but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after an Usyk onslaught in the ninth round.

In a tense wait for the scorecards to be read out, Fury appeared convinced of victory before a stony-faced Usyk broke down in tears when he was confirmed as the winner.

The scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 for the Ukrainian, with a third judge scoring it 114-113 to Fury.

It meant Fury, 35, lost for the first time in a 16-year professional career. He will get an immediate opportunity for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year.

“I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” a defiant Fury said in the ring.

“His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.”

He added: “It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”

Usyk takes the WBC belt from Fury, to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection.

The 37-year-old remains unbeaten and is the first boxer in almost 25 years to stand tall as the sport’s sole heavyweight world champion.

“Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day,” Usyk said.

“I am ready for a rematch.”

Two men have been arrested following the discovery of cannabis with a street value of £2.1m in County Tyrone.

Officers searched properties in the Cookstown and Coalisland areas on Saturday morning where they seized a significant quantity of the drug along with two vehicles and a number of other items.

The two men, who are 37 and 48, have been arrested on suspicion of involved in the supply of drugs.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: “This operation has dealt a significant blow to the supply and distribution of drugs in our communities.

“No drugs are safe and we remain committed to tackling the scourge of illegal substances.

” We continue to target activity that harms our communities by removing dangerous drugs from our streets and disrupting criminal activity.”

Meanwhile, an estimated €1m (£857,000) worth of suspected cannabis was seized by gardaí (Irish police) in County Meath.

It was recovered at a warehouse in Ashbourne on Thursday.

Gardaí were assisted by the Irish Revenue Customs Service in the operation.

The suspected cannabis was discovered in vacuum-packed bags and will be analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.

There have been no arrests at this stage; gardaí say investigations are ongoing.

Three abducted Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and enrolled at the American University of Nigeria, AUN, were among 189 students who officially graduated with first degrees on Saturday.

DAILY POST reports that of the hundreds of girls who were abducted from Chibok in 2014, while a great number remain in captivity, many have been lucky to escape and lead better lives.

In his remark during the 15th Commencement (Convocation) ceremony of the university at its main campus in Yola on Saturday, the President (vice chancellor) of the University, Dwayne Frazier, charged the graduates to uphold the tenets of the institution.

He reminded them that the university prepares students to face their new challenges.

“I have no doubt that you will excel because you have all shown resilience, determination, and commitment. These qualities will propagate you for the best even as you contribute to the development of the country,” Frazier told them.

In his message, the guest speaker, Professor Mike Ozekhome, asserted that the institution has proven that it can impact the world positively.

“With the entrepreneurship lectures and training you have received here at AUN, you can create jobs for yourselves,” he charged the students.

Eight students were awarded PhD, 10 students with MSc, and 189 students awarded first degrees.

Ozekhome was honoured with a Doctor of Letters degree for promoting peace, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in Nigeria.

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old stepmother, Rachel Geoffrey, for allegedly inflicting severe burns on her 7-year-old and 3-year-old stepchildren.

This was made known in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje on X.com on Saturday.

According to the police statement, the stepmother intentionally set fire to the children’s hands as punishment for eating food she had saved for their father.

“On 15/5/2024 the Command arrested a 23-year-old Rachel Geoffrey a resident of Federal Housing estate, Girei local government area who on 14/5/2024 intentionally inflicted severe physical injuries on her 7 and 3 years stepchildren.

“The Victims Genesis Geoffrey 7 years and Ijadai Geoffrey 3 years faced several calculated acts of cruelty and Human rights violations from their stepmother after the separation of their mother from their father.

“Most worrisome is the recent incident in which she cooked Rice and kept it for her Husband who happened to be the father of the victims and then went out, the hungry kids took and ate their father’s food.

“That angered her, she then tied their hands with a handkerchief making them powerless and set fire to their hands resulting in the severe injuries they sustained.”

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.

A viral video seen on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.

The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.

Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.

“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.

When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.

“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.

A truck has rammed into a Lagos State BRT bus at Ibafo bus-stop along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

It was gathered that the accident occurred around some minutes to 6am on Saturday.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Police on response call at the accident scene insisted that only their Public Relations Officers were authorised to speak.

However, unconfirmed reports from onlookers noted that several people on the BRT bus were injured.

Onlookers accounts noted that the BRT was parked loading its passengers at the bus stop before the truck loaded with cows heading to Lagos rammed into it, taking it off the road to destroy shops and kiosks by the roadside.

The cow truck had been towed a little away from the scene so as not to hinder traffic.

The US State Department has issued a worldwide security alert due to the potential for terrorist attacks against LGBTQI+ people and events.

CNN reports that the security alert on Friday comes two weeks before Pride Month begins on June 1.

The department warned US citizens to stay alert in locations that tourists often visit “including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ persons.”

“Due to the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.

”The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the alert read.

CNN said the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, earlier this week, issued a warning that foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters may target LGBTQ+ events and venues as Pride Month approaches.

The report also said the police in Austria successfully foiled a plot to attack Vienna’s annual Pride Parade, arresting three suspects linked to Islamic extremism.

Son of Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church, Isaac, has confessed to struggling with prngraphy at a point in his life.

Isaac disclosed that he got indulged in Prngraphy during a trip to an European country.

Featuring on a podcast “Confession Box,” Isaac said he overcame through the help of God.

According to Isaac: “My confessions are good ones that will help people. I struggled with prngraphy before.

“I remembered how it started, we travelled to one country and I was meant to be in the room alone, I switched on the TV and that’s it.

“But God brought me out of it very quickly. A lot of people still struggle with it and I think of somebody who had struggled with it and had walked up to me and told me how to come out, I would have come out quickly.

“I think people feel there are things we shouldn’t talk about, but today there are some pastors and church members still struggling with it.

“You may be anointed, seeing signs and wonders but it does not mean you are standing right.

“There is this old saying that if it’s working it means you are standing right but I found out that it’s not always the case. There are times I found out I wasn’t right, but grace and mercy found me.

“For the sake of someone who is genuine in the congregation, God can bypass you to meet the person; this is my confession.”

Thunderstorms have killed four people and knocked out power to nearly a million homes and businesses in south-east Texas.

“We have a storm with 100 mph winds, the equivalent of Hurricane Ike, considerable damage downtown,” said the mayor of Houston, John Whitmire.

Two deaths came from fallen trees and one from a crane blown over.

The storm has now moved on to neighbouring Louisiana with flood warnings in place for the Gulf Coast.

In Houston, traffic lights were out, office windows blown through and glass strewn across the city’s streets.

Residents were warned to stay inside by the mayor, speaking on Thursday evening.

“Stay at home tonight. Do not go to work tomorrow, unless you’re an essential worker.

“Stay home, take care of your children. Our first responders will be working around the clock.”

Flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for multiple counties heading into the evening, according to Houston’s National Weather Service office.

The city was working through a backlog of emergency calls, most of them about gas leaks and downed wires, the city’s fire chief said.

Nearly one million customers were without power in Texas as of late Thursday night, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.

The vast majority of outages are in Harris County, which contains Houston and is home to more than 4.7 million people.

In Louisiana there are 215,000 households without power.

More than 30 million people are at risk of severe weather on Friday across parts of the Gulf Coast.

Last month, another deadly storm swept through the city when tornado Katy killed one and injured 10.