Former United States President Donald Trump has instituted legal action against two co-founders of Trump Media over the mismanagement of his social media site, Truth Social.

Trump said the two men, Wes Moss and Andy Litinsky, should lose their shares of the company for mismanaging his social media site.

The duo already filed a suit against Trump in February to prevent him from reducing their 8.6 per cent stake in the firm.

They pitched the idea of Truth Social following the Capitol riot after Trump was banned from Twitter, now X. Their shares are currently valued at around $600 million (£477 million).

Both co-founders met Trump as contestants on NBC’s The Apprentice reality show.

In the lawsuit, filed on March 24 in a Florida state court, lawyers for the former president said Messrs. Moss and Litinsky were in charge of Trump Media & Technology Group’s daily operations, but “failed spectacularly at every turn.”

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) is the parent company of Truth Social.

Trump’s lawyers claim the two executives in particular slowed down the process of taking Trump Media public, including by finding an appropriate merger company.

TMTG went public last week through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.

In their February lawsuit, Moss and Litinsky claimed the former president was trying to reduce their stake in the firm by increasing the company’s total number of shares from 120 million to 1 billion.

Trump founded TMTG in 2021 after he was kicked off of major social media platforms for his actions during the January 6 Capitol riot.

Moss and Litinsky suggested Truth Social as an alternative to mainstream social media sites. They later agreed to a deal in which Trump would own 90% of the platform when it was a private company.

Shares in Truth Social skyrocketed last week, surging as high as $79 (£63) after Trump Media went public despite the business facing government investigations and other hurdles in its merger deal. The stock price has since fallen considerably.

The United Nations Interim Forces in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Wednesday the explosion that hit a patrol in southern Lebanon last weekend and injured three UN peacekeepers was not a “direct or indirect hit.”

According to preliminary investigations, no “direct or indirect hits,” UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenneti told dpa, suggesting that no drone or artillery was involved.

“We are continuing our investigation to clarify the exact cause,” he added.

On March 30, there was an explosion in Lebanon near the Israeli border in which a Lebanese language assistant was also injured along with the UN peacekeepers.

The group was on foot patrol along the border with Israel.

The Lebanese news agency, NNA, said at the time that a drone attacked a UNIFIL vehicle.

Lebanese reports spoke of an attack by the Israeli military.

The Israeli army rejected the allegations.

Lebanese security sources said on Wednesday that an explosive device or a landmine had exploded on the side of the road as the patrol was in the area.

They ruled out that it was an Israeli drone attack or Israeli shelling.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war after the massacre by Hamas in Israel on October 7, there have been daily, sometimes deadly, confrontations between Israel’s army and militant groups such as Hezbollah.

Civilians have also been killed in both countries as a result of mutual shelling.

UNIFIL has been monitoring the border area between the two countries since 1978.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Zimbabwe’s drought a national disaster on Wednesday and said the country needed more than two billion dollars in aid to feed millions facing hunger.

Mr Mnangagwa’s statement follows similar announcements by Zambia in late February and Malawi in March, as drought induced by the El Nino global weather pattern triggers a humanitarian crisis in southern Africa.

Mr Mnangagwa told journalists at the state house in Harare that more than 2.7 million people in Zimbabwe will go hungry this year, and 80 per cent of the country had received poor rains.

“Preliminary assessments show that Zimbabwe requires more than $2 billion towards various interventions we envisage in our national response,” Mr Mnangagwa said.

He said the government would prioritise winter cropping to boost reserves and work with the private sector to import grains.

El Nino is a naturally occurring weather phenomenon associated with a disruption of wind patterns that means warmer ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific.

Since November, most provinces in Zimbabwe have experienced crop failure, with hotter areas declaring grains such as maize a write-off.

Humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Programme, which fed 270,000 people between January and March in four districts, have described the hunger situation as “dire,” calling on donors to provide more aid.

The drought in southern Africa has reached crisis levels, with Botswana and Angola to the west and Mozambique and Madagascar to the east also facing hunger.

Some power experts have expressed their dissatisfaction with the 300 per cent increase in electricity tariffs approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

In separate interviews on Wednesday in Lagos, the experts lamented that such an increase would further burden electricity consumers across the nation.

The tariff hike was announced by Musiliu Oseni, the vice-chairman of NERC, in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Oseni clarified that the 300 per cent increase would specifically impact Band A consumers, who constitute only 15 per cent of the total electricity customers nationwide.

As a result, power distribution companies (DisCos) will be permitted to raise electricity prices to N225 ($0.15) per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N68 for urban consumers, effective April 1.

Reacting to the development, Adeola Ilori, the national coordinator of the All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum, condemned the sudden tariff hike, asserting that it was implemented without due process.

Mr Ilori emphasised that the increase should have followed the prescribed procedures outlined in NERC’s regulatory directives, as mandated by law.

He said the magnitude of the increase, purportedly a minor review, was like a major review, necessitating thorough scrutiny and consultation with all stakeholders.

Mr Ilori hinted at potential legal action by the group to challenge the tariff hike, citing violations of the Electricity Act 2023 and consumer protection regulations.

Meanwhile, Lanre Elatuyi, an electricity market analyst, acknowledged the inevitability of the tariff increase, attributing it to fluctuations in the dollar and gas prices.

Mr Elatuyi explained that with the government unable to subsidise electricity for all consumers, the burden falls on those capable of bearing the actual cost of electricity, particularly Band A customers.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that Band A customers receive the promised hours of supply, urging strict adherence to service standards.

However, Chinedu Amah, founder of Spark Nigeria Ltd., raised concerns about the clarity and monitoring of Band A classification, warning of potential exploitation if not properly defined and regulated.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.

The Vice Chairman, NERC, Musliu Oseni, said the increase will see the customers paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66.

PUNCH Online notes that customers under Band A are those who enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Oseni said customers in Band A represent a 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers in the country.

He added that the commission had also downgraded some customers on the Band A to Band B due to the non-fulfillment of the required hours of electricity provided by the electricity distribution company.

He said, “We currently have 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 per cent now qualify as Band A feeders. These feeders only service 15 per cent of total electricity customers connected to the feeders.

“The commission has issued an order which is titled ‘April Supplementary Order’ and the commission allows a 235 kilowatt per hour.”

He added that the review will not affect customers on the other bands.Citing sources, Bloomberg had on Tuesday reported that power companies will be allowed to raise electricity prices to N200 ($0.15) per kilowatt-hour from N68 for urban consumers.

It quoted people in the presidency with knowledge of the matter saying this was in a bid to attract new investment and slash about $2.3 billion spent to cap tariffs.

According to the news agency, “Nigerians will now have to pay $2.42 per one million British thermal units from the previous rate of $2.18 MMBtu.”

The development comes amid Monday’s announcement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority of an increase in the price of natural gas, which is used to generate more than 70 per cent of electricity in Nigeria.

About 500 residents of Oke-Egan Community, Eleko Area of Ajah in Lagos on Wednesday stormed the state House of Assembly complex, demanding compensation for the demolition of their houses.

The residents of the affected community displaying banners with bold inscriptions and placards venting their plight barricaded the Lagos House main gate in the early hours of Wednesday.

Some of the inscriptions read, “We have been demoralised, nowhere to go. “We want our property back.’’ Others include, “Our hearts bleed; “We now roam the streets with nowhere to stay; Our children are crying; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, your children are homeless; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, please come to our rescue.”

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Dr Taiwo Alalade, lamented that her entire family, including three toddlers and her elderly mother, had been sleeping out in the open after their house was demolished.

She said, “One of us has four buildings here. We have all the papers. They demolished all four buildings. Now, I don’t have anywhere to go. Sanwo-Olu should help us so that they will stop the demolition. We were not informed before they started demolishing our houses. We don’t know these people at all.

“I went to work. When I came back, I saw my house in ashes. This shirt I put on has been on me for three days now. All my brothers and sisters don’t have anywhere to go. All our belongings have been lost. Where do they want us to go? Where do we start from?

“The state government should tell us where they want us to go. They have succeeded in rendering us homeless. We have been sleeping outside since our house was burnt. If it’s raining, we only cover ourselves with a canopy.”

Another affected resident, Pastor Abiodun Ajayi, whose house in the area was also demolished, said it was painful for someone’s house to be demolished in his presence.

“My house was the first to be demolished and we couldn’t take anything out of the house. They got there at 3.00 a.m, and they started the demolition by 5.00 a.m. They came with thugs and we could not talk.

“We have been coming here, we wrote letters and Oba Akiolu of Lagos also wrote a letter on our behalf, because we want to be lawful,” Mr Ajayi said.

Addressing the protesters, the Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, accompanied by his colleagues – Oladipupo Ajomale, Fatai Mojeed and Tijani Suraju, commended them for their peaceful conduct.

Mr Noheem noted that their letter would be presented to the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, adding that the needful would be done to bring respite to them.

The police in Borno State confirmed the arrest of eight suspects in connection with the alleged murder of, a lecturer in the Department of Physical Health Education at the University of Maiduguri, Dr Kamar Abdulkadir.

Mr Abdulkadir was murdered in his office on campus on Sunday by unknown attackers who sneaked into his office.

The victim was found on Monday with several injuries inflicted on his body by his killer. The police public relations officer, Nahun Daso, told journalists that the attackers also carted away the lecturer’s vehicle, phone and laptop.

“We reviewed the CCTV camera and saw them going out of the university with the deceased’s vehicle. However, the quality of the video was very poor so we could not see the number of people that were inside the car,” he said.

He explained that an investigation was still ongoing into the matter.

Reacting, Prof. Danjuma Gambo, the Director of Radio and Public Relations, who spoke on behalf of the vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Shugaba, said the police and other security agencies had launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

“In view of the gravity of the matter, management advises all staff and students to remain calm and go about their normal, legitimate business because the university is working closely with relevant security agencies to get to the root of the matter.

“Management also wishes to assure parents, guardians and other stakeholders that the university campus remains safe and secure for teaching, learning and community service.

Management appreciates the numerous messages of sympathy and support from all its stakeholders in this moment of grief,” Mr Gambo said.

The Lagos State Police Command says it has received a suspected fake soldier parading himself in public from the Nigerian Army.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the suspect has been handed over to the police while addressing newsmen on Wednesday.

Hundeyin said that on Sunday at about 1.50 p.m., a soldier attached to 243 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Ibereko Barracks Lagos, went to the Badagry Police Division with a letter of suspect transfer.

According to him, the soldier reported that on the same day, at about 1.43 a.m., the suspect simply identified as Silas, 25, was arrested at Ikoga Zebbe Area by troops of 243 deployed at Ikoga.

“The soldier stated that the suspect was dressed in a Woodland Camouflage T-Shirt at the time of his arrest.

“The soldier further said that the troops conducted a search in the suspect’s house and the following items were recovered.

“A pair of Woodland Camouflage uniform, one camouflage face cap, two camouflage t-shirts, one 81 Division Shoulder Badge and a camouflage three-quarter dress.

“The suspect claimed that the uniforms belonged to his friend. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

A wind storm has killed one person, injured several others and destroyed over 100 houses in Agbashi community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The Vice-Chairman of the Doma council area, John Bako-Ari while confirming the incident to newsmen on Wednesday, said the tragedy occurred on Tuesday.

Bako-Ari said more than 100 houses were affected, including Agbashi Central Mosque, a primary school and several other public structures.

“It’s true that the windstorm destroyed over 100 houses, including a mosque and a primary school. The incident happened yesterday (Tuesday) in the evening,” he said.

Also speaking on the incident, the acting Chairman of the Agbashi Development Association, Anthony Oshinyeka, described the incident as unfortunate.

Oshinyeka urged the government to urgently intervene to cushion the effects on the people of the community.

He called for the immediate release of relief materials and medical aid to the victims of the windstorm.

A collision involving a commercial Toyota Hiace Bus, fully loaded with pepper and other perishable items, and two other Volkswagen commercial buses left a male pedestrian dead in Lagos on Tuesday.

The director, public affairs and enlightenment department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the accident in a statement in Lagos.

Mr Taofiq noted that the multiple fatal accident occurred at Ketu, by Demurin Junction inward Kosofe, Lagos, around 6:45 a.m.

He noted that another trapped female passenger inside one of the Volkswagen commercial buses was rescued by LASTMA personnel and immediately handed over to officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

He said a commercial bus driver was immediately apprehended by LASTMA personnel, and policemen from Alapere Police Station provided security backup during the rescue operations.

The spokesperson said LASTMA head of Zone 32 Ketu, Olawaye Olugbenga, who led the rescue operations, confirmed that his team immediately evacuated all commercial buses involved in the multiple accidents.

He said that this was to pave the way for unhindered vehicular movement in the Kosofe, Mile 12 area.

Mr Taofiq quoted the general manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, as appealing to pedestrians to always stay at government-designated bus stops to board commercial buses.

He also warned both commercial and private car drivers to stop exceeding speed limits and ensure their vehicles are properly checked before embarking on any journey within or outside Lagos.

A shopping plaza situated at Ogundana Street in Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State, was gutted by fire on Tuesday.

Reports flooded social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), with videos depicting the intense flames and efforts by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to contain the inferno.

One user, #waledaniel_, shared footage from the scene, capturing the chaotic situation as firefighters battled the blaze to prevent further damage and loss of valuables.

The X user stated that response of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is commendable, as they worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control and mitigate the potential harm posed to nearby structures and individuals.

At present, the cause of the fire remains unknown.

Police in the United States of America have confirmed the death of three persons in a helicopter crash on the Petit Combin Mountain in the Swiss Alps.

The Wallis Regional Police Force, in a statement on Tuesday, revealed that the B3-type helicopter crashed at a landing site during a heliski drop-off.

The statement read, “Having reached the summit of a mountain culminating at 3,668 metres above sea level, for a reason that the investigation will have to determine, the aircraft slid down the northern slope.

“On board were the pilot, a mountain guide and his four clients. Their identities have not been released.”

Seven helicopters were sent to the site as part of the rescue effort.”

The police further revealed that two injured persons were quickly treated before being airlifted to a hospital in the Wallis cantonal capital Sion, while a third person was subsequently also rescued.

The police added that three other occupants of the aircraft were unfortunately found lifeless.

A Georgia father, Adan Panzo, has allegedly killed his two baby daughters, state authorities said.

The incident happened at Preston, an unincorporated community in the southwest part of the Peach State near the Alabama border with a population of about 1,000.

According to the report, Panzo lit the car they were in on fire during an argument with his wife on Saturday.

The state agency said the two girls were found dead inside the vehicle after the flames were extinguished.

He was arrested after an investigation indicated he allegedly set the car on fire during a “domestic dispute” with his wife.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Panzo, 36, was charged with felony murder, malice murder and arson, and is booked in Webster County Jail, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said as the probe continues.

The children’s mother has not yet been identified.

“It’s really sad to hear that a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old lost their life,” a local told WALB.

“They’re not even out in the world just yet. They’re not even able to understand or comprehend what was going on. I couldn’t imagine what they were feeling during that situation,” he added.

The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PTECSSAN, has threatened to commence an indefinite strike on April 4.

The union made this announcement in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, on Tuesday.

He stated that the union resolved to go on strike because of the alleged unresolved issues between the union and sub-contractors linked with Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd.

According to him, efforts by the union and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to resolve its concerns were futile as the companies failed to make themselves available for conciliatory meetings.

“It is in the light of this that the leadership of the union directed its members to begin an indefinite strike effective from April 4.

“We implore Nigerians to bear with us during the period of the strike and the discomfort it may bring to them,” he said.

Abdullahi further said the issues that will need urgent implementation include immediate recognition of the fundamental rights of the employees to freely associate with the union.

He said other issues are the immediate remittance of membership dues into the union’s account and the regularization of the employment of union members on the Huawei projects.

“Also important is the involvement of the union in the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement for the benefit of union members, among others,” he said.

At least 29 people have been killed in a fire in a nightclub in Turkey.

The Masquerade club, in the basement of a high-rise building in Istanbul, was closed and being renovated during the day.

The fire broke out just after midday, Istanbul governor Davut Gül said, adding that the cause was not yet clear.

Mr Gül said that the victims of the fire were thought to have been involved in the renovation work.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the fire as investigations continue.

They include three workplace officials, the nightclub manager and the manager of the renovations.

Firefighters and other first responders surrounded the charred and smoking entrance to the club, which occupies two floors underneath a 16-storey residential building in the city’s Gayrettepe district.

The number of victims has rapidly increased throughout the afternoon, with the governor’s office issuing a string of updates.

The newly re-elected Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, offered his condolences on social media.

“May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, and I wish a speedy recovery to our injured,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is aware of the tragedy following a phone call with interior minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The Police in Lagos State have arrested four persons suspected to be vandalising and stealing armoured cables belonging to the state government.

Police spokesperson in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Monday.

He identified the suspects as Oseni Yusuf, Richard Solomon, Emmanuel Ezeobi and Isaac Shedrach.

Mr Hundeyin said that a police patrol team arrested the suspects on Monday in the Ikeja area of the state.

“Patrol officers from Main Centre Division accosted the suspects along Oba Akran Road at about 12:25 a.m.

“They were vandalising armoured cables installed by the state government for the Smart City Light Up Lagos Project,” he said.

Mr Hundeyin said that investigation was ongoing.

The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe said troops on Monday rescued nine kidnap victims abducted by gunmen on March 29 along Ugheli-Patani axis of the East-West road.

Commander of the joint military force deployed to Niger Delta, Rear Admiral John Okeke, confirmed the development on Monday.

Mr Okeke said that 10 suspected kidnappers were arrested in during the rescue of the victims which included an NYSC member and a navy rating.

“In continuation to ensure safety of lives and property in the Niger Delta Region, the gallant troops of the Joint Task Force South-South Operation Delta Safe comprising troops of Quick Response Force of Headquarters OPDS, Land, Maritime and Air Components on Monday, April 1, 2024, rescued nine kidnap victims.

The freed victims were kidnapped on 29 March, 2024, along Patani-Ughelli Road in Delta State.

“During the rescue operation, 10 suspects in connection with the kidnap incident were arrested. Among the rescued victims is a naval rating and an NYSC member,” Mr Okeke said.

The JTF commander subsequently warned criminals within the Niger Delta region to desist from their activities as there would be no safe for them in the region, adding that troops would leave no stone unturned in ensuring a conducive environment for the safety of lives and property.

Mr Okeke also commended the troops for their gallantry and efforts on the rescue operation.

He urged the general public to always provide useful information to security agencies on criminal activities within their communities.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, said on Monday that 13 persons died while two were injured in an auto crash in Kogi.

Mr Samuel Oyedeji, Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the incident occurred around 7:30 pm on Sunday.

He disclosed that the accident involving a commercial Sharon bus and an articulated cement truck, occurred by Obajana Market along Obajana-Lokoja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi.

The sector commander said the Sharon bus had parked behind a truck around the market for passengers to buy some things when the cement truck lost its brake and rammed into it from behind.

“And that as soon as the truck rammed into the bus, it immediately went into flame and burnt virtually all the passengers inside it.

“Also burnt were the bus, two trucks and a motorcycle.

“The bus was reportedly heading to Abuja from the southern part of the country.

“Our personnel, who were on rescue operations with Red Cross Nigeria and Police officers, couldn’t save the situation due the fierceness of the fire.

“But the charred remains of the affected persons were collected while the two injured persons have been taken to Fisayo Hospital, Obajana for medical attention,” he said.

Oyedeji expressed worry that no hospital in Kogi agreed to take the charred bodies for keeps, which might force the authorities to give them a mass burial if no relation came around.

The sector commander, who described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate”, cautioned motorists against speeding and poor maintenance of their vehicles.

According to him, motorists should always check their vehicles to ensure everything is in order before embarking on a journey to avoid road crashes.

However, German residents age 18 and older will be allowed to join nonprofit “cannabis clubs” with a maximum 500 members each starting July 1 later this year.

The legislation also calls for an amnesty for cannabis-related offenses that will no longer be illegal, a development that regional authorities worry could overburden judicial system with thousands of cases.

According to the report, the German Cannabis Association, which campaigned for the new law, staged a “smoke-in” at Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate when the law took effect at midnight, April 1, 2024.

Other public consumption events were planned throughout the country, including one in front of the Cologne cathedral and others in Hamburg, Regensburg and Dortmund.

The law was pushed through by the current coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, against opposition from some of Germany’s federal states and the center-right Christian Democrats.

Meanwhile, Christian Democratic leader, Friedrich Merz, insisted that his party will reverse the legislation if it wins national elections expected in the fall of 2025.

The police command in Bauchi has arrested Isyaku Babale, 30, of Anguwan Dawaki in Bauchi Metropolis, for stabbing his brother to death.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, said this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the suspect was arrested following a report received by the divisional police officer, Township Police Station, Bauchi, and detectives from the division were drafted to the scene immediately.

“They rushed the victim to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), but he was certified dead by a medical doctor. The development prompted the detectives to initiate a manhunt for the suspect, who was apprehended near the Kasuwan Shanu area of the Bauchi metropolis.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by the detectives revealed that the suspect used a knife and stabbed his elder brother on the 31st March 2024 at about 0400hrs after an argument between them,” said the police statement.

Mr Wakil added that the altercation started when the younger brother (suspect) asked his elder brother (victim) to stop taking Cold Patch liquid, popularly known as ‘Sholi’, in their room because of the unpleasant odour of the liquid.

“Both of them became furious with each other and began fighting. Shortly after mediation, the suspect ran and picked a sharp object, suspected to be a knife, and stabbed the victim in his stomach.

“Further investigations revealed that both men were always fighting using dangerous weapons,” he said.

Mr Wakil said police commissioner Auwal Musa had ordered a discreet investigation into the killing to unravel more motives behind the action of the suspect before prosecution.