General News
Saudi Arabia Declares Friday for Eid al Fitr Celebration
Saudi Arabia has announced that the Eid al Fitr celebration marking the end of the Ramadan fast will begin on Friday.
According to a statement by the Saudi Press Agency, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia confirmed that Thursday completes the 30th day of Ramadan, making Friday the first day of Eid.
Eid al Fitr, one of the most significant Islamic celebrations, is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon in line with the Muslim lunar calendar. The festival marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month during which Muslims observe fasting from dawn to dusk.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the core pillars of Islam, requiring abstinence from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours, while also encouraging acts of charity and compassion for the less privileged.
Mecca and Medina, home to Islam’s holiest sites including the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, witness massive gatherings of worshippers during the period.
However, this year’s Ramadan and upcoming Eid celebrations come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has impacted the region through a series of missile strikes and air raids.
Despite the tensions, Muslims across the world are expected to mark the festival with prayers, family gatherings, and acts of charity.
A yet-to-be-identified vandal was electrocuted while attempting to tamper with a MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) substation on Independence Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu.
Mr Emeka Ezeh, Head of Communications at MEDL, described the incident as unfortunate. He explained that the suspect, along with accomplices, had successfully loosened two intermediate cables from the Akonobi 500KVA Distribution Substation and was in the process of removing a third when electricity supply was restored, leading to his electrocution.
Ezeh noted that two cables were missing from the scene, suggesting that the suspect’s accomplices had fled. He expressed concern over the increasing rate of vandalism, highlighting that such acts not only disrupt electricity supply but also impact the company’s revenue and the quality of service to customers.
He called on the public to remain vigilant and collaborate with the company to prevent acts of vandalism that result in major inconvenience. Ezeh emphasized that addressing vandalism requires collective effort, as damage to installations affects many customers.
The remains of the electrocuted suspect have been evacuated by the Nigeria Police and deposited at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) morgue. MEDL hopes that the incident will serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar criminal activities.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to either formally charge former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai in court or release him, stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law and due process.
According to reports from multiple sources, the monarch questioned the continued detention or investigation of El-Rufai without clear legal action, warning that such a situation could undermine public trust in Nigeria’s justice system. He emphasized that no individual should be held indefinitely without trial, regardless of political differences.
The Sultan also raised concerns over the reported presence of United States military personnel in Nigeria, describing the development as sensitive and requiring transparency. He urged the federal government to clearly explain the terms and purpose of any foreign military collaboration to Nigerians.
His remarks come amid growing public debate following confirmation that a small team of U.S. troops has been deployed to Nigeria as part of expanded security cooperation aimed at tackling insurgency and terrorism.
While Nigerian and U.S. officials have described the deployment as a strategic partnership to strengthen counterterrorism efforts, critics and stakeholders have continued to question the implications for Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.
The Sultan called for caution, urging the government to prioritise national interest, accountability, and constitutional processes in both domestic political matters and international military engagements.
Operations at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were brought to a complete standstill on Wednesday following a one-day strike by service workers, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
The industrial action, organised by Germany’s Verdi labour union, forced the cancellation of all scheduled arrivals and departures, affecting approximately 57,000 travellers and grounding about 445 flights.
Airport authorities confirmed that no regular passenger flights could operate during the strike, citing disruptions across critical services including fire safety, air traffic operations, and terminal management.
The strike is part of an ongoing dispute over wages, with the union representing around 2,000 airport employees demanding better pay amid rising living costs. Union officials described the action as a direct response to what they called the employers’ failure to present a meaningful offer during negotiations.
Airport management, however, criticised the move as disproportionate, warning that it severely disrupted travel plans and added pressure to an already strained aviation sector.
Passengers were advised to contact their airlines for rebooking or refunds, as the shutdown left many scrambling for alternative travel arrangements.
The strike is expected to be temporary, with further negotiations between the union and employers scheduled for later in March.