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The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were little changed at midday Friday heading to the end of a week of gains for the major indexes driven by better-than-expected retail sales and labor market data.

H&R Block (HRB) shares surged, a day after the tax-prep firm reported better-than-expected results for the fiscal fourth quarter, along with a dividend hike, and a $1.5 billion buyback program.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) shares reached a record high as the owner of Madison Square Garden posted a surprise profit on higher revenue from events and sales of food, beverages, and merchandise at sporting events.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) shares added to yesterday’s rise, after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) revealed a stake in the beauty store chain. Tapestry (TPR) also extended gains after posting better-than-expected results on strong European demand.

Amcor (AMCR) was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 as the packaging firm missed revenue estimates and gave weak guidance as volumes for healthcare and North American beverage companies remained soft.

Pfizer (PFE) shares and American depositary receipts (ADRs) of BioNTech (BNTX) dropped following disappointing results from a trial of the drugmakers’ combined COVID-19 and flu vaccine.

Gold futures climbed to a record high. Oil futures fell and the yield on the 10-year Treasury note declined. The U.S. dollar lost ground to the euro, pound, and yen. Most major cryptocurrencies traded in negative territory.

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The IGP has said, the Kidn+p of 20 medical students in Benue appalling, unacceptable.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has condemned the kidnapping of 20 medical students who were abducted in Otukpo, Benue State, while en route to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students in Enugu. This reprehensible act is truly appalling, callous, and unacceptable

In a display of unwavering commitment to the rescue, safety, and well-being of the young Nigerians, the IGP has ordered the prompt deployment of a substantial number of human and technical resources to augment the manpower of the Benue State Command, and ensure swift rescue of our beloved students. This initiative encompasses the mobilization of additional tactical units from the FID-STS and FID-IRT, the deployment of advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims.

The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students. The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the zeal of the force to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of the perpetrators and others alike, as the Nigeria Police Force is determined to sustain the fi ht against crimes and criminality, most especially kidn: pping of Nigerians. The IGP equally appeals to the general public to provide useful information and actionable intelligence that may aid the ongoing investigation and the rescue operation. Individuals with relevant details are encouraged to contact the nearest police station or the state’s command control number or the FHQ via Pressforabuja@police.gov.ng and other help lines.

The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and it will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace, stability, and the rule of law throughout the country.

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OAP Temisan Okomi has revealed that he can’t live in Abuja because it’s too sane.

He said everywhere in Abuja is truly 15 minutes away. He still can’t live here though. Too bl%ody sane and he likes insanity.

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A lady has revealed why a washing machine is part of the things one looks out for before dating a man.

She said a man that doesn’t have shows that he has being washing his clothe with his hands and she can’t cope with it.

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The National Peace Committee NPC on Friday revealed details of some behind-the-scenes maneuvers by partisans and other unnamed elements during the 2023 Presidential Election, disclosing how it came under immense pressure to get the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to either halt collation of the results or cancel the election.

The committee led by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar disclosed this on Friday in Abuja when it presented to the public its 106-page report of the 2023 General Elections titled, “Nigeria’s Pursuit of Electoral Compliance: National Peace Committee NPC 2023 General Elections Report”.

Before presenting the report to the public, the committee had earlier met with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other management staff of the commission where it was briefed on the electoral umpire’s preparation for the forthcoming Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. Other members of the committee are Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (Vice Chairman); Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (Convener); Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; John Cardinal Onaiyekan; business icons, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola; Vanguard Newspapers Publisher, Sam Amuka Pemu; Ameze Guobadia; Idayat Hassan; Dame Priscilla Kuye; Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; Channels TV owner, John Momoh; Roseline Ukeje; and, Fr. Atta Barkindo, its Head of Secretariat.


Part of the report reads; “As the election day progressed, criticisms and counter criticisms became abundant. The NPC was already being faced with a flurry of phone calls and the need to call INEC to order. The Peace Committee was flooded with requests for intervention. Both the Chairman of the Committee, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, the Convener, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the Head of NPC Secretariat, Fr. Atta Barkindo, were inundated with calls, requests, and petitions demanding the intervention of the NPC.

Some of the requests wanted the NPC to prevail on INEC to stop collating election results because there were gross violations and lack of compliance with the electoral act. Others demanded that the tenets of the Peace Accord signed were not adhered to and therefore the Committee should call for cancellation of the election entirely. The most significant call was related to the 25% threshold for Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory.

Some of the analysts who reached out to the committee asked that the final election result should not be announced because the resumptive president-elect did not score the required 25% as stated in the electoral act. If anything, there should be a runoff. For example, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy described the silence of National Peace Committee (NPC) as deafening in spite of the avalanche of election petitions and likely far-reaching outcomes that could follow the decisions. The Centre stated that the NPC led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) had prior to the 2023 elections engaged political leaders on the need for a peaceful and credible election. However, what was missing was a post- election formal statement of the NPC on the outcome of the election and the sort of intervention needed to prevent widespread vilence.

The biggest bone of contention was the significance of the 25% threshold for the FCT, the vacuum created by pre-election legal interpretation that was not given by INEC. Within the general context of the mandate of the Peace Committee, there were requests that demanded the Committee to go beyond its mandate and to interfere in an electoral process that only agencies empowered by government to do so.

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