Few people turned up to see the iconic Taj Mahal when it reopened its doors after six months – the longest it has ever been shut. The entrance, which usually has long queues, was largely empty on Monday as officials waited for visitors. New safety measures include a ban on group photos, temperature checks at the entrance and digital tickets. The monument will allow only 5,000 visitors daily as India reports record Covid-19 cases every day. The 17th-Century marble mausoleum was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday asked all indigenes of Kaduna to cooperate with the government and security agencies to secure “peace and harmony in the state.” The President made the plea during his speech at the fifth edition of KADINVEST, Kaduna state’s annual economic and investment forum. Buhari’s call for peace comes amid recent efforts to secure the state from incidents of violent crimes. For example, Southern Kaduna has endured ethnic violence this year, prompting the federal government to send Special Forces to the region. Earlier on Monday Governor Nasir…

Former Disney Channel star Zendaya made history on Sunday, becoming the youngest woman to win best actress in a drama series at the Emmys. The 24-year-old picked up the coveted prize for her portrayal of teenage drug addict Rue in HBO’s Euphoria. That was no mean feat given her heavyweight competition. Zendaya saw off Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, Ozark’s Laura Linney, The Crown’s Olivia Colman and The Morning Show’s Jennifer Aniston. “I know this feels like a really weird time to be celebrating,” she said at the…

Pamela Hutchinson, a member of the Grammy-winning R&B group The Emotions, has died at the age of 61. She was the youngest sister of the band’s core members Sheila, Wanda and Jeanette Hutchinson, and sang on their biggest hit single Best Of My Love. News of her death was confirmed on The Emotions’ Facebook page. “In loving memory, we are saddened to announce the passing of our sister, Pamela Rose Hutchinson, on Friday, September 18, 2020,” a statement read. “Pam succumbed to health challenges that she’d been battling for several…

President Muhmmadu Buhari had a closed-door meeting with President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, late Sunday night at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting was made public at about 11:36pm on Sunday by Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, on his Twitter handle. “President @MBuhari receives Ghanian President H.E. @NAkufoAddo tonight in his official residence at the State House, Abuja,” the tweet said. Ahmad, who did not elaborate on purpose of the meeting, however posted a picture of both presidents on a walk. Although tips…

HSBC allowed fraudsters to transfer millions of dollars around the world even after it had learned of their scam, leaked secret files show. Britain’s biggest bank moved the money through its US business to HSBC accounts in Hong Kong in 2013 and 2014. Its role in the $80m (£62m) fraud is detailed in a leak of documents – banks’ “suspicious activity reports” – that have been called the FinCEN Files. HSBC says it has always met its legal duties on reporting such activity. The files show the investment scam started…

Afghan mothers will have their names printed on their children’s national identity cards, after a campaign to challenge taboos around women’s names. President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday signed into law an amendment long sought by women’s rights campaigners. Until now, Afghan law dictated that only the father’s name should be recorded on ID cards. Using a woman’s name in public in Afghanistan is traditionally frowned upon and can be considered an insult. Some women have suffered beatings for perceived indiscretions such as using their names to obtain prescriptions. But a…