Hunger: Lagos tells residents to go to farm (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has called on the residents to embrace subsistence farming by growing different crops within their homes to cushion the high cost of food items in the state.
Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families on smallholdings.
Ms Abisola Olusanya, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, made the call at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos. Read more
Defend Africa from illegal exploiters, Tinubu tasks solid minerals ministers (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has asked solid minerals ministers across African countries to be patriotic and proactive in managing the continent’s natural wealth and combatting illegal exploitation.
Tinubu said this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation of African Ministers of Solid Minerals under the auspices of African Minerals Strategy Group led by the Chairman, Mr. Dele Alake, at the State House, Abuja.
He urged the ministers to defend Africa against illegal exploiters of the continent’s mineral resources. Read more
Nigerian Navy rescues 8 victims of human trafficking, arrests 8 stowaways, hands over to NAPTIP, NIS (ThisDay)
In an operation that spanned days across the nation’s maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy units rescued eight female victims of human trafficking, just as they intercepted and arrested eight male stowaways.
The Quick Response Team of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base BADAGRY had intercepted a wooden passenger boat with eight females aged between 18-23 years en-route the Benin Republic.
According to the Naval Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, upon interrogation it became obvious that the females were being trafficked by a yet to be identified agent. Read more
Reps committee summons NIMASA boss after hearing snub (Channels)
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character on Wednesday summoned the Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola.
This followed the failure of the DG to appear before the Committee for an investigative hearing after being duly invited.
The Chairman of the Committee, Idris Wase, who expressed displeasure over Mobereola’s absence at the hearing at the National Assembly Complex, rejected his representative. Read more
Methodist Bishops, Islamic Clerics to FG: Hardship may lead to chaos, anarchy (Vanguard)
Bishops of the Methodist Church in Nigeria have charged the Federal Government to implement policies that will tame inflation in the country warning that if the economic challenges facing Nigerians are not tackled, it may lead to chaos and anarchy.
This came on a day when a popular Islamic cleric, Imam Muideen Salman, urged politicians to stem the tide of greed to reduce the level of hardship in Nigeria.
The Bishops spoke at the end of the 41st annual council meeting of Bishops of the Methodist Church in Nigeria with the theme, ‘Arise and Build’, held at Hoares Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Archdiocese of Lagos Mainland in Sabo, Lagos. Read more
Tinubu appoints Walson-Jack as new Head of the Civil Service (Nation)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation from August 14, 2024.
The announcement of the incoming Head of the Federal Civil Service was contained in a statement on Wednesday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Walson-Jack, a seasoned civil servant, was appointed Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017 and has served in various ministries. Read more
Court orders Shuaibu’s reinstatement as Edo Deputy Gov (DailyTrust)
A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, voided the impeachment of Phillip Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
The House of Assembly had removed Shuaibu after he fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
But Shuaibu headed for the court to challenge his removal, which he said was unconstitutional.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice James Omotoso said the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly was illegal and unconstitutional. Read more
UI students protest 10-hour electricity rationing, tuition hike (Punch)
Students of the University of Ibadan, on Wednesday, staged a protest to express their grievances following the schedule of a 10-hour electricity supply on campus and a hike in tuition by the university management.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the students were provoked by the announced 10-hour power supply, incessant tuition, and introduction of what they termed “outrageous fees” by the authorities.
The protest started in the late hours of Tuesday and continued on Wednesday with the students carrying placards at the front of the university gate. Read more
Tinashe ponders dance moves while writing songs (MusicNews)
Tinashe has revealed that she always thinks about how she will dance to her songs as she writes them.
During an appearance on Variety’s Behind the Song video series to discuss the success of her viral hit Nasty, the singer revealed that dancing is a big part of her songwriting process.
“When I go into the studio I’m always considering how I’m gonna dance to a song,” Tinashe explained. “Because dance is so important to me as an artist and how I express my music and how it’s gonna translate on stage.” Read more
‘Shogun’ tops television’s Emmy nominations with 25 (JapanToday)
Hit drama series Shogun, which transported viewers to early 17th-century Japan, topped television’s Emmy nominations on Wednesday, earning 25 nods.
The Bear broke the comedy record for most nominations in a single year, with 23, ahead of Only Murders in the Building which landed on 21.
True Detective: Night Country, starring Jodie Foster, topped the limited or anthology series section, scoring 19 nominations. Read more
Russo Bros. in talks to direct next 2 ‘‘Avengers’’ movies (Variety)
Joe and Anthony Russo, who propelled Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame to stratospheric box office heights, may return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The filmmaking brothers are in early talks to direct 2026’s “Avengers” movie (formerly titled “The Kang Dynasty”) and 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which will conclude the Multiverse Saga of the MCU. The films will presumably be connected, à la the two-part story of 2018’s Infinity War and 2019’s Endgame.
A spokesperson for AGBO, the Russos’ production company, declined to comment. Read more
Donald Glover explains why he’s retiring the ‘‘Childish Gambino’’ name (HipHopDX)
Donald Glover will be retiring his Childish Gambino moniker this month after half a dozen albums under the name.
Ahead of the release of his sixth album Bando Stone & the New World on Friday (July 19), Glover spoke to the New York Times about the LP and why his rap alter-ego will be no more.
“It really was just like, ’Oh, it’s done,’” he said of the moment he realized he no longer felt connected to the name. “It’s not fulfilling. And I just felt like I didn’t need to build in this way anymore.” Read more
President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19 at pivotal moment in reelection campaign (CNN)
President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, disrupting a key campaign event meant to shore up support with Latino voters at a critical juncture in the election.
Biden, 81, was experiencing mild symptoms and has received his first dose of the antiviral drug Paxlovid, according to his doctor.
“I feel good,” Biden, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, told reporters Wednesday in Las Vegas, flashing a thumbs-up before boarding Air Force One to head to his Delaware residence. The president will self-isolate there in line with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Read more
Cause of death revealed in case of teen fatally hit by Miss. police cruiser, cops say there’s no footage (People)
A Black 17-year-old boy in Mississippi was fatally hit by a police cruiser in March.
Kadarius Smith died of “massive blunt head trauma” in what the medical examiner has ruled an accident, according to the autopsy report just obtained by PEOPLE.
The four-page report notes that Kadarius suffered a fractured skull and left femur, a subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral contusions and lacerations, among his injuries. Read more
Hamas rejects HRW accusation of war crimes in October 7 attack (AlJazeera)
Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed numerous crimes against humanity, including summary killings and sexual violence, during their attacks on Israel on October 7, a report issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.
The surprise attack on Israel aimed to kill civilians and take the maximum number of captives, according to the report, released on Wednesday. Hamas slammed the publication, saying it is full of “lies and blatant bias”.
Based on interviews with 144 witnesses and extensive photo and video documentation, the report said Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, and at least four other Palestinian armed groups identified as taking part in the attacks “committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians”. Read more
Nwabali returns to Chippa training (Punch)
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has returned to training at Chippa United despite talks that he could exit the club this summer.
Nwabali rose to prominence earlier this year after an impressive outing with Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Former Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, brought in the Chippa United star to replace Francis Uzoho who has not been consistent playing for Nigeria.
Nigerian young striker joins Switzerland Cup Champions servette on loan (CompleteSports)
Nigerian 21-year-old striker Victor Beniangba has joined Switzerland’s last season Cup champions Servette FC in a one-year loan deal.
Servette disclosed this in a statement on their website on Wednesday, July 17.
“Victory Beniangba arrives from Genk where he scored 18 goals in 40 matches with the second team of the Belgian club which plays in the second division including 12 in 25 matches last season. Read more
Leny Yoro to Manchester United: Medical scheduled for reported $65m back (NBC)
Leny Yoro to Manchester United is on, pending a medical, as the teenage defender with the reported $65 million price tag jets away to England.
Reports say that Yoro, 18, was hopeful of landing with Real Madrid but has been sufficiently wooed by the Red Devils’ project.
Yoro is a French youth international who came through the ranks at Lille and made his Ligue 1 debut at 16. He’s made 60 senior appearances for the Ligue 1 mainstay and won’t turn 19 until November. Read more
Footballer who broke man’s skull with rock handed community service instead of jail (DailyStar)
Ilias Chair’s prison sentence has been reduced to community service and a fine – after he was convicted of breaking a man’s skull with a rock.
The QPR star, 26, had been sentenced to a year behind bars, with a further 12 months suspended, by an Antwerp court in February for what was described as an “almost fatal attack”.
The incident happened after a kayaking trip in northern France when an altercation broke out with the man, a lorry driver, called Niels T. Chair claimed his actions were because he felt he needed to defend members of his family. Read more
Fever’s Caitlin Clark has WNBA-record 19 assists in loss to Wings (ESPN)
Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA record for assists in a game Wednesday night, finishing with 19 in the Fever’s 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings.
The previous record was 18 by Courtney Vandersloot for Chicago on Aug. 31, 2020. Vandersloot also had 18 in a playoff game on Sept. 28, 2021.
And the league’s previous record for assists by a rookie was 16, set by Ticha Penicheiro for Sacramento on July 29, 1998. Read more
Hungarian Grand Prix pit lane flooded less than 48 hours before race (DailyMail)
Shocking images have revealed how the Hungarian Grand Prix pit lane has been flooded less than 48 hours before the first qualifying session.
The first practice is scheduled to take place just after midday on Friday, but the severe weather has led to some serious doubts as to whether this can go ahead.
The weather is expected to brighten up, with a warm weather forecast in Hungary on the weekend. Read more