We’re tired of open grazing – Miyetti Allah (Vanguard)
Miyetti Allah Breeders Association of Nigeria says it is tired of open grazing in Ondo State, calling on government to make provision for ranches as a way of putting an end to frequent herdsmen/ farmers’ crises.
The Chairman of the association in the state, Alhaji Bello Garba, stated this on Wednesday in Akure.
Garba was speaking during a public hearing on a bill to regulate rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment of ranches and other related matters.
He said that the association would support any peaceful move to address the issue in the state, adding that farmers and herdsmen must carry out their respective activities without clashing. Read more
Lagos begins COVID-19 vaccine rollout weekend- Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has on Wednesday said that the COVID-19 vaccination will commence in the state this weekend.
The state had on Tuesday received the first consignment of 507,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by the Federal Government.
Sanwo said a steering committee was in its final stage of preparation for the deployment of the vaccine, adding that there’s a clear-cut strategy for the vaccine distribution. Read more
Lagos may start administering COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu, on Wednesday, revealed that the state may begin to administer the COVID-19 vaccines from Federal Government from tomorrow.
Sanwo-Olu stated this when the Head of Mission and the World Health Organization, (WHO), Representative for Nigeria, Doctor Walter Mulombo to paid him a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Ikeja.
The governor also said it is committed to building an enduring relationship with the WHO to provide quality healthcare service to its citizens.
Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Covid-19 Vaccines steering Committee had designed a level of strategy and an elaborate process to ensure it was administered well while calling for more support of the WHO as well as other international health institution. Read more
LASU debuts on top 200 African universities list as Covenant University drops out (Guardian)
Lagos State University has been listed among one of the top 200 universities in Africa as Covenant University dropped significantly, according to the 2021 Times Higher Education rankings.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 include more than 1,500 universities across 93 countries and regions.
LASU moved to the top 200 for the first time with 155th position, coming second in Nigeria as University of Ibadan ranked 111th putting its spot as the 1st in Nigeria. Read more
Court adjourns trial of internet celebrity Mompha (Guardian)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday further adjourned until May 26, for the continuation of the trial of internet celebrity Ismaila Mustapha (a.k.a Mompha), standing trial for N32.9 billion fraud.
Mustapha was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 14 counts bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The commission later amended the charge to 22 counts.
The defendant was arraigned alongside his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum. Read more
2021 rating: UI, LASU, UNILAG ranked among top 800 world varsities (Punch)
The University of Ibadan, Lagos State University, and the University of Lagos have ranked among the top 800 universities in the world.
This was contained in the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Ranking obtained on Wednesday.
THE ranked UI, LASU, and UNILAG as first, second, and third respectively in Nigeria.
Privately-owned Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, was ranked fourth ahead of the Federal Government-owned University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which came fifth; and Obafemi Awolowo University, sixth in Nigeria. Read more
Ekiti: Fayemi receives COVID vaccine, pledges equal access for residents (Punch)
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said on Wednesday that the state government had put in place measures that would ensure that Ekiti residents had equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines.
Fayemi urged Ekiti residents and indeed all Nigerians to disregard any unfounded theories about the efficacy and effects of the vaccines on them, saying, “We should not introduce unnecessary sentiments to the health and well-being of our people for whatever reasons.”
The Governor spoke in Ado Ekiti during the flag-off of COVID-19 vaccination in the state, stressing that “all hands must be on deck to ensure all indigenes know that the vaccine is safe.” Read more
Leah Sharibu’s parents to Buhari: Fulfil your promise, secure the release of our daughter like you did others (Vanguard)
Parents of Leah, Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu have again appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to use the same negotiators, strategies and means used to secure the release of other school children to rescue their daughter, Leah who is still being held in captivity. Read more
Herdsmen: Tanker drivers block Benin-Ore highway over colleagues’ killing (Punch)
Drivers of petroleum tankers and other articulated vehicles on Wednesday blocked the Benin-Ore highway, at Ofosu, over the killing of two drivers by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday night.
Ofosu is the boundary community between Edo and Ondo States.
The hoodlums were said to have also made away with an undisclosed amount of money stolen from their victims.
The angry drivers, who blocked the ever-busy highway at the military checkpoint, refused all plea made to them by other motorists, to vacate the road.
A driver, who delivers newspapers to Edo State, lamented that he was stuck in the traffic since early Wednesday morning, saying business has been disrupted by the blockade.
“It is a terrible experience getting stuck on the road. The protesting drivers said two of their colleagues were robbed and killed by suspected herdsmen. We are all stuck here and our businesses have been disrupted,” he said. Read more
Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi activist ‘loses appeal against sentence’ (BBC)
The Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has lost an appeal against her sentence, her family says.
Ms Hathloul was released on probation last month after almost three years in prison, but she is subject to a five-year travel ban and other restrictions.
On Wednesday, her sister said a court had upheld her sentence for violating a counter-terrorism law.
Ms Hathloul has insisted she committed no crime and vowed to bring to justice officials she accuses of torturing her. Read more
Marjorie Taylor Greene stalls final vote on Biden’s ‘reckless’ $1.9T COVID stimulus (NYPost)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Wednesday stalled final passage of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill by forcing a nearly hourlong vote on a motion to adjourn the House of Representatives.
The House had been expected to approve the American Rescue Plan Act around noon, but Greene’s motion forced the lengthy vote due to pandemic restrictions that require few lawmakers to vote at a given time.
The motion to adjourn was defeated 149-235, with 41 Republicans voting against it.
Greene said that “$1.9 trillion in spending is reckless, irresponsible and the wrong thing to do.” Read more
Russia slows down Twitter over ‘banned content’ (BBC)
Russia’s media watchdog has said it is slowing down the speed of Twitter, accusing the US social media company of failing to remove 3,000 posts relating to suicide, drugs and pornography.
The move was to protect Russian citizens, Roskomnadzor said.
Twitter is widely used by the Kremlin’s opponents and Russian users said they were having difficulty accessing photos and videos on the site.
As the decision came into effect, the watchdog’s website went down. Read more
Instagram Lite’ rolls out to 170 countries, extending reach (Guardian)
Facebook said Wednesday a lightweight version of Instagram would be rolling out to 170 countries, extending the reach of the popular visually-focused social network.
Instagram Lite is adapted for Android phones and is likely to gain appeal to users in locations with limited bandwidth or high data costs, especially in the developing world.
“Our teams build these lightweight versions of our apps for people with low connectivity or limited data plans because our basic premise is to leave no one behind,” said Tzach Hadar, head of product management for Facebook Tel Aviv, an engineering hub for the applications. Read more
Bruno Mars’ wish to perform as Silk Sonic at Grammys 2021 comes true (NYPost)
The 2021 Grammy Awards have left the door open for Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak.
On Sunday, Mars tweeted an earnest appeal to the Recording Academy to perform at this Sunday’s show alongside .Paak, with whom he released a single, “Leave the Door Open,” in a new collaboration as Silk Sonic last week.
“Dear Grammys,” Mars wrote. “If you can see it in your hearts to allow two out of work musicians to perform at your show, we would appreciate it.”
It seems he was able to finesse a deal. Read more
China and Russia to build lunar space station (BBC)
China and Russia have announced plans to build a lunar space station.
Russian space agency Roscosmos says it has signed an agreement with China’s National Space Administration to develop research facilities on the surface of the moon, in orbit or both.
A statement from both countries’ space agencies says it will be available for use by other nations.
It comes as Russia prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first-ever manned space flight. Read more
Queen Elizabeth quizzing senior royals over Harry and Meghan’s racism claims: report (PageSix)
Queen Elizabeth II will start privately quizzing senior royals over damning racism claims — while her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip, spends his 23rd day in a hospital after heart surgery, according to reports.
The 94-year-old monarch has said the alarming claims by grandson Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, during their Oprah Winfrey interview will be “addressed by the family privately.”
Sources told The Sun that she will start individually confronting senior royals about the allegations — including Harry himself.
The main focus will be Harry’s allegation that at least one family member raised concerns about “how dark” his mixed-race children would be, which the queen called particularly “concerning.” Read more
Juve’s Ronaldo experiment flops with more Champions League heartache (Guardian)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Juventus was in the spotlight after a third Champions League flop for the Portuguese star expensively signed to deliver the trophy that has eluded the Italian giants for quarter of a century.
Juventus crashed out in the last 16 for the second year running on Tuesday night, losing to 10-man Porto on away goals despite winning the second leg 3-2 in Turin.
Record Champions League scorer Ronaldo, who was signed for 100 million euros ($117 million) in the summer of 2018 from Real Madrid, was silenced as he failed to score in either leg of a knockout round for the first time in 16 years. Read more
Maracana stadium to be named after Brazil legend Pele (BBC)
Brazil’s iconic Maracana stadium is to be named in honour of the country’s legendary footballer Pele.
The move follows a vote by the Rio de Janeiro state legislature to change the venue’s name to the Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Rei Pele stadium.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento is the 80-year-old’s full name, while Rei means king in Portuguese.
The Rio de Janeiro’s state governor must approve the name change before it becomes official.
Pele, who won three World Cups as a player for Brazil, scored his 1,000th goal at the stadium in 1969 when playing for Santos against Vasco da Gama. Read more
Bach promises ‘safe, secure’ Tokyo Olympics (Guardian)
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach promised to deliver a “safe, secure” Tokyo Olympics this year as he prepared to be re-elected for a second term on Wednesday.
As he opened the IOC Session, Bach said it was no longer a question of whether the Olympics, which were postponed last year as the coronavirus pandemic spread around the globe, would take place but in what conditions they will be held.
“Tokyo remains the best prepared Olympic city ever and at this moment, we have no reason to doubt that the Opening Ceremony will take place on July 23,” Bach said. Read more
Milo Yiannopoulos says he is ‘ex-gay,’ wants to rehabilitate ‘conversion therapy’ (NYPost)
Right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos has come out as “ex-gay” – announcing that he “would like to help rehabilitate what the media calls “conversion therapy” over the next decade, according to a report.
The 36-year-old British political commentator, whose speeches and writings often ridicule political correctness, social justice and feminism, declared himself no longer gay and “sodomy free,” he told LifeSite in an interview.
Yiannopoulos — who once said that sex between 13-year-olds and older men can be “life-affirming” — told the outlet that he is now leading a daily consecration online to St. Joseph.
“When I used to kid that I only became gay to torment my mother, I wasn’t entirely joking,” he said. Read more
Meyers Leonard: NBA player ‘deeply sorry’ for anti-Semitic slur (BBC)
US basketball player Meyers Leonard has apologised after using an anti-Semitic slur during an online game stream.
The comment was made during a Call of Duty game on Twitch on Monday.
In an Instagram statement, Leonard said he was sorry and said he had not known what the word meant when he used it.
His team has criticised the player and said he will be “away from the team indefinitely”. They also pledged to co-operate with a National Basketball Association (NBA) investigation. Read more
Cavani ‘proud’ to wear Man U shirt amid father’s exit talk (Punch)
Edinson Cavani said he is proud to wear the Manchester United shirt after his father claimed the Uruguay striker was unhappy in England and wanted to finish his career in South America.
Luis Cavani told media in Argentina on Tuesday that the 34-year-old star was eyeing a possible move to Boca Juniors later this year.“(Edinson) today does not feel comfortable where he is,” Luis Cavani told Argentine television channel TyC Sports. “He has been thinking for more than two years that he wants to be closer to the family.” Read more