Scene of residents breaking into Abuja govt warehouse
Some residents of the Nigerian capital, Abuja, broke into a government warehouse in the city to loot food items.
The incident happened on Sunday morning, Daily Trust reports. It started around 7 a.m. and continued till about 9 a.m., residents told the newspaper.
Sunday’s incident happened amid the current economic crisis in the country which has seen the prices of goods and services increase by over 200 per cent without a corresponding increase in income.
The cost of living crisis was caused by the removal of subsidies on petrol and the floating of naira; policies justified by the government as necessary for the economy.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the cost of living crisis has led to protests in several parts of Nigeria.
The warehouse looted by the Abuja residents on Sunday was also reportedly looted during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.
The police, however, told Daily Trustthat police officers had arrived at the scene and normalcy had been returned.
PREMIUM TIMES will provide more details of Sunday’s incident in subsequent reports.
Troops of the Nigerian army have killed a suspected member of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesperson in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect was killed during a clearance operation by the troops at Ihiteukwa, a community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria.
Mr Nwachukwu, a major general, said the troops also cleared an IPOB/ESN hideout in the area during the operation which was conducted on Saturday.
The army spokesperson said the troops overpowered the hoodlums after an “intense firefight” between them. Three improvised explosive devices, a Toyota Highlander SUV, a Hilux vehicle, eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, six rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one locally fabricated single barrel gun were among the items recovered from the hideout, according to the army.
Others were a pair of ‘Biafra uniform’, one solar panel, one CCTV camera, 10 mobile phones, batteries, a bundle of Biafra currency, three solar street lights, three jungle hats, pairs of black boots and charms.
Mr Nwachukwu said, in a separate operation, the troops engaged other suspected IPOB members in a shootout at their crossing point in Akawa Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The army spokesperson said the IPOB members “scampered in disarray” into nearby bushes during the shootout.
He did not mention when the troops conducted the operation.
One AK-47 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two empty magazines and one FN FAL rifle loaded with four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from the hoodlums, the army said.
Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged its support to Nigeria’s agricultural sector with a whopping $134 million investment aimed at enhancing food production.
The President of AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, unveiled this commitment during his visit to the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) at Bayero University, Kano, on Saturday.
Adesina outlined the bank’s plans, stating, “We will support Nigeria in cultivating 300,000 hectares of rice and maize, 150,000 hectares of cassava, and 50,000 hectares of soybeans during the 2024 planting season.”
He emphasised the importance of adapting to climate change and promoting the cultivation of dry land crops that are resilient and tolerant.
Highlighting the immediate initiatives, Adesina announced, “This March, the AfDB is supporting Nigeria to cultivate 118,000 hectares of heat-tolerant varieties of wheat and another 150,000 hectares of maize.”
He stressed the significance of providing timely and relevant information to farmers, especially in the face of climate change challenges.
Moreover, Adesina underscored the bank’s commitment to fostering technological advancements in agriculture, stating, “We will collaborate with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture to enhance its capabilities in weather prediction and data collection, thus empowering farmers to plan effectively.”
Furthermore, the AfDB President lauded the efforts of Bayero University’s Vice-Chancellor, Sagir Adamu-Abbas; and the Director of CDA, Jibrin Mohammed-Jibrin, in supporting farmers with access to technology amidst climate change adversities.
In response, Mohammed-Jibrin affirmed the CDA’s dedication to research and teaching in development initiatives, particularly focusing on dry land agriculture.
Ever wonder why some people seem to always get a good night’s rest while you toss and turn for hours, or wake up again and again?
Your sleep hygiene may be the problem. Good sleep hygiene is a combination of sleeping conditions and lifestyle habits that help you get consistent, uninterrupted sleep.
Benefits of Good Sleep Hygiene
Good sleep hygiene can help you in a lot of ways. When you get enough sleep — experts recommend 7 to 8 hours a night — you may:
Think about making changes to your sleep routine if you have trouble falling asleep, if you can’t stay asleep, or if you often feel sleepy during the day. These may be signs of bad sleep hygiene.
How to Have Good Sleep Hygiene
You can take simple steps to break bad habits and get better sleep.
Be consistent. It can be easy to stay up late watching your favorite team play a game or to sleep in on Saturdays and Sundays. There are some exceptions, but you’ll get better sleep by going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time in the morning. This gets your body into a routine that will help you feel sleepy at the same time each night and wake up refreshed in the morning.
Keep your bedroom quiet and dark, and at a good temperature for sleeping. It depends on the person, but many doctors recommend 60 to 67 degrees F.
Make your bedroom relaxing, which for you may mean clean and clutter-free.
Try a wind-down routine before bed, like meditation, yoga, or stretching.
Limit naps during the day.
Make your bed a sleep-only zone. Don’t read or watch TV there.
Don’t bring electronic devices into the bedroom. If your iPad, laptop, phone, and TV aren’t in the room, you’ll be less tempted to check emails or texts right before you go to bed, or stay up late bingeing a show. They also give off blue light that might affect your body’s melatonin production.
Don’t eat large, heavy meals before bed. Limit caffeine and alcohol.
Exercise during the day. Moving — whether it’s a walk at lunch or a cycling class before your family wakes up — can help you fall asleep more easily.
When to See Your Doctor
If you’ve made changes and they don’t seem to be helping, talk to your doctor. You may have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, that needs medical treatment.
Your doctor might also recommend:
Medication like melatonin, which is made by the body and helps promote sleep
Light therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy, in which a therapist can help you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors around sleep.
Trailing by one goal following last month’s first leg in Rome, Bayern Munich will aim to overturn Lazio‘s lead in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday.
While the Serie A side are close to a first quarter-final appearance in two decades, the German champions have made that stage for three years straight and are ultimately seeking a seventh European crown.
Following an autumn stroll through Group A, where they finished top of the pile by eight points, Bayern Munich may have expected to make serene progress to the Champions League’s latter stages, but they suffered a serious setback at Stadio Olimpico, losing 1-0.
The turning point arrived midway through the second half of a close-fought game, when Dayot Upamecano was sent off and conceded a penalty, before Lazio captain Ciro Immobile stepped up to coolly convert from the spot
As Bayern have already exited the DFB-Pokal and lost the DFL-Supercup to Leipzig, the prospect of a trophyless season looms large. With silverware seen as a requirement from each and every season, the pressure is therefore on the six-time European champions to defy dwindling odds and become kings of the continent once again.
The German giants have previously progressed from all but one of their last dozen ties at this stage of the Champions League, and are also unbeaten in 13 home matches in the competition.
However, history suggests staging a second-leg comeback may not be so straightforward: Bayern have been eliminated from each of their last seven Champions League ties when losing the first leg.
Neither side is enjoying their best form, but last month’s opener suggests they are not quite so mismatched as many pundits thought. Lazio have been better in the Champions League than in Serie A this season but rarely fare well on the road; even misfiring Bayern should have enough firepower to take advantage.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Real Sociedad, PSG renew acquaintances at the Reale Arena
Three weeks on from an entertaining first leg at the Parc des Princes, Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain renew acquaintances for the return fixture at the Reale Arena on Tuesday night.
The Ligue 1 champions weathered a first-half storm to emerge triumphant by two goals to nil in the opening encounter, since when their hosts have already experienced one dose of knockout dejection.
PSG players
Competing in the Champions League knockout rounds for just the second time under its current name, Real Sociedad – semi-finalists of the old European Cup in 1982-83 – had their moments in the first half at the Parc des Princes on Valentine’s Day, but they were not feeling the love in front of goal.
Wasting a succession of promising chances in the opening period would unsurprisingly prove fatal in the French capital, where Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock for Les Parisiens in the 58th minute, before Bradley Barcola surged past Hamari Traore and finished a slick solo run with a finish through Alex Remiro‘s legs at his near post.
A two-goal deficit is not insurmountable for Imanol Alguacil‘s troops, but history does not favour the men in blue and white, who lost 1-0 to PSG’s Ligue 1 rivals Lyon in the first leg of their last-16 tie in 2003-04 – their only other knockout round appearance since 1992 – and suffered the same fate in the second leg.
Bidding to banish the last-16 curse which has haunted them in many a Champions League tournament, a PSG side still searching for their maiden top-level European honour need only avoid a catastrophic collapse at the Reale Arena to take another step towards that elusive crown.
While their upcoming hosts have recorded several blots on their notebook in 2024, the French champions head to Spain with an impressive 20-match unbeaten run to protect, although they have dropped points in their last two Ligue 1 fixtures with Rennes (0-0) and Monaco (0-0).
PSG will be under no illusions that they were fortunate to escape with a clean sheet from Friday’s draw with Monaco, where Donnarumma proved himself as one of the world’s best shot-stoppers, and second-leg collapses are nothing new for the French champions.
With several big-hitters primed for returns to the first XI, Real Sociedad should give their visitors a strong run for their money, but their home record makes for painful reading, and a place in the quarter-final draw surely awaits Enrique’s troops.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
La Liga to analyse alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Jr at Valencia
La Liga is analysing a video reportedly showing Vinicius Jr being racially abused during Real Madrid’s game at Valencia, BBC Sport understands.
The video posted on social media allegedly shows a child fan directing abuse towards the player, reports The Athletic.
Vinicius Jr
Vinicius scored twice in Saturday’s 2-2 draw and celebrated by raising his fist in the air.
The 23-year-old has faced racist abuse several times during his time in Spain.
Three people were later arrested in connection with the abuse and Valencia were fined and ordered to partially close their stadium for five matches, later reduced to three on appeal.
The racist abuse Vinicius has faced in the past 18 months includes:
September 2022 – Some Atletico Madrid fans sang racist songs toward Vinicius outside their Metropolitano stadium before Real Madrid played them. Atletico Madrid later condemned the “unacceptable” chants by a “minority” of fans.
September 2022 – Some pundits in Spain criticised Vinicius’ goal celebration, in which he danced by the corner flag. He responded by saying “the happiness of a black Brazilian in Europe” is behind the criticism.
December 2022 – Vinicius appeared to be subjected to racist abuse at Valladolid while he walked past fans after being substituted. The next month La Liga said it had filed charges relating to the racist abuse of Vinicius to the “relevant judicial, administrative and sporting bodies”.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying three US astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut has blasted off from Florida bound for the International Space Station (ISS).
The Crew-8 mission will be in space for six months. Space is one of the few areas where the US and Russia continue to co-operate closely despite the war in Ukraine.
The three men and one woman are in a capsule used in space four times before by Elon Musk’s SpaceX firm. They plan to do various experiments.
One will involve growing artificial replicas of human organs in the low-gravity environment – which is not possible on Earth.
It will be one of more than 200 science experiments that are to be conducted during the mission, scheduled to finish in mid-August, according to Nasa’s ISS programme manager Joel Montalbano.
The crew of four blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 22:53 local time (03:53 GMT Monday).
The first launch attempt on Saturday was called off due to strong winds.
Ambassador of Germany to Russia Alexander Graf Lambsdorff
A wiretap recording of German military officials published over the weekend proves Western countries were participating in the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin has claimed.
The assertion was made by a spokesman on Monday, shortly after Moscow had reportedly summoned the German ambassador. The previous day, Berlin said that the release of the recording via social media was part of efforts to “destabilise” Germany.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the discussions among military officials of the potential use by Ukraine of German-made Taurus missiles to hit Russian targets, “once again highlight the direct involvement of the collective West in the conflict in Ukraine”.
Russian state-run agency RIA Novosti published a video of Germany’s envoy Alexander Graf Lambsdorff arriving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, declining to answer the questions of Russian journalists.
“The German ambassador … was summoned in connection with the publicised conversation of German officers about Crimea,” RIA said.
Extreme weather has brought avalanches, storms, strong winds and landslides to Italy and France.
A 16-year-old boy died after being hit by an avalanche while skiing off-piste in Plan in Val Passiria in Italy’s South Tyrol region, near the Austrian border. The avalanche risk in the area stands at level three, or “considerable”, on the European avalanche danger scale. The boy is the second person to be killed by an avalanche in the region in recent days.
More than 6,000 people living in three villages in the Gressoney area of the Aosta valley, the Alpine region near the French border, have been isolated since Sunday as a result of avalanches, which also blocked a tunnel.
Thunderstorms and winds of more than 60mph (100km/h) triggered landslides in the Liguria region on Italy’s north-west coast. A tornado struck off the port city of Savona, and waves of more than four metres were recorded in Capo Mele.
The French meteorological office said the mountain area along the Italian border where up to a metre of snow was expected at an altitude of 2,500 metres was at particular risk.
Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand's former prime minister
Thailand’s top court has acquitted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a corruption case during her time in office more than a decade ago.
The ruling on Monday is the latest legal success for the influential Shinawatra family. In February, Yingluck’s brother Thaksin – a two-time prime minister and figurehead of the Pheu Thai Party – was released on parole after serving six months into a commuted prison sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest.
Yingluck and five others were accused of mishandling 240 billion baht ($6.7bn) and not running a proper bidding process for a 2013 campaign set to promote Yingluck’s government’s infrastructure projects.
All nine judges in Thailand’s Supreme Court acquitted all defendants, saying in a statement they found “no intention” to benefit two major media outlets that won the contract at the time.
“The project was done according to the regulations,” the court statement added. Yingluck, who has lived abroad since 2017 to avoid jail over a subsidy scheme that caused billions of dollars in state losses, was not present at the court but was represented by her lawyer.
One of dozens of fakes portraying black Trump supporters
Donald Trump supporters have been creating and sharing AI-generated fake images of black voters to encourage African Americans to vote Republican. BBC Panorama discovered dozens of deepfakes portraying black people as supporting the former president.
Mr Trump has openly courted black voters, who were key to Joe Biden’s election win in 2020.
But there’s no evidence directly linking these images to Mr Trump’s campaign.
The co-founder of Black Voters Matter, a group which encourages black people to vote, said the manipulated images were pushing a “strategic narrative” designed to show Mr Trump as popular in the black community. One of them was Mark Kaye and his team at a conservative radio show in Florida.
They created an image of Mr Trump smiling with his arms around a group of black women at a party and shared it on Facebook, where Mr Kaye has more than one million followers.
