Author: damazah@gmail.com

Funmi Ogundare Former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, Prof. Umaru Pate, has said democracy will only have real meaning for Nigerians if it extends beyond the conduct of periodic elections to deliver improved security, economic prosperity, social justice and accountable governance. Pate made this known at the 18th Wole Soyinka Centre media lecture series themed, ‘Beyond the Ballot: Measuring Democracy Through Security, Welfare, Accountability and Public Trust’; and public presentation of the 2025 Journalism and Civic Space Status Report to celebrate Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka at 92, in Lagos on Monday. In his keynote, he…

Agriculture remains the backbone of any growing economy, and in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti is making deliberate moves to reposition the sector from subsistence farming to a commercial, wealth-creating enterprise. The recent flag-off of the Farmers’ Input Support Programme at the Umuahia Township Stadium is more than a distribution exercise. It is a clear statement of intent: that Abia’s future will be built not just in cities and industries, but also on fertile farmlands. Direct empowerment of 18,634 farmers With 18,634 genuine farmers targeted under the programme, the Otti administration has expanded access to government support beyond initial projections.…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.IBM issued a profit warning that sent its shares plunging more than 20 per cent, as customers raced to redirect spending to servers and storage ahead of price increases driven by the AI boom.The tech company had expected strong sales in mainframes and related software but instead corporate clients shifted to buying computing infrastructure from elsewhere.“These conditions require our teams to execute perfectly, and this quarter we faltered,” said chief executive Arvind Krishna. “We did not adapt and move quickly enough, and…

New York governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Tuesday enacting a one-year pause on the development of hyperscale data centers, effecting the nation’s first statewide data center moratorium. The executive order comes as opposition to data center construction sweeps across the country, putting elected officials under intense pressure to take action.The order specifically pauses state environmental reviews for facilities over 50 megawatts for a year. It instructs the state’s Department of Public Service to assess the environmental and energy impact of data centers during this time, and to develop a new generic environmental impact statement, a general permitting process…

American-Moroccan referee Elfath will take charge of England vs Argentina, his fourth game at the 2026 World Cup.Moroccan-American football referee Ismail Elfath will officiate the seismic FIFA World Cup semifinal showdown between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday.It marks the fourth match the 44-year-old has been in charge of at this tournament, after the 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands and Spain’s 1-0 win against Uruguay in the group stage, as well as Norway’s stunning 2-1 victory in the round-of-16 meeting with Brazil.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listHere’s everything to know about Elfath’s personal background…

Could eating lots of chili peppers affect your cancer risk? Scientists have been debating that question for years, and the answer remains far from simple. While chili peppers contain compounds that have shown anti inflammatory and even anticancer effects in laboratory experiments, some human studies have linked very high consumption to a greater risk of certain cancers of the digestive tract. A large review published in Frontiers in Nutrition examined the available evidence and found that people who consumed the most chili peppers were more likely to develop certain gastrointestinal cancers, especially esophageal cancer. At the same time, researchers emphasized…

Key eventsWICKET! India 43-1 (Rohit c Brook b S Curran 11)Sam Curran, never in doubt. He strikes third ball when Rohit gallivants down the pitch and slices the ball high to Harry Brook at mid-off.Rohit’s dismissal is greeted by huge cheers from the India fans; here comes Virat Kohli.Share7th over: India 43-0 (Rohit 11, Gill 26) Rohit flick-pulls Archer delightfully over square leg for four. There’s still plenty in this pitch, as Archer proves with a sharp lifter that beats Gill later in the over. Gill responds with successive square drives for two, both high-class strokes.“What are your thoughts on…

By Efe Onodjae The organisers of Extravagant Praise 2026 have said no fewer than 5,000 worshippers are expected at this year’s annual gospel concert, which will focus on thanksgiving, Christian unity and soul-winning. The event will hold at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos, on August 14. Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos, the Chief Host, Rev. Fr. Alexius Agba, OP, represented by Rev. Fr. Raphael Amen, OP, described the concert as a “channel of grace” designed to unite Christians across denominations through music and worship. According to him, the concert provides a platform for discovering and nurturing young…

Air coolers should not be confused with air conditioning. An air cooler can lower your room temperature by a couple of degrees, while aircon can lower it by tens of degrees. So it’s important to manage your expectations. But air coolers are much more energy efficient: they use a fraction of the electricity of aircon.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.Evaporative air coolers work by pulling warm air through water-soaked pads. The water evaporates, which uses energy, so the process cools the air. So while it’s not fridge-cold…

CBSE makes third language, NIA court, ISRO, Stay Updated With Important News Headlines of National, International & Sports. Read complete news here for school assembly.