US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the India-US trade deal to have fallen through last year, saying PM Modi did not call US President Donald Trump because “they [India] were uncomfortable doing that”. In an interview podcast on Thursday, Lutnick gave a detailed version of the events leading up to a stand-off between the two countries as negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) stalled and Trump imposed additional tariffs of 25 per cent on Indian exports as a punitive measure for buying Russian oil. “I’ll tell you a story about India. I…
Author: Newsdesk
The African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) notes that the quest for a promising and transformative frontier in African agriculture could be enhanced by the adoption and integration of robotics in agriculture through modern farming practices such as mechanization. Robotics-based mechanization holds significant promise, especially in the realm of harvesting, a critical component of Africa’s economy and its pursuit of food security. As a policy imperative, APET recommends that AU Member States expedite the adoption of modern agricultural practices and techniques. This should include the integration of robotics into weeding and harvesting processes, to advance the continent’s quest…
Bayer announces the launch of Baya Solara, the first commercial strawberry variety from Bayer’s De Ruiter brand. The launch is a vital part of the company’s strategic expansion into the strawberry market and follows Bayer’s acquisition of the strawberry assets from UK-based NIAB in 2023. The introduction of the new variety reinforces Bayer’s commitment to providing innovative solutions to protected culture growers and sets a new standard in soft fruit cultivation. Strawberries are among the fastest-growing fruit crops, with year-round demand exceeding supply. “Our new variety Baya Solara is an exciting June-bearing cultivar and delivers impressive productivity and strong resistance…
An environmental health specialist, Dr. Festus Imuk, has advocated for the widespread adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on Nigeria’s agricultural productivity. Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, Imuk emphasized that the government should prioritize promoting drought-resistant crops, improving irrigation systems, integrating renewable energy sources, and boosting education and financial access for farmers. He highlighted that climate change is already diminishing agricultural output in Nigeria, posing threats to rural livelihoods and national food security. “The impacts manifest through erratic rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events,” Imuk explained.…
The Federal Government/Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises–Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project says no fewer than 14,800 people will benefit from the new phase of its Additional Financing (AF) programme in Ondo State. The State Project Coordinator, Dr Ademola Olawale, disclosed this during a media roundtable organized by the Ondo State Project Coordinating Office on Thursday in Akure. Olawale said the first phase of the project, which began in 2020, ended in October 2025 and comprised five batches, with more than 4,000 beneficiaries across the state within five years. He explained that the…
Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has donated a new radiology X-ray machine to the General Hospital, Odan-Lagos, boosting the diagnostic capacity of one of Nigeria’s oldest public healthcare facilities. Speaking at the inauguration, Eshinlokun, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, said the donation was aimed at improving healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. He described the X-ray machine as “a gift of health and a tool to save lives,” and pledged an additional ₦1 billion for the upgrade of facilities at the hospital. According to him, the investment would enhance infrastructure,…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have developed a joint framework to address consumer complaints arising from failed airtime and data transactions. The NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Ukoha explained that failed transactions often occur during network downtimes, system glitches or as a result of human input errors. She said the framework was the outcome of months of engagements involving the NCC, the CBN, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and other relevant stakeholders. According…
The Minister of Livestock Development, Mr. Idi Maiha, on Thursday inaugurated animal artificial insemination and livestock care centres in Sokoto State, aimed at boosting livestock production and improving veterinary services. Maiha described the centres as a strategic intervention designed to strengthen animal husbandry practices and enhance productivity. He said the remodeled veterinary hospital would provide quality care, diagnostics, and infrastructure development for a sustainable livestock sector. The minister also launched a national mass vaccination campaign for livestock, aimed at preventing the spread of diseases and improving animal health for greater economic benefits. “The centres will serve as hubs for veterinary…
Seven medical graduates of the Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences (EkoUNIMED) Ijanikin, Lagos were on Thursday inducted into the medical profession by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inductees are the second batch of the first set of medical doctors that graduated from the University. Speaking during the induction and oath-taking ceremony, Prof Gbadebo Awosanya, the Vice-Chancellor, EkoUNIMED, charged the inductees to imbibe the ethics of the medical profession at all times. Awosanya described the profession as propelled by love for humanity, and urged the doctors to…
US President Donald Trump has reportedly “greenlit” a bill to impose fresh sanctions of up to 500 per cent on India and China for buying fuel from Russia. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed on Wednesday that Trump’s bipartisan bill followed a “very productive” meeting. This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries that buy cheap Russian oil, fuelling Putin’s war machine,” Graham said. “It would give President Trump incredible control against countries like China, India, and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that is funding the Russian war economy,” he added. India and…