Cristiano Ronaldo named 11th most fashionable athlete in the world

Sport Illustrated released its annual top 20 list of most fashionable footballers

- Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Lebron Johnson, Dwayne Wade named in the top ten

- Ronaldo is enjoying prolonged pre-season having taken part in the Confederations Cup

Sports Illustrated has released its list of 20 most fashionable athletes in the world with Cristiano Ronaldo being the highest placed footballer at 11 place.

He beats the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Tom Brady, and Bryce Harper to his place on the list.

Cristiano Ronaldo is seen as the most fashionable footballer in the world. Photo: Ronaldo/Instagram

The Real Madrid star is the only footballer in the top 20 list which is dominated by sport stars from the NBA and NHL and NFL stars.

Popular athletes to make the top 10 list are Dwayne Wade, Lewis Hamilton Maria Sharapova, LeBron James, Roger Federer, Serena Williams.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook is named the most fashionable athlete in the world by Sport Illustrated's acclaimed editors.

Osinbajo Flags off $495m Bakolori Irrigation Project

Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has flagged off the $495 million (over N150 billion) rehabilitation of 8,000 hectare Bakolori Irrigation Project, sponsored by the World Bank in Talata-mafara, Zamfara state.

Osinbajo, represented by the minister of water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu at the event on Tuesday, July 18 said the World Bank was intervening in the country's irrigation program, under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING).

He added that the World Bank had selected five major basin and sub-basin and “they want to improve the irrigation capacities because most of the existing irrigation require rehabilitation.”

Osinbajo commissioning a project during his visit to Zamfara on Tuesday, July 18. Photo credit: Aso Rock

He stated that the World Bank is investing over N150 billion to rehabilitate the existing irrigation systems in Bakolori; Middle Rima in Sokoto; Kano river irrigation project; Hadejia valley irrigation project in Jigawa and Dadinkowa in Gombe.

“It’s not just about irrigation; transforming the way we manage irrigation practice in the country. Its supporting the water user association to farmers, we have some input to how irrigation systems are managed in the country,” he said.

The acting president said that with the trimming if completed will provide an addition of 50,000ha back on stream in the country.

“Here in Bakolori we are rehabilitating 8,000ha of exiting gravity federal irrigation system and another 5,560ha of what use to be sprinkler irrigation. With the energy consideration we have not been able to continue running the sprinkler irrigation system, so it will be converted into gravity feed irrigation system,” he said.

He said, the project will be a milestone for the ministry, adding that “for the past two years we have been planning, we are flagging it off with Bakolori and the next one will be Kano River Irrigation Project were we hope to rehabilitate those 5,000ha and to Haejia Valley which was started over 30 years ago.”

According to the national project coordinator, Engineer Peter Manjuk, “the triming project was an intervention of the federal government of Nigeria through the ministry Of water resources to transform irrigation practice to dry season farming for sustainability of job creation, food sufficiency, and food security to reduce property and increase wealth to the timing farmers in the country.

“The work will be completed as expected in the next three years and half. The project entails a complete overhaul and rehabilitation of existing 8,000ha and the conversion of the abandoned sprinkling irrigation areas gravity systems, which is 5500ha.”

Osinbajo acknowledging cheers from students during his visit to Zamfara state on Tuesday, July 18. Photo credit: Aso Rock

Manjuk stated that by the end of the intervention, 13,500ha will be fully rehabilitated and equipped for successful and sustainable irrigation practice.

On levy for irrigation paid by farmers, he said, “It is outdated for government agencies to go into the farms to collect irrigation fees from farmers. What the farmers need is to be empowered, confident in themselves to be able to manage their affairs and this farmers should be able to gathers their fees and pay for board water supply to have this water when due.”

About the locations of the irrigation project, Manjuk said, “it’s a pilot scheme and is not lopsided, when successfully implemented the project will be replicated all over the nation, this are large schemes of government.”

Meet 150-year-old Nigerian man Ali Mu’azu

Alhaji Mu’azu Ali was born 150 years ago in Anguwan Kabawa Vinokilang, Hayin Gada Modire ward, Girei local Government area Adamawa state. Throughout his years Alhaji Mu’azu has been a farmer and fisherman.

Sources gathered that Baba Mu’azu as he his popularly called is known by many in the community where he reside because he devoted his entire life time in propagating Islamic and spreading Islamic knowledge.

It was further reported that Baba Mu’azu has eleven children five males and six females from different women.

Ali Mu’azu claims 150-year-old-man with one of his wives. Source: YouTube, 

According to Ba’aba Lami, Alhaji got married to eight wives but only one of them remained with lovely husband. In an interview it was disclosed that Baba Mu'azu had significance roles in the society.

Musa Wakili, a cousin to Baba Mu’azu who is also a ward head of Anguwan Kabawa (Mai Anguwa) said the entire life of Alhaji Mu’azu is a miracle.

One of the Baba Mu’azu’s daughters, Malam Saudatu who is fifty three years old and his last daughter said up till today, Baba Muazu has sound knowledge of the holy Qur’an and had has been the spiritual leader of the community.

She added by saying if not for the hearing imparity he developed recently, he would still remain the Imam of the community.

French military chief Pierre de Villiers resigns after clash with President Macron

Image:President Macron and Pierre de Villiers clashed over the French military's budget

The head of France's armed forces has resigned after clashing with President Emmanuel Macron over proposed budget cuts.

In a statement, Pierre de Villiers said he no longer felt able to command the type of army "that I think is necessary to guarantee the protection of France and the French people".

The military chief clashed with Mr Macron last week after telling a parliamentary committee he would not allow the armed forces to be "screwed" by €850m (£752m) worth of planned cuts.

He said: "I may be stupid, but I know when I'm being had".

Gen de Villiers later posted a statement on Facebook in which he did not name Mr Macron but said "no-one deserves to be blindly followed".

Image:On the planned cuts, Gen de Villiers said: 'I know when I'm being had'

On Friday, the President responded by telling military leaders: "I am your leader".

"For me it is undignified to wash dirty linen in public," he said in a public address. "I need no pressure, no comment."

In a newspaper interview, Mr Macron added that if there was a difference of opinion "it is the chief of the defence staff who will change his position".

The President's plans for military cutbacks have been criticised by opponents and even some in his own party.

Jean-Jacques Bridey, a Macron ally and chairman of the parliamentary committee on defence, said he regretted the policy "while our men risk their lives every day".

Meanwhile, National Front vice president Florian Philippot said the proposals were as "irresponsible as they were incomprehensible".

Wildfires rip through southern and central Europe

Beachgoers and campers are forced to flee as wildfires burn across parts of central and southern Europe.

Image:The fires in Croatia surrounded the popular tourist destination of Split

Wildfires are raging in parts of central and southern Europe, with thousands of firefighters tackling blazes in five countries.

About 12 wildfires broke out in Croatia's second largest city of Split, a popular tourist destination.

Several cars were burned and a shopping centre was evacuated in the suburbs of Split, covering the area and thick black smoke.

Around 4,500 hectares (11,120 acres) of land was destroyed, including homes, according to initial estimates.

Firefighters worked through Monday night to bring the fire under control, but some parts of the city reportedly remain without water or electricity.

Image:Fires are still active in several municipalities in Montenegro

In neighbouring Montenegro, forest fires forced the evacuation of more than 100 campers on the Lustica peninsula and spread further inland but were all under control, the interior ministry said.

The country requested two firefighting planes from NATO to help contain the blaze, according to state TV.

The cause of the fires in the two countries is still unknown.

Image:About 300 acres of forest was affected near Nice

Hundreds of firefighters were also working to extinguish a forest fire about nine miles from Nice in the south of France.

The fire spread as unusually hot and dry weather hits much of France.

Jean-Gabriel Delacroy of the Alpes-Maritime regional administration said it was "under control" but not yet over.

About 300 acres of forest was affected by the fire, which reached the town of Castagniers, inland from Nice.

On the Mediterranean island of Corsica, fire swept through around 200 hectares of scrubland near Bonifacio.

Image:More than 450 firefighters battling the fire in Castagniera, north of Nice

In Italy, a fire broke out in a pine forest near Rome's seaside neighbourhood of Ostia.

Flames, driven by strong winds, raced towards homes which had to be evacuated.

Swimmers also fled beaches in fear as vast clouds of smoke rose along the seafront.

The fire is now under control. It was believed to have been deliberately started and a suspect has been arrested.

Image:Houses had to be evacuated due to the fire near Rome

Fires continue to burn in southern Italy in parts of the Calabria region and in the outskirts of Naples where one person died when he fell from his roof trying to look at the flames.

On Europe's Atlantic coast nearly 1,400 firefighters supported by water-bombing planes and helicopters have battled three blazes in northernPortugal since Sunday.

Authorities say firefighters have managed to mostly bring the fires under control, with temperatures falling from 35C to around 30C also providing some relief.

Nobel Winner Malala in Nigeria Speaks Out Against Boko Haram

 

Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, centre right, speaks with school girls in Maiduguri Nigeria, Tuesday, July. 18, 2017. Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai was greeted with cheers Tuesday by dozens of young women in northeastern Nigeria, where she spoke out for the many girls abducted under Boko Haram's deadly insurgency. (AP Photo/ Jossy Ola) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai was greeted with cheers Tuesday by dozens of young women in northeastern Nigeria, where she spoke out for the many girls abducted under Boko Haram's deadly insurgency.

The 20-year-old Pakistani activist told The Associated Press she was excited by the courage of the young women who are undaunted as they pursue an education amid one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

"This is part of my girl power trip, visiting many parts of the world," said Yousafzai, who also met with the freed Chibok schoolgirls taken in a mass abduction by Boko Haram more than three years ago. "I am here now because of the Nigerian girls. Fighting for them and speaking up for them."

Yousafzai visited internally displaced camps in and around the city of Maiduguri, where thousands have sheltered from Boko Haram's violence. The extremist group continues to carry out deadly attacks there, often using young female suicide bombers.

"They have lived in the period of extremism," Yousafzai said of the young women around her. Many have seen family members killed.

Yousafzai was 15 when she shot in the head by Taliban militants in 2012, targeted due to her advocacy for women's education.

The Nobel winner said her Nigeria visit was significant because it was the partial fulfillment of what she advocated the last time she was there. In 2014, she pressed then-President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the rescue of the more than 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

On Monday, Yousafzai met with more than 100 who have since been rescued and now stay in the capital, Abuja, for what the government calls rehabilitation.

While she told the AP she shared their joy at being freed, she said she was not happy that the girls haven't been allowed to reunite fully with their families.

She said she hopes they will "live with their family, live a normal life."

Many others remain in Boko Haram captivity, "and the government must unite so that they should make sure that these girls are released," Yousafzai said.

"Boko Haram themselves should learn that in Islam, such things are unacceptable," she added. "This is against humanity, this is against Islam."

Yousafzai also met Monday with acting President Yemi Osinbajo, speaking up for the more than 10 million children displaced by Boko Haram and pressing for the declaration of a state of emergency for education in Nigeria.

She also urged the international community to address the crisis in the country's northeast.

Girls at the internally displaced camps said the Nobel winner's story of courage gave them inspiration for a brighter future.

"Her story give us hope, that's why we too want to go to school and become something in life," said 15-year-old Fatima Ali. "We have to bear all pains like hunger to go to school. We barely eat once a day here. We have not eaten since morning because government people no longer bring us food for about two months now."

Three million children in Nigeria's northeast are in need of support to keep learning, according to the U.N. children's agency. Nearly 1,400 schools have been destroyed during Boko Haram's insurgency, which began in 2009, and more than 2,295 teachers have been killed, the agency says.

Ali said she was in school when Boko Haram attacked her town three years ago. "I want to become a soldier so that I could help my community to fight and kill Boko Haram, because they are not good people," she said.

Another student, 15-year-old Fatima Grema, said she sees herself in Yousafzai.

"Boko Haram abducted me and wanted to marry me," she said. After being taken from the town of Baga to a location near the Cameroon border, "I later managed to escape," she said. "I was not in school until I came to the camp here."

Grema said she now wants to become a teacher.

UNICEF's country representative Mohamed Malick Fall said Yousafzai's visit is a symbol of hope, and "we will do everything in our power to make sure all children can keep learning."