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Toddler among 10 killed in Gaza in separate Israeli strikes, civil defense agency reports
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Gaza鈥檚 civil defense agency reported on Tuesday that a toddler was among 10 people killed in separate Israeli strikes in the northern part of the Palestinian territory. Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency, stated that four people, including three-year-old Yahya al-Mallahi, were killed in a strike targeting a police vehicle in Gaza City. Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City confirmed receiving the bodies. Gaza鈥檚 interior ministry also stated that Israeli warplanes targeted a police vehicle, causing deaths and injuries. Bassal further reported another person killed by Israeli fire in the Beit Lahia area. The Israeli military said its troops identified and killed an "armed terrorist" in the area of the Yellow Line, though it was unclear if this referred to the Beit Lahia incident. On Wednesday, the military stated it had struck "Hamas terrorists" in a truck the previous day. On Tuesday evening, the civil defense agency reported multiple fatalities in another strike near an intersection in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, with Al-Shifa hospital confirming five bodies received from an Israeli bombing in Al-Shati. The Israeli military did not immediately respond regarding this latest strike. These incidents occur despite a ceasefire in the Gaza war that began on October 10. According to Gaza鈥檚 health ministry, at least 757 people have been killed in Gaza since the truce, while the Israeli army reports five of its soldiers killed in Gaza during the same period.
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A coroner's court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, died by suicide. Ms. Solomon, who moved to the UK in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, was found unresponsive in her Stanfield home. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her upon returning home from work. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Police investigators ruled out any third-party involvement. During the inquest, Mr. Butler stated that his wife had struggled with her mental health for the past year, attributing it to issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also revealed that Ms. Solomon had made two previous attempts to take her own life. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as oxygen deprivation. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Ms. Solomon died by suicide, noting that she had researched and planned the act. Ms. Solomon, a caregiver, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.
The Nigerian Federal Government is prepared to collaborate with investors to address the nation's housing deficit, offering land nationwide for mass housing projects. This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Darma, during a meeting with a Chinese delegation. The delegation, led by Chief Engineer Lewis Chima, proposed a partnership to deliver large-scale affordable housing. Darma noted that this proposal aligns with President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes affordable housing through public-private partnerships. The minister affirmed the ministry's commitment to facilitating access to land and providing institutional support for successful project implementation. Chima stated that the company was drawn to Nigeria due to its significant housing demand and economic potential, aiming to complement the Renewed Hope Housing Programme by providing affordable, durable, and rapidly deployable housing solutions across the country鈥檚 six geopolitical zones. The company plans to use advanced prefabricated construction technology under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing model to deliver 10,000 housing units within 30 months, reducing costs and improving quality. Darma has directed a committee to review the proposal. Nigeria faces an estimated housing deficit of about 17 million units, which the Renewed Hope Housing Programme aims to tackle through various initiatives, including Renewed Hope Cities, Estate
The Federal Government has launched an initiative offering free registration for 250,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN and Corporate Affairs Commission CAC formalisation programme. Approved by President Bola Tinubu, this program aims to eliminate business registration costs for eligible nano, micro, and small businesses, thereby integrating more entrepreneurs into Nigeria's formal economy. Successful applicants will receive free Business Name registration, with the Federal Government covering the statutory fees. The initiative, announced during the 8th National MSME Awards in Abuja on June 27, also provides beneficiaries with technical training, business development support, and access to growth opportunities. Interested business owners can apply via the official SMEDAN portal at portal.smedan.gov.ng by creating an account, completing the MSME registration form, and indicating they do not have an existing CAC registration number. Businesses already in the SMEDAN database without CAC registration may automatically qualify. This program follows a Memorandum of Understanding between CAC and SMEDAN to formalise 250,000 enterprises nationwide, with President Tinubu formally approving the free formalisation in 2026 to ease financial burdens for entrepreneurs and integrate them into Nigeria's formal banking and regulatory system.