These are the stories that drove the conversation today:

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has approved the request by the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) to begin an independent audit of detention cells in all police commands and formations in Nigeria.

Head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abayomi Shogunle, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the audit would enable the NHRC oversee the human rights situation of detainees as well as undertake general audit of the state of police detention facilities (cells) in the country.

The audit would also include all detention cells of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

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 A former Governor of Ondo State and immediate past chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum , Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a letter addressed to the state leadership of the PDP on Wednesday, Mimiko said his decision to leave the party was personal to him.

“I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018, for some well-thought-out personal reasons.

It was an honour working with the many prominent Nigerians with whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was in there as a member.

“Accept please the assurance of my very high regards,” a part of the letter read.

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President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law next week.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this on Wednesday to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the President.

“The budget will be signed next week. We will give you the specific date when it is confirmed,” Adesina said without giving details of the specific day and time the document will be signed next week.

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The Federal Government says the declaration of June 12 as a public holiday was a declaration of intention by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami made the clarification, on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, while answering questions from State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.fielded questions on whether Buhari’s declaration contravened the Public Holiday Act.

“As it relates to public holidays, there is truly a Public Holiday Act. The Act can be amended and the process of amendment has been put in place. When the Act has been fully amended, the declaration of the President will come into effect. It is a declaration of intention, a declaration of desire and that will eventually be given effect with the amendment of the existing law,” Malami said:

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Ten people have been killed in an attack on Dutsen-Wake and Oho Village in Birnin-Magaji local government area of Zamfara.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara Police Command , DSP Muhammad Shehu, who confirmed this to journalists in Gusau on Wednesday said the bandits attacked the two villages on Tuesday at about 10 pm.

“We received distress call yesterday that the bandits attacked the area around 10 p.m. We quickly responded by mobilising policemen to the area, led by Area Commander Kaura-Namoda Police Area Command and Divisional Police Officer of Birnin-Magaji Division.

“When they arrived the area the bandits had already fled to Rugu forest bordering Zamfara with Katsina state. They discovered 10 dead bodies killed by the bandits, Seven in Dutsen-Wake and Three in Oho village,” he said.

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And stories from around the world:

The U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has said on Thursday, that tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearization.

“President Trump has been incredibly clear about the sequencing of denuclearization and relief from the sanctions,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters after meeting South Korea’s president and Japan’s foreign minister in Seoul.

“We are going to get complete denuclearization; only then will there be relief from the sanctions,” he said.

North Korean state media reported on Wednesday Kim and Trump had recognized the principle of “step-by-step and simultaneous action” to achieve peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula. (Reuters)

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A 43-year-old black woman, London Breed is to become mayor of San Francisco for the first time in its history.

Breed was declared the winner after her rival admitted defeat a week after city voters cast their ballots.

Winning with just over 50% of votes, the said she felt humbled.

Ms Breed is the only female mayor to serve in the top 15 largest US cities. (BBC)

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The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday condemned Israel for excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians, in a resolution adopted by a strong majority of 120 countries.

The 193-member world body rejected the United States’ efforts to blame Gaza’s Hamas rulers for the violence that has killed over 120 Palestinians in the past two and half months.

The resolution deplores Israel’s use of “excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force” against Palestinian civilians and calls for protection measures for Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. (Aljazeera)

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Macedonia’s president is refusing to sign an historic deal agreed with Greece to change his country’s name, saying it violates the constitution.

“My position is final and I will not yield to any pressure, blackmail or threats,” Gjorge Ivanov declared.

On Tuesday, Macedonia and Greece agreed to end a 27-year row by renaming the ex-Yugoslav state “The Republic of North Macedonia”. (BBC)

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Four Emirati soldiers were killed during an assault on Yemen’s port city of Hudaida on Wednesday, the General Command of the UAE’s armed forces said. 

“The four were martyred while carrying out their national duties during operation ‘Restoring Hope’ alongside the Arab coalition in support of legitimacy in Yemen,” UAE’s WAM news agency said.