Mozambique Replaces Kenya At United Nations Security Council

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January 4, 2023

Mozambique replaced Kenya at the UN Security Council on Tuesday with a promise to prioritise the fight against terrorism.

The country will serve at the council as a non-permanent member for the next two years.

“We are going to deal a lot with terrorism,” said Mozambican ambassador to the UN, Pedro Comissário.

Mozambique has been battling an Islamist insurgency in its northern Cabo Delgado province for the past five years. The conflict has displaced over one million people and killed around 4,000 others, according to official data.

Mr Comissário said the country would also push for reforms at the Security Council to address “African concerns”.

“It is necessary to pay attention to reforming the Security Council to reflect African concerns, a region that has suffered historical injustice. We have no permanent member on the Security Council,” said Mr Comissário.

The Security Council has five permanent members – the United States of America, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and China – and 10 non-permanent members.

Last Surviving Apollo 7 Astronaut, Walter Cunningham Passes On At 90

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Angel Gimalo

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January 4, 2023

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US astronaut Walter Cunningham, the last surviving member of the first Nasa mission to ever broadcast live TV from orbit, has died at the age of 90.

Apollo 7 was an 11-day manned mission in 1968 that tested the ability to dock and rendezvous in space. But the crew also won an Emmy for their broadcast.

It paved the way for the moon landing by Apollo 11 less than a year later.

Nasa confirmed Cunningham’s death, and said that he was “instrumental to our Moon landing’s program success”.

A family representative said he died at a hospital in Houston on Tuesday from natural causes “after a full and complete life”.

“We would like to express our immense pride in the life that he lived, and our deep gratitude for the man that he was – a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, husband, brother, and father,” the Cunningham family said in a statement shared by Nasa, the US space agency.

“The world has lost another true hero, and we will miss him dearly.”

Cunningham was born in Creston, Iowa, and went on to earn a masters degree in physics from the University of California in Los Angeles. While working as a civilian at the time, he was one of three astronauts chosen for the first manned spaceflight in the Apollo programme.

Winter Heat Records Smashed All Over Europe

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Angel Gimalo

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January 4, 2023

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Spain has seen unseasonably warm weather over the Christmas period

Temperatures for January have reached an all-time high in a number of nations across Europe.

National records have fallen in eight countries – and regional records in another three.

Warsaw, Poland, saw 18.9C (66F) on Sunday while Bilbao, Spain, was 25.1C – more than 10C above average.

The mild European weather comes as North America faces more severe storms, days after a deadly winter cold snap left more than 60 dead.

Heavy snow and freezing rain have been forecast for parts of the northern Midwest while severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

But on the European side of the Atlantic, the weather has been balmy for many places at the start of the year.

Temperatures in the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark and Belarus broke national records.

Station records were broken in Germany, France and Ukraine.

The temperature recorded in Warsaw on 1 January was 4C higher than the previous record for the month, and Belarus’ record high was 16.4C, some 4.5C above the previous record.

In Spain, New Year’s Day temperatures in Bilbao were equivalent to the average in July, and parts of Catalonia including Barcelona are subject to restrictions on water use.

Exploring Richat Structure, Mauritania

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Angel Gimalo

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January 4, 2023

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The Richat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, is a mysterious, yet prominent circular feature, which can be found in the vicinity of the small town of Ouadane in the Sahara Desert, within the Republic of Mauritania.

As it is visible from space, this geological feature from the desert has attracted attention since the earliest space missions, which lately gained more attention.

The deeply eroded dome has a diameter of some 40 km (25 mi), and according to the scientists it was most likely formed in the age between the Late Proterozoic to the age of the Ordovician period.

At first it was thought that this impressive formation was just an impact crater due to the its circularity, with recent scientific researches it was discovered that this unusual formation was created by erosion.

Still being studied by numerous geologists, it is concluded that the center of the structure consists of a limestone-dolomite shelf that encloses a siliceous breccia which then is intruded by basaltic ring dikes, kimberlitic intrusions, and alkaline volcanic rocks.

As more attention will be paid to this unique feature of Sahara by the scientists, Richat Structure most likely shall be still among the lesser known places on our planet for which creation we will learn slowly but surely.

Once Upon A Time – January 4 – 1961 – Longest Recorded Strike Ends As Danish Barbers’ Assistants End 33-Year-Strike

By

Angel Gimalo

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January 4, 2023

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1847 Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government

1865 New York Stock Exchange opens its 1st permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad St, near Wall Street in New York City

1959 USSR’s Luna 1 (Mechta) becomes 1st spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravity

1961 Longest recorded strike ends as the Danish barbers’ assistants end a 33 year strike

2007 The 110th United States Congress convenes and elects Nancy Pelosi as the 1st female Speaker of the House

Historical Events Today Events In 2022

Today In Film & TV

1984 “Night Court” starring Harry Anderson, created by comedy writer Reinhold Weege, premieres on NBC TV; runs for 9 seasons

Today In Music

1936 Billboard magazine publishes its 1st music hit parade

Today In Sport

2001 Washington Wizards forward Michael Jordan becomes 4th player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points; hits a free throw in 2nd quarter of an 89-83 win against his old team, the Chicago Bulls

Review 2022

1863 Four wheeled roller skates patented by James Plimpton in New York

1903 Topsy the elephant is electrocuted by her owners at Luna Park, Coney Island and filmed by Edison Manufacturing movie company

Famous Weddings

1827 Naturalist and entomologist Thomas Say (39) secretly weds natural science illustrator Lucy Way Sistare (26)

1926 American songwriter Irving Berlin (37) weds heiress and writer Ellin Mackay (23) in a simple civil ceremony

1997 “Smothers Brothers” actor-singer Dick Smothers (58) weds Denby Franklin (47) in Las Vegas

Cross River Begins 2023 Student Scholarship Awards

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 4, 2023

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Over 300 indigent students across public tertiary institutions in Nigeria will be beneficiaries of the 2023 Cross River State Tertiary Education Scholarship Award.

The Director General of the Cross River Scholarship Board, Nuela Anyin during an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Calabar, the capital of the southern Nigerian State, said that the staff resumed as early as 8 o’clock in the morning to commence the process for the award.

According to Anyin, after the Christmas and New Year holidays, which spanned more than one week, the board decided to hit the ground running to fast-track the processing of already submitted applications and distribute new forms to those interested to apply.

“We have a task because the governor has directed that we give out forms for scholarships. So the processes for the award of scholarships have started though it is only for those within the shores of Nigeria.

“Everybody is back to work and the students are pouring in to collect the forms. For us, it is all work, work and more work,” Anyin stressed.

On the category of student beneficiaries, Anyin stated that the governor directed that the award of scholarships be open to indigent students from Cross River State in any field of study not restricted to science and technology, medicine or engineering.

“The governor is an open-minded person and does not love to discriminate. He is interested in assisting indigent students from Cross River State in tertiary institutions. He has the goodwill for students and not pre-empting the governor, as a board, we are hoping 350 students would be beneficiaries,” she added.

Ronaldo In Saudi Arabia, Grand Al Nassr Unveiling

By

Emenike Agu

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January 4, 2023

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A billboard welcoming the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Arabia’s Al Nassr club, in Riyhad, on Jan 3, 2023.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will continue his already eventful and brilliant career at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr club after sealing a shock move estimated at more than 200m pounds ($286m)

The 37-year-old, a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, touched down in the capital late on Monday, according to Al Ekhbariya state run TV, and is staying at a luxury hotel with his entourage.

“He brought a big team of assistants and even a private security firm,” an official told newsmen.

There are high security measures around the airport with many police cars and checkpoints.

Ronaldo, who left Manchester United under a cloud after slamming the club in a TV interview will appear at Al Nassr’s 25,000-capacity Mrsool Park stadium in Riyadh at 7pm (midnight in Singapore) on Tuesday, officials said.

The latest, and possibly final, chapter in an illustrious career comes weeks after Portugal’s quarter – final exit from the World Cup in neighbouring Qatar, where his great rival Lionel Messi lifted the trophy with Argentina.

Ronaldo’s signing until June 2025 is just the latest foray into top-level sports by oil-rich Saudi, which has moved into Formula One, boxing and golf and snapped up English club Newcastle United.

Critics have dubbed the strategy “sportswashing” – an attempt by the conservative country to distract attention from its human rights record.

Al Nassr is expecting a full stadium for the unveiling, according to one official who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to media.

Ronaldo is by far the biggest star to play in Saudi Arabia, although other heavyweights including George Weah, Pep Guardiola and Xavi also had stints in the wealthy Gulf in the twilight of their careers.

Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi league champions, have called Ronaldo’s signing “more than history in the making”, claiming he will inspire the rest of the league and even the country.

In a tweet, Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal pledged to “support the rest of our clubs for quality deals with international stars soon”.

United terminated Ronaldo’s contract during the World Cup after an explosive interview where he said he felt “betrayed” by the club and had no respect for coach Erik ten Hag.

The Portuguese forward has long been one of the top-paid players in football, earning a reported salary of 31 million euros ($33m) at Juventus before taking a pay-cut to rejoin United.

Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles, league titles in Italy with Juventus, in Spain with Real Madrid and in England with United.

He is also the top scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese national team, with whom he won Euro 2016.

In Qatar, he became the first man to score at five World Cups with his penalty in the group-stage win over Ghana.

Fighting Insecurity: FG Deploys High-Tech In S/East

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 4, 2023

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the deployment of advanced technology to tackle insecurity in Imo and other parts of the South East.

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo revealed this to correspondents after a closed door meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

He said he was in the villa to thank the president for the various supports and assistance given to the state and appeal to him to approve the tech deployment to enable the area to deal effectively with the security menace.

According to him, with the president’s approval, advanced surveillance equipment will soon be delivered to the region that will enhance the fight against insecurity without collateral damage.

The governor particularly thanked the president over the recent conversion of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri to a University Teaching Hospital for the Federal University of Technology, and the approval that converted Alvan Ikoku College of Education to a Federal College of Education.

While stated that he came to visit the president on behalf of his people.

Uzodinma said the visit was “also to thank him for the various supports he gave to us during our period of security challenges and the support he has also given to us in terms of the various approvals.

“Only two weeks ago, Igbos that came home from Lagos and outside South East enjoyed the benefit of the second Niger Bridge, something that is worthy of commendation.

“I also appealed to him for further support, to support us with some technological deployments; we have planned to be able to do an advanced kind of security control in the South East and he has also given his approval to that.

”And in a moment from now, we’ll be getting some surveillance equipment and some modern technologies that will help us manage security so that we can fight crime with little or no collateral damage to the environment.”

On assurance for citizens of Imo State in the New Year, Uzodinma said: “Well, my people are enthusiastic and committed Nigerians and we believe in the unity of the country.

”We believe that for us to grow as a people, we need the support and cooperation of Federal Government, and that I’ve always stood for.

”So, going forward, I know 2023 will be better than 2022. And the level of development we witnessed from 2020 to 2022 will be improved upon.

“And my people have seen a lot of things. If you go to South East, in imo State for instance, we got approval of Mr. President that has now enabled the government of Imo to partner with the Nigerian Navy, to dredge Oguta River to Orashi River to the sea,

”This is opening up that maritime route, if there is a naval base that we will now manage and control pipelines vandalism, crude oil theft, and all forms of criminality that besieged that area for a very long time.

”And the crime has gone down tremendously, since the Naval base was established.

“So I think we have hope for a better Nigeria. The road that we just completed that was commissioned by Mr president, the Owerri to orlu dualised expressway, Mr president has approved that Imo State Government be refunded.

“The good news is every day I come to Mr president, one positive approval or the other. So our people are happy, we’re committed, we’re happy; we have never had it so good.”

The governor maintained that the APC led administration had done well in terms of provision of infrastructure and security in Imo.

”So, that is why I continue to tell you, that the party to beat in my state is APC. Those who are fighting me in my state are not saying we’re not working. They’re not saying we’re not developing the place. They are not accusing us of corruption.

”All they are saying is that they are contriving, instigating insecurity out of desperation, and then blaming the security on a government.

“I’ve seen at the sub national that critical security measures are managed and controlled by Federal Government.

”So I cannot be blamed for insecurity, because you cannot single out Imo State.

“National security is about the 36 states of the Federation and FCT inclusive.

“So, I think we’ve done so well. And I’m happy by the grace of God, as soon as we’re able to bring the security to naught, we’ll have an environment that we will all celebrate and be happy with.

“During this season, we had relative peace in Imo State, and Christmas is a very critical period for us and New Year is also very critical. And apart from a few scratches in the hinterland we are on top of the security situation now in Imo State.

College Signs Agreement With AAUA

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 4, 2023

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The management of the Grace College of Education, Osogbo, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State for the commencement of degree programmes in some education related courses.

A statement by the Proprietor of the College, Amos Adetunji, obtained in Osogbo, said the MoU empowered the institution to run degree programmes in education-based courses in affiliation with the university.

The statement noted that at the signing of the MoU, AAUA Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, said that with the agreement, students admitted by Grace College for degree programmes would become bonafide students of Adekunle Ajasin University and would have their certificates awarded by the University.

He also noted that admission, examination, marking and grading of students would be supervised by the University.

The VC called on the Management of the College to shun acts that could cast doubt on the academic and moral integrity of the university and its certificates, adding that periodic inspections would be paid to the College to ascertain its compliance with the terms of the agreements.

In his remarks, the proprietor of the College, Adetunji, promised to abide by the terms of the agreements in order to grow the relationship between the two institutions.

Djokovic Gets Rousing Welcome In Australia

By

Emenike Agu

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January 4, 2023

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Novak Djokovic was grateful for a warm welcome from Australian fans, after he cruised through his first singles match in the country since being deported in 2022 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Constant Lestienne at the Adelaide International 1 on Tuesday.

The Serb, 35, was deported on the eve of the 2022 Australian Open for not being vaccinated against Covid-19 and received a three-year travel ban from the country, which was then waived in November.

After being well received by fans during a rare doubles appearance on Monday, with chants of “Novak, Novak!” as he made his way onto the court, Djokovic began his preparations for the Jan 16-29 Australian Open against world No. 65 Lestienne by racing through the opening set.

The 21 time Grand Slam champion turned up the heat on his French opponent with a double break to go 4-0 up in the second set before Lestienne got on the board, but Djokovic closed out the match in style as fans again chanted his name.

“I have to say, I’m glad to be back in Australia, thank you all for coming out,” he said on court. “Thank you for giving me the welcome I could only wish for.

“It’s great to be back. To see the packed house for my first match was definitely a very pleasant surprise. Lots of support, lots of love. That obviously motivated me and allowed me to express myself in the best possible way..

“If I have to pick one country where I’ve had the most success, which treated me in the best way in terms of tennis, it’s here. I won my first Grand Slam here in 2008 and I have nine Australian Open titles – I’ve had some epic matches.

“Australia has been the place where I play my best tennis and I look forward to coming here. The circumstances last year were as they were and it wasn’t easy for anybody but I’m happy to be here, focus on tennis and enjoy my time with you guys.”

On his match against Lestienne, the Serb added: “For the first match I can’t complain, I played very well. I thought the first probably six games were very competitive.

“I’ve never faced him before today’s match… He doesn’t make too many mistakes and he kind of absorbs the pace from his opponent, kind of tricky serve, hits his spots.

“But once I made that break at 3-2 first set, I felt like I stepped it up one or two levels and played really good.”

Up next for the world No. 5 is another Frenchman in Quentin Halys, who beat Australian Jordan Thompson 6-3, 6-4.

Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev also advanced to the second round of the ATP 250 tournament when Lorenzo Sonego retired with a right arm injury while trailing 7-6 (8-6), 2-1.

Medvedev, who lost to Rafal Nadal after a grueling five sets in the 2022 Melbourne Park final saved nine set points to win the opening set.

“I didn’t know it was nine set points, that’s crazy and probably the first time in my life I’ve saved nine set points,” said the world No. 7 Russian.

“What a match to start the year.

He will next play Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic for a quarter-final spot.