Holy Site Where Jesus Healed Blind Man Will Be Opened To The Public In Jerusalem

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December 30, 2022

A historic biblical site believed to be where Jesus healed a blind man and Jewish pilgrims took ritual baths for purity will be fully excavated for the first time and opened to the general public.

The Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation announced the initiation of the excavation of the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem in a Tuesday announcement.

“The Pool of Siloam in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem is a site of historic, national, and international significance. After many years of expectation, we will soon begin uncovering this important site and make it accessible to the millions of visitors and tourists who visit Jerusalem every year,” Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said in a statement.

Visitors will be allowed to view the excavation of the historic site. Within a few months, tourists can access the entire pool, traveling in the footsteps of the pilgrims that purified themselves at the pool on their journey to the Holy Temple. The tourist route will begin at the southernmost point of the City of David and end at the Western Wall.

The pool was reportedly constructed 2,700 years ago, in the eighth century B.C., during the reign of King Hezekiah, who is credited with having “brought water to the city” in 2 Kings 20:20.

It served as a reservoir for collecting water from the Gihon Spring, delivering water to the city through an underground tunnel.

“Due to its importance, the Pool of Siloam was renovated and expanded in the late Second Temple period, some 2,000 years ago,” the IAA’s announcement reads.

“It is believed that at this time the pool served as a ‘mikveh’, a ritual bath, for the thousands of pilgrims who converged at the Pool of Siloam before ascending via the City of David to the Temple.”

In John 9:1-7, the pool is mentioned as the site where Jesus healed a man born blind and restored his vision. The verse describes Jesus spitting on the ground, making mud with his saliva, and placing it on the man’s eyes.

“‘Go,’ he told him, ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (this word means ‘Sent’). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing,” the verse reads.

According to IAA’s announcement, a group of British-American archaeologists uncovered some of the pool’s steps in the 1890s, and British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon excavated the Pool of Siloam in the 1960s.

Movies, Music And TV Helped Pelé To Even More Stardom

By

Koko Lawrence

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December 30, 2022

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Whether or not Pelé scored almost 1,300 goals in his professional soccer career, all of his biographers agree that the three-time World Cup champion wrote more than 100 songs and appeared in TV Shows and documentaries.

He was also in the movies, notably in the World War II film “Victory,” and was one of the stars of a Brazilian comedy that brought more than 3.6 million people to the theaters in the South American nation.

Pelé, whose full name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died Thursday with cancer at a hospital in Sao Paulo. He was 82.

Pelé’s success on the soccer field made him a sports icon, but he added to that with many performances as an actor and singer.

MOVIES

“King Pelé” (O Rei Pelé, 1962)

Pelé‘s first big-screen moment came in a movie directed by Carlos Hugo Christensen in the same year he won his second World Cup title. The narrative starts at Pelé’s native city of Tres Coracoes, talks about his move to the Sao Paulo countryside city of Bauru and then on to Santos, where he becomes a global star.

“Victory” (1981)

Directed by John Huston, it was the movie Pelé said he had most fun doing. He played Cpl. Luis Fernandes, a soldier from Trinidad.

The plot involves prisoners of war preparing to face a German team in Nazi-occupied Paris amid their attempt to escape. At the time with the New York Cosmos, Pelé had the chance play with very different teammates — actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine.

“If I had to give myself a grade as an actor it would be a 10,” Pelé jokingly said in several interviews after “Victory.”

He also told friends that the original script had Stallone in position to score the winning goal with a bicycle kick, but the American actor did not have the skills to do it, so he was placed as a goalkeeper instead. Former England captain Bobby Moore is also in the film, along with several other professional soccer players.

“Victory,” known as “Escape to Victory” in many places, made almost $28 million at the box office.

“The Clumsies and the King of Soccer” (Os Trapalhões e o Rei do Futebol, 1986)

This was an association between two of Brazil’s most popular brands at the time — a recently retired Pelé and a Three Stooges-like group of comedians who were widely popular for their TV program Os Trapalhões (The Clumsies). The movie’s opening was three days before the 1986 World Cup final in which Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, beat Germany 3-2. It took millions to the cinema in Brazil that year.

Pelé played the role of a sports reporter named Nascimento who replaced the injured goalkeeper of a team named Independência Futebol Clube and scored the winning goal of a match with a goal kick.

Pelé also took part in documentaries, including “This is Pelé” (1974), “Pelé Eterno” (2004) and “Cine Pelé” (2011).

Pelé: A Sports Star And Cultural Icon

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Koko Lawrence

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December 30, 2022

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Pelé will be famous for 15 centuries. The Brazilian soccer star said Andy Warhol told him that. It was a twist on something else the American artist is widely credited with saying, that “in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Warhol made the soccer star’s portrait in 1977, and Pelé took great pride in turning his sports fame into decades of global affection and renown.

For most Brazilians Pelé was a cultural and social phenomenon. He was the country’s statesman without an office, a role he played since age 17. He usually took quiet political positions, if any.

“Pelé always knew his place,” his former assistant Pepito Fornos said. “If it was a meeting with Queen Elizabeth, Pope John Paul II, Bono Vox or just a kid he met on the street, everyone treated him with reverence. He was the same boy from the countryside, but when he shared a table with people he was quickly the center.”

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, globally known as Pelé, died Thursday at a Sao Paulo hospital. Throughout his career and afterward, he walked a fine line between his fame and taking on social problems.

Still, the star marveled the world one last time on the sport’s biggest stage. Brazil’s and Pelé’s third World Cup title came when Medici was torturing adversaries, had closed congress and had put a gag on the nation’s top court.

Pelé and every other Brazil player received a Volkswagen from an ally of the dictator upon arrival from Mexico. None of the footballers refused the gift, but the star player was most vehemently critiqued due to his hero status.

“At that moment I did not want to be Pelé,” he said. “We knew a lot of things that were going on in the country.”

Pelé retired from the national team in 1971, left his boyhood club Santos three years later and moved to the United States to play for the New York Cosmos after being lured by then-U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. During those years, he spoke about love, caring for children and stopping wars.

The Brazilian finished his professional soccer career in 1977 and returned to his country soon after, as democracy was returning.

Pelé became more politically vocal in retirement. He criticized Ricardo Teixeira, then head of the Brazilian soccer confederation and son-in-law of then-FIFA President João Havelange (1916-2016). He was banned from the draw for the 1994 World Cup, attending it as a pundit for TV Globo.

In 1995, Pelé became sports minister in the center-right administration of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso but spent seven years in the job maintaining a relatively low public profile.

For decades, Pelé‘s meeting and greeting leaders around the world landed great results for him and his allies. He was one of the key figures of Rio de Janeiro’s winning bid team to host the 2016 Olympics, when he was center stage again at an International Olympic Committee meeting in 2009. Pelé’s old foe Havelange was in his team again.

“Everyone came to see Pelé and then the others had a chance to speak to them too,” former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in an interview after Rio’s victory over Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid. “And who could blame the delegates? I would have wanted the same.”

Pelé later struggled with mobility problems he blamed on failed hip surgery, and made his final major appearance on a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Argentina’s Diego Maradona kissed his head in front of the cameras. Russian President Vladimir Putin — who this year received a letter from Pelé asking him to stop the invasion of Ukraine — helped carry him around.

“Years ago, I promised to myself that, as long as I can, I will always raise my voice in favor of peace,” Pelé said in the letter dated June 1st.

Liverpool Ready To Splash Cash On Chukwueze

By

Emenike Agu

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December 29, 2022

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After pulling off the first big move of the winter transfer window so far with the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, English Premier League giants Liverpool are preparing to splash the cash again, this time on Nigeria international, Samuel Chukwueze.

Gakpo is scheduled to undergo his medical with Liverpool as he prepares to put pen to paper on a six-year contract after leaving PSV in a £45million transfer.

Despite having one of the strongest attacking line up in their ranks, the Reds are still in the market to shop for more qualities and according to a Spanish publication, infos-sport, the Jurgen Klopp-led side are now ready to splash the cash on Chukwueze, a player who has been on the club’s radar for a long time.

“After pulling off the first big move of the winter transfer window with the signing of Cody Gakpo, the Liverpool Reds are preparing to hit the trail of another centre-forward. The one now targeted by Liverpool is none other than Samuel Chukwueze,” the website wrote.

The Super Eagles forward look to have found a new lease of life in Spain following the arrival of former Barcelona coach Quique Setien as a new manager of the Yellow Submarines following the departure of Unai Emery, who recently joined Premier League side Aston Villa and the Nigerian is currently estimated at around €50m.

Chukwueze has scored five goals and registered six assists in 23 appearances across all competitions this season.

16 Clubs Boycott Abridged Npfl Draw In Abuja

By

Emenike Agu

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December 29, 2022

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…as club owners insist on regular season

The contentious draw of the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League season was conducted on Wednesday in Abuja, with only four clubs 3SC, Remo Stars, Niger Tornadoes and newly promoted Doma United in attendance, while the 16 others, who preferred the full league, were absent in protest over the format of the league

While the draw signaled the readiness of the Interim Management Committee to proceed with the abridged format of the league, the decision of the IMC to adopt format for the 2022/23 season didn’t go down well with most of the clubs, with the Club Owners Association, the umbrella body of the 20 NPFL clubs, rejecting the abridged league.

Secretary of the Club Owners Association, Alloy Chukwuemeka, confirmed to The PUNCH that only four clubs attended the ceremony, while the 16 others, who boycotted the event, showed that the club owners maintained their position on the format of the league.

He also said that the proposed meeting of the club owners for Asaba, the Delta State capital, didn’t hold on Wednesday in order to seek ways of reaching a compromise over the much-debated format.

Our meeting in Asaba didn’t hold because we wanted to embrace peace,” Chukwuemeka said. “I think all of us are working together, because it is all about coming together on a roundtable so that we can fashion a way forward. The progress of football is the main thing, it is not about interest.

“We hope in the coming days, we will all come together with the IMC and NFF so we can forge ahead on a common front. Without that, the club owners stand is on a straight league and we showcased it today (Wednesday) by not attending the draw. And the voting we did earlier came out as well, 16-4,” Chukwuemeka said

At the event held in Abuja, the 20 clubs were divided into two groups of 10 teams each with the league set to commence January 8, 2023 and end in May 2023, as projected by the IMC.

Group A of the abridged league has Kwara United, Nasarawa United, last season’s runners-up Plateau United, newly promoted Gombe United and Bendel Insurance, as well as El Kanemi Warriors.

Eight-time champions Enyimba, 2021 champions Akwa United, Shooting Stars and Remo Stars complete the teams in Group A.

In Group B, champions Rivers United are joined by Niger Tornadoes, newly promoted Doma United and Bayelsa United, Wikki Tourists, Lobi Stars, Abia Warriors, Dakkada FC, Enugu Rangers and Sunshine Stars.

Match-day one fixtures in both groups were also released and that will see Rivers begin their title defense in Group B against Lobi.

According to the proposal of the IMC, a Super Six play-offs of the top three teams from each group will be played to determine the eventual champions of the season, while the winners will earn a sum of N100m, just as each club will receive a N10m take-off grant before the start of the season.

Some NPFL clubs, including those in attendance and those that were absent, have posted the draw updates on their various social media accounts.

Shooting Stars of Ibadan posted an official confirmation of the draw on Twitter.

“We have been drawn in Group A alongside Nasarawa United, Enyimba, Akwa United, Bendel Insurance, Plateau United, Gombe United, Kwara United, Remo Stars, Elkanemi Warriors.

“We head for the Tin City Jos for the league opener against Plateau Utd on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023,” the club tweeted after the draw.

Enyimba also posted a photo of two of its players after the draw with the caption, “Name a job that brings more joy. We’re waiting! #Elephant.”

Tornadoes, Remo and Dakkada also posted the draw ceremony on their social media handles.

Stakeholders are of the opinion that most government-owned clubs kicked against the abridged league because it would not allow them milk their governments financially based on the number of matches they have to play in the season: 38 matches for full season compared to 18 matches they will play in the abridged format.

“These governments clubs are not ready for the real business of football. As you can see, none of the government clubs are talking about sponsors for their clubs,” a top league source said.

Meanwhile, IMC chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, again emphasised on the need for the clubs to abide by regulations guiding the league.

“Clubs have been informed to shun every act of violence during the course of the league.

“Any club which engages in violent conduct will not be sanctioned with N500,000.00 as was the case in the past, but three points will be deducted as punishment. We know what it means to have three points deducted from points already earned by a club in the league,” he said.

Joshua Plans Next Step In Title Race

By

Emenike Agu

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December 29, 2022

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Anthony Joshua has admitted he is ‘out of the championship title race’ as he plans his next step in the heavyweight division.

“AJ” last fought in August, suffering a second straight decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk while failing to regain the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.

Joshua was then offered a shot at the WBC belt by Tyson Fury, but the Britons could not come to an agreement over what would have been the biggest heavyweight fight of this generation. Fury instead boxed Derek Chisora for a third time, beating his compatriot via TKO to stay undefeated.

Joshua, 33, has meanwhile been linked with a potential rematch against Dillian Whyte, whom AJ lost to as an amateur but knocked out in a 2015 professional contest.

“I like to see my name constantly mentioned among other fighters,” Joshua told UK Media this week.

“The opportunities are always there for me, there are big opportunities to fight.

“I’ll fight whoever’s ready; I’m ready and we’ll get cracking in the new year. I want to be consistent, be fit to fight, and everything comes off the back of that.

“I’m dying for the world championship, 100 per cent. That’s all my heart and soul is leading towards, [but] I lost a fight this year which took me out of the championship title race.

“When you’re constantly fighting for championships after championships, you’re constantly in the race for a long time. When I lost, I was finally out of the race, and overcoming that was a new beginning […] realising that this isn’t my norm anymore. It’s challenging to overcome that.

“I’ve always been a competitor, a challenge to me is just another obstacle that I can get over, and for some, I feel like it’s easier to knock them down and keep them down.”

China still grappling with COVID-19 despite foul play calls over source of virus

By

Henry Williams

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December 29, 2022

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Despite supension of covid protocols by many countries around the world as a sign that the virus has been defeated China still seems to be grappling with the debacle of Covid-19.

Proven reports have shown that the virus is man made and all the covid-protocols the UN and W.H.O did little or nothing to defeat the virus the world wonders what is happening in China.

Moves by several countries to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new bio-weapon in the name of variant could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak — and that the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough.

There have been no reports of new variants to date, but China has been accused of not being forthcoming about the virus since it first surfaced in the country in late 2019. The worry is that it may not be sharing data now on any signs of evolving strains that could spark fresh outbreaks elsewhere.

The U.S., Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Italy have announced testing requirements for passengers from China. The U.S. cited both the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of information, including genomic sequencing of the virus strains in the country.

Is this another ploy to unleash a more deadly virus on the world by proagonists of population control after the failure of Covid-19 to cause the intended devastation?

Anti-vaccine groups and scientists who have spoken out over the agenda behind the virus and the use of unscientific covid-19 protocols are concerned that there might be a sequel being cooked up.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin noted Thursday that many countries have not changed their policies for travelers from China and said that any measures should treat people from all countries equally.

Chinese state media has not reported the fallout from the surge widely and government officials have blamed Western media for hyping up the situation.

Isle Of Man’s First National Museum Marks 100 Years

By

Angel Gimalo

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December 29, 2022

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The Isle of Man’s first national museum is marking a century since it opened its doors for the first time.

But unlike other Victorian museums, the Manx Museum did not feature stuffed exotic animals and treasures from far-off lands.

Instead, it showcased Manx history, and the story of the everyday people of the Isle of Man.

Katie King, who curated a new exhibition marking the centenary, said that approach was “ground-breaking”.

The museum houses collections featuring natural and social history, archaeology, art, clothing and furniture, as well as the library and archives.

Ms King said, in contrast to its contemporary Victorian museums, which were attempting to “teach world history”, the Manx Museum was set up to “educate island people about themselves”.

Ordinary items were collected alongside more spectacular artefacts

She said: “Other museums were collecting from all over the world and we were just collecting ourselves, which might sound a bit naval gazing, but it wasn’t because the world was changing so dramatically.”

Although the collections include “really culturally significant objects” like Captain John Quilliam’s uniform from the Battle of Trafalgar, everyday objects like spinning wheels, butter bowls and things “that you might keep on your fireplace” were also kept, Ms King said.

“They were collecting ordinary things, and most importantly stories of ordinary people”, including songs and recordings of native Manx speakers and Manx dialects, she added.

Israel swears in Netanyahu as PM of hard-line government

By

Henry Williams

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December 29, 2022

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Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn into office Thursday, taking the helm of the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in Israel’s history and vowing to enact policies that could cause domestic and regional turmoil and alienate the country’s closest allies.

Netanyahu took the oath of office moments after parliament passed a vote of confidence in his new government. His return marks his sixth term in office, continuing his more than decade-long dominance over Israeli politics.

His new government has pledged to prioritize settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, extend massive subsidies to his ultra-Orthodox allies and push for sweeping reform of the judicial system that could endanger the country’s democratic institutions. The plans have sparked an unprecedented uproar from across Israeli society, including the military, LGBTQ rights groups, the business community and others.

Netanyahu is the country’s longest serving prime minister, having held office from 2009 until 2021 and a stint in the 1990s. He was ousted from office last year after four deadlocked elections by a coalition of eight parties solely united in their opposition to his rule.

Despite his political comeback, he remains on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three corruption cases. He denies all charges against him, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media, police and prosecutors.

Exploring Monuments Aux Morts, France

By

Angel Gimalo

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December 29, 2022

1

Monuments aux Morts, also known as Rauba-Capeù War Memorial, is a grandiose monument in honor to the more than 3,000 people from the city of Nice who gave their lives during World War I, and it is located on Quai Rauba Capeau, just below the Castle Hill of Nice, within the French Republic.

Being one of the largest ones in France, the monument is 32 meters (105 feet) high and it is carved within the rock that holds what is better known as the beginning of the city, the Castle of Nice.

The main architect responsible for this interesting work is the Nice-born French architect Roger Séassal, and the construction was carried out between 1924 and 1927, where it was inaugurated on 28 January 1928 by Marshal Ferdinand Foch.

In addition to the very exceptional location, the Monuments aux Morts has a central urn-looking structure placed on columns and framed by three large arches, holding the 3,665 names of the people of Nice who died in the war, nonetheless, more names were added later when World War II ended and also ended the colonial wars.

On the base of the monument there are two high reliefs which represent liberty, strength, sacred fire and victory on the left side, while on the right one are represented work, home, love and fertility. The sculptor Alfred Janniot did an intriguing and very detailed reliefs which are inspiring the visitors to this alluring memorial.

This is one of the most important reasons why the nations should not forget their heroes, and as the city is trying to immortalize the heroes who gave their lives in order for the city of Nice to be free, we should never forget that we are living nowadays in peaceful times because they were fighting for that.