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Isle Of Man: Proposals Presented For First Solar Energy Farm Near Castletown

By
Angel Gimalo
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Proposals have been put forward for a solar energy farm near Castletown on the Isle of Man.

The Billown Solar Farm, which would be the first of its kind on the island, would be situated on 84 acres of agricultural land in Malew.

Peel Cubico Renewables said the project would be operational by 2024 and could power up to 7,700 homes.

The firm is now asking for feedback on the proposals before formal plans are submitted.

Stephen Snowdon, from the renewable energy company, said the solar farm would help the island “to take control over its long-term energy needs”.

The farm would offer “stable, low-cost green energy” and support government in meeting its climate change targets, including the decarbonisation the island’s electricity supply by 2030, he added.

Under the proposals, a substation on the site would connect to a nearby grid network from land to the west of Malew Road.

The development would also see the creation of a battery storage facility, which would store some of the excess solar energy for release when needed by customers.

A spokeswoman for the firm said, if the project was approved, it could generate enough power to meet more than 5% of the Isle of Man’s current electricity demand.

The company, which is part of the Peel Group, said the project would cost £30m during its 40-year lifespan.

A consultation on the proposals is available online until 13 November.

Exploring Beiteddine Palace, Lebanon  

By
Angel Gimalo
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0

Beiteddine Palace is one of the most famous landmarks of the village that bears the same name as the Palace, Beiteddine, located in the Lebanese Republic.

The palace perched on a steep elevation, rises from the surrounding landscape like a fairy tale vision, a Scheherazadean delight rendered with Italianate flair.

This amazing palace is Lebanon’s best example of early 19th century Lebanese architecture.

It was built over a period of thirty years by Emir Bechir El Chehab II, who ruled Mount-Lebanon for more than half a century. Work on the Beiteddine Palace began in 1788, but it needed exactly thirty years for the palace to be completed.

The Ottoman-appointed governor, Emir Bashir, oversaw the construction, so that it would be made sure that the palace would reflect the power and glory of his reign.

Having in mind that he had an enormous ego, he definitely made sure that this would be one of the finest remaining examples of 19th century in Lebanon’s history.

Having grand dimensions, it has three main courtyards, huge vaulted stables, small museums, guest apartments, water fountains, marble portals and marquetry, and luxuriously decorated and domed hammams, which in translation are bathhouses which were popular in the Ottoman era.

The entrance to the central section of the palace is from a double stairway at the far western end of the courtyard, where a bust of Kamal Jumblatt stands.

From this point on, the impressive but austere appearance of the outside court and buildings gives way to the delightful architecture and greenery that has given Beiteddine its nickname of Lebanon’s Alhambra.

From the main entrance of this wing a vaulted passage at the top of the double staircase turns to the right, towards the apartments of the Hamade Sheikhs of the Shouf who were responsible for the protection of the Palace.

Nevertheless, inside the Beiteddine Palace there is a collection of Byzantine mosaics, which have been excavated from the ancient city of Porphyrion and kept for safe-keeping at Beiteddine throughout the war.

It is said that they are one of the most spectacular ones in the Eastern Mediterranean, if not the world. Opened for visitors from April until October, it definitely is the landmark of the village and the country as well.

Once Upon A Time – October 21 – 1918 – Margaret Owen Sets World Typing Speed Record Of 170 Wpm For 1 Min

By
Angel Gimalo
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1805 Battle of Trafalgar: British Admiral Horatio Nelson defeats combined French and Spanish fleet. Nelson shot and killed during battle.

1854 Florence Nightingale with a staff of 38 nurses is sent to the Crimean War

1944 World War II: US troops capture Aachen, 1st large German city to fall

1948 UN rejects Russian proposal to destroy atomic weapons

1950 Chinese forces occupy Tibet

1993 Failed military coup in Burundi, led by ex-President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, includes assassination President Ndadaye; 525,000 Hutus flee

HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY

TODAY IN FILM & TV

1921 “The Sheik”, a silent film starring Rudolph Valentino, premieres in Los Angeles

1964 Film version of “My Fair Lady” directed by George Cukor and starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn premieres in New York (Academy Awards Best Picture 1965)

TODAY IN MUSIC

1858 Jacques Offenbach’s operetta ” Orpheus in the Underworld” (Orphée aux Enfers) premieres in Paris, includes “Infernal Galop” (can-can tune)

TODAY IN SPORT

1980 Phillies win their 1st World Championship in their 98-year history

MORE FACTS…

1520 Explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet reach Cape Virgenes and become the first Europeans to sail into the Pacific Ocean

1918 Margaret Owen sets world typing speed record of 170 wpm for 1 min

FAMOUS WEDDINGS

1917 Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats (52) weds Georgie Hyde-Lees (25)

1929 Bank robber Willie Sutton (28) weds Louise Leudemann

1948 Science fiction pioneering author “Stranger in a Strange Land” Robert A. Heinlein marries 3rd wife Virginia “Ginny” Gerstenfeld

Nigeria’s Madu Ndidi Among 10 Women’s Champions League Referees

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Ndidi Patience Madu

A Nigerian, Madu Ndidi is among the 10 referees named by CAF for the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League holding in Morocco in about two weeks time.

That is the high point of the 29 match officials including assistant referees and those to be in VAR control rooms.

In all, the match officials are drawn from 23 countries of which Nigeria has only one.

A breakdown shows that Morocco will produce four match officials. This is followed by Egypt which has three match officials,  

The tournament scheduled from 30 October to 13 November in the cities of Rabat and Marrakech, will see the technical contribution of 10 referees, 12 assistant referees and seven video referees.

The selected referees are from 23 nationalities – giving a good spread across the continent.

CAF Head of Refereeing and Football Technology, Désiré Noumandiez Doué said: “Relying on the quality and experience of the referees is essential to ensure a successful competition, especially after the resounding success and excitement during WAFCON 2022. Before each of our major tournaments, potential referees are regularly monitored physically, technically and medically, both at the country and zone level. This allows us to keep a constant eye on health, fitness, performance and to ensure that each candidate arrives ready to compete.”

He added “In the last 12 months, we have held several workshops, training camps and other interventions focusing specifically on the advancement of women referees in Africa. This has resulted in 230 international women officials evaluated and the best make up the gist of the Women’s Champions League. We are particularly proud of the women referees from Africa who are doing amazing work at FIFA level – from the FIFA Women’s U17 and the group that is preparing for the FIFA World Cup.”

Under the guidance of experienced experts and quality assessors, the selected referees will be training in Morocco from 25 to 29 October.

On the opening day of the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League, two matches will take place at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Green Buffaloes FC of Zambia will play Determine Girls FC of Liberia at 17h00 local time (16h00 GMT) following by hosts ASFAR of Morocco against Simba Queens SC of Tanzania at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

The final of the tournament will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat and reveal the successor of South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns

Below is the full list of referees:

Nigeria’s Interim Management Committee Tasked To Rebrand The Football League

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Gusau (middle) handing over the terms of reference to Elegbeleye (right) with Sanusi on the left.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau says it is incumbent on the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League to imbue the nation’s elite domestic cadre with integrity, credibility and a firm hand on management and administration in order to turn things around for the better.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee inside the NFF Secretariat on Friday, Gusau pinpointed lack of television broadcasting as one of the major drawbacks of the elite League.

There is a lot of work to be done by this committee of eminent and respectable persons in Nigeria Football, people with the pedigree and real calibre to effect change. One of the changes must be to ensure that our League is back on television, and that there is a lot of integrity and credibility to the way and manner it is being administered.

“I have tremendous confidence in the chairman and members of the committee that they will justify the confidence reposed in them by the Government and people of Nigeria.”

Gusau thereafter presented to the chairman,  Gbenga Elegbeleye, one-time Director General of the National Sports Commission, the terms of reference of the committee, which will be in place for three months.

In his response, Elegbeleye thanked the NFF President and his Board for the confidence they have proclaimed in the committee and assured that the Interim Management Committee will do its best within the three months lifespan to put in place building blocks that a substantive team will improve on to rejuvenate, upgrade and upscale the Nigeria Professional Football League.

“Definitely, we have a lot of problems in the League. We have problems of officiating, of lack of television and several other hiccups. Our job will be to do a lot to redress these within the short time we have, and we also appeal to the media to ensure credibility in their reporting of the League,” Elegbeleye, also a former vice chairman of the Youth and Sports Development Committee of the House of Representatives, said.

Also at the occasion were Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa and Mr. Timothy Henman Magaji (NFF Executive Committee Members); Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (NFF General Secretary); Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme (NFF Deputy General Secretary); Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi (Chairman of NFF Task Force on Youth Competitions); Mr. E. C. Kadiri (Director of Finance & Admin); Mr. Augustine Eguavoen (Technical Director); Mr. Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications); Dr. Robinson Okosun (Deputy Director, Technical); Mr. Femi Adetula (Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee) and; Mr Kola Daniel (Media Aide to the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development).

TERMS OF REFERENCE:

I.      Come up with the procedure for rebranding the League with sincerity of purpose, transparency and accountability; thereby creating an enabling environment that will ensure that the inherent benefits of it as a business outfit, is fully maximised.

II.   Advise on the legal framework that will attract sponsorship opportunities from reputable corporate organisations, that will make the League a sustainable and viable brand.

III. Draw up modalities for the commercialisation of TV Rights that will represent the highest value of the profit and loss for the domestic league.

IV. Restart the League and draw up a calendar in line with global best practices in achieving the desired objectives and ensure that every Premier League Club has a good playing infrastructure that is TV-friendly, in line with CAF Standards.

V.   To ensure that the League is on Television for better evaluation and transparency.

VI. Furthermore, the IMC as a matter of urgency should draw up a check list of tools and activities as well as assign appropriate timelines within which they would be accomplished with a view to having a form of professionalism in the League.

VII.      To put up a legal framework and set up modalities for a permanent body to run the League appropriately.

VIII.    Review the Club Licensing Regulations in line with the FIFA Club Licensing Rules while incorporating legal, administrative and financing systems and putting in place a structure that will guarantee the basic club licensing requirements ensuring that PLAYERS WELFARE is adhered to strictly by the Club Owners (Payment of Players salaries, contractual terms and certified Insurance schemes).

IX. Review the League framework(s) to ensure compliance, fair and credible officiating, while disciplinary measures for hooliganism must be evaluated to prevent fans and teams from indulging in it.

MEMBERSHIP:

Gbenga Elegbeleye               – Chairman 

.Paul Bassey                         – Vice Chairman

. Davidson Owumi               – Head of Operations

Kunle Soname            – Member

Daniel Amokachi          – Member

Calvin Emeka Onwuka – Member

Aliyu Adamu          – Member

. Rep. of Nigeria Police          – Member

Danladi Ibrahim                  – Member

Mohammed Nasiru Sa’idu- Member

Ogun            – Member

Auwalu Baba Jada              – Member

Olumide Bamiduro                – Secretary

Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman                – Asst. Secretary

Suspects Arrested By Nigerian Army Not NIMC Staff, Agents

By
faith Jegede
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0

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has debunked reports that two persons arrested by the Nigerian army for enrolling Nigeriens are staff of the commission.

NIMC said the true identity of the persons ought to have been authenticated before going to press because they are not known to NIMC.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Director General of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz where it debunked the purported report that the two persons arrested for enrolling persons in the Niger Republic are its officials.

The statement read in part, – “The attention of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), an agency of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has been drawn to reports making the rounds in the media, of the arrest, by the Nigerian Army, of two (2) persons purporting to be carrying out enrolment of persons in Niger Republic, and being erroneously or spuriously referred to as NIMC officials.”

“First, it is important to note well the Army’s clarification from the onset, when they referred to the fraudsters as “fake”, meaning their claim to be NIMC staff – if at all they did – was proven from the beginning to be false.

“Reports by the media of merely bouncing off such a news item released by the Army, in good faith, one-sided without checking with NIMC if indeed such persons were its officials, shows a hurried and incomplete approach to news reporting, a situation which we urge our media partners to distance themselves from. A simple check with NIMC would have further confirmed the Army’s professional conclusion that the persons apprehended are indeed impersonators and fraudsters.

“We wish to state categorically that neither NIMC officials nor staff of the NIMC licensed enrolment agents across the country are authorized, nor do they go from one country to another, let alone from Nigeria across the borders, to enroll Nigerians much less foreigners.”

The Commission said it has never authorized any of its staff or licensed agents to go across the border.

“NIMC has a number of licensed diaspora enrolment agents in over 38 countries operating over 152 centers across the world strictly to enroll Nigerians in those countries. The list of the Diaspora enrolment licensed companies, which has been published over time in the media, can be found on the NIMC website.

“The public is by this information put on notice and advised that NIMC does not and will not authorize its staff or its agents to go across any borders to register non-Nigerians, as this is not part of our mandate.

“Fraudsters and impersonators should be pointed out for who they are: criminal elements, and the cooperation of the public is required in assisting security agencies in their work of curbing these crimes in our society.

The statement also commended the Nigerian Army for the good job they’re always doing, and more particularly with respect to the work they are doing at the borders.  They also commended all other security agencies and other sister agencies for their untiring efforts in terms of collaborations with the commission in the efforts to rid our country of criminal elements.

FCT to begin integrated Measles, Meningitis, other Vaccinations on October 27

By
Cleopatra Okohai
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0

The FCT Primary Health Care Board will, on October 27, begin an integrated vaccination exercise for Measles for children between the ages of nine months and 59 months.

The Director, Primary Health Care, FPHCB, Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, disclosed this on Thursday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting that drew participants from the six area councils of the FCT.

She said that the board will also be vaccinating for Meningitis for children between eight and nine years, as well as Vitamin A supplementation and Routine Immunisation respectively.

According to her, the exercise will begin on October 27 and will run till November 9, featuring deworming of children.

According to reports, the meeting attracted health officials, health educators, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.

Others who were at the meeting included partners like World Health Organisation and the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund.

Meanwhile, Wamakko said that the purpose of the meeting was for the stakeholders to take back the message of the upcoming vaccination to their subjects in their various communities.

“We called for this stakeholders’ meeting because the key activities are for the people at the grassroots, children at the grassroots, and the less privileged children to buy into the government intervention.

“We can’t get them to accept this intervention without engaging stakeholders like traditional rulers, religious leaders, all the directors of the area council, and local immunisation officers in the area council.

“We called on them to come together to discuss and know our rules and to know their responsibilities, the areas we need to come in to play our part for a successful campaign of this exercise in the FCT.

Read Also: Cancer: 70% of patients in low-income countries suffer hardship – WHO

“Meningitis and Measles are deadly diseases even for adults not to talk of children. The government used to spare a week for the campaign for this kind of exercise to be able to immunise eligible children as much as possible,” she stressed.

The Director also added that the stakeholders would educate their subjects to make good decisions about the planned integrated vaccination.

She said that it was always difficult for some families to make quick decisions when it comes to vaccination, adding that no government would bring anything that would harm the people.

Dr. Nicholas Okoli, FCT State Immunisation Officer, stated that the government was spending a lot of money to purchase drugs and vaccines while urging the people to make use of the forthcoming integrated vaccination to vaccinate their children.

He said that the planned vaccination was part of measures to further guide against the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis which was recently discovered in the FCT.

“Vaccine is the most cost-effective intervention ever produced in the field of medicine, what they save us can be measured in numbers, there are lots of vaccine-preventable diseases in the environment.

“Vaccination helped in eradicating polio in Nigeria. Therefore the importance of vaccination can never be overemphasised.

“Vaccine has helped us in eradicating all these infections and killer diseases. It is estimated that over 2 million plus of our children are exposed to measles, and the only way to prevent it is by giving these children the vaccine.

“This is why we are creating awareness among these stakeholders for their people to know the importance of vaccination and that all eligible children should avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the government to access these vaccines.

“What we are planning to do is what we call ‘catch-up vaccination for every child that is born in Nigeria’. We have vaccines in our immunisation schedule, from the time a child is born to five years,” he said. 

Cancer: 70% of patients in low-income countries suffer hardship – WHO

By
Cleopatra Okohai
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0

The World Health Organisation said about 70 per cent or more of persons living with cancer in low- and middle-income countries suffer financial hardship, and loss of assets while seeking treatment for the chronic disease.

The WHO stated this at the launch of the first global survey aimed at amplifying the voices of persons affected by cancer.

The survey is to reach more than 100,000 responders from 100 countries, a majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries.

“It has also been noted in recent studies that nearly half of people diagnosed with cancer experience anxiety and loss of faith and may be abandoned by their intimate partners.

In low- and middle-income countries, financial hardship and loss of assets can be experienced by 70% or more of those affected,” WHO said.

The survey results are expected in early 2023 and, thereafter, used to shape policies, programmes, and services for people affected by cancer globally.

The WHO said the survey is part of a broader campaign intended to amplify the voices of those affected by cancer – survivors, caregivers, and the bereaved – as part of their Framework for Meaningful Engagement of People Living with Noncommunicable diseases.

Read Also: Cancer: WHO unveils campaign to address needs of patients

The result, the global health agency said, is expected to feed into the design of policies and programmes to offer better well-being in the context of a cancer diagnosis and co-create solutions for the future.

A cancer diagnosis triggers a broad and profound effect on the health and well-being of all those involved, WHO said.

Nearly every family globally is affected by cancer, either directly – 1 in 5 people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime – or as caregivers or family members, said WHO.

Patient

Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, on his part said the focus of cancer control should be broader than clinical care to include the needs of the people affected by the disease

“Global cancer policies must be shaped by more than data and scientific research, to include the voices and insight of people impacted by the disease,” he added.

WHO in its press release noted that for a long time, the need and preferences of persons living with cancer have remained unknown for a long time to policymakers and providers, hence the need for the survey.

“We are making a long-term commitment to place people affected by cancer properly at the centre of the agenda, to co-create better solutions” explained the Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, Dr. Bente Mikkelsen.

The campaign will have four phases: releasing the global survey, hosting national consultations, presenting best practices, and implementing community-led initiatives, Mikkelsen said.

Snap Sets Off Alarm Bells In Ad-Reliant Social Media Sector

By
faith Jegede
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0

Snap Inc, owners of Social media application, Snap chat (SNAP.N) had its shares sink nearly 30% in premarket trading on Friday, after the company’s forecast of zero revenue growth pointed to more pain ahead for a social media sector heavily dependent on digital advertising.

YouTube-parent Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Facebook-parent Meta Platform Inc (META.O) and Pinterest Inc (PINS.N) fell between 2% and 7%.

Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) on the other hand, slid 8%, also dragged by fears of security reviews of billionaire Elon Musk’s takeover bid.

Analysts rushed to cut their price target on the stock, with Morgan Stanley taking it to a Wall Street low of $7, below the $7.74 the stock was trading at.

The digital ad space has suffered as brands have cut marketing and ad budgets in response to declining consumer demand. Snap’s warning exacerbated the fears.

So far this year, digital ad companies have together lost roughly $1 trillion in value, hit by intense competition from TikTok and challenges from Apple Inc’s privacy changes to its iOS platform that allows users to opt out of data tracking.

Snap reported its slowest revenue growth as a public company for the latest quarter on Thursday, and forecast no revenue growth for the typically busy holiday quarter.

America Weighs Security Reviews For Musk Deals, Including Twitter Buy

By
faith Jegede
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1

The Biden Administration officials are discussing whether the United States should subject some of Elon Musk’s ventures to national review including the deal for Twitter inc and SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network, according to reports.

The SpaceX chief in recent times has taken to twitter to announce proposals to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, and also said SpaceX cannot indefinitely fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine. He later backed down and said he would continue to bear the costs of the service.

Sources say,  the discussions to review Musk’s ventures are at an early stage, adding that officials in the U.S. government are weighing what tools, if any, are available that would allow the federal government to review Musk’s ventures.

One possibility is through the law governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which is under the U.S. Department of Treasury, to review Musk’s ventures.

An element of Musk’s $44 billion Twitter deal which could trigger a CFIUS review is the presence of foreign investors in Musk’s consortium.

The group includes Saudi Arabian investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Binance, which was founded in Shanghai.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury Department said CFIUS does not publicly comment on transactions that it may or may not be reviewing.

Musk had said he would walk away from the deal to buy Twitter in May alleging the company understated the number of bot and spam accounts on the social media platform, which started a series of lawsuits between the two parties.

Earlier this month, Musk reversed course and said he will proceed with the deal on the original terms.

Musk lawyers have accused US regulators of ‘micro-management’ but experts call the move an ‘exercise in legal silliness’

The lawyers said the 2018 consent decree resolving SEC securities fraud charges should not allow “roving and unbounded investigations” into the Tesla CEO, while impeding his constitutional right to free speech.

Tesla has accused the American Securities and Exchange Commission of harassment.    

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