Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the release of N19.3m for the immediate payment of scholarship allowances to 59 indigent students that gained admission into law schools.
The Executive Secretary of the Borno State Scholarship Board, Bala Isa made this known on Tuesday in Maiduguri while addressing newsmen.
Bala said the scholarship was for the 2021/2022 academic year.
“This is part of His Excellency’s commitment in assisting the educational sector and in assisting students of Borno at all levels of education.
“We are grateful to His Excellency for this support and we believe that the students will put in their best in order to make Borno proud,” Isa said.
The Chairman, Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), Mr. Osaro Aikpitanyi, has reiterated the importance of social workers in the delivery of quality healthcare services to patients.
Aikpitanyi, in a statement, said the association had decided to engage medical social workers and other relevant stakeholders within the health sector in training and presentations on trauma as well as trauma-focused interventions.
He noted that the association’s annual general meeting themed, ‘Assessing and Understanding Trauma in Clinical Social Work Practice’, scheduled to start on August 18 would help to reemphasize the contributions of social workers in healthcare delivery.
“AMSWON believes that the interactions at the conference/training will enhance the quality of health care delivery in Nigeria and improve patients’ experience.
“Social work is legally recognised all over the world as a practice-based profession and academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of the vulnerable, oppressed, deprived, at-risk, and traumatised people in society.
“We implore other state governments to emulate Lagos state in employing medical social workers in all their hospitals and health-related facilities to enable patients in their states to benefit from the contribution of medical social workers to the holistic management of patients,” Aikpitanyi said.
Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who last month fled anti-government protests in his country, arrived in Thailand on Thursday night on a flight from Singapore, where he had been staying since mid-July.
Thai television stations showed Rajapaksa and a woman believed to be his wife outside the VIP hall at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport being led to a limousine, which then drove off to an undisclosed destination.
Officials in Thailand on Wednesday said they had been asked by the Sri Lankan government to allow him entry, and that he would be permitted to stay temporarily.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he was aware of Rajapaksa’s intended visit and that it was allowed for humanitarian reasons because the former president was seeking asylum in a third country. He did not elaborate but said Rajapaksa would not engage in political activity while in Thailand.
Rajapaksa has made no public comments about his travel plans. After fleeing Sri Lanka last month, he first went to neighboring Maldives in a Sri Lankan military plane and then to Singapore, where his visa expired Thursday. He submitted his resignation only after he left Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankans have staged massive street protests for months demanding democratic reforms and solutions to the country’s economic collapse.
Protesters who had occupied official offices and residences in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, blame mismanagement and corruption by the Rajapaksa family for the economic crisis that has led to serious shortages of essentials such as medicines, food and fuel. The island nation is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout program.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday rebuked Rwandan authorities over democracy and human rights concerns, saying the central African country may not reach its full potential without opening up political space and protecting freedoms.
“We recognize Rwanda’s incredibly difficult history of the 1994 genocide and we know the ongoing legacy of that genocide but the criminalization of some people … in politics, harassment of those who express opposition views to the current government, we believe (that) undermines total peace and stability and success which has been extraordinary in the case of Rwanda,” said Blinken at a press briefing. He was speaking in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, the last stop on his three-nation tour of Africa.
Earlier Blinken toured a memorial for victims of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, saying he was “moved by this memorial and inspired by the resilience of the survivors and the remarkable progress of this country.”
Blinken laid a wreath at the mass graves honoring the more than 800,000 victims of the genocide perpetrated by Hutu extremists against the Tutsi ethnic group and moderate Hutus.
“My family experienced the horrors of holocaust and I appreciate the importance of memorializing such tragic events,” Blinken wrote in a guest book at the memorial. “The United States strongly supports Rwanda’s continued efforts towards renewal and national reconciliation.”
One of Blinken’s aims in Rwanda is to engage officials regarding the case of Paul Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident whose conviction on terror charges and incarceration has drawn attention to what some say is the Rwandan government’s harsh treatment of its critics at home and abroad.
Rusesabagina is the hero of the Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda,” which dramatized his efforts as a hotel manager to shelter hundreds of Tutsis during the genocide. The U.S. asserts that Rusesabagina, a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, is wrongfully jailed in Rwanda.
Blinken’s rebuke on Rwandan Government is also reflects other human rights violations report on the central African country.
Recall in 2018 An estimated 6,000 churches was closed across Rwanda and six pastors arrested in a government crackdown that began March 1 with 700 closures in the nation’s capital of Kigali, according to news reports.
The six pastors, who reportedly tried to rally public support for the churches in Kigali, were accused of “masterminding” a plot to disobey the government, the BBC reported March 6.
The closures come as the Rwanda Governance Board (RGO) conducted a national review of proposed new regulations controlling faith-based institutions.
The action brought mixed reactions in Rwanda, where human rights groups have long accused Kagame’s government of clamping down on freedom of expression, which the President has denied.
Serial Grand Slam winner, Serena Jameka Williams announced that she is now on her way to retirement after an illustrious career that began in 1995.
The announcement was made on Tuesday.
William ranks as the second most successful woman in professional tennis, only behind Australian Margaret Court (24) with 23 Major titles and a total of 73 career titles.
The former world number 1, considered one of the greatest tennis player of all time has recently had a deep in form that saw her crash out at the first hurdle at Wimbledon, losing to debutant Harmony Tan in the first round.
Not withstanding, the American has achieved some remarkable successes during her time on the court and as her career winds down, we go back in time to relive some memorable moments in her career.
First Professional Game
Serena Williams played her first professional game in 1995, entering as a wild-card entry against American Annie Miller where she won just two games at the Bell Challenge in Quebec.
First Career Win
At 15, Williams got her first career wins in 1995. Ranked 304, she beat Mary Pierce ranked 7th, and Monica Seles ranked 4th, becoming the lowest-ranked player in the Open Era to defeat two top-10 opponents in one tournament.
Grand Slam debut
William defeated sixth seed Irina Spîrlea in the first round of her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 1998 before losing to sister, Venus in the next round. It was also the first time the sisters were meeting in a professional tennis game.
Serena Williams
First Grand Slam withdrawal
Still in 1998, Williams withdrew from Wimbledon with two games into the match against Virginia Ruano Pascual after she strained a calf muscle in the first set.
First Singles Title
Serena defeated Amélie Mauresmo in the final of the Open Gaz de France in Paris to win her first singles title in 1999. She and sister, Venus became the first sisters to win a title in the same week after Venus also won the IGA Superthrift Classic in Memphis, Tennessee, on the same day.
First Doubles Title
Serena Williams won her first doubles title at the U.S. National Indoor Championships in Oklahoma City alongside sister, Venus. She also teamed up Belarusian tennis player, Max Mirnyi to win her first mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open with Max Mirnyi.
Top 10 debut
Williams made her Top 10 and the number 9 position following a 16-match winning streak that was ended Venus. She had earlier won her first Tier I title, defeating Germany’s Steffi Graf in the final of the Evert Cup in California.
Williams with her first Grand Slam title
First Grand Slam title
Serena won her first Grand Slam title on home soil at the age of 17, defeating Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6 (4) to become the first Black woman to win a major tennis championship since Althea Gibson in 1958.
First Olympic medal
Serena’s first Olympic medal came at the Sydney 200 edition in the doubles category. Alongside her ‘partner in crime’, Venus, they defeated Netherlands’ Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans in the final 6-1, 6-1
Serena Williams of the US with her daughter Alexis Olympia after her win against Jessica Pegula of the US during their women’s singles final match during the Auckland Classic tennis tournament in Auckland on January 12, 2020. PHOTO: AFP
First Child
Williams revealed on April 19, 2017,that she was 20 weeks pregnant and would miss the remainder of the season. She welcomed her first child and daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. with husband, Alexis Ohanian on September 1, 2017.
After four months of hanging his gloves, Tyson Fury makes a not-so-surprising return to the ring ahead of his bout against Derek Chisora who the Gypsy King had defeated twice before the upcoming clash between them.
Fury announced Isaac Lowe as his trainer against Chisora as he posts on his Twitter multiple videos of him with his 28-year-old trainer.
Meanwhile, several boxing fans are commenting that the move is just a warm-up for him to face the victor between Oleksandr Usyk, and Anthony Joshua so he will continue to show dominance.
Although all he really desires is to achieve the first heavyweight world champion to have two trilogies one with Deontay Wilder and will strive to get another against Chisora -, it’s on record that Fury is willing to fight on gratis against the champion of the Usyk, Joshua’s bout.
Speaking on the fight, Frank Warren, English promoter states “I want to see Joshua beat Usyk, I’d love to see him in the ring with Tyson”.
A cybercitizen @jacks365 on Twitter reacts to the Fury’s dusting his gloves for Chisora tweeting, “Oh, he’s come out of “retirement”, just in time to face the winner of Joshua vs Usyk”.
Tyson’s father, John Fury is excited about the trilogy between Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora, but warns his son Tyson Fury not to treat the bout as a warm-up for Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua. Even if Tyson wants to face neither Anthony Joshua nor Oleksandr Usyk the Gypsy King’s father, John Fury will persuade him on going into the bout.
Ten days left. Who will face Tyson? who will be the conquistador?
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, welcomed the engagement in direct talks between Rwanda and the DRC with a view to end the tensions between the two countries.
Blinken met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Thursday to discuss efforts to end tensions between Rwanda and Congo. Both countries face allegations of supporting rebel groups opposed to each other.
On Wednesday Blinken met with Congolese President, Felix Tshisekedi.
“Coming out of the discussions, both presidents have agreed to engage in direct talks with each other. They’re both ready to resume the talks in the context of the Nairobi Process, with armed groups, and both welcomed the continued US engagement in support of African-led mediation efforts”, said US Secretaty of State, Antony Blinken.
The discussions included Rwandan Foreign Minister, Vincent Biruta, who denounced the close collaboration between armed rebel group FDLR and the Congolese armed forces.
“The presence of the FDLR and the close collaboration with the army of the DRC has always been the most significant cause of insecurity, and this enables the FDLR to conduct terrorist operations on Rwandan territory, something the government of Rwanda cannot accept. And in Rwanda, we always reserve the right to take necessary measures to protect its territorial integrity, its sovereignty, and to ensure the security of its people”, added Rwandan Foreign Minister, Vincent Biruta.
Rwanda was the last stop in the US secretary of state’s African tour that also included South Africa and the DRC.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Rwanda, the last stop on his three-nation tour of Africa where he has articulated Washington’s new strategy for engaging with sub-Saharan African nations as “equal partners.”
Blinken comes to Rwanda at a particularly difficult time for Africa’s Great Lakes region, with the small central African nation at odds with vast neighbor Congo over allegations that both governments support rebels opposed to each other.
In a meeting on Thursday with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Blinken is expected to discuss efforts to ease the tensions. Rwanda is rejecting a new report by United Nations experts saying they have “solid evidence” that members of Rwanda’s armed forces are conducting operations in eastern Congo in support of the M23 rebel group.
Blinken has said reports of Rwanda’s support for M23 appeared “credible.” After meeting with authorities in Congo on Tuesday, he said the U.S. will support African-led efforts to end the fighting.
Rwandan authorities in turn accuse Congo of giving refuge to ethnic Hutu fighters who played roles in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide that killed ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus. There have long been tensions between the countries. In the late 1990s, Rwanda twice sent its forces deep into Congo, joining forces with rebel leader Laurent Kabila to depose the country’s longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
Both Rwanda and Congo deny the charges of backing rebel groups, and Rwandan authorities have rejected the latest report by U.N. experts as a move “to distract from real issues.” Rwanda also asserts that its security needs cannot be met while armed fugitives from the genocide continue to operate from inside Congolese territory.
A meeting between Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in Angola on July 6 produced a statement calling for a return to normal diplomatic relations, a cessation of hostilities and the “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of the M23 from its positions in eastern Congo.
Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has trained 180 lecturers and teachers on critical assessment competency.
The Director Psychometric, JAMB, Dr Ariyo Akinyele, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.
Akinyele said that the gesture was to enhance the capacity of the participants, who were drawn from various tertiary institutions and secondary schools to be good enough in assessing Nigerian students.
“This training is for non-education lecturers or teachers who find themselves teaching in tertiary institutions or secondary schools.
“We have to train them about assessment; we are looking at critical assessment competency because one should be competent in assessment.
“So they are trained to be good teachers and good assessors of our students,” he said.
Akinyele lamented that many Nigerians, who could not secure jobs, opted for teaching in secondary or tertiary institutions because of the economic situation in the country.
The director said it did not portray a good picture of the country, hence the decision of the board to train such category of lectures and teachers in critical assessment of students.
“At the end of the exercise, the capacity of the participants will be built on good assessments.
“We can see that many of our students are failing examinations not because they are not intelligent rather the assessors themselves have problem.
“So when they do the right thing, you find that there will be improvement and results of the students will be improved,” Akinyele said.
The training was conducted from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5, in Dutse, Jigawa
Batteries of Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, are stationed in the southern Israeli city of Sderot on August 6, 2022. - The Israeli military warned deadly aerial operations against militants in Gaza could last a week, as exchanges of fire were ongoing for a second day in the worst escalation since last year's war. Israel has said it was forced to launch a "pre-emptive" operation against Islamic Jihad, insisting the group was planning an imminent attack following days of tensions along the border with Gaza, a Palestinian enclave. (Photo by Jack Guez / AFP)
The Iron Dome missile defense system has achieved a 97 percent success rate intercepting incoming rockets, amid almost non-stop barrages launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group since Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday.
The Sunday morning IDF data put the number of rockets and mortars launched toward Israel since Friday evening at 580. Iron Dome, which is used when the incoming projectile is headed for populated areas, intercepted 200 of them.
In addition, 120 projectiles fell short and landed in the Gaza Strip.
The interception rate marks an ongoing improvement since Iron Dome, first deployed in 2011, faced its first major test during the IDF’s Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, when it managed to shoot down 75% of the incoming projectiles at which it was directed.
That rate rose to 80% success rate during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and 90% during last year’s Operation Guardian of the Walls, the IDF said.
According to IDF Spokesman Ran Kochav, The latest major IDF operation against Gaza terror groups began Friday, to tackle what Israeli leaders said was an immediate concrete threat by the PIJ to Israeli communities. Operation Breaking Dawn began with a targeted strike on PIJ’s northern Gaza commander Tayseer Jabari, who was “responsible for the concrete threat in the last three-four days to fire anti-tank missiles and mow down Israeli civilians or soldiers in the Gaza border area.”
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