US, Europe Remodelling Plans To Bring Rock Samples From Mars For Laboratory Study

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July 21, 2022

The US and Europe are remodelling their plans to bring rock samples back from Mars, for study in Earth laboratories.

They hope to simplify the process, cut risk and cost using helicopters instead of a British-built “fetch rover”.

Airbus UK engineers, who have been developing the concept for years, have been expressing disappointment, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2022.

Also at the Hampshire show, Italian aerospace giant Leonardo signed a €55m (£46m) deal for key mission hardware.

Its trade stand exhibited an actual-size model of a robotic arm – complete with “shoulder”, “elbow” and “wrist” – it will now deliver to US space agency Nasa by November 2025.

South Korea’s Home-Grown KF-21 Fighter Jet Completes First Test Flight

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Angel Gimalo

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July 21, 2022

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South Korea’s newly developed 4.5-generation fighter, the KF-21 roars into the air, for its first test flight.

It took off at 3:40 PM from Sacheon airport located in the south of the country and flew for around 30 minutes at 400 kilometers per hour.

The flight came more than 20 years after the country officially announced that it will develop its own “advanced fighter jet” and 6 years after actual development began by Korea Aircraft Industries, or KAI in 2015.

With that, South Korea is edging closer to becoming the eighth country in the world to have developed its own supersonic fighter jet.

So far, countries including the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, France, Sweden and the European consortium comprised of UK, Germany, Italy and Spain have developed such aircraft.
For the next four years, more prototypes will be put test flown.

“Until 2026, we will test the aircraft by putting prototypes through around 2-thousand flights. Manufacturing will begin from 2026, and a total of 120 aircraft will be given to the South Korean Air Force by 2032.”

Developing the KF-21 is a key part of South Korea’s project that’s aimed at replacing its fleet of ageing F-4s and F-5s.

It was designed to fly at a top speed of 1.8 times the speed of sound and is capable of carrying four medium-range air-to-air missiles called the ‘Meteor’, that has a combat range of 200 kilometers and can fly at Mach 4.5.

Exploring War In The Pacific National Historical Park Located In Guam

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Angel Gimalo

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July 21, 2022

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The War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a protected historical area which was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the World War II, and it is located in Apra Harbor , within the unincorporated and organized territory of the United States of America, Guam.

There are various sites that comprise this historic and interestingly big park, and it is scattered across the island in seven units.

As it honors the bravery, courage and great sacrifice of the people who were part of the big Pacific Theater of World War II, it also shows how the life of the ordinary citizens were affected by the great conflicts between the Allies and the Axis Powers.

There were tens of thousands of Americans and Japanese soldiers who died during the assault on Guam, and the visitors of the island nowadays, who enjoy in the warm climate, sandy beaches, and turquoise waters are able to see guns and other structures erected to defend the island by both Japanese and American forces.

Guam was captured by the Japanese forces in 1941, and later in 1944 liberated by the US Army, which uncovered and left plenty of gun emplacements, trenches and caves.

On the former battlefields there were not only soldiers of the USA and Japan, however, there were soldiers from Australia, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union, who were fighting in order not just for this part of the planet to be free, however, the entire world.

Nonetheless, the tourists that are visiting the small island, are having the opportunity to learn about the events that lead to the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Battle of Guam and the role the Mariana Islands that played in helping to end the World War II, and the people who were caught in the middle, in whose waters the battles were fought.

An interesting and impressive site which deserves to be well known so that nobody will forget the war that took so many lives in order not to be repeated again.

Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Tribal Leader To Be Elected President Of India

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 21, 2022

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A 64-year-old woman politician, Droupadi Murmu has won presidential election on Thursday to make history of becoming the first tribal leader to be elected as the President of India.

Murmu is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She served as the ninth Governor of Jharkhand between 2015 and 2021 and was picked as the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Alliance in the 2022 election.

Murmu won by an overwhelming margin against her contender, Yashwant Sinha after receiving over 64 per cent valid votes in a day-long counting of ballots of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the electoral college.

She will succeed Ram Nath Kovid to become the 15th president of India.

Report said that Murmu had sealed her victory in the presidential election over opposition Sinha by crossing the half-way mark and polling well over 53% votes by the end of third round itself.

In the end, the total value of first preference polls she garnered were 6,76,803, or 64% of the total votes while Sinha got 3,80,177 votes.

She will be the first President to be born after independence and is the youngest to occupy the top post. She is also the second woman to become the President.

Speaking about the historic moment, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said Murmu’s victory reflects her early struggles, rich service and exemplary success which motivate Indian people.

“India scripts history. At a time when 1.3 billion Indians are marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a daughter of India hailing from a tribal community born in a remote part of eastern India has been elected our President! Congratulations to Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji on this feat,” Modi wrote on Twitter.

“Droupadi Murmu Ji’s life, her early struggles, her rich service and her exemplary success motivates each and every Indian. She has emerged as a ray of hope for our citizens, especially the poor, marginalised and the downtrodden,” he added.

Sinha conceded defeat after third round of counting and congratulated Murmu on her victory.

“I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Smt Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. India hopes that as the 15th President of the Republic she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour,” Sinha said on Twitter.

Once Upon A Time – July 21 – 1983 – World’s Lowest-Ever Natural Temperature Recorded − 89.2 °C At Soviet Vostok Station, Antarctica

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 21, 2022

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356 BC Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World

365 Crete Earthquake followed by tsunami around the Eastern Mediterranean allegedly destroys Alexandria

1861 First Battle of Bull Run [Battle of First Manassas], 1st major battle of the US Civil War is fought near Manassas, Virginia, Confederate victory

1904 After 13 years, the 4,607-mile Trans-Siberian railway is completed

1925 John T. Scopes found guilty of teaching evolution in the “Scopes monkey trial” in Dayton, Tennessee, fined $100 and costs

1954 Geneva Accords for Indochina signed, dividing French colonial territories into the countries of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the State of Vietnam (South Vietnam), Cambodia, and Laos

1969 Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the Moon at 2:56:15 AM (GMT)

1970 Aswan High Dam opens in Egypt, enables human control of the flooding of the Nile

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1943 Musical film “Stormy Weather”, directed by Andrew L. Stone, starring Bill Robinson, Lena Horne and Fats Waller (singing “Ain’t Misbehavin'”) premieres in the US

1996 “The Daily Show” hosted by Craig Kilborn premieres on Comedy Central in the US

Today in Sport
2002 With a record 6 races remaining, German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher clinches his 5th F1 World Drivers Championship with victory in the French Grand Prix at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours; 3rd straight title win

MORE FACTS…
1865 In market square of Springfield, Missouri, Wild Bill Hickok shoots and kills Davis Tutt in what is regarded as the first true western showdown

1983 World’s lowest-ever natural temperature recorded −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K) at Soviet Vostok Station, Antarctica

Famous Weddings
1320 Count Louis of Nevers marries 8-year old daughter of Philips V

1871 Suffragette Kate Sheppard (24) weds general merchant Walter Allen Sheppard in Christchurch, New Zealand

1904 Sinclair Oil founder Harry Ford Sinclair (28) weds Elizabeth Farrell

Enugu targets 1m children, 280,000 pregnant women in free healthcare programme

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Cleopatra Okohai

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July 21, 2022

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The Enugu State Government has targeted about one million children for free drugs, medical consumables and other routine services in its ongoing Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week programme.

The programme, the first round in the year, is also designed to reach out to 280,000 pregnant women when they attend antenatal programmes in health facilities scattered within the state.

Inaugurating the programme in Enugu on Wednesday, the Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, urged pregnant women to take attendance to anta-natal seriously.

She also enjoined them to ensure they carried out necessary tests to understand their conditions better.

Ugwuanyi noted that the tests would afford pregnant women the chance to easily detect when pregnancy complications were looming.

She said it would also enable them to deal with them on time and take useful counsel from a physician on their health condition.

According to her, I want mothers to take all they learnt here seriously and spread the message of the week and lots of its benefits to mothers in all neighbourhoods and localities even in rural communities.

“Our mothers, especially pregnant women, should feed well. Eat healthy foods for the sake of the baby and avoid all forms of processed foods.

“Please, start attending your antenatal and doing your tests on time to understand your body and heed all advice given to you by the doctor concerning your health and that of your unborn child,” she said.

The wife of the governor also stressed the importance of focusing on gender and sexual-based violence and checking the use of drugs and substance abuse among children within the home.

Ugwuanyi said: “There is a lot of violation of minors and children ongoing among us. As mothers, we should be watchful and careful about who comes in contact with our children, even the infants at home.

“In my office, I receive cases of rape of infants even done by close family members and those supposed to protect the child. As mothers, nature has endowed us with the power and wisdom to protect our children.”

The Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. George Ugwu, said that the programme was being carried out twice yearly under the guidance of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Ugwu said that it was being carried out in conjunction with the state’s development partners – WHO, UNICEF, and the state governor’s wife foundation, Ugo Touch of Life Foundation (U-TOLF) – among others.

He said that in the programme, essential health services and commodities would be distributed free in all communities, villages, and hamlets using the over 676 health facilities and outposts where routine immunisations take place.

He said: “We have trained 2,200 health workers to deliver the services for the programme.

“During the programme, women and children will be given health education, prenatal vitamin A, other multivitamins, routine immunisation, family planning commodities, and COVID-19 vaccination among others.

“We are very happy that this year’s first round of the programme is commencing early in the year and, as an Agency, we are prepared to offer this service in an optimised and integrated manner.”

The Executive Secretary expressed gratitude “to caring and health loving governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for always providing us with all the enablement and necessary support.

“ENS-PHCDA appreciates the wife of our governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, for her care, love, guidance, and support as well as U-TOLF’s continuous support loads of free drugs, multivitamins, and health consumables each time we have this programme.”

In a goodwill message, the Chairman, Enugu Assembly Committee on Health, Chief Sam Ngene, commended Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration’s stride on health.

He gave the assurance that the house would continue to make laws to better healthcare delivery in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, thanked the governor, U-TOLF Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, NPHCDA, and others for their support that had kept the state’s health sector running smoothly.

The Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, assured that the traditional rulers would use town criers and other local communication means to mobilise women in all localities to participate actively in the programme.

Dr. Nwakego Ibekwe, who represented UNICEF, said that UNICEF is part and parcel of the health success story of the state and would continue to give its support, especially on health issues that affect women and children.

“We call on pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers to use the programme to get free drugs, medical consumables and services free in health care centres as well as spread the good news of the programme to their neighbours for them to benefit.

“I encourage mothers with infants or children of vaccination age to use this programme to ensure that their infants get a full dose of each vaccination to guarantee the infant’s total protection against diseases.

“UNICEF is commending the state government and ENS-PHCDA for being consistent with their health programmes and services as well as putting rural women and children as their priority target in healthcare delivery,” Ibekwe added.

ASUU: NLC’s Proposed Solidarity Protest Is Unlawful- Says FG

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 20, 2022

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The Federal Government has declared illegal the planned protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, told state house correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

Mohammed stressed that the NLC was in no dispute with the federal government and as such considers its planned street protest illegal.

The Information Minister said that the Congress’s planned action was based on self-interest and a planned action was capable of stoking anarchy.

He insists that the NLC should insulate itself completely from politics.

Fight For Quality Education
In a letter dated July 15 and addressed to chairpersons of the NLC in the states the congress’ national president, Ayuba Wabba stated the protest is aimed at what he described as getting “our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education”.

They designated the Labour House in the federal capital territory (FCT) and secretariats of the NLC as the takeoff points for the protest.

“We bring you fraternal greetings from the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),” the letter read,” Wabba said.

“In line with the decisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress held on the 30th of June 2022, we have scheduled as follows the National Days of Protest to get our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education.

Following this declaration, some student bodies have shown their backing for the planned action

A statement, signed by the Deputy National President of NAUS, Mohammed Ibrahim, dated July 17, implored students across the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to join in the march to end the five-month strike

“The NLC’s announcement of her resolution to stage a nationwide protest is greatly welcomed in the students’ constituency. For us, this is nothing short of a miracle; a heavenly intervention which would not have been at a better time than now. We are therefore prepared and ever ready to join in this great solidarity movement with the NLC,” it read.

“Sequel to the above, NAUS shall be part of the protest nationwide to demand the immediate resolution of issues between the Federal Government and ASUU so our students can go back to classes.”

FG, ASUU Can Reach An Agreement Under Two WeeKs- Presidency

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 20, 2022

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The Presidency, Wednesday, said the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities can reach favourable agreements in less than two or three weeks if all stakeholders are not “unrealistically obstinate.”

It also revealed that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, chose to resolve the five-month ASUU strike within two or three weeks, as opposed to being pressured by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency said Adamu requested that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, hands off of the negotiation to allow him to conclude his initial negotiations with the striking union.

The statement is titled ‘On university strikes, government is ready for business.’

It read in part, “Neither during nor after the meeting was any ultimatum given to the Minister of Education. During the meeting, the Minister of Education requested that the Minister of Labour hands off the negotiation to allow him to lead and conclude what he had earlier on started with the Academic Staff Union of Universities. And he promised that he could get an agreement within the shortest possible time, possibly two to three weeks.

“In carrying out this assignment, the Minister will carry along all relevant ministries and agencies with statutory functions and duties relating to the issues involved.

“The Presidency is optimistic that agreements can be reached in an even shorter period if all parties/stakeholders are not unrealistically obstinate. We appeal to the parties to work together to end the strikes.”

It said the regime’s doors remain open for dialogue and the resolution of the issues.

The Presidency also appealed to the media to avoid “spreading misinformation” saying that the two-week-ultimatum narrative making the rounds is “not helpful at all.”

Meanwhile, Ngige denied reports that Buhari directed him on Tuesday to hand off negotiations with ASUU.

Speaking with State House Correspondents on Wednesday, Ngige said “I saw one of the dailies writing something like that today. But the truth of the matter is there is no such thing, it’s just categorically untrue. There is nothing like a hands-off.”

Ngige said he had proposed one week to resolve the FG-ASUU faceoff but the Minister of Education, Adamu, volunteered to resolve the issues in two weeks.

He advised the university-based unions to submit their cases before the Ministry of Education whom the President has directed to resolve the issue, saying he is withdrawing from the negotiations until he is needed.

ASUU Strike: Presidency Clears Adamu, Ngige Role Swap in Negotiation

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 20, 2022

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The Presidency says there was no time President Muhammadu Buhari gave an ultimatum to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to resolve the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and others in the nation’s public universities.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made the clarification in a statement on Wednesday while giving an insight into discussions at the meeting held the previous day.

He said Adamu requested that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, hands off the negotiation to allow him conclude what he had started with the striking lecturers.

“The outcome of the meeting held by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to end the agitations by university unions ought to be beyond spin-doctoring and conjectures,” said the President’s spokesman.

“It is a pity that almost all media houses allowed themselves to be deceived by interested sources that are not the authorised spokesmen of government. Neither during nor after the meeting was any ultimatum given to the Minister of Education.

“During the meeting, the Minister of Education requested that the Minister of Labour hands off the negotiation to allow him lead and conclude what he had earlier on started with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”

Shehu, in the statement, added that the education minister promised that he could get an agreement within the shortest possible time, probably two to three weeks.

The Presidency, according to him, is confident that agreements can be reached in an even shorter period if all parties do not remain obstinate.

“In carrying out this assignment, the Minister will carry along all relevant ministries and agencies with statutory functions and duties relating to the issues involved,” the presidential spokesman said.

“On the part of the administration, all doors remain open for dialogue and the resolution of the issues.”

Exploring The Tallest Statue In Africa, African Renaissance Monument, Senegal

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 20, 2022

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The African Renaissance Monument is a 49 meter tall bronze statue located on top of one of the twin hills known as Collines des Mamelles, outside of Dakar, Senegal.

It depicts a man with a bare, ripped torso holding an infant aloft in one arm and guiding a woman with the other.

Looking South towards downtown Dakar. Not much to see with the haze of the day. Image was captured by a camera suspended by a kite line. Kite Aerial Photography (KAP)

The infant points ahead to indicate the glorious future, while the woman extends her arm behind to acknowledge the troubled past. Her hair is swept back by the wind, as are her scant, gossamer-like garments.

It is built overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the Ouakam suburb, the statue was designed by the Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby after an idea presented by President Abdoulaye Wade and built by Mansudae Overseas Projects, a company from North Korea.

Image was captured by a camera suspended by a kite line. Kite Aerial Photography (KAP)

Site preparation on top of the 100-meter high hill began in 2006, and construction of the bronze statue began 3 April 2008.

Originally scheduled for completion in December 2009, delays stretched into early 2010, and the formal dedication occurred on 4 April 2010, Senegal’s “National Day”, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence from France. It is, so far, the tallest statue in Africa.

The colossal monument surely has a Soviet influence, with socialist realism style since in the past the Government of Senegal was indeed on the side of mainland China. The cost is amazing 27 million US dollars, for which it received huge criticism.

The style too was criticized, since the Senegalese opposition leaders marked it as a ‘Stalinist’ project, while the artists around the country pointed out that the shapes of the body are cartoon-like, with very little African facial features.

Some sources claim that the actual architect of this grandiose monument is actually Romanian. Nevertheless, the President entitled himself a 35% of the whole profit, mostly from the tourists.

All in all, it is a one alluring masterpiece of an idea, which became a reality and certainly deserves to be mentioned in posts which are positive in more than a couple of articles around the world.