Largest diamond in 300 years unearthed in Angola

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July 27, 2022

Miners in north-east Angola have discovered a rare, pure pink diamond they believe to be the largest rough diamond of its kind to be unearthed in 300 years.

The Australian site operator named the 170-carat stone The Lulo Rose.

It said the diamond will be sold at international tender by the Angolan state diamond marketing company.

The find in the Lulo alluvial mine was welcomed by the Angolan government.

“This record and spectacular pink diamond recovered from Lulo continues to showcase Angola as an important player on the world stage for diamond mining,” Minerals Resources Minister Diamantino Azevedo is quoted as saying in a statement.

Similar stones, once cut and polished, have sold for record-breaking prices.

The Pink Star, a 59-carat pink diamond, sold for $71.2m in 2017 – the most expensive ever.

Tunisia referendum: Voters give president near unchecked power

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Henry Williams

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July 27, 2022

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Tunisia has voted to hand sweeping new powers to the country’s president, in a move that critics say risks the return of authoritarian rule to the country.

Fewer than a third of Tunisians voted in the referendum, with 94.6% of those balloted supporting plans to hand President Kais Saied broad new powers.

But opposition groups, who boycotted the vote, said the results were “not credible” and “inflated”.

Mr Saied has claimed the changes will break Tunisia’s political paralysis.

The 64-year-old has already been ruling by decree since this time last year, when he dramatically moved to suspend parliament and dismiss the government.

Tunisia’s new constitution would give the head of state full executive control, supreme command of the army and the ability to appoint a government without parliamentary approval.

Super Falcons’ Ajibade Speaks On 2nd Degree, Importance of Education

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 27, 2022

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Super Falcons’ Obiajuru Rasheedat Ajibade on Monday Narrates How She Bagged a second degree in Sports Psychology after her first in Accounting.

According to her, education is very important because you can fall back on it after you are done playing football.

The Super Falcons winger was the main star for Nigeria at the just concluded WAFCON scoring three goals.

Ajibade who understands the importance of education, narrates how she bagged her second degree during the lockdown. In a chat with CAF on their website, Ajibade who has a degree in Accounting from Lagos State Polytechnic explained why she had to delay her move into professional football to get a second degree in Sports Psychology from Barca Innovation Hub.

“My family likes education. I feel like I had to finish my degree first. It was important for me to finish school because I was also underage to move abroad. it was a bit challenging seeing people that I was older than playing in Europe, while I was still playing in Nigeria.”

“Education is very important because you can fall back to it after you are done playing football. “I made up my mind to do it (second degree), and it was a little easy because I was studying from home due to the pandemic.

“In the end, I finished and I thank God. I want to do more, get more certificates,” she added.

The super Falcons’ star emerges as Joint Top Scorer at the just concluded 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco finishing the competition with three goals and three assists.

The 22-year-old was named WAFCON joint top scorer alongside South Africa’s Hilda Magaia and Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak.

Lassa fever: NCDC gives Update on fatalities

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Cleopatra Okohai

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July 26, 2022

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says 162 Nigerians have died from Lassa fever, since the beginning of the year 2022.

The agency also stated that the number of new confirmed cases reduced from 13 in week 27, to five cases.

The NCDC disclosed this in its weekly situation report on the outbreak of the disease in the country.

Lassa fever is an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness spread by the common African rat. It is endemic in parts of West Africa and has a high morbidity and mortality rate and economic and health security implications.

Data from the latest situation report for week 28, which covered July 11 to 17, 2022, revealed that there are 5,756 suspected cases of the infection across 99 Local Government Areas in 24 states.

“In week 28, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 13 in week 27, 2022 to 5 cases. These were reported from Edo and Ondo States.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 28, 2022, 162 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.1 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (23.3 per cent)

“In total for 2022, 24 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 99 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 69 per cent are from Ondo (30 per cent), Edo (25 per cent), and Bauchi (14 per cent) States.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 0 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

“The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.”

The report further noted that no new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week.

“National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” the NCDC said.

NIMR discovers new Malaria vector in Northern Nigeria

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Cleopatra Okohai

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July 26, 2022

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The Director General, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research Prof. Babatunde Salako, on Monday, said the institute has discovered a new malaria vector called anopheles stephensi in northern Nigeria.

Salako who spoke with newsmen in Lagos during a birthday ceremony organised by his members of staff said that it was the most recent research discovery.

He said that it was a rugged vector, very difficult to eradicate, adding that it had not been found anywhere near West Africa.

He said that this was a discovery by NIMR researchers and that had implications for malaria control in Nigeria.

Salako said that NIMR currently was looking at vaccines.

“We have done a lot of studies on vaccines and we are looking at vaccine development.

“We are working with five groups in a consortium to develop world local vaccines in Nigeria which was different from production,” he said.

Salako said that the idea was to ensure that Nigerian researchers were able to take it from the beginning to the end in the development of vaccines.

He said that “if tomorrow, we had a new epidemic or disease, known or unknown, it would be possible for Nigeria to develop its own vaccine”.

He said that NIMR was also looking at the effectiveness, side effects, and responsiveness of the human body to COVID-19 vaccines.

He said that the institute was looking at three COVID vaccines, disclosing that 2,000 people in Nigeria would be tested to know whether the vaccines evoked response among Nigerians.

Group decries non-availability of Liver transplant Centres in Nigeria

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Cleopatra Okohai

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July 26, 2022

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The Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria has expressed concern over the non-availability of liver transplantation services in Nigeria.

This was contained in a communique made available to the Newsmen on Sunday at the end of the 14th SOGHIN’s Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held from July 18 to July 22 in Kano.

SOGHIN’s President and Secretary-General, Professors Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo and Olusegun Alatishe called for urgent intervention of the Federal Government to curb the worrisome trend.

The association also called on the Federal Government to halt the exodus of highly skilled health professionals, including Gastroenterologists and Endoscopy Nurses, as well as trainees in the field of hepatology.

“The society observed with dismay the dwindling state of priority given to the funding for the diagnosis, treatment, and research on viral hepatitis in the country by respective governments.

“With the theme of the five-day scientific conference: ‘Burden and Challenges of Managing Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder’, it also resolved that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and all public health authorities should continue to monitor the trend of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“It calls on the government to expedite action in the production of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the society expressed worry over the worsening state of insecurity manifested by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of armed attacks in the country,” the communique said.

Tala Safwan: Egyptian TikToker held in Saudi over ‘immoral’ video

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Henry Williams

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July 26, 2022

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A popular Egyptian social media influencer has been arrested in Saudi Arabia, accused of posting sexually suggestive content.

Tala Safwan, who has five million followers on TikTok and some 800,000 on YouTube, drew ire online amid claims a recent video had lesbian undertones.

But Ms Safwan said that had not been her intention.

Police in the strictly conservative kingdom however said the video could harm public morality.

With her short dark hair and expressive face, the young vlogger’s frothy, upbeat style is aimed at teenagers.

Her videos have catchy, tabloid-like headlines as she discusses TV shows and issues sent in by her followers – mostly about relationships and embarrassing situations.

DR Congo protests: Ten die in fresh anti-UN demonstrations

By

Henry Williams

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July 26, 2022

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At least 10 people have died during protests against a UN peacekeeping force in Butembo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police say.

Seven of the dead were civilians while the others were UN personnel.

Local media said the protesters in the eastern city were shot by peacekeepers. But the UN mission, Monusco, has not responded to these reports.

There has been a recent upsurge in violence in the area, as locals accuse the UN of being ineffective.

The east of DR Congo remains volatile with more than 100 active rebel groups.

This was the second day of protests with people calling for the UN to withdraw its peacekeepers from the area.

Voter Registration: Govt Declares Three-Day Holiday

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Henry Williams

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July 26, 2022

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This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Tuesday, saying the holiday is from July 27 to 29th.

He said the move is necessary so that more Kaduna electorates will be able to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the 2023 general elections.

While urging all eligible residents of the state to seize this window to register to vote and to therefore be in a position to exercise their right to vote, Adekeye disclosed that the government requests all employers to actively support their staff to register before INEC closes voter registration on July 31.

See the full statement issued by the state government below:

Voter Registration: KDSG declares public holiday 27-29 July 2022

The Kaduna State Government has appealed to residents of the state to register to vote before 31st July 2022.

The state government has also declared 27th – 29th July 2022 as public holiday to enable more citizens to complete their voter registration.

A statement from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House urged all eligible residents of the State to seize this window to register to vote, and to therefore be in a position to exercise their right to vote.

The statement disclosed that the government requests all employers to actively support their staff to register before INEC closes voter registration on 31st July 2022.

Signed

Muyiwa Adekeye

Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication)

26th July 2022

Reps Deny Alleged Plot To Impeach Speaker Gbajabiamila

By

Henry Williams

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July 26, 2022

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The lawmakers made the disclaimer during Tuesday’s plenary amid reports that the Northern Caucus of the House was planning to impeach the speaker to ensure that the controversial Water Resources Bill was passed.

According to them, it is ridiculous that such a publication will be made and insist that they are solidly behind the speaker.

The matter was later referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for further investigation.

The controversial Water Resources Bill, which seeks to bring all water resources (surface and underground) and the banks of the water sources under the control of the Federal Government, was first introduced in the 8th Assembly but was rejected by the lawmakers.

It was then reintroduced in the 9th Assembly but received backlash from a broad section of Nigerians and legislators who feared that it could endanger the unity of the country.

The bill was again reintroduced in the House of Representatives chamber on June 29.

Sada Soli, who sponsored the bill, said wide consultations have been made for a better version of the bill.

He gave an assurance that if at any point, indications suggest that it would negatively affect any section of the country, he would voluntarily withdraw the bill.

The bill was then read for the first time and would be debated when scheduled for the second reading.