Belgian king and queen land in DR Congo

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June 7, 2022

Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have arrived in Kinshasa at the beginning of a long-awaited week-long visit at the invitation of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.

It will be King Philippe’s first visit to the Democratic Republic Congo since ascending to the throne in 2013.

The trip – postponed by the pandemic – has been hailed by the presidency as an opportunity for reconciliation.

Two years ago the king wrote to President Tshisekedi, expressing his deepest regret for “the wounds of the past”.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who is also part of the delegation, has called it a historic moment and an opportunity to forge closer ties.

The king is also due to discuss the question of returning artworks looted during the colonial era.

That past remains painful.

Millions of Congolese suffered acts of cruelty, particularly during the reign of King Leopold II, who owned the Congo Free State as his personal property.

The Ethiopians changing their names as a show of pride

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Henry Williams

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June 7, 2022

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A surge in ethnic pride among Ethiopia’s Oromo community, the country’s largest ethnic group, is leading some, like Moti Begi, to change their names.

The 40-year-old used to be known at Dereje Begi.

But he ditched “Dereje”, an Amharic word meaning “augmented” in favour of “Moti”, an Afaan Oromoo word meaning “king”.

In Ethiopia, first names are all-important – the second part of a person’s name is not a family surname, usually it is their father’s first name.

Mr Moti, an engineer by profession, is not alone in this name-changing trend – and seven of his friends have recently flexed their Oromo pride with new names.

For centuries, the Oromo community has been made to feel ashamed of their language – Afaan Ormooo – by the country’s rulers, in particular the emperors who hailed from the Amhara-speaking north.

South Africa and UAE in talks over Gupta brothers’ future

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Henry Williams

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June 7, 2022

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High-level talks have begun between the governments of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to bring two brothers from the wealthy Gupta family to justice.

They are accused in South Africa of profiting from their close links with former President Jacob Zuma and exerting unfair influence.

All three deny any wrongdoing.

The wealthy Indian-born brothers, who are accused of fraud and money laundering, are expected to apply for bail in the next few days.

Rajesh and Atul, along with their brother Ajay Gupta – who has not been arrested – fled South Africa in 2018, around the same time former President Jacob Zuma was forced to resign following a string of corruption allegations against him.

The Guptas have been accused of using their association with Mr Zuma to cash in on huge government contracts by paying bribes.

The United States placed the Guptas on a sanctions list in 2019, after they were accused of being members of a significant corruption network.

South Africa successfully negotiated an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates last year, but it could take years before the accused are successfully extradited to face justice in South Africa.

APC Delegates To Vote By Writing Names On Ballot

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Henry Williams

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June 7, 2022

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Delegates at the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Primary have been instructed to write the name of the aspirant of their choice on the ballot papers.

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi stated this in his speech as the Chairman of the Election Planning Committee and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum at the APC Presidential primary.

He said any delegates who can not write the name of their preferred choice should ask another delegate from the same state to help.

Only three delegates from the 774 local government Areas of Nigeria are allowed to vote.

Governor Bagudu further commended the party for successfully conducting primaries in a the states adding that he hopes the peaceful conduct of the primaries will endear the APC to Nigerians

Court nullifies rescheduled Ebonyi PDP’s primaries, declares Odili guber candidate

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Henry Williams

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June 7, 2022

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The Federal High Court in Ebonyi has nullified the rescheduled People Democratic Party’s (PDP), primaries in Ebonyi and declared Dr Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii as authentic gubernatorial candidate of the party for the 2023 polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the party rescheduled and conducted fresh primaries on June 4 and 5 after its Initial primaires in Ebonyi on May 28 and 29 that elected Odii a governorship candidate.

The Court ruled that the primary elections that produced Sen. Obinna Ogba and other candidates were illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Fatun Riman said the repeated primaries in the state on June 4 and 5 were not monitored by the Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Riman, the rescheduled PDP primaries in Ebonyi is null and void.

Security agents arrest 3 handset snatchers at APC convention

By

Henry Williams

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June 7, 2022

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Security agents on Tuesday arrested three suspected handset snatchers at the entrance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Special Convention in Abuja, after they snatched a journalist’s cellphone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects who were gorgeously dressed took advantage of the commotion at the gate of Eagle Square, venue of the convention to snatch the handset from the journalist’s pocket.

The journalist, name withheld, raised an alarm after he discovered his phone was missing, attracting the attention of the security agents who rushed to the scene immediately.

But the missing phone couldn’t be found even after a search on the three suspects, as they had thrown the cellphone under a nearby security vehicle.

An eagle-eyed officer however, salvaged the situation as he sighted the phone under the vehicle, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

A police officer who spoke on an anonymous condition told NAN that the suspects would be taken to a nearby station for investigations and eventual prosecution.

Presidential Aspirant with Highest Votes will be Declared Winner, Says Bagudu

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Henry Williams

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June 7, 2022

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The Chairman of the Election Committee of the Convention and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu, has said that the presidnetial aspirant with the highest number of votes will be declared winner.

Bagudu stated this at the ongoing national convention of the party.

He said the fewer number of delegates at the Eagle Square tonight would make the electoral process more manageable, unlike when the party had about 8,000 delegates at the convention in March.

According to him, “Three delegates per local government will be allowed to vote after accreditation. There will be two voting points. Two states will be called simultaneously.

Gov. Ortom Shares Why He Gave Priority to Basic Education

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 7, 2022

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Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said he gave priority to basic education because it is the foundation of general education.

Ortom stated this while addressing education stakeholders comprising teachers, parents and school proprietors at Government House Makurdi.

He stated that once pupils got it right at the foundation level, learning at secondary and higher level becomes easier.

He said his administration has constructed and upgraded 1,500 primary schools across the 23 local government areas in Benue State.

He said this was apart from providing learning materials like chairs, table and magic board.

According to the Governor, on assumption of duty he implemented N18,000 minimum wage for Benue teachers, a development he stressed served as a major motivation for the teachers.

He challenged school managers to monitor public school performance to enhance quality of education, stating that education is the only industry in Benue state.

”I gave priority to education because when people are properly educated, they can be more useful to the society and Benue cannot lack behind,” he stressed.

Ortom stated that Benue ranks among the best in standard of education across Nigeria as a result of unprecedented investment, which accounts for the brilliant performances of it’s students at national academic competitions.

He also noted that the overall second best student in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) came from Benue State, stressing that the State ranks third in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted yearly by West African Examinations Council, WAEC.

“Benue is one of the best in Nigeria in terms of education. It is common knowledge that whenever students from Benue go on any competition, they are either first, second or third and have never gone beyond that.

“Last year, the overall second best student in Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB examination came from Benue. In the nation we are number three in terms of performances in the West African Examinations Council, WAEC. That is Benue is the third best in the country,” Ortom said .

” We have place Benue State University Makurdi on first line and we paid them and they are on strike because of directives from ASUU”

”We have also placed emphasis on technical education as a deliberate policy to address the problem of unemployment because with technical education, graduates would become self employed and as well become employers.

“As a way of encouraging technical education we have approved the upgrade of two institutions to Polytechnics in the state, a development aimed at providing quality vocational education to people of the State,” he added.

He stated that construction, reconstruction of primary and secondary schools across the state has been ongoing since 2015, stressing that customised furniture was also being provided saying” our administration giant strides in education will benefit generations yet to come.

”I have also continued to match UBEC grant for massive improvement of primary school classrooms for enhance learning condition”.

Responding on behalf of Head of School Agencies , Dr.Frank Ikyugun who is the Executive Secretary Benue State Teaching Service Board, commended the Governor for the attention giving to education.

Ikyugun assured him of strict supervision of schools and teachers for quality performance .

Group tasks Bauchi residents against indiscriminate Refuse disposal

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Cleopatra Okohai

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June 7, 2022

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Water Sanitation and Hygiene Media Network has warned Bauchi residents to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the city.

The Chairman of the network, Mr. David Ayodele, gave the warning on Monday in an interview with Newsmen in Bauchi.

Ayodele said that the warning became necessary to prevent gastroenteritis (an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhoea).

He said: “As the rain sets in, dumping of refuse in gutters, sewage and other places indiscriminately could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“This would lead to the spread of communicable diseases.”

Ayodele said that environmental sanitation has been identified as an integral part of achieving a healthy environment.

“It involved controlling all the factors in man’s physical environment which may cause harmful effects on his physical growth and development, especially health and survival.

“We have to explore various ways of making environmental sanitation practices more effective and sustainable in households and communities to achieve their target,” he said.

Ayodele called on the government at all levels to make regulations to control the illegal dumping of wastes and provide sanitation facilities at strategic places in the rural and urban slums in the state.

“Besides, community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations should support the government’s efforts through programmes that promote environmental sanitation awareness in schools, households, and communities.

“We believe these strategies will go a long way to address the prevalence of gastroenteritis and ensure the population leads a productive life,” Ayodele said.

He said that several factors, including poor living conditions, lack of potable water, sanitation, and hygiene services, account for the transmission of gastroenteritis.

He said that using appropriate measures, such as proper sanitation, safe drinking water, non-contaminated foods and vaccination could eradicate the menace.

Ayodele advised residents to always keep their environment clean for the safety of the habitats and communities.

EU To Require Single Charger For All Smartphones

By

Zoe Maven

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June 7, 2022

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The EU member states and parliament on Tuesday agreed the text of a law imposing a standard charger for smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc, in a blow to Apple. For most portable devices the requirement for charging via a USB Type-C port will come into effect from late 2024.

The EU believes a standard cable for all devices will cut back on electronic waste, but iPhone juggernaut Apple argues that a one-size-fits-all charger would slow innovation and create more pollution.

The bloc is home to 450 million people, some of the world’s richest consumers, and the imposition of the USB-C as a cable standard could affect the entire global smartphone market.

MEP Andrey Kovatchev, one of the negotiators said this new law will make the lives of European consumers easier and will be better for the environment.

He said Consumers currently have to decide between phones served by three main chargers: “Lightning” for Apple handsets, the micro-USB widely used on most other mobile phones and the newer USB-C that is increasingly coming into use.

That range is already greatly simplified from 2009, when dozens of different types of chargers were bundled with mobile phones, creating piles of electronic garbage when users changed brands.

In making its proposal last year, the EU said the current situation remained wasteful and that European consumers spent approximately 2.4 billion euros annually on standalone chargers they bought separately.

The European Commission had long defended a voluntary agreement it made with the device industry that was set in place in 2009 and saw a big reduction in cables, but Apple refused to abide by it.