Truck drivers who have been blockading downtown Ottawa for six days on Wednesday said they had no intention of leaving the Canadian capital until the government scrapped COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Despite increasing complaints from residents about noise, pollution and aggressive behavior from some truckers, Ottawa police have declined to end the protest, citing the risk of aggravating tensions.
The demonstration began as a move to force the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to drop a vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers. It has since turned into a more populist anti-Trudeau movement.
Trudeau on Monday said Canadians were disgusted by the behavior of some protesters and vowed not to be intimidated.
The inaction of the police in Ottawa – some of whom have posed for selfies with demonstrators – contrasts with more robust action by authorities in the western province of Alberta.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Tuesday moved in on truckers blockading the U.S. border at the town of Coutts but pulled back after clashes with some drivers.
As well as paralyzing Ottawa, the protests are also threatening the future of the official opposition Conservative Party, the Liberals’ main rival.
Party leader Erin O’Toole was facing a confidence vote on Wednesday legislators unhappy that he did not support the protests more enthusiastically at first.
He is also under pressure for leading the party to defeat in last September’s federal election.
At least 24 people perished in a landslide in Ecuador’s capital Quito, and 12 others were missing, as rescue teams searched homes and streets covered by mud following the worst deluge in nearly two decades.
The torrential rains on Monday night caused a build-up of water in a gorge near the working class neighborhoods of La Gasca and La Comuna, sending mud and rocks down on residences and affecting electricity provision.
The country’s disaster management agency said 48 people were injured.
Footage showed a man struggling to free himself from the muddy waters rushing down a residential street and witnesses said the man was swept away as residents screamed for help.
Other videos showed a torrent sweeping away trees, vehicles, dumpsters and even electricity poles, while some people were rescued from the muddy water by neighbors.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of further landslides and the mayor’s office has set up shelters for affected families and has started clearing streets in the city.
Ecuador is facing heavy rains in several areas, which have caused rivers to overflow and affected hundreds of homes and roads.
Rains in Quito on Monday were equivalent to 75 liters per square meter, the highest in nearly two decades.
Egypt is considering replacing a popular bread subsidy with cash payments for the poor to protect the budget from soaring global wheat prices, but domestic inflation and a history of protests could make the government opt for a less ambitious reform.
Under the existing program, over 60 million Egyptians, or nearly two thirds of the population, get 5 loaves of round bread daily for 50 cents a month. The handout is a lifeline to the poor, but is widely criticized as wasteful.
High global prices for wheat, which Egypt imports on a vast scale, led President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to say last year that it was time to tackle the bread subsidy.
Ali Moselhy, the minister in charge of subsidies, told Newsmen that inflation, which has climbed in recent months to 6% from 4% earlier in 2021, made it harder to replace the support for bread and other food with cash handouts.
Moselhy has said he personally favours giving people money specifically to buy bread. Eligible Egyptians already get a monthly $3.20 voucher for other subsidised food.
However, he said a broader idea to introduce unconditional payments, favoured by many economists as the most efficient welfare system, risked driving up prices by putting more cash into circulation at a time of rising inflation.
At least 60 people have been killed in a militia attack at a displaced persons’ camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the head of a local humanitarian group and a camp resident.
According to the Army and the UN, CODECO militia was responsible for the killings at about 2am local time at the Savo camp near Bule in Ituri province
Ituri army spokesman Jules Ngongo confirmed the attack by CODECO and gave a provisional toll of about 20 dead.
Congolese troops came into contact with the militia Tuesday night but the assailants changed direction and got past them to reach the camp, he said.
CODECO is one of an array of militias operating in eastern Congo amid longstanding tensions over land and resources.
Its fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.
In recent months it has targeted displacement camps, where some people had settled after fleeing other attacks by CODECO.
Charite Banza Bavi, president of the humanitarian group for the Bahema-North area, put the death toll at 63.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a statement that Initial reports indicate that as many as 59 civilians were killed and a further 40 injured.
Two students at a school supported by the NRC were among the dead, it added, and the assailants had used both guns and machetes.
The Savo displacement site is home to 24,000 people, among 1.7 million displaced in Ituri province, the NRC said. At least 1,200 civilians were killed in Ituri province in 2021.
Mali has defaulted on more than $31 million of bond payments, as sanctions imposed over elections delayed by the country’s military junta took effect.
The defaults add to mounting troubles for Mali, which has experienced two coups since August 2020 and has struggled for years to stem an Islamist insurgency that has drawn in foreign powers including former colonial ruler France.
Mali failed to repay 15.6 billion CFA francs or $26.6 million, in relation to a treasury bond that matured on Jan. 31, the debt agency of West Africa’s monetary union zone said in a note to investors.
Mali’s finance ministry and the West African debt management agency said on Wednesday, that this payment incident occurs in a context where the state of Mali is subject to sanctions.
Mali’s finance ministry earlier said that the country had failed to meet a debt payment of 2.7 billion CFA francs on treasury bond coupons, blaming the ECOWAS sanctions and those imposed by the BCEAO central bank that administers the CFA franc.
The ministry said the deadline to meet the coupon payments on two sets of bonds had passed on Jan. 28 with it unable to comply with its obligations because of measures that have largely cut it off from regional financial markets.
The 15-member ECOWAS economic bloc and the UEMOA regional monetary union both imposed sanctions on Mali on Jan. 9 after the military junta that first seized power in a 2020 coup decided to delay a national election.
ECOWAS has also frozen Malian state assets in its member states’ commercial banks and suspended non-essential financial transactions with Mali.
Berries for eye-health: Berries – such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries e.t.c – are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C that are known to help our eyes relax.
Poor eyesight is a common problem these days. We tend to blame it on the increased usage of mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices. We agree these factors do play a major role in affecting eye-health, but we can’t also ignore the role played by our diet regime. Under nutrition might also lead to several eye-related problems. Just like our body, our eyes too need nutrients for proper functioning. This is why, experts recommend including foods in our daily diet that are rich in vitamins A, C, E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and more. One such popular food option is berries. Considered a superfood, berries are loaded with almost every essential nutrient that helps benefit overall health.
Berries – such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries etc – are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C that are known to help our eyes relax and prevent dryness, vision defects and more. According to a study conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, blueberries contain a type of flavonoid known as anthocyanins. This nutrient helps improve our vision. That’s not all. The study also states that the antioxidants might also prevent the damage of our eyes, caused by pollution and dust.
Adding to this, a recent study by University of California – Davis found that dried goji berry might provide protection against age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in seniors. These findings were published in the journal ‘Nutrients’.
For the study, researchers gave 13 participants (aged 45 to 65) 28 grams of goji berries five times a week for 90 days. It was found that the density of protective pigments (of the eyes) increased in these people. In contrast, 14 other participants who consumed a commercial supplement for eye health over the same period did not show an increase in the protective pigments.
Considering the above factors, we bring you some fun and interesting ideas to add berries in your daily diet. Take a look.
Smoothies:
A handful of fresh berries add colour, texture and a sweet-tangy taste to your morning smoothies. Besides, it makes the drink healthy too.
Salads:
You can always garnish your salad with some dried berries. This will add some tanginess to the meal.
Trail Mix:
Trail-mix makes a perfect snack to curb our mid-meal hunger. You can make your customised trail mix at home and add berries of your choice.
Include berries in your daily diet and enjoy the benefits to the fullest. But always remember, moderation is the key.
Ethiopian Airlines was due to resume flying the Boeing 737 MAX plane on Tuesday, even though opinions are divided on the airline’s first flight using the model since a crash nearly three years ago forced regulators to ground the fleet globally.
In March 2019 a flight to Nairobi crashed in a field six minutes after take-off from Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa killing all 157 passengers and crew.
The accident followed another incident five months earlier, when the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people.
The accidents exposed a problem with a system on the plane, and the model was grounded worldwide, costing Boeing some $20 billion and triggering court cases that exposed shortcomings with the certification process.
The airline will fly a demonstration flight around Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, and return to Addis Ababa with journalists, diplomats and officials onboard, the airline said.
Some relatives of those killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash were angered by the decision to resume flying the 737 MAX.
Tom Kabau, a Kenyan lawyer who lost his 29-year-old brother George in the crash said,” I will never fly in a MAX and certainly if I find myself booked into a MAX, I will have to cancel that flight,”
Coconut flour is a unique alternative to wheat flour. It’s popular among low carb enthusiasts and those who have gluten-related disorders.
In addition to its impressive nutrition profile, coconut flour may offer several benefits when enjoyed as part of a healthy diet. These include improvements in blood sugar stability, digestion, and heart health.
Coconut flour is made from coconut flesh that has been dried and ground. It’s a byproduct of coconut milk and oil production.
During manufacturing, coconuts are first cracked open and drained of liquid. The coconut meat is then scraped out, rinsed, grated, and strained to separate the solids from the milk. The solids are then baked at a low temperature until dry before being ground into flour.
The resulting white powder looks and feels similar to flour made from grains such as wheat and its mild in flavour. Coconut flour is commonly used in gluten-free and grain-free foods such as cupcakes, bread, and cookies.
Nutrition
Coconut flour has an impressive nutrient profile, being particularly high in fiber, potassium, iron, and plant-based protein.
A 1/4-cup (28-gram) serving of coconut flour contains: Calories: 120, Carbs: 18 grams, Sugar: 6 grams, Fiber: 10 grams, Protein: 6 grams, Fat: 3 grams, Iron: 11% of the Daily Value (DV), Potassium: 13% of the DV.
Compared with wheat flour, coconut flour is higher in fiber, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals, such as potassium and iron.
Potassium and fiber are nutrients that are commonly under consumed in modern-day diets, which can lead to health issues such as elevated heart disease risk and digestive problems. Adding coconut flour to your diet can help you meet the recommended daily intake for these important nutrients.
Additionally, because coconut flour is lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein than traditional wheat flour, it’s a popular choice for those following low carb dietary patterns.
Benefits
Coconut flour has a diverse nutrient profile and may offer a range of health benefits. That said, few studies have directly examined it.
Coconut Flour
May help keep blood sugar stable
Coconut flour is packed with fiber, which may promote healthy blood sugar levels.
A 1/4-cup (28-gram) serving provides a whopping 36% of the DV for fiber. That’s more than four times as much as all-purpose flour.
Foods rich in fiber help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the speed at which sugar enters your bloodstream.
Studies show that higher fiber diets benefit those with diabetes by reducing blood sugar and insulin levels while promoting a healthy body weight.
Coconut flour is also lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein than all-purpose flour, this makes it better at promoting healthy blood sugar regulation.
Promotes digestive health
Coconut flour’s high fiber content makes it a good choice for keeping your digestive system healthy.
Most of its fiber is insoluble, which adds bulk to stools and helps move food smoothly through your gut, thereby reducing the risk of constipation.
Studies show that diets high in fiber may reduce the risk of a number of health conditions that impact the digestive tract, including colon cancer.
Additionally, older research suggests that coconut flour contains small amounts of soluble fiber and other fermentable fibers that feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
In turn, these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, all of which nourish your gut cells.
May reduce risk factors of heart disease
Coconut flour is high in fiber and potassium, so consuming coconut flour may support heart health by reducing heart disease risk factors.
Specifically, research suggests that eating coconut flour may help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
What’s more, coconut flour is a good source of potassium, which is essential for promoting and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Having elevated blood sugar levels increases the risk of developing heart disease.
May help support a healthy body weight
Coconut flour may help you maintain a healthy body weight.
It offers both fiber and protein. These nutrients are important for appetite regulation and can help keep you feeling full between meals. This could lead you to reduce your overall calorie intake. Research suggests that diets high in protein and fiber may even promote weight loss.
Even though dietary patterns high in fiber and protein likely enhance weight loss and support a healthy body weight, there’s currently no evidence that directly links coconut flour to weight loss.
Free from gluten and grains
Coconut flour is free from gluten, so it’s a suitable option for people with celiac disease, wheat allergy, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Gluten is a group of proteins found in certain grains, including wheat, barley, and rye. People who cannot tolerate gluten may experience symptoms ranging from gas, cramps, or diarrhea to gut damage and nutrient malabsorption after ingesting it.
People with celiac disease or wheat allergy should avoid all gluten-containing grains, while those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity can choose to either reduce their consumption or eliminate the protein from their diet.
Coconut flour offers an alternative to wheat and other gluten-containing flours. It’s also naturally grain-free, so it’s a popular choice for those following grain-free diets such as the paleo diet.
Uses
You can use coconut flour in a variety of recipes, both sweet and savory. It’s a popular ingredient for those following gluten-free and grain-free diets.
You can substitute it for other types of flour when making bread, pancakes, cookies, muffins, or other baked goods. However, be mindful that coconut flour tends to absorb more liquid than other types of flour, so you can’t use it as a one-to-one replacement.
For the best results, start by substituting 1/4 cup (28 grams) of coconut flour for every 1 cup (120 grams) of all-purpose flour.
You may also want to increase the liquids by the amount of coconut flour you add. For example, if you use 1/4 cup (28 grams) of coconut flour, pour in 1/4 cup (60 mL) of additional liquids.
Further, remember that coconut flour tends to be denser than other types of flour and doesn’t bind as easily.
Bakers often recommend that you mix it with other types of flour or add 1 egg for each 1/4 cup (28 grams) of coconut flour to give your end product a fluffier, softer texture.
This unique flour can also be used as breading or to thicken soups and stews. What’s more, you can use it as a binding agent in burger or veggie loaf recipes, as well as to make grain-free pizza crust or wraps.
Takehome
Coconut flour is a gluten-free flour made solely from coconuts.
It’s high in fiber and is a good source of protein. Adding it to your diet may promote stable blood sugar, good digestion, and heart health.
It may also support a healthy body weight when consumed as part of a nutritious, balanced diet.
Plus, it’s delicious and versatile, so it’s a smart choice when choosing a flour alternative.
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has resolved the dispute between Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), and Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).
NHIS Deputy General Manager, Mr Emmanuel Ononokpono said this in a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Hospitals, under the aegis of HCPAN and other associate bodies, had announced plans to drop HMOs and impose a new tariff structure for private health insurance.
Ononokpono said that the action was to commence from Feb. 1, a development which created anxiety within the health insurance ecosystem.
Prof. Mohammed Sambo, Executive Secretary, NHIS, in a meeting with the parties, reached an interim but mutual understanding, aimed at ensuring that a potential crisis was averted.
Similarly, it was to ensure that persons operating health insurance on a private basis were not stranded, Sambo had explained.
He said that NHIS was the only legally recognised body that had the authority to come up with services tariffs for health insurance in the country.
Sambo added that the primary objectives of social health insurance was to limit the rising cost of health care services and protect people from financial hardships of huge medical bills.
He however indicated reservations that the system had tolerated HMOs to run “private health Insurance”, which brought distortion to social health insurance implementation.
Sambo expressed optimism that the expected passage of the NHIS bill making health insurance mandatory would permanently resolve all such distortions.
“Social health insurance is the only vehicle by which every Nigerians can access quality and affordable health care.
“Therefore any element that will threaten the smooth operations of social health insurance scheme in Nigeria must be eliminated,” he said.
Sambo noted that taking the issue to the public space in the manner which the stakeholders did; left much to be desired.
According to him, disagreements can be resolved when parties listen to each other’s positions and make efforts to reach a compromise.
Speaking on behalf of Health Care Providers, Dr Jimmy Arigbabuwo said that HMOs had foisted their own tariffs on providers without regard for inflationary realities.
Arigbabuwo said that HMCAN had not acted in good faith even as they provided services to clients.
The spokesman for HMCAN Dr Leke Oshuniyi, said that members of the association were open to negotiations with the view to bringing the dispute to a close.
At the end of the meeting, representatives of Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), (HCPAN), Guild of Medical Directors, AGPMPN, and other stakeholders agreed to propositions presented by Sambo.
The parties agreed that a reconciliation would be conducted by NHIS to ascertain the level of indebtedness by HMOs to providers and media advertorial would precede this activity.
“Rapid assessment of HMOs’ private plans will be conducted to ascertain their level of conformity with the NHIS prescribed arrangements.
“HCPAN will immediately withdraw its announced tariffs, while other stakeholders who had their own tariffs will withdraw same.
“HCPAN and HMCAN are given two weeks to negotiate and agree on a mutually accepted tariff structure,” he added.
Sambo said that a follow-up meeting had been scheduled for Feb. 7, to evaluate progress on the matter.
The Senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to stop landlords in the Federal Capital Territory from demanding advance payment of one-year rent from their tenants.
The legislation is titled, ‘A bill for an Act to regulate the mode of Payment of Rent on Residential Apartments, Office Spaces, etc, in the FCT and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.’
The bill, sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC/Kogi-West), was aimed at ending the practice whereby landlords demand a yearly advance payment of rents from their tenants.
Adeyemi said the bill seeks to replace the current annual advance rent payment with monthly payments in arrears. This, according to him, is aimed at making life meaningful for workers who are finding it difficult to pay their house rents.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, who supported the bill, said many residents of Abuja “are groaning in pains to pay house rents in advance.”
He said the Senate would be helping poor Nigerians working and residing in Abuja if the bill was signed into law.
Sabi-Abdullahi described the proposal as welfare-oriented and would enjoy the support of Abuja workers and residents.
Two other Senators, Ibrahim Gobir and Bala Ibn Na’Allah also lent their voices to support the bill, saying it would end corruption among workers and immorality among young ladies who engage in desperate activities to pay their rents.
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, however, opposed the bill, arguing that the payment of rents should be driven by market forces.
Nnamani insisted that the Senate should not dictate the rent payment modalities to the landlords when the government was doing nothing to either regulate the cost of land and prices of building materials.
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