Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio said he will introduce a bill that would permit Lawmakers in the West African country to hold a foreign passport.
In a statement, Bio said he had authorised the attorney general to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment to allow dual citizens to be qualified to be elected as members of parliament.
The move comes after years of legal ambiguity in Sierra Leone over the right of dual citizens to run for office, with political parties forbidding candidates with foreign passports.
However, the Supreme Court ruled in September that dual citizens are allowed to run for parliament, after a suit brought by lawmaker Kandeh Yumkella.
Bio’s government is now set to propose a constitutional amendment to clarify that right although it is not clear when the bill will be introduced.
Alie Turay, a Sierra Leonean national who lives in the US told Newsmen that the News was a welcome development for Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora with dual citizenship, who wish to participate in the country’s politics in future.
The family of a Kenyan woman who was allegedly killed by a British soldier in 2012, is crying foul as they are yet to receive justice almost 10 years after the death of Agnes Wanjru.
Wanjiru was a 21-year-old mother of a 5-month old daughter when she was reported missing in March 2012. Her body was retrieved almost 3 months later from a hotel’s septic tank in central Kenya.
According to witness accounts, she had been last seen partying in the company of British soldiers.
In 2019, an inquest by a Kenyan judge concluded that Wanjiru had been murdered by one or 2 British soldiers.
An order by the judge for two further inquiries hit a snag after the British military took no action.
According to a report done by the Sunday Times, the killer confessed to a fellow soldier. When the soldier reported the confession, no action was taken by the army.
According to UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, the Ministry of Defense is expected to continue offering support to the Kenyan investigation as far as the case is concerned.
However, this was dismissed by social activists who have called for the extradition of the alleged killer.
A senior delegation of ECOWAS, led by Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, is in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, for a three day visit, to meet with the authorities and take further stock of the situation.
The visit comes almost two months after ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership following a coup in the country in early September.
Kassi Brou said the transition has produced a charter, important appointments have been made, and the government is gradually being set up.
He added that they would also determine to what extent ECOWAS can provide practical support to the process underway.
Representing the government, Morissanda Kouyaté, Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs said they expect a lot from ECOWAS, its accompaniment, and its support and expressed optimism of fruitful discussions.
On September 5th, a military uprising led by Mamady Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Condé, dismissed the governmentnand announced a transitional charter.
Doumbouya was sworn in as transitional president on October 1st and pledged to respect the country’s international commitments.
An Idaho company that successfully brought genetically modified potatoes to the market announced an agreement to help a California-based plant breeding company grow strawberries they say will stay fresh longer and have a longer growing season.
J.R. Simplot Company and Plant Sciences Inc., both privately-held companies, said they expect to launch the first commercially available, gene-edited strawberries within a few years.
U.S. growers produced $2.2 billion in strawberries in 2020, mostly in California, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
But consumers discarded an estimated 35% of the crop due to spoilage.
Simplot and Plant Sciences officials said genetically modified strawberries will help reduce waste, and make them available to consumers much of the year.
The strawberries will contain genes from only strawberries, selecting desirable traits that have been cultivated over decades.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a previous gene-modifying technique on Simplot potatoes.
Now, more than 1.1 billion pounds (500,000 million kilograms) of the potatoes are sold in some 40 states and 4,000 supermarkets and 9,000 restaurants.
Cole said the company submitted information to the Agriculture Department that determined the gene editing being used on strawberries replicates a natural process and doesn’t need regulatory approval before the strawberries are brought to the market.
The company is also using that gene-editing technique on potatoes.
Steve Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Plant Sciences Inc., said the company over the last 35 years has developed five distinct breeding populations of strawberries that do best in various growing areas and climate types.
He said for growers, who can spend $35,000 an acre to plant strawberries and another $35,000 per acre to harvest them, gene-edited strawberries could reduce the risk of a crop failure.
A 2012 study found that people cognition can start to decline as early as 45, and another study found that it can begin as early as in the 20s or 30s!
There’s no need to panic, though, because much of our cognitive health is determined by our eating and lifestyle habits. For example, we can boost our memory at any age by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and eating a healthy diet.
Dietitians give their input on the best foods that boos memory after age 40, along with some common ways to eat them.
BEETS
According to Nicole Stefanow, MS, RDN, beets are a great food to eat for an easy memory boost over the age of 40. “Beets are rich in pigments called betalains, which help prevent premature brain aging and memory loss by protecting against oxidative stress and inflammation,” says Stefanow. If you’re not sure about beets and need a creative way to cook them, try making delicious beet vegetable stir fry!
FATTY FISH
“The brain uses omega-3 fats to build brain and nerve cells, which are essential for learning and memory,” says Amy Goodson, “For that reason, fatty fish full of omega-3s like salmon, trout, and albacore tuna are at the top of the list for brain health.”
According to Rima Kleiner, MS, RD registered dietitian and blogger at Dish on Fish, salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Kleiner says that “Omega-3s help improve cardiovascular, brain health and cognitive function, and EPA specifically helps to reduce inflammation in the brain cells.”
FLAX SEEDS
Flax seeds are not only a great source of protein and fiber, but they’re apparently great for boosting your memory as well!
“Flax seeds are rich in a type of omega-3 fatty acid: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),” says registered dietitian Rachel Fine, RD, owner of To The Pointe Nutrition. “ALA fatty acids convert in the body to EPA and DHA: two very important omega-3s for brain health,” Fine adds.
Fine also mentions that you have to grind whole flax seeds to digest them and gain their full health benefits. The good news is that you can make just about anything with ground flax seeds, like these healthy buttermilk pancakes or this creamy carrot cake smoothie.
ALMONDS
Registered dietitian nutritionist Ashley Larsen, RDN believes that healthy fats from nuts and seeds are the key to keeping a sharp brain and boosting your memory.
“Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats,” says Larsen, “which not only help lower cholesterol but can also improve cognitive function as well.” Larsen also cited a study of 480 older women, which showed that “those who consumed more monounsaturated fats in their diet over 3 years had less cognitive decline.”
BROCCOLI AND OTHER CRUCIFEROUS VEGGIES
According to Lee Jackson, LDN, RDN, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts are linked to better memory and improved cognitive function.
“Broccoli is high in sulforaphane, which is an antioxidant that helps to fight against inflammation,” says Jackson, “and chronic inflammation has been found to result in memory loss and decreased brain health.”
A bonus of broccoli, according to Jackson, is that it is “loaded with fiber, which is important for reducing the risk for certain cancers, as well as helping the body maintain a healthy weight.”
OLIVE OIL
“Swap out your butter or margarine for brain-boosting olive oil,” says Larsen, “because olive oil is rich in healthy fats and antioxidants called polyphenols, which help to protect our brain cells from oxidative stress and damage.” Larsen suggests using olive oil when cooking vegetables or meat, or drizzling it on salads or bread.
Surprisingly, you can also use olive oil when making your favorite dessert! You can try something like this homemade chocolate pudding with olive oil and sea salt, or this olive oil ice cream recipe for something sweet and savory!
Now you know some foods to boost your memory, so ahead and enjoy all the nutrition value they have to offer.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is planning to sponsor ‘bring back your children’ bill to National Assembly that will compel public servants and elected officials to take their children to public schools.
President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, who made the disclosure, bewailed that government has abandoned public education.
Osodoke, while speaking at a one-day State of the nation Summit organised by the Bauchi zone of ASUU with the theme: ‘Nigeria: The State of the Nation’ held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
He lament that Nigerian leaders after neglecting education in the country now look for other countries to send their children to study.
Osodeke declared that ASUU will mobilise Nigerians to march to the National Assembly to demand that the bill be passed for all elected public officers to send their children to Nigerian public schools.
He said that the summit was to discuss and come up with resolutions that will ensure that Nigeria is revamped and taken over from the set of people who have completely ruined this country and are still in the process of ruining it.
The National Youth Service Corps has appealed to the National Assembly for support to establish a national trust fund which will provide capital for serving corps members to begin their businesses.
The organisation said a National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund (NYSCTF) will help to accelerate the growth of the country’s economy as well as drastically reduce agitation, violence and criminal tendencies among the youth.
Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim said this at a symposium on the establishment of NYSCTF in Abuja.
The D-G said the outcome of the symposium will be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
He said: “We have already forwarded a letter to the National Assembly and the communique from this symposium will be sent as well. This symposium will further buttress our zeal of establishing a Trust Fund but we need to let the public know and seek their support on the need to support the NYSC on this initiative.”
According to the D-G, the Trust Fund would support corps members trained under the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED) with start-up capital to establish their businesses.
He said: “We introduced the SAED for corps members so that as they exit the service year, they will have something to take home.
UFC welterweight No.1 title contender Colby Covington says he is confident of beating champion Kamaru Usman in their rematch at UFC 268 at the Madison Square Garden on November 7.
There have been bad blood between both welterweight superstars before and after Usman defeated the American in their first meeting in 2019 via knock-out (punches) for his first title defence.
Covington has maintained that the fight was called too early for the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ also rubbishing reports that his jaw was broken in the fight.
The ‘Chaos’ as he is popularly called says he is confident his hands will be raised in their rematch after he would have beaten the Nigerian to stupor.
He also stated that the fight will serve as revenge for his loss in 2019.
“I think the fans will be in for a treat and I think it’s going to be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC. I am hungrier than ever, I wake up every morning with revenge on my mind and I’m going to serve him the revenge cold next week.
“I’m confident that next weekend, I’m going to get my hands raised and I’m sure there’s no man alive that can stop me.
The UK’s new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, has completed basic sea trials and is ready to undertake its first expedition.
The vessel came up the Thames on Wednesday through the Woolwich Barrier and is now tied up in Greenwich.
It is spending a few days at the home of the Prime Meridian to enable the public to see it, but also to mark the start of the COP26 climate conference.
The Attenborough, named after the TV naturalist and BBC presenter Sir David, is the ship the public wanted to call “Boaty McBoatface” in an online poll but were overruled by ministers.
International senior scientific advisers are using the Attenborough as a platform to issue a statement about the urgent need to address the climate crisis.
They want to see a concerted drive to develop – and use – the technologies that will keep global temperature rise below 1.5C and underpin the net zero economies of tomorrow.
These technologies include better ways of creating, storing and using low-emissions energy – including improving semiconductors, batteries and low-emitting fuel production – as well as work on heating and cooling, and carbon capture and storage.
The UK could respond in turn if France goes ahead with threats amid a row over post-Brexit fishing rights, the environment secretary has said, warning that “two can play at that game”.
France says it could stop British boats from landing if the dispute over licences was not resolved by Tuesday.
George Eustice said the language used by French officials was “inflammatory”.
He said he was raising the issue with the European Commission, while France’s ambassador has been summoned for talks.
A British trawler was seized by France and another fined during checks off Le Havre on Thursday.
French authorities said the detained vessel, the Cornelis Gert Jan, did not have a license. This has been denied by its owner, Macduff Shellfish of Scotland.
The captain of the scallop dredger will face a court hearing in August next year, French authorities said on Friday.
Ministers met on Thursday to discuss the situation and are understood to be considering a “range of options” to retaliate.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
