Schools That Violate Resumption Rules Will Be Sanctioned- Kaduna Govt.

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August 9, 2021

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Shehu Makarfi in a joint press briefing with the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs on issues related to school resumption in Kaduna said any private school that reopens in the State will be made to face the wrath of the law.

According to him, all private and public schools in the State have been advised to withhold resumption based on security reports.

Schools will remain closed until the Ministry is advised professionally to reopen by security personnel, Makarfi reiterates

His counterpart, Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan explained that the Military, Police and other agencies are still carrying out operations against bandits across the State, hence, making it impossible for the government to reopen schools.

He said citizens can make further inquiries for further clarifications at the Ministry concerning the issue

Israeli Archaeologists Uncover Evidence Of Biblical Earthquake Mentioned In Amos, Zechariah

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Koko Lawrence

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August 9, 2021

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Archaeologists in Israel say they have uncovered physical evidence in Jerusalem of an earthquake referenced in the biblical books of Amos and Zechariah that struck during the divided kingdom and after the reigns of David and Solomon.

Zechariah 14:5, seen by many as a reference to the second coming of Christ, says, “You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.” Amos 1:1 also mentions the earthquake and says Amos saw a vision about Israel “two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.” Uzziah was considered a mostly “good” and godly king of the southern kingdom of Judah, while Jeroboam was a bad king who led the people away from God.

The Israel Antiquities Authority said it had uncovered archaeological evidence of the earthquake, which struck in Israel about 2,800 years ago. Although archaeologists previously discovered evidence of the quake elsewhere in Israel, it is the first time they’ve found evidence of it in Jerusalem itself.

Recent excavations in City of David National Park revealed a “layer of destruction from when the building’s walls collapsed,” including shattered vessels, bowls, lamps, cooking utensils and jars, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on its social media page.

Joe Uziel and Ortal Kalaf, excavation directors for the Israel Antiquities Authority, said the earthquake “was probably one of the strongest and most damaging earthquakes in ancient times,” the Israel Antiquities Authority said.

U.S. Wrestler Helen Maroulis Glorifies God Following Olympic Return

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Koko Lawrence

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August 9, 2021

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Helen Maroulis, the first U.S. female wrestler to take home an Olympic gold medal, won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games after defeating Mongolia’s Khongorzul Boldsaikhan 11-0.

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, Maroulis won the 53-kilogram division, becoming the first woman to win a gold medal for the USA’s women’s wrestling team. She is also a devout Christian who attributes her success to God.

Following Thursday’s victory, Maroulis, 29, posted a picture of herself on social media with the bronze medal as she quoted scripture and thanked her supporters.

“And Jesus said to him “anything is possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23)”, she wrote in the caption. “Never lose faith, never give up.”

Despite not winning the gold this time around, the bronze medal bears special significance to what Maroulis had been through personally. According to Sports Spectrum, Maroulis had two serious concussions, which led to a diagnosis of PTSD. She briefly retired in 2019 but would soon return to the mat.

Maroulis explained that while she was perfectly content with retiring from wrestling, it was God who brought her back.

“I just kind of felt like He revealed to me that if wrestling is where your pain and trauma happened and you run away from it for the rest of your life, you’re not ever going to heal from it,” she noted.

Earning her spot on the Olympic team, however, wasn’t easy. Maroulis faced several challenges, including competing on a torn MCL that was not fully healed. Nevertheless, the wrestler would overcome adversity and make the 2020 Olympic team, a feat she attributes to God.

“I like sharing what God’s done in my life, and I’ll share about the good or the bad because at the end of the day, He’s with you through all of it, and it’s not about winning or losing,” Maroulis said. “It’s about knowing that no matter what, He’s there, and He’s good.”

COAS Visits Falgore Camp, Evaluates Recruitment Exercise

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 9, 2021

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, in continuation of his Operational tour, visited the Nigerian Army Fitness Camp in Falgore Camp, Kano, where potential 81 Regular Recruits Intake into the Nigerian Army (NA) are currently undergoing screening.

The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyeam Nwachukwu, announced this in a statement on Saturday, giving credence to the COAS’ Pillars of Command, which hinge on Professionalism, Readiness, Administration and Cooperation.

Yahaya, while addressing officers and personnel conducting the exercise on 7 August 2021, urged them to carry out their tasks with diligence and professionalism, they should be fair but firm in the conduct of the exercise.

He further assured them of Army Headquarters’ support in providing them with logistics and other infrastructure necessary for the successful conduct of the ongoing recruitment screening.

The COAS took time out to inspect ongoing construction works and the Medical Centre in the training facility and to motivate the potential recruits, the COAS interacted, encourages and commended them for their determination and zeal to serve in the Nigerian Army in defence of their fatherland.

He also stated that the Nigerian Army is working in cooperation with the Kano State Government to improve infrastructure in the Army Fitness Centre and expressed appreciation to the government and people of Kano state for their support.

The visit which served as a huge morale booster to the potential recruits, saw most of them singing and rejoicing as they relished the COAS’ visit.

New ‘Banksy’ Artwork Appears At Great Yarmouth Model Village

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Koko Lawrence

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August 9, 2021

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Another piece of street art possibly created by secretive graffiti artist Banksy has appeared in East Anglia.

A new model of a miniature stable, which appears to have been signed by the artist, was found at Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on Sunday morning.

Banksy-style art also appeared on Friday in Admiralty Road in the town, in Gorleston and in Oulton Broad and Lowestoft in Suffolk.

None has yet been authenticated.

First spotted by a visitor, the new work is a model of a thatched stable depicting a small rodent that appears to be standing on a wooden wheel placed by the building. It is captioned “Go big or go home”.

A post on the attraction’s social media page said “a model we had never seen before was sitting amongst our little cottages” and “looked as though vandals had been decorating it”.

“Upon closer inspection it was adorned with a familiar name to the street art scene….,” the post said.

Owner Frank Newsome told news sources: “It’s not one of our cottages. Someone has brought it in.

“I’m a layman but we’ve Googled it and it does look genuine so we’re now trying to ascertain via the Banksy website whether it is or it isn’t.”

It would not be the first time Banksy has added his own work to an existing attraction.

He has previously visited galleries including Tate Britain, Le Louvre and four of New York’s most prestigious museums, to place his work on their walls while wearing a disguise, and also positioned a doll dressed as a Guantanamo detainee at Disneyland.

It also carries on the theme of rats causing disruption. The animals, a long-time favourite of Banksy’s, were captured messing up his bathroom during lockdown and spreading germs on the London Underground last summer.

Ghana And UAE Reach Visa Free Travel Agreement

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faith Jegede

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August 9, 2021

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The government of the United Arab Emirates have entered into a visa free agreement with the government of Ghana which allow all Ghanaian passport holders to enter the UAE without visas.

The agreement was signed on august 5,2020 after approval by the emirate parliament and following the adoption of a memorandum of understanding, which restricts this agreement to holders of diplomatic and other official passports and whose background and conduct are in line with the public and state security apparatus.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway had presented the MoU to the House on May 26, 2021.

The agreement comprises structured visa regimes for both countries and does not impose obligations to admit people who are considered to be of questionable character.

According to Henley and Partners’ current world’s passport ranking, Nigeria is ranked 101 with 46 access countries, while Ghana ranks 84 with 64 access countries.

Nigerian Army War College Embark on Liberia, Niger Republic Tour

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 9, 2021

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Members of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 5/2021 are currently embarked on a tour to the Republics of Liberia and Niger, the tour intends to afford the participants the opportunity to appreciate the link between geo- strategic mechanisms and Nigeria’s foreign policy posture in the West African subregion and expose them to its environment.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Sunday, said the theme for the 2021 Geo- Strategic Study Tour is: “Border Management and Regional Security Cooperation in West Africa”.

He said the tour which began on Aug. 8 to end 14 August 2021 was an important component of the module on National Security which also constitutes a vital part of the college’s programme for the participants.

The Overall Tour Director, who is also the commandant of the college, Major General Solomon Udounwa has urged the participants to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army and the college during the tour.

He urged them to make utmost use of the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge in regional diplomacy and security, as they are applicable to tackling both intra state and cross border regional security challenges.

Nwachukwu disclosed that Brig.-General IU Akpan, would lead the team to the Republic of Liberia while the Director of Studies, Brig.-Gen. BA Alabi would lead the other team to Niger Republic.

Herbs to Help Fight Anxiety and Depression

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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August 9, 2021

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Depression is a mental health condition that affects more than 17 million adults in the United States alone. However, the actual number is thought to be much higher, as many people with depression don’t seek treatment for various reasons.

In this article we will take a look at some herbs that can help prevent anxiety and depression without any side effects.

Herbs will also help you feel better and stay positive. Dealing with depression or anxiety disorders is not really easy. The healing process can however be slow and it requires lots patience. Herbs will not work overnight like some of the pills do. They take their own time but are very effective.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is popular for its memory enhancement benefits especially in the elderly. But the uses of this herb are not limited to just that. Ginkgo Biloba works wonders for anxiety as well. It works as brilliantly as any medicines would. This herb comes in the shape of a fan and it is said to be one of the best herbs ever for treating or preventing anxiety and depression. You get herbal supplements of Ginkgo Biloba. You can have them for treating or preventing anxiety issues.

Passion flower

One of the most common medicines prescribed for anxiety is benzodiazepine. There was a study conducted using passion flower on people dealing with anxiety and it was seen that it works as good as the tablet, without the side effects. The tablet has side effects like drowsiness and with passion flower there were none. It helps you relax and your mood gets better. It eases you of every symptom related to anxiety and depression. This herb comes in liquid form that is given to patients with anxiety. There are also tablets available and these do not have any side effects.

Peppermint

Peppermint has several medicinal values and benefits. If you want some change in your mood swings and also cognitive skills, try having peppermint leaves. It is one of the best herbs for the same. You either use the leaves or you can also use peppermint oil to treat depression that has been detected at an early stage. Apart from these benefits, it also helps in getting rid of a bad breath and help digestion.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is one of the most popular herbs. Ask your parents or grandparents and we are sure they will agree. Several studies have suggested that Ashwagandha does work effectively in fighting anxiety and depression. It helps to keep your nervous system in balance. It also has anti-ageing properties. This herb has existed since ancient times and its Ayurvedic healing properties make it so popular.

Rosemary

Rosemary belongs to the mint family and comes with a fragrance. The leaves are like needle and it is used as an herbal remedy to treat many ailments including anxiety and depression. It helps in reducing cortisol which is the stress hormone. All you need to do is drink one cup of rosemary tea everyday to help you stay calm and relaxed. It significantly reduces stress levels.

These are the 5 most effective herbs that can be used in treating anxiety and depression. It reduces the stress hormones and helps you feel much better and composed. These herbs can be used only if the depression or anxiety has been detected at an early stage. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before consume anything.

AFRICMIL educates Journalists on whistleblower protection

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 9, 2021

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The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), on Thursday, trained journalists in Lagos on whistleblower protection in Nigeria.

The programme, put together in collaboration with the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), focused on whistle-blowing and whistle-blowers protection in the context of the Nigerian government’s anti-corruption fight.

Speaking at the event, Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, request the Nigerian government to guarantee the protection of whistle-blowers.

Lanre said that unless the government provides a legal framework to protect whistle-blowers, many Nigerians may not support the policy and the anti-corruption fight of the government.

He urged the government to uphold its mandate, by paying whistleblowers the percentage it promised them when they submit tips, to encourage more tip off.

In his welcome speech, Chido Onumah, coordinator, said that the purpose of the training was to promote media and information literacy to enhance democracy, good governance and accountability.

Kolawole Ogunbiyi, the Programme Manager of AFRICMIL, said that the organisation’s whistleblowing project was designed to build public confidence and support for the whistle-blowing policy of the government.

The AFRICMIL coordinator, added that the project was also anchored on sensitising the public on the importance of whistle-blowing toward fighting corruption and checking other forms of wrongdoing in the society.

As a means to ensure the successful implementation of the project, Onumah noted that AFRICMIL has built strategic alliances with relevant stakeholders such as the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit.

“It is in furtherance of deepening this component of activities lined up for this project that this media training is being organised purposely for journalists that we have painstakingly selected from the print and electronic media,” he said.

“AFRICMIL believes that by the nature of its job, journalists are also whistleblowers and so should have as much stake,” he said.

In his presentation, Ridwan Sulaimon, Programme Manager of HEDA, said that whistle-blowing must move beyond the narrative of monetary gain to that of selfless community service for the development of the nation.

Sulaimon called for a comprehensive whistle-blowing policy and the political will to ensure protection of the whistle-blowers.

AFRICMIL works at the intersection of media, research, training and advocacy.

India’s Supreme Court Upholds Antitrust Probe Of Amazon And Flipkart

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faith Jegede

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August 9, 2021

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India’s top court has upheld its decision to continue antitrust probe of the business practices of Amazon.com and Walmart’s Flipkart.

The probe is a setback for the two e-commerce giants who had urged the court to put the proceedings on hold, a petition previously dismissed by the Karnataka high court.

Later, Amazon and Flipkart challenged the high court decision which has now been upheld by the supreme court.

As big e-commerce organisations you should volunteer for antitrust investigation but you are objecting, chief justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana said.

The CCI had last year, ordered an inquiry after allegations from brick-and-mortar retailers that the US firms promoted select sellers on their e-commerce platforms and used their business practices to stifle competition.

The companies continue to deny any wrongdoing and have repeatedly tried to mount legal blockades against the probe.

Amongst the allegations leveled against them are allegations of exclusive launches of mobile phones, promotion of select sellers on their websites and deep discounting practices that drive out competition.

Amazon is facing another CCI (the body in charge of probing anti-competition behavior in India) challenge for concealing facts and making false submissions when seeking approval for a 2019 deal with an Indian company.