Ministry of Health Issues Ultimatum to Illegal Maternity Homes in Cross River State

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July 11, 2021

The Ministry of Health has issued a 14-day ultimatum to operators of Maternity homes and Orphanages in Cross River State, to register and acquire the operational license or risk closure.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu gave the directive in Calabar sequel to the national directive for States ministries of health to checkmate the activities of illegal operators of Maternity homes and Orphanages across the country.

Dr. Edu said that the essence of the directive was to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rates across the country as well as check child trafficking and the menace of abandoned children especially street kids.

The Commissioner further stated that the registration of maternity homes including orphanages would enable the government give proper supervision and monitor the activities of those involved.

According to her, “getting Maternity homes and Orphanages registered would enable us keep track of those in the industry… First of all, we will be able to gather the correct data on the number of maternity homes including the ones run by some religious bodies.

“It is sad that the operators of Maternity homes and orphanages have seen these as avenues to make money. Most people want to own a maternity home and an orphanage not for the purpose of these facilities. They have deviated from that purpose and are only interested in making profit at the expense of the lives and comfort of these children and the vulnerable,” Edu lamented.

She further stated, “As government, we will not risk or jeopardise the life of any child in the name of business. Therefore, anyone operating any of these two facilities in Cross River State must, within a space of two weeks, which is 14 days, get registered.

“Once they are registered, the Ministry of Health has a special task force that would inspect these homes to ensure they meet the required standard because we know that most traditional birth attendants do not necessarily own topnotch facilities, but we will inspect hygiene levels as well and once satisfied, we will issue licenses. Any home found operating without registering or acquiring a license would be closed down. The operators would be arrested and prosecuted.”

The Commissioner reiterated that the Cross River State government would not tolerate child trafficking nor allow unscrupulous people take advantage of innocent citizens’ especially pregnant women and children.

Edu said; ”The administration of Governor Ben Ayade has zero tolerance for child trafficking and as such, vowed to combat and put to an end to illegal practices detrimental to the healthy and peaceful living of every citizen.

Kate Middleton Attends Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final After Self-isolation

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Angel Gimalo

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July 10, 2021

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Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton has attended the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday after her self-isolation.

Her husband joined her five days after Kensington Palace announced she was isolating due to being in close contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19.

After the match, Kate presented the trophies to winner Ash Barty of Australia and Czech finalist Karolina Pliskova.

Although the Duchess is expected to attend the men’s singles final on Sunday, Prince William won’t be present in the royal box due to the potential conflict between Wimbledon and the Euro 2020 football final between England and Italy.

Also present in the royal box on Saturday, was Emma Raducanu, the 18-year-old British tennis sensation who retired during her last 16 matches against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic after suffering difficulty breathing.

On Monday, Raducanu retired in the second set of her last 16 ties against the Australian on Court One.

Seated near the royal couple were the Duke of Kent, who is stepping down as president of the All England Club this year, as well as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Celebrities present include, Tom Cruise and his Mission: Impossible 7 co-stars Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff were also seen during the women’s final.

World number one Barty defeated Pliskova 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 to win the 2021 Wimbledon singles title.

The 25-year-old became the first Australian woman to lift the trophy at Wimbledon in over 40 years.

The Duchess of Cambridge is well known to be a keen tennis fan.

The Duchess since her marriage to Prince William in 2011 has regularly attended the Wimbledon championships.

Today In History – July 10

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 10, 2021

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1778 American Revolution: Louis XVI of France declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain

1940 Battle of Britain begins as Nazi forces attack shipping convoys in the English Channel

1985 French foreign intelligence agents blow up the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbor, New Zealand to prevent it interfering with French nuclear tests in the South Pacific. Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira is killed.

1991 Boris Yeltsin sworn in as 1st elected President of the Russian Federation

2012 The American Episcopal Church becomes the first to approve a rite for blessing gay marriages

Today in Film & TV
1950 “Your Hit Parade” premieres on NBC (later CBS) TV (broadcast on radio from 1935)

Today in Music
2018 Drake surpasses The Beatles record of most singles in Billboard Hot One 100 with seven against their five from his album “Scorpion”

Today in Sport
1971 100th British Open Men’s Golf, Royal Birkdale: Lee Trevino wins the first of his consecutive Open Championships, a stroke ahead of Lu Liang-Huan of Taiwan

Would you believe this fact about today? Would You Believe?
World’s official highest recorded temperature at Greenland Ranch, Death Valley, California at 134 °F (56.7 °C)

Wounded Wife Of Assassinated Haitian Leader Speaks Out

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Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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The widow of assassinated Haitian leader Jovenel Moise, who was critically wounded in the attack that claimed his life, has issued her first public remarks since the assault, calling on the nation not to “lose its way.”

Speaking in an audio message posted on her official Twitter account three days after her husband was shot dead in their home Martine Moise said,” I am alive, thanks to God.”

“I am alive but I have lost my husband Jovenel,” she added.

Martine Moise was rushed to a Haitian hospital after the attack in the early hours of Wednesday, before being evacuated to Miami for treatment.

According to Haitian authorities, an armed commando of 28 men — 26 Colombians and two Haitian-Americans — burst in and opened fire on the couple in their home.

So far, 17 have been arrested, and at least three were killed. A handful remain at large, police say. No motive has been made public.

In her audio message Martine Moise said “In the blink of an eye, the mercenaries entered my home and riddled my husband with bullets … without even giving him a chance to say a word,”.

“I am crying, it is true, but we cannot let the country lose its way,” she said. “We cannot let his blood… have been spilled in vain.”

She promised to engage in a direct exchange with Haitians on Facebook “in the near future.”

Amid deep uncertainty over its political future, the international community has called on the impoverished Caribbean country to go ahead with the presidential and legislative elections slated for later this year.

China Adds Foreign IPO Rules For Various Firms

By

Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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China has proposed new rules that would require almost all companies seeking to list in foreign countries to undergo a cybersecurity review. This move will tighten oversight over its internet giants.

According to a statement, China has revised the Cyber Security Review Measures in conjunction with relevant departments, and now solicits public opinions from the public.

It said this is in accordance with the “National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Network Security Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Data Security Law of the People’s Republic of China” and other laws and regulations.

The report is being considered as one of the most concrete steps taken yet to restrain the ability of technology firms to raise capital in the US.

This will be done through a so-called Variable Interest Entity model that the likes of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to Baidu Inc. and Didi Global Inc. have adopted.

Regulators are also considering requiring VIEs like Alibaba that have already gone public to seek approval for additional share offerings.

Feng Chucheng, a partner at research firm Plenum in Beijing, was quoted by Bloomberg saying, “These rules will push more Chinese internet firms to list in Hong Kong instead of in another country, to bypass such a review”.

He added, “The one million-user threshold is very low and would basically apply to every internet company aspiring for an IPO”.

Biden Warns Putin On Ransomware Attack From Russia

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Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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US President Joe Biden has warned Russia of consequences for the ransomware attacks emanating from the country, underscoring the need for Moscow to take action against groups engaged in the crime.

Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday about the ongoing ransomware attacks by criminals based in Russia that have impacted the US and other countries around the world, the White House said in a readout of the call.

He said he made it very clear to Putin that the United States expects, when a ransomware operation is coming from his soil, even though it’s not sponsored by the state, they are expected to act if we give them enough information to act on who that is.

He added they have also set up a means of communications, on a regular basis, to be able to communicate to one another when each of us when the other thinks something is happening in another country that affects the home country.

During the call, the White House said, Biden underscored the need for Russia to take action to disrupt ransomware groups operating in Russia and emphasised that he is committed to continued engagement on the broader threat posed by ransomware.

During the call, Biden reiterated that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure in the face of this continuing challenge.

The President has also called on governments and agencies to modernise their defences to meet this threat, building on the President’s executive order on cybersecurity that was released in May.

Chinese Citizens Evacuated From Afghanistan Amid US Troops Withdrawal

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Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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Amidst the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, China has evacuated 210 of its nationals citing safety concerns.

On Thursday, Xiamen Airlines in a social media post said that Chinese nationals stranded in Afghanistan were flown to Wuhan, Hubei Province, by a flight from Kabul on July 2.

It was later confirmed that despite “top-notch” epidemic prevention measures among them were 22 people infected with the coronavirus.

Chinese officials confirmed recent returnees had been infected with coronavirus but did not reveal particulars of the evacuation flight.

Calling for all Chinese nationals to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible, the Chinese consular affairs department offered them assistance in a social media post.

Chinese state media tabloid Global Times reported that the flight had been organised by the government. Throughout China, social media users celebrated the rescue mission as a national victory, with related hashtags receiving more than 300 million views on Weibo.

With US President Joe Biden’s vow to complete troop withdrawal by August 31, fears have been growing.

After two decades of bloody conflict in Afghanistan, since the start of troop withdrawal Taliban has taken control of around 85 per cent of the territories, which has given rise to the Afghan government’s declining control over provincial capitals.

Washington’s quick and chaotic withdrawal has been harshly criticized by Beijing in recent weeks.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a routine briefing that the US while disregarding its responsibilities and duties is withdrawing troops quickly from Afghanistan, dumping the resulting chaos on locals and neighbouring counties.

Spanish Appoints New Foreign Minister In Cabinet Reshuffle

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Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appointed a new foreign minister but retained his economy minister in a cabinet reshuffle on Saturday.

Jose Manuel Albares was named foreign minister, while Isabel Rodriguez will become the new government spokesperson and territories minister. Nadia Calvino kept the economy portfolio.

The five members of Unidas Podemos, a minority partner in the Socialist-led coalition government, remain the same.

Albares, the current ambassador in Paris, takes over from Arancha Gonzalez Laya, who was widely criticised for her handling of a crisis with Morocco after agreeing for Western Sahara independence leader Brahim Ghali to be treated in an Spanish hospital.

Sanchez said the main task of this cabinet will be to consolidate the economic recovery and job creation.

Another important departure is Sanchez’s chief of staff, Ivan Redondo, considered the prime minister’s right-hand man and responsible for his electoral successes. He will be replaced by Oscar Lopez, a member of the Socialist Party.

The five members of Unidas Podemos, a minority partner in the coalition government, retain their positions.

The average age of the new team is 50-years-old, and the proportion of women increased to 63%.

Sanchez took office in January 2020 after months of political instability that led to Spain’s fourth election in four years.

At Least 9 Killed In Mogadishu Suicide Car Bombing

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Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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At least nine people were killed and nine wounded Saturday in a suicide car bombing targeting a government convoy near two major hospitals in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

The blast reportedly occurred near a busy intersection between Banadir and Madina hospitals.

Security officials said a man driving an explosives-laden luxury car targeted a government convoy carrying a senior police official, Col. Farhan Qarole, who survived the attack.

A Somali police spokesperson said Col. Qarole was the primary target of the attack.

An eyewitness, Hussein Jim’ale, driver of a three-wheeled motorized taxi, told reporters at the scene that a deafening, huge blast sent plumes of smoke into the sky and destroyed business buildings including restaurants.

Health officials say Somali wounded people were rushed to the two nearby hospitals and that the death toll could rise.

It was the second terrorist attack in the city this month. One week ago, an al-Shabab suicide attack on a crowded tea shop near the Somali Intelligence Agency killed 10 people and wounded dozens.

However, Al Shabab militants who want to overthrow the government and impose their strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law have claimed responsibility for all of the attacks.

At least 15 people were killed and more than 20 wounded last month when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in front of a government training center in Mogadishu.

Iranian Exiles Protest, Demand Prosecution Of President-Elect

By

Zoe Maven

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July 10, 2021

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Supporters of Iran’s exiled opposition rallied in Berlin and elsewhere on Saturday to demand the prosecution of the Islamic Republic’s newly elected president, Ebrahim Raisi, whom they accuse of crimes against humanity.

In a keynote address, Maryam Rajavi, president elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, accused Raisi of being the “henchman” responsible for the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988.

Flag-waving demonstrators rallied at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and other locations as part of a Free Iran World Summit that featured speeches by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said Raisi’s election was a blow for human rights and called for him to be investigated over his role in what have been deemed the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners.

Iran has never acknowledged the mass executions and Raisi has never publicly addressed allegations about his role.

Some clerics have said the trials were fair, praising the “eliminating” of armed opposition in the early years of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Pompeo denounced Raisi as a leader who had been hand-picked by Iran’s supreme leader, leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to “inflict pain, frighten, continue to loot, and to plunder” on behalf of the theocracy.

In an online address, Pompeo described the Iranian presidential election as a boycott and that the regime knows it.