NCAA axe falls on Azman Air Boeing 737 fleet

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March 16, 2021

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operations of all the Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of Azman Air Services Limited, with effect from March 15, 2021.

Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of NCAA announced the suspension today, following a series of incidents involving Azman Air Boeing 737 aircraft.

The airline has 5 Boeing 737 in its fleet, with the average age of 23 years.Azman also has an Airbus A340, formerly operated by Virgin Atlantic.

It said it would acquire a second A340 to allow it to launch scheduled services to Dubai.
But it appears all the planes have been grounded.

Nuhu said that the suspension was in pursuant to Section 35 (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3 (A) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015.

New terrorist attack in Niger’s Tillabéry region

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Henry Williams

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March 16, 2021

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In Niger, at least 30 people died in a terrorist attack near Banibangou, in the Tillabéry region, in the west of the country. According to security sources, villagers were attacked on Monday.
The armed men allegedly carried out their attack on two axes, two roads which connect Banibangou to Chinagoder on the one hand and to Darey-Dey on the other. The victims are villagers returning from the weekly market in Banibangou, near the border with Mali. It is a large livestock market, important for the economy of the region.

According to sources on the spot, vehicles in which the villagers were traveling were stopped by the armed men who allegedly shot the passengers inside, before setting them on fire.

This is not the first time that this part of Tillabéry has experienced a major murderous attack. In December 2020, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group attacked the Chinagoder military base, killing nearly a hundred soldiers. A year later, civilians – a hundred as well – were massacred in the attack on the villages of Tomabangou and Zaroumdareye.

Nigeria’s Unemployment rate hits 33.3 per cent

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Henry Williams

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March 16, 2021

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Nigeria’s unemployment rate worsened last quarter, rising from 27.1 per cent in the second quarter to 33.3 per cent. This translates to a percentage point increase of 5.2.

On the bright side, the rate of underemployment, people who work less than 40 hours a week, declined from 28.6 per cent to 22.8 per cent during the period.

The report said 23.2 million of 69.7 million Nigerians in the labour market were jobless.

The figures were contained in the Labor Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday.

The document showed: “The number of persons in the labour force (that is, people within ages 15-64, who are able and willing to work) was estimated to be 69,675,468.

Vatican Says It Will Not Bless Same-Sex Unions. ‘God Cant Bless Sin’

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faith Jegede

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March 16, 2021

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The Vatican, in a statement released on Monday has declared that they will not bless same-sex unions as it was a choice and could not be objectively ordered to Gods plans.

This is a stance certain to disappoint the homosexual community an its “friends” who had for some reason hoped that a “faith-based” organisation like the Vatican would approve

The Vatican’s top doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith wrote in their statement that “The blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit. God does not and cannot bless sin,”

The Vatican said that previous statements where it said that “Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.” have been repeatedly taken out of context and did not indicate a change in doctrine.

This statement is said to have been approved by the “reformist” pope much to the disappointment of Catholics who had hoped the institution would modernize its approach to homosexuality but the church’s insists that marriage should be limited to a union between a man and a woman.

In the Vatican’s view, same-sex marriages are not part of God’s plan for families and raising children.

Three dead, 284 hospitalised as strange disease hits Kano

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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March 16, 2021

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Three persons have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of a strange disease suspected to be caused by food poisoning in Kano.

Kano State Ministry of Health confirmed the death of three and hospitalization of more than 284 affected individuals after intake of an expired flavoured powder juice in the state metropolis.

While giving an update, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, confirmed that no fewer than 284 were hospitalised following the outbreak of the strange disease, which broke out five days ago in the Kano metropolis.

According to the commissioner, the expired flavoured juice powder has affected residents in 13 local government areas in 10 days after the index case, a 6-year-old girl died of the foodborne disease.

The Kano health commissioner noted that 183 persons are currently receiving medical care at various health facilities in the state.

Aminu Tsanyawa said the state government had since instituted the execution of proactive measures against the menace through surveillance, sensitization and public enlightenment.

The official said the health ministry officials are currently in a meeting with the commissioner on the issue.

“I’m currently with the commissioner of Health, so, call me later so that I can give you an update and details on the issue,” the director said.

However, a reliable source in the ministry told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that no fewer than 200 affected persons are currently receiving medical attention at various health facilities in the state.

“The ministry has designated about eight facilities for the treatment of the infected persons following the rising number of cases,” the source said.

He said based on statistics gathered, the affected people contracted the strange disease across three local government areas of the state.

He said in an effort to promptly address the challenge, the Ministry for Health taskforce had so far seized items that caused the outbreak of the disease worth over N59 million.

He, however, disclosed that samples of the affected patients had been taken and sent to Abuja for analysis.

According to him, the affected victims are currently receiving medical attention at three health facilities, including Murtala Mohammad Specialist Hospital Kano, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, and Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital among others.

Following the outbreak of the disease, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control had since collected water samples and flavour products for laboratory analysis in its laboratory in Kaduna.

Tensions Spread Amidst Sudan And Ethiopia Border Clashes

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Zoe Maven

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March 16, 2021

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Tensions seem to be spreading over fertile farmland between Sudan and Ethiopia which is said to be fueling regional clashes and sparking concerns of an even wider conflict.

The said border dispute which is over a decade old has to do with Ethiopian farmers cultivating land which Sudan claims is theirs. But the fall out is now stoking more tensions over Ethiopia’s Blue Nile mega-dam, which Sudan and Egypt consider a threat to their water supply.

There has also been a fallout from unrest in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, with tens of thousands of refugees having fled into Sudan.

The agricultural area, Al-Fashaqa which covers some 12,000 square kilometres, is sandwiched between two rivers, where Ethiopia’s northern Amhara and Tigray regions meet Sudan’s eastern Gedaref state.

According to an expert on the region Alex de Waal, a professor at Tufts University in the US, the international boundary runs east of Al-Fashaqa, meaning the land belongs to Sudan, according to colonial-era treaties from 1902 and 1907.

However, over the years, thousands of Ethiopian farmers have entered the region and settled in the area to cultivate land during the rainy season and paying taxes to Ethiopian authorities.

Brazil To Appoint Fourth Health Minister Since Start Of Covid-19 Pandemic

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Zoe Maven

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March 16, 2021

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Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro says he will be appointing a new health minister, Marcelo Queiroga, a cardiologist, who will be replacing army officer General Eduardo Pazuello.

The appointment will be the fourth since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and follows reports of the number of Covid-19-related deaths in Brazil approaches 280,000.

Speaking in an address at the Alvorada presidential palace on Monday, Bolsonaro said the transition process should take one or two weeks adding that his administration would begin a more aggressive phase regarding the fight against the virus.

Outgoing Health Minister, Gen Pazuello who was appointed as health minister in May had earlier told reporters that the president was seeking to replace him to streamline the ministry.

The Health response on Covid-19 has generally been criticised with Gen Pazuello as well as his predecessors being accused of downplaying the gravity of the virus According to local reports Infections have continued to surge, made worse by more contagious variants. In addition to that, Brazil’s health systems are said to be overrun with intensive care units almost at full capacity in 15 state capitals

Hollywood: Viola Davis Makes History, Gets Fourth Oscar Nomination

By

Koko Lawrence

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March 16, 2021

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89th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room — HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actress Viola Davis poses in the press room with the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for 'Fences' at the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan/Getty Images)

Viola Davis just reached a four-midable milestone. She received her fourth Oscar nomination on Monday, setting a record for the most acting nominations for a Black actress, according to Netflix.

Davis, who won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for “Fences” in 2017, was tied with Octavia Spencer, with three nominations, until her name was called for the Best Actress category Monday as the title character in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” That also makes her the first Black woman to earn two Best Actress nominations, said Netflix, which released the screen adaptation of the August Wilson play.

Whoopi Goldberg is the only other female Black actor with multiple nods, winning Best Supporting Actress for “Ghost” in 1991 after a Best Actress nomination for “The Color Purple” in 1986, Entertainment Weekly noted.

Davis has repeatedly called out the racial divide in Hollywood. Her “pay me what I’m worth” plea for equality at a 2018 Women in the World once again went viral last summer.

Both Davis and her late “Ma Rainey’s” co-star Chadwick Boseman will be chasing history in the Best Actress and Best Actor categories.

The last (and only) Black Best Actress winner was Halle Berry for “Monster’s Ball” in 2002. The last for the men was Forest Whitaker for “The Last King of Scotland” in 2007.

Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2021: Nigeria’s comedy star Emanuella Wins Big

By

Koko Lawrence

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March 16, 2021

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Nigeria’s comedy star, Emanuella Samuel, known as Emanuella has won the Nickelodeon Kid Choice Awards 2021 in the ‘Favorite African Social Media Star’ category.

Emanuella emerged winner in the “Favourite African Social Media Star” category at Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards by public voting.

She was nominated alongside Nigerian comedy group, Ikorodu Bois, South African Magician, Wian Van Den Berg; Ugandan Youth Dance Group, Ghetto Kids, Kenyan social media sensation, Elsa Majimbo, and South African media personality, Bonang Matheba.

She showed her appreciation to her fans in a post on Instagram, she wrote:

Congratulations to me as I won the Favourite African Social Media Star category at the Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2021. I am so happy to be a winner, thank you! To all my fans out there, I say thank you. To all those who voted for me, I love you so much, this win would not have been possible without you.

Emanuella Samuel was just five years old and on a family holiday when she partook in a comedy skit that would shoot her to stardom and win her four international awards.

In the skit titled, “My Real Face,” she deformed her face to avoid the wrath of the headmistress and her daughter.

Her catchphrase “This Is Not My Real Face Oh” quickly became a household slang and a source of fascination for the kid whose actions and words defied her age.

Emanuella’s daring yet hilarious actions evoked laughter and curiosity as to who the little girl was.

Alongside Emanuella who won the award is the popular Ikorodu Bois who have succeeded in using everyday items to make a difference.

Using little things, mostly household equipment at their disposal the kids have endeared themselves to the heart of millions across the world.

The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, also known as the KCAs or Kids’ Choice, is an annual American children’s awards ceremony show that is produced by Nickelodeon.

The show honours the year’s biggest television, movie, and music acts as voted by viewers worldwide of Nickelodeon networks.

Winners receive a hollow orange blimp figurine, a logo outline for much of the network’s 1984–2009 era, which also functions as a kaleidoscope.

Maintaining a Clean Environment

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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March 16, 2021

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Having a clean environment, one can say is a necessity of life. No one can deny the benefits of having a clean environment. Whether at home, offices, industry and public places, everybody should get familiar with the healthy environment benefits. Its importance has been more recognized as environment started to get polluted as a result of industrialization in the second half of 20th century.

A clean and healthy environment is essential for conducting business, generating wealth and most importantly for human existence. The components of the clean environment are clean water, air, energy, and land. I bet that one who gets familiar to the importance of having a clean environment will definitely focus on adopting, promoting and maintaining a clean and healthy environment at homes, offices, public places and to say the least, wherever he goes.

There are countless advantages of having a clean environment; a few of them are listed below:

Cleaning gives your mood a boost: A clean environment always makes you feel good especially when you did the cleaning by yourself. I usually feel good, proud and accomplished whenever I spend time to clean my house.

Cleaning helps you stay active: Fitness Experts have often encouraged spending time to do chores, is a way to keep fit and active. So you want to be fit, clean your room.

Cleaning makes the home safer: When you clean your home, you get rid of unwanted stuff, which before might be harmful to your health. We can confidently say A Clean Home is A Safe Home.

Cleaning makes everyone healthier: Like previously mentioned, a clean home is a safe home, thereby creating a healthy environment for people living in such space, as a result; healthy people.

Cleaning leads to better productivity: It is believed working in a dirty environment, might be very uncomfortable causing a dissonance and some cases causing illness and all these will lead to less productivity, but in clean environment, you will hardly experience such thereby having better productivity.

We have talked about the benefits of having a clean environment; here is a quick list of Smart Cleaning Tips

Regularly sort and unclog your space

Keep all items in their designated places

Schedule periodic cleanings

Set and maintain the set standard for cleaning in your home or office space

Therefore, to keep and attain a clean and green clear environment that is dust free, smell free and disease free, we have to exert our contribution. By doing this, we can get reduced pollution, fresh air, a peaceful and healthier environment without any problems. In short, we can get an environment that is human-friendly and that will add value to life by increasing the average life.