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We’ll use all tools to counter terrorism in Nigeria – Mike Pompeo

By
Chris Ottah
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The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said his country will use everything at its disposal to counter terrorism in Nigeria and other parts of the world. 

After a virtual meeting on Tuesday, he said progress is being made in the fight against terrorism.

The meeting was attended by the US, Nigeria, members of the Global Coalition to Defeat Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and representatives of West African states.

Popmeo, who took to Twitter on Wednesday, thanked Nigeria for co-hosting the meeting. 

“Great progress was made at yesterday’s virtual Global @Coalition to Defeat ISIS meeting on West Africa. We will use all tools at our disposal to counter ISIS and its affiliates anywhere in the world. My thanks to Nigeria for co-hosting the event,” he wrote. 

Nathan Sales, the newly designated special envoy for the Global Coalition, had at the meeting outlined the Coalition’s increasing focus on defeating ISIS’ global branches and affiliates.  

He also expressed his appreciation to the Nigerian delegation that was led by Yaminu Musa, who serves as coordinator for the counter terrorism centre in Nigeria’s office of the national security adviser (ONSA), for co-hosting the event.

Pompeo’s office in a statement had earlier said as the Global Coalition seeks to apply lessons learned from the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria to other locations, participants reviewed potential lines of effort, including the use of battlefield evidence and border security measures that could be applied in West Africa.

Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) is an affiliate of ISIS. 

ISWAP has continue to wreak havoc in the north-eastern region of the country. 

UN Watchdog Says Iran’s Stockpile Of Low-Enriched Uranium Exceeds Limits Set By Nuclear Deal

By
Zoe Maven
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The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA says Iran continues to increase its stockpile of low-enriched uranium far beyond the limits agreed in a nuclear deal with world powers and to enrich it to a greater purity than allowed.

U.N.’s atomic watchdog agency reported in a confidential document distributed to member countries that Iran as of Nov. 2 had a stockpile of 2,442.9 kilograms of low-enriched uranium, up from 2,105.4 kilograms reported on Aug. 25.

The IAEA reported that Iran has also been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5%, higher than the 3.67% allowed under the deal.

Iran has openly announced all violations of the nuclear deal in advance, which have followed the decision by the U.S. to pull out unilaterally in 2018.

The nuclear deal signed in 2015 with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, allows Iran only to keep a stockpile of 202.8 kilograms.

Since the U.S. withdrawal and imposition of new sanctions, Tehran has been putting pressure on the remaining parties with the violations to come up with new ways to offset the economy-crippling actions by Washington.

Ivory Coast’s Ouattara And Rival Bédié Meet In Crisis Talks

By
Zoe Maven
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Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara and his main rival, Henri Konan Bédié, have met for talks for the first time since the recent election crisis in the country.

Both Ouattara and Bédié, an 86-year-old former president, arrived at an upmarket hotel in Abidjan amid a swarm of reporters, several hours after the much-awaited meeting was announced by the government.

Their talks are the first since Ouattara secured the October 31 election by more than 94 percent amidts a dispute after opposition leaders rejected the vote.

While President Ouattara said It was a first meeting to break the ice and restore trust, Opposition chief Bédié said they have been able to break through the wall of ice and the wall of silence.

The face-to-face between Ouattara and Bedie follows insistence from the UN, EU, former colonial power France and Ivory Coast’s neighbours for efforts to ease the tension.

Ouattara and Bedie have been central figures in Ivorian politics for decades. The two men said further meetings would also take place.

Libya Peace Talks Reach Landmark Agreement To Hold Elections

By
Zoe Maven
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Peace talks in Libya have agreed to hold elections within 18 months in a landmark peacemaking deal that still faces great obstacles..

At news conference in Tunis, where 75 Libyan participants chosen by the United Nations have been meeting since Monday, United Nations acting Libya envoy, Stephanie Williams said the focus is to encourage the momentum.

She said the meeting had reached preliminary agreement on a roadmap to “free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections.

Libya has been in chaos since 2011 and divided since 2014 between rival factions in east and west, with major institutions also split or controlled by armed groups.

The internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) holds power in the capital Tripoli, while Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) holds sway in the east.

On Thursday, a joint military commission is set to hammer out the details of the truce will consider adopting proposals for both sides to withdraw from frontlines.

The talks in Tunis will focus on a new unified transitional government to oversee the run-up to elections.

Former Nigerian boxing champion Ike Ibeabuchi regains freedom after being in and out of prison for 20 years in the US

By
Emenike Agu
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After 20 years in and out of the prison system, Ike Ibeabuchi who was one of the hottest prospects in heavyweight boxing before several run-ins with the law in the United States of America has once again regained freedom.

After being accused of rape, he was initially released and placed under house arrest before another case of alleged sexual assault from eight months earlier at another hotel was opened against him.

He was later sentenced to two to 10 years for battery with intent to commit a crime and another three to 20 years for attempted sexual assault, with the sentences to be served consecutively.about:blank

After serving those sentences, he was released in 2014 from Nevada prison but was arrested again in 2016 and held at the Arizona prison because of an old warrant he claimed he wasn’t aware of.Ike Ibeabuchi first regained freedom in 2014 but got sentenced again in 2016 (Retro Boxing & Documentaries)Twitter

The President as he is fondly called has now been released according to a report by Neusroom who has been following the situation.

Although released, he is however still detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who are still trying to confirm his green card and citizenship status.

Fight career

Ike Ibeabuchi was rising in the heavyweight division before his troubles with the law (The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)Getty Images

Before his trouble with the law, Ibeabuchi had a quick and impressive rise in heavyweight boxing after he settled in Dallas, Texas with his mother Patricia who died of a heart attack in 2014.

Less than two years after arriving in the United States, he made his professional debut in October 1994 and quickly rose through the ranks with 16 straight wins.

He made a big jump and faced David Tua for a WBC International Heavyweight title fight in June 1997.

In the fight against the highly-rated Tua who was tipped to be the next Mike Tyson, Ibeabuchi stunned the boxing world with a win via unanimous 12-round decision. The fight is also well-remembered for the combativeness as both fighters threw punches and neither also took a backward step all night.

Ibeabuchi and Tua set a CompuStat heavyweight division record with 1,730 punches thrown. Ike also set the individual CompuStat record by throwing 975 punches and averaging 81 per round. The heavyweight average is around 50.

He established himself as a top contender for the world heavyweight title with that win but shortly after, the problems started.

With suspicion around his mental health, Ibeabuchi had got into trouble after he abducted the 15-year-old son of his former girlfriend and injured him while overspeeding and got sentenced for three months.

Despite some erratic behaviour he continued to show brilliance in the win after his release before his win against Chris Byrd in March 1999, that was his 20th straight victory. The fight against Byrd was his last before his 1999 arrest.

Amidst his troubles with the law, he was also diagnosed with bi-polar disorder which explained some of his erratic behaviour.

Ibeabuchi however and people around him have maintained that he remains innocent of all the crimes he was sentenced for with several claims that he was a victim of a conspiracy of a boxing cabal and that some powerful forces do not want him in America.

While in prison, the now 47-year-old earned three associate degrees and certificates while he was incarcerated.

Pennsylvania Postal Worker Denies Recanting Claims Of Mail-In Voter Fraud

By
Henry Williams
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A postal service worker in Pennsylvania is disputing House Democrats’ claims that he recanted allegations that his supervisors ordered employees to back-date mail-in voting ballots after Election Day.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said in a statement on Tuesday that Richard Hopkins, a postal worker in Erie, Pa., retracted his story during interviews with investigators from the U.S. Postal Service’s office of the inspector general.

Hopkins claimed in an interview with the conservative group Project Veritas last week that he overheard supervisors discussing backdating mail-in ballots received after the election on Nov. 3 so that they would still be counted in the state’s vote tally.

Videos of interviews with Hopkins have received millions of views and attracted congressional attention. Hopkins also set up an online fundraiser that had generated $130,000 in donations until it was taken offline on Tuesday.

Edo State Politics: Governor Obaseki, deputy to be sworn-in for second term Thursday

By
Itohan Olomu-Agbodo
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Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, will on Thursday be sworn into office for a second term at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the event would be held at the Tennis Court at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, adding that all necessary arrangements for the inauguration ceremony have been concluded.

He said, “The inauguration/swearing-in ceremony of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu will hold on Thursday, November 12 between 11 am and 1pm prompt at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. Due to the prevailing realities of the coronavirus pandemic, we would be having only 750 invited guests at the venue.

“The inauguration is strictly by invitation as crowd control measures have been adopted in line with government’s guidelines to check the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). However, parties are to be held across the 18 local government areas of the state to celebrate the event. Party members are also expected to meet at the ward level to commemorate the event.”

He advised guests expected at the event to adhere to the guidelines regarding crowd control, noting, “Invited guests are expected to congregate at the pick-up spot at Edo Hotel on Okada Avenue, GRA, Benin City. Cars will not be allowed to access the venue of the swearing-in ceremony.”

Osagie also said provision has been made for virtual participation by Edo citizens and other supporters of the governor, adding, “The inauguration will be broadcast live on major television stations and social media platforms. COVID-19 protocols will be strictly adhered to.”

2012 Coup D’état: ECOWAS court orders release of 12 ex-Malian soldiers

By
Itohan Olomu-Agbodo
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The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the immediate release of 12 former soldiers belonging to the National Committee for the Recovery of Democracy and the Restoration of the State of Mali linked to the 2012 coup d’état in the Republic of Mali.

A statement by the court’s press unit on Wednesday stated that the court also ordered the payment of 20 million CFA francs to each of the 12 soldiers as compensation for the violation of the fundamental human rights by the Malian government.

Judge rapporteur Gberi-Be Ouattara, who was said to have delivered the judgment on Tuesday, held that the respondent, the Republic of Mali, was liable for violating the rights of Captain Issa Tangara, and 11 others including General Amadou Sanogo.

The court was said to have specifically held that their right to fair trial, be tried within reasonable time, presumption of innocence, liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention, were violated by the Malian government.

It also ordered the government to stop the violations and submit a report on the implementation/execution of the judgment to the court within six months.

The court equally ordered the Republic of Mali to bear all costs.

However, the court rejected the applicants’ claim for the violation of their right to human dignity and held that the claim was unfounded.

The applicants’ lawyers, Issa Coulibaly and Mariam Diawara, had in the suit marked, ECW/CCJ/CCJ/20/19 and filed on May 3, 2019, claimed that the applicants were victims of rights violations.

They sued the Malian government for 500 million CFA francs as individual damages for the prejudice suffered.

Bukayo Saka still thrilled by England call-up

By
Henry Williams
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Arsenal winger, Bukayo Saka, has said he’s surprised himself as he settles into the England squad this week.

Saka’s development has been rapid, having broken into the Arsenal side last year and he admits his quick progression to a fully-fledged England international has even caught him out.

“Yes, 100 percent,” he replied when asked if he was surprised by his speedy rise.

“I didn’t believe it would happen this quickly but I am here and I can only control what is in front of me and just do my best to stay here because obviously, this is where I want to be and where I have been working to be.

“All the boys have been so good with me.

“From the first minute I came in Harry Kane put his arm around me, spoke to me and asked me how I was and stuff like that – for him to do stuff like that helped me settle in much quicker and made me feel comfortable to be myself around everyone.”

World’s ‘Best Teacher’ Peter Tabichi Bags Another Prestigious Global Award

By
Henry Williams
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Peter Tabichi, the Nakuru based teacher who won the Global Teacher Prize last year, has bagged yet another international award.

Tabichi, 37, has been conferred the 2020 Ahimsa Award by the Trustees of the Institute of Jainology in London.

The Institute of Jainlology (IOJ) represents 32 UK-based Jain organisations in government and inter-religious affairs and this year’s award was announced at the 18th Jain All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Ahimsa Day meeting last month.

He was chosen for this year’s honour for his work in dramatically improving attendance at his school, reducing levels of local violence and even teaching local communities how to grow crops that can resist famine hence improving food security.

The Ahimsa Award is an annual award given by IOJ in recognition of individuals who embody and promote the principles of Ahmisa which roots for non-violence.

Tabichi made history last year when he became the first teacher from Africa to win the prestigious Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.

The Mathematics and Science teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru County was named the winner of the Sh100 million ($1 million) award during a ceremony held in Dubai.

Tabichi, who beat nine other finalists who were selected from a list of 10,000 applicants for the global award, donates 80 per cent of his monthly salary to help poor students.

Besides inspiring his students to succeed with few resources and equipment, Tabichi, a Catholic Franciscan Brother who teaches chemistry and mathematics, was recognised for giving away 80 per cent of his monthly salary to help the poor.

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