President Joe Biden issued an executive order Sunday re-establishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, following in the tradition of previous administrations.
Biden signed the order with the stated objective of seeking to “better serve people in need through partnerships with civil society while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments.”
A stated goal of the faith-based office is “to assist in organizing more effective efforts to serve people in need across the country and around the world.” Additionally, the office seeks “to bring concerns, ideas, and policy options to Administration leadership for assisting, strengthening, and replicating partnerships, whether financial or nonfinancial, with faith-based and other community organizations.”
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, the office’s executive director is Melissa Rogers, who previously served in a similar capacity during the Obama administration from 2013 to 2017.
An evangelical Christian and White House senior advisor for public engagement, Josh Dickson, will serve as the office’s deputy director.
Dickson explained that then-Democratic nominee Biden was “developing relationships” with faith communities, including evangelicals.
France’s national cybersecurity agency says it has discovered a hack of several organisations that bore similarities to other attacks by a group linked to Russian intelligence.
The report, entitled “Sandworm Intrusion Set Campaign Targeting Centreon Systems”, was released on Monday and gave technical details about how the hackers gained access to the Centreon servers.
Speaking on Monday it said the hackers had taken advantage of a vulnerability in monitoring software sold by French group Centreon, which lists blue-chip French companies as clients, such as power group EDF, defence group Thales, or oil and gas giant Total.
The French ministry of justice and city authorities such as Bordeaux are also named as Centreon customers on the group’s website.
This long period of time suggested attackers who were “extremely discreet, probably with the aim of stealing information or spying,” Billois said, adding that it would take time to see the full scale of the attack.
US intelligence and law enforcement agencies have said that Russia was probably behind a massive hack recently discovered against US firm SolarWinds, which sells software widely found in government and private sector computers.
The United Nations special envoy has warned Myanmar’s army of “severe consequences” for any harsh response to protesters demonstrating against this month’s coup in a call with the military leadership, a U.N. spokesman said.
Despite the deployment of armoured vehicles and soldiers to some major cities at the weekend, protesters have kept up demonstrations to denounce the Feb. 1 takeover and demand the release of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others.
Protests on Monday were smaller than the hundreds of thousands who had joined earlier demonstrations but broke out in many parts of the Southeast Asian country, where the coup has halted a decade of unsteady transition to democracy.
Small crowds gathered in two places in the main city of Yangon on Tuesday – at a traditional protest site near the main university campus and at the central bank, where protesters hoped to press staff to join a civil disobedience movement.
The army cut off the internet for a second consecutive night early on Tuesday though it was again restored at about 9 a.m. (0230 GMT)
U.N. Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener spoke on Monday to the deputy head of the junta in what has become a rare channel of communication between Myanmar’s army and the outside world.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has appointed Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde as Prime Minister.
Sama Lukonde Kyenge, aged 43, was until Monday the General Director of the state mining company Gécamines (General Quarries and Mines), the country’s mining flagship project, a position to which he was appointed by Tshisekedi in June 2019.
Lukonde was also once a sports minister and a former party member of the ex-Katanga governor and wealthy businessman Moïse Katumbi. He had switched allegiance from Katumbi to Tshisedi led the party in 2018.
Katumbi, who has in turn supported Tshisekedi in recent months, welcomed the appointment of the new Prime Minister, wishing him every success in his duties.
The largest country in sub-Saharan Africa with a turbulent political history, the DRC experienced its first peaceful transition at the top of the state on January 24, 2019, when former President Kabila handed over power to former opponent Felix Tshisekedi, who was declared the winner of the controversial presidential election of December 2018.
Tshisekedi, who took office in January 2019 but has been frustrated by a coalition government with Kabila’s allies, who won parliamentary majorities in the same election.
By controlling a majority in Parliament, President Tshisekedi would be able to nominate a cabinet of his choosing after two years in which Kabila’s allies have dominated the major ministries.
Tshisekedi now hopes to form a new majority in parliament by winning over members of Kabila’s coalition.
Convicted former Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen is set to appeal the February 4 ruling of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which found him guilty of 61 war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Defence lawyer, Krispus Ayena Odongo argued that Ongwen was a victim who was abducted when he was 9 years old and forcibly conscripted along the LRA ranks raising questions about his mental abilities.
Ayena wants to challenge various components of the ruling like for instance, the court did not consider whether he was a prisoner when he was abducted at 9 years old.
The other part of their argument is to conflict with Ongwen’s wife testimony of forced marriage.
Ongwen’s side argues that his wife’s testimony shouldn’t have been used to determine the outcome of the case since it is against the law for an ex-wife to stand against her estranged husband.
The defence also intends to challenge the court to present Ongwen with a translated 1,077-page judgement since he is illiterate and does not understand English. They have requested the document to be translated into Acholi language.
the statement from the council says Ongwen can only fully and meaningfully participate in his appeal with an Acholi translation of the judgment because he is a special needs person with mental disabilities, and requires adequate time and resources to communicate with and instruct his Counsel.
Nigerians are serving at the highest levels on the international scene.
Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday, February 15, 2021.
Her historic appointment is another notch in what has been an illustrious career for the accomplished economist.
The 66-year-old is one of an impressive band of Nigerians who are filling the most prestigious positions across the world.
Below is a list of five of the most impressive:
1. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
When she begins her five-year term as WTO DG on March 1, Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman, and first African to head the international organisation.
She beat eight other highly-rated candidates to the job in a selection process that was delayed by the refusal of the Donald Trump administration to endorse her.
Her appointment to head the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations is her biggest role yet, but not her first dance in the international scene.
She’s had illustrious stints at the World Bank, where she worked her way up to Number 2 position and had a close shave with the top job; served in various capacities at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); and sits on the Boards of Standard Chartered Bank, and Twitter.
She was also the Board Chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) between 2016 and 2020, leading the organisation through one of its most successful years.
2. Akinwumi Adesina
Akinwumi Adesina is currently serving a second five-year term as AfDB President [AFP]AFP
Akinwumi Adesina is another former Nigerian minister making waves on the international scene as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was first elected AfDB President in 2015, becoming the first Nigerian to assume the position.
As with Okonjo-Iweala, he also encountered troubles with the Trump administration which attempted to block his path to a second term by insisting he be investigated on corruption charges after he had already been cleared by an ethics committee.
The 61-year-old was eventually re-elected for a second term of five years in August 2020 after an independent panel of three international experts also cleared him.
Before his AfDB post, Adesina was Vice President of Policy and Partnerships for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
3. Chile Eboe-Osuji
Chile Eboe-Osuji is approaching the end of his first term as President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) [UVic]
Chile Eboe-Osuji was elected President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague in March 2018, six years after he joined as a judge.
The 58-year-old worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as prosecution counsel and senior legal officer to the judges of the tribunal, and later for the Special Court for Sierra Leone as senior prosecution appeals counsel.
Eboe-Osuji was the principal prosecution appeals counsel at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, in the case of Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia accused of war crimes; and was also the Legal Advisor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The ICC President is eligible for a second three-year term when his first term expires in March 2021.
4. Amina Mohammed
Amina Mohammed has enjoyed an illustrious career with the United Nations (UN) [Twitter/@NigeriaGov]
Amina Mohammed resigned from her role as Nigeria’s Minister of Environment to become the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) in 2017, a position she still holds.
She has previously coordinated the Task Force on Gender and Education for the UN Millennium Project, and served on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including as a member of the board of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders.
The 59-year-old was also a key player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, as she served as the Special Adviser to then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Post-2015 development planning.
5. Mohammed Barkindo
OPEC’s Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo [AFP]AFPFoto: AFP/AFP
Mohammed Barkindo has been serving as the Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2016.
The 61-year-old has had numerous engagements with OPEC on Nigeria’s behalf as far back as 1986.
He has in the past also held numerous positions in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), including as Group Managing Director between 2009 and 2010.
The UK Government over the weekend gave its approval for more foreign direct investments in Lagos State, as plans have been concluded for the take-off of the first waste to energy plant in the state.
This is as a firm is expected to invest about $125 million to $150 million to build a waste to energy facility.
This approval was given by the Deputy British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Ben Llewellyn Jones while speaking at Igando Refuse Dumpsite after a guided tour of facilities of the West African ENRG, in the company of some Lagos State officials, led by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello.
What they are saying
Llewellyn Jones in his statement said, “Though some people think about Nigeria and investments and look the other way, we say ‘look this way’. We will help you and it is a real opportunity here as it is being demonstrated today and even opportunities to grow beyond even what is being achieved now, which is so fantastic.
“It is absolutely outstanding what is being achieved using British technology, finance and real great Nigerian drive and expertise to create something special that is really going to grow and grow,’’ the diplomat added.
Jones reiterated that so many issues of climate change, the challenge of pollution, challenge of drainage and of plastics getting into the drains cropped up at the site but are being solved by the West African ENRG waste conversion facility, which is so impressive.\
In his welcome statement, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, said the quest of West African ENRG to move from waste-to-wealth to establishing the first waste-to-energy facility speaks volumes about the conducive business atmosphere in Lagos.
He said West African ENRG came to Lagos in 2014 and had its waste conversion plant unveiled by Governor Fashola in 2015, saying the company now plans to set up a waste-to-energy plant.
Bello said, “There were some intervals of difficulties, that we have now successfully overcome. Now, we have been able to restore all that they started with. They have also improved a lot of things. You must have observed during the inspection today a lot of conversion processes from waste to plastics, rubber, cans and bottles.’’
“Lagos has always been a Mecca of investments. What we just need to do is to make sure that infrastructural developments are accelerated and substantial progress is being made in that regard. We have the roads, water and other infrastructural facilities ready,’’ he said.
On his part, the CEO of West African ENRG, Mr Paul O’Callaghan, while conducting the guests around the facility, said his organisation plans to invest about $125 to $150 million dollars to build a 25 megawatts waste-to-energy facility that would process 2.5 tonnes of waste daily.
O’Callaghan explained, “At the moment, it takes three to four hours in the dry season to tip waste at the open landfill site to the wet season that takes as much as 24 hours depending on the weather. We are committing to under 30 minutes and aiming for 15 minutes turnaround time.’’
He said the new project means the PSP will move from houses to the waste-to-energy facility and within 15mins will be back on the streets collecting wastes, thus creating a better economy for the PSP and a quicker and cleaner Lagos State.
O’Callaghan, also expressed the readiness of his firm to convert the Olusosun dumpsite to a waste-to-energy facility that would be built to British standards in terms of emission control if closed down, adding that it would take approximately 20 months to complete after groundbreaking.
What you should know
The waste to energy projects initiated by the Lagos State Government, is in response to the prevalent power outage in the state, making use of domestic wastes which has long been a huge challenge.
This the state hopes to achieve through a partnership with the private sector in having a cleaner and waste-free environment and increasing the power generation in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub.
The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has said there will be no immediate reopening of the the Lekki Toll Gate Plaza.
According to the Lekki Concession Company, resumption of tolling at the Lekki Tollgate could take “three or even six months” because of the extent of the damage done to the plaza.
Yomi Omomuwasan, the managing director of the LCC, said this on Monday during a press conference in Lagos.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho and the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Gboyega Akosile, were also at the press conference, saying they needed to clear so many misinformation in the public space about the LCC.
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State government to investigate the October 2020 Lekki shooting incident on February 6 approved the reopening of the Lekki Tollgate.
The firm regained possession of the facility following a February 6 ruling of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and the Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 20.
But the panel’s decision was opposed by some youths, about 40 of whom were arrested at the facility on Saturday while demonstrating against it, as part of the #EndSARS Season 2 and #OccupyLekkiTollgate movement.
At the Monday’s press conference, Mr Omomuwasan said the tollgate would not be reopened immediately.
“Our going back into operations will take some time,” he said.
“The assets of Lekki Concession Company before it got burnt were comprehensively insured.”
The manager said the insurance companies need to examine the extent of damage done so as to know insurance claims will be made.
“The assessment of things that are burnt will require a team of engineers from both the LCC and those working with us. What we operate is an electronic tolling system that requires a lot of equipment to be brought together. We need to do this proper and critical assessment and it takes some time,” Mr Omomuwasan said.
The city Lagos will host a competitive men’s senior football match for the first time in 20 years on 30th of March.
The Super Eagles will take on Lesotho in their final 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Teslim Balogun stadium.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials say that the number of fans allowed into the stadium to watch the match depends on the Confederation of African Football’s Covid-19 protocols at the time.
The last competitive game Nigeria played in Lagos was a 1-0 Nations Cup qualifying win over Zambia in January 2001; while 10 years later there was a 2-1 friendly win over Sierra Leone at the Teslim Balogun venue.
March’s game could see Lagos once again becoming a permanent home for the Super Eagles according to sports minister Sunday Dare who is keen to refurbish the dilapidated National Stadium in Lagos.
“This city is excited to host the country’s first competitive fixture in 20 years in a place where the team rarely lose,” says the chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, according to BBC Sport Africa
“Everything is geared towards making Lagos the home base again, because there’s a presence that this place has and demand that the fans have towards the opposition that puts them in fear.
“We want the Nigeria fear factor that this city has to return and put that in the hearts and souls of teams that come here.”
Nigeria’s sports minister Sunday Dare wants to refurbish the dilapidated National Stadium in Lagos
The city is also confident that it can put in all the necessary measures for the game despite the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s an unprecedented time to host the national team but wherever you go there is still the coronavirus, so it will definitely dampen probably the number of people,” NFF vice president and Lagos FA boss Seyi Akinwunmi added.
“Despite the huge logistic problems that comes with these challenging times, Lagos state has proven that it can manage the pandemic more than most states in the country.
“The state has all the capacity, the hotels, state of the art ambulances, hospitals and everything which is an added reason for the country to come to Lagos.
“It’s been a challenging year for the world in terms of football, but the country’s most famous state is delighted to welcome the Eagles back home where they’ve enjoyed a remarkable success.”
The Super Eagles have been playing their internationals around the country since the end of the 20th century when the cash-strapped Nigerian Football Association (now NFF) decided to approach cities interested in hosting international games.
Financial support, usually provided by the governors who host the national team in their states, saw the Eagles move around to Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta State.
The Abuja and Lagos National Stadiums, as well as dozens of others that dot Nigerian cities, have become white elephants furthering emphasising a sad reminder of Nigeria’s poor maintenance culture.
A fundraiser set up by supporters of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, has attracted £42, 401 (N22.4m).
This is just as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State set up a peace committee to address the rising ethnic conflicts in the state.
A blogger, Maureen Badejo, had two weeks ago set up the Gofundme page for the purpose of raising £100,000 (N51.8m) for him to buy buses to implement his project of ridding the South-West of killer herdsmen.
Igboho had issued a seven-day ultimatum to herders in the Ibarapa Area of Oyo State, blaming them for kidnapping, killings, destruction of farmland and insecurity in the state.
After confronting the herders in Ibarapa with some youths in the area at the expiration of the ultimatum, he moved to Ogun State and was received by thousands of youths.
The rising irredentism has led to the loss of lives in Oyo and Ondo States.
On Monday, however, Governor Makinde said it was time for warring parties to sheathe their swords, adding that it would be wrong to punish an entire ethnic group for the sins of a few.
Makinde said, “A whole tribe, ethnic group, profession or gender must not pay for the sins of one individual. It is totally unacceptable for any individual or individuals to take the law into their own hands. This is jungle justice. Oyo State is not a jungle.
“We know that people are angry. People have the right to be angry.
“When the bridge between power and justice is broken, we are bound to witness unrest. But we cannot solve the problem of peaceful co-existence in anger. I appeal to every resident of Oyo State to sheathe their swords.
“People have been wronged. I acknowledge this. Therefore, we are moving ahead with setting up peace and security committees in every zone of Oyo State starting today.”
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![Akinwumi Adesina is currently serving a second five-year term as AfDB President [AFP]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Akinwumi Adesina is currently serving a second five-year term as AfDB President [AFP]AFP
