The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will launch the Student Loan Scheme on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Recall that on June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023 into law, to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.
The FG had voted N50bn in the 2024 budget for the implementation of its student loan scheme, as contained in the details of the 2024 budget appropriation.
Tinubu gave the assurance that the loan scheme would kick off in January.
“By January 2024, the new student loan programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we are saying no more strikes.
“To address long-standing issues in the education sector, a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education will be implemented, including the Student Loan Scheme scheduled to become operational by January 2024,” he said.
Ngelale while speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday stated that the Scheme which was supposed to be launched in January will finally commence on Thursday.
“Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme,” he said.
Tinubu To Launch Students Loan Scheme March 14 — Presidency is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Catcher Tom Murphy ripped a two-out double to left field that scored Wade Meckler from second base, and the Giants walked off the White Sox, 5-4, in the home half of their spring split-squad games Sunday afternoon.
“Coming through, hitting the ball hard, it’s a win,” said bench coach Ryan Christenson, who served as manager with Bob Melvin on the road in Peoria.
Michael Conforto also recorded hits in all three of his at-bats, raising his spring batting average to .400, and Joey Bart contributed a pair of base knocks and a sacrifice fly that scored the Giants’ first run of the game. Making his first start in the outfield, Austin Slater also drove in a run on a deep sacrifice fly.
Spencer Howard continued to make his case for the fifth spot in the rotation, rebounding from walking three batters in the first inning to complete 2⅔ scoreless innings, and Ryan Walker retired the side in order in his first appearance since being shut down with elbow soreness.
A longtime bench coach of Melvin’s, Christenson is no stranger to split-squad managerial duties. This will be his seventh season with Melvin and their third team together, after stops in Oakland and San Diego.
“We’re very like-minded in a lot of ways. I think that helps our relationship,” Christenson said. “We kind of hit it off right away seven years ago (in Oakland). I understand what he wants from me during the games and prepare accordingly so I can get him quick answers whenever he asks them. It’s been a good working relationship.”
It was Christenson in charge in Scottsdale because Melvin opted to make the trip to Peoria for the Giants’ road game against the Mariners, though the primary objective took place before first pitch, introducing Jung Hoo Lee to his childhood idol, Ichiro Suzuki.
Mariners 8, Giants (SS) 3
A day after he snapped his five-game hitting streak to open spring, Lee got right back to it, lining a single to center field in his final at-bat of the Giants’ loss to Seattle.
Most of the Giants’ offense, however, came on a two-RBI single from Casey Schmitt, driving home Luis Matos and David Villar, whose back-to-back doubles amounted to the Giants’ only extra-base hits. The single was Schmitt’s first hit of the spring in 11 at-bats.
The Mariners did most of their damage against Tommy Romero, a non-roster reliever, who got the start and allowed six runs over 1⅔ innings. After walking consecutive batters to load the bases, Romero served up a grand slam to Jorge Polanco that put Seattle ahead for good.
Jimmy Kimmel is taking a knock at Sen. Katie Britt at the Academy Awards for the Alabama Republican’s much-mocked State of the Union rebuttal.
The late-night TV host took to the stage at the 96th annual Oscars on Sunday with a series of rapid-fire wisecracks mostly aimed at the Hollywood stars in attendance at the Los Angeles ceremony.
But in an otherwise politics-free monologue, Kimmel took a dig at Britt, without mentioning the lawmaker by name.
Speaking about Emma Stone’s Oscar-nominated role in the film, “Poor Things,” Kimmel said that the actor plays “an adult woman with the brain of a child.”
“Like the lady who gave the rebuttal to the State of the Union,” Kimmel quipped, to laughs from the audience.
Britt was widely criticized on social media — and skewered on “Saturday Night Live” with Scarlett Johansson impersonating her — for what detractors dubbed a “melodramatic” rebuttal to President Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday.
Kimmel, a frequent critic of former President Trump, had told CNN ahead of his Oscars hosting gig that he might add a political barb to his monologue “at the last minute” at the awards show, depending on the news cycle.
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Find out how the Clinton family skimmed billions from the third-world country and how the prolonged destabilization will inevitably lead to more mass migration to the U.S.
Chase Geiser breaks down the collapse of Haiti as cannibalistic gangs overrun the embassy, forcing U.S. forces to send reinforcements to quell the rioting and looting. You can be sure hordes of Haitian “newcomers” will be streaming to the U.S. with Joe Biden’s blessing. Tune in!
#InfowarsSNL: U.S. Sends Troops To Haiti as Cannibalistic Gangs Take Over Region — Sunday Night Live
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three Inspectors of Police over the extortion of N30.3m from an Abuja businessman, Omoh Oshoke on January 24.
The police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
The officers: Inspectors Francis Ahuean, Semiu Agbaakin, and Osagie Efford had flagged down Oshoke while riding in a vehicle without a registered plate number.
They allegedly abducted him and drove him around Abuja for hours before the said sum was taken from him.
Although the police had earlier pledged to investigate the matter, the latest development revealed that they are currently undergoing trial.
The statement revealed partly: “In furtherance of our zero tolerance for corruption and extortion, we wish to update the general public on an alleged case of armed robbery, abduction, and extortion carried out by some policemen against one Omoh Oshoke, an Abuja resident.
“The trio identified as Inspectors Francis Ahuean, Semiu Agbaakin, and Osagie Efford, all attached to the FID-STS, have been arrested, investigated and are currently undergoing trial.
“In the same vein, the accomplices including one Elizabeth Amos Busayo, the POS operator and one Thomas Michael, who acted as an informant for the offending police officers, have also been arrested and are currently being investigated alongside the police officers.
“The Police however assure that justice will be served in this case, while we urge our officers to always act and continue to operate within the ambit of the law.”
Police Arrest Three Inspectors For Allegedly Extorting N30.3m From Abuja Businessman is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Protests over over Israel’s war in Gaza snarled traffic around the Academy Awards on Sunday, slowing stars’ arrival at the red carpet and turning the Oscar spotlight toward the ongoing conflict.
Scattered demonstrations were held in the vicinity around the Oscars on Sunday. Los Angeles police, which had expected protests, beefed up their already extensive presence. The Dolby Theatre and the red carpet leading into it are cordoned off for several blocks in every direction.
But protesters carrying signs and chanting for ceasefire disrupted traffic near security checkpoints on Sunset Blvd. Some arrivals were slowed by as much as an hour. Some protesters shouted “Shame!” at those trying to reach the Oscars. Police in helmets and wielding batons declared an unlawful assembly and threatened arrest.
Several attendees, including Billie Eilish and Finneas, best song nominees for “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie,” wore pins for Gaza. Ava DuVernay and Ramy Youssef were also among those wearing pins.
Protesters gather during a demonstration in support of Palestinians calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as the 96th Academy Awards Oscars ceremony is held nearby, Sunday, March 10, 2024, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
The Oscars, kicking off on ABC at 7 p.m. EDT Sunday, are springing forward an hour earlier than usual due to daylight saving time. But aside from the time shift, this year’s show is going for many tried-and-true Academy Awards traditions. Jimmy Kimmel is back as host. Past winners are flocking back as presenters. And a big studio epic is poised for a major awards haul.
“Oppenheimer,” the blockbuster biopic, is widely expected to overpower all competition — including its release-date companion, “Barbie” — at an election-year Oscars that could turn into a coronation for Christopher Nolan.
Still, much is circling around this year’s show. Aside from the Israel-Hamas war, the war in Ukraine will be on some attendees’ minds, particularly those of the journalist filmmakers behind the documentary favorite, “20 Days in Mariupol.”
“Our hearts are in Ukraine,” said Mstyslav Chernov, the Ukrainian filmmaker and AP journalist who directed “20 Days in Mariupol.”
And with the presidential election in full swing, politics could be an unavoidable topic despite an awards season that’s played out largely in a vacuum.
Hollywood also has plenty of its own storm clouds to concern itself with.
(L-R) Billie Eilish, America Ferrera and FINNEAS attend the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
The 2023 movie year was defined by a prolonged strike over the future of an industry that’s reckoning with the onset of streaming, artificial intelligence and shifting moviegoer tastes that have tested even the most bankable brands. The academy, while also widely nominating films like “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things,” embraced both “Oppenheimer,” the lead nominee with 13 nods, and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” the year’s biggest hit with more than $1.4 billion in ticket sales and eight nominations.
HOW TO WATCH
Ahead of the broadcast on ABC, a red carpet preshow will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST. E! will kick off its red-carpet coverage at 4 p.m. EST and arrivals are being streamed on YouTube by The Associated Press.
The show will be available to stream via ABC.com and the ABC app with a cable subscription. You can also watch through services including Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE TELECAST
Five past winners in each acting category will together announce winners for the first time since 2009. Among the many announced presenters are: Zendaya, Al Pacino, Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Yeoh, Steven Spielberg, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong’o, Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage and Bad Bunny.
All of the best original song nominees will be performed, including the most likely winner, “What Was I Made For” from “Barbie,” to be performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. The others are: “I’m Just Ken,” with Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson; “The Fire Inside,” from “Flamin’ Hot,” to be performed by Becky G; Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony”; and “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” from “Killers of the Flower Moon,” to be performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers.
WHO ARE THE FAVORITES?
“Oppenheimer” comes in having won at the producers, directors and actors guilds, making it the clear front-runner for best picture. The film is widely expected to win in a number of other categories, too. Nolan is tipped to win his first best director Oscar, while Robert Downey Jr. (best supporting actor) and Cillian Murphy (best actor) are also predicted to win their first Academy Award. Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”) could challenge Murphy.
With the forecasted “Oppenheimer” romp, the night’s biggest drama is in the best actress category. Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) and Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) are nearly even-odds to win. While an Oscar for Stone, who won for her performance “La La Land,” would be her second statuette, an win for Gladstone would make Academy Awards history. No Native American has ever won a competitive Oscar.
While “Barbie” bested (and helped lift) “Oppenheimer” at the box office, it appears likely it will take a back seat to Nolan’s film at the Oscars. Gerwig was notably overlooked for best director, sparking an outcry that some, even Hillary Clinton, said mimicked the patriarchy parodied in the film.
In supporting actress, Da’Vine Joy Randolph has been a lock all season for her performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.”
WHAT ELSE TO LOOK FOR
Composer John Williams, 92, is expected to attend the ceremony where he’s nominated for the 49th time for best score, for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ” Meanwhile Godzilla is going to the Oscars for the first time, with “Godzilla Minus One” notching a nomination for best visual effects.
Also for the first time, two non-English language films are up for best picture: the German-language Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” and the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall.” “The Zone of Interest” is the heavy favorite to win best international film.
Historically, having big movies in the mix for the Oscars’ top awards has been good for broadcast ratings. The Academy Awards’ largest audience ever came when James Cameron’s “Titanic” swept the 1998 Oscars.
Last year’s ceremony, where a very different best-picture contender in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” triumphed, was watched by 18.7 million people, up 12% from the year prior. ABC and the academy are hoping to continue the upward trend after a nadir in 2021, when 9.85 million watched a pandemic-diminished telecast relocated to Los Angeles’ Union Station.
Democrats prepar to roll out police state ahead of 2024 election as We The People wake up to America’s controlled collapse — tune in NOW!
Alex Jones breaks down how the Deep State is gearing up to spark a civil war in the U.S. as they lose their grip on power ahead of the 2024 election in a last gasp attempt to remain in control. We’ll also cover the latest geopolitical developments in Ukraine and Israel and the unfolding chaos in Haiti. Tune in!
#AlexJonesShow EMERGENCY BROADCAST: Deep State Planning Civil War & Martial Law Ahead Of 2024 Electionhttps://t.co/JSEO4GveBl
The Presidency has refuted claims by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) that President Bola Tinubu signed a padded and discriminatory 2024 budget.
Senator Ningi, in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, alleged the existence of two budgets: a N25tn version passed by the National Assembly and a N28.7tn version currently being implemented by the government.
He further claimed the budget being implemented was biased against the North.
But Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed Ningi’s allegations as false and lacking basis in a statement on Sunday.
“Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25 Trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly. We don’t expect a ranking Senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims,” said Onanuga.
Onanuga clarified that Tinubu originally presented a N27.5 trillion proposal to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023, not N25 trillion as claimed by Ningi.
The National Assembly, he noted, subsequently increased the budget figure to N28.7 trillion in exercise of its appropriation powers before passing it.
“In the spirit of democracy which allows give and take, President Tinubu didn’t withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly. We want to stress that if the budget figure was increased and made to be different from what the Executive proposed, it was the National Assembly that jacked it up in exercise of its power of appropriation.
“On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North, we found such position as canvassed by Senator Ningi as too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status.
“President Tinubu is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. In terms of funding, distribution of capital and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country.
“The North as an integral part of the country is well covered in all areas, from security to agriculture, healthcare to education, and other important infrastructure such as roads, rail, dams, power and irrigation projects to support all year-round agriculture,” the presidential spokesman stated.
Onanuga commended senators who countered Ningi’s “misrepresentation of facts”, calling his claims “primordial antics” fuelling divisive rhetoric in the country.
He stressed that Tinubu would never act unconstitutionally by implementing a budget not approved by the National Assembly.
‘Primordial Antics’ — Presidency Knocks Senator Abdul Ningi Over Claim Tinubu Signed Padded, Anti-North Budget is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
The Oscars 2024 red carpet is underway, and the stars are already dazzling at the 96th annual Academy Awards.
The show starts at 4 p.m. — an hour earlier than usual — on ABC with late-night TV funnyman Jimmy Kimmel returning for a fourth time as host. “Oppenheimer” leads the pack of nominees with 13 nods, including Best Picture. The top award seems pretty much a lock for Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic.
In fact, there seems to be little suspense in several categories tonight, save for Best Actress. Frontrunners Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone turned in universally acclaimed performances in “Poor Things” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” respectively. Both triumphed at the Golden Globes when they were nominated in separate categories for comedy and drama. First-time nominee Gladstone seems to have a slight edge, having triumphed at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. If she wins, she’ll become the first Native American recipient of an acting award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Here are some of the best looks from the Oscars 2024 red carpet so far:
Julianne Hough attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Liza Koshy attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Brittany Snow attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Mamoudou Athie attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)Nazrin Choudhury attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Osage Singers and Dancers attend the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Vanessa Hudgens attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Laverne Cox attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)Osage Singers and Dancers attend the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
Contributing: Amber Garrett, New York Daily News; Randy Myers, Bay Area News Group
Tim Thompson of The Unknown Outlaws performs song lamenting downfall of American way of life, calling for a reawakening of the spirit of 1776.
“Where Did America Go?”, performed by Tim Thompson of The Unknown Outlaws, looks back on the road America has taken under the control of the globalists and Deep State actors who want to bring the United States into the auspices of a feudalistic world government and erode the freedoms enumerated in our Constitution.
Here is a very creative, dramatic, message filled music video for your consideration. The incredible song, lyrics, and images insight a sense of urgency hoping to help increase our country’s self-awareness of what is going on all around us, in our immediate surroundings.
To not let our freedoms slip away from us so easily. Holding on to what the American spirit was meant to be with everything you got! Especially for the sake of the many lives who gave every bit of their American spirit towards defending and preserving it!!!
At the time of this song’s advent, besides hoping to write a hit song, the intention was to hope for positive sociopolitical change. It has been said that the best thing an artist can do for themself is to write songs that are timeless. Timelessness was not a primary concern at the time of this songs construct. But, the fact that it has now practically earned itself the right of being classified as timeless, makes it more important now more than ever!!
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To take to heart what others are suffering, and to see the changes or awakenings begin, starting within our own selves. This is Philip’s and Poobah’s original version of, “Where Did America Go?” Philip and Tim changed the original melody, but these are the original words. This song creation came while Philip and Poobah sat in the living room of Ms. Patty Green, pondering upon the means for this song one 4th of July in 1998.
There are other versions out there, but, in our humble opinion, these original lyrics are the best! Johnny Cash once told Philip that all a songwriter wants is to hear their song sung back to them.
