Paradise News

Tag: World

  • UAE vows to support Nigeria in poverty, humanitarian crisis reduction

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed readiness to partner with the federal government to tackle Nigeria’s humanitarian and poverty challenges.

    Salem Al Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, made this known on Friday when he visited the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in Abuja.

    The envoy said he was at the ministry to seek partnership to participate in Nigeria’s humanitarian efforts.

    He commended the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and the emirates and promised to continue collaborating to alleviate Nigerians’ plight.

    “Nigeria remain a strong ally of the UAE, and we would continue to partner with Nigeria in key areas like humanitarian aid, job creation, Nutrition, health care development and poverty alleviation,” he said.

    Earlier, the minister expressed gratitude to the government and people of the UAE for their timely interventions in critical sectors of need in Nigeria.

    Ms Edu said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to eradicate poverty under its eight-point agenda.

    In the last 25 years, the exports of the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria have increased at an annualised rate of 21.7 per cent from $10.1 million in 1996 to $1.36 billion in 2021.

    In 2021, Nigeria exported $276 million to the UAE. 

    (NAN)

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  • NHL bans use of LGBTQ Pride Tape on the ice

    The National Hockey League (NHL) recently announced additional changes to its theme night initiatives, banning the use of pride-themed stick tape on the ice.

    According to Fox News, the decision restricts teams from wearing specialty jerseys on themed nights and further prohibits the use of rainbow-colored stick tape on the ice. The NHL’s decision to ban pride-themed jerseys and stick tape has ignited controversy.

    According to a recent confirmation by Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly to The Associated Press, the league set out an updated memo to its 32 teams last week. The memo outlined the guidelines players will be required to follow for themed nights.

    The memo explicitly banned the use of “Pride Tape” for sticks and reiterated the ban on special theme night jerseys, encompassing occasions like “Pride,” “Hockey Fights Cancer,” and military appreciation celebrations.

    An ESPN report first brought attention to the new memo. An unnamed league source revealed that the NHL memo emphasized the idea that “players should be encouraged to express themselves off the ice.”

    READ MORE: NHL manager suffers sudden cardiac arrest, ‘catastrophic brain injury’

    Reacting to the NHL changes, Pride Tape, the company behind the colorful athletic tape, released a statement on social media Tuesday.

    “The Pride Tape team is extremely disappointed by the NHL’s decision to eliminate Pride Tape from any league on-ice activities. The league has used language in recent days which would prohibit the tape from any proximity to NHL Hockey,” the company said. “We hope the league — and teams — will again show commitment to this important symbol of combating homophobia. Many of the players themselves have been exceptional advocates for the tape.”

    Additionally, the You Can Play Project, an organization that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports and has partnered with the NHL for about ten years, tweeted a statement in response to the league’s decision. The organization criticized the league’s new stance, lamenting what it described as the NHL “stepping back” from promoting inclusivity.

    “We are now at a point where all the progress made, and relationships established with our community, is in jeopardy,” You Can Play Project stated. “Making decisions to eradicate our visibility in hockey — by eliminating symbols like jerseys and now Pride Tape — immediately stunts the impact of bringing in more diverse fans and players into the sport.”

    In June, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet, that the league had decided to no longer allow themed jerseys to be worn on the ice in an effort to remain focused on the game of hockey.

    “That’s just become more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are,” Bettman stated. “We’re keeping the focus on the game. And on these specialty nights, we’re going to be focused on the cause.”

    This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.



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  • Abia Communities Donate New Customary Court Complex Built By Unubiko Foundation To State Judiciary

    The Abam Onyerubi Development Union, an association of villages in Abam, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, on Friday officially handed over the multi-million naira Customary Court Complex built and donated by Chief Chijioke James Ume, the Chief Executive Officer, Unubiko foundation to the President of the Abia State Customary Appeal Court ,His Lordship, Justice Iyke Nwamoh.

    In his speech, Justice Nwamoh eulogized Chief Ume for building the magnificent Customary Court complex and stated that though communities have been donating buildings to the government for Customary Court operations, this edifice stand out.

    Nwamoh who apologized for not making it to Abam during the first handover by Chief Ume last December, promised to personally pay him a courtesy visit to appreciate him for his magnanimity to the Judiciary.

    The Justice further revealed that the court was temporarily moved to Ozu Abam magistrate Court because of the structural defects.

    He added that since the people of Abam have reconstructed the court, it has become imperative to relocate it back to it’s original position.

    He called for the deployment of more security personnel in the area to avoid situation where the court premises would be taken over by hoodlums.

    The Justice therefore, appealed to Hon Uchenna Okoro Kalu , the member representing Arocukwu State Constituency who is also from Abam community to help provide security for the court and replace the damaged sumo for the supply of portable water to the Court and the host community.

    He also pleaded with him to provide generating set to power the sumo to enable the judiciary workers discharge their duties effectively.

    Justice Nwamoh also pleaded for a steel file cabinet for the security of the court files and documents.

    Responding, Chief Herbert Okpi who represented HRH Eze Prof Sunday K. Okpi, thanked Justice Nwamoh and his team for honoring the invitation of the people of Abam.

    Chief Okpi said that the community cannot stop appreciating Chief Ume who singlehandedly built the court and other numerous projects he has done for the people.

    Speaking earlier, the Majority Leader of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Okoro Uchenna Kalu, thanked Justice Agomoh for living up to his words and advise the judiciary workers to dispense justice in the court without fear or favour.

    He promised the President of the readiness of the people of the community to do all within their powers to assist in ensuring a good working atmosphere of the judiciary workers.

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  • Pain, power and Greed take centre stage in Slum King, Masquerade of Aniedo on Africa Magic Showcase on GOtv Supa +

    Get ready to dive into a world of drama, power, and greed as Africa Magic celebrates its 20th anniversary with an exciting lineup of entertainment. From the treacherous realm of crime and redemption in Slum King to the captivating tales of love, rivalry, and justice in Masquerade of Aniedo, our screens are about to be filled with non-stop excitement.

     

    To commemorate this milestone, Africa Magic proudly introduced an open window for Africa Magic Showcase to the GOtv Supa + package, delivering a plethora of entertainment straight to your screens. So, stay tuned as these captivating series take centre stage on Africa Magic Showcase.

     

    Pain, power and Greed take centre stage in Slum King, Masquerade of Aniedo on Africa Magic Showcase on GOtv Supa +

     

     

    Slum King: This series delves into the life of Edafe, also known as “Maje Esu” Umukoro, a man haunted by the traumas of his past and desperately yearning for redemption. However, his quest for a fresh start takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with a merciless drug cartel network.

     

    Against his will, Edafe gets pulled into a dangerous world of drugs, violence, and crime. As he becomes more involved in this ruthless realm, Edafe must find a way to survive the criminal underworld while dealing with his own personal struggles. Showing 8pm every Sunday. 

     

    Chronicles: In this gripping story, four girls embark on a daring heist targeting Chief Odenigbo, a powerful Nigerian Minister. Their plan is to use a choir rehearsal’s noise to mask the alarm in his house, but when things go awry, they find themselves trapped in a church. 

    As the series unfolds, secrets are unveiled, bonds are tested, and the fate of these four girls become increasingly entwined with Chief Odenigbo’s world. Showing Fridays by 8:30pm. 

     

     

    Pain, power and Greed take centre stage in Slum King, Masquerade of Aniedo on Africa Magic Showcase on GOtv Supa +

     

    Masquerade of Aniedo: In a Nigerian town filled with tradition and ambition, Munachimso Nwokoye finds himself caught in a web of mysteries and complications. After being publicly disgraced while asking for the hand of his love in marriage, he vows to become the revered Masquerade, an ambition that unwittingly turns the town on its head, from a peaceful to a chaotic community. 

    With ambition blinding him, Muna’s journey becomes a rollercoaster of twists and turns, where the pursuit of status and justice collide in unexpected ways. Tune in Mondays to Fridays by 8pm. 

     

    Refuge:  This is an intense thriller series where cultural traditions collide with personal desires. Watch as a murder case traps a diverse group of individuals overnight in a hotel. As they navigate hidden secrets, personal vendettas, and the weight of tradition, tension rises, conflicts escalate, and the night becomes a crucible of gripping drama and life-or-death decisions. Showing 8: 30 pm Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

     

     

    Pain, power and Greed take centre stage in Slum King, Masquerade of Aniedo on Africa Magic Showcase on GOtv Supa +

     

     

    Love and Light: The show delves into the dramatic and chaotic lives of ordinary individuals who choose the Love and Light Resort to celebrate events in their lives. Be it weddings, birthdays, retirement parties, or other special occasions, these gatherings rarely go as expected.

     

    With each season, a fresh narrative introduces a new group of guests and their weekend celebrations at the resort, promising engaging stories of love, chaos, and unexpected twists. Showing Monday & Tuesdays by 8:30pm. 

     

     

    Pain, power and Greed take centre stage in Slum King, Masquerade of Aniedo on Africa Magic Showcase on GOtv Supa +

     

     

    Catch all these and more original series on Africa Magic Showcase, showing on GOtv Supa+ this October. Upgrade to GOtv Supa+ to access these and more fantastic lineup of entertainment options. Simply download the MyGOtv App or dial *288# to upgrade, reconnect, or stay connected to GOtv.

     

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  • INEC to conduct mock accreditation Saturday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated Saturday for mock accreditation of voters in preparation for the November 11 governorship election in the state.

    The INEC national chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this at the Kogi INEC Headquarters in Lokoja during the official publication of the voters’ register to the 18 participating political parties in the upcoming governorship election.

    Mr Yakubu, represented by a national commissioner, Sani Adam (SAN), said the exercise would take place in only nine polling units, three each from the state’s three senatorial districts.

    The chairman announced that a similar exercise would simultaneously take place in Bayelsa and Imo states, where governorship election will also be held on November 11.

    The INEC boss called on voters in the selected polling units to come out en masse to participate in the exercise, which he described as a litmus test to the real election.

    He said the commission was well prepared for the governorship poll. He appealed to politicians and the electorate to abide by the rules of the game for a peaceful, credible and successful conduct of the election.

    Mr Yakubu said the total number of registered voters in Kogi for the election is 1,932,654.

    “A copy of the register of voters in PDF will be issued to all the political parties contesting the election.

    “The commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in all the 3,508 polling units in Kogi for the election.

    “Already, we have trained technical support staff that will be deployed to all the Registration Areas (RAs) and the local Governments to provide technical support for BVAS,” he said.

    Responding, the state IPAC chairman, Ukwenge Musa, commended INEC for its preparations and readiness for the governorship election.

    (NAN)

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  • Many People Trapped In Lagos In Inferno Involving Two Fuel Tankers, Eight Other Vehicles

    Image Credit: x @LagosRescue

    Several residents of Lagos State were trapped in multiple tanker accidents on Thursday night involving no fewer than 10 vehicles.

    Upon arrival at the incident scene at SIFAX inward Costain, a pile up of vehicles including two petrol tankers was found to be ablaze, according to emergency authorities.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said, “Further investigations revealed that one of the tankers was ascending the bridge when it rolled back onto the other tanker and other vehicles. The collision impact resulted in the fire.”

    He stated that the number of people trapped in the inferno could not be ascertained but preliminary assessments revealed that the multiple accidents involved three container laden trucks, two tankers laden with unknown but highly inflammable contents; one tipper truck laden with gravel; one flat-bed truck and three cars.

    He noted that a total of four fire trucks are on ground alongside the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Nigerian police.

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  • Israel dismisses claim on use of white phosphorus in Gaza

    The Israeli military has dismissed a claim on the use of white phosphorus in Gaza this week.

    The Human Rights Watch (HRW) said late on Thursday that it had verified Israel’s use of white phosphorus munitions through interviews and videos showing that the chemical substance was fired on two locations along the Israel-Lebanon border and over the Gaza City port.

    White phosphorus is a wax-like, toxic substance that burns at more than 800 degrees Celsius (nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit) – high enough to melt metal.

    Its ability to ignite fast-spreading fires and create thick smoke over wide areas has made white phosphorus a substance of choice for militaries to create smokescreens. The smoke tends to last for seven minutes

    White phosphorus munitions are difficult to extinguish and continue to flare until the phosphorous has been burned up or is no longer exposed to oxygen.

    READ ALSO:

    It can be deployed through artillery shells, bombs, rockets, or grenades.

    However, in a statement issued on Friday, the Israeli military described the claim as an outright falsehood.

    The Israel and Hamas conflict entered its sixth day on Friday with 1, 537 Palestinians – including 500 children and 276 women killed in airstrikes.

    “The current accusation made against the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) regarding the use of white phosphorus in Gaza is unequivocally false,” it said in a statement.

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  • Iran held meetings with terrorist groups to attack Israel: Report

    A new report indicates that Hezbollah met with Iran-backed terrorist groups in March, urging them to prepare for a war with Israel that would include a ground invasion.

    According to a report by The New York Times based on Syrian and Iranian sources, in March, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, conducted an extended meeting online with Iran-backed strategists. Nasrallah reportedly told the Iran-backed groups to prepare for war with Israel that would include a ground invasion.

    According to two of the online participants from Syria and Iran, the Hezbollah leader said the anticipated war with Israel would “mark a new era.”

    Paul Cruickshank, head editor at CTC Sentinel, shared The New York Times report on X. In addition to outlining The New York Times report, Cruickshank stated, “My analysis: This extraordinarily detailed new reporting from the New York Times indicates that we may be heading towards a regional war whose architects are Tehran and Hezbollah. With tensions escalating every minute, can the Middle East pull back from the brink?”

    The New York Times reported that people familiar with the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel indicated leaders from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah helped plan the brutal attacks for more than a year, provided Hamas terrorists with training, and had prior knowledge of the attacks.

    Training for the attacks reportedly occurred in Syria and Lebanon. Based on information from Iranians and a Syrian with knowledge of the attacks, The New York Times reported that a secret joint command center was established in Beirut.

    As part of the training reportedly led by Hezbollah’s top commandos, Hamas terrorists were instructed on the raiding of Israeli communities and were trained to take civilians as hostages.

    READ MORE: Iran-backed terror groups threatening to join war against Israel, expert says

    The New York Times report also reported that two Iranians explained how Hezbollah created distractions along the northern border of Israel in order to convince the Israeli military that any potential threat would come from the northern border.

    Israeli intelligence officials previously told The New York Times in September that they had obtained information that suggested Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, had called for actions to be taken against Israel, including the targeting of Israeli citizens, carrying out sabotage efforts in Israel, and smuggling weapons to Palestinians in order to spark a civil war in the region of the West Bank.



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  • Tinubu Empowers Wike To Spend Over N200 Billion Yearly IGR As FCTA ‘Pulls Out’ Of TSA

    Bola-Tinubu-and-Nyesom-Wike

    President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the exclusion of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) led by Nyesom Wike from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), thereby granting the FCTA more control to use its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for project development.

    Wike disclosed this during a press conference held in Abuja on Friday.

    The TSA is a Federal Government initiative introduced in 2015 to enhance transparency and accountability in government finances.

    It requires government revenue collection and expenditures to follow a unified process, channeled through the Consolidated Revenue Account (CRA) domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    During the media briefing, Wike also announced that President Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Civil Service Commission (CSC) and a dedicated Women Affairs Secretariat specifically for the FCTA.

    This implies that civil servants can progress beyond the director level to become Permanent Secretaries.

    Also, establishing a Women Affairs Secretariat in the FCTA will enable the ministry to address unique concerns and needs of women within the federal capital, said the minister.

    Wike stated, “wrote a Memo to Mr President. I say, you have a renewed hope agenda; civil servants in FCT are suffering; they have lost hope. They are not committed to work. Why should I be working because, at the end of the day, I can’t get to the apex of my career? As such, we must implement that 2018 law as passed by the National Assembly.

    “If there are challenges, of course, there is no law that is perfect. You can only know the challenges when you start implementing them.

    “So, let’s implement, whatever the challenges are, then we can begin to talk of how we can amend it. I can tell you authoritatively that Mr President has given the approval for the establishment of the Civil Service Commission for the FCTA.

    “What matters most is that our actions are guided by the principles of law, conscience, and the interests of all Nigerians, rather than the personal interests of myself, the FCT minister, or any other individual,” he said.

    Last week, FCTA’s Mandate Secretary of the Economic Planning, Revenue Generation, and Public-Private Partnerships Secretariat, disclosed that the ministry has set a target of over N250 billion IGR.

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  • Foreign students and academics who praise Hamas or commit anti-Semitic acts risk being expelled from Britain

    Foreign students and academics who praise Hamas or commit anti-Semitic acts risk being expelled�from�Britain

    Foreign students, academics, and workers who commit anti-Semitic acts or praise Hamas face being expelled from Britain under plans being drawn up by the Home Office.

    Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, has commissioned officials in the department to consider how they could revoke visas on national security grounds where there is evidence of discrimination or support for the terror group in the wake of its attack on Israel.

    It follows a similar move by Gérald Darmanin, France’s interior minister, who has ordered that all foreigners who commit anti-Semitic acts be expelled from the country immediately. Three have already been thrown out of France.

    The UK can revoke visas for students, workers, and visitors on national security grounds or if it is judged conducive to the public good to do so, provided there is “proportionate” evidence.

    Vice-chancellors have already warned students that they face criminal investigations if they express support for Hamas terrorists following Saturday’s incursion.

     

    Students are understood to have been reported to the police after Palestine societies at some universities praised Hamas on social media after the attack, in which hundreds of civilians were killed.

    Academics have also been accused of justifying the attacks by Hamas militants on civilians in online posts, including one that said the killings were a “consequence” for “partying on stolen land”.

    University College London confirmed that it was investigating an academic for reposting a comment made on Oct 7 saying that Palestinian “retaliation” had been “entirely justifiable”.

    A Home Office source told The Telegraph: “We’ve seen some sickening displays of anti-Semitism and glorification for the terrorism of Hamas.

    “If those in the UK on visas behave in this manner, it is clearly conducive to the public good that they have their visa revoked and be removed, as the law permits.

    “It’s important that the British Jewish community know that they are protected and we establish basic norms of conduct for those staying in the UK.”

    It is understood some of the comments by students are already being reviewed by Home Office officials to establish whether and how they could take action to terminate their visas.

     

    Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, has written to university vice-chancellors asking them to act “swiftly and decisively” to stamp out “implicit or explicit” threats to Jewish students.

     

    “We have seen evidence of a number of student societies that support Palestinians sending out inflammatory messages that show support for Hamas, which is, as you know, a proscribed terrorist organisation,” wrote Ms Keegan.

     

     

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