Ajuede.com

The UN Human Rights Council has a dedicated fixture on its schedule which is exclusively devoted to resolutions condemning Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, which is known as Agenda Item 7 (AFP Photo/Fabrice COFFRINI) More Geneva (AFP) - The US ambassador to Germany led protests outside the UN Monday over what he termed the "bigotry" faced by Israel at the Human Rights Council, as nations weighed condemnations of the Jewish state. Several hundred people joined the protests which were largely focused on the council's so-called Agenda Item 7, a fixture on the council's schedule exclusively devoted to resolutions condemning Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Israel is the only country with a dedicated agenda item, which is one of the main factors that prompted the United States to leave the rights council last year. "This is not just a form of bigotry. It is a sign of intellectual and moral decay," US envoy Richard Grenell told...

The Nigerian Senate has just passed the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the National Minimum Wage on the National Minimum Wage Act CAP N61 LFN (repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 722). The Bill, which was laid and presented by Senator Francis Alimikhena, sets the new minimum wage at N30,000. Speaking on the passage of the Bill, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki said: “Let me join our colleagues to commend the efforts of the committee. More importantly, let me commend the patience of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the Labour Union, who have over the years been calling for this minimum wage and have carried their efforts responsibly. “I want to commend the leaders of the organisations of the union. Let me also state that as government, we should ensure that at times like these, we should not wait for there to be strikes to do what is truly deserving for our workers. “I hope that with this minimum wage our workers will double their efforts to...

The Rock River crested its banks and flooded Shore Drive on Saturday, March 16 in Machesney Park, Illinois. Historic flooding in the Midwest is inundating thousands of homes, swamping farms and forcing people into shelters. There are several organizations helping victims right now with shelter, food, and water. Relief groups are also standing by to provide long-term relief after the rivers crest.

Yuka, a female woolly mammoth is displayed for an exhibition in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on July 12, 2013. Even in retirement, 90-year-old Akira Iritani still dreamed of resurrecting the prehistoric woolly mammoth. After decades of trying, the Japanese biologist admits he almost gave up. But when he heard about a well-preserved specimen embedded in the Siberian permafrost in 2012, he knew he had to investigate. Turns out the 28,000-year-old baby mammoth, dubbed "Yuka", was just what Iritani wanted. In a groundbreaking experiment, his research team successfully revived Yuka's ancient cells, journal scientific reports revealed this month. "I'd been trying to find dormant mammoth cells for 20 years but as I'm (now) 90, I thought I should just give up and accept death," says Iritani, an animal reproduction expert and former director of the Institute of Advanced Technology at Kindai University in Wakayama, Japan. "I'm so happy with ...

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has admitted in evidence a statement made by the late Justin Erukaa, a Personal Assistant to the former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun admitted the statement in the trial of the former Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose. Mr Fayose is on trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million allegedly stolen from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) contrary to the Money Laundering Act. He had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge last October 22. Sen. Obanikoro is testifying as the fifth prosecution witness in the trial. At the last adjourned date of Feb 7th, Obanikoro was absent in court but despite his absence, the court listened to arguments on whether a statement made by Justin Erukaa, the late Personal Assistant to the former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, could be tendered & admitted as evi...

There is tension in Bauchi State, as residents are jittery over the killing of Colonel Mohammed Barack, the Garrison Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade of Nigerian Army in Shadawanka Barracks. He was shot dead by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Bauchi on Sunday. The incident, which happened along the Bauchi-Jos road when the deceased was riding a power bike from Kaduna, was confirmed by Major Yahaya Nasir Kabara, the spokesperson of 33 Artillery Brigade. Kabara said it is, however, unclear if the incident was a robbery or an assassination but noted that "investigations are ongoing at the Brigade". SaharaReporters can confirm that preparations are ongoing to convey the corpse of the Colonel to Kano, his state of origin, for burial according to Islamic rights.

The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, is present for his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), after attending to his health issues. Justice Onnoghen’s trial was adjourned last week following his absence on health grounds. His counsel, Adeboyega Awomolo, had tendered a letter from the CJN, explaining that he developed issues with his tooth and could not make it to court. The prosecutor, on the other hand, Aliyu Umar, said he had also received a copy of the letter as well as a medical report indicating he had a high blood pressure. In today’s sitting, the prosecution, Mr. Umar, called for the first witness, Mr. James Akpala, a Senior Investigative officer with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). He told the tribunal that he was directed by his superiors to carry out an investigation and was giving a petition to carry out the investigation. He said that the petition was received from one Denis Aganya alleging breach of Code of Public ...

After After who had earlier in November, 2018 remarked the manner and ways through which Senator Godswill Akpabio would be overtaken, has maintained that Governor Udom Emmanuel’s victory was a direct challenge to God Himself. He revealed that, among the three reasons for which God answers our prayers, God has involved Himself in the Udom’s guber because it was a fight for God to prove himself. According to him, “Godswill Akpabio did not only impose himself on the Akwa-ibomites but also lords himself over them. No man had spoken in the manner Akpabio had spoken and had their lives in them.  King Herod developed live maggots because he spoke like God; Mohamed and many others did and never lived above their time.” He further said that Godswill Challenged God with the following statements: 1.        “I cannot kill my gateman, but when my gateman misbehaves I can fire   him. My gateman has misbehaved, I shall fire him” 2.   ...

GLAAD, a media advocacy organization for people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or queer, announced on Monday that the power couple will be honored at the GLAAD Media Awards later this month. The Carters will receive the organization's Vanguard Award, which acknowledges individuals who have made a "significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people." Previous recipients include Jennifer Lopez, Cher, Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldeberg and Britney Spears. In a press statement, GLAAD said Beyoncé was selected for inclusive representation of LGBTQ people in her music videos and ad campaigns for her Ivy Park clothing line. Last year, Jay Z received a GLAAD Special Recognition Award for his song, "Smile" about his mother, Gloria Carter, who identifies as lesbian. "Beyoncé and JAY-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said...

Narrating his reason for the declaration, Ibeabuchi had said he was "held up at the centre by supporters of Mr Okorocha”, who insisted he must complete the announcement. The returning officer’s account might have necessitated the omission of Okorocha's name from INEC’s list, as the commission simply explained the omission on its website as "declaration under duress". The name of Rochas Okorocha, the outgoing Governor of Imo State, is missing from the list of senators-elect published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday. Okorocha contested to represent Imo West Senatorial District in the February 23 election. After the collation of results, Innocent Ibeabuchi, INEC Returning Officer for Imo West Senatorial District, declared Okorocha winner of the election. However, Ibeabuchi has since said he was “forced” to declare the results at the Imo West election collation centre in Orlu. Narrating his reason for the declaration, Ibea...

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Imo State governorship election, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, has emerged governor-elect of the state. Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, secured 273,404 votes to defeat Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) and Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nwosu, who was backed by Governor Rochas Okorocha, finished second with 190,364 votes; followed by Senator Uzodinma who got 96,458 votes. Ihedioha was declared the winner by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta, at 11:57 pm on Monday night, bringing to a conclusion a dramatic collation process which also witnessed the  arrest of two electoral officers for allegedly tampering with results. The final collation for the state was one of the last to begin on Sunday with the process commencing late in the evening. Details later…

One of the lawyers representing women who claim they were abused by R&B star R. Kelly said Sunday a new videotape had emerged which showed the singer “sexually abusing children.” Kelly is currently on bail after being accused of sexually abusing four women, including three teenagers, between May 1998 and January 2010. The latest discovery was announced by lawyer Gloria Allred at a press conference where she told journalists it was found by couple Gary and Sallie Dennis in a box of old VHS cassettes at their home. Neither Allred nor Dennis elaborated on how the tape came to be in the couple’s possession. “Prior to learning that such a tape was in their possession, Sallie had viewed the Lifetime documentary called ‘Surviving R. Kelly,'” said Allred. “She was emotionally very disturbed by what the women in the documentary alleged had happened. “Sometime after that, Sallie and her husband discovered to their surprise that they had a VHS tape that could be helpful...

"The bombers arrived 30 minutes into the mass," Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza said. Two suicide bombers who targeted St. Pious Catholic Church in Shuwa, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, have detonated their bombs. They, however, killed only themselves, SaharaReporters can report. Papka Medugu, a parishioner who witnessed the incident, told SaharaReporters on Sunday morning that suspected Boko Haram members "targeted our church while the morning mass was going on, but to God's glory they both exploded before they could access the church". "Vigilant Catholic cadet boys on patrol around the church vicinity prevented the bombers from gaining entry into the church, thereby forcing the explosives to detonate before getting to their target," the eyewitness said, just as he confirmed that only the two bombers were killed in the incident. Most Reverend Stephen Dami Mamza, Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, confirmed the attack to SaharaRe...

He claimed that it was being planned in connivance with some security agencies in the state with the aim of forcing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state. The governor made the allegation on Tuesday during a town hall meeting at the Rivers West Senatorial District in Ahoada. He said: “They are struggling to ensure that the Governorship and State Assembly elections don’t hold in Rivers State.  The APC is planning with security agencies to kidnap the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). “They will send people wearing army uniforms to kidnap the Resident Electoral Commissioner so that INEC  will be forced to postpone the elections.  That is their latest strategy and so I have to let the world hear that if anything happens, they should hold the APC and security services responsible. “These people are not kidnappers, ...

A three-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has granted PDP and Atiku Abubakar access to all electoral materials used in the presidential elections.  The panel on Wednesday heard the ex-parte motion filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, seeking an order granting them access to inspect the electoral material used for the February 23 polls. Atiku filed an ex-parte motion at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, asking for various orders of the court to allow him to access all documents used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the presidential election. The ex-parte motion prayed for an order compelling INEC to allow them to inspect the register and other vital documents used in the conduct of the election unhindered. In delivering its ruling, the panel ordered INEC to allow the appellant access to all electoral materials to enable the applicant file...

Protocol, Gentlemen of the press, it is with a heart full of gratitude to God Almighty that we are pleased to address you this afternoon. As citizens of Akwa Ibom State and Fathers of Faith in the land, we cannot but give glory to God for the peace and progress that our state has witnessed in the last four years. It is against the backdrop of the socio-economic development that has put Akwa Ibom in national and global spotlight that we had expected that our political transitions by way of the 2019 general elections will be conducted in an atmosphere of peace, devoid of threats, intimidations and brigandage. However, events that have characterized the electioneering process have left many peace-loving citizens wondering why we should come this low in the quest for political relevance. This unpleasant political atmosphere came to the fore since the uncommon defection of our son and former Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progres...

It is unfortunate that Godswill Akpabio and the entire Akwa-Ibom APC family have decided to humiliate themselves by jeopardising the lives of their citizen in the hands of thugs hired from outside the state to deal heartlessly to their own brothers. The video above gives us the detail.  

The protest, which began from the secretariat of the party, located on Michael Opara Way, Wuse Zone 5, was accompanied by chants of ‘Give Us Our Mandate’, ‘Bujari Must Go’, ‘We voted for Atiku’. The Secondus, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has led hundreds of members of the party to the national headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the presidential election. The protest, which began from the secretariat of the party, located on Michael Opara Way, Wuse Zone 5, was accompanied by chants of ‘Give Us Our Mandate’, ‘Bujari Must Go’, ‘We voted for Atiku’. Details shortly...

He said: “I have just inaugurated my legal team and charged them with the responsibility of ensuring that our stolen mandate is retrieved. Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has inaugurated his legal team to challenge the outcome of the presidential election. Atiku had secured 11,262,978 votes and lost to Buhari, who polled 15,191,847 votes on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A statement issued on Saturday by Paul Ibe, his media aide, noted that the legal team would be headed by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN). He said: “I have just inaugurated my legal team and charged them with the responsibility of ensuring that our stolen mandate is retrieved. “I am encouraged by the presence of fearless men and women of the Bench. The judiciary, which had in the past discharged itself ably, is once again being called upon to deliver judgement on this matter that will be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power....

https://www.clipzui.com/video/l4q3l5l474x5p4r4s5p5u3.html?fbclid=IwAR2xAdlYqlgw9MtUB_6iHekFG-h99K6ikxb9GYFmgbnq9XBNJ4W_nuu25G4

Colonel Victor Beryo, an officer of the Nigerian Army, celebrating the arrival of his twins after waiting for almost too long for a baby. Colonel Victor Beryo got married in 2007 to his beautiful wife. Since then the family had been trusting God for an increase in their family numbers until this twelfth year that the giver decided to mesmerize him with a double fold of his blessing. The joy in the family yesterday knew no bound when the news about the double blessing came his way. It is worth it; everybody knows this.   

Perry told CNN in a recent interview why he's saying goodbye to the feisty character after 10, soon to be 11, successful films. "I'll be 50 this year and I'm just at a place in my life where this next 50 I want to do things differently," he said. "This character has been amazing. So many people have loved her. It's been a great franchise." But Perry left the door open, somewhat slightly, that maybe one day down the road she'll be back. "She's also run out of things to say in my point of view. So if there's something else for her to say maybe one day she'll return but for right now, no, I think I'm done." Perry first debuted Madea on stage in the play "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" in 1999 and she made her screen debut in the 2005 film, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman." Despite the film's title, it's not Madea's funeral and Perry says he did that for a reason. "No, you can...

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded election, Atiku Abubakar, is asking the Federal Government not to deploy the military in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections coming up on Saturday March 9, 2019. According to the media aide to the former Vice President, Paul Ibe, this formed part of Mr. Abubakar’s demands during the meeting between the National Peace Committee and some PDP leaders on Thursday. In a statement, Abubakar also made reference to the electoral infractions the party claimed it observed during the Presidential election. He added in the statement, “Ahead of the 9 March governorship and state house of assembly election, the Atiku Abubakar team called for the unconditional release of all those illegally arrested and detained for political reasons. “Atiku Abubakar and his team reaffirmed that the presidential election of 23 February was the worst in the history of the country since the return to democracy...