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  • SCHF celebrates four Egyptian writers

    SHARJAH, 3rd September, 2021 – Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the activities of the 6th session of the Sharjah Cultural Honours Forum (SCHF) in the Arab Republic of Egypt was launched on Thursday morning, at the Supreme Council of Culture in Cairo, where four Egyptian writers were honoured.
    The forum is honouring the Arab personalities who have contributed to the service of contemporary Arab culture, in line with the directives of Dr. Sheikh Sultan to enhance supporting Arab intellectuals.
    The Egyptian capital witnessed a joyful ceremony, in the presence of Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture (SDC); Dr. Enas Abdel Dayem, Egyptian Minister of Culture; Mohamed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department of Culture; Rashid Al Shehhi, representing the UAE Embassy in Egypt; Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture, Dr. Hisham Azmy, and several Egyptian intellectuals and writers and the families of the honourees.
    During the ceremony, speeches were delivered by Al Owais, Dr. Dayem and Dr. Azmy, in which they emphasised the depth of cultural relations between the two countries.
    At the outset, Dr. Azmy, expressed his happiness at the council’s hosting of such a historic honourable initiative.
    Commenting on this, Al Owais expressed his pleasure at the cultural gesture that promotes the historical relations between the UAE and the Arab Republic of Egypt, under the vision of the leadership and conveyed the congratulations and greetings of the Ruler of Sharjah to the honourees.
    Dr. Dayem expressed her thanks to the Ruler of Sharjah, appreciating his generous sponsorship of this forum and lauding his unremitting efforts to support the march of Arab culture and Arab intellectuals throughout the Arab world.
    She also praised the role of the Sharjah Department of Culture in organising the forum, under the chairmanship of Al Owais.
    In their speeches, the four honourees praised Sharjah’s cultural support and care for Arab intellectuals, considering the honour a historic initiative.
    Thereafter, Al Owais and Dr. Dayem presented certificates of appreciation, in recognition of the distinguished role of the writers.

  • Kwara expands access to affordable healthcare

    The Kwara State Government says it has designed policies and programmes to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare.

    The Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made this known on Thursday at the opening of the 45th annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria in Ilorin North Central Nigeria.

    Represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, the Governor said the government has significantly invested in eye care to solidify Kwara’s leadership in vision care in Nigeria, including enhanced access for vulnerable groups.

    According to the governor, no fewer than 750 eye surgeries and 3000 eyeglasses have been facilitated by the government, also upgrading old facilities and constructing state of the art facilities at the State General Hospital Ilorin and the Civil Service Hospital in Ilorin.

    “As part of the overall objectives of transforming the Ilorin General Hospital to a training Centre for the state-owned Kwara State University, we have reactivated our collaboration with Sightsavers. This is to train Ophthalmologists under the aegis of the West African College of Surgeons. More of such strategic partnerships are in the offing.” he said.

    The Governor lauded the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria for availing the people of Kwara the invaluable expertise by partnering with the state between 30-31st of August 2021, when the government sponsored hundreds of free cataract surgeries.

    The National President, Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Dr Bade Ogundipe, lauded the Kwara State Government for providing enabling environment for Ophthalmology to thrive in the state, adding that the body is delighted by the quality eye care delivery provided to the people and the harmonious engagement of the practitioners in the state.

    In his goodwill message, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq, said the Kwara State government is not only solving the eye problems of its people by providing doorsteps interventions but also creating awareness to the people on the importance of eye health.

  • Nigeria recovers stolen trillion Naira funds, assets

    Close to a trillion-naira worth of stolen funds and assets have been recovered since Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015.

    A group in Nigeria’s governing party, the All-Progressives Congress, APC Legacy Awareness and Campaign group said this in a press statement signed by its leaders; the APC National Youths Leader, Ismael Ahmed, Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Lukman, a former APC National Publicity Secretary Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu and a Presidential media aide Tolu Ogunlesi.

    According to the statement, the recovered funds are being used judiciously.“All final forfeitures are being deployed for use in the Government’s special Infrastructure and Social Investment Programmes or put into the annual Budget.

    The most recent Abacha and Ibori Loots were transferred to the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), for transparent management under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF)” the statement said.

    The APC group further listed some of the funds recovered; “$322 million Abacha Loot from the Government of Switzerland; $311 million Abacha Loot from the Bailiwick of Jersey; $100 million recovered by the EFCC for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), from a company operating in the oil and gas sector; 4.2 million pounds sterling of Ibori Loot from the UK Government; 53 billion Naira for the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), from a real estate developer; $43 million security funds from an apartment in Ikoyi; and 189 billion Naira in ‘restrained’ funds from inflated personnel budgets, following ICPC’s scrutiny of practices, systems and procedures of MDAs’ personnel cost from 2019 to 2020. Billions of Naira in pension funds have been recovered from local and foreign Insurance Companies who have been holding on to assets of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

    “ICPC’s audit of Constituency Projects covering 2015 to 2018 helped recover 2 billion Naira of diverted funds and assets, and also forced about 300 contractors to return to site to complete abandoned or poorly-executed projects. In August 2021 the ICPC commenced the third Phase of this Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Exercise. In 2019 alone, ICPC also recovered 32 billion Naira worth of Land, Buildings and Vehicles. In 2021, the EFCC and ICPC have continued their recovery efforts, with billions of Naira in cash assets already recovered, either through Interim or Final Forfeiture Orders” the group.

    The APC group further explained that the government is also implementing policies to plug financial leakages in the government.

    “The Buhari administration is also focused on ensuring that taxes and other debts owed the Federal Government are recovered in full. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Finance launched the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) in 2017, and the Voluntary Offshore Asset Regularization Scheme (VOARS) in 2018.

    VAIDS was followed by the launch of Project Lighthouse in 2018, by the Federal Ministry of Finance, as a data-mining initiative that aggregates tax, income and asset data from individuals and companies, enabling the Government to have a full picture of levels of tax compliance. So far Project Lighthouse has identified debts in excess of 5 trillion Naira, owed the Federal Government by individuals and corporate entities, with recoveries ongoing.

    “Other technology-enabled initiatives that are yielding results in terms of plugging the leakage of government revenues include the automation of the issuance and management of Import Duty Exemption Certificates, the ongoing rollout of a national vehicle registry (which will help bring an end to the evasion of vehicle duties), and the Customs Single Window project. The successful rollout of the Automated Payment System for the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Rail Line is another step in this direction” the statement read.

  • Drake drops new album featuring Tems, others

    American rapper Drake has dropped the long anticipated album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ which features Nigerian Tems on one of the tracks ‘Fountains’.

    Other features on the album are JAY-Z, Future, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Ty Dolla $ign, Kid Cudi, Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Giveon, and Project Pat.

    In addition to the listed features, Nicki Minaj offers a spoken word cameo on “Papi’s Home.”

    Tems shared a post on her Instagram page where she was on a billboard with the inscription “Hey Nigeria Tems is on CLB”

  • UAE condemns Houthi drone attack in Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait

    ABU DHABI, 3rd September, 2021 – The UAE has strongly condemned and denounced the terrorist Houthi militia’s systematic attempts to target civilians and civilian sites in Saudi Arabia’s city of Khamis Mushait with an explosive-laden drone, which was intercepted and destroyed by the Coalition Forces.
    In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the UAE said the continuous terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia reflect its blatant disregard for the international community and all international laws and norms.
    The Ministry also urged the international community to take an immediate and decisive stance to stop these recurrent acts, which target critical infrastructure and threaten the security and stability of the Kingdom, as well as global energy supplies, stressing that the continued threat of these attacks in recent days is a grave escalation that represents new evidence of this militia’s attempts to undermine security and stability in the region.
    It also renewed the UAE’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against these terrorist acts and its unwavering commitment to opposing any threat to its security and stability, confirming its support for any measures the Kingdom may take to preserve the safety of its citizens and residents.
    “The security of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is indivisible, and any threat facing the Kingdom is considered a threat to the UAE’s security and stability,” the Ministry concluded.

  • Abu Dhabi Police smash international drug racket, seize 816 kg of narcotic substances

    ABU DHABI, 3rd September, 2021 – Abu Dhabi Police (ADP) and its partners have smashed a drug trafficking ring comprising 142 members of various nationalities and seized 816kg of narcotic substances.
    Brigadier Taher Al Dhaheri, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of APD’s Criminal Security Sector, said that the anti-narcotics men monitored random messages sent through a social media
    platform containing pictures, videos and audio messages to promote drugs and claiming their ability to deliver these illegal substances anywhere in the country.
    The gang leaders used international phone numbers to spread propaganda randomly to promote narcotic substances, he explained.
    After launching a search and investigation, the anti-narcotics officers nabbed the drug peddlers when they were trying to place the drugs in separate locations for delivery, he said.
    Abu Dhabi Police dealt a painful blow to the drug traffickers and distributors, catching them red-handed and referred them to the judiciary for trial, he added.
    He urged the public, in case they received messages promoting narcotic substances, not to deal with them in any way. They should block the number and immediately report it to the Aman service
    on the number 8002626.

  • UAE airlifts urgent food and medical assistance to Afghanistan

    ABU DHABI, 3rd September, 2021 – The UAE today sent a plane carrying urgent medical and food aid to Afghanistan, as part of its contribution to provide the basic and necessary needs
    of thousands of Afghan families, especially the most vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly.
    The urgent assistance comes within the framework of the humanitarian role being played by the UAE to provide full support to brotherly Afghan people in such current circumstances, contribute
    to extending the much-needed support for the Afghan people, as well as to promote the approach of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and in commitment to the wise leadership’s policy of promoting values of giving, tolerance and service to the humanity.
    At present time, UAE assistance was not limited to humanitarian aid only. A few days ago, and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the UAE hosted thousands of Afghan families and provided them with care in the community temporarily, in addition to taking all appropriate actions to provide them with the necessities of a decent life.

  • OPEC daily basket price stood at $71.64 a barrel on Thursday

    VIENNA, 3rd September, 2021 – The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $71.64 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $71.27 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.
    The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

  • WHO, UN partners’ compendium of 500 actions aims to reduce diseases from environmental factors and save lives

    GENEVA, 3rd September, 2021 – WHO, UNDP, UNEP and UNICEF have partnered to create a new compendium of 500 actions aimed at reducing death and diseases driven by environmental risk factors, the first such resource to unite this expertise from across the UN system.
    Environmental pollution and other environmental risks cause 24 percent of deaths through, for example, heart disease, stroke, poisonings, traffic accidents, and others. This toll could be substantially reduced – even eliminated – through bold preventive action at national, regional, local and sector-specific levels.
    The Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health & environment provides easy access to practical actions for practitioners to scale up efforts to create healthy environments that prevent disease. It is designed for policymakers, staff in government ministries, local government, in-country UN personnel and other decision makers.
    The repository presents actions and recommendations to address a comprehensive range of environmental risk factors to health, such as air pollution, unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene, climate
    and ecosystem change, chemicals, radiation and occupational risks, among others.
    Air pollution alone leads to 7 million deaths each year, while climate change is expected to contribute increasingly to a broad range of health impacts, both directly and indirectly through effects on biodiversity.
    “Events like record-breaking high temperatures in North America, massive flooding in Europe and China, and devastating wildfire seasons provide increasingly frequent, grim reminders that countries need to step up action to eliminate the health impacts of environmental risk factors,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, at WHO. “Implementing the actions in the compendium should be part of a healthy and green recovery from the COVID pandemic and beyond, and is essential to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN is uniting its health and environment expertise to support countries in this endeavour.”
    The compendium, which is accessible via interactive webpages on the WHO website and as a PDF for offline reference, also addresses priority settings for action, such as cities and urban settlements, as well as cross-cutting topics like children’s environmental health.
    “Young children are especially vulnerable to environmental risks, which can affect their survival and lifelong health and well-being,” said Aboubacar Kampo, Director of Health Programmes at UNICEF. “Healthy environments are a prerequisite for healthy children. Our assessment indicates that it can prevent a range of life-threatening diseases and quite significantly, up to a quarter of deaths among children under five years of age. Furthermore, healthy environments work as preventative health care and help reduce unnecessary medical costs for families, enabling them to invest in socio-economic progress.”
    Two thirds of deaths attributed to environmental risk factors are from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke and cancer, making the actions in the compendium a crucial part of addressing the NCD epidemic.
    The compendium can also play an important role in achieving health equity, as low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest environmental burden in all types of diseases and injuries.
    “The Compendium can be used to engage in country dialogue on development priorities in line with the 2030 Agenda, and to direct resources accordingly for resilient, healthy, inclusive and sustainable development,” said Dr Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the HIV, Health and Development Group at UNDP. “By addressing the factors that cause a large burden of the disease in low- and middle-income countries, the Compendium offers policymakers, the private sector and other stakeholders valuable tools for creating the transformative change needed to secure a healthy future for people and planet.”
    “Channelling investments into the actions that address the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, which have profound implications for health, is key. We must transform the way we value nature if we are to safeguard health and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals a major shift that requires multi-sector, multi-agency efforts. This compendium, by making available key tools and methodologies developed by a broad range of development partners is an important step in this direction and in promoting positive environment and health outcomes,” said Monika MacDevette, Chief, Chemicals and Health Branch, UNEP.

  • Humanitarian Ministry condemns abduction of 73 students in Zamfara

    An earlier report from the Zamfara State Policeperson, Muhammad Shehu confirmed that a large number of bandits stormed a Public school and kidnapped students.

    The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development condemned the recent attack and abduction of 73 students in Zamfara State, North-west Nigeria.

    The Minister, Sadiya Umar  Farouq,  expressed her displeasure over the incident that occurred just after the North-western Governors announced a new policy to cut off the supply of essential commodities to bandits operating from forests in the States.

    Umar-Farouq sympathised with the Zamfara  State Government, the School  and the parents of the abducted students.

    She hoped for the safety of the students, and  promised that  adequate measures are being taken by relevant security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the kidnapped students.

    She, however,  urged  State Governments and school authorities to provide adequate security in all schools across the country to avoid future occurrences.

    The Minister further pledged the readiness of the Ministry to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be required in the affected villages.

    Nigeria is a country with military power but appears weak as such events as these have become rampant under the present leadership of president Buhari, who seem not motivated to order the army against such actions as these. Therefore they keep reoccurring as the bandits are getting away with it.