Saudi Arabia has banned international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Authorities announced in a statement that the pilgrimage, which is set to begin at the end of July, will be “very limited” in size and restricted to Saudi residents only.
“This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings,” the statement said.
Several countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Senegal, and Singapore have already withdrawn from the pilgrimage due to the ongoing Pandemic.
The hajj is one of Islam’s most important religious activities as well as a major source of revenue for Saudi Arabia. The annual pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca always attract more than two million people every year, with nearly 2.5 million attendance in 2019.
The Nigerian Government has summoned the Charge d’ Affaires of the High Commission of Ghana to Nigeria, Iva Denoo.
Denoo was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, over the demolition of the staff quarters of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana last Friday, June 19. A businessman demolished the building, claiming the structure was built on his land.
Onyeama in a tweet posted on his verified Twitter handle, said during the meeting, he demanded an urgent explanation of the incident and reinforcement of security around Nigeria’s diplomatic premises and staff in Ghana. ”Summoned the Chargè d’ Affaires of the High Commission of #Ghana to Nigeria, Ms Iva Denoo to demand urgent explanation on the recent attacks on a residential building in our diplomatic premises and reinforcement of security around diplomatic premises and staff.
Senator Jim Nwobodo, the Second Republic Governor of old Anambra State, has said that the 2023 Presidency belongs to the South East and no other region in the country.
Speaking to newsmen in his home in Enugu state on Monday, June 22, the 80-year-old politician, opined that ceding the next Nigeria Presidency to an Igboman or woman was for the interest of justice, equity, and fair play and urged all political parties to adopt South East as the destination for its presidential candidates.
He went further to add that anyone who does not believe in the 2023 Igbo presidency project, does not wish Nigeria well.
“2023 will be the turn of South East to produce the Nigerian president. So, I am calling on other parts of the country to support the project for the interest of justice, equity and fair play. The South- East geo political zone of the country deserves to produce the next president who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in the next political dispensation.” he said
The politician added that as a nation existing under a tripartite arrangement of North, South and East, it would be important for the other regions of the country to throw their full weight behind the South East in its quest for Igbo Presidency.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate in the election for a new director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says there is a need to revive the organisation to meet the needs of its members.
In an opinion piece published by Project Syndicate, Okonjo-Iweala said the organisation has been unable to conclude a single trade-negotiation round of global trade talks since it was established in 1995.
She said some people regard the WTO as an ineffective policeman of an outdated rulebook which is not adaptable to the challenges of the 21st century.
“Whoever Azevêdo’s successor is will face a major challenge. Since its establishment in 1995, the WTO has failed to conclude a single trade-negotiation round of global trade talks, thus missing an opportunity to deliver mutual benefits for its members,” she said.
“The Doha Development Round, which began in November 2001, was supposed to be concluded by January 2005. Fifteen years later, WTO members are still debating whether the Doha process should continue. Some think it has been overtaken by events, while others want to pursue further negotiations.”
However, she said the WTO has not been a failure despite its challenges as it has built on the successes of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was enacted in 1948.
“The rules-based multilateral trading system that began with GATT has contributed immensely to global economic growth over the last seven decades, by reducing average tariffs and steadily eliminating non-tariff barriers,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala, who sits on the board of Twitter and chairs the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), said member countries recognise the need to revive the organisation in line with the realities of the 21st century.
“Developed countries believe that they have shouldered the burden of trade liberalization for far too long and that developing countries should shoulder more obligations if they are in a position to do so.
“Least-developed and low-income developing countries, meanwhile, say that WTO rules are hampering their efforts to grow and modernize their economies.
“A moribund WTO does not serve any country’s interest. An effective, rules-based international trade system is a public good, and failure to revive it will undermine governments’ efforts to pull the global economy out of the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In a world economy already imperilled by COVID-19, we must now apply the antidote – members’ political will, determination, and flexibility – needed to revive it.”
Okonjo-Iweala, who was endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday, is running alongside Mexico’s Jesús Seade Kuri and Abdulhameed Mamdouh, Egypt’s candidate.
She uses the latest iPhone 11 which a worth half a million naira (500 Thousand Naira).
Arguably the best phone Apple ever produced and they are getting better year by year.
There’s nearly nothing wrong with the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The screen is excellent, games run lag-free, and the triple-camera system is versatile and effective, but what I’ve been most impressed by is its battery life.
Among all of the ten children of President Muhammadu Buhari, only one of his daughter’s attracted the public`s attention, and it’s the ever charming Zahra Buhari.
Zahra was born to Muhammadu Buhari’s second wife, Aisha Buhari.
See what she posted below as screenshoted on Instagram
The gunmen who abducted the Chairman of the Nasarawa State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Joseph Masin, have contacted his family and are preportedly demanding a N20 million ransom.
Tontrends reported yesterday that Peace Masin, the clergyman’s son said seven armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen stormed their home at about 11pm on Tuesday, May 27 and abducted his father thereafter.
Serving an update on the abduction, the state CAN Vice Chairman Pastor Tayo Samuel told New Telegraph that the abductors had contacted one of the victim’s sons and demanded N20 million. He said;
“Early this morning (yesterday), the kidnappers contacted one of his sons through his telephone and demanded 20 million. The negotiation is ongoing.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe has however disclosed that the police are already on the trail of the kidnappers.
The head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Liu Jieyi said on Friday that China wants to peacefully ”reunite” with Taiwan.
He said that “one country, two systems” and “peaceful reunification” is the best way to bring China and Taiwan together.
While marking 15 years since China signed into law its Anti-Secession Law, Jieyi added that outside attempts by foreign forces to interfere in ”reunification” will fail.
Beijing passed the law in 2005 which authorises the use of force against Taiwan if China judges it to have seceded.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the alleged examination malpractices trial involving him and four others.
Recall that at the resumed trial of the case yesterday May 28, the prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, announced that the charges have been amended to exclude Adeleke, in view of his continued absence in court.
Adeleke has failed to attend court sessions since last year when he was granted permission by Justice Ekwo, to travel to the United States on medical grounds.
The court fixed today for ruling on whether to discharge the senator from the case or not.
Justice Ekwo while delivering ruling this morning, averred that he was minded to discharge Adeleke in view of the prosecution’s decision to withdraw charges against him.
The United States (US) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says China blocked the World Health Organisation (WHO) from sounding the alarm on COVID-19 in January.
According to Newsweek, the intelligence agency said China was stockpiling medical supplies from around the world at the time.
So far, the globe has recorded 4,527,823 cases of COVID-19. While 1,706,406 people have recovered from the disease, 303,438 have died.
US, Spain and Russia have recorded the most deaths so far, according to Worldometer.
The news website said according to CIA documents, the Asian country threatened the world health body that it would stop cooperating with its investigations into the disease if it declared an emergency.
Quoting Der Spiegel, a German publication, the news outlet said China was first indicted for alleged cover up by German intelligence last week.
German intelligence accused China President Xi Jinping of “personally applying” pressure on Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general on January 21.
Christian Lindmeier, WHO spokesperson, said the Chinese president and Ghebreyesus did not communicate on January 21 or 22.
“Dr Tedros did not communicate with President Xi on Jan 20, 21 or 22. Dr Tedros and his senior team met with President Xi in Beijing on Jan. 28,” Lindmeier said.
“The issue of PHEIC did not come up in that meeting.”
US President Donald Trump has since cut funding to WHO, blaming the health agency for the global spread of the disease.
“The WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable,” he had said.
Talented and popular teen actress turned billionaire’s wife, Regina Daniels is a household name. The pregnant Delta born thespian walked down the aisle amidst controversies to her 62-year old billionaire husband, Ned Nwoko in 2019.
Tontrends recalls that the actress in an interview revealed why she married him.
She said;
“I don’t think I can marry someone of my age because I’m very stubborn, My head is not down.
“My stubbornness can’t make me marry a young man but Mr. Nwoko has been able to cope with my stubbornness because I respect him a lot.
“I call my husband despite his age “baby”
“When I made up my mind to marry Mr Nwoko, I was more worried about what my family members would say and not what Nigerians had to say.”
However, News making the rounds online and on other various platforms claim that the actress was in a romantic relationship with fellow child star, Somadina Adinma.
According to Within Nigeria, the duo were never in any romantic relationship.
They were just friends and nothing more.
“They were just friends. Somadina never dated Regina Daniels. I wonder how that rumor started” A source close to the duo told Within Nigeria.
When asked who then was Somadina’s girlfriend as he was always seen with Regina before her marriage.
“I don’t really don’t know. I have never seen Soma with any girl ( like girlfriend matter), and sometimes i wonder. Because he is very handsome. But for sure, Regina and Soma never dated”. The source added About Somadina
Somadina Adinma is a famous Nollywood teenage actor, television presenter, model and a television personality. He is currently the boyfriend of famous Nollywood teenage actress Regina Daniels. He is very handsome, gifted, skillful, creative and talented in acting and interpretation of movie roles.
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DG WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
