UNITED NATIONS — The top U.N. official in Libya warned Tuesday that the war in the North African country will “intensify, broaden and deepen” because of increasing foreign intervention and the influx of weapons, military equipment and mercenaries to both sides. Acting U.N. special envoy Stephanie Williams said the escalation will have “devastating consequences for the Libyan people” who are “getting lost in the mix, their voices crowded out.” She urged the U.N. Security Council...
They are words the Rev. John Witvliet, an expert on Christian worship, never thought he would hear himself say. “Based on the science that we are learning about this week, we are urging and I am personally urging extreme caution,” said Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a Wednesday (May 13) interview. “Singing together in congregations is a practice that we dearly love and are eager to...
GENEVA (AP) — Facing the most disruptive pandemic in generations, the technocratic halls of the World Health Organization are now the scene of pitched battles in an increasingly bitter proxy war between the China and the United States. At the U.N. health agency’s annual assembly this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping joined by video conference to offer more money and support. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump railed against the WHO in a letter accusing it...
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has said it rescued 18 crew members on board a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II, from pirates’ attack. This is contained in a statement signed by Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, the Commander Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT on Monday. Shettima said that the crew members were rescued on Thursday (May 15). He said that the rescued crew members, comprising Chinese, Ghanaians and Ivorians, were attacked by pirates off the coast of Cote...
An earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, struck Japan’s Gifu Prefecture on Tuesday, the weather agency here said. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the temblor, which occurred at 1.13 p.m. local time, was centred inland, with its epicentre at a latitude of 36.3 degrees north and a longitude of 137.6 degrees east and at depth of 10 kilometres. The weather agency has not issued a tsunami warning or advisory as a result...
The World Health Organisation (WHO), says the majority of the world’s population remain susceptible to coronavirus (COVID-19) as the risk remained high. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said this at the ongoing World Health Assembly held in Geneva. This is the first time the assembly which is WHO’s main governing body, will convene virtually. Ghebreyesus, in a speech posted on WHO website, said more than four-and-a-half million cases of COVID-19 had been reported to WHO,...
The Senate has received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of Mr. Lamido Yuguda as new Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Also to be screened and confirmed are three nominees as full-time Commissioners of the Commission. Buhari’s request was contained in a letter read at plenary on Tuesday by President of Senate. Sen. Ahmad Lawan. The letter reads: “Pursuant to Section 3 and 5(1) of the Investment and Securities...
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recommended rules to ban the use of saliva to shine cricket balls in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. A statement on ICC website on Tuesday said that the age-old trick of using saliva to shine a cricket ball could be a thing of the past when the sport resumed due to the recommendation by ICC executive committee. The committee, chaired by Anil Kumble, a former Indian spinner unanimously...
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says it will provide guidance for businesses to take responsibility and re-open safely, as it continues to work to stop the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Director-General (DG), of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this at the Presidential Task Force (PTF), media briefing on Monday, in Abuja. Iheakweazu said President Muhammadu Buhari, had expressed concerns over the re-opening of the economy when the PTF briefed him on the...
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to permanently pull funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO) if it does not commit to “major substantive improvements” within 30 days, according to a letter to the WHO chief shared by Trump on Twitter. In a four-page letter to WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Trump set out what he called “repeated missteps” by the organisation. Trump claimed that the WHO shares the responsibility for the large number of...
