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Rebel killed aspiring Indian politician with his Family in Kashmir
An unknown gunmen have destructively shot a pro-India politician along with his father and brother in Kashmir, police said, in a first known attack against India’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members in the disputed region.
Gunmen fired at Sheikh Wasim Bari, a leader with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party in northwestern Bandipora town on Wednesday night in India, police said in a statement.
The statement said “during indiscriminate firing,” Bari, his brother and father were injured but later died in hospital. Bari’s brother and father also were BJP members.
Police hold responsible the rebels fighting against Indian rule in the Muslim-majority Himalayan region for the attack on Bari, who was an executive council member of the party in the region. He was reported to be 35 years old.
He helped the BJP to strengthen its base in the region and was considered the face of the party in Bandipora district.
Ram Madhav, the party’s national general secretary, said in a tweet that he was “shocked and saddened” by the killings.
No rebel group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Source___BBC
US Exceeds Three Million Infections Of Corona Virus
More than three million people in the US have now been confirmed to be positive for Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
More than 131,000 deaths have been reported, and on Tuesday the US broke its record for most new cases reported in one day.
In spite of the rise, the White House wants to press forward on some reopenings, including for schools.
US Vice-President Mike Pence, who leads the White House Coronavirus Taskforce, argued rules should not be “too tough”.
Infections were compressing out, he said, while President Donald Trump discloses on Tuesday that America was “in a good place” regarding the virus.
Over 60,000 new cases were reported on Tuesday, shattering the previous highest toll of 55,220 new infections on 2 July.
The latest figures came as the states of California and Texas each reported more than 10,000 new daily cases.The latest figures came as the states of California and Texas each reported more than 10,000 new daily cases.
Meanwhile, two prestigious universities in the US are taking legal action against the government over an immigration rule they say will force international students to leave the country.
Under the rule, introduced by the Trump administration, foreign students would be barred from staying in the country if their colleges don’t hold in-person classes this autumn. Much university teaching is shifting online during the pandemic.
Source___BBC
Fears for LGBT rights as Poland seeks for a re-run
LGBT rights in Poland is at stake as the country goes for its re-election.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who is seeking re-election on Sunday, is accused of running on an anti-LGBT platform and says he plans to ban same-sex couples from adopting in Poland.
Before the novel coronavirus escalation, Ben Hunte, the BBC’s LGBT correspondent, went to Poland to visit its their ‘LGBT-free’ zones, and was shocked to find out what life is like for gay people living Poland.
Source___BBC
BREAKING: Kogi Government in Nigeria Inaugurates New Chief Judge
The Kogi State Government in Nigeria has inaugurated Justice Henry Olusuyi as the Chief Judge of the state.
The swearing-in ceremony was held today in Lokoja, the state capital.
Justice Oluseyi was sworn in at 10:35 am Nigerian time after taking his Oath of Office.
In attendance are Governor Yahaya Bello, the state Deputy Governor, Edward Onaja; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole and other top government functionaries.
This comes five days after Governor Bello make known of Olasuyi’s appointment in an acting capacity.
The position became vacant following the death of Justice Nasir Ajanah on June 29 2020.
For now, Governor Bello has approved the appointment of Bayo Olowosegun as the acting President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal.
Mr Olowosegun’s appointment also followed the demise of the former occupant of the office, Shaibu Atadoga, who died on June 22.
Source___Channels TV
Brazil’s President Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid-19
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus.
He took his fourth Covid-19 test on Monday after developing symptoms, including a high temperature.
Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down risks of what he has called the “little flu”, saying he would not be seriously affected. He has opposed lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy.
Brazil has the second-highest toll of Covid-19 infections and deaths in the world, after the US.
Mr Bolsonaro is in his 60’s which makes him vulnerable in contracting the pandemic.
Contact tracing and tests will be carried out for the people the Brazil President has met recently.
His pass three tests for the virus all came back negative.
The executive director of the World Health Organization, Dr Mike Ryan, wished President Bolsonaro “a speedy and full recovery from this disease”, adding: “I think the message to us all is: we are vulnerable to this virus.”
Source___BBC
Trumph to pull US out of World Health Organization
President Donald Trump has formally disclosed to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) effective July 6th 2021.
Trumph had made his intentions known in late May, accusing the WHO of being under China’s control in the wake of the coronavirus escalation.
Despite calls from the EU and others, Trumph said he would pull out of the UN agency and redirect funds elsewhere.
He has now make known this know to the UN and Congress of his intentions, although the process could take at least a year.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, confirmed the US had notified it of its withdrawal, effective as of 6 July 2021.
Senator Robert Menendez, the leading Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, also wrote on Twitter:
“Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the US from the WHO in the midst of a pandemic.
“It leaves Americans sick and America alone.”
Joe Biden, who will challenge Donald Trump in the November presidential election, tweeted: “On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage.”
‘The US is the global health agency’s largest single contributor, providing more than $400m (£324m; €360m) in 2019, around 15% of its total budget.’
Source___BBC
This is how US takes into custody two pretentious Nigerian Instagrammers ‘with $40m’
One of the pretentious Nigerian name Olalekan Jacob Ponle was arrested in may after his 29th birthday, he posted a picture on his Instagram standing next to a bright yellow Lamborghini in Dubai.
“Stop letting people make you feel guilty for the wealth you’ve acquired,” he lectured, wearing designer jewellery and Gucci clothes from head to toe.
A month later, the Nigerian, who goes by the name “mrwoodbery” on Instagram, was taken into custody by Dubai Police for alleged money laundering and cyber fraud.
The most famous of the dozen Africans nabbed in the dramatic operation was 37-year-old Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, “hushpuppi” or just “hush” as he was known by his 2.4 million Instagram followers.
‘Police in the emirate say they recovered $40m (£32m) in cash, 13 luxury cars worth $6.8m, 21 computers, 47 smartphones and the addresses of nearly two million alleged victims.’
Mr Abbas and Mr Ponle were both deported to the US and charged in a Chicago court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and laundering hundreds of millions of dollars gained from their cybercrimes.
The two have not yet been asked to petition and are presumed innocent until court proven guilty.
“I think there’s probably a certain arrogance when they believe they’ve been careful about maintaining anonymity in their online identities, but they live high on the hog and get careless on social media,” said Glen Donath, a former senior prosecutor in the US Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC.
Source___BBC
Local gov’t amendment bill postponed
The Local Government Amendment Bill of 2020 has been send to the National Assembly Business Committee.
The Speaker of the National Assembly yesterday open the way for a parliamentary discussion on the advantages and otherwise of the Local Government Amendment Bill after a long resistance from some opposition law-makers to that effect.
The amendment bill was discreetly sponsored by the parliamentary representative for Lower Baddibu constituency, Alhagie Jawara, on July 2nd but it generated an harsh discussion on Monday when parliament could not find a common ground as whether to subject it to a debate or not.
Speaker Mariam Denton nevertheless ruled that the parliament proceed to anatomize it.
‘Supporters of the bill took turns to argue that it would empower local governments through enhanced service delivery, autonomy, accountability among others.’
‘Nominated Member Majanko Samusa argued that the discussion over the amendment bill should not protract even for an hour and accused its opponents of double-standards and devoid of faith.’
Majanko prompted the deputies of the past amendment, regarding age-limit (vice president) that was ‘collectively’ played by the Parliament.
‘For Nominated Member Samusa, this smacks of hypocrisy, self-centredness, parochial partisan interest and lack of faith.’
“It is a political suicide to say no to the bill because councillors are the grassroots. Rejecting this bill will cost you your political life. It is a big shame for anybody who voted for the independence of National Assembly Members to reject this bill,” he vociferously argued.
Source___Standard Newspaper
IEC to decide Chairman Sonko’s fate
The Independent Electoral Commission will be deciding on the crisis in the Brikama Area Council chairmanship.
The chairman of Brikama Area Council Sheriffo Sonko was not long expelled by the United Democratic Party which act renders his elective seat vacant, according to the Local Government Act.
The Standard also contacted the chairman of the IEC Alieu Momarr Njai on the matter and his respond was :“We are going to meet on Wednesday to discuss Sonko’s dismissal from his party and his own letter reacting to the BAC vice chairman’s letter sent to us. I hope we will settle the matter once and for all.”
Mr Njai further make known that the electoral commission has some significant issues to address because “Sheriffo Sonko is saying that his deputy used another letterhead and has no authority to do that. The current chairman is also supported by sixteen councilors out of 28 councilors. This is why I deem it necessary to call a commission meeting to address the issue.
“But the law is very clear – if a chairman or a councilor is dismissed by his/her party the person automatically loses his/her seat. But the IEC should be notified by the authority the person is serving at the time of the dismissal,” Njai said.
He added: “They are asking me why Sheriffo Sonko, who is elected by 28 wards, should lose his job after being dismissed by his party – when lawmakers who are elected by one constituency will not lose their job when they are fired by their parties. This I cannot comprehend. But there is nothing I can do to correct that – the law is the law.”
“Many APRC members of the National Assembly lost their seats under the former regime through the application or misapplication of this provision.
But in December 2017 lawmakers passed a bill repealing section 91(1)(d) of the Constitution to protect themselves from losing their jobs when they are fired by their political parties.”
Source___Standard Newspaper
GAMBIAN SENIOR NURSE DIES FROM COROA VIRUS
The Gambia has confirmed its first novel Covid-19 case among healthcare workers after a senior nurse catch the virus.
‘The nurse, who worked at the country’s main referral, EFSTH, passed away.’
It is the country’s third registered Covid-19 death since the first case was recorded back in March.
*As said by the ministry of health, the senior nurse, 50, in addition to having had an underlying health condition, was a known diabetic and had also severe pneumonia-like symptoms. A sample was only collected from him after his demise on the 4th of July and a positive test result returned on 5th July.*
For now,, three other cases were recorded which took the country’s toll to 61. Two of them are Belgian couple, both 64, who arrived on SN Brussels flight in late June. The other one is a UN staff of Gambian nationality, 45, who arrived on a WFP-chartered flight from Liberia.
The country at the moment has 341 people in quarantine; 31 active and 8 probable cases.
The ministry said one of the challenges now is escalation of COVID-19 among healthcare workers, while mentioning low staff precautionary measures due to the absent of incentives and the non-payment of allowances, frequent power outages in the PHEOC due to the depenance on NAWEC, as other stumbling blocks.
Source___Standard Newspaper
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