(dpa/NAN) China has criticised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bill that aims to hold Beijing accountable over alleged violations of human rights against Muslim minorities, including Uighurs.

We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes, prevent the aforementioned Xinjiang-related bill from becoming law, and stop using the Xinjiang-related issue to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

China will respond according to the development of the situation, spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Hua said the bill discredited Chinas efforts to combat terrorism, attacked the Chinese governments territorial policies and seriously interfered with Chinas internal affairs.

Xinjiang-related issues are not issues of human rights, ethnicity or religion, but issues related to anti-terrorism and anti-separatism, Hua said, adding that Chinas campaign in Xinjiang has prevented any terrorist attack from happening in the past three years. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

The World Health Organisation has said on Wednesday that malaria still infects millions of people every year and kills more than 400,000 mostly children in Africa because the fight against the mosquito-borne disease has stalled.

It said funding for the global battle against malaria which kills a child every two minutes is broadly flat, adding that due to continuing transmission via mosquitoes, half the worlds population remains at risk.

The organisation called on donor nations and governments in countries affected by the disease to step up the fight.

The world has shown that progress can be made, the WHOs malaria expert, Pedro Alonso, told reporters.

He cited significant reductions in malaria cases and deaths since 2010 when case numbers fell from 239 million to 214 million in 2015, and deaths fell from 607,000 to approximately 500,000 in 2013.

But progress has slowed down, he said. And we have stabilised at an unacceptably high level.

Cases in 2018 were down slightly to 228 million from about 231 million in 2017 and the number of deaths declined to 405,000 from 416,000 in 2017.

Of that 2018 number of deaths, an estimated 380,000 were from Africa.

The WHOs report found that pregnant women and children in Africa continued to bear the brunt of the malaria epidemic.

An estimated 11 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa 29 per cent of all pregnancies were infected with malaria in 2018, leading to nearly 900,000 children being born with low birth weight, putting their health further at risk.

More than a third of young children in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018 also were still not sleeping under a mosquito net, which could protect them from the infection, the report found.

Source: NAN

By Lucy Ogalue

Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is collaborating with agencies under the Ministry of Transportation to develop strategies to curb corruption in Nigeria and Africa.

The Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello,said this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The maritime and transport sectors are strong catalysts for socio-economic development of any nation, particularly as it concerns businesses, markets, countries and people/citizens.

Despite the gains recorded in the fight against corruption in all sectors of the economy, the maritime transport sector has remained vulnerable to unwholesome practices.

Capital flight and fiscal leakages that have plagued sector are worrisome.

Therefore, NSC, agencies of Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) is organising a One-Day Summit.

The theme of the summit is, Zero Tolerance for Corruption in the Maritime sector.

And it aims at highlighting the areas of corrupt practices in the sector and collectively develop strategies to curb the menace threatening the economies of most African nations, he said.

Bello expressed optimism that a road map that would reduce considerably corrupt practices would be generated at the end of the Summit and sustainable structures that would guarantee predictability, efficiency and transparency in the industry achieved.

NAN reports that the Summit, scheduled for Dec. 9 will have in attendance President Muhammadu Buhari, Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, legislature, financial institutions and critical stakeholders in the Maritime Industry.

The Summit will begin with a road walk at 7 a. m. at the EFCC Zonal Office, Wuse 2 and begin proper at the Banquet Hall, State House, Aso Rock at 9 a.m, according to Bello. (NAN)

Source: NAN

(Xinhua/NAN) A South Sudan delegation has arrived in Khartoum to mediate in a new round of peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel groups.

The delegation, led by Tut Gatluak, South Sudans presidential adviser on security affairs is expected to provide consultation and look into the final arrangements for a new round of negotiations slated for Dec. 10.

Spokesman for South Sudans mediation team Dio Matok made this known in a statement.

South Sudan has been mediating between the Sudanese government and the armed groups from Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile regions.

On Oct. 14, South Sudan hosted a round of peace talks between the Sudanese parties in its capital Juba.

Sudans Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement /Minni Minnawi faction, and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/northern sector took part in the talks with the government. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN

A divorce-seeking woman, Mrs Blessing Abu, who accused her husband, Benjamin, of infidelity makes u-turn and begs the Igando Customary Court in Lagos not to dissolve her marriage.

When the case came up on Wednesday for judgment, the petitioner came up with a letter, informing the court of her intention to withdraw the case.

She begged the court to discontinue the case that she and her husband would work to resolve their differences and reconcile.

The court president, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, while striking out the case, admonished the couple to maintain peace and to continue to live in love and harmony.

The court has received a withdrawal letter to that effect, therefore, the case is hereby struck out.

I urged both of you to go home and live in peace and love. he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Blessing Abu had approached the court to dissolve her 12-year-old marriage over husbands infidelity.

My husband is cheating on me; he got a girl pregnant on two occasions.

I have gone to several hospitals and herbal homes, just to have another baby but my husband is busy making babies with another girl, she lamented.

The 36-year-old tailor accused her husband of denying her the pleasure of having sex with him.

My husband refused to sleep with me, in spite of the fact that I desire another baby, he told me to look for another man to sleep with me and vowed that he will not sleep with me again, she alleged.

Blessing accused her husband of posing serious threats to her life.

Benjamin told me that I am eating poison in his house, that I should pack out, else he will kill me or cause me to run mad, she told the court.

The petitioner said that her husband had abandoned her with the only child of the marriage.

The mother of one begged the court to terminate the marriage, adding that she had long lost interest in it.

While responding to the allegations, the 42-year-old technician, Benjamin said that his wife pushed him into adultery.

My wife always tells me that I cannot impregnate another woman and that if I try to make love with another woman, my male organ will get stuck inside that woman, that she had done something concerning my male organ.

I was afraid initially, but later I decided to try it to know if she is saying the truth.

But luckily, the girl I met got pregnant and had a baby, when my wife got to know, she told me that the baby was not mine.

After some months, I decided to do it again to prove her wrong, and the girl took in again.

Since then, Blessing made the house unbearable for me by fighting me regularly. She called the Police to arrest me and when I could no longer bear it, I packed out of the house, he told the court.

The respondent said that his wife starved him of sex, claiming that sex gives her headache.

He urged the court not to grant his wifes wish by dissolving their marriage, saying that he still loves her. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ikenna Osuoha

Dr Eddie Mbadiwe, former lawmaker in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, called for more efforts in ensuring good governance in Nigeria through improved transparent and accountable leadership.

Mbadiwe said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while analysing two of his books namely: Stunted Nigerian Dreams and A Scientist in Parliament.

He explained in Stunted Nigerian Dreams, that it was time for Nigerian leadership to move away from the trivialities of funfair and luxuries but see power as trust, especially the governors.

A situation where a governor basks in adulation and vain glory, praise singing by deprived crowd who are unemployed, hungry and angry is nothing but cosmetic governance.

Could the governors please take a cue from the President, who is unfazed by this nonsense, we need some degree of quiet and candour in the polity, the author said.

The author stressed the need for a prosperous country, where food and job security would be nonnegotiable.

According to him, education should be made compulsory for all to rescue the country from the doldrums of insecurity.

He said that people who did not go school were threats to peace in the society.

Mbadiwe scored most political parties low in terms of administrative excellence since the inception of democracy in 1999.

He called for timely preparation of budget in Nigeria as being done in other climes.

It is cosmetic to delay budgets in the country compared to the U.S where budgets were prepared in two years in advance.

Members of our parliament have been at courses at Johns Hopkins in collaboration with the Capitol, so this is not new to them.

The author urged the lawmakers to utilize the knowledge gained at such forum to bear in preparing budgets.

He said that his involvement in politics was aimed at bringing the desired change in the system for an incorruptible Nigeria.

Commenting on another of his book, A Scientist in Parliament, the author explained that the book was his story of his contributions in the legislature for the common good of Nigeria.

The author called for transparency and honesty as watchwords in all forms of leadership both in Executive or Legislature.

He,however, cautioned people to shun unfounded rumours against members of the National Assembly, especially in terms of their remunerations.

The former lawmaker said distortions of facts and propaganda about the lawmakers remunerations are caused by lack of information; a development he stressed must be quickly addressed.

He reminded politicians that politics was not a means of self enrichment but a means to impact on the lives of the people positively.

Mbadiwe, a scientist turned politician, urged politicians to write their names in gold by leaving indelible legacies for generations unborn than engaging massive loots.

NAN reports that Mbadiwe was also one-time member, old Imo House of Assembly and was in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015.

He said his two books; Stunted Nigerian Dreams and A Scientist in Parliament are compendium of his personal vision, experience and involvement in the Nigerian political system. (NAN)

Source: NAN

An Italian lawmaker who grabbed headlines last week by proposing to his girlfriend during a parliamentary debate was slammed on Tuesday for making a “fake” marriage proposal.

Flavio Di Muro, a 33-year-old member of Matteo Salvini’s far-right League, spoke during a session in the Chamber of Deputies on aid for earthquake victims.

“I am sorry to interrupt this session, but please respect what I am going to say,” he told colleagues on November 28, holding a jewellery box.

“With respect, Mr Speaker, I am not addressing you but the gallery to say, ‘Elisa, will you marry me?'” Di Muro said, as his colleagues cheered and patted him on the back.

But according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, the couple had long agreed to marry before that stunt, and are due to tie the knot on Thursday in Ventimiglia, near the French border.

“The marriage proposal in the Chamber? It was fake: the wedding had already been scheduled a while back,” Corriere della Sera wrote, adding that the date was booked in September.

“Only a buffon could have behaved like that,” Corriere della Sera journalist Marco Castelnuovo commented on Twitter, accusing Di Muro of acting “in contempt” of parliament.

Di Muro was reprimanded by the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, last week.

“I can understand everything, but I think that using a speech for this is absolutely inappropriate,” Fico said.

By Muhammad Nasir Bello
The Sokoto state government has asked some 1,000 persons its employ collecting abnormal salaries to come forward and be pardoned.

Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki, the Finance Commissioner and Acting Chairman, Sokoto state Steering Committee on Integrated Payroll and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), disclose this in a news conference on Thursday in Sokoto.

Dasuki said the initiative was to enable civil servants collecting salaries they dont earn and those engaged in improper practices against regulations to come forward and open up under confidentiality and guaranteed state pardon.

He said that the period of the amnesty began from Nov. 27, to end on Dec. 9, 2019 by 12 midnight.

Government is therefore calling on those concerned to avail themselves of this initiative.

At the end of this period appropriate sanctions will be meted out to those found wanting in accordance with Civil Service Rules and relevant laws, he said.

The commissioner added that in the course of the committees activities, a lot of wrongdoings were discovered.

These include suspected ghost workers, wrong computation of salaries, and inappropriate and inflated implementation of salary scales of certain cadres of civil servants.

Similarly, civil servants or members of the public with relevant information that can assist in the discovery and/or resolution of problems in the payroll system are invited to approach the committee.

However, this is with the assurance of confidentiality and reward where appropriate.

Those willing to cooperate can contact the committee directly or reach out through the following phone numbers: 08105475900, 08144885521 08106010490, he said.

According to Dasuki, they can also reach the committee through any of its members, member of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries or Directors-General, with equal guarantee of secrecy and appreciation. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Violence
By George Odok
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign in Ogoja local government area of Cross River.

The campaign started with a walk by officials of the UNHCR, partners, host communities and the Cameroonian refugees from their resettlement camps in Adagom and Ukende communities.

Head of UNHCR sub-office in Ogoja, Mr Mulugeta Zewdie,called on all relevant government authorities to ensure that justice is made more accessible to victims of gender-based violence at all stages.

Zewdie, who was represented by Mr Derwin Djamaris, Protection Officer of UNHCR, said that the period was designed to acknowledge the gravity of gender-based violence.

He explained that justice was a crucial aspect of effective protection response to gender-based violence and also contributes to its prevention.

He said the 16 Days Activism campaign which runs until Dec. 10, would increase awareness and renew commitment to prevent and respond to abuses.

News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the 2019 activism is End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work.

UNHCR is committed to ensuring that all persons of concern have access to existing justice mechanism; giving sexual and gender-based violence survivors a voice and restoring their dignity.

Also, securing a remedy for the serious violation of their rights and ensuring their perpetrators are brought to justice must be a priority for all.

The responsibility is not central to UNHCRs mandate, it is a matter of human rights and has to be reflected in our own action as humanitarian workers, he said.

He further said that sexual and gender based violence remains among the most serious threats to the safety and security of those affected by displacement and conflict.

He noted that failure to investigate and prosecute sexual violence and the inability of victims to seek and achieve redress has eroded confidence in law enforcement actors and the judiciary.

NAN reports that the Global 16 Days Campaign was launched in 1991 and continues to be coordinated by the Centre for Womens Global Leadership,running each year from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10.

The 16-Day period reinforces the recognition of violence agains women as a human rights violation.

Source: NAN

By Ismail Abdulaziz

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will partner international scholars like Mufti Menk, Assim Al-hakeem and Hasib Noor in educating Nigerian pilgrims on Hajj.

The acting Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Abdullahi Muhammad, disclosed this during the One Ummah unity and peace convention in Abuja on Saturday.

He stressed the need for global stakeholders to unite in achieving the objectives of uplifting the welfare of pilgrims.

Muhammad stated that the act of providing service to pilgrims has a dual reward as it was a service to fatherland and Allah.

He stated that the commission is empowered to educate pilgrims on the rites of Hajj and Umrah.

In this regard, he enjoined the international scholars to educate people on the rights, unity and benefits of Hajj as well as the place of Hajj in global economy.

He said that enlightenment would ensure that pilgrims were well guided in the religious act in order to maximise the value of their money and enjoy the derivable benefit of the rituals.

According to him, the management team and the staff have dedicated themselves to upgrade the service to pilgrims in the area of accommodation, transportation, feeding and airlift.

Muhammad commended the scholars for their dedication and commitment to the service of Allah through the spreading of the global message of unity to the Muslims.

Earlier in his address, Sheikh Mufti Menk, commended the chairman of the commission for his unwavering commitment towards elevating the standard of Hajj in Nigeria and urged him to remain steadfast in ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims enjoy the best service.

He advised the NAHCON boss not to be deterred by cynics, but to redouble efforts in the knowledge that only Allah reward good deeds.

Also speaking, Sheikh Haseem Al-Hakeem urged the staff of the commission to imbibe the spirit of honesty and transparency in order to achieve the common goal set by their leaders.

He also urged them to shun any act capable of igniting envy, hatred and distrust in the discharge of their duties.

Source: NAN