The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asserted that sexual abuse is so common in North Korea that it has come to be accepted as part of ordinary life.

The report, on sexual violence in the reclusive country, indicates that North Korean officials including high-ranking party members, prison guards, police, prosecutors and soldiers commit sexual abuse with little concern for the consequences.

Women rarely report abuse and authorities rarely investigate or prosecute such cases, according to HRW, which said it interviewed 54 North Koreans who had fled the country since 2011 and eight former North Korean officials.

Most of the assaults reported to HRW took place when the victims were in custody or when the victims were market traders who were attacked by market guards or other officials.

Women in custody could do little to avoid sexual assault since any complaint could result in further punishment including beatings or forced labour, the watchdog reported.

Women not in custody risked jeopardizing their source of income or being sent to prison camps.

Rights activists have repeatedly complained that North Koreas record on human rights has been ignored amid a diplomatic thaw between it and the U.S. and South Korea over the past years.

The watchdog acknowledged its research could not provide a generalized sample since it was limited to interviewing North Koreans who had fled.

But it said the diversity of the survivors and the consistencies in their stories suggested that the patterns of sexual violence identified here are common across North Korea.

Oh Jung Hee, a former market trader from Ryanggang province, told the watchdog: On the days they felt like it, market guards or police officials could ask me to follow them to an empty room outside the market, or some other place theyd pick.

What can we do? They consider us [sex] toys We [women] are at the mercy of men, she continued.

Another former trader, Choi Dal Mi from North Hamgyong province, said she was sexually assaulted several times by police officials and train inspectors as she travelled for her work.

Having sex with men who have power over you or letting them touch all over your body is a necessity to survive, she said.

It never occurred to me that I could or would want to do anything about it. It was just how things are.

She said she had never reported being raped to police and didnt know anybody else who had reported sexual assault to authorities.

The police themselves are [sexually] abusing women, why would they ever investigate any rape case? she said.

Everybody knows the authorities think that [being raped] is the womens fault, why would she spit on her own face and tell anybody something like that? (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Hundreds of Google employees and contractors in Asia staged brief midday walkouts on Thursday, with thousands more expected to follow at offices worldwide, amid complaints of sexism, racism and unchecked executive power in their workplace.

In a statement, the organisers called on Google parent Alphabet Inc to add an employee representative to its board of directors and internally share pay-equity data.

They also asked for changes to Googles human resources practices intended to make bringing harassment claims a fairer process.

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in a statement that employees have raised constructive ideas and that the company was taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action.

The dissatisfaction among Alphabets 94,000 employees and tens of thousands more contractors has not noticeably affected company shares.

But employees expect Alphabet to face recruiting and retention challenges if their concerns go unaddressed.

The demonstrations follow a New York Times report that said Google in 2014 gave a 90 million dollars exit package to Andy Rubin after the then-senior vice president was accused of sexual harassment.

Rubin denied the allegation in the story, which he also said contained wild exaggerations about his compensation. Google did not dispute the report.

The report energised a months-long movement inside Google to increase diversity, improve treatment of women and minorities and ensure the company upholds its motto of dont be evil as it expands.

Much of the organising earlier this year was internal, including petition drives, brainstorming sessions with top executives and training from the workers rights group Coworker.org.

On Thursday, employees posted on social media about the walkout and were set to deliver speeches in public plazas.

Since its founding two decades ago, Google has been known around the world for its exceptional transparency with workers.

Executives goals and insights into corporate strategy have been accessible to any employee.

But organisers said Google executives, like leaders at other companies affected by the #metoo movement, have been slow to address some structural issues.

While Google has championed the language of diversity and inclusion, substantive actions to address systemic racism, increase equity, and stop sexual harassment have been few and far between, organisers stated.

They said Google must publicly report its sexual harassment statistics and end forced arbitration in harassment cases.

In addition, they asked that the chief diversity officer be able to directly advise the board. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

By Nefishetu Yakubu

A of total of 1,519,350 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) have been collected by registered voters in Edo ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin.

Alex-Hart said that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) office in Benin received 1,992,826 PVCs from the commissions headquarters for registered voters in the state.

He said that the figure received from the commissions headquarters represented the total registered number of voters in the state from 2011 to date.

The REC however said 473,476 PVCs had yet to be collected by their owners in the state.

According to him, the continued voter education and sensitisation by INEC was yielding results in the state, adding that registered voters turnout for PVC collection was impressive.

AlexHart further said that the commission had also commenced the sensitisation of eligible voters and all the stakeholders against vote buying.

To achieve this, we have started sanitising the electorate through the churches, motor parks and worship centres among others.

The commission has also given the responsibility to apprehend and prosecute whoever that is caught buying votes during elections, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Nigerian Army said it has received a large cargo of ammunition to enhance its operational capabilities and combat efficiency.

The army announced this on Twitter, displaying the photographs of the ammunition received and the plane that brought the consignment.

However, the tweet did not indicate the suppliers and country of origin.

Here is the tweet announcing the arrival of the arms:

Breaking News. Nigerian Army Receives Large Consignment of Ammunition: The NIgerian Army has received a shipment of various ammunition to further enhance its operational capabilities and combat efficiency. Pictures below.

Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy)

The army is battling the insurgency of Boko Haram in the north east part of the country and cattle rustling and banditry in some parts of the north west, especially Zamfara.

In May, the army also took delivery of different calibres of ammunition to boost the fight against terrorism and other forms of criminality across the country.

The consignment was received by Olufemi Akinjobi, the Chairman of the Ammunition Reception Committee at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Mr Akinjobi also said the committee took delivery of spare parts for operational vehicles.

He said the ammunition received included rockets, bullets and projectiles, but declined to mention the originating country or countries they came from.

He, however, said that they were supplied by countries with which the army had partnership.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the military hardware were brought into the country by Aircargo Global and the discharge and transportation were supervised by senior officers with armed soldiers protecting them.

Source: NAN

Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has lost no fewer than 5,000 of his supporters to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The members of the Kwankwasiya group in Kebbi defected to return home. on Tuesday in Birni Kebbi.

We have gone to the market and the market was not favourable. We decided to return home with over 5,000 of our members and more are coming by Gods grace, the former State Organising Secretary of the group, Abdullahi Nayalwa, said.

Kwankwasiyya is the political structure of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso who represents Kano Central senatorial zone in the National Assembly, and an aspirant in the recent presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) that was won by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The defecting members of the group were received by the Deputy Governor of Kebbi, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, at the APC Secretariat, Birnin-Kebbi on Tuesday.

Nayalwa noted that they took the decision because of the landmark achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Abubakar Bagudu in agriculture and other sectors.

We have finally dumped PDP and joined APC because APC administration is the only government that can bring change and unity in the country.

Receiving the defectors, Yombe commended them for taking the decision to return to the APC and assured them of equal treatment.

The deputy governor, who described their return to the party as timely, also said that they had chosen the right path. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unsettled the Peoples Democratic Party by its decision to reject Oladipupo Adebutus candidacy and accept the nominated governorship candidate submitted by the Adebayo Dayo led executive of the party in Ogun State.

The Commission disclosed this in a letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman in Abuja. The letter was dated 25 October.

However, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan described INEC decision as a huge compromise.

If INEC claimed that it collected any list outside what the national secretariat of PDP submitted to it, it is a huge compromise.

And we say so according to our statutes and all the laws governing elections in Nigeria. INEC cannot take a list from a state of the party. INEC takes list from the national headquarters of the party.

So if it claimed that it had gone to take any list from anywhere, it is unknown to us and it is unknown to the rule guiding elections in Nigeria.

They acknowledged all the names that we submitted to them. So, it is totally strange, unknown to the rules and unknown to the PDP that INEC is claiming that it has another list. We are not aware, Ologbondiyan said.

The PDP had submitted House of Representatives member Oladipupo Adebutu as the governorship candidate.

In the letter signed by INEC acting Secretary, Okechukwu Ndeche, INEC said its decision was informed by the orders by the Federal High Court in three cases.

These were FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo

By Ugonne Uzoma

The Imo chapter of the Organized Market Traders Association (OMATA), has endorsed Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), as its preferred governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections.

The leadership of the association endorsed Araraumes governorship ambition when members paid a courtesy visit to the APGA candidate on Wednesday, in Owerri.

Members of the association said that they opted for Araraume because of his developmental blue print which would assure traders continued stay in business.

Chairman of the association, Mr Samuel Amadi, said that Imo needed a governor with good business ideas that would transform the business environment and ultimately promote economic growth.

He said that Araraume had shown that he possessed the capacity, both as a businessman and an astute administrator, to make Imo a better place to live in.

When he was a senator, he performed very well and also attracted several federal projects
to Imo; now that he wants to be governor, we will stop at nothing to support him, he said.

Amadi, who decried the demolition of the Eke Onuwa market by the state government, said that the act had brought untold hardship and unjustifiable loss to traders.

Traders have become the most vulnerable group in Imo because of the market demolition
policy of the government . The situation is particularly bad because there are no alternatives.

We want a change of government and have resolved that we will lead Araraumes campaign until he becomes the next governor, he said.

In his response, Araraume said that he would run an all-inclusive government, if elected governor
of Imo.

Araraume, who was represented by his campaign Director General, Mr Okey Ikoro, sympathized with the traders over the demolition of the markets, and assured them that he would end all anti-people policies of the current government.

He thanked them for the endorsement and urged them to remain united in that resolve.

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who lost out in the primaries to remain faithful and hold fast on integrity to the nation.

A statement issued by the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Wednesday, said Buhari gave the charge at a dinner with the APC Aspirants Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday night.

The president said the primary motivation to contest elections should be to improve the country and not for pecuniary reasons.

We must maintain our faith in the country, he told the coalition of party members who contested the primaries.

President Buhari said he contested presidential elections three times before coming to power in 2015.

He therefore promised them that providence will always pave the way for the just, committed and patient politician who wants to truly serve the country.

He told the aspirants that those who mismanaged the resources of the country are still very much around, with incredible wealth.

He warned them to be vigilant and circumspect in making choices, saying the future would only be salvaged by those who love the country.

He said: I spoke with the APC party chairman almost every other day, at least for an hour during the primaries.

And sometimes, we met for two and half hours on ensuring internal democracy during the primaries.

He pointed out that in spite of all efforts to appease everyone and give them a chance at the polls; some aspirants were still not treated fairly.

I urge you to stay faithful if your objective is to serve the country.

I came back to power in this agbada to convince Nigerians to make sacrifices that the country needs now for a better future, he added.

In his remarks, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said the meeting was organised to address grievances and fallout of the APC primary elections across the country.

He said it would be unfortunate to allow the grievances overshadow the challenges before the country, assuring the aspirants that government would assuage their yearnings to serve the country.

Malami said they should work collectively with the president in building the party and setting up a framework that would ensure healthier relationships and better internal democracy.

The leader of the APC Aspirants Forum, Hon. Yusuf Banki, gave assurance that the network of 7,000 members would work to ensure President Buharis victory at the polls in 2019.

Source: NAN

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

The Federal Government introduced new education policy known as `Every Child Counts, to encourage children enrolment in schools.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, quoted Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as saying this in Lagos.

Osinbajo spoke at the 60Anniversary of Grange School, Lagos, on Tuesday.

According to the vice president, Nigeria is Africas most populous country; and like the rest of the continent, it is a nation of young people as half of its population is below the age of 20.

He said that Nigeria would be the third most populous country in the world by 2050 and would have a large youth population that could be a tremendous blessing for economic growth and prosperity.

Osinbajo, however, said that the population could also be a problem especially ifNigeria did not plan well and in advance as extreme poverty further complicated the problem for a country like Nigeria.

He said there was need to increase school enrolment which had increased in many cases by over 30 per cent in the last 2 years, largely on account of our school feeding programme.

Osinbajo said that to eradicate poverty, Nigerias education must equip the young to be productive as the Federal Government was working on far-reaching skills-basedcurriculum on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

This is the curriculum for primary and secondary schools.

The core skills the programme will provide include: (1) Coding and Computer Programming; (2) Design Thinking and Computer Generated Imaging, Animation and Graphics Design; (3) Robotics, Networking and basic engineering applications.

We have a programme called the N-Power programme and about 3,000 of them are currently being trained in animation skills and techniques and we found that people take so easily to learn some of these things.

In fact, the younger people are, the easier it is for them to learn all of these technology skills.

So, we think that to develop the kinds of young people who will be able to take on the kind of challenges of the 21stcentury and get the kind of work that the 21stcentury is producing already, we simply have to change the way we teach and what we teach.

He said the Federal Government was working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oracle Academy, Microsoft Cisco Academy and IBM.

According to him, they are working with the Federal Government in developing the curriculum alongside, the Federal Ministry of Education and the respective states.

The vice president said that the immediate plan was to reach, with this sort of education, at least 2 million pupils in the first year.

The plan also envisions a new classroom structure that permits the cultivation, expression and early adoption of skills that will function in the environment that is already being created the technology environment that is already being created.

The next question we asked is, for whom do we plan? The answer is quite straightforward it is the Nigerian child.

Not just the ones in the urban areas or the few that are privileged to afford decent schooling above the weakened standards of public schooling generally.

The real slogan for us is Every Child Counts and that is the name of the policy, which means we have democratised our vision of a qualitative and relevant education to reach every Nigerian child.

Every Child Counts ensures that all children, especially the number reported to be out of school now, and in those areas where children tend to drop out of school much faster, all of them deserve to get a decent education, all of them must be reached by this programme, he said.

Osinbajo said he was proud of the way Grange School had collaborated with his office in some of the important work it was doing at the learning centre in Maiduguri.

Source: NAN

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described as false theallegedvideo clip circulating on the social media purporting to show howNigerians are being maltreated in Angola.

The ministrys spokesperson, Mr George Edokpa, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the attention of the ministry was drawn to the allegedvideo clip and urged the public to ignore it.

He said the purported clip circulating on the social media on maltreatment of Nigerians living in Angola was not true.

Edokpa maintained that the allegation was false and should bedisregarded.

The Ministry is in contact with the Nigerian Embassy in Luanda, Angola, andwishes to categorically attest that the incidence under reference in the videodid not occur in Angola.

However, in line with the mandate of the Ministry toprotect Nigerians in any part of the world, the Ministry is conducting acomprehensive investigation on the matter, he said

Source: NAN