US announces $225m in emergency food aid to Yemen

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May 7, 2020

The United States on Wednesday announced it would provide $225m in emergency aid to Yemen to support food programmes, and called on the Houthis to do more to allow aid operations to operate “independently and neutrally”.

US Secretary of Mike Pompeo told a news conference that the funding Washington is committing would go to the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) emergency food operation in southern Yemen, as well as its reduced operation in northern Yemen.

The WFP said it was going to halve the aid it gives to people in parts of Yemen controlled by the Houthi movement from mid-April after donors cut funding over concerns the Houthis are hindering aid deliveries.

Yemen is already grappling with the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis caused by a war between the Saudi-led coalition seeking to restore the internationally recognized government, and the Houthi movement that drove the government from power in Sanaa in late 2014.

In a conference call with reporters, officials with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US State Department said while there has been some limited progress in aid operations recently, Houthis still needed to do more for funding to return.

The steps included “concrete actions to remove impediments including approvals, or travel permits to deliver aid, on partner agreements halting interference in the selection of beneficiaries and allowing agencies to operate independently and neutrally on the basis of need,” said Richard Albright, a deputy assistant secretary at the US State Department.

“Certain barriers have been beginning to move, but it’s been much more in the theoretical and talking stage, and we haven’t seen a lot of action,” said Matt Nims, deputy director of USAID’s Office of Food for Peace.

A health worker wearing a protecitve suit disinfects a market amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa

Around 80 percent of Yemen’s population, or 24 million people, rely on aid, and 10 million are facing famine. Yemen has the world’s fourth-highest internally displaced population and healthcare is scarce in rural areas.

The country has reported a total of 26 coronavirus infections with six deaths, but due to inadequate testing and a shattered health system aid groups fear a devastating outbreak. According to WHO, only 200 tests with results have been delivered nationwide.

Under such conditions, gaps in aid funding are a major risk. The United Nations last week warned that 31 of 41 major UN humanitarian assistance programmes would scale down or stop in coming weeks without more money as donors and aid agencies have increasingly complained of interference and obstruction from Houthi authorities.

Venezuela broadcasts video of captured US mercenary

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May 7, 2020

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Venezuelan state television broadcast on Wednesday a video of captured American Luke Denman, in which he said he was instructed to seize control of Caracas’s airport and bring in a plane to fly President Nicolas Maduro to the United States.

Venezuelan authorities on Monday arrested Denman, another US citizen, Airan Berry, and 11 other “terrorists” in what Maduro has called a failed plot coordinated with officials in Washington to enter the country via the Caribbean coast and oust him.

“Donald Trump is the direct chief of this invasion,” Maduro said in televised comments, after the video of Denman was broadcast.

Jordan Goudreau, head of Florida-based security company SilverCorp USA and a US military veteran, has claimed responsibility for the incursion. Goudreau said he was working with two US citizens in an operation designed to capture, not kill, Maduro and “liberate” Venezuela.

The Associated Press news agency reported on Wednesday that Goudreau is currently under federal investigation for arms trafficking. The investigation is in its initial stages and it’s unclear if it will result in charges, a law enforcement official told the AP, and stems from a frenzy of contradictory comments Goudreau has made since Sunday’s raid.

In Venezuelan custody, ex-Green Beret and Silvercorp mercenary Luke Denman confirms contract with Juan Guaido, says plan was to kidnap Venezuelan Pres. Maduro and fly him to the US as a captive #BayOfPiglets pic.twitter.com/hg46mbBfRz

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 6, 2020

Members of the US Congress are also asking the State Department about its knowledge of Goudreau’s plans and raised concerns that he possibly violated arms trafficking rules.

An AP investigation published prior to the failed raid places Goudreau at the center of a plot hatched with a rebellious former Venezuelan Army General, Cliver Alcalá, to secretly train dozens of Venezuelan military deserters in secret camps in Colombia to carry out a swift operation against Maduro.

Goudreau’s possible involvement in weapons smuggling stems from the March 23 seizure by police in Colombia of a stockpile of weapons being transported in a truck. The stockpile, worth around $150,000, included spotting scopes, night vision goggles, two-way radios and 26 American-made assault rifles with the serial numbers filed off.

Maduro said on Wednesday that he would seek Goudreau’s extradition from the US.

US President Donald Trump has denied involvement in Sunday’s ill-fated mission. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the US government would use “every tool” to secure the Americans’ return if they were being held in Venezuela.

Denman, 34, in the video statement from an undisclosed location, answered questions from a person off-camera speaking in English. Denman said his mission was to secure the airport and establish a security perimeter, though it was unclear how he planned to get Maduro on a plane.

In March, the US Department of Justice charged Maduro and a dozen other current and former Venezuelan officials with “narco-terrorism” and the Trump administration offered a reward of $15m for information leading to his arrest.

COVID-19: 256 Nigerians from Dubai Arrive in Lagos

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May 7, 2020

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The federal government has successfully evacuated the first batch of Nigerians stuck abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, 256 Nigerians arrived in Lagos from Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight.

The Emirates flight is expected to be the first of at least two other flights scheduled to evacuate Nigerians within the next few days.

Over 4,000 Nigerians are waiting to be evacuated across the world back home, foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama said on Monday.

Coming into isolation

The returning Nigerians are expected to be quarantined for 14 days in select hotels on their arrival, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The quarantine is required to ensure the coronavirus-status of every returnee is ascertained.

The foreign ministry said it has made arrangements for hotel accommodations in Lagos and Abuja, which will be used to quarantine the incoming citizens.

The hotels have been inspected by the “Port Health Services, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IPC,” the ministry said.

A global pandemic halts all

The evacuations have become important as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep through the world.

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 254,532 people since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Tuesday.

The virus has particularly ravaged the airline industry, with countries closing borders, forcing travellers to cancel travel plans.

Other countries have been in the news for evacuating their nationals from foreign soil back home.

The United States has evacuated at least 1,000 Americans from Nigeria since the WHO declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic.

Nigeria’s efforts to evacuate citizens from abroad has been hampered by several obstacles, including the ability to secure quarantine facilities for the returnees on their arrival, according to Minister Onyeama.

Lockdown: Congregational Prayers in Mosques not Proof of Muslims’ Piety–Sheikh Gumi

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May 7, 2020

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A prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has stated that though many Muslims cherish participating in congregational prayers with massive crowd of worshippers in mosques, doing so, still, is not a true reflection of the level of their piety.

The firebrand and popular religious scholar, pointed this out at a Tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) session which he anchored at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna on Tuesday.

According to Sheikh Gumi, frequently going to a mosque to observe prayers or perform other spiritual activities is not an indicator of how pious or God-fearing a Muslim is.

Hear him: “It is not. Rather, having Imaan (piety) entails following the entire traditions of the Holy Prophet. And then, we must also be conscious of our Creator and seek his infinite mercies at all times. So, it is not by having many people congregate in mosques for prayers.”

During the religious propagation session, Gumi, who spoke in Hausa, further quoted the Prophet as saying that “a time will come when Mosques will be populated by worshippers and filled to the brim, yet finding a single righteous and devoted believer among the congregations will be difficult.”

On the reactions trailing the closure of mosques across the State, which has impaired the Muslim faithful from observing their five congregational prayers, the renowned Islamic preacher, described as “wicked” persons who are condemning the preventive measure of closing worship centres to forestall the community transmission of Coronavirus, across the country.

Defending both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments’ lockdown order, Dr. Gumi, explained that the closure of mosques and churches was not driven by the need to satisfy government’s vested interest.

He said: “The decision to shut down our Mosques is guided by pure wisdom and decency. It is not because someone does not want Muslims not to pray in congregation at mosques. “People were only told to go and pray at their homes, together with their family, still in congregation.

As a matter of fact, praying at home, especially as the country is battling COVID-19 is even more rewarding, one. This is because you prayed in congregation with your family members and also practiced the teaching of the Holy Prophet.

“Again, if someone is a devoted worshiper who regularly observes his prayers in the mosque, Allah will still reward him despite the inability to do that now because of Coronavirus. Why? Because, Allah is aware of the prevailing tribulation the entire mankind is passing through now.”

Serving Army Major, Sanusi Emerges as New Emir Of Kaura Namoda

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May 7, 2020

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The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle has approved the appointment of Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed as the new Emir of Kauan Namoda.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday by Mr. Zailani Bappa, the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.

The approval follows recommendation from the Kaura Namoda Traditional Council as enshrined in the selection procedure.

Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed succeeds the late Emir, Alhaji Mohamned Ahmed Asha who passed away following a brief illness.

Until his appointment today, the 40 year old Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed is a serving Major in the Nigerian Army.

While praying, once again for the repose of the deceased Emir, Governor Matawalle wishes the new Emir a successful reign.

Nigeria Records 195 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 3145

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May 7, 2020

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The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), has confirmed 195 new COVID-19 cases in the country, taking Nigeria’s total cases to 3145.

Of the new cases, 82 are in Lagos, 30 are in Kano, while 19 are in Zamfara and 18 in Sokoto.

Ten are in are in Borno, 9 in the FCT, 8 in Oyo , 5 in both Kebbi and Gombe.

Four cases were recorded in Ogun, 3 in Katsina, while Kaduna and Adamawa have on case each.

534 patients have recovered so far and have been discharged, while 103 persons have died so far.

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 260,546 people since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT on Wednesday.

More than 3,710,240 cases were registered in 195 countries and territories. Of these, at least 1,153,300 are now considered recovered.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.

Many countries are testing only the most serious cases.

The United States has the highest number of total deaths with 71,982 out of 1,214,572 cases. At least 189,791 have been declared recovered.

Britain now has the second-highest toll with 30,076 deaths from 201,101 cases. On Tuesday, figures compiled by British regional health agencies put the number of fatalities at over 32,000. But these include cases where COVID-19 is only suspected to be the cause, in addition to people who tested positive.

Italy has registered 29,684 deaths and 214,457 cases, Spain 25,857 fatalities and 220,325 infections and France 25,809 deaths and 174,191 cases.

China — excluding Hong Kong and Macau — has to date declared 4,633 deaths and 82,883 cases. It has 77,911 recovered cases.

Europe has a total of 149,666 deaths from 1,625,953 cases, the United States and Canada have 76,261 deaths and 1,277,948 cases, Latin America and the Caribbean have 15,478 deaths and 285,887 cases, Asia has 9,776 deaths and 260,989 cases, the Middle East has 7,425 deaths and 200,853 cases, Africa has 1,996 deaths from 50,413 cases, and Oceania 124 deaths from 8,202 cases.

Please note that due to corrections by national authorities or late publication of data, the figures updated over the past 24-hour period may not correspond exactly to the previous day’s tallies.

Late Super Eagles’ skipper, Rashidi Yekini’s mother to Be placed on N10,000 monthly allowance by Sports ministry

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May 6, 2020

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The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has placed the mother of late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, Alhaja Sikiratu, on a monthly stipend of N10,000.

Mr Olaitan Shittu, a representative of the Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, disclosed this at Ijagbo, near Offa in Kwara on Wednesday, when he donated Ramadan gifts on behalf of the minister to the aged mother.

The minister donated the sum of N50,000 as part of the Ramadan gifts to Yekini’s mother.

Some of the items donated with the cash included a 50 kg bag of rice, 10 kg bag of wheat and six tins of Milo beverage drink.

Shittu explained that it was not the first time the minister was reaching out to Alhaja Yekini as he was also at her residence in September, 2019.

He said that the Ministry would also be extending the same gesture to the mother of late Super Eagles player, Samuel Okwaraji.

Alhaja Yekini, late Rashidi Yekini’s mother

Responding, Alhaja Yekini, who spoke in her local dialect (Yoruba), thanked the minister and prayed fervently for him.

“I have been abandoned for a long time and have not seen any help from anyone.

“I was hospitalised for few days some months ago and I did catered for myself despite scarce resources: even last month, I received treatment from the hospital.

“I need help from Nigerians, but this minister has done very well, especially remembering me in this holy month of Ramadan.

“Since my son died, it has been very tough for me because I do not have any help from people.

“Rashidi’s siblings are not doing well too, so, I was left to struggle for life everyday,” she said.

Recall that late Yekini died eight years ago in Ibadan after retiring from football.

His professional career spanned more than two decades and was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal.
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Sikiratu, Rashidi Yekini’s Mother Placed On Monthly Stipend By Sports Ministry by engroyekan(m): 5:41pm

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has placed the mother of late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, Alhaja Sikiratu, on a monthly stipend of N10,000.

Mr Olaitan Shittu, a representative of the Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, disclosed this at Ijagbo, near Offa in Kwara on Wednesday, when he donated Ramadan gifts on behalf of the minister to the aged mother.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister donated the sum of N50,000 as part of the Ramadan gifts to Yekini’s mother.