Abuja - Some journalists have described the death of three journalists
in Osun on Friday as shocking and a great loss to the nation.
The
dead journalists are Olatunde Ojenike of Federal Radio Corporation of
Nigeria, Ibadan, Adolphus Okonkwo, Champion Newspapers, and Kafayat
Odunsi of Nigeria Television Authority.
Ten others sustained
injuries in the accident, which occurred near Ilesha in Osun, and are
receiving treatment at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
The National Secretary of the Nigeria
Union of Journalists (NUJ), Shuibu Leman, told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) that "it was a sad moment for the union and the nation as
a whole.’’
Leman told NAN at the time of filing this report that officials of the union were on their way to Osun to assess the situation.
The
Chairman of NUJ, Abuja Council, Mr Chucks Ehirim, said, "it was indeed a
great shock as the three late journalists were very alive and active on
Thursday at a meeting of the union.
``We are all shocked by the
incident. They were our colleagues and we were all together in the
meeting till late on Thursday. It is unfortunate because they died in
union activities.’’
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Uganda Government to switch off television services
KAMPALA- As part of preparations to migrate
from analogue to digital broadcasting, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation
(UBC) has announced a three days switch off of the free-to-air
television services.
Starting tomorrow, 64
broadcasting stations including televisions and some FM radio stations
renting from the Kololo Summit View mast and operating on a terrestrial
television free to air platform will be off air.
In a new release yesterday, Ms
Rose Namayanja, the information and national guidance minister, said
government would stick to the three days to mitigate impact of the
process.
“UBC has put in place a
contingency arrangement to ensure uninterrupted provision of television
and radio services beyond the greater Kampala areas in Uganda,” she
said.
She said television services on
the satellite platform would not be interrupted during the period of
installation of digital terrestrial television antennas.
The digital migration exercise
is a fulfilment of a July 2006 International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) resolution (to which Uganda is signatory) and requires all
countries to have shifted all their television broadcasting signals from
Analogue to Digital by June 2015.
Further to this, in Uganda, the
policy on Analogue to Digital migration was approved by Cabinet in April
2011, providing for UBC as the sole signal distributor for at least
five years.
It is also captured in the
National Development Plan (NDP), 2010-2014 as a key infrastructural
development project essential for social, economic and political
transformation of Uganda.
Mugabe wins poll landslide, opposition cries foul
This combination of two pictures shows Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe (at L) and Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (at R). Robert Mugabe was declared the run-away winner of Zimbabwe's controversial presidential election Saturday, extending his 33-year rule August 3, 2013.
HARARE
Zimbabwe's 89-year-old Robert Mugabe romped to
victory in presidential and parliamentary polls on Saturday, but his
longtime foe Morgan Tsvangirai vowed to boycott the government formed by
the "fraudulent" vote.
The veteran leader scored another five years in
office, extending his 33-year rule with a landslide 61 percent of the
vote, against Tsvangirai's 34 per cent.
In parliament, his ZANU-PF party scored a super majority which allows it to make changes to the country's constitution.
The result came as a massive blow to longtime
opponent Tsvangirai, who said his Movement for Democratic Change
"totally" rejected Wednesday's vote and would boycott the incoming
government.
The election ends an uneasy power-sharing government with Mugabe installed in 2009 after another disputed vote.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai swiftly ruled out joining Mugabe's government again.
"We will not join government," he said.
"We will go to court," he insisted, after his party held emergency talks to plot its next move.
"The fraudulent and stolen election has plunged Zimbabwe into a constitutional, political and economic crisis."
ZANU-PF had already claimed victory on Friday.
Party spokesman Rugare Gumbo told AFP: "Our opponents don't know what hit them."
The MDC rejected the results but has stopped short
of calling for mass protests, as growing tensions spark fears of a
repeat of the bloody violence that marked the aftermath of the 2008
election.
Amid observer concerns over the electoral roll and
high numbers of voters being turned away, the poll's credibility was
hit by the resignation of one of the nine official electoral
commissioners.
In a letter seen by AFP that was sent to Mugabe
and Tsvangirai, dated the day of the polls, Mkhululi Nyathi said he had
quit over "the manner" in which the polls "were proclaimed and
conducted".
"While throughout the whole process I retained
some measure of hope that the integrity of the whole process could be
salvaged along the way, this was not to be, hence my considered decision
to resign," he said.
The MDC now has until Wednesday to present evidence of fraud to the high court, but finding a smoking gun may prove difficult.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged both political rivals to send "clear messages of calm" to their supporters.
Friday, 2 August 2013
What are some good stress relief and relaxation techniques for a fourteen year old who worries about everything?
A very good way to control stress is something called Being Mindful. This means that you stop worrying about what might happen in the future, and concentrate on what's going on right now.
When you start worrying, say to yourself "Stop." Then concentrate on the world around you. (Do this next part in your head, because it makes people worry if you talk out loud to yourself,) List five things that you see. Then list five things that you hear. Then list five things that you smell. Then list five things that you can feel around you or on your skin. (You can either do five tastes or just skip it, since most people don't notice taste unless they are eating or drinking.) If you are still worried, go through the list again with new things for each step.
Being mindful makes you live in the moment without stressing out about what may or may not happen later.
Another good way to relax is to decide if your worries are realistic or not. If they are realistic, then decide what you can do to change things. If they are not, then let go of the thought and find something to distract you from worrying.
For example, worrying about whether you will pass your math test is pretty realistic. You can change things by studying or asking someone to help you understand it better. Worrying about whether people will like you or not may be realistic - if you don't bathe or you make fun of everyone all the time or you are a bully, then people probably won't like you and you can change all of that. However, if you are being the best "you" that you know how to be then you need to understand that realistically, people don't like everyone they meet, and that's OK. You will have some people who do like you, and some who don't. So you can let go of that worry and remind yourself of the people you know who do like you.
A therapist, or counsellor is a good person to talk to if your worrying seems to be taking over your life. Anxiety can be cured by therapy!
When you start worrying, say to yourself "Stop." Then concentrate on the world around you. (Do this next part in your head, because it makes people worry if you talk out loud to yourself,) List five things that you see. Then list five things that you hear. Then list five things that you smell. Then list five things that you can feel around you or on your skin. (You can either do five tastes or just skip it, since most people don't notice taste unless they are eating or drinking.) If you are still worried, go through the list again with new things for each step.
Being mindful makes you live in the moment without stressing out about what may or may not happen later.
Another good way to relax is to decide if your worries are realistic or not. If they are realistic, then decide what you can do to change things. If they are not, then let go of the thought and find something to distract you from worrying.
For example, worrying about whether you will pass your math test is pretty realistic. You can change things by studying or asking someone to help you understand it better. Worrying about whether people will like you or not may be realistic - if you don't bathe or you make fun of everyone all the time or you are a bully, then people probably won't like you and you can change all of that. However, if you are being the best "you" that you know how to be then you need to understand that realistically, people don't like everyone they meet, and that's OK. You will have some people who do like you, and some who don't. So you can let go of that worry and remind yourself of the people you know who do like you.
A therapist, or counsellor is a good person to talk to if your worrying seems to be taking over your life. Anxiety can be cured by therapy!
Thursday, 1 August 2013
Gaddafi minister sentenced to death
A former minister in the government of Muammar Gaddafi has been
sentenced to death for his role in repressing protests in the 2011
rebellion.
A court in the Libyan city of
Misrata found Ahmed Ibrahim guilty of undermining national security and
plotting to kill civilians.
A judge said Ibrahim urged residents in the town of Sirte to fight the rebels, according to AP news agency.
He was condemned to execution by firing squad.
It is the first known death sentence given to a member of the former government's inner-circle.
Punished
Ibrahim was captured in Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte and is a distant relative of the former leader, our correspondent says.
He served as minister of
education and information in the 1980s and Libyans know him as the man
who banned the English language from school curricula for a decade, she
adds.
Ibrahim was also a high-ranking
member of the much feared "revolutionary committees" - groups of regime
loyalists who enforced Gaddafi's power.
During the 2011 uprising that
toppled the government, he was head of a centre that studied the former
leader's Green Book, an ideological ruling manifesto loosely based on
socialism.
Reports say Wednesday's ruling by a criminal court in Misrata must be confirmed by Libya's supreme court.
Libyan authorities are keen to
see Gaddafi's family and loyalists punished for their support of his
42-year rule, but human rights activists have raised concerns about
whether legal proceedings meet international standards.
The most senior regime member yet to face justice is Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who is due to go on trial in August.
Ivory Coast riders to compete at Busiika
All the talking and predictions have been done. The speculations are about to end.
De Wit performs a backflip
And, for Speedway Motorsport Club and team Uganda, the big test begins on Sunday when the national team takes on the rest of Africa in the Second Round of the Mountain Dew Central Africa Motocross Challenge.
Speedway Motorsports Club (SMOC), have confirmed Ivory Coast will send a team of three riders for the event at the Uganda Motorsports Arena Busiika.
Kenya will send 26 riders and Tanzania 10.
Team Uganda will be led by Arthur Blick. Other key riders for Team Uganda are Maxim Van Pee, Barak Orlando, Unissan Bakunda and Yannick Duyck.
Blick Jr and his teammates have to erase a 900 -point deficit suffered in the first leg against Kenya last month in Nairobi.
“We are ready for them (Kenyans),” Blick’s teammate Maxime Van Pee threatened.
The event will also feature the world’s Number 5 freestyle motocross rider, South African Nick de Wit, who arrived Wednesday night aboard a South African Airways flight.
“You only have to be there to believe that the backflip on a bike is real,” the 29-year old star said on arrival.
The event also received a Shs4m boast in cash and public liability cover from UAP Insurance to top up on the multi million sponsorship package from Mountain Dew.
De Wit performs a backflip
And, for Speedway Motorsport Club and team Uganda, the big test begins on Sunday when the national team takes on the rest of Africa in the Second Round of the Mountain Dew Central Africa Motocross Challenge.
Speedway Motorsports Club (SMOC), have confirmed Ivory Coast will send a team of three riders for the event at the Uganda Motorsports Arena Busiika.
Kenya will send 26 riders and Tanzania 10.
Team Uganda will be led by Arthur Blick. Other key riders for Team Uganda are Maxim Van Pee, Barak Orlando, Unissan Bakunda and Yannick Duyck.
Blick Jr and his teammates have to erase a 900 -point deficit suffered in the first leg against Kenya last month in Nairobi.
“We are ready for them (Kenyans),” Blick’s teammate Maxime Van Pee threatened.
The event will also feature the world’s Number 5 freestyle motocross rider, South African Nick de Wit, who arrived Wednesday night aboard a South African Airways flight.
“You only have to be there to believe that the backflip on a bike is real,” the 29-year old star said on arrival.
The event also received a Shs4m boast in cash and public liability cover from UAP Insurance to top up on the multi million sponsorship package from Mountain Dew.
Drama As MPs Clash Over Public Order Management Bill
There were dramatic scenes in parliament on Thursday as
Parliament prepared to vote on the Public Order and Management Bill. As a
result, three lawmakers have been suspended from Parliament for 3
sittings for disrupting parliament proceedings on Thursday evening.
The MPs are; Theodore Sekikubo (Lwemiyaga County), Odonga Otto (Aruu County) and Ibrahim Semujju Nganda (Kyadondo East).
The chaos arose from Speaker Kadaga’s decision not to recommit the contentious Clause 8 of the bill. The opposition plus independent MPs insist the clause which among other things gives the Inspector General of Police powers to deem a proposed venue for a given gathering unsuitable or otherwise should be changed or entirely removed.
It’s at this point that Aruu county MP Odonga Otto got hold of the MP
register and ripped it apart in order to stop to the vote process from
going ahead.
The three MPs have been suspended for the next 3 sittings.
MPS ASK FOR MORE TIME
Parliament witnessed a large turn up on Thursday as Members of Parliament met to conclude the Public Order Management Bill.
However, the decision by Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanya to conclude the discussion has not gone down well with opposition MPs.
Opposition MPs kept on rising procedural points and points of order to the Deputy Speaker arguing that the NRM MPs had been mobilized to attend so that the bill passes yet most of them have not participated in the legislation of the bill.
MP Mwiru Paul, representing Jinja Municipality, rose on a procedural point to question how the house suddenly had enough members to vote on the bill. He reminded the Deputy Speaker that the house had been forced to adjourn yesterday because the house lacked quorum.
Mwiru added that the Constitutional Court ruled on the bill in a petition that was forwarded by MP Muwanga Kivumbi that it was giving a lot of powers to Police and that it was abusive to rights of Ugandans say freedom of Speech, Movement and other.
However Mwiru’s argument fell on deaf ears. The Deputy Speaker insisted that parliament was following procedural rules and it was not the speaker’s business to explain how they got there.
MP Beatrice Anywar appealed to the Deputy Speaker that the bill be given taken for consultation with their constituents. She said this is what had been done with the controversial Marriage and Divorce Bill.
But Oulanyah disagreed and ruled that this was not necessary as the house had done much of the work on the bill and should be the one to vote on it.
MP Betty Awol, the Woman MP for Gulu, stood up on a guidance point and wondered if the opposition MPs have the same rights as the NRM members.
Awol, who almost cried on the floor, said she was very sad to see MPs turn up at parliament after long absences for the purpose of voting along party lines with little knowledge of the issues discussed.
Oulanyah noted that all MPs are respected and have the same rights in Parliament. He went on to ask the members to respect whatever decision the house takes.
MP Odongo Otto suggested that Parliament debates again the clauses that were stayed yesterday so that quorum is attained to vote on the bill.
He explained that there are many MPs who had not attended proceedings of the Bill and that this could be a chance for them to understand the bill and vote on something they are aware of. In this case Otto cited the new Internal Affairs Minister Aronda Nyakairima who attended the session today for the first time as Minister and Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who was not in the house yesterday.
General Aronda noted that he had been following the bill and that he fully understands it.
MP Lulume Bayiga then moved a motion that the debate to vote on the bill be deferred for further notice which was seconded by most of the opposition MPs.
The Deputy Speaker then ruled and adjourned the debate to the afternoon with a directive that MP Mwiru comes back and explains the clauses that the Constitutional Court ruled to be dangerous in the bill.
The Opposition is now currently in a closed caucus meeting in order to have a common stand on what to do in the afternoon when they return to the house.
The Clauses that were stayed yesterday with a motion of recommital of clause 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the bill that need to be voted on today by MPS.
Clause 7 and 8 of the Bill provides that an organizer shall give notice in writing to the IGP of the intention to hold a public meeting, at least seven days but not more than fifteen days before the proposed date of a public meeting.
Clause 9 of the Bill prohibits organizers of Public gatherings from telling the Media anything if it against the laws of Uganda.
Clause 10 provides for the fundamental duty of Police which is to preserve law and order.
The POMB which seeks to regulate public meetings and use of Public address systems, has been widely criticized by both human rights activists and political organizations saying it infringes on human rights and it’s a replica of the already existing laws.
The MPs are; Theodore Sekikubo (Lwemiyaga County), Odonga Otto (Aruu County) and Ibrahim Semujju Nganda (Kyadondo East).
The chaos arose from Speaker Kadaga’s decision not to recommit the contentious Clause 8 of the bill. The opposition plus independent MPs insist the clause which among other things gives the Inspector General of Police powers to deem a proposed venue for a given gathering unsuitable or otherwise should be changed or entirely removed.
Hon. Odonga Otto ripped the MPs register apart and has been suspended
The three MPs have been suspended for the next 3 sittings.
MPS ASK FOR MORE TIME
Parliament witnessed a large turn up on Thursday as Members of Parliament met to conclude the Public Order Management Bill.
However, the decision by Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanya to conclude the discussion has not gone down well with opposition MPs.
Opposition MPs kept on rising procedural points and points of order to the Deputy Speaker arguing that the NRM MPs had been mobilized to attend so that the bill passes yet most of them have not participated in the legislation of the bill.
MP Mwiru Paul, representing Jinja Municipality, rose on a procedural point to question how the house suddenly had enough members to vote on the bill. He reminded the Deputy Speaker that the house had been forced to adjourn yesterday because the house lacked quorum.
Mwiru added that the Constitutional Court ruled on the bill in a petition that was forwarded by MP Muwanga Kivumbi that it was giving a lot of powers to Police and that it was abusive to rights of Ugandans say freedom of Speech, Movement and other.
However Mwiru’s argument fell on deaf ears. The Deputy Speaker insisted that parliament was following procedural rules and it was not the speaker’s business to explain how they got there.
MP Beatrice Anywar appealed to the Deputy Speaker that the bill be given taken for consultation with their constituents. She said this is what had been done with the controversial Marriage and Divorce Bill.
But Oulanyah disagreed and ruled that this was not necessary as the house had done much of the work on the bill and should be the one to vote on it.
MP Betty Awol, the Woman MP for Gulu, stood up on a guidance point and wondered if the opposition MPs have the same rights as the NRM members.
Awol, who almost cried on the floor, said she was very sad to see MPs turn up at parliament after long absences for the purpose of voting along party lines with little knowledge of the issues discussed.
Oulanyah noted that all MPs are respected and have the same rights in Parliament. He went on to ask the members to respect whatever decision the house takes.
MP Odongo Otto suggested that Parliament debates again the clauses that were stayed yesterday so that quorum is attained to vote on the bill.
He explained that there are many MPs who had not attended proceedings of the Bill and that this could be a chance for them to understand the bill and vote on something they are aware of. In this case Otto cited the new Internal Affairs Minister Aronda Nyakairima who attended the session today for the first time as Minister and Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who was not in the house yesterday.
General Aronda noted that he had been following the bill and that he fully understands it.
MP Lulume Bayiga then moved a motion that the debate to vote on the bill be deferred for further notice which was seconded by most of the opposition MPs.
The Deputy Speaker then ruled and adjourned the debate to the afternoon with a directive that MP Mwiru comes back and explains the clauses that the Constitutional Court ruled to be dangerous in the bill.
The Opposition is now currently in a closed caucus meeting in order to have a common stand on what to do in the afternoon when they return to the house.
The Clauses that were stayed yesterday with a motion of recommital of clause 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the bill that need to be voted on today by MPS.
Clause 7 and 8 of the Bill provides that an organizer shall give notice in writing to the IGP of the intention to hold a public meeting, at least seven days but not more than fifteen days before the proposed date of a public meeting.
Clause 9 of the Bill prohibits organizers of Public gatherings from telling the Media anything if it against the laws of Uganda.
Clause 10 provides for the fundamental duty of Police which is to preserve law and order.
The POMB which seeks to regulate public meetings and use of Public address systems, has been widely criticized by both human rights activists and political organizations saying it infringes on human rights and it’s a replica of the already existing laws.
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