According to the report, Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin said the recognition will come into force in all three countries on May 28.

The Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris in a news conference in Dublin announced this on Wednesday

The report said the move is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but will certainly strain relations with Israel.

According to the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian statehood has been recognized by more than 130 out of 193 member states of the United Nations.

“Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a news conference in Dublin.

On his part, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the war in Gaza has “made it clear that achieving peace and stability must be predicted on resolving the Palestinian question.”

“In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,” Støre said.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “We will recognize the state of Palestine for peace, coherence and justice.

“This recognition is not against the people of Israel and certainly not against the Jews,” he said. “It’s not in favor of Hamas. It’s in favor of co-existence.”

Recall that a helicopter carrying President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was involved in a hard landing while visiting a northern region.

The duo were confirmed dead by local media platforms.

Tinubu in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, extended his condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

President Tinubu expressed profound grief over the disturbing tragedy and described President Raisi as a leader who was passionately committed to the development of Iran.

While commiserating with the bereaved families, President Tinubu prayed for the continuous peace, stability, and prosperity of the Iranian nation.

Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health, made the disclosure on Thursday, stating that health workers were making efforts to control the reported 550 disease cases, which appeared mostly in the northern part of Kenya.

“It is very unfortunate that we have lost 13 Kenyans to the disease, 12 of them in Marsabit, and one in Turkana.

“Regrettably, most of the cases, 40 per cent and sadly, 70 per cent of the deaths too, have been among children aged 10 years and below.

“Other cases have been reported in Garissa in north-eastern Kenya and that the outbreak gradually made its way to Wajir, Turkana and Muranga in central Kenya,” he said.

He also said that the 48 cases in Garissa, four in Wajir, and eight in Muranga have been controlled, following quick intervention by health personnel.

“We believe that this is feasible, given the fact that the outbreak is currently localized to only two areas – Marsabit and Turkana,” he added.

Cholera is a gastrointestinal disease, usually spread by contaminated water and food.

It can cause severe diarrhea that, in extreme cases, can lead to fatal dehydration and kidney failure within hours, NAN reports.

The Minister disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday morning, stating that there was no evidence that radio waves, used by mobile networks, have any harmful effects.

He said, ”Misinformation about 5G telecommunications networks has become prevalent online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless.

“As the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has said, 5G does not cause the coronavirus and it does not spread coronavirus.

“Interfering or tampering with Telecommunications facilities is a criminal offense.
“The Australian government will not tolerate any vandalism of communications infrastructure and I urge Australians to report any suspicious activity to their local police.

“Causing damage to mobile phone networks can cut vital connectivity, risking serious harm, even death, if a person is unable to contact Triple Zero.’’

NAN reports that the Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy had repeatedly ruled out any link between the technology and the spread of COVID-19.
He said “There is no link between 5G and COVID-19. 5G does not cause COVID-19.
“It does not spread COVID-19, nor does it increase the severity of COVID-19 or make people more susceptible to COVID-19.

“Turning off your WiFi will not protect you from COVID-19.”

“The best way you can protect yourself is to practice physical distancing and good hygiene and to stay at home if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms,” he added.

Recall that the WHO on Friday refuted claims that the 5G network spreads coronavirus.

Lebanese who advertised Nigerian woman for sale has been arrested by the Lebanese government

A Lebanese man, Wael Jerro, has been arrested by authorities in that country for advertising a Nigerian lady for sale on Facebook.

There was rampage on social media when Wael Jerro put up a price tag of $1,000 on Busari Peace, a 30-year-old Ibadan, Oyo State, indigene, her Nigerian passport on a Facebook page, ‘Buy and Sell in Lebanon.’

According to it, the Lebanese Ministry of Labour issued a statement in which it said Jerro’s action was completely unethical and in contravention of the country’s laws.

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated this on her Twitter handle on Thursday.

She tweeted: “Breaking news on Trafficked Nigerian girl for sale on Facebook by a Lebanese !The Lebenese Government just announced the arrest of Mr. WAEL JERRO for onward prosecution against criminal sales of a human, a young Nigerian girl.”

Conte, however, said that the package amounted to financial availability, not to be used right away, but can be drawn to confront all the difficulties the country was facing due to the emergency.

The prime minister added that the coronavirus emergency in Italy, by far the worst so far in Europe, was both a health and an economic emergency, with clearly important social impact.

Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri, said the first tranche of about 12 billion euros in funding would be detailed in a decree in no distance time.

“The rest was let’s say an allocation, a reserve for possible future interventions, potentially also on a European level.

“The new funding will go partly to supporting the health system, civil defence, and anti-infection measures.

“There will also be funding to protect employment and the cash flow of families and businesses, “Gualtieri said.

Gualtieri, however, promised that the government would do everything possible to make sure nobody loses his or her job because of the coronavirus. (dpa/NAN)

He said the media should not follow the existing stereotypical portrayal of women in the society rather they should get a balance in their reportage of gender-related issues. While admitting that with the emergence of each generation, rights of women are being respected, he, however, said that both men and women must stand up for gender equality to change the existing status quo.

During the event, which was also aimed to promote using the media as a  veritable tool to project equality and give credence to the importance of women to the society, Williams said individuals should start having a new conviction and start believing in equal rights for women as they are valuable assets to the society.  He said, “women should recognize their rights as they are equal opportunities open to them. The media should also endeavor to project women in good light and by so doing, women will serve as a helping hand in nation-building. It should start by giving women in media equal opportunities as men”

Also speaking during the event, an educationist Irene called for better education of women for women because education gives better opportunities for women to realize their dreams. She also calls for increased participation of women in the media space so that women themselves can shape their own narrative. “Women must take that responsibility of shaping their own story rather than allowing others to do so on their behalf”, she said.

Similarly, gender advocate Ene Nde said gender stereotype in the media is very dangerous than other forms of stereotype in society. “Women in the media are highly underrated in this part of the world but there is no limit to what a woman can do. The media is a superstructure that can promote women’s capabilities”, `she said.

The event also featured film screening that portrays women’s strength and gender representation in the society, music presentation and photo exhibition. Convener of the event touted among the first women in the event, Ovinuchi Ejiohuo also calls for the respect and celebration of women; mothers, sisters, wives and friends, especially those using the media to fight for women’s rights and for humanity in general. “Women issues are the major fabric in our society because women are the outliers of character development, the economy, governance, and national development”, he said.

International Youth Media Day is a worldwide celebration of youth art; film, photography, spoken word and screening of the International Youth Media Summit (IYMS) works across borders. The 15th IYMS will take place in Croatia this year with the Croatian Film Association as the host.

English clubs compete for both the FA Cup and the League Cup every season but the scheduling and format of the latter have come in for criticism.

The two-legged semi-finals have added to a congested calendar.

Liverpool were forced to play their under-23 team in this season’s quarter-finals as the senior team had to fly to Qatar for the Club World Cup.

It had led to the Anfield side’s manager, Juergen Klopp, appealing to the football authorities to rethink the scheduling of their big events.

“The League Cup is off in France already. Only England remains. I think that everybody knows that it would be better for everyone if that were not playing anymore,” Ceferin said.

The French professional football league has decided in September that the League Cup would not be held from next season.

This was after they failed to secure a broadcaster for the 2020/2024 period while Germany, Spain, and Italy have only one cup competition.

“But the problem is that, through that cup, you finance a lot of clubs that are quite disadvantaged,” Ceferin added.

“So, I understand the problem. The English is also quite a traditionalist. You like things that have been there for ages.”

Manchester City won the League Cup for the third consecutive season last weekend after beating Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley. (Reuters/NAN)

This is the first known cases of local transmission of the potentially deadly illness in Italy.

Looking to prevent a further spread of the virus, officials urged residents of the northern towns of Codogno and Castiglione d’Adda to stay at home and avoid any social gatherings.

“We have introduced a compulsory quarantine for all those who have been in contact with the patients who tested positive,’’ Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte told reporters.

He added that anyone who had been in areas of risk over the past two weeks should stay at home.

Giulio Gallera, a member of the Lombardy regional government, said the initial patient fell ill after meeting a friend, who had recently returned from China.

He is now in intensive care.

The other two infected persons were the wife of the 38-year-old-man and one of his friends.

None of the trios had themselves been to China.

Local authorities were tracking down everyone they had come into contact with and around 100 people were being tested for the virus.

“Most of the contacts of those tested positive for coronavirus have been identified and subjected to the necessary tests and measures,’’ the region said in a statement.

Prior to Friday, just three persons had been confirmed in Italy to have the virus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

Two Chinese tourists, who came from Wuhan, tested positive in Rome in late January, while an Italian who returned from the Chinese city with a special flight repatriating some 56 nationals was hospitalised a week later.

China has had more than 75,400 cases of the coronavirus and 2,236 people have died, most in Hubei province and its capital Wuhan. (dpa/NAN)

Contrary to the claims of Dr Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the embattled wife of Rivers state born Billionaire High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs who passed on in December of 2018 , a day after his 88th birthday, documents made available to press from the High Court of Ghana proves that Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, the second oldest son of the late billionaire met the pre-conditions of the court without delay in anticipation that his stepmother who launched all manner of attacks on his person and the entire family, will live up to her own end of the bargain and allow the family access to the mortal remains of the late Chief for onward burial at a tentative date as announced by the family. 

Recall that in December of 2019 after a yearlong legal tussle over the mortal remains of the late High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs, the High court of Ghana had ordered thus;

1: That Seinye Lulu-Briggs release the mortal remains to the family through the second oldest son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and family

2: That Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the applicant also appoints two representatives to represent her at the burial plan meetings while she performs her duties according to the custom of Kalabari people as a widow.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs who had prayed the court that she will be needing an assurance from the family that she will not be put through any form of crude burial practice and to that effect would need the court to order her step-son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs to sign an undertaking to that effect.

The court went ahead and ordered that;

3: Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs sign and deposit an undertaking with the High Court and the Ghana Police Service that Dr Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs will not be made to pass through any crude customs.

A demand which documents obtained from the court shows that the undertaking was deposited with the court and the police service on the 24th of December 2019, duly signed by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

Seinye Lulu Briggs, on the other hand, had taken to newspapers and airwaves claiming through her spokesman that Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs had not met the pre-conditions of the High Court.

Subsequently, Seinye had gone ahead as events revealed, whilst playing the victim whereas she was the antagonist, approached an appeal court to quash the ruling of the High Court of Ghana. Another case which she lost and she went on ahead to approach the Supreme Court of Ghana. At the Supreme Court, the justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana dismissed all cases regarding the Lulu-Briggs family and ordered that the orders of the High Court of Ghana be adhered to.

The Supreme Court also ordered that Seinye Lulu-Briggs also deposit the autopsy report which she claimed she had done to coroner’s court and let an inquest into the cause of death be established as ruled by the high court.

A decision which did not sit well with Seinye Lulu-Briggs who earlier in the week had held a meeting with the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force where she signed an undertaking that she would withdraw all cases against Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and the entire Oruwari Briggs family and return to status quo as ordered by the High Court of Ghana.

Seinye, is reported to have been out of public view as she is holed up in her Ghana mansion where she uses as her residential address currently in all her suits in various courts.

Investigations also reveal that Seinye has other cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and also other issues of forgery of documents and forceful sales of properties not belonging to her.

Seinye who also doubles as an evangelist has been caught many times in various lies and campaigns of calumny against the family of her late husband and even the Executive Governor of Rivers state HE Nyesom Wike.

Seinye is currently before another court which is in total violation of her undertaking which she signed and deposited with the office of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force in Ghana where she seeks to quash the coroner’s court inquest into the possible cause of death of her late husband.

This has thrown the entire family into a confused state as they do not know if they will be able to get custody of the mortal remains of their father, grandfather and chief for burial.

Speaking to newsmen in his Port Harcourt residence on Monday, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs informed reporters that he has been morally harassed by Seinye’s spokesman both on radio and physically in the office of the IG of Nigeria Police Force but he is unperturbed as the only important thing to him and his brothers and family is to get custody of the mortal remains of their late father and proved to give him a befitting burial.

Asked if he has any plans to deny his stepmother her rightful place as widow of the late High Chief, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs reiterated that she will forever remain the wife of his late father and will always have her place in the family and her roles as widow will not be usurped by anyone regardless of how she has treated the name and memory of their father.

Sotonye Ijuaye Dagogo

Spokesman to Chief Barr Dumo Lulu-Briggs