The tension in the Korean Peninsula is
gradually taking a different dimension as the U.S. Air Force is preparing to
place its fleet of nuclear-armed B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert for the first
time since 1991.
Report quoted a U.S. Military Chief Gen.
David Goldfein, as saying that the escalating tensions with North Korea had
made the deployment of the bombers inevitable.
However, Defense officials denied to Fox
News that bombers were ordered to go on 24-hour alert.
“This is yet one more step in ensuring
that we’re prepared.
“I look at it more as not planning for
any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find
ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward,” Goldfein said.
Goldfein noted that in a world where
“we’ve got folks that are talking openly about use of nuclear weapons,” it’s
important to remain alert and think of new ways to be prepared.
“It’s no longer a bipolar world where
it’s just us and the Soviet Union. We’ve got other players out there who have
nuclear capability.
“It’s never been more important to make
sure that we get this mission right,” Goldfein added.
Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana,
home of the 2d Bomb Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command, which manages the
service’s nuclear services, is being renovated, Defense One reported, so that
B-52s would be ready to “take off at a moment’s notice.”
The B-52, which can fly up to about
50,000 feet and at supersonic speeds, has the ability to release a variety of
weapons, including cluster bombs, gravity bombs and precision guided missiles.
The long-range bomber can also unleash
both nuclear and precision-guided conventional ordnance.
The 24-hour alert status for B-52s ended
in 1991, in the waning days of the Cold War.
FIFA is set to relax its nationality
rules to help players who have represented another country easily switch
loyalty.FIFA is considering changing
the rules that govern a player’s eligibility to represent a national team, BBC
Sport reports.
At present, players who have played a
competitive international for one team cannot switch to another national side.
Cape Verde’s football federation has
proposed this rule be relaxed in cases where a player has played only once or
twice for a national side.\
“There are so many issues that
have popped up,” said
FIFA’s Victor Montagliani. “The world is changing.”
“Immigration is changing. There
are nationality issues that pop up all over the world – in Africa, (and) there
are issues in Asia and CONCACAF.
“So it’s a good time to have a
look at this and see if there are solutions without hurting the integrity of
the game.”
The Canadian, who heads up FIFA’s
stakeholders’ committee, is president of CONCACAF, which represents North and
Central America as well as the Caribbean federation.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
A prominent marriage counsellor has
enumerated the reason why many modern women do not find marriage as attractive
as previously thought of, thereby choosing to raise their kids by themselves.
Dr Rose Chukwuma, a marriage counsellor
and psychologist, on Saturday said more women were embracing the concept of
having children outside wedlock to avoid marital disappointments.
Chukwuma, in an interview in Abuja, said that single parenting, which was once
frowned upon due to cultural and religious ethics, was fast becoming the norm.
“More women have come to the conclusion that men no longer take
marriage seriously. “Women are scared of either finding out that their partners might be
involved in infidelity or being hurt in other ways, thereby causing them to
rule out the thought of getting married. “More women are also becoming financially independent, with many of them
having their own jobs and businesses, thanks to the gradual achievement in
equal rights across the world and improved education
“However, most women naturally want to become mothers so they decide to
have children without the attachment of a man,’’ the marriage
counsellor said.
The psychologist added that some women
would rather have children while single to prevent eventualities of being
unable to have children with future partners. “Women normally get pressured by society to get married but it seems the
pressure is having less effect on women these days.
“Women don’t want to be pressured into getting married but they know
that as they age, their ability to have children reduces, so they rather have a
child when they can while searching for their potential life partner,’’ she said. Chukwuma
said that there were favourable ways for women who were open to the concept to
have children without depending on a life partner. “Modern day women don’t want to stress themselves with the issue of a
possible divorce after being dedicated wives.
“There are opportunities made available for women who wish to start a
family unit without a man, these include adoption, artificial insemination and
the old-fashioned mode of pregnancy. “We should keep in mind that most of the women who choose to get pregnant
the normal way usually don’t request for financial support from the man chosen
to get them pregnant.’’ “Some people are opposed to the idea of women having children alone because
they believe that single parenthood is not good for children; however, we have
seen many people who were raised by single parents that became wonderful
adults.
“We just hope that the concept of marriage becomes strengthened over
time but I support any woman who chooses to go down this path,“ she said.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Africa's
football legend and presidential candidate in Liberia, Senator George
Weah, was in attendance at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations during
the Sunday Service to seek God's face concerning his nation.
Leading presidential candidate in
Liberia and football legend George Weah attended a service of The Synagogue
Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), led by Pastor T.B. Joshua on Sunday.
During his sermon, Joshua warmly
welcomed Weah and spoke directly to him.
“My brother is here today because
he loves his country and wants God’s choice for his country,” Joshua stated.
“He is not here to impose
himself. What does God say about his country, Liberia? What is God’s opinion?
That is why he is here.”
The cleric reiterated that he was not
favoring any particular side of the political spectrum but his own role was to
pray for “the will of God” to be done in the nation of Liberia.
“We are not herbalists or
witch-doctors; we are people of God. God’s choice is our choice. We cannot pray
against God’s will.
“Without God’s corresponding
power, we cannot pray to Him. For every step we take – every movement and
action – intimation comes first.
“There must be suggestion from
the Spirit to move before we move. If truly I am a man of God, I must hear from
God – move or don’t move.”
Joshua disclosed that Liberia’s
incumbent Vice President and Weah’s contender in the upcoming presidential
run-off, Joseph Boakai had also contacted him to request a meeting.
“God’s opinion is what we should
seek in our country – simple! God is the Answer, the Final,” the cleric
added. In attendance were Senator Yormie Johnson, a former Liberian warlord.
The presidential run-off election
between Weah and Boakai is scheduled to hold on November 7, 2017.
Other prominent visitors to The SCOAN in
the past include Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, the late President of
Ghana, John Atta Mills, Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai and Julius
Malema, South Africa’s fiery opposition leader.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Yes,
relationships and marriages can be very complicated, but you wouldn't
believe the simplest of words that could just spice up things.
Men and women in marriages should know the importance of words in
their daily interactions. The things couples say to one another have a
big impact on their marriages. Men sometimes get the reputation for
being the less communicative sex, but that doesn’t mean they don’t
thrive on affirming words from their wives.
Wives also need to hear compliments daily from their husbands. It goes a
long way in promoting peaceful relations between them. A husband who
keeps putting down his wife with his words shouldn’t be surprised when
she becomes emotionally distant and resentful towards him.
If you don’t appreciate your spouse, who will? If you don’t treat your
spouse with love, respect and positive words, no one will do it for you.
Married couples should stop taking each other for granted no matter how
long they have been married. Kind words melts hearts and it will go a
long way in improving your marital relationship.
Whether your husband or wife is begging for verbal affection or not,
take a little time today to be grateful for that man or woman in your
life for all they do to make your relationship better. It doesn’t take
much to make your spouse’s day, boost their confidence and make them
want to lift you up in return.
Here are compliments that your spouse needs to hear that will improve your relationship.
I’m glad I married you
Your spouse needs to feel secure in your marriage, and the fastest way
to let them know they are still the one is to tell them outright. This
is a great compliment because it can come completely out of the blues,
without him or her having to do anything to earn it. Spontaneous
compliments are genuine and sincere.
I’m proud of you
When your spouse hears you tell them how proud you are of them, they are
energized to achieve more. You will get far in marriage being your
spouse’s greatest cheerleader. You don’t have to wait for them to do
something grand to let them know how proud you are of their efforts. In a
world that continuously knocks your spouse down, be the one to always
lift him or her up.
I love you
You can never say this enough. Say these three words as often as
possible no matter how long you have been with your partner. “I love
you” will never lose its meaning. Don’t think that just because your
spouse knows you love them that they get tired of hearing it. This is
the easiest and most important thing you can tell your spouse.
I believe in you
This is an instant confidence booster and can turn any seeming defeat
into a delayed victory. When your spouse is facing one of life’s many
setbacks, this is a secret weapon to help them feel empowered to stay on
course.
Thank you for taking care of the house
Men need to say this often to their wives. Don’t take their efforts in
keeping the house clean for granted. Assist your wife when she’s
overwhelmed by house chores. Don’t say it’s for women alone.
You are such a great parent
If you have kids, praise your spouse for their involvement with the
family. Let your spouse know that they remain a valuable asset to your
family. Compliment your spouse’s parenting skills.
I love how you provide for our family
Don’t take your spouse for granted for the financial needs they meet in
your family. These days that husbands and wives pull resources together
to keep the home running, the best thing you can do to encourage each
other is to appreciate your individual efforts.
You look good
If you don’t compliment your spouse, how can you expect them to feel
appreciated or wanted? Your spouse needs to know you love the way they
look, even after a few years and a few extra pounds. It’s very important
to let your spouse know that you are just as attracted to them today as
you were in the beginning. This will make them feel confident and
amazing as they go about their day.
You always make me laugh
Let your spouse know that they lighten up your day and bring positive
energy into your household. Even if your spouse isn’t the very funny
type, you can still compliment their smiles and hearty laughter.
I love spending time with you
We all get caught up in the business of everyday life, so let your
spouse know that you still love to simply hangout with him or her. After
all, you are your partner’s best friend and constant companion. Let
them know how much the time they spend with you mean to you.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
She added that Chad was a partner in the fight against
terrorism and that the ban would ruin its bilateral relationship with
the US.
Citizens of Chad are now banned from gaining business and tourist visas for the US.
Seven
other countries are also affected by the ban - Iran, Libya, Syria,
Yemen, Somalia, North Korea and Venezuela - while Sudan was removed from
the list.
US President Donald Trump's original ban in March was
highly controversial, as it affected six majority-Muslim countries, and
was widely labelled a "Muslim ban". It has been challenged in court.
What does the travel ban mean for Chad?
President
Trump's proclamation will come as a surprise to many Lake Chad Basin
watchers, but US intelligence suggests that Chadian authorities have not
been sharing information relating to public safety and terrorism with
their US counterparts.
The US also said that Chad, a mainly
Muslim country, was a haven for jihadist groups but among the Lake Chad
Basin nations (Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) , it has suffered the
fewest attacks from Boko Haram militants.
There is little to
indicate that the activity of these groups in Chad is anywhere as
significant as in, for example, Nigeria, which recently received US
support in an arms and aircraft deal.
Chad has been, in
Washington's words, "an important and valuable" partner in the fight
against Islamist militancy and its capital Ndjamena is home to the
headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) formed to
tackle Boko Haram.
Lack of international support
Chad has also hosted the annual US-led Flintlock military exercise in West Africa three times.
France
is another Western power that has seen value in keeping Chad close,
basing its regional counter-terrorism force Operation Barkhane in
Ndjamena.
It has not expressed any concerns - at least, not publicly - about its African partner not sharing intelligence.
President Idris Deby has long complained about the
lack of international support in funding the fight against Boko Haram,
even threatening to withdraw his troops from the MNJTF.
His
forces have struggled to sufficiently police its vast northern regions
and this could be part of what the US is concerned about.
However,
over the years, Chadian troops have proven their effectiveness in
battle during military interventions in the Central African Republic and
Mali.
More recently, they made a significant contribution in
suppressing Boko Haram fighters between 2014 and 2015 when the group
controlled huge swathes of territory in neighbouring Nigeria.
Losing Chad's cooperation would be major blow to counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
This curious attempt to arm-twist the central African nation could be counter-productive.
Exxon Mobile factor?
Observers wonder whether Chad's troubles started when it attempted to slap a record $74bn fine on US oil giant Exxon Mobil.
At the time, the current US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson headed the company.
Exxon Mobil was accused of not making royalty
payments but eventually avoided the fine, more than seven times Chad's
gross domestic product, as both parties reached a settlement.
There is however little to suggest it was the cause of this ban.
Chad
might feel hard done-by to suffer this punishment despite its
counter-terrorism track record, while its eastern neighbour Sudan -
labelled as a state sponsor of terrorism - is being removed from the US'
bad books.
President Deby would not want to see his country experience similar diplomatic and economic isolation (from the West, at least).
Sudan out, Chad in
Sudan
will see its omission from the travel ban list as a sign that the Trump
administration will also remove wider economic sanctions on the country
on 12 October.
The sanctions were first put in place in 1997
when Sudan was named a state sponsor of terrorism, while further
penalties were imposed for alleged abuses carried out in the troubled
Darfur region.
The State Department concluded that Sudan was
cooperating better on counter-terrorism, and in improving humanitarian
access to conflict areas, like Darfur.
In August, the Deputy
Commander of the US Africa Command, General Alexander Laskaris, visited
the capital Khartoum as both countries worked on resuming military
cooperation.
Sudan will see the thawing of relations with the US
and the outside world as a boost as it seeks to revive its bruised
economy, one of the largest in the region.
It will welcome the
renewed ability to trade freely with international partners and see this
as a path to attracting investment in its agriculture, mining and
petroleum sectors.
Source: BBC
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
"Masum was sworn in to maintain the unity of Iraq and his
non-compliance with that means he failed to abide by his oath," one
lawmaker told the Anadolu Agency on Tuesday, while collecting signatures
to remove the Kurdish president from power.
Other leaders suggested that Kurdish legislators might also have to leave parliament.
"There is no need for the presence of Kurdish MPs in parliament since
they supported the [independence] referendum," another lawmaker said.
In response to the referendum, held Monday, Iraqi officials deployed
troops to several disputed areas under the control of the Kurdish
Regional Government, as well as other land being fought over between
Baghdad and Erbil.
The chairman of the National Commission
on Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, Peter Mafany Musonge has called on the
population of the North West and South West regions to exercise patience.
Talking to the press after meeting with the President of the Senate, Marcel
Niat Njifenji and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril,
he (Musonge) called on the Peoples’ representatives to champion the promotion
of Bilingualism and multiculturalism.
Peter Mafany Musonge called for the
collaboration with the Senate which is one of the highest institutions of the
country to engage in the promoting Bilingualism, Multiculturalism and living
together in Cameroon.
All the members of the commission were
presented formally to the President of the Senate during the visit.
A similar meeting according to reports
took place at the National Assembly where the commission members had a
discussion with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yegiue Djibril.
Discussions also focused on the ongoing
crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. The chairman of
the National Commission on Bilingualism and Multiculturalism urged all
Cameroonians to remain calm, responsible and avoid actions that might lead to
the destruction of what has been built because tomorrow what is destroyed would
have to be rebuilt.
eter Mafany Musonge in his word to the
population of the North West and South West regions, said they should know that
they grievances have been heard and they are being addressed.
He added that it requires a bit of
patience for all that they have asked for to be studied and adequate responses
provided.
The members of the National Commission
on Bilingualism and Multiculturalism are scheduled to continue their three day visits
to state institutions on the 26th and 27th September 2017.
According to their official schedule,
the commission members are expected to meet the Prime Minister, Head of
Government, Philemon Yang as well as President of the Supreme Court, Chief
Justice Ekobe Daniel and the President of the Economic and Social Council,
Ayang Luc.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
