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Zipp Sports Firm Holds First International Half Marathon In Enugu, October

People take part in a march to show their support for the Cameroon army fighting against Boko Haram militants in the city of Yaounde, Cameroon, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. Boko Haram staged an overnight assault on a border town in Niger, residents said Sunday, the second time the West African nation has come under attack by the Nigeria-based extremists since Friday. (AP Photo/Joel Kouam)

A private company, Zipp Sports Limited, has slated October for staging of the first Enugu Half Marathon, otherwise known as the Coal City Half Marathon with over 3,000 athletes and thousands more spectators from across the state and the country participating.

The Head of Publicity for the CoalCity Half Marathon, Nnaweudo Ani said in a statement that this is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

“It is a marathon event designed to be held annually in our state and will be used to promote health, youth engagement, tourism and sports.”

He said that registration will start in September with free Race kits for the first 3000 people to register even as the Head of Sponsorships for the CoalCity Half Marathon, Mr. Ikenna Udoji also said that with companies such as Enel Lotto already signing up for Sponsorships, “this chance will provide organizations with the opportunity to penetrate the South Eastern market as well as the tourism industry.

He said therefore that potential Sponsors are being invited to contact Zipp Sports Ltd for more information. [myad]

Pope Francis Visits, Chats With 20 Ex Prostitutes

Pope Francis in Poland

Pope Francis surprised 20 former prostitutes on Friday by knocking on their door in Rome and popping in for a chat.

The Pontiff was said to have sat down with the group, including four women from Albania, seven from Nigeria, six from Romania, three from Italy, Tunisia and the Ukraine each.

According to a statement from the Vatican, the 79-year old Pope listened for over an hour to the stories of the former sex slaves, “all of whom suffered serious physical abuse and live under protection,” the Vatican said.

The women, all aged around 30, are being sheltered by a Catholic association in an apartment in the Italian capital after being rescued from their pimps.

The Pope has repeatedly described the human trafficking behind much prostitution as “a crime against humanity.”

The visit fell under what have been termed Pope Francis’s “Fridays of Mercy,” whereby he carries out one unscheduled act of mercy a month on a Friday, mainly in or near Rome, throughout the pope’s Jubilee year, which started in December and runs to November.

In January, he visited a care home for the elderly and people in a vegetative state, while in February he went to a community for drug addicts. In March, he toured a refugee centre before visiting asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos in April.

The pontiff then spent time with the seriously mentally ill in May before visiting old and ill priests in June and dedicating his July “Friday of Mercy” to sick children in Krakow after praying for the victims of the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp. [myad]

Hillary Clinton Declares Her Assets, Donald Trump Gives Excuses

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

Democrat Presidential candidate in the forthcoming American election, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, on Friday, declared her assets, including her tax return for last year, even as her rival in the Republican, Donal Trump, has been giving excuses why he would not declare his assets.

Mrs. Clinton and her husband Bill, the former president, reported $10.6 million in income for 2015. They paid $3.6 million in federal income tax, according to the document, which was posted on the Democratic presidential candidate’s web page.

Over the course of their careers, the Clintons have published all of their tax returns since 1977. Democrats repeatedly point to this as evidence of transparency on the part of the power couple.

Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine also released his returns for the past 10 years on Friday.

But the billionaire Trump has declined to release his, arguing that his tax returns for the past several years are being audited.

“Donald Trump is hiding behind fake excuses and backtracking on his previous promises to release his tax returns,” Clinton campaign communications director, Jennifer Palmieri said and asked: “What is he trying to hide?”

The Clintons’ main sources of income were Mr Clinton’s paid speeches, to the tune of $5.2 million, and a payment to Hillary Clinton from the publisher of her last book, Simon & Schuster, for three million dollars.

Hillary Clinton gave dozens of paid speeches in 2013, 2014 and 2015 but gave this up before launching her candidacy for the White House in April 2015.

The Clintons also donated a million dollars to the non-profit foundation that bears their name.

The Republican and Democratic candidates in the last nine presidential elections — since Ronald Reagan in 1980 — have released tax returns at least for the previous year, according to Politifact.

Most released their returns for several years, such as Bob Dole en 1996. He did so for the previous 29 years, according to the Washington Post.

In 2012, Mitt Romney released two years’ worth of tax returns.

Trump presented the Federal Election Commission with a mandatory personal financial disclosure form in May and says this is enough.

That document gave only an estimate of Trump’s assets, liabilities and income.

Trump has said he is worth more than $10 billion, but no one has been able to confirm this independently. Forbes magazine estimates Trump is worth less than half that — $4.5 billion.

Democrats suspect Trump is holding back because his tax return might show he earns less than what he says, pays little or no tax, or gives a negligible amount to charity. [myad]

Cultists Sack Imo Villagers

Cultists in Ogoni land

Two rival cult groups, Asland and Deegbam, have invaded Obitti autonomous community in Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State, chasing away the indigenes.

The rampaging cult groups in their latest attack, took over the entire community after killing one person and wounding many villagers. They also burnt several buildings belonging to their members.

An indigene of the community, Chief Emmanuel Odunze, called for urgent intervention of both the security agencies and government to restore normalcy and protect the people.

He said: “as I speak with you now, the entire community has been deserted by the owners for their own safety.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Niger Delta Affairs, Justus Ojika, condemned the incident and appealed to the villagers to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands.

Ojika, who said the villagers had been subjected to threats, extortion, abduction and brutalization over time by the suspected cultists, regretted the development.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, said the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, and the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, have visited the area and are working to end the conflict. [myad]

Sweden Sends US Women World Football Champion Out Of Rio

US Women world champion

The United States Women’s football world champions have been sent out of the Rio Olympic Games by Swedish women side. The US advancement to the next level was cut short with 4-3 loss on penalty shootout in Brasilia on Friday.

Defeat is the Americans’ first in 15 games at the Olympics and only their third ever in Games history, having won four gold medals and a silver since women’s football was introduced to the Olympic programme. [myad]

Buhari To Nigerian Youths: This Government Belongs To You

Youths of Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerian youths that his government belongs to them in view of the outstanding roles they played in making his 2015 electoral victory a reality.
“The roles that young Nigerians played in the historic election that brought our government to power will never be forgotten. This government belongs to you.”
The President who addressed the youths on the occasion of International Youth Day assured them of his commitment to improving the quality of their lives and to creating opportunities for them to achieve their dreams and ambitions.
“We are mindful of the fact that Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world. Those young people are immensely energetic and talented, consistently blazing the trail in the arts, sports, business and technology. We are proud of what you have done and what you are able to do.
“We have launched a number of initiatives targeted at expanding the economic opportunities available to young Nigerians.”
President Buhari said that the N-Power programme is his government job creation scheme for which applications are ongoing, after which 500,000 youths would be employed in agriculture, education, healthcare and technology.
“The Aso Villa Demo Day will soon bring 30 of the most innovative young Nigerians to the State House to showcase their talent in providing technology-based solutions to some of our most challenging problems.
“The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), part of our N500 billion Social Investment Programme, will provide soft loans to thousands of young entrepreneurs across the country. These are just some of the many initiatives we have designed and are implementing for you.”
Buhari stressed that the youths are the strength and future of the country, even as he assured that his administration will create an enabling environment for them to realize their potentials. [myad]

Economic Crunch Deals Blow On Yobe; Suspends Hajj Team, 421 Seats Vacant

Muslim Pilgrims

Economic crunch in Nigeria has taken its toll on Yobe state Pilgrims’ Welfare Board as it has suspended the traditional Amirul Hajj team for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia even as a total of 421 seats out of the total seats allocated to the state could not be filled by the impoverished Muslims.

Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Arab, who spoke to news men in Damaturu on Friday, confirmed that 1,800 intending pilgrims had paid their fares fully out of the 2,231 seats allocated to the state.

“The commission could not exhaust its allocation like other states due to the economic crunch facing the country and indeed Yobe.”

He said that the hajj team was also suspended on the same of ground of paucity of funds and the need to save costs.

The chairman said that the first flight from the state, which was initially scheduled for Friday, was delayed due to non-availability of Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) for the intending pilgrims.

“We are yet to receive BTA from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is very important and critical to the welfare of pilgrims.”

Alhaji Al-Arab gave assurance however that the Board is committed to the welfare of pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia and back home, adding: “Yobe Government has provided supplement for accommodation and the commission has acquired hotel close to the holy mosque for them to perform the five daily prayers at the grand mosque.”

He appealed to the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and country at large while in the holy land. [myad]

UNICEF Describes Outbreak Of Polio In Borno As Sobering News

UNICEF kidThe United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has described the latest outbreak of wild polio in part of Borno state as a sobering news.
The Fund said that the two children that were paralyzed by wild poliovirus in northeastern Nigeria underscores the urgency of eradicating the disease in conflict-affected areas.
UNICEF Polio Eradication Director, Reza Hossaini said: “we cannot deny the connection between conflict and the continued threat of polio. The two new cases mean children across the Lake Chad region are now at particular risk. With our partners, we will not stop until we reach every child with polio vaccination.”
The Government of Nigeria and the World Health Organization, on Thursday, confirmed an outbreak of wild poliovirus in conflict-ridden Borno state, where children are already facing dangerously high levels of malnutrition. The two cases were discovered in parts of Borno that have recently become accessible, but large areas of the state remain unreachable.
Nigeria and the continent, had its last confirmed polio case two years ago and was within a year of being certified polio-free, thanks to a massive mobilization by the government, partners and local health providers.
The Federal Ministry of Health, supported by WHO, UNICEF and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, are rolling out an emergency immunization campaign, starting in the accessible parts of Borno state. [myad]

Turkey Clamps Down On 648 Court Judges, 35,000 Others Over July Failed Coup

Turkey cracks down on coup plottersTurkey Government is still hunting for supporters of the July failed coup attempt, with warrant of arrest issued on 648 court judges and arrest of 35,022 people.
Out of the people arrested 17,740 of them have been formally arrested under court orders.
A government official said 5,685 people remain in detention, waiting to see a judge even as some others have been released.
Information has it that the government has continued to purge the state bureaucracy of alleged supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Turkish Islamic cleric accused of plotting the coup, charges he denies.
In the latest move, warrants were issued for 648 judges and prosecutors.
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that nearly 3,500 members of the judiciary have been suspended since the July 15 failed putsch.
About 65,000 civil servants in total have been suspended or fired, with the government accusing all of having links to Gulen.
In addition, 21,000 teachers have lost their licenses.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was once allied with Gulen, has vowed to continue the purges until the state is “cleansed” of his rival’s followers.
dpa/NAN. [myad]

INEC Chairman Gives Reason For Inconclusive Elections

Election in progress

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has given reasons why there have been inconclusive elections in the country’s recent electoral history.
One of the reasons, he said is what he called electoral impunity by Nigerian politicians.
Professor Yakubu who spoke at the official launch and public presentation of the National Human Rights Commission’s “End Electoral Impunity” Project Report, held at the conference hall of Commission’s headquarters, Abuja, asked Nigerians to put a stop to impunity in the system.
The INEC Chairman who was represented by the National Commissioner in charge of the Voter Education and Publicity Committee, Prince Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, said that electoral impunity has caused the nation a whole lot of setback in terms of material resources, development of democracy and human lives.
Professor Yakubu insisted that there is need for the country to establish Electoral Offences Tribunal (EOT), to be saddled with the full responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders and bringing them to book as deterrent to others.
The INEC boss decried the use of sophisticated arms by politicians to intimidate electoral officials, saying that such violence has made it very difficult for INEC to conclude six out of the eighty elections conducted by the Commission since he assumed office.
He pleaded with politicians to stop making elections do or die affairs. [myad]

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