BREAKING: Austin Eguavoen Resign As Super Eagles Coach

 

Eguavoen has stepped down as Super Eagles head coach following the failure of Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Eguavoen has sent an official resignation letter to the NFF, according to a report by Brilla FM. The sports radio said Eguavoen will now return to his role as Technical Director of all national teams. The NFF had handed a two-year contract to Eguavoen two days before the first leg of the World Cup play-off against Ghana.

Meanwhile, an official statement by the NFF’s General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the football federation has disengaged the entire Super Eagles’ Technical Crew. According to the statement, the decision is following the failure of the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Parts of the statement reads; 

“The NFF has in the meantime withdrawn the two-and-half years contract offered the coaches and terminated the appointment of the entire technical crew of the team with immediate effect. A new crew will be announced after a proper review.

“We thank the coaches and team officials for their service to the nation and wish them success in their future endeavours,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

5 killed in Israel terror attack, with shooter neutralized

 

A gunman killed at least five people in an attack in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, on Tuesday, paramedics said.

A video broadcast on Israeli TV showed a man in black with an assault rifle walking around the ultra-Orthodox Jewish town.

Witnesses said he shot at balconies, people on the street and a car. Ambulance spokesperson Zaki Heller said that the "terrorist was liquidated." It was not immediately clear who shot him.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz cited police who said the assailant was a 26-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank. They added that he had been arrested in 2013 and served a six-month sentence.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett convened an emergency meeting with top security officials on Tuesday.

The attack comes after the so-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the killing of two people in the Israeli city of Hadera on Sunday. Just last week a man killed four people in a stabbing spree in the Negev desert.

The Times of Israel reported that the total of 11 victims killed in the recent attacks constitute the the highest number of people killed in such a period within the country since the suicide bombing of a bus in 2006 killed 11 people.

Earlier on Tuesday, police carried out raids on at least 12 Arab-Israeli homes. The assailants in the previous two attacks were both Arab Israeli citizens. Before the raids, Bennett called the rise in violence a "new situation."

Who is behind the attacks?

It was not yet clear who was responsible for Tuesday's shooting, but IS claimed responsibility for the two previous incidents. The death toll over the past few days marks a recent high point for terrorist attacks.

Israeli officials said the Islamic holy month of Ramadan was set to begin on Saturday evening.

In 2021, tensions following the attempted eviction of a Palestinian family from a Jerusalem neighborhood sparked clashes with police, which eventually spilled over into an 11-day war that left 243 Palestinians dead and 12 people in Israel.

Sunday's attack also coincided with a regional summit held in Israel, which saw representatives from several Arab states that recently normalized relations with the country come together.

Face Masks Now Optional, COVID-19 Restrictions To Go Soon – FG

 

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has said the use of face masks in public places is now optional, while the decision on the final relaxation of measures will be taken after Easter.

The Head of the Technical Secretariat, who also doubles as the Secretary of the PSC on COVID-19, Dr Muktar Muhammed, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja.

Countries across the world have started relaxing COVID-19 measures.

Recently, Ghana, a West African country, announced that the use of face masks was no longer mandatory.

Nigeria has continued to witness a drop in the number of daily COVID-19 cases.

The PSC also announced that it would stop demanding proof of PCR tests from fully vaccinated travellers.

Muhammed stated, “We are easing up restrictions, but it’s important we do so responsibly.

“Last week, we suspended the limit placed on public gatherings, curfews and other social measures.

“The use of face masks in open spaces is now discretionary.

“We shall not hesitate to remove all mandates once the disease is no longer of public health consequence. We are aware that cases are rising in the Western Pacific and Eastern Europe. The US just mandated a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for adults older than 50. We fear a reversal of the pandemic situation, where largely unvaccinated poor countries will be made to bear the burden, because the West has developed very high immunity through large scale vaccination.

“Our biggest fear now is the upcoming Easter holidays. If we are able to cross and the cases continue to go down with no significant increase in hospitalisation and death, then certainly, we will lower down our level of alertness and relax most of the measures.

“We are working with data and algorithms to determine our line of action. Everything depends on what happens next. We learn from other countries, but we don’t have to necessarily copy what they are doing. Every country should evaluate its risk and take responsibility.”

Meanwhile, data from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has revealed that a total of 12,139,797 persons have been fully vaccinated in Nigeria, while 18,942,020 persons have been partially vaccinated.

The NPHCDA announced that Moderna, Astrazeneca, Pfizer and the Johnson and Johnson brands of COVID-19 vaccines were available for individuals willing to be vaccinated.

Russia Conducts Military Drills On Isles Disputed With Japan

 

March 26, Russia was conducting drills on islands claimed by Tokyo, Japanese media said on Saturday, days after Moscow halted peace talks with Japan because of its sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

After Russia formally pulled put of a negotiations deal with Japan to officially end world war 2 hostilities it has taken it's millitary to Japan's disputed island

Russia's Eastern Military District said it was conducting military drills on the Kuril islands with more than 3,000 troops and hundreds of pieces of army equipment, Russia's Interfax news agency said Friday.

It did not say where on the island chain, connecting Russia's Kamchatka peninsula and Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, the drills were taking place. Japanese media said they were on territory the Soviet Union seized at the end of World War Two that is claimed by Tokyo.

Japan's Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister's Office could not be reached outside business hours to comment on the exercises.

The territorial dispute over the four islets - which Russia says are part of its Kuril chain and which Japan calls its Northern Territories - has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from reaching a peace treaty formally ending hostilities.

Japan reacted angrily on Tuesday after Russia withdrew from long-running treaty talks and froze joint economic projects related to the islands, in retaliation for Japan joining Western sanctions over Moscow's month-old invasion.

2023 Presidency: Why I Will Accept Tinubu, Rochas Ticket – Okorocha

Senator Rochas Okorocha has said he would grab the opportunity to run for the presidency if the possibility of a Tinubu and Rochas ticket emerged.

Okorocha, a former Governor of Imo said this on Sunday while fielding questions from newsmen at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja, NAN reports.

“Uncle Tinubu and I are most likely to be.

“I know that at the appropriate time it may be because he is the one pushing up in the south-west and I am in the south-east.

“So let us see what happens between us, and if that is it, I will ask him to relax a bit so that we can move this section forward.

“The people naturally love me and I think it is because they believe I care, they believe I love and have sympathy for humanity, they believe I am detribalised.

“They believe I do not know religion or tribe, Muslim Christian, Igbo or Hausa, Yoruba, all I see is a human being and that is what makes the difference on my side.’’

Okorocha urged Nigerians to use their voter cards well because it was worth much more than they thought.

He added that 2023 would present an opportunity for Nigerians to make the right choices.

“Whether it is for internal democracy or for general elections, you must ensure that you cast your vote right because the voter’s card contains everything.

“It is the education of your children, it is your health, food on the table and security, so I always advise people that the worth of that card in your hand is more than N100 million so do not sell it for N10,000,’’ he said.

Sit-At-Home: Anambra People Dare Simeon Ekpa For Threatening Them And Soludo

This was the post by the Finland IPOB member that infuriated ndi Anambra. Simeon Ekpa threatened the good people of Anambra if they flout Monday’s sit at home and dared Soludo. But in what seemed like a rage of anger Anambrarians gave him a serious warning and had his account reported on Twitter.

Anambra people are no longer smiling with terrorists and they fully back their new Governor.

Below are screenshots of post by Simon Ekpa and comments that followed.

Afghan Girls Stage Protest, Demand Taliban Reopen Schools

 

More than two dozen girls and women have staged protests in front of the Ministry of Education in the capital, Kabul, days after the Taliban administration shut secondary schools for girls until further notice, following which the Afghan group has been accused of reneging on its promise on higher education for girls.

Thousands of jubilant girls across Afghanistan had flocked to learning institutions on Wednesday – the date the education ministry had set for classes to resume for girls of all ages.

But just hours into the first day, the ministry announced a shock policy reversal that left youngsters saying they felt betrayed and foreign governments expressing outrage.

On Friday, the United States cancelled planned talks with the Taliban in Qatar that were set to address key economic issues after the group’s decision to close schools.

The decision, which the Taliban has yet to explain, means girls above the sixth grade will not be able to attend school.

“Open the schools! Justice, justice!” chanted protesters on Saturday, some carrying school books as they gathered at a city square in Kabul.