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The Mirror sees our biggest paper recyclers working flat out this festive seasonBy DARLENE SUPERVILLE WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is “so proud” that a women’s health research initiative he launched last year at his wife’s urging has already invested nearly $1 billion because a healthy female population improves U.S. prosperity. “That’s a fact,” he said in closing remarks at the first White House Conference on Women’s Health Research. “We haven’t gotten that through to the other team yet,” Biden said, referencing President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration. Trump’s three conservative nominees to the Supreme Court from his first term as president voted to overturn a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion . Democrats campaigned on reproductive rights and women’s health issues in this year’s elections. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, said the president-elect will keep his promise to improve health in the U.S. “President Trump campaigned on making America healthy again for ALL Americans including men, women, and children, and he will deliver on that promise,” Leavitt said in an email. Women make up half of the U.S. population, about 168 million people, but medical research into their unique health circumstances has largely been underfunded and understudied, officials have said. Jill Biden has said she brought the idea for the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to the president after Maria Shriver, herself a women’s health advocate and member of the influential Kennedy political family, brought it to her. The first lady told the researchers, advocates, and business and philanthropic leaders attending the conference that she will keep pressing the issue after she leaves her role. “My work doesn’t stop in January when Joe and I leave this house,” she said. “I will keep building alliances, like the ones that brought us here today, and I will keep pushing for funding for innovative research.” The first lady said the U.S. economy loses about $1.8 billion in working time every year because of how menopause affects women. And she is interested in learning more about extreme morning sickness during pregnancy. “I heard this a couple weeks ago and I was particularly interested because my own granddaughter was going through the same thing, ’cause we’re going to be great-grandparents,” Jill Biden said. Related Articles Health | For now, ‘Dreamers’ will be shut out of the health care marketplace in 19 states Health | US health panel adds self-testing option for cervical cancer screening Health | Do weighted blankets help you sleep better? Here’s what to know Health | How measles, whooping cough, and worse could roar back on RFK Jr.’s watch Health | Work-life balance isn’t working for women. Why? Granddaughter Naomi Biden Neal and her husband, Peter Neal, are expecting their first child. Since its launch, the women’s health research initiative has attracted nearly $1 billion in federal funding, including from the Defense Department and National Institutes of Health. “In one year, everybody in this room kicked butt,” Shriver said at the conference. “Not until the Bidens did anyone ever think to make women’s health and research a priority for the federal government, so let that sink in.” President Biden closed the conference with a nod to the influence of his wife, who, after her remarks, sat in the front row beside their daughter Ashley Biden, who runs a women’s shelter in Philadelphia. ‘You stepped up kid,” Biden told the first lady. Then he told the audience, “In case you wonder, when she speaks, I listen.”
How DreamLLM Generates an Image On Its Own "Free Will"
Every Tuesday evening, people line up at the Warkworth RSA – but not to get in, or to the bar. It’s the Razza Dazzlers line dancing social group, which was started by Snells Beach locals Cath Hodder and her sister Christine Kyle in March this year. Hodder, who leads the group and calls the steps, says they had around 46 people the first night. “That was more than we expected. It was quite packed in there (on the dance floor next to the bar). Now we’re averaging about 30 dancers a week, from children to people in their 80s,” Hodder says. A session costs $5 with the money going to the RSA, or the “Razza” which inspired their name, and its popularity has meant that so far the group has raised over $6700 for the organisation. “We’ve been going for around 40 weeks, so it adds up. Obviously, we’re using the RSA’s facilities, which are really good, so they should have the money, and they’re upgrading the bathrooms and the kitchen at the moment.” The sisters first got into line dancing in February last year after one too many injuries pursuing their previous hobby – roller skating. Kyle found a class with local teacher Krista Fletcher, and the sisters would practise their steps every Friday night on the RSA dance floor with a few friends. This soon attracted an audience and led to them starting their own class on Tuesdays. Not only is line dancing safer than roller skating, Hodder says it’s good for the mind, body and soul. “You’ve got a focus, and you don’t need a partner so it’s good if you’re single. It’s still quite social because you get to dance with like-minded people. “It’s good for your body because you’re moving. People also really enjoy the music because we’ve veered away from just country and western music, so we might play Beyoncé or some old-school hip hop.” Razza Dazzler Richard Legae says he was dragged kicking and screaming to his first line dance at the RSA, but now he’s been there 12 weeks and counting. “When I came, I didn’t know any of the steps or dances so I went away and thought I’d make sure that when I come back next week that I at least know what the steps are. “I found that when I knew the steps, I actually enjoyed the dancing. And it went from there.” Hodder says the Tuesday session caters for absolute beginners and there’s only a limited number of steps you need to learn. “Everyone’s welcome. It’s pretty casual and about having fun, you just need enthusiasm. If you’re moving, you’re doing it right. “But the majority rules – if everyone’s facing one way, go that way,” Hodder says. What: Line dancing with the Razza Dazzlers for $5. Where: Warkworth RSA. When: Tuesdays, 5.30pm to 6.30pmOh the humanity! "Look Back" yells from the rooftops why art needs to exist in the age of AI
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasts Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico over reluctance to source alternatives to Russian gas. The Ukrainian leader’s fiery remarks come after Fico’s highly controversial visit to Moscow to on Sunday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, accusing the Slovak leader of helping Russia’s Vladimir Putin weaken Europe. Zelenskyy’s comments followed a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader since the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Fico’s visit to the Russian capital on Sunday was classified as a one-one-one “working visit” with Putin aimed at discussing “the international situation”, prospects of a “peaceful end” to the war in Ukraine and Russian natural gas deliveries to Slovakia. Fico’s trip followed Zelenskyy’s comments on Thursday’s European Summit in Brussels. The Ukrainian leader declared his intention of not renewing a five-year agreement signed before the war on his country that enabled the flow of Russian natural gas to some European countries; including Slovakia, through Ukraine, set to expire at the end of this year. Dnes som sa v Moskve pracovne stretol s prezidentom RF V. Putinom. Znova pripomínam, že presadzujem suverénnu politiku... Fico said Zelenskyy’s decision would harm his country’s interests and economy, opting to seek an alternative arrangement with Putin instead of sourcing an alternative to Russian gas. Zelenskyy took to X saying the dependency and purchase of Russian gas helps Putin earn money to fund his war on Ukraine. “We are losing people as a result of the war that Putin started, and we believe that such assistance to Putin is immoral.” “Moscow provides significant discounts to Fico, but Slovakia pays for them. Such discounts are not free, payments to Russia are made through sovereignty or murky schemes. This should be a matter of concern for Slovakia's law enforcement and special services,” continued Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy says that evidence of such financing was revealed in last week’s Summit in Brussels. “Leaders observed that Mr. Fico does not want to participate in the common European work on energy independence or seek replacement for Russian gas, but rather wants to assist Russia in pushing American gas and energy resources of other partners away from Europe,” added the Ukrainian president. Zelenskyy noted that Fico had even refused compensations offered to Slovakia to ease the transition period as Europe looks to decrease its reliance on Russian energy. The Ukrainian leader implied that the Kremlin had incentivised Fico monetarily to ensure Slovakia’s continued interest in only Russian gas. “It is not a security issue for him. He is interested specifically in the Russian gas and the matter’s worth is 500 million U.S. dollars per year. Other profits come from the oil pipe that runs through the Ukrainian territory and gives another 500 million U.S. dollars per year, which helps Mr. Fico.” Thousands of people took part in anti-government protests in the capital, Bratislava, on Monday after the Slovak premier’s surprise talks with Putin. Protesters held placards calling Fico a traitor and denouncing him as their prime minister. In a post on X, Michal Šimečka, leader of Slovakia’s largest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called Fico’s visit a source of shame for the country, likening it to betraying their national interests and partners. He continued accusing his rival of making Slovakia a tool of the Kremlin’s propaganda machine, insisting Fico should have negotiated with Ukraine if gas was truly his point of concern. Russian troops have reportedly made significant advancements in various Ukrainian territories, leaving Kiev’s forces on the back foot. Ukraine has lost territory to Russian forces in the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast and eastern Donetsk Oblast regions, according to Ukrainian media outlets. The Kremlin’s gains in the region were kickstarted by Russia’s capturing of Avdiivka in February, paving the way for major offensives to batter Ukraine’s eastern fronts for the remainder of the year. Several key industrial cities in the Donetsk region quickly fell to Russian attacks, as Ukraine, struggling with troop shortages is now ending the year having ceded multiple key territories. Ukrainian media also reports that a Russian counteroffensive involving North Korean troops may be imminent, offering little respite or prospect for a positive change on the battleground.WASHINGTON (AP) — She’s an Iraq War combat veteran and sexual assault survivor who has advocated for years to improve how the military handles claims of sexual misconduct. But when Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, appeared initially cool to the nomination of President-elect Donald Trump ’s choice of Pete Hegseth to serve as defense secretary — a man who once said women should not serve in combat and who has himself been accused of sexual assault — she faced an onslaught of criticism from within her own party, including threats of a potential primary challenge in 2026. “The American people spoke,” said Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Family Leader and a conservative activist in Ernst’s home state. “When you sign up for this job, it’s a big boy and big girl job, and she’s feeling the pressure of people vocalizing their disappointment, their concern with how she’s handling this.” The pressure campaign against Ernst, once a rising member of the GOP leadership, shows there is little room in Trump’s party for those who can’t get to yes on Hegseth or any of his other picks for his incoming administration It underscores the power Trump is expected to wield on Capitol Hill in a second term and serves as a warning to other lawmakers who may be harboring their own concerns about other Trump selections, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary and Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “If the king wants a different senator from Iowa, we’ll have one. If he doesn’t, we won’t,” said Iowa talk show host Steve Deace, suggesting on his show Monday that he would be willing to jump in against Ernst if Trump wanted a challenger. “I think someone’s got to be made an example out of, whether it’s Joni or someone else.” People close to Ernst, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, stress her mettle and say her eventual decision will depend on her assessment of Hegseth, a former “Fox & Friends Weekend” host and veteran, and nothing else. “Has there been Twitter pressure? Sure. But Joni’s a combat veteran. She’s not easily pressured,” said David Kochel, an Iowa Republican strategist and longtime Ernst friend and adviser. Ernst has worked steadily to shore up her relationship with Trump after declining to endorse him before the Iowa caucuses that kicked off this year's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. During a recent visit to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida club, she met with Trump and billionaire Elon Musk with ideas for their budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency. She heads up a newly formed DOGE caucus in the Senate. Trump has not tried personally to pressure Ernst to back Hegseth, according to a person familiar with their conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose them. And he has not targeted her — or any potential holdouts — publicly in social media posts. He also hasn't had to. The response to Ernst built quickly, first in whispers following her initially cool remarks after meeting with Hegseth, then into a pile-on from powerful figures in the “Make America Great Again” movement. Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Hegseth’s nomination, according to Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs polling . About one-third of Republicans approve of him as a pick, and 16% disapprove. Another 1 in 10 Republicans, roughly, are neutral and say they neither approve nor disapprove. Trump allies had been concerned that a successful effort to derail Hegseth’s candidacy would empower opposition to other nominees, undermining his projections of complete dominance of the party. In the narrowly held Senate, with a 53-47 GOP majority in the new year, any Trump nominee can only afford a few Republican “no” votes if all Democrats are opposed. Those piling on included Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who warned that Ernst’s political career was “in serious jeopardy" and that primary challengers stood at the ready. One social media post from the CEO of The Federalist featured side-by-side photos comparing Ernst to ousted Rep. Liz Cheney , R-Wyo., whom Trump recently said deserves to be jailed, along with other members of the House committee that investigated the Capitol riot. Building America’s Future, a conservative nonprofit, announced plans to spend half a million dollars supporting Trump's pick of Hegseth, the Daily Caller first reported . The group has already spent thousands on Facebook and Instagram ads featuring Ernst’s photo and is running a commercial urging viewers to call their senators to back him. Criticism mounted at home, too. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who quickly endeared herself to Trump when she became the highest-ranking state official to endorse him ahead of this year’s caucuses, wrote an op-ed for the conservative Breitbart news site that was seen as a not-so-subtle warning. “What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people," she wrote. Local Republican groups also encouraged Iowans to call Ernst’s office and urged her to back Trump's picks. While incumbents have particular staying power in Iowa, Trump has a track record of ending the careers of those who cross him. Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller defended the tactics. “Right now, this is President Trump’s party,” he said Tuesday at The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit in Washington. “I think voters want to see the president being able to put in his people.” Ernst has gradually appeared to soften on Hegseth. By Monday, after meeting with him once again, she issued a statement saying they had had “encouraging conversations.” Ernst said Hegseth committed “to completing a full audit of the Pentagon” and to hire a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.” “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” she said. But for many Republican senators who have found themselves on the wrong side of Trump, it was hard not to see the campaign against Ernst as a warning. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican who also met with Hegseth this week, said the attacks seemed “a little more intense than usual,” while acknowledging that she is “no stranger” to similar MAGA-led campaigns. She was reelected in 2022 after beating a Trump-endorsed challenger. Murkowski said the potential attacks don’t weigh into her decision-making, but added, “I’m sure that it factors into Sen. Ernst’s.” ___ Colvin reported from New York and Fingerhut from Des Moines, Iowa.New 3D bunion procedure offers patients reliefFunds stolen from cryptocurrency platforms surged 21% year-over-year to reach $2.2 billion in 2024, according to a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which the total amount stolen exceeded $1 billion, with 303 hacking incidents reported, up from 282 in 2023. In comparison, hackers took $1.8 billion in 2023. The surge in crypto heists coincides with a dramatic rise in bitcoin prices, which have jumped 140% this year to surpass the $100,000 mark. This price rally has attracted increased institutional participation and support from US President-elect Donald Trump. “As the digital asset market booms, it is typical to see the illicit use of crypto grow in tandem,” said Eric Jardine, Chainalysis’ cybercrimes research lead. “Countering the proliferation of these crimes—especially fraud—will undoubtedly be a key challenge for the industry in the new year.” The majority of stolen crypto this year came from compromises to private keys, with most attacks targeting centralized platforms. Notable hacks included the theft of more than $305 million from Japan’s DMM Bitcoin exchange in May, and a $235 million loss from India’s WazirX in July. Chainalysis also highlighted that crypto hacking activities linked to North Korea more than doubled in 2024, reaching a record high of $1.3 billion. The United Nations has reported that cryptocurrency allows North Korea to circumvent international sanctions, although the country routinely denies involvement in cyberattacks or crypto heists.
RACHAEL Ray launched her new podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, in October, but listeners have failed to tune in weeks after the new show’s debut. Rachael , 56, dropped her first episode of her weekly podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead , on Tuesday, October 22. The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead has not ranked in the top 250 of all Apple podcasts, according to Chartable. The podcast is listed in the Arts, and Society and Culture sections. In the Arts category, the podcast ranked in the 95th spot as of November 22. Competitors who beat out I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead include Deb Perelman and J. Kenji López-Alt’s The Recipe with Kenji and Deb, which placed in the 13th spot, and Food Network star Ina Garten’s Be My Guest with Ina Garten, which placed 22nd. Read more on Rachael Ray As for the Society and Category section, Rachael’s podcast did not place. NEW VENTURE Rachael announced her first podcast on October 14. On her premiere episode, she said, “This is a podcast about drive, what fuels people who love hard work and what we can learn from one another. “I feel at my best when I am pressed. When I am being my most productive. That is why I have always said, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Most read in Celebrity “I’m excited for everyone to join me for conversations with people I know and people I want to know better. Welcome to I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.” Guests have included actors, chefs and fitness trainers. In addition to the podcast, she currently hosts Rachael Ray’s Meals in Minutes and Rachael Ray in Tuscany on FYI. CONCERNS FOR RACHAEL Rachael’s show clips have sparked concern among fans in recent months. In a clip for Rachael Ray in Tuscany, she appeared to be slurring her speech during the cooking show. "Omg is she ok? What happened?" one fan wrote on Instagram. Another commented, "This is concerning. Something is not right." A third expressed, "I love you but are you ok? I'm seriously concerned." Rachael has not addressed the concerns and instead filtered the comments on her videos . She continues to post cooking videos from episodes to her Instagram page. Despite the concern, Rachael returned to social media with a brand new recipe . She shared the instructions for making her shrimp and chorizo paella on Instagram . "Hope you are doing okay," one person commented under Rachael's post. PODCAST CONFESSIONS The first episode of Rachael’s podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead , aired on Tuesday, October 22. Rachael opened up about her love of being a homemaker while living with her husband, John Cusimano, in their Lake Luzerne, New York home. “I am a homemaker. I love chores, I love being in the kitchen... I really like chores,” she told her guest. “What people consider physical work... I like making dinners, planning dinners, making lists.” Rachael then went on to share her love of “physical labor,” which she admitted has been on pause. “I like to help carry in the wood," she said. "I had a couple of bad falls in the last couple of weeks so I haven’t been doing that in a while. On the November 12 episode , Rachael revealed why she wakes up at 4 o'clock in the morning. "I've gotten worse as I've gotten older, because I feel like time might be shorter, and I want my time to be more, every minute of it," she told her guest. In the November 19 episode , she opened up about how her dogs help her through her difficult days. She said, "It just brings you a ray of life. What it brings to a human, that unconditional love, it really gets you through dark days. “For me, if I have the worst day, or sick as a dog, the things that make me feel best, go home, climb into bed with a blanket with my dog!” POWER OF ATTORNEY The U.S. Sun even reported Rachael filed for her husband to be her power of attorney decades before worry began for the chef. The document reads, “The powers you grant below continue to be effective should you become disabled or incompetent. “Caution: This is an important document. It gives the person whom you designate (your agent) broad powers to handle your property during your lifetime, which may include powers to mortgage, sell, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property without advance notice to you or approval by you. “These powers will continue to exist even after you become disabled or incompetent.” The document continued, “This document does not authorize anyone to make medical or other health care decisions. You may execute a health care proxy to do this.” Rachael only gave John authority for “real estate transactions.” Rachael and John signed off on the document on July 19, 2005, just weeks before their September 24, 2005 wedding. ATTORNEY SPEAKS OUT Beverly Hills attorney Adam Michael Sacks explained a power of attorney could be granted for certain reasons, including if the requesting party has health issues. "It is something that would be done if you are sick,” Mr. Sacks told The U.S. Sun. “The power of attorney can make certain decisions. There are certain things you have to sign if you own a house that needs to be sold and you’re, for example, in a coma. With power of attorney, it lets that person sign for you. “Attorney means someone who acts for you. If I am your attorney, I can go to court and act for you. He would make the decision if she’s unable to.” He continued, “It’s not common. One of the reasons is when you know you have a problem, like you’re sick or getting older. "It has to be someone you completely trust, like a spouse. You would have them make decisions as though it were you." Outside of health reasons, Mr. Sacks said power of attorney could be for financial help. He explained her potential reasoning, "I’m a chef, I can't deal with money, I trust my husband or lawyer, he can take care of it.” Rachael Ray has been on TV since 2001, cooking up recipes and working with other celebrity chefs. Here are the TV programs that she has hosted 30 Minutes Meals - 2001 to 2012, Food Network Rachael Ray - talk show, 2006 to 2023, ABC Network Rachael's Vacation - 2008, Food Network, five-part mini-series Rachael Ray's Week in a Day - reality TV cooking show, 2010, Food Network Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off - co-hosted with Guy Fieri, 2012, Food Network Rachael Ray in Tuscany - 2024 to present, USA Network RACHAEL'S CAREER Rachael appeared on ABC’s Rachael Ray Show from 2006 to 2023. Rachael left the show to launch her own production company , Free Food Studios. She told Deadline at the time, “My passions have evolved from the talk show format production and syndication model to a platform unencumbered by the traditional rules of distribution. “That is why I am looking forward to putting all my energies into my recently announced production arm, Free Food Studios." Read More on The US Sun She also runs the nonprofit organization Yum-o!, which “empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cook through three main initiatives: Cook, Feed and Fund.” The U.S. Sun previously reported she filed a two new trademarks on October 4, 2024 for pizza peels, non-electric pizza cutters and egg poachers, seemingly to expand her cooking empire.
Dawakin-Tofa explains Governor Yusuf’s cabinet reshuffle
By Usman Daudu In this past week, stampedes happened in three locations in the country and people lost their lives. In Ibadan, over 30 children died during an event by the former Queen of the Ooni of Ife to host 5, 000 children. And last Saturday, 10 persons died at a food-sharing event at a church in Abuja while 22 people also died in a rush for food in Okija, Anambra State. It is sad that these Nigerians died while on a mission to get succour from palliatives. It feels sadder that these incidents might have been averted had perhaps proper planning and execution been put in place. And that is why the latest news from the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, is gladdening. According to reports, the governor opened bank accounts for two million poor residents of the state. Sani disclosed this last Thursday during the distribution of food items and palliatives for Christmas and New Year at the Umaru Yar’adua Conference Centre, Kaduna, which was spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. “Through our financial inclusion programme, we have opened over two million bank accounts for poor, vulnerable, and underserved persons to enable them to benefit from state and Federal Government social intervention programmes,” the governor said. Ordinarily, this story should not even make the news given that it is perhaps the most logical route to follow given the technology available in the financial ecosystem. Sadly, it is a novelty. During the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as president, the federal government initiated the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) which had the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) as one of its programmes. Under the CCT, citizens classified as ‘the poorest of the poor’ were to get Ten Thousand Naira. With the existence of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) which mandates every account holder in Nigeria to be biometrically verified, one would have expected the federal government to utilise the banks for transacting payment. But no. Rather, government officials physically took large sums of cash to crowded venues to share to the beneficiaries. According to multiple reports, at those venues, beneficiaries were just asked to sign and handed over envelopes which sometimes contained less than Five Thousand Naira. Such fraud implied those concerned didn’t want a more efficient way to disburse the funds to the poor. For their selfish reasons. Hence, while the idea of the CCT was noble, its execution was very disappointing and left a sour taste in the mouth of even some supporters of the programme. I mean, in today’s age of electronic banking, who goes about physically distributing sums running into hundreds of millions? The mere logistical horror associated with such a venture should even be enough to deter those who go that route. Then, there is also the case of accountability. When the Buhari administration initiated Trader-Moni and Markket-Moni. Good schemes. But again, its implementation was flawed. Instead of deploying BVN to track recipients of the funds, the funds were channelled via cash, with some middlemen conniving and ripping the government as well as the beneficiaries. The other process of having the poor come to a venue and organisers carrying large sums of money to share, should, at best, remain in the 1970s. It cannot be argued that it is more efficient to disburse funds to poor people by sending them money via their bank accounts. For instance, at the push of a button, one can initiate credit transfer to multiple persons instantaneously. With this method too, transparency is achieved as the use of BVN details particulars of every recipient. With the strategy Sani has adopted in Kaduna, funds meant for the poor can be effectively monitored and verified. Anyway, while some commentators argue that the recent stampedes resulted because of poverty, perhaps the more important factor concerns the organisers’ obligations. What numbers were they expecting? What preparations were on ground to receive and accommodate the expected numbers? What was the anticipated flow of movement designed? Did they have enough space and manpower to cater for the expected numbers? Were there better ways of dispersing their charity other than gathering a crowd in a particular space? These are serious questions organisers are expected to satisfy themselves with before beginning to gather a crowd. Thankfully, after the sad incidents of last week, Nigerians have become wary of palliative-seeking crowds. Some states have even listed conditions for distribution of palliatives. Lagos State declared that organisers of palliative sharing events with more than 250 persons must get clearance with the state safety agencies. Also, on Sunday, the Edo State Police Command urged the state government and other organisations to collaborate with the police in the distribution of palliatives to avoid a stampede. “Following recent cases of stampedes leading to avoidable deaths in some parts of the country, the Edo State Police Command has proactively called on government officials, community leaders, religious bodies, and non-governmental organisations to collaborate with the state command for a comprehensive and organised way of going about the distribution of any palliatives,” said the command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, in a statement. “The Commissioner of Police, Ozigi Umoru, therefore warns groups and organisers of similar events to ensure they involve the Police or other security agencies to avoid such occurrences in the state. The Command remains committed to always ensuring the safety of lives and property.” The poor would always be in our midst. And as conscientious individuals and government, we cannot shy away from charity. But this charity must be done in ways to eliminate disasters such as those that happened in those three places. The Kaduna example by which the state government has opened bank accounts for the poor is commendable. Through that, no fanfare would follow transmission of whatever tokens the government intends for the poor. It would be a silent alert that would bring the loud joy from those deserving of it. In fact, Christians are taught to be discrete when giving as the bible preaches in the book of Matthew: ‘But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.’ Other religions too do not encourage a show-off when it comes to charity. Since assuming office as governor, his administration has distributed palliatives, agricultural inputs, grants, and soft loans to farmers and small-scale enterprises. As a passionate activist, it is expected that Sani’s administration would further elevate the condition of the poor residents of Kaduna. By opening bank accounts for the poor, the Kaduna State government is set to bring efficiency to assisting the poor. It would also be good for other individuals, organisations and particularly governments to copy this Kaduna format of cash transfers to the poor. It’s the 21st century and with the basic technology which all the banks deploy daily, there is no charity too large that cannot be reduced to gifting credit ‘alerts.’ It would be shameful to continue toying with the lives of the poor just for a show of charity.
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MAPUTO: At least 21 people, including two police officers, have been killed in Mozambique in the past 24 hours during unrest sparked after the confirmation of the ruling Frelimo party's election victory, the interior minister announced on Tuesday. The Portuguese-speaking African country’s highest court had confirmed on Monday that the Frelimo party, in power since 1975, won the October 9 presidential election that had already triggered weeks of unrest. A total of "236 acts of serious violence were reported" across the country, leaving at least 25 people wounded including 13 police officers, Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a press conference late Tuesday. "Groups of armed men using bladed weapons and firearms have carried out attacks against police stations, penitentiary establishments, and other infrastructure," Ronda said. More than 70 people have been arrested, he added. The largely deserted capital Maputo was earlier hit by skirmishes between protesters and police, AFP reporters said. Police in armoured vehicles patrolled the centre of the city, where hundreds of protesters in small, scattered groups threw objects and started fires. Makeshift roadblocks on major thoroughfares were set alight on Monday evening, covering the city with thick smoke, soon after the court confirmed the victory of Frelimo’s presidential candidate Daniel Chapo. Chapo’s main challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, has claimed the election was rigged, sparking fears of violence between rival party supporters. Shops, banks, supermarkets, petrol stations and public buildings meanwhile were ransacked, with their windows smashed and contents looted. Some were set on fire and reduced to smouldering rubble. "Maputo Central Hospital is operating in critical conditions, more than 200 employees have not been able to reach the site," its director Mouzinho Saide told AFP, adding that nearly 90 people had been admitted with injuries. Forty were injured by firearms and four by knives, he added. Main roads leading to Maputo and the neighbouring city of Matola were blocked by barricades and burning tyres, while the road leading to Maputo airport was largely impassable. Most local residents stayed at home, with the few who ventured out doing so to look at the damage or do last-minute Christmas shopping. Christmas Eve is normally a busy time, with large crowds in central Maputo but shops and even small neighbourhood grocery stores were closed, making petrol and bread unavailable. Public transport was also paralysed, with only ambulances and funeral vehicles running. The unrest spread to several cities in the northern part of Mozambique, local media reported, with violence and vandalism in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia and Tete, where opposition support is strong. More than 100 people have already died in the unprecedented post-election violence, with fears that the toll could increase after Mondlane’s claim of victory. Mozambicans are demanding "electoral truth", he said in a Facebook post. "We must continue the fight, remain united and strong." Monday’s confirmation of the election result came despite claims of irregularities from many observers. Chapo won 65.17 percent of the vote, more than five points less than the initial results declared by the country’s electoral commission. In the National Assembly, Frelimo has a majority of 171 seats out of 250, down 24 from the announcement in October. "Venancio", as Mondlane is called on the street, repeated his assertion in a social media message on Tuesday that the constitutional court was "legalising fraud" and "the humiliation of the people". "We want to create a People’s Constitutional Court, which will confirm Venancio Mondlane as president," he said of himself. "I will be sworn in and invested," he added. Chapo, who is due to take office in mid-January, struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech on Monday, promising to "talk to everyone", including his main opponent.In the midst of Government formation negotiations for the Social Democrats, newly elected TD Eoin Hayes has been suspended from the party – Gary Gannon explain where the party is at. On The Hard Shoulder , Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the parliamentary party “took a kicking” this week . “I suppose we have to get ourselves up off the mat, and we have done that, we regrouped fairly quickly,” he said. “I think the decision we made with the parliamentary party was swift, it was in accordance with our values to stand for accountability. “We haven't shied away from it, we've met the press every single day since, we've stood over ourselves. “So I think we've in terms of how we reacted, I'm quite proud of that, but it was a tough day for us.” Speaking about an article in The Irish Independent discussing political accountability , Deputy Gannon said that he was mentioned several times “rightfully so” as he “didn’t meet standards last week”. “We never claimed to be pure,” he said. “We say our foundational sounds are transparency and accountability, we have standards that if we don't meet, that we will treat ourselves as we treat those who haven't met them too.” Deputy Gannon doesn’t know if he can see Eoin Hayes back in the party. “This has been an absolute whirlwind of a week,” he said. “I think time will tell its own tale - there's a lot of lessons to be learned for all of us here.” On Government negotiations, Deputy Gannon said the Soc Dems don’t want to be in Government “just to make up numbers”. “We made a commitment before the election to the electorate that we would meet with every single party,” he said. “We met with Labour, we met with Sinn Féin and yesterday we met with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, which was very interesting. “Today, the parliamentary party decided to go a little bit deeper and meet and actually have another meeting with all the other parties again. “I mean, this is what an effective political party should be doing after an election like I don't want to sit in perennial opposition, I want to have my policies on the table, and this is how that starts.” Deputy Gannon added that the party will "drive a hard bargain" throughout negotiations. Listen back here: Soc Dem's Gary Gannon. 28/11/2024 Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie