Day: April 29, 2024

CNA:

By Flowerbudnews

The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.

George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

(George with Super Eagles’ top striker Victor Osimhen)

His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game

George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.

The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward, who made a scoring debut for fatherland in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe. He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.

(New boss, Finidi George takes the reins)

George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.

George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks. The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa. (Flowerbudnews)

George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.

George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.

The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward, who made a scoring debut for fatherland in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27^th July 1991, also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe. He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19^th June 1994.

George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8^th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.

George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks. The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa. (Flowerbudnews)

Israeli officials are growing concerned that the International Criminal Court could soon issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials over charges related to the war in Gaza, reports say.

The court may accuse the senior government figures of pursuing an excessively harsh military response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the New York Times is reporting, citing Israeli and foreign officials.

The newspaper reports that any warrants issued by the ICC would “probably be seen in much of the world as a humbling moral rebuke” and cited an official as saying that the possibility of them has factored into Israeli decision-making in recent weeks.

Such warrants could pose travel obstacles for the Israeli officials and they may be issued against Hamas leaders as well, according to the New York Times.

raeli officials are growing concerned that the International Criminal Court could soon issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials over charges related to the war in Gaza, reports say.

The court may accuse the senior government figures of pursuing an excessively harsh military response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the New York Times is reporting, citing Israeli and foreign officials.

The newspaper reports that any warrants issued by the ICC would “probably be seen in much of the world as a humbling moral rebuke” and cited an official as saying that the possibility of them has factored into Israeli decision-making in recent weeks.

Such warrants could pose travel obstacles for the Israeli officials and they may be issued against Hamas leaders as well, according to the New York Times.

The developments come after Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that “We expect the court to refrain from issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli political and security officials,” Reuters reports.

“We will not bow our heads or be deterred and will continue to fight,” Katz reportedly added, warning Israeli embassies to step up security over the risk of a “wave of severe antisemitism.”

On Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that “While the ICC will not affect Israel’s actions, it would set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and officials of all democracies fighting savage terrorism and wanton aggression.”

Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense,” he added. “The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it.”

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said in October that the court has jurisdiction over potential war crimes that are committed in the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters.

The news agency reports Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction, but the Palestinian territories were admitted with member status in 2015.

The ICC says on its website that it “investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.”

Flowerbudnews

The arraignment of the MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd; its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Karl Toriola; over alleged copyright infringement, was, on Monday stalled in a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The others are MTN Senior Executive Officer, Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd, a telecommunications service provider; and Yahaya Maibe, its CEO.

The matter, which was fixed for the suspects to take their plea could not go on shortly after the case was called due to the absence of Toriola and Abhulimen in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) equally observed that Toriola and Abhulimen were not represented in court by counsel.

However, while MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd was represented by Obafemi Ajaba, Fun Mobile and Maibe were represented by Abdullateef Afolabi.

Abdul Kohol, a lawyer and former acting Director-General of NCC, together with Zino Ugboma, said they were in court to watch brief for the nominal complainant, Maleke Moye, who was also in court.

NAN reports that the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) had, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024, sued MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, Toriola, Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd and Maibe as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

In the three count-count charge dated March 19 and filed March 20 by Emeka Ogbonna on NCC’s behalf, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business, infringed musical works of Maleke Moye, an artiste, without his consent and authorisation.”

The commission alleged that the defendants used Maleke’s musical works and sound recordings with subsisting copyright, known as “caller ring back tunes” without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musical works and sound recordings of the musician allegedly infringed upon include “911, Minimini-Wana Wana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.”

The defendants were also alleged to have illegally distributed the musical works to their subscribers, without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged of having in their possession, the musical works and sound recordings of the artiste, other than for their personal or domestic use.

The copyright commission said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

When the matter was called on Monday, Toriola and Abhulimen were neither in court nor represented by a lawyer.

Ogbonna, who appeared for the prosecution, told the court that the matter was supposed to be for the arraignment of the defendants.

The lawyer, who informed the court that the commission had investigated them, said most of them were already on administrative bail.

He said though the expectation was that all of them would be in court today, Ogbonna however sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful

“If they don’t come willingly, we know what to do to bring them before the court,” he said.

Ajaba, who appeared for the 1st defendant (MTN), however, told the court that only the company was served the court documents as far as they knew.

The lawyer said that they had filed a motion on notice on April 26, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to proceed on the matter as presently constituted.

Ajaba said the firm sought an order striking out the charge for beng incurably defective and incapable of activating the jurisdiction of the court.

Giving two grounds, he said the 1st defendant was not a juristic person, and therefore robbed the court the requisite jurisdiction to entertain any proceeding with respect to the applicant.

Besides, the lawyer argued that the signature on the charge herein being the originating process in the criminal action cannot be traced or ascribed to any legal practitioner authorised to practice law in Nigeria contrary to the clear statement of the law as enunciated by the Supreme Court.

But Justice Ekwo rhetorically asked Ajaba if he had studied the provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in respect of raising objection.

The judge, who said that the prosecution had already applied for a date for plea, adjourned the matter until May 14 for arraignment.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Lawal Sale

Flowerbudnews:  In the 2nd session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi articulated China’s position in achieving lasting peace in the on-going Palestinian/Israeli conflict in Gaza

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), noted that the war has caused more than 100,000 civilian casualties, while countless bodies obviously remained buried under the rubble.

It is important to note that China, in its efforts at finding lasting solutions to the conflict, has repeatedly appealed to the international community to act swiftly to trigger immediate ceasefire and ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the embattled residents of Gaza.

Wang Yi, in a recent interview with Aljazeera TV network, said that some of the measures, which China proposed, included the attainment of immediate ceasefire via the concerted efforts of all parties, just as the United Nations Security Council, not long ago adopted its first resolution demanding a ceasefire since the onset of the conflict.

WangYi emphasized that the resolution was legally binding and should be enforced effectively to actualize an unconditional ceasefire right away.

Recall that China, right from the beginning of the war, has been in the forefront of the campaign for immediate cessation of hostilities, release of hostages, while making repeated demands for the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2712 and 2720.

Besides, China welcomed and encouraged the spirited efforts of Egypt, Qatar and others to broker peace and mediate in the raging conflict.

As an integral part of solutions to the conflict, China called for the provision of unimpeded humanitarian assistance to Gaza at all times, while describing the proposed policy as a compelling and pressing moral obligation.

Beyond that, the Asian country firmly opposed the forced transfer of Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

Wang Yi stressed that China would continue to work with the international community in efforts toward the enforcement of the UN Security Council resolution on the ceasefire, civilian protection and sustainable delivery of humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza.

In its peacemaking efforts, China — a permanent member of the UN Security Council — has been consistent in warning against the apparent spillover of the conflict in the Middle East region, so as to forestall the situation from spinning out of control.

Wang Yi asserted that the escalation of the Iran-Israel crisis was the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict, adding that China had earlier called on all parties in the conflict to stay calm and refrain from actions that could aggravate the crisis and further escalate the conflict.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that another aspect of China’s concern in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict was the historical injustice perpetrated against the Palestinian people, saying that this must be promptly addressed, in order to tackle root causes of the conflict.

It is paramount to note that the Gaza catastrophe once again reflects the perpetual denial of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, which was the root cause of the decades-old Palestinian question.

To break the vicious cycle of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, experts in Middle East affairs underscore the need to eliminate the breeding of hate and extremism in the region, while promoting strategies that would engender lasting peace and give justice to the Palestinians in a pragmatic way.

The experts emphasize that the enforcement the two-state policy in the area, which would guarantee the evolution of a truly independent Palestinian state, would definitely bring about a political settlement of Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

China has pledged to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Middle East countries and the whole international community to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights.

The Asian country has also voiced support for internal reconciliation among different factions of Palestinian groups via dialogue, while supporting efforts to secure Palestine’s full membership of the United Nations (UN) at an early date.

China has particularly expressed support for the establishment of the independent State of Palestine, with “the Palestinians governing Palestine.”

Wang Yi succinctly articulated China’s position on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and its resolution.

He said: “We call for a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a timetable and a roadmap for the two-state solution.”

The conference is “to promote comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, and to ultimately realize peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine as well as harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples,” he added.

Sale is an Abuja-based Global Affairs Analyst
(lawalsale@mail.ru)

By Lawal Sale

In the 2nd session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi articulated China’s position in achieving lasting peace in the on-going Palestinian/Israeli conflict in Gaza

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), noted that the war has caused more than 100,000 civilian casualties, while countless bodies obviously remained buried under the rubble.

It is important to note that China, in its efforts at finding lasting solutions to the conflict, has repeatedly appealed to the international community to act swiftly to trigger immediate ceasefire and ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the embattled residents of Gaza.

Wang Yi, in a recent interview with Aljazeera TV network, said that some of the measures, which China proposed, included the attainment of immediate ceasefire via the concerted efforts of all parties, just as the United Nations Security Council, not long ago adopted its first resolution demanding a ceasefire since the onset of the conflict.

WangYi emphasized that the resolution was legally binding and should be enforced effectively to actualize an unconditional ceasefire right away.

Recall that China, right from the beginning of the war, has been in the forefront of the campaign for immediate cessation of hostilities, release of hostages, while making repeated demands for the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2712 and 2720.

Besides, China welcomed and encouraged the spirited efforts of Egypt, Qatar and others to broker peace and mediate in the raging conflict.

As an integral part of solutions to the conflict, China called for the provision of unimpeded humanitarian assistance to Gaza at all times, while describing the proposed policy as a compelling and pressing moral obligation.

Beyond that, the Asian country firmly opposed the forced transfer of Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

Wang Yi stressed that China would continue to work with the international community in efforts toward the enforcement of the UN Security Council resolution on the ceasefire, civilian protection and sustainable delivery of humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza.

In its peacemaking efforts, China — a permanent member of the UN Security Council — has been consistent in warning against the apparent spillover of the conflict in the Middle East region, so as to forestall the situation from spinning out of control.

Wang Yi asserted that the escalation of the Iran-Israel crisis was the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict, adding that China had earlier called on all parties in the conflict to stay calm and refrain from actions that could aggravate the crisis and further escalate the conflict.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that another aspect of China’s concern in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict was the historical injustice perpetrated against the Palestinian people, saying that this must be promptly addressed, in order to tackle root causes of the conflict.

It is paramount to note that the Gaza catastrophe once again reflects the perpetual denial of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, which was the root cause of the decades-old Palestinian question.

To break the vicious cycle of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, experts in Middle East affairs underscore the need to eliminate the breeding of hate and extremism in the region, while promoting strategies that would engender lasting peace and give justice to the Palestinians in a pragmatic way.

The experts emphasize that the enforcement the two-state policy in the area, which would guarantee the evolution of a truly independent Palestinian state, would definitely bring about a political settlement of Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

China has pledged to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Middle East countries and the whole international community to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights.

The Asian country has also voiced support for internal reconciliation among different factions of Palestinian groups via dialogue, while supporting efforts to secure Palestine’s full membership of the United Nations (UN) at an early date.

China has particularly expressed support for the establishment of the independent State of Palestine, with “the Palestinians governing Palestine.”

Wang Yi succinctly articulated China’s position on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and its resolution.

He said: “We call for a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a timetable and a roadmap for the two-state solution.”

The conference is “to promote comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, and to ultimately realize peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine as well as harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples,” he added.

Sale is an Abuja-based Global Affairs Analyst
(lawalsale@mail.ru)