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Ukraine, FBI collect evidence of war crimes against Russia

World

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April 26, 2023

Ukraine is working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and American companies to collect evidence of war crimes by Russians, such as geolocation and cellphone information.

Alex Kobzanets, a FBI special agent who previously worked as a legal attache for the agency in Ukraine said Ukrainian authorities are collecting digital information from battlefields and Ukrainian towns ravaged by the war since Russia invaded the country last February.

“Collection of that data, analysis of that data, working through that data is something the FBI has experience working through,” Kobzanets said at the RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco.

That work includes looking into cellphone information, forensic analyses of DNA samples, as well as analysis of body parts collected off battlefields, he said.

“The next step is working with national U.S. service providers, and transferring that information…obtaining subscriber information, obtaining geolocation information, where possible,” Kobzanets added.

The work reflects deepening collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine on the cyber front, where Russia has been a common adversary for both nations.

The agent added that the U.S. FBI had for the past year and a half been working on helping Ukraine to also identify Russian collaborators and spies operating in Ukraine and the Russian forces that were operating outside of Kiev as the invasion was happening.

U.S. security companies and officials have been a major partner of Ukraine in its efforts to fend off Russian cyberattacks, which it has battled since at least 2015.

Also Read: Ukraine trains 40,000 troops for counteroffensive

Illia Vitiuk, head of the Department of Cyber Information Security in the Security Service of Ukraine, said that while the number of Russian attacks against Ukraine has grown in the last few years, in recent months they have become more targetted.

“It’s very difficult to prove in a criminal case, who is responsible.” Vitiuk said.

“It’s very important for us to get as much information about Russian cybercriminals…because we collect all this information and put it into our criminal cases.”

“We do believe that this case about cyber war crimes is something new,” he added. “This is where we have seen the first full scale cyber war.”

Zainab Sa’id

Malaria: WHO urges countries to implement new interventions

Health

FELA OLAGUNJU

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April 26, 2023

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The WHO has urged countries to implement new and existing anti-malaria interventions including the use of its pilot vaccine programme to save lives, particularly in Africa.

WHO’s Director-General, Ethiopia’s Mr Tedros Ghebreyesus made the call on Tuesday in his message to mark the 2023 World Malaria Day. The World Malaria Day is celebrated annually on April 25 and the theme for the 2023 World Malaria Day is: “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement’’.

WHO’s latest World Malaria Report published in December 2022, showed that there was an estimated 247 million new cases of malaria in 2021. It showed that nearly 1.5 million children at high risk of illness and death from malaria in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, had received the first dose of the first-ever malaria vaccine.

The vaccine is part of an on-going WHO-coordinated pilot programme. Launched in 2019, the malaria vaccine pilots are increasing equity in access to prevention tools for the most vulnerable and they are already saving lives, the WHO stated.

If implemented broadly, the UN health agency estimates that every year, the vaccines could save tens of thousands of lives.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

A second malaria vaccine, if approved, could help close the sizable gap between supply and demand and further reduce child illnesses and deaths from malaria, the WHO stated. Meanwhile, 28 new products in the research and development pipeline include innovative tools as new types of insecticide-treated nets, targeted baits that attract mosquitoes, and genetic engineering of mosquitoes.

The African region accounted for an estimated 95 per cent of all malaria cases and 96 per cent of all deaths in 2021, the WHO also stated. It added that nearly 80 per cent of malaria deaths in Africa were among children under the age of five. The WHO also stated in the report that challenges in expanding access to malaria services had been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa.Converging humanitarian crises, restricted funding, weak surveillance systems, and declines in the effectiveness of core malaria-fighting tools had been other challenges, it added.

To address these threats and support countries in building more resilient malaria programmes, the WHO recently published a series of new tools. It was part of a strategy to contain antimalarial drug resistance in Africa; and a framework, developed jointly by the WHO and UN-Habitat to guide city leaders in urban malaria control.

Continued investment in the development and deployment of new vaccines and next-generation tools would be germane to achieving the 2030 global malaria targets, the WHO stressed.

“We have the tools to drive down malaria – a package of interventions that includes vector control, preventive medicines, testing, and treatment,” Ghebreyesus said.

UNHCR calls for investigation over killings in Burkina Faso

Africa

Hauwa Mustapha

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April 26, 2023

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The UN Human Rights Office, is calling for a full and independent investigation into the latest horrific killing of civilians in Burkina Faso and for “those responsible to be held to account.”

At the bi-weekly news briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office made the following statement on Burkina Faso: Available information suggests that at least 150 civilians may have been killed, and many others injured.

“The armed men then proceeded to loot homes, shops, and mosques. Sources in the nearby town of Ouahigouya reported hearing gunshots at 7a.m. on 20 April, three hours after they had seen men in military fatigues on vehicles and motorcycles headed towards Karma”.

The public prosecutor in the town of Ouahigouya announced on 23 April that 60 people were killed and an investigation into the attack was under way. This investigation the UNHCR urged “must be prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial and must result in credible prosecutions, if such gross violations are to end,” Shamdasani said.

The killings come in the wake of an attack on a VDP- volunteer defence force, based on 15 April in which according to the provincial governor, eight soldiers and 32 VDPs were killed and more than 30 injured.

Credible accounts indicate the attackers accused village residents of sheltering members of the Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslim group, an Islamic State group affiliate, and other non-state armed groups.

This is one of several other reported attacks on civilians by the armed forces and VDPs in recent months.

Burkina Faso is reeling from jihadist violence that swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015.

The insurgency has claimed the lives of thousands and driven at least two million others to flee their homes.

africanews

China, Russia sign MOU on maritime law enforcement

World

Zainab Sa'id

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April 26, 2023

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China and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening maritime law enforcement cooperation.

Chinese state media said the coast guard of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation signed the agreement.

According to media reports, the agreement was signed in the Russian city of Murmansk and highlights joint efforts by the countries to combat terrorism, illegal migration, smuggling of drugs and weapons, as well as stopping illegal fishing.

Zainab Sa’id

Singapore executes citizen for drug trafficking

World

Zainab Sa'id

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April 26, 2023

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Singapore has executed a man, Tangaraju Suppiah, convicted of drug trafficking despite pleas from his relatives and activists for clemency.

Kokila Annamalai, a Singapore-based rights activist representing the family, confirmed Suppiah had been executed by hanging after the president rejected pleas for clemency on the eve of the execution.

Suppiah, 46, had been convicted for abetting the trafficking in 2013 of more than 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of cannabis, double the threshold for the death penalty in the city-state, which is known for its tough laws on narcotics.

British billionaire Richard Branson, a well known opponent of the death penalty, had said the verdict against Suppiah did not meet standards for criminal conviction as he was not near the drugs when he was arrested.

Also Read: China, Singapore to hold joint military drills

The government in response said Branson was peddling falsehoods and disrespecting its justice system, adding that its courts spent more than three years examining the case and Branson’s claim was “patently untrue”.

The United Nations Office for Human Rights had also called for Singapore not to proceed with the execution and to “adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offences”.

Singapore executed 11 people last year and says the death penalty is an effective deterrent against drugs and that most of its people support the policy.

Zainab Sa’id

Group urges bauchi house of Assembly to pass harmonised Water Bill

News Feature

Kamila Bello

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April 26, 2023

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The Network for Society, Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) in Bauchi State has appealed to the state House of Assembly to speedily pass the harmonised Water Bill into law for the benefit of citizens.

This is contained in a letter to the Speaker of House, Mr Abubakar Sulaiman, signed by Hajiya Maryam Garba, the Coordinator of the network, on Tuesday in Bauchi.

The letter described the group as a Network for Civil Society Organisations with focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), which is complementing government efforts in providing WASH services to residents.

“We are aware that the state’s harmonised water sector bill has been forwarded to the state assembly for consideration and passage into law.

“As a network with interest in the sector, we are very much happy with this development and would therefore want to use this forum to request you to kindly solicit the support of the honourable members and ensure the speedy passage of this important bill.

“Which is intended to reinvigorate the sector for effective WASH service delivery to the citizens of the state,” the letter read.

It noted that the harmonised water sector bill had lingered for some time, thus the need to ensure its quick passage into law.

“It is, therefore, our prayer that you will use your good office to ensure that this Bill is passed into law.

“The reviewed bill was jointly produced by all the critical and relevant stakeholders who are going to be responsible for implementing it in the state.”

The group therefore looked forward to a positive outcome after the deliberation on the matter by the legislature.

Mozambique: cholera cases surge after Cyclone Freddy

Africa

Hauwa Mustapha

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April 26, 2023

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The number of cholera cases in Mozambique has increased tenfold since February, with more than 28,000 people infected in the southern African country still reeling from the deadly Cyclone Freddy, UNICEF said.

“More than 28,000 cases of cholera have been recorded in Mozambique,” Guy Taylor, spokesman for the Mozambican branch of the UN agency, which has distributed 2.4 million doses of the oral vaccine in the country, told a news conference in Geneva.

“This is ten times the number recorded at the beginning of February, and more than half of the cases involve children,” he continued, adding that the numbers continue to rise.

The interruption of water supply, hygiene, and sanitation services caused by the cyclone has increased the spread.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has killed 123 people in Mozambique since late last year.

An acute diarrheal infection caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, cholera is on the rise, especially in Africa, according to the WHO.

According to UNICEF, Freddy destroyed a hundred health facilities and 250 water points in Mozambique, depriving about 300,000 people of drinking water, mainly in the center of the country, one of the poorest in the world.

The cyclone killed at least 86 people in the country of 33 million and left tens of thousands homeless. More than 390,000 hectares of land were also affected by the cyclone, raising concerns about the upcoming harvest.

Freddy first hit Madagascar and Mozambique in late February before returning to the Indian Ocean.

It had then regained power thanks to the warm waters and turned around, returning to the continent.

On its return, it hit landlocked Malawi hard, killing nearly 680 people and leaving many more missing.

africanews

Enugu State Taekwondo Chairman Says Sport Is Youth Motivator

Sports

Chidi Uduma Nwoke

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April 26, 2023

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The Chairman of Enugu State Taekwondo Association, Ebere Amaraizu, said taekwondo is a sport with high moral value that can transform characters of the youth and build them to be future champions.

Amaraizu said this after his official Black Belt decoration ceremony in Taekwondo at the indoor sports hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Enugu State on Tuesday. According to him, taekwondo is not just a sport but a game with high moral code, values relevant for propagation of moral rebirth among youths and children.

The Chairman, who is also the National Coordinator of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), said taekwondo as a game had so much values for younger minds to thrive in the society.

The Chairman of Enugu State Taekwondo Association, Ebere Amaraizu.

“Such virtues as integrity, perseverance, high moral code, honesty, integrity, indomitable spirit are found in taekwondo as a discipline and sport,” Amaraizu said.

“I am pledging continual partnership between POCACOV and the Enugu Taekwondo School for continued propagation of these values and virtues for excellence and greater society.”

Earlier, the Grand-master of Enugu Taekwondo School, Dennis Ani, while performing the decoration rites on the recipient, charged him to continue to uphold the tenets of taekwondo with its high moral code for societal excellence.

Read more: Excitement As Nigerian National Taekwondo Federation Camp Opens

Ani applauded the efforts of POCACOV with other relevant stakeholders in creating meaningful pathways and saving youths from the claws of membership of unlawful societies (cultism) and organised criminal groups, for a greater society.

He also appreciated the efforts of the Nigeria Police, through POCACOV, in helping to educate youths and adults on dangers of cultism, substance and drug abuse as well as other vices.

No fewer than 60 taekwondo kid fighters from the school were upgraded to their next belt with a charge to continue to uphold the tenets of the sport in line with Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.

Zambia To Mourn Football Team Killed In Plane Crash

Sports

Chidi Uduma Nwoke

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April 26, 2023

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Zambian football will on Friday commemorate the 30th anniversary of the plane crash that wiped out almost of all the national team, mourning the loss of a golden generation that players say inspired the nation to later victories.

Eighteen footballers were among 30 people killed when a Zambian air force plane crashed off the coast of Gabon, shortly after a refuelling stop on a journey to Dakar, where Zambia were to play a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.

The bulk of the team were experienced internationals, fancied to emerge top of their final round qualifying group and secure a first-ever World Cup final appearance at the 1994 tournament in the United States.

Read more: CAF releases U-17 AFCON Algeria 2023 full fixtures

Engine failure after takeoff from Libreville caused the plane to crash into the sea, killing all on board including the coaches, support staff and crew.

It was a devastating blow, said captain Kalusha Bwalya, who watched news of the crash unfold on TV from his home in the Netherlands, as one of four players due to fly from bases in Europe rather than on the plane from Lusaka.

Yet just two months later, Bwalya led a reconstituted team to victory in a World Cup qualifier against Morocco, curling a free-kick over the wall and into the net to set off ecstatic celebrations.

Former Zambia captain Kalusha Bwalya (C).

“The friends we had lost we had in our thoughts, and we gave such a wonderful performance for them,” Bwalya recalled.

A year after the crash, the team were surprise finalists at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, losing 2-1 to Nigeria.

Friday’s ceremony will commence from a monument in the shadows of Lusaka’s Independence Stadium, where the players who died in the crash were buried. Those paying tribute will head to the new National Heroes Stadium built nearby.

Twenty years after the disaster, Zambia finally won the African title – in Gabon, site of the crash. Just days before the final, players threw flowers into the sea at the beach where the bodies had washed up.

“We wanted to honour the dead players and that strengthened us. The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is a sign of destiny,” said coach Herve Renard at the time.

Prevention Is Best Way To Tackle Malaria – Commissioner

Health

FELA OLAGUNJU

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April 26, 2023

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Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, has affirmed that the best way to tackle malaria diseases is by strict adherence to the preventive measures.

He stated this in Awka, the state capital while commemorating the World Malaria Day. He reiterated the commitment of Governor Charles Soludo’s led administration in disease prevention across the state.

Obidike noted that the State Government, knowing the importance of preventing malaria diseases, partnered with the Malaria Consortium Group to distribute 3.8million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to all the households in the state.

“We joined the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day with emphasis on preventing malaria diseases by sleeping with the ITNs and keeping our environment clean.

He explained that Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease that continues to have a devastating impact on the health and livelihood of people around the world.

“This day is an internationally recognized day, highlighting the global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains that have been made… Since the year 2000, the world has made historic progress against malaria, saving millions of lives, while regretting that millions of people, especially children worldwide are still at risk of malaria.”

“The World Malaria Report of 2021 indicated that the African Region continues to shoulder the heaviest malaria burden, accounting for an estimated 234 million cases of malaria and 96% of malaria deaths. “

He said that within Africa, Nigeria contributes significantly to the global malaria cases and deaths, with the highest rates of 27% and 31% respectively.

“Reason for this celebration is to draw attention to the devastating impact of the disease on families, communities and societies.

It is an opportunity for the participation of all Nigerians, Governments, Development Partners, multinational organizations, local organizations and individuals in raising awareness on malaria and the danger it portends.”

“The theme of this year’s celebration is `Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate and Implement, Act now” reinforces how investments in ending malaria, saves lives and are a pathway to improving economic growth and preparing for future health threats to achieve a safer world.

The health commissioner explained that last year, Anambra state government distributed over 3.8 million Insecticide Treated Nets to households in Anambra, with the first Lady Mrs Nonye Soludo as the Net Ambassador for the state.

He lauded the Governor’s wife Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo who is the state Malaria Ambassador for her genuine efforts and commitment in eliminating malaria in the state.

“The good news is that the use of malaria nets since last year till date has increased from 27 per cent last year to 57 per cent this year which is a great achievement and we are determined to do more.”

Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Afam Anaeme eulogized the successes recorded in the fight against malaria in the state, calling for all hands to be on deck in the fight against the disease.

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