Taliban spokesman says China to keep Kabul embassy open and beef up relations

The Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (left) and Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, during a meeting in Tianjin, China, in July 2021. Photograph: Li Ran/AP

China has promised to keep its embassy in Kabul open and “beef up” relations, the Taliban have said, as Afghanistan’s new rulers worked on preparing their new government and winning international recognition, The Guardian reports.

According to the report, a spokesman for the Islamist militia, Suhail Shaheen, said on Friday a senior member of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar had been told by China’s deputy foreign minister that Beijing also aimed to increase humanitarian assistance.

While the west has mostly adopted a wait-and-see approach and demanded evidence, as the Taliban move from insurgency to government, of more inclusive government and respect for human rights, China has said it seeks “friendly and cooperative” relations – although it, too, has yet to formally recognise the new regime, the report stated and submits further that analysts have said a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul could pave the way for major Chinese infrastructural and other investment in Afghanistan, possibly including in the war-ravaged country’s big copper and lithium

Pay close attention to what your ‘friends’ say when they are ‘joking’ - RENO

FROM THE IG DESK OF RENO OMOKRI

Pay close attention to what your ‘friends’ say when they are ‘joking’. Jesting reveals more about who is jealous of you and who wants you to fail. Never are people more serious than when they are joking. In fact, so many yokes are broken when you listen to jokes. When a friend jokes about your source of income, there is every likelihood that he has been spreading bad rumours about your source of wealth. Laugh, but mark him. The less you tell him, the better for you. The less you see of him, the more you will see of peace.

Father Shoots His 8-year-old Daughter Dead, Says He Thought It Was An Intruder, Police Say

William Oliver Mug

A Memphis man is charged with reckless homicide after his daughter was shot and eventually died from what a police affidavit describes as a tragic turn of events, Fox13 Memphis reports.

According to the Memphis Police Department, 31-year-old William Oliver was checking the house for intruders early Friday morning when the child’s mother altered him to a noise.

Oliver checked the bedroom closet, police said, when he slid back the door, saw a silhouette and fired one time, according to the report.

CHIKWE IHEKWEAZU APPOINTED ASSISTANT DG OF WHO

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, a Nigerian epidemiologist and public health physician who is the current Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the agency responsible for protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of communicable diseases in Nigeria has been appointed as the Assistant Director General of Health Emergency Intelligence at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

His appointment which is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2021 was disclosed in an official letter signed and addressed to him by the WHO Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as an Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence from November 1, 2021.

“He will lead the work on strengthening pandemic and epidemic intelligence globally, including heading the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin.

This is my message to the western world - your civilisation is killing life on Earth - Nemonte

Nemonte Nenquimo, an Indigenous activist and member of the Waorani nation from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador

FROM THE IG DESK OF MARYSIA MIERNOWSKA

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A post shared by School of the Sacred Wild (@marysia_miernowska)

Blue whales resurfacing at Spain’s Atlantic coast

Blue whales, the world’s largest mammals, are returning to Spain’s Atlantic coast after an absence of more than four decades, Guardian reports.

The first one, according to the report was spotted off the coast of Galicia in north-west Spain in 2017 by Bruno Díaz, a marine biologist who is head of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in O Grove, Galicia.

The report states further that another was spotted in 2018, and another the following year, and then in 2020 they both returned. Just over a week ago a different specimen was sited off the Islas Cíes, near O Grove.

ONE MAN BAND?

 
credits: Instagram | willsmith

I wanted to play drums because I fell in love with the glitter and lights, but it wasn’t about adulation. It was about being up there playing - Charlie

Late Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts, the drummer who provided the backbone of the Rolling Stones’ songs for more than half a century, has died, his spokesperson said. “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts.

“He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also a member of the Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation.

“We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”

A Sharia Court Sitting In Kano Has Sentenced Kannywood Actress Who Uploaded ‘Sexual Content’ On Social Media

Sadiya Haruna, Kannywood Actress and Blogger

A Sharia court sitting Kano state has sentenced Kannywood actress and blogger, Sadiya Haruna, to six months in Islamic school for “uploading sexual contents on her social media handles.”

According to online reports, the accused person, Sadiya Haruna, a resident of Kabuga Quarters was initially arrested on Friday by the Head of Surveillance Department of Kano State Hisbah Board, Malam Aliyu Usman.

She was then detained in the custody of the Islamic police until early Monday when she was brought before the Sharia court sitting in Sharada area of the state.

Yes, Nigeria needs a bridge builder, a compassionate leader, sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the poor and needy; a leader whose words count and can be counted on and a leader with courage – Tambuwal

Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State

Sokoto state governor and chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal has said Nigeria needs as President a leader with a broad view and inquisitive mind as the nation inches gradually to the 2023 general elections, Vanguard reports.

According to the report, Tambuwal stated this in Lagos at the 63rd birthday anniversary of legal luminary, Richard Akinola, held in Lagos on Sunday, where he also noted that the country needs a man capable of harnessing the potentials of Nigerians for the good of the land.

He equally noted that the leader must be incorruptible, must be a person who understands that the best way to fight corruption is by personal example and building strong institutions capable of withstanding shocks and manipulations, according to The Punch.

Challenge?

Challenge?

A Week After An Earthquake In Haiti

About a week after an earthquake that has left more than 2,000 people dead, Haiti is still reeling and aid groups are struggling to respond.

NPR reports that Aid agencies say they're trying to get aid to the quake zone as quickly as possible. But roads were blocked by the quake, a key highway is controlled by gangs — and then Tropical Storm Grace hit earlier this week.

Former President On His Knees Before Olu Of Warri

Credit: Instagram | Ubi Franklin

Nigeria's former President, Olusegun Obasanjo spotted paying homage to the new Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwaste lll.