Syria: ISIS destroys ancient Muslim shrines in Palmyra

ISIS fighters have destroyed two ancient Muslim shrines in the oasis city of Palmyra, the Syrian government confirmed Wednesday, the latest act of cultural vandalism by the Sunni extremists.

ISIS seized control of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 2,000 years, last month, prompting fears for the site's survival.

An email sent on behalf of Syria's antiquities chief, Maamoun Abdulkarim, head of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, said the body had heard four days ago from people in Palmyra of the shrines' destruction.

"ISIS has blown up two ancient Muslim shrines in Palmyra, and has published photos of this awful crime against the Syrian cultural heritage on Facebook," the statement said.

One of the tombs destroyed is that of Mohammed bin Ali, a descendent of Ali bin Abi Taleb, the Prophet Mohammed's cousin, the DGAM said. It's located in a hilly area 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of Palmyra.

"ISIS militants also blew up the shrine of Shagaf, known as Abu Behaeddine, a religious figure from Palmyra, dated to 500 years ago. The shrine is located in the oasis 500 meters away from the Ancient City's Arch of Triumph," the statement said.

Images posted on the DGAM website show dust and debris flying into the air as the shrines are destroyed.

Group: ISIS planted mines, bombs in city

ISIS' capture of Palmyra was followed by the summary executions of scores of captive fighters and residents, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group.

The group also reported Tuesday that ISIS had destroyed a shrine in the Palmyra area, but it wasn't clear if it was one of those named by the government. ISIS blew it up on the pretext of "removing the landmarks of polytheism," the monitoring group said.

On Sunday, the observatory reported that ISIS fighters had planted homemade bombs and mines around the city.

But it said it wasn't clear whether the explosives were laid with the intention of destroying its priceless antiquities or preventing government forces from advancing on Palmyra.

There have been bloody clashes in recent days on the road between the city of Homs and Palmyra between ISIS and government forces backed by loyal militias, according to the group.

'Extraordinary fusion'

Palmyra, also known as the "bride of the desert," is an exquisite collection of ruins in the desert northeast of Damascus that was once a monumental city sitting on an important trade route linking Persia, India and China with the Roman Empire. 

Its history as an important caravan city at the crossroads of ancient civilizations is reflected in the eclectic mix of architectural styles found among its colonnades and temples.

British historian and novelist Tom Holland describes the site as "an extraordinary fusion of classical and Iranian influences intermixed with various Arab influence as well."

Destruction of Palmyra wouldn't just be a tragedy for Syria, it would be a loss for the entire world, he told CNN last month.

"This isn't just about Middle Eastern history -- these are the wellsprings of the entire global culture. Mesopotamia, Iraq, Syria, this is the wellspring of global civilization. It really couldn't be higher stakes in terms of conservation."

We Will Build Houses For Teachers— M7

 

The President pronounced the commitment during celebrations marking the Golden Jubilee of the school that were held today at the institution’s premises in Kololo, Kampala.

The celebrations were held under the theme: Determined to Excel.

The school provides Ordinary and Advanced levels education to 1,247 students who are taught by 65 teachers.

He congratulated the pioneer parents and students of City High School for attaining 50 years since the establishment of the institution.

“At the time of independence, we had a few A-level schools, namely Buddo, Kisubi, Ntare and Gayaza. In 1965, a number of Junior Schools were converted into Secondary Schools,” he told the congregation present for the celebrations.

Mr. Museveni further pledged support to the school in other areas that were identified as challenging such as the construction of a library and laboratory.

He said that the Government would ensure that the school’s asbestos roofs are replaced so that City High School benefits from the Government policy of big structures.

President Museveni also laid a foundation stone for the construction of school’s new library and ICT complex and pledged a donation of Shs.80 million to facilitate the construction of the new block.

He said that the school land would be protected from land grabbers.

The Chairman of the School’s Board of Governors, Rev. Joab Mbukuure, revealed that land grabbing has hampered the school’s operations. He thanked the committed teachers for their hard work.

 

 

Students Squeeze 195 Million Out Of Makerere University Administrators

Makerere University students have forced University administrators to release their internship allowances amounting to more than Shs195million. 

This came after a bloody strike on Friday last week, where irate students went on strike express anger as result of the University’s failure to release internship allowances on time.

To end the strike, University management agreed to release money for students who hadn’t received internship allowance by end of today (Monday).

“The office of the University bursar is working overtime to ensure that by closer of business on Monday every student is cleared in regards to internship allowances as i still encourage all those who have not yet received internship allowances to keep on sending in their details(students name, students no, registration no, account no, bank and college) to my email address bwirukadav@gmail.com or contact 0773806106 or pass by the guild offices and submit them,” H.E Bala David, Guild President informed students after the strike.

Subsequently, guild Information Minister Hon. Davidson Ndyabahika aka Rutagatsa Rwa N’yamukaikuru availed himself throughout the weekend and today (Monday) to take details of students who haven’t received money.

“My office was opened at the weekend Saturday, Sunday and even up to now to cater for students who had not got their internship allowances. We have received lists of different batches the university has released the money. We help students go through them and check. In case they don’t find their names and details, we allow them register and we take the details to the accounts office for emergencies,” Hon Davidson told Red Pepper

He added; “In case some do not get their money, we shall not relent. The struggle continues. We ask the administration to respect students and their leaders. Imagine we asked them way back before we did our exams and it’s the same thing we are handling now.”

Each student doing internship is entitled to Shs378,000
So far, as result of the strike, the University administration has released three batches
Batch 3 which has had 266 students and that is 99,858,000 shillings.
Batch 4 which has 214 students and that is 81,336,000 shillings.
Batch 5 which has 202 students and that is 14,364,000 shillings

 

Human traffickers now using social media platforms-Police

Human traffickers now using social media platforms-Police

 

  

The police and other security agencies are facing a challenge of controlling social media, with many platforms used to traffic in persons. The problem is worsened by the presence of many companies operating online.

Police has therefore warned of an increase in Child and human trafficking through social media platforms noting that trafficking rackets have resorted to using the internet, where naive youths are easily convinced into taking up nonexistent job opportunities especially in the Middle East.

Moses Binoga the Coordinator of the Anti-human trafficking task force at the Ministry of Internal Affairs says past government's efforts to curb the vice by banning the exportation of housemaids to the Middle East has led to the offenders coming up with innovative ways of smuggling people out of the country.

Only 30 companies are licensed by the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development to export labor especially to the Middle East. More people are however leaving the country in the guise of visiting friends and relatives in neighboring Kenya from where they get visas to the Middle East.

Uganda is a source and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation.

According to Police records, Ugandan children are trafficked within the country, as well as to Canada, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. On Tuesday, the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament ordered government to immediately cease inter-country adoption of Uganda's children.

Tullow agrees to $250 million tax bill in Uganda

 

 

 

 

Anglo-Irish company Tullow Oil said Monday it had settled a long-running tax dispute in Uganda by agreeing to the payment of a $250 million (219.6 million euro) bill.

In July 2014, a Ugandan court ordered Tullow to pay $407 million in taxes related to the sale of local assets two years earlier, but the company then sought arbitration to reduce the cost.

"Tullow has agreed to pay $250 million in full and final settlement of its CGT (Capital Gains Tax) liability," a company statement read.

"This sum comprises $142 million that Tullow paid in 2012, and $108 million to be paid in three equal instalments of $36 million. The first of these was paid upon settlement and the remainder will
be paid in 2016 and 2017."

Uganda discovered exploitable deposits of oil along its volatile western border with Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006, and officials now estimate reserves at up to 3.5 billion barrels.

"The settlement of this long-running dispute is good news for Tullow and Uganda," company chief executive Aidan Heavey said in a statement.

"In recent months, the Government of Uganda has proposed welcome and necessary changes to its tax regime for oil and gas investment which it is hoped will enable substantive progress to be made towards the sanction of the Lake Albert oil development."

The payments are related to a capital gains tax on the $2.9 billion sale of three of Tullow's exploration blocks in Uganda to France's Total and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

 

Nepal Quake

More than 1,300 confirmed dead in the major earthquake in Nepal

                                       

A powerful earthquake measured 7.9 in magnitude striked Nepal Saturday around noon local time killing more than 1,300 people, touching off a lethal snowslide on Mount Everest which caused the climbers and the local villagers to stay in fear and discomfort. It also collapsed a 19th-century tower in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

The great number of deaths were in Nepal, the death toll is expected to rise,”said the Nepalese officials,”however more deaths were also reported in Tibet, northern India, and Bangladesh. AP reported, “Some two Chinese citizens where killed near the Nepalese border and many others where reported missing on the world’s highest mountain ( Mt Everest ).”

This earthquake was more disastrous because of its depth, collapsing buildings, making cracks in the roads and making people to quickly run from their damaged homes. Thousands are getting prepared to sleep outside and others setting up tents to spend the night in.

This has been Nepal’s worst quake in 81 years. Nepalese government declares state of emergency, the first priority is the rescue operations. The Nepalese government requested for foreign support, however, India responded first by sending military aircraft including relief team and medical equipments.

Oxfam International released a statement saying “Thousands are gathered in open spaces and very scared.” A team of Oxfam in Nepal are evaluating humanitarian need following the disastrous earthquake. The UK technical experts are also getting ready to fly to Nepal with Emmergency food supplies, to provide clean water and sanitation .
Well-wishers can donate to Oxfam’s response online at help oxfam to save lives.

THE TIMOROUS GHETTO LIVING IN UGANDA

Ghetto has no simpler definition but as the routine goes around of days and nights hustling of thriving and surviving deep down in ghetto battling is on but the difference is that the most fight to become survivors than thrivers which makes people there to drown in the waters of fear to prosper and successes and yet people do not drown in those waters by falling in but by staying in waters of cecity!

Indiscipline and drug abuse are among the major factors that makes natives of pearl of Africa fearful of the ghetto living thus making it hell on earth than a joy garden of the ghetto rising youths. Many up strokes have been put against the ghetto society as seen above and others like theft, pandemic diseases, illness in sanitation as the end less list goes.

But as Henry David Thoreau quoted that “Things do not change we change “Ghetto society has not changed but the up rosen people have tried to change it where by the most percentage of the population in Uganda who have become mentors of the most young generations now days are ghetto risen for example I DRIS Musuuza aka eddy kenzo ,Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi wine .

Therefore people should not be timorous about the ghetto living but should make it a joy land because it risen successful people too which makes it mores precious than the older days where it was diminished and seen totally down.Pearl of africa has ripen so much from the low timorous Ghetto in form of talents like footballer,   so many others.Hope the Ghetto is given an instiling emancipation by the gov’t of Uganda because every disadvantage has an advantage in the cycling society may God continue blessing the fearful Ghetto in Uganda and continue have an inspiring society with in the country

Kim Jong-Un climbs North Korea’s highest mountain

The state run media said,”The north korean president Kim Jong-Un has climbed the highest mountain in North Korea. The picture above shows Kim Jong –Un standing on a snowy peak of mount Paektu.

Pyongyang’s state hagiography said, his father, Kim Jong-Il, is said to have been born on the mountain, but many historians say he was born in Russia.

Reports say Kim Jong-Un reached the 2,750 metre peak of the volcanic mountain accompanied with hundreds of party official and fighter pilots.This volcanic mountain lies on a border with China and is regarded a holly place in Korean tradition and plays a central role in the propaganda exalting the family of Kim.

The rodong newspaper quoted president Kim telling the troops that “climbing Mount Paektu gives valuable mental pabulum which is powerful than any kind of nuclear weapon.”

Kim Jong-Un took over after the death of his father Kim Jong-11 in 2011, his father enjoyed playing golf where he scored 11 holes-in-one the first time he ever played.

Kim is just like his father, he makes several field trips to different factories, army bases including other major sites.

According to UN, North Korea’s economy is problematic whereby out of its population of 16 million people, two-thirds are not sure where their next meal is coming from.

Attempt to overthrow president Nkurunziza

Bujumbura: The Burundi’s state broadcaster was surrounded by the army were the crowds had gathered and that was after general Godefroid Niyonbare announced the over throw of president Pierre Nkurunziza on Wednesday.

In february, general Godefroid was fired from his position as Central African Nation’s powerful Chief of Intelligence, he made his announcement on radio infront of different journalists surrounded by different senior army and police officers.

However the office of the president denied the claims of the coup. The annoncement of the overthrow of the current government happened when president Pierre Nkurunziza  arrived in Tanzania for the peace talks to end the political violance which resulted in his controversial bid to contest for third term.

 Over 20 people have been killed since the demonstration begun two weeks ago but the demonstrators never gave up until today, they vowed to continue till Nkurunziza gives-up.

When Nkurunziza heard of the announcement, he said,” those are just words, they are fooling themselves.

President Pierre Nkurunziza returns home

"Home is the best east or west let it be rain or sunshine at home it will always be the best this is how Nkurunziza fulfilled the above words today after returning  to his domicile country after it had been under a military coup .

 The Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza returned home today after a flash vist in Uganda on Thursday since he and president Museveni of Uganda have a good amity between them selves.

As the country’s top general  Godefroid Ninyebaze had carried out a military coup in the country , Nkurunziza  doesnot agree with the military coup and persistently he entered his home country as a wraith because he was harshly awaited for at all possible entries into the country by the timorous army that had over thrown him away through a military coup.

Nkurunziza has began by  trying to organize his enigma in the country by first arresting three (3) coup plotters and he also addressed the nation and he said that he is not anxious by the situation and within a short while it will be history to remember  and he also asked for one more term from his people that he is ruling.

Hope all the civil wars end in this African country and the Almighty bless the country and continue protecting and blessing it.

10 most dangerous countries to Live in.

Below are the most dangerous countries to go to, however this doesn't mean that all regions in these countries are dangerous, there are specific danger zones and risky areas, therefore, if you’re traveling to any of these countries perhaps to spend your holiday or to visit, be wise enough to ask and search for the risk-free areas you should go to before you find yourself in trouble.
1. Iraq:
Iraq is the most dangerous country in the world, although the Iraq War which officially ended with US withdrawal in 2011, many places are still dangerous and insurgency within its borders remains the same.
2. Nigeria:
Nigeria is politically and socially underdeveloped, it is also oil cursed, which means that the government is failing to concentrate its efforts to protect its oil exports . The Nigerian government is also failing to protect its people from the tyrant Islamist Boko-haram who have killed a great number of innocent people.
3. Somalia:
Since early 90s Somalia has been politically unstable, it has suffered from ineffective government, famine, piracy and military extremists Al-Qaeda in collaboration with Alshabaab.
4. Afghanistan
Many innocent people have lost their lives due to insurgency in this country, the Taliban have made several attacks across the country and still increasing. foreign troops are planning to end their combat missions soon, despite very many Afghans still dying in fighting.

5. Yemen:
According to UN, Yemen is under-going a humanitarian crisis whereby almost half of its population lucking enough food.

6. Syria:
Its now 3-years since Syria civil war begun, thousands of people have been killed and resulted in war crimes. The Islamist have targeted Christians and other groups involved in fighting. President Bashar AL-Assad’s government is blamed because of responding with violent crackdowns and over 190,000 people have been killed as of April 2014.

7. Libya:
After the death of President Gaddafi, their has been civil war in Libya and armed conflict fought between Islamist forces and forces aligned with the Libyan parliament and General Khalifa Haftar.

8 .Pakistan:
Terrorism has greatly affected Pakistan and has been facing religious sectarian and extremism violence. Even Pakistan citizens fear their own country because of terror arm like the Ashlar-e-Taliban, the Hark at-UL-Mujaheddin and the Tehran-i-Taliban
9 .Egypt:
After over throwing the government of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has been in political instability.

10 . Kenya:
Since the attack on Nairobi’s giant shopping center Westgate Mall where over 70 people where killed and many injured, the northern part of Kenya especially on Somali border has suffered from bomb attacks, killing hundreds. The attackers have targeted public places like churches, Bus stations and nightclubs.
On the 2nd April 2015, the Islamist attacked Garrisa University and killed 147 students. The Al-Shabaab claimed responsible for the attack.

Other dangerous countries include:

Venezuela, Central African Republic, South Africa, Chad, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico and Southern Sudan