Saudi Arabia announces start of fasting. Ramadan

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will start on Tuesday.

“Tomorrow, Tuesday is the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan this year,” the kingdom’s supreme court said in a statement.

Other Muslim countries, including Sunni-majority Egypt and Lebanon, have also confirmed that Tuesday marks the start of Ramadan.

Shiite-majority countries like Iran are expected to start one day later.

Muslims are expected to refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, before gathering with family and friends to break their fast in the evening.

However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many Muslim-majority countries have imposed restrictions on worshippers, including night-time curfews and called for prayers to be performed at home.

MARKETING, : Osun traders lament low patronage over inflation, insecurity

 

Even as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is just a matter of days away, and adherents of the Islamic religion could be observed in high spirits getting set for the kick off of the religious obligation of fasting, many of the markets within Osun State have continued to witness increased commercial activities.

In a visit to some markets by our correspondent on Saturday, traders and buyers were observed engaged in serious buying and selling.

Most buyers who spoke to  stated that despite the fact that the cost of commodities had gone up in the few months due to inflation and insecurity in some parts of the country, preparation for Ramadan is in top gear and going to the market is part of preparation for the fasting period.

At the popular Owode-Ede in Ede North local government area, commercial activities were at the peak in the market as it was the market day which comes up at intervals of five days.

Traders interviewed revealed that the rate of trading had dropped despite the fact that more people visit because of the preparation for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

A palm oil trader, Ramota Adisa stated that though palm oil is now available, the cost remains on the high side because of inflation.

According to her, “A five litre bottle of palm oil now goes for N2,100. Buyers would think that there is much gain in it for us, but that is not the case. The gain we realize from it isn’t much but as traders, we cannot because of the low gain margin close our shops.

“Business is business. At times, there is profit and loss, but our prayers is that when we experience a loss, it shouldn’t be more than what we cannot recover from comfortably.”

A vegetable seller, Ganiyat Salam in her explanation stated that though buyers often troop to Owode-Ede on its market days, they usually go home with less than what they came to buy.

While taking the side of other traders, she disclosed that the high cost of commodities in the market was not of their making but was as a result of events happening in the country.

She stated that in some parts of the country, farmers are now afraid of going to their farms for fear of being kidnapped or killed by bandits.

Buyers interviewed maintained that the cost of commodities in the markets has skyrocketed.

They lamented the fact that the amount of money at hand only ends up purchasing so little that many end up leaving the market with half of what they originally intend to buy.

TODAY NEWS : Four arrested with pump-action rifles, charms at PDP southwest congress in Osun

 

The Osun State Police Command has arrested four suspected hoodlums mobilised with different rifles to cause trouble at the South-West zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress.

 gathered that the suspects on Sunday evening were planning to disrupt the PDP Zonal Congress in Osogbo.

The suspected hoodlums were found with pump-action, charms and amulets.

It would be recalled that the congress which was fixed for Ibadan was rescheduled to Osun State by the National Working Committee of the party.

A source said, “I cannot really say those behind the hoodlums.”

He said they were arrested at the convention venue with Pump-action and charms. I will brief you as events unfold,” the source contended.

Confirming the incident, the Police spokesperson in Osun, SP Yemisi Opalola said the suspects are already at the state CID for further Investigations and would face appropriate sanctions once they are found culpable.

Sport Champions League.Tuchel names three Chelsea players ready to fight for others

 

Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has said there are three players in his squad that can’t be challenged.

The German named Mateo Kovacic, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta as his top fighters.

The Blues are preparing for a crucial week in their campaign, as they take on FC Porto in the Champions League quarter-final, having won 2-0 in the first leg.

Four days later, Tuchel’s men will face Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Ahead of the key games, Tuchel has spoken about some of the players he will rely on to protect their teammates and praised the squad’s spirit.

“Honestly you don’t want to be in a fight with Antonio Rudiger, Kova (Mateo Kovacic) and Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta).

“For me, you don’t want to be in a fight with them, because they are ready to fight and it’s their nature to show it on the pitch and protect the interests of our team.

“They are there, we can rely on them, nobody has to do stuff which is against their nature, you can totally rely on them,” Tuchel said.

COVID-19 will leave lasting scars on developing countries – World Bank

 

The World Bank says the COVID-19 pandemic will have major effects on developing countries.

The President, David Malpass gave the hint at the Spring Meetings 2021 G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.

Malpass noted that the crisis came on top of persistent development challenges, including stagnant median incomes, fragility and violence and damages caused by climate change.

Identifying closed schools, lost jobs, depletion of savings and assets and growing debt overhangs as the aftermath of the pandemic, Malpass said “COVID-19 will leave lasting scars on developing countries.”

He announced that in 2020, the World Bank achieved a record 65% growth in commitments and doubled trade and working capital finance to fill the banking vacuum that hit private sectors.

“In 2020, bank-wide commitments topped $100 billion for the first time and we expect new vaccination operations in 50 countries by mid-year.”

Malpass confirmed that the main elements of the Climate Change Action Plan had been presented.

The agenda includes new targets for financing and steps to have as much impact as possible in improving the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions and saving lives and livelihoods.

On debt, the World Bank commended the decision by the G20 to extend the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) through 2021.

The institution assured it is working closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support the implementation of the G20 Common Framework.

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South West Zonal Congress ongoing at the Women and Children Development

 

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has expressed delight at the conduct of the accreditation exercise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South West Zonal Congress ongoing at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), Osogbo, Osun State.

The governor while speaking with journalists immediately after being accredited revealed that he had to present his Driver’s Licence before he was allowed into the venue of the congress.

Reason for this he explained was to prevent ghost workers whose presence they were watching out for at the venue of the congress.

The Oyo State Governor also maintained that despite the fact that the accreditation exercise started late, it was better, than for it to be rushed through.

In his words, “Accreditation is starting two hours behind schedule but I feel it is better for it to be late and thorough than for it to be rushed through.”

While stressing the importance of the zonal congress on the party, the governor noted that its outcome has far reaching effects on the party at the national level.

“This is a zonal congress but it has ramifications for the party at the national level.

“If we get it right in the South West, then we know that the future will be bright for the Peoples Democratic Party at the national level.

“This is not just an election for zonal officials but we are here to put in our best and they will in turn represent us at the national level”, he added.

Earlier, the Chairman of the PDP South West Zonal Congress Electoral/Congress Committee, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State represented by his deputy, Dr. Benson Adounu had stated during the display of sensitive electoral materials that there were 743 delegates that have been scheduled to vote in the exercise that will form the process that will usher in new set of Zonal Executives for the party at the South West.

As at press time,  reports that the few delegates who have showed up included the former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, member House of Representatives representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke and a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and the deputy governor of Oyo State, Engineer Raufu Aderemi Olaniyan.