Headline

Israel Bombs Gaza, Fights Hamas Around Hospitals

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2024

Editor

Israeli forces pounded besieged Gaza on Wednesday in the war sparked by the October 7 attack and fought Hamas around several hospitals despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire.

Talks in Qatar towards a truce and hostage release deal, involving US and Egyptian mediators, have brought no result so far, with Israel and the Palestinian militant group blaming each other.

Tensions have risen between Israel and its top ally the United States over the soaring civilian death toll and dire food shortages in Gaza, and Israeli plans to push its ground offensive into the far-southern city of Rafah, which is packed with displaced civilians.

In heavy overnight bombardment, Israeli strikes again hit Gaza City and Rafah, where a fireball lit up the sky over the city crowded with up to 1.5 million people, most of them displaced by the war.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said 66 people were killed in overnight bombardment and combat.

Israeli forces have battled militants in and around three Gaza hospitals, raising fears for patients, medical staff and displaced people inside them.

Fighting has raged for nine days around Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, the territory’s largest, and more recently near two hospitals in the main southern city of Khan Yunis, Al-Amal and Nasser.

The army and Shin Bet security service said they were “continuing to conduct precise operational activities” in both cities “while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams and medical equipment”.

The army said “Troops continued to eliminate terrorists and locate terror infrastructure and weapons” around Al-Shifa.

“Thus far, hundreds of terrorists have been apprehended and dozens of terrorists have been killed in the area of the hospital,” it said.

Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles have also massed around the Nasser Hospital, the Gaza health ministry said, adding that shots were fired but no raid had yet been launched.

The Palestinian Red Crescent warned that thousands were trapped inside and “their lives are in danger”. The Israeli army has yet to comment on the situation in and around the hospital.

UN warns of ‘man-made famine’
Gaza has endured almost six months of war and a siege that has cut off most food, water, fuel and other supplies, and the UN has warned that its 2.4 million people are on the brink of a “man-made famine”.

The flow of aid trucks from Egypt has slowed amid the war and due to lengthy Israeli cargo inspections.

Donor governments have airdropped food into Gaza where desperate crowds have rushed towards aid packages drifting down on parachutes. At least 18 people have been reported killed in stampedes or drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.

Hamas has urged an end to the airdrops and called for stepped-up road deliveries instead. The United States said it would keep airdropping humanitarian supplies while also pushing for more overland deliveries.

The war broke out when Hamas launched its unprecedented October 7 attack that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The militants also took about 250 hostages. Israel says that, after an earlier truce and hostage deal, about 130 captives remain in Gaza, including 34 who are presumed dead.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 32,414 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry.

Israel also charges that Palestinian militants sexually assaulted October 7 victims and hostages.

The New York Times published a report on the first Israeli woman to speak publicly about having been sexually abused, 40-year-old lawyer Amit Soussana.

Soussana, who was abducted from a kibbutz on October 7 and released in November, said she was repeatedly beaten and sexually assaulted at gunpoint by her guard inside Gaza.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that her abuse “is a wake up call to the world to act. To do everything and pressure Hamas. To free our hostages. To bring our hostages home.”

Death toll ‘far too high’
The UN Security Council on Monday passed its first resolution demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and the release of the captives.

The United States, which had blocked previous resolutions, abstained, drawing an angry rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The right-wing premier cancelled an Israeli delegation’s planned visit to Washington, although Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was already there.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin stressed, before meeting Gallant, that “the number of civilian casualties is far too high, and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low” in Gaza.

Despite the tensions, Rear Admiral Hagari said security cooperation was closer than ever, “encompassing the entire US military and the US intelligence services”.

Israeli and Hamas envoys have engaged in weeks of indirect talks aimed at halting the fighting, but both sides said this week the talks were failing.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari has said that, although the CIA and Mossad chiefs had left Doha, the talks were “ongoing” at a technical level.

Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad charged that Israel “is being intransigent and wants to keep the war going, despite international positions and in defiance to UN Security Council’s decision to cease fire during Ramadan,” the ongoing Muslim holy month of fasting.

“There hasn’t been any progress in ceasefire talks or negotiations for prisoners’ exchange,” he said. “The Israeli government’s procrastination is just a way to gain time and keep their aggression going.”

Amid the bloodiest-ever Gaza conflict, Israel has also exchanged daily cross-border fire with Hamas ally Hezbollah based in southern Lebanon.

The hostilities, in which Israel has also targeted Hamas militants, have raised fears of all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war in 2006.

Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into northern Israel Wednesday killing a civilian, after Israel carried out a deadly pre-dawn strike in south Lebanon.

AFP

Headline

Step-by-step Guide To Applying For 2024 MTN Scholarship

Published

27 mins ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

MTN Nigeria Foundation on Friday announced scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students to support education and empower the next generation of leaders.

MTN also announced that the online registration portal is now open for interested undergraduate and Postgraduate students.

It has also increased the annual award amount from N200,000 to N300,000 for eligible students.

The scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, and other academic expenses.

The application deadline is June 12th, 2024.

The MTN scholarship types you can apply for

There are three main academic scholarships available from MTN that you can apply for. These are as follows:

MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS): This flagship program, established in 2010, supports 300-level students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education) who are pursuing Science and Technology-related fields. Each year, 300 students maintaining good grades receive scholarships of N200,000.00, renewable annually until graduation.

MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS): The program began in 2012 for visually impaired students in 200 and 300-level programs enrolled in Nigerian public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. 100 high-achieving visually impaired students will each get a ₦ N300,000 scholarship each year until graduation if grade requirements are met.

Top 10 UTME Scholarship: The top 10 scoring candidates of UTME as announced by JAMB, automatically qualify for the top 10 UTME scholarship. The candidates are awarded scholarships from their 100 level through to graduation upon meeting grade requirements and each student will get an annual award amount of N300,000. The Top 10 UTME Scholarship is awarded irrespective of the successful candidates’ preferred course of study or Tertiary Institution – Public or Private in Nigeria.

Below is how to apply for an MTN scholarship:
1. Check Eligibility

Researching and understanding the eligibility criteria before applying for an MTN Scholarship is important. These scholarships are typically available to undergraduate students at accredited Nigerian higher institutions. Ensure you meet the minimum requirements, including age, educational background, and CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). Review the specific criteria provided by the MTN Foundation to verify your eligibility.

The eligibility requirements for the MTN Scholarships are as follows:

Institution of study

Students enrolled in a Nigerian public tertiary institution (university, polytechnic, or college of education) can apply for either the MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (STS) or the MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS).

Course of Study

The MTN Science and Technology Scholarship is available to undergraduates in Nigerian public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education who are majoring in science or technology-related fields.

Visually impaired students in their second or third year of study at a Nigerian public university, polytechnic, or college of education are eligible to apply for the MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS).

Level of Study

MTN recognises that the academic calendar varies across public tertiary institutions. Therefore, the MTN Science and Technology Scholarship is open to students who have completed their second semester of 200 level and are advancing to 300 level as well as those currently enrolled in 300 level.

The MTN Scholarship for Blind Students is available to blind students in their second or third year of study at any Nigerian public university, polytechnic, or college of education. For law students, whose program spans five years, the MTN Scholarship is available only to those in their third year of study.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
Students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics at a public university or college of education are eligible if they maintain a CGPA of 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale) or 3.5 (second-class upper).
Students in STEM fields aiming to enrol in the Higher National Diploma program at public polytechnics must have a CGPA of 3.0 or higher in their Ordinary National Diploma program.
Direct Entry students seeking to enter the third year of study in a STEM field at the university level must have a CGPA of at least 3.0 (upper credit) in the relevant subject area from the OND program.

MTN Scholarship for blind students

Visually impaired students enrolled in higher education institutions must maintain a CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Blind students seeking the MTN scholarship at a public polytechnic must have completed the OND program with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 and must be accepted into the HND program.

2. Gather the required documents

To complete the application process smoothly, gather all necessary documents and ensure all documents are well-organized, up-to-date and meet the specified requirements. These may include:

– Recent passport photograph
– Valid identification card
– Admission letter
– Academic transcripts
– Letter of recommendation from a reputable academic referee
– A concise biography of yourself and an explanation of why you deserve the scholarship

3. Visit the MTN Foundation Scholarship Portal

Access the MTN Foundation Scholarship portal through the official website at [MTN Scholarships](https://apps.mtn.ng/scholarships/).
Accurately fill in the 7-step application form, including personal details, contact information, and academic background and provide correct and verifiable information to avoid any disqualification.

4. Review

Once the necessary required information and documents have been provided, review all the provided information and attached documents and make necessary edits or corrections.

5. Submit

Once you are satisfied with your application, submit it through the portal.

Headline

List Of Persons On Board Iranian President’s Missing Helicopter

Published

13 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in a hard landing while visiting a northern region and his condition is currently unknown.

There were three helicopters in this convoy, two of which were carrying ministers and officials, and they arrived at their destination safely.

According to reports, different rescue groups are moving towards the area to locate the missing helicopter.

DAILY POST reported that it was unclear if Raisi and others on board with him survived the crash.

However, given the unsuitable weather conditions, it may take some time for the rescue team to find the helicopter.

According to World of Statistics, those onboard the helicopter when the incident occurred include Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, representative of Iranian Supreme Leader to East Azerbaijan.

Headline

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Azerbaijan Offer Help To Search President Raisi’s Helicopter

Published

13 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

Iranian search and rescue teams were scouring a fog-shrouded mountainside after a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi went missing in an “accident” on Sunday, state media said.

Fears grew for the 63-year-old ultraconservative after contact was lost with the helicopter carrying him as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in East Azerbaijan province, reports said.

“An accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president” in the Jolfa region of the western province, state television said, while some officials described the incident as a “hard landing”.

“The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the accident site,” said one state broadcaster.

More than 40 rescue teams using search dogs and drones were sent to the site, reported the IRNA news agency.

Raisi was visiting the province where he inaugurated a dam project together with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on the border between the two countries.

Raisi’s convoy included three helicopters, and the other two had “reached their destination safely,” according to Tasnim news agency.

Foreign countries were closely following the search effort at a time of high regional tensions over the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas since October 7 that has drawn in other armed groups in the Middle East.

A US State Department spokesman said: “We are closely following reports of a possible hard landing of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister.

“We have no further comment at this time.”

An Iranian Red Crescent team was seen walking up a slope in thick fog and drizzling rain, while other live footage showed worshippers reciting prayers in the holy city of Mashhad, Raisi’s hometown.

In neighbouring Iraq, Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani “instructed the interior ministry and the Iraqi Red Crescent and other relevant authorities to offer available resources… to aid in the search”.

Azeri President Aliyev said in a post on X that “we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran”.

“Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation,” he said, noting that his country “stands ready to offer any assistance needed”.

The accident happened in the mountainous protected forest area of Dizmar near the town of Varzaghan, said the official IRNA news agency.

Military personnel along with the Revolutionary Guards and police had also deployed teams to the area, said army chief-of-staff Mohammad Bagheri.

Iran’s Health Minister Bahram Eynollahi said medical resources had been dispatched.

The reformist Shargh daily also reported that “the helicopter carrying the president crashed” while two other helicopters had landed safely.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said one of the helicopters “made a hard landing due to bad weather conditions” and that it was “difficult to establish communication” with the aircraft.

Raisi has been president of the Islamic Republic since 2021 when he succeeded the moderate Hassan Rouhani, for a term during which Iran has faced crisis and conflict.

He took the reins of a country in the grip of a deep social crisis and an economy strained by US sanctions against Tehran over its contested nuclear programme.

Iran saw a wave of mass protests triggered by the death in custody of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September 2022 after her arrest for allegedly flouting dress rules for women.

In March 2023, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a surprise deal that restored diplomatic relations.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday voiced “great concern” after Sunday incident, offering to help with the response.

“We affirm that the Kingdom stands by the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran in these difficult circumstances and its readiness to provide any assistance that the Iranian agencies need,” the foreign ministry of the Gulf kingdom, a longtime rival of Iran, said in a statement.

The war in Gaza that broke out on October 7 sent regional tensions soaring again and a series of tit-for-tat escalations led to Tehran launching hundreds of missiles and rockets directly at Israel in April 2024.

In a speech following Sunday’s dam inauguration, Raisi emphasised Iran’s support for Palestinians, a centrepiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

“We believe that Palestine is the first issue of the Muslim world, and we are convinced that the people of Iran and Azerbaijan always support the people of Palestine and Gaza and hate the Zionist regime,” said Raisi.

Raisi, born in 1960 in northeast Iran’s holy city of Mashhad, served as Tehran’s prosecutor-general from 1989 to 1994, deputy chief of the Judicial Authority for a decade from 2004, and then national prosecutor-general in 2014.

His black turban signifies direct descent from the Prophet Mohammed, and state media has referred to him by the senior title of ayatollah in the Shiite clerical hierarchy.