Abortion policy, other takeaways from Biden-Trump debate
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President Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump squared off Thursday in a debate watched by millions, and what voters saw may have sparked more questions than answers.
Here are five takeaways from the Atlanta showdown.
1. Dems, we have a problem –
Biden — diagnosed with a cold, according to his campaign — looked all of his 81 years onstage, speaking in a halting, hoarse voice and missing key opportunities to forcefully and coherently push back against Trump.
While the veteran Democrat showed occasional spark, he mostly appeared lackluster. The post-debate analysis came in quickly — and it was devastating.
“It was an unmitigated disaster,” University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato told AFP.
“This debate is a problem,” added Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer, saying Biden’s supporters “are going to be extremely concerned how this unfolded.”
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Burial of Mr Ibu begins in Enugu
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The burial of late Nollywood actor John Okafor, aka Mr Ibu, has commenced in his hometown of Amuri, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
In October 2023, reports emerged that Mr Ibu was ill and required financial assistance.
In November 2023, however, his family confirmed that one of his legs had been amputated to keep him alive.
The comic actor finally gave up the ghost on Saturday, March 2.
FG approves disbursement of N12.9bn health care provision fund
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The Federal Government, on Thursday, approved the disbursement of N12,911bn through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
The amount represents the 2023 fund for one quarter, to be utilised in the third quarter of 2024.
This is according to the 2020 BHCPF guideline, pending the review of the new guideline.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at the 7th meeting of the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee in Abuja.
In March 2024, the Nigerian government authorised the disbursement of N25 billion through the BHCPF across the states of the federation
The allocated funds were earmarked for direct facility financing and workforce incentives across states.
Available data from the BHCPF and the Africa Health Budget Network shows that from 2019 to 2022, funds disbursed through BHCPF summed up to an estimated N89 billion.
Boko Haram terrorists surrender to Multinational Joint Task Force
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The Multinational Joint Task Force says three Boko Haram members have surrendered to its troops.
Disclosing this in Maiduguri was Lt.- Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief Military Public Information Officer, Ndjamena Chad. He said this in a statement made released in Maiduguri.
He said: ”In Cameroon’s Sector I, two terrorist fighters surrendered to the troops at Wulgo.
”They have been identified as Rawagana Mustapha, 18, and Mustapha Ali, 20.
”Similarly, Sector III in Nigeria reported the surrender of one terrorist fighter, Ibrahim Malam, 28, to the 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga.
”Preliminary investigations revealed that Malam had been a Boko Haram fighter living in Kwaleram, south of Lake Chad, for six years,” he said.
“As Operation Lake Sanity II progresses, MNJTF urges other terrorists to surrender and lay down their arms for lasting peace and prosperity in the region”.