World

Taliban To Revive Executions

Published

3 years ago

September 24, 2021

NewTimes

The Taliban has begun to assert itself as it warned the rest of the world against interfering with its affairs as it revives punishments like executions in Afghanistan.

“Everyone criticised us for the punishments in the stadium, but we have never said anything about their laws and their punishments,” Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, one of the founders of the extremist group, told The Associated Press,

“No one will tell us what our laws should be. We will follow Islam and we will make our laws on the Quran.”

Turabi added that judges, including women, would preside over cases, but the basis of Afghanistan’s laws would be the Quran.

His comments come amid the exclusion of women from the country’s interim government.

Turabi was the minister of justice and head of the religious police when the Taliban first ruled in the 1990s, he is now in charge of prisons.

Under initial Taliban rule, convicted murderers were killed by a single gunshot to the head. The killing of a murderer was carried out by the victim’s family, who could accept “blood money” and allow the culprit to live.

For convicted thieves, the punishment was amputation of a hand and for robbery convictions, the punishment was the dismemberment of a hand and a foot.

These punishments were carried out before large crowds at a stadium or mosque and the judiciary favoured Islamic clerics, whose knowledge of the law was limited to religious injunctions.

In August, the Taliban took control of Kabul and rapidly captured Afghanistan. In reconstructing the country, the extremist group has said it is ready to build relations that serves both United States and Afghan interests though countries like China have vocally supported the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Health

HIV/AIDS: 6.3 Million Lives On The Line If – UN

Published

1 month ago

February 8, 2025

NewTimes

By John Michael Ojo

The United Nations (UN), has warned that more than six million people could die if the United State ends it’s foreign aid programs.

This was made known by UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Christine Stegling said during a UN briefing in Geneva on Friday.

According to her, “There is still a lot of confusion… about how the waiver will be implemented, and we’re seeing a lot of disruption of the delivery of treatment services.”

Regarding the freeze’s impact, Stegling said 20 million of the world’s 30 million HIV-positive people rely on US aid for treatment.

READ ALSO: Researchers Near Cure For HIV

Noting that the HIV global response is heavily dependent on funds from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as it finances 70% of the overall AIDS response.

“We estimate that if PEPFAR wasn’t reauthorized between 2025 and 2029 and other resources were not found for the HIV response, there would be a 400% increase in AIDS deaths.

“That’s 6.3 million people, 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths that will occur in the future,” she warned.

With the funding freeze, the biggest interruption will be on community health systems, she said, giving the example of Ethiopia, where UNAIDS had 5,000 public health worker contracts that are funded by US assistance.

“All of these in all regions of Ethiopia have been terminated,” she added.

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

World

Bill Gates Recounts Worst Mistake

Published

2 months ago

January 26, 2025

NewTimes

Bill Gates Drops On Billionaire Ranking After Stock Transfer To Ex-wife

By John Michael

Erstwhile word’s richest person and founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has revealed that his divorce of his wife, Melinda, remains his most regrettable action.

Gates who revealed this in a recent interview with The Times published on Saturday, added that the separation left him and Melinda miserable.

While answering questions bordering on his marriage, the 69-year-old entrepreneur said: “I’m more cheerful now, the mistake I most regret.”

“There are others, but none that matter.

READ ALSO: Melinda Gates Now A Billionaire After Stock Transfer From Bill Gates

“The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.

“Melinda and I still spend time together as a family. We have three children and two grandchildren, so there are always family events.

“The kids are doing well and have strong values.”

The former couple, who share Jennifer (28), Rory (25), and Phoebe (22), in a joint statement in 2021, announced an end to their 27 years marriage as a result of irreconcilable differences.

READ ALSO: Bloomberg Removes Bill Gates From Billionaire List After Divorce

The duo has also moved on with Gates now dating Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd.

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

World

BREAKING: Former US President, Jimmy Carter Is Dead

Published

2 months ago

December 29, 2024

NewTimes

By John Michael Ojo

The longest-lived president in United States of America, Jimmy Carter, is dead.
This was made known in a statement by the Carter Center and signed by his son Chip Carter on Sunday.

It reads, “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son.

“My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

READ ALSO: How I Escaped Israel’s Air Strikes – WHO DG

President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 grea-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosalynn, and one grandchild.

Jimmy Carter who was the 39th president of the United States and a recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, in the company of his family. He was 100,

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms