TheNewsGuru

Tag: UK

  • Thousands of UK workers stage biggest single-day strike in a decade

    Thousands of UK workers stage biggest single-day strike in a decade

    Britain’s biggest strike in a decade got under way on Wednesday, with up to half a million workers walking out in increasingly bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.

    Members of seven trade unions are taking industrial action, affecting schools, universities, trains and buses.

    Thousands of schools closed for the day because of action by the National Education Union (NEU), although many parents only found out on Wednesday morning that their children would have to stay at home.

    Civil servants, train and bus drivers and university staff also stopped work on the biggest single day of strikes in a decade.

    Picket lines were mounted outside railway stations, schools, government departments and universities across the country, with unions saying they were receiving strong support from the public.

    More than 100,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union were on strike, including Border Agency staff at ports and airports.

    The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is frustrated by the government’s controversial plans for a new law on minimum levels of service during strikes.

    A petition against the law, signed by more than 200,000 members of the public, will be handed in to the prime minister’s office.

    TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, said he hoped Wednesday’s protests and strikes would send a strong message to the government about the anger felt by growing numbers of workers.

    Groups representing parents have released a joint statement in support of striking teachers.

    The statement signed by the parental organisations Save Our Schools, Rescue Our Schools, Let Our Kids Be Kids, Special Needs Jungle and Square Peg makes clear that parents support teachers in their demand for “fair pay”.

    The groups said they shared the concerns of educators that children’s education were being harmed because of a lack of qualified teachers and turnover of staff.

    They called on the Government to engage with the union to negotiate a settlement and avoid the industrial action.

  • UK cuts tariffs on Nigerian exports

    UK cuts tariffs on Nigerian exports

    The UK government on Monday said it had cut tariffs and extended duty-free trade in goods exported from Nigeria

    Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones, Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria said this at the launch of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) which took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Llewellyn-Jones said the scheme would help to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports in line with the Federal Government’s wider trade policy objectives and take off in April 2023.

    He noted that the scheme would reduce import costs by over £750 million per year, thereby reducing prices, and increase choice of UK consumers and businesses as well.

    “ The Uk Government has reduced the tariffs of 90 per cent of goods that Nigeria would export to our country and has also provided preferential trading scheme for range of other exports that the country might have.

    “ We have reached out to small and large businesses in different parts of the country and this is intended to help exporters and other people in the trading business to make the United Kingdom an export destination.

    “This would also serve as an opportunity to grow the non oil and gas sector in Nigeria and create jobs in the country, and most importantly, we are reaching out to people at the grassroots level so they can know what we are doing.

    “The DCTS is much more generous and simpler than the existing Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP),” he said.

    Llewellyn-Jones revealed that the trade volume between both countries for year 2022 was 2.2 billion pounds, noting that the oil and gas sector accounted for majority of the trade.

    He stressed on the importance of expanding the market and diversifying into other sectors including exportation.

    “We have to change focus to non oil sector but this takes time, but we are working with experts from Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the Federal Government to grow the economy through expanding of its export.

    “The key challenges for exporters is finding key partners in the UK to sell their products but we are working on ensuring that we link exporters with potential buyers so as to ensure there is enough demand and supply,” he said.

    Mr Simon Calvert, Senior Commercial Agriculture Adviser, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) noted that Nigeria does not require international conventions to enjoy the benefits under the DCTS.

    He added that the Uk government would help exporters to access finances through its financial institutions.

    He noted that by making the rules of origin more generous, neighbourng countries can easily make use of components from Nigeria in their Duty Free Exports to the UK

    “ Cutting tariffs for Nigeria would ensure that 3000 new products are duty free for the first time as the average existing tariff on these goods is seven per cent, meaning these changes make Nigerian exports more competitive in the UK.

    “  Many tariff reductions are on value added goods such as processed sesame oil, cotton clothing and cocoa butter and paste and complement existing duty free trade on raw products.

    “ We have made it simpler for Nigeria to get and retain these enhanced tariffs by removing the need for Nigeria to ratify and implement certain international conventions,” he said.

    Damola Oladosu, an official with Boston Consulting Group, said that opportunities in the exporting market remained underutilised.

    She said that the country could grow its exports to the UK by increasing production on certain products like cocoa, cotton, fertilizer, cashew amongst others.

  • How UK surgeons fixed 169 manhoods as penis injury rises within a year

    How UK surgeons fixed 169 manhoods as penis injury rises within a year

    Surgeons in the United Kingdom repaired 169 fractured manhoods in the 12 months to April 2022 — up 46 on the year before.

    The number of men who snap their todger during sex is swelling, official NHS figures show.

    According to the Scottish Sun, experts reckon it may show that more men are using Viagra to make a stand.

    Most procedures involve men in their 30s, although two in their 70s had breaks last year.

    The repair involves cutting into the penis to stitch the tear.

    London-based consultant urologist Gordon Muir said breaks occur during sex when the willy comes out and gets bent on the way back in — usually when the woman is on top.

    He said: “Most men feel a pop or crack and lose their erection.

    There’s usually bruising. The penis can look like an aubergine.

    “If untreated, erectile dysfunction or scarring can cause serious long-term problems.”

    Rob Andrews, 32, of Liverpool, snapped his member during a Viagra-fuelled romp with partner Isabella Woolf.

    She said: “I jumped on top of him and heard a crack.

    “At the hospital, X-rays confirmed a penis break. Fortunately it’s recovered!”

  • How Raymond Dokpesi was arrested in London

    How Raymond Dokpesi was arrested in London

    The founder of DAAR Communications Limited Raymond Dokpesi has been arrested in London, the United Kingdom.

    According to multiple reports on Sunday, Dokpesi was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London.

    It was not clear yet why he was arrested.

    The Whistler, an online news medium, quoted a source who was on the flight to have confirmed his arrest.

    The source was specifically quoted to have said: “We were on a flight from Frankfurt to London and as we were about to arrive in London, we were informed that we should all stay on our seat when the aircraft lands and that the Police wanted to do something. We were informed that there would be a police operation.

    “So when we landed, the police came in and ask who is Raymond Dokpesi and they now took him away. He was wearing agbada. He was arrested in London.”

    Meanwhile, unfolding reports indicated that
    Chief Raymond Dokpesi, would make an initial court appearance on Monday morning in London.

    More details about his arrest said that he was picked up on Sunday morning on flight LH 916 from Frankfurt, Germany to London, Heathrow airport.

    He was arrested at the Terminal 2 immediately the flight arrived in London.

    His arrest, as further stated, was preceded by an announcement that all passengers should remain on their seats.

    Minutes later, UK border agents and officers reportedly stormed the aircraft and escorted Dokpesi out of the plane.

    A report by PSN, another online news medium, said Dokpesi was booked into a HMP correctional center in the London Borough, on Sunday afternoon.

    The report said that when he appeared in court, the first hearing would involve a judge deciding whether Dokpesi had adequate legal representation. Scheduling additional court dates, including an arraignment, would be considered.

    An initial appearance could pave the way for authorities to release the probable cause affidavit, the document authorities used to justify Dokpesi’s arrest and obtained a warrant, which has so far been sealed.

  • Cancer: Military man loses half his manhood after misdiagnosed three times

    Cancer: Military man loses half his manhood after misdiagnosed three times

    An army warrant officer who had half of his penis removed after doctors misdiagnosed his cancer three times has been told he may only have a year left to live.

    Gavin Brooks, 45, a dad of two from Crewe, UK says he has been left with a ‘Frankenweiner’ after undergoing an operation to have a cancerous tumour removed.

    He said: ‘I hope I can get some sort of treatment abroad that can help make the cancer smaller and make my lifespan longer so I can stay around as long as possible.

    ‘My son Jorge says he is going to lift the World Cup one day and I want to be around for that.’

    Gavin, went to army doctors three times in 2021 after he experienced a tight ring of skin around his penis foreskin and later a lesion on the tip of his penis.

    ‘The best way I can describe it is like a ring of tissue or hard skin within the foreskin.

    ‘When I would retract the foreskin, I would have to pull it over the head of the penis.

    ‘The skin that connects the foreskin to the penis broke and would bleed and cause pain when I would go for a wee, I knew this wasn’t normal and that I had to get it checked out.’

    At first, army doctors believed Gavin was suffering from genital warts, but he had been married for 20 years and said he had never been unfaithful.

    Four weeks later when the issue had not cleared, Gavin went back to the same doctor who still believed it to be a wart.

    After seeing a different army doctor, Gavin was prescribed a cream.

    He then referred himself to a sexual health clinic, which referred him to a dermatologist, who took a biopsy from the penis.

    When the result came back, he was given the crushing news that he had penile cancer.

    In January, Gavin went for an operation where he had part of his penis removed.

    He said: ‘They lifted my penis up and cut it in half and took a skin graft from my leg to make a penis head, but it is flat with a hole in.

    ‘I’ve nicknamed it the “Frankenweiner”. When I woke up in hospital I was so scared at how much of my penis looked to have been removed as it had a dressing on it and a catheter fitted.’

    Despite the operation, the cancer had spread and he needed further surgery in April 2022 to remove lymph nodes in his groin and intense chemotherapy in June.

    Devastatingly, the first round of chemotherapy hasn’t worked, and the cancer has spread to other parts of his body.

    He is now undergoing a second chemotherapy treatment with radiotherapy included too.

    Gavin says he is now looking to seek other treatments that are not offered by the UK’s National Health Scheme including immunotherapy, proton beam therapy and dendritic cell treatment, which are widely used in Germany, Gibraltar and Japan in the advanced cancer stages.

    He said: ‘I’ve spent 24 years in the army and a great amount of that time as a fitness training instructor and I use exercise to get rid of stress, now I have to be sat in a wheelchair to watch my little boy play football.

    ‘I can’t walk long distances and I now use a wheelchair more than I walk.’

    Now, he’s urging men to check their penises more regularly for symptoms and has launched an Instagram page called Screaming Cockerel to raise awareness of the disease which has robbed him of his health and mobility.

    He added: ‘If I had been diagnosed earlier, I may have only ended up requiring a circumcision that could have prevented the rest of the operations and chemotherapy.

    ‘That’s why I need to raise as much awareness for this rare and unknown cancer, so more time and research can be spent into the treatment and diagnosis of this deadly disease before it’s too late.’

  • Sanusi’s Daughter, Hafsat, bags Master’s degree from UK Varsity (Photos)

    Sanusi’s Daughter, Hafsat, bags Master’s degree from UK Varsity (Photos)

    Hafsat, the daughter of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has bagged a master’s degree in law from Soas University of London.

    Sanusi and his family members attended the graduation ceremony.

    Recall that Sanusi welcomed a baby girl with his fourth wife in November.


    Source: Instagram

  • FG cautions Nigerians travelling to US, Europe

    FG cautions Nigerians travelling to US, Europe

    The Federal Government has advised Nigerians travelling to Europe and the United States to take extra precautions to avoid being dispossessed of their belongings.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the advice on Monday in Abuja at the fifth edition of the ‘President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 Series’.

    The scorecard series was organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the fifth edition witnessed presentations by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar.

    In an opening remark, Mohammed said the advice became imperative because of recent developments where Nigerian travellers to the US and some countries in Europe were having their belongings, especially money and international passports, stolen.

    The minister said the incidences had reached an increasingly high rate and therefore the need for the advice.

    “The most recent victims of this were travelers to the UK, most of whom were dispossessed of their belongings at high brow shops, particularly in the high street of Oxford.

    “We have therefore decided to advise Nigerians travelling to Europe and the United States to take extra precaution to avoid being dispossessed of their belongings.

    “This is not your typical travel advisory. Issuing such is the prerogative of our embassies/high commissions as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “It is merely a piece of advice to Nigerians who may be visiting the affected parts of the world,” he said.

    Speaking on the scorecard series, he said it was designed to showcase the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development subsequently made his presentations, after which he took questions from the media men at the event.

  • No excuse for Chinese police beating journalists – UK minister

    No excuse for Chinese police beating journalists – UK minister

    British business Minister, Grant Shapps, said on Monday that there was no excuse for media covering protests to be beaten by police.

    Shapps said this when BBC earlier on Sunday alleged that Chinese police had assaulted and detained one of its journalists in Shanghai.

    “There can be absolutely no excuse whatsoever for journalists who are simply covering the protests going on, to be  beaten by the police. I know that’s a considerable concern,” Shapps told Sky News.

    Shanghai is one of a number of Chinese cities that have seen protests over stringent COVID restrictions, which flared in recent days following a deadly fire in the country’s far west.

  • NIS identifies 3 concrete reasons Nigerians can relocate abroad

    NIS identifies 3 concrete reasons Nigerians can relocate abroad

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has identified three (3) concrete reasons for Nigerians to relocate abroad.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Isah Jere made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday at a news conference.

    The NIS boss said one could travel if the person has a legal job waiting, admission into school or any concrete legal means of survival.

    Making the disclosure, Mr Jere cautioned Nigerians on the dangers of irregular migration, so as not to waste their future.

    Jere, who was represented by Mr Tony Akuneme, the NIS Public Relations Officer said the service was committed to sensitising Nigerians on the dangers of irregular migration

    “A lot of people want to travel without knowing what they are going to do or where they are going to exactly. People are being  brainwashed by agents of irregular migration and you think life is better on the other side.

    “Who says there are no beggars in Canada, USA or UK? There are beggars and homeless people in these countries you are rushing to.

    “If the young people are told that the Libya they are going to is not better than Nigeria, that will at least give them a rethink.

    “You can’t be excited going to a country you know nothing about,” he said.

    According to him, some of the young people rushing out don’t even use the Nigeria passport issued to them.

    “So what’s the point in getting a document that you don’t need and putting pressure on the system?” he asked

    The CG urged the media to help in educating the citizens on the dangers of illegal migration.

  • UK envoy admits surge in visa application by Nigerians

    UK envoy admits surge in visa application by Nigerians

    The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs Catriona Laing, has said that the number of Nigerians applying for visas to the UK has increased in recent times.

    Laing made the disclosure on Sunday in Abuja when she featured at NAN Forum.

    She noted, however, that the UK government was mindful of the situation and was in talks with the Nigerian government to avoid causing brain-drain, especially in the health sector.

    The high commissioner expressed her delight that the UK had become an attractive destination for Nigerians, especially students, adding that the UK was ready to welcome talents.

    “You know, there is obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family or where they have friends. Secondly, the English language obviously makes it a lot easier.

    “Thirdly is the education, and people who have studied they will want to return. And I think you know, we are a welcoming country and we want to welcome talents, whether it’s people coming to study, or people coming to work.

    “So, a lot of Nigerians will be tuned to the UK and we have seen actually a very big increase in requests for Nigerian student visas. That is partly because we have changed our policy.

    “So it is now easier for Nigerians, students to remain after their studies, they can stay I think up to two years if you have done a masters or a PhD, which will enable people to look for work after they have studied.

     “We have labour shortage in the UK at the moment. But we have to balance that because we do not also want to be responsible for a massive brain drain from Nigeria because you also need talented people.

    “So the health sector is an example where there is a lot of Nigerian medics, both nurses and doctors in the National Health Service,” Laing said.

    Responding to why the UK is sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, Laing said it was to enhance migration in partnership with Rwanda.

    “We have a policy we have designed, to enhance migration in partnership with the government of Rwanda. But it is actually under legal challenge at the moment.

    “So that is just one element of trying to deal with what is frankly a huge problem.

    “Like you see in the news, each day, these boats are coming across the channel with migrants from many different countries, and it is a huge, huge problem.

    “Because when they arrived they have to find accommodation, it takes a long time to process their applications.

    “So we absolutely recognise there are many genuine refugees from countries like Syria, in Africa, it is mostly Eritrea, South Sudan, the people who are fleeing horrible persecution.

    “So the Rwanda policy is just one component of many that we are trying to put in place to address this very challenging problem,” Laing said.