, the Nigerian military has carried out a covert, organized, and illegal abortion program in the nation's northeast since at least 2013, 

ending at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls.

Islamist extremists had kidnapped and sexually assaulted many of them. When rescued by the military, the unwanted "terrorist babies" were seen as a potential threat for the future of the Nigerian government. Hence, the mass abortions started. 

Witnesses claim that those who refused to comply with the abortions were beaten, detained at gunpoint, or drugged.

According to the witness reports, the abortions were typically performed without the person's consent and frequently even their knowledge. Interviews and documents revealed that the pregnant women and girls ranged in age, with some being as young as 12 years old.

There hasn't been any prior information about the abortion program run by the army. 

Women who refused were occasionally assaulted, caned, detained at gunpoint, or drugged into submission. 

According to a guard and a health worker, several people were restrained by ties or pins while having abortion medications injected into them.

Conflict has forced more than two million people to flee northeast Nigeria since 2009. Source: AFP

Some abortions took tragic lives both within military facilities and out in the field. Four soldiers and two security officers reported seeing women die from abortions or seeing their corpses later. 

In northeast Nigeria, where a 13-year battle between the federal government and Islamist extremists is raging, women and girls are imprisoned. 

A blast that took at least 21 lives in the capital of Abuja, 2014. Source: Reuters

According to the UN and human rights organizations, at least 300,000 people have perished since the conflict started, some through violence and many more from malnutrition and illness. 

The northeast, a region of semi-arid savannahs, dense woodland, and floodplains, was formerly referred to as the country's breadbasket. But as the conflict continued, it descended into widespread famine and economic ruin, leading to a large-scale exodus and what the UN has dubbed one of the worst humanitarian crises in history.

The idea that the children of rebels are predetermined, by the blood in their veins, to one day take up guns against the Nigerian government and society is central to the abortion program and is shared by some citizens in the northeast. 

The program is meant to eliminate potential insurgency fighters before they were even born.

The scheme was for the "benefit of the women and any children they might have who would not have to deal with the stigma of having an insurgent father". 

Pregnant former insurgent prisoners are routinely taken in trucks under military supervision, sometimes in convoys, to barracks or hospitals across the northeast for abortions, according to the sources who spoke to Reuters about the intricately planned operation.

The south of Nigeria, which is a culturally conservative region, has made abortion illegal. Anyone found guilty of taking part in an abortion can be charged with a felony and sentenced to up to 14 years in jail.

The Nigerian military's code of conduct prohibits the mistreatment or execution of pregnant women, therefore forced abortions may be in violation of this rule. According to legal experts, forced abortions could be considered torture and subject to punishment as such.

The majority of the women who were interviewed claimed that no justification was offered for the injections and medications they were given. Women were allegedly forcibly forced to take medicine or have surgical abortions, according to four troops, guards, and one medical professional. They were sedated and restrained if they resisted giving their permission.

A Nigerian soldier stands next to liberated girls. Source: Reuters

Some soldiers and guards said that their female coworkers battered women into submission and that some women sobbed while getting forced abortions.

A cry followed by silence: Hafsat's story

A girl named Hafsat was one of those made to get an abortion against their will.

A soldier who was there that day reported that she arrived at an army camp in March 2019 as a slender teen, about the age of 14 or 15, wearing a turquoise outfit and covered with insect bites.

The soldier claimed he and other soldiers administered oxytocin injections to them.The soldier claimed that after hearing cries for an hour, he turned to find Hafsat bleeding profusely between her legs. To stop the blood, he grabbed her a cloth.

She just went quiet, maybe a half-hour later, he added. "She died,"

The soldier claimed that he and his companions burried her after wrapping her in her turquoise garment. He can't shake the memory.

A second soldier at the base, who claimed to have also seen the girl's abortion and death, corroborated the details of the first soldier's statement.

The Nigerian military wants to be viewed as a protector of the people, but by executing a secret mass abortion program, they have proven to be just as violent and oppressive as the very terrorists they are trying to fight. 

But they have taken the lives of innocent unborn babies, who had no say in the matter, and have forced the mothers to bear the burden of the consequences. They do so in the most brutal way, traumatizing the girls and even killing others. 

The abortion program was not only an inhumane violation of human rights but it was also completely unnecessary. 

The Nigerian military should have taken steps to ensure the safety and well-being of the mothers and their unborn children, rather than resorting to such a barbaric solution. They should have provided resources and support for the mothers, such as medical care, counseling, and economic assistance. 

They also shown a lack of respect for the religious beliefs of the people of Nigeria. In many instances, the abortion program was carried out without the consent of the families involved, and was done in a manner that was contrary to the religious beliefs of many Nigerians. This is especially egregious in a country with such a strong religious culture, and is a clear violation of religious freedom. 

In addition to being morally wrong, they have also caused significant harm to the country. The abortion program has left a lasting impression on the citizens of Nigeria, and it has tarnished the reputation of the military. It has also created an atmosphere of distrust and fear, with many Nigerians now questioning the motives of the military. 

The Nigerian military must also take responsibility for their actions and take steps to rebuild the trust of the people they are supposed to be protecting. Otherwise, they will continue to be viewed as a force of oppression and violence, rather than a force for good.

Early Bird

Controversy is nothing new to Kyrie Irving. His massive social media following, which numbers more than 17 million on Instagram and about 4.5 million on Twitter, has allowed him to break all kinds of sports-related news.

Is Kyrie Irving a Jew-hater? Does he believe the flat Earth theory? Why would he support conspiracy theories from Alex Jones and why the hell did he refuse to get vaccinated if it meant he would loses hundreds of millions of dollars?

These are some of the questions that are currently in the spotlight after the Nets point guard recently re-posted an anti-Semitic documentary online.

 that he and his team will donate $1 million to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a US organization that works to stop hate speech.

Kyrie did not explicitly apologize for his behavior or vehemently reject having anti-Semitic views during a news conference on Thursday.

Irving declared, “I’m not here to argue over a person or a culture or a religion or what they believe”. Nah, this is what’s here. It’s on a public platform. Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody? Did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people? ... So, I’m not going to stand down on anything that I believe in. I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me. Again, we’ll let you process that on your own time."

 from the Nets was a five-game suspension and a statement that he was "at this time unfit to be involved" with the franchise.

As a result of the perception that he "feels no accountability for his acts," the ADL responded by stating that it was rejecting his gift.

Kyrie subsequently issued a fuller apology that seemed to retract his earlier statements.

Additionally, Nike terminated its sponsorship agreement with the athlete and postponed the launch of its Kyrie 8 shoe.

He is one of the most gifted athletes in his generation and possibly in NBA history. 

Irving, a former champion and seven-time NBA All-Star, has undeniable talent and possesses amazing ball handling and movement skills. 

Add to that the numerous charity donations the player has made off the court over the years, and you have a player that is frequently regarded as a fan favorite. 

He donated a water fountain to a Pakistani village

Sadly, this is where we encounter Kyrie Irving's other side, which is completely at odds with all we have just mentioned.

To be perfectly clear, Kyrie Irving has expressed some views on topics unrelated to basketball that are absurd, outrageous, seriously worrying, and in some cases, downright hateful. 

Kyrie Irving claims that the planet is flat.

Though Irving has a history of criticizing the media, frequently referring to reporters as "pawns" and "puppets" who are engaged in a massive campaign to "control public perception," Irving's worldview came under fire in 2017 when he started to advance the long-debunked theory that the earth is flat. 

If you were unaware of this prior to now, let us to assure you that you did indeed read it correctly. 

The first time Irving asserted that the Earth is flat was in a February 2016 appearance on the podcast 

It wasn't until October 2018 that Irving finally put the matter to rest by apologizing for not realizing the impact that his words had on young kids, forcing teachers to handle the subject as a result.

The global epidemic, which lasted from late 2019 to early 2021, caused a great deal of death, severe economic damage, and psychological repercussions that are still being investigated.

Governments and residents both grappled with lockdowns, mask requirements, and of course, vaccines when they finally became available during that time.

Here comes Kyrie Irving and the ensuing vaccination scandal in New York.

Without going into a detailed breakdown of each and every stage, let me break it down as follows: The state of New York enacted a law requiring everyone to be immunized before entering an arena, including sports and entertainers. 

This meant that if a player was unvaccinated, they could not participate in any home games for the Knicks or Nets.

At the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, Kyrie was one of the most prominent "vaccine deniers"—players who refused to get shot.

He claimed he was acting only in the interest of his health and that he was "not an advocate for any side."

Kyrie missed a significant portion of Brooklyn's campaign as a result of his unwillingness to receive the vaccination. Of course, the question is "why?"

The response to that question once more revealed Irving's apparent adoration of conspiracies. 

 from the time, Irving "recently started following and liking Instagram posts from a conspiracy theorist who claims that "secret societies" are implanting vaccines in a plot to connect black people to a master computer for "a plan of Satan." 

Irving serves as a vice president on the executive committee of the players' union. 

According to several of the dozen or more current players, Hall-of-Famers, league executives, arena staff, and virologists questioned for this story over the last week, this Moderna microchip misinformation campaign has swept across numerous NBA locker rooms and group chats. We'll give you time to consider that. Give it some time.

He returned to the Brooklyn Nets in January after sitting out the first half of the 2021–22 season.

But because New York forbids unvaccinated people from entering indoor stadiums, he was unable to play home games until March.

 the amount of money he lost as a result of his decision to forego the COVID-19 vaccine.

Irving claimed at a press conference that his stance probably cost him more than $100 million in free agency.

Irving stated: "I gave up four years, $100 and something million deciding to be unvaccinated. And that was the decision. It was: contract, get vaccinated or being unvaccinated and there's a level of uncertainty of your future, whether you're gonna be in this league, whether you're gonna be on this team."

Irving probably lost more than $200 million as a result of his decision to forego the vaccination.

Due to New York City regulations in effect at the time, Irving was unable to participate in Brooklyn Nets home games until March of last season. 

For those matches, Irving was not compensated. In addition to the game against the New York Knicks, he missed 35 of 41 home games. Irving earned roughly $425,000 per game last season, so the games he missed in New York City cost him about $15.3 million.

Irving, however, was alluding to the money he dropped in free agency on Monday.

This summer, Irving was eligible for a five-year, $200 million extension with the Nets, but the team opted not to sign him due to their turbulent season.

Irving ultimately chose to sign on for the last year of his deal, a $36.5 million option for the 2022–2023 campaign. Next summer, he'll be a free agent.

Whatever the case, Kyrie Irving's future in the NBA, despite his incredible potential, is currently very much up in the air. 

It remains to be seen if he can return to earth given that it is round and all.

Inequality, in all its forms, is unjust and bad for societies. Education inequality refers to the  uneven distribution of academic resources such as funding, qualified and experienced teachers and staff,  books, and, more importantly, tools, and technologies. 

Even before the pandemic shocked the world and individuals were made to shift to the "new  normal", there was a significant divide between rich and poor students' lifestyles. Researchers verify that the academic advantages of children whose parents have  post-graduate degrees are much higher than those whose parents have a high school level diploma. 

The consequences of educational inequality are far-reaching but are often overshadowed by  the debates on education costs and budget constraints. While there are many different causes  of educational inequality, it basically boils down to the fact that children from families that  are less educated are less aligned to attend schools. Also, they usually attend schools that are  not well funded and hence less equipped to compensate for the deficiency. 

The pandemic crisis and the current economic downturn have worsened the already  present discrepancies in the system. 

And one can only ask: are we going backwards with educational inequality?

As the governments worldwide imposed lockdowns, and  students are shunned away from classrooms, most learning has shifted online. Of course, this  doesn't affect everyone alike. 

The shift has been much easier for some. Students from well off families were able to make quicker and smoother transitions as they are well equipped  with the required kit that is a stable internet connection and a laptop or a tablet PC. 

On the other hand, many students struggle as they are required to compete and share a single  laptop or a tablet with other family members. Some do not have access to even a single  device. America's education department reckons that nearly one in eight students do not have  internet access via a desktop or laptop at home. 

In addition to the resource constraint, another  aspect of the issue is that distant learning is far more dependent on self-interest and intrinsic  motivation as compared to the traditional classroom environment. Therefore it is even more  challenging for students, already at some disadvantage and they can be ousted from the  process entirely.

Education is my life. And I know that whatever we do now, we will pay the consequences or reap the benefits in about 20 years. Will we have prepared the new generation for the world of the future? Will they know about technology? Digital tools?

Or will they have a washed-down, worsened version of the education system from the last century? 

This will shape the way our economies work. It will shape the way the whole world works. As time passes, technology only becomes more important in our day to day lives, but also in our professional lives. If only the rich have computers and technology, and the know-how of how to use them, we will live in a completely divided world. A world divided by those who lead and those who follow. 

You can basically learn anything for free on the internet. You can read or watch videos about any topic and just learn about it. It just depends on your own discipline, schedule and consistent hard work. 

The downside? You need to pay for a degree. And those that 

 for a degree are getting a structured education, teachers, mentors, reviews of their work, exams and so on… It’s easier for them to learn. 

The sweetspot? Skills that require building something

Coding or design require a portfolio. For all the diplomas someone could have, you can just build something better and faster. If someone went to the best art school for a year, they might have an advantage on you. But if your designs are way better, it’s a no brainer…

These are scary times. If half of the world ends up without the proper education, the future won’t look too bright. This is our major challenge: making sure everyone has the resources to be prepared and educated for the world of tomorrow. It all largely depends on each nation’s government, making the right policies, so I wouldn’t hold my breath. On the other hand, most people can learn through the internet by themselves. 

The goal? Make sure everyone has a device that’s connected to the internet so they can learn whatever they want. The reality? Tik Tok. 

https://sundial.csun.edu/92480/opinions/its

 time-to-end-the-cycle-of-educational-inequity/>. 

Born Equal – How reducing inequality could give our children a better future

Educational Inequality: Mapping Race, Class and Gender.  A Synthesis of Research Evidence. 

Williamson, B., Eynon, R., & Potter, J. (2020). 

Pandemic politics, pedagogies and practices:  digital technologies and distance education during the coronavirus emergency. 

Blundell, R., Dias, M. C., Joyce, R., & Xu, X. (2020). Covid‐19 and inequalities. 

More often than not, the general population’s knowledge about Africa is very misconstrued and limited. There are many people who even think that Africa is a country by itself instead of being a vast continent with multiple countries in it. 

It’s crazy to me that there is a certain prejudice about Africa in terms of its resources and capital. A common misconception is that all African countries are extremely poor with people living in small, rural areas that lack infrastructure and energy. 

Media portrayal does not help much either. The images and videos you see of Africa are often those of the clustered villages and refugee camps where people do not have access to clean water, food, clothes and living spaces. While it is true that this is the living condition of many Africans, it is definitely not all that Africa is. 

The truth is that African countries are very rich in natural resources, which makes them a gold mine for energy. Many countries even export energy in huge amounts to foreign countries. Coal is the main source of energy in Africa currently, but studies show that the use of clean energy sources is increasing rapidly. 

 that as much as 25 percent of Africa’s total energy will be sourced from clean sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind and solar energy. 

However, energy use and development in the continent 

. While some areas are exporting, there are some that lack even basic structures for acquiring energy. 

An example of disparities in South Africa

Another important consideration in the dismantling of misconceptions about Africa is the potential it has for tourism. Africa is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes. Namely, the 

 African region has massive potential, with direct travel and tourism GDP in the region forecasted to increase by a whopping 60 percent from 2018 to 2029. 

Apart from tourism, Africa also has a huge potential for technological growth. So far, the continent has seen significant growth in this sector in the past several years with over 

 technology hubs across the continent. Africa is also leading the way when it comes to mobile payments: over 

In order to maximize gains, it is imperative that regional economies improve their competitiveness. Africa’s massive potential for growth promises a bright future for the continent. 

The Nigerian military's secret policies of mass abortions came out:

Kyrie Irving: Conspiracies cost him $200M. Will antisemitism end his career?

Education now moves at the speed of the internet: no one can be left behind

Africa will Dominate in Technology, Energy and Tourism