They were expecting a visiting Head of State from another kingdom. The streets were lined with people. Schoolchildren were everywhere, holding and waving flags. The roads were completely cleared of all vehicles.

Then suddenly there appeared a raggedy-looking man, riding a bicycle. “Get off the road,” they jeered. “Clear off. Stupid idiot, what are you doing there?” Little did they know the man they were abusing was the visiting Head of State.

“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (Matthew 21:5).

Shepherd-King

Jesus was not the person they were expecting. They were accustomed to the pomp and circumstance of other “kings.” They had seen Pastor Patrick Anwuzia of Zoe Ministries Worldwide in his cortege of cars with licence plates: Zoe 1, Zoe 2, Zoe 3.

They had seen Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, with his train of Land Cruisers zooming around the streets of Lagos. They had seen Pastor Paul Adefarasin, with his fearsome bodyguards and retinue of escort cars. But they did not know what to make of this “pretender” from Nazareth.

This King does not drive around in a Rolls-Royce. He does not have chariots and horses. On the contrary, He is a lowly King who comes on a donkey. He was born in a manger. He works as a carpenter. He is not a university graduate. He has not been to the theological seminary. But something is telling about this “insignificant” King. This King is a shepherd.

Matthew recalls Micah’s age-old prophecy: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6). Jesus is the Ruler who will Shepherd. But He is a different type of Ruler and a different type of Shepherd.

David was a ruler of physical Israel: and Jesus is the Ruler of spiritual Israel. David was the ruler of a kingdom of this world: and Jesus is the Ruler of the kingdom of God. David was a shepherd of sheep: Jesus is the shepherd of the sons of God.

David himself caught the revelation of Jesus, the Messiah, when he wrote his most famous psalm. He said: “The LORD is my shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1). That translates today to mean; “The Lord is my Pastor.” But if you dare to tell your pastor today that the Lord Jesus is your Pastor, I can assure you he will not take kindly to it.

Pauper-King

Jesus entered the world in a family so poor Mary had to offer two turtledoves, rather than the required lamb, as the sacrifice for her purification. (Leviticus 12:8; Luke 2:24). He grew up in a small non-descript town of Nazareth far from the seat of political power. He lived in obscurity as a carpenter for thirty years.

Finally, he inaugurated His ministry on a riverbank and, for only three years thereafter, crisscrossed the dusty roads of Palestine, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Jesus says: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20).

Jesus raised no army and sought no earthly position of authority. He ultimately humbled Himself by accepting death at the hands of evil men who, like Herod, saw Him as a threat to their position and power. And yet, through it all, Jesus is the true king. Indeed, He is the King of kings. But the outward display of pomp and pageantry is not essential to His stature as King. Instead, He sets up a whole new set of values, proclaiming that it is in these we are to find true fulfilment.

In effect, Jesus compels a choice. We can either see dominion in terms of outside splendour and power, or we can focus on strength of character to distinguish the inner core of greatness. We need to see in Jesus’ humility and self-abnegation the key to true greatness and glory. The believer should seek the inner liberty that defines dominion over the shackles of sin. It is this inner freedom and power that was exhibited by Jesus.

Unstoppable King

Jesus was in full control of Himself. He demonstrated His kingship by showing He has authority over the worst of man’s enemies- Himself. Jesus exercised absolute freedom from within. Power without self-control is no power at all. A true king must have the power to humble himself; to submit to God and to give up his rights in obedience to God’s commandments.

Jesus exhibited such total liberty of the spirit that He went about doing good. People looked for all kinds of ways to stop Him. The devil kept sending people to try and impede Him. When he sent Peter to dissuade Him from the cross, Jesus said: “Get thee behind Me Satan.”  Some argued that it is not lawful to be good on the Sabbath. But Jesus insisted it is lawful to do good every day of the week.

In the end, they decided to kill Him. They thought at least when He is dead and buried; He would no longer be able to do anyone any good. But that was a big mistake. His crucifixion turned out to be His coronation. When they killed Him, He rose from the dead, never to die again. Thereby, He demonstrated that even death cannot impede the goodness of God.

King of Kings

On His resurrection, Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God all over the world. However, it was understood they would do this in the same pattern He established. They would not go in pomp or luxury. They were not to drive about in Jeeps and Pathfinders or live in the best hotels.

Instead, they would go with Jesus’ beatitudes boldly written on their hearts and live among their fellowmen humbly and as servants. Jesus says: “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28).

How very different this is from the life that kings and mega-pastors of the world lead. Jesus says: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.” (Matthew 10:24-25).

Jesus’ example does not require the establishment of a pompous “Millionaire’s Club.” Neither does it recommend acquisition of jet planes. Nevertheless, some outrageous pastors now insist Jesus’ lowly donkey is today’s equivalent of a Lincoln-Continental salon car. 

Are Christians kings like Jesus? Or are we kings like Herod and our mega-pastors? Are we kings who exercise dominion over sin? Or are we kings who only rule over men? Are we kings in control of ourselves? Or are we fake kings ruled by our temperament? Are we puppet-kings under the servitude of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and other demons?  

Jesus says: “Behold, I AM coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11).

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Everybody poops, but not every day. New research from the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) indicates that the frequency of bowel movements is connected to long-term health.

An ISB-led research team examined the clinical, lifestyle, and multi-omic data of more than 1,400 healthy adults. How often people poop, they found, can have a large influence on one’s physiology and health. Their findings were recently published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

Researchers explored data from consenting participants of the consumer wellness company Arivale. The team focused on generally healthy adults and excluded those with certain health conditions or medication use.

The research team categorized self-reported bowel movement frequency into four groups: constipation (one or two bowel movements per week), low-normal (between three and six bowel movements per week), high-normal (between one and three bowel movements per day), and diarrhea.

Once categorized, the team looked for associations between bowel movement frequency and factors including demographics, genetics, gut microbiome, blood metabolites, and plasma chemistries.

Findings on Demographics and Gut Microbiome

The study showed that age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with bowel movement frequency. Specifically, younger people, women, and those with a lower BMI tended to have less frequent bowel movements.

“Prior research has shown how bowel movement frequency can have a big impact on gut ecosystem function,” said Johannes Johnson-Martinez, the lead author of the study. “Specifically, if stool sticks around too long in the gut, microbes use up all of the available dietary fiber, which they ferment into beneficial short-chain fatty acids. After that, the ecosystem switches to fermentation of proteins, which produces several toxins that can make their way into the bloodstream.”

Indeed, the researchers also showed that the microbial composition of study participants’ gut microbiomes was a telltale sign of bowel movement frequency. Fiber-fermenting gut bacteria, often associated with health, appeared to thrive in a “Goldilocks zone” of bowel movement frequency, where people pooped between 1-2 times per day. However, bacteria associated with protein fermentation or the upper gastrointestinal tract tended to be enriched in those with constipation or diarrhea, respectively.

Impact on Health and Disease Risk

Similarly, several blood metabolites and plasma chemistries showed significant associations with bowel movement frequency, suggesting potential links between bowel health and chronic disease risk. Specifically, microbially derived protein fermentation byproducts known to cause damage to the kidneys, like p-cresol-sulfate and indoxyl-sulfate, were enriched in the blood of individuals reporting constipation, while clinical chemistries associated with liver damage were elevated in individuals reporting diarrhea.

Blood levels of indoxyl-sulfate, in particular, were significantly associated with reduced kidney function, providing preliminary support for a causal link between bowel movement frequency, gut microbial metabolism, and organ damage in this healthy cohort.

Unsurprisingly, those who reported eating a fiber-rich diet, better hydration, and regular exercise tended to find themselves in the bowel movement Goldilocks zone.

“Chronic constipation has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders and with chronic kidney disease progression in patients with active disease,” said Dr. Sean Gibbons, ISB associate professor and corresponding author of the paper. “However, it has been unclear whether or not bowel movement abnormalities are early drivers of chronic disease and organ damage, or whether these retrospective associations in sick patients are merely a coincidence.

“Here, in a generally healthy population, we show that constipation, in particular, is associated with blood levels of microbially derived toxins known to cause organ damage, prior to any disease diagnosis,” Gibbons said.

The study also explored associations between bowel movement frequency and anxiety and depression, indicating that mental health history is connected to how often one poops.

“Overall, this study shows how bowel movement frequency can influence all body systems, and how aberrant bowel movement frequency may be an important risk factor in the development of chronic diseases,” Gibbons said. “These insights could inform strategies for managing bowel movement frequency, even in healthy populations, to optimize health and wellness.”

Reference: “Aberrant bowel movement frequencies coincide with increased microbe-derived blood metabolites associated with reduced organ function” by Johannes P. Johnson-Martínez, Christian Diener, Anne E. Levine, Tomasz Wilmanski, David L. Suskind, Alexandra Ralevski, Jennifer Hadlock, Andrew T. Magis, Leroy Hood, Noa Rappaport and Sean M. Gibbons, 16 July 2024, Cell Reports Medicine.

 

SciTechDaily

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) announced that the federal, state, and local governments shared a total of N1.358 trillion in revenue for July 2024. This marks a slight increase of N4 billion compared to the N1.354 trillion distributed in June.

The FAAC's August meeting, chaired by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, revealed the allocation figures. According to Mohammed Manga, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Finance, the N1.358 trillion was drawn from the total revenue of N2.61 trillion generated in July.

The revenue breakdown includes statutory revenue of N161.5 billion, value-added tax (VAT) of N528 billion, an electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) of N18.8 billion, exchange difference of N581 billion, and N13.6 billion from solid minerals. These contributions made up the distributable revenue for the month.

From the distributable funds, the federal government received N431 billion, while the states and local government councils were allocated N473 billion and N343 billion, respectively. Additionally, oil-producing states received N109 billion as a derivation fund, representing 13% of mineral revenue.

The committee also allocated N99.7 billion for the cost of revenue collection and N109.816 billion for transfer intervention and refunds.

The gross revenue from VAT for July amounted to N625 billion, an increase of N62 billion from the previous month. Out of the distributable VAT revenue of N582 billion, the federal government received N87.3 billion, the states got N291 billion, and local governments were allocated N203 billion.

The FAAC statement noted that the gross statutory revenue of N1.373 trillion for July was lower by N45.5 billion compared to June's N1.432 trillion. Of this amount, N73.959 billion was allocated for collection costs, and N1.138 trillion was earmarked for transfers, interventions, and refunds.

Regarding the N161 billion gross statutory revenue balance, the federal government received N58.5 billion, the states received N29.6 billion, and local governments got N22.894 billion. Additionally, N50.4 billion was allocated as 13% derivation revenue to oil-producing states.

From the N19.6 billion generated by the EMTL, the federal government received N2.8 billion, the states got N9.4 billion, and local governments received N6.5 billion, with N0.784 billion set aside for collection costs.

FAAC reported significant increases in oil and gas royalties, petroleum profit tax (PPT), VAT, import duties, EMTL, and external tariff levies (CET). However, there was a decrease in company income tax (CIT), while excise duties saw only a marginal increase.

As of August 2024, the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $473,754.57.

In a disturbing wave of abductions, gunmen have struck in two separate incidents, kidnapping the Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Agha-Mba, along with his wife, and abducting 20 medical students from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Benue State.

The first incident occurred on Friday when Agha-Mba, his wife, and an aide were attacked while traveling through Edo State. The group was en route to Abuja to attend the wedding ceremony of Adaora, the daughter of Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo. Tragically, one of Agha-Mba’s aides was killed during the assault. The spokesperson for the Anambra State Governor, Christian Aburime, confirmed the abduction and the death of the aide on Friday evening.

In a separate incident on Thursday evening, gunmen ambushed and kidnapped no fewer than 20 medical students from UNIJOS in Otukpo, Benue State. The students were on their way to Enugu for the annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students convention when they were taken. The Benue State Police spokesperson, Sewuese Anene, reported that the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. and that an investigation is ongoing.

These incidents have sparked widespread concern over the increasing insecurity in the country. As of the time of reporting, no further information has been provided on their whereabouts or condition.

Gaza ceasefire talks paused with resumption planned next week

Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha paused on Friday with negotiators to meet again next week seeking an agreement to end fighting between Israel and Hamas and free remaining hostages, as U.S. President Joe Biden said "we're not there yet".

In a joint statement, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt said Washington had presented a new proposal that built on points of agreement over the past week, closing gaps in a way that could allow rapid implementation of a deal.

Mediators would keep working on the proposal, they said.

"The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions," they said in the statement.

On Thursday, Israel and mediators began the latest round in months of talks to end the war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Palestinian militant group Hamas was not directly involved but was kept briefed on the talks.

A senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, told Reuters Israel "did not abide by what was agreed upon" in earlier talks, citing what mediators had told them.

BIDEN SAYS DEAL 'MUCH, MUCH CLOSER'

In Washington, Biden said a deal was "much, much closer" than before the talks began.

A senior administration official said the latest negotiations were the most productive in months, and negotiators will reconvene next week in Cairo hoping to conclude it.

"It was consensus of all of the participants over the past 48 hours that there's really a new spirit here to drive it to a conclusion," the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.

"The Israeli team that was here was empowered...We made a lot of progress in the number of issues that we've been working on," the official said.

Biden said in a statement he had directed his negotiating team to put forward the comprehensive bridging proposal presented on Friday, which he said offers the basis for a final agreement on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

The U.S. president said he spoke with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who he said expressed strong support for the U.S. proposal.

Teams will remain on the ground to continue technical work and senior officials will convene in Cairo "before the end of the week," he said.

Biden added he is sending U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to reaffirm U.S. commitment to Israel and "to underscore that with the comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal now in sight, no one in the region should take actions to undermine this process."

On Friday night, Biden told reporters he was optimistic about the ceasefire deal prospects but warned that it was "far from over." Asked when a ceasefire would start if a deal is reached, Biden said: "That remains to be seen."

Israel has insisted that peace will only be possible if Hamas is destroyed, while Hamas has said it will only accept a permanent ceasefire, not a temporary one.

Other difficulties have included deal sequencing, the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released alongside Israeli hostages, control over the Gaza-Egypt border and free movement for Palestinians inside Gaza.

An Israeli official said its delegation in Doha was heading home and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to meet Blinken on Monday.

On Friday, Israeli forces pounded targets across tiny, crowded Gaza and issued new orders for people to leave areas it had previously designated as civilian safe zones, saying Hamas had used them to fire mortars and rockets at Israel.

As hundreds of families fled with salvaged belongings, the United Nations called for a week-long pause in fighting for a polio-vaccination campaign with disease spreading among the displaced.

The Palestinian health ministry said in a statement it has detected the first confirmed case of polio in the Gaza strip.

The latest hostilities in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent military campaign has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities. It has also displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, caused a hunger crisis and led to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies.

Israel has said it eliminated 17,000 fighters from Hamas while also adding that the group uses civilians as human shields.

REGIONAL FEARS

The Israeli delegation included spy chief David Barnea, head of the domestic security service Ronen Bar and the military's hostages chief Nitzan Alon, defence officials said.

The White House sent CIA Director Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel were also taking part.

Washington hopes a ceasefire agreement in Gaza can defuse the risk of a wider war. Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

The U.S. has dispatched warships, submarines and warplanes to the region to defend Israel and deter potential attackers.

Asked on Friday if Iran would continue to hold off on retaliating against Israel now that the ceasefire talks had been extended, Iran’s mission to the U.N. in New York said “We hope so.”

The senior Biden administration official said Washington warned Tehran about conducting a major missile attack against Israel, "because the consequences could be quite cataclysmic, particularly for Iran."

 

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian missiles wipe out US Patriots in Ukraine – MOD

Russian missiles have destroyed two batteries of US-made ‘Patriot’ air defense systems and a German IRIS-T in two regions of Ukraine, according to videos released by the defense ministry in Moscow on Friday.

The US and its allies have sent an unspecified number of air defense systems to Ukraine,  following Vladimir Zelensky’s pleas to help Kiev deal with Russian airstrikes.

The first Ministry of Defense (MOD) video showed reconnaissance drone footage of two Patriot launchers and a AN/MPQ-65 radar station, in a field near Lyubimovka in Dnepropetrovsk Region. The field is then struck by cluster munitions from an Iskander-M missile.

The radar station can be seen exploding. The MOD said that both launchers were “completely destroyed” as well.

The second video was reportedly shot near Zhelobok, also in Dnepropetrovsk Region. The Ukrainian position consists of three Patriot launchers and another AN/MPQ-65 radar. One of the launchers can be seen releasing two missiles before an Iskander strike peppers the field with cluster bombs. Two of the launchers and the radar were completely destroyed, the Russian MOD said.

The third video shows a German-made IRIS-T launcher and a TRLM-4D radar vehicle, operating near the town of Sennoe in Ukraine’s Sumy Region before another Iskander-M missile arrives on their position.

All three strikes were filmed by reconnaissance drones, who operated deep over Ukraine unmolested.

Developed by the US military contractor Raytheon, the ‘Patriot’ system has been advertised as one of the most effective air defenses in the West since the 1991 Gulf War, when it reportedly shot down Iraqi ballistic missiles. 

According to publicly released specifications, it can engage targets at a range of up to 160km and altitudes of up to 24km. A typical Patriot battery consists of several launchers, a radar vehicle and a “power plant” truck, and is serviced by up to 90 personnel.

 

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Kremlin accuses the West of helping Ukraine attack Russia

An influential aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the West and the U.S.-led NATO alliance had helped to plan Ukraine's surprise attack on Russia's Kursk region, something Washington has denied.

The lightning incursion, the biggest into Russia by a foreign power since World War Two, began on Aug. 6 when thousands of Ukrainian troops crossed Russia's western border in a major embarrassment for Putin's military.

Ukraine said the incursion was needed to force Russia, which sent its forces into Ukraine in February 2022, to start "fair" peace talks.

But the United States and Western powers, eager to avoid direct military confrontation with Russia, said Ukraine had not given advance notice and that Washington was not involved, though weaponry provided by Britain and the U.S. is reported to have been used on Russian soil.

Influential veteran Kremlin hawk Nikolai Patrushev dismissed the Western assertions in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper.

"The operation in the Kursk region was also planned with the participation of NATO and Western special services," he was quoted as saying, without offering evidence.

"Without their participation and direct support, Kyiv would not have ventured into Russian territory."

The remarks implied that Ukraine's first acknowledged foray into sovereign Russian territory carried a high risk of escalation.

Putin chaired a meeting of Russia's Security Council, including Patrushev, and said the discussion would focus on "new technical solutions" being employed in what Russia calls its special military operation.

KREMLIN SAYS UKRAINE WILL PAY FOR US INVOLVEMENT

"Washington's efforts have created all the prerequisites for Ukraine to lose its sovereignty and lose part of its territories," Patrushev said.

Ukraine said on Thursday that it had installed a military commandant in the area it controlled, even as Russia intensified its offensives in Ukraine's east.

Russia's defence ministry for its part said it had repelled a series of Ukrainian attacks along the Kursk frontline.

Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov said Ukraine had destroyed a road bridge over the Seym river in the region's Glushkovsky district. State news agency TASS, citing Russian security officials, said that could hinder an ongoing evacuation of the frontier district's roughly 20,000 inhabitants.

While the Ukrainian attack has revealed weaknesses in Russian defences and changed the public narrative of the conflict, Russian officials said Ukraine's "terrorist invasion" would not change the course of the war.

Russia has been advancing for most of the year in the key eastern sector of the 1,000-km (620-mile) front and has vast numerical superiority. It controls 18% of Ukraine.

After more than 10 days of fighting, Ukraine holds at least 450 sq km (175 sq miles) of territory, or less than 0.003% of Russia. But for Putin, the incursion crosses another red line.

One Russian source told Reuters the incursion could embolden hardliners in Moscow who advocate a bigger war, but Putin's choice may not be easy.

He has sought to portray Europe's biggest war in seven decades both as a limited "special military operation" that need not upset daily Russian life and as a historic fight with a West that scorns Moscow's interests and seeks to dismember Russia.

The U.S., which has said it cannot allow Putin to win the Ukraine war, so far deems the surprise incursion a protective move that justifies the use of U.S. weaponry, officials in Washington said.

But they also expressed worries about complications as Ukrainian troops push further into enemy territory.

One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if Ukraine started taking Russian villages and other non-military targets using U.S. weapons and vehicles, it could be seen as stretching the limits Washington has imposed, precisely to avoid any perception of a direct NATO-Russia conflict.

Russia's defence ministry has published footage that it said showed a Russian drone destroying a U.S.-made Stryker armoured combat vehicle in the Kursk region.

 

RT/Reuters

Whenever you visit a new place, there are likely to be aspects of daily life there that feel totally new. And personally, I love discovering international habits or customs I wish I could adopt back home. So Redditor u/danielgmal asked, "What did you experience in another country that you wish you could make a part of your regular life?" Here's what people said.

1. "The cafe culture that is so common in France. I loved just sitting at an outdoor cafe and people watching while drinking my espresso with zero sense of rush."

—u/Shot-Still8131

2. "In Portugal, I encountered lots of miradors around cities like Lisbon and Maderia. They're little shaded courtyard areas with toilets and snacks in all the best views of the city, and they're totally genius. You can spend a day seeing the city from these beautiful little lookouts. I wish that every city would do this!"

—u/danielgmal

3. "The tradition of passeggiata in Italy, which is basically a nice stroll through town before or after dinner where you can catch up with neighbors and friends."

—u/UniqueLaw4431

4. "I loved how in Japan, restaurants often provide photos alongside the names of the menu items, which is really helpful when you're deciding what to order!"

—u/WeaknessAway5843

5. "In Buenos Aires, there are little Verdulerías (fruit and vegetable shops) on pretty much every street corner. They're so convenient and I would love to have that here in the US."

—u/EpyonIII

6. "Round tables complete with lazy Susans. In China, almost every restaurant had this, which made eating with others much more involved. It made me realize how often I'm stuck at the corner of a rectangular table trying to be involved in the conversation and struggling to hear anything. The round table is what we all need."

—u/corpdorp

7. "In Japan, people have a ton of respect for schools and keeping them clean. I would love for my children's schools to hold students accountable for keeping their learning space tidy and well respected like that."

—u/ActivelyLostInTarget

8. "When I went to Italy, I ate outside everywhere. It was so lovely. Eating al fresco automatically made each meal feel more relaxed and special. My husband and I came home and immediately purchased a little dining set for our porch. I wish outdoor dining was more ubiquitous and available everywhere back home."

—u/greenappletwostep

9. "I loved how in Japan, every restaurant seemed to perfect and focus on one type of food, whether it was tempura, ramen, yakitori, sushi, or even pizza. It made for such a fun and unique dining experience. Here in the US, you often find very eclectic restaurants that try to do it all, but I loved the focused and almost studious approach to dining in Japan."

—Hannah Loewentheil

10. "I was a big fan of late dinners in Spain. It took a little while to adjust, but I ended up loving the idea of sitting down to dinner around 9 p.m. It makes each day feel longer, more leisurely, and unrushed. My husband and I have actually made a habit of eating later in the evening back in NYC."

—Hannah Loewentheil

11. "In so many places I've traveled in Europe, cafés give you a little biscuit or cookie with your coffee. I find it mind-boggling that every cafe in the world doesn't follow suit. It's such a delightful addition and can't cost much."

—u/rocketwikkit

12. "Italian happy hour. In Italy, we took advantage of it every afternoon around 5, just after we were done sightseeing. Each day involved a little wine, some cheese, and cold cuts. Then we would relax for a few hours and then go out for a proper dinner. I could definitely get used to this back home."

—u/FormicaDinette33

13. "On the flight home from London after our first visit there, my spouse asked me what impressed me the most. My honest answer was the Tube. Since then, almost every European city I've visited has impressed me with how easy it is to get around on public transportation. If only we had the same access to and ease of public transportation where we live."

—u/aeraen

14. "I loved the street food and hawker stalls prevalent in south east Asia. These countries have tons of access to cheap, clean, and relatively healthy dishes that are readily available. After a long day at work I’d love to be able to pop by a street market and grab pad Thai, chicken rice, or a big bowl of laksa for a few bucks rather than going home and cooking for myself."

—u/DR-JOHN-SNOW-

15. "I love the Scandinavian culture of wood burning saunas and cold dips. I could get used to that on the regular so quickly."

—u/tams420

16. "In Japan, many restaurants have a button to press on your table when you want the server to come. This is so your server doesn't bother you when you're not ready to order and also so you can get fast attention when you need something."

—u/WeaknessAway5843

17. "Taiwanese 7-Elevens. When I was in Taiwan, this convenience store improved quality of life tremendously. Aside from the enormous food selection (onigiri, ramen, drinks, snacks), you can also get freshly brewed coffee, pay your bills, and send postage in one place. I miss these 7-Elevens so much."

—u/GochujangChips

18. "I loved how many Italian cities boast large, car-free pedestrian zones. Sitting at a table outside a cafe without the noise and distraction of cars going by is wonderful. These traffic-free areas really add to the ambiance."

—u/sbrt
19. "Shabbat in Israel. I love this simple tradition of eating a long, peaceful dinner with family or friends on Friday evening. It's a time to let the week go and recharge. It's respected by employers so no one will ask or expect you to stay late on Fridays to work."

—jenniferj32

20. "In many bars in Southern Spain, you get tapas (light snacks) when you order a cocktail with no extra charge. It's just a little something to nibble on while you drink. I'm a big fan of this custom."

—Kieber89

 

Buzzfeed

A Japanese man’s personal life has recently become the talk of the internet after he revealed that he is perfectly ok with his wife of three years having a boyfriend and even bringing him into the family home.

Prince Soy, a young Japanese chef and blogger who promotes and sells additive-free okara granola online, has recently been drawing a lot of attention for very different reasons. On July 8th, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that his wife Seira would be returning home after spending six months studying abroad and that she would be bringing her new boyfriend along. The controversial post quickly went viral, sparking a heated online debate about Prince Soy’s marriage and the three-way relationship. The controversy didn’t seem to bother the married man who actually documented the visit of his wife’s boyfriend through short clips and multiple social media posts.

“My wife and her boyfriend are going to live together. My wife is studying abroad and has a new boyfriend. She is coming back to Japan with him, and he is coming to stay with us,” Prince Soy told his followers on X, adding that he had no problem with the unusual arrangement.

The Japanese blogger explained that Seira had told him that she wanted to study in Australia last year, and he accepted even though he was surprised by her decision. She left in January 2024, and by May, she confessed that she had met another Japanese man who subsequently became her boyfriend. Because Prince Soy and his wife had previously decided to be in an open relationship, he had no objections to her new “acquisition”. He actually revealed friendly text messages he exchanged with his wife’s boyfriend and the Starbucks coupon he gifted him for his birthday.

“I’ve never met him before so I don’t know his preferences, and I thought if I gave him something too extravagant he might feel uncomfortable, so I gave him something very safe, like a Starbucks ticket,” Prince Soy said.

On July 12th, Soy posted a video of himself greeting Seira and her boyfriend at the airport, and over the past week, he continued documenting the unconventional living arrangement, with the boyfriend sharing their home. He and his wife slept in the bedroom, while her boyfriend slept on the couch. At one point, when his wife and her boyfriend got into an argument, he stepped in to mediate the situation.

“I thank him wholeheartedly as he supported my wife while she was having a hard time abroad,” Prince Soy said about Seira’s boyfriend. “He must be an interesting person, or my wife would not fall for him.”

Social media reactions to Prince Soy’s situation have been mixed, with some people applauding his willingness to defy social norms and respect the agreement made with his wife about their open relationship, while others said that they couldn’t understand how he was ok with the three-way relationship, especially considering that he never had a different partner since marrying Seira.

In response to questions like “Why do you forgive your wife for doing whatever she wants?“, Prince Soy said. “First of all, the word ‘forgive’ is wrong. My wife has not done anything wrong. I like to see my wife acting selfishly, doing whatever she wants, a wife who isn’t selfish is not attractive to me.”

The Japanese blogger added that he has always known that his wife’s hobby was “acquiring boyfriends,” but he never had a problem with it because he is happy as long as she is happy. He said that, in a way, he was sorry for Seira’s boyfriends, because they could never take his place in her heart.

 

Oddity Central

Petrol supply has continued to be on and off across the country forcing many filling stations not to dispense the product, Daily Trust investigations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and many states across Nigeria have shown.

Our investigations show that the product sells for close to N1,000 per litre at some stations belonging to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in satellite towns of the FCT; while motorists spend countless hours queuing at outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and a few Major Oil marketers dispensing in Abuja city.

The IPMAN blamed the lingering petrol scarcity on shortage of direct supply from the NNPCL.

Speaking to our correspondent yesterday, a former Chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Depot, Lagos, Akin Akinade, said: “Our members have no direct supply from NNPC. We buy from Third Party. We buy at DAPMAN (Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria) Depot in Abule Ado.

Abuja

Many stations in Abuja were found shut by our reporters yesterday, while there were long queues at the few that were dispensing the product. This situation started days before the #EndBadGovernance protest, which commenced on the 1st of this month, and has persisted more than two weeks after.

At Umaru Ngelzarma Filling Station in Lokogoma area of Kabusa District of the FCT, one of our reporters observed yesterday that petrol was being sold for N980 per litre.

Also, at Christee’s Petrol Station, which is also in Lokogoma area of Abuja, it was found to be dispensing the product at N950 per litre.

There were long queues at the NNPCL station at Katampe, along the Kubwa Expressway with motorists saying they would pass the night there to try to buy the product at N617/litre.

Another NNPCL outlet at the Airport Junction, Jabi, was not dispensing when one of our reporters visited yesterday. The situation was similar at most petrol outlets in Abuja and environs, owing to the unavailability of the product.

Lagos  

In Lagos, one of our correspondents reported yesterday that there were queues at NNPCL stations that sold the product for N568, as well as others like Mobil, MRS and North West stations, which dispensed for between N600 and N650 per litre. 

Commercial drivers, who spoke to our correspondent, expressed deep concerns over the prevailing scarcity, and the astronomical hike in the price of the product at the few stations dispensing the product, which are mostly on the fringes of the nation’s commercial city.  

“The hike in fuel price is the major problem we have in Nigeria. I bought N900-N950 in Calabar, that is why I have not traveled again. It is affecting our business. 

“I left my bus because some filling stations sold N1,000 per litre,” Omotayo Adenikiju, a transporter, said. 

A former chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Depot in Lagos, Akinade, in a chat with our correspondent, disclosed that third party vendors from which some of their members source the product, “sell to us N840, N850; and by the time you add transportation to that, there’s no way our members would sell less than they’re selling.

“If they bring down their price, we’re also going to bring down our price. We’re in business to make money”, he said. 

Kano

Motorists in Kano said they bought the product for N950 per litre at independent oil marketers’ stations and N620 at NNPCL stations, including those located around Kano Line, Kofar Nasarawa, Club Road by Murtala Muhammed Way and Tal’udu Sabon Titi. 

A commercial driver, Habibu Sani said he would rather join the queue at the NNPCL station than pay over N900 for a litre.

Another motorist, Kabiru Yakasai, said he parked his car because he could not afford a litre of fuel for over N900.

At an AY Maikifi outlet around Maiduguri Road, it was discovered that the station was selling the product for N900; while at A.A. Rano  Station at Gyadi-Gyadi Zaria Road, it was being dispensed at N730.

An independent oil marketer in Kano, Bashir Umar, attributed the supply shortage to marketers’ reluctance to bring fuel from Lagos because of the possibility of the price crashing  when Dangote Refinery begins supply to the market.

According to him, marketers buy fuel for N900 per litre in Kano and sell for N950 after factoring transportation cost.

Maiduguri  

Virtually all the NNPCL filling stations visited by our correspondent in Maiduguri yesterday did not open. They were those located at Bulumkutu area, along Kano Road; Mohammed Indimi Way, Off Damboa Road and Galadima Junction along Low-Cost Road.

A driver, Aminu Idris, said: “We cannot afford to buy petrol from independent marketers at N950”. 

IPMAN Chairman, Borno State chapter, Mohammed Kuluwu, said most stations in the state deliberately suspended fuel supply owing to “the crisis resulting from the #EndBadGovernance protest”.

CSO knocks NNPCL

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday expressed concern over the persistent fuel scarcity across Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed frustration over the federal government’s silence on the matter. It said fuel scarcity had become the new norm across the country, with Abuja and other major cities continuously plagued by long fuel queues.

“Despite the various excuses provided by the NNPCL, the crisis persists, leading to speculations that the company may be benefiting from the situation.

“In the past three months alone, the NNPCL has churned out no fewer than five different excuses for the ongoing fuel scarcity, ranging from logistics challenges to supply chain disruptions.

“However, none of these explanations holds water, given that the crisis continues to linger unabated. If the NNPCL were serious about resolving the issue, they would have done so by now”, it said. HURIWA alleged that were the NNPCL not benefiting from the fuel crisis, it would have resolved it long ago.

It added: “The simultaneous occurrence of fuel scarcity and the reported challenges faced by the Dangote Refinery suggest an orchestrated effort to undermine the refinery’s operations, further entrenching the NNPCL’s monopoly over Nigeria’s petroleum industry.”

National oil company silent

There was no comment from the NNPCL yesterday as its spokesperson, Olufemi Shoneye, who promised to get back to our correspondent when contacted on the matter, did not do so up to the time of filing this report.

 

Daily Trust

A 22-year-old woman in Akwa Ibom State,south-south Nigeria, has been feeding her four children with chicken and fish feeds, apparently because of poverty and hunger.

The children are all girls, the oldest five years old and the youngest slightly above one year.

The woman, Grace Eseneowo, a widow, works at a small farm in Eket Local Government Area of the state. The farm, which is a fishery and poultry, is at Ikot Abia community in Okon Eket.

She lives in her father’s house in the community and earns N15,000 monthly at the farm.

Grace’s pathetic story became public a few days ago after a digital content creator, QueenPraise Uzoma, who got the story from her father, John Uzoma, who is the farm owner, posted it on her Instagram page.

The discovery

On Thursday, the farm owner, Uzoma, explained to PREMIUM TIMES how he discovered that Grace was feeding her children with animal feeds.

“We had discharged her because she wasn’t showing up at the farm regularly. But her uncle and others came to beg that we should keep her, and my wife was saying that since she lost her husband, she’ll need money to keep going on, so let her work. So, last week, I went to the farm and sent for her,” said Uzoma, an Anglican priest serving in Uyo.

“When she came, we were discussing and the other farm hand said she could come back to work but should not bring the children to the farm. I said to him, that I did not have any issue with the children coming to the farm. Are they destroying anything? He said no but that they eat the feeds for the chicken and the fish.”

Uzoma said he was shocked by what heard.

“If the boy had told me this in the girl’s absence, maybe I would have felt the boy didn’t want her to work at the farm, but the girl was there.

“So I asked the girl, is that true? She said yes. I said, why? Don’t you give them food? She said they (the children) sometimes stay for three days without food.

“My heart failed me. I am a father. I am a pastor. I felt terribly indicted. So, the little I could do was that the plantain I had cut to bring back to Uyo, I gave to her, and then I gave her the only N2,000 I had on me.”

A resident of Okon Eket, where the farm is, said that Grace usually prepared the animal feeds as akamu (fermented cereal pudding) for her children.

“I wouldn’t know about that. I didn’t go to that details,” Uzoma said in reaction. “I was particularly touched that the children were kept hungry.”

Uzoma later narrated Grace’s story to his daughter, QueenPraise, when she visited.

“We are trying to rehabilitate the girl, we have paid rent for her and have bought a lot of food items for her and the children,” he said.

QueenPraise, as of 13 August, said on Instagram that she raised N1.4 million as donations online for Grace and her children.

Akwa Ibom governor’s wife to the rescue

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom governor’s wife, Patience Eno, has stepped in to help Grace and her children.

“While thanking QueenPraise for drawing attention to this worrisome situation and raising over a million naira overnight from empathetic and generous Individuals, organisations and others, the First Lady has directed her NGO, the Golden Initiative For All and her aides to work with the Ministry of Women Affairs and female stakeholders in Eket, to fashion out a holistic support for the young mother and her children,” Uduak Ekong, a spokesperson to Mrs Eno, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“To start with, the Governor’s wife has made an initial personal donation of Five Hundred Thousand naira only in support of plans to provide immediate accommodation, food supplies and other basic necessities for the young family of five,” the statement added.

Akwa Ibom’s poverty rate

Akwa Ibom State has one of the lowest poverty headcount ratios in Nigeria. According to NBS, the state currently has a poverty rate of 26.8 per cent, falling below the national average of 52.1 per cent.

The state is ranked 27th on the national poverty rate ladder released by the NBS in 2019. The agency has not released new data on the state poverty rate since it was last published.

The National poverty headcount in 2019 was 70 per cent; by 2020, it had increased to 72.32 per cent, according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Nigerian youths recently took to the streets to protest against economic hardship and rising food prices in the country.

“POS is our only employment now in Nigeria,” an Akwa Ibom resident saidin Uyo during the nationwide protest.

“Good jobs are reserved for children of the elites immediately after graduation,” he added, advising that the governments at all levels should do more to create jobs.

Hope for Grace

Grace dropped out of school when she was in SS1. Now, she wants to learn hair-dressing as a vocation, according to Uzoma.

“There’s a take-home to this,” Uzoma said of Grace’s story.

“These people are from a family, and a wealth-to-do family for that matter, but they abandoned these children. People should do more to help their relatives, regardless of family rivalry.”

 

PT