by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | europe, nigeria, passports and international travel, Travel, world
The Nigerian travel content creator, Alma Asinobi, who recently accomplished her groundbreaking trip spanning all seven continents using only her Nigerian passport, has marked this achievement by recognizing the Nigerian flag as both the initial and quickest one to visit each continent globally.
Following 71 hours, 26 minutes, and 25 seconds of continuous journeying, Asinovi arrived in Sydney on a Sunday after traversing the Nigerian flag from Antarctica through South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and finally reaching Australia.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday following her accomplishment, she shared, “The Nigerian flag has officially become the first and quickest one to reach all seven continents! Seems like my job here is finished. I am really looking forward to returning home.”
Her trip wasn’t without hurdles as Asinobi encountered problems with visas, delayed flights, and various travel limitations because of her Nigerian passport.
Asinobo mentioned that she was not allowed to board her flight to Perth, Australia, which led her to reschedule for a later departure to Sydney. This misfortune resulted in her delayed arrival.
Acknowledging the rest she required following the extensive tour, she mentioned that even during her sleep, the impact of her travels persisted. She explained that she would often wake up in distress after having dreams about a last call for departure.
Wow… Continent 8 (Dreamland) really worked out well for me. No visas required, no flights necessary, just a comfortable bed. Honestly, any bed would’ve done the trick. All I wanted was for my puffed-up feet to stay still for a few hours, and mission accomplished.
“As I slept, I heard ‘this is the final boarding call…’ and jolted out of bed in surprise, realizing it was just a dream. This isn’t usual,” she penned.
According to PUNCH Online, although Asinobi did not surpass the current Guinness World Record of 64 hours held by American veteran Johnny Cruz Buckingham, her achievement still holds significant historical importance. Her accomplishment has ignited extensive conversations regarding passport inequality and the obstacles hindering worldwide movement for Nigerians.
She eagerly anticipates her homecoming celebration on March 30, with plans to set another record by having Nigerians gather signatures on the flag she transported around the globe.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | croatia, europe, nightlife, tourists, Travel
Croatia has become the newest nation to participate in the European initiative aimed at curbing disruptive tourist behavior.
Hvar Island, famous for its vibrant nightlife, is now implementing measures to address and reduce the rowdy conduct associated with its well-known status.
To distance itself from party tourism, Hvar—the town named after the island—has decided to keep noise limitations in place throughout the summer season. This decision will notably affect clubs, discothèques, and open-air locations.
Several tourism rules regarding attire and conduct apply to visitors, and being mindful of these can help them avoid fines.
Hvar is rebranding itself as a family-friendly destination
Last week, the councillors of Hvar decided to keep the summertime limitations in place.
limit noise
to 85 decibels.
This situation is akin to a bustling restaurant, which implies considerable modifications for the island’s trendy outdoor clubs that operate during high season, along with eateries that accommodate outdoor weddings.
The decision apparently faced opposition from eateries, pubs, and various enterprises. It encountered lobbying efforts from the hospitality industry, which suggested an alternative approach of circumventing.
noise
By announcing the whole island as a year-round entertainment hub, local news site CroatiaWeek reports.
I believe this is a catastrophe. We have consistently provided our support.
stricter rules
“And improved oversight, but now we’re swinging from one extreme to another. This isn’t the correct method,” stated Vicko Visković from the hospitality group Dictum Factum to the Croatian publication Dnevnik.hr.
However, local officials aim to indicate a move toward a more family-oriented and environmentally friendly tourism approach.
“Open-air clubs in Hvar and Split might have promoted extreme revelry among visitors in past years, thereby reinforcing the perception of Croatia as a ‘party destination’,” explains Darijo Šarić, who leads the premium villa rental platform VIP Holiday Booker.
Nonetheless, Croatia has progressively earned a reputation as a family-oriented destination, providing cultural wealth, stunning landscapes, and a laid-back ambiance.
Visitors may face an immediate fine of up to €700 in Croatia for such violations.
These limitations coincide with an broader initiative aimed at promoting high-quality tourism throughout Croatia, which ultimately enhances the well-being of local inhabitants.
In numerous city centers such as Split and Dubrovnik, you can obtain instant permits.
fines
Up to €700 can be fined for inappropriate behavior. This encompasses consuming alcohol or using drugs outdoors, relieving oneself or being sick in public areas, as well as strolling through town without a shirt or wearing only swimming attire.
You may face fines of up to €4,000 for causing public disorder, which includes acts like fighting, using abusive language through yelling or quarreling, and exhibiting drunk behavior.
Eliminating noble pen shells – a critically endangered species crucial for the Mediterranean ecosystem – from Croatia’s coastal areas
beaches
includes a penalty of €67 for each shell.
These penalties are primarily meant to discourage negative actions instead of penalizing individuals,” Šarić explains. “In essence, it’s all about taking responsibility and maintaining Croatia as a beloved, secure, and hospitable location for everybody.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | agriculture, farmers, farming, government, military
PETALONG JAYA: Today, the Ministry of Defence introduced the JanaVeteran programme aimed at assisting veterans who have entered the agricultural sector.
The initiative, a joint effort by Boustead Plantations Bhd (BPlant) and the veterans’ affairs department, centers on agri-entrepreneurship via a ginger and chili fertigation project.
According to a Bernama report, Defence Minister Khaled Nordin emphasized the initiative’s ability to assist veterans in earning an income and bolstering Malaysia’s food security.
As part of the ginger and chili fertigation program, BPlant will allocate a 105-hectare area for farming purposes; this includes cultivating ginger across 80 hectares and chilies over 25 hectares.
In the first stage of the program, 100 veterans will be involved in overseeing the farming activities, where each individual could earn up to RM3,000 per month.
He mentioned that the trial initiative would commence in Kota Tinggi, Johor, where 15 ex-servicemen will work on a 12-hectare area aiming to produce 3,500 tons of ginger and 350 tons of chili peppers per year over a span of three years.
Moreover, a program for experienced agrarian entrepreneurs seeks to convert retired military individuals into farming business owners by growing crop varieties included in the National Food Security initiative.
BPlant has recognized 300 hectares of terrain for this project.
Khaled revealed this information at the breaking-fast event hosted by the defense ministry in Kuala Lumpur. The gathering saw the presence of prominent ministry officials along with military leaders.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | foreign policy, international relations, politics, politics and government, ukraine politics
Giorgia Meloni’s main allies in the ruling coalition are causing her problems due to their differing stances on the Ukraine conflict and how the European Union should respond, which has become more pronounced recently.
Antonio Tajani from Forza Italia (European People’s Party), along with Matteo Salvini from The League (Patriots for Europe), act as deputies under Meloni. They serve, respectively, as the ministers of foreign affairs and transportation.
However, they have frequently clashed over significant foreign policy matters: providing military support to Ukraine, the European Union’s initiative for rearming, and interactions with the U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump.
“Tajani is facing issues due to his connections with the US; he ought to allow us to assist him,” stated Claudio Durigon, the League’s deputy secretary.
told
The newspaper La Repubblica on Sunday.
Following a 15-minute telephone conversation between League head Salvini and US Deputy President JD Vance on Friday, which was described as being “marked by great harmony” according to a statement from the League, this occurred.
Tajani hit back,
saying
That “foreign policy is handled by the prime minister and foreign minister,” characterizing the call as a “personal initiative” by Salvini.
“Populist parties alter their stance daily. Those who often yell tend to matter and wield power insignificantly,” he remarked, aiming his jibe at Durigon.
The Italian
press
reported that Tajani discussed the matter with Meloni, voicing his discontent over The League’s criticisms and hinting that the disagreements might result in a governmental crisis.
The Italian government’s stances do not blend well.
Forza Italia keeps a strong pro-Europe position, strongly backing military assistance to Ukraine, and commending the European Commission’s strategy for rearming.
rebranded
As part of Readiness 2030, and even pushing for the establishment of an EU military force in the future.
“We support peace, however, it needs to be equitable…Europe undoubtedly has to be present at the table because European Union has enforced sanctions against Russia,” Tajani stated to reporters regarding Donald Trump’s peace proposal following the concluding EPP gathering in Brussels.
In contrast, The League has always stood as one of the most vocal opponents of the EU’s approach to supporting Ukraine. They have also commended Trump for his attempts to facilitate a peace agreement with Russia, irrespective of any compromises Kiev might have had to agree to.
This matches his strong critique of EU Foreign Policy Chief Kajas Kallas. “If she had her way, we would already be at war,” said Salvini, adding, “She should join the front line herself.”
said
prior to the recent EU summit.
Ursula von der Leyen and her defense strategy have faced criticism as well. “Rearming Europe is not how peace can be achieved,” said Salvini.
declared
during a conference.
Italy’s administration brings together a pro-EU European People’s Party affiliate with a Eurosceptic member of the Patriots for Europe alliance, an alignment that hasn’t succeeded in Germany, Poland, Hungary, and most lately in Austria.
“It’s evident that our party, EPP, holds distinct views compared to the Patriots since we support European unity. Nonetheless, this doesn’t stop our political groups from discovering common ground at the country level,” noted esteemed Forza Italia MEP Salvatore De Meo in an interview with Euronews.
He thinks that Salvini’s conversation with Vance won’t lead to significant harm, yet he emphasized that foreign policy ought to be shaped exclusively by Tajani and Meloni.
“I hope that the Italian government will gradually move towards our stance: establishing a genuine defense framework within the European Union by moving beyond nationalism,” he stated.
Differences in policies regarding EU matters are testing the resilience of Italy’s governing alliance. So far, Meloni has skillfully navigated the contrasting views of her smaller coalition allies. She maintains a steadfastly supportive stance towards Ukraine but has ruled out sending Italian forces into combat zones as part of any security assurances should a peace agreement be reached.
She has also
stopped short
In support of French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative for increased European Union strategic independence, the emphasis was placed on Europe’s necessity to uphold a robust transatlantic partnership.
Her political tightrope walk probably mirrors the unclear development of her own Brothers of Italy party, which has transformed from a radical, post-fascist group pushing for Italy’s departure from the EU to a more conservative faction generally supporting EU membership.
In the upcoming months, these European-leaning credentials might face scrutiny, potentially positioning Meloni more firmly alongside one of the factions within her contentious coalition allies.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | military, national security, news, news media, politics
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Leading US government figures such as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have faced accusations of a significant security lapse involving military intelligence. This followed an incident where a journalist inadvertently received confidential plans outlining potential U.S. attacks in Yemen.
On Monday, an article in the Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg, who serves as the magazine’s editor-in-chief, disclosed that he had been included in a group conversation on the Signal messaging platform earlier this month.
Consequently, he managed to access communications from high-ranking national security officers regarding impending assaults on the Iran-supported Houthis in Yemen. This included comprehensive details about the objectives and the specific armaments that would be employed in these operations.
Soon after, locations throughout Yemen were hit with bombs on March 15th. Since the militant group started attacking commercial and military ships in the Red Sea in November 2023, the U.S. has conducted airstrike operations against the Houthis.
Goldberg stated that he would refrain from publishing messages from the group chat that might endanger the United States’ national security.
Nevertheless, in the Atlantic piece, the journalist disclosed certain remarks made within the closed group, which counted among its members Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Tulsi Gabbard, who served as Trump’s director of national intelligence.
The released communications initially debate whether the strikes should proceed. Subsequently, they reveal that after the commencement of the military action, members within the group shared congratulatory messages with each other.
The US National Security Council has verified that the text message thread “seems to be genuine.”
One of the biggest mistakes in operational security
Following Goldberg’s disclosure, both politicians and experts voiced their concerns over the news that high-ranking officials within the Trump administration were deliberating about war strategies using Signal.
National security personnel typically talk about military operations through the government’s dedicated channels within secure compartments known as SCIFs (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities).
“We have significant concerns regarding this matter and will investigate it from a non-partisan perspective,” stated Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a Republican from Mississippi.
At the same time, Chuck Schumer, a prominent Democratic senator from New York, described it as “one of the most astonishing compromises of military intelligence I have come across in a very, very long period.”
His coworker Jack Reed, who hails from Rhode Island and is the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, mentioned that the discussion thread about Yemen might have endangered the lives of U.S. military members.
“The negligence exhibited by Trump’s Cabinet is both astounding and perilous. I am going to demand explanations from the Administration right away,” he stated additionally.
Hegseth criticizes journalist as Trump claims ignorance
The National Security Council stated in an announcement that they were looking into how a journalist’s phone number ended up being included in the Signal group conversation.
In his first comments on the matter, Hegseth attacked Goldberg for being what he called a “discredited so-called journalist”. He did not shed light on why Signal was being used to discuss the sensitive operation or how Goldberg ended up on the message chain.
” Nobody was sending texts about battle strategies, and that’s everything I need to comment on,” Hegseth stated during an interaction with journalists upon arriving in Hawaii on Monday, marking his inaugural journey to the Indo-Pacific region as defense secretary.
Late on Monday, in an official statement, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mentioned that the president continues to have “complete faith” in his national security team.
On Monday earlier, Donald Trump informed journalists: “I have no knowledge regarding this matter. This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
