A sea of people has filled a park for a rally in support of Svetlana Tikhanovskya, the opposition candidate in the Belarusian election set for next week, in what is reported to be the biggest anti-government protest in a decade.

Thousands of people flocked to the ‘Druzhba’ [Friendship] park in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on Thursday to voice support for Tikhanovskya, who has emerged as a top challenger to the incumbent Aleksandr Lukashenko after several prominent opposition candidates were disqualified from the race.

According to estimates by Belarusian human rights group ‘Viasna,’ at least 63,000 people joined the rally-cum-concert event. Attendees sang along in Russian, while flashing cell phone lights and waving balloons, red-and-green state banners as well white-red-white flags of historical significance

Welcome to the month of August. The eight month of the year. The month of new beginnings; new beginnings in your marriage, academics, family, business and every aspect of your life, it is the month of resurrection and regeneration. As believers of our lord Jesus christ we need to pray without season. Hence, We have to welcome ourselves into the month with prayer and also pray into the month. All the blessings and favours God has deposited into this month shall not elude us in Jesus name.

• First of all thank God, thank Him for bringing us into a new month safe and sound. Thank him for Last month and the wonderful things he did. Thank him for this month and the months to come, cause he will surely do Glorious things. Thank Him for his love and unending mercy.https://res-odx.op-mobile.opera.com/pagead?w=0&h=0&pk=s3349331957248&ct=&uc=true&cc=GB&lc=en&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstories.feednews.com%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2F8f759f61c212bc8ee49d3eb4e48277b8%3Fclient%3Dnews%26country%3Dng%26features%3D34359738287%26lang%3Den%26language%3Den%26low_perf%3Dfalse%26mode%3Dbody%26swdp%3D411%26uid%3D59ea195a14c73245908b3459860979f93f145498&rf=&cst=UTF-8&title=UG93ZXJmdWwgUHJheWVycyBUbyBTdGFydCBUaGUgTW9udGggT2YgQXVndXN0IFdpdGggLSBPcGVyYSBOZXdzIE9mZmljaWFs&vr=stories.feednews.com&bl=en-GB&sh=892&sw=412&sch=8665&scw=412&scl=0&sct=16&tz=GMT%2B0100&vph=719&vpw=412&debug=falsehttps://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1883810847636355&output=html&h=250&slotname=6310719999&adk=1841688118&adf=256279104&w=300&fwrn=7&lmt=1596355611&psa=1&guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&format=300×250&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstories.feednews.com%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2F8f759f61c212bc8ee49d3eb4e48277b8%3Fclient%3Dnews%26country%3Dng%26features%3D34359738287%26lang%3Den%26language%3Den%26low_perf%3Dfalse%26mode%3Dbody%26swdp%3D411%26uid%3D59ea195a14c73245908b3459860979f93f145498&flash=0&wgl=1&dt=1596355611698&bpp=30&bdt=1580&idt=205&shv=r20200729&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D9317be3a9406427f%3AT%3D1596278760%3AS%3DALNI_MYL51HzyVIe51s2LHGfN8fXZ2vUcA&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=1&correlator=7415125778106&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1202768865.1596278649&ga_sid=1596355612&ga_hid=1193525556&ga_fc=0&iag=0&icsg=35687167&dssz=15&mdo=0&mso=0&u_tz=60&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=56&ady=1615&biw=412&bih=719&scr_x=0&scr_y=17&eid=21066653%2C21066752&oid=3&pvsid=3901258710539844&pem=832&rx=0&eae=0&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C719%2C412%2C719&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8192&bc=31&ifi=1&uci=a!1&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=9PljZnjoKB&p=https%3A//stories.feednews.com&dtd=266

• Now, if you know you haven’t accepted christ as your lord and personal saviour, please do so at the moment. Or if you have, but have backslided at some point, renew your covenant with Christ. Ask Him for forgiveness and tell him to come into your life. August is the eighth month. And the number eight represents new beginnings. So, its not late to ask for forgiveness.

• Commit the month into God’s able hands. Ask him to take total control.

Having done all that, declare this prayers unto your life.

• “Father help me achieve more success daily in this new month. Lead me in the way of abundance. Help me to succeed this month like never before”

• Oh Lord, the time for you to favour me and my household have come, the set time is now. For it is time for you, Lord to work. Do not let them make void your promises upon my life.

• I decree that this new month shall be my month of immeasurable progress and success. Failure is a thing of the past and success is my portion from now till forever. With the speed of the Holy Spirit, I shall progress.

• Father, perfect all that concerns me. Settle me in this new month. Make these days ahead about my success and victory. I shall be highly favored in Jesus nameIn this new month,

• Father, I want to see your right hand in my business. I want to feel your presence all around me. May the works of my hands heed to your divine words of favour and prosperity in Jesus name.

• I decree in the name that is above every other name, my rise to fame and glory shall stun the world. I shall tell a story of grass to grace in this new month. There is no stopping me in Jesus name.

• I shall not struggle with my business anymore. The wisdom to succeed and the grace to be celebrated shall dwell in me henceforth. Then, the heathens shall say, the Lord has done great things for me

• I shall break loose from the captivity of the devil. My freedom is established. The devil will not succeed in pulling me and my family down. Our stars will shine brighter than the ones in the sky. The hand of God will rest upon our lives.

• I decree and declare mighty and marvellous things will God do for me and my household this new month. He will take us from a lowly ground to the highest mountain. Our victory is sure. Our battles are over. We shall begin to sing the song of victory. God will overwhelm us with all manners of breakthrough.

• This month, sickness shall not be my portion. The Lord will curse that sickness in my life. Every health challenge I’m battling with shall be overcome this month by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord will revisit my health. I’ll feel like a healthy baby once again. The only person to suffer shame, lose and pain this month will be the enemy of my breakthrough.

• Nothing will succeed in stopping the power of God from being manifested in my life. I speak against every storm of calamity in my life, be calm in Jesus name. The peace of God shall fill my heart, body and soul in this new month. God shall rescue me from the bondage of sickness. I’m free in Jesus name. I shall begin to experience breakthrough in my health.

• Father, perfect all that concerns me. Settle me in this new month. Make these days ahead about my success and victory. I shall be highly favored in Jesus name.

• Oh Lord, cause me to laugh for joy in this new month. Help me to be the best version of me. To live life to the fullest and explore the world you have committed to me. I shall not tarry anymore in the waiting room.

• May the Lord elevate me beyond my dreams. May His favour set a crown upon my head. I shall prosper and flourish in this new month. These, I pray in Jesus name.

• May the Lord grant me an uncommon breakthrough. May He do a new thing in my life in this new month. Because with Him all things are possible, my breakthrough will come unfailingly in Jesus name.

• I ask for fresh fire for breakthrough. I shall sell like never before and prosper as it is uncommon to man in Jesus name.

• I shall pursue, recover and overtake in this new month. My breakthrough is sure in Jesus name.

• May the Lord turn my tears into joy and my mourning into dancing. This is my month of laughter and perfection in Jesus name.

• Whatever stands as an obstruction against my forward movement in my business and career is uprooted by the fire of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.

• I shall receive my promotion letter in this new month. No man on earth, nor demon in hell shall stop me. I am elevated in Jesus name.

• Any spirit of set back lurking around my business must die by fire in this new month in Jesus name.

• May the testimony of the Lord be sure upon me and my household in Jesus name.

• That which the world has given up on regarding my matter shall be my number one testimony in this new month in Jesus name.

• I (my children)shall breakthrough in my upcoming exams. My results shall lead me into an era of promotion in Jesus name.

• I have waited upon the Lord, may my storehouse be full and my barn be blessed. My hard work shall be rewarded by ny heavenly Father. I shall win every battle this month.

• My journey throughout this month shall be stress-free. My movement to and fro shall amount to success and breakthrough in Jesus name.

• My prayers from the beginning of this year shall receive mind-blowing answers in this new month. This is my time to testify in Jesus name.

• Power must change hands in my life. My life will not be what it used to be. It will take a new direction. My life is changing for the best. Breakthrough is calling on me in this new month.

• The power of addiction over my life is broken. My mind shall be set free from this evil habit. I shall not lose my life to this addiction. I am made whole again. I am restored to a healthy state of mind in Jesus name.

• I’m set free from the hold of sin. I’m not a slave to iniquity. Death is no longer lurking around me. The power of life has been given to me. I shall experience breakthrough in my spiritual life.

• The power of God shall move me forward. I refuse to be stagnant. I’m going ahead to succeed until I become a paragon of success. I’m breaking through from years of failure in this month in Jesus name.

• The curse of poverty working in my life is over. I shall live in the abundance of God. I’m set free from lack and want. I shall not beg to eat. I will live beyond the average standard of life. This month is my month of financial breakthrough.

May the Good Lord answer our prayers in jesus name. This month is our month of success, breakthroughs and open doors! Welcome to the month of August once again.

The following are some of the states that have imposed a ban on Sallah celebration festivities in a bid to avoid a spike in Covid-19, according to a report filed by Daily Trust.

The Kano state government has announced the cancellation of all traditional Sallah festivities to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir in the state.

The government explained the decision was part of its effort to consolidate on the successes achieved in the fight against COVID-9 and the relaxation of lockdown in many states of the federation, including Kano.

Permission was, however, granted for the conduct of Eid congregational prayers across the state, though under strict observance of safety protocols.

The Plateau state police command has also said there will be no prayers on all Eid grounds during 2020 Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The police, however, said prayers could be observed at Area/Ward Mosques with not more than fifty (50) worshippers in line with the state government directives on COVID-19 protocol.

All the recreational centres in the state will be closed down for one week effective from Friday, July 31.

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello, has said that Eid prayers are allowed to hold only on mosques premises.

The minister also stated that there will be no Eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground and that Eid prayers should last for a maximum of one hour only.

He added that all other Eid celebrations and activities should be confined to homes.

The Osun state government has banned Eid prayers in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said here would be no Eid prayers because of the coronavirus pandemic. The SSG said Juma’at prayers would hold in line with the existing safety protocols and guidelines.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has banned all Eid-el Kabir festivities across all the eight emirates in the state.

The governor, however, granted permission for the conduct of Eid congregational prayers in Jumma’at Mosques across the state, albeit under strict compliance to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Kwara state government has also cancelled Eid-el Kabir prayers. The deputy governor and chairman of the state technical committee on COVID- 19, Kayode Alabi, said the cancellation became necessary given the huge numbers that are expected to gather for eid prayers and the possibility of such gatherings leading to a spike in cases and potential deaths.

He noted that there would be Friday prayers as it has been restored but in strict compliance with the rules of physical distancing and the use of facemasks.

The Jigawa state government has also suspended all Sallah festivities in the state. The state government, however, allowed for Eid grounds to open for Eid-el-Kabir prayers.

Meanwhile, the federal government has declared Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31, as the public holiday to mark the year 2020 Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, according to a statement signed by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Georgina Ehuriah, on Tuesday, July 28.

Footballers turn their back on Drogba : The standard Sports

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba reacts after a missed opportunity during their Champions League soccer match against Schalke 04 at Stamford Bridge in London September 17, 2014. 

The shocking rejection of Ivory Coast football great Didier Drogba by fellow former players in his quest to become the president of Ivorian FA lifts the lid on the warped politics dogging retired athletes in Africa.

The Ivory Coast players’ Union decided last week to not sponsor Drogba to run for the presidency of the Ivorian federation (FIF) in the September 5 election and instead backed Idriss Diallo, the current FIF vice-president.

Candidates need an endorsement from one of five Ivorian football organisations to enter the presidential race.

With only the association of medical staff yet to announce their endorsement, the former Chelsea and Marseille striker does not have a sponsor.

The rejection mirrors the specter of footballers across Africa notoriously being elbowed out of leadership positions whenever they offer themselves for election.

On Friday, global footballers’ union, FIFPro, took an unprecedented move to suspended the Ivory Coast Footballers Association (AFI) for failing to endorse Drogba’s bid.

Despite the former Chelsea striker’s long record of building schools in Ivory Coast, a football academy, like Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama is doing in Busia, Drogba has also donated £3 million pounds (Sh414,194,340) to build a hospital.

The former national football team captain used his cult-like following to stop a 5-year civil war when the loyalists of Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara battled for Ivorian leadership.

Under the captainship of Drogba, the Ivory Coast national football team was credited with helping to secure a temporary truce when it qualified for the 2006 Fifa World Cup and brought warring parties together.

He has also donated his clinic in Abidjan for the treatment of Coronavirus patients yet Drogba got not even a single vote from the association of fellow players. His crime? He did not “play his politics well” – according to multiple sources.

In a letter, seen by AFP, dated Thursday and addressed to the president of the AFI Cyrille Domoraud, a former Ivory Coast defender, FIFPro said it was suspending his organisation “with immediate effect.”

In the scathing letter, FIFPro attacked what it called the “iniquitous decision” of the AFI saying it is likely “to have a negative impact, in the Ivory Coast and beyond, on the defence of footballers, the chief objective of FIFPro and its members”.

FIFPro said: “Your decision shows a flagrant omission of this obligation and a total lack of consideration for your members.

FIFPro said the choice “is the result of various serious statutory breaches committed by the AFI in recent years” and had failed to take into account the “strictly democratic expression of the will of Ivorian footballers.”

On top of the endorsement of one of the special interest groups, candidates must also be nominated by three of the 14 Ligue 1 clubs and two from the lower divisions.

Drogba played in three World Cups with the Ivory Coast and twice helped them to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, also earning cult status among fans for his exploits with Chelsea in the Premier League and Champions League.

Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) Secretary General Jerry Santo said the Drobga situation is a complex one, but which has put the footballers’ family in an awkward situation.

“I think we need to put into context what has been going on in the Ivorian players’ union. While Drogba is a founding member of the Union, the other candidate (Idriss Diallo) has been close to the association and sold his vision to the players long before their own stepped forward,” Santo offers.

“An argument for both can be advanced, but I think Drogba may have thought he would be the automatic choice. He may have taken it lightly while the Diabate was working with the union to advance their organisation’s needs. So it was going to be difficult to go back on their promise to Diabate.

“And this should be a lesson to even for us here in Kenya. It is not just enough to be a member of the Union.

“One has to actively participate to uplift the welfare of fellow members. Quite often in Kenya, players stay away from the game only to show up when elections are called. It doesn’t work that way,” Santo said

1. Never tell anyone your area of weakness or your weak point. People are wicked and they could use it against you. Learn to keep secrets to yourself, don’t trust anyone except God.https://res-odx.op-mobile.opera.com/pagead?w=0&h=0&pk=s3349331957248&ct=&uc=true&cc=GB&lc=en&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstories.feednews.com%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2F5fcdb0b23e08c17b5547f2d5df827e69%3Fclient%3Dnews%26country%3Dng%26features%3D34359738287%26lang%3Den%26language%3Den%26low_perf%3Dfalse%26mode%3Dbody%26swdp%3D411%26uid%3D59ea195a14c73245908b3459860979f93f145498&rf=&cst=UTF-8&title=SWYgWW91IFdhbnQgVG8gU3VjY2VlZCBJbiBMaWZlLCBOZXZlciBUZWxsIEFueW9uZSBUaGVzZSA1IFRoaW5ncyAtIE9wZXJhIE5ld3MgT2ZmaWNpYWw%3D&vr=stories.feednews.com&bl=en-GB&sh=892&sw=412&sch=2491&scw=412&scl=0&sct=332&tz=GMT%2B0100&vph=719&vpw=412&debug=falsehttps://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1883810847636355&output=html&h=250&slotname=6310719999&adk=1841688118&adf=256279104&w=300&fwrn=7&lmt=1595693053&psa=1&guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&format=300×250&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstories.feednews.com%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2F5fcdb0b23e08c17b5547f2d5df827e69%3Fclient%3Dnews%26country%3Dng%26features%3D34359738287%26lang%3Den%26language%3Den%26low_perf%3Dfalse%26mode%3Dbody%26swdp%3D411%26uid%3D59ea195a14c73245908b3459860979f93f145498&flash=0&wgl=1&adsid=NT&dt=1595693052627&bpp=29&bdt=3471&idt=549&shv=r20200723&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D4f0bfc9c3a48aa94%3AT%3D1595583458%3AS%3DALNI_MYzKOfgBtYugfTIWZFVbylaAuyvjA&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=1&correlator=7150208062888&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1163296759.1595583358&ga_sid=1595693053&ga_hid=1575572491&ga_fc=0&iag=0&icsg=35687167&dssz=15&mdo=0&mso=0&u_tz=60&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=56&ady=877&biw=412&bih=719&scr_x=0&scr_y=333&eid=21066653%2C21066392%2C21066752&oid=3&pvsid=3138021878595540&pem=832&rx=0&eae=0&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C719%2C412%2C719&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeE%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8192&bc=31&ifi=1&uci=a!1&fsb=1&xpc=erExnZ8fHN&p=https%3A//stories.feednews.com&dtd=625

2. Whenever you are going to the bank to withdraw a large amount of money, don’t tell anyone because they could set you up and rob you of all the money. Such is the life we live. Don’t trust anyone.

3. Don’t ever tell anyone your future plans because if it is a good plan, they could go to a shrine and tie down your plan. Learn to keep your plans to yourself until you execute it. People are really wicked.

4. Don’t ever tell anyone who wants to help you in life, people are wicked and they could go behind you and say bad things that will stop your helper from helping you.

5. Lastly, don’t tell anyone your plans of income in the future, they could do anything possible to make sure that you don’t succeed with your plans.

Don’t trust anyone except yourself and God. The world we live in is filled with wicked people.

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If you have any contribution to add to the points above, drop them in the comment section below.