Democrat Nancy Pelosi has officially been elected the speaker of the US House, CNN reports.
Pelosi, the first and only woman to occupy the position (her first time was from 2007 to 2011), defeated the Republican nominee Kevin McCarthy, winning 220 votes.
Pelosi who had served as the House minority leader, replaces Republican Paul Ryan.
McCarthy, who is now the House minority leader as the Democrats now have the highest number of Reps, welcomed the lawmakers to the 116th Congress and introduced Pelosi. He said:
Today marks a new chapter in this House pursuit of a more perfect union. The country knows Nancy Pelosi as an experienced leader with three decades of service in Congress, a fighter for her causes and a true trail blazer. Even when we disagree with one another completely, it is important to remember that we are bounded together in a common cause, our love for America.
We have no illusions that our work will be easy and that all of us in this chamber will always agree, but let each of us pledge that when we disagree, we respect each other and we respect the truth.
We will debate in advance good ideas no matter where they come from, and in that spirit, Democrats will be offering the Senate Republican appropriations legislation to reopen government later today
When our new members take the oath, our Congress will be refreshed and our democracy will be strengthened by their optimism, idealism and patriotism of this transformative freshman class. Congratulations to all of you in the freshman class. Working together we will redeem the promise of the American dream for every family, advancing progress for every community.
Back in the days when our women were stewards of strict morals and child bearing was a feat restricted for celebration by married women but to our new and civilized era when we celebrate immorality over morality and nonsense over sense, the divine institution of marriage is not regarded and childbirth is now for every Jane,Chioma and Amina with or without the Mrs title.
Childbearing outside wedlock now has a title called BABYMAMA and it comes with a paycheck and other dividends hence the reason why there is a rise in the number of single women who willingly and proudly accepts this title.
Who knows what goes on in the mind of a babymama?
Is it regrets or joy? Is it hope or despair? Is it satisfaction or yearnings untold? Is it another baby drama or a happily ever after marriage? Who knows but whatever goes on in their minds, I want our babymamas to know that your child’s interest should be paramount not your greed for money or a car. Everything does not have to be YOU alone but that baby that you decided to birth with or without counting the cost.
Save these babies the dramas attached to them, they are innocent and should not be made to pay a dear prize for a path you choose to tow. If there are issues arising before or after pregnancy, solve it without including your baby or don’t you know years from now kids or spouses will use the internet to do a background check on that child. Do you want him or her to grow with low self-esteem? Or probably see you as a failed mother?
Make right choices worthy of the calling to motherhood, spend wisely, get a good means of survival (biz,skill or a job), learn from your wrongs and avoid making the mistake over again AND give your child a good moral training.
Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, through her Give and Let Give initiative, has helped renovate the home of a widow in just four days.
The widow, Folashade Chijioke, was nominated after many entries via emails by another widow. Some of the criteria for selection were that the widow being nominated must be a working woman, giving back to the community and raising her kids.
Folashade’s home was given a face life with new furniture, a new paint job, bathroom fittings, an upgraded kitchen, bunk beds and cozy mattresses, a TV, fridge, and gas cooker.
Folashade and her four kids were taken from the hotel they had been staying at during the renovation and they were shown their new home on the 31st of December. They were overjoyed.
Dancer Kaffy has taken to her Instagram page to encourage everyone and anyone battling depression.
She revealed that she has battled depression and she won.
She wrote:
Please DO NOT BE PRESSURED . A lot is a lie . A lot is a manifestation of what they want to be . A lot is from insecurities.A lot is from depression not all smiley faces are happy faces.
Depression is real too many lives lost .
I faced depression I battled it and I won . You can win . First thing to do is not to let people define your happiness. We all have our races ,our paths are different ,first to do no mean last man standing o. If anyone run past u ,do better than you or have anything u want and don’t have , just wave and say “I will catch up” see ya later”. Your process is important don’t be in a hurry if u do you would lose the ammunition, the instruments u need to sustain the greatness and happiness you pursue.
#kaffynodeylookyatime#kaffygoneedyadime
A woman who was doused in acid by her father when she was just two-months-old has shared an inspiring new year message.
Anmol Rodrigous was curled up in her mother’s lap when her father poured a can of acid on them, killing her mother, and disfiguring newlyborn Anmol.
At 23, Anmol now runs her own survivor foundation. She has not only overcome the physical and emotional pain but has also become an inspiration to many women like her.
Anmol, which means priceless in Hindi, claims to be the happiest girl in the world. She lives alone in Mumbai, India, where she arranges funds for her ongoing reconstructive surgeries and runs an NGO Acid Survivor Sahas Foundation, through which she has helped 20 such women getting employment and organised a lavish wedding for a friend.
Anmol says:
I love my life as it is. Not even once have I felt that I am different. This could also be because I only remember seeing myself with one eye and wrinkled, burnt skin.
I have very happily accepted myself and this has given me hopes and confidence to keep moving in life.
My whole life was spent at an orphanage in Mumbai. I am told that I was only two months old when my father had attacked my mother and myself with acid.
She left the orphanage 2 years ago when she finished from college. She now makes £117 a month from giving her ideas to make creative sets for the shows and saves some of her money for her NGO.
Anmol gets in touch with women leaders and politicians to arrange work opportunities for girls like her.
The young girl says she loves to dress up and wishes to become a model. She has already been offered model assignments by two designers to promote their jewellery on Instagram.
Sharing an inspiring message for others in her condition, she said:
I want to become the first commercial acid attack survivor model who can not just promote fashion but also spread awareness that acid does not end life.
This is really exciting and I am soon going to get the opportunity what I have been longing for.
I hope my stint will inspire women like me to not cover their face in a veil, instead walk confidently with their face.
Acid can only change our face but not ruin our soul. We are same inside out and we should accept ourselves who we are and live our lives happily.
Ilhan Omar — one of two first Muslim women to be elected to the US Congress, made history on Thursday, January 3rd 2019, when she wore her Hijab on the House floor.
The request of one of the first female Muslim members of the United States Congress, Ilhan Omar, to be allowed to wear hijab when she is on the floor of the House to vote and give speeches, has been granted.
Daily Mail UK reports that the incoming speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and incoming House rules committee chairman, Jim McGovern, backed Omar in her request and included it in the rules package they released on Tuesday, January 1.
Omar, who is a Democrat, tweeted in November after she was elected: “No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It’s my choice—one protected by the first amendment. And this is not the last ban I’m going to work to lift.”
Republicans will be handing over control of Congress to Democrats after eight years in power.
Omar, will become the first federal legislator to wear a religious headscarf when she’s sworn in on Thursday, January 3.
Omar is joined by Rep-elect Rashida Tlaib of Michigan as the first two Muslim women in Congress.
The Congresswoman from Minnesota was all smiles as she was sworn in on Capitol Hill … where she was surrounded by a throng of supporters, many of whom were also wearing hijabs. Omar’s no stranger to politics — she served in the state legislature before making her historic run for Congress.
Omar — the first Somali-American in Congress — has also never shied away from her religion in public. In fact, during her victory speech on Election night, she dropped the Arabic phrase, “alhamdulillah” … which means “all praise to God.”
The 37-year-old — who came from a refugee camp in Kenya some 23 years ago — ran on very progressive platforms … such as hiking the minimum wage, universal healthcare and free college tuition.
United States Congress will now allow Muslim women to wear hijab on the floor of the House to vote and give speeches.
French model Thylane Blondeau has been named ‘most beautiful girl in the world for the second time.
The 17-year-old came to fame in 2007 at the age of six after being named the ‘most beautiful girl in the world’ clinched the title again after she emerged on the top of TC Candler’s 2018 annual awards list.
Taking to Instagram, the stunning model thanked the competition for the award, writing: ‘I just can’t believe it myself, thanks so much @tccandler and everyone who voted.
I never thought I was once number one! I’m thankful to all of you I really hope you’re having great holidays and spend nice Christmas with your family ..all the best to all of you guys lots of love (sic)’.
Taiwanese singer Chou Tzu-yu was named as runner-up followed by Israeli model Yael Shelbia while American-Filipino actress Liza Soberano landed fourth.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat representing Massachusetts has announced that she has established a presidential campaign exploratory committee to kick off her plan to run for office come 2020.
“In our country, if you work hard and play by the rules, you ought to be able to take care of yourself and the people you love,” the Democratic senator from Massachusetts says at the start of the new, 4 1/2 video.
“No matter where you live in America or no matter where your family came from in the world, you deserve a path to opportunity,” Warren continues in the new political video. “That’s the America I am fighting for, and that is why today I am launching an exploratory committee for president.”
A former Harvard law professor and champion of consumer protection, Warren has long been on the shortlist of potential 2020 Democratic candidates. Her fundraising prowess and popularity in progressive circles has left many in Washington referring to her as one of a few early front-runners as well, though more than two dozen other Democrats are also rumoured to be considering presidential runs.
Elizabeth Warren
✔@ewarren
Every person in America should be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, & take care of themselves & the people they love. That’s what I’m fighting for, & that’s why I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. I need you with me: http://elizabethwarren.com
Warren’s staff told ABC News the senator will be filing the paperwork for her exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission Monday and revamping her political and campaign website.
There is only a passing reference to President Donald Trump and his administration in Warren’s new video. Pictures of past and current White House advisers play over Warren’s voice saying, “The whole same is propped up by an echo chamber of fear and hate designed to distract and divide us. If we organize together, if we fight together, if we persist together, we can win,” Warren ends the video, making a subtle reference to a moment on the Senate floor in 2017 that went viral.
Tennis champions, Roger Federer and Serena Williams, are set to play each other for the first time in their careers.
They will play a mixed doubles match in the Hopman Cup competition in Perth today. Federer and Williams have won a combined total of 43 Grands Slam titles.
On the match-up, Federer said: “It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it. I admire everything she’s done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win.”
Williams said it was “a dream come true” and added: “I have been looking forward to it. This is so cool.
The match has been labelled by many as one of the most exciting and anticipated match involving a male and female player since Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the sexes” in 1973.
