Featured News
now browsing by category
Brikama equips shopkeepers to stop the escalation of Covid-19 in The Gambia.
According to Standard, the community of Brikama Berewuleng has bought packets of Personal Protection Equipment, PPEs, for all corner shopkeepers in their area.
According to what community leaders disclose to Standard in Berewuleng, each shopkeeper has been supplied with lots of facemasks, sanitisers, gloves among other items.
“Shopkeepers can be transmission agents of the virus in a given area because almost every compound is close to a shop where residents go to buy provisions such as sugar, bread, butter and other essentials on a daily basis. We want to ensure that our shopkeepers stay in masks and gloves every time they are serving the customers. They must not also allow unprotected hands to be touching food that they would not buy. Anyone buying bread for example should pick the loaves or loaf he or she wants and never touch others,” observed Essa Jallow, member of the community.
A health official who spoke to The Standard said the initiative taken by Berewuleng needs to be praised and should serve as an eye opener to all communities.
Source___Standard Newspaper
State governors in the north-eastern part of Nigeria have point out some of the root causes of the insurgency backstabbing the region.
They made this known on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss ways to intensify the war against insurgency.
According to Channels TV, the Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum, Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who led the governors to the Villa, stressed the need for the Nigerian government to address the main causes of the insurgency.
According to him, the insurgents are taking advantage of endemic poverty and hunger among other challenges in the region to recruit more members into their fold.
Briefing State House correspondent at the end of the meeting, Zulum said, “One of the root causes is access to farmlands. People need to go back to their farmlands; people need to be resettled in their original homes so that they can start their means of livelihood.
“This is one of the reasons why insurgents are recruiting more (members) into their sects and creating an enabling environment for people to go about their normal activities will no doubt reduce the cases of insurgencies.”
“We also recommended that the police should be provided with state-of-the-art equipment, armoured personal carriers among others, with a view to bridging the manpower gap that we are having in the Nigerian military,” the governor added.
He also stressed the need for the Federal Government to work closely with the state and local governments with a view to providing solutions that would end the crisis in the region.
Governor Zulum, however, noted that the government was taking a bold step to ensure the best ways to tackle some of the challenges faced by people in the North East.
Other governors present included Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Umar Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).
Nigeria on Monday recorded 290 fresh cases of COVID-19 with the number of recovered persons now 33,346.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed the latest COVID-19 figure in a tweet on its handle.
According to Channels TV, Nigeria’s new cases were confirmed in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), taking the number of infected people in the nation to 46,867
The NCDC latest data indicate that Lagos and the FCT reported the highest cases for the day – 82 each.
Other states with fresh cases are Oyo – 19, FCT – 18; Edo – 16; Kaduna – 15; Enugu -9; Ogun – 9; Kano -8; Kwara – 8; Cross River -5; Ondo – 5; Rivers -5; Ekiti -4; Imo – 3 and Borno – 2.
The NCDC data further revealed that the disease has so far claimed 950 lives.
The trial of the former Attorney-General of the Federation in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Adoke has been adjourned till August 13.
Mr. Adoke’s trial was adjourned due to the failure of the prosecutor to serve the defendants with the proof of evidence and statement of the witness.
During the last sitting, the defendants pleaded not guilty to a 14-count charge filed against them bordering on money laundering.
According to Channels TV, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in June filed an additional seven charges against the former AGF over money laundering allegations involving about N400 million.
Mr Adoke’s trial was expected to begin last week but it was adjourned due to the changed charges.
The first charge contained seven counts, with six of them relating to Mr. Adoke.
At the going back trial, the prosecutor, Bala Sanga, disclosed to the court an amended charge he filed on July 29 which was served on all the defendants.
The trial judge, Justice Ekwo who frowned at the late filing of the amended charge adjourned the trial on the ground that he is yet to sight the amended charges.
In the former seven counts, the EFCC alleged that the defendants committed the money laundering offences involving over N400 million in Abuja, in September 2013.
Channels TV said, in the counts relating to Mr Adoke, he was accused of among others, receiving the dollar equivalent of N300 million from Abubakar, paying the dollar equivalent of N367,318,800 to one Usman Mohammed Bello, and allegedly using the sum of N300 million, which was alleged to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activities, all in violations of various provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.
The former AGF was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 10, 2020, in the sum of N50m with one surety in like sum.
The case has been adjourned till August 13, 2020.
Source___Channels TV
Employment in the UK drastically fell by the largest amount in over a decade between April and June, according to BBC.
BBC said the number of people in work decreased by 220,000 on the quarter, according to what they get from the National Statistics.
This was the largest quarterly decrease since May to July 2009, the depths of the financial crisis.
The UK economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, but unemployment has not surged as much as feared because large numbers of firms have furloughed staff.
However, analysts said unemployment was set to worsen in coming months as the scheme wound down, warning of a looming “cliff-edge” and a “lull before the storm”.
The youngest workers, oldest workers and those in manual occupations were the worst hit during the pandemic, the ONS added.
The UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%, largely unchanged on the year and the past quarter, as millions remained “on the government-backed furlough scheme.”
Trump rushes out of the news conference after a shot
US President Donald Trump was rushed out of a news conference after Secret Service agents shot and wounded a man who is alleged to be armed outside the White House.
According to BBC, the Secret Service said the occurrence took place one block from the compound, when an officer fired on the suspect who had run “aggressively” towards him.
An agent then walked on stage as Mr Trump was speaking and led him away.
The president returned minutes later to say the situation was taken cared of.
The US Secret Service said the incident happened on Monday on the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave – outside the White House perimeter.
The Secret Service did not say whether the man was armed. It added that “both the officer and the suspect were then taken to hospital”, and that “at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached”.
When the president returned nine minutes later, he said: “Law enforcement shot someone, it seems to be the suspect.”
He said he did not know if the person harboured any ill intentions towards him.
“It might not have had anything to do with me,” Trump clearly stated.
Source___BBC
Tell Emerson “Coconut Head” that:
1. President Bio launched and supported the operationalization of Sierra Leone’s first Sexual Offences Model Court (Manifesto commitment relating to Rule of Law)
2. The Government of President Bio has repealed the Criminal and Seditious Libel Laws contained in Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965 ( *Manifesto Commitment relating to Press Freedom* .)
3. Introduction of Free quality Education (Manifesto commitment delivered).
4. Recruitment of 2,500 health care workers
5. Commissoned 48 hospitals across the country
6. Increased Salaries of Teachers by 30%
7. Recruited 300 females in the army, first ever in the history of Sierra Leone
8. Increase of pension from le15,000 to le250,000
9. Increased salaries of Government workers by 15%
10. Approved le 18.3 billion to Freetown city council to transform Freetown
11. Commissoned the construction of two universities: one in Bonthe and the other in Kono.
12. Offered scholarship to all students offering Mathematics, Agriculture, Geography, Biology and Engineering
13. Introduced and sustain National cleaning Day on the first Saturday of every month till the outbreak of Covid 19.
14. Approved solar Light to be installed in all District
15. Renovated Sierra Leone parliament to a modern Level
16. Commissoned of Juba Atlantic Bridge
17. Revive and support National Union of Students ( NUSS)
18. Support the rehabilitation of all Government Boarding Home schools
19. Support a drone corridor in Njala,the first ever in the sub Region
20. Retrieve le 21 billion Leones from corrupt politician
21. Commissoned 16 District offices of the Teachers Commission
22. Reversing of 6-3-4-4 system of Education to 6-3-3-4
23 Approved 106 schools across the country
24. payment of Debts left by the past Government
25. Reviewed and amended the Anti Corruption Act
26. Controlling of Government Deficit Borrowing
27. Commissoned the construction of two universities: One in Kono and the other in Bonthe
28. Launching of first Africa Block chain and Decentralized Digital platform under NCRA
29. Commissoned the construction of National Diagnostic and Radiotherapy Cancer Treatment center
30. Launching of Social safety Project and provided cash transfers through NacSA.
31. Renovation of Teko Centre Vetinary Laboratory
32. Introduction of Free University for students pursuing science and Technology courses as well as medical disclipines
33. Increased Revenue in the Fisheries and Marine Resources to an unprecedented 100.5 Billion Disclipines
34. Rehabilitation of five Electricity Sub stations in western Area
35. Construction of 406 Hand Dug wells,125 boreholes,22 rain water harvesting systems, 301 Public sanitation Facilities,200 Rain gauging stations and 20 ground water monitoring stations across 6 Districts ( Koinadugou, Falaba,Kono,Kambia, Pujehun and Bonthe
36. Launching of USD20 million in establishing a flower mill with a capacity of 2500 meter tonnes a day
37. Construction of Car wash centers, youth farms,fisheries project and youth service schemes
38. Reconstruction of state of art Myonhaung officers Mess that includes 104 bed rooms single officers complex
39. Establishment of 190 chiefdom and 16 District Youth Council Nationwide
40. Fighting Corruption and illicit Financial flows
41. Introduction of Free University Education for three Childrens of every school Teacher with at least Ten Years Teaching experience
42. Commissoned the construction of Kenema Tongo and Koidu Road
43. Connection of Internet Connectivity to 500 schools, colleges and 15 Public Hospitals
44. Commissoned the construction of a shopping mall and a Bus Terminal at Lumely
COVID-19: Churches Reopen In Lagos State of Nigeria
According to Channels TV, Churches in Lagos have re-opened partially across the state today, after being locked down for several months in the wake of COVID-19 escalation.
Channels TV said this was disclosed by governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on august the 1st with the provision that worship centers can only fill up 50 per cent of their capacity.
The state government last Thursday also make known several safety precautions and guidelines numbering 46 that must be adhered to during services at places of worship in the first phase.
In a similar vein, the Federal Ministry of Health has yen for places of worship to ensure that their members worship in well-ventilated spaces.
According to a Twitter post by the Health Ministry, all worshipers are enjoined to continue their worship safely by maintaining a distance of 2 metres from others.
Gunmen kills eight French aid workers in Niger
Gunmen in Niger have killed eight group of aid workers, their local guide and driver, officials say.
According to BBC, the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire, the governor of Tillabéri region, Tidjani Ibrahim, told the French news agency AFP.
They were in the Koure region, which is an epicentre to the tourists as they want to see herds of giraffe in West Africa.
BBC said, the French presidency confirmed the deaths of the French citizens.
The French nationals worked for an international aid group, Niger’s defence minister Issoufou Katambé told Reuters news agency. Earlier, officials had described them as tourists.
ACTED, a French humanitarian NGO, confirmed its staff members were involved in the occurrence in Niger.
President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the phone with his Niger counterpart Mahamadou Issoufou on Sunday, a statement said, without giving further details.
In photos seen by the BBC, the victims’ bodies were found lying on a dirt road by the side of a 4×4 vehicle.
Beirut explosion death toll rises to 200 as protests continue
BBC said, more than 200 people are known to have been killed by Tuesday’s Beirut heartbreaking explosion in the Lebanese capital.
Governor Marwan Abboud said dozens were still not found, many of them foreign are workers.
The army has as of now called off the rescue phase of its search operation at the port, the focal point of the explosion.
According to BBC, yesterday becomes the second night of violence in the city, as police clashed with the angry protesters over the government’s response to the disaster.
The stepping down of a cabinet minister and several MPs has failed to calm the fury.
D5 Creation