By Chukwuemeka Opara

In an effort to prevent further outbreak of Lassa fever, Ebonyi Government is to begin intensive campaigns against rat consumption in rural areas.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Donatus Njoku, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abakaliki that the government would explore all avenues to dissuade the citizens from consuming rats.

NAN reports that Lassa fever outbreak in the state in January resulted in four deaths and it is believed thatinhabitants of the state erroneously believe rats have high nutritional value.

Njoku said: Rats are the primary vectors of the disease, and we are vigorously carrying out enlightenment through mass media, workshops, seminars and various ministries communication channels.

We will collaborate with traditional rulers and other opinion leaders at the grassroots to educate rural dwellers to shun such a notion and realise that rat is the diseases primary vector.

We have also continued to sensitise the populace to urgently report suspected cases to relevant health agencies.

With the total functionality of the state government-owned South-East Virology Centre, such an occurrence can be expeditiously handled.

On sanitation, Njoku said that contrary to insinuations, non-observance of the monthly sanitation in the state did not affect effective sanitation.

State and Federal Government functions sometimes fall on the last Saturday of the month, and when this occurs, we have to comply.

The state government has evolved policies which make the populace to clean their environments on daily basis and not wait for designated days, he said.

Njoku told NAN that the state Ministry of Environment ensured that state government ministries and parastatal-agencies cleaned their environments daily as directed by the governor.

We assess their performances to ascertain the level of compliance; to show his seriousness toward the directive, the governor visits the ministries for on-the-spot assessments.

We encourage the people to keep their environments clean to improve their health, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Wife of the President of the Senate, Toyin Saraki, has been named as special adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organisations (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).

The Media Office of Toyin Saraki, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the appointment was made earlier this month by WHOs Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.

This move is intended to bring Mrs Sarakis considerable frontline experience to bear on WHOs strategy and policy.

Toyin Ojora-Saraki had since accepted the appointment based on the Advisory Groups focus on women and childrens health and in view of her role as a global champion for Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC).

I welcome the Advisory Group meetings focus on the health of women, children and adolescents as flagship indicators for Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) progress.

As a global champion for UHC, I advocate for a fuller understanding of its benefits, which go beyond health outcomes and include improved gender equality, higher levels of preparedness for epidemic outbreaks and transformative economic effects.

As Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, I particularly welcome the introduction of WHO AFROs focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of Midwives and Nurses in Africa, she said.

I am looking forward to hitting the ground running in my new role as special adviser at the Independent Advisory Group meeting this week in Johannesburg.

The experience I have gained as Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, working closely with our midwives on the frontline, as part of the global Every Woman, Every Child Strategy to end all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030, will inform my advice to the WHO, she added.

Source: NAN

Monty Pythons Terry Gilliam could be forgiven for thinking the whole Donald Trump presidency is a joke on him.

This is a man after all who renounced his American citizenship in protest at George W. Bush.

For years I was saying we are getting to the point of having a complete conman for a president, the film director and animator told AFP, And now here we are

For somebody who likes turning things upside down, I should be enjoying this but Trump is an idiot, said the maker of Brazil and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

And humour is no defence. Not even the Pythons in their 1960s pomp could match the surreal madcap nature of the presidency, he insisted: Its absurd.

The reality is funnier than anything one can do, Gilliam laughed.

The Life of Brian, their classic satirical take on a false messiah, now seems all too prophetic, he said, completely relevant to the world we are living in.

It makes me feel like Ive gotten very old and I am living through a nightmare, he added.

For his latest project, Gilliam, 77, is directing the opera Benvenuto Cellini in Paris

Its so crazy and there is no way you can do anything. So I have become apolitical, I am Candide, he said, referring to Voltaires naively optimistic hero. I am going to be tending my garden, thats what I am going to do.

Yet the madness of it all still gets Gilliams famously brilliant brain going.

Look at America under Trump, look at England under the Conservatives it is just a joke. Britain is part of Europe and to think it can be Great Britain again is utterly foolish.

Nor is Gilliam, now a British citizen, afraid to call out his old friend and fellow Python John Cleese for supporting Brexit, telling AFP bluntly: He is an idiot!

But even the political climate cannot curb Gilliams boundless optimism and creative fire for long.

At 77 he is still fizzing with ideas, with a stack of projects in his sights including a musical.

In fact, the maker of Time Bandits, The Fisher King and 12 Monkeys is on a high having finally finished The Man Who Killed Don Quixote after nearly two decades of development hell.

The movie has gone down in Hollywood history as one of the most cursed projects ever, beset by such a string of disasters that the saga spawned an acclaimed documentary.

Im free! Gilliam declared, I was the prisoner of Don Quixote for 26 years.

The best thing about it being finished is that I like it, because I thought for all those years I would only disappoint myself. But its great, Adam Driver (of Star Wars fame) and Jonathan Price are extraordinary, the whole cast is wonderful, he said.

#MeToo mob rule

Gilliam has dedicated the movie to the actors Jean Rochefort and John Hurt, neither of whom lived long enough to play Don Quixote.

Ever the mischief maker, the director said the film includes scenes of women behaving inappropriately.

It is his little jab at the #MeToo movement which he claims has morphed into something ugly and dangerous.

Its like when mob rule takes over, the mob is out there they are carrying their torches and they are going to burn down Frankensteins castle.

Its crazy how simplified things are becoming. There is no intelligence anymore and people seem to be frightened to say what they really think. Now I am told even by my wife to keep my head a bit low, he said, ignoring her advice.

While Gilliam condemned Harvey Weinstein as a monster, he claimed that he was not alone. The mogul was exposed because he is such asshole, he said.

I think some people did very well out of meeting with Harvey and others didnt. The ones who did knew what they were doing. These are adults, we are talking about adults with a lot of ambition.

Harvey opened the door for a few people, a night with Harvey thats the price you pay, said Gilliam, who is in Paris to direct an opera, Benvenuto Cellini next week.

He said power had always been abused in the film world and I dont think Hollywood will change. Power takes advantage, it always does.

The great irony, he said, was that while #MeToo has been in full flow a self-confessed pussy-grabber is the president of the US and is just walking around unchallenged, he added.

*AFP

Source: NAN

Donald Trumps lawyer claimed porn actress Stormy Daniels is liable for at least $20 million for violating a nondisclosure agreement that prevents her from discussing an affair with the president.

A lawyer for Michael Cohens Essential Consultants limited liability company which paid Daniels $130,000 under the agreement made the filing, which said that Daniels violated the deal at least 20 times.

The Settlement Agreement provides for liquidated damages of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per instance of breach, the court filing says.

Daniels signed the agreement pertaining to an alleged affair a decade earlier shortly before the 2016 election, leading to allegations that the payment amounted to an illicit contribution to Trumps campaign.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti filed a lawsuit on behalf of Daniels whose real name Stephanie Clifford earlier this month seeking to toss out the confidential settlement.

The suit alleged that Daniels began an intimate relationship with Trump in the summer of 2006 that continued well into 2007.

On July 12, court proceedings will get under way to decide whether Daniels can dissolve the agreement.

The White House has denied any sexual encounter between Trump and Daniels who has offered to return the $130,000 she received so that she can be free to speak openly and freely about her prior relationship with the president and the attempts to silence her.

She is also asking to be allowed to publish text messages, photos and videos relating to the president, Avenatti said in a letter to Cohen.

Using the pseudonyms Peggy Peterson and David Dennison, Daniels and Trump were to sign the agreement, along with Essential Consultants.

But Trump never signed, providing the basis for Avenattis attempt to have it thrown out and release Daniels from her obligations.

Avenatti took to Twitter on Friday to criticize the court filing.

The fact that a sitting president is pursuing over $20M in bogus damages against a private citizen, who is only trying to tell the public what really happened, is remarkable. Likely unprecedented in our history. We are NOT going away and we will NOT be intimidated, Avenatti wrote on the social media site.

The filing today is yet another bullying tactics from the president and Mr Cohen. They are now attempting to remove this case to federal court in order to increase their chances that the matter will be decided in private arbitration, thus hiding the truth from the public, he wrote.

According to the court filing, Essential Consultants began an arbitration proceeding as provided for by the agreement at the end of February.

Trump has ample reason to want to keep the affair quiet.

The issue could hurt the president with religious voters, who were key to his electoral success, and appears to have already caused strains between the president and First Lady Melania Trump.

Earlier Friday the White House condemned any threat against Daniels after the porn stars lawyer claimed she was threatened with physical violence if she revealed details of the alleged tryst.

Obviously we take the safety and security of any person seriously, said press secretary Sarah Sanders.

The White House certainly would condemn anyone threatening any individual, but I have no knowledge of that situation, she said.

White House officials have tried to deflect questions about the alleged affair, pointing to previous denials by the Trump campaign.

AFP

Source: NAN

By Busayo Onijala

BBNaija housemate, Asogwa Alexandra, popularly known as Alex, has blasted fellow housemates, Tobi and Cee-C, over their frequent quarrels disturbing other housemates after Saturday night parties.

She expressed her displeasure with their behaviour after the duo engaged in a near-fight argument on Saturday, making it the third Saturday in a roll.

Cee-C, who used to be Tobis strategic partner, accused Tobi of calling her a bitch. She also added that she does not like being the topic of conversations in the house.

Alex, who could no longer bear the disturbance, warned both housemates not to bring todays fight into the house.
She told them to settle their problems outside at the lounge before coming in.

Last Saturday, you disturbed everyone with your fight. You made people not to sleep but this time, I wont allow it. Is it now every Saturday thing? Does it mean we wont have our rest in this house again?

Tobi, Cee-C its now becoming a trend after Saturday parties. Creating a drama every Saturday after the party is now boring. People will not understand that you guys are quarreling, It is exhausting for the viewers, I will advice you people to just go and sleep.

You guys are very tiring. If I was watching you at home, I will be bored and just turn off my TV after the Saturday party, she said.

Later on, Alex was heard telling Rico, See, todays own wont be funny.

If they think this house belongs to them, let them come in here with their fight and make noise. Youll see what Ill do to them. Can you imagine? They did it last Saturday and today again.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Alex has been described by BBN viewers as the life of the weekly party. She is always on top of her game when it comes to dancing.

Housemates have been playing individually since they were unpaired. As it is, no housemate will be blamed for the eviction of their strategic partner from the house.

All housemates except Rico Swavey and Nina who is the Head of House(HoH) have been nominated for possible eviction tonight.

Rico who was BamBams partner, is the only housemate who has never been up for nomination thereby making his chances of winning the grand prize high.

Nina was able to save herself from nomination with her power of being the HoH.

The live eviction show airs every Sunday by 7pm, Central African Time.

Source: NAN

BBNaija Double Wahala housemate Anto has been evicted from the show, becoming the eleventh as well as first individual housemate to be evicted.

Last week Big Brother (Biggie) dissolved the pairings therefore requiring them to play the game as individuals.

Previously, paired housemates Bitto and Princess (Pritto), Deeone and Vandora (Vandee), Angel and Ahneeka (Gelah), Ifu Ennada and Leo (Lifu) were evicted from the show alongside Khloe and K-Brule (Ksquared) who were disqualified.

Last week the Head of House (HoH) had her privilege restricted leaving her without the opportunity to alter the nominations.

Antos chances of winning the grand prize of N25 million and an SUV were cut short when she alongside 7 housemates received the highest nominations from fellow housemates.

The American born housemate escaped eviction last week along with her partner, Miracle.

However this week, BBNaija host Ebuka Uchendu announced Anto had received the lowest percentage of votes from fans across the world compared to fellow housemates who were put up for eviction this week.

The evicted housemate revealed to perennial host Ebuka Uchendu that her main purpose in the house was to win the grand prize.

She was however was initially attracted to fellow housemate, Tobi.

She said: I had my eyes on Tobi although he already got close to Cee c. He is a bit childish, we can be friends.

During her post eviction chat with Ebuka, Anto confirmed Cee cs possessive attitude towards Tobi. I could see Cee c did not like it when I interacted with Tobi.

The outgoing housemate took the opportunity to clear up her future with fellow housemate Lolu.

She admitted to spending so much time with him because she genuinely likes him, although she claimed to be open in the future.

I like him, he is my friend, I am not promising anything.

Notably during the eviction show Ebuka sprung up a surprise.

The host, dressed in a typical Nigerian attire known as Baba Riga, announced that viewers have the opportunity to vote to bring two evicted housemate back into the house to continue to vie for the grand prize worth N45 million.

For now, nine housemates left in the game will continue to compete for the grand prize.

Source: NAN

Unseeded Naomi Osaka has won her first WTA title and simultaneously, she logged the record as the first Japanese player to win the Indian Wells final, routing Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday.

World number 44 Osaka rolled over Kasatkina, breaking her serve four times and winning the battle of the 20-year-old rising stars in just 70 minutes.

I just knew that she was going to fight for every point, too, said Osaka. So I couldnt afford to lose points based on nerves, and I had to keep making the right decisions.

Osaka captured the title on her first match point by blasting a backhand into the open side of the court.

The Japanese dynamo improved to 13-4 on the season two days after her biggest previous win, a dominating semi-final triumph over world number one Simona Halep.

She was only the fourth unseeded player to reach the Indian Wells final, with the most recent before her being Kim Clijsters in 2005.

The loss ends a brilliant run in the California desert by Kasatkina, who was playing in her second final in a row after a runner-up finish in Dubai.

She was much better today than me, so she really deserved to win, Kasatkina said. Of course, we were both nervous at the beginning, because the biggest finals so far.

But during the match, she was able to manage her nerves and stuff, and I was still a little bit tight during the match. So it is what it is.

Kasatkina was two points from defeat against Venus Williams in the semi-finals but rallied for the upset triumph.

Kasatkina, who wasnt even born when Williams first competed at Indian Wells, said she really felt the nerves getting to her on the big stage in the final.

She called her coach to come down from the stands for advice at one point but couldnt remember after the match what he told her.

I mean, I already forgot what he told me. I was so nervous, that I really forgot, she said.

Osaka blasted five aces, made three double faults and won 79 percent of her first-serve points.

I wasnt really trying to hit hard today, said Osaka, who was born in Osaka, Japan, but is a dual citizen after living in America since the age of three.

I felt like it would be better for her to take my pace.

So I wanted her to do whatever she wanted to do and I was going to sit back and see what she does.

Like Osaka, Kasatkina was playing in her first Indian Wells final. This was the first time both Indian Wells finalists were under age 21 since Serena Williams beat Clijsters in 2001.

The opening set was even until Osaka blasted two aces to take a 4-3 lead. She then broke Kasatkina to make it 5-3 and finished it off with another strong service game.

Osaka pounced on Kasatkina from the beginning of the second set, starting with an opening break of serve.

She also broke Kasatkina to go up 4-1 with another precision forehand winner down the line and never looked back.

Kasatkina is now 1-3 in WTA singles finals, winning in Charleston last year and finishing runner-up last year in Moscow and this year at Dubai.

*AFP

Source: NAN

Former US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro stunned world number one Roger Federer 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/2) to win the Indian Wells Masters tournament on Sunday.

In the close to three-hour thriller, the two players kept the audience on tenterhooks, as Federer came from one set down to level scores in a tie breaker.

Federer missed clinching the championship, when he broke del Potro at 4-4, then fluffed the opportunity when he served, by allowing the Argentinian to claw his way back to level scores at 5-5. Like the second, the third set also went into a tie break, with Federer spraying many errors and losing the match.

Del Potro survived three match points before clinching the championship in the tiebreaker, ending a two hour, 42 minute marathon contest on the main stadium court.

He won the first five points of the third set tiebreaker then closed it out when Federer smack a forehand long.

Im still shaking, Del Potro said. Its difficult to describe with words. Its like a dream.

After all my problems, after all my surgeries, I couldnt believe Im here winning a Masters 1000 and beating Roger. Its amazing.

Del Potro was competing in his first Indian Wells final since 2013 when he lost to Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

This is just Del Potros seventh win over Federer in 25 career meetings.

Del Potro is back in the top 10 in rankings this season after dropping to No. 1,045 before beginning his comeback from three left wrist surgeries in 2016.

Its a bit disappointing but thats how it goes, Federer told the press.

But well done to him. I lost my serve a little bit (in the tiebreak) and he was clean.

Standing at the trophy ceremony I wish I couldve played that tiebreak again, he added.

I had a great run again this week, Federer said. We love coming here. There was not much in between us, but you (del Potro) deserve it. Enjoy the moment.

See you all next year.

Source: NAN

Ethiopian debutants

Wondwosen Geremew BabsaTemesgen Duba Holeta, Abdulsamad andTeklu Tafese Kummascoring for the Ethiopian visitors.

It was the first time for an Ethiopian side to knock Zamalek from a CAF competition, as the White Knights poor recent continental record continued. Zamalek havent tasted continental glory since 15 years when they won the 2003 CAF Super Cup.

After losing the first leg 2-1 a fortnight ago in Hawassa, Zamalek seemed confident of overturning the resukt and qualifying to the next round in style. Ehab Galal side started the game on attacking note. Abdel Aziz fired Zamalek first shot after 8 minutes but Geremew Babsa parried it easily, before Mohamed Antars shot missed the target four minutes later.

Bassem Morsy should have given Zamalek the lead after 33 minutes when he rounded his marker and fired a shot that missed its target by a whisker.

Zamalek finally broke the deadlock just before halftime. Hazem Emams cross was handed by one of the visitors defenders inside the vital area, and Madbouly made no mistake from the spot to put the White Knights ahead as both sides went into the break.

Three minutes after the restart were enough for Madbouly to double his tally. The talented winger weaved through two defenders to send a curling shot into the net.

And while Zamalek thought it was going to be a goal festive, Abdulsamad Ali reduced the deficit after 52 minutes, when he headed home after Zamaleks goalkeeper Ahmed Elshennawy failed to hold a cross from Tafesse Kummas freekick.

Morsy was the one to blame again when he shot high after 56 minutes. With time passing Zamalek players looked nervous as they tried to score a vital third goal. Ghanaian Nana Poku shot directly at Babsa, before substitute Ayman Hefnys shot caused no trouble to the visitors goalkeeper.

The 90 minutes ended with aggregate score tied at 3-3, and it was to be decided by penalty shootout that smiled for the Ethiopian surprise pack. Debutants Wolaitta Dicha will wait for a relegated side from the premier club competition, while Zamalek were sent packing in one of the second tier club competitions biggest shocks.

*Published by CAF Online

Source: NAN

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State pledged four years of more remarkable achievements after he and his deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke were sworn-in for a second term on Saturday in Awka.

Obiano and Okeke accompanied by their wives were sworn-in by the Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Obiano said that the state was on another journey of remarkable achievements.

The governor assured the people that his second tenure would witness improvement in the provision of infrastructure, entrepreneurship and agriculture.

As we have commenced another journey of four years, we will install CCTV cameras to further improve security across the major cities.

We will dualize major roads in Nnewi and Onitsha and transform Awka to 21st century modern city, he said.

Obiano advised people of the state to stand together with his government to bend the tide of destiny of the state.

The governor reviewed his achievements in the past four years in the areas of healthcare, infrastructure, education and security.

He assured the people that the Airport City project he promised during his campaign would be achieved.

NAN reports that the event was attended by the Governors of Delta, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, Ebonyi, Chief Dave Umahi, Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu, Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state.

Other personalities that attended the event were the Obi of Onitsha, Prof. Nnaemeka Achebe, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, HRM Dubem Iweka, the traditional ruler of Obosi, members of the National Assembly from the zone and captains of industries and religious leaders.

The event also witnessed cultural displays from different parts of the state.

Source: NAN