Mrs Trump thanked her caretakers led by White House physician, Dr Sean Conley, and the Americans who wished her well while she was ill.

Source: NAN News

Kristalina Georgieva ,Managing Director, IMFsays global economic growth is expected to fall to -4.4 per cent in 2020

By Folasade Akpan

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), says global economic growth is expected to fall to -4.4 per cent in 2020.

She made this known on Wednesday in Washington D. C. at a virtual media conference during the ongoing 2020 IMF/World Bank annual meetings.

According to Georgieva, over the next five years, the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can cost an estimated 28 trillion dollars in output losses.

The managing director said that the picture over the last few months had become less dire, yet there was continued projection of the worst global recession since the Great Depression.

At the same time, we can see stars shining above us. We see unprecedented efforts in vaccine development and treatment.

We see extraordinary and coordinated fiscal and monetary measures putting a floor under the world economy. And the world is starting to learn how to live with the virus.

While there is tremendous uncertainty around our forecast, we project a partial and uneven recovery in 2021 with growth expected at 5.2 per cent.

According to her, all countries now face a long ascent- a journey that will be difficult, uneven, uncertain and prone to setbacks.

She, however recommended three policy priorities to overcome the crisis it posed and build a brighter future.

Georgievia said that the first thing to do was to continue with essential measures to protect lives and livelihoods.

A durable economic recovery is only possible if we beat the pandemic everywhere.

Stepping up vital health measures is imperative, as is fiscal and monetary support to households and firms.

These lifelines such as credit guarantees and wage subsidies are likely to remain critical for some time to ensure economic and financial stability.

Pull the plug too early, and you risk serious, self-inflicted harm, she added.

Georgievias second recommendation was to build a more resilient and inclusive economy.

She said that the IMFs new research showed that public investment, especially in green projects and digital infrastructure could be a game changer.

According to her, this has the potential to create millions of new jobs, while boosting productivity and incomes.

She said that supporting workers as they transition to new jobs was another key element of a more resilient and inclusive future.

This is particularly important for women and young people, who have been disproportionately affected by the crisis.

Thirdly, Georgieva recommended that debt should be dealt with.

She said that global public debt was projected to reach a record high of 100 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021.

She said this was partly because countries needed to boost spending to fight the crisis and secure the recovery.

Addressing this issue over the medium-term will be critical but for many low-income countries, urgent action is required now.

Given their heavy debt burdens, they are now struggling to maintain vital policy support.

They need access to more grants, concessional credit, and debt relief.

According to her, more than ever, strong international cooperation is needed, especially on vaccine development and distribution.

She said that faster progress on medical solutions could speed up the recovery and could add almost nine trillion dollars to global income by 2025.

This, in turn, can help narrow the income gap between poorer and richer nations.

On the role of the IMF, she said that since the pandemic began, the IMF had been pressing ahead with full force and commitment with its policy advice, capacity development and financial resources.

We have reached over 280 billion dollars in lending commitments, more than a third of that approved since March.

We still have substantial resources from our one trillion dollars lending capacity to help support our members.

We have provided financing to 81 countries, extended debt service relief for our poorest members and have mobilised an additional 21 billion dollars to support lending on concessional, zero-interest, terms.

It helps us to gear up for the next phase, support for the recovery and we are considering options to further adapt our lending toolkit.

We must dare to face our most daunting challenge together; we must dare to take the right actions now, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the 2020 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group holding in Washington D. C. began on Oct. 12 and will end on Oct. 18.

Source: NAN News

Presidential Media Aide, Lauretta Onochie

By Naomi Sharang

No fewer than 14 Civil Society Organisations have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw the nomination of his aide Lauretta Onochie as a Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The group in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said that the nomination did not sit well in the recent gains of the electoral system in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onochies nomination was announced on Tuesday in a letter to the Senate by President Muhummadu Buhari.

The leaders of the civil societies, who signed the statement include Executive Director Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and Ms Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre.

Others are the Convener of Say No Campaign, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, and the Executive Director Centre for Democracy, Ms Idayat Hassan, among others.

The statement reads: Whereas it has come to our notice the nomination of Lauretta Onochie by President Muhammadu Buhari as a National Commissioner of INEC, via a letter sent to the Senate leadership for screening and confirmation on Oct. 13.

We completely reject this nomination, which does not sit well in the recent gains of the electoral system in the country.

We, therefore, call on the President to withdraw this nomination with immediate effect and in the alternative call on the Senate to act as gatekeepers by not confirming this appointment.

As civil society actors and veterans in election observation in the country, having contributed to the electoral gains in Nigeria, we condemn this nomination and affirm that this will erode the gains we have made in our electoral reforms.

We are, therefore, troubled that Lauretta Onochie, a serving aide of the President who openly supports the President and his political party, has been nominated to the position of National Commissioner, INEC.

Any INEC National commissioner should enjoy the trust and confidence of all parties concerned (Ruling and Opposition).

Ms Onochie failed this critical test with her several open confrontations with opposition elements through the media.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also called onBuhari to immediately withdraw the nomination of hisSpecial Assistant on Social Media, as a national commissioner in INEC.

According to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in a news conferenceOnochie isa card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ologbondiyan said that the nomination was against the nations constitution, democratic process and Presidents public promises of leaving a legacy of credible elections.

The party claimed that Onochie is a card-carrying member of the APC from Ward 5 Onicha Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta.

It remarked that Onochies nomination is in clear violation of paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This section forbids a person involved in partisan politics to hold office as a member of INEC, it said.

Such actions according to the party will undermine the nations constitution and desecrate the sanctity of Nigerias electoral process. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

5 positive in latest Premier League COVID-19 tests

The Premier League in England said on Monday that five people had returned positive results in its latest round of COVID-19 tests conducted on players and staff last week.

The league said the individuals who had tested positive for the virus would now self-isolate for 10 days.

The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday Oct. 5 and Sunday Oct. 11, 1,128 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, there were five new positive tests, the Premier League said in a statemenot.

A total of 34 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in six rounds of testing since the new campaign began on Sept. 12.

Source: NAN News

House of Reps at plenary

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

Nigeria has recorded one death and 225 fresh COVID-19 cases, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) confirms on its Twitter handle on Tuesday.

The public health agency added that63 treated patients recovered from the infection and were discharged accordingly.

It said thatthe new infection werereported from 11 states with Lagos having 165, FCT 17, Rivers 13, Ogun 12,Niger (8), Delta (4), Ondo (2), Anambra (1), Edo (1), Ekiti (1), and Kaduna (1).

The NCDC statedthat it had conducted about 558,313 tests since the first confirmed case was announced in the country.

Till date, 60,655 cases have been confirmed, 52,006 cases have been discharged and 1,116 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, have continuedto coordinate the national response activities across the country.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder on Tuesday released two new singles appealing for unity amid the challenges of systemic racism and the coronavirus pandemic, and said he would donate 100 per cent of the proceeds of one of them to the non-profit Feeding America.

Where Is Our Love Song and Cant Put It In the Hands of Fate, are songs Wonder, 70, said he had started writing years ago about romantic relationships but was inspired to give them a different twist by the tumultuous events of the past year.

If I can do anything to use the gift of song to help to feed people, to share my love it is my joy, the singer-songwriter told a video news conference, referring to Where Is Our Love Song.

In these times, we are hearing the most poignant wake-up calls and cries for this nation and the world to, please, heed our need for love, peace and unity, he said.

Wonder began his career as an 11-year-old and later used his 1980 song Happy Birthday to campaign for the late Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday to be made a U.S. national holiday.

The 25-time Grammy winner said on Tuesday that Cant Put It In the Hands of Fate was inspired by street protests against social injustice, the search for a coronavirus vaccine and the right to vote.

Where Is Our Love Song was written in response to all the confusion and hate, all the east versus west, left versus right in contemporary America, he said. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Left- Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, listening to Kogi Governor, .Alhaji Yahaya Bello, during the flag off of distribution of relief materials to flood victims at Govt. House Lokoja on Tuesday

By Stephen Adeleye

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has donated relief materials to victims of flood disaster in 10 local government areas of Kogi.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, disclosed this during a ceremony to mark the distribution of the items at Government House, Lokoja.

Farouq said that she was in Kogi to convey the sympathy of the Federal Government to the Government and people of the State over the flood that occurred in some areas of the State.

Kogi State, having the confluence of the two major Rivers; Niger and Benue is often exposed to the risk of flooding.

Available information indicates that this year so far, flood has affected many communities and displaced many persons, some of whom are still being rescued and evacuated from water-trapped areas.

President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned about the flood and has directed the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to activate the National Emergency Management Agency to provide necessary supports to persons affected by the floods, she said.

She said that the relief items were approved to complement the efforts of the State Government in providing succour to the affected persons in 10 local government areas of the state.

According to the minister, the areas are: Ibaji; Lokoja; Kogi; Bassa; Ajaokuta; Igalamela/Odolu; Idah; Ofu; and Omala local governments.

She said that items to be delivered before the end of this week were: 2,931 (12.5kg) bags of rice; 2,931 (12.5kg) bags of garri; 2,931 (25kg) bags of beans; 488 cartons of seasoning; and 244 cartons of tomato paste.

Others are: 293 (20 Litres) kegs of vegetable oil; 146 (20kg) bags of salt; 117 bags of sugar; 5,260 pieces each of mattresses; blankets; mosquito nets; and nylon mats,

The items also include 4,120 bags of cement; 4,120 bundles of roofing sheets; 4,120 pieces of ceiling board; 1,373 packets of zinc nails; and 458 bags of 3 inch nails, she said.

Farouq reassured Gov. Yahaya Bello that NEMA staff would work with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) throughout the period of the flood.

She also, on behalf of the Federal Government, launched the relief distribution to the flood affected persons.

In his remarks, Gov. Bello on behalf of the people of the state, thanked President Buhari for the gesture and for always listening to the yearnings of Nigerians.

He noted that the perennial flooding was a natural disaster, adding that Kogi was always the worst hit, especially being a confluence State.

He stressed the need for the state to always get double of relief materials given to other States due to the peculiarity of its geographical location.

We want to sincerely appreciate the federal government but we request for more.

We want provision from Federal Government to accommodate construction and reconstruction of the eroded roads and infrastructure in those critically affected local government areas washed away by flood.

We have always followed all the policies of the federal government in ensuring that we produce what we eat; we are empowering our people through agriculture, the governor said.

He also thanked the minister for all the humanitarian packages under the National Social Investment Programme which many Nigerians especially those from Kogi had benefited from.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NEMA is responsible for bringing the relief materials to Kogi, while the Minister inaugurated the distribution on behalf of the federal government.

NAN also reports that the minister was accompanied by the Director-General of NEMA, retired AVM Muhammadu Muhammed; Minister of State FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Meplaylist appoints Beyonces father, Knowles, Kiladejo into executive team

MePlaylist, the Nigerian-born international streaming platform has confirmed a new distribution deal with FUGA

Nestl logo

By Vivian Ihechu

The organisers of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) on Wednesday in Lagos called for entries of works produced in 2019 for this years Nestl Prize for Nutrition Reporting.

Nestl Nigeria Plc also calls on nutrition and wellness writers to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase and be recognised for their articles and stories in the Nestl Prize for Nutrition Reporting category of the DAME awards, now in its 29th year.

The Nutrition Writers Category instituted in 2018 was born out of the need to not only reward, but also recognise, and celebrate excellence among nutrition and health writers.

The award is part of Nestls commitment to empower journalists who are gatekeepers to ensure the wellbeing of individuals and families by providing adequate information to help them make healthier nutrition choices, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestl Nigeria, said in a statement.

We achieve this by collaborating with other stakeholders, including the Lagos Business School (LBS), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and DAME Trust Fund to provide training and support to produce more fact-based reporting.

We have seen an improvement in the quality of the work submitted for Nestl Prize for Nutrition Reporting over the past two years and look forward to even better entries this year, Uwadoka said.

The 2019 winner of the prize, Chioma Obinna of the Vanguard Newspapers said: It was gratifying to be winner of the prestigious 2019 DAME Nutrition Reporting Category Award.

The prizes were fabulous! Aside from the recognition and prize from DAME, I became a proud owner of a brand new laptop, an iPad and a full Nestl pack.

I am grateful to Nestl for sponsoring the category. I will also like to thank the company for choosing Nutrition particularly at this time the country is facing challenges of malnutrition.

While appealing to other corporate organisations to emulate Nestl, I encourage journalists, particularly health writers to participate in this years DAME.

She advised all to submit their entries on the DAME website, www.dameawards.com on or before the close of business on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 as announced by the organisers.

All categories open for entries include Nutrition Reporting, Agriculture Reporting and Education Reporting among others.

Speaking on the third year of the Nestl Prize for Nutrition Reporting, Mr Lanre Idowu of DAME said: The Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) was created to stimulate and reward the pursuit of excellence in media work.

DAME has the privilege of being the only awards scheme in Nigeria, which covers the media disciplines of Journalism, Broadcasting and Advertising.

We are, therefore, pleased with this collaboration with Nestl Nigeria to host the Nutrition Awards.

With all the challenges we face in the area of Nutrition, Nigeria certainly needs more well-equipped Nutrition and Health reporters to help improve the health indices.

It is commendable that Nestl does not only sponsor the awards, but also invests in continuous training of the media all through the year.

In the past two years, Nestl in collaboration with the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University have carried out several media training sessions for nutrition, health, wellness and agriculture reporters. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Uganda on Wednesday reported 124 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the east African country to 10,069.

The health ministry said in a statement that out of 2,258 samples tested over 24 hours, 122 contacts and alert cases and two Ugandan returnees from Jordan turned positive for the novel coronavirus.

According to the statement, Uganda has conducted a total of 513,414 samples since the index case was reported on March 21.

The ministry said so far, Uganda has registered a total of 6,531 recoveries and 95 deaths related to COVID-19.

Source: NAN News

EU climate goals on buildings

The European Commission wants to ramp up the rate of renovations of buildings that are inefficient in terms of energy use in the EU in the next decade to speed up the transition to climate neutrality.

EU Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson, said this while presenting the plan on Wednesday in Brussels.

In practice, this could mean renovating an extra 10 million homes, workplaces or public buildings by 2030 a total of up to 35 million Simson said.

We know that it can work because elements of what we are promoting already exist, Simson said, citing examples of programmes inmember states of Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Sweden.

The EU has committed itself to reaching net emissions neutrality by 2050, and the commission recently proposed raising the 2030 emissions-slashing target from minus 40 to minus 55 per cent.

At present, buildings gobble up 40 per cent of total EU energy consumption and account for 36 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from energy, according to the commission.

To get the bloc on track for the 2030 targets, emissions from energy used for heating or supplying power to EU buildings must fall by 60 per cent.

Officials inBrussels hope this renovation wave can help 34 million EU citizens, who struggle with energy bills, and create 160,000 new jobs.

The ambitious goal comes with a price tag of 275 billion euros of additional investment each year.

Funds are to come from the still unapproved EU long-term budget and its coronavirus economic stimulus plan, worth a combined 1.8 trillion euros (.1 trillion) between 2021 and 2027. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Akeredolu and Deputy Gov.-elect, Lucky Ayedatiwa, receive certificate of return from INEC

By Mufutau Ogunyemi/Ayodeji Alabi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, presented certificate of return to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, as the duly-elected governor in the Oct. 10 election in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akeredolu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged winner of the election after defeating Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party and Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party.

He polled 292,830 votes as against Jegedes 195,791 and Ajayis 69, 127.

Receiving the certificate, Akeredolu pledged to treat all citizens equally, regardless of their party affiliations, adding, however, that he would not run for any elective position in the state again.

He said that his administration would continue to work for the entire state, regardless of the area that voted or that did not vote for him during the election.

I want to pledge to the people of Ondo State that, with the confidence reposed in us, we will continue to do our best to serve them in a way they have never seen before.

Those who voted and those who did not, we will treat everybody equally. We will continue to work for the state, irrespective of political affiliations, he said.

Akeredolu, who said that the certificate would be his last in the state, dedicated the victory to the people of the state, his deputy and his immediate family.

I promise you that I will not run for any elective position in the state again, even the senate. So this victory is not for me alone but also, for the people of Ondo State.

And also, it is a victory in which a few things have been established for generations to come. It is clear that no other person has ever won in 15 local government areas before in the state; it is unprecedented, he said.

Earlier, Dr Rufus Akeju, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, explained that the presentation of certificates of return to winners of the election to the office of the governor and deputy governor was in line with the provisions of Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).

According to Akeju, the law says that the certificate of return shall be issued within seven days to every candidate who has won an election under the act, adding it is the spirit of this law that we are fulfilling today.

He reassured all stakeholders in the electoral process that INEC would continue to build on the high level of credibility it had achieved so far and would not do anything to undermine it.

The REC also urged stakeholders to continue to cooperate with INEC in its efforts at consolidating and deepening the countrys democratisation process by playing their roles, in line with the constitution and other regulations of the commission.

I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory by using the renewed mandate given to them by the good people of the Sunshine State to serve them diligently and truthfully.

This will go a long way in reviving the lost spirit of participation by majority of voters who had lost hope in our democracy as a result of seeming lack of governance with direct impact on their lives, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Monarch urges Akeredolu to fulfil electoral promises in Ondo state

By Alaba-Olusola Oke

Oba Frederick Akinruntan, the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, has urged Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to fulfil his electoral promises which got him re-elected for a second term.

Oba Akinrutan stated this in a congratulatory message on Tuesday in Akure.

Akeredolu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, polled 292,830 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Eyitayo Jegede of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had 195,791 votes in the Oct. 10, polls.

The monarch, who urged the reelected governor to be magnanimous in victory, said that campaign promises of the governor had encouraged voters to vote for him.

I want the governor to be magnanimous in victory and to continue to execute the great plans he has in mind for Ondo State.

And to hold firm the pre- election promises he made which had encouraged the voters to trust and vote for him, he said.

According to him, the governor is not described as talk and do for nothing but he means what he says.

Gov. Akeredolu made the people of Ondo State many promises in his first term and executed them.

We recall that he said he would construct a flyover at Ore to put an end to the carnage on that busy high way and he executed the project to a conclusion, visible to every discerning user of that road.

He has promised the people of Ondo south in the Ilaje axis a deep seaport and we are confident more than ever before that the governor will make this promise a reality, he stated.

The monarch noted that it was an act of joy that Ilaje area of the state gave the governor bulky votes of 26,657, which was the second largest in the election.

According to him, it is a confirmation of trust in the administration of Akeredolu.

Oba Akinrutan thanked the people of the state for their overwhelming votes for the governor.

He explained that the reelection excited him and people of Ugbo kingdom in particular because it established good deeds of Akeredolu-led government.

Gov. Akeredolu is ordained by God and his steps are God ordained.

His victory has put an end to the spurious claims of undemocratic forces who planned to slow down the progressive strides of Gov. Akeredolu which he has promised to improve on in his second term in office.

If not for the steadfastness of the ever conscious and progressive minded people of Ondo state.

The opposition would have pulled the wool over the peoples eyes and misled them at the polls thereby drawing back the hand of development in the state, he stated.

The monarch prayed God to make the second term of the governor hitch-free and very successful.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

We will connect Ondo to global economy Akeredolu

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says one of his administrations targets in the next four years is to connect the state to the global economy.

The governor fielded questions from State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Akeredolu was re-elected for a second term in the Ondo State Governorship Election held on Oct. 10 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was accompanied by the Deputy Governor-elect, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, Mai Mala Buni, APC Caretaker Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, among others.

Akeredolu had earlier presented his Certificate of Return to President Muhammadu Buhari and thanked him for his support.

According to the governor, his victory is principally because of God and the unity in APC at the national and levels.

Our people were so united and it is amazing that when we are all united, we achieve a lot and that is what this election has proven; that in unity, we stand together and we achieve a lot.

So, it is because of these; having all the governors come together to support a particular cause in one state; it was overwhelming and I think we owe the victory to that.

My targets are clear; I have a few outstanding works that we are yet to complete and that is one of the reasons people voted for us; they wanted continuity; so that we can complete those work; we have our teaching hospital.

We have a lot of road projects that are ongoing; so, principally, we are concerned about connecting Ondo State to global economy; so we are determined to ensure that we have port declaration; so, that Port Ondo will be the icing of whatever effort we have made in Ondo State.

He said that aside the industrialisation going on in the state, his administration was targeting establishing Port Ondo.

Akeredolu said that he would work towards making the Akure Airport an International Cargo Airport with the support of the Federal Government.

So, when we have those two, then, we are connected to global economy, Ondo State has no business with poverty.

We have mineral resources and we are determined also to ensure that our bitumen come on board so that Nigeria will be at peace.

We dont have to go and be importing bitumen again; these are our goals, he said.

On his part, Sanwo-Olu, who was the chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for the Ondo Governorship Election, said that Akeredolu was a good product as his achievements made his reelection easy.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Cristiano Ronaldo in tears

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for COVID-19, Portugals Football Federation said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Juventus striker will miss Wednesdays UEFA Nations League game against Sweden, but is well, has no symptoms and is in isolation.

The federation added that the rest of the Portugal squad had undergone tests as a result of Ronaldos positive, but that they had all tested negative and would be available for the Sweden match.

Five-times world player of the year Ronaldo appeared in his sides 0-0 draw away to France in the Nations League on Sunday and Wednesdays 0-0 draw in a friendly at home to Spain.

He will now be doubtful for Juves Serie A trip to Crotone on Saturday and their Champions League group stage opening game away to Dynamo Kiev next Tuesday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

Indias federal health minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said the vaccine against COVID-19 was expected to be available from multiple sources in the country by early 2021.

Vardhan was quoted as having said this during a meeting of the Group of Ministers in New Delhi.

Were expecting that early next year; we should have vaccine in the country from maybe more than one source.

Our expert groups are already formulating and devising strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccines in the country, who do we give the vaccine first and then, of course, we are strengthening the cold chain facilities, Vardhan said.

The ministry said in August that about 30 COVID-19 candidate vaccines were under various stages of development in the country and of them, three were in the advanced stage.

Vardhan has also said previously that the COVID-19 vaccine was likely to be available in India by the first quarter of 2021.

On Sunday, the minister said that considering the large population of India, one vaccine or vaccine manufacturer will not be able to meet the requirements of vaccinating the whole country.

Therefore, we are open to assessing the feasibility of introducing several COVID-19 vaccines in the country as per their availability for the Indian population, he said.

On Tuesday morning 55,342 new COVID-19 cases and 706 related deaths were recorded in the country during the past 24 hours, pushing the countrys COVID-19 tally to 7,175,880 including 109,856 deaths. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alcohol poisoning

At least 44 people were killed within days in Turkey due to poisoning linked to toxic liquor, with police making several arrests and confiscating tons of bootleg spirits, state broadcaster TRT said.

Since Oct. 9, at least 30 people have separately been hospitalised from methanol poisoning across Turkey, where the price of alcoholic drinks has been steadily rising following several tax hikes.

In raids across the country, police detained 22 suspects and seized nearly 20 tons of ethyl alcohol and bootleg liquor since last week, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Anadolu shared footage of police seizing bottles and tools used in the alcohol production that had been seized during the raids.

The consumption of home-made or distilled alcohol produced in unsanitary conditions have been increasing in Turkey, according to local media.

Police began clamping down on home brewers over the summer.

Turkey had the highest price of alcohol compared with the EU and European Free Trade Association countries in August, according to Eurostat data.

Tax on alcoholic beverages must be reduced to avoid more fatalities, the local chamber of chemical engineers advised the government on Monday.

The tax translates into more than 70 per cent of the price of alcohol, the chamber said, criticising the conservative government of President Recep Erdogan of trying to eventually ban alcohol. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

IGP

By Monday Ijeh

The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to fill the gaps created by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) dissolution.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said prospective members of the new team would undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.

They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.

Personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers.

Those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun, respectively, he said.

Mba said the I-G had ordered personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.

He said the order was in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act, 2020.

Mba said the psychological and medical examination were prelude to further training and reorientation before redeployment into mainstream policing duties.

According to him, the medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU).

He said the unit, would henceforth, be engaged in psychological management, reorientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.

The FPRO said the unit, domiciled with the Force Medical Department, would be coordinated by the force medical officer.

He said membership of the unit would be drawn from psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.

Mba pledged the commitment of the I-G to ensure successful and holistic implementation of the police reforms.

He enjoined the public, particularly protesting citizens, to exercise restraint and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a Police Force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of citizens. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dissolution of SARS: Activist suggests audit of complaints

By Friday Idachaba

A Human Rights Activist, Mr Idris Miliki, has called on Inspector-General of Police, Mr Adamu Mohammed, to undertake a general audit of complaints that led to the agitation for dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Miliki, who is also the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Lokoja.

He said that audit of complaints arising from alleged misdemeanor of the SARS operatives across the country would enable the Nigeria Police to appraise the situation properly.

The activist also urged the inspector-general to extend the current reorganisation to all sectors and units of the Nigerian police Force, adding, We call for a nationwide roll out of community policing with adequate citizens participation .

According to him, the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as Amended, provides for the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force, under section 214.

It provides that there shall be a Nigerian Police Force, and subject to the provisions of the constitution, no other police force shall be established for the country.

It is on this note that we commend the leadership of the Nigerian police Force for listening to the yearnings and voices of reason and wisdom of the people in the dissolution of SARS.

We urge the inspector-gerenal to take a second look at the reports of the Human Rights training that took place in 2016, which was in all the zones across the country.

We call for the General Audit of the complaints that led the dissolution of SARS, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News