Ak Arts and Book Festival

By Joshua Olomu

Organisers of the annual Ak Arts and Book Festival say the 2020 edition of the literary fiesta with the theme Africa Time will be held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lola Shoneyin Director and Founder of the festival disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to the organisers, the festival is scheduled to hold from Oct. 22 to Oct. 25, showcasing programme of 65 inspiring book chats, workshops, panel discussions and performances from voices across Africa and Africans in the Diaspora.

Shoneyin said: Our world has changed forever; the magnitude of recent world events cannot be ignored.

In 1918, African nations were in the clutches of imperial forces that degraded our stories, culture, history, language and belief systems.

More than a century later, the COVID-19 pandemic finds Africa struggling with the colonial hangover of poor leadership and a predatory global order.

Now is the time for Africa to recalibrate and break the cycle of betrayal by those elected to lead.

It may have come later than hoped for but for the children of Africa everywhere, this is African Time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ak Arts and Book Festival, now in its 8edition is reputed to be the worlds largest collection of African creative voices on African soil.

The festival hosts some of the most sought-after and innovative voices in black thought.

Guests for this years edition include Wole Soyinka, Maryse Conde, Tayari Jones, Esi Edugyan, Marlon James, Petina Gappah, Kehinde Andrews, and Elias Wondimu.

Othersalso include Zukiswa Wanner, Molara Wood, Bolu Babalola, Okechukwu Nzelu.

The 2020 edition is scheduled to cover a wide range of issues including intersectional feminism, blacktivism and colourism to the burgeoning post-COVID mental health crisis and decolonisation of black spaces.

The theme: African Time is in recognition of the global anti-racism movement that has gathered momentum and visibility in recent months. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Aston Villa hit Liverpool 7-2

A sensational first half hat-trick from Ollie Watkins helped Aston Villa to a stunning 7-2 victory over Liverpool in the English Premier League (EPL) on Sunday.

It was a result which not only ended the champions 100 per cent start to the season, but also was a severe humbling.

Liverpool started badly at Villa Park as a poor pass from Adrian - deputising for Alisson in goal for the visitors gifted Watkins the opener in the fourth minute.

If there was an element of good fortune about Watkins first goal in an Aston Villa shirt, his second was all his own fine work.

He cut inside before firing into the top corner to stun the champions and make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.

Mohamed Salahs fine left foot finish seemed to get Liverpool back in the game in the 33rd minute, but John McGinns deflected strike two minutes later restored Aston Villas two-goal advantage.

Watkins completed his hat-trick inside 39 minutes.

Former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley - making his debut after joining Aston Villa on loan - made it five 10 minutes into the second half.

Salah did give Liverpool hope on the hour mark, before a late double from Grealish completed a remarkable victory for the team which just avoided relegation last season.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Abubakar Ahmed

The Police in Zamfara, says it has concluded arrangements for the training of some 3,850 Special Constables in the state.

The Special Constabulary was part of security initiative adopted by the command to fight banditry and crimes as well as protect lives and property in the state.

Mr Shemu Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer of the command, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Gusau.

Mohammed disclosed that the trainees were part First Batch of the 7,500 candidates approved as special constables to the state by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu.

He noted that successful candidates had been screened to undergo a two months training exercise at the Police Training Colleges in Kaduna and Sokoto, respectively.

The spokesman advised the candidates to check their names on the list pasted at their respective Police Divisional Offices and Local Government Council secretariats, noting that the training exercise was billed to start on Oct. 9.

According to him, successful candidates are expected to assemble at the Commands Headquarters in Gusau on Oct. 8, for transportation to their various training institutions.

Mohammed added that the second batch of the training exercise would be communicated to the next set in due course. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Housing project

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), says it will build 77,400 houses in urban and rural communities to address housing deficit in the country.

The association also warned Nigerians to be wary of estate racketeers to protect themselves against fraudulent transactions.

Dr Aliyu Oroji, the National President of the association, made the disclosure while reviewing the feat achieved under his stewardship in the past eight months, on Sunday in Sokoto.

Oroji disclosed that decent and affordable houses would be provide under its Rural-Urban Housing Initiative (RUHI) in the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

He noted that the gesture was part of efforts to drastically reduce the existing housing deficit which stood at over 22 million.

Under the initiative; 100 housing units will be constructed in each of the 774 LGAs.

We are working in collaboration with government agencies and other critical stakeholders in the housing sector to bring succour to Nigerians.

The houses will be build where feasible and it will be viable. It will alleviate the suffering of the people both in the public and private sectors, he said.

According to him, the association is in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), towards ensuring that Nigerian workers benefit more from the projects.

Oroji added that the project would soon commenced in Kaduna State in view of its friendly land system administration.

He lauded the Federal Government for earmarking N200 billion to fast track provision of about 300,000 houses in the country.

The REDAN president reiterated commitment to work in collaboration with the Federal Government to ensure successful implementation of the project.

Oroji, however, raised alarm over alleged racketeering and fraudulent activities by a group, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

Nigerians should desist from having any transaction with this fraudulent group of people.

They allegedly duped many innocent people in some states. We must put a stop to their illegal activities.

Unsuspecting members of the public allegedly paid N250,000 to enable them to register with the group, and another 100,000 for the house allocation, he alleged, adding that the association had reported the matter to the appropriate authorities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Genovese club said team captain Domenico Criscito, Davide Biraschi and Darian Males had joined the 14 teammates who had tested positive since Sept. 27.

The tests then had led to the postponement of Saturdays Serie A game against Torino.

Five Genoa staff members are also said to be positive.

Atalanta did not give the name of the individual affected, nor did it specify if it was a footballer or a staff member.

A note on its website spoke of an asymptomatic case with a low COVID-19 viral load.

The ANSA news agency reported that the Saturday press conference of coach Gian Piero Gasperini had been called off.

Atalanta are to host Cagliari on Sunday.

Napoli, who met Genoa last weekend, said on Twitter that Macedonian midfielder Elif Elmas was positive after swab tests taken Saturday.

The Neapolitans announced on Friday that their Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinski was positive.

Napoli visit champions Juventus on Sunday.

Napoli players had been left out of the latest Italian national squad pending negative test results.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Africa reached 1,497, 391 as of Saturday, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The continental disease control and prevention agency said in a statement that the death toll due to illnesses related to COVID-19 in Africa has reached 36,504 as of today.

The continental disease control and prevention agency also said that the number of people who have recovered from the infectious virus across the continent had reached 1,236,859 so far.

The centre said that the most COVID-19 affected countries in Africa are South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria, respectively.

The Southern Africa region is the most COVID-19 affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases, as well as the number of deaths, it was noted.

The Northern Africa region is the second most COVID-19-affected African region, it also noted.

South Africa currently has the most COVID-19 cases, which hit 677,833.

The country also has the highest number of deaths related to COVID-19, at 16,909 according to the Africa CDC. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

Japan has pledged to sustain its support for Nigeria especially in the health sector to ensure the development of the country.

Mr Kikuta Yutaka, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria said this on Sunday, while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), in Abuja.

Yutaka was reacting to the Aug. 25, declaration of Nigeria as a polio free nation by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He said that the eradication of polio from the country followed a collective efforts by the Federal Government and the international community.

I would like to congratulate all the relevant agencies and the people. However, I, also have to leave a cautious note that this is not yet the end of the game, Yutaka said.

He said that Japan played pivotal role by supporting Nigeria to attain the wild polio virus free status through series of assistance aimed at eradicating the virus.

Yutaka said some the assistance were channeled through the United Nations Childrens Fund(UNICEF).

The Government of Japans support to Nigeria on polio eradication began in 2000 with a grant to procure Oral Polio Vaccines and to establish a cold chain. The total amount for this project was 73.6million dollars.

The ODA loan agreement in 2014 in which the Government of Japan provided 75.5million dollars for polio eradication projects in Nigeria.

The Government of Japan also provided 33.3 million dollars to UNICEF for emergency polio eradication programmes in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

In addition, the Government of Japan, through technical cooperation assistance, provided equipment to two Nigerian national polio laboratories that are members of the WHO inspection network, he said.

According to him, apart from polio assistance, Japan also donated thermography, currently being used in airports in Nigeria, with the initial purpose of preventing the Ebola virus from entering the country.

Our government also delivered at least one Japanese ambulance to every state of Nigeria and the FCT, which are now playing crucial role in transporting patients with COVID-19, and other diseases.

I, as the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, signed the exchange of notes twice for the projects to strengthen the capacity of Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC) and its network of laboratories.

The Japanese Government also supports the improvement of the health care system through international organisations.

I am also pleased that Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, former Minister of Health, has been selected as 2020 recipient of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, one of the highest orders awarded in the name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, he said.

He said that the award was decided in recognition of Adewoles contributions towards strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Nigeria, especially in the health sector.

I would like to express my sincere congratulations to Adewole for receiving this Order, he said.

The ambassador said that Japan would continue to work with the Nigerian people to improve the health sector.

The Embassy of Japan hopes that this kind of assistance will further strengthen the amicable relationship between Japan and Nigeria, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

APC Logo

By Bolaji Buhari

Mr Seye Oladejo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, says he is optimistic that Nigeria will overcome its present challenges to become a stronger nation.

Oladejo, who is the state Publicity Secretary of the party said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos, on Sunday.

He said the enormous problems facing Nigeria would give way for a better country if all citizens play their roles in nation-building.

He said that Nigeria would not break or disintegrate ,noting that agitations in the country were indications that many things needed to be addressed for progress.

Oladejo said that the fact that Nigeria was still united at 60, was worth celebrating adding that the dreams of the founding fathers were achievable with the resolve of all.

I dont think Nigeria can break but there are germane issues we need to address .

If we are having agitations for break up ,it means that those issues are now at boiling points and needed to be addressed, really,I dont foresee a break up.

We are still together at 60 and we should be grateful full for that .The challenges are enormous but we can do better.

Have we been able to to fulfil our dreams at Independence? The answer is no .I think all of us could be held responsible for this, he said.

Oladejo added:Everyone has a part to play in making this country great at different levels to make the country great.

If we can play our part to fulfil the promises and potential of Nigeria at Independence,I believe the country can be greater than what we have today.

Speaking on the Oct.31 by election in Lagos,Oladejo said the APC would win both the Lagos East Senatorial Seat and Kosofe 11 State House of Assembly Seat.

He said people expecting a repeat of the Edo governorship election outcome at the by election would be shocked as the scenarios and the persona were not the same.

Oladejo said the APC candidates ,Mr Tokunbo Abiru and Mr Obafemi Saheed ,had acceptance at the grassroots and within the party ,adding the party would emerge victorious.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Umar Danbatta NCC Boss

By Jessica Dogo

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has urged Nigerians to be cybersecurity-conscious to guarantee online safety for internet users.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said this in a statement signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the Commissions Director, Public Affairs, on Sunday in Abuja.

Danbatta spoke at a ceremony heralding the beginning of a series of enlightenment and awareness campaign for the 2020 National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM).

Security is not reserved for a group of people, it is truly everyones business; bringing competence and knowledge to help build a safer and more inclusive information society.

The month of October every year is NCSAM globally, aimed at raising awareness about cybersecurity, and to provide the public with general knowledge and tools required for online safety, he said.

Danbatta said that internet users across mobile networks in Nigeria stood at 149.8 million as at August, 2020, noting that more users were expected online as services in different sectors of the economy were becoming digitalised.

He said that the increase in digital financial transactions for e-commence activities called for greater responsibility on the part of individuals and corporate internet users to protect themselves against cybercrimes.

According to Danbatta, as the NCC embarks on various policy initiatives to drive pervasive broadband penetration to achieve increased digital inclusiveness, it is not unmindful of those who use the internet to carry out nefarious and dubious activities in the cyber space.

To keep the genuine individual and corporate Internet users safe, the NCC, as regulator of the telecom sector, annually joins the rest of the world to create a lot of enlightenment around cybercrime in the month of October every year.

We ensure that consumers are empowered through awareness and sensitisation campaigns, by providing information on both the positive and negative potentials available online, and measures required to safeguard themselves and their loved ones,he said

Danbatta restated the commitment of NCC to continually embark on policy initiatives to enhance online security as well as educate and equip the consumers of telecoms services with information they needed to be protected online. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Ramatu Garba

The police command in Kano State has arrested a 26-year-old woman, Hauwa Habibu, over alleged stabbing of her two children to death at Diso Quarters in Gwale Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

DSP Abdullahi Haruna, spokesman for the command said this in a statement in Kano on Sunday.

He said that on Oct.3, the police received information that the suspect allegedly stabbed her two children to death with a cutlass.

Haruna said that the victims were identified as Yusuf Ibrahim,6, and Zuhra Ibrahim,3.

On receiving the information, we quickly sent our men to the scene and found the victims stabbed, he said.

Haruna said that the victims were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano and were confirmed dead by doctors on duty.

He said that the suspect also stabbed one Aisha Abdullahi, 10, who was her younger sister and was rushed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano for treatment.

He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Ahmad, has ordered the case to be transferred to the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), for discrete investigation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Adegboyega Oyetola

By Olajide Idowu

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun says that there are indices indicating better days and future for Nigeria irrespective of the nagging national challenges the country is facing now.

Oyetola said this on Sunday at the Thanksgiving Service to commemorate the 60th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria held at Dada Estate Baptist Church, Osogbo, the state capital.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, said that Nigerians have every reason to celebrate the diamond jubilee considering how the country evolved and has remained indivisible.

He said that the occasion of independence anniversary provided great opportunities for Nigerians to offer thanks and praises to God for keeping Nigeria together as one indivisible entity.

He said that Nigeria had witnessed many daunting challenges ranging from: civil war to military incursion, economic downturns, political upheavals, the present menace of militancy, kidnapping, banditry and youth restiveness.

Despite all these challenges, the country has continued to remain an entity.

We are stronger than these centrifugal forces and possess the capacity and resilience to come out of every challenge and build a united, strong and prosperous Nigeria.

There is every tendency that God has a purpose for bringing us together as a nation.

The hands of God are visible as the country weathered every storm in the last 60 years, in which the state of Osun within her 29 years of existence has been a critical participant.

The governor commended the understandings and resilience of the people in these austere and challenging times.

The will of the people to forge ahead in these trying times gives hope and conviction that we shall come out of this gloom stronger and better. he said.

The governor who highlighted some of the achievements of his administration in all critical sectors of the economy, also expressed his total commitment to quality life and general wellbeing of the citizenry.

Oyetola thanked the religious leaders in the country and in the state in particular for what he termed the unflinching supports of the church to the state and the country at large, especially, in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that as a government, the state and the nation are very confident of such spiritual interventions, as the state and the nation approach the post-pandemic era.

In his sermon, the presiding pastor of the church, Rev. Olufemi Akano, who congratulated Nigerians on the diamond jubilee celebration, described Nigeria as a wonderful country.

Akano said that Nigerians should give thanks to God for his love and mercy over the country in the last six decades.

He said, As a people, we should believe in our leaders and continue to pray for them and be hopeful for a better Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deputy governor joined by some state and church leaders cut the diamond jubilee cake while he inspected a Guard of Honour.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Food sufficiency: FG set to revitalise rice farms in Anambra

By Ahmed Kaigama

Experts in Agriculture says that engaging youth in Agriculture will promote and improve food security in the country.

They made the call at the end of a one-week training of 30 youth on soil samples and techniques,in Bauchi, on Sunday.

The training was organised by Office Chrifien des Phosphates (OCP), and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU).

Dr Donald Madukwe, Head Agronomy for OCP Africa Fertilizers Nigeria Ltd., said the participants were taking through some kind of specialisedtraining, to enable them become proficient in technical and commercial skills.

He said this would enable them function as service providers and independent business owners within the Agriculture ecosystem.

They will therefore be able to eke out a livelihood and promote and improve food security, he said.

He explained that the participants are Young leaders trained under the Empowering African Youths (EMAY) project in Nigeria.

Madukwe said the participants were also empowered with agronomy technical know-how and agricultural tools.

Such as mobile digital soil laboratories for soil testing and analysis, Cargo tricycles to reach rural farming communities as last mile retailers of inputs.

They got electronic tablets for data gathering using digital solution, and small handheld implements to enable them deliver value to smallholder farmers in rural communities, he said.

The Head of Agronomist said EMAY is a project that seeks to equip young Nigerians with capabilities to be self employed as future agriculture entrepreneurs.

He added that the Young Leaders would be supported with monthly stipends of N30,000 for some initial period of time before their businesses can take root and stabilise.

On his part, Prof. Ahmed Sarki-Fagam, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, ATBU Bauchi, said youth engagement in Agriculture development was critical in improving food security.

He said Agricultural development was critically important to improving food security and nutrition.

This will increase the quantity and diversity of food, drive economic transformation, and provide the primary source of income for many people, he said

According to him, ATBU signed an MoU with OCP Africa, to empower African youth in the business of Agriculture.

He said the 30 participants had been selected from Sokoto, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, and Bauchi States for the project.

Sarki-Fagam urged the participants to make good used of the opportunities and knowledge acquired to sustain themselves. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Road Construction

By Muhammad Lawal

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has tasked contractors handling road projects in the state to ensure quality job in line with contracts specifications.

Bagudu gave the charge in a statement signed by Abubakar Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Government House, in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

Dankingari disclosed that the governor gave the charge while inspecting ongoing township road projects in Birnin Kebbi metropolis.

He quoted the governor as expressing satisfaction with level of work on Badariya-Rafin Atiku, Junju Ward and Emir of Gwandu Palace Roads.

Other projects inspected by the governor include the rehabilitared collapsed bridge on Augie-Argungun Road.

The statement quoted the governor as warning contractors to ensure quality job and adhere strictly to specifications.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the repair of the bridge repair and congratulated the people of the area for getting back on road, and assured his administration comitment to rehabilitate roads washed away by flood.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bagudu was received by community leaders in the flood ravaged communities.

In their separate remarks, Lawali Yakubu, the Mai Arewan Gabas Yeldu and Adamu Samaila, the Lamne of Augie, lauded the state government prompt response to the plight of persons affected by the flood disaster.

They prayed God to guide the governor to move the state forward and avert future occurance of the disaster. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Truck crushes motorcyclist, passenger to death on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Picture is an Illustration of accident involving a truck)

By Abiodun Lawal

A motorcycle rider and his passenger were on Sunday crushed to death by a Mack truck around Mowe in Ogun on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the development to newsmen in Abeokuta.

Akinbiyi said that the accident occurred at 10a.m. on Sunday and it involved a Mack truck with no number plate and a motorcycle marked: PKA 147 VF.

The TRACE spokesman said that the motorcycle rider was riding against traffic before ramming into the incoming truck who was heading toward Sagamu interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to an eyewitness account, the motorcyclist was riding against traffic (route violation) from the Redeemed Camp to Mowe before it ran into the Mack truck which was on its legitimate lane heading toward the Interchange, he said.

He added that the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at Fakoya Private Morgue in Sagamu while the truck and the motorcycle had been taken to the police custody.

Akinbiyi appealed to motorists and motorcyclists to avoid driving in a direction prohibited by traffic ( One-Way) particularly on an expressway due to its attendant risk.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra

Anambra has emerged as the state with the most efficient healthcare system in Nigeria, a study revealed on Saturday said.

It was closely followed by Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Rivers States.

The study, conducted by WellNewMe, a top health technology company in Nigeria, showed that the top half of the list is dominated by states from the southern part of the country.

It also said that except where stated, most of the data was from the year 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO), as saying that a well-functioning healthcare system requires a steady financing mechanism, a properly-trained and adequately-paid workforce, well-maintained facilities and access to reliable information to base decisions on.

The study says Nasarawa is the highest-ranking state in healthcare system efficiency from the North, coming in at the 13th spot.

To rank the most efficient states for healthcare in Nigeria, the study used a modified version of the model used by New York-based Common Wealth Fund, a private foundation that aims to promote a high-performing healthcare system that achieves better access, improves quality and greater efficiency, particularly for societys most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, children and elderly adults.

We used 27 indicators that measure performance in four domains important to policymakers, providers, patients and the public.

They include Care Process, Access, Equity and Health Care Outcomes. Our data come from a variety of sources, including the National Bureau of Statistics, and The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Programme.

The indicators also include the WHO, Oxford Poverty

Coronavirus update

Nigerians could help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms, which includes; Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath, Chills, Sore throat, new loss of taste and/or smell.

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), says it will collaborate with the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) to promote insurance sensitisation and improve penetration in the country.

Mr Adeyemi Abubakar, the Head, Market Development of the commission, said this at a seminar for insurance journalists, organised by NAICOM in Uyo on Saturday.

Abubakar said the strategy of the commission for penetration would be to set up weekly insurance Community Development Service (CDS) for corps members in the states.

According to him, corps members who belong to the insurance CDS group, will go round to educate communities on the benefits of insurance.

Abubakar said that the move would promote public understanding of insurance mechanism, build confidence and help in the enforcement of compulsory insurance.

We want to collaborate with NYSC for the establishment of weekly CDS on insurance in the states. They will go round to sensitise the people and educate them on the benefits of insurance.

People need to begin to talk about insurance in schools and other places the way they talk about banking. We want to instil trust in the minds of the people to build their confidence.

On compulsory insurance, Abubakar listed some of them to include builders liability insurance, motor third party liability insurance and the group life insurance.

He noted that the commission is also partnering with the states fire service, revenue office and states Head of Service to help in the enforcement of insurance schemes.

Abubakar regretted that the insurance sector which had numerous opportunities was grossly untapped, saying that the potentials will help to improve insurance premium and contribute to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

Source: NAN News

Indias death toll from the novel coronavirus rose past 100,000 on Saturday, only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone, after the U.S. and Brazil, and its epidemic shows no sign of abating.

Total deaths rose to 100,842, the health ministry said, while the tally of infections climbed to 6.47 million after a daily increase in cases of 79,476.

India now has the highest rate of daily increase in infections in the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, faced with a collapsing economy after imposing a tough lockdown to try to stem the spread of the virus in late March, is pushing ahead with a full opening of the country.

Cinemas were allowed to re-open at half capacity this week and authorities can decide to re-open schools from the middle of this month.

Heading into winter and the holiday season, including the Hindu festival of Diwali next month, the worlds second most populous country could see a jump in cases, health experts said.

We have seen some recent slowdown of the virus curve but this may be a local peak, there may be another coming, said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Michigan.

She said data showed a little over 7 per cent of the population of 1.3 billion had been exposed to the virus, meaning India was still far from any sort of herd immunity.

The number of cases could rise to 12.2 million by the end of the year but the rate of spread would depend on how effective measures such as social distancing were, she said.

So it will continue like a slow burning coil, that is my hope, and we have to play the long game to stop it from being a wildfire.

The United States, Brazil and India together account for nearly 45 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths globally.

Death rates in India, however, have been significantly lower than in those other two countries, raising questions about the accuracy of its data.

India has, on average, less than one death from the disease for every 10,000 people while the U.S. and Brazil have seen six deaths per 10,000.

U.S. President Donald Trump, defending his administrations handling of the pandemic in this weeks presidential debate, said countries such as India were under-reporting deaths.

Shashank Tripathi, of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, acknowledged there could be problems with the data though Indias young population might help explain the lower death rate.

In India, even without a pandemic, all deaths are not properly registered, Tripathi said.

Im not very confident that the mortality rates reflect the right numbers, though the younger demographic has given us some advantage.

Representatives of the health ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research did not immediately respond to calls or emails for comment.

Health experts said there could be greater immunity in India because of the high incidence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

Nearly 1,200 people in India die of TB every day, roughly the same as deaths from COVID-19.

Kamakshi Bhate, professor emeritus of community medicine at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, said she didnt expect Indias death toll to surge dramatically even as the virus spreads into dense population clusters and across the countryside.

People were expecting that entire slums would get wiped out but it didnt happen that way. We have our own resistance, she said. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Yinusa Ishola

The Police in Ekiti has confirmed the recovery of three vehicles abandoned by an armed robbery gang that invaded a bank in Iyin-Ekiti on Friday afternoon.

The command disclosed this in a statement, signed by Mr Sunday Abutu, its Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Mobayo.

According to the statement, the three vehicles were recovered with some Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), some raps of Indian hemp, alcoholic drinks and two cell phones.

The command said the robbers, numbering ten and heavily armed, stormed the Iyin-Ekiti branch of WEMA Bank at about 3:55pm. They came in a Volkswagen Golf car, marked GED 906 AA, one Acura MDX Jeep, marked LSR 327 CD, and a Toyota Camry car with Reg. No GED 106 ER.

The statement said the gang members overpowered the policemen on guard at the bank due to their large number before gaining entrance into the banking hall.

The command noted that, though an undisclosed amount of cash was carted away during the operation, no casualty was recorded.

The statement enjoined the residents not to be panic, saying, serious effort is ongoing to ensure the arrest of the suspects.

It disclosed that a swift reinforcement from the Police to the scene forced the robbers retreat with the three vehicles. But the Police Operatives gave the armed robbers a hot chase, exchanged fire with them during which they abandoned the three vehicles and took to their heels into the forest.

The Operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command which comprises the PMF, SARS, SAFER HIGHWAY as well as the local Vigilante group, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), are currently combing the bush for the possible arrest of the suspects.

The command implores all the good people of Ekiti State to be vigilant and report to the nearest Police Station any suspicious movements or suspected persons or groups of persons they see in their Communities or call Police Control Room on phone Number 08062335577, the statement added.

Source: NAN News

Venice deployed its long-delayed flood barriers

Venice deployed its long-delayed flood barriers for the first time on Saturday as forecasters warned that storms could combine with high tides to inundate the city.

The network of 78 bright yellow barriers that guard the entrance to the delicate Venetian lagoon started to lift from the sea bed more than three hours before the high tide was scheduled to the peak.

The tide, driven by strong winds and heavy rains, was expected to touch 130 cm (4.27 ft), well below the devastating the 187 cm tide that battered Venice last November but enough to leave low-lying areas deep underwater.

Officials will be hoping the controversial, multi-billion-euro flood defence system, known as Mose, will mitigate the pending storm.

Designed in 1984, Mose was due to come into service in 2011, but the project was plagued by the sort of problems that have come to characterise many major Italian construction programmes corruption, cost overruns and prolonged delays.

It was finally tested in July and engineers deemed it was ready to use in bad weather.

Venices floods, acqua alta (high water) in Italian, are caused by a combination of factors exacerbated by climate change from rising sea levels and unusually high tides to land subsidence that has caused the ground level of the city to sink.

Once operational, the Mose system is designed to protect Venice from tides of up to three metres, well beyond current records, but some experts worry it will be overwhelmed by the sort of rising seas that recent climate-change models have predicted. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News