An invasive insect species native to China, India and Vietnam is posing a problem in at least two states.

The spotted lanternfly is harming crops in Winchester, Virginia, WDVM reported.

The Pennsylvania-based Churchville Nature Center said the creatures were also spotted for the first time on its property Thursday.

We are sad to report that we have had our first sighting of the spotted lanternfly on our property today.

If it is new to you, this invasive plant hopper is threatening the forests of the northeast as well as the lumber and agricultural industries. Please keep an eye out for the insect.

The species poses a threat to agriculture and has the ability to greatly impact the grape, hops and logging industries.

The insect causes damage to plants because of its method of feeding, the rapid buildup of large populations and the production of honeydew, a by-product of their feeding activity that serves as a medium for fungal growth, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warned.

Spotted lanternflies can also be a nuisance pest to homeowners when found in large numbers, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement when the species was first detected in the state in February.

In February, Penn State confirmed it was teaming up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to tackle what could be the most destructive species in 150 years.

While these insects arent known to harm humans, the pests raise concerns ahead of the holiday season.

Spotted lanternflies may lay their eggs on Christmas trees which could then hatch inside homes, the Philly Voice reported.

Freshly laid eggs have a grey mud-like covering which can take on a dry cracked appearance over time, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture said, encouraging anyone who sees the masses to scrape it off.

Any sightings of spotted lanternfly eggs, which can be killed with alcohol or hand sanitizer, should be reported to state wildlife officials.

Source: NAN

By Edith Nwapi

Three officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were on Thursday docked in an FCT High Court at Maitama, accused of misappropriating 9.5 million Dollars and $1.3 million.

The defendants are Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance, Reagan Zaka, Cashier and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department.

They were dragged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.

The prosecutor, Mr Steve Odiase told the court that the three defendants conspired between Jan. 8 and Jan. 26, 2015 to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.

Odiase alleged that Andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

He said that Andekin however fraudulently diverted $1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code.

He further alleged that Zaka on his part, fraudulently diverted 7. 2 million Dollar grant from FIFA for development of football in Nigeria whileMamza diverted $2. 3 million.

The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr Arinze Egbo applied for their bail.

The Judge, Justice Peter Affen upheld the administrative bail granted to them earlier by the EFCC.

In addition, he ordered that the sureties should sign bond with the registrar of the court, and the defendants should deposit their International passports.

Affen then adjourned until Nov. 27, for commencement of trial.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO) has disowned a purported pan to disburse grants to unsuspecting Nigerians.

The organisation, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that its attention had been drawn to an on-going scheme that it purported to disburse grants to Nigerians.

Information available to us reveal that the scheme Code-named Atiku Grant Disbursement Programme (see link ) is asking unsuspecting members of the public to contribute a certain amount of money which will be multiplied for them after they have downloaded a particular social media application.

The APCO disclaims this scheme and any other in such manner.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation is not in any way involved in the scheme or any other in such manner and neither did it give a proxy authorisation.

It said the official/verified social media handles of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party are www.atiku.org (Blog); www.facebook.com/atiku.org (Facebook); www.twitter.com/atiku (Twitter); and www.instagram.com/aatiku (Instagram).

The organisation advised members of the public to discountenance communication that did not emanate from any of these social media accounts.

It also advised them to refrain from participating in any online scheme that aimed at defrauding innocent Nigerians and with the ulterior motive to embarrass the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar.

Source: NAN

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is presently presiding over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is among other state governors and deputy governors attending the meeting.

Fayemi, who was sworn in on Tuesday, became the cynosure of the meeting as he exchanged banters with other attendees while cameramen beamed on him.

Source: NAN

Arsene Wenger has indicated he will be back in football management at the start of 2019, but he did not disclose where it will be.

I believe that Ill start again on January 1, he told the German newspaper Bild . I dont know yet where Im headed. I am rested, and I am ready to work again.

There are associations, national teams; it could be also in Japan.

Thanks to my 22 years at Arsenal, I have big experience on different levels. There are enquiries from all over the world.

The Frenchman is yet to take up a new position since leaving Arsenal at the end of last season.

Wenger, 68, spent 22 years in north London and there had been suggestions he would now look to retire.

Wenger spent a year in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight before his move to Arsenal.

He has also been linked with a move to PSG, working alongside boss Thomas Tuchel in a general manager capacity.

Source: NAN

By EricJames Ochigbo

Dr Blessing Nwagba, an aspirant in just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives primary election in Abia state, has accused the party of denying her the ticket because she is a woman.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwagba said she was denied the ticket to contest and represent Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency based on gender.

She faulted the primary election alleging, that there were a lot of irregularities, especially over voting.

Nwagba said delegates were accredited and voting was done but the number of votes counted exceeded the number of accredited voters.

She said there are video clips to show that the electoral team spent hours trying to ascertain where the additional votes came from but could not.

The aspirant said her agents raised alarm, drawing the attention of all the stakeholders and the general public to the development.

While I demanded that the process be stopped, my opponent, Mr Uzo Azubuike was not worried about the discrepancies and wanted the process to continue.

The electoral team did not yield to my demand to discontinue the process even though they had seen the discrepancies, she said.

She added that in line with the electoral guidelines, she submitted an appeal along with those of the delegates before the appeal panel and until date, there has been no report.

This is happening to me because I am a woman; long before the election, there were questions on the ability of a woman to deliver Aba.

They have forgotten that this same woman fought through the courts in 2015 to regain the PDP mandate when the party lost all seats to The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

In 2011 I was made to step down for this same opponent and I obeyed the party and I went to the House of Assembly.

There is always a way of marginalising women even when they know that you can do it; it is not fair on us, imagine, in the whole Abia state, PDP does not have any female candidate.

24 State House of Assembly seats, eight House of Reps seats and three seats in the Senate, no woman is represented yet women are going to vote, this is not fair, she said.

Nwagba said that at a time when the issue of 35 per cent affirmative action and women inclusiveness in governance were most topical, it was unfair not to field a single woman.

The aspirant said women are not meant for the kitchen alone as they are equally endowed to add value to society through good governance.

Nwagba said if due process was followed, she would have won the election because she worked hard and did all that was required to emerge victorious.

It is not too late, whoever the party says is the candidate become the candidate; they should consider the plea of Aba people, they should consider the fact that women should be represented in governance and give me the ticket, Nwagba said.

She said as a foundation party-member which had delivered for the party at various levels, she remains loyal to the party and confident that the PDP will do justice to the matter before it is late.

In a related development, Mr Chukwudi Dike, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia on Sports said that since 2009, no member of Aba-Ngwa community had been given the opportunity to represent the constituency either at the House of Reps or at the Senate.

Dike who led a delegation of constituents to the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja to register their grievances on the conduct of the primaries said that they had been dominated by non-indigenes as only people from neighbouring Local Government Areas had occupied the seat.

He said the community supported two of its indigenes to contest in the just concluded PDP primary election but one died mysteriously after purchasing the form.

According to him, the community then threw its weight behind Nwagba, a serving member of the Abia State House of Assembly to clinch the ticket but the primaries was rigged.

The way the primaries was conducted, it is not acceptable to us; we the constituents do not want Mr Uzo Azubuike who lost at the polls in 2015.

We are campaigning for a fresher, an indigene, someone with capacity and experience and one the people in the Aba North and South are ready to support.

Our prayers is that this ticket should be given to Dame Blessing Nwagba, an indigene and a woman with legislative experience, he said

When contacted on phone, the PDP Assistant Publicity Secretary in Abia, Mrs Love Eze said she was not around at the time the election was conducted and could not comment on the matter she does not know.

When asked to recommend somebody to speak on the matter, the assistant publicity secretary said, Blessing Nwagba who reported the matter to you should tell you those who where there.

However, all efforts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan proved abortive.

Several visits to his office met him absent and several calls and text messages to his phone were not replied.

His Personal Assistant, simply known as Mr Richard was also contacted but no further response could be gotten from the party at the time of publishing this story.

Source: NAN

By Prudence Arobani

The United Nations specialised agency, Universal Postal Union(UPU), which coordinates the global postal system, has expressed regret over U.S. withdrawal from the world bodys membership.

Mr Pascal Clivaz, the Deputy Director General of the UNUPU, which was established in the 19th Century, recalled the tremendous and positive contribution made by the U.S to the agency.

It is, therefore, regrettable that the U.S. has taken this step. We, however, respect the decision because we believe it was taken after careful consideration and reflection, Clivaz said.

According to UPU, the official notification on Wednesday, from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that the withdrawal shall be effective one year after the day on which the UPU receives this notice.

Reports stated that the U.S. withdrew on the grounds that international mailing rates set by the UPU, in the view of the U.S., give an unfair advantage in particular to China.

The Union sets shipping rates for overseas mail, at a lower rate for developing countries, than developed nations.

Clivaz said that UPU Director General Bishar Hussein would meet with U.S. officials to further discuss the matter, and expressed hope that through discussion and a constructive dialogue, we can help to resolve this issue to everyones satisfaction.

The decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the UPU treaties is a serious one, but I believe, with the support of other members, we can resolve the matter amicably.

We will, therefore, continue to seek a constructive dialogue and to try to resolve this situation, while also upholding the UPU Constitution, Clivaz said.

He added that UPU remained committed to support international collaboration in the postal sector.

This means ensuring that, by working with all 192 member countries, the UPU treaties best serve everyone, including the U.S.

Established in 1874, UPU is the primary global forum for cooperation between postal systems.

It works with its member countries to bring postal services to everyone on the planet.

The second oldest international organisation worldwide, UPU became a UN specialised agency in 1948.

Source: NAN

The United Bank for Africa Plc has announced its unaudited 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results with impressive growth in Gross Earnings of N374.8 billion.

The performance represents a 12.3 per cent increase when compared to N333.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2017.

According to the banks report filed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) UBAs net operations improved 1.7 per cent year-on-year to N227.7 billion, when compared to N224 billion achieved in the similar period of 2017.

UBAs operating expenses increased by 2.3 per cent to N149.1 billion, compared to N145 billion recorded in the same period of last year.

The bank posted a Profit Before Tax of N79.1 billion whilst Profit After Tax stood at N61.7 billion.

Local media reports noted that the profit performance puts the banks annualized return on average equity at 16 per cent and 20 per cent at pre-tax and post-tax profit level respectively.

The report added that the bank continues to maintain a very strong balance sheet, with total assets of N4.51 trillion, an impressive 10.8 per cent year-to-date rise over the N4.07 trillion total asset recorded as at December 2017.

The report stated that the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said: We achieved a number of strategic imperatives during the quarter and committed more investments in the future of the business building a solid foundation for a sustainable and superior return to our shareholders.

Uzoka said that he was pleased that the Banks Virtual Banking Chatbot, Leo, which debuted on Facebook earlier in the year, was successfully launched on WhatsApp during the quarter.

This new channel offering, which enables our customers to fulfil their banking transactions through simple chat commands, is another premier initiative in our suite. The early pay-offs are quite compelling recent customer acquisitions and broader transaction volume growth are exciting leading indicators that reinforce our confidence in these novel channels, he said.

Source: NAN

Following reports of abuses in Gulf states, Ugandan has temporarily banned the export of menial workers to Oman.

The Gender, Labour and Social Development minister, Janet Mukwaya, said her compatriots are also barred from seeking jobs in the Middle Eastern country.

She said the decision was informed by repeated claims of gross human rights violations against Ugandans working in that country.

The Ugandan mission in Abu Dhabi recently claimed 48 Ugandan workers died in Arab countries including some in Oman after being subjected to inhuman treatment while their remains are yet to be returned.

The other countries named were Kuwait and Bahrain.

Thousands of Ugandans work in Middle Eastern countries as house helps but there have been regular claims of abuse by their employees .

A panel has been instituted to investigate the litany of alleged abuses in Oman, Mukwaya said but stopped short of specifying its timeline.

According to the government only Saudi Arabia and Jordan are authorized in the Arab world to import labour from Uganda. ()

Source: NAN

By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has called for the support of United Nations and stakeholders in establishing stringent punishment for road offenders in the country.

Amaechi made the call when a delegation of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria visited him in Abuja.

He said that if there were stiffer punishments like going to jail for offenders of the law, then road users, especially politicians, would obey the traffic laws.

According to him, the UN should start its advocacy from the State parliament, judiciary and the police for enforcement as this will limit the freedom of road users and instill discipline.

The problem of road safety in Africa, not only in Nigeria, is basically the problem of consequences for action; if every human being can discipline himself or herself, then there wont be need for parliament.

The reason there is a parliament is because they have to direct how the society should be governed; the judiciary and police are there for the consequences of disobeying that law.

So, if you are doing advocacy, dont tell people not to drink and drive, tell them the consequences of drinking and driving; if they know they will spend two months in prison, they will not drink and drive.

Go to the state, get the parliament to pass more stringent laws, especially if the consequences include going to jail, no politician will want to go to jail, when you finish with the parliament go to the police to enforce.

Nigerians are not organised, which is not associated with our population; China, whose population is higher than Nigeria is more organised in obeying traffic regulation, Amaechi said.

Speaking earlier, Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi, Country Director, United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria, said it was collaborating with the government and relevant authorities to ensure that traffic rules and regulations were obeyed.

The United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria is a multi-sectorial stakeholders forum involving all the key relevant stakeholders involved in road safety issues.

Injury prevention, which is the mandate of the United Nations, was signed by various countries including Nigeria in 2010 and it was launched in the country in 2011 ; it has been running since then.

The mandate is to spread advocacy on road safety and injury prevention; a lot of work needs to be done in putting road safety in everyones consciousness.(NAN)

Source: NAN