Sanwo-Olu Announces Resumption of Schools September 21 by Raphael Bichene

Sanwo-Olu Announces Resumption of Schools September 21 by Raphael Bichene

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says primary and secondary schools in the state will be allowed to reopen effective September 21, 2020.

Schools in the country had been shut in March as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.

However, the Federal Government announced the resumption of graduating pupils effective August 4, 2020, to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination from August 17, 2020, through September 12, 2020

Speaking during a briefing on Saturday at the State House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu revealed that primary and secondary schools would be permitted to reopen from September 21 while tertiary institutions would reopen a week earlier.

“I am pleased to announce that our tertiary institutions will be allowed to reopen from September 14, 2020, all our tertiary institutions.

However, as regards our primary and secondary schools, we are working towards reopening them around the 21st of September 2020. This position is not cast in stone and subject to a review of our ongoing monitoring and procedures from the Ministry of Health.

Remember that we said that the virus will peak and we will flatten the curve in the month of August. From what we have seen, it appears we have flattened the curve. In the last two weeks, we have continued to see a drop in the positivity that we have encountered in the state,” the governor said.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control as of Friday night, Lagos has recorded 18,083 infections including 2,653 cases on admission, 15,228 discharged patients, and 202 fatalities

Chadwick Boseman Passes on at 43, Tributes Pour in by Raphael Bichene

Chadwick Boseman Passes on at 43, Tributes Pour in by Raphael Bichene

Chadwick Boseman has left this world far too soon. The “Black Panther” star passed away at just 43 years old after a four year battle with colon cancer.

Boseman meant so much to so many. His work was so important. It meant so much — specifically for Black people in America. He constantly took on iconic roles playing prominent Black figures, some fictional and some not.

His most prominent role was in the 2018 Marvel film “Black Panther” as T’Challa, the king of Wakanda. Finally, we got a superhero movie with a majority Black cast and an African protagonist. It was also written and directed by a Black director in Ryan Coogler. And Boseman was the one at the center of it all.

It didn’t stop there, though. He also played Jackie Robinson in “42,” Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall” and James Brown in “Get on Up.” All historic and prominent Black icons. All roles Boseman took on — some while battling cancer. That’s just incredible strength from a man who undoubtedly became an icon in his own right.

His passing was announced via his Twitter account on Friday night.

Some remembered the inspirational messages he left for us.

And some remembered the iconic roles he played.

Switzerland Joins List of UK Quarantine Countries by Raphael Bichene

Switzerland Joins List of UK Quarantine Countries by Raphael Bichene

Travellers in Switzerland, Jamaica and Czech Republic who return to the UK from 04:00 BST on Saturday will have to self-isolate for two weeks.

The UK government said the move was needed to keep UK infection rates down.

People arriving in Scotland from Switzerland are already required to self-isolate .

Cuba, where there has been a drop in cases, will be added to the list of destinations people can return from without entering quarantine.

The UK considers imposing quarantine conditions when a country’s rate of infection exceeds 20 cases per 100,000 people over seven days.

The government said there has been a “consistent increase” in the weekly case rate in Switzerland over the past four weeks, with cases per 100,000 rising from 18.5 to 22 over the past week.

It added that Jamaica’s seven-day rate rose from 4.3 on August 20 to 20.8 on Thursday – a 382% increase.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has seen a “consistent increase” over the past three weeks, with a 25% spike from 1,723 between August 14 and 20 to 2,153 over the following seven days.

More than 1.6 million Britons travelled to Switzerland last year, the Swiss Tourism Federation said, drawn by the Alps and the mountain air..

The Czech Republic sees more than 300,000 British tourists every year, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The capital Prague is a popular destination for city breaks and stag dos.

Katarina Hobbs, director of CzechTourism UK and Ireland, insists the country “remains a safe country to travel to”, adding she hoped the British government would reconsider its decision “very soon”.

The Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland.

UK tourists in those countries are being told to follow local rules and check the FCO travel advice.

In a tweet , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned British holidaymakers to “only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine on return”.

People wishing to avoid the need to self-isolate now face a race to get back to the UK before the quarantine deadline.

Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, told the BBC fares “went through the roof” within minutes of No 10’s announcement, with airlines including British Airways adding extra flights to Heathrow from Prague, Geneva and Zurich priced at about “£300 one way”.

He also wrote in the Independent , that a “significant number” of UK tourists with family connections to Jamaica are understood to be on the Caribbean island but warned it might be too late for them to return by Saturday’s deadline if they missed Thursday’s overnight flights – which go through America.

He advised travellers leaving Switzerland to avoid flying via Basel airport as its terminal and runway sit inside French territory, and, according to the DfT, would trigger the need to quarantine.

In July, thousands of guests sat at a 500 metre-long (1,640ft) table on the Charles Bridge in Prague at a party held to give the coronavirus a “symbolic farewell”.

The event’s organiser said the celebration in the Czech capital was possible due to a lack of tourists in the city.

In Switzerland, a state of emergency was declared in March, with the government ordering the closure of schools, restaurants, bars and all the ski slopes.

But by June, as cases of Covid-19 started to fall across Europe and more travel was permitted, it reopened its mountain railways and cable cBBC.

Source: BBC

Trump Signs Surprise Pardon For Convicted Bank Robber Jon Under by Raphael Bichene

U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned a convicted bank robber, Jon Ponder, who is now running a post-prison assistance programme.

A pre-recorded video of Trump signing an executive order for the pardon, with Ponder standing beside him, aired on Tuesday night.

Coming amid the Republican National Convention, the president’s move is seen by some as an attempt to draw attention to criminal justice.

Criminal justice reform and the need to give repentant criminals a second chance are ideas promoted by Trump and his party.

According to reports, Ponder pleaded guilty to bank robbery in 2005, and was released from prison in 2009.

In 2010, he founded “Hope for Prisoners”, a non-governmental organisation assisting released prisoners to reintegrate into the society.

The president reportedly met him when he was invited to a National Day of Prayer event at the White House in 2018.

Trump praised Ponder’s commitment to Christianity and his friendship with Richard Beasley, a retired FBI agent who arrested him, and who accompanied him to the event.

Speaking before the signing order, Trump said he believed that every one was created by God for a purpose.

“I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream, and a great American dream it is.

My hope for America is that formerly incarcerated people will be afforded the opportunity to take advantage of the fact that we live in a nation of second chances,” he said.

Francophone Organization Suspends Mali Over Coup by Raphael Bichene

Francophone Organization Suspends Mali Over Coup by Raphael Bichene

The international community increased pressure on the military junta that has seized power in Mali, as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie suspended the nation from its membership Tuesday.

Its leadership agreed the move at an extraordinary session held via video conference, while adding that it would maintain any cooperation that would help the civilian population and a transition to democracy.

The decision came a day after envoys from the West African bloc ECOWAS and the new military rulers said they had failed to agree on a timetable to return Mali to democratic rule.

The OIF also called for the liberation of the ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who stepped down from power last week after the military revolt, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed.

And they called for the establishment, as soon as possible, of “a transition government led by an civilian authority”. The OIF said it would be sending a high-delegation to Mali in the coming days

The international community has already condemned the August 18 coup and ECOWAS has suspended Mali from its ranks.

ECOWAS has so far taken the lead in the international community in trying to negotiate a timetable for a return to civilian rule with the country’s new military leaders.

But both sides said Monday they had failed to reach agreement — and also that Keita no longer wanted to be restored to be power, which had been one of the initial demands made by ECOWAS.

Keita was elected in 2013 after running a campaign in which he pitched himself as a unifying force in a fractured country.

He was re-elected for a second term in 2018 but failed to make headway against the jihadists, and the ethnic unrest they ignited in the centre of the country further damaged an already sickly economy

An outcry over the results of long-delayed legislative elections in April cemented his unpopular reputation, and in June a protest movement was born aimed at forcing him to resign.

Source:AFP

Patient Dies as Striking Workers Switch Off Ventilator by Francisca Ogar

Patient Dies as Striking Workers Switch Off Ventilator by Francisca Ogar

A patient at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State has died following an industrial action embarked upon by health workers amidst the coronavirus disease.Channels Television learned from a family source that the patient, Olusola Olagunju, had been on life support before the incident occurred.The victim was said to have died after the aggrieved workers switched off the oxygen.A friend of the deceased, Ezekiel Adewole, said the unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday.Adewole explained that the patient died before being evacuated to another hospital for medical attention.He was referred to UITH, Ilorin for treatment. He has been undergoing this treatment for a while. He had difficulty in breathing, that is the only issue he had.“He was okay, very active online. He was always on online – WhatsApp, Twitter and all others. The only thing is that he could not talk frequently on phone.He was using the support of oxygen. On Tuesday, we heard that the UITH went on strike. On that fateful day, they switched off their light.“This guy was living on oxygen, electric oxygen. Immediately they switched off their light, he could not use the oxygen any longer and that was how his system collapsed.In the process of taking him to another hospital, he gave up. His family also sought the assistance of an ambulance, but they were denied because the drivers were also on strike,” he said.But reacting, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the medical facility registered its displeasure over the situation that cost the patient’s life.NARD Chairman, Lanre Oloshunde, however insisted that as medical practitioners, patients owe them the respect as they perform their duties.“We have suspended the strike. The strike was informed from a security situation that happened at the hospital in which one of our doctors was assaulted on duty.Since then, the management of the hospital has been able to respond with some security measures. At least to some extent, that has guaranteed the safety of our members being able to work.“We heard that our security was not guaranteed then, that is why we had to go on strike. Thankfully, there has been some security improvements so far in this regard,” he said.While praying that the situation does not repeat itself again, Oloshunde advised members of the public against attacking health workers.Source: Channels TV

Man Utd Captain Maguire Released in Greece by Raphael Bichene

Man Utd Captain Maguire Released in Greece by Raphael Bichene

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was released from Greek police custody Saturday, TV footage showed, ahead of a hearing on assault charges on the island of Mykonos.

Wearing a baseball cap and mask, Maguire was shown leaving a courthouse on neighbouring Syros island, accompanied by what appeared to be members of his legal team, and boarding a dark minivan.

The England centre-back’s hearing has been set for Tuesday but he is not obliged to be present.

Manchester United said in a statement: “Following the appearance in court today we note the adjournment of the case to allow the legal team to consider the case file.

“Harry has pleaded not guilty to the charges. It would be inappropriate for the player or club to comment further while the legal process takes its course,” the club said.

His lawyer Constantinos Darivas had earlier told Greek sports website gazzetta.gr that the England centre-back had denied the charges, and was in “fine condition” despite spending two nights in detention since his Thursday night arrest.

Greek TV channel Mega said Maguire’s father had flown to Greece to be at his son’s side.

The case is being heard on the island of Syros, the administrative hub of the Cycladic island group that includes Mykonos.

The £80 million (88 million euros) defender was arrested late Thursday after what Greek police described as an “altercation” between two groups of British tourists on Mykonos.

Mega said Maguire had become enraged after someone in the other group struck his sister.

A Greek police statement on Friday said that three men aged 27, 28 and 29 had been arrested in Mykonos.

The police said an officer was punched on the scene, and that a second fight had broken out at the local police station where the three men “strenuously resisted (arrest), pushing and striking three officers.”

One of the suspects then tried to bribe the officers to hush up the incident, the police said.

The suspects are accused of assault, resisting arrest, verbally insulting and threatening the arresting officers, and attempted bribery, the police said.

Four Mykonos officers sustained slight injuries in the fracas, the authorities said.

Mykonos is popular with sports stars and celebrities for its all-night nightlife and beaches.

United’s 2019/20 season ended Sunday in a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.

But the club will be back in pre-season training in two weeks and could begin the new Premier League campaign in less than a month.

On Monday, Maguire had tweeted after the elimination: “Time to go away, reflect, recover and be ready to come back stronger next season.”

Source: AFP

Aisha Buhari Advocates for Reduction in Medical Tourism by Raphael Bichene

Aisha Buhari Advocates for Reduction in Medical Tourism by Raphael Bichene

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has returned from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she went to treat a severe neck pain.

The President’s wife said this in an Instagram post shortly after her return on Saturday.

Mrs. Buhari, who returned on a Presidential jet, said they witnessed a turbulence but the pilots were able to weather the storm.

She wrote, “I want to use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for their prayers and well wishes while I was away for medical treatment. I am well now and fully recovered and had since returned back home, Nigeria.

On our way back, the Nigerian Air Force flight encountered a violent clear air turbulence which was navigated safely and professionally by the captain and crew of the flight.

I want to commend and appreciate the courage and professionalism of the captain and his crew, the wonderful gallant service men and women of the entire Nigerian Air Force for their dedication to duty and the quality of maintenance of its fleet.”

The President’s wife, while drumming support for Nigeria’s health care sector, called on private health personnel to take advantage of the N100bn fund being disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria

She said this would help in reviving the health sector and reducing medical tourism.

Mrs. Buhari added, “I recall hosting the private health care providers earlier in the year and we had a very productive engagement where the issue of building the capacity of Nigeria health sector was the major focus, and funding was discovered to be the major challenge.

“I, therefore, call on the healthcare providers to take the advantage of the Federal Government’s initiative through the Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines for the operation of N100bn credit support for the health care sector as was released recently contained in a circular dated March 25, 2020, to the commercial banks

This will no doubt help in building and expanding the capacity of the Nigerian health sector and ultimately reduce medical trips and tourism outside the country. Once again, I thank our frontline workers and all Nigerians for their steadfastness as we navigate the challenges facing the entire world.”

The President’s wife had travelled out of the country in the first week of August following a severe neck pain.

Biden Accepts Democratic Party Nomination by Raphael Bichene

Biden Accepts Democratic Party Nomination by Raphael Bichene

Joe Biden has formally accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, describing in a televised speech to a virtual convention his vision for a new United States that is facing multiple crises at once.

“It is an America we can rebuild together,” Biden said, pledging to make control of the coronavirus outbreak his first act if elected president.

We will never get our economy back on track. We will never get our kids safely back in schools. Never have our lives back until we deal with this virus,” Biden said.

In a week in which the US death toll from COVID-19 passed 170,000, the former vice president promised to deliver the “honest, unvarnished truth” to Americans and spoke directly to people who have lost loved ones to the virus. “I know what it is to feel that dark hole open in the middle of your chest,” he said.

Biden delivered his speech without the cheers of nearly 4,000 delegates who would have packed the conventional hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In that unusual setting, he achieved a conversational intimacy with viewers by speaking directly into the camera without interruptions.

“Joe Biden gave the speech of his lifetime, and he accomplished what he needed to, presenting an optimistic, forward-thinking voice for voters,” said Nichola Gutgold, a professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State University.

He came across as ‘the president next-door’ offering a glimpse of his life as a young boy growing up in a small town, combining a folksy decency with policy points,” Gutgold told Al Jazeera.

“It was unlike any other convention speech in American history.”

Democrats used the four-day convention programme to frame the November election as a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency and laid out a series of centre-left policies on key issues confronting the nation.

“The magic of Joe Biden is that everything he chooses to do becomes the new reasonable,” like selecting Kamala Harris as the first woman of colour to be vice president, said Andrew Yang, one the contenders in the party’s presidential primary elections.

Speaker after speaker defined the election as a choice between liberal American values of inclusion and diversity embodied by Biden and division and alienation, which they said Trump fosters.

“We continue to be prisoners of the darkest of American forces,” said Jon Meacham, a leading US historian.

“That’s the issue of this election, a choice that goes straight to the nature of the soul of America,” Meacham said. Biden will be a president “with empathy, grace, a big heart and an open mind,” he added.

Party stars line up for Biden

Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs in a grenade attack, called Trump “a coward in chief who won’t stand up to Vladimir Putin, read his daily intelligence briefings, or even publicly admonish our adversaries for putting bounties on our troops.”

Billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg said Trump’s record on jobs and the economy is one of inaction and failure. “Why the hell would we rehire Donald Trump for another four years,” said Bloomberg, who has pledged financial support to Democrats.

Former presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is gay and married, talked about the social progress he has seen in the US since serving in the Army in Afghanistan.

“Just over ten years ago, I joined a military where firing me because of who I am wasn’t just possible – it was policy,” Buttigieg said.

“Now in 2020, it is unlawful in America to fire anyone because of who they are or who they love. The very ring on my finger reflects how this country can change.”

But that tolerance and acceptance is threatened by Trump’s divisive politics, anti-immigrant policies, opposition to the Black Lives Matter protests and side-lining of public health experts in the pandemic response, Buttigieg said.

“Every American must now decide. Can America be a place where faith is about healing and not exclusion? Can we become a country that lives up to the truth that Black lives matter,” he asked.

Keish Lance Bottoms, the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, took a tough stand against rioters during the wave of protests over George Floyd’s death in police custody and pushed back against a Republican governor’s reopening orders amid the pandemic.

Bottoms introduced a video featuring the life of the late Representative John Lewis, who was arrested 40 times for peaceful protest during the US civil rights movement of the 1960s.

“People often think they can’t make a difference like our Civil Rights icons, but every person in the movement mattered – those who made the sandwiches, swept the church floors, stuffed the envelopes. They, too, changed America,” Bottom

A jet ran into a fence at the General Aviation Terminal of the Lagos Airport on Friday when its brakes failed.

The King Air 200 jet with registration number 5N-HIS is being operated by Mobil Oil Nigeria-Wings Aviation.