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Nobody will be excluded from APC in Kwara – AbdulRazaq

Zainab Sa'id
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The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has given assurances that nobody will be excluded in the All Progressives Congress membership registration/revalidation exercise in the state.

Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated this on Friday, saying his philosophy is that the ruling party will be better and stronger when everyone is accommodated.

Speaking when the appeals panel on the APC registration exercise visited him in Government House in Ilorin, the state capital, AbdulRazaq urged old members who are yet to revalidate their membership or members of the public wanting to join the party to do so, adding that the process will continue even after the congress.

Addressing the appeals panel led by Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu, the Governor said, “We are glad to have this party committee in Kwara this morning. This process is part of the process of building a stronger party. And I am glad to say that registration has been done and has been done well. It is an ongoing exercise.

“Nobody will be left behind in this registration. I am also glad to say that the total number of registered party members as of today has exceeded the number of voters in the last elections for presidential and gubernatorial. We thank our members for embracing this party.”

AbdulRazaq commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman for the initiative, adding that the registration/revalidation process would increase the numerical strength of the party and reposition it for victories in future polls.

Also Read: APC Diaspora: Party Chairmen seek speedy revalidation of members

Hon. Aliyu had earlier said the visit to the state was to appease those who felt cut off from the registration/revalidation in the state and to ensure that everyone is carried along.

“We are here mandated by the national headquarters as appeal committee on the registration and revalidation exercise of our great party. The national chairman insisted that Kwara state, being what it is to our dear party, should be the first port of call for us to come and interact with aggrieved persons who feel they were not allowed to register or they do not get registered.

“We met with them and the discussion was very fruitful. We appealed to them that they should come and register and assured them that this committee is set up to settle family affairs because we are all members of the APC. We also interacted with the caretaker committee chairman who assured us that anybody willing to register will be allowed to register,” Aliyu said.

He commended the Governor for the reception given to the appeals committee.

Joining the Governor to receive the appeals committee were the Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Kwara APC caretaker chairman Hon. Abdullahi Samari and former APC spokesman Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.

 

Zainab Sa’id

Pfizer-BioNTech seeks full FDA approval for COVID-19 vaccine

Kamila Bello
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Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SA seek full approval for their COVID-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.

Pfizer’s CEO, Albert Bourla said in a statement  that the vaccine was the first to be authorized in the United States for emergency use in December based on two months of safety data for a 44,000-person.

“We are proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made since December in delivering vaccines to millions of Americans, in collaboration with the U.S. government.

“We look forward to working with the FDA to complete this rolling submission and support their review, with the goal of securing full regulatory approval of the vaccine in the coming months,” he said.

Also, it would allow the companies to market the vaccine directly to people above 16 years of age as well as help corporations and government agencies mandate vaccinations.

The FDA makes a product available to the public during an emergency based on the best available evidence, without waiting for all the evidence needed for a full approval or clearance.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 170 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine have been delivered across the United States, with roughly 134 million shots administered as of Thursday.

The companies asked the United States to allow the emergency use of their vaccine in adolescents aged 12 to 15, with the FDA expected to give the nod by next week.

Pfizer and BioNTech aims to submit a supplemental application for full approval of the vaccine in adolescents once the required six-month data after the second vaccine dose are available.

 

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Pfizer in talk with India over expedited approval for vaccine

 

 

Kamila/Reuters

France envoy warns Lebanese leaders against ‘collective suicide’

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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France’s top diplomat has threatened Lebanon with more sanctions to prevent what he described as a “collective suicide” organised by members of the country’s ruling political class.

Lebanon’s leaders had promised reform in the aftermath of a deadly explosion at Beirut port last year but, nine months on, they have yet to form a government.

French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, whose country has spearheaded international efforts to assist Lebanon’s moribund economy, said on Friday that there was no sign of a breakthrough.

“It is indeed urgent to find a way out of the political deadlock,” he told reporters just before wrapping up a two-day visit to Beirut.

“To this day, my observation is that the political players have not lived up to their responsibilities and have still not seriously started working on the country’s recovery.”

Le Drian held talks on Thursday with President Michel Aoun, parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.

“If they do not act now in a responsible surge of effort, they will face the consequences of this failure,” he said.

France announced late last month that it had started imposing entry restrictions on certain figures for their role in Lebanon’s political crisis and corruption.

Le Drian refused to provide names but warned that the sanctions could be made tougher and extended to other politicians.

“It is up to the Lebanese officials to decide whether they want to break out of the deadlock they have organised,” he said.

Le Drian’s official meetings on Thursday were not followed by joint press conferences. His appointment with Hariri was short and kept under wraps until the last minute.

The French minister also held a meeting with representatives of opposition parties which was welcomed by their leaders as a sign that the international community was increasingly open to political alternatives.

Unprecedented cross-sectarian and nationwide protests erupted in Lebanon in October 2019 to demand the wholesale removal of the hereditary political barons who have ruled the country for decades.

The small political groups that carried some of the protest movement’s demands have strived to close ranks in recent months and are launching a push ahead of a parliamentary election due in the spring of 2022.

Reform-minded groups fear that the political establishment will try to postpone the polls, which they hope will see the opposition secure an unprecedented share of seats in parliament.

Al Jazeera

Pakistan PM in Saudi Arabia to discuss ties

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan begins a two-day visit on Friday to Saudi Arabia, a traditionally close ally but with whom relations have been strained for months.

Khan, invited by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common interest, Saudi state media SPA said.

Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan a $3 billion loan and a $3.2 billion oil credit facility in late 2018.

After Islamabad sought Riyadh’s support over alleged human rights violations by India in the disputed territory of Kashmir, Saudi Arabia pushed Pakistan to repay the loan.

Pakistan then turned to China for financial assistance.

Prior to Khan’s arrival, Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Saudi and spoke to Mohammed bin Salman early on Friday, Pakistan’s military said in a statement.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including recent developments in Afghan Peace Process, bilateral defence, security, collaboration for regional peace and connectivity were discussed,” the statement said.

Reuters

Sallah: Niger State bans Horse-Riding

Peace Piak Kanu
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The Niger State Government in North Central Nigeria has banned the traditional horse riding during festivals and ceremonies across all the eight Emirates of the State.

A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane Lawal Tanko his press officer, disclosed that the decision to ban the traditional horse riding followed information received that some elements were planning to wreak havoc during the Sallah festivities.

Ahmed Matane, who called on the general public to comply fully with the directives throughout the Ed-elftr Sallah Festivals, urged horse owners and parents to warn their wards against non-compliance with the order.

He added that anyone found involved in such an act shall be arrested and such a horse will be confiscated.

The Secretary to the Niger State government further warned that Government will not hesitate to take prompt legal action against anyone who flouts the directive.

“The present administration cannot fold its arms and watch some irresponsible elements perpetrate their nefarious activities.

“Government would not succumb to any security threat in whatever forms and would deal decisively in responding to such threats.”

Ahmed Matane also warned online jobbers using social media for mischief-making and to peddle falsehood as well as inflict fear have survived long enough and shall no longer be tolerated by the State Government.

He however assured the people of the State that all forms of criminality will soon be nipped in the bud while calling on the citizens to pray fervently so that the State can get out of the present security situation.

Horse riding is part of the numerous traditional celebrations during ed- elftr festivals across some states in Northern Nigeria.

The Ed-elftr celebration is scheduled to take place either on the 12 or 13 of May 2021, after 29 or 30 days of fasting.

PIAK

Palestinian gunmen killed after firing on Israeli base in West Bank

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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Two  Palestinian gunmen have been killed and one critically wounded at an Israeli border police base in the occupied West Bank on Friday,.

Border Police said the three Palestinians fired at the base’s gate which drew the Israeli fire that killed two of the Palestinians and wounded the third.

There were no reports of Israeli injuries in the incident at the Salem base, near the West Bank-Israel border by the northern Palestinian city of Jenin.

Border police said in a statement that the three Palestinians “fired at the base’s gate, (and) border police officers and an (Israeli military) soldier responded by firing and neutralising” them.

Three guns, three knives and bullets were seized at the scene, the statement said. The injured Palestinian was evacuated to a hospital in Afula, in northern Israel, the statement added.

There has been a recent increase in violence and tension in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and that Palestinians seek for a state.

On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian teenager during clashes near the Palestinian city of Nablus and an Israeli teen who had been shot earlier in the week by an alleged Palestinian gunman died of his injuries.

In East Jerusalem, there is mounting tension ahead of Jerusalem Day on Monday, Israel’s annual commemoration of its capture of East Jerusalem, which falls this year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Israeli-Palestinian clashes have broken out nightly ahead of a Monday court hearing that could see Palestinian families evicted from Sheikh Jarrah, an East Jerusalem neighbourhood where Jewish settlers backed by an Israeli court have taken over some homes.

Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police also broke out in April near the Old City’s famous Damascus Gate over a dispute over Ramadan access to the gate’s ampitheatre-style square.

Reuters

Japan extends COVID emergency in Tokyo as olympics near

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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Japan extended on Friday a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May to stem a surge in coronavirus cases, but Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated that it is still possible to host Tokyo Olympics this summer.

The government had hoped a “short and powerful” state of emergency would contain a fourth wave of infection, but new cases in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are still at high levels, Suga said.

Extending the state of emergency to May 31 from May 11 will leave a margin of less than two months before the July 23 start of the Games, which were postponed last year because of the pandemic.

Responding to a question at a news conference about continued public unease about the Games, Suga reiterated his stance that Japan can host “a safe and secure Olympics” while following appropriate COVID-19 containment measures.

As of Friday, more than 230,000 people had signed a Japanese online petition calling for the Olympics to be cancelled.

“We are putting all our efforts into stemming the spread of infections,” Suga said, after acknowledging that he was “aware” of concerns about the Games.

Suga said Olympics organisers were considering a series of measures that would protect the health and lives of the Japanese public.

Japan has not suffered as badly from pandemic as other countries but its vaccination campaign has been slow. So far only around 2% of the population of about 126 million has received at least one vaccine dose, according to Reuters data.

Suga promised to fast-track the government’s inoculation efforts and said it aimed to administer 1 million shots a day. He did not give a timetable for this, but said he hoped to have all elderly people wanting to get shots inoculated by the end of July.

Overall, Japan has recorded 618,197 coronavirus cases and 10,585 deaths, government figures show.

Osaka region reported 1,005 new cases on Friday while Tokyo had 907. At one nursing home in Osaka, 61 residents were infected with the coronavirus and 14 died while waiting to be hospitalised, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Under the extended state of emergency, bars, restaurants, karaoke parlours and other places serving alcohol will remain closed, although large commercial facilities can re-open under shorter hours. Hard-hit Tokyo and Osaka will continue to keep these larger facilities closed.

Tokyo 2020 President, Seiko Hashimoto repeated on Friday that a decision on domestic spectators at the Games will be made by June. Foreign spectators have been banned.

Upcoming test events for the Olympics, including an athletics event at the weekend, will not be affected by the extension of the state of emergency.

Reuters

Agriculture: President Buhari pledges to provide more irrigation facilities

Peace Piak Kanu
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President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that the Nigerian Government will focus on the greater development of irrigation facilities in the country and encourage more people into agriculture.

He spoke on Friday at State House, Abuja, during the 6th regular meeting with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), led by Professor Doyin Salami.

President Buhari said agriculture was a good way for the country to overcome economic challenges confronting it, stressing: “We need to go back to the land. Technology is doing away with petroleum, but we are lucky we have other resources; Gas, vast arable land, which we are not using enough.” 

The President was responding to disclosure by Prof Salami, in his presentation, that only 2% of land under cultivation is irrigated, recommending that apart from government efforts, incentives are needed for private people to enter the sector.

On the security challenges, which PEAC said was having great repercussions on the economy; President Buhari charged leadership at every level to go back to the basics, noting that a bottom-up approach was necessary, from ward to local councils, states, and the federal levels.

He decried the situation in which some unscrupulous people tried to undermine every policy of the government, irrespective of the good it meant to achieve for the country.

 “Some people are mercilessly against this country. “We closed the borders to control the smuggling of petroleum products, and check the influx of smuggled goods, arms and ammunition. That was when the Comptroller General of Customs called me, saying 40 tankers laden with petrol had been impounded. I told him to sell the fuel, sell the trucks, and put the money in the treasury. 

“They still brought arms and ammunition into the country, brought in rice in vehicles and motorcycles. I said shoot anyone found illegally with AK-47, yet they haven’t stopped. People must show consideration for their own country,” the President said.

Economy

PEAC submitted that the global economy has continued to improve as COVID infections dropped and the roll-out of vaccination intensified, adding that the Nigerian economy, though out of recession, remains fragile with inflation rising, unemployment high, and external account weak.

The economic advisory body said, “Must urgently address the challenges of rising prices.”

Among other issues recommended by PEAC were; decisive end to all forms of insecurity in the country, mobilization of resources for investment, hastened implementation of agricultural reform policies, the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as a basis for revitalizing the industry, poverty reduction, employment generation, and incentives for private investment in irrigation, to promote all-year-round farming.

PIAK

Maldives Police say bomb blast targeting ex-President Nasheed ‘act of terror’

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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0

Police in the Maldives have said an explosion that left Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s former president and current speaker of parliament, in critical condition was a “deliberate act of terror”.

The 53-year-old leader of the ruling party was rushed to hospital in the capital, Male, after a device attached to a motorbike exploded at approximately 8:30pm local time on Thursday. He remains in intensive care after undergoing “a successful final, critical, life-saving procedure”, ADK Hospital said on Friday.

Nasheed required multiple surgeries over a 16-hour period to remove shrapnel and treat life-threatening injuries to the head, chest, abdomen and chest, the hospital tweeted as the police briefed reporters on Friday afternoon.

Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed said there have been no arrests, but authorities are trying to identify “four persons of interest” who were “noticed due to suspicious behaviour at the crime scene”.

Preliminary findings suggested the bomb was not made with “military-grade explosives”, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz, adding that no links have been established with foreign “terrorist” organisations.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the bombing which took place as Nasheed was about to enter his car on the main thoroughfare that bisects the densely packed city.

Three of Nasheed’s military bodyguards along with two bystanders – a 41-year-old Maldivian man and 70-year-old British man – also sustained minor wounds, said Hameed, who appealed for information from the public and assured the anonymity of callers to a designated hotline.

Local media photographed multiple wounds on one of the bodyguards after shrapnel was removed from his hands and feet.

In a televised address, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih described the incident as “an attack on the Maldives’ democracy and economy” and assured a “swift and thorough investigation”.

Two experts from the Australian federal police are due to arrive on Saturday morning to help with the investigation while two British experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime currently based in the Maldives are also working with the investigation team, Hameed said.

An inquiry into the failure of police intelligence to learn of the imminent attack is needed, he conceded, as reporters asked about calls for his resignation.

Al Jazeera

“We will prosecute anybody involved in terrorist financing” – Justice Minister

Peace Piak Kanu
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Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says an investigation has revealed that some high profiled citizens would soon be prosecuted, for their involvement in financing terrorism.

Malami announced this in Abuja on Friday, while speaking to State House Correspondents after attending the Friday congregational prayers at the Presidential Villa Mosque.

He said: “Sometimes back, there were convictions of some Nigerians allegedly involved in terrorism financing in the United Arabs Emirate and that gave rise to a wider and far-reaching investigation in Nigeria.

“I am happy to report that arriving from the wider investigations that have been conducted here, a number of people, both institutional and otherwise have been found to be culpable and reasonable grounds for the suspicion of terrorism financing have been established or proven to be in existence in respect of the transactions of certain high profile individuals and businessmen across the country.”

The Justice Minister said such persons were already being profiled for prosecution, in line with the laws of the land.

When pressed further, to reveal the number and names of persons involved in the crime, Malami declined to do so, saying the matter was still under investigation.

“Because investigation is ongoing, it has to be concluded before one can arrive at a certain number but I can assure you, it is a large number,” he said.

He however assured Nigerians that nobody among those involved would be spared. “We shall certainly and aggressively pursue those involved in terrorist financing, as far as the Nigerian State is concerned.” 

PIAK

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