NAF releases list of military crash victims

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released names of the seven personnel that died in the air crash involving a NAF aircraft, Beechcraft KingAir BB305i.

The deceased officers include: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain); Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist) and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).

Others were: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

NAF releases list of military crash victims

February 22, 2021  

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By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released names of the seven personnel that died in the air crash involving a NAF aircraft, Beechcraft KingAir BB305i.

The deceased officers include: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain); Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist) and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).

Others were: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Read Also; VIDEO: Military aircraft crashes in Abuja

A statement by the Director Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), earlier today, 21 February 2021, confirmed that one of its aircraft, a Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201), crashed while returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, where it was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.

“As earlier stated, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has instituted an investigative panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident. While the panel has commenced its work, the NAF, having notified the Next of Kins/family members of the deceased, regretfully announces that the following seven personnel lost their lives in the crash”.

It added: “Earlier, the CAS visited the scene of the accident, in company of the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retired); Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, and other Service Chiefs. The CAS, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, once more commiserates with the families of the deceased personnel and prays that the Almighty God grants their souls eternal repose”.

SOURCE: THE NATION

Internet access restored in Myanmar after shutdown – Tracker

 Internet connection in Myanmar is returning to normal after a full-blown shutdown amid ongoing protests against the military takeover, traffic tracker Net Blocks reported on Monday.

On Sunday, the watchdog confirmed that a near-total internet shutdown was in effect in the country starting from 1:00 a.m. local time (18:30 GMT on Saturday) following “state-ordered information blackout,’’ with national connectivity down to 14 per cent of normal levels.

“Internet connectivity is being restored in #Myanmar from 9 a.m. local time, network data show national connectivity rising to ordinary levels after information blackout.

“Social media still restricted for most users, incident duration eight hours,’’ the tracker said in an update.

On Feb. 1, the Myanmar military seized power hours before the new parliament was due to hold its inaugural session.

The nation’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested alongside other senior officials, after the military accused her party of rigging the November elections.

Protests have since broken out nationwide to demand that the military restore the civilian government.

 SOURCE: Daily Nigeria

Indian air ambulance runs short of fuel, makes emergency landing in Pakistan

 

An Indian air ambulance has made an emergency landing at Pakistan’s Islamabad International airport for refuelling, media reports on Monday said.

According to Dunya News, the aircraft had contacted the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authorities, CAA, and requested permission for emergency landing at the Islamabad airport on Sunday because it was low on fuel.

The air ambulance, which had on board a British patient, a doctor and two nurses was heading to Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan from Kolkata, India.

After receiving permission from the CAA, the air ambulance landed at the Islamabad International Airport.

It took off two hours after refuelling, Dunya News reported.

SOURCE: Daily Nigeria

WAEC releases Nov/Dec 2020 results, says female did better than male candidates

 The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, released the results of the 2020 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, for private candidates (second series).

The WAEC Head of Nigerian National Office, Patrick Areghan, announced the release of the results on Monday during a news conference in Lagos.

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, released the results of the 2020 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, for private candidates (second series).

The WAEC Head of Nigerian National Office, Patrick Areghan, announced the release of the results on Monday during a news conference in Lagos.

According to Mr Areghan, 12,040 out of the total 30,507 male candidates who sat for the exam (representing 49.60%) had the minimum credit pass in five mandatory subjects while 12,451 out of the total 31,002 female candidates (representing 50.40%) had similar results.

He added that the scenario indicated that more females did better than their male counterparts, just like the two previous editions of the examinations.

A total of 61,509 candidates sat for the examination at 540 designated centres nationwide, out of which 24,491 (representing 39.82%) obtained credits and above in at least five mandatory subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

He said the results of 61,111 (representing 99.35%) of the total candidates who sat the exam had been fully processed and released while that of 5,548 candidates (representing 9.02%) are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of exam malpractices.

Mr Areghan added that their cases would be investigated to determine their fate if their results would be eventually released or cancelled.

SOURCE: Daily Nigeria

Buhari must publicly disown support for ‘criminal’ herdsmen – Sen. Abaribe

Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to publicly declare that he does not support violent herdsmen.

Abaribe speaking on Channels Tv on Monday morning, said the failure of the government to punish criminal herdsmen had empowered them.

The Senate minority leader said Buhari should be concerned that a particular set of people were being attributed to crimes all over the country.

Abaribe said: “The President needs to come out and say categorically that he does not support the activities of violent herdsmen.

“He needs to say I do not support their actions, Buhari needs to come out for every Nigerian to see his intention to own this problem.

“Why wouldn’t you as chief executive of a country come out and say I’m giving marching orders to security agencies that these cannot continue to happen.

“Where has the President ever said publicly that these criminal herdsmen will never be tolerated.

“I’ve only heard his Spokesman, Adesina say it and not from him.

“What we’ve heard from 2006 is live in peace with your neighbour, try to accommodate your country men and stuffs of that nature.

“This enables those that are committing these crimes that there is no punishment.

“As a president, you should be very worried when you see things happening in the country targeted at a particular set of people. You should ask what is it that makes these people continue to commit these crimes.”

In recent times, herdsmen in different parts of Nigeria have been accused of killings and kidnappings.

On Friday, suspected herdsmen attacked Ebute Igbooro, killing four and setting properties on fire.

This was after about six persons had been hacked to death and some thrown into a river in Owode Ketu on Thursday.

No other evidence is required to prove Buhari has failed – CDHR

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has agreed with some Nigerian lawmakers that no other evidence is required to prove that the Nigerian State under President Muhammadu Buhari has not only failed woefully, but has displayed a combination of lacklustre performance characterized by incompetence and indifference.

The CDHR stressed that the country under Buhari’s leadership cannot meet the fundamental purpose for which it was established to uphold the security and welfare of the Nigerian people.

The CDHR made the assertion in a communiqué signed by its National President, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana.

“We affirm that the economic policies of the Buhari government by pauperizing the masses on an ongoing basis, directly and indirectly fuels insecurity as they engender acts of desperation on the part of the unemployed and impoverished teeming population of youths; the pretences through insignificant palliatives notwithstanding.”

SOURCE: Daily Post

EU fully behind you – Commission tells Okonjo-Iweala at her emergence as WTO DG

BUSINESSEU fully behind you – Commission tells Okonjo-Iweala at her emergence as WTO DGPublished on February 15, 2021 By Fikayo Olowolagba

The European Union, EU Commission, has reacted to the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new Director-General of the WTO.

President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen described Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as a historic moment for the world, especially as the first woman to be appointed as WTO DG from Africa.

The EU pledged its support to Okonjo-Iweala as the commission called for reforms of the body.

In a post on her verified Twitter, the EU President wrote: “Congratulations @NOIweala!

“This is a historic moment for the entire world. I’m so glad to see a woman from Africa at the head of the WTO.

“Europe is fully behind you. “We support the reform of the WTO and will help you protect the rules-based multilateral trading system.”

Iweala was confirmed as the WTO head at a special meeting of the general council after a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world.

Okonjo-Iweala speaks on appointment as director-general of WTO

Former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said she is “honoured” to have been named as the director-general of World Trade Organisation.

Okonjo-Iweala was appointed on Monday, months after key ambassadors of the trade organisation recommended her for the job. Her confirmation was initially stalled by the then Donald Trump administration in the United States’ support for South Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.

But the administration of the new American president Joe Biden threw its weight behind Okonjo-Iweala after the South Korean minister pulled out of the race.

“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Okonjo-Iweala said after her official confirmation.

“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”

When she takes office on 1 March, Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as Director-General. Her term, renewable, will expire on 31 August 2025.

“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.

“Dr Ngozi, on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, Dr Ngozi, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of this organization,” he added.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

COVID-19: Pfizer Targets $15bn From 2021 Vaccine Sales

Pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pfizer Inc., has said it expects to generate $15 billion, or about a quarter of its to-tal revenue this year, from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine co-developed with German partner BioNTech SE. According to Reuters, the company said sales from the vaccine – on track to be the drug maker’s top product this year – could top $15 billion if it signs more supply contracts. Pfizer aims to make two billion doses of the COVID- 19 vaccine in 2021.

Pfizer’s Chief Executive, Albert Bourla, said in an interview that the company wanted to be conservative in its target and is working on numerous initiatives to exceed that output. “We’ve increased the batches we run per week, we’ve doubled the output – the yield per batch – we’ve dramatically improved our success rates, we’ve made process improvements to the assembly lines,” Chief Financial Officer Frank D’Amelio said in the interview. “All these things are things we’re continuing to examine to see what else we can do to try to produce more doses faster,” he added.

Pfizer also said it expects there could be a long-lasting need for COVID-19 vaccines, to combat new virus variants that emerge and to boost people’s waning immune responses. The company is launching a study to determine whether a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, administered 6-to-12 months after the initial shots, can extend and improve efficacy with more contagious variants circulating in communities around the world.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is currently administered as two doses three weeks apart. Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said he believes mRNA vaccines like Pfizer’s generate a strong enough immune response to repel the currently circulating variants, and that a booster, rather than a redesigned vaccine, is the right approach for now.

Citi analyst, Andrew Baum, said he was optimistic that revenue contributions from the vaccine could be sustainable beyond 2021. Pfizer expects to supply 200 million doses to the U.S. government by the end of May. To achieve the goal, it will have to deliver an average of around 10 million doses per week, more than double the rate Pfizer and BioNTech delivered to the United States through the end of January, according to Reuters’ calculations.

The vaccine, which uses synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) to prompt an immune response against the virus, was the first shot to be authorized for emergency use in the United States, marking the first regulatory nod for the new technology. mRNA vaccines and COVID- 19 could prove transformative for Pfizer, which is already one of the world’s largest drug makers, CEO Bourla said. A potential flu vaccine based on the technology could hit the market by 2025, executives said on a conference call.

SOURCE: NEW TELEGRAPH

R. Kelly’s Associate Pleads Guilty To Attempted Bribery In Ongoing Court Case

An associate of disgraced R&B singer, R. Kelly has pleaded guilty this week to trying to bribe a witness to keep her from testifying against the singer.

According to Page Six, Richard Arline Jr. attempted to silence one of the singer’s accusers with hush money.

Prosecutors said he offered the woman $500,000 on behalf of R.Kelly who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

“Me and another person offered Jane Doe money for her to not go forward with her complaint or testimony against Robert Kelly,” said Arline Jr. “I knew what I did was wrong.”

Arline and the witness, one of Kelly’s accusers, spoke numerous times over the phone about a potential pay out from the singer in exchange for her silence, prosecutors said.

Jane Doe told the police about the potential bribe and recorded the phone calls with Arline, according to prosecutors.

“Rob, if I had talked to Rob on the phone and Rob got the money, he gonna pay [first name of Jane Doe] to be quiet,” Arline said according to documents.

“Like if I had a way to talk to Rob, being next to him, and telling him what’s going on, without nobody listening to, no feds, nobody, he gonna pay her ass off to be quiet. She got too much. She got too much.”

Arline is one of three men charged with bribing or otherwise intimidating witnesses around the R. Kelly trial.

Kelly’s manager, Donnell Russell, allegedly threatened to spread nude photographs of another woman if she refused to back out of the trial against Kelly.

Another associate, Michael Williams is believed to have set an SUV on fire in front of the home of one of the accusers.

Kelly, 54, is accused of running a racketeering scheme that trafficked girls and women at his shows. He forced the girls to call him daddy, and did not allow them to eat or leave their rooms without his permission, prosecutors said.

SOURCE: HERALD

The U.S. envoy said on Thursday - Biden to Pursue Arms Control, Seeks to Engage China – U.S. envoy

 

The Biden administration views the New Start Treaty clinched with Russia this week as the beginning of engagement on strategic issues including multilateral arms control.

Robert Wood, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, speaking  at the U.N.sponsored Conference on Disarmament, called for new arms control that covers more weapons, and eventually more countries.

The United States will also seek to engage China on nuclear arms control and risk.

I hope that China will join us in that effort,’’ Wood said.

SOURCE: HERALD

IFRC to Vaccinate 500 Million People Against COVID-19

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching a plan to help vaccinate 500 million people who might be affected by inequality in coronavirus vaccine distribution, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said at a virtual news conference.“Our goal is ensuring equitable geographical access to the vaccines.

“Our plan is to reach 500 million people this year, 2021.

“But we will see whether we have to continue the campaign beyond 2021.

“We will adapt if we have to adapt,” he continued.IFRC secretary-general explained that the plan would be complimentary to the COVAX initiative, aimed at delivering vaccines to developing nations and led by the World Health Organisation; GAVI vaccine alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

“We will help in deliveries of the vaccines in the arms of the people who need it,” Chapagain said.

IFRC Director of Health Emanuele Capobianco added that there are already over 60 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that have agreements with national governments of their countries on supporting the vaccination efforts.

“We imagine this will be expanding,” Capobianco said.

SOURCE: HERALD

Biden appoints Nigerian-born Ebong as acting director USTDA

 

 United States President Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

 “The appointment meant a return to USTDA where from 2004 to 2019, Ms. Ebong had served in a variety of roles, most recently as the Agency’s General Counsel, and Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer,” USTDA said in a statement.

 “As Acting Director, Ms. Ebong leads an agency that partners with the U.S. private sector to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies, while supporting U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services.”

 Ebong had previously served as the head of strategic partnerships at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

 She is expected to lead the agency in partnering with the country’s private sector in order to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies.

 “It is an honor to return to USTDA,” Ebong said.

 “The opportunity to lead the Agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the United States for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions.”

 She also noted that the agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the U.S. government.

 “I’ve longed believed in USTDA’s mission and program, which are fully aligned with the President’s vision of strengthening the country’s economy and addressing climate as an essential component of American foreign policy and national security,” Ebong said.

 Ebong grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.

 She practiced law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, P.C., representing public and private companies in public offerings, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues before joining the agency in 2004.

 Ebong earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master of Arts in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in History, with Honors, from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar.

She  is not the first Nigerian- American to be appointed by the US president. Adewale Adeyemo was recently announced as deputy secretary of the treasury department.

 Biden also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet as white house counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his COVID-19 response team.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER