South Africa To Resume Johnson & Johnson Jabs

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April 26, 2021

South Africa has announced it will shortly resume using Johnson & Johnson anti-Covid vaccines, two weeks after the jab was suspended to vet risks over blood clots.

The vaccine will be included in South Africa’s anti-Covid vaccination campaign from Wednesday after being given the green light by SAHPRA, the country’s health watchdog.

Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said in a statement that it has since been established there is a one in a million chance of getting the clot after the vaccine and that those particularly at risk appear to be women between the ages of 18 and 48 years.

The Health Minister added that with such a low probability of developing a clot, all the regulators across the world have recommended the continued use of Johnson and Johnson.

Many are depending on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to reportedly roll back the pandemic in developing countries, as it is just a single-shot jab that does not need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures.

The vaccine was briefly put on hold after a handful of Americans developed blood clots but according to US data presented Friday, of 3.9 million women who got the Johnson & Johnson shot, 15 developed serious blood clots and three died.

The majority of the confirmed cases, 13 of the 15, was aged under 50 years old. There were no reported cases among men.

The resumption of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will target health workers in particular.

Both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca jabs are Viral Vector vaccines which are made from a modified version of a live virus, in this case, an adenovirus.

On the other hand, mRNA or messenger RNA Vaccines as produced by Pfizer and Moderna injects instructions, via a piece of genetic code, that tell your body how to make a certain protein essential to blocking the virus.

Malawi To Destroy Expired Astrazeneca Vaccines

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Zoe Maven

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April 26, 2021

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Malawi has said it will go ahead and destroy more than 16,000 doses of expired Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines despite the World Health Organization, WHO advising against it.

In early March, Malawi received 360,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines but discovered that the vaccines were due to expire before they were all administered.

The WHO said the vaccines can be used up to 36 months after manufacture and advised African countries to keep hold of them and wait for further guidance.

But Malawi’s Ministry of Health spokesperson, Joshua Malango, told Newsmen that Malawi will go ahead and destroy 16,440 doses of the vaccines.

He said the reason was because news of extension of shelf life was shared with Malawi only after the vaccine had already expired and taken out of the cold chain system which ensures the temperature of the vaccine doesn’t fluctuate and then lose its potency.

Malango said the vaccine doses were effectively destroyed the moment they were removed from the cold chain system after the expiry date and that the incineration was only a formality.

He further said that most people were already hesitant to get vaccines and even less if they thought they had expired and so destroying them would restore people’s confidence.

Both Malawi and South Sudan say they may destroy as many as 70,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab insisting the vaccines have passed their expiry date.

IPOB Leader’s interview: NBC threatens sanction against Channels TV

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Emenike Agu

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April 26, 2021

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Leading Nigerian news and current affairs television station, Channels TV may have stirred the hornets’ nest and, consequently, being considered for a stinging reaction from the National Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, for hosting a spokesperson of the secessionist Independent People Of Biafra(IPOB) to an interview.

Already, the NBC is threatening to suspend the broadcast licence of Channels TV and also slam it with a fine of Five Million Naira.

The interview hosted by Seun Okinbaloye on a programme “Politics Today” on Sunday night, according to a strongly- worded letter from the NBC to the management of channels, was in contravention of several of the broadcast codes and extant laws of the land.

“In the programme, a so called new leader or IPOB made several secessionist and inciting declarations on air without caution or reprimand by your station.

“He also made derogatory, false and misleading statements about the Nigerian Army.

“This is reprehensible especially that IPOB remains a proscribed organisation as pronounced by the law courts of the land. This much channels ought to know and respect.”

The letter signed by the Acting Director General, Prof Armstrong Idachaba cited sections 3.11.1(b) and 5.4.3 of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code as having been violated.

It said Channels TV was now liable to the suspension of its licence and a fine of N5millon provided in Section 15 of the code for its infractions.

He directed an immediate cessation of the programme and cautioned that “the Channels owes the country the responsibility for a true professional and ethically guided Broadcasting especially at times of crisis.”

UNHCR Chief Says Kenya Won’t Close Refugee Camps

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Zoe Maven

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April 26, 2021

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UN’s refugee agency,UNHCR says Kenya’s is not closing down Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps but it wants a solution and also know what the way forward is.

UNHCR’s Filippo Grandi spoe while visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, to assess the problems that refugees are currently facing in the region.

In Rwanda on Sunday, Grandi told journalists that they have had very good discussion with the government of Kenya adding that the UN refugee agency has submitted to Kenya plans for the future of the two camps.

He said he thinks the government of Kenya will continue to provide hospitality but understandably they want to have a strategy for the future and the discussions continue.

Last month, Kenya gave a 14-day ultimatum for UNHCR to close Dadaab and Kakuma camps, citing national security concerns, and the interior ministry said “there was no room for further negotiations”.

In April, Kenya’s High Court also temporarily blocked the closure of the two refugee camps that host more than 400,000 people.

Somali opposition fighters cordon off parts of tense capital

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Henry Williams

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April 26, 2021

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SOMALIA-POLITICS-ARMY — People hold posters of Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed during the protest against him in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 25, 2021. - Somalia, recovering from decades of civil war, is facing its worst political crisis in recent years after the failure to hold planned elections in February. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, best known by his nickname Farmajo, has faced harsh criticism at home and from foreign allies after signing a law earlier this month extending his mandate by two years. (Photo by - / AFP)

Somali opposition fighters took up positions in parts of the tense capital on Monday, a day after clashes with government troops erupted over the president’s bid to extend his mandate.

Witnesses reported that armed men and vehicles mounted with machine guns were stationed in opposition strongholds, while key roads in Mogadishu were blocked.

“Both the Somali security forces and the pro-opposition fighters have taken positions along some key roads, there is civilian transport movement but, in some areas, they are not allowing anyone to move,” witness Abdullahi Mire told AFP.

Somalia, recovering from decades of civil war, is facing its worst political crisis in recent years after the failure to hold planned elections in February.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, best known by his nickname Farmajo, has faced harsh criticism at home and from foreign allies after signing a law earlier this month extending his mandate by two years.

On Sunday night, sporadic gunfire rang out across the capital after fighting broke out between government forces and those allied to various opposition leaders.

The clashes — mainly in the northern neighbourhoods of Sanca and Marinaya and the busy KM4 crossroads in the centre — began after dozens of opposition supporters marched in protest against Farmajo’s term extension.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Photographers take pictures of a Somali military force member supporting anti-government while he poses on a street in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 25, 2021. – Somalia, recovering from decades of civil war, is facing its worst political crisis in recent years after the failure to hold planned elections in February. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, best known by his nickname Farmajo, has faced harsh criticism at home and from foreign allies after signing a law earlier this month extending his mandate by two years. (Photo by – / AFP)

Tensions remained high on Monday, with some people trying to leave their homes in tense neighbourhoods.

“People are starting to flee from Bermudo area where the pro-opposition fighters have taken positions last night, the situation is tense and there can be an armed confrontation anytime if the situation remain the same,” Fadumo Ali, a resident of one of the tense neighbourhoods told AFP.

“Some families have already left last night when the fighting broke out… we don’t know how things will turn to be in the coming few hours but now it is calm and there is no fighting,” said another resident, Feysal Hassan.

While schools and universities were closed, life in some of the unaffected neighbourhoods proceeded much as usual.

The crisis in Somalia has led to increasing dismay from the country’s foreign backers, who have called on Farmajo to return to dialogue with leaders of the country’s five federal states over the holding of elections.

“Highly concerned about the ongoing events in Mogadishu,” European Union envoy Nicolas Berlanga said on Twitter Sunday.

“The general interest requests maximum restraint, preserve institutions that belong to all and dialogue. Violence is unacceptable. Those responsible will be held accountable.”

Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble told a press conference Monday he was “disappointed with the violence aimed at destabilising peace and stability in Mogadishu during the holy month of Ramadan”.

He urged security forces to “fulfill their national commitment and protect the stability of the people in Mogadishu”.

Malaysian Artist Arrested For Insulting Queen With Spotify Playlist

By

faith Jegede

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April 26, 2021

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Graphic artist, Fahmi Reza was arrested after allegedly uploading a Spotify playlist that mocked comments on the queen’s Instagram account, and posting the link to the playlist to his Facebook page.

He is currently being investigated under Malaysian sedition and communication laws.

Reza, had uploaded a Spotify playlist with songs containing the word ‘jealousy’, with a photo of Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah after a remark made on the queen’s Instagram account this week in response to a follower asking if the palace chefs were all vaccinated. The queen’s Instagram account is said to have responded by asking if the follower was jealous, which caused an uproar on social media.

Fahmi has been sentenced to jail in Malaysia once before, for portraying former prime minister Najib Razak as a clown. His sentence was later commuted.

Various rights groups have become increasingly concerned over a crackdown on dissenting voices under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Fahmi’s lawyer, Yohendra Nadarajah, said that it was unclear if or when the artist would be charged but that he had been released on bail on Saturday evening.

The country has since fallen 18 places on ‘Reporters Without Borders’ 2021 World Press Freedom index’ – the steepest drop from last year among all other countries. countries.

National Arts Theatre: Rehabilitation And Redevelopment Of The Complex Kicks Off

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Emenike Agu

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April 26, 2021

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Rehabilitation of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, a $50 million investment financed by the Bankers Committee in a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Federal Government, has taken off.

The rehabilitation and redevelopment of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, a $50 million investment financed by the Bankers Committee in a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Federal Government, has taken off.

This is coming over 2 months after the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, led other members of the Bankers Committee, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government for the handover of the facility.

This disclosure is contained in a tweet post by the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, on his official Twitter handle on Monday, April 26, 2021.

Ogunlesi noted that apart from the rehabilitation, the National Arts Theatre will be redeveloped into a creative hub for film, fashion, music and information technology.

Tolu Ogunlesi in his tweet post said, ‘’Revamp of Nigeria’s National Theatre in Lagos has kicked off, a $50 million investment financed by the Bankers Committee in a PPP with the Nigerian Government. Apart from the rehabilitation, the sprawling ground will be redeveloped into a creative hub for film, fashion, music and IT.’’

The Iganmu station for the blue rail line which is being constructed by the Lagos State Government is ready. The completion of this blue rail line project will be a huge boost and complement the National Arts Theatre, as it will create an easy movement around the massive creative hub.

What you should know

It can be recalled that around July 2020, the Federal Government announced the official handover of the National Arts Theatre Complex to the CBN and the banks under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee, in order to commence the renovation and reconstruction of the facility.

On February 15, 2021, the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, led other members of the Bankers’ Committee to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government for the handover of the National Arts Theater, Iganmu, Lagos.

Some of the new facilities expected in the complex include a five-star hotel, 4 high rise buildings for IT, Fashion, Music, Film among others.

This national monument which will have Cappa & D’Alberto Limited as the main contractors, Nairda Limited as the electrical sub-contractor and VACC Limited as the mechanical sub-contractor, is expected to be managed by Bankers Committee for a few years before handover to the Federal Government.

Jihadists kill 31 soldiers in northeast Nigeria

By

Henry Williams

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April 26, 2021

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At least 31 Nigerian soldiers were killed when IS-aligned jihadists ambushed a military convoy escorting weapons and overran a base in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, military sources said on Monday.

Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked the convoy with rocket-propelled grenades on Sunday in the town of Mainok outside the regional capital Maiduguri before storming the nearby base, the two sources said.

The attack was the deadliest this year against Nigeria’s army which has been battling a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the region that has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes.

“We lost 31 soldiers, including their commander who was a lieutenant colonel, in the ambush by the terrorists,” a military officer said about the attack which happened around 1100 GMT.

The convoy was transporting weapons to Maiduguri when it came under attack, said a second military source who gave a similar toll.

“The terrorists came in several trucks, including four MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) and engaged the convoy in a fierce battle,” the second source said.

The militants overwhelmed soldiers, leading to the “colossal loss” of troops, he said.

“We lost a lot of men in very gruesome way.”

The jihadists seized weapons and two MRAPs in the attack before overrunning and partially burning the base outside the town, the two sources said.

Mainok, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Maiduguri, has been repeatedly targeted by the jihadists.

ISWAP has frequently set up bogus checkpoints along the 120-km highway linking Maiduguri and Damaturu in neighbouring Yobe state on which Mainok lies, killing and abducting travellers.

ISWAP split from mainstream Boko Haram faction in 2016 and rose to become a dominant force in the northeast as Nigeria’s conflict has spilt over borders into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

– Targeted killing –

Around 2,000 residents of Geidam in neighbouring Yobe state fled their homes after a separate attack by ISWAP who invaded the town Friday, local officials said.

On Sunday residents fled, crossing to the other side of the river to escape militants who have been in control since they attacked the town.

“Our people are fleeing Geidam which is now under the control of the insurgents,” Ali Koko Kachalla, Geidam’s political administrator, said.

Late on Friday ISWAP jihadists took control of Geidam after a gunfight with troops, looting and burning stores in the town.

At least 11 civilians were killed in the fight after a projectile hit two adjoining homes, killing all occupants, according to residents.

The exodus was prompted by targeted killings of residents by the insurgents, according to fleeing residents.

“Everybody is running away because the insurgents have started killing people who are Christians and those with western education,” resident Babagana Kyari said.

“So far they have killed two Christians and two Muslim school teachers. They went to their homes and slaughtered them,” said another resident Ari Sanda.

The army issued a statement on Saturday, claiming to have taken back Geidam from the jihadists. But residents and local officials said militants were still around.

Since 2019, soldiers have closed up some smaller bases and moved into larger fortified garrisons known as “super camps” in an attempt to better resist militant attacks.

But critics say the “super camp” strategy has also allowed militants more freedom in rural areas and left travellers more vulnerable to kidnapping.

Japanese Grand Prix To Remain At Suzuka Until 2024

By

Emenike Agu

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April 26, 2021

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Formula 1 has announced the Japanese Grand Prix will remain at Suzuka until the end of the 2024 season.

The figure-of-eight track first staged an F1 race in 1987 and has decided the drivers’ championship on 11 occasions.

F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said the three-year extension shows a “long-term commitment to growing the sport in Asia”.

This year’s race is due to be held on 10 October after the 2020 grand prix was cancelled because of Covid-19.

However, it is one of a number of non-European venues over which there are doubts for 2021, either as a result of immigration restrictions or because of the pandemic.

Senior Mercedes figure joins rivals Red Bull

Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates — Red Bull driver Max Verstappen took his first win of the year in a chaotic, incident-strewn Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Red Bull have recruited a senior figure from rivals Mercedes to lead their new Formula 1 engine programme.

Ben Hodgkinson, head of mechanical engineering at Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, will become technical director at Red Bull’s equivalent department.

It is being set up close to the chassis factory in Milton Keynes to take over the running of Honda’s engines.

Honda will quit F1 at the end of the current season.

They have sold their engines and intellectual property to Red Bull.

Red Bull said Hodgkinson would take over his new position “once the terms of his current contract with HPP are fulfilled”.

He is currently tied to Mercedes until the end of 2022, although typically in these situations the two parties tend to negotiate terms for an early release.

A statement added: “[This is] a key leadership role heading up all technical aspects with a key focus on developing Red Bull’s inaugural power unit, to comply with the new Formula 1 regulations currently planned for 2025.”

The sport is working on defining a new engine formula that will increase the proportion of power provided by electrical energy and also use fully sustainable carbon-neutral fuels.

Hodgkinson has been working at Mercedes’ engine base at Brixworth in Northamptonshire for two decades and before that developed engines in both the World Rally Championship and for Le Mans.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “Ben comes to this hugely exciting project as a proven race-winner and as an innovator capable of leading a like-minded team of highly skilled engineers.

“When Red Bull announced the creation of Red Bull Powertrains, it was also announcing a new phase of the company’s ambition in F1 – to bring every aspect of car design in-house and to put our destiny in our own hands.

“The ultimate expression of that is the development of a Red Bull power unit to meet the next generation of F1 engine regulations.

“Ben’s appointment signals our long-term intent and we will support him and his team with every available resource required in order to succeed.”

Hodgkinson said: “It was not easy to make the decision to leave HPP after almost 20 years but the opportunity to take on such a far-reaching and important project is a great honour.

“Red Bull are a serious player in F1 and have been our biggest rival in the hybrid era, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in this new phase of the company’s journey.”

Andy Murray: Fans Will Make ‘Huge Difference’ At Wimbledon, Says Two-Time Champion

By

Emenike Agu

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April 26, 2021

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Andy Murray is looking forward to playing in front of what he hopes will be a substantial crowd at Wimbledon.

The tournament, cancelled in 2020, begins on 28 June, seven days after all Covid restrictions could be lifted in England.

A final decision on numbers will be delayed as long as possible, with tickets due to go on sale in June.

“For me, it would make a huge difference,” said two-time champion Murray.

“Hopefully we can get some good crowds in. We’ve heard 30 per cent, but I don’t know if that’s 30 per cent of their usual capacity but they’ll be allowed to have Centre Court and Court One full. So we’ll see.

“At the beginning I didn’t miss it (crowds) that much, I was just pumped to be competing again. But, as the weeks go on, that’s kind of what you play for, to play in front of big crowds and play in great atmospheres. It’s something that I’ve definitely missed.”

Murray, 33, lives just a short drive away from Wimbledon but will need to stay at a designated hotel within a “biosecure bubble”, in line with ATP protocols.

“Obviously I would way rather not be staying in a hotel,” said the former world number one. “It would be a shame but, if that’s what we’ve got to do to keep everyone safe, then that’s what we’ll do.

“We’ve been told that the ticketing for Wimbledon is going to be vastly reduced for the players for family. It would be very odd playing at Wimbledon without, not just being able to see your family, but not having them there to support in the matches as well.

“That’s the times we’re living in. Hopefully, if we keep going with the vaccinations, there’ll be a possibility for family members and friends that have been vaccinated to come in. If not, that’s what it will have to be this year.”

Murray has never lost a singles match before the third round at the All England Club, and reached at least the quarter-finals every year between 2008 and his last appearance in 2017.

‘I need to be consistently practising’

Andy Murray played in the doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2019 — Murray played in the doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2019 – following a second hip operation

Last month’s Miami Open had been due to be Murray’s first tournament following the birth of his fourth child but injury struck again, this time a groin problem.

Having missed the Australian Open after contracting coronavirus, the Scot, who had a metal hip implanted early in 2019, reached the final at a Challenger event in Italy in February before early exits in Montpellier and Rotterdam on a brief return to the ATP Tour.

“I need to be consistently practising (rather than) having these enforced breaks,” he said after being on court last week playing points. “That was the thing in December, why I think I got into such a good place was because of the two months of practising basically six days a week every week for a couple of months.

“By the end of that my game started to feel really good. That’s the first thing is to be able to be on the practice court consistently and then I obviously need to get the matches. How many matches that is, I don’t know.”