Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes across California, on Wednesday, as nearly two-dozen wildfires continued to blaze amid a record-breaking heatwave in parts of the western United States. Firefighters were battling 367 known fires throughout the state on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted, with 23 of them major blazes. “CA (California) has experienced 10,849 lightning strikes in the last 72 hours and World Record heat temperatures,’’ he wrote. The volatile mix of intense heat and lightning storms have contributed to the fires, which led Newsom to declare a state-wide emergency on Tuesday. Evacuations were ordered in several counties…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
By Gami Tadanyigbe Over Two hundred members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Wednesday, decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kuje Area Council, FCT. The APC decampees were received at the Kuje Area Council Government House in Kuje. They handed over their APC membership cards, brooms and posters in replacement for those of the PDP. Mohammed Gambo, the APC leader of the decampees, said they were discomforted by the approach of the APC to its policies which encourages thuggery and violence against innocent people. According to him, they have decided to join the PDP to contribute to…
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has been described as an initiative by younger Northerners, of all faith and all ethnic groups playing a major role in rescuing the region from the margins of irrelevance, impotence, inconsequence and decay in the context of the Nigerian nation. Lawal Adamu Usman, (Mr LA) Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate in the 2019 round of elections, said the CNG has already made a mark as a strong voice especially with its efforts in restoring communal harmony across the North. Referring specifically to the Group’s ongoing peace initiative in Southern Kaduna, parts of which forms…
South African authorities are investigating government departments for graft over irregularities in coronavirus-related tenders worth 290 million dollars (5 billion rand), the head of its Special Investigating Unit (SIU) told lawmakers on Wednesday. The figure is likely to add to pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ruling African National Congress, who have struggled to deflect criticism from alliance partners and opposition parties as allegations of corruption implicated senior ANC politicians. Ramaphosa, who replaced his scandal-prone predecessor Jacob Zuma in 2017 with promises to eradicate corruption, has battled to root out criminality linked to the fight against COVID-19 in South…
An environmentalist, Mr Emmanuel Emechete, has warned that the increasing vehicular exhaust fumes in the atmosphere posed grave health hazards to the public. Emechete in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos warned that the emission of exhaust fumes from vehicles in our environment was on the increase. “These exhaust fumes contain green house gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapours, and oxygen in unconsumed air, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, unburnt fuel, and particulate matter that are usually released into the atmosphere in smaller quantities. “These gases are harmful to the environment; contribute to depletion of the…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called on financial institutions in the country to strengthen their collaboration with the Commission towards ridding the country of corruption, economic and financial crimes. A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, said the Uyo Zonal Head of the Commission, Mr Akpa Edeh made the call was made on Tuesday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, while holding a meeting with bank compliance officers. According to him, it is important to remind banks of their critical roles as major stakeholders in the fight against corruption. “Knowing that the fight against corruption is everybody’s…
Plans by Mauritius to sink part of a broken-up vessel that caused a disastrous oil spill should be shelved, environmental watchdog, Greenpeace, said on Wednesday. “Out of all available options, the Mauritian government is choosing the worst one,” said Happy Khambule of Greenpeace Africa. “Sinking this vessel would risk biodiversity and contaminate the ocean with large quantities of heavy metal toxins, threatening other areas as well, notably the French island of La Reunion,” he added. The Mauritian government announced its plan to sink part of the Wakashiho earlier in the week, after the Japanese-owned ship broke in two weeks after…
China said it recently released a new guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced-stage breast cancer, hoping to extend the survival time of patients. Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among women. At present, the five-year survival rate of breast cancer patients in the country has reached to 83.2 per cent, whereas that of advanced breast cancer patients only accounts for 20 per cent. The complicated treatment calls for urgently improving diagnosis and treatment standards, especially to narrow the gap between different regions of the country, said Ma Fei, an expert with the National Cancer Center. Ma, also…
The Presidency has commended the medical staff for measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the State House. A statement by Attah Esa, Deputy Director (Information) at the State House on Wednesday, said the Permanent Secretary, Mr Tijjani Umar described the measures taken by the staff to contain the spread of the virus as very strong and solid. He gave the commendation at the valedictory session in honour of Mr Augustus Ogueri, Deputy Director, Planning and State House (SERVICOM) Nodal Officer, who retired from the civil service on Tuesday, having attained 60 years of age. According to the…
Mosquitoes infected with the deadly West Nile virus were found in northern and southern Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection reported on Wednesday. The infected mosquitoes were discovered during routine sampling conducted by the ministry in four settlements in the southern Arava valley and in the northern Gilboa region, near the Kishon River. The infections were detected in mosquitos trapped and sent to laboratories run by the ministry of health. Following the detection of the infected mosquitoes, the ministry warned that the affected local authorities should increase monitoring efforts, and if deemed necessary, the authorities should carry out exterminations.…