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  • Cyclist to spend 1 year in jail for smoking hemp, assaulting policeman

    Cyclist to spend 1 year in jail for smoking hemp, assaulting policeman

    Sentence

    By Zainab Oyekan
    Jos, June 19, 2024 ( NAN) A Jos Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, sentenced a 24-year-old tricycle rider, Benjamin Bulus to one year in a correctional centre for smoking marijuana and assaulting a policeman.

    The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of assault and possession of marijuana.

    Bokkos, who sentenced Bulus to one year jail term on each of the two-count, said that the sentence was to run concurrently.

    The magistrate said that the sentence on the first count of assault was without an option of fine while Bulus was given an option of N20,000 fine on the secound count.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported at the Laranto Police station Jos by one Mathias Chung, on May 25.

    Gokwat said that Chung made a distress call to the police that the convict was constituting a nuisance in the environment, smoking marijuana near his residence.

    When the police arrived the scene, Bulus slapped a policeman and went for his gun, shot at him with intention to kill, but missed his target.

    The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened the Plateau State Penal Code Law. (NAN)

    OIZ/AOS

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    Edited by Bayo Sekoni

     

     

  • Ifo raises German economic growth forecast for 2024 to 0.4%

    Ifo raises German economic growth forecast for 2024 to 0.4%

    Economic

    Munich, June 20, 2024 (dpa/NAN) The ifo Institute has raised its forecast for German economic growth in the current year from 0.2 per cent to 0.4 per cent, an indication of a tepid recovery for Europe’s largest economy.

    The Munich-based institute, one of the country’s most influential economic think tanks, released the updated forecast on Thursday.

    “The German economy is slowly working its way out of the crisis,” ifo’s economic director, Timo Wollmershäuser, said in Berlin on Thursday.

    He said it was not a summer fairytale but “new hope is emerging.”

    Next year, the ifo expects economic growth of 1.5 per cent.

    The institute said that the purchasing power of private households is increasing, while global trade and industrial production should continue to recover in the second half of the year.

    The easing of monetary policy will also support investment, said Wollmershäuser.

    He said the institute expects the European Central Bank to cut interest rates twice more this year.

    The institute also now forecasts inflation to ease further to 2.2 per cent this year and 1.7 per cent next year.

    However, the number of unemployed people in Germany is forecast to rise from 2.6 million to 2.7 million over this year, hitting an unemployment rate of 5.9 per cent.

    But next year, the number of unemployed is expected to fall again to 2.6 million.

    The number of people in employment is expected to rise slightly from 45.9 million to 46.1 million this year and to 46.2 million next year.

    According to the ifo Institute, the German government’s budget deficit will fall significantly from 99 billion euros (106 billion dollars) to 73 billion euros this year and to 54 billion euros next year.

    Germany’s large current account surplus, which has drawn international criticism, is likely to rise further from 258 billion to 312 billion euros this year and then to 306 billion euros next year.

    Ifo is one of several economic research institutes that prepare twice-annual joint forecasts for the German government in the autumn and the spring.

    The other institutes presented their individual forecasts last week, which also forecast economic growth of between 0.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent this year, inflation of between 2.2 per cent and 2.4 per cent, and total unemployment of 2.7 million to 2.8 million.

    The European Commission has forecast the overall economy across the entire European Union to grow by 1.0 per cent this year. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/YEE
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    (Edited by Cecilia Odey/Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Putin lauds ties with Hanoi on state visit to Vietnam

    Putin lauds ties with Hanoi on state visit to Vietnam

    Ties

    Hanoi, June 20, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the importance of expanding his country’s strategic partnership with Vietnam.

    He expressed his thoughts at talks with Vietnamese President To Lam on the first day of his state visit to the south-east Asian country.

    The Russian leader also invited Lam to participate in commemorations in Moscow next year marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

    The Russian state news agency TASS reported on Thursday.

    Putin arrived in Hanoi late on Wednesday after a visit to North Korea.

    He is expected to attend a state banquet on Thursday after meetings with Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the country’s ruling Communist Party, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

    Having been isolated on the international stage, Putin plans to shore up support from Russia’s remaining allies.

    Commentators suggest his brief tour of Vietnam and North Korea is of practical as well as symbolic importance.

    “Putin’s trip to Vietnam will reinvigorate their comprehensive strategic partnership and shore up economic relations through trade and investment commitments by adopting a rouble-đồng currency exchange mechanism for goods and services payments.’’

    Vietnam expert Carl Thayer the emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales in Australia has said.

    Another item on the agenda could be Russia’s war with Ukraine.

    The Ukrainian ambassador in Hanoi, Oleksandr Haman, told dpa that he did not expect Vietnam to abandon its neutral stance in the conflict.

    During his stay in Hanoi, Putin stays at The Sofitel Metropole, a French-owned hotel.

    Before his arrival, a Russian-chartered jumbo jet shipped in limousines for Putin’s use throughout his visit. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    (Edited by Cecilia Odey/Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Trader jailed 1year for illegal possession of firearms

    Trader jailed 1year for illegal possession of firearms

    Sentence

    By Zainab Oyekan

    Jos, June 20, 2024 ( NAN) A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Thursday , sentenced a 35 year-old trader, Samaila Salisu to a year imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms.

    The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option to pay N20, 000 or spend one year in prison.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported on May 13, at the Laranto Police station, Jos, by a team of police officers on patrol.

    The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau State Penal Code Law. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OIZ/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh

     

  • LASG trains 60 engineers on bridge construction 

     

    Training

    By Aderonke Ojediran

    Lagos, June 20, 2024 (NAN) The Office of Infrastructure, Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure on Thursday began training of no fewer than 60 engineers on bridge construction.

     

    The three-day training  is taking place  at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, Lagos State.

     

     

    The training, with the theme: “Bridge Building: From Theory to Practice”, will focus on practical application of knowledge.

    It is aimed at enhancing the skills and expertise of engineers in bridge and road constructions.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training covers various aspects of bridge building such as design, construction, and maintenance.

    Experts in construction engineering are the resource persons at the training.

     

     

    The Special Adviser to the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Daramola, said that the participants were drawn from Lagos State Ministry of Works, the Office of Infrastructure, and  Public Works Corporation.

     

    ” The training is not just an event but a cornerstone in the state’s ongoing commitment towards enhancing infrastructure development.

     

    “We have gathered experts and thought leaders in the field who will share their insights, experiences and cutting-edge techniques to enhance our technical skills and also empower us to implement these designs effectively in our day-to-day activities.

     

     

    ” I would like to acknowledge the contribution of my predecessor, Engr Aramide Adeyoye, under whose leadership a solid foundation was laid for development  in the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

    “Her unwavering dedication and strategic initiatives have been instrumental,” Daramola said.

     

    He urged the participants to listen attentively, ask questions, share perspectives, and tap into the wealth of eexperience of the resource persons.

     

     

    “The knowledge you gain here will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our infrastructure projects and, by extension, the future of Lagos State.

     

    ” The emphasis on practical application is particularly noteworthy, as it allows engineers to gain valuable experience.

     

     

    “Participants will be working on real-world projects, applying theoretical concepts to actual bridge-building scenarios,” the special adviser said.

    Daramola said that punctuality and active participation would be  key to success, and encouraged the participants to take advantage of the training to develop themselves.

     

    “Together, we shall continue to build a Lagos that stands as a beacon of progress and innovation,” he said.

     

    The Permanent Secretary in the Office of Infrastructure, Mr Lateef Somide,  enjoined the participants to take the training seriously.

     

    Somide expressed gratitude to the facilitators, Messrs GELD Construction, and the Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Training Department, for efforts.

     

     

    The General Manager of GELD Construction, Mr Nabeel Esaw,  urged the participants to be open to knowledge.

     

    “The training  is a crucial step towards enhancing the skills and expertise of engineers in Lagos State,” he said.

    He added that the training would equip the participants to handle the complex challenges of bridge building and maintenance in a special terrain such as Lagos. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OAF/IGO

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    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

  • Optometrist urges post-operative management in cataract surgery

    Optometrist urges post-operative management in cataract surgery

    Surgery

    By Edeki Igafe

    Warri (Delta), June 20, 2024 (NAN) An Optometrist, Dr Comfort Omo-Irabor, said there was a need  for a post-operative management of cataract surgery to avoid further complications on the patient.

    She stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Warri.

    Omo-Irabor, the managing director of a private eye clinic in Warri, said that most conditions were left worse after the surgery due to lack of post-operative management of the patient.

    The eye specialist and consultant in low vision noted that most times, cataract surgery was sponsored by the government and Non-Governmental Organisations.

    The optometrist urged the government to always do a follow up in whatever programme it is sponsoring in the health sector.

    “There is a need for post-operative management of a cataract surgery otherwise, at the end, you will leave the patient worse than he or she was before the operation.

    “Before the surgery, the patient complained he cannot see but after the surgery, because there is no post-operative management, he will be having other complications like pains, headache and others,” she said.

    Omo-Irabor urged the government to always put adequate logistics in place in whatever programme it does in the health sector, to enable people to reap the benefits of the initiative.

    According to her, the government could only be seen as supportive when what they initiated is actually yielding the desired results.

    She said that this could only be possible when there were different teams handling the programme.

    “Whenever the government is having a plan that is health-related, especially those that have to do with surgery, it should ensure the whole process is fully taken care of.

    “You could have the main team conducting the surgery, the monitoring team and the post-operative management team.

    “After the surgery, you do not leave the patients on the streets. This is something the government has not really thought about,” she said.

    The optometrist said that lack of proper monitoring of patients after surgery could lead to frustration and by implications, mental health and urged the government to do the needful. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    EDI/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh

  • Unexploded WWII bomb found in Germany’s Cologne defused overnight

    Unexploded WWII bomb found in Germany’s Cologne defused overnight

    Bomb

    Cologne, June 20, 2024 (dpa/NAN) An unexploded aerial bomb from World War II retrieved from the Rhine River in Germany’s Cologne on Wednesday evening was safely defused overnight on a ship positioned away from residential areas, city officials said.

    Discovery of unexploded bombs is common in Cologne and other German cities, which were heavily bombed by Allied air forces during the war.

    Specially trained crews are dispatched to defuse or safely detonate the bombs.

    The British-made five-tonnes bomb had a rear-mounted fuse that was defused on board the ship, according to the Cologne city administration.

    The city said that there had been no need to evacuate residents to defuse the bomb, in spite of initial assumptions.

    The ship had been moved to a position on the Rhine far enough from residential areas.

    During the operation, the Rhine was closed to shipping, as was the airspace above the area. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    COO/HA
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

  • Cholera: Cross River activates emergency response team

    Cholera

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 20, 2024 (NAN) Dr Henry Ayuk, the Cross River Commissioner for Health, says the state has activated an emergency response team that will respond to any threat of cholera outbreak in the state.

    The commissioner made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Thursday.

    He said that although the state has not witnessed any cholera case since the current outbreak was reported, there was one recorded death associated with cholera around March 2024.

    He added that “there was an outbreak of the disease in Obubura and Biase local government areas between February and April, with one death recorded during the outbreak.

    “That was about the only time we had case of cholera outbreak in this state.”

    On the current outbreak in some states, Ayuk said “we have already adopted the guidelines provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    “As part of our preparedness, we have reactivated our public health emergency response team at the state and local government levels for prompt response.

    “We are increasing surveillance in the state and also educating communities on the need to report any case of diarrhea.

    “We particularly focused on the riverine areas where we have designated hot spots such as Etung, Abi, Obubura, Biase and part of Yakurr local government areas.”

    There have been reported cases of cholera outbreak in 30 states of the federation, and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged state governments to prioritise access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation and proper hygiene practices in communities.

    In a comprehensive advisory released to the public, healthcare workers and state governments, the centre reported a total of 1,141 suspected cases of cholera, with 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 96 local government areas in 30 states from Jan. 1 to June 11.

    The NCDC highlighted that 10 states—Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos—account for 90 per cent of the cholera burden in the country.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/AAA/HA

    Editedby Aisha Ahmed/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

     

     

     

  • Trader jailed 1 year for stealing 7 wheelbarrows

    Trader jailed 1 year for stealing 7 wheelbarrows

    Sentence

    By Zainab Oyekan
    Jos, June 20, 2024 ( NAN) A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ,sentenced a 20 year-old trader, Abubakar Sani to one year imprisonment for stealing seven wheelbarrows.

    Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos, sentenced Sani after he pleaded guilty to theft.

    The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option to pay N20,000 or spend six months in prison and also ordered him to pay N4000,000 compensation to the complainant or spend another 6 months in default.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Geokat told the court that the case was reported on May 11, at the Laranto Police station Jos by Adamu Ahmed and Babayo Mohammed , the complaints.

    The prosecutor said the convict stole the wheelbarrows worth N417,000 and sold them to one Babangifa Mohammed, now at large.

    The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau state Penal Code Law. (NAN)

    OIZ/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

     

  • Germany scraps controversial packaging rules for shisha tobacco

    Germany scraps controversial packaging rules for shisha tobacco

    Tobacco

    Dusseldorf, June 20, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Germany’s Finance Ministry has revoked controversial rules for packaging of shisha tobacco which saw fierce backlash as well as some retailers going bankrupt.

    The government originally introduced the new regulation in 2022 to clamp down on tax evasion, which was seen as a frequent problem in shisha bars.

    Bars were buying large packages which they sold divided into small portions.

    The government pointed to this as tax evasion in the majority of cases, as they paid less tax than they should have when selling in portions.

    In spite of fines by customs officials, the practice continued to be profitable, until the introduction of the new regulation.

    It banned 200-grammes and 1,000-grammes pack from the market.

    As per the new rules, only sizes of a maximum of 25 grammes were permitted.

    From July 1, these restrictions would be lifted and packs of all sizes were legal again, according to new regulations made available to dpa.

    Under the 2021 reform of the Tobacco Tax Act, the Finance Ministry estimated that there would be around 155 million euros in additional tax revenue from the shisha industry in 2023.

    However, it turned out that tax income declined significantly due to a booming black market, according to the German shisha tobacco association.

    While consumption had remained stable despite soaring prices due to the new packaging rules, the legal market collapsed to just a tenth of the 2021 level.

    Some retailers forced to close down, the association said.

    Lawmaker Till Mansmann from the pro-business Free Democrats, a junior partner in Germany’s coalition government, welcomed the latest step in the shisha saga.

    By introducing restrictions on the packaging of shisha tobacco, the previous government had “given a gift to smugglers and fraudsters in particular, who have since placed illegal products on the market on a large scale,’’ he said.

    Germany has approximately 5,000 shisha bars, where around a quarter of the shisha tobacco sold in the country was consumed, with the remainder purchased for private use. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/EAL
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Ekemini Ladejobi