The United States Government on Monday announced plans to share 55 million U.S. COVID-19 vaccine doses globally, with Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and others through a vaccine sharing programme.
This was disclosed in a report by Reuters on Tuesday. The report added that 75% of the doses would be allocated to Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa through the COVAX programme.
The US Government said 41 million vaccines would be shared through COVAX, as Africa is set to receive 10 million, Asia – 16 million vaccines and 14 million towards Latin America.

According to the White House, 14 million doses would be shared alongside “regional priorities”, including Colombia, Argentina, Iraq, Ukraine, the West Bank and Gaza.
“We have plenty of doses to share with the world, but this is a Herculean logistical challenge.
“We have announced today where these doses are going. We will continue to announce as they land on the ground and as they are being shipped, and we’re looking forward to doing that as quickly as possible,” White House spokeswoman, Jen Psaki said.
The 55 million doses will be taken from the U.S. supply of Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca’s vaccines if it gets approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
The White House said it wanted the doses to be prioritized for healthcare workers and those who are most at risk.
The White House added that countries that would receive the vaccine through direct sharing are Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Colombia, Argentina, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and many others.
In case you missed it
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stated earlier this Month  that Nigeria is willing to cooperate with the U.S Government in a bid to vaccinate 70% of its population, citing Nigeria seeking U.S cooperation to purchase vaccines directly from companies

of the health centre.
While commissioning the hospital, Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, advocated devolution of powers to ensure meaningful development in the states.
He commended Okowa for his leadership, adding that the specialist centre would further change the narrative of health service delivery in the state.
“The agitations are increasing but they are not insurmountable. There is much power at the center that should be devolved to ensure productivity. When you move power, resources should also be moved to the states,” he said.
MEANWHILE, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) had denied issuing a statement to reverse the Delta State government ban on open grazing.
Secretary-General of MACBAN, Usman Baba-Ngelzarma, who refuted the statement yesterday in Damaturu, said: “We have never issued a statement on 72-hour ultimatum to the Delta State government to reverse the ban on open grazing.”
He said the statement from ‘faceless individuals’ was meant to create mischief between Delta State and herders across the country.

America hit a milestone Friday: 300 million Covid-19 shots have been administered in the country. And as the number of vaccinations continues to rise, so do the signs the nation is getting back to business.
Here's a list of some indicators that the United States is recovering from the pandemic.Airplanes are filling up
The airline business is surging, so much so that the Transportation Security Administration has asked some of its office workers to help security officers with a surge of summer travel at the nation's largest airports. And while airlines still haven't quite hit their pre-pandemic numbers, eased Covid-19 restrictions point to hope for the future of the industry.
Vacation home sales are booming
People are traveling again, and not just to faraway places. Vacation home sales are up 33% through April over last year, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors. The top 10 vacation counties were concentrated in just a few states, which include Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina.
Lipstick sales are up
Americans are getting glam again after the CDC lifted mask mandates for vaccinated people both indoors and out. Now that they can show the bottom half of their faces to the world again, lipstick sales have been booming. Walmart, the nation's biggest retailer, told CNN Business that lipstick is its top performer across all segments of cosmetics, and was a standout item in its latest quarter ending April 30.
People are buying dresses again
Dresses were pushed to the back of closets during the pandemic as people adapted to work-from-home wardrobes of sweatpants and leggings. Zoom-filled days and social distancing protocol meant weekend plans and after-work drinks were no longer in the cards. But now that guidelines have been lifted for vaccinated people, chains like H&M (HNNMY), Anthropologie and Macy's (M) say they are seeing increased demand for dresses and are introducing new styles to meet pent-up demand.
Stores dropping mask mandates
When the CDC announced on May 13 that fully vaccinated people don't have to wear masks or practice social distancing both indoors or outdoors, a long list of stores and companies dropped their mask mandates. The list includes Target, CVS, Publix, Starbucks, Home Depot, Costco, Sam's Club and many more.
Companies want employees in the office
Over the past 15 months, millions of employees in America left their offices and set up makeshift work spaces at home. But now some companies are asking their employees to come back to in-person work. On Wall Street, for example, many big banks — including Morgan Stanley and Bank of America — want their workers back by Labor Day. Some companies are even offering return-to-work programs as a way to help professionals transition back into the workforce after a long break. Returnships, as they are often called, typically run for a few months, offering training, experience and networking opportunities to workers — usually mothers — who've been out of the workforce for an extended period of time.
Job openings are skyrocketing
America is hiring like never before. Job openings in the United States soared by nearly one million in April, setting a record for the most openings added in a month and the highest overall number since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking the data in December 2000.
Wedding season is back in action
With more Americans getting vaccinated and so many restrictions lifted, the wedding industry is booming again after a stale 15 months. In fact, in April 2020, marriage rates in the US hit a record low, according to the US Congress Joint Economic Committee. Venues are opening up and vendors are seeing business boom as more couples head to the aisle to say "I do." Earlier this year, David's Bridal, one of largest wedding gown sellers in the United States, said it's anticipating weddings to return with a vengeance this year and into 2022 because of pent-up demand.

Barbara and Christine Colucci long to remove their masks and kiss their 102-year-old mother, who has dementia and is in a nursing home in Rochester, New York. They would love to have more than two people in her room at a time so that relatives can be there too.
“We don’t know how much longer she’s going to be alive,” Christine Colucci said, “so it’s like, please, give us this last chance with her in her final months on this earth to have that interaction.”
Pandemic restrictions are falling away almost everywhere — except inside many of America’s nursing homes. Rules designed to protect the nation’s most vulnerable from COVID-19 are still being enforced even though 75% of nursing home residents are now vaccinated and infections and deaths have plummeted.
Frustration has set in as families around the country visit their moms and, this Father’s Day weekend, their dads. Hugs and kisses are still discouraged or banned in some nursing homes. Residents are dining in relative isolation and playing bingo and doing crafts at a distance. Visits are limited and must be kept short, and are cut off entirely if someone tests positive for the coronavirus.
Family members and advocates question the need for such restrictions at this stage of the pandemic, when the risk is comparatively low. They say the measures are now just prolonging older people’s isolation and accelerating their mental and physical decline.
“They have protected them to death,” said Denise Gracely, whose 80-year-old mother, Marian Rauenzahn, lives in a nursing home in Topton, Pennsylvania.
Rauenzahn had COVID-19 and then lost part of a leg to gangrene, but Graceley said what she struggled with the most was enforced solitude, going from six-day-a-week visits to none at all.
Rauenzahn’s daughters eventually won the right to see her once a week, and the nursing home now says it plans to relax the rules on visits for all residents in late June. But it has not been not enough, as far as Graceley is concerned.
“I believe it’s progressed her dementia,” Graceley said. “She’s very lonely. She wants out of there so bad.”
Pennsylvania’s long-term care ombudsman has received hundreds of complaints about visiting rules this year. Kim Shetler, a data specialist in the ombudman’s office, said some nursing homes’ COVID-19 restrictions go beyond what state and federal guidelines require. Administrators have been doing what they feel is necessary to keep people safe, she said, but families are understandably upset.

The NCDC made this known via its verified website on Wednesday morning.
It noted that 11 states had zero cases reported, which were; Plateau, Nasarawa, Cross River, Imo, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti States.
According to NCDC, the 17 new cases were registered in Lagos – 13; Gombe – 1and Rivers – 3.
The NCDC noted that the country had so far tested 2,231,409 persons since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 was announced in Feb. 27, 2020.
The agency said the total number of infections in the country was 167,095 while 163,483 recoveries were recorded as of June 15.
The public health agency said no additional new deaths were registered in the country in the last 24 hours.
The NCDC said a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, had continued to coordinate the national response activities.
Meanwhile, it added that the country’s active cases stood at 1,495, as of June 15.

Due to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its visitor policy. Fully vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear a face covering. Individuals two years old and older who are not fully vaccinated must still wear a face covering.
"Fully vaccinated" is defined as at least two weeks having passed after receiving a second dose in a two-dose series or at least two weeks having passed after receiving a dose of a single-dose vaccine.
USCIS also eased other requirements for fully vaccinated individuals who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Those who have returned from domestic air, international air, or cruise ship travel in the past 10 days may enter USCIS facilities if they are fully vaccinated. Individuals who have been in close contact (within six feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with anyone known to have COVID-19 in the previous 14 days may also enter USCIS facilities if they are fully vaccinated. Healthcare workers who consistently wear an N95 respirator and proper personal protective equipment or equivalent when in contact with COVID-19-positive individuals continue to be exempt from reporting close contact, USCIS said.
In Department of Homeland Security-controlled spaces, "this guidance supersedes state, local, tribal, or territorial rules and regulations regarding face coverings," USCIS said.

Professionals in the Energy sector in Nigeria have called on women to break cultural norms and embrace more of the oil and gas sector adding that women make up the largest numbers of entrepreneurs in the country.
The call was made at the 2021 International Petroleum Summit in Abuja, a platform to meet the country’s oil and gas players.
The sector contributes about 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product and accounts for 95 percent of oil exports in the West African country.
Tosin Sodeinde, who is the treasurer of the Commonwealth Business Network, said there are opportunities in this sector but women need to stretch themselves a little bit like men.
“There are not enough women in the industry because originally it was male-dominated but landscapes are changing and with a forum like this, an organization that pushes women and with government interest and participation, more will start closing in, I am confident about that,” she added.
Chidinma Obi, Chief Executive Officer, Dindu Nergy Limited reiterated that at Commonwealth Business Network, they also focus on other women aspiring to be in oil and gas, providing them with the necessary information to achieve their goals.
“It is not that we do not have enough women in the sector but the awareness has not been there focusing on women in oil and gas which is what we have been trying to do that is an emphasis on CWBN right now. So, women are there, but they have not been showcased to indicate where they are and what they are doing,” she said.
According to Dolapo Okulaja-Kotun, Chief Executive Officer, Jade Project, Oil and gas has been a male-dominated sector because many women do not venture into the sciences and technology.
“There is a lot of room for different kinds of sources in the energy sector but women have been focusing more on the non-technical side which is the business side, which is business administration, human capital resource managers, finance and law,” she added.
The Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN) is the only accredited organization focused on women’s economic empowerment and recognized by 54 governments.
CBWN Nigeria is a National Leadership Ground Partner for Nigeria pioneered by the Charter of the Commonwealth (2013), signed by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll, Head of the Commonwealth on Commonwealth Day 2013 and endorsed by ‘Commonwealth Heads of Government during Australia’s term as Chair-in-Office.

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 305 pharmacies and patent medicine shops in Kebbi for various offence.
The PCN Director, Enforcement, Mr Stephen Esumobi, made this known while briefing newsmen in  Birnin Kebbi on Friday on behalf of the council’s Registrar, Mr Elijah Mohammed.
He said that the existence of unregistered medicine shops across the country was a major factor militating against rational distribution and use of medicine.
“Also a large number of registered patent medicine shops carry out activities that are beyond their approved scope thereby posing a serious threat to public health.
“These premises have over the years become channels for distribution of medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy are compromised due to poor storage facilities and handling,’’ he said.
According to him, the PCN established Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PICs) and patent and proprietary medicine vendor licence across states as part of efforts to achieve its mandate and reverse the ugly situation.
Mohammed said the PCN enforcement team was in the state to ensure that all premises where medicine was sold fulfill conditions as specified by the law.
“At the end of enforcement, 508 premises comprising 42 pharmacies and 466 patent medicine shops were visited.
“A total of 305 premises made up of 20 pharmacies and 285 patent medicine shops were sealed for various offences.
“Some of the offences include operating without registration with PCN, failure to renew premises licence, dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary condition.
“In addition, seven pharmacies and patent medicine shops were issued compliance directives,’’ he said.
Mohammed assured that the PCN was doing all within its power to assist owners of premises who were ready to comply with regulations.
He advised members of the public to buy their medicines from licence pharmacies and thanked the security agencies and media for their cooperation with the council in its efforts to ensure sanity in drug distribution.

INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Monday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana.
Registrations for the vaccine are now open for Hoosiers 12 and older through the Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) have green-lit a joint $750,000 grant that will bridge the gap in maritime transport infrastructure and improve trade in the region in line with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The grant will support the charting of the main channel of the Niger-Benue river in Nigeria, as part of the Regional Sealink Project, which aims to bridge the gap in maritime transport infrastructure and improve trade connectivity in West Africa.
Afreximbank provided a grant of $350,000 to supplement the $400,000 made available by NEXIM, thus completing the financing of the barthymetric survey and hydrograhic and hydrological studies of the lower Niger-Benue river. The studies will be undertaken under a joint collaboration framework between the Nigerian Navy Hydrography Department, Nigeria’s National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Sealink Consortium Partners.
The completion of the studies will support the early commencement of the inland waterways operations planned under the Regional Sealink Project, by enabling the development of the inland waterways navigation chart as well as river ports and anchorage plans that will facilitate both bulk commodities and general cargo shipping, thereby boosting Nigeria’s bulk commodities trade and exports.
The Regional Sealink Project is a trade facilitation initiative designed to address the critical logistics infrastructure gap towards facilitating and deepening inland and intra-coastal waterways operations. It was adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission as one of its seven priority projects under the ECOWAS Community Development Programmes.
Its implementation is expected to mitigate some of the main barriers to regional integration and the growth of cross-border trade, especially trade in large volumes of bulk commodities.
Inland waterways are a key transport mode that plays a vital role in facilitating the efficient and cost-effective movement of goods and providing a competitive alternative to rail and road transport, while ensuring integration into the country’s international logistics chain.
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said: “The project, which will facilitate regional transit, is timely given the recent commencement of trading under the AfCFTA. The grant from Afreximbank and NEXIM will allow for the development of infrastructure that will eventually relieve road congestion and enable some bulky commodities and solid minerals to move by the river.
“The project will not only enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination, but also foster regional integration and trade in the ECOWAS region. In addition, it will facilitate the reduction of the level of informal trade, thereby promoting industrialisation and financial inclusion for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).”
Abubakar Abba Bello, Managing Director of NEXIM, said: “The execution of the Grant Agreement strongly aligns with the strategic objectives of Afreximbank and NEXIM in trade promotion and support for the development of trade facilitating and enabling infrastructure that will deepen the partnership engagements of both institutions to foster trade connectivity, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The partnership will also facilitate the implementation of the Regional Sealink project, thereby promoting hinterland, coastal and transit trade as well as the broadening of Nigeria’s export basket with bulk commodities like solid minerals and agricultural products.”

Adeleye Jokotoye, a tax consultant, submitted the proposal to the committee at the South West Zonal Public Hearing in Lagos on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
While presenting the proposal, he said Nigeria's current name was an imposition of its past colonial masters and should be changed.
He said a change of name for the country would physically and psychologically reflect a new beginning.
"At this crossroads in our history, it is mandatory that we change our name to reflect a new beginning which will be ushered in with a new constitution," he said.
Explaining why he chose United African Republic, Jokotoye said Nigeria is made up of hundreds of ethnic groups that need to be united.
As an alternative, he suggested that Nigeria could also choose United Alkebulan Republic (meaning: United Mother of Mankind Republic) as its new name.
The tax consultant also suggested amendments to the constitution to reflect fiscal federalism, state or regional resource and taxation control, removal of immunity clause, and review of the Exclusive Legislative List.

On May 18, 2021, Santa Clara County moved into California's coveted yellow tier, allowing more businesses to open and others to increase capacity. That same day, the County issued an update to its COVID-19 Health Order. One portion of the order caught the eyes of employers, and it was not love at first sight: By June 1st, all businesses within the County must determine whether their employees, contractors, and volunteers have been vaccinated. Failure to ask and record the responses can carry a dizzying fine of up to $5,000 per violation per day.
To Have and To Hold: Employer Obligations Under the Order
In addition to ascertaining the vaccination status of "all personnel," businesses and governmental entities "must obtain updated vaccination status for all personnel who were not fully vaccinated every 14 days" and maintain appropriate records to show compliance. This mandate means that Santa Clara County businesses must, every two weeks for the foreseeable future, ask their previously unvaccinated workers if they have now been fully vaccinated.
The order does not require that anyone get vaccinated.  Rather, the order simply requires businesses to seek  and record  vaccination status. So a business incurs no penalty if employees, contractors, or volunteers refuse or fail to answer, so long as the business records the declination to respond, and then treats these people as if they are unvaccinated.
A business may comply with the order by requiring workers to fill out a short self-certification on a County-provided form. This method may be easier and more private than requiring a copy of the individual's CDC-issued vaccination card, although that method will also suffice. Any records of vaccination status should be maintained as confidential medical records.
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder, and the Legal Obligations Fewer
Despite the order's requirement to ascertain the vaccination status of "all personnel," the FAQs clarify that the provision applies only to "workers who perform any work at a facility or worksite in the county." That said, businesses, though not required, are "strongly encouraged ... to determine vaccination status for all other personnel." With the imminent reopening of California's economy and a continued return to the workplace, it may make sense for businesses in Santa Clara County to ask remote workers their vaccination status, or to have a plan in place for determining their status before they enter business premises.
Workplace Solutions
The Santa Clara order stands in contrast to legislation that has been proposed outside of California to restrict a business's ability to ask about individuals' vaccination status. This order underscores the difficulty (if not impossibility) of a one-size-fits all approach to COVID-19 related plans—even within California.

Herfy Food Services Company, Saudi Arabia’s largest fast-food chain, has signed an agreement with EatRite Food Services, granting it franchise rights to open up to 50 outlets in Nigeria.
“This agreement comes as a continuation to Herfy’s approach to becoming international, which is one of the pillars of the 2030 Vision announced by HRH The Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as the company is looking forward and working on being present in the Far East, GCC countries, and Africa,” the company said in a bourse statement on Sunday.
The two companies first began talks in February this year and according to the Tadawul announcement the franchise agreement will last for 10 ten years, with an average of five branches opening a year, starting from 2021.
Herfy Food Services Company was established in 1981, and the first Herfy restaurant opened in Riyadh that same year. As of September 2020, the company owns a total of 40 restaurants and leases 345.
It is aiming to increase the number of outlets it owns and leases in the Kingdom to 400 by the end of this year.
In December 2017, Herfy opened its first franchised branch outside of the Middle East in Bangladesh, and according to an agreement signed with Bangladeshi private-sector company Greenland Services Ltd. in 2016, Herfy aims to open 30 outlets within “a few years.”
Herfy reported net profit after Zakat and tax of SR25.5 million ($6.8 million) for the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 2 percent year-on-year, according to the Argaam website.
Its restaurant segment made a profit of SR500,000 in the first three months of this year, compared to losses in Q1 2020 and Q4 2020. The rebound was attributed to an 8 percent year-on-year increase in sales to SR252 million.

The Prince of Wales has made a virtual visit to Nigeria to learn about the work of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in the northeast part of the country. The Prince, who has been patron of the organisation since January 2020, joined in on a video call with IRC staff. The Prince met doctors at the Mashamari Stabilisation Centre in Maiduguri who are treating children with malnutrition.The Prince herard of the effects COVID-19 has had in the region, and how the pandemic could push the county towards extreme hunger in the worst-case scenario.
During the call, the Prince said: “Conflict remains by far the largest driver of hunger, and the climate crisis, of course, helps to compound this. And then again, on top of it all, you have the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a devastating impact on the countries who can least afford it.
“I hope one day, before too long, with travel and so on, I should be able to come back to Nigeria and see what you’re doing. In the meantime, bless you, and thank you for all your marvellous work.”
The International Rescue Committee helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. The IRC provides health care and educational opportunities along with teaching communities to be self-reliant. Humanitarian needs continue to rise in northeast Nigeria because of conflict, climate change, and the pandemic. Currently, there are 10.6 million people who are in need of urgent help, and it’s expected about 5.1 million people in Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno states will be food insecure by July 2021.
“In his call, Charles said: “At a time when humanitarian needs have increased by 40% in the last year alone, the IRC’s work has never been more critical.
“Conflict remains by far the largest driver of hunger, and the climate crisis, of course, helps to compound this. And then again, on top of it all, you have the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a devastating impact on the countries who can least afford it.”
The Prince most recently visited the county back in 2018 on a trip with the Duchess of Cornwall. During their tour of West Africa, the Prince heard stories and experiences from youth peace ambassadors, met members of the British Military Training and Advisory Team, and attended a roundtable on accounting for sustainability. As for the Duchess, she met children taking part in a literary workshop and joined a discussion of ideas for a future Women of the World Festival (WOW) in Nigeria.

A mental health expert at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Aishatu Yusha'u Armaya'u, has revealed that only two per cent of people with psychiatric problems use orthodox mental health services in Nigeria.
Dr Armaya'u spoke at a zoom roundtable organised by Charis Healthcare and Community Support Initiative (Jos) funded by Rosa Luxemberg Stiftung. It had 57 participants from Nigeria and other countries, including Ghana, South Africa, Malasia and Dubai.
She advised people to stop patronising traditional or spiritual healers for treatment of mental distress and disorders, saying there were effective medical treatments for mental health disorders.
She further said public health facilities, local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private hospitals were all in involved in the provision of specialised care to those that required psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in emergency and non-emergency situations in the country.
Dr Armaya'u, therefore, advised the public to harness the opportunities in these facilities.

This past Thursday, May 20, the administrations of both President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that no changes are set to be made to U.S.-U.K. travel policies anytime soon, according to a Forbes report.
Biden and his team have been in discussions with government and industry officials for the past month, trying to develop a plan that would grant vaccinated Europeans entry to the U.S., though no decision has yet been reached. While no official timeframe had been set, sources within the Biden administration had told CNBC it had been previously hoped that the U.S. might be able to lift the ban on travelers from the U.K. and the European Union (E.U.) by mid-May.
U.S. and U.K. administrations are under increasing pressure from travel sector organizations, businesses, unions and airlines to reopen Transatlantic travel to non-essential visitors, especially after the news broke earlier this week that the E.U. had approved a ruling that fully vaccinated tourists from outside the 27-nation bloc would be welcomed by summer.
Reacting to this news, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow released a statement urging the U.S. government to follow the E.U.’s lead. “The European Union’s risk-based, science-driven plan to reopen international travel will hopefully spur the U.S. to heed the many calls for a plan and timetable to safely reopen our borders,” he wrote. “The right conditions are in place: vaccinations are increasing, infections are decreasing, all inbound visitors get tested or have to prove they’ve recovered, and it’s possible to determine vaccine status.”
“Vaccinated Americans can travel to other countries because E.U. governments know they’re essential tourism spenders and will safely support economic recovery,” Dow said. He also opined that there’s a “quid pro quo” element at play. “The U.S. is being left off the U.K. and E.U. safe list because we aren’t yet moving forward to let international visitors back in,” he argued.
Responding to the question of whether the U.S. planned to reciprocally grant entry to vaccinated European visitors, a White House spokesperson told Reuters during Wednesday’s news conference that “there were no changes in travel restrictions planned at the moment.”
At the same time, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reportedly pointed out that any decision to loosen or lift restrictions is fundamentally a public health issue, and that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would therefore ultimately decide the question.

Health officials expect to have more data surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and younger children by late fall, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday. Walensky, who was testifying before a Senate subcommittee on the agency’s budget request said de-escalation studies involving children down to 9 are ongoing, and will involve younger children as more data comes in.

"We’re working towards getting a vaccine that’s available for all people," Walensky said, adding that the agency hopes to "have more available data in late fall and by the end of the year."

She added that even in the absence of COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized for younger age groups, "schools can be a very safe place."

Walensky had appeared alongside Dr. Anne Schuchat, the agency’s outgoing deputy director who spoke to the protection vaccines can offer pregnant women.

CDC'S ANNE SCHUCHAT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT WEEKS AFTER MESSONNIER'S EXIT

"COVID complicates pregnancy," Schuchat said. "So, women who are pregnant and get COVID have worse experiences with the infection than do non-pregnant women, with more time in the ICU, more risk of severe outcome including those rare deaths."

Schuchat said that the illness also increases the risk of premature birth, and that while clinical trials rarely include pregnant women the data collected so far suggests the vaccines are safe.

"We are fortunate that there has been an intense effort to get data about women who do get vaccinated while pregnant to understand what happens so other women can learn from that," Schuchat said. "Based on what we know right now we recommend that women be offered vaccines during pregnancy, that they’re eligible to get them and that they can make a choice about it."

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Schuchat said that officials have "reassuring data" regarding COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women, "particularly in the third trimester," and that researchers are continuing to follow this population in coordination with the FDA.

"We’ll be expecting this summer to have even more data, particularly about vaccines given earlier in pregnancy," Schuchat said.

She added that researchers are hopeful the vaccines provide protection to unborn babies similar to how the flu shot works.

Poachers recently killed an elephant in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria. This was the second in the area in two years. It raises concerns about Nigeria's dwindling elephant population. This is important as Nigeria is now one of Africa's primary export hubs for ivory.
It also raises concerns about Nigerians' attitude towards biodiversity conversation.
Awareness and understanding of biological diversity determines the conservation of threatened species in many regions of the world.
Based on this, in 2010 the Convention of Biological Diversity set new targets for achieving biodiversity action plans at various levels. These are known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
First among the targets is raising people's awareness of biodiversity conservation. This is the first step towards achieving conservation success and Sustainable Development Goal 15 - halting biodiversity loss.
Biological diversity benefits are enormous. Plants and animals provide many services. These range from food to shelter, medicine, aesthetics, ecotourism opportunities and jobs.
A visit to natural sites to view endangered or rare animals is also one of the mainstays of economies of some African nations like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Such visits also have benefits for people's health.
Despite its numerous benefits, biodiversity is still not well appreciated or promoted in Nigeria. People don't bother about the conservation status of such animals before killing them for food or money. Poaching of rare and endangered animals does not receive a corresponding level of punishment in Nigeria. It is also not perceived as crime by many poachers. This is not the case in East and Southern Africa. There, poaching is criminalised and arrests are publicised to serve as deterrent.
Furthermore, there is little or no data on poachers for Nigeria unlike some East and Southern African nations.
An example of poaching in Nigeria was the 2019 killing of a whale washed ashore in the Niger-Delta region. Also, the killing of manatees in the Benue River and the Niger-Delta region.
What Nigerians said about biodiversity
My research group sought to appraise the level of biodiversity conservation awareness by Nigerians, using a structured questionnaire.
A total of 1,124 respondents which included 839 professionals (those with tertiary education) and 285 non-professionals (those with basic or no formal education) participated in the survey. The respondents were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. They were asked different questions to test their knowledge of biodiversity, conservation, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and their understanding of the importance of biodiversity to the nation's ecology and economy.
As a party to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Nigeria formulated a policy document towards realising those targets. This document is known as National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. It has 14 targets, 21 impact indicators and 67 actions. The first target aims at raising the level of awareness of biodiversity conservation among Nigerians to 30% of the entire population by 2020.
Our findings revealed that Nigerians still don't know enough about biodiversity or why it's important. Awareness is low (less than 30%) among those with basic or no formal education. Many of our respondents were unaware of any national biodiversity action plan (43.8% for professionals were aware and 12.1% for non-professionals). The ecotourism potential of many states is not being promoted enough, in the opinion of the respondents.
Some of the respondents' comments showed the level of awareness as very low:
I have never heard of biodiversity conservation. If it is important there should be proper awareness.
Another said:
I thought biodiversity was about different culture until today. Please it is high time we helped educate others.
And one remarked:
This is the first time I am having a full glimpse of what biodiversity is all about in full.
This research outcome speaks to the need for federal and state governments to do more to promote biodiversity and optimise its potential for present and future generations.
Many state governments rely substantially on the federal allocation from oil revenues, while many ecotourism sites with huge economic potential remain untapped. An example of such sites is the highest waterfall in West Africa - the Oowu Waterfalls which is located in Kwara State.
The nation needs to move from policy formulation to policy implementation to achieve this goal. My research group offered some recommendations.
Improving biodiversity awareness
Issues such as biodiversity, conservation and biodiversity action plan must take their due place in the public discourse. They should also be taught as compulsory subjects at various levels of education.
Electronic media promotion of these issues in local languages must also improve to reach out to people who can't read.
Graduates of botany, zoology, forestry and wildlife conservation should be employed where their expertise is needed, rather than allowing non-experts to take their positions in the relevant ministries, departments or agencies of governments.
To start with, such graduates could be employed during their national youth service, and thereafter as career officers to educate people in their respective communities. They could also help in implementing Nigeria's biodiversity strategy and action plan.

In a profound sign of America’s progress against COVID-19, federal officials on Thursday announced a sweeping relaxation of face mask guidelines, which now suggest fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks in most places — either outdoors or inside.
The move is a milestone moment in the pandemic, upending one of the most basic safety protocols to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. It comes as daily coronavirus cases in California and most other parts of the United States are plummeting and more people are getting vaccinated.
“Today is a great day for America,” President Biden said. “It’s been made possible by the extraordinary success we’ve had in vaccinating so many Americans so quickly.”
Though there has been growing pressure to end mask mandates, the sweeping changes stunned some people who had become used to wearing masks. Some experts expressed concern that the relaxation would make it easier for the unvaccinated to flout rules and shed masks inside stores and other businesses, putting people at greater risk who cannot be vaccinated, such as young children with preexisting health conditions. But others hope it will encourage more people to get vaccinated.

TThis is correct. Don't take off the mask in such a hurry, and we need to abide by the current rule.We can't relax for one day.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday aimed at improving US cybersecurity defenses, an action that follows a string of cyberattacks on the federal government and private companies.
The action comes amid a crippling ransomware attack that forced the shutdown of a major US petroleum pipeline last week, leading to concern of widespread gas shortages along the East Coast. The attack, blamed on a hacker group known as the Darkside, reignited concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
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The executive order doesn't specifically mention the affected oil-and-gas infrastructure, but the White House pointed to the attack as an example of the need to do more to protect critical infrastructure.
"The Colonial Pipeline incident is a reminder that federal action alone is not enough," the White House said in a statement calling on private companies to "follow the federal government's lead and take ambitious measures to augment and align cybersecurity investments with the goal of minimizing future incidents."
The 34-page executive order outlines a number of steps aimed at shoring up the nation's cybersecurity. It includes a call for the removal of contractual barriers to reporting federal agency breaches, the reporting of severe cyberattacks within three days, the establishment of a Cybersecurity Safety Review Board to investigate significant incidents, the creation of baseline security standards for development of software sold to the government, and the creation of a standardized playbook and set of definitions for government response to cyberattacks.
The executive order was announced after Colonial said it would resume pipeline operations on Wednesday though the pipeline operator cautioned that markets disrupted by the closure may take days to return to normal.
"Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal," Colonial said Wednesday a statement, which also thanked the Biden administration for its "leadership and collaboration."
While the action emerges amid the backdrop of the Colonial crisis, work on the the order began in the wake of last year's SolarWinds hack, which used tainted software from the IT management company to penetrate multiple US federal agencies and at least 100 private companies.
The Biden administration formally attributed the hack to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR. Russia has denied involvement in the hack.

The U.S. economy is trying to restart its engine after tumbling into its deepest recession in generations, but a variety of supply chain constraints are threatening the country’s rebound.
The country faces major shortages in everything from labor to semiconductors, lumber and packaging materials. Not even swimming pools can be counted on this summer with the U.S. running low on chlorine. The scarcity left and right is not only preventing the economy from reaching its full potential, but it’s also raising fears of higher inflation as companies are forced to hike prices amid the low supply.
“These shortages, both labor and non-labor, will affect the speed under which the economy recovers,” Barclays head of U.S. economics research Michael Gapen said. “Labor and non-labor inputs are complements in production. You need both. If I can’t get my semiconductors to make my autos, then I don’t necessarily need to hire more labor right now.”
The U.S. labor force participation rate remains well below pre-pandemic levels as many Americans have yet to go back to work. This is partly due to generous unemployment benefits and childcare duty.
Meanwhile, manufacturers are struggling to catch up with a jolt in demand amid supply crunches in components and raw materials. This has stalled the rebound across broad swaths of the economy from housing to services, tech, autos and leisure.
“This is going to be a longer process coming out than when it went in,” Gapen said. “Like the global economy is recovering at an uneven pace, it’s likely that the U.S. economy is going to do the same. There are some kinks to still work out in the system.”

Nigerian authorities Monday announced a new set of COVID-19 restrictions as many countries continue to battle the resurgence of the virus.
The new measures, which come into effect on Tuesday, ban gatherings of more than 50 people while access to government buildings will be denied to anyone not wearing a facemask.
Bars and nightclubs are to remain closed and a nationwide curfew will be in force until further notice, the national incident manager for COVID-19, Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed, said at a press conference.
Religious gatherings and weddings are expected to maintain 50% capacity of the venue.
“We shall maintain restrictions on mass gatherings outside work settings with a maximum number of 50 people in an enclosed space,” he said. “Approved gatherings must be held maintaining physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical measures.”
Mohammed stated that the PSC will continue to maintain restrictions on the resumption of work for government workers from level 12 and below and limit government meetings to virtual platforms as much as possible while maintaining restrictions on physical meetings, official trips, oversight visits.
The incident manager explained that these measures are to enable the government to effectively prevent and control the resurgence of an acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, protect the lives of the people and the economy
“The PSC last week took a precautionary step of restricting travel from Brazil, India, and Turkey where there is a high number of cases and high fatality rate and widespread prevalence of variants of concern,” Mohammed said.
“There are concerns about non-compliance to public health and social measures, especially the level of adherence to physical distancing, use of masks, temperature checks in public places among others.
“In line with increased risk of a surge in cases, the PSC is maintaining the enforcement of 2019 Covid-19 health regulation to mitigate the risk of a spike in new cases while the Covid-19 vaccination continues.
According to him, the government is maintaining the enforcement of a mandatory requirement of a 7-day quarantine for all international passengers arriving from foreign destinations while institutional quarantine for international passengers arriving from Brazil, India, and Turkey.
He added that the government is enforcing temperature checks and no-mask, no-entry in all public places and workplaces, businesses, and places of worship while access to government and commercial premises should be denied to any person not wearing face masks.

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has explained that it plans to unveil a dedicated web portal for the sale of buildings to Nigerians in the next few weeks.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who spoke at the ninth meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Jos, Plateau State, stated that the platform would enable contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) access mortgage loans on a first come, first serve basis.
He said the ministry is currently at the completion stages of the first phase of the national housing programme in 34 states of the federation, which provided land for it.
“We urge the state governments to alert their residents to this opportunity for interested persons to apply,” he said.
Fashola told Council to consider cooperative housing as part of their discourse and recommendations for affordability and accessibility to housing in the country.
He commended Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for driving the cooperative housing initiative at the federal level, adding that it is advantageous because cooperative members can choose what they design and build to fit their budgets.
They can leverage their members to get group discount for purchase of building materials as well as engagement of contractors.
Fashola disclosed that FMBN as the driver of the housing initiative has engaged 86 co-operatives in projects; approved N35, 784 billion cumulatively, disbursed N10.95 billion; processed as at January 57 co-operative housing development loans.
Fashola, who was represented by the Minister of State, Abubaker Aliyu, stressed that what the Federal Government can do directly in housing is limited compared to what states can do, state governments are also limited, compared to what private sector and individuals can do.
“The majority of houses available for sale or rent belong to individuals and private companies compared to what states or Federal Government has available.
“Therefore, many of the tenants who owe rent, who face eviction or who seek to rent or buy property are dealing with private citizens or companies and less so with government agencies,” he added.
The minister urged private developers and individuals, who build houses for commercial gains, to ease off the cost, which they control to enable Nigerians afford homes in this COVID-19 era.
“My recommendation for improving access and affordability to housing in the Covid-19 era is for private companies and individuals to give back some of what they control to citizens in the way the Federal Government has given back to citizens some of what it controls,” he said.
He explained, for example in cases where rent of businesses or individuals are due for renewal, the private landlords can give back, by accepting monthly, quarterly or half- yearly rent instead of one year, two or three years rent in advance.
Fashola noted that the Federal and state governments have limited parts to play in the area of provision of affordable housing to Nigerians because houses for sale and rent are mostly built by individuals and private companies compared to that of the Federal Government.

eBooks Market Research Report by Application - United States Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19
eBooks Market Research Report by Application (Education, Entertainment, and Healthcare) - United States Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 Market Statistics:
New York, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "eBooks Market Research Report by Application - United States Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" -
The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. This helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available.

The United States eBooks Market is projected to grow with a significant CAGR in the forecast period. Economic development and substantial infrastructure development have constituted regional revenue generation. Further, the patterns associated with domestic production, import and export, and consumption have helped market participants to analyze and capitalize on potential opportunities. Besides, the qualitative and quantitative parameters provided in the report with detailed analysis highlights the driving and restraining factors of the United States eBooks Market.

Market Segmentation & Coverage:
This research report categorizes the eBooks to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Based on Application, the eBooks Market studied across Education, Entertainment, and Healthcare.

Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:
COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.

FPNV Positioning Matrix:
The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the eBooks Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Competitive Strategic Window:
The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:
1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players
2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets
3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments
4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players
5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R& activities, and new product developments

The report answers questions such as:
1. What is the market size and forecast of the United States eBooks Market?
2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the United States eBooks Market during the forecast period?
3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the United States eBooks Market?
4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the United States eBooks Market?
5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the United States eBooks Market?
6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the United States eBooks Market?

Airmen from the 22nd Airlift Squadron prepare a C-5M Super Galaxy to take lifesaving COVID-19 supplies to India, April 28, 2021, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, donated medical supplies to assist the country of India in its ongoing fight against COVID-19. The aid includes 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators, 1 million N95 masks and 1 million COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kits.

The Biden administration says new federal guidelines released Tuesday will allow far more medical practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine, a drug proven to reduce opioid relapses and overdose deaths.
The change lowers regulatory hurdles that critics believe sharply limit use of the life-saving medication at a time when drug deaths are surging.
"We have made this much easier for physicians but also for other medical practitioners," said Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary of health, speaking with NPR.
The new rules eliminate a training requirement and allow a wider range of health workers to offer buprenorphine treatment, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives.
"There's a lack of physicians in a lot of rural areas around the country," said Tom Coderre, acting head of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.
"By expanding [buprenorphine guidelines to include] these additional practitioners, we're more likely to be able to expand access to treatment into those rural areas," he added.
This move comes at a dire moment in the nation's opioid epidemic. Experts say the spread of illicit fentanyl combined with disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a devastating rise in fatal overdoses.

Biden expressed the support of the US to India in a telephonic conversation with PM Modi, during which the two leaders discussed the pandemic situation in their countries, including India's ongoing efforts to contain a second wave of COVID-19.New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Monday (April 26) expressed solidarity with India in its fight against COVID-19 and asserted that his country was determined to support its efforts by quickly deploying resources like therapeutics, ventilators and identifying sources of raw materials to be made available for the manufacture of Covishield vaccine, according to a statement here.Biden expressed the support of the US to India in a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the two leaders discussed the pandemic situation in their countries, including India's ongoing efforts to contain a second wave of COVID-19 through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and medical equipment.Modi also informed Biden about India's initiative at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a relaxation in the norms of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries, the statement said.
"Had a fruitful conversation with @POTUS @JoeBiden today. We discussed he evolving COVID situation in both countries in detail. I thanked President Biden for the support being provided by the United States to India.
"My discussion with @POTUS @JoeBiden also underscored the importance of smooth and efficient supply chains of vaccine raw materials and medicines. India-US healthcare partnership can address the global challenge of COVID-19," Modi tweeted.

Children attending summer camp can get within 3 feet (1 meter) of each other but should wear masks to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to fresh guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC's updated recommendations for camps, issued on Saturday, have been eagerly awaited by parents as the end of the school year approaches.
The agency said its camp guidance aligns with its evidence for social distancing at schools, with at least 3 feet between children - and at least 6 feet (2 meters) when eating and drinking. Camp counselors and other adults should stay at least 6 feet from children and each other, the CDC said.
Summer camp activities should be held outdoors as much as possible, and if indoors, doors and windows should be left open when possible, the CDC said. Group events and large gatherings should be avoided, it added.
COVID-19 vaccinations have ramped up across the country, but younger children are not currently authorized for the three shots approved in the United States. Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE's COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use starting at age 16, with approval now being sought for children ages 12 to 15. Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson are studying their vaccines in children. read more
The CDC said that while fewer children have gotten sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, they still can be infected with the coronavirus and spread it to others and sometimes can have severe outcomes themselves.

WASHINGTON – The Senate passed with overwhelming bipartisan support a hate crimes bill to address a drastic increase in violence and discrimination directed at Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.  
The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act cleared the chamber in a 94-1 vote Thursday. It would expedite the Justice Department's review of hate crimes andwould designate an official at the department to oversee the effort.
It also would task the department with coordinating with local law enforcement groups and community-based organizations to facilitate and raise awareness about hate crime reporting,including establishing an online hate crime reporting system in multiple languages.
The legislation, which now heads to the Democratic-led House, is one of the few bills to pass this Senate with support from both Republicans and Democrats. Many Democrats expected a legislative fight, but Republicans signaled early their willingness to compromise on the legislation, and senators from both parties have been negotiating for weeks.
Theexpanded legislation, spearheaded by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii,underwent several bipartisan changes before its final passage. 
Speaking from the Senate floor Thursday, Hirono said that by passing the bill, "we will send a powerful message of solidarity to the AAPI community that the Senate won't be a bystander as anti-Asian violence surges in our country." AAPI refers to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Both Senate leaders backed the bill.
"The vote today on the Anti-Asian Hate Crimes bill is proof that when the Senate is given the opportunity to work, the Senate can work to solve important issues," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said from the Senate floor ahead of the vote.

ABUJA, April 21 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s senate approved on Wednesday taking external loans worth $1.5 billion and 995 mln euros ($1.2 billion) from the World Bank and Brazil.
Nigeria is taking on the debt to try to curb the economic hit of the coronavirus pandemic, which last year pushed the country, Africa’s largest economy, into a recession from which it began to slowly recover in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The financing includes two $750 million loans from the World Bank, the first for fiscal support for Nigeria’s 36 states and the second to offset the pandemic’s impact on livelihoods, including food security, and to stimulate economic recovery.
The Export-Import Bank of Brazil is lending Nigeria 995 million euros to help the agricultural sector.
“The borrowings are largely concessional loans with low interest rates and a reasonable moratorium and payback period,” the senate said in its report on the funding request. ($1 = 0.8321 euros) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by David Clarke)