Flowerbud News

Author: Lara Olaniyi

  • UK parliament suspension not matter for judges – Lawyer

    Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament is a political issue and not a matter for judges, a lawyer for the prime minister said  as he sought to persuade the British Supreme Court that the five-week shutdown was lawful.

    Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth to prorogue, or suspend, parliament from Sept. 10 until Oct. 14, prompting accusations from opponents that he wanted to silence the legislature in the run-up to Britain’s exit from the European Union on Oct. 31.

    The Supreme Court, Britain’s top judicial body, began three days of hearings on Tuesday to decide whether Johnson’s advice to the queen regarding the suspension was unlawful.

    A ruling against him would be a major embarrassment for Johnson, who has no majority in parliament, and could see lawmakers returning early, with more time to try to influence his Brexit plans.

    James Eadie, a lawyer for Johnson, told the court he would produce a written document on Thursday outlining what Johnson would do if he lost.

    Another government lawyer said on Tuesday that if Johnson lost the case, he could recall parliament earlier than planned

  • Mr Valentine Nwaimo, Director, Mechanical Engineering Services in the Ministry of Works and Housing,  says energy audit skills will  aid in developing Nigeria’s energy efficiency sector.

    Nwaimo said this in Abuja  during a workshop for professional energy auditors on energy efficiency.

    “European Union is assisting Nigeria to know more on energy efficiency in order to conserve energy, it is like energy management.

    “The country wants to save more energy, the building energy efficiency code was launched in 2017 and the training is the implementation of the code.

    “We are training professional engineer auditors to look at houses, do modernisation in line with building energy efficiency,’’ he said.

    Nwaimo said the training was with the assistance of EU and German Government-Supported Training on energy audit in buildings for professionals in the Nigerian building sector to increase the usage of energy efficiency measures in buildings.

    Meanwhile, in a statement, Ms Edima Okodi-Iyah said Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) was currently implementing a three-phase Professional Energy Auditors (PEA) training of building industry professionals and policymakers.

    Okodi-Iyah said that the training was for professionals in the public and private sectors on how to conduct building energy audits.

    “The first phase of the PEA training held in May in Abuja and Lagos, at which 300 building professionals were introduced to the concept of “Building Energy Audit”.

    “At the end, the participants completed an assessment which was used to identify persons with demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of energy auditing,’’ she said.

    Okodi-Iyah said that during the opening that the Head of Energy Section of the Delegation of the EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Catherine Thomsen, highlighted the importance of energy efficiency in combating climate change effects.

    She said that on completion of the training, trainees would write an exam relating to the taught modules.

    According to her, successful candidates will then receive international certification as Professional Energy Auditors (PEAs).

    She said that NESP was a 33 million euro technical assistance programme co-funded by the EU and the German Government and jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the ministry.

    Okodi-Iyah said that the programme was aimed at enabling and fostering investments in a domestic market for renewable energy and energy efficiency and improving access to electricity, especially in rural communities in Nigeria.

    Mr Muhammad Yankara, a participant from SKY Habitat Ltd, said the training had taught them a lot about energy efficiency and understanding how energy should not be wasted.

    Yankara said that they had been exposed and given the right tools to optimise the country’s energy.

    “After this training I will be equipped with the best knowledge on the usage of energy efficiency measures,’’ he said.

    Another participant, Mr Adetola Oyenuga, Deputy Head of Unit, Prime Tech Solutions Ltd a professional IT service provider said that the training would enable the professional utilise the same energy used in one building for many other buildings.

    Oyenuga said that Nigeria would now witness improved access to electricity especially in rural communities

  • China announces tariff exemptions on 16 categories of U.S. products

     China on Wednesday announced tariff exemptions on 16 categories of goods imported from the U.S., as negotiations to end the countries’ trade war are set to resume.

    U.S. products exempted from Chinese tariffs include lubricating oil, anti-cancer drugs and some solvents, according to a statement by the Chinese Finance Ministry.

    The exemptions come as Chinese and U.S. trade teams have agreed to resume negotiations in early October to end their year-long trade war that is slowing the world economy.

    The exemptions are a “goodwill gesture,” ahead of the talks, state tabloid Global Times said.

    Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed 15-per-cent tariffs on 112 billion dollars’ worth of Chinese goods, including televisions, books, nappies and sports shoes.

    At the same time, Chinese tariffs of 5 and 10 per cent targeting around 75 billion dollars of U.S. goods came into force.

    The moves were the latest in an escalating trade war in which Washington accuses Beijing of unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft and unequal access to the Chinese market for foreign and domestic firms.

  • Gold prices snap four-day losing streak; focus on ECB meeting

    Gold prices edged up on Wednesday, snapping a four-day losing streak on technical buying, amid expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will dole out stimulus and cut interest rates.

    Spot gold was up 0.5 per cent at $1,493.50 per ounce, as of 0611 GMT.

    In the previous session, prices fell to their lowest since Aug. 13 at $1,483.90.

    U.S. gold futures were up 0.2 per cent at $1,502.2 an ounce.

    “The ECB is expected to reduce further the interest rate into negative territory.

    “The meeting could serve as a potential catalyst (for gold) and investors are already buying into the rate cut expectations,’’ said Margaret Yang Yan, a market analyst at CMC Markets.

    Given that gold has had such a deep correction from its recent peak, investors are buying on dips, Yan added.

    Bullion prices have shed more than four per cent or over $60, since scaling an over six-year peak of $1,557 on Sept. 4.

    Risk sentiment got a lift ahead of monetary policy decisions by the ECB on Thursday and the U.S. Federal Reserve next week, with investors hoping for further easing amid a slowdown in global growth.

    Market participants might be reluctant to commit to big risk-on bets, which could nudge gold upwards amid pre-positioning ahead of Thursday’s event, said Ilya Spivak, Senior Currency Strategist at DailyFx.

    ECB policymakers are leaning toward a package that includes a rate cut, a pledge to keep rates low for longer and compensation for banks over the side-effects of negative rates, five sources familiar with the discussion said last week.

    Fundamental backdrop is still broadly gold-supportive, considering the main sources of risk aversion remain unresolved, Spivak added.

    “Both Brexit and the U.S.-China trade war are ongoing concerns, as is the broader slowdown in global growth … that probably encourages central banks to remain dovish.’’

    Gold prices gained about 18 per cent, or over $200, since hitting year’s low of $1,265.85 on May 2.

    On the trade front, a senior White House adviser tamped down expectations on Tuesday for the next rounds of U.S.-China trade talks, urging investors, businesses and the public to be patient about resolving the trade dispute.

    Spot gold still targets $1,453 as it has cleared a support at $1,497 per ounce, according to Reuters’ Technical Analyst, Wang Tao.

    Meanwhile, the dollar index was steady, while Asian stock markets held firm and bond yields rose on Wednesday.

    Among other precious metals, silver gained 1.1 per cent to $18.21 per ounce, having hit a two-week low of $17.75 in the previous session.

    Palladium was up 0.3 per cent at $1,566.28 per ounce, while platinum climbed 1.2 per cent to $941.35.

  • IGP vows to extend police anti-cultism campaign to 36 states, FCT

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has assured that the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) will cover all the 36 states and the FCT.

    Adamu gave the assurance on Wednesday in a statement released by the National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Ebere Amaraizu, in Enugu.

    According to the statement, Adamu while meeting with the POCACOV team in Abuja, said that his administration would take appropriate measures at ensuring that the campaign succeeds.

    “I must commend the National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Ebere Amaraizu and his team over the successful national flag-off of the campaign which took place in Enugu on August 29.

    “As well, overwhelming reach out they have done to seek support and partnership for the campaign so far,’’ the statement quoted the IGP as saying.

    Amaraizu had in response thanked the police boss for giving the team the opportunity to serve and transform the life-style and views of misguided Nigerian youths, the statement said.

    “We are appreciative of the numerous support and commitment of the IG to see that the campaign succeeds nationwide.’’

  • First batch of 84 Nigerians return from S. Africa Sept. 11

    The First batch of 84 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday at 2.pm local time via the Murtala Mohammed International Lagos in company of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which disclosed this in an update made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, explained that although 313 Nigerians were confirmed as those to form the first batch of evacuees, only 84 of them would arrive on Wednesday because they were the ones cleared to embark on the flight to Nigeria.

    According to the ministry, 640 Nigerians have indicated the desire to return from South Africa and have registered to do so.

    The ministry added that the second batch of evacuees would depart Johannesburg for Nigeria on Friday.

    “The Air peace air craft which was scheduled to take off at 9. a.m local time was delayed due to the fact that checking in and clearance procedures by immigration are very very slow.

    “There are complains of system failure and out of the 313 confirmed for first batch of evacuation today, only 84 are cleared so far.

    “The more the Aircraft waits for the passengers, the higher the amount the Aircraft will pay for Parking,” the ministry stated.

    Flowerbud News reports that following the xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa, Mr Allen Onyeama, Proprietor of the Airline volunteered to send an aircraft to evacuate Nigerians willing to return free of charge.

    The process which was earlier scheduled to commence on Sept. 6 had stalled as it was reported that most Nigerians willing to return did not have valid passports or travel documents to complete immigration formalities.

  • Don applauds IBB VC for channeling N60m TETFund to cashew processing

    Prof. Dennis Balogu, Dean Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Ibrahim Badamasi University Lapai has applauded the Vice- Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Maiturare for channeling N60 million from TETFund for the purchase of cashew processing equipment for the university.

    Balogu, a professor of Agriculture in the Department of Food Science and Technology disclosed this in an interview with us, on Thursday in Lapai.

    He said the gesture was well appreciated by the faculty and the Department of Food Science in particular.

    “This money is tied to the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and they are using it in the training of our students for Food Science and Technology who want to produce juice from cashew and other derivatives” he said.

    Balogu said that during the maiden convocation in 2013 a lot of cashew juice was produced and was used to entertain all the people that came for the occasion.

    “It has helped the students to learn a lot entrepreneurially as they can produce cashew flavored bread, cashew cookies that people attested to as very good.

    “We are still trying to find out different ways in which we can use cashew products for variety of food for its numerous health benefits.

    “Its numerous high levels of Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Phosphorus, Manganese, Monounsaturated fatty acids that promote healthy levels of good cholesterol cannot be over emphasized,” he said.

    He further explained that aside nutrition, the cashew nutshell is also very useful for bio fuels and paint making, among others.

    The Don explained that cashew shell has numerous uses in chemical and pharmaceutical products.

    While appreciating TETFund for the funds, Balogu expressed gratitude to the vice chancellor for devoting such amount of money to advance food science and technology.

    “This will enhance the training we give to our students, because one of our mission is that we produce self- reliant students from IBB university in the department of food science and technology.

    “So that these students will not go out and start looking for jobs. but be assertive in the labour industry and be job creators themselves rather than job seekers,” he said.

  • WHO calls for urgent action to reduce patient harm in healthcare

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent action to combat patient harm, which causes millions of preventable deaths annually.

    The WHO, also called on countries to increase their investments and efforts toward reducing patient harm.

    Information gathered from WHO official website reveals that millions of patients are harmed each year due to unsafe health care worldwide.

    As part of this campaign, the organisation said it will host the first-ever World Patient Safety Day Sept. 17.

    The UN agency said that the situation results in 2.6 million, mostly avoidable deaths, annually in low-and middle-income countries alone.

    According to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, no one should be harmed while receiving health care.

    “ Globally, at least five patients die every minute because of unsafe care.

    “We need a patient safety culture that promotes partnership with patients, encourages reporting and learning from errors, and creates a blame-free environment where health workers are empowered and trained to reduce errors,” he said.

    WHO says that four out of every ten patients are harmed during primary and ambulatory health care, adding that the most detrimental errors are related to diagnosis, prescription and the use of medicines.

    “Medication errors alone cost an estimated 42 billion U.S. dollars annually.
    “Unsafe surgical care procedures cause complications in up to 25 per cent of patients resulting in one million deaths during or immediately after surgery annually.

    “Patient harm in health care is unacceptable and WHO is calling for urgent action by countries and partners around the world to reduce patient harm in health care.

    “Patient safety and quality of care are essential for delivering effective health services and achieving universal health coverage,’’ it stated.

    It added that investment in improving patient safety can lead to significant financial savings.

    “The cost of prevention is much lower than the cost of treatment due to harm.

    “As an example, in the United States alone, focused safety improvements led to an estimated 28 billion U.S. dollars in savings in Medicare hospitals between 2010 and 2015.

    “Greater patient involvement is the key to safer care; engaging patients can reduce the burden of harm by up to 15 per cent, saving billions of dollars each year,’’ it stated.

    WHO says that, on the very first World Patient Safety Day, it is prioritising patient safety as a global health priority.

    It is urging patients, healthcare workers, policy makers and health care industry to speak up for patient safety.

    Sept. 17 was established as World Patient Safety Day by the 72nd World Health Assembly in May 2019.

  • Chimamanda Receives Prism of Reason Award in Germany Today

    Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie receives yet another award, the Kassel Citizens’ ” Prism of Reason” Award for “her vision of humanistic diversity”. According to the organizers, this prize is awarded to persons or institutions whose work serves the ideals of the Enlightenment by overcoming ideological barriers and promoting reason and tolerance towards dissenters.

    The award ceremony which takes place today, Sunday the 15th of September at the State Theater of Kassel in Germany – a day that happens to be Adichie’s birthday – is being given to her not only for her undeniable literary prowess, but also for her equality and justice advocacy.

    The “Prism of Reason” award was founded in 1990 by citizens of the city of Kassel and the region. So far, the prize has been awarded 28 times.

    The first prize-winner (in 1991) was the then German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher; he was honoured for his services to the opening of the Iron Curtain. Other awardees include Chinese dissident and artist Ai Weiwei; Indian scientist and documenta 13 participant Vandana Shiva; Somali-born Dutch-American activist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Israeli diplomat, peace activist and publicist Avi Primor; and Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya.

    This year, in the 29th year of the award, the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the Kassel Citizens’ Prize have selected Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as the 2019 winner of the “Prism of Reason”. This makes her the first Nigerian to receive this remarkable prize.

    A statement made by the Kassel Board president Bernd Leifeld said “Combative but not fanatical, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie…points out ways to overcome outdated patterns which are deeply anchored in education and society”. He added that “Kassel citizens honour her with their Prize “The Prism of Reason 2019” because she believes in the social, political and economic equality of all people”.
    The prize consists of a certificate, a sculpture designed by the Kassel art professor and documenta artist Karl Oskar Blase with a prism (symbolising the analytical glass of the Enlightenment). The prize and the award ceremony are financed exclusively by membership fees and donations from citizens of the city and region of Kassel.

    It’s proving to be quite the birthday weekend for Adichie already. First with the announcement on Friday the 13th of September that HBO Max, a division of WarnerMedia Entertainment, is creating a straight-to-series order for the television adaptation of Adichie’s most recent novel “Americanah”. The 10-episode series will star Academy Award®? winner Lupita Nyong’o, with the pilot being written by screenwriter and actor Danai Gurira (who starred in the movie “Black Panther”)- and will be co-produced by Lupita Nyong’o and Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B.

    Adichie has also been trending non-stop on social media since Friday when a Twitter group of fans of the writer (@Chimamanda_Army) went viral to announce a competition to celebrate her birthday. Tagged #10ThingsAboutChimamanda, participants are encouraged to list 10 things about Adichie to stand the chance of winning fan-donated prizes, such as 10 collections of Chimamanda’s books, 10 pairs of movie tickets to watch a film of their choice at any Filmhouse cinema location; and 10 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablets.

    According to the fans, the competition kicked off fully at 12am midnight Nigerian time/GMT (the start of her birthday, Sunday September 15th) and will run until 5pm Nigerian time/GMT of the same day. For those who want to join in, more details on the competition can be found on the fan page on Twitter: @Chimamanda_Army.