Monthly Archives: April 2020

CAN President, Dr Samson Ayokunle***Urges govt to be transparent, inclusive in the distribution of COVID-19 palliativesBy Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

As the Christian world over celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has directed churches across the country to make relief packages available to the poor.

This directive is in the light of the lockdown ordered by various governments to stem the spread of Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic in Nigeria.

CAN President, Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, in a special Easter message titled: We Shall Have Victory at Last, said: I bring Easter greetings to all Christians in Nigeria and all over the globe.

There is no other time the hope of victory over circumstances of life which Easter brings is more relevant to humans than now when we are forced to celebrate Easter for the first time in over one hundred years in lockdown.

The Coronavirus disruptions of human activities, however, cannot deter us from our joy and victory over all evils which Christs unique resurrection from the dead has brought to us.

Beloved and fellow Nigerians, we shall see the end of all evils challenging us in the name of Jesus including COVID-19.

Let all local churches remember to make relief packages available to the poor among them at this time. This is the time we would know the true church of Christ and those that are just commercial outfits.

Ayokunle commended the Federal and State governments for rising strongly to confront the COVID-19 pandemic but urged them to be transparent and inclusive in the distribution of palliatives to the poor and vulnerable in the society.

He also called on them not to be deterred in confronting the pandemic headlong until normalcy is restored across the nation.

The CAN President said: We further urge the governments to be transparent and inclusive of all regions and religious persuasions in the identification of the poor to which pandemic relief materials and payments are being made available.

Even after the government has explained the mode by which they identified the beneficiaries, many Nigerians, including the National Assemblys members are still really not convinced that the poor around us are the beneficiaries.

We know the government cannot touch every poor in the society for lack of enough resources, but the equal selection of the poor per state with the balance in religious persuasions would have done better justice.

We shall continue to pray for the government for right and inclusive decisions always for our general good.

I am fully persuaded that very soon, coronavirus will become history and we shall all have victory over it.

Let us intensify prayers for a quick recovery for as many that are recuperating from its attacks.

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Easter: CAN tasks churches on charity to the poor - Vanguard

There are fears of a second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, if lockdown ends too soon.

Folks have been clapping, praying and hoping for a swift recovery for Boris Johnson, on Thursday the Prime Minister came out of ICU without having been on a ventilator. Johnsons lively spirit and leadership is being missed. The cabinet operates on an C18th convention of collective responsibility, the system of confidential free and frank discussion before reaching a decision for which they are collectively accountable. Dominic Raab, First Minister of State, is temporarily deputising for the PM, if Raab were to fall ill then Chancellor Rishi Sunak would step in.The Labour opposition led by newly elected Leader Keir Starmer, economists, industry, institutions, businesses of all shapes and sizes are braying for government to declare their plan to end the lockdown, thus providing an exit strategy. The benefit of the lockdown is only just beginning to show and such calls to end the lockdown may be premature. However, one can sympathise that people cannot plan their business life and financial future when the situation is still open-ended. And the governments caution is understandable as UK have not yet reached the Covid peak and deaths are still rising. The fear looms that if the lockdown ends too soon the second wave could be as fatal as the first, thus Raab announced the lockdown will continue.

When the time comes to phase out the lockdown it will hopefully include surveillance, early detection, testing, contact tracing, a decreasing rate of transmission and case fatality rate. Liam Fox MP and former Brexit Minister recommends categorising the population according to the risk they pose to themselves and to others, then to keep the high risks, the elderly and those with underlying health issues under lockdown until a vaccine is available. The rest of the population could be categorised into sub-groups, for instance, those who have had antibody or antigen tests, who could return to work. This combined with the recently improved NHS facilities would make the pandemic (and the economy) more manageable posits Dr Fox.

Regarding the phasing patterns some say construction should be the first to resume, others say financial services, others claim businesses with less than 50 employees should be in the vanguard, tourism, mass public and sporting events will be the last to return to normal. Although a YouGov poll found that 91% of citizenry supported an extended lockdown, it will be very difficult to dribble out the restrictions without a mass exodus. The only permanent way out of future episodes of lockdown is a vaccine or mass antibody testing.

In other news the board of Imagination Technologies Group, the British chip designer company who make GPUs for Apple and Samsung, that was acquired by Canyon Bridge Capital Partners in 2017 for 550million, feared they were to be usurped by Canyons main investor, the state-owned $30billion China Reform Holdings. The possibility of the intellectual property rights and profits being relocated to China was shocking, and the possible threat to national security was flagged to GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre. David Davis MP and former Brexit Secretary intervened insisting on a government investigation. Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary for Digital-Culture-Media and Sport has replied saying his officials are working to understand the facts, and the National Security and Investment Bill will give the government extra powers to scrutinise foreign investment, Dowden plans to update Davis promptly. In 2017 President Trump blocked the by-out by Canyon Bridge Capital of Lattice Semiconductor in Portland, Oregon, citing national security concerns; Trumps administration has successfully implemented technology blockades from US to China. The question is why did Davis have to bring this to the attention of the Digital Secretary in the first place. It is understood that this debacle will encourage the UK government review on Huawei 5G.

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No exit in sight for UK as lockdown continues - The Sunday Guardian

File Photo: An arrested suspect

The coronavirus pandemic that has crippled big-box retailers and other small businesses worldwide may be making a dent in illicit business, too.

In Chicago, one of Americasmost violent cities, drug arrests have plummeted 42% in the weeks since the city shut down, compared with the same period last year. Part of that decrease, some criminal lawyers say, is that drug dealers have no choice but to wait out the economic slump.

The feedback Im getting is that they arent able to move, to sell anything anywhere, said Joseph Lopez, a criminal lawyer in Chicago who represents reputed drug dealers.

Overall, Chicagos crime declined 10% after the pandemic struck, a trend playing out globally as cities report stunning crime drops in the weeks since measures were put into place to slow the spread of the virus. Even among regions that have the highest levels of violence outside a war zone, fewer people are being killed and fewer robberies are taking place.

Still, law enforcement officials worry about a surge ofunreported domestic violence, and what happens when restrictions lift or go on too long.

Its rare for a city to see a double-digit drop in crime, even over a much longer period. DuringNew York Citys 1990s crime decline, one of the biggest turnarounds in American history, crime dropped about 40% over three years. That makes the drop-offs occurring now in a period of just a couple of weeks even more seismic.

Across Latin America, crime is down to levels unseen in decades.

Killings are down, and the gangsters arent harassing so much, Eduardo Perdomo, a 47-year-old construction worker, said while getting off a bus in San Salvador. I think theyre afraid of catching the virus, and they arent going out.

El Salvador reportedan average of two killings a day last month, down from a peak of 600 a day a few years ago.

Much of the decrease has taken place because of tougher security policies and gang truces. But the imposition of near-total limits on movement is likely driving it down further, according to analysts and national statistics.

In Peru, where crime levels fell 84% last month, Lima mortician Ral Gonzlez usually has as many as 15 bodies a day many are homicide victims. This week he napped on a bench after six hours without a client.

There are almost no killings or car accidents these days, Gonzlez said.

In South Africa, police reported a stunning decline during their first week of lockdown measures. Police Minister Bheki Cele said reported rapes were down from 700 to 101 over the same period last year. Serious assault cases plummeted from 2,673 to 456, and murders fell from 326 to 94.

The U.S. virus epicenter in New York saw major crimes murder, rape, robbery, burglary, assault, grand larceny and car theft decrease by 12% from February to March. In Los Angeles, 2020 key crimes statistics were consistent with last years figures until the week of March 15, when they dropped by 30%.

Theres a lot fewer opportunities for criminals to take advantage of, said Joe Giacalone, a former New York Police Department sergeant who now teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Most burglars, they wait for you to leave the house.

Policing has also changed in the face of the pandemic. Officers are increasingly getting sick; the NYPD, the countrys largest department with more than 36,000 officers,has more than 7,000 officers outand more than 2,000 diagnosed with COVID-19.

And U.S. authorities say theyre issuing citations instead of making low-level arrests, policing social distancing and putting detectives into patrol cars which could, in turn, bring down crime rates.

While departments are unlikely to announce theyve backed off policing certain crimes, thats going to be the case, said Bowling Green State University criminologist Philip Stinson.

In many respects, over the next weeks, theyre really in survival mode, he said.

But while narcotics arrests are down, drug sales continue, with dealers likely forced to change their strategies, said Rodney Phillips, a former gang member in Chicago who now works as a conflict mediator in the city.

These guys already face poverty and death in these areas, he said. They might be selling more online now. But they arent going to give up just because of the coronavirus.

A Maryland man accused of operating a Darknet store selling prescription opioids boasted on his vendor page: Even with Corona Virus the shop is running at full speed.

He told an undercover FBI agent he was just waiting for a shipment because this corona virus (sic) is (expletive) up inventory, according to court documents.

Other crimes, however, may be fueled by shutdown orders.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the citys aggravated assaults were up 10% in the last three weeks, and half of those were domestic violence, a significantly higher proportion than normal. Calls to Missouris child abuse and neglect hotline dropped by half as the virus first struck the state. Advocates said the calls arent made because the kids arent in school.

And Chicago did see a spike in gun violence this week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, which reported 60 shootings 19 fatal between Sunday and Thursday.

San Jose, California, Police Chief Eddie Garcia hopes the downward trend will continue after the pandemic is over. But his officers are preparing for the worst.

The longer were in a lockdown, he said, the more were playing with fire.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia. More than 1.5 million cases have been diagnosed worldwide.

[Associated Press]

Vanguard News Nigeria.

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Lockdown: Crime drops around the world as COVID-19 keeps people inside - Vanguard

The inter-service rivalry between the United States Army and the United States Navy is one that is typically expressed on the football field and dates back to the 1890 but when it comes to actual military operates the services have shown that they can work quite well together.

This was reaffirmed last month when the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Landing Base ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), which was assigned to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVENT), conducted joint naval and air integration operations in the Arabian Gulf with U.S. Army AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters. The helicopters were assigned to U.S. Army Central Command's (USARCENT) Task Force Saber.

The operations were designed to enhance the capabilities of U.S. forces to respond to surface threats. It involved the Puller performing as a landing base platform for the Army's helicopters, whilst Cyclone-class Patrol Coastal (PC) ships were able to select simulated targets for the choppers to engage. The joint operations exercise was further supported by the U.S. Navy's guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60).

"The integration of U.S. Army air weapons teams with other joint fires into the maritime environment greatly enhances our ability to expand reconnaissance and attack capability," said Capt. Peter Mirisola, commander of the Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50, and Combined Task Force (CTF) 55. "The Apaches, in coordination with our surface ships, allow us to hold an adversary at high risk at extended ranges. Combined with other joint fires, these aircraft significantly increase the precision lethality of our joint maritime forces."

The Army's Apache AH-64E is a twin-engine, four-bladed, multi-mission attack helicopter and its origins date back to the post-Vietnam Era. It remains one of the world's premier attack helicopters, as it is designed as a highly stable aerial weapons-delivery platform that is capable of destroying an array of mobile armored targets on land or sea. It is armed with a 30mm automatic gun, aerial rockets and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

The Navy's Cyclone-class Patrol Coastal comprise America's naval vanguard in the Persian Gulf, and are the only U.S. warships that permanently operate off the Iranian coast.

The exercises are important for training, as the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy have conducted similar integration operations with Special Operations assets in region in the past. This included U.S. naval forces working with Army MH-6M Little Bird helicopters during Operation Earnest Will from 1987 to 1988, during the Tanker War phase of the then ongoing Iran-Iraq War.

This cooperative exercise highlighted how the Army and Navy can come together in the volatile Gulf region.

"Working with USARCENT forces represents another key capability in our ongoing integration of naval and air assets across our joint and coalition force to ensure maritime superiority," said Vice Adm. Jim Malloy, commander, USNAVCENT/U.S. 5th Fleet. "This kind of cross-domain integration allows us to maintain highly lethal and effective defensive capabilities, regardless of what platforms are operating in theater."

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

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Why Are U.S. Army Attack Helicopters Landing on U.S. Navy Warship? - The National Interest

See how theatres throughout California are responding to the current pandemic and how they're preparing for the life after Covid-19.

The Newport Theatre Arts Center has canceled its production of Working, with no future plans in place as of yet. The company is currently set to present Neil Simon's "Chapter Two" beginning May 29 and is considering a September date due to the current state of the pandemic which has closed Broadway through June. Newport's November offering Absurd Person Singular remains on its original Novemver 11 with The Diary of Anne Frank set to begin performances in January.

Segerstrom Center has postponed visits from the national tours of both Chicago and Les Miserables. Tickets will be honored for new performance dates, to be announced.

Laguna Playhouse has canceled the world premiere musical To Sir, With Love as well as postponing its production of Hershey Felder's Monsieur Chopin" to October. The company is currently considering delaying the one-woman play, Ann, to next season.

Costa Mesa's Vanguard University's first professional production The Marvelous Wonderettes is still slated to open this May but could be pushed to fall. The company has announced its 2020-21 season which includes the new musical Broadway Bound, Much Ado About Nothing, 42nd Street and more!

South Coast Repertory has canceled three productions from its season as well as the Pacific Playwrights Festival. Costa Mesa Playhouse is currently considering this season's offerings, Silent Sky and A Streetcar Named Desire as openers of the 2021 season. Dates have not yet been announced. Golden West College is currently planning a production of Hamlet for the fall.

For those stuck at home, GEM Theater directors Damien Lorton and Nicole Cassesso have launched a weekly online cocktail hour chat. After canceling both of its 2020 productions, UC Irvine's New Swan Shakespeare Festival is offering online streams of its 2018 shows, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Winter's Tale

Read the full story at The Los Angeles Times.

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California Theaters Respond to COVID-19 And Look to the Future - Broadway World