ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: SUNDAY

28 Nov ALL THE RELEVANT NEWS: SUNDAY

🌍Update on Omicron Variant:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has named the new COVID-19 strain as ‘Omicron’ and classified it as a variant of concern. The discovery of Omicron triggered global alarm on Friday as countries rushed to suspend travel from southern Africa and stock markets suffered their biggest falls in more than a year.
* Oil prices recorded their largest one-day drop since April 2020, falling $10 a barrel on Friday.
* The World Trade Organization (WTO) became the first major diplomatic casualty on Friday when it postponed its first ministerial meeting in four years due to the deteriorating health situation.
*The United States has issued a travel restriction on eight Southern African countries following the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant in the region. Other countries that have imposed restrictions are the UK, Australia, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Guatemala, Philippines and the EU, where Belgium reported its first infection from the virus
* However, the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has kicked against the rush of countries to impose of a travel ban on people originating from countries that have reported the variant. *Nigeria Caseload: On Friday, Nigeria reported 41 confirmed cases and zero deaths. There are now 213924 confirmed cases, 207114 recoveries and 2975 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
* FG has directed civil servants from Grade Level 12 and below to resume work effective Wednesday, December 1, 2021. They are, however, to get vaccinated before resumption.

🌍President Buhari says his desire is to build good, secured and safe place for future generations of Nigerians. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, he gave the assurance in Yola on Friday at the burial of Brig. – Gen. Dzarma Zurkushi and seven other soldiers.

🌍VP Osinbajo has said FG is targeting the attainment of economic growth rate that would be faster than the country’s population growth rate in order to enable the economy to recover fully from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and eradicate poverty.

🌍Oil Monitor: Prices plunged $10 a barrel on Friday, their largest one-day drop since April 2020, as Omicron spooked investors and added to concerns that a supply surplus could swell in the first quarter. Oil fell with global equities markets on fears the variant, could dampen economic growth and fuel demand. Brent crude settled down $9.50, or 11.6%, to $72.72 a barrel, a weekly decline of more than 8%.

🌍After over 9 months of diplomatic tussle, FG, on Friday lifted restrictions on Emirates airline flights to the country.

🌍The currency in circulation in the country rose by N129bn to N2.97tn in October from N2.84tn in September, according to the figures from the CBN.

🌍The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the final forfeiture of Diezani’s $40m jewellery

🌍Security Stories: The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declared the activities of bandits’ groups as acts of terrorism, a verdict applauded by many Nigerians
* The police have confirmed the death of 10 persons and the burning of 30 houses in an attack Friday morning by yet unidentified assailants in Te’egbe village of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
* Seven persons killed and others kidnapped as bandits reportedly chased residents out of Yan Buki village in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara State.
* Kaduna State Government has announced the restoration of telecommunications services that were earlier suspended in some part of the state.
* The abductors of the Principal of Auga Community Grammar School, Auga, his vice and three other teachers have demanded the sum of N35 million as ransom for their release.