Canada reported zero COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours for the first time since March 15, according to public health agency data released late on Friday.
Canada’s death toll from the pandemic stood at 9,163 as of Sept. 11, the same as the number of the deaths reported on Sept. 10, government data showed. The number of positive cases rose by 702 to 135,626 on Sept. 11 from the previous day, the data showed.
With most provinces easing lockdown restrictions and as schools reopen for in-person classes, Canada’s infections have seen a mild pick-up in recent days. Authorities have been on high alert to avoid fresh outbreaks, and provinces including British Columbia have imposed new curbs to tackle the spread of the virus.
Still, Canada’s situation looks relatively healthy compared to its southern neighbor. Across the border in the United States, more than 190,000 people have died from the pandemic and more than 6.38 million people have been infected.
Canada’s experience dealing with SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, helped health officials be better prepared. SARS killed 44 people in Canada, the only country outside Asia to report deaths from that outbreak in 2002-2003.
Canada’s first recorded case of coronavirus was in Toronto, on Jan. 25. Both Ontario, the country’s most populous province, and neighboring Quebec turned into the hot spots for COVID-19 infections.
According to research by watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), taking Viagra could have some unwanted side-effects, including flatulence.
Other symptoms include lip swelling, while seven people claimed to have fainted after taking it, according to a report by The Mirror.
Also, there are 555 possible side-effects, but it’s not clear that they are all linked to Viagra.
Hearing loss is another effect reported by 10 people, and Playboy boss Hugh Hefner claimed the drug was affecting his hearing before his death aged 91.
The MHRA records the possible effects of drugs in order to highlight dangers.
The manufacturer of the anti-impotence drug said its safety record is “well established”.
UK Meds, an online pharmacy based in Nottingham, reported a 23% rise in orders of Viagra at the start of lockdown, as people had more time on their hands.
Manufacturer Pfizer has defended the drug, saying most people who had side-effects were taking it for high blood pressure.
According to a spokesman:
Since its introduction in 1998 sildenafil has been used by more than 37 million men. Its safety has been well established through extensive post-marketing surveillance.
Laxman Narasimhan, the chief of Durex’s parent company Reckitt Benckiser, has said that condom sales in most markets across the world, including the UK, have slumped since the pandemic began.
The firm has blamed the poor sales performance on the effect ‘stay at home’ policies are having on potential customers. Narasimhan in an interview with BBC said:
Intimate occasions are going down and that is a manifestation of anxiety. What you see is this virus is having a toll on the number of intimate occasions in the UK.
Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert, Jamaican singer and songwriter, known as the leader for the reggae and ska band Toots & the Maytals, has passed away. He was 77.
Hibbert’s 1968 song “Do the Reggay” is widely credited as the genesis of the name for Reggae music.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce that Frederick Nathaniel ‘Toots’ Hibbert passed away peacefully tonight, surrounded by his family at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica,” his family said in a statement.
“The family and his management team would like to thank the medical teams and professionals for their care and diligence, and ask that you respect their privacy during their time of grief. Mr. Hibbert is survived by his wife of 39 years, Miss D, and his seven of eight children.”
Although no cause of death was given, Hibbert was hospitalized last month after showing symptoms consistent with the coronavirus.
Ziggy Marley, the son of reggae star Bob Marley, said he had recently spoken with Hibbert. “I spoke with him a few weeks ago [and] told him how much I loved him and what he means to me,” Ziggy Marley said in a tribute on his Instagram page.
“We laughed and shared our mutual respect. I am fully in sorrow tonight. I will miss his smile and laughter [and] his genuine nature. [Toots] was a father figure to me; his spirit is with us [and] his music fills us with his energy. I will never forget him. #foundingfather.”
Hibbert’s death comes just weeks after Toots and the Maytals released their new album, Got to Be Tough, the band’s first full-length LP in more than 10 years, Rolling Stone reports.
Hibbert was born December 8th, 1942, in May Pen, Jamaica, the youngest of eight children. His parents were both strict Seventh-day Adventist preachers so he grew up singing gospel music in a church choir.
In 1962, while working at a local barbershop, he was heard singing inside by Ralphus “Raleigh” Gordon and Nathaniel “Jerry” Matthias. They would become a trio forming The Maytals – named after Hibbert’s hometown of May Pen.
Suspected Fulani militia has gruesomely killed a 24-year-old final year student of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria identified as Isaac Thomas in Atakmawei, Zamandabo ward, in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) in Southern Kaduna.
This was contained in a statement released on Friday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), Mr. Luka Binniyat,
The SOKAPU PRO said the Fulani militia laid ambush for Isaac, his brother Anthony Magaji and one other person, on the way to their sugar cane farm.
According to the statement, “the Fulani militia on the 8th September 2020 lay an ambush for three Atyap youths from Atakmawei in the same Zamandabo Ward in Atyap Chiefdom, as they went to clear weed in their sugar cane farm about a kilometer from their village.
“Suddenly, armed herdsmen came from hiding and struck. They descended on them with daggers and machetes. Isaac Thomas, a final year student of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, was hacked down. They axed his neck and head with macabre wounds and killed him instantly”
“Anthony Magaji, also an OND student of the same school, managed to escape with life-threatening injuries and is now under intensive care in a hospital, while the third escaped with less injury.”
The colleague of the deceased identified as Ugwuja also confirmed the incident and further stated that Anthony is still in critical condition.
“I regret to announce the sudden death of a colleague, friend and a humble secretary of Our Lady Cause of Our Joy Praesidium, Legion of Mary Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria.. Brother Isaac Thomas.. A final year HND student at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria”
“He was attacked along side his brother Magaji Anthony who is in critical condition now, but the attackers (herdsmen) succeeded in killing Isaac it all happened in their hometown Kafanchan early morning of today.. Brother with a heavy heart we pray your soul rest in peace and may perpetual light shine in your part, Amen”.
Chris Ihebuzo, who claimed to have hacked Access Bank and extracted more than 2,000 customer’s data has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,(EFCC).
The anti-graft agency announced the arrest of the self-acclaimed hacker in an Instagram post.
He is being held for cyberstalking.
According to the anti-graft agency, Chris was arrested in Benin City, Edo State after it received a petition from a new generation Bank.
Allegations against Chris was that in an online video, he claimed to be in possession of some personal information and Biometric Verification Numbers of over 2000 customers of the bank, which he claimed to have obtained after hacking into its database from his personal laptop computer.
Upon arrest, the laptop used to upload the viral video was recovered, and a printout of over 2000 bank details, including the BVN of customers of the bank.
12 blank ATM cards were also recovered from Chris. The ATM cards are suspected to be for the perpetration of his alleged criminal activity.
The anti-graft agency said that it is carrying out investigations to find other accomplices in the suspected crime.
It also said Chris would be charged to court immediately investigations are concluded.
Big Brother Housemate, Nengi has adviced her fellow housemate Ozo, to focus on why he came to the Lockdown house.
Ozo was issued a second strike on Friday for breaking one of the rules in the Lockdown house after he was found guilty of writing a love letter to his love interest, Nengi.
However, Nengi who was feeling guilty about the whole suituation told Ozo to leave her and face the game if she’s a distraction to him.
She also told him to remember why he came into the house in the first place, adding that she feels she’s a distraction to him.
“If I am a distraction please cut me off because I feel like I am a distraction to you.
“Let’s leave all this whole love thing and focus on why we are here because this is a once in a life time opportunity.
“We can’t come here and misuse the opportunity we have here and I have told you we have to start mingling with other housemates.
“I am feeling guilty about all of this because I feel like I am the one making you do these stuffs.
“Don’t let anything or anyone make you forget why you are here,” she said
Bidemi Kosoko is one actress that has had her fair share of controversies in the entertainment industry. However, the actress has described controversies as inevitable in the movie industry.
Also according to the actress, she wants to surpass the achievements of her father, Prince Jide Kosoko, in the movie industry because children “are meant to be better than their parents”. Kosoko is one of the most respected actors in Nollywood.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, the actress said, “I regret nothing so far and I cannot remember anything I wished I had done in the early days of my career that I didn’t do. Some of the things that have helped me to come this far include my belief in constant learning and improving my craft at every given time. I always want to be better than my last performance and I think that has helped me stand out.
“I would say that being the daughter of a veteran actor, Prince Jide Kosoko, didn’t help me in terms of popularity and in helping me to get favour in the movie industry. I don’t get jobs because I am a Kosoko, I get movie roles because some directors and producers see my capabilities and talent and need them. Nonetheless, in some cases, my father’s name has opened doors for me and also given me soft landings where there might have been difficulties. I don’t know people’s expectations regarding my career, but I intend to be better than Jide Kosoko. Aren’t children meant to be better than their parents?
“About controversies and rumours, immediately I understood that the aforementioned topics are inevitable in this job, I started to pay less or no attention to them. People will always talk, whether you do or you don’t. So why should I bother myself?”
Speaking about rivalries in the entertainment industry and why some actors preferred to marry their colleagues, Bidemi noted, “Some actresses are considered as rivals and some have even declared it openly, but I do not have a rival and I am not in a competition with anyone. Rivalry only builds hatred and there is too much hatred in the world; we need love and peace. When it also comes to the choice of a lifetime, everyone should do what they think will work for them; there’s no ‘go-to manual’ when it comes to marriage. One man’s food is another man’s poison.”
Over 310 fans and viewers of the fifth season of one of the most popular reality television shows in Nigeria, Big Brother Naija (Lockdown Edition), have raised over N12.5m for Erica Nlewedim, a 26-year-old housemate who was disqualified on the 48th day of the show.
According to the information on her page regarding the Gofundme account, as at 9.14pm on Friday, $28, 410 (approximately N12.5m) have been donated by 311 fans.
The ex-housemate, who is one of the most popular in the current season, got more than she bargained for after a lengthy tirade against a fellow housemate, Olamilekan Agbeleshe, popularly known as Laycon. The incident, combined with some of her other actions, earned her a third and final strike.
According to Big Brother, Erica was issued a strike for verbally abusing her fellow housemates, disrespecting the Head of House lounge, and interfering with the production process.
This instantly angered some of her fans, who subsequently directed verbal abuse at the camp of Laycon, whom they held responsible for Erica’s fate. In light of these unfortunate incidents, a Gofundme fundraiser targeted at $100,000 was created for “the star of BBNaija season 5, whose journey on the show came to an emotional end – to realise some of her hopes and aspirations”.
In a statement on her Gofundme page, one Ehizode Irefo, the organiser of the fundraiser, said, “The funds will be used to raise awareness for mental health as per therapist’s fees and also help her get back on her feet considering the disqualification.”
A Dubai-bound passenger, Ishaq Abubakar, has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following his arrest with 2,886 Automated Teller Machine cards and four Subscriber Identification Module cards concealed inside cartons of noodles.
It was learnt that suspect with passport number A08333717 was arrested by the personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while travelling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates on August 22, 2020, via the Emirates evacuation flight.
The Deputy Controller, Enforcement, NCS, Abdulmumin Bako, while handing the suspect to the EFCC during a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday, said Abubakar was arrested at the Departure Hall of the airport.
Bako, who represented the Customs Area Comptroller, A. Ma’aji, said, “Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, on August 22, 2020, intercepted the suspect with 2,886 ATM cards and four SIM cards, which he carefully concealed in packs of noodles.
“The suspect, who claimed to have come from Kano to travel to Dubai aboard the Emirates evacuation flight, was seen with one Mr Musliu, who was assigned to facilitate his movement through the airport checks, but the diligence of our officers, who insisted on conducting a physical examination, revealed the concealment.”
The Lagos Zonal Head, EFCC, AbdulRasheed Bawa, while receiving the suspect, said the ATM cards could be used for money laundering or foreign exchange malpractices, adding that everyone involved in the conspiracy would be arrested and prosecuted by the commission.
There was jubilation at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt on Saturday as men of the Rivers State Police Command arrested a most-wanted armed robber and kidnapper popularly known as Bobisky.
Bobisky, whose real name is Honest Digbara, was arrested early Saturday at Korokoro in the Tai Local Government Area in a sting operation led by the Divisional Police Officer of Bori, Superintendent Bako Angbashim.
He was paraded at the headquarters of the command on Mosco Road, Port Harcourt.
Bobisky, a terror to many residents in the Ogoni area of the state, has been linked to most of the criminal activities recorded in the area.
Governor Nyesom Wike had earlier placed a N30 million bounty on Bobisky’s head, saying he will reward any member of the public who can provide useful information that will lead to the arrest of the criminal.
A 25-year-old woman who died in a multi-vehicle collision in Maryland had posted a video of herself speeding in her sports car just moments before the fatal crash.
Stephanie Angelica Vasquez, a 25-year-old from Kensington, had been driving the 2020 Toyota Supra that crashed into a Honda Accord in Gaithersburg late on Wednesday night.
Just moments before the crash, she posted several videos of herself on Instagram posing in the yellow vehicle and captioning it 'Imma kill it on the high way'.
The person sitting in the passenger seat of the Supra, 35-year-old Jonathan Chakras, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Vasquez had been traveling along Muddy Branch Road when she collided with the Accord as it tried to turn left onto eastbound West Deer Park Road.
Authorities believe that Vasquez had been speeding, which contributed to the collision. Three unoccupied parked vehicles were also damaged in the collision.
The driver of the Accord, identified as 40-year-old Heriberto Santos Gonzalez, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Two other men, who were not identified, were also transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
The Montgomery County Police Department shared that Vasquez was stopped on August 2 at 1.20am when an unmarked police cruiser observed her driving recklessly in Silver Spring.
After failing a field sobriety test, police discovered that she had a handgun in her glove department.
The mother was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, transporting a loaded handgun in a vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria is slowly becoming a failed state and a basket case that urgently needs to be pulled from the brink of collapse.
He said this in Abuja on Thursday while delivering a speech titled, ‘Moving Nigeria Away from Tipping Over’ at a consultative dialogue attended by various socio-cultural groups including Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum.
Obasanjo, who played an active role in the Nigerian Civil War, said he had never seen Nigeria so divided, adding that many of the problems plaguing the country today were due to the recent mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity.
The former President said, “I do appreciate that you all feel sad and embarrassed as most of us feel as Nigerians with the situation we find ourselves in. Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state; economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country.
“And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country. Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere.”
Obasanjo said those beating drums of war and calling for secession must remember that were Nigeria to break into several countries, the citizens would still be neighbours and would need to interact with one another.
He stated that if Nigeria was to successfully tackle its challenges, it must first address the problem of disunity because a house divided could not achieve much success.
The former President, therefore, commended all socio-cultural groups present at the meeting, describing their agreement to come together as a good sign.
He added, “With what I have seen, read and heard from the rapprochement that you are forging together, I see a ray of hope that Nigeria can be saved from disintegration.
“If we are ready to live together in understanding, mutual respect and love with equity, justice, inclusiveness while engendering sense of belonging and unity of purpose and all hands on deck, we can deal with internal issues of terrorism, organised crimes, banditry, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug, money laundering and corruption. We will then be able to deal successfully with any incoming attack of terrorism, organised crimes, etc; from outside.”
A mechanic in Lafia, Nasarawa State, John Simon, has got more than he bargained for as a customer’s car he drove to a brothel in the New Nyanya area of the state was stolen.
City Round learnt that Simon was in the middle of an overnight romp with a sex worker, Stella Emeerga, when the 2014 Toyota Camry car was taken away by three men in connivance with Emeerga.
It was gathered that Simon, a father of two, stopped by at the brothel while travelling to Abuja to deliver the vehicle to his customer who is a car dealer.
While he was drunk in the brothel, one of the accomplices reportedly sneaked in and picked the car key on the floor.
At dawn, when he did not find the car where it was parked, Simon reported the incident at the New Nyanya Police Station and he and Emeerga were arrested.
After months of investigation at the station without headway, the owner of the car was said to have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the case was transferred to IG’s Intelligence Response Team.
One of the suspects, Monday Francis, recently arrested by the operatives owned up to the crime during an interview with City Round during the week.
The 30-year-old suspect said the theft was planned together with Emeerga, noting that the car was with a member of the gang who is still at large.
He stated, “We were four including Stella (Emeerga) that planned to steal the car when the driver (Simon) arrived at the brothel. We planned to make it look as if Stella was innocent. I pretended that I wanted water from her and she came out of her room while one of us quietly opened the door and took the car key.
“Stella told us that the man was drunk and that we could try. Dodo and Ezekiel took the car away. They gave it to one buyer who is on the run. Boys hang around the brothel to steal from anyone who is careless. Most of them will sleep off. We will enter their rooms and steal their valuables.”
But Emeerga, 25, who said Simon had been her customer for over a year, denied conniving with the gang to steal the car.
She said she did not realise the vehicle had been stolen until in the morning when she discovered that a piece of cloth she used to block a big hole on her door had been removed.
She stated, “That day, Simon saw me hanging outside the brothel waiting for a customer. He took me and his friend, Junior, to an ATM point in Maraba to withdraw money. We came back and stayed outside till around 12am. I told him that I want to go and sleep as I was feeling cold. He told me that he wanted to sleep with me that night. I resisted but since there was no customer, I obliged him.
“Around 1am, I heard someone knock at my door. I ignored it but the person knocked again. It turned out to be Francis. I opened the door and explained to him that I have a guest. He then asked me if I had water and I said no.
“He pleaded with me to help him collect water from the bar. I followed him and locked my door because I know bad boys might enter my room. Simon was awake but lying down. I came back and we slept. In the morning, our landlady knocked at my door that I should bring my N1,500 levy. We normally contribute N1,500 every month to settle security men.
“I discovered that a hole on my door was opened. I normally used cloth to block it. I never knew that something had happened. It was when Simon finished bathing and could not find the key that I realised that someone could have accessed my room through that hole. We went outside and discovered that the car was no longer where it was parked. We went to New Nyaya Police Station and reported the matter. They took our statement and detained us.”
There was apprehension last Thursday at the Awolusi Bus stop in the Alagbado area of Lagos State after residents found two artistes dead inside a studio in the area.
The musicians identified as Ajibawo Lawal and Sunday Akhigbe, were discovered dead around 7am, having reportedly performed all night in the studio.
A police source told Punch on Saturday that the residents also brought out a generator and some hard drugs from the studio, fuelling speculations that they might have died from fumes or effects of hard drugs.
Policemen from the Alagbado division recovered the two corpses.
A resident, Mahfuz Majeed, said apart from the two deceased, two other artists including the studio manager were found lying unconscious and rushed to the hospital.
He said, “Nobody came out from the studio while a generator was left working. So, neighbours became suspicious and broke into the building through the window. Apart from the dead artistes, they met two others in a terrible condition. We had to rush them to a private hospital. The police have taken over the case and we don’t know the state of the men in the hospital.”
One of the five widows of slain notorious militia leader in Benue State, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, Mrs Wantor Akwaza, has said her deceased husband was snatched by military men.
Recall that the Commander of Operation Ayem A. Kpatuma, Major General Ali Gadzama, had on Tuesday told Channels Television that Gana was killed in a gun battle with soldiers.
But a community leader, who confided in The Punch in Makurdi, said Gana was in a government convoy when he was dragged out of a car by soldiers at a checkpoint in Gbitse in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state.
Mrs Akwaza said her husband was in a convoy of government officials, traditional rulers and clergymen, heading to Makurdi, the state capital, to finalise the amnesty deal he had with the state government before he was killed.
The 34-year-old, who spoke with some select journalists in Abuja, said Akwaza only accepted the state government’s offer of amnesty and came out of his hiding after a former Governor of the State, Gabriel Suswam, visited and assured him that he was involved in the deal.
Suswam, who is currently the senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial District, had on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel how Gana died.
But Gana’s widow said her late husband whom she last spoke with on Saturday, accepted the government’s amnesty offer because he was tired of living in hiding and wanted to start living as a freeman.
She said, “He said he had worked for the world for too long; so he wanted to work for God. He said he wanted to be a free man.”
She said she wanted government to “bring the people” who killed her husband “to justice and pay compensation” of N5bn to the family.
Atiku Tijjani Shuaibu Rabo Ringim, a Physiotherapist with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital was last night stabbed to death by yet-to-be-identified assailants.
Zainab Rabo Ringim, a relation to the deceased in a statement made available to reporters in Kano, said her nephew was killed by a phone thief.
The incident is reported to have occurred at about 8:00pm on Thursday.
Zainab Rabo Ringim’s statement reads: “My son, my nephew, Atiku Tijjani Shuaibu Rabo Ringim was killed by unknown persons in Kano yesterday night. They killed him. Yes, they killed him trying to snatch his smartphone by force.
“My peace loving nephew is no more.
“Rest in peace Yaya Atiku”.
As at press time, the police were yet to react to the incident.
A Nigerian lady, Apara Joy Oge has shared photos of what she found inside the 'meat' pie she bought.
According to Apara, the meat in the pie was replaced with macaroni. She wrote;
"This is the highest level of corruption ever. After a hectic day yesterday, I ordered for meat pie and a bottle of cold Malt to enable me calm down those soldiers in my stomach. Getting home, I realize I've been deceived. I was given MACARONI PIE instead of MEAT PIE and this has killed my appetite for pastries" She wrote
A groom has died three days after tying the knot in Delta state. The groom, Rex Ebube was returning from Delta state to Lagos on the 8th of September, 2020 when he met his untimely death.
Rex had tied the knot on September 5th.
According to reports, the deceased was trying to overtake a car stopped by some policemen at a police-check point when a tipper rammed into him.
Pope Francis has said that the pleasures of a well-cooked meal or loving s3xual intercourse are 'divine' in a newly-published book of interviews.
He believes they have unjustly fallen victim to 'overzealousness' on the part of the Catholic Church in the past.
'Pleasure arrives directly from God, it is neither Catholic, nor Christian, nor anything else, it is simply divine,' the Pope told Italian writer Carlo Petrini.
He said there was no place for an 'overzealous morality' that denies pleasure, something which he admitted had existed in the church in the past.
The 83-year-old, born in Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina, insisted that this was 'a wrong interpretation of the Christian message'.
The Church has condemned inhuman, brutish, vulgar pleasure, but has on the other hand always accepted human, simple, moral pleasure,' he said.
'The pleasure of eating is there to keep you healthy by eating, just like sexual pleasure is there to make love more beautiful and guarantee the perpetuation of the species.
He added: 'The pleasure of eating and sexual pleasure come from God.'
Pope Francis added that opposing views 'have caused enormous harm, which can still be felt strongly today'.
The book 'TerraFutura, conversations with Pope Francis on integral ecology', written by Petrini, was published on September 9.
