THE DAY’s BIG NEWS STORIES.

APC FACTIONS IN CRS SIGN PEACE ACCORD.

The factional Chairmen of the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, John Ochala and Etim John, have resolved to bury their differences and work for the victory of the party in the forthcoming Northern Senatorial District and Obudu State Constituency by-elections in the state.

In a joint statement signed by John Ochala and Etim John in Abuja on Tuesday 28th July, 2020, after a stakeholders’ meeting, they admitted that the crises in the party had affected the fortunes of the APC.

While noting that the forthcoming Senatorial district and state House of Assembly by-elections is topmost, the party advised all chapters to work together particularly the Cross River State Northern Senatorial District to bring about victory in the forthcoming by-elections.

“COVID-19 MOBILE COURT TO RETURN TO STREETS SOON” – BETTA

Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu says the COVID-19 mobile court will be back on the road, once the House of Assembly reviews the law that was passed to punish offenders of the COVID-19 response instructions.

Dr. Edu who revealed this during a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday, added that the penalty of life imprisonment for offenders as passed by the state lawmakers, was seen as too harsh, hence the decision to request for a review.

The State Commissioner for Health also urged Cross Riverians to continue to adhere to the covid-19 protocol by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

NUT-CRS SUPPORTS FG’s DECISION TO REOPEN EXIT CLASSES.

The Nigeria Union of teachers Cross River state Wing, has expressed it support to the decision of the federal government, to reopen exit classes in secondary schools.

The chairman of the union, Comrade Eyo Nsa Itam who said this while speaking with our correspondent over the telephone on Tuesday, however added that the government must meet all the protocols, as required by the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control, (NCDC.

Meanwhile, the Parents, Teachers association, PTA has charged the state government to ensure that personal protective equipment and hygiene facilities are provided ahead of the resumption of schools.

FG ANNOUNCES GRADUATING CLASSES’ NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS DATES.

The Federal Government has released a comprehensive schedule for various National Examinations for exit classes, spanning from 17th August to 18th November, 2020.

A statement issued on Wednesday, signed by the Ministry of Education’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong disclosed that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC-SSCE) will start on the 17^th of August, 2020 while the National Business And Technical Examinations Board, (NABTEB) will start on the 21^st of September and end on the 15^th of October.

The statement also revealed that the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) which is conducted by NECO will start on the 5^th of October and end on the 18^th of November, 2020.

HURIWA CALLS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A DISTINGUISGED SERVING OFFICER INTO THE EFCC

Human rights advocacy group, Human Rights writers association of Nigeria has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to appoint a distinguish serving officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from among the course one staff serving or retired as chairman of the anti-graft agency.

In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, 29th July, 2020, the group, expressed surprise that the chairmen of the anti-graft agency have always been chosen from the police, which is adjudged as one of the most corrupt public institutions in the country

While also suggesting that the chairman of the agency could be selected from senior staff of the Department of state services, the group added that the move will go a long way to reposition the agency as an independent body.

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO MARK 2020 EID-EL-KABIR AT HOME, BANS VISITATION

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will not be receiving Sallah homage from well-wishers, while observing this year’s Eid-el-Kabir prayers with his family members within the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.

A statement issued to journalists on Wednesday, by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu disclosed that the development is in line with advisories on how to curb further spread of COVID-19.

MINISTER OF NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS, GODSWILL AKPABIO, MUST PUBLISH NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHO GOT CONTRACTS FROM THE NDDC – REPS.

The House of Representatives has again asked the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to publish the names of the members of the National Assembly who got contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Spokesman for the House and Committee Chairman on Media Affairs and Publicity, Benjamin Kalu, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Kalu decried that rather than publishing the names as instructed by the House, the minister wrote to the Speaker of the House, adding that the content of the letter was irrelevant to the issues raised.

US PRESIDENT DEFENDS USE OF HYDROXYLCHLOROQUINE TO WARD OFF CORONAVIRUS.

United States President, Donald Trump has again defended the use of hydroxyl-chloro-quine to ward off coronavirus, contradicting his own public health officials.

This is coming after Twitter banned his eldest son for posting a clip promoting hydroxy-chloro-quine.

President Trump said the malaria medication was only rejected as a Covid-19 treatment because he had recommended its use, but regulators have warned that it may cause heart problems.

IVORY COAST’S FORMER PRESIDENT LAURENT GBAGBO MAKES MOVE TO RETURN HOME FOLLOWING CONDITIONAL FREEDOM BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

Ivory Coast’s former president Laurent Gbagbo, freed conditionally by the International Criminal Court ICC, has applied for a passport so that he can return home.

Gbagbo is the first head of state to stand trial in The Hague.

Gbagbo and his deputy Charles BleGoude were cleared in early 2019 of crimes against humanity, eight years after the former West African strongman’s arrest and transfer to the court.

Elsewhere, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, says he will pick his running mate next week for the November election against President Donald Trump.

Recall that Biden, had pledged to put a woman on the Democratic ticket.

GRIME RAPPER WILEY APOLOGIZES FOR GENERALIZING” JEWISH PEOPLE AFTER A STRING OF OFFENSIVE TWEETS.

Disgraced rapper Wiley has apologized for generalizing” Jewish people after a string of offensive tweets, but has refused to acknowledge his comments were antisemitic.

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, the rapper said the tweets came after a conflict with his manager, and claimed he was “not racist”.

The Grime artist who was also referred to the police by various groups for hate speech, has since been dropped by his manager and record label, and banned from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

THE START OF NEXT YEAR’S TOUR DE FRANCE BROUGHT FORWARD BY A WEEK, TO AVOID CLASHING WITH THE MEN’S ROAD RACE AT THE RESCHEDULED TOKYO OLYMPICS – UCI.

The International Cycling Union UCI, says the start of next year’s Tour de France has been brought forward by a week, to avoid clashing with the men’s road race at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.

The 2021 Tour will begin on June 26 and end on July 18, six days before the start of the Mount Fuji road race, which was originally scheduled to begin on July 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Tokyo Games were scheduled to take place from July 24- August 9 this year, but have been postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CONFIRMS COMMUNITY SHIELD WILL TAKE PLACE AT WEMBLEY.

The English Football Association has confirmed that the Community Shield will take place at Wembley on Saturday August 29, 2020.

The traditional curtain-raiser for the new season will see Premier League champions Liverpool play either Arsenal or Chelsea, who meet in this Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Reports say the match which will be immediately followed by an international break from September 2 to September 10, could welcome a restricted number of supporters into the stadium.

EDITOR(s) – Abenmire Adi- Williams, Onyekachi Nwosu.

REPORTER(s) – Happiness Ifiok, Mary Adie.