Apple services now in more countries - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Apple (www.Apple.com) services is now more customers around the world can enjoy many of Apple’s most popular services, reports ITREALMS.

The App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and iCloud are now available in 20 more countries, and Apple Music is available in 52 additional countries are now available in 20 more countries, and Apple Music is available in 52 additional countries.

“We’re delighted to bring many of Apple’s most beloved Services to users in more countries than ever before,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and International Content. “We hope our customers can discover their new favorite apps, games, music and podcasts as we continue to celebrate the world’s best creators, artists and developers.”

The App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and iCloud are now available in the following countries and regions: Africa: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Rwanda and Zambia.

Asia-Pacific: Maldives and Myanmar, while Europe covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia.

Middle East: Afghanistan (excluding Apple Music) and Iraq.
Oceania: Nauru (excluding Apple Music), Tonga and Vanuatu.

Apple Music is also expanding to the following countries and regions: Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Chad, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Tunisia.

Apple official said that Asia-Pacific has Bhutan, whereas
Europe has Croatia, Iceland and North Macedonia, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean enlisted the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos and Uruguay.
Middle East: Kuwait, Qatar and Yemen. Just as Oceania has Solomon Islands.

The App Store, now in 175 countries and regions, is the world’s safest and most vibrant app marketplace, with over half a billion people visiting each week. It is the best place for users to discover new apps and allows developers of all sizes to distribute their apps to customers around the world. The App Store features many ways for developers to build their businesses, and since it launched in 2008, developers have been creating innovative apps that influence culture and change lives.

Apple Arcade is a groundbreaking game subscription service within the App Store, offering users unlimited access to the entire catalog of more than 100 exclusive games, all playable across iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, Mac® and Apple TV®. Apple Arcade is adding new games and expansions every month from some of the world’s most visionary game developers.

Apple Music is the most complete music experience, now available in 167 countries and regions and offering more than 60 million songs. With world-class music experts and tastemakers curating thousands of playlists and daily selections, and the renowned global radio station Beats 1, Apple Music is the best music service for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch®, Apple TV, Mac, HomePod® and CarPlay®, and is also available on Android and and other devices.

New Apple Music subscribers in the 52 additional countries can enjoy a six-month free trial of the service, with locally curated playlists including Africa Now, Afrobeats Hits, Ghana Bounce and more. In addition, users have access to world-class music experts, tastemakers, and artist-led programs from globally celebrated creators including Virgil Abloh, Billie Eilish, Elton John, Pharrell, and more.

Apple Podcasts is the best place to browse and listen to the world’s largest catalog of podcasts, now featuring over 1 million shows in more than 100 languages and 175 countries and regions.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Passage of former Justice Minister: Tinubu commiserates with Akinjide family - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has sent his commiseration to the family of former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation,

Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, the government and people of Oyo State over his passing on Tuesday, reports ITREALMS.

Tinubu via his Media Officer, Mr. Tunde Rahman, said: “I commiserate with the family of Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, over his passing early on Tuesday.

“Chief Akinjide was an extra-ordinarily brilliant lawyer and an undisputable giant in the legal profession. Whichever side of the political spectrum anyone belonged to in that 1979-83 era, it was never in doubt that Chief Akinjide served the country and the government of late President Shehu Shagari with dedication, commitment and with all his deep legal knowledge and immense skills.

“He had a passion for service and even deeper obsession with matters of the law. Chief Akinjide will not be forgotten in a hurry for his was a powerful voice not only in matters of law and jurisprudence but also in national affairs, wherein he made many important interventions at critical periods.

“My condolences also go to the government and people of Oyo State over the loss of their outstanding son. May God Almighty grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family and all those he left behind.”

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Nigeria tested 7,153 persons on COVID-19 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed that so far, 7,153 persons have been test for the possible ChineseVirus-19 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-19, reports ITREALMS.

NCDC in its case summary in Nigeria as at April, 2020, the total samples tested stood at 7,153.
ITREALMS also gathered that the total number of confirmed cases stood at 665 as at time of filing this story.

A total of 188 persons were discharged, while 22 deaths have been recorded.

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COVID-19: Oyakhilome Foundation lifts Lagos communities with food items - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The InnerCity Mission for Children, a non-governmental organization under the auspices of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, has donated food items to the Lagos state government to help soften the effects of the compulsory lockdown in the state which has affected many who survive through their daily means of sustenance, reports ITREALMS.

The organization will also help the government in the distribution of the food items, targeting vulnerable children, households, and communities to help them cushion the effects of the government’s stay-at-home directive by government to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Director of Innercity Mission for Children, Mrs. Omoh Alabi, who led the team to present the items to the state government was received by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal and the state’s commissioner for Wealth Creation Hon. (Mrs) Yetunde Arobieke at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority office.

According to Mrs. Alabi, the organization decided to support the Lagos state government to cushion the effects of lockdown on Lagosians as the Coronavirus outbreak has affected all areas of human endeavor.

She further said the founder of the InnerCity Mission for Children, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome is committed to working with the government to ensure that efforts to combat the virus are not made in vain by those who may be driven to the streets as a result of hunger.

In her words, “We deem it necessary, as a faith-based organisation to lend our own support for the laudable efforts of the government to cushion the unsettling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on many families in Lagos State.

“As a caring organisation we realized that we cannot be indifferent to the plight of many challenged masses of the state. We are trying to stretch out a hand of kindness to those who ordinarily will not have anyone to care for them,” she stated.

“Our goal is to ensure that indigent children and families are safe and fed even as the world fights against Covid19. As we reach out to these needy with food supplies, it is our prayer that soon we will be able to put this behind us and our cities will return back to normal,” she added.

Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the Lagos State Government, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, commended the Innercity Mission for Children for the kind gesture.

Two thousand families are to benefit from the 1st phase of the InnerCity Mission’s emergency food distribution as part of palliatives for the lockdown to prevent spread of the coronavirus. In the end, 20,000 families would have been supported in Lagos alone.

Speaking further, Mrs. Alabi said: “the 2000 families are from 27 inner city communities and 10 vulnerable orphanages in Lagos who have been adversely affected by the recent preventive measures of the lockdown.”

“As we reach out to these needy with food supplies, it is our prayer that soon we will be able to put this behind us and our cities will return back to normal,” she said.

“Our distribution has commenced in earnest in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture to deprived families in communities such as Majindu, Oworo, Makuko, Ajegunle, Iwaya, Haruna, Kosofe communities to mention a few.”

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Rose, a mother of three expressed her gratitude as she collected her food parcel.

She said: “I was not expecting food today because I didn’t know how to feed myself and my children, but I thank the Man of God, Pastor Chris and the InnerCity Mission for giving me food. Now I can feed my children.”

The InnerCity Mission for Children was birthed as a vision of the world-renowned Pastor and Philanthropist, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome DSc DD to take action to meet the needs of indigent children and families. In his words, “The challenge of the poor is not just about their needs; we are equally meeting our own needs. It is in your interest to help the poor. We have a divine responsibility to God, to the Church and the society to reach children in our inner cities.”

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Pix: Mrs Omoh Alabi, Director of Innercity Mission for Children presenting the items to some beneficiaries in one of the selected clusters in Lagos.

COVID-19: IHS, EU co-finance medical supplies to support FG

ITREALMS:

The telecommunications tower company and subsidiary of IHS Towers, the IHS Nigeria, is partnering with the European Union (EU) to co-finance supplies in support the Federal Government of Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.


These supplies, ITREALMS gathered is routed through the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), to prevent and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in affected states across the country. 

This came as the United Nations (UN) has received delivery of vital health supplies to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria on a flight funded by APM Terminals.

The supplies, made up of 10,000 test kits, 15 oxygen concentrators, and various personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccines, IEHK/PEP kits, and other vital health supplies, will support the Nigerian Government’s COVID-19 Response Plan and UNICEF’s work with children and families in Nigeria.

Additional COVID-19 response supplies are expected in a UN joint flight to be delivered to Nigeria in the coming days.

The personal protection equipment (PPEs) will protect medical personnel and ancillary staff who are the first responders in the frontline, providing care and treatment to people affected by the virus. The test kits will enable healthcare workers to test those who suspect they may have the virus to verify their health status, so they can get treatment and protect their families and communities.

“We know that to limit the spread of the virus, it is important to test as many people as possible, especially those with recent travel history and those who came into contact with travelers. These test kits will support Nigeria’s drive to control the transmission of COVID-19 infections and support the Government’s ongoing strong efforts to protect the country from an escalating pandemic,” said Edward Kallon, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in Nigeria.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Nigeria in late February, the UN has been supporting the Government of Nigeria to respond to the pandemic through risk communications and community engagement, infection prevention and control, epidemiology/surveillance and management of coronavirus cases.

Working with government and other partners, the UN is developing and disseminating messages, infographics, and audio-visual material informing the public about the risks of COVID-19 across the country, and how to protect oneself.

“Working closely together with the Government and other partners, including the private sector, is the surest way of preventing and containing the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for the support of the EU and IHS in getting these vital supplies to strengthen the UN’s efforts in helping the Government of Nigeria to address the COVID-19 challenge,” said Edward Kallon.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Covid-19: Alapomu kickstarts distribution of relief materials @Apomuland - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Alapomu of Apomu, Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi, has kick-started the distribution of food materials in Apomu, headquarters of Isokan local government, State of Osun, reports ITREALMS.

The relief packages were donated by Alapomu and concerned indigenes of Apomuland, ITREALMS gathered were meant to provide succour for the needy and vulnerable people as a result of coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Alapomu said the initiative is also to support the efforts of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in providing assistance to the poor and needy in the various communities in view of the corona virus pandemic. 

"Government alone can not provide for everyone without support from individuals and groups" he said.

Apomu Covid-19 Relief Fund Project was initiated by Alapomu and a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Professor Sina Oladokun, and Professor Lateef Agbaje was the Secretary while Comrade Waheed Oladejo is in-charge of Field Operations. 

The committee also supervised the packaging of the food materials which include rice, beans, garri, vegetable oil, and loaves of bread.

All the food items were sourced from Apomu to boost local economy.
Further, Alapomu expressed appreciation to Asiwaju of Apomuland, members of the committee and those illustrious sons and daughters of Apomuland who contributed to make the project a success.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Kyari’s burial: NUJ demands PTF members' self-isolate, off Covid-19 briefing - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has urged members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 that were at the burial rites of Mallam Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, to excuse themselves from the daily briefing, reports ITREALMS.

Chairman of the council, Emmanuel Ogbeche, on Monday in Abuja, called PTF members including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Coordinator, Mr. Boss Mustapha, to demonstrate dignified responsibility by not putting journalists and others who attend the daily briefing in harm’s way by going into self-isolation.

“Following the protocol already established by the PTF and the Presidency in asking all those who attended the funeral rites for the late Mallam Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to the President, the NUJ urges in particular, members of the PTF who were at the Defence House and Gudu cemetery, to respectfully not attend the daily Covid-19 briefing until after the 14 days isolation,” he said in a press statement made available to ITREALMS.

Also, Ogbeche said, anything other than this will further cast doubt on the integrity of the PTF, and put the little gains already achieved in jeopardy.

He advised journalists at the briefing to protest and possibly stage a walk out if any of the members that were at any of the rites shows up.

In addition, he charged journalists to be responsible for their safety by wearing appropriate PPEs and not become the news in their search for news.

According to him, the council was still calling on media organisations to provide PPEs and hazard allowance to those covering the Covid-19 crisis, insisting that the union will declare industrial dispute with all organisations that fail in this regard after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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COVID-19 lockdown extension: FRSC orders commanders to restrategise, arrest violators - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered Commanding Officers across the country to step up enforcement on restrictions and physical distancing amongst vehicle occupants in adherence to the Presidential directives holistically by impounding at sight any vehicle found violating the orders, reports ITREALMS.

FRSC is acting following President Muhammadu Buhari's extension of the current lockdown in Lagos, Ogun States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Abuja recently for another 14 days effective from 11:59 Monday 13 April, 2020.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said, the Corps Marshal's directive is to reiterate the commitment of the Federal Riad Safety Corps towards sustaining existing collaborations with the Federal and State Governments in the fight against the ravaging Coronavirus, and further ensure that the order on restrictions are diligently and effectively enforced with all sense of professionalism, civility and resilience.

He added that the alarming upsurge in deaths and spread of the virus across the globe which the Federal Government is working round the clock to subdue in Nigeria, is not an operation the Corps is ready to treat with kids gloves. As such, the Corps Marshal's order to Commanding Officers is to ensure the full utilisation of the work force through effective deployment of personnel to arrest without hesitation, any motorist who contravenes the National Order on Stay at Home.

Expectedly, Oyeyemi also ordered that except the vehicles and the occupants are accredited essential workers with proof of identification, Commanding Officers must ensure that the vehicles are impounded and the occupants handed over to the Police for prosecution in the Court of Law for contravening the Presidential Order on restrictions, social distance and stay at home.

While warning citizens to comply with the restriction order or face the wrath of the law, Oyeyemi also advised essential workers who might be tempted to compromise with the physical distance directives in vehicles to restrain from such as the virus does not discriminate nor spare anybody irrespective of class or profession.

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Banking Trojan mess: Ethiopia leads African countries - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

Ethiopia has been identified as top in the ranking of four African countries attacked by Banking Trojans for the year 2019, reports ITREALMS.

According to Kaspersky described Banking Trojans also known as ‘bankers’ is one of the most widespread tools for cybercriminals as they focus on stealing money.

Available data sighted by ITREALMS showed that Ethiopia has the largest share of corporate users among those who were targeted by banking malware in African regions with 71 per cent in 2019,

This, they said showed that almost two thirds of banking malware attacks in the country were aimed at the corporate sector.

This was followed by South Africa, where this figure is significantly smaller and can be compared to the global number, reaching 30 per cent.

“Kenya and Nigeria, however, saw this parameter being lower than average, with approximately a fifth (22,5 per cent) of banking malware attacks in Kenya targeting corporate devices, compared to 13 per cent in Nigeria,” the firm showed.

A third of these attacks, ITREALMS gathered, in 2019 targeted corporate users, an increase from the figure (24 per cent-25 per cent) that has remained fairly consistent for the previous three years.
ITREALMS further gathered that the Banking Trojan also known as ‘Bankers’ usually search for users’ credentials for e-payment and online banking systems, hijacking one-time passwords, and then passing that data to the attackers.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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COVID-19: Lagos must apologise, pardon Funke Akindele et al - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS:

A lot have been revealed on the insincerity of government and governance in the country, mostly by the Lagos State government led by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which has now left a little to be desired, given the incidences that followed demise of former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Abba Kyari, on night of Friday, April 17, 2020.

At first his administration declared lockdown in Lagos, associated to ravaging ChineseVirus-19 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-29; closing markets and reducing gathering to 25, hence the Funke Akindele family birthday batch for the husband landed her in trouble soon after. I do not need to recount all negative commercial sides of that messy exercise and trauma she and her family as well as friends went through because of this law.

Barely a week after she has been sentenced to 14-day community service and fine of N100 each for her and husband, the news broke that the former top official of Buhari administration, Abba Kyari, was reportedly flown into Lagos, a state supposed to be on lockdown as proclaimed by Mr. President and subsequently by states including Lagos State Government under Sanwo-Olu.

Aside that Lagos State was on lockdown and flights were not allowed across the country, Sanwo-Olu government allowed an indigenous index case to be flown into its space, yet the State commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, denied his whereabout, only to turn around two weeks later that they approved a facility, precisely the First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi in Lagos State, where the CoS eventually died.

The state government, through the Commissioner of Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, confirmed to newsmen Saturday that due to enquiries by Nigerians, it was necessary to announce that the chief of staff died on Friday in the hospital.

As if Lagosians have not heard enough of government telling what some observers classified as lies or misleading statements, the dead corpse was flown out of Lagos air space to Abuja and in between, the report now reaffirmed that even Abba Kyari’s family members where brought to Lagos amidst the lockdown to see him, while they lock citizens in.

Yes, we sympathise with the family over the loss of their loved father, but was that visit utmost necessary given that Lagosians have been locked down or better said that “Lagosians were locked inside”, which began some days before the Buhari’s lockdown national broadcast. Yet, some have not seen pap let alone palliative from government till date.

In all, Gov. Sanwo-Olu has been doing good until this moment, thus, what is the moral burden of still telling or even persuading people to stay at home since government and its officials have elected to play against the rules and even arrest those reportedly making effort to irk a living like artisans, likewise the harassment of Funke Akindele family and friends.

Therefore, its high time that Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos, not only apologise to Lagosians for flying a national index case to their environment and Funke Akindele family, but moreso grant Funke state pardon. Yes, they, state or government made the lockdown laws, but clearly flaunted it to a chagrin taste.

It is prayed that after the current part 2 of this lockdown by Buhari across Lagos, Ogun and FCT that government at all levels must have gotten their thinking caps right by coming out with outlines to help citizens, especially Lagosians in the post-COVID-19 lockdown economy, which in all intents and purposes go beyond present clamour for palliatives.

Already, the number of robberies across Lagos, have since turned residents on lockdown into untrained vigilante, thereby exposing them to a lot of dangers. And when will this end, remain unclear, even as more cases are being discovered on daily basis.

Whereas Lagosians continue inspite of aforementioned to abide with the rules of constantly washing hands as often as possible under a running tap, for those who have waterworks working in their areas, facemasking will do us a lot good when outside, until vaccines are found.

May God heal our world and dead rest in peace. Amen.

*Contributed by Remmy Nweke

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