A Pune study by researchers from BJ Medical College here has found early evidence showing measles-containing vaccines (MCVs) might give children some defense against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The BJ Medical College research was published in the peer-reviewed international journal, Human Vaccines, and Immunotherapeutics, this month. The case-control study analysed 548 participants, between the ages of 1 to 17, who were categorized into two groups. Those who have tested positive for Covid (via RT-PCR) and those who have not. Researchers discovered the MCVs had vaccine effectiveness of 87.5% against SARS-CoV-2 and that vaccinated participants had less severe Covid symptoms than the non-vaccinated.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has announced that those waiting for Nigeria to break up will be disappointed, insisting that Nigeria will remain united as a strong nation to the frustration of those waiting to see the country broken into pieces. The Vice President who declared this during the maiden edition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressives Youth Conference, in Abuja Yesterday added that Nigerian youths will play even more critical roles in shaping the country’s political and economic future by becoming more active in politics and encouraging platforms for more constructive engagements on national issues. Prof. Osinbajo said the country is stronger together than in little parts. The vice president acknowledged the need for all Nigerians to be guaranteed a fair chance at improving their human condition and urged the youth to be a part of conversations that will ensure this.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to open its registration portal on June 28 for online voter registration, a National Commissioner, Mr. Festus Okoye said. Okoye said this while addressing the press in Dutse, Jigawa State, saying that “The INEC Voter Registration Portal will be deployed to enable people register online and thereafter go to their respective state or local government office of the commission to capture their biometrics and facials.”

The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says facilities will be established in South Africa, Senegal, and Rwanda, with Nigeria also being considered, to create hubs for the production of COVID-19 vaccines. Africa is working with the European Union and other partners to make the above a reality. Okonjo-Iweala, who revealed this during a virtual meeting on Monday said this will help build equitable access.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed about three countries in Africa to be considered for the installation of local production capacity for the COVID-19 vaccines, improved availability of the vaccine. This was made known by the WHO Country representative, Dr. Kazadi Mulombo during a joint press briefing on updates on COVID-19 vaccination with the WHO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Nigeria is expecting delivery of 3.92million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility between the end of July and early August. The Executive Director of, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday. He said the agency has since been inundated with requests to be vaccinated, adding that in response, NPHCDA has decided to reopen vaccination for the first dose. He said, “We now have information that Nigeria will get 3.92m doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca by end of July or early August.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has on Tuesday convicted and sentenced former Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan to seven years imprisonment. The presiding judge, Justice Angela Otaluka found the former lawmaker guilty of soliciting the sum of $3 million and collecting $500,000 bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Chief Femi Otedola in a bid to remove the company’s name from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

The People's Bank of China has urged institutions to promptly cut payment channels for cryptocurrency trading, urging them to crack down harder on cryptocurrency trading, also advises other financial institutions not to provide other crypto-related financial services. The People's Bank of China's meeting with institutions including Agricultural Bank of China (AgBank), China Construction Bank (CCB), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Postal Savings Bank of China and Alipay came after China's State Council vowed to crack down on bitcoin trading and mining.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued an adverse weather alert to airline operators and passengers warning that significant flight delays and cancellations may be experienced in the days ahead. NiMet also said flight turbulence could increase as a result of increasing thunderstorms, microbursts, heavy rains among other adverse weather conditions. The Director-General of NiMet, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu made this disclosure on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja on recent weather events.

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has reduced the FIFA life ban that was issued to former Super Eagles coach Samsom Siasia’s to five years. The court also canceled the $50,000 fine imposed on Siasia. In August 2019, world football body FIFA banned Siasia for life and fined him $50,000 and for agreeing to ‘the manipulation of matches’ for betting purposes. According to FIFA, the Olympic silver medallist’s former Super Eagles coach’s ban emanated from an extensive investigation into matches that Wilson Perumal attempted to fix.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disclosed that it is considering launching the continents Super League and this will aid the development of football on the continent from infrastructure to performances on the global stage.

The Federal Government has appointed former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi as Youth Ambassador in efforts to inspire young Nigerians. The appointment was announced on Friday by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare during a tour of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State which is undergoing rehabilitation. In a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, John Joshua-Akanji, the minister described the Stoke City player as an inspiration to the development of football in the country.