Good morning. 57 percent of those studied said COVID-19 and wearing a mask has made them much more aware of their own bad breath."

A small silver lining: People are brushing their teeth way more after smelling their breath with a mask on.

- - -

P.S. Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here.

OUR COVID WORLD

WHO: Yesterday, the World Health Organization strongly recommended steroid medications to treat severe cases of coronavirus. It comes after studies showed steroids could reduce the risk of death for hospitalized patients on ventilators by about a third.

United States: A coronavirus vaccine should only be used when it has been proven safe and effective, the U.S.'s top virus expert has warned. Anthony Fauci said rushing the release of a candidate vaccine could harm the development of other vaccines.

India: India had one of the world's strictest COVID-19 lockdowns, sacrificing its economy to save lives. But now it has its deepest recession in decades, plus the world's fastest-growing coronavirus case count.

Canada: A vaccine partnership between the Canadian government and the Chinese company CanSino has fallen apart—according to the Canadian health department, because the supplies to develop the vaccine have been held in limbo for months by Chinese customs.

‍#ONTHISDAY

1984 Nigerian singer Fela Kuti sentenced to 2 years.

1968 Nigerian troops conquer the city of Aba, Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War.

1998 Google is formally incorporated by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two students at Stanford University.

2016 Mother Teresa canonized by Pope Francis in a ceremony at the Vatican.

ECONOMY

Nigeria Pays N5.3billion for Fuel in June Despite Subsidy Removal

The Story
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recorded a N5.34 billion ($14 million) cost for fuel in June, months after it changed its pricing method in an effort to eliminate subsidies.

Even after removing subsidy?
NNPC said the costs represented temporary payments to marketers, who buy imported fuel and then sell it on, for stocks they held when the subsidy was removed, and would be spread over six months.

Has subsidy truly been removed now?
The body tasked with setting pump prices, PPPRA, has not published retail prices since March 31, and this lack of transparency around the new pricing mechanism has been a point of contention for those monitoring whether the subsidy cost has been permanently eliminated or not.

And why is this latest hike in the product's price?
While the PPPRA has been silent on it, oil marketers, under the aegis Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) told The Guardian, in a recent report, that the prevailing situation remained an indication that the deregulation policy earlier announced by the government was flawed. SOURCE

LEGISLATION

PDP Caucus Vows to Reject Water Resources Bill

The Story
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate has said that it will not support the re-introduction of the controversial National Waterways Bill which was previously rejected by the Eighth National Assembly.

What about the Bill?
The Bill, through which the federal executive seeks to control all the waters and their surrounding banks in all parts of Nigeria, has been widely rejected. It would give the President, through the Minister of Water Resources, the power to control the nation’s rivers, contradicting the 1999 constitution in Section 315 (5) (d) which grants the control of land to state governors.

What stage of the legislative process is the said bill now?
The controversial bill apparently has not been read in the senate, as Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who stated PDP’s position on Tuesday, declared that the said bill to the best of his knowledge is not before the upper legislative chamber. It is currently being treated at the House of Representatives.

What if the bill is passed in the House of Representatives?
Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, also vowed to mobilise against the bill if it is brought to the Senate, as she said that the bill “would require the concurrence of the Senate and when the time comes, we won’t let it just fly like that”. SOURCE

AFRICA

Elderly Guinea President Confirms Third Term Bid, Vows to Represent Young People

The Story
Guinea President Alpha Conde has accepted his party’s nomination to run in October’s election for a third term, the party said on Monday.

Does the constitution allow for a third term?
No, it doesn't. However, Conde -who was first elected in 2010 - pushed through a change to the constitution that was approved by a referendum, which was boycotted by the opposition, in March.

So he's forcing himself on the people?
While the opposition demand that the constitutional provision of a two-term limit be respected, the ruling Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) nominated Conde recently to represent it in the October 18 poll.

How have people reacted to this?
Talk of a potential third term sparked widespread protests that have killed at least 30 people over the past year, but his supporters say the constitutional change acts as a reset button on the two-term limit.

Guinea - Africa’s largest producer of the main aluminium ore, bauxite - had its hopes for democratic progress raised after Conde's first election, but the former opposition leader's reluctance to relinquish power after the constitutional limit has now raised fears on Guinea's democratic prospect. SOURCE

INTERNATIONAL

Russia Poisoned Opposition Leader - German's Merkel

The Story

Russia's once again been accused of poisoning one of its own.

Who?

Alexei Navalny. Last month, the Russian opposition leader became seriously ill after drinking tea in the motherland. He fell into a coma and was transferred to a German hospital. Navalny's a well-known critic of President Vladimir Putin. Ever since he fell ill, there's been speculation that he was poisoned. Now, we're finding out more.

Jeez. Go on.

Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said tests revealed traces of a Novichok nerve agent in Navalny's body. It's an illegal chemical weapon that was secretly developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It blocks nervous system messages from traveling through the body, causing muscle spasms that can stop the heart or other major bodily functions. And can remain in a person's system for months, if not years. Russia had claimed it destroyed all Soviet-era nerve agents in 2017.

I don't think I can keep scrolling.

Before you do that, know that there are antidotes. But it's not the first time Novichok's been used on Russian citizens. In 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with it in the UK. Both survived. And the UK charged two Russian men in the case. (They both flew to Moscow hours after the poisoning.) But the Russian government continuously said 'nyet, wasn't us.'

So what's being done?

TBD. After the Skripals were poisoned, several countries expelled Russian diplomats – including the US, which also imposed sanctions on the Kremlin. And last year, a global chemical weapons watchdog added Novichok to its banned list. But that doesn't seem to have stopped Russia. The White House called Navalny's poisoning "completely reprehensible." Merkel said it was "attempted murder" and that she'll consult with NATO allies about how to respond.

Russia keeps denying...

While Russia continues to claim no involvement in the matter, these allegations could increase already-high tensions with the West. Now, all eyes are on how international leaders will handle a country that's been accused of poisoning its own people. SOURCE

WHAT ELSE IS FRESH...

Fani-Kayode will rule this nation, says CAN chairman.

PDP, APC lock horns over hike in petrol pump price, electricity tariff.

Cold weather or increased testing? Concerns over high COVID-19 cases in Plateau.  

Gunmen invade MKO Abiola’s house in Lagos.

‘It’s against national interest’ — CAN asks Buhari to suspend CAMA.

FEC approves $3.1bn customs automation concession project.  

Osun asks schools to revert to old names before rebranding by Aregbesola.

NBS: Nigeria imported almost double its exports in Q2.

WATCH: Master KG reacts as Ronaldo grooves to ‘Jerusalema’.

TB Joshua to Messi: Don’t leave Barcelona ‘bitter and offended’.

Neymar tests positive for COVID-19.

UI ranked among top 500 varsities globally, named West Africa’s best.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

India banned another 118 Chinese apps, including PUBG, Baidu, and Alipay.

TikTalks have stalled due to China’s new AI export rules.

Microsoft announced new counter-deepfake tools.

Biden-Trump presidential debate dates announced.

Harry, Meghan make massive Netflix deal.

Joe Biden’s campaign raised record funds.

Flying Doctors raising $1 billion for healthcare.

Filling stations across Nigeria to dispense gas into vehicles.

Filling stations adjust pump prices, sell petrol at N162.

BDCs clamour higher margin on forex transactions.

NBA Wades Into Case Of Kano Musician Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy.

Super Eagles To Play Ivory Coast, Tunisia In October.

SCHOLARSHIP

Chevening Scholarship is open!

Applications for 2021/2022 Chevening Scholarships opened on 3 September 2020.

Chevening is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme that offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study in the UK.

Fully-funded Master's Scholarship. DETAILS

PICKS OF THE DAY

What I learned from 5 years of cleaning airplanes in the middle of the night. Fortune

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others? Smithsonian Magazine

The 19th-Century Nurse Who Was Secretly a Serial Killer. Narratively

Brain Study Reveals One Type of Exercise Increases Stress Resilience. Inverse

One of the World’s Richest Petrostates Is Running Out of Cash. Bloomberg

Washed out: Your Beloved Blue Jeans Are Polluting the Ocean—Big Time. Wired

Whatever floats your boat? Scientists defy gravity with levitating liquid. Guardian

The Nigerian drummer who set the beat for US civil rights. BBC

The fast and the spurious—the dangers of rushing a covid-19 vaccine. Economist

Pathologizing Desire. Boston Review

TODAY'S TRIVIA

1. What is the only foodstuff that does not spoil while in an edible state?
a. Honey
b. Coriander
c. Pine nuts

2. Leo Fender is considered the inventor of the modern electric guitar. Which of these statements about him is true?
a. He couldn't play guitar.
b. He was deaf.
c. He hated music.

3. How many sides does a dodecagon have?
a. 12
b. 5
c. 16

4. What is the most common first name in the world?
a. Mohammed
b. Amina
c. David

PARENTAL EDUCATION

Do you want to understand your child better? 

Do you want a solid relationship with your child? Do you want to understand how your childhood may be affecting your parenting? Would you like to start the healing process for your own childhood pain?

Then join Michelle for the 'RESPONSIVE PARENT' Webinar. 

Details are on the flyer. 

This is an event you really want to attend.

Please click the link below to register.

See you there! DETAILS

TRIVIA ANSWER

1. What is the only foodstuff that does not spoil while in an edible state?
a. Honey

2. Leo Fender is considered the inventor of the modern electric guitar. Which of these statements about him is true?
a. He couldn't play guitar.

3. How many sides does a dodecagon have?
a. 12

4. What is the most common first name in the world?
a. Mohammed

LITERATURE

(Click the links, they work)

Short Story
Good Boy

Poetry
Amu Nnadi Pilgrim’s passage

Satire
Local Voter Just Hopes Both Teams Have Fun

BOOK OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER!

In September, we are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini

BOOK OVERVIEW

Would you like to visit Afghanistan? Hmm, No?

Well, you can visit it from the pages of A Thousand Splendid Suns.

1. Genre - Novel/Fiction

2. Length - 332 Pages/51 chapters

3. Front Matter - 12 pages

Back Matter - 12 pages

4. Reading Suggestion - Read 2 chapters a day.

(A chapter has an average of 4 pages)

We hope this breakdown makes this book easier to read.?

WANT FRESHLY PRESSED THIS SUNDAY?

Do you remember our referral rewards?

5 - Premium Sunday Newsletter - Fresh Delight 

10 - 30-Minute Career Consultancy

15 - Adverts opportunity 

30 - Autographed Book

50 - T-Shirt

100 - Hoodie

A‍ll you need to do is refer your friends using this customized link: - https://freshlypressed.ng/?r=