WHO predicts up to four million Zika cases

WHO predicts up to four million Zika cases

Three to four million people could be infected with Zika virus in the Americas this year, the World Health Organization has predicted.
Most will not develop symptoms, but the virus, spread by mosquitoes, has been linked to brain defects in babies, the BBC reports.
Meanwhile, the United States said it hopes to start vaccine trials in people by the end of the year.
WHO director general, Dr. Margaret Chan, said Zika had gone “from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions.”
She has set up a Zika “emergency team” after the “explosive” spread of the virus.
It will meet on Monday to decide whether Zika should be treated as a global emergency.
The last time an international emergency was declared was for the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has killed more than 11,000 people.
Zika was first detected in Uganda in 1947, but has never caused an outbreak on this scale.
Brazil reported the first cases of Zika in South America in May 2015.
Most cases result in no symptoms and it is hard to test for, but WHO officials said between 500,000 and 1.5 million people had been infected in the country.
The virus has since spread to more than 20 countries in the region.

The British pound has fallen to its lowest level in nearly six year

The British pound has fallen to its lowest level in nearly six year

Fear that Britain could vote to leave the European Union is hurting the pound. And the pain may just be beginning.
A referendum on membership of the EU could be held as early as June, and investors are becoming increasingly concerned about a British exit -- or 'Brexit.'
The campaign to persuade voters is gathering pace, but the outcome is highly uncertain -- as are the consequences of what would be an unprecedented event.
That uncertainty is unnerving investors: the British pound has fallen by 10% against the U.S. dollar since June 2015 to its lowest level in nearly six years. It has weakened by about 4% in the last month alone and is now worth around $1.43.
If it votes to leave Europe, Britain could find its status as the region's leading financial center under threat.
Some multinational companies, banks and hedge funds may decide to relocate. And Prime Minister David Cameron will face calls to resign -- he wants Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
"The recent weakness [in the pound] is 'Brexit' related and there is more to come," said fixed income analyst Alan Clarke of Scotiabank.
Related: British businesses say leaving Europe would hurt
Capital Economics warns the pound could fall to $1.30 before long, saying it will "remain on the defensive" until the Europe question has been settled.
Opinion is divided on how damaging a 'Brexit' would be for the economy, but analysts are concerned that Europe's refugee crisis may turn the referendum into a vote on immigration rather than the broader benefits of membership.
Berenberg's U.K. economist Kallum Pickering said he expect the British will vote to stay in the EU, but he has raised his estimate of the risk of an exit to 35%.
What's certain is that 'Brexit' will dominate the headlines for months to come, and that means the pound will remain under pressure.
Related: Britain's four demands for staying in Europe
The future of Europe is not the only problem for the currency right now.
Growth is slowing -- U.K. GDP grew by 2.2% last year, down from 2.9% in 2014, and there's little to suggest it will accelerate in 2016.
Finance Minister George Osborne has already warned that the economy is facing a host of headwinds, including a slowdown in China.
Related: UK warns economy faces 'dangerous cocktail' of risks
All that means that the chances of a rise in U.K. interest rates continue to disappear over the horizon, making the pound less attractive to hold.
And the usual upside to a weaker currency - cheaper exports - isn't really going to work in the U.K.'s favor.
"With key markets like China slowing the impact [of a weaker currency] is likely to be limited," wrote IG market analyst Chris Beauchamp.

by Jim Boulden @CNNMoneyInvest
CNNMoney (London)

Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump

Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump received the endorsement Tuesday of conservative firebrand Sarah Palin, giving the billionaire businessman a potential boost less than two weeks before Iowa’s kick-off caucuses.

“Media heads are spinning,” the former vice presidential candidate said after taking the stage at a Trump rally at Iowa State University. “This is going to be so much fun.”

Palin, the former governor of Alaska and 2008 GOP vice presidential pick, said that, with Trump as president, America would no longer apologize.

“No more pussy-footing around,” Palin said.

The endorsement comes as Trump is locked in a dead heat with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Iowa. The two have been ramping up their attacks against one another as the election has neared.

In the statement announcing the endorsement, Trump’s campaign described Palin as a conservative who “helped launch the careers of several key future leaders of the Republican Party and conservative movement.” The statement also quoted Cruz as once saying he “would not be in the United States Senate were it not for Gov. Sarah Palin. … She can pick winners.”

Campaigning in New Hampshire, Cruz said, “Regardless of what Sarah intends to do in 2016, I will remain a big, big fan of Sarah Palin.”
Palin endorsed Cruz in his 2012 Senate race and said as recently as last month that he and Trump were both in her top tier of candidates, making the endorsement a symbolic blow to Cruz.

Palin’s remarks in Ames, Iowa, were signature Palin, combining the folksy charm and everywoman appeal that initially made her a GOP superstar with defiant taunting of a “busted” GOP establishment that she slammed for counting both Trump and herself out.

Palin offered her full-throated support for Trump and slammed President Barack Obama as the “capitulator in chief.” Trump, she said, would be a commander in chief who would “let our warriors do their job and go kick ISIS’ ass!”

She also took aim at the Republican establishment for “attacking their own front-runner” and offered a challenge to those who have suggested that Trump, whose positions on issues like gun control and abortion rights have shifted over the years, isn’t conservative enough.

“Oh my goodness gracious. What the heck would the establishment know about conservativism?” she said. “Who are they to tell us that we’re not conservative enough? … Give me a break.”

Trump, whose team had been touting a major, surprise announcement, praised Palin as “a friend, and a high-quality person whom I have great respect for” in a statement.

“We’re going to give’ em hell,” he said after her speech.
Palin will also be joining Trump at two events Wednesday, including a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Palin was a virtual newcomer to the national political arena when 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain named her as his running mate. She has since risen to prominence as one of the most outspoken conservatives in the party. She signed on as a Fox News commentator after resigning as Alaska’s governor in 2010, a job she held until last year.

Trump and Palin did not discuss how the endorsement had come about, but Trump’s national political director Michael Glassner previously worked for her. Trump said earlier Tuesday that he doesn’t typically put much stock in endorsements, but said of this one, “I think it could very well result in votes.”

GOP consultant Kevin Madden said the timing will likely help Trump crowd out Cruz’s message as the Iowa caucuses approach.
“I think it helps Trump overwhelm the news cycle with Trump coverage at a critical time,” he said.

Madden also said Palin’s support could help shield Trump from charges that his past positions make him too liberal to be the GOP nominee, “giving Trump some rhetorical cover from a conservative validator in the eyes of many grassroots conservatives.”

But some rally-goers at Trump’s event Tuesday evening said they weren’t sure whether Palin’s support would help Trump win over voters. Several referenced what they saw as her poor performance as a vice presidential candidate.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a detriment, but I don’t think it’s going to be a huge asset,” said Stephen Freese, 56, of Burlington, Iowa, who works in construction.

“I don’t think she’s really credible anymore,” said Bruce Dodge, 66, a retiree who lives in Ankeny, Iowa.

The event came a day after Palin’s oldest son, Track, was arrested in a domestic violence case in which his girlfriend told police she was afraid he would shoot himself with a rifle. Track Palin was charged with assault, interfering with the report of a domestic violence crime and possessing a weapon while intoxicated in connection with the incident.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump received an endorsement from the daughter of movie star John Wayne.

Standing in front of a life-size, rifle-toting model of the actor in full cowboy gear, Trump accepted the endorsement of Aissa Wayne at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, Iowa.

“America needs help and we need a strong leader and we need someone like Mr. Trump with leadership qualities, someone with courage, someone that’s strong, like John Wayne,” she said.

AMBODE APPOINTS EX-FIRS BOSS, OMOIGUI-OKAURU, OTHERS FOR N25BN ETF BOARD

AMBODE APPOINTS EX-FIRS BOSS, OMOIGUI-OKAURU, OTHERS FOR N25BN ETF BOARD

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday appointed a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru to head the Board of Trustees for the N25billion State Employment Trust Fund (ETF).

The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, also approved the appointment of nine others to serve as members of the Board of Trustees of the ETF, which is geared towards addressing the challenge of youth unemployment as well as promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development in the state.

Other members of the Board include Mr. Dele Martins, Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, Mr. Otto Orondaam, Mrs. Olufunmi Olatunde Daudu, Mr. Tunde Bank-Anthony and Mr. Micheal Popoola Ajayi.

Governor Ambode also approved for the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Tunde Durosinmi-Etti and his counterpart in Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi to be part of the Board, while Mr. Akintunde Oyebode is to serve as Executive Secretary of the Board.

The Employment Trust Fund, it would be recalled, was signed into law by Governor Ambode on Tuesday, according to him, was in line with keeping faith with the promise he made to the people during the electioneering campaign.

The Governor had expressed optimism that the Fund will address the challenge of unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development, adding that an annual contribution of N6.25billion will be injected into the Fund by the State Government for 4years totaling N25billion.

In a separate development, Governor Ambode, also inaugurated a new board of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, restated the commitment of his administration to deepen democracy and rule of law especially by carrying out periodic review of obsolete laws in the State to bring them in tune with current realities for relevance and effectiveness.

The Governor said such periodic review was important especially to his administration in achieving the goal of creating an enabling environment for investors, entrepreneurs and making Lagos globally competitive.

While alluding to the fact that all modern and civilized societies thrive on the qualities of laws which regulate and guide the actions of government, organizations, individuals and institutions, Governor Ambode charged members of the Commission to hit the ground running by expediting action on the creation of electronic portal that is aimed at providing access to laws of the State online from anywhere in the world.

“This is a major project which the new Board has a responsibility to deliver in record time. It is very vital to the success of our drive to attract investors to our State,” Governor Ambode said.

Chairman of the newly inaugurated board is Professor Gbolahan Ellias (SAN), while members are Dr. Omogbai Omo-Eboh, Mr. Demola Sadiq and Mrs. Tola Akinsanya. The Executive Secretary is Mrs. Ade Adeyemo.

Speaking earlier at the inauguration, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the past board was inaugurated on March 12, 2012, and was dissolved by Governor Ambode on June 15, 2015 in accordance with the provision of the law establishing the Commission as amended in 2012.

Responding, Professor Ellias, who spoke on behalf of other members, thanked Governor Ambode for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would do all within the confines of the law to executive the mandate fearlessly and conscientiously.