News Roundup: Amazon’s zoox bi-directional vehicle has no reverse function, FG to block SIM cards without National Identity Numbers (NIN) in two weeks.

Amazon’s zoox bi-directional vehicle has no reverse function
Earlier this year, Amazon acquired an autonomous vehicle company which has now released the first four-person multidirectional vehicle designed for dense, urban environments. It is called a ‘robo-raxi’ and the carriage-style interior of the vehicle produced by Zoox Inc has two benches that face each other.
It measures just under 12 feet long, about a foot shorter than a standard Mini Cooper and has no steering wheel. It is among the first vehicles with bidirectional capabilities and four-wheel steering, allowing for better manoeuvrability and has a top speed of 75 miles per hour.
According to Zoox, the vehicle is being tested in the company’s base of Foster City, California, as well as Las Vegas and San Francisco.

FG to block SIM cards without National Identity Numbers (NIN) in two weeks.
All SIM cards not linked to any NIN in Nigeria are going to be blocked in two weeks time, beginning from December 16th to December 30th 2020. This instruction has been given by the federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to all telecommunications operators like MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile, and others.
Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant to president Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this via his twitter handle earlier this week and it has been explained that this decision was taken to consolidate the achievements of last year’s SIM registration audit and to improve the performance and sanity of the sector.

Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi named in vogue’s 12 women leaders who changed the world in 2020
Two Nigerian women have made it to the Vogue list of top 12 women leaders who changed the world in 2020. These women both share the number 3 spot on this list and are fintech expert and women’s rights advocates, Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi.
Odufuwa and Eweniyi jointly with 11 other women formed the Feminist coalition with the aim of improving the rights of women in Nigeria. The two women have achieved a milestone as on the vogue list with them are: New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern; German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and US vice-president-elect, Kamala Harris.

President Buhari has directed the reopening of the 4 land borders
The Nigerian land borders which were closed in August 2019, with partial opening and closing for people prompted by the pandemic in 2020 has now been opened. President Buhari has directed the reopening of the land border at Seme, Illela, Maigatari, and Mfun.
President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered the closures of Nigeria’s borders to prevent smuggling of rice and other products, in attempts to ensure food self-sufficiency has promised the border would be opened ‘as soon as possible’ in a recent meeting with the ruling APC party chieftains.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have signed a deal with Spotify to produce a podcast on their lives
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a deal with streaming service Spotify to produce and host podcasts. Prince Harry and Meghan’s charity will receive an undisclosed sum from the partnership between their Production Company, Archewell Audio, and Spotify.
In a trailer, Prince Harry and Meghan promised “different perspectives” and interviews with “amazing people”. It comes after the couple this year signed a Netflix deal to produce a range of programmes and series. Their first podcast, due for release during the Christmas period, is described as a holiday special.

Nigeria’s Temi Giwa-Tuboson wins 2020 Global Citizen prize for Business Leaders
Founder of Lifebank, Temie Giwa-Tubosun has won the 2020 Global Citizen Prize for Business Leader, which honours ‘an individual in the business community who has combined business goals with positive human impact.’
She was recognised for her work as a health advocate in addressing blood shortages in Nigeria, her innovative use of technology, and the partnerships she has harnessed to expand initiatives. She was also recognised for “LifeBank’s COVID-19 response including launching testing centres, and free delivery of medical oxygen to COVID-19 patients in isolation centres.

Nigeria to get COVID-19 vaccines in January
The first shipment of a COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be obtained in Nigeria come January 2021. This is coming after the announcement that Nigeria will receive 20 million doses of the vaccine in 2021.
The nation has set up a committee to select the vaccine most suitable for the country against the virus since different temperatures are required to protect vaccines. Nigeria has signed up with the Global Vaccine Alliance Initiative (GAVI) for access to vaccines and has also registered for COVID-19 vaccines with the Global Access Program (COVAX) co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO).

French president Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19
President Emmanuel Macron of France has tested positive for the coronavirus and will work in isolation for the next week, prompting other European leaders he has met to take precautionary measures and complicating Europe’s efforts to overcome a crippling second wave of the pandemic.
The presidential Élysée Palace announced the illness on Thursday without clarifying Mr. Macron’s symptoms or the gravity of his condition. As one of Europe’s youngest leaders, at 42, the president is not among the most vulnerable to the virus, but its effects are known to be unpredictable.