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Apple may cut iPhone 13 production by millions as US warns of Christmas shortages

Apple may cut iPhone 13 production by millions as US warns of Christmas shortages
Apple may slash the number of iPhone 13s it will make this year by up to 10m because of a shortage of computer chips amid a worldwide supply chain crunch that led the White House to warn that “there will be things that people can’t get” at Christmas.
Apple was expected to produce 90m units of the new iPhone models this year but has told its manufacturers that the number would be lower because chip suppliers including Broadcom and Texas Instruments were struggling to deliver components, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Shares in Apple fell 1.2% in after-hours trading on Tuesday, reflecting broader falls in the US stock market and in Asia especially because of fears that the lingering impact of Covid and supply chain problems will spark rampant inflation and hamper growth.
In July, Apple forecast slowing revenue growth and said the chip shortage, which had started hitting its ability to sell Macs and iPads, would also crimp iPhone production. Texas Instruments also gave a soft revenue outlook that month, hinting of chip supply concerns for the rest of the year.
Apple declined to comment on the latest Bloomberg report. Broadcom and Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It is the latest sign of the serious bottlenecks affecting the flow of global trade as the chaotic economic recovery from the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic causes a shortage of energy, components, finished goods, labour and transportation.
Along with technology companies, car makers have been among the worst hit by the shortages – particularly of semiconductors – with an estimated 7.7m fewer vehicles being built this year. Many US factories have put production on hold this year due to a lack of parts.
Energy shortages and soaring power prices have led to shutdowns in factories in Asia’s large manufacturing centres such as China and South Korea in recent weeks, compounding already critical delays throughout the global logistics system.
White House officials, scrambling to relieve supply bottlenecks choking US ports, highways and railways, warn that Americans may face higher prices and some empty shelves this Christmas season.
American consumers, who are not used to finding goods unavailable, may need to be flexible and patient, White House officials said on Tuesday.
“There will be things that people can’t get,” a senior White House official told Reuters, when asked about holiday shopping.
“At the same time, a lot of these goods are hopefully substitutable by other things … I don’t think there’s any real reason to be panicked, but we all feel the frustration and there’s a certain need for patience to help get through a relatively short period of time.”
Fears were also mounting in the UK about shortages in the run-up to Christmas after Felixstowe, the country’s biggest container port, was forced to turn away ships from Asia because of a backlog of containers caused by lack of truck drivers.
AP Moller-Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company, said the shortage of labour meant containers were not being picked up and returned quickly enough, leading to a large backlog.
“The trouble is that now we don’t have the same speed of flow of boxes moving in and out,” said Lars Mikael Jensen, head of east-west network at Maersk. “With fewer truckers on average it takes longer to get boxes out of the terminal, so they are left standing there.”
Concern about shortages – and higher prices of food especially – led UK prime minister Boris Johnson to appoint a new adviser – former Tesco supermarket chief executive David Lewis – in an attempt to resolve blockages in supply chains.
The Biden administration has launched a major effort to tackle inflation-inducing supply problems. It formed a taskforce in June that meets weekly and named John Porcari, a veteran transportation official, as “bottleneck tsar” to push private-sector companies to ease logjams.
President Joe Biden himself plans to meet top executives from retail giants Walmart and Home Depot and with unions and other stakeholders on Wednesday to discuss efforts to relieve transportation bottlenecks before delivering a speech on the topic.
Supply chain woes are weighing on retail and transportation companies, which recently issued a series of downbeat earnings outlooks. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve last month predicted a 2021 inflation rate of 4.2%, well above its 2% target.
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Anambra bans public almsgiving, street begging, loitering

The Anambra State Government has banned the distribution of food items and other gifts to street beggars in public spaces, particularly under the Aroma Bridge in Awka, the state capital, and other locations.
The state government also banned all forms of public begging, loitering, and street trading beneath the bridges in Awka, insisting that the move became necessary to uphold the dignity and order of the capital city, which is the face of the state.
In a statement on Thursday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the state Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. Ossy Onuko said that the directive is part of the state government’s efforts to sanitise the capital city and maintain public order.
He said that anyone found violating this new directive will be arrested and prosecuted.
He, however, cautioned content creators, philanthropists, and charity groups against distributing food, cash, or any form of alms to street children and beggars in public spaces, particularly.
While acknowledging that some of the ‘charitable acts’ were for good intentions, he expressed concerns that they are inadvertently contributing to the continued loitering and congregation of destitute individuals in dangerous locations.
Onuko said: ‘The government has closely observed the activities of some content creators, philanthropists, and charity groups who encourage and sustain the indiscriminate roaming of children under the Aroma Bridge by consistently giving out food, drinks, and cash gifts to these kids.
‘Although their intentions may be noble, they ultimately contribute to the degradation of the capital city and put the lives of these children at risk. These children are exposed to potential harm, such as being knocked down by vehicles, abused by unruly adults, or even recruited into criminal activities.
‘Such actions are illegal and we hereby warn that any individual or group found engaging in them will be seen as promoting civil disorder and will face legal action’.
He also advised that all charitable activities be conducted through accredited institutions, such as orphanages, care homes, and registered non-governmental organisations, where support can be provided in a more structured and secure manner.
Onuko further urged the general public to work with the state government to uphold the dignity and order of the capital city, which represents the face of Anambra State.
‘Charitable acts should be channeled through accredited organisations such as orphanages, care homes, and registered NGOs, where support can be professionally administered to those in need.
‘Alternatively, donations can be made to private homes and spaces that do not create public nuisances’, he added.
News
Final year student of Michael Okpara University slumps and dies

The management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, has announced the de@th of Nwachukwu Omiko, a final year student of Mechanical Engineering.
In a statement released on Wednesday, May 15, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institution, Ubadire Agua, said the incident occurred while Omiko was playing football at the campus.
“Information available to the university authority has it that Omiko slumped in the pitch and his co-players tried to resuscitate him before alerting the University Health Services.
He was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia in the University’s oxygen-equipped ambulance in a neck-breaking speed,” the statement said
The school authority mentioned that despite the efforts to keep the Omiko alive, it lost him to the cold hands of death.
“The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, extends deep regrets and condolences of the university to the parents and family of Omiko as well as his colleagues in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology,” the statement said.
The management also appealed to the students to check their health status with the services upon arrival on the campus, and avoid strenuous exercises if they have underlying health challenges
News
Oyebanji Seeks Deployment of More Police Personnel to Ekiti

….Wants State Borders Fortified
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has called on the Nigeria Police Force to deploy additional personnel to the state to further enhance security and address criminal activities particularly at the border towns.
Governor Oyebanji, who made the call on Thursday when he received the new Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 17 (comprising Ondo and Ekiti States), Ajani Musubau Omolabi in his Office in Ado-Ekiti. He also urged the Police force to intensify efforts at enhancing security as the state would soon enter election season.
While saying that Ekiti remains one of the safest states in the country, the Governor also noted what he described as inadequate security coverage in many the rural areas of the state, leaving residents vulnerable to criminal activities which undermine public safety.
The Governor appealed to the AIG not to deplete the current strength of the force in the state, stressing that any reduction would further weaken the already strained security apparatus.
While commending the leadership of the force in the state for displaying a high sense of professionalism in securing lives and property, the Governor said the activities of police force had helped reduce the spate of criminality in the state, as well as creating a conducive environment for investors.
Governor Oyebanji assured the Police authorities that his administration will continue to support the force to assure adequate security of lives and property across the state, adding that his administration is committed to ensuring that the state remains one of the safest in the country and that his government would continue to invest in resources, infrastructure, and partnerships to strengthen security measures in the state.
“ You said you are here to work, we are also ready to work with you and we will continue to partner and support the police force because they have added value to us, we are lucky in the state that the rate of kidnapping, banditry, and criminality has gone down tremendously and that speaks to the hard work and the cooperation we enjoy together and I must thank the Commissioner of Police for that.
“I will just plead with the AIG to also help us, I know that the police force is stretched in respect to manpower, but I have to say this since you are here, we are underserved, a lot of communities have no police formation and I have discussed with the Inspector General of Police himself and he told me the problem but even if you cannot add to our numbers do not deplete us”. The Governor asserted.
Earlier in his remarks, AIG Ajani Musbau, said the purpose of the visit was to familiarize himself with the Governor and express his gratitude to the Governor for his consistent support of the police force which had significantly improved the effectiveness of security operations in the state.
While commending Oyebanji for creating an enabling environment that has facilitated the smooth functioning of the police in the state, the AIG assured the Governor of his commitment to working tirelessly to sustain the peace and security, emphasizing that it has ensured the safety of residents and maintaining public order would remain a top priority under his leadership.
Also at the meeting were, the Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brigadier Gen Ebenezer Ogundana, Special Adviser Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo among others.
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