Christmas
Akwa Ibom bans large gatherings as coronavirus surges
As a precautionary measure against the second wave of COVID-19, the Akwa Ibom State government has announced the cancellation of “all state government events requiring large crowds”. The Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, who disclosed in a statement on Friday, said “test results from our PCR laboratory clearly indicate a sharp increase in the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our state”. The statement said Governor Udom Emmanuel has directed strict enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines and protocols at the Christmas village in Uyo, the state capital. The government said large political meetings are to be discouraged until the current spike of COVID-19 infections is reduced. It said the use of face mask and adherence to other COVID-19 guidelines and proto...
California hospitals overrun even as vaccine is rolled out
Even as high profile figures like U.S. Vice President Mike Pence rolled up their sleeves for COVID-19 vaccinations, patients already ill with the disease crowded emergency rooms and overran intensive care units in California, now a worldwide epicenter. Another 41,000 people tested positive in the most populous U.S. state on Thursday, and 300 died, state public health officials said. In a state with 40 million residents, only about 1,200 intensive care beds remained available by Friday – just 2.1% of the total, the California Department of Public Health said. “We anticipated a surge, but I’m not sure if anyone imagined it would be as bad as it has been,” said Adam Blackstone, a spokesman for the Hospital Association of Southern California. Hospitals are strained under the press of patients,...
NIMC insists on deadline for linking of NIN to mobile numbers
File Photo Despite criticisms from many Nigerians of the two-week ultimatum for the registration and linking of National Identity Number (NIN) to mobile numbers, the federal government has insisted on the deadline. The director-general of the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), Aliyu Abubakar, in an interview with newsmen on Friday said there was no extension for the announced deadline. “Right now, the way it is, there is no extension. We should not be complaining, rather we should see how it can be done,” he said. “It is until after 10 to 12 days then we will see how far it has gone before we beg the government for anything.” When the agency issued a two-week ultimatum for the enrolment, Nigerians took to social media platforms to kick against such a deadline. “In the whole o...
Ebonyi governor denies giving cultists N3 million
Governor David Umahi on Monday said he did not give N3 million to placate notorious cult groups allegedly terrorising residents of the state. Umahi said this when the 13 Local Government Area Chairmen, Coordinators of Development Centres, with their Management Committee members, among other political appointees, paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Abakiliki. He dismissed the report that he gave the money to the groups through his security aide. According to him, he had ordered a manhunt for members of the groups. “How can a warrior such as me bribe cultists, to do what with the money? The duty of political leaders and the citizens is to give me the names of the cultists because I will give them a bad Christmas celebration. “I am searching for them whether they are in gover...
BBNaija winner Laycon to release debut album next year
BBNaija Lockdown winner Olamilekan Agbeleshe aka Laycon has announced his plans to release his debut album in 2021. Laycon made the announcement to his fans during his GOtv Iconic tour in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, a few days ago. During a meet and greet session at the Ebong Uko hall, Monty Suites, Laycon dropped the news to the excitement of many of his fans. During his two-day tour of the city, Laycon paid a courtesy visit to the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, at the Ministry’s Headquarters at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo. He continued his tour with media rounds at the city’s top radio stations and then a town storm where he met up with fans at Ikot Ekpene road and Abak road before making an appearance at the opening ceremony of the Christmas Village in the stat...
Watch This Epic Christmas Light Show Set to David Guetta and Sia’s Classic “Titanium”
Almost a decade after its release, “Titanium” still hits different. Months after “Never Gonna Give You Up” singer Rick Astley breathed life into the dance classic, a Fresno homeowner named Jordan Willis has now used David Guetta and Sia‘s iconic track as the soundtrack to an epic light show this holiday season. Willis, who has been meticulously decking out the home for half a year, gave the song’s inescapable refrain of “fire away, fire away” new meaning with a grandiose display of 12,000 dancing lights. An unquestionable highlight is the show’s smiley LED Christmas tree installment, which has eyes and a mouth that actually sings along to the lyrics. Check out the light show below. Through his Lights on Dovewood ...
Holiday shopping moves online amid surging coronavirus, retailers face shaky prospects
File Photo Long lines and crowds at shopping centers have been as much a Thanksgiving tradition as the turkey dinner, but this year, things could look different. As COVID-19 numbers continue to surge, rushing to brick-and-mortar retail stores might seem not so appealing to many, and the holiday shopping season is moving online. “More and more shopping was already moving online, but COVID-19 concerns are definitely accelerating the shift to online buying,” David Reibstein, a marketing professor from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, told Xinhua. The trend is evident as shown by recent data. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, reported that its third-quarter e-commerce sales surged 79 percent from a year ago. Amazon, the largest e-commerce retailer, reported a 37 percent ...
Canadian premier urges residents to stay home as coronavirus cases spike
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday urged Canadians to stay home, avoid contact with others and follow public health rules to help slow the spread of COVID-19, after health officials warned of a possible explosive surge in virus cases. The post Canadian premier urges residents to stay home as coronavirus cases spike appeared first on TODAY. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
Mandy Moore Is Ringing the Christmas Bells With Two-Pack Holiday Single: Stream It Now
“The holidays are certainly going to feel verifiably different this year and in this vein, I challenged myself (and Mike and Taylor) to write a song that hinted at the acknowledgment of something missing without being too specific,” Moore says in a statement. “Because if we’ve learned anything in this season of change, it’s the recognition that those we love and cherish are what’s most important and worth celebrating,” she continues. “And that felt like a message to get behind during this special time of year.” Moore’s new batch of tracks follow the release in March of Silver Landings (Verve Forecast), her first album release since 2009’s Amanda Leigh. Like so many other artists, Moore’s 2020 north American tour in support of the album – her first in 13 years – was postponed du...
Fatman Is Another Lump of Coal for Mel Gibson: Review
The Pitch: Mel Gibson is the Fatman. No, the name isn’t a reference to the A-bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945. It’s one of the surlier nicknames for Santa Claus, played by Gibson as a disheveled, world-weary man named Chris Cringle, just trying to make ends meet in a world losing its Christmas Cheer©. If you feel you came into possession of Fatman by mistake, and would like to learn more about the “Fat Man” portions of the Manhattan Project, safely visit your local library or consult Wikipedia. Or perhaps watch Roland Jaffé’s Fat Man and Little Boy, a 1989 film about the invention of the atomic bomb by desperate American scientists. Why waste precious bits of the word count talking about Fat Man and Little Boy? Because I seriously have no idea what the hell to do with the latest lame-ass G...
Sustainable Gift Ideas: Timeless Fashion Gifts For an Unforgettable Festive Season
With the festive season close by, a thoughtful fashion gift can be a great way to spread some cheer. This time around, we’re choosing modern, creative, and sustainable presents that send a caring message to our loved ones. And for making your gift-hunting easier, we found 23 of the most coveted fashion items for that stylish person in your life. Our eco-fashion gift guide includes beautiful knitwear, cosy loungewear sets, timeless jewellery, statement accessories, and seasonless footwear that will stand the test of time. We’ve kept in mind that sustainable gifts can sometimes be a bit spenny and you might not always want to splurge on Christmas presents, so while we’ve included luxe choices like Brother Vellies pyramid-heel boots and a Marine Serre crescent-moon jumper, t...
Sustainable Gift Ideas: 23 Creative and Timeless Fashion Gifts For an Unforgettable Festive Season
With the festive season close by, a thoughtful fashion gift can be a great way to spread some cheer. This time around, we’re choosing modern, creative, and sustainable presents that send a caring message to our loved ones. And for making your gift-hunting easier, we found 23 of the most coveted fashion items for that stylish person in your life. Our eco-fashion gift guide includes beautiful knitwear, cosy loungewear sets, timeless jewellery, statement accessories, and seasonless footwear that will stand the test of time. We’ve kept in mind that sustainable gifts can sometimes be a bit spenny and you might not always want to splurge on Christmas presents, so while we’ve included luxe choices like Brother Vellies pyramid-heel boots and a Marine Serre crescent-moon jumper, t...
