COVID-19
AMC Theatres Reverses Decision, Will Require Moviegoers to Wear Masks
AMC Theatres has reversed a previous policy decision and will now require customer to wear masks in their cinemas upon reopening. (We may have some suggestions for that.) In plans revealed on Thursday, AMC announced it would open 450 of its US locations on July 15th, with the remaining 150 following on July 24th. While there were a number of precautions addressed to help reduce the spread of coronavirus — reducing capacities to 30%, increasing sanitation procedures, and limiting concessions — masks were only made a requirement for “theatre associates.” Speaking with Variety about the reopening rollout, AMC CEO Adam Aron said the company felt “it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is no necessary.” He added that he expected “the...
Minister receives committee report on 2020 national sports festival
Honourable Minister for Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, has disclosed that the organisers will meet with the government and stakeholders to discuss the way forward for the 2020 National Sports Festival. The Minister made this known shortly after he received reports from the 11 man committee of the 2020 national sports Festival in his office on Thursday. The Minister assured that he will get the Government and other stakeholders to round table in order to discuss on when the games will commence. “We’ll not shy away from making decisions based on the reality on the ground. This is a milestone to determine when to start sporting activities, but we would not jeopardise the health and wellbeing of our sportsmen and women.” “We shall study your report, sit down with relevant agencies of gove...
Switzerland’s Nightclubs Reopen with Parties at Minimized Capacity
Following the Swiss government’s easing of lockdown restrictions on June 6th, 2020, the country’s nightclubs are finally experiencing a renaissance. Indoor venues in Switzerland are now allowed to host events with a capacity of 300 until midnight and without any social distancing rules. However, patrons must provide consent upon entry. Weetamix and D!Club are two of the country’s many nightclubs that have already capitalized on the felicitous lift of lockdown ordinances, recently throwing events at minimized capacity. Swiss-Chilean DJ Luciano headlined events at both venues last weekend, where the capacities were 100 and 300, respectively. You can check out a video of his performance at Weetamix below. “It was a phenomenal feeling, a tr...
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Brittany Howard, Leon Bridges, and More Play “Small Biz Live” Concert: Watch
Lauryn Hill (photo via ACL), Brittany Howard (photo by Amy Price), Leon Bridges (photo by Ben Kaye) With stores slowly reopening around the country, it’s tempting to believe that normalcy is just around the bend. That’s hardly the case, however, and perhaps no one knows that better than black small business owners, who have been financially hit the hardest by the coronavirus. To support these individuals, city locals have been widely sharing listings of Black-owned operations, such as restaurants and coffee shops. Now, a number of prominent musicians are doing their part by playing a virtual event today called “Small Biz Live”. The online concert is highlighted by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Leon Bridges, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Brandi Carlile. 2 Chainz, Bam Marley,...
Togo pay tribute to Edem Koudagba after unexpected death
The Togolese Football Federation have paid tribute to ASC Kara striker Kossi Edem Koudagba following his death at the age of 24 on Thursday. The striker, who netted against Nigeria at the 2019 Wafu Cup of Nations, died in his hometown of Davie following a short illness. “In these painful circumstances, the Executive Committee of the FTF wish to salute the memory of the player, whose qualities on and off the field are known to all,” a communique from the federation began. “The FTF Executive Committee would like, on behalf of Togolese football, to express our deepest condolences and express our feelings of sympathy to the family of the deceased, loved ones, the ASCK club, as well as the staff and players of the Togo national team.” Koudagba’s death was announced on Thursday, with the young f...
Coronavirus Antibodies Vanish a Few Months After Patients Recover, New Study Finds
According to a study published in the Journal of Nature Medicine, recovered COVID-19 patients may rapidly lose antibodies – the blood proteins necessary to stave off virus infections and the cornerstone of vaccinology. The finding raises new questions about the idea of immunity passports (a way for people considered immune to the virus to move around freely and not need to wear facemasks) and could be cause for concern about the development of an effective vaccine. Researchers in the study tested for antibodies in 37 people who had fallen ill and recovered from the virus in the Wanzhou district of China. They also tested 37 others who had tested positive for the virus but never showed symptoms – what is known as asymptomatic cases. This was in order to address two key questions that will i...
Sports minister receives report of Edo 2020 committee; set to make final decision
The Edo 2020 Sports Festival Committee set up to review Edo state readiness to host the event in the wake of the postponement due to the outbreak of covid-19 has submitted its report to Youth and Sports Development Minister Mr. Sunday Dare. Speaking while submitting its report to the Minister on Thursday in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Tonobok Okowa, said the committee had done a thorough job which would help the government decide on the best possible date to host the festival. According to the Minister, ”Exactly a month ago this committee was set up , i thank you for keeping to the schedule of your mandate. We shall study your report, sit down with relevant agencies of government to examine the recommendations therein. The Ministry is properly guided by Covid-19 protocol a...
Anderson .Paak Addresses Police Brutality on New Single “Lockdown”: Stream
Anderson .Paak is marking Juneteenth with a new single addressing racism and police brutality. It’s dubbed “Lockdown” and comes with a corresponding music video helmed by famed director Dave Meyers (Billie Eilish, JAY-Z, Ariana Grande). Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth celebrates June 19th, 1865, the day the Emancipation Proclamation finally went into full effect throughout all of the Confederate States of America. Legalized slavery may be a thing of the past, but as we’ve seen in just the last few weeks, racism and white supremacy are still very much a(n ugly) fabric of US society, and this is what .Paak focuses on in his latest track. “Sicker than the COVID, how they did him on the ground?/ Speakin’ of the COVID, is it still goin’ around?” says .Paak, referencing the murder of Georg...
Regal Cinemas Announce Coronavirus Guidelines for Reopening Next Month
Regal Cinemas have announced arbitrary new safety guidelines to facilitate crowds of people packing together amidst the coronavirus pandemic. America’s second-largest movie theater chain will reopen July 10th. Taken together, the newly-announced rules have all the charm and capriciousness of a trip through airport security. Regal Cinemas has implemented a suite of regulations to stop surface-to-person transmission of COVID-19, even though the CDC thinks that’s relatively rare. And despite the fact that mask wearing is the single best precaution people can take — scientists think it might be more important than social distancing — Regal is deferring to local regulations around masks, and won’t force employees or customers to wear them in states where it isn’t required. But if the novel coro...
Live from Here Canceled Amid COVID-19 Budget Cuts
Live from Here with Chris Thile, the variety program that replaced the famed A Prairie Home Companion, has been canceled by the Minnesota Public Radio amid budget cuts related to COVID-19. After over 50 years of broadcasting, the original Peabody-winning A Prairie Home Companion was re-branded as Live from Here in 2017 after MPR canceled its contract with original host, Garrison Keillor, following accusations of inappropriate behavior. Chris Thile, who had taken over hosting duties in 2016, changed the name to Live from Here shortly after Keillor’s firing. During its short-lived time, Live from Here welcomed guest musicians such as Paul Simon, Jeff Tweedy, Father John Misty, Neko Case, and Norah Jones, as well as Sufjan Stevens, Courtney Barnett, and Trey Anastasio. It aired every Sun...
Anambra should put donations for coronavirus to work – doctors
As resident doctors at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, the Anambra State capital, embarked on a strike on Monday, they have advised the Anambra State Government to put donations made by philanthropists for COVID-19 to the purpose they were meant. The chapter President of the body Dr Obinna Aniagboso, told newsmen on Tuesday as he ran round to mobilise members for the strike that apart from the fact that his members are not paid hazard allowance as approved by the Federal Government, there were other outstanding issues the resident doctors are yet to thrash out with the State Government. Aniagboso said: “Throughout this period we work every day exposing ourselves to danger and you know the situation in Anambra state. There is increasing number...
Governor Wike slams NGF as toothless bulldog
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on Monday slammed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for not standing up for embattled Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki. He said the NGF had become a toothless bulldog as it has lost focus on its role in defending the rule of law. Wike said the Forum used to be non-partisan and a powerful voice on national issues. He noted that since the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over the NGF in 2015, governors have been turned to beggars. The governor spoke at a media parley held at Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. He said: “Before 2015, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum used to be very powerful as symbols of their respective states but APC killed it because they were protecting the interest of the ruling party. “It is quite unfortunate ...
