COVID-19
Oscars 2021 Moved to April, Eligibility Window Extended
Due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 Oscars have been postponed two months. Originally set to take place on February 28th, Hollywood’s Biggest Night will now occur on April 25th, 2021. Additionally, the Academy has extended the eligibility period for nominated films by two months. The window for qualifying films now spans from January 1st 2020 to February 28th, 2021, with a general submission deadline set for January 15th 2021, according to Variety. The Academy plans to return to a standard January to December eligibility period next year. Previously, the Academy made substantial, unprecedented adjustments to the eligibility rules this past April in response to the outbreak. One of those allows for digital screenings, altering the long-standi...
Jon Stewart Discusses Police Brutality and FOX News in New Interview
With all that’s going on in the world, there’s no better time for the return of Jon Stewart. The former Daily Show host is back making the media rounds for his new movie, Irresistible, coming to PVOD on June 26th. Given the political nature of the film and the socio-political landscape it’s being released into, it’s no surprise Stewart has a lot to say about the current state of things. In a new interview with The New York Times, he touched on everything from Trump to police brutality to FOX News, all with his usual intelligence and nuance. Some might wish Stewart would return to the televised political comedy and commentary scene, but even if he were to return (he’s certainly not eager to) it wouldn’t be like The Daily Show. He praised the show’s current host, Trevor Noah, ...
UK “Quarantine Raves” Result in Death, Rape, Multiple Stabbings
Manchester, England was the site of two illegal “quarantine raves” on Saturday, June 13th. Attended by some 6,000 people total, the events resulted in one suspected overdose death, three stabbings, and the rape of an 18-year-old-woman. As reported by the BBC, the two separate events took place in Daisy Nook Park and Carrington, both within Greater Manchester County. 4,000 people piled into the park at Daisy Nook, including the 20-year-old man who is believed to have died of a drug overdose. An additional 2,000 people raved at Carrington, and it was this smaller event that hosted the rest of the weekend’s tragedies. Three separate stabbings took place, one of which left an 18-year-old man in critical condition. Police officers gave him first aid before paramedics arrived, and his healt...
Chromeo Serenade Social Distancers with New “Quarantine Casanova” EP
Funk masters Chromeo recently released a new quarantine-inspired EP called Quarantine Casanova in an effort to raise spirits amid the current global health crisis. With all proceeds from the five-track EP going to Colin Kaepernick‘s Know Your Rights Camp‘s COVID-19 relief fund, not only is the duo giving us a reason to get up and dance, they’ll also be helping to slow the pandemic. Perfect for funk fans both new and old, the goofy lyrics mixed with infectiously danceable grooves will have you singing “I’ll be your Clorox wipe” and “let me wipe your surface” as you boogie down masked and six feet apart from your friends. The first two tracks, “Clorox Wipe” and “6 Feet Away,” play on themes ...
Ondo records 30 new coronavirus cases in one week
File Photo Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has disclosed that the state recorded 30 new positive cases of COVID-19 in one week. Akeredolu made the disclosure on Monday in Akure during a press briefing on the deadly pandemic in the Government House. He said that 11 of the new cases were in Okitipupa Local Government Area, while seven were health workers, who contracted the virus at a private hospital in the area. “This is a frightening and embarrassing situation which tells us that COVID-19 is at our doorstep. “We have a total of 73 confirmed positive cases, 33 treated and discharged, 31 active cases and nine deaths. “Some arrests were made yesterday, while vehicles were also impounded because they were outside after the 7 p.m. curfew,” he said. Get more stories like this on Twitte...
Nearly 100 teachers, 1,800 students test positive for coronavirus in South Africa
At least 98 teachers and 1,800 learners in South Africa’s Covid-19 epicentre province, the Western Cape, have tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus, forcing 20 schools to close. The schools will be disinfected this week. The southern African nation allowed schools to reopen from June 1. Education MEC Debbie Schafer, however, said the cases had not spiked due to the reopening of schools. “Of this number, 1,537 cases were reported before the schools were reopened,” Ms Schafer said. The provincial Education Department had spent R280 million (US$16.3 million) on hygiene supplies. Pupils and teachers were given two masks each, while schools were equipped with digital thermometers, hand sanitiser, liquid soap, and cleaning supplies. Opposition leader Mmusi Maimane, a former Democratic All...
Elon Musk’s Reopened Tesla Factory Has “Several Cases” of Coronavirus
On May 11th, Elon Musk defied local health care officials and reopened his Tesla factory in Fremont, California. Now, via Washington Post and Vox, “several cases” of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed among his unfortunate workers. Musk initially closed his Tesla factories back in March, after coming into conflict with the Fremont police and Alameda County sheriff. Two months later, California state guidelines suggested that companies like Tesla could reopen, although the guidelines were non-binding and deferential to local health care officials. The Alameda County Public Health Department tried to block Tesla’s re-opening, but Musk did it anyway, while also suing the county. A few days later, the issue was resolved when Musk agreed to stricter safety measures. T...
Minister: Nigeria working on plasma of recovered coronavirus patients for treatment
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Sunday said the Federal Government is working on research, using plasma from the blood of recovered Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients to treat people infected with the virus. Ehanire said this while answering questions from journalists in Abuja on the possibility of using plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients to treat serious cases. The minister, who spoke at a news conference to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), said some research institutes were already working on the new research. According to him, plasma of patients recovered from COVID-19 is called Convalescent plasma. “It is believed that persons who suffered COVID-19 and have recovered will have antibodies inside their plasma, which can be used to treat others. “It can be used...
Massive Illegal “Quarantine Raves” in Greater Manchester Lead to Death of Man, Rape of Woman
Thousands of people attended illegal “quarantine raves” in Greater Manchester on Saturday, June 13th, flocking to Daisy Nook Country Park and Carrington to join the illegal events. After swooping in and dissolving the raves, police reported tragic news. One man, aged 20, died of a suspected drug overdose, three people were stabbed, and an 18-year-old woman was raped. The Daisy Nook rave in Failsworth, Oldham attracted over 4,000 people, but police did not report any criminal activity beyond illegal attendance. However, the Carrington rave was more perilous. Police reported multiple stabbings, one of which is an 18-year-old man with life-threatening injuries, according to a report from BBC News. The Carrington event was also the location of the rape of the 18-year-old woman...
Kano relaxes lockdown restriction on Mondays
Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has relaxed the restriction placed on Monday as a lockdown day in the state A statement signed on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malan Abba Anwar, said the additional day means that Kano State has a total of four free days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday) as opposed to three free days that were previously approved. The statement added that the policy decision was to further cushion the effect and hardship caused by lockdown in the state as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state. “People are now free to move freely on Mondays within the stipulated time of 6am-6pm” said the statement. The governor urged the people to continue to wear their face masks, to maintain social distancing, use their hand sanitize...
4 Ways Digitisation Can Unlock Africa’s Recovery from COVID-19
Four steps to achieve a digital society for all Africans and avoid the stalling of African digitisation: 1. Bridging the digital divide Broad-based digitisation, especially for those people at the bottom of the pyramid, is an effective measure to ignite and sustain economic growth, and it starts with ensuring access to digital infrastructure for all. A study by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) found that expanding mobile broadband penetration by just 10% in Africa would equate to an increase of 2.5% in GDP per capita. Yet, traditional models for investing in digital infrastructure do not stack up in many rural or remote areas, due to a combination of high deployment costs, regulatory barriers and poor returns on capital. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_101.td-a-rec-img{ text-align:...
Chromeo Release Cheeky EP for the Pandemic Era, Quarantine Casanova: Stream
Chromeo have just delivered the funkiest release of the coronavirus era so far. Stream the cheeky 10-track Quarantine Casanova EP below. The collection began somewhat haphazardly during the early days of the pandemic lockdown. Chromeo’s Dave 1 and P-Thugg kicked off quarantine by freestyling a song called “Clorox Wipe”, simply to bring some playfulness to folks who were suddenly thrust into such uncertainty. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with fans begging for more. Chromeo obliged, and eventually the Quarantine Casanova EP was born. Tracks take on love in the time of social distancing (“6 Feet Away”), embrace ennui (“Stay in Bed (And Do Nothing)”), and namedrop Dr. Anthony Fauci (“‘Roni Got Me Stressed Out”). There are five new songs in total, coupled with the in...
