COVID-19
Metallica’s James Hetfield Is ‘a Little Skeptical’ of the Vaccine, Fears Possible COVID Passport Requirements
It doesn’t sound like James Hetfield will be receiving a COVID-19 vaccine any time soon. The Metallica frontman, who’s also a hunting and gun enthusiast, recently appeared on the Fierce Life podcast—a show produced by Fierce Firearms—and shared his thoughts on vaccines when asked if Metallica had plans to resume touring soon. “I have no clue. It’s not up to me. It really is up to the safety of everyone—not just the fans, but the crew and us. I’m not sure what that means in the future as far as vaccines. I’m a little skeptical of getting the vaccine, but it seems to be rolling out and people are getting it and I’ve got lots of friends that have done it,” he explained. “I’m not totally sure about it,” Hetfield reiterated. “But I hope it doesn’t come to a point where you have to hav...
CBN governor seeks PPP model to improve healthcare infrastructure
Bloomberg The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged stakeholders in the public and private sectors to collaborate to build a more healthy and robust healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria. The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, made the call at a movie launch titled: “UNMASKED”, a feature documentary on leadership, trust and the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The movie was produced and directed by Mr Femi Odugbemi, a Nigerian documentary filmmaker, and co-produced by Ms Kadaria Ahmed, a renowned journalist, media entrepreneur and television host, on Friday in Lagos. According to Emefiele, addressing the public health crisis along with the downturn in the economy required strong coordination. He said the measures and interventions put in place by the CBN and private sector to improve governme...
Metallica’s James Hetfield: “I’m a Little Skeptical of Getting the Vaccine”
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-07T20:23:27+00:00“>May 7, 2021 | 4:23pm ET As the concert industry begins to open up again, Metallica frontman James Hetfield admits he’s “a little skeptical” about getting a COVID vaccine. It turns out that the metal legend didn’t even receive any vaccinations as a kid, due to religious reasons. In a recent interview with the Fierce Life podcast (transcribed by Blabbermouth), which focuses on hunting and firearms, Hetfield was asked if Metallica plan on doing some touring this year. He answered, “I have no clue. It’s not up to me. It really is up to the safety of everyone — not just the fans, but the crew and us. I’m not sure what that means in the future as far as vaccines. I’m...
Over 130 Belgian Venues Reopen Illegally in Protest of Government Restrictions
On April 30th more than 130 venues in the Belgian cities of Brussels and Wallonia opened their doors, breaking government protocols instated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venues are hosting events for the general public for nine consecutive days in protest of the restrictions, IQ Magazine reports. Campaign group Still Standing For Culture is the body behind the protest events which span entire cities and will conclude on May 8th, when government restrictions are eased to allow open-air events with a maximum capacity of 50 individuals. “We will do this without underestimating the dangerousness of the virus, but we recall that experiments and studies show that the opening of cultural places has only a minimal impact on the contamination curves in the face of the effects ...
Broadway to Reopen in September at Full Capacity
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-05T17:37:05+00:00“>May 5, 2021 | 1:37pm ET After more than a year in darkness due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Broadway will finally light its stages once again this fall. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that New York City’s iconic Broadway theaters will reopen on September 14th at full capacity. “Broadway is at the core of our New York identity, and a big part of our economy which employs countless performers and show creators, and beginning this September, the show will go on,” said Governor Cuomo. “Visitors from all around the world have come to New York to experience the arts and culture and see iconic performances on Broadway, and sadly, the pandemic put...
Indian Electronic Music Artists Support COVID-19 Relief With Compilation Album, “SOS”
The COVID-19 crisis in India has been dominating headlines as of late, with total cases in the country skyrocketing past 19 million Sunday morning. Stepping up to help are 14 Indian musicians, who this week released the SOS compilation album in support of those providing relief on the ground. Out April 30th via AsymetriK, the 14-track project is available now exclusively through Bandcamp. 100% of its proceeds are designated for the Hemkunt Foundation, which supplies oxygen to COVID-19 patients. “There is an acute shortage of oxygen tanks, ventilators and beds – with even the biggest hospitals sending out SOS requests for help,” the project’s organizer, Arjun Vagale, wrote on Bandcamp. On May 2nd, 2021, the country reported its highest number of ...
UK Nightclub Study Hosts First Lawful Gathering in Over a Year With No Social Distancing, 3,000-Capacity
The UK suffered the highest pandemic death toll in all of Europe, but the nation’s reopening strategy is moving forward with promise amid a high rate of vaccinations. Large-scale events have been on ice for over a year, but depending on the results of a new series of test events taking place in the UK, the region’s nightlife sector could be back in action in the near future. On Friday Liverpool’s Circus nightclub drew 3,000 attendees for an event designed to study the spread of COVID-19 among a non-socially distanced population, according to the Associated Press. Attendees had to produce a negative test prior to the event, but once inside they were free to dance, mingle, and enjoy performances from Jayda G and Lewis Boardman, all without masks. Thousa...
Kebbi governor: Why we can’t pay leave grant, gratuities
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, on Saturday, thanked the organised labour in the state for their patience, understanding and maintaining very good relationship with the government. The governor, who spoke during activities organised to mark the 2021 Workers Day in Birnin Kebbi, however, said his administration would not be able to pay the 2020 leave grant of workers and outstanding gratuities. “NLC is aware of the burden of gratuities the government inherited and how far we have gone in trying to clear the debts. “In spite of the dwindling resources, the state government still pays salaries, runs the government and puts in some infrastructure in the state. “The union should liaise with the Ministry of Finance for a way out. “On the 2020 leave grants, the state cannot afford to pay but you shou...
Tanzanian student dies of coronavirus in India
A Tanzanian PhD student, Ngowi Emanuel Harrison, died in India on April 26 of Covid-19 complications. A report by The Indian Express confirms that Harrison, 34, had joined the Ph.D. course for Business Economics at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, on March 27, and tested positive for Covid-19 on April 21. According to Indian officials, Harrison died after experiencing a sudden drop in oxygen levels. Director of the Office of International Affairs at MSU, Prof. Dhanesh Patel, explained that about 40 foreign national students were tested for Covid-19 recently, with three of the results proving positive — one from Gambia and two from Tanzania. “The student [Harrison] had arrived in India on March 27. He complained of some symptoms on April 21 but his Rapid Antigen Test came back n...
EU releases last tranche of $14.5 million to assist Nigeria rollout coronavirus vaccine
The European Union has said $14. 5 million out of the €50 million promised to the Federal Government to assist in the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine would be released this week. The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, who addressed newsmen yesterday in Abuja, revealed that already €9 million grant had been released to boost the prevention and response to Coronavirus in Nigeria. “The EU is taking the lead in supporting partner countries, including Nigeria, to tackle the tackle the COVID-19 pandemic by combining resources from the EU, its member states and European financial institutions, under the ‘Team Europe’ initiative. “At the onset of the pandemic in Nigeria, the EU rapidly mobilised €50 million grant in humanitarian aid was given to Nigeria to boost preventio...
President Buhari seeks NMA support in providing responsive health care system
President Muhammed Buhari has solicited the support of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in reforming the Health care sector in order to deliver a health system that is responsive to the needs of Nigerians. Buhari disclosed this on Thursday during the 61st Annual General Conference Annual Delegates meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), held in Jos, Plateau State. The President who was represented by Minister of Health, Professor , Osagie Ehanire, said inspite the Country’s fragile health system, Doctors have continued to respond to diseases. He said the Country’s health system has a long way to go in meeting the demand of Nigerians. President Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah appealed to Federal Government to provide modern medical equipments and consuma...
Joe Rogan Hits Reverse on Vaccines: “I Believe They Are Safe and I Encourage Many People to Take Them”
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-29T22:14:16+00:00“>April 29, 2021 | 6:14pm ET Earlier this week, Joe Rogan was roundly criticized for telling healthy young people to not get vaccinated against COVID-19, remarking on an episode of his popular podcast, “If you’re like 21 years old, and you say to me, should I get vaccinated? I go no.” Now, via The Hollywood Reporter, he’s walking back those statements, saying on the latest edition of The Joe Rogan Experience that it “makes sense” to get vaccinated to protect other people. It wasn’t quite an unequivocal apology; Rogan spent some time attacking the “click bait” instincts of the media, and questioned why anyone would listen to him in the first pl...
