COVID-19
VP Osinbajo expresses shock over Yinka Odumakin’s demise
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is shocked over the death of Yinka Odumakin, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere. Osinbajo in a terse statement signed by Laolu Akande, his spokesperson, commiserated with the deceased’s wife, Dr Joe Odumakin, his family and associates. The VP also prayed that the Lord would comfort the family, and bless his memory always. Odumakin died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after a brief illness. The activist was said to have died at LASUTH COVID-19 Isolation Centre. Get more stories like this on Twitter 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 pro...
Lollapalooza Paris Postponed to Summer 2022
As live events and festivals begin to set their sights on a brighter post-COVID future in 2021, Lollapalooza Paris has opted to postpone once again amid uncertainty surrounding safety regulations into the summer. Originally slated for July 17th and 18th, 2021, Lollapalooza’s Paris edition will forgo another year in order to ensure safe operations and a semblance of normalcy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 era. The festival’s postponement was announced by Live Nation France via Facebook. “Due to the current uncertainties, Lollapalooza Paris will not be held this year,” the post reads. “We’re missing the Lolla magic more than ever, and are looking forward to getting back next year.” Lollapalooza Paris will now take place on July 16th and ...
UN projects Nigeria’s GDP to expand by 1.5 percent
Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to expand by 1.5 per cent this year, after a contraction of 3.5 per cent in 2020, a United Nations (UN) report said on Wednesday. In the latest World Economic Situation and Prospects report, the UN noted, that tighter foreign exchange (forex) liquidity, mounting inflationary pressures and subdued domestic demand clouded the medium-term outlook. Although last year, the global economy shrank by 4.3 per cent, this year’s projected recovery of 4.7 per cent will barely offset the losses of 2020, according to the report. The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021 is a report produced by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), in partnership with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the five UN regional ...
Nigerian government begs resident doctors to shelve planned strike
The Federal Government has appealed to Resident Doctors to shelve their threat of embarking on a nationwide strike in the country. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made the appeal at a conciliatory meeting with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday in Abuja. Newsmen recall that NARD had threatened to shut public health care facilities beginning from April 1, over unpaid salaries and other welfare packages. Ngige said that majority of the welfare issues under contention were almost resolved even before the letter of compliant and notification of a planned strike action was delivered at the ministry ”We are here because we have started solving your issues. We put up proposals with given timelines on how to deal with them. “We will look at thos...
NSF: Borno to participate in 13 sports – official
Borno is to participate in 13 sports in the coming National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled for April 2 in Benin. The Information Officer of Borno Sports Council, Mr Ibrahim Tukur, made this known on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri. Tukur said the sports comprised football, handball, badminton, tennis, cycling, volleyball, taekwondo, wrestling, Kunfu, Karate and traditional sports like langa, local wrestling and dambe. Tukur said that the state is sending a contingent of 150 people, including sportsmen and officials. “In compliance with directive, samples have just been taken from all those going to for the Festival including the Commissioner for Sports for COVID-19 test,” Tukur said. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are look...
Coronavirus: Nigeria gets $15 million grant for safe school reopening
The Federal Ministry of Education says Nigeria has received 15 million dollars response grant from the Global Partnership on Education (GPE) for COVID-19 safe school reopening across the country. Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, Director, Basic and Secondary Education in the ministry, said this on Wednesday in Bauchi, at a Cluster Mobilisation and Sensitisation Meetings on COVID-19 Protocols, Surveillance and Safe School Reopening Readiness. Abdulkadir was represented on the occasion by Mr Achede Owoicho, Deputy Director, Basic and Secondary Education and the Focal person for the GPE. The workshop is initiated with the support of the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF). Abdulkadir noted that through the grants, UNICEF had sent WASH and ICT materials to 16 states for preparation of digit...
Reading and Leeds Festival Will “Almost Certainly” Require Vaccine Cards
Reading and Leeds Festival is still planning to go forward with their August dates, but with some COVID-19 protocols that The Stone Roses’ frontman Ian Brown will have problems with: namely, vaccine cards. In a new interview with the BBC, Reading and Leeds organizer Melvin Benn said that twin festivals will “almost certainly” require attendees to show proof that they received their COVID-19 shots with special vaccination passports. The UK is on track to lift pandemic restrictions in the coming months, which would be just in time for Reading and Leeds’ weekend from August 27th through the 29th. “I’m taking the prime minister at his word that from June the legal restrictions will be off and as he and the culture secretary said: ‘We are looking forward to a summer of fun’,” Benn told&nbs...
Shambhala Music Festival Postponed to 2022 Due to Uncertainty of COVID-19
Shambhala is the latest music festival to cash in its chips due to the uncertainty of COVID-19. Citing the impact of the pandemic, the organizers of the Canadian dance music fest, which takes place annually at Salmo River Ranch, have pulled the plug on the event’s 2021 edition. Originally scheduled for late July 2020, the festival was eventually moved to August 20-23, 2021 before its postponement to 2022. Ticket-holders may redeem their passes across Shambhala’s 2022, 2023 or 2024 events. Prospective attendees and lodgers were told to expect to receive an email “in the coming months” to register for the year they’d like to attend. The 2021 edition of Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed due to the impact of COVID-19. Shambhala Music Festival (via Twitte...
CAN: Osun governor’s education policy review reduces tension
The Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Osun State chapter has lauded Governor Gboyega Oyetola for the careful review of the education policy of the previous administration which has drastically reduced tension in public schools. The association also commended what it described as the ingenious and dynamic leadership with which Oyetola has handled critical sectors of the state. This was revealed by the second Vice Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, who also doubles as the minister in charge of the Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim, Oke-Atan Ile-Ife, Pastor Elijah Fagbile, while speaking with the media at the Osun Civic Engagement Office. He emphasized that Oyetola is a man of honour whose character and personal qualities have engendered tremendous development which the state curren...
Red Rocks Amphitheatre to Reopen This Summer With Events at 2,500 Capacity
Red Rocks Amphitheatre announced it will host events this summer at a reduced capacity of 2,500. With state approval, Red Rocks will soon reopen for its 80th anniversary summer season. Originally hosting up to 9,450 people, the venue’s reduced capacity represents around 25% of its normal volume. Representatives announced the news on Red Rocks’ official Twitter page, promising more announcements soon. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic Colorado open air venue wasn’t immune to the widespread closures precipitated by the virus’ impact. While Red Rocks worked with state officials in September and October to host socially-distant, 175-capacity shows, the regulations weren’t economical for the venue to continue operations. Each county in Colorado falls into it...
Barcelona Concert Experiment With 5,000 People Tests Effectiveness of Social Distancing
Over the weekend, Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi venue hosted a 5,000 person concert, where social distancing was not enforced by design. The experiment sought to determine whether it is possible to stage large in-person gatherings in close quarters without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. The night was soundtracked by Spanish rock band Love of Lesbian. “It’s been a year and half since we last set foot on a scenario as a band,” the group’s singer Santi Balmes said, addressing the crowd. “Some of the musicians are crying over here.” Two attendees embrace at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi, where an experimental concert took place to examine the effectiveness of social distancing. Pau Venteo The Fight Aids and Infectious Diseases Foundation backe...
Arsenal star’s mum dies after coronavirus battle
Arsenal star Lucas Torreira’s mum has died after a battle with Covid-19, as reported by Uruguayan daily Ovacion. Viviana Di Pascua, 53, was recently admitted to intensive care after contracting the coronavirus in Uruguay. Torreira, who is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid, was given special permission by the La Liga club to fly home to Frey Bentos to be by her side. But Viviana’s situation worsened and on Tuesday her death was announced. Gunners midfielder Torreira contracted Covid-19 himself back in November 2020 following international duty. Torreira was the national team’s twelfth individual among players and staff to receive a positive result at the time. The 25-year-old was forced to miss two weeks of football, including a La Liga clash with Barcelona. A statement read at the time:...
