Coronavirus Pandemic

Frank Lampard urges Premier League clubs to help save struggling EFL

Frank Lampard has urged Premier League clubs to ‘have a heart’ and help save Football League sides amid the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the pandemic and continued absence of supporters is being felt right across the sport, but nowhere more so than the lower leagues who remain without a vital source of income as fixtures continue to be played behind-closed-doors. Sporting authorities have approached the government warning of the disastrous consequences potentially awaiting without financial aid, though the Telegraph are reporting that elite level football will not receive support given the riches at the highest level of the game. The government believes that the Premier League – the richest division in world football – should be responsible for providin...

Gianfranco Zola hails Victor Osimhen’s ‘important qualities’ ahead Parma vs Napoli

Getty Images Gianfranco Zola is in awe of Victor Osimhen’s talent, suggesting that the Nigerian attacking ace has important qualities with which he can help Napoli to succeed this new season. Napoli will kick-start their 2020/21 Serie A campaign against AC Parma at the Ennio Tardini Stadium on Sunday, September 20, and Zola believes Osimhen can continue his fine pre-season form. The Super Eagles striker since joining Napoli earlier this summer from Lille for a fee of 70 million euros has scored six goals – two hat-tricks, in three pre-season games. Zola, ex-Napoli and Parma striker told Radio Kiss Kiss: “Napoli with Gattuso has found equilibrium. it will be an open game. Napoli has grown a lot with Gattuso. “He will be among the protagonists if Osimhen also enters immediately, he has impor...

Minister: Nigerian government waiting for NPAN to make submissions on palliatives

The Federal Government yesterday said it was ready to look into the hardships and the challenges the media, especially print, was facing due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this after presenting a portrait of the Argungu festival to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Briefing State House correspondents, the Minister said he had a virtual meeting with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, some time ago, adding that he was waiting for the association to make submissions to him on the challenges the print media was facing. He said the Federal Government was willing to assist the media industry within its means to ameliorate the situation. Alhaji Mohammed, who said gov...

WHO harps on virus prevention plans

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasised the need for effective COVID-19 prevention plans as countries reopen their economies and borders. Its Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, gave the advice during a news briefing from Geneva on Monday. Ghebreyesus said he had observed the eagerness of countries to “get their economies going again”, eight months into the coronavirus pandemic. According to him, if countries are serious about opening, they must prioritise the suppression of transmission and safety of lives. He warned that opening up without efficient and effective prevention measures in place was “a recipe for disaster”. Ghebreyesus said this might seem an impossible balance, but it could be done if countries were in control of the transmission. “The more control they have...

Brazil court fires Rio governor over corruption

Brazil’s High Court of Justice removed Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel from office Friday, as police raided his official residence in a probe into accusations he stole emergency funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The raids also targeted the far-right governor’s wife and inner circle. Among those arrested was Pastor Everaldo, an evangelical preacher and leader of Witzel’s Christian Social Party. Helicopters circled over the stately governor’s residence, Laranjeiras Palace, starting at dawn as federal police executed a sweeping series of search and seizure orders and arrest warrants. The court ruling suspends Witzel, 52, from office for at least 180 days as authorities investigate claims he took a reported 274.2 million reals ($50 million) in kickbacks. “This criminal organizatio...

ZLP: Governor Akeredolu not sincere about fees slash in tertiary institutions

The governorship candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Hon Agboola Ajayi, has described the planned reduction of school fees of tertiary institutions by the state government as an afterthought. Ajayi said one of the reasons he fell out with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was the increase in school fees of the state-owned tertiary institutions without consideration of the earnings of parents. “The announcement by governor Akeredolu last week that he might consider school fees reduction when students are on holiday due to coronavirus pandemic was an afterthought as he was afraid of losing the October 10 governorship election. Ajayi Media Adviser Mr Allen Sowore in a statement said ‘the public would recall that one of the major disagreements between Agboola Ajayi and his boss the Governor was on...

Abia governor to honour virus frontline workers, others

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has directed the organizing committee of the 29th Anniversary of Abia State to celebrate frontline workers and honor them for their sacrifices during the coronavirus pandemic. Ikpeazu ordered the celebration in order to encourage others to make similar or even greater sacrifices in service to humanity. He listed those to be honored as; 1. Dr Stanley Okerulu 2. Dr Ijeoma Nduka 3. Lady Peace Nwaogwugwu 4. Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi 5. Nurse Lilian Anyanwu 6. Nurse Kemi Olowoniyi Governor Ikpeazu also commended a staff of Transport and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) who has distinguished herself in the task of controlling traffic, particularly at FMC junction of Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia. The staff turns up every morning before rush hour...

Ondo gives 30 percent discount on inputs to farmers to ensure food security

The Ondo State Government on Sunday said it had provided discounted agricultural inputs as palliatives to farmers as part of measures to ensure food security in the state. Mr Akin Olotu, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Agribusiness, said this to newsmen in Akure. He said that the government also had put in place various interventions to cushion the effects of COVID-19 among farmers in the state . Olotu said the palliative (discount) was structured such that 30 per cent discount was given to interested farmers on inputs they purchased. He, however, said that maize farmers were given inputs for free on the directives of the governor. Olotu said that if farmers were not assisted speedily from the havoc wreaked on Agriculture and Agribusinesses by the coronavirus ...

NFF management, staff to undergo coronavirus tests

Management and other officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will undergo coronavirus tests at the federation’s secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, an official said on Wednesday. Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, disclosed in a statement that the federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, announced this on Wednesday. According to Olajire, Sanusi said the test would take place at the federation’s Sunday Dankaro House secretariat, located within the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex in Abuja. “Sanusi, while addressing management officials and other staff on Wednesday informed them that the test had become necessary after a positive test by a member of the NFF management. “Apart from this person testing positive, Sanusi said he also had issues and has had to ...

Stock market volatility hits Norway’s sovereign wealth fund

Norway’s Central Bank on Tuesday said its pension fund lost 188 billion kroner ( 21 billion dollars equivalent) in the first half of 2020 amid stock market volatility during the coronavirus pandemic. The bank said the return on the sovereign wealth fund fell by 3.4 per cent during the January-to-June period. The Deputy Chief Executive of Norges Bank Investment Management, Trond Grande, said there were major fluctuations in the equity market. “The year started with optimism, but the outlook of the equity market quickly turned when the coronavirus started to spread globally. “The sharp decline in global stock markets during the first quarter is, however, limited by a massive monetary and financial policy response. “Even though markets recovered well in the second quarter, we are still witnes...

Civil society hails Saudi Arabia for conducting Hajj despite coronavirus

Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation that monitors and reports Hajj activities both in Nigeria and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ably led by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bn Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince, Muhammad Bn Salman for successfully organizing Hajj 2020 despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The post Civil society hails Saudi Arabia for conducting Hajj despite coronavirus 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 ...

Kwara records eight new cases of coronavirus

Kwara has recorded eight new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as at 11.45p.m on Monday, Aug 10. The post Kwara records eight new cases of coronavirus 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.