Friday
US braces for continued surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalisations
As newly reported cases of the coronavirus continued to spike across much of the United States, breaking records for hospitalisations, some local leaders are moving to enact more stringent restrictions. US officials had pleaded with Americans to avoid travel and limit social gatherings as the nation entered its winter holiday season. But many appear to have disregarded those pleas over the long Thanksgiving weekend as the Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 1.2 million airline passengers on Sunday, the highest since mid-March. That number is still about 60 percent lower than the comparable day last year when 2.88 million passengers were screened, the highest ever recorded by the agency. Health officials say they are now preparing for a wave of cases over the next two or ...
Aruna Quadri records third league victory with TTC in German Bundesliga
Aruna Quadri returned to winning ways with TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell (TTC) in the Table Tennis Bundesliga as the Nigerian was instrumental to his team’s 3-1 win over TTC OE Bad Homburg at the weekend. Quadri who featured in two of the ITTF Restart Tournaments in China last week was in fine form in TTC’s third home win as the team climbed to ninth position in the 12-team league in Germany. With the match played behind closed doors, it was German international Ruwen Filus who started the day for TTC against Lev Katsman that after taking a 2-0 Filus fell behind to allow the visitor to draw 2-2. But Filus played on his experience, to get a decisive set 11: 6 and brought TTC in front with a 3-2 (11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6) win. Fan Bo Meng failed to extend the lead in the duel against R...
Troops raid terrorists’ hideouts, eliminate five in Borno
Troops of Operation Fire Ball have eliminated five Boko Haram (BHT)/ISWAP terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition as well as bags of assorted grains in recent attacks on their hideouts in Borno. The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this in statement on Sunday. Onyeuko said that Operation Fire Ball, a subsidiary of Operation Lafiya Dole, had continued to clear terrorists from their identified enclaves in the North East. He said the troops of Army Super Camp 11 Gamboru-Ngala, on Nov. 27, overran the terrorists’ hideout at Garal and Bulankesa Villages. He said that the troops eliminated two terrorists in the encounter while others fled in disarray with fatal injuries. Onyeuko said that troops deployed in Pulka also raided a terror...
FRSC to introduce NIN information for vehicle registration, license — Oyeyemi
Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says that the corps will introduce the National Identity Number (NIN) information by first quarter of 2021 for vehicles registration. Oyeyemi revealed this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Friday. The corps marshall said that the essence of the NIN was to enhance road safety through the use of technology. He also said that from December, drivers license would no longer be issued without the NIN information. “I must commend the government. With the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), now we have one national database, one identity. You cannot use double identity now. “You know before some people have about five different identities but now you are forced to pick one. Once yo...
GOtv Boxing Night 21: Babyface emerges best boxer, wins N1 million
Rilwan “Babyface” Babatunde, on Friday, emerged the best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night 21, which held at the Rowe Park Sports Centre in Lagos. The West African Boxing Union welterweight champion went home with the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and the N1 million cash prize attached to the prize. Baby Face, saw off Jubril “Terrible” Olalekan in the second round of their eight-round national welterweight challenge contest to emerge the choice of journalists who covered the event. In the bantamweight division, Habeeb “Ige” Oladeji won the national bantamweight title, defeating Tunde “Turning Star” Olojede by a split decision in an explosive 10-round fight. The lightweight rematch between Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu and Prince “Lion” Nwoye ended in victory for Oladosu, the WABU champion. Olado...
Military air strikes knock out more terrorists’ hideouts in Borno
Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has knocked out more hideouts of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, killing scores in Borno, Defence Headquarters says. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Enenche said the air raids were conducted on Friday at Ngwuri Gana, along the Gulumba Gana-Kumshe axis and Tumbuma Baba on the fringes of Lake Chad, both in the Northern part of Borno. He said the air strikes were conducted under a new subsidiary Operation, tagged “Wutar Tabki II”. According to him, series of aerial surveillance missions had indicated that the two locations were being used as staging areas where ISWAP leaders and their fighters meet to plan and launch attacks. He said the ...
US sanctions Chinese, Russian firms over Iran dealings
The US on Friday announced economic sanctions on Chinese and Russian companies that Washington said had supported the development of Iran’s missile program. The four firms, accused of “transferring sensitive technology and items to Iran’s missile program,” will be subject to restrictions on US government aid and on their exports for two years, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The sanctions, imposed Wednesday, were against two Chinese-based companies, Chengdu Best New Materials and Zibo Elim Trade, as well as Russia-based Nilco Group and Joint Stock Company Elecon. “We will continue to work to impede Iran’s missile development efforts and use our sanctions authorities to spotlight the foreign suppliers, such as these entities in the PRC (China) and Russia, that provide mi...
UNHCR sends emergency aid to Sudan, more expected
The United Nations said Friday it had flown 32 tons of emergency aid to Khartoum, Sudan to quickly assist the thousands of refugees fleeing fighting and violence in Ethiopia. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR said a second shipment is expected to arrive by plane from Dubai on Monday. More than 43,300 refugees have crossed the border to Sudan so far. The number of refugees could reach 200,000 in the next six months according to humanitarian agencies. Visiting Khartoum to oversee operations, UNHCR boss Filipo Grandi expressed his solidarity and gratitude to Sudan for opening its borders to refugees. According to a UNHCR spokesman in Geneva half of them are children. Friday’s flight brought 5,000 blankets, 4,500 solar lamps, 2,900 mosquito nets, 200 tarpaulins and 200 rolls of plastic. Monday’s fl...
Andre-Villas Boas: Marcelo Bielsa’s nomination for The Best FIFA Coach award ‘scandalous’
Marseille boss Andre-Villas Boas has taken a swipe at Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa’s nomination for The Best FIFA Coach Award. The Argentine has joined a five-match shortlist that also includes Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui and Bayern Munich’s Champions League-winning coach Hansi Flick. Bielsa was at the helm as Leeds returned to the top flight of the English game for the first time in 2004, but Villas-Boas has suggested that these achievements pale into comparison with other coaches who have been overlooked. “Bielsa? Bielsa has to win a prestigious trophy,” he told the media on Friday. “But he’s not among the best five coaches in the world in 2020. It’s a scandal. He won the Championship!” Villas-Boas, who risks provoking the M...
Police arrest wanted pirate after attack on passenger boat in Rivers
The Police Command in Rivers has arrested one Daniel George, suspected to be a pirate, over his alleged involvement in the attack on a passenger boat in Bonny waterways. Newsmen report that the attack happened in the early hours of Thursday, with many of the passengers aboard the boat sustaining injuries. A fisherman resident in Bonny, who gave his name simply as Tamuno, said some of the passengers jumped into the river to escape being robbed of their belongings during the attack. However, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the arrest on Friday in Port Harcourt, said the attack resulted in the death of one passenger. “George, an indigene of Asarama community in Andoni Local Government Area, who has been on our wanted list, has been arrested. “The suspect...
Lagos government plans internship programme for young graduates
The Lagos State Government on Friday said it was planning a six-month Internship Programme for 4,000 young graduates in the state. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this during the inauguration of a 28-room Administrative Block constructed by Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area. Sanwo-Olu said that the 4,000 fresh graduates would be paid a monthly stipend of N40,000 for the six months programme, adding that there was an urgent need for government at all levels to prioritise youth development, empowerment and mentoring. According to him, the recent EndSARS protest must be seen as a wakeup call for government at all levels to do more for young people who are demanding for better opportunities and engagements. ”As we prepare for a new fiscal year, let us ensure that ade...
NAF elevates 107 senior officers, gets 16 AVMs
Wikipedia The Air Force Council (AFC) has approved the promotion of 107 senior officers to the next higher ranks in the Air Force (NAF), a statement by Wing Cdr. Bassey Okon, Acting Deputy Director for Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF headquarters, said on Friday in Abuja. According to Okon, the affected senior officers comprise 16 Air Commodores (Air Cdres) who were promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM), 31 Group Captains who were promoted to the rank of Air Commodores. Also, 27 Wing Commanders were promoted to the rank of Group Captain and 33 Squadron Leaders were promoted to the rank of Wing Commanders. Those promoted to the rank of AVM include: Air Commodore Abraham Adole, Tajudeen Yusuf, Ibikunle Daramola, Uchechi Nwagwu, Sani Rabe, Kurotimi Obidake, Nanjul K...
