G basenaija News, Entertainment & Sports

It took some time, but Ric Flair is staying with WWE and doesn’t plan on leaving. The Star had reported that he was done with Vince McMahon’s company after his previous contract expired, but Flair said it isn’t true and blamed the delay on the coronavirus pandemic. The WWE Hall of Famer told WrestlingInc he re-signed with WWE last week. “I just think the coronavirus slowed down the actual, official signing,” Flair told WrestlingInc. “Everybody went to work on figuring out on their end what to do as it’s a lot to deal with especially in wrestling as it’s not a seasonal sport and is year-round. Just figuring your way around that has been an act of genius in itself.” ALSO READ: COVID-19: Bolivia ex-health minister remanded for over-pricing ventilators On Thursday Flair tweeted a picture of a signed contract noting: “Limousine riding, jet flying, styling and Profiling… then, now, forever with @WWE! WOOOO!” A week earlier, Flair, 71, tweeted a video of himself on a treadmill w...

Barcelona cannot afford to sign Inter star Lautaro Martinez, according to former Nerazzurri striker Ivan Zamorano Argentina international Martinez is reportedly a target for Barca and LaLiga rivals Real Madrid after scoring 18 times in 33 appearances this campaign. Inter are rumoured to have already considered Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani as a replacement, but Zamorano “has no doubt” Martinez will still be at San Siro next season due to the financial constraints caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “I really hope Lautaro stays at Inter. He is a young guy, 22 years old; Cavani is 11 years older and has enormous experience in different clubs. But Cavani’s arrival has nothing to do with the sale of Lautaro,” he told Mexican broadcaster MisionTUDN. “Barcelona have economic problems that don’t allow them to sign Lautaro, so in my opinion he’ll stay, I have no doubt. “Cavani can be an alternative to the starters. There are many rumours – [Alexis] Sanchez will return to M...

Some years back, a close friend invited three of her friends to lunch to mark her husband’s birthday. Just the five of us, she warned on the phone – a subtle way of telling us not to even think of bringing any hangers-on to her ‘exclusive’ do. Some years back, a close friend invited three of her friends to lunch to mark her husband’s birthday. Just the five of us, she warned on the phone – a subtle way of telling us not to even think of bringing any hangers-on to her ‘exclusive’ do. We all three knew Bose and her no-nonsense attitude. Even Oba, her husband tread on egg-shells whenever she was in her foul wood – which was often. Anyway, we were all looking forward to what we imagined would be a delicious spread of local and foreign dishes – Bose, whatever her fault, was a darn good cook. We were a bit on guard when Oba was the one who welcomed us as we pressed the bell, screaming ‘Bose, Bose, your friends are here O!’ Bose appeared, dressed in pants and a very sexy blouse, a ...

With the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, Lagos has taken the lead as the epicentre of the virus in the country. Of the 4,787 confirmed Coronavirus cases in Nigeria, Lagos ramps up 1,990 cases, having discharged 502 survivors of the pandemic and recorded 34 deaths. Of the 20 Local Governments in the State, there are 10 councils that are more affected. Anyone going to transact businesses or going to these areas must be extra careful to avoid contracting the virus. Below are the areas mostly affected as at May 7, 2020. 1. Lagos Mainland As at May 7, 2020, Lagos Mainland is the epicentre of Coronavirus pandemic in Lagos with 541 cases. This area include Yaba, Oyingbo, Iddo and others. Lagos Mainland is now a danger zone and those going there must take precautionary measures. 2. Eti-Osa Eti-Osa, as at this date has recorded 200 Coronavirus cases, making it the second worst hit area in Lagos. At the onset of the virus, Eti-Osa was leading. Eti-Osa i...

HUNDREDS of residents of Okpanam community, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, have escaped from the community, following the worsening insecurity, which culminated in the killing of the chairman and Secretary of the town’s Vigilante Group, Emeka Nwaedozie and Festus Monye, last Thursday, by suspected herdsmen. The deceased persons and another person battling for life at a private hospital were reportedly pursuing the kidnappers who abducted a woman and her daughter when they were gunned down. Both mother and daughter were released weekend. Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, met, last Friday, with the Ugoani (traditional ruler) of Okpanam, HRM (Dr.) Mbanefo Ogbolu and Obuzor (traditional ruler) of neighbouring Ibusa, Prof Louis Nwaoboshi, to find solution to kidnapping and other criminal challenges in the two towns that share boundaries with Asaba, the state capital. Vanguard was at the office of Commissioner Inuwa when the royal fathers ...

Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warned on Friday that the Premier League does not yet have the “green light” to resume but restated the government’s hope that the season can be completed. Premier League clubs are due to meet on Monday to discuss the latest plans for “Project Restart” — a day after an expected minor easing of coronavirus lockdown measures. Clubs are understood to have been told that the use of a limited number of neutral venues is the only way to complete the campaign, to limit the strain on essential services and discourage gatherings of supporters near stadiums. But those at risk of relegation argue that the integrity of the competition would be compromised by the neutral-venue plan. Brighton chief executive Paul Barber is opposed to the idea, with the Seagulls hovering two points above the drop zone. Brighton were scheduled to play five of their remaining nine games at home. Despite extensive contingency planning, Secretary of State for Digita...

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike inspects total lockdown of Port Harcourt through Air. Recall Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike announced a 24-hour total lockdown and a dusk-dawn curfew on Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas as part of the State Government's measures to check the spread of coronavirus.  In a broadcast on Monday 4th of May. Governor Wike said: we have decided on the extreme measure of placing the entire Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas under a 24 hours total lockdown from Thursday 7thMay 2020 until further notice. Governor Wike said with the declaration, all residents of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas must stay at home. He said: On no account should there be any vehicular movements or gathering of more than two persons in these Local Government Areas, except those on essential services with appropriate authorization; All shops, trading or business activities, includin...

…Another $167m in stolen assets in UK and France THE United State Government, has said aside from the $311 million Abacha loot returned to the Nigerian government last week, another separate $152 million is still in active litigation in the United Kingdom. The $152 million cash according to the United States Mission in Nigeria, is distinct and separate from an additional $167 million in stolen assets also forfeited in the United Kingdom and France. Speaking on the transfer of the funds back to the country, the US Mission on its verified twitter handle, @USEmbassyAbuja, explained that the transfer of funds is an important first step in the disciplined implementation of the agreement between both countries. The US Government in the statement, said: “On May 1, the transfer of $311,797,876 from the United States Government to the Federal Republic of Nigeria was completed in accordance with a February 3, 2020 trilateral agreement among the governments of the United States, Niger...

Men in South Korea are supposed to complete a 21 months national service to the country before they get to the age of 28. Son Heung-min being a south korean has chosen to begin his military training as a form of his national service endeavor, was pictured with a rifle and also wearing bulletproof gear. The Tottenham Hotspur star is based at Seogwipo on the island of Jeju, in South Korea and he is serving a three-week mandatory service to the country under the Marine Corps. Son is being taught a variety of new skills as part of his training, it includes rifle shooting and discipline. He has been pictured in bulletproof camouflage gear while holding a rifle as he enters the later stages of his training. Tottenham Hotspur players are back in training under boss Jose Mourinho and Son will return to the club after completing his service time with the military.

•Says Switzerland, others have done same •Probes status of 5G Communication Network in Nigeria STRONG indications emerged yesterday that the Senate is considering a halt on the use of 5th Generation ( 5G) Network in Nigeria because of health concerns. The Senate is said to be towing this line because several countries, including Switzerland, one of the world’s leaders in the rollout of 5G mobile technology, have already placed an indefinite moratorium on the use of 5G network due to health concerns. Consequently, it has begun a probe into the present status of 5th Generation ( 5G) Network in Nigeria, and mandated its Committees on Communications, Health, Science and Technology and ICT and Cyber Crimes to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the status of G5 Network in Nigeria and its technological impact on Nigerians and report back at Plenary in four weeks. According to the Senate, it has become very imperative to carry out this holistic investigation into the...

A German-U.S. coronavirus vaccine has been administered to human test subjects in the U.S., the companies involved reported on Tuesday. After preliminary tests in Germany, Biontech of Mainz and U.S.-based Pfizer are advancing the clinical trial of BNT162, an mRNA vaccine, in the U.S. As many as 360 healthy volunteers will be vaccinated in U.S. study — initially only with test subjects between ages 18 and 55 but later also with older participants. The next round of tests in Germany will involve 200 healthy volunteers age 18 to 55, overseen by Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany’s federal institute for vaccines The first results should be available in June. If initial tests show a positive result, the tests will continue with more healthy participants as well as high-risk people.

The Osun State Joint Task Force (JTF), recently inaugurated by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, has apprehended 27 illegal miners, comprising 17 Chinese nationals with 10 locals and a local traditional chief (Baale). They were arrested following a coordinated sting operation around Ilesa and Ife axis of the State. Speaking on the development, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Abdullahi Binuyo, noted that no responsible government will fold its arms and watch its land being degraded by unauthorised persons. He noted that aside the economic leakages, the illegal miners had also polluted the Osun River with poisonous metals, thereby making it unsafe for human consumption and irrigation. Binuyo was, however, quick to add that apart from ensuring that those arrested are prosecuted, they will also be made to pay compensation. As part of the government’s economic reforms, solid mineral is a major sector we are looking to explore. For these reforms to work, it has bec...

Algerian singer Idir, a leading cultural ambassador of his native Kabylie and its Berber language, died in Paris on Saturday, aged 70, his family announced Idir, who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, was hospitalised on Friday. “We regret to announce the death of our father (of us all), Idir,” a message posted on his official Facebook account said. Contacted by AFP, his family declined to comment further. Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called him “an icon of Algerian art”. “With his passing, Algeria has lost one of its monuments,” Tebboune said on Twitter. France’s former president Francois Hollande also paid homage to Idir, saying he “entranced entire generations with the rhythms of his dulcet, rich and moving melodies”. UNESCO praised Idir as an “eminent ambassador of the Kabylie and Berber cultures”. Idir, whose real name was Hamid Cheriet, was born on October 25, 1949, in Ait Lahcene, near the Kabylie capital of Tizi Ouzou in northern Algeria. He stu...

Legendary drummer/afrobeat co-founder tonyallen is dead.. Legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who created afrobeat along with his old bandmate Fela Kuti, died suddenly at the age of 79 in Paris on Thursday, his manager said. “We don’t know the exact cause of death,” manager Eric Trosset said, adding it was not linked to the coronavirus. “He was in great shape, it was quite sudden. I spoke to him at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT), then two hours later he was sick and taken to Pompidou hospital where he died.” Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti’s band Africa ’70 in the 1960s and 1970s. During that time the pair created afrobeat, combining West African musical styles such as highlife and fuji music with American imports jazz and funk. Afrobeat went on to become one of the totemic genres of 20th-century African music. ALSO READ: Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his white envelope Over Tony Allen’s thrilling beat, Fela laid out his revolutionary and pan...

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) news » No approved drug, vaccine for COVID-19 yet The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has not approved any drug or vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19. The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said in a statement on Saturday that NAFDAC had not granted approval for any vaccine for the treatment and cure of COVID-19. “To put the record straight, no drugs or vaccines have been given approval in the country for cure of COVID-19. While the medical researchers globally, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Health Organisation (WHO), are working tirelessly on the discovery of vaccines and drugs to cure COVID-19, the agency urges the public to desist from making unsubstantial claims. READ ALSO: COVID-19: 89 vaccines in development globally, as Nigeria moves to join WHO’s ‘solidarity trial’ “NAFDAC is the only authority in th...

 »News » Islamic State militants kill 12 militiamen in Iraq Twelve members of a powerful Iran-backed militia were on Saturday killed in an attack by Islamic State militants South of the Iraqi city of Tikrit, a security official said. According to Police official from Salah el-Din province, Islamic State elements opened fire on a trailer in which Hash Shaabi militiamen had been preparing a pre-dawn meal before the start of fasting hours. READ ALSO: Kaduna Update: New appointments and reassignment in Kaduna State The official said that the attack left all the 12 people inside the trailer dead. Meanwhile, they set the trailer on fire before fleeing the scene. However, a manhunt had been launched to arrest them. Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December 2017, having retaken all the territory captured by the Sunni extremists in 2014 and 2015 with the help of a U.S-led alliance. However, some remnants of the extremist group remained in the country

Following its recent announcement giving premium refunds to customers with active motor vehicle policies during the lockdown period, Wapic Insurance, one of Nigeria’s leading underwriters, has gone further to offer health workers across Nigeria a 15 per cent discount on new policies taken up in 2020 to help cushion financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The rebate to health workers covers Personal Accident, Householder Insurance and Motor Insurance and is for the tenor of the policies. In line with regulation, discounts do not apply on renewal. According to the Managing Director, Mrs Adeyinka Adekoya, “This corporate gesture is in appreciation of the noble effort of our health workers, who are in the frontline of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.” Home » Business » Wapic Insurance offers health workers 15% premium rebates on new policy uptake Wapic Insurance offers health workers 15% premium rebates on new policy uptake ON MAY 2, 20206:39 AMIN B...

Praises workers conduct amidst COVID-19 difficulties President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerian workers of job security amidst fears of possible job losses due to ongoing corona virus, COVID19 pandemic, even as he appreciated workers for the way they conducted themselves notwithstanding the difficulties of the time. Buhari who spoke through a Zoom meeting of leaders of organised labour on Friday and was represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, extended his good wishes and solidarity to the workers on the occasion of the May Day celebration. A statement by the media aide to the Minister, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, said “The President has shown his appreciation to you for the way you have conducted yourselves in spite of the deleterious effects of this COVID-19 situation. He has extended his gratitude to the Nigerian workers for the way you have fought this corona virus.” Reacting to fears of possible job losses as a result of COVID-19, the labo...

Breaking: PSG awarded Ligue 1 title after season declared over The football season in France has been declared over following a league vote on Thursday, with Paris Saint-Germain being named as champions. PSG topped the Ligue 1 table by 12 points from Marseille when the season was suspended in mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak, which has gone on to kill more than 24,000 people in France. The league’s announcement comes after French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday that “professional sports leagues, notably football, cannot restart” because of the risks linked to the pandemic.

May Day is not solely a time of commemoration for the working class. Events like the deaths past weeks of over a hundred healthcare workers across the world serve to remind us that this is also a solemn occasion, a time when we bow our heads in respect for those who have fallen. On May Day, we remember that the red on the insignia of most workers’ federation is not by accident or for artistic reasons. The blood of workers has dyed its every fold. A Nigerian doctor exposed to a COVID-19 patient at his private clinic died from the SARS-COV-2 infection. Emeka Chugbo was taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital on a Monday with “severe symptoms” and died on a Wednesday that same week. A UK pregnant nurse died before she could meet her daughter; Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong was admitted to hospital on April 7, having tested positive for the COVID-19 two days previously. Most of these healthcare staff are working on the frontline and caring for patients, while some were retired but ...

United States President, Donald Trump has claimed that he has seen information indicating the Wuhan Institute of Virology is behind the coronavirus outbreak. Trump who made the claim on Thursday, declined to provide details. Speaking with reporters from the White House Trump was asked if he has seen any information that gives him a “high degree of confidence” the virus originated in the Wuhan lab. “Yes, I have,” Trump responded, adding that the “World Health Organisation should be ashamed of themselves.” When asked to provide details on the information Trump said: “I am not allowed to tell you.” Meanwhile, the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed one million on Tuesday. According to John Hopkins University, there are at least 1,012,000 cases of the virus across the US, with 58,356 deaths

May Day also known as Workers’ Day is marked on the 1st day of the month all over the world. But not much to celebrate this year 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis. That gloom pervades most countries is no news and the situation isn’t looking good Apparently, to douse tension, the Nigerian government said it will ensure that people retain their employment. But it would only be wishful thinking to say citizens, especially in the private sector, will not be hit by the effect of the ravaging disease. However, you choose to call it, “job losses” or “mass sack”, one will happen. But the fact is that it’s already happening. In the last days of April during interactions, some workers in private establishments told that May 1 signals their unemployment. They forwarded e-mails, memo, recorded calls with colleagues and text messages to buttress their complaints. It was gathered that companies handled April salaries of staff in three ways. The first category paid in full; the second paid ha...

Manchester City striker, Sergio Aguero, has admitted players are “scared” about resuming Premier League action as the COVID-19 outbreak lingers on, the UK Mirror reports. Some clubs have already began training, with the players placed on an individual workout in compliance with social distancing rules. On Friday, the 20 top flight teams will hold further discussions, on how the season can be restarted. Part of the ‘Project Restart’ discussions will centre around the use of approved venues, which may mean teams playing on neutral grounds. Aguero has now claimed that some players have reservations about returning. He said: “The majority of players are scared because they have family, they have children, they have babies, parents. “When we go back, I imagine that we will be very tense, we will be very careful, and the moment someone feels ill, you will think: “What’s gone on there?” I hope there is a vaccine so all this ends. “It does scare me, but I have just been here ...

Liverpool mayor fears 'farcical' situation Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson says resuming the Premier League is a "non-starter", and he fears a "farcical" situation with fans congregating outside Anfield - even if Liverpool clinch the title at a neutral venue. The Premier League has told its clubs only "approved venues" will be used, raising the possibility of matches being played at neutral grounds. Liverpool, chasing their first title for 30 years, lead the table by 25 points with nine games remaining, while the league hopes to restart on 8 June. The league's "Project Restart" envisages the season resuming behind closed doors because of social distancing measures in place to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Liverpool say they are "disappointed" with Anderson's comments. How realistic is Premier League plan to resume season? The national lead for football policing said on Wednesday that playing all remain...