Uzodimma Signs Bill Repealing Pensions, Gratuity for Ex-governors, Others

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has signed an executive bill repealing the law that created pension allowances and gratuities to former governors, deputy governors, speakers and deputy speakers.

Speaking after accenting to the Bill at Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri, the governor noted that the law has become necessary as it runs contrary to the 1999 constitution as amended, which stipulates that a pensioner must have worked for at least 10 years and must be up to 45 years of age.

Uzodimma noted: “Apart from the inconsistency of such a law to the provisions of the ground norm, which is the Constitution of 1999 (as amended), this has led for a very long time a precedence that does not encourage diligence and prudence in service delivery.”|||READ MORE

 

Why churches should remain closed, by CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has explained why churches should remain closed despite mounting pressure in many quarters for their re-opening.

The Nation reports churches and other religious centres were closed by the Federal Government to contain the spread of COVID-19.

But there had been pressures from many church leaders and members for the reopening of churches |||READ MORE

21st century slaves (4): ‘How we fled sex bondage’

Precious thought if she broke out of her jail cell, she would run into freedom. She thought if she fled Jane’s Ghetto (brothel), she would break into blossom, and finally set on the path to achieve her dreams.

One month after The Nation revealed her predicament as a sex slave in Bracody’s underworld in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, she has fled captivity by Lady Jane, her Nigerian madame, to whom she was sold by her boyfriend, Nonso, for a paltry N220, 000. Lady Jane, the trafficker and sex merchant, claimed that she owed her N480, 000, however.

“There was no way I could work off the debt. I am tired. My body is tired. My genitals are worn. Because I was too eager to make money and pay off my debt, I slept with an average of 17 men daily, ‘short time’ and till day break. They were violent and mean. Most of my clients were vagabonds; street urchins, park thugs and criminals, and they did lots of wicked things to me,” she said, showing the scars of multiple cigarette burns on her left breast to the reporter |||READ MORE

Worship centres: Buhari, govs strike five-point deal

There were indications on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors reached a five-point agreement on containing the coronavirus disease while easing the lockdown nationwide.

It was learnt that the deal addressed the apprehension of some governors on the observance of Sallah prayers and reopening of worship centres.

A major thrust of the agreement is that gatherings in mosques or churches and the observance of Eid-el-Fitr prayers will not exceed 50 people at a time |||READ MORE

 

24-Year-old Ekiti indigene bags PhD in Law in American Varsity

An Indigene of Ekiti State, Dr. Damilola Arowolaju, has bagged a PhD in Law from The George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America.

Damilola who hails from Omuo Ekiti, in Ekiti East Local Government area of Ekiti State is the son of a former Special Adviser to Governor Segun Oni on Due Process, Dr. Bayo Arowolaju

He was decorated with the honour at the university’s virtual convocation ceremonies held on Thursday, May 21, 2020 |||READ MORE

Tension builds up over influx of northern youths into S-East

ENUGU- THE sudden influx of able bodied youths from different state in the Northern of the country to the states in the South East and South South is raising concern among the people of the zones.

Their movements became more worrisome as they are invading the states at a time the Federal and the various state governments have restricted movement and curfew even imposed. It is very curious why this sudden influx. Initially, it was being reported that Almajiris displaced from the Northern states were making their way to the South East. But a closer look at these people showed that that they were no almajiris but youths ranging from 15 to 30 years and above which belied the earlier speculation.

Incidentally, these youth are secretly entering the states as they hide under tucks conveying cattle and food stuff and some of them usually entered in the dead of the night. The question remains what their mission is, more so in a period interstate movements are banned and all the states in the country have closed their interstate boundaries because of the fight to flatten the curve of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic |||READ MORE

 

COVID-19: Special palliatives should be given to pastors, Imams – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has said that special palliatives should be given to Pastors and Imams to help cushion the effect of COVID-19 lockdown.

The Islamic group said that such will also help reduce the agitation from those calling for the reopening of churches and mosques in Nigeria.

A statement signed by MURIC director, Ishaq Akintola reads: “Like many countries of the world, Nigeria has been under government-imposed lockdown for nearly two months. The citizenry is restless. People are hungry. The open demand by certain religious leaders for their places of worship to be reopened lends credence to the pressure clerics are going through. Even the recent decision by some state governments to reopen religious centres is not unconnected with subterranean agitations from clerics in the states. Deserted for weeks, the house of God longs for warmth |||READ MORE

Mali President Pardons 400 Prisoners To Curb COVID-19

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has pardoned 400 prisoners in order to stem the spread of coronavirus, his office said Tuesday.

Among those released was preacher Bandiougou Doumbia who was jailed for two years in March for comments notably praising jihadist leaders Iyad Ag Ghali and Amadou Koufa.

“As part of anti-COVID-19 measures, the president of the republic has granted pardons to 400 prisoners including the preacher Bandiougou Doumbia”, the presidency announced on social media |||READ MORE

 

Chicken Noodle Soup & Nasi Lemak From Restoran Pulau Sembilan, Ipoh

Yesterday, 63rd day CMCO was a very warm day. We started the day with our morning walk near our house. Then we drove out to town to pass something to a friend and after that we proceeded to the nearby Restoran Pulau Sembilan to buy our breakfast |||READ MORE

US hails Taiwan model, but impact on China to be seen

With its remarkable success in fighting the coronavirus and its democratic values, Taiwan is enjoying a groundswell of support in the United States whose leadership is eager to hold up the island as a model against China.

Experts, however, doubt there will be a major impact for Taiwan -- and fear the robust US backing could even backfire if Beijing comes to view its complex relationship with the self-governing island through the lens of growing tensions with Washington.

Some US officials sense a shift in Taiwan's long-polarized politics with the resounding re-election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects Beijing's idea that the island belongs to "one China." |||READ MORE

Russian Military Helicopter Crashes Outside Moscow

A Russian army Mi-8 helicopter crashed outside Moscow during a training flight on Tuesday, killing the crew, the defence ministry said.

“As a result of a crash landing the crew of the helicopter died of their wounds,” the defence ministry said.

Defence ministry spokespeople, reached by AFP, declined to specify how many crew members had died |||READ MORE

Intolerance Toward Christians

A certain type of persecution is increasing: Christians are being called "intolerant" based solely on our beliefs, not because we've actually been intolerant. 

Christian groups that offer humanitarian aid are regularly condemned for their beliefs, even when they offer their help to everyone without bias. 

Some Christians are buckling under the pressure. A well-known Christian restaurant chain recently quit donating to ministries, based strictly on their statement of faith, even though the ministries serve the poor and needy without partiality (source).

Tolerance means treating people decently even if we disagree with their beliefs. Christian organizations that serve people with non-biblical views are going above and beyond the meaning of tolerance.(1) |||READ MORE

 

New York Doctor Who Delayed Retirement to Treat Coronavirus Patients Dies After COVID-19 Battle

A beloved New York doctor delayed his retirement to work on the front lines of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has tragically lost his life to the contagious respiratory virus.

Dr. James Mahoney, a physician at both University Hospital of Brooklyn and its neighboring Kings County Hospital Center, died on April 27, The New York Times reported Monday.

Mahoney, 62, was loved by his patients, who he would give his cell phone and pager numbers to, and didn't stop checking in on even after he became ill himself with COVID-19 |||READ MORE

House Of Reps Wants 300 Sacked WRPC Workers Reinstated

The House of Representatives has called for the reinstatement of over 300 casual staff of the Warri Refining And Petro-Chemical Company (WRPC).

The leadership made this known at plenary on Tuesday, as part of its resolutions after a member, Hon. Thomas Eveyitomi moved a motion that the sack of the over 300 workers be looked into.

Eveyitomi noted that the workers were laid off in spite of the Federal Government’s directives that no government agency or private establishment should sack or lay off any of its staff at a time when the world is battling a pandemic |||READ MORE

Ex-Egypt Coach Cuper Disappointed With NFF’s Decision To Stick With Rohr

Former Pharaohs of Egypt coach Hector Cuper is disappointed with the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to hand Gernot Rohr a new contract.

Rohr is on the verge of penning a new two-year contract following weeks of negotiation with the NFF.

Cuper’s Egyptian-born assistant, Mahmoud Ahmed, told Premium Times that the Argentine was waiting to pounce on the Nigeria’s job should Rohr failed to agree a new deal with the NFF |||READ MORE

 

Iwobi’s Everton Agree Club-Record Kit Deal With Hummel

Super Eagles Alex Iwobi’s Everton has agreed a club-record partnership deal with Danish sportswear brand hummel.

Everton confirmed the deal in a statement released on their official website on Wednesday.

This means hummel will take over from umbro who has been in partnership with Everton since 2014 and will continue the partnership until the end of the 2019/20 season |||READ MORE

 

'Keep our distance, wash our hands, think of others': Government quietly changes coronavirus slogan AGAIN after its 'Stay Alert' message was slammed by critics as being too vague

Ministers have now introduced a new slogan, according to The Telegraph, in an apparent move to try to explain exactly what is being asked of people.

The new slogan states: 'Keep our distance, wash our hands, think of others and play our part. All together.'

Adverts featuring the new message reportedly began appearing yesterday and feature rainbow imaging in an apparent reference to public support for the NHS |||READ MORE

 

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick celebrate 23rd wedding anniversary in the sweetest way

Sarah Jessica Parker has shared a heartwarming message for her husband Matthew Broderick in honour of their 23rd wedding anniversary. Taking to her Instagram page on Tuesday night, the 55-year-old actress shared a rare black-and-white throwback picture of the lovebirds. "May 19th, 2020. 23 years. We've come a long way baby. X, SJ," she simply wrote in the caption.

Celebrity friends and fans alike rushed to post lovely comments underneath, with Billy Eichner writing: "Gorgeous." Adam Shankman remarked: "Oh my goooddd!! Congrats!!! I remember it all like it was yesterday, including midnight wedding dress covert ops....what a wonderful time it was!" One fan said: "Happy anniversary! I love this photo of the two of you!" Another stated: "Awww that’s amazing, love you guys."

Since tying the knot in 1997, Sarah and Matthew have welcomed three children - son James Wilkie, 17, and ten-year-old twins Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge, who were born via surrogate in 2009. In September 2019, the actress made a rare comment about her marriage to Matthew, telling Us Weekly: "We've grown. We have a family, we have children, we have friends that have passed away, we have relationships... We don't talk about it - that’s how it stays strong!"|||READ MORE

It’s force-feeding not school feeding by Rotimi Fasan

The ill-timed initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide meals at this time of global lockdown for pupils in schools should be called by its proper name: force-feeding.

We all know what it entails to force-feed a child in our part of the world. For those who don’t, this is what happens when a child for one of several reasons, usually loss of appetite due to ill-health, refuses to eat.

After all petting and cajoling had come to an end and there is nothing left more to do to persuade the child to eat, the stalemate is broken when the child is force-fed. It is a last-resort tussle of desperation for which my mother holds a black belt in the heavyweight category |||READ MORE

Lagos doctors begin indefinite sit-at-home to protest Police harassment

The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has directed doctors in state to proceed on an indefinite sit-at-home order to protest what they described as ‘conflicting directives by the government and incessant police harassment’ on medical doctors and other health workers in the state.

In a press statement made available to Vanguard, and jointly signed by the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, the sit-at-home order is expected to begin today, (Wednesday), 20th May 2020 from 6 pm.

The medical doctors maintained that it was no longer safe for their members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement |||READ MORE

 

Sweep bandits, kidnappers away from Katsina now – Buhari orders soldiers

Following the killings of innocent Nigerians in Katsina, President Muhammadu Buhari, Sunday ordered total crackdown on bandits and kidnappers perpetuating the heinous crimes in the state.

Buhari who in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, asked security operatives to sweep away kidnappers and bandits in Katsina.

The statement reads: “A major proactive operation by Special Forces, which details are being kept secret, is now in progress to replace the reactive strikes against insurgent camps |||READ MORE

 

Caster Semenya to 'stick to 200m no matter what'

South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya has locked her focus into the 200m, no matter the result of her appeal to overturn last year's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic rocked the sporting globe, Semenya was in a court battle to get the CAS decision that allowed athletics governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), to prescribe hormone-suppressing drugs for any woman with disorder of sex development (DSD) competing in 400m to 1 500m events.

Her last throw of the dice was the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, who had yet to reach a verdict by the time of the global sporting shutdown. In the meantime, Semenya, who outright refused to take the drugs, went to work on the 200m sprint distance |||READ MORE

 

Minister Harps on Importance of Science, Technology to Nigeria’s Devt

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has stressed the need for Nigeria to look towards science and technology to develop the country, stating that any country that seeks development must pay adequate attention to the twin catalysts of national development.

According to a statement, Onu stated this while delivering a lecture at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

The minister, who addressed participants of Senior Executive Course No. 42, spoke on the issues bothering on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and how Nigeria can make an opportunity out of it by encouraging research and development |||READ MORE

 

 

Gambari: How not to love Nigeria

When it mattered most, the overwhelming majority of Nigerians entrusted the leadership and governance of the country into the hands of Muhammadu Buhari as President. He was massively chosen on the basis of what he represented and what he promised to bring to the table in the face of the daunting challenges facing the country at the time.

Also, many people won their elections seamlessly by mere association of their aspirations with that of Buhari at that time. In other words, rather the party, All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari was the brand to beat.

Although he is exercising this mandate through the instrumentality of organs and institutions made up of appointed, elected and specialized individuals at various levels, and to a reasonable extent on the guidance of the manifestoes of his party, APC; it is the man Buhari who would solely take the glory and blame of the government and governance in the end |||READ MORE

Vatican, Italy resume public church services as lockdown eases

Pope Francis inaugurated the full reopening of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Monday and Catholic churches across Italy held public Masses for the first time in two months, in the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Francis said a private Mass in a side chapel where St. John Paul II is buried to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the late Polish pope’s birth. John Paul II was made a saint in 2014.

The basilica, which on Friday underwent a sanitising process to make it as coronavirus-free as possible, later opened to the public for Masses by priests on other side altars after the pope had left |||READ MORE

WMA decries violence against health workers worldwide

The World Medical Association, WMA, Monday raised the alarm over the rising tide of violence against health workers around the world, describing the situation as an international emergency that was intolerable.

The Association in a press statement made available to Vanguard and signed by the WMA Secretary-General, Dr. Otmar Kloiber, said urgent action was required to combat the trend.

“Over the last decade, we have seen a surge of violence against health personnel worldwide. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this phenomenon has expanded dramatically |||READ MORE

Bill Gates, bogeyman of virus conspiracy theorists

False claims targeting billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates are gaining traction online since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, with experts warning they could hamper efforts to curb the virus.

Doctored photos and fabricated news articles crafted by conspiracy theorists — shared thousands of times on social media platforms and messaging apps, in various languages — have gone as far as accusing the Microsoft founder of creating the outbreak.

Gates, who has pledged $250 million to efforts to fight the pandemic, is the latest in a string of online targets despite the World Health Organization’s efforts to fight what it called an “infodemic” — misinformation fanned by panic and confusion about the virus |||READ MORE

 

15-man Chinese team leaves Nigeria soon — CCECC

Managing Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Ltd, Michael Yigao, says the 15-man Chinese team that arrived in the country on April 8 are in the company’s care.

Yigao, who made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja while reacting to concerns as to the whereabouts of the team, said the team would be leaving the country soon.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire had said during a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing that team was the “guests of the Federal Government but that of the construction company” |||READ MORE

 

China pledges $2bn to fight global pandemic

China said it will contribute two billion dollars over the next two years for the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese President, Xi Jinping on Monday announced.

The money is not only earmarked for health measures, but also for development aid for affected countries.

Xi said in a message to the World Health Organisation’s annual conference |||READ MORE

Buhari holds virtual meeting with Governors’ Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged state governors cooperate with the Presidential Task Force PTF on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

The President who spoke to the Governors’ Forum in a virtual meeting on Monday, particularly charged the governors to continue educating and persuading their citizens to accept the reality of COVID-19 in the country and live responsibly.

In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President said the PTF had briefed him on next steps in the national response to the pandemic, “and I have directed that they work very closely with the Governors.” |||READ MORE

 

 

BREAKING: Bulama sworn in as APC National Secretary

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomole on Monday inaugurated Arch. Waziri Bulama as the party’s new National Secretary.

The inauguration took place at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja with Borno and Gombe Governors in attendance |||RAED MORE

FIFA To Select 2023 Women’s World Cup Host June

The Federation of International Football  (FIFA) has announced it will announce the host of the 2023 women’s World Cup on June 25  this year.

FIFA made the announced in a statement released on their official website on Friday.

The world football governing body stated that the host country will be announced during its council meeting which will be conducted  online |||READ MORE

 

Trump hopes for COVID-19 vaccine by end of year, ‘maybe before’

United States President, Donald Trump, on Friday said he hoped a COVID-19 vaccine would be available by the end of the year, and announced he was appointing a former pharmaceutical executive to spearhead the effort.

“We are looking to get it by the end of the year if we can, maybe before,” Trump said, as he delivered an update on the race for a vaccine.

“We think we are going to have some very good results coming out very quickly,” he told reporters in the Rose Garden of the White House |||READ MORE

Child marriage could rise after coronavirus pandemic – Experts

The economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic could fuel a rise in child marriage and cohabitation in developing nations, researchers warned on Friday.

Researchers led by Britain’s Oxford University interviewed 345 adolescents in India, Ethiopia, Peru and Zambia for the long-term Young Marriage and Parenthood study.

National and UN-led international programmes have reduced the number of children, particularly girls, marrying under 18 years old, they found |||READ MORE

 

Ten buildings collapse at erosion site in Anambra

No fewer than 10 buildings including a school and church have collapsed at Obeleagu St. and Nkissi Aroli axis of Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra following erosion caused by downpour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obeleagu community in Onitsha metropolis has been threatened by gully erosion which has turned into an unending nightmare for the people of the area.

NAN recalls that the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor accompanied by the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Nkem Okeke had in October 2019, inspected the erosion site and promised that work would be carried out on the site |||READ MORE

Returnee Nigerians to pay for quarantine

Stranded Nigerians that are returning home will henceforth offset their two-week quarantine bill on arrival, according to the revised guidelines.

Hitherto, the returnees were only required to pay for their flight while the government took care of their two weeks stay in isolation.

Returnees from United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and the United Kingdom who are currently kept in Lagos and Abuja hotels are being taken care of by the government. The new guidelines stopped that |||READ MORE

 

How I survived COVID-19 attack, by Okupe

A former presidential spokesman on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, who has just recovered from the COVID-19 disease shares his experiences on how he was treated for the disease. Okupe and his wife, who was also infected, have both recovered after treatment that lasted about two weeks. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the former presidential aide gave detailed accounts of the drugs and medications that he used in treating himself and his wife.

Okupe wrote: “The medications I took for my COVID-19 virus infections are Hydroxychloroquine 400mg daily for three days. Then I took Azithromycin 500mg daily for 10 days, Zinc sulphate 100mg daily till today and Vitamin C 1200 mg daily till now”. According to him, he had malaria while on admission and was effectively treated with an anti-malaria drug.

“I also developed a cough after about a week and was effectively treated by a fairly large dose of Augmentine for seven days.”|||READ MORE

Rihanna officially named the richest female musician in the UK

Singer Rihanna has been named as the richest female musician in the UK with an estimated fortune worth N219 billion (£468m).

The singer, who moved to London in 2019, has overtaken Elton John and Mick Jagger to claim third place in the UK musician category.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paul McCartney are joint first, with fortunes of N375 billion (£800m) each according to The Sunday Times Rich List |||READ MORE

Man in emotional pain after discovering one of his twins isn't his

A Chinese man has inconsolably broken down after discovering that his twin babies have two fathers, meaning one of them is not his.

Daily Mail reports that the discovery was made known after the babies’ unnamed parents did a DNA test as part of the process to register their births in China.

The man could not take it after the result pointed at the fact that the mother had s*x with another person aside from him |||READ MORE

Pregnant Katy Perry strips down in idyllic 'Daisies' music video

Katy Perry announced her pregnancy back in March by displaying her baby bump at the end of her “Never Worn White” music video. And now its follow-up video, for the new single “Daisies,” looks like a maternity glamour photo shoot come to life.

The idyllic clip, lensed by filmmaker Liza Voloshin from a “safe social distance,” depicts the radiant pop star and American Idol judge frolicking in nature — at one point even stripping off her gauzy sundress to wade naked under a waterfall. Perry’s profile pose, reclining against a rock wall with her arm draped across her bare chest, is reminiscent of other iconic au naturel maternity shots, like Demi Moore and Serena Williams’s famous Vanity Fair covers or Jessica Simpson’s Elle cover in 2012.

Perry isn’t just baring skin in the “Daisies” video; she’s baring her soul in the song’s lyrics, too. In a press release, Perry described “Daisies,” which has the same ebullient,|||READ MORE

 

 

U.S. moves to cut Huawei off from global chip suppliers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday moved to block shipments of semiconductors to Huawei Technologies from global chipmakers, in an action ramping up tensions with China.

The U.S. Commerce Department said it was amending an export rule to "strategically target Huawei’s acquisition of semiconductors that are the direct product of certain U.S. software and technology."

The reaction from China was swift with a report saying it was ready to put U.S. companies on an "unreliable entity list," as part of countermeasures in response to the new limits on Huawei, China's Global Times reported on Friday |||READ MORE

Trump says coronavirus will 'go away without a vaccine'

President Trump on Friday broke with health experts, telling reporters that the coronavirus will “go away without a vaccine.”

“This is going to go away without a vaccine, it’s gonna go away, and we’re not going to see it again, hopefully, after a period of time,” Trump said at the White House. “You may have some flare-ups, and I guess I would expect that.”

Just days ago the Trump administration launched Operation Warp Speed, a project to accelerate the production of a vaccine for the coronavirus, which as of Friday had infected at least 1.2 million Americans and killed more than 76,000 here |||READ MORE …

Social distancing: New York police arresting black people at far higher rate

African Americans in parts of New York City are being arrested for violating social distancing rules at a far higher rate than white people, according to data from the Brooklyn district attorney.

Data showed that between 17 March and 4 May, 40 people were arrested in Brooklyn for breaking social distancing rules. One was white, four were Hispanic and 35 were black.

The figures lend weight to anecdotal evidence which suggests that whiter and more affluent areas of the city are less likely to be targeted by police. More than a third of the arrests were made in the predominantly black neighbourhood of Brownsville, while no arrests were made in the predominantly white neighbourhood of Park Slope |||READ MORE ….

These Are the Things That New Yorkers Achingly Miss

To hop on the train, any train, earbuds intact, alone in the crowd on the way somewhere else. To walk out of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exhausted as if from a march. The sweet-potato fries and a beer at Tubby Hook Tavern in Inwood; the coffee-cart guy on West 40th Street who remembers you take it black.

Sunday Mass and the bakery after. Seeing old friends in the synagogue. Play dates. The High Line. Hugs.

Ask New Yorkers what they miss most, nearly two months into isolation. To hear their answers is to witness a perfect version of the city built from the ground up, a place refracted through a lens of loss, where the best parts are huge and the annoyances become all but invisible. The cheap seats in the outfield, the shouting to be heard at happy hour. Meeting cousins with a soccer ball in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The din of the theater as you scan the Playbill before the lights go down |||READ MORE ….

 

 

Head of Service’s son caught in ‘ghost job’ scandal

The son of the Oyo State head of service has been caught in a job scandal.

Ayobami Agboola, whose mother, Amidat Agboola, was appointed in 2019, was criticised on social media on Saturday after a user said he promised to use his mum’s influence to secure him a slot.

Sulaimon Adesola said Mr Agboola promised to include his name in a list of “ghost workers” in Oyo State |||READ MORE …

 

Obama Calls Trump’s Handling Of COVID-19 Pandemic A ‘Chaotic Disaster’

Former President Barack Obama has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an “absolute chaotic disaster.”

In a leaked web call Friday night with former members of his administration, Obama also said the Justice Department’s decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn, the former Trump national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia probe, endangers the rule of law in the US.

In the audio, first obtained by Yahoo News, Obama urges former staffers to join him in rallying behind Joe Biden as he prepares to take on Trump in the November presidential election |||READ MORE …

 

Covid-19: Nigerian Artist Convenes Virtual Conference on Art Responders

Artists across the globe are concerned about their role in managing global health crisis. This formed the backbone of the Virtual International Conference for Arts in Health 2020 (VICAH) convened recently by Kunle Adewale, a Nigerian artist and founder, Arts in Medicine Projects who is currently working as a fellow of the Global Brain Health Institute, University of California. With the theme, “Art Responders in Global Health Crisis”, the conference provided a platform for the art professionals to engage in conversations about the function of Arts in this period of global Covid-19 pandemic.

In his welcome address, Kunle Adewale showed a short documentary video which is a compilation of the efforts of contemporary artists in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in different parts of the world through diverse art forms.

“The artist does not only create the time. He is in history, he also curates the human experience in history. The artist’s sole duty is to unravel the wounds of humanity in terms of crisis. He becomes the light and the wellbeing that humanity needs,” he said during his presentation which was followed by a string performance by a Chinese duo, Jing and Bin. The duo delivered a moving version of the classic, “Halleluyah.” |||READ MORE ….

Arts, Culture and Masks

In the spirit of the mandatory wearing of masks in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, Yinka Olatunbosun reviews the roles that masks had played in aspects of history of Arts and culture.

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, masks had been a part of the human existence and experience. Over the years, its usage served different functions in different spaces. For the Greek theatre, masks were used in the theatre to exaggerate facial expressions, projecting them to the vast audience. Masks also enabled an actor to play different roles since women were initially excluded from performing. Later on, during the Roman gladiatorial contests, masks were worn as protective gadgets and to make the wearer appear more intimidating to the opponent.

In medieval Europe and in Japan, soldiers and samurai wore similarly ferocious-looking protective armour, extending to face-masks. In the 16th century, the Visard was worn by women to protect from sunburn. Masks were part of rituals and ceremonies, mostly won for protection, hunting, feasts, wars and sometimes just for fashion |||READ MORE …

 

 

Godfathers pressurise FG to free Chinese arrested for illegal mining

The Federal Government has refused to bow to pressure to free the Chinese and others arrested for illegal mining in Zamfara and Osun states last month, vowing to prosecute the suspects.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, said the government would meet with the Chinese government over the illegal activities of their nationals in Nigeria.

He described the illegal gold mining in the country by the Chinese nationals as economic sabotage |||READ MORE …

 

NAFDAC bars firms from using COVID-19 to promote brands

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned infant foods producing companies from using the coronavirus pandemic as a means to promote their brands.

It gave this directive in a statement on, “COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and guidance note to companies that donate or market breastmilk substitutes for infants.”

NAFDAC stated that pursuant to provisions of the NAFDAC Act, CAP N1 LFN 2004 and the Marketing (Breast-Milk Substitutes) ACT CAP M.5 LFN 2004 and the BMS regulations, in keeping with the WHO International Code of BMS, wished to provide clarifications regarding donations of BMS in the context of lockdown and financial barriers occasioned by the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic |||READ MORE …