Author: Chief Editor

Favourites Manchester United and Arsenal are among eight ‘most likely’ grounds to be neutral venues hosting remaining Premier League games. Premier League clubs have reportedly agreed on proposals to use a number of neutral venues so the season can resume next month. A video meeting was held between the league and the clubs on Friday to discuss ‘Project Restart’. The Premier League released a statement saying that clubs are committed to completing the 2019/20 season. They also stressed that any return to training and match action would only happen if the government gave the go-ahead. The Sun reports that clubs…

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn’t played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. “I have a…

Three people have tested positive for coronavirus at Cologne and will be placed into a 14-day quarantine, the Bundesliga club said Friday in a potential blow to hopes of restarting the German football season this month. “Cologne had the entire team and coaching staff, along with the backroom staff, tested on Thursday for COVID-19. Three people tested positive, all are symptom free,” the club said in a statement on its website. “After an assessment of the cases by the responsible health authorities, the three people who tested positive will go into a 14-day quarantine at home. “Cologne will not confirm…

A federal judge dismissed the United States women’s soccer team’s bid for equal pay on Friday, rejecting claims the players had been underpaid in a crushing defeat for the reigning world champions. In a 32-page ruling, Judge Gary Klausner of the US District Court for Central California in Los Angeles tossed the women’s claim of pay discrimination, ruling in favour of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Klausner did allow the women’s case for unfair treatment in areas such as travel, housing and medical support to proceed to trial, set for June 16 in Los Angeles. But the judge said…

US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened China with fresh tariffs as he stepped up his attacks on Beijing over the coronavirus crisis, saying he had seen evidence linking a Wuhan lab to the contagion. The diatribe from the Republican incumbent came as data showed the United States shed more than 30 million jobs in six weeks, as lockdown measures began to bite across the nation. The gloom in the world’s largest economy found its parallel across the Atlantic, where experts warned of an unprecedented financial catastrophe in Europe. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has so far killed more…

The United States thursday warned the federal government to be prepared to “replace” the $308 million to be repatriated from funds looted by a former military ruler, the late General Sani Abacha, if it failed to expend the cash on public projects agreed upon. The United States and the British Dependency Island of Jersey had agreed with Nigeria in February to return $308 million that Abacha, who died in 1998, had stashed in their banks. The Attorney-General General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), had said the fresh $308 million forfeited assets would be…

Intensifies talks with hoteliers on use of facilities to expand bed spaces Mulls use of military to secure isolation centres Says 113 health workers infected nationwide 204 new cases push tally to 1,932 with 319 discharged, 58 dead With 80 fresh incidences, Kano displaces FCT as second epicentre with 219 infected High hopes for vaccine developed by Oxford scientists The federal government yesterday expressed concern about the rising cases of COVID-19, saying with the high prospect of patients outstripping the 3,500-bed spaces available in the country, it might consider home care treatment. THISDAY had reported on Wednesday public health analysts’…

Niran Adedokun These are certainly not the best of times for anyone with the title of leader anywhere in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges that test the capacity of the most knowledgeable in the affairs of man, materials and resources. As a citizen, Nigeria’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), his cabinet and governors of the 36 states are in my thoughts and prayers at this time more than ever. But leaders are made for times like this! The Yoruba talk about the uselessness of a kite, which, in spite of its uncommon ability to soar swiftly,…

Joel Nwokeoma On Sunday afternoon, as I was about entering the car to drive off to work, my gate man, a likeable and well-mannered young man named James, walked up to me with some unsteady steps. It was rather unusual as he had always bid me bye, with a reassuring smile and a friendly wave, anytime I was going to work. Not so this time round. His mission? To inform me he would be travelling back to his home state of Kaduna that night. This happened barely 24 hours before the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), made his third…

Abimbola Adelakun Ordinarily, one should ignore the director of Muslim Rights Congress, Prof Ishaq Akintola. His predilection for inciting controversy via religious conspiracy, mostly for its own sake, makes him a public nuisance. However, we have been Nigerians for long enough to know religious matters easily escalate. Besides, inflammatory words thrown around amidst a pandemic can gain traction among people holed up in their homes and seeking distractions to keep their minds active. Just lately, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, suggested that ingesting disinfectants or taking in sunlight could treat COVID-19. One would have imagined…