UEFA Champions League: Man City Start With PSG, As Jorginho Wins UCL Player Of The Season

By

-

August 27, 2021

The draws for the group phase of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League were conducted on Thursday evening and the group matches are sure to start with explosive encounters across the groups.

Two finalists from the last two seasons-Manchester City and PSG- meet in the first match in Group A and they are joined by RB Leipzig, which will be a tough match for any of Man City and PSG.

In Group B, the first match sees Atletico Madrid host Liverpool and they are joined by former champions-FC Porto and AC Milan. Group D sees Inter Milan host Real Madrid in the first match as they get acquainted again after last season’s pairing, which saw Inter finish last in the group. They are joined by Shakhtar Donetsk and first-timers, Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova.

Bayern Munich host Barcelona in Group E and in Group F while there will be a rematch of the Europa League final between Villarreal and Manchester United. Group H has Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg

N’Golo Kante of UCL champions, Chelsea, was voted the midfielder of the season while Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland was voted the forward of the season after scoring 10 goals in eight games. Manchester City’s Ruben Dias took the honours as the best defender and the goalkeeper of the season award went to Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy, who kept nine clean sheets in 12 matches.

Thomas Tuchel took home the coach of the season award and the UCL player of the season award went to Jorginho.

The group phase kicks off on September 14.

GROUP A: Man. City, PSG, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge
GROUP B: Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, FC Porto, AC Milan
GROUP C: Sporting CP, Dortmund, Ajax, Beşiktaş

GROUP D: Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar, Sheriff
GROUP E: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv
GROUP F: Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys
GROUP G: LOSC Lille, Sevilla, Salzburg, Wolfsburg
GROUP H: Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit, MalmöREAD ALSO: Osaze sinks Chelsea as City go top of Premier League

Nigeria Book Clubs To Hold Maiden National Conference

By

Koko Lawrence

-

August 27, 2021

0

The National Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria is set to hold its maiden national conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in September.

The chair of the local organising committee of the conference, Ekong Sampson, who disclosed this in Uyo, said the event is scheduled to take place from September 16 to 18.

“Uyo is ready to host Nigeria,” Sampson, an author of several books, told reporters at a press conference where the conference logo was unveiled to the public.

The conference, to be chaired by a former Nigeria’s ambassador to the Russian Federation and Belarus, Assam Assam, would examine how e-books are affecting public libraries, and the challenges of social readings in Nigeria.

It would feature book reviews, poetry, and a mini book fair.

Participants would have the opportunity to visit two book clubs in the state, one at Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, otherwise known as the Raffia City, and the other at Eket, “the oil city”.

They would be treated to the rich Akwa Ibom cuisines, the organisers said.

Two Library Science professors, Felicia Etim, the chief librarian, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, and Ahiaoma Ibegwam, the chief librarian, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, have been scheduled as keynote speakers for the conference.

“It’s my privilege to officially unveil this unique and colourful logo signposting Uyo 2021, taking the book to Uyo as a global citizen,” the chair of the local organising committee, Sampson said during the unveiling of the logo.

“Book is a universal citizen that speaks every language and needs no passport to travel to any part of the world,” he said.

The founder of the Uyo Book Club, Udeme Nana, in his remarks, said the club was laying a foundation to make Uyo “the world book city”.

Nana, a communication lecturer, had recently launched a new book club in Eket, bringing to three the number of such clubs in Akwa Ibom.

He said the club was spreading the reading culture to all the cities in the state.

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Aniekan Bassey, the Commissioners for Information, Ini Ememobong, and the Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet, were among the dignitaries that witnessed the unveiling of the conference logo.

Nigerian Economy: NBS Data Shows Third Consecutive Quarter Of Positive Growth

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

August 27, 2021

0

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data, shows a third consecutive quarter of positive growth in Nigeria’s economy.

The report also showed the highest quarterly growth in GDP since 2014. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.01% in Q2 2021 following 0.51% growth in Q1 2021.

This growth, which continues the progress of the preceding two quarters, is a continuing trend reflecting Nigeria’s economic rebound, following the Pandemic-induced contractions seen in Q1 and Q2 2020.

The non-oil sector is a significant contributor to the economic performance in Q2 2021 with growth of 6.74% in real terms, the fastest growth in the sector since the third quarter of 2014.

The contribution of the non-oil sector to GDP increased from 91.07% in Q2 2020 to 92.58% in Q2 2021, according to the NBS.

The president commended managers of the economy for hard work and commitment, urging them to keep at it till the positive development “touches the lives and pockets of the average Nigerian.

The main drivers of the Q2 2021 economic growth included Trade, Information and Communication (mainly Telecommunications), Transportation, Electricity, Crop Production and Manufacturing, even though the service sector, specifically also recorded its strongest performance in more than a decade, growing at 9.27%.

These main growth drivers of this second-quarter performance are reflective of the gains from easing restrictions of movement locally and internationally and the improvement in the business and economic environment compared to the same period in 2020.

NCC Assures Of 5G Deployment As Investments In 4G Drops 7%

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

August 27, 2021

0

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has said, Investments in Fourth Generation (4G) in Nigeria and Africa dropped by seven per cent in 2020.

This is even as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has again assured on the country’s readiness to deploy 5G technologies.

The drop in 4G technologies in Africa, according to ITU, was as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, which ravaged and still ravaging the world. It noted that the pandemic has further created huge gap in bridging the globe’s digital divide.

The ITU, in its latest report, tagged: “The Economic Impact of Broadband and Digitisation through the COVID-19 Pandemic,” noted that the decline was in spite of the rising need for more broadband connectivity.

ITU, which is the United Nations arm in charge of the global telecommunications, disclosed that the pandemic also drove 30 per cent increase in Internet traffic worldwide with changes in time of day and geographic distribution patterns.

“Telecommunication/ICT capital investment in developed countries accelerated (from 0.5 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2010 and 2019 to 1.8 per cent between 2019, and 2020 in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to accommodate the increase in traffic, combined with the deployment of 5G and optical fibre infrastructure,” ITU stated in the report.

It added, however, that investments declined by 7.0 per cent between 2019 and 2020 in Latin America, 2.9 per cent in Asia and the Pacific, 3.4 per cent in the Arab States, and 7.0 per cent in Africa, thereby, indicating a widening of the digital divide.

ITU observed that the decline of capital expenditures (CAPEX) per capita in developing countries has resulted in a decreasing growth rate of 4G coverage and lagging deployment of 5G. It disclosed that 5G is currently reaching 3.34 per cent of the population in Latin America, and 0 per cent of the population in Africa.

But the NCC said Nigeria’s readiness for 5G is now very high. NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said this shortly after the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, revealed Federal Government’s position on the deployment of 5G networks in Nigeria.

“On the 5G, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has spoken about the Federal Government’s position to deploy as soon as possible.

U.S Secretary of Defense says Iran Liable for Regional Destabilization

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

August 27, 2021

0

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visits New Delhi — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a joint statement with India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (not pictured) following their meeting in New Delhi, India, March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says Iran is liable for the regional destabilization; adding that U.S is committed to replenishing Israel’s Iron Dome stock and is in talks with Congress to authorize $1 billion in emergency funding.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday, 25 August 2021, at the Pentagon, met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin; this was their first meeting.

Prime Minister Bennett and Secretary of Defense Austin discussed a series of regional, diplomatic and security issues, especially the ways to block Iran’s regional aggression and the progress of its nuclear program.

The Prime Minister thanked the Secretary of Defense for the close cooperation between Israel and the US in the security sphere and emphasized that he views the continued strengthening of the ties as a matter of utmost importance.

Prime Minister Bennett stressed that alongside the strategic alliance between the US and Israel, Israel will continue to insist on its right to maintain security supremacy in the Middle East and would continue to do everything necessary in this regard.

National Security Council head Dr. Eyal Hulata, the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, Israeli Ambassador to the US and the UN Gilad Erdan, Cabinet Secretary Shalom Shlomo, the head of the Prime Minister’s staff, Tal Gan-Tzvi, and diplomatic adviser Shimrit Meir also participated in the meeting.

Cooking with coal increases risk of eye diseases –Study

By

Cleopatra Okohai

-

August 27, 2021

0

A study has found that long-term use of coal or wood for cooking increases the risk of contracting major eye diseases which could also lead to blindness and death.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, and Peking University, Beijing.

The researchers as reported in PLOS Medicine said they found a clear link between cooking with wood and coal and an increase in the risk of developing major eye diseases that can lead to blindness.

According to the study, which was also published on the website of the University of Oxford, to understand the effect of using coal and wood on the eyes of the participants, the researchers analysed data from half a million Chinese between the ages of 30 to 79.

They were asked about their cooking habits by questionnaire, then tracked for hospital admissions of major eye diseases through linkage to health insurance records.

At the end of the 10 years follow up period, it was found that “There were 4,877 cases of conjunctiva disorders, 13,408 cataracts, 1,583 disorders of the sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body (DSCIC), and 1,534 cases of glaucoma among study participants,” the site reported.

The researchers also added that “Long-term use of solid fuels for cooking was associated with 32%, 17%, and 35% higher risks of conjunctiva, cataracts, and DSCIC, respectively, compared with those who cooked using clean fuels.”

The researchers said, “long-term solid fuel use for cooking was associated with higher risks of not only conjunctiva disorders but also cataracts and other more severe eye diseases.

Switching to clean fuels appeared to mitigate the risks, underscoring the global health importance of promoting universal access to clean fuels.”

Speaking on the research, a research fellow in the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, and lead author of the study, Dr. Peter Ka Hung Chan said, “The increased risks may be caused by exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide, which can damage the eye surface and cause inflammation.’

Biden Takes Fire From Republicans After Kabul Attack

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

August 27, 2021

0

President Biden Addresses The Nation After Explosions Rock Kabul — WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 26: U.S. President Joe Biden bows his head in a moment of silence as he speaks about the situation in Kabul, Afghanistan from the East Room of the White House on August 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. At least 12 American service members were killed on Thursday by suicide bomb attacks near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Drew Angerer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Former US president Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers lashed out at Democratic President Joe Biden on Thursday after 13 US troops were killed and 18 wounded in suicide bombings in Kabul.

Trump, who has been sharply critical of Biden’s handling of the Afghan crisis, called Thursday’s suicide attacks in Kabul a “tragedy” and said they should have been prevented.

“This tragedy should never have been allowed to happen, which makes our grief even deeper and more difficult to understand,” said Trump, whose administration — in a February 2020 deal with the Taliban — committed the United States to a full withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Several Republican lawmakers said Biden should resign or be impeached.

“Joe Biden is responsible,” said Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. “It is now clear beyond all doubt that he has neither the capacity nor the will to lead. He must resign.”

Representative Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking Republican in the House, tweeted that “Joe Biden has blood on his hands.”

“The buck stops with the President of the United States,” Stefanik said.

“This horrific national security and humanitarian disaster is solely the result of Joe Biden’s weak and incompetent leadership. He is unfit to be Commander-in-Chief.”

The Republican minority leader of the House of Representatives urged Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker, to call the chamber back from recess to address the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

Qatar 2022: Rohr Invites 30 Players For Liberia, Cape Verde Qualifying Matches

By

Emenike Agu

-

August 27, 2021

0

Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has handed out invitations to 30 players ahead of next month’s opening rounds of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Eagles will begin their race to Qatar 2022 with a home game against the Lone Stars of Liberia in Lagos on Friday, September 3 (Day 1), and tackle Cape Verde in Mindelo on Tuesday, September 7(Day 2).

Rohr has largely opted to work with the bulk of players he has tried and trusts to get Nigeria to Qatar next November.

The Franco-German tactician invited team stalwarts like the two goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho; defenders William Troost-Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, and Leon Balogun, while his trusted midfielders are EPL-based Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo, while the forward line includes captain Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen.

Apart from the regulars, there are returns for South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Kevin Akpoguma, and Greece-based forward Henry Onyekuru. Former junior international Kingsley Michael is also called, while Innocent Bonke from Swedish club, Malmo, joins the Nigerian camp for the first time.

As explained in a press statement issued by the NFF on Thursday, the situation with UK-based players, who cannot travel to Cape Verde (which is on the red list of the British Government with regards to the global coronavirus pandemic) meant the squad had to be enlarged.

The NFF said should the situation remain unchanged, the eight UK-based players on the list would head back to their clubs after the clash with Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The Super Eagles, who have featured in six of the last seven FIFA World Cup finals, host the Lone Stars of Liberia in Lagos before traveling to the Island of Mindelo to take on the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Day 2 of the qualification series.

The Central African Republic is the other team in the group, and they will line up for home-and-away encounters with the Super Eagles in October.

The 30-man list

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Bordeaux, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)

Stand-by: Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF, Sweden); Valentine Ozornwafor (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Kingsley Michael (Bologna FC, Italy)

Organisers suspend Saudi Arabia recruitment as DSS disperses doctors

By

Cleopatra Okohai

-

August 27, 2021

0

Operatives of the Department of State Services, on Thursday, dispersed medical doctors, who stormed the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, to take part in the recruitment interview organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.

On Tuesday, Medical consultants in their hundreds flooded the Ladi Kwali Hall of the hotel to participate in the recruitment, while another exercise was scheduled for Thursday.

Our correspondents gathered that the DSS operatives stormed the hotel on Thursday morning and dispersed the doctors and journalists, who gathered at the venue.

A journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Marcus Fatunde, was arrested at the venue.

Fatunde was, however, released later.

According to an eyewitness report “When I came here, we saw the DSS operatives dispersing the people that came for the interview and before we knew it, everywhere had been scattered.

“A journalist with the ICIR, Marcus Fatunde, was also arrested, but he has been released.”

A doctor, who did not want his name in print said, “Some of us, who came here today, came because we don’t even have jobs and we don’t want to do the wrong things.

“Two categories of people were here today: the jobless ones and the ones who are poorly remunerated.

“We didn’t commit any crime; we just wanted a better system. So, why is the government trying to frustrate us?

The Vice-President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Adejo Arome, told Newsmen that the organisers of the interview confirmed to him that the exercise had been suspended.

He said, “Well, some people got to the venue today (Thursday) and when they didn’t meet anyone, they called me and I confirmed from the recruiters and some other doctors that the recruitment has been suspended.

“The recruitment on Tuesday garnered coverage, because of the media publicity. It was everywhere that doctors were going to Saudi Arabia.

“The recruiters had to suspend it because the Federal Government said it felt embarrassed by the news.

“It is a big shame. The government has no right to infringe on the right of the citizens to choose to go to another country. If the system is not working, let them go to another country.”

Doctors Warn Over Dangerous Viral Milk Crate Challenge

By

Koko Lawrence

-

August 27, 2021

0

Health experts have warned that people should not attempt the latest viral challenge, walking over a pyramid of precariously balanced milk crates.

Social media sites have been flooded in recent days by videos of people in the United States and beyond trying, and mostly failing.

Most videos end with what looks like a painful fall onto the collapsing crates, or the ground, as onlookers film on their phones in what some dubbed an event in the “Hood Olympics.”

“You’re at risk for, hitting your head and getting a head bleed,” said Dr. Chad Cannon, an emergency room doctor at the University of Kansas Health System.

If “you land on the milk crate, you will break your back and be paralyzed.”

While the hashtag was readily searchable on Twitter and Instagram on Wednesday, searches on TikTok returned no results

“This phrase may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines. Promoting a safe and positive experience is TikTok’s top priority,” the search result page said.

The videos, and photographs of some appalling injuries, were reminiscent of an earlier internet sensation that had doctors tearing their hair out.

The 2018 Tide Pod Challenge saw young people biting into liquid laundry detergent packets. Some social media users pointed out the likelihood that not all of those appearing in these videos in the United States would get free medical treatment.