Public gatherings of more than 5,000 people are temporarily banned in France as a preventative measure against the spread of the coronavirus, the country’s health minister has announced.
The ruling will presumably affect the sporting calendar in France. Nine soccer matches in Ligue 1 highlight the weekend, along with seven games in the country’s leading rugby union division, the Top 14.
“All public gatherings of more than 5,000 people in a confined space are temporarily banned across France,” health minister Olivier Veran told journalists, according to Reuters.
Veran also revealed that coronavirus cases in France have risen to 73. There are no confirmed deaths.
The first case of the deadly Coronavirus has been confirmed in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the State Government confirmed early Friday morning.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement said Lagos State has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and reported it to the Federal Ministry of Health.
The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the outbreak in China in January 2020.
According to Abayomi, the patient is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit.
“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,” he said.
He said the government of Lagos State under the Governor as the COVID-19 Incident Commander, through the Lagos State Ministry of Health, has been strengthening measures to ensure that any outbreak in Lagos was controlled and contained quickly in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group, led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). We have immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.
“I wish to assure all Lagosians and Nigerians that we have been strengthening our preparedness since the first confirmation of cases in China. We will use all the resources made available by the State and the Federal Government to respond to this case.
‘We are working to identify all the contacts of the patient, since he arrived in Nigeria. Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and persons with other underlying chronic illnesses. All Lagosians should take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families.
He advised Lagosians to take the following precautions against getting infected:
Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Maintain at least 1 & half metres (5 feet) distance between you and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
People coughing persistently or sneezing should stay indoors or keep a social distance, but not mix with a crowd.
Ensure that you and people around you follow good respiratory hygiene by covering mouths and noses with a handkerchief or tissue while sneezing or coughing. You can also sneeze or cough into your sleeve at the bent elbow. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. 5.Stay indoors if you feel unwell with symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. Please call Lagos State Emergency hotlines 08023169485 or 08033565529 or 08052817243 which are available day and night.
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 through official channels on TV and Radio, the Social Media, including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health.
“Citizens must not abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that causes fear and panic. The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will continue to provide updates and will initiate all measures required to prevent the spread of any outbreak in Lagos,” he said.
An unnamed corporal in the Nigerian Army, serving in Borno State, on Wednesday opened fire on four of his colleagues, killing them in the process. He then shot himself dead, the spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Sagir Musa, said.
Mr Musa, a colonel, said the soldier, who also injured two other soldiers, was serving at the theatre command Operation Lafiya Dole, camp 15, located at Malam Fatori, a border community.
Mr Musa, who disclosed this in a statement shared to the press, said the soldier “went berserk in early hours of 26 February 2020.”
He said the soldier “opened fire killing four of his colleagues before shooting himself”.
“Two of his colleagues were also injured during the incident and are currently in stable condition in our hospital in Maiduguri.
“Efforts are ongoing to contact the families of our gallant colleagues who paid the supreme price in the line of duty. May their gentle souls rest in peace.
“Meanwhile, the investigation into the case has since been instituted to determine the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.”
It was reported in 2018 how a Nigerian soldier committed suicide in Borno State after killing a colleague.
Also in 2018, newsmen received report of yet another soldier who opened fire at a military facility in Abuja, killing one colleague and injuring another before fatally ripping apart his own mouth with the rifle.
CEO of Invictus Group and Forbes-celebrated Nigerian, Obinwanne Okeke, who is facing two counts of $11m computer and wire fraud in the U.S, has filed a preliminary objection to the charges.
According to Premium Times, Invictus, through his lawyers, stated that the American authorities lacked jurisdiction to charge him for fraud as he did not commit the offense in America, neither was any American companies or individuals defrauded.
But prosecutors dismissed the lack of jurisdiction argument as frivolous because Mr Okeke visited the U.S. and stayed in Virginia during the period he allegedly committed the $11 million fraud, which spanned several months.
They also said more victims who are Americans may still be introduced during trial, saying their indictment filing was only to show enough grounds for a judge to issue a warrant for Mr Okeke to be arrested.
His lawyers also accused FBI agents of accessing his mobile phones and laptops illegally and without proper procedure, an act they claimed was enough to get the charges dismissed.
They were also accused of telling him to unlock his iPhone and Macbook Pro without first reading him his Miranda rights which involves telling him he has the right to remain silent and not cooperate with authorities.
Prosecutors however insisted that Okeke was told he could remain silent, but he willingly agreed to let authorities search his devices by providing passwords to them.
They also affirmed that even without reading him his Miranda rights as his lawyers claimed, the evidence collected from his phone cannot be dismissed because they only corroborated evidence already collected in the year-long investigation into his alleged involvement in the $11 million fraud.
Both parties however agreed that the court should approve additional time for preliminary matters to be resolved and Mr Okeke to remain in custody till trial begins.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has decried renewed attacks by suspected herdsmen in Avwon, Agadama, Ohoror, and other communities of Uwheru Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
According to Okowa, suspected herdsmen accompanied by unidentified armed personnel attacked the communities in what has become an annual routine, killing over eight persons and injuring many others.
He said the crisis started on Thursday and as of Saturday, lives, and property, including farms, had perished.
The governor said, “The unwarranted attacks and killing of innocent locals in Avwon, Agadama and Ohoror communities of Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area and the wickedness of suspected herdsmen alleged to be aided by unidentified military personnel are mindless.
“I, however, appeal to the affected communities to remain calm and peaceful. I commiserate with the communities and families on the unfortunate loss of their loved ones.
“I have directed the Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, to rise to the occasion and bring the culprits to justice.
“As a state, our people have been very receptive to herdsmen and other visitors, but our hospitality and welcoming disposition should not be taken as an act of cowardice.
“The state government will continue to encourage peaceful and harmonious relations between Deltans and their visitors but will not watch outsiders attack and kill our people any longer.”
It has been confirmed that Manchester City have been banned from all UEFA competitions for the next two seasons and fined £24.9m for “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play regulations.
A supporter who made monkey gestures at Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and spat towards rival fans has been banned from attending matches for four years.
The first lady of Lesotho, Maesaiah Thabane has been charged with murdering her husband’s former wife in a crime that has gripped the tiny mountainous kingdom.
Lipolelo Thabane was shot dead outside her home in the capital Maseru just two days before Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s inauguration in June 2017.
Maesaiah Thabane, 42, appeared in court Wednesday and was remanded in custody after the murder charge.
She was also charged with the attempted murder of a second woman who was with the former first lady the night she was killed.
The murder has shocked the small kingdom surrounded entirely by South Africa.
With political pressure mounting, the 80-year-old Prime Minister announced last month that he would respect the wishes of the ruling party and would resign from office. A date for his resignation has not yet been announced.
Police in Lesotho want to question Prime Minister Thabane in ex-wife’s killing
CNN has made repeated attempts to reach Maesaiah Thabane’s lawyer but has been unsuccessful.
Police told CNN the first lady became a prime suspect after she failed to appear for questioning in January in connection to Lipolelo Thabane’s killing.
She later turned herself in on Tuesday morning at a police station close to the border with South Africa.
Before the shooting, the Prime Minister and his first wife were negotiating their divorce.
The Prime Minister remarried less than three months after her death, according to local media reports.
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