Up to 1,000 fans will be allowed to watch each of the final two days of the Italian Open tennis tournament as Italy begins to open up stadiums for sports enthusiasts. Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora gave the assurance on Friday. Professional sports events in Italy have been played without fans since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although some supporters have been allowed into pre-season soccer friendlies. “At last, starting from the semi-finals and finals of the Italian Open), a thousand spectators will be able to attend all the sports competitions that will be held in the open air,”…
Author: Ayo Oye
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Ahead of the Oct. 10 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Andrew Ogunsakin, the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters (South) to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has resigned his appointment. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunsakin s resignation was unconnected with the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. The resignation letter signed by Ogunsakin, dated Sept.18, 2020 was made available to newsmen in Okitipupa on Friday. Ogunsakin said that the call by his constituents to join a common train of aspiration. which seeks to challenge the Akeredolu government and his party was responsible for his resignation. “Permit me,…
Paul Rusesabagina, depicted in a Hollywood movie as a hero, who helped save Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide, said he believed he was flying to Burundi at the invitation of a pastor, but was instead lured to Rwanda and arrested on terrorism charges. Rusesabagina was speaking to the New York Times on Friday in an interview the paper said had been authorised by the Rwandan government and had taken place in the presence of government officials. The 66-year-old political dissident and former hotel manager was propelled to fame after the Oscar-nominated film “Hotel Rwanda” portrayed him using his connections with…
Hamburg SV defender Toni Leistner, who pushed a fan to the ground at the end of their German Cup defeat at Dynamo Dresden last week, was banned for five matches and fined 8,000 euros ($9,469), the German Football Association (DFB) said on Friday. Dresden-born Leistner jumped into the stands following their 4-1 loss in the first round and climbed the steps to confront a spectator. After exchanging a few words Leistner pushed the man to the ground before turning around and going back down the steps towards the pitch. Leistner later said he had been repeatedly insulted by the man.…
Nearly a dozen U.S. Senate Democrats have sponsored new legislation to fund efforts to counter China’s edge in areas such as manufacturing, technology and science. “The proposal includes over 350 billion dollars in new funding to synchronise and mobilise all aspects of U.S. national power,” a release from Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office revealed. “Sponsored by 11 leading Democrats, the legislation is guided by four pillars: (1) invest in American competitiveness; (2) support American alliances and partners; (3) restore and advance a values-centered foreign policy; and (4) ensure China pays a price for its predatory actions.” The so-called “America Leads Act,”…
The Ibadan Properties Company Limited has sought the support of the Oyo State Government towards the renovation of the ancient Mapo Hall, to give it a face lift. The company solicited the state government’s support on Thursday while conducting Hon. Akeem Ige, Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, round the edifice. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ibadan Properties Company Limited (IPCL) is jointly owned by the 11 local government areas in Ibadan. NAN reports that Ige had visited the ancient hall as part of his on the spot assessment tour of monuments and tourist…
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) in Osun against exploiting motorists in the sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Mr Olusegun Daboh, the DPR Operations Controller in the state, gave the warning on Friday in Osogbo when he received the newly elected IPMAN Executives. Daboh said the department would continue to monitor all filling stations in the state to ensure that they dispense accurately. The controller said any marketer caught under-dispensing product would have their filling stations sealed, and pay N100, 000 as fine on each pump discovered to be under-dispensing product. He described…
The Unilag Chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has advised the Federal Government that only persons with interest in public education should be appointed Pro Chancellors. Dr Dele Ashiru, the Chairman of the chapter, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos against the backdrop of resignation of Dr Wale Babalakin, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Unilag. NAN reports that the Federal Government, had on Aug. 21, directed both Babalakin and the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, to recuse themselves from official…
The Defence Headquarters says military has intensified its aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, economic saboteurs and other criminal activities in the country. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said this while giving weekly update on the operations of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja. Enenche said that between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17 , the military arrested seven suspected oil thieves, discovered barrels of stolen crude oil and destroyed numbers of illegal refineries in the South- South and South West zones. According to him, within the period under review, Nigerian Navy Ship…
U.S. President Donald Trump has abandoned his plans to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in person, the White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, said. Meadows added that Trump would address participants of the 75th Session of the UNGA in a televised format. The current session of the UNGA started on Tuesday and will last until Sept. 30. The week of the high-level General Debate will be held from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29. As many as 119 heads of state and 54 heads of government will address the session. In mid-August, Trump told reporters that…