Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

COVID-19: Sydney fans watch live concert from cars
Singer-songwriter Casey Donovan performed on stage in Sydney on Thursday in a free concert that treated fans to some of the first live music many had heard in months.
But they had to stay in their cars to enjoy it.
Drive-in concerts are emerging as a trend that allows performers to connect with fans in real life while maintaining safe social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Donovan, who shot to fame after winning Australian Idol more than a decade ago, headlined the performance in a car park to about 40 vehicles.
“I’ve been missing live music so much that I’ll go and see it in a car park, in my car just so I can see live music in front of me. It’s good,” said audience member Mick Radojkovic.
To ensure physical distancing, audience members were not allowed to leave their cars but could tune into an FM band on their radios to get full high-definition sound, or simply wind down their windows in spite of the rain.
Instead of clapping or cheering, fans blared their car horns.
Drive-in Entertainment Australia plans to have several more car park concerts in coming months with many more people being able to attend as COVID-19 restrictions are eased further.
Musicians around the world have had to adapt how they engage with their audiences due to mass closures of concert venues, with many performing online from their homes in virtual concerts.
Concert venues are expected to be among the last to reopen because of the challenges of social distancing.
Country music star, Keith Urban, performed a surprise live show at a drive-in movie theatre in Nashville, in a test drive for how concerts might look in the era of social distancing.
It was thought to be the first major live music show of its kind in the United States, following the cancellation of hundreds of concerts and tours and the closure of large venues in March because of the coronavirus epidemic. (Reuters/NAN)
May 22, 2020
Tacha has a lot of village attributes – Kemi Olunloyo
Nigerian controversial journalist and pharmacist, Dr Kemi Olunloyo has accused ex-Big Brother Naija reality Tv star, Anita Natacha Akide aka Tacha of stealing her quote.
It could be recalled that few days ago, Tacha took to her social media platforms to share new photos of herself accompanied by the quote which reads, “WINNERS focus on WINNING, losers focus on the WINNERS”
However, Dr Kemi has come to accuse the reality star of plagiarism, labelling her a girl who still has some village attributes for stealing a quote she once used.
“This Tacha girl sha. Still a lot of village attributes. If you know her tell her it’s plagiarism not to credit quotes.”, Kemi wrote.
She went further to advise Tacha to always edit her post, adding that she has something to expose about the self acclaimed Port Harcourt First Daughter coming soon.
“Is she shading me? Better not. I have a big post coming soon about her soon. I posted Eric Thomas’ quote last night, she stole it and didn’t credit it to Eric. Tacha edit your quote.”, she added.
May 20, 2020
US evangelist, Ravi Zacharias, dies aged 74
US evangelist, Ravi Zacharias, has died aged 74.
Ravi, who was a popular Indian-born Canadian-American Christian evangelist known for his role in defending Christianity, died in Atlanta on Tuesday after battling cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Margie, daughters Sarah and Naomi, son, Nathan, and five grandchildren.
Before his death, he was a leading figure among Christian apologists, a branch of Christian theology that defends Christian doctrines against objections, and won the Gold Medallion Book Award for his work, ”Can Man Live Without God?”
He founded Zacharias International Ministries in 1984 and launched a global team of nearly 100 Christian scholars and authors, who speak, train and address the questions of millions of believers and unbelievers around the world. Zacharias was born in Chennai, India, and revealed he was an atheist until he was 17 and tried to commit suicide then a hospital worker brought him a Bible.
He became a born again Christian and started his missionary work after he moved to Canada and later the United States.
Michael Ramsden, President of Zacharias International Ministries, in a statement said, “(Ravi) saw the objections and questions of others not as something to be rebuffed, but as a cry of the heart that had to be answered.
US Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter to send his condolences.
”Upon the death of Abner, the Bible tells us David said “do you not know that a prince & a great man has fallen today?. Ravi was such a man & he will be missed. Karen & I send our deepest sympathies to his family and know he heard
“Well done good and faithful servant.” he wrote.
May 20, 2020
NAFDAC begins testing for coronavirus remedy drugs
National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration Control (NAFDAC) has started working on coronavirus potential remedy drugs submitted by Nigerians, its Director-General (DG) Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said yesterday.
The DG explained that the submissions were made after the agency called for expression of interest for the COVID-19 related medicines from researchers and practitioners.
The NAFDAC DG, who spoke on a television program, said the four applications submitted would undergo “due diligence”.
The DG also said instead of spending a huge amount of money to get the COVID Organic from Madagascar, she would prefer such money to be spent on herbal remedies produced in Nigeria.
Also yesterday Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government is conducting a study on the efficacy of some drugs to treat patients who tested positive to COVID -19 in five centers in the country.
He said: “As I said before, there is a study being done on the efficacy of some drugs by about five centers in our country and hydraulic chloroquine is one of them. When the result comes out, I will share it with you.
May 20, 2020
Toyin Abraham’s husband, Kolawole Ajeyemi, wears lace wig (Photos)
Toyin Abraham’s husband, Kolawole Ajeyemi, took to his Instagram page to debut a new hair look as he joins the lace wig gang. Another photo below…
Toyin Abraham’s husband, Kolawole Ajeyemi debuts new hairstyle with lace wig
See his former look
May 20, 2020
Pablo Escobar’s son to host Ghanaian rapper, Medikal (Screenshot)
Medikal and the son of the world-famous notorious drug lord, Pablo Escobar, have reached out to each other.
Some tweeps doubted Medikal made true contacts to Juan Pablo and he has gone to the extra mile to clear the doubt by sharing a screenshot of the conversation he had with the 43-year-old man who is an architect and an author who now lives in Argentina.
In the screenshot seen, Juan wrote “Welcome to Colombia” and after Medikal’s response, he added that “let me know when you travel to see what you are treated with love”.
It’s, however, not known how the two became connected and how long they have been conversing but what is known is that Medikal has a special treatment from, Juan Escober, who now goes by the official name Juan Sebastián Marroquín Santos, a new name he chose in his bid to distance himself from his father’s crimes and any illegal activity.
Juan Sebastián has also at number of times disclosed that he is not interested in visiting his home country, it is therefore not known, the exact plans he is having with Fella Makafui’s husband. who is saying he can’t wait to be in Colombia after his chat with Juan. See their conversation in the tweets below . (Pulse.ng)
May 20, 2020
Singer Viktoh narrates how close friends treated him badly, says he almost felt like dying
According to Viktoh, despite all that his close friends have done to him, he has resolved to remain a ‘nice guy.’
The music star who has been Missing In Action for a while now took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, where he shared his not so nice experience.
According to Viktoh, despite all that his close friends have done to him, he has resolved to remain a ‘nice guy.’
Former YBNL singer, Viktoh has narrated how he was treated badly by close friends to the point where he felt like killing himself.
The music star who has been Missing In Action for a while now took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, where he shared his not so nice experience.
“One thing I understand about this life is that you should always be prepared for the worse, cause life can’t just be Gucci all through! I’m not perfect tho but I’ve had friends that I call my family do and say so many bad things about me that I felt like just dying and leaving this world,” he wrote.
“But guess what I had a second thought about it, had a real connection with God and it made me stronger so instead of letting it weigh me down I put all that energy into my craft and I got better! God gave me a second chance. I went through hell cause I was foolish!”
“And the people I called friends rode on that and made me feel like an outcast! but I love you guys still and it’s never gonna change who I am! I’m still gonna be me the same Viktoh y’all have known for years! The nice guy! I’m just so grateful to everyone that held me down and to my fans that kept on checking up! I’m so grateful…❤”
“Let’s start this new journey together please continue to support me as I come out with my new project after so many years God bless y’all 🙏🏻❤️”
Viktoh was a former artist signed to Olamide’s YBNL. The singer joined the record label in 2014 and is famous for the hit songs ‘Skibi Dat’ and ‘Me And My Guys.’
May 20, 2020
South Korea’s BTS boyband management apologises over bar visit
The manager of South Korea’s popular boyband BTS has apologised on behalf of one of its members who went to a bar in April, contrary to government advice, just as the country is trying to contain a recent coronavirus outbreak around Seoul’s club scene.
Jungkook, the BTS’ main vocalist, visited a restaurant and a bar in the Itaewon neighbourhood with friends on April 25, the boyband’s management Big Hit Entertainment said on Monday.
A new cluster of virus cases emerged in that neighbourhood this month as social distancing measures eased on May 6, prompting authorities to delay school reopening and close bars and clubs again.
“We have no excuse that we placed the artist’s personal life before we were able to emphasise the importance of social distancing. We bow our head in apology,” the company said.
The 22-year old, who was there before the first case among Itaewon clubgoers was confirmed, is not showing any symptoms and has tested negative for the coronavirus, Big Hit said.
“He is also deeply regretting on how he did not follow social distancing measures seriously.”
As of Monday, 170 cases have been traced to the Itaewon outbreak, with several hundreds in self isolation, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The seven-member BTS suspended their world tour over coronavirus concerns last month. (Reuters)
May 20, 2020
Police warn writer Gaiman over lockdown trip from New Zealand to Scotland
British writer Neil Gaiman has apologised for travelling from New Zealand to his home on the Scottish island of Skye in breach of coronavirus lockdown measures, saying “I did something stupid”.
Police spoke to Gaiman, author of “American Gods” and “Good Omens”, about his actions after he revealed he had made the 11,000 mile trip to Britain, flying into London and then driving to his home on Skye at the start of the month.
His “selfish” actions were criticised by Ian Blackford, the lawmaker who represents the area and the Scottish National Party’s leader in the Westminster parliament.
“I want to apologize to everyone on the island for creating such a fuss,” the author wrote on his website.
“I also want to thank and apologise to the local police, who had better things to do than check up on me. I’m sure I’ve done sillier things in my life, but this is the most foolish thing I’ve done in quite a while.”
Gaiman said he had returned from New Zealand when the lockdown was eased there because he and his wife had agreed they “needed to give each other some space”. His wife Amanda Palmer is an American musician and performance artist.
Scotland maintains stricter lockdown conditions than England, including telling its citizens to stay at home and advising against cross-border travel.
Ten residents of a care home in Skye’s main town of Portree have died of COVID-19.
May 20, 2020
Mariachis delight quarantined Colombians with jolts of street music
The boisterous music – usually heard at family celebrations and raucous birthdays – bursts through the eerily quiet streets of Colombia’s capital, Bogota. The mariachis have arrived.
As the Andean country waits out two months of a national coronavirus quarantine, musicians playing the traditionally Mexican genre are lugging guitars, trumpets, violins, speakers and microphones to street corners, accepting tips from delighted residents who dance on their balconies.
The pandemic and accompanying shutdowns have cut the musicians off from their usual work, band leader Hubert Ramirez said, as his group set up on a new street.
“The poor mariachis are shut in,” said the father of five. “So we decided to go out, we’ll make people happy and they can support us and that’s how we’ll get through this situation.”
“There isn’t money left to buy food, let alone pay rent,” said Ramirez, adding the street playing has helped allay some costs. “It’s gone better than we expected.”
Surprised residents often record the serenades on their cell phones and some sing along.
“I think it’s a breath of fresh air during this situation and it takes people out of their houses, their social isolation,” said resident Maria Elena Mondragon. “They make us smile so we have to support them, help them because they don’t have a way to offer their services.”
“I think it’s marvelous,” she said.
The nation of 50 million people has more than 16,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and just under 600 deaths.
It has been in obligatory lockdown since late March. (Reuters)
May 20, 2020