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Scottish Premiership could start 2020/21 season in August behind closed doors

By
Dan Ojumah
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Plans are being drawn up for the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership to start on time in August.

The 2019/20 campaign was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was taken not to play on with Celtic given the title, as they were 13 points clear of Rangers, while Hearts were relegated from the top flight.

The Scottish government has given the green light for top-tier clubs to resume training in June, according to Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster.

And it is hoped the coronavirus situation in the country will allow for the next campaign to start on the weekend of August 1-2 but behind closed doors.

Doncaster and Scottish Football Association counterpart Ian Maxwell made a presentation to government officials on behalf of football’s Joint Response Group (JRG) on Friday and ‘recommended lifting the Scottish FA’s suspension of football, for the Scottish Premiership only, from June 11’.

A JRG statement added: “This will enable Premiership clubs to begin preparations to ensure their training grounds and stadia are equipped to deal with the increased safety measures necessary to create biosecure environments for players and staff, including the ability to undertake the necessary testing procedures and observing stringent training and matchday protocols.

“It will also provide sufficient period for clubs to begin a phased return to pre-season training in line with the government’s phasing programme, beginning with individual sessions and evolving into smaller groups at the appropriate time before entering into full squad training and preparation prior to the scheduled start date.

“We are fully aware that the third stage of a return to professional football, the ability for fans to return to grounds, will not happen immediately due to the government’s social-distancing and mass-gathering measures to counteract the spread of coronavirus. We will continue to plan for the gradual reintroduction of fans as soon as it is deemed safe to do so by the medical experts.”

Doncaster said: “We are delighted that the Scottish government have given the green light to the resumption of football training in June.

“We now have a firm target of starting the 2020-21 Premiership season on the weekend of August 1 and that’s a major step forward. We will continue working with the Championship, League One and League Two to gauge their ability to start the season and if so, when – which may vary hugely between clubs.”

Formula One finally gets the green light to kick-start

By
Dan Ojumah
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  • Formula One’s delayed season will finally get underway at the start of July 
  • Austrian Grand Prix on July 5 has got the green light to kick-start the season 
  • The Spielberg circuit will also stage another F1 race the following weekend
  • Both of the July races in Austria will be staged without any spectators present

Formula One’s truncated season will finally get underway with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5.The season has been heavily delayed by the coronavirus pandemic but is now set to kick off behind closed doors in just over a month’s time. 

The Spielberg circuit has also been given the green light to stage a second race the following weekend

‘The two Formula One races on July 5 and 12 at Spielberg will be staged without spectators,’ said Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober on Saturday.

He added that the two races had been approved after F1 organisers ‘had presented a complete and professional plan’ to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The F1 season was thrown into chaos with the cancellation of the traditional curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix in March only hours before practice was due to begin.

It was one of 10 races either cancelled or postponed, yet F1 boss Chase Carey has insisted that a 15-18 race season is still possible.

But Silverstone’s hopes of also staging back-to-back races after Austria are in the balance after the British government insisted that all arrivals in the country undergo a two-week quarantine period.

The 2020 Dutch Grand Prix, which was set to make its glorious return for the first time in 35 years, is the latest race to be pulled from the F1 calendar.

F1 bosses maintain hope that more races can be held without spectators in Europe in the months after the Austrian GP before moving to circuits in Asia, the Middle East and Americas. 

Professionals boost COVID 19 war in Kitui

By
Dan Ojumah
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A group of professionals from Kitui is set to commence the distribution of foodstuffs, face masks and sanitizer booths in Kitui West to assist the vulnerable and curb the spread of Coronavirus.


The group led by Safaricom Chief Corporate Security Officer, Nicholas Mulila said Kitui West will be the first place to receive the donations which will kick off at the Matinyani DCC offices and later at Kitui Wet DCC offices at Ndolos.
“A group of professionals from Kitui County is joining hands to donate foodstuff and other materials across the whole county. Kitui west is just the first station. All donations will be channeled through national government structures for easy and effective distribution,” said Mulila.


Another professional from the group, Eng Vincent Mutua said the donations will continue across the county to assist in battling Covid-19.
“They will continue helping the vulnerable across Kitui as the country continues to battle the pandemic.” He said.

Covid-19: Kenya records 143 news cases, recoveries rise to 464

By
Dan Ojumah
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Kenya has recorded 143 news cases out of 2,959 tested samples Health CAS Rashid Aman has announced.
This now brings the total infections in Kenya to 1,888 even as 26 more patients recover from the disease.
All of the 143 new cases were from Kenyans, 110 being male and 33 female aged from 1month to 88years.
The cases were spread across; Nairobi 86, Mombasa 25, Uasin Gishu 11, Kiambu 6, Busia 3, Kwale 3, and Migori 3. Kajiado, Kisii, Garissa, Isiolo, Kericho, and Makueni counties recorded 1 case each.
One more patient has succumbed to the disease bringing the total number of deaths to 63.
So far, the government has conducted 76,962 tests.


Aman has also called upon political leaders to adhere to the set guidelines and lead by example in the battle against Covid-19.
“It is disheartening to see leaders not following the set directives. It is of crucial and important that we walk the talk.” Aman said
This follows after COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli hosted over 50 political leaders at his Kajiado home for a meeting which caused an uproar among Kenyans.

CS Macharia, Uganda counterpart in talks over Naivasha ICD standoff

By
Dan Ojumah
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High-level meetings to ease a crisis triggered by a collection of Uganda bound cargo took place yesterday.
The zoom discussions were held between Transport CS James Macharia and Transport Minister of Uganda Wamala Katuba following concerns over cargo collection in Naivasha ICD instead of Mombasa.


EAC head of States Uhuru Kenyatta, Yoweri Museveni, and Silva Kiir resolved cargo to be collected from Naivasha in order to contain the spread of COVID 19.


Mombasa and Nairobi are the pandemics hot points in Kenya and avoiding cargo transportation by road will ease the spread of the virus.


The commencement date for the cargo collection is June 1st, according to Ministry of Transport insiders.

Kitui Group of professionals donates foodstuffs, face masks and Sanitizer booths to curb spread of Covid-19

By
Dan Ojumah
-

A group of professionals from Kitui is set to commence the distribution of foodstuffs, face masks, and sanitizer booths in Kitui West to assist the vulnerable and curb the spread of Coronavirus.


The group led by Safaricom Chief Corporate Security Officer, Nicholas Mulila said Kitui West will be the first place to receive the donations which will kick off at the Matinyani DCC offices and later at Kitui West DCC offices at Ndolos.


“A group of professionals from Kitui County is joining hands to donate foodstuff and other materials across the whole county. Kitui west is just the first station. All donations will be channeled through national government structures for easy and effective distribution,” said Mulila.


Another professional from the group, Eng Vincent Mutua said the donations will continue across the county to assist in battling Covid-19.
“They will continue helping the vulnerable across Kitui as the country continues to battle the pandemic.” He said.

Atwoli Luhya meeting receives backlash from Kenyans over non-adherence to Covid-19 prevention rules

By
Dan Ojumah
-

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli yesterday held a meeting with leaders from the Luhya community at his Kajiado home. The meeting was attended by over 50 political leaders despite the Ministry of Health directing that no gatherings of more than 15 people should be allowed and restricted movement in and out of Nairobi County among other counties.
Atwoli took to Twitter to announce the deliberations of the meeting accompanied by photos where Kenyans noted a lack of social distancing.


“Today I hosted 40 Members of National Assembly, 4 Governors, 10 Senators, Speaker Ken Lusaka, CS Eugine Wamalwa, Speaker Beatrice Elachi and other eminent Luhya leaders to discuss issues that centred around Luhya unity and prosperity.” Atwoli said in a tweet.


However, Kenyans could not fail to realize the lack of social distancing in the photo tha accompanied Atwoli’s statement with many terming it as indiscipline and ignorance to the set directives by the Ministry of Health.
“This must be the indiscipline Health CS Mutahi Kagwe keeps on talking about. The problem is, he keeps on screaming at Kenyan youths for not social distancing yet it’s the old covid vulnerable men and women in politics who keep on breaking all guidelines.” A twitter user replied to Atwoli’s statement.


Another Kenyan said, “It is sad to see “leaders” behaving like this and expecting other Kenyans to comply with social distancing.”


“In Kenya, politicians live in hell while ordinary citizens have to be restricted from any form of gathering including churches…if you met all those then it’s like two village churches.”
The ministry of health directives dictates that there should be no gatherings of more than 15 people as a measure to combat the spread of Covid-19.
Currently, Kenya has 1,745 coronavirus cases and a total of 68 fatalities.

Five senators cleared to contest Deputy Speaker position

By
Dan Ojumah
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Five Senators will be contesting for the Senate Deputy Speaker position following the removal of Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.

Six senators had expressed interest in the position but only five managed to be cleared by the office of the Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye after meeting the necessary requirements.

The requirements include; nomination papers accompanied by the names and signatures of two elected Senators who support their candidature and a declaration by them that the candidate is qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament.


Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga who failed to present her nomination papers was thrown out of the race.
The five candidates cleared for the election set for Tuesday are: Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru, Uasin Gishu’s Margaret Kamar, Kilifi’s Stewart Madzayo, Isaac Mwaura (Nominated) and Judith Pareno (Nominated).
The race has generated intense lobbying with Senator Kamar (Jubilee Party) and Madzayo (ODM) touted as the frontrunners.


The election will be held in the Senate chamber with all the members expected to vote through a secret ballot.
For one to be declared a winner in the first round he or she must have at least two-thirds of the votes cast which is, 45 out of the 67 votes

Trump pulls out from WHO, stops financial aid

By
Dan Ojumah
-

US President Donald Trump has terminated the country’s relationship with WHO over the coronavirus pandemic- By BBC
Trump accused the WHO of failing to hold Beijing into account because of the Coronavirus outbreak.


“China has total control over the World Health Organization,” the president said while announcing measures aimed at punishing Beijing. “We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and directing those funds” to other global public health charities,Trump said in the White House Rose Garden.
Washington will redirect funds to other bodies, he said.


The US is the global health agency’s largest single contributor, providing more than $400m (£324m; €360m) in 2019.
The US is set to hold elections in November and Trump is campaigning for election even as his government continues to receive criticism over management of the Covid-19 outbreak.
More than 102,000 people in the US have lost their lives to Covid-19 – by far the biggest death toll in the world.


“The world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government,” he said.
He added that China had “instigated a global pandemic that has cost over 100,000 American lives”.
The president accused China of pressurizing the WHO to “mislead the world” about the virus.
READ original article; https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52857413

Nairobi, Mombasa the epicenters covid-19 infections

By
Dan Ojumah
-

Nairobi and Mombasa counties are currently leading with highest number of coronavirus infection, Health CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi says.
“Nairobi and Mombasa are currently the counties that have the highest number of infections” she stated while cautioning people sneaking in and out of the restricted areas in the country.


Dr. Mwangangi announced 127 news cases in a single day out of 3,831 tested samples. The CAS attributed the high number to increased testing and community transmission of the disease. Total infections in the country are currently at 1,745.
Out of the 127 cases, Nairobi recorded 76 cases, Mombasa 19, Busia 16, UasinGishu 8, Kajiado 5, Kiambu 2 and Isiolo 1.
In Nairobi the cases were spread across; Kibra 49, Ruaraka 13, Makadara 4, Westlands 4, and Lang’ata 2. Embakasi West, Starehe, Dagoretti North, Kasarani had 1 case each.

The cases in Mombasa were spread aacross; Kisauni 7, Mvita 6, Nyali 3, Likoni 2 and jomvu 1.
In Busia County the cases were in; Busia town 8, Alupe quarantine Centre, and 2 from the Malaba boarder.
However, 17 more people have been discharged from the hospital bringing total number of recoveries to 438.
Four more people from Mombasa succumbed to the disease raising the total fatalities in Kenya to 68.
So far Kenya has conducted 74,003 tests.

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