Coronavirus patient discharged after giving birth to baby with no infection (Metro)
A woman infected with coronavirus gave birth to a healthy baby girl, according to reports. The 33-year-old was initially transferred back to the fever ward while her child was cared for on the neonatal isolation ward of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University in Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. But Chinese news agency Xinhua has reported that the woman has since been cured of the deadly virus and given the green light to return home. Earlier photos show medics clad in protective hazmat suits carrying the baby, wrapped up tightly inside a number of blankets, ahead of their transfer to a designated hospital. Read more
After six hours, rescuers suspend search for 22-year old man who jumped inside Lagos lagoon (DailyTruat)
After over six hours fruitless search for the body of the 22-year old male who jumped into the Lagos lagoon, emergency officials comprising the responders from the state Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and local divers, the officers have suspended the search.
The search would now continue tomorrow with the hope of recovering the body of the young adult male who nose-dived inside lagoon around Adekunle Adeniji end of the Third Mainland bridge.
The jumper identified as Daibo Toju Davies, residing at 17 Sosanya Street Gbagada Soluyi, Lagos, was in an Uber cab when he told the driver he was experiencing stomach upset and needed to vomit only to jump inside the lagoon after alighting from the car. Read more
Police arrest nine suspected cultists in Ikorodu (Nation)
Nine suspected cultists including an alleged Aiye kingpin Sikiru Samuel alias Samora have been arrested by the police in Lagos.
Samuel, 24, was arrested at Imota alongside Adegboyega Ismaila, 19, Sunkanmi Shonubi, 19, alias Napel, Adigun Faruq, 18, Rilwan Akinwale, 30, Victor Uju, 18, Juwon Idowu, 18, Rasak Adebola, 20, and Kehinde Keshinro, 18.
They were arrested weekend by operatives attached to the Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants established to curb the menace of cultism. Read more
NSCDC arrests two fishermen for alleged petrol smuggling (Nation)
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) operatives at Badagry have arrested two fishermen for alleged attempt to smuggle 120 jerricans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Benin Republic.
The suspects Jebleh Taiwo and Jebleh Abiodun arrested at Gberefu Beach, a fishing settlement, in Badagry at the weekend.
It was gathered that they had loaded the products into a wooden boat which was also impounded by the operatives and its outboard engine seized. Read more
Businessman decries delay in hearing case against Eko Hotel (Guardian)
A businessman is seeking the reassignment of a suit between him and Eko Hotel and Suites from Justice Saliu Saidu.
Solomon Nwadiogbu, who was once a permanent resident in the hotel, said he lacked confidence in the judge handling the case, which comes up for hearing on February 19.
Nwadiogbu said on Saturday that the judge has “refused to hear the case” eight months after it was assigned to him.
Nwadiogbu had filed a suit against the mamangement Eko Hotel and Suites over the alleged seizure of his personal belongings valued at about N400m. Read more
FG awaits Russian firm for Lagos-Calabar rail line construction- Amaechi (Nation)
The Federal government said it is waiting for feedback from a Russian firm for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar rail line.
The government of Russia and Nigeria had reached an agreement for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar rail line during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Russia in October last year.
The minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi in an interview with journalists in Abuja at the weekend said the Russian President, Vladimir Putin directed the firm to partner with Nigeria to construct the Lagos-Calabar rail line. Read more
Queen of Katwe actress dies aged 15 (BBC)
Nikita Pearl Waligwa played Gloria, a friend of the protagonist Phiona, who explained the rules of chess.
An actress who starred in the Queen of Katwe, a Disney film about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum, has died aged 15, Ugandan media report.
Nikita Pearl Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The 2016 film was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, who took up chess aged nine despite not being in school and went on to compete in international tournaments.
It starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher. Read more
Coronavirus: China enacts tighter restrictions in Hubei (BBC)
China has tightened restrictions on movement in Hubei province as it continues to battle the coronavirus.
Sixty-million people have been told to stay at home unless there is an emergency, and the use of private cars has been banned indefinitely.
Hubei and the city of Wuhan have been hit hardest by the outbreak, which has now claimed 1,665 lives in China.
But China has announced a drop in new cases for a third consecutive day and says it is controlling the spread. Read more
Hundreds of flights cancelled as Storm Dennis batters UK with 90mph winds (Metro)
Thousands of holidaymakers are facing another day of travel chaos as more flights are delayed due to Storm Dennis. Nail-biting video footage shows planes struggling to land at Heathrow as they push against the stormy conditions and strong winds. As of Sunday morning around 170 flights were cancelled across the UK affecting 25,000 passengers, with Heathrow and Gatwick being the most hard-hit airports. EasyJet has cancelled about 118 flights, while British Airways has axed around 50. Read more
Emotional Elton John halts New Zealand gig after pneumonia diagnosis (BBC)
Sir Elton John is performing in New Zealand as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
A visibly upset Sir Elton John has been forced to cut short a concert in New Zealand after falling ill with walking pneumonia.
The musician, 72, lost his voice mid-way through his set at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday.
“I’ve just completely lost my voice. I can’t sing,” Sir Elton told the crowd. “I’ve got to go. I’m sorry.”
Sir Elton appeared to break down in tears as he leaned on his piano and shook his head. Read more
Evacuation of US passengers from quarantined ship begins (Guardian)
American passengers began evacuating a cruise ship quarantined off Japan early on Monday morning, boarding around a dozen buses at a port in Yokohama.
An AFP reporter saw buses in a convoy starting to move away from the Diamond Princess, though they did not immediately depart the port.
An American passenger, Sarah Arana, confirmed to AFP she had boarded a bus and was expecting to take one of two charter flights leaving to the United States. Read more
Manchester City also facing Premier League points deduction after Champions League ban (Metro)
Manchester City could be hit with a further punishment after being banned from the Champions League for two years on Friday, as the Premier League could also hit them with a points deduction for their breaches of Uefa Financial Fair Play. City were hit with the two-year ban and a €30m (£25m) fine for deliberately misleading UEFA over the value of a sponsorship deal in order to meet FFP rules which require clubs to break even. The club’s owner, Sheikh Mansour, has been accused of mostly funded the Etihad sponsorship of the shirts, stadium and academy, worth £67.5m-a-year. This comes after a previous breach of regulations in 2014. Read more
Kobe Bryant: NBA All-Star MVP Award to be named after LA Lakers legend (BBC)
The NBA All-Star MVP Award has been permanently renamed after LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, an 18-time All-Star, died with his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash last month, aged 41.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Bryant’s death was “unspeakable” and the league was keen to “honour” him. Read more
Liverpool the team to beat as Champions League returns (Guardian)
Liverpool returned to the scene of their Champions League triumph when they visit Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday very much the team to beat for those hoping to succeed Jurgen Klopp men as European champions.
Liverpool is coasting towards a first Premier League title in 30 years having dropped just two points all season and is likely to be crowned English champions before the Champions League quarter-finals commence in early April.
Liverpool remains on course for a potential five-trophy haul this season. They have already lifted the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup and are used to reaching European finals under Klopp. Read more
Ighalo vows to dedicate Man United goal to late sister (Nation)
Odion Ighalo has vowed to dedicate every Manchester United goal he scores during his loan spell to his sister, who tragically passed away in December.
The Nigeria international moved to Old Trafford from Shanghai Shenhua on a short-term deal until the end of the season to ease the injury burden at the club.
But, despite securing his ‘dream’ move to the club he supported as a boy, Ighalo is still reeling from the tragic loss of his sister, Mary, who died two months ago.
The 30-year-old has her name etched on his boots and will wear a white t-shirt underneath his United top with her name written when the club visit Stamford Bridge on Monday night to take on Chelsea. Read more
Mike Tyson heaps praise on Tyson Fury ahead of Deontay Wilder fight (Metro)
Mike Tyson has revealed he is a massive fan of Tyson Fury and will be cheering the Gypsy King on in his showdown with Deontay Wilder. Fury and Wilder go to war on Saturday night in Las Vegas in a rematch of their controversial and thrilling draw in 2018. Fans are struggling to call a winner, but Tyson is hoping for another massive performance from his namesake. ‘I like both of them as fighters, they both came from nothing and achieved becoming heavyweight champion, you have to respect that, I was in their position one time,’ he said. Read more
What now for Abu Dhabi’s Man City project? (Guardian)
Manchester City has enjoyed a meteoric rise from mid-table mediocrity to serial trophy winners thanks to the deep pockets of Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour. But now they face their biggest challenge of the new era.
European football’s governing body UEFA on Friday banned City from European competitions for the next two seasons and imposed a fine of 30 million euros ($32 million, £25 million) on the English champions.
City is up for the fight and will have their day in court. The club immediately responded that they would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for what they called “an impartial judgement”. Read more
Late Ajer goal clinches Celtic victory at Aberdeen (BBC)
Celtic stretched their winning run to nine games as Kristoffer Ajer’s late goal earned a Scottish Premiership victory against a battling Aberdeen.
Neil Lennnon’s men moved 13 points clear at the top of the table after a seventh consecutive league win – with Rangers v Livingston later on Sunday.
But the champions were largely subdued for much of the 90 minutes. Read more
Mane hits his 100th goal for English clubs across all competitions (Nation)
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane On Saturday recorded his 100th goal in English football when stepping off the bench to make an immediate impact on his return from injury in a Premier League meeting with Norwich.
The Senegal international forward was introduced off the bench at Carrow Road and made an immediate impact when reaching a personal century
The Senegal international was eased back into action by Jurgen Klopp at Carrow Road.
Having been sidelined since January 23, the Reds were wary of taking any unnecessary risks with their 27-year-old star. Read more
Edem, Abiodun through to ITTF Portugal Open main draw (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Offiong Edem and Bode Abiodun have worked their way into the main draw of the 2020 ITTF. Challenge Plus Portugal Open after their stunning victories in the preliminary round of the singles event.
Edem is competing in her first tournament in readiness for the double tournaments holding this month in Tunisia and her performance against Kazakhstan’s Anastassiya Lavrova confirms her readiness for the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Despite going down 3-1 (8-11, 11-4, 3-11, 16-18) in the tie, Edem regained her composure to record a convincing win over the European with 14-12, 11-6, 11-2 win to claim a 4-3 win coupled with a passage to the main draw of the women’s singles. Read more
Genesis Open: Rory McIlroy tied for lead with Matt Kuchar and Adam Scott (BBC)
World number one Rory McIlroy moved into a three-way tie for the lead at the Genesis Open in California alongside American Matt Kuchar and Australian Adam Scott.
Northern Ireland’s four-time major winner McIlroy carded a three-under par 68 for his third round in Los Angeles.
A birdie putt at 18 saw Scott complete a 67 to join McIlroy on 10 under, while overnight leader Kuchar made 70. Read more
Ibrahim Alhassan: Watch out, my Super Eagles’ time is coming (Nation)
Former Nigeria U-17 and U-20 playmaker Ibrahim Alhassan Mu’azzam enjoys being likened to erstwhile Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo. Standing at 6-foot 3 and half inches, Mu’azzam has load of tricks in the leg like his idol and two-time Africa Player of the Year winner, Kanu.
He once formed a formidable partnership with Leicester star Kelechi Iheanacho at the U-17 Golden Eagles finishing as joint top scorer in the qualifiers ahead of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON held in Morocco in 2013.
After helping the U20 team win the 2015 CAF Championship, he had brief stints with local clubs, Wikki Tourists, and Akwa United before jetting out to Austria where he plays for FK Austria on loan. Last session, he made a permanent move to Portugal side CD Nacional where he has become a dominant figure in midfield. Read more