October plan for return of fans to UK stadiums set for delay
FILE PHOTO: Michael Gove arrives at Downing Street in London, Britain February 13, 2020. REUTERS/Toby MelvillePlans for the controlled return of fans into U.K. sports stadiums from Oct. 1 are set to be postponed, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Tuesday as new restrictions are brought in to tackle a second wave of COVID-19. “It was the case that we were looking at a staged programme of more people returning, it wasn’t going to be the case that we were going to have stadiums thronged with fans,” Gove told BBC TV when asked if the Oct. 1 plan would go ahead. The Rugby Football Union had hoped to have around 20,000 fans at Twickenham for England’s game against the Barbarians on Oct. 25 but have now suspended ticket sales. “The virus is less likely to spread outdoors than indoors but then again it’s in the nature of sporting events that there’s a lot of mingling,” Gove said.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 08:26 UTC
Wiper Party: Why we oppose Raila’s push for regional governments
“Even as WDM-K supports the BBI Agenda, it is clear that Kenya is not ready for Regional governments. The three-tier system means that the country retains the current national and county governments while creating regional governments. On Monday, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya the current regional economic blocs should at some point be transformed into regional governments. There is the Mt Kenya and Aberdares Region Economic Bloc which comprises of 10 counties-Laikipia,Nakuru, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a and Kiambu. The North Rift Economic Bloc has seven counties namely Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu and Turkana.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 06:56 UTC
Malindi woman gives birth, dumps infant in snake-infested septic tank
An unidentified woman dumped her newborn child in a 15-feet deep septic tank moments after giving birth leaving him for dead in Mkaomoto area, Malindi sub-county. A passer-by who heard the infant crying, alerted residents who came to rescue the child by going down the septic tank using a ladder. There were two snakes that had surrounded the child when he was rescued but luckily, they did not harm him. Hundreds of curious onlookers who had turned up to witness the rescue mission cursed the woman for dumping the child. "We will have to first go and wash her with warm water before he is taken to hospital," a woman was heard talking in the local Giriama dialect.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 06:45 UTC
Fear of hospitals means some Mexicans 'prefer to die at home'
When Urdiain and his wife fell ill, they chose to stay at their home in Mexico City rather than put their trust in the creaking public health system. The government has recognized that the health system has suffered from years of neglect, but says it is working to improve standards. Castillo, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, said her distrust of the public health system stems from the poor care she received before the pandemic. 'Many rumour'Misinformation has added to this distrust about the public health system. A hospital, city hall, homes and vehicles were vandalized.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 05:06 UTC
Vatican, China prepare to renew historic deal to US anger
[AFP]The Vatican and China are preparing to renew a historic deal on the appointment of bishops that has slightly thawed icy relations -- much to the displeasure of the US. "The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal", he added on Twitter. The key novelty however was that both Beijing and the Vatican now have a say in appointing Catholic bishops. Francis immediately recognised eight Chinese bishops that had been appointed by Beijing without his approval. And he voiced his hope that the Vatican, in renewing the agreement, would be tougher on China.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 05:03 UTC
This man Havi: Is he the small axe felling big trees?
But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Havi (pictured) emerged this year and successfully vied for the society’s top seat. In regard to the society’s recent vibrancy on defending the public interest, the LSK president says it comes with the territory. “Parliament ceases to have oversight power it has over the President, state agencies and state officers. If the President does not dissolve Parliament, we will be in a state of anarchy,” Havi told The Standard yesterday. The LSK president who loves elegant fashion and wears a Montblanc watch has not been spared by critics over his remarks in the past.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 05:01 UTC
Australia attempts to rescue hundreds of stranded pilot whales
Police officers are seen on a boat near stranding whales in MacQuarie Heads, Tasmania, Australia in this picture obtained from social media dated September 22, 2020. RYAN BLOOMFIELD /via REUTERSRescuers were trying to refloat hundreds of whales stranded on a sandbar off the remote west coast of the Australian island of Tasmania on Tuesday, hoping to end one of the country’s worst beaching events. Pilot whales are a species of oceanic dolphin that grow to 7 metres (23 ft) long and can weigh up to 3 tonnes. Drawing them back out to sea is a labour intensive process that can include physically pushing the animals or using specialised tarpaulins and pontoons to drag them to deeper water. Around 40 government scientists, 20 police officers, and local fish farmers and volunteers were involved in the rescue attempt, which experts said was the hardest they had encountered.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 04:52 UTC
NASA plans for return to Moon to cost $28 billion
NASA's administrator said that the organization hoped to return to the Moon by 2024, if Congress approves the $28 billion budgetNASA on Monday revealed its latest plan to return astronauts to the Moon in 2024, and estimated the cost of meeting that deadline at $28 billion, $16 billion of which would be spent on the lunar landing module. The $28 billion would cover the budgetary years of 2021-25. Barack Obama cancelled plans for a manned Mars mission, after his predecessor spent billions of dollars on the project. If Congress approves the first tranche of $3.2 billion by Christmas, "we're still on track for a 2024 moon landing," Bridenstine said. "We have to remember during the Apollo era, we thought the moon was bone dry.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 04:52 UTC
Amana Capital investor won’t repay money lost in Nakumatt
A new strategic investor into Amana Capital, which lost Sh255 million in collapsed retailer Nakumatt, will not provide funds to repay the money lost. Amana said the unnamed investor would instead boost recapitalisation efforts and lead the future growth of funds under management. Amana Capital, which has some 1,400 investors, was one of the firms that cumulatively lost over Sh4 billion in Nakumatt commercial papers. The Amana Shilling Fund’s only other investment is the fixed deposits they had invested in Jamii Bora Bank, put at Sh185 million. The AGM is also set to seek a nod of approval for the new investor, discuss the Sh255 million gap, and the current state of the funds under the unit trust scheme.
Source:Standard Digital
September 22, 2020 04:52 UTC
Covid-19: Second wave hitting Europe will be dire for SA exports, tourism
Europe, South Africa's biggest trading block, is experiencing a second wave of Covid-19 infections, and it will have a negative impact on the domestic economy's tourism and exports if another hard lockdown is imposed, according to an economist. A CNN report shows that Europe and the UK are experiencing record high infections, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Total cases over the past two weeks in France are more than 124 000, in the UK more than 47 000, and in Spain just over 87 000.
Source:News 24
September 22, 2020 03:02 UTC
Inside CIA-backed secret anti-terrorism operation in Kenya
ESTABLISHING COVERT TEAMThe unit that would later become the Rapid Response Team (RRT) was a product of this outreach. Following their first and second courses in 2004, titled 'Renditions Operations Training' and 'Disruption Operation'”, the commandos were formalised as the Rapid Response Team. However, owing to the sensitivity of their operations, RRT officers were not permitted to reside in the same quarters as other teams in the GSU’s Recce Company. Although Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) “knew they had some bad people” in Kenya, as one former CIA official put it, political leaders were initially reluctant to be drawn into the US war on terror. Alongside the CIA, MI6 helped Kenya with target development, bringing together and analysing the various sources of intelligence to prioritise the greater threats.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 02:03 UTC
Obado impeachment motion to be tabled tomorrow
ODM yesterday said the motion is ready and will formally be tabled this week, ending speculations about the party-driven censure motion. “Yes, the motion is ready and it will be tabled maybe on Wednesday or Thursday,” Mbadi said on the phone. Apart from corruption charges against Obado, the Star has established that the motion has also listed several grounds to back ODM's decision. The Star has also learnt that assembly speaker Boaz Okoth has been admitted to a Kisumu hospital. If it goes through, county speaker informs the Senate speaker within two days and the battle moves to the Senate.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 02:03 UTC
US and UK have helped us thwart terror attacks
The involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency and MI6 has really helped Kenya to contain attacks by al Shabaab. We were slow in getting security intelligence; the terrorists knew that and they exploited it. During the Westgate attack, we complained about getting intelligence that was not actionable. When we suffered the Garissa University College attack, everybody complained about how the security agencies collected and utilised intelligence. The partnership between Kenyan security agencies and the intentional security and intelligence agencies has been around for a long time.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 02:03 UTC
Amuyunzu ready to test acumen against KPL defenders
Nairobi City Stars striker David Amuyunzu is ready to test himself against the country’s top defenders when the Kenyan Premier League kicks off after the restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus are finally lifted. Amuyunzu emerged as Nairobi City Stars top scorer with 17 goals in the four seasons the club featured in the second tier National Super League (NSL). With 17 NSL goals for City Stars, Agesa is ahead of Gambian Ebrima Sanneh and Ugandan Sande Katumba who both scored 15 goals over two NSL seasons. With City Stars now back for the 2020/21 Premier League season, Agesa will be seeking his maiden top-flight goal, and more. Davies has 10 Premier League appearances all gained while on a short-term loan at Thika United in the 2018 season.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 01:52 UTC
Not wanted, not loved: Misery in depression
"I have never felt wanted, never felt loved, and that’s why I’m chasing love right now, or at least [a sense of] belonging. I’m stuck in a position of bitterness and I don't know what to do with this bitterness in my heart." “Ray's betrayal makes me mess up in my relationships and jobs because I don't know what to do. I don’t know how to deal with the grief. I didn’t know what to do with this bitterness in my heart,” she said.
Source:The Star
September 22, 2020 01:52 UTC