admin2020

La Liga, Sports

Tax fraud: Diego Costa gets €543,208 fine.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been fined €543,208 and handed a six-month prison sentence for tax fraud.

The 31 year-old pleaded guilty to defrauding the state of more than €1m by not declaring payments of over €5.15m from his 2014 move to Chelsea in the UK and not did not declare more than €1m in image rights.

He will not serve jail term as Spanish legal system allows sentences under two years for non-violent crimes to be exchanged for a fine.

An Atletico spokesman told the Reuters news agency, “Diego Costa reached an agreement a few months ago with the prosecutor and has already paid the corresponding fine plus interest, and the request for a prison sentence was withdrawn.” 

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 Sports

Players who remove their shirts to protest against discrimination deserve applause, not punishment. – FIFA President

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has said players who are calling for justice for George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed after a white policeman in Minneapolis handcuffed and kneeled on the American-African’s neck for around nine minutes.Image

The German Football Association (DFB) is currently investigating Borussia Dortmund duo Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram and FC Schalke’s American midfielder Weston McKennie who paid tributes ripped to George Floyd with handwritten messages, took off their shirts, knelt down after scoring. Infact, the entire Liverpool‘s squad took a knee at Anfield as a tribute to George Floyd on June 1st, 2020.

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FIFA had earlier called on football leagues to use “common sense” when deciding on sanctions for footballers for displaying political messages. “For the avoidance of doubt, in a FIFA competition the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve applause and not a punishment,” Infantino said in a FIFA statement.

“We all must say no to racism and any form of discrimination. We all must say no to violence. Any form of violence.”

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“FIFA fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case.”

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 English Premier League, Sports

Premier League clubs to hold friendlies ahead of resumption.

Premier League clubs have been given permission to play friendlies ahead of the season restart on June 17 but under certain conditions outlined by the league. Some of the measures put in place to ensure hygiene and social distancing rules are adhered to are:

  • Clubs being forbidden from traveling for further than 90 minutes, though teams like Newcastle will be granted special dispensation if they have to travel further.
  • All players must travel in their own cars, possibly in their kits.
  • No official referees will be allowed, with members of coaching staff taking charge.
  • Full risk-assessments of the stadium/training ground before games.

Meanwhile, all EPL clubs have begun considering how reduced numbers of fans might be accommodated next season when neutral venues could also remain as a back-up option to complete fixtures. Players are facing a crucial week of testing as any positive test would likely rule them out from the opening round of restarted games. All players and club staff are being tested for coronavirus twice a week ahead of the restart date of June 17.

 

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 Lifestyle

Study: 25% of Nigerian parents find something in their child’s social media account potentially dangerous.

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has forced families to spend their free time mostly at home. Staying at home usually also means spending much time using different Internet-connected devices. For clear reasons, children’s growing online activity can cause lots of worries for their parents.

Thus, according to a Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) survey¹, 25% of Nigerian parents claim that they have come across something in their child’s social media account that seemed suspicious. Elaborating on what it exactly was, they mention groups or public pages they join (56%), posts that they publish or share (50%), people they interact with (31%), video on their page (31%) and private messages (19%).

Also Read: 40% of Parents in Nigeria agree that Cute Photos with Kids get more likes

What is more, 34% state their child has seen or listened to something that seemed suspicious to them, be that videos (68%), music (43%), or photos (25%). Obviously, this data shows the need to explore the interests of children, to make sure everything is okay or if it is necessary to take action. However, not all the parents realize it – only 19% of them befriend their children via social networks in order to be connected with their kids – sometimes real communication is not enough and the parents have to look carefully at their children’s webpages.

“It gets harder and harder for parents to keep up with the pace of the modern evolving world. They are often left out of the picture as they simply do not catch up with trends that emerge way too fast. However, it is possible to stop this backlog by communicating with your child and ensuring your presence on the Internet – to build trust and a good relationship with your child you have to know what you are talking about with them,” states Maher Yamout, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky.

In order to eliminate groundless suspicions about your child’s digital life and to secure their presence on social media, Kaspersky strongly recommends following this advice:

  1. Learn more on the topic of children’s cybersecurity: explore modern trends, apps, the way of behavior that has to be adopted in order to safeguard against dangers (for instance, the basic security rules while on the Internet);
  2. Communicate with your child and define the boundaries which are not meant to be crossed: discuss with them safe locations both real and webpages;
  3. Install a reliable security solution to monitor your child’s activity successfully.
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 La Liga, Sports

Real Madrid won’t play at the Bernabéu again this season.

Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez has confirmed that the Los Blancos Will Not Return to Santiago Bernabéu once La Liga returns. The Bernabéu is currently undergoing renovation and was initially scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2022, but now that all games will be played behind closed doors, the club wants to take advantage of the situation to complete the work ahead of schedule. The team will now play their remaining ‘home games’ in the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium.

“We have made the decision to play all the games in which we will play as the home team in the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium in our Ciudad Real Madrid,” Pérez wrote. “This decision will allow us to advance in the works of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.”

The Santiago Bernabeu was first completed in 1942 and last upgraded in 1982, the external facade of the stadium will be made up of strips of steel, the roof will have a retractable feature that will allow matches to be played under any weather conditions. Restaurant and entertainment areas will be featured. The rebuild of the stadium is expected to end right before the start of the 2022-2023 season.

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 English Premier League, Sports

Odion Ighalo reacts to his contract extension at Old Trafford.

Nigerian striker, Jude Odion Ighalo has spoken of his excitement about the extension of his loan at Old Trafford. The 30 year-old forward’s loan to Manchester United became extended till January following an agreement with chinese side, Shanghai Shenhua.

“I’ve been supporting Man Utd and playing for it is a dream. Now I’ve extended my loan, it makes it more even clear. I’m here until January ending. I just want to work hard and enjoy it, support the team and do whatever I can to make us go higher and higher. I’m really happy. It’s a dream for me to be here. I’m buzzing and ready to go. The last few days have been difficult as there have been different talks about it but now I’m really happy so I need to concentrate fully.” He said.

When Odion Ighalo returns to Shanghai Shenhua, he will be expected to sign a new contract until the end of 2024 worth £400,000 a week.

Odion Ighalo at Manchester United:

• 319 minutes
• 17 shots
• 11 on target
• 4 goals
• 1 assist

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 Entertainment

Reggae icon, Majek Fashek reportedly dies in New York.

The rainmaker has gone to sleep!

African reggae legend, Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek has reportedly died in New York, yesterday, June 1st, 2020. His death was announced by artiste manager, Joy Tongo on Instagram today.

The 57 year-old had been battling with an undisclosed ailment for some time now. He arrived in the UK on September 7, 2019 and was admitted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London after his condition became critical. Billionaire businessman,  Femi Otedola pledged to cover all the singer’s medical expenses.

Early this year, Omenka Uzoma, his manager confirmed that the singer had been discharged and was undergoing therapy in the U.S.

In 2015, Majek revealed he was bankrupt and battling drug addiction and was later admitted into a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja.

He attracted international attention, in 1987, when his self-penned tune, “Send Down The Rain,” seemed to coax a rain storm that ended one of the worst draughts in Nigeria’ s history. He went on to become one of Africa’s greatest reggae-influenced performers. His debut solo album, Prisoner Of Conscience, released in 1988, sold more than 200,000 copies in Nigeria alone.

Born in Benin City to an Edo mother and a Ijesha father, but identifies with his Benin roots, Fashek inherited his love of music from his mother, an Edo woman who raised him following the death of his father when he was eleven years old.

Fashek was married to Rita Fashek who inspired the song “Without You”; the couple had four children together, but have since divorced.

May his soul rest in peace.

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 Features

Facebook and Red Cross Launch #AfricaTogether, a Campaign Calling for Vigilance against Covid-19.

Facebook and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are partnering to launch #AfricaTogether – a digital campaign and two-day festival on June 4th and 5th featuring artists from across Africa to encourage continued vigilance against Covid-19.

With more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases confirmed on the continent and containment measures easing in many countries, #AfricaTogether combines musical and comedy performances with information from Covid-19 first responders and fact-checkers from across Africa.

#AfricaTogether will include a festival with performances by artists such as Aramide, Ayo, Femi Kuti, Ferre Gola, Salatiel, Serge Beynaud, Patoranking, Youssou N’dour amongst many others, as well as a digital awareness campaign with prevention messages developed with Red Cross and Red Crescent health experts and targeting simultaneously Facebook users in 48 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

The event will be streamed on Facebook Live on the 4th June in English and hosted by the Nigerian popular actor and comedian Basketmouth and in French on the 5th June by the renowned media personality Claudy Siar. To watch the live shows, viewers can tune in to the Facebook Africa page (https://bit.ly/2ZWnbBO) and Red Cross and Red Crescent Facebook pages.
Commenting, Mamadou Sow, a long-serving member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement said, “The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis in that it can affect us all, and ignores borders, ethnicities, and religions. African communities so far have responded quickly, but the risk remains very real. If we all do our part, we will beat Covid-19. Music is a powerful uniting force and we hope that the #AfricaTogether festival will bring renewed hope and action against this dangerous disease.”

Adding her voice to the initiative, Jocelyne Muhutu-Rémy, Facebook’s Strategic Media Partnerships Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa said: “The spike in the use of online tools during the Covid-19 pandemic shows the social usefulness of digital platforms in difficult times. We are seeing many incredible initiatives from artists bringing their communities together on Facebook Live. The #AfricaTogether campaign will enable people to learn more about fighting Covid-19, while enjoying entertainment from their favourite African performers. We will be spreading joy in a way that doesn’t spread the disease.”
This event is one of the many ways that Facebook and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are both contributing to the fight against Covid-19 across the continent.
Facebook continues to work with governments across Sub-Saharan Africa, including partnering with organizations like health agencies and NGOs who are actively using its platforms to share accurate information about the situation and launching Covid-19 Information Centers in more than 40 countries, which provides real-time updates from health authorities and helpful articles, videos and posts about social distancing and preventing the spread of the virus.
With a network of more than 1.5 million volunteers and staff across the continent, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is on the frontlines of combating Covid-19 in communities through information campaigns, providing soap and access to clean water, and supporting health care facilities and workers with training, equipment, and supplies. In parts of Africa, Covid-19 is another layer of crisis on top of conflict, violence, or climate disasters.

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 English Premier League, Sports

Odion Ighalo agrees extension of loan with Manchester United.

Nigerian footballer, Odion Ighalo has agreed to an extension of his loan with Manchester United until January 2021. His agreement with Shanghai Shenhua officially expired on Sunday night, and both sides have now come to an agreement for the 30-year-old to stay in Manchester until the new year.

His agent Atta Aneke told online newspaper, Nettavisen: “We are nearing an agreement with Manchester United on an extended loan. The agreement will mean that Ighalo will remain with them until January 2021.”

Ighalo has scored four goals in eight games for the Red Devils this season.

“Ighalo will now hope to pick up from where he left off, after winning United’s Goal of the Month award for March with a stunning strike in our last match, the impressive 5-0 victory over Austrian club LASK in the Europa League. That last-16, first-leg game at Linzer Stadion on Thursday 12 March was a sign of things to come, as it was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That will also be the case for all remaining fixtures in 2019/20.” The club wrote on its website.

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 Sports

Tax fraud: Diego Costa to face trial on June 4.

Atletico Madrid forward, Diego Costa is to face trial for alleged tax fraud on June 4. 

The Spaniard is accused of defrauding the state of more than 1 million euros (£900,000) by not declaring payments of more than 5.15m euros (£4.63m) following his move from Chelsea in 2014. He allegedly failed to declare image rights of more than 1m euros. The court proceeding will take place a week before the resumption of the La Liga season.

This is not the first time a footballer will be accused of tax evasion. The likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Alexis Sanchez etc have also been indicted.

Also Read: Real Madrid issue statement on Ronaldo’s tax evasion allegations

If found guilty, he risks a six-month prison sentence and a fine of more than 500,000 euros (£450,000).

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