Cristiano Ronaldo inspires Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland

Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland said Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is an inspiration.

Haaland has been a revelation in 2019-20, his exploits already linking him with a move to LaLiga giants Real Madrid.

The 19-year-old striker scored 28 goals in all competitions for Salzburg this term before joining Dortmund in January, netting another 12 in just 11 appearances prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Haaland said five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has been an inspirational figure.

“You could just see it in Ronaldo’s face that ‘today I’m the man’ and ‘today, I will score goals’ and that’s what he did,” Haaland told ESPN, having watched Ronaldo growing up.

“That’s what I like the best, how dedicated and hungry they are to succeed and to be the man in the moment.

On his incredible start to life at Bundesliga outfit Dortmund, Haaland added: It’s been a very good start and from my debut I’ve been enjoying it a lot and smiling a lot and these kind of things and that’s what’s the most important about my life, to smile a lot and these kind of things. So, yeah, that’s what I try to do the most.

I feel I’m Improving every day and now that I play with even better team-mates than what I played with in Salzburg – all respect to Salzburg – but yeah, they can find me in even better situations and this, so yeah it’s been good. It’s been a good first months.

Haaland was mocked by Neymar and the Paris Saint-Germain squad after Dortmund lost to the Ligue 1 holders in the Champions League last 16.

A first-leg brace from Haaland gave Dortmund a 2-1 win over PSG before the French champions rallied to prevail 2-0 and 3-2 on aggregate in March.

Haaland celebrated his two goals in the opening leg by sitting cross-legged and pretending to meditate – a celebration Neymar mimicked at the Parc des Princes, where PSG team-mates followed post-game.

“I think they helped me a lot to get meditation out in the world and to show the whole world that meditation is an important thing so I’m thankful that they helped me with that. Haaland said:"

FCTA charges beneficiaries to return any defective palliative

Minister of State in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has called on beneficiaries of the Administration’s palliatives to return anyone they feel is defective and unfit for human consumption, to allow for replacement, but at the expense of the suppliers.

Aliyu made the call on Friday during an inspection of palliatives for Kabusa, Garki, Wuse and City Centre Wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC.

While she acknowledged that the administration got supplies from different producers and so there could be incidences due to production error, Aliyu who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, stated that each of the four wards would be receiving 3000 bags of rice and 3000 bags of condiments.

She also charged councillors representing each ward to be transparent by ensuring that the items get to the targeted individuals.

“We have inspected two trucks randomly, one containing 3000 bags of condiments meant for Kubusa and this one contains 3000 bags of 5kg rice meant for Garki. There are 8 trucks here ready for distribution. Four trucks of rice, and four trucks of condiments. Two trucks for each ward.

“I want to put it on record that these materials were brought together by major suppliers, but as in every production process, you cannot guarantee that every one of them will be problem-free.

As we have observed briefly, if you find any material unfit for consumption, you are at liberty to notify the chairman and such item will be replaced at the expense of the supplier,” Aliyu stated

The minister reiterated that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) are the responsibility of the Administration while assuring that arrangements are on the ground for the second phase of the palliative distribution.

In his remarks, Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Adamu Candido, thanked the administration for the successful distribution of palliatives in Orozo, Karshi, Karu and Nyanya wards, stressing that the success recorded in these wards was above 80 percent.

Candido, used the occasion to charge councillors in other wards to scale-up the performance of previous distributions, adding that there would be a reward for an excellent performance.

He said; “I thank the team particularly the Palliatives chairman of what they did yesterday. The Area Council is very happy and appreciative.

Our prayers is that may God continue to protect the principals, the Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, and Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu. Sincerely, we never had it so good.

“I want to reassure you that by the grace of God we will continue to do our best. The support we received from our youths from the first four wards was very encouraging. And for the councillors, we should bear in mind that we have a name to protect.

“We are not just councillors today, we can be anything tomorrow, but we can destroy that name with our present position today.

Don’t take what does not belong to you. The performance yesterday was about 80 percent, but I want you to improve on that rating”, he stated:"

Arsenal target to stay at Real Betis next season

Nabil Fekir has informed Real Betis that he wants to stay at the club next season, despite the fact many teams have enquired about signing the French playmaker.

The only way that Fekir could depart Los Verdiblancos is due to two minor loopholes.

One of them would be if Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for him, while the other is if Betis find themselves in a dire financial state due to the coronavirus crisis and need to sell their star player in order to raise funds. To this point, neither case has occurred.

Big clubs such as AC Milan, Arsenal and the soon-to-be wealthy Newcastle United have all set their sights on Fekir, who has scored seven goals and provided six assists in 22 games in his debut campaign with Betis.

However, the 26-year-old is not willing to leave the Estadio Benito Villamarin unless a title-challenging team with an ambitious project comes his way.

Fekir is the most valuable player in Betis’ squad, with the CIES Football Observatory noting that he is worth between 40 and 50 million euros, while his release clause is 100 million euros."

Chelsea’s Ross Barkley is looking for his Nigerian father

Chelsea and Three lions midfielder Ross Barkley has expressed his desire to meet his Nigerian father who broke up with his mother when he was a little child.

Barkley who was born and raised in England worked his way through hard times, determination and finally made it to the England senior team (Three Lions).

In a recent interview about his life and career with no doubt he said: “There’s one thing he wishes to do and that is meeting his father who is a Nigerian but left his mother when he was very young and hasn’t seen him since then.” Barkley is 25 years old.

Ross bears his mother’s maiden name Barkley instead of his real father’s name Effanga who was a construction worker with the railway in the United Kingdom.

Patrick Effanga left Ross when he was only one year old and hasn’t met with him since then."

A man spoke about unlock-down in Lagos.

We still need more Lockdown in Nigeria take a luck at time of Lockdown how many cases we discovered how much more it could be of we unlock-down. This is time for Nigeria government and ncdc to open eyes and think deeply. I don't won't tinz da happened in Italy to happened in Nigeria.yes we all no economy Nigeria bring up during this Lockdown is vary very bad but think of this if coronavirus could kill thousands of peoples in Italy for one week how much more we here in Nigeria. Hungry will not kill thousands in day but believe me coronavirus can kill thousands in a day think. About it think how many cases we discovered during Lockdown how much e gonna be if we stop> published by James 

TODAYRussia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass China's in Latest One-Day Surge

Russia confirmed 6,198 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 87,147.

Russia has now surpassed China to become the world's ninth most-affected country amid the pandemic.

In total, 794 people have been killed by the virus in Russia.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia as of April 27.MT

The majority of Russia's cases are in Moscow, although Covid-19 patients have been confirmed in every one of Russia's 85 regions and the spread is accelerating outside the capital. Since March 30, all of Moscow's 12 million residents have been ordered to stay in their homes with few exceptions.

City officials have warned the capital "will face difficult weeks" ahead. 

Under confinement rules that Muscovites have to observe until at least May 1, they are only allowed to leave their homes to go to work, walk their dogs, take out trash or visit their nearest shop.

City authorities also tightened the lockdown by introducing a digital permit system, requiring that anyone travelling by car or public transport obtain a pass.

Russia has carried out more than 2.8 million coronavirus tests, though there have been concerns about their reliability. 

Worldwide, the virus has infected over 2.9 million people."

Jack Ma: The billionaire trying to stop coronavirus

The richest man in China opened his own Twitter account last month, in the middle of the Covid-19 outbreak. So far, every one of his posts has been devoted to his unrivalled campaign to deliver medical supplies to almost every country around the world.

"One world, one fight!" Jack Ma enthused in one of his first messages. "Together, we can do this!" he cheered in another.

The billionaire entrepreneur is the driving force behind a widespread operation to ship medical supplies to more than 150 countries so far, sending face masks and ventilators to many places that have been elbowed out of the global brawl over life-saving equipment.

But Ma's critics and even some of his supporters aren't sure what he's getting himself into. Has this bold venture into global philanthropy unveiled him as the friendly face of China's Communist Party? Or is he an independent player who is being used by the Party for propaganda purposes? He appears to be following China's diplomatic rules, particularly when choosing which countries should benefit from his donations, but his growing clout might put him in the crosshairs of the jealous leaders at the top of China's political pyramid.

Other tech billionaires have pledged more money to fight the effects of the virus - Twitter's Jack Dorsey is giving $1bn (£0.8bn) to the cause. Candid, a US-based philanthropy watchdog that tracks private charitable donations, puts Alibaba 12th on a list of private Covid-19 donors. But that list doesn't include shipments of vital supplies, which some countries might consider to be more important than money at this stage in the global outbrea

Boris Johnson's return to work on Monday after more than three weeks out of action will be a "boost for the country", his deputy has said.

The prime minister will resume full-time duties in Downing Street after a fortnight recovering from coronavirus.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been standing in for him during his absence, said he was "raring to go".

The PM spent a week in hospital, including three nights in intensive care, after being admitted on 5 April.

During his hospitalisation, he received regular oxygen treatment to help his breathing.

After he was discharged on 12 April, Mr Johnson suggested his condition "could have gone either way" and praised the staff at St Thomas' Hospital in central London who looked after him.

He has not been doing any official government work during his convalescence at Chequers, on medical advice.

:Live.Latest from around the world

:How long does it take to recover from coronavirus?

:Boris Johnson was 'just another patient' - nurse

But last week he spoke to the Queen and US President Donald Trump and also met senior ministers, including Mr Raab and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to discuss the next stage of the UK's response to the pandemic.

Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr that it was good to have the prime minister back and his return would be a "boost for the government and a boost for the country".

Analysis by Political Correspondent Leila Nathoo

It has been a "difficult time"

acknowledged Dominic Raab of the period he's spent deputising for the PM.

The government has been without its leader through much of this tumultuous time but Boris Johnson is now well enough to be back in charge as the next major decision looms - where the lockdown goes from here.

Remember, by law, the measures have to be "reviewed" every three weeks.

The PM returns to intense debate within government, within his party and among opposition MPs about the impact of the lockdown and what combination of measures will come to replace the blunt instrument of asking us all to stay at home.

Everyone is mindful of rushing to relax restrictions in case the virus starts to spread rapidly and widely again - and Boris Johnson has his own recent experience of being struck down too.

But there are growing concerns about the profound effect on the economy and all of our lives - as well as what needs to be in place before restrictions can be eased.

The government's message is clear, that things won't snap back to how they were before - but the prime minister will ultimately be the one to make the decision about where the new balance lies.

The foreign secretary, who as first secretary of state is the second most senior member of the cabinet, praised other ministers and civil servants for "stepping up to the plate" during the PM's absence.

Asked whether he had enjoyed the experience of temporarily running the country, he said this "did not do justice" to the task he had been faced with and his thoughts throughout had been with Mr Johnson and his family, "particularly when we knew it was touch and go".

"Raab: UK must find 'new normal' to ease lockdown

"Scotland's lockdown exit could differ from UK

On Saturday, the number of recorded UK hospital deaths of people with the virus exceeded 20,000. These figures, the fifth highest in the world, do not include deaths in care homes and in the community.

Critics say Mr Johnson was far too slow to respond once the threat to the UK became clear, with the Liberal Democrats calling for a public inquiry into the "appalling" fatality rate.

Coronavirus: UK must find 'new normal' to ease lockdown."

He described the more than 20,000 deaths in the UK as "heartbreaking", but said the toll could have been "much worse" without the strict measures.

However, Mr Raab did hint at some ways schools, sport and businesses could begin to return to "a new normal".

It comes as the prime minister is set to return to work on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, a further 336 deaths of people with coronavirus have been announced in England, along with 18 more in Scotland and 14 more in Wales. A UK-wide update on the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to date is expected imminently.

Are the five tests for ending lockdown being met?

Does hospital deaths milestone mean failure for UK?

The government has come under pressure from Labour to set out its "exit strategy" for lifting the lockdown.

Shadow cabinet office minister Rachel Reeves said ministers should treat people "like grown-ups" and give businesses, schools and other organisations time to plan for when they are allowed to reopen.

But Mr Raab, who has been deputising for Boris Johnson while the PM recovers from coronavirus, said it would not be responsible to start announcing specific proposals until evidence was available to support them as this could risk "misleading" the public.

Rather than a complete lifting of all measures, he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that the country would end up "moving to a new normal..

Mr Raab said when schools reopened, social distancing measures would need to be in place for pupils and staff.

"I think it's inconceivable that they would come back without further measures, as are already being applied in those schools that are open for key workers," he said.

But he would not be drawn on a suggestion that this would mean groups of pupils returning to lessons on different days or times to keep pupil numbers down.

Ministers still won't not be drawn on when or how easing of the lockdown measures will happen.

In his last day leading the government before Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes back the reins, Dominic Raab does go as far as talking about the "new normal" we will need to find for the many months it will take scientists to continue their work on a vaccine and treatments.

That new normal will have to include more testing to spot new cases. It will also require some social distancing measures in shops, schools and workplaces, and indeed any other location where people mix.

That raises some big questions, not least around transport. How do you keep commuters safely apart? And what should be done about travellers arriving to the UK who may be carrying coronavirus?

If you lift restrictions too much or too quickly, infections could soar. That would risk another peak and more lockdown measures - things none of us want.

Mr Raab suggested social distancing measures already being seen in food shops and other businesses that have remained operating could also be expanded to non-essential businesses if they were to reopen.

Asked whether there was any chance of people being able to play sport outside this summer, Mr Raab said this would be "very difficult because of the level and scale of interaction".

But he added: "I think the professional sport may be different because of the scale of testing that they would be able to introduce."

Image copyrightAFP

Image caption

Supermarkets have remained open with social distancing measures

On the possibility of testing people arriving at UK airports, Mr Raab said this measure might be introduced but he "can't say it with any certainty yet".

"The advice that we got - and I checked it with the scientists, with the chief medical officer - at the outset when we took up our social distancing measures, is that it wouldn't make any difference from a public health point of view," he said.

At that time, the number of people travelling was "plummeting" and "the virus was already at pace" within the UK, he added.

But he said that might need to be reviewed when the number of people with the virus in the UK had dropped significantly.

"Whether it's a quarantine period, or testing, or other measures that might be taken, it's possible - and I ask this question every week… and we will keep asking that question."

Media captionRachel Reeves: "Businesses, schools and other organisations need time to plan if they are to reopen"

On Saturday, NHS England's Medical Director, Prof Stephen Powis, said ending the lockdown too early would lead to the virus spreading more and it was important not to forfeit the "gains" made by social distancing.

However, Ms Reeves told Andrew Marr the government should publish its plans for exiting the lockdown and allow them to be scrutinised.

"People have by and large stuck by the rules that have been put in place, and because they've done that I think it is even more important that we communicate with them, treat them like grown-ups, in where we're going next," she said.

Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned she could delay any lifting of the restrictions in Scotland if she thought the government at Westminster was moving too quickly.

"If... the UK government took decisions that I thought were premature in terms of coming out of the lockdown then clearly I would want to make sure that Scotland did what I judged was best to protect the population," she told the programme.

But Ms Sturgeon added she would not take a different path "for the sake of it.!!

Neymar Breaks Down In Tears While Talking About Lionel Messi During His Barcelona days

The 28-year-old Brazilian forward arrived at the Spanish club from Santos in 2013 and made 123 appearances and scored 68 times during his four-year stint at the Camp Nou"

Neymar recalled his experience with the Barca captain, saying that he was there to support him at an important point in his life.

"Honestly, it's difficult, very difficult for me to talk about Messi, because it was very special for me at Barcelona, I say this to everybody," he told Rede Globo's Esporte Espetacular.

"At the moment when I needed the most support, the best player in the world arrived and gave me a hand. He said: 'Come here, I'm here to help you.'"

According to the Paris Saint-Germain star, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner also told him not to be "shy" and that he shouldn't be afraid of "anyone at the club.

Neymar left Barcelona for the French club in 2017 for a world-record transfer fee of €222m.

In 2018, Messi revealed that he would love to have the Brazil international back at the club.

"I think it is complicated how Neymar would leave PSG," he told Marca at the time.

We would love him to come back, as a player and for the dressing room.

"We're friends. We had some good experiences together and others not so much. But PSG are not going to let Neymar walk away."

Should Neymar have left Barcelona?

Let us know." 

Jurgen Klopp Names The Best Player He's 'Signed' At Liverpool

The Liverpool boss has led his side to within two wins of capturing their first title in 30 years, a title they'd have wrapped up by now if it weren't for the current pause in football.

Klopp has spent the last few years building a brilliant side and made some excellent signings, even the ones that have broken world records like Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have been worth every penny.

The German, asked by the Pure Football Podcast, who is best signing is revealed that it's a player who was already at the club, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

"It's Trent," the former Borussia Dortmund boss said, "We didn't have to buy him but Pep Lijnders my assistant brought him around and said: 'He played No.6 [role] for me. He played full-back, he played right wing, left wing'.

Lionel Messi's £12 Million Private Jet Is Out Of This World

Lionel Messi takes to the pitch with a real swagger and he certainly flys in style in his state-of-the-art private jet

It's said he has leased the plane as opposed outright purchasing it straight away, but it looks as though he and his family and friends are getting their money's worth.

Of course, the £12 million jet had to have Messi's iconic No.10 printed on the rudder of the plane but he's also got the names of all his family members on the steps that lead onto it.

The plane, which is a 2004 Gulfstream V model, also contains a kitchen, two bathrooms and 16 seats that can be converted into eight beds if anyone fancies a bit of kip whilst in the air.

Away from the pitch and former Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen once revealed what it was like in training with Messi.

When asked if training with the 32-year-old helped him improve, the shot stopper didn't exactly sound convinced.

"Sometimes yes, sometimes not so much." he said. "Messi is Messi. He can turn you into a better 'keeper but at the same time, can make you feel a little inadequate about your abilities."

One thing is for sure, Messi is just as phenomenal on the training ground as he is on game day"

Gunmen kidnap popular Oyo Islamic cleric’s

The twins of an Ibadan-based popular Muslim cleric Alh. Taofeek Akewugbagold, have been kidnapped.

They were kidnapped at their parents’ house at about 8:30 pm in Ojoo area of the capital city on Saturday 

Akewugbagold, who disclosed this in a post on his Facebook page in the early hours of Sunday, said the children were kidnapped at gunpoint.

The cleric called on people to assist him with prayers and begged the abductors to have mercy on the mother of the abducted twins, who was barren for almost 12 years.

He wrote: “What a country! My twins children were kidnapped at gun point at my Ojoo residence Ibadan, around 8pm SATURDAY 10 minutes after I left my home recording lecture in a studio.

“Everybody should pls for Allah’s sake assist me in prayer and begging the abductor to pls be mercy with me expecially their mother who was barren for 12 years b4. Am begging not flexing anything.This is their pictures, help share wide (sic). Oh my God”

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Gbenga Fadeyi, said four persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnap, adding that they were assisting the police in their investigations.

Akewugbagold, who hails from Oyo West Local Government, was chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) during the two-term tenure of the immediate past Governor, Abiola Ajimobi"

Journalists boycott Ebonyi Govt activities, blast Umahi, Orji

The Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ebonyi State, on Friday, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji, to apologise for “betrayal.

They accused him of keeping quiet despite threats, arrests and harassment journalists were facing in the state.

Ebonyi Governor, David Umahi, had banned Chijioke Agwu, a correspondent with Sun Newspaper, and Peter Okutu, a reporter with Vanguard Newspaper, from the Government House and all state buildings.

At an emergency meeting in Abakaliki, NUJ condemned the arrest of its members and announced a boycott of all government activities.

State Secretary, Samson Nwafor, in a communique, lamented that rather than focusing on the issues, especially the ‘life ban’ on Agwu and Okutu, Uchenna Orji “embarked on pernicious propaganda to save his job and drag members of the Chapel to the mud.

The purported joint press briefing where our Chairman, Mr. Jacob Ogodo, was quoted to have eulogized the Governor for arresting our members, was a ruse and a calculated attempt to smear the image of the Chapel, its leadership and confuse the general public.

The Chapel described the commissioner’s action as “an act of betrayal and wish to demand that the Commissioner retract the statement with apologies within 48hours”.

They commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Press Council (IPC), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP), Civil Liberty Organisations (CLOs), and Nigerians “for standing by Journalists in Ebonyi State in this trying moment.”

Also on Friday, the United States-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) deplored the harassment of Nigerians journalistes

Journalists in Nigeria must be free to report on topics of public interest, and must not be harassed, detained, and obstructed by local authorities,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator.

On Thursday, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) told Umahi to reverse the banon the pressmen or face legal action..