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Explosion in Somalia’s capital kills eight
BBC said, an explosion took place at a military base in the Somali capital Mogadishu and has killed at least eight people and injured 14 others, a military official disclosed to them.
According to BBC, it was not yet known what led to the explosion but witnesses told local media a car loaded with explosives attacked the compound near a stadium.
Radio Dalsan said the explosion could be heard across the city.
Islamist militant group Al-Shabab often carries out bombings targeting security forces and government officials.
Meanwhile, earlier this week two security guards were shoot to death after stopping a suicide bomber from entering a restaurant in Somalia capital.
Source___BBC
18 dead after Air India plane breaks in two at Calicut
At least 18 people dead in Air India Express plane with 190 people on board at an airport in the southern state of Kerala.
The Boeing 737, on the way from Dubai, shift off the runway in rain and broke in two after landing at Calicut airport, aviation officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “pained by the plane accident”.
According to BBC, the rescue operation at the crash site has now been completed and survivors have been taken to hospitals in Calicut and Malappuram, according to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
A lot of people were injured, 156 of which are serious, officials say.
Air India Express said the two pilots were among the dead.
Source___BBC
Attempted coup d’état: I didn’t endorse anybody – Edo CP, Kokumo
…Obaseki, Police assure of security ahead of guber poll
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, has refuted claims that he endorsed members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who visited him in his office on Thursday, warning that anyone caught using his office to heat up the polity will face dire consequences.
The Commissioner gave the clarification after the State Security Council meeting, Governor Godwin Obaseki held with heads of security agencies, at the Government House, Benin City, on Friday.
The commissioner who explained that he and his office remain apolitical and open to all, noted: “It is my statutory responsibility to provide security for lives and property irrespective of political affiliation.”
On his part, Governor Obaseki expressed concern over the rising security challenges ahead of the September 19, 2020 gubernatorial election in the state.
According to him, “We condemned the high level of thuggery, violence and increasing influx of arms into the state.
“The Commissioner of Police briefed the council on yesterday’s situation at the Edo State House of Assembly that led to some illegal and treasonable acts conducted by some individuals.”
“The security personnel have assured us of their readiness to secure and tackle any security challenges faced by the state,” the governor added.
Obaseki continued: “They are up to the tasks; they have the men and materials to take charge. They assured us and the good people of Edo of adequate security to ensure the protection of lives and property.”
The governor said that the state security chiefs promised to protect everyone in the state irrespective of their political affiliation.
Responding to the alleged withdrawal of security details of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Frank Okiye, the CP assured that “those who are entitled to security details will be given, while those who are not entitled to security details will be withdrawn.”
Kokumo said that at the meeting, the security heads were able to review the activities of security in the last few weeks, adding: “We talked about political violence and thuggery and means of putting checks in place.
“The security agencies will leave no stone unturned; we have created a conducive atmosphere for the forthcoming gubernatorial election.”
“We want to assure Edo people that the pre-election period would be safe and conducive for campaigns, during and after the election, to ensure there is no breach of law and order,” he added.
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L-R: Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, and Director, Department of State Services, Edo State Command, S. Moh’d Waziri, after the State Security Council meeting at Government House in Benin City, on Friday, August 7, 2020.
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES IZE-IYAMU, URGES APC TO AVOID RIVERS, ZAMFARA EXPERIENCES
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja received the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, urging party leaders and campaign team to do all that is necessary, following legal and constitutional means, to win the election.
President Buhari received the governorship candidate at the State House alongside Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and APC Campaign Chairman for Edo State elections and Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The President charged the party leaders to avoid the pitfalls that affected the party’s victory in Rivers, Zamfara and Bayelsa States in the 2019 elections, pointing out that with the resolution of the “acute crisis’’ in the party in Edo State, he was optimistic that the party will regain its pride of place in winning elections, and serving the people.
President Buhari urged party leaders at the national and state levels to follow the electoral process in an open and transparent manner.
“What I want is a transparent process so that the confidence of the people will be strengthened.’’
The President congratulated Pastor Ize-Iyamu on his emergence as the party’s candidate in Edo State after a “turbulent process’’, assuring him of full support.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, who presented the candidate, told the President that: “Pastor Ize- Iyamu is a seasoned grassroots politician who is loved by his people’’, noting President Buhari’s blessings on the candidate further validates the party’s confidence.
The Chairman of the APC Edo State gubernatorial campaign, Governor Ganduje, said in line with the principles of the party the APC will lead a clean campaign, devoid of acrimony, hatred and violence.
Governor Ganduje said the campaign had started on a good and happy note, with the APC already taking over the state legislature with a majority of 17 out of 24.
In his response, Pastor Ize-Iyamu assured the President of his commitment to ensuring good governance in the state if elected in September elections, recalling that he served as Deputy Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of the APC at its formation.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he was glad to return to the APC, describing his initial exit as that of a “prodigal son’’.
The APC candidate thanked the President for the warm and fatherly reception, saying he was honoured to receive the party’s flag from the President.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu told State House Press Corps that he was fully in charge of his campaign as a popular candidate who served the State as Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government in previous administrations.
He also said former APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had already explained that his initial unfriendly comments during the 2016 campaigns were purely political aimed at giving another candidate an edge in the elections.
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum said all the APC governors were fully behind the candidature of Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 7, 2020
George S Madi, Africell staff killed in Beirut blast
George S. Madi, a successful Lebanese-Gambian businessman and chairman managing director of Shyben A Madi & Sons Ltd, was among thousands of people killed following huge blast in Beirut, capital of Lebanon on Tuesday.
Mr Madi and his family established a business empire in The Gambia running for three decades, dealing in cars and food.
George, 77, was also the Honorary Consul General of Japan in The Gambia.
A statement from the family said “George S. Madi truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures by reaching out to the Gambian and Lebanese communities at large. He was religious and active in religious events.”
For now, Mohammed Abbas, an Africell staff, was another lost.
Mr Abbas had contracted the novel coronavirus in The Gambia but was taken to Lebanon to seek treatment.
Standard said, Mr Abbas was admitted at a hospital that lost electricity following the explosion while dozens of Coronavirus patients patients were on oxygen support machine.
A statement from Africell yesterday said Mr Abbas joined the GSM giants in 2012. “He was a hardworking person, dedicated to his work. He had a great sense of humour and always seemed happy and full of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in these difficult and trying times,” it said.
Source___Standard Newspaper
The Gambia has been placed under a night curfew for the next 21 days which started yesterday as part of measures put forward by President Adama Barrow to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
The curfew will start from 10pm to 5am each day.
As part of the measures under a new state of emergency, all congregational prayers in mosques and churches are closed for now, land and air borders remain tightly closed.
This measures were disclosed in a statement from Government Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh, also said the army could be stationed to enforce these measures.
The full statement according to Standard Newspapers is reproduced below:
In the wake of the worrisome trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia, His Excellency President Adama Barrow in exercise of the powers vested in him by Section 34 (1) (a) and pursuant to Section 34 (2) of the 1997 Constitution declares a State of Public Emergency effective midnight tonight and a curfew effective tomorrow, 6th August 2020 throughout The Gambia for a period of 21 days.
The Public Health (Dangerous Infectious Diseases) Protection Regulations, 2020 shall continue to operate side by side with these new accompanying Regulations:
1. All houses of worship (mosques, churches, etc.,) shall remain closed. Mosques or churches shall be used solely for calls to prayers or religious announcements. All forms of gatherings at mosques and churches are prohibited;
2. Night curfew is hereby imposed throughout the jurisdiction of The Gambia from 10pm to 5am daily. Only persons on official COVID-19 duties, ambulances and public officials on essential assignments are exempted from the curfew. Anyone who violates the curfew commits an offence and is liable to a fine of Five Thousand Gambian Dalasi (D5,000).
3. All educational institutions (Universities, Colleges, Schools, Madrassas, Daras, Majalis and Gamos) shall remain closed. However, Grade 12 students are exempted only for the period of their WAEC/WASSCE exams from 17th August to the 7th September 2020. These schools shall open solely for the purpose of administering exit exams;
Credit___Standard Newspaper
Nigeria Records Three More Deaths As COVID-19 Infections Surpass 45, 000
Nigeria on yesterday recorded three more deaths from COVID-19 as the country’s infections from the virus surpassed 45, 000.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) which revealed the latest figure, also said the West African nation had 354 fresh COVID-19 cases for the day.
Nigeria’s latest COVID-19 infections were confirmed in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), taking the country’s tally to 45,244.
A breakdown of the new infections from the virus indicated that the FCT had the highest number of fresh cases – 78 – and is followed by the country’s COVID-19 epicentre, Lagos – 76 – and Kaduna-23.
Although 32,430 persons who contracted the virus have been successfully treated and discharged, 930 deaths have so far been confirmed, according to the Nigeria Centre for Desease Control data.
Source___Channels TV
Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria have gather for a protest at the Edo State House of Assembly complex in Benin City, the state capital.
According to Channels TV, the protesters, which consist of women and youth, stormed the Assembly complex on Friday while security operatives keep watch at the facility for the second day.
They pledged their support for the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and prayed for peace to reign in the state.
The PDP supporters also threw their weight behind a factional Speaker of the House, Frank Okiye, saying they recognise him only as the leader of the legislative arm of government in Edo.
They, however, rejected another factional Speaker of the House, Victor Edoror, who was claimed to have been inaugurated by 17 lawmakers on Thursday.
The protesters also condemned the inauguration of 14 lawmakers-elect in Edo at a private residence in the state capital.
They insisted that the inauguration of the lawmakers was done in violation of the law, stressing that the lawmakers had missed their chance to join the House.
Source___Channels TV
US election 2020: Trump says Democrats candidate Joe Biden will ‘hurt God’ if Elected
US President Donald Trump has make known that Joe Biden is “against God”, ramping up attacks on his Democratic rival and covering an ugly election battle.
According to BBC, the remarks, during a trip to Ohio, came as Mr Trump step up to make up ground in the crucial Midwestern states that were his path to winning in 2016.
“He’s against God. He’s against guns,” said the president, a Republican.
Mr Biden, an avowed Catholic, will take on Mr Trump in November. Opinion polls suggest the Democrat currently leads and there is a possibility of Trump loosing.
Mr Trump, who identifies himself as Presbyterian, said of Mr Biden earlier in the day in Cleveland, Ohio: “He’s following the radical left agenda.
“Take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment. No religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt God.
“He’s against God, he’s against guns, he’s against energy, our kind of energy.”
BBC further said, Mr Trump has been accused of using the platform of the presidency for political gain by injecting campaign-style rhetoric into taxpayer-funded official engagements intended to communicate US government policy.
Credit___BBC
US election 2020: Trump says Democrats candidate Joe Biden will ‘hurt God’ if Elected
US President Donald Trump has make known that Joe Biden is “against God”, ramping up attacks on his Democratic rival and covering an ugly election battle.
According to BBC, the remarks, during a trip to Ohio, came as Mr Trump step up to make up ground in the crucial Midwestern states that were his path to winning in 2016.
“He’s against God. He’s against guns,” said the president, a Republican.
Mr Biden, an avowed Catholic, will take on Mr Trump in November. Opinion polls suggest the Democrat currently leads and there is a possibility of Trump loosing.
Mr Trump, who identifies himself as Presbyterian, said of Mr Biden earlier in the day in Cleveland, Ohio: “He’s following the radical left agenda.
“Take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment. No religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt God.
“He’s against God, he’s against guns, he’s against energy, our kind of energy.”
BBC further said, Mr Trump has been accused of using the platform of the presidency for political gain by injecting campaign-style rhetoric into taxpayer-funded official engagements intended to communicate US government policy.
Credit___BBC
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