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Buhari Calls For Common Position On Asset Recovery,
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has urged African leaders to ensure the immediate actualisation of the Common African Position on Assets Recovery (CAPAR), as the continent celebrates Anti-Corruption Day, July 11, 2020.
In a letter to South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairman of African Union, the Nigerian leader asked for a re-commitment to the anti-corruption war by leaders on the continent to engender an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”
The President laments that “the massive corruption being perpetrated across our national governments has created a huge governance deficit that has in turn created negative consequences that have worsened the socioeconomic and political situation in Africa.”
The letter by President Buhari reads in part:
“As Your Excellency is aware, the continental fight against corruption has been premised on an irreducible minimum that can pave the way for Africa’s transformation. In this effort, the emphasis has been on the continent’s collective determination to forge resilient partnerships among our national governments, civil society organizations and other interest groups, such as women, youth and the physically challenged, to ensure improved socio-economic, political and security development and ultimately, the improvement of our continent.
“Your Excellency may recall that these continental concerns led our colleagues at the African Union, to appoint my humble self as the African Union Anti-Corruption Champion.I believe that the efforts and focus of the Nigerian Government at home, partly informed this decision as well as the need for Africa, as a continent, to recommit herself to the fight against corruption and the imperative to free resources for meaningful development.
“As current Chair of our Union, I sincerely commend to you, this suggestion that seeks to call our leaders in Africa to recommit ourselves to this very important task of reclaiming our continent from the vice of systemic corruption.
Source___Channels TV
Sudan reforms strict islamist law after 30 years
After more than 30 years of Islamist rule, Sudan has reforms it’s rules in wide range, including allowing non-Muslims to drink alcohol, and scrapping the apostasy law and public flogging.
“We [will] drop all the laws violating the human rights in Sudan,” Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari said.
Many of the new laws were passed last week but this is the first public explanation of their contents.
Under the new laws, women no longer need permission from a male relative to travel with their children.
Sudan has also banned female genital mutilation (FGM).
The reforms come after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was ousted last year following massive street protests.
The current government is an uneasy mixture of those groups which ousted Mr Bashir and his former allies in the military, who ultimately staged a coup against him
Non-Muslims are now allowed to consume alcohol in private, however the ban on Muslim drinking remains, Mr Abdulbari told state TV.
Non-Muslims could still be punished if they are caught drinking with Muslims, the Sudan Tribune reports him as saying.
Source___BBC
Nelson Mandela’s last daughter Zindzi dies at 59
Zindzi Mandela, the last daughter of South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has died at the age of 59.
Zindzi Mandela died in a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of today morning, public broadcaster SABC said.
She was positioned as the South African ambassador to Denmark at the time of her death.
The cause of her death was not immediately disclosed.
Zindzi Mandela was Nelson Mandela’s sixth child and his second with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his second wife.
“This is untimely. She still had a role to play in the transformation of our own society and a bigger role to play even in the African National Congress (ANC),” said ANC spokesman Pule Mabe.
Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor said: “Zindzi will not only be remembered as a daughter of our struggle heroes, but as a struggle heroine in her own right.”
Source___BBC
Actress Kelly Preston, Wife to John Travolta’s dies aged 57
Kelly Preston, the actress and wife of John Travolta for 29years has died aged 57.
Travolta posted on Instagram: “My beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.”
The couple had been married for nearly 29 years. Preston’s career included roles in Twins, From Dusk Till Dawn, Jerry Maguire and The Cat in the Hat.
She also collaborated with her husband on Battlefield Earth and Old Dogs.
In his post, Travolta thanked the health workers who had looked after his wife “as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side”.
“I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal. All my love, JT”.
Source___BBC
1966 England World Cup winner Jack Charlton dies aged 85
Jack Charlton, a World Cup winner for England and former Republic of Ireland boss, has died aged 85.
The Ex Leeds defender is known to have lymphoma in the last year and also had dementia.
One of English football’s most popular characters, he was in the team that won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966, alongside his brother Bobby.
Despite not being called into the England team until days before his 30th birthday, Charlton won 35 caps and, playing alongside younger brother Bobby, lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley in 1966.
He also helped England finish third at the 1968 European Championship, and was voted the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1967.
“Saddened to hear that Jack Charlton has passed away,” wrote former England striker Gary Lineker on Twitter.
“World Cup winner with England, manager of probably the best ever Ireland side and a wonderfully infectious personality to boot. RIP Jack.”
Former Republic of Ireland forward John Aldridge said: “Absolutely gutted that big Jack has passed away.
A family statement read: “Jack died peacefully on Friday, July 10 at the age of 85. He was at home in Northumberland, with his family by his side.
“As well as a friend to many, he was a much-adored husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“We cannot express how proud we are of the extraordinary life he led and the pleasure he brought to so many people in different countries and from all walks of life.
“He was a thoroughly honest, kind, funny and genuine man who always had time for people”, family said.
Source___BBC
A 50 year old farmer drowns at Jahally Pacharr rice field.
A 50-year-old Mot Boye who is a native of Njoben village in Central River Region on Wednesday drowned at the Jahally Parcharr river, according to The Standard.
A source close to Mot, Abdou Aminata Boye disclosed to Standard, that the victim drowned when he went to harvest on his family rice farm.
“It was after we finished working that he told us he was going to swim at the river just opposite our rice field. But after some minutes we heard him screaming and crying for help – unfortunately we couldn’t help him because none of us was able to swim – this was how he got drowned,” he said.
He said Mot was pious and God fearing. “The family will never forget him – he was very hardworking and loved his family with passion”.
The deceased left behind two wives and 11 children some of whom are going to school at Njoben Lower Basic School.
Lolley Mbaye, his mother, said she was shocked to learn of her son’s death.
“I will never forget Mot Boye – he was the breadwinner of the family. He would wake up every morning to go to Jahally Pacharr to farm to feed the family,” she added.
The deceased’s brother Ebou Boye said: “I cannot still believe my brother is gone. We were the only two males from our mother’s side and three sisters who are all married now”
Source___Standard Newspaper
Leader of PPP condemns tribal hate speech in the Gambia.
The leader of the Ex ruling People’s Progressive Party has condemned the escalation of hate speech based on ethnic remarks in the country.
“If we allow ethnic considerations and tribalism in the country, it will create conflicts which in turn will demolish our one gambia, one nation principle which can be regarded as the foundation of our democracy,” Papa Njie told supporters at a rally in Banyaka.
Mr Njie appealed to PPP supporters and all Gambians to desist from belittling or insulting one another’s ethnicity, language or race, arguing that all politicians should speak out against tribalism.
“As politicians we shall inculcate the spirit of one Gambia and one people to our followers. No tribe can solely make anyone president,” he added.
He said the PPP leadership is committed to removing tribalism, divisions, ethnicity and hatred from the country’s politics so as to build one united nation that all Gambians can be proud of.
“As Gambians we are one nation, one people and one country and we must eliminate any negative divisions that tend to impede our development as a people. Transformation of the country will not be realised if every single tribe in the country advanced their own interests based on very narrow considerations. Do not allow anyone to divide you based on tribal lines – reject those who politic based on tribes. Politics is about national development and not about tribe. We should try and build a Gambia where we will identify each other as Gambians and not based on tribes. That will only take us backward,” he noted.
Njie, who exceeded to the leadership of the PPP after a controversial congress which divide the party, said Gambians should be cautious on which political party decide to elect as their next president.
Source___Standard Newspaper
Lagos Govt Closes Illegal COVID-19 Lab In Banana Island
The Lagos State Ministry of Health on Saturday said it had closed the private laboratory in Banana Island carrying out COVID-19 tests without the permission if the government.
Banana Island is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Nigeria.
The Ministry said the lab, Acouns Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, was also situated in a pharmacy.
“Citizens are advised to desist from patronising health facilities not accredited by the Lagos state government or management of COVID-19 cases as this poses danger to the community and staff of such facilities,” the Ministry said in a series of tweets.
The Ministry said it will “continue to do its best to ensure that health facilities in the State adhere strictly to standards to guarantee the health and wellbeing of Lagosians.”
Lagos is the country’s COVID-19 hotspot.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), at least 12,051 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in the state with 147 deaths recorded.
Source___Channels TV
Nigeria President Signs Revised 2020 Budget Into Law
President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law, the revised budget of N10.8 trillion for the year 2020.
He signed the budget at about 11:06am yesterday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In his address, President Buhari disclosed that the budget had to be revised because of the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the nation’s economy.
He explained that Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs) of the government would be given at least 50 per cent of their capital allocation by the end of July.
According to President Buhari, the timing of the signing of the budget was to keep with the January to December budget cycle.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, and the SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Umar Yakub, presented the budget to him at about 11:03am.
President Buhari was joined at the signing ceremony by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as well as the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Source___Channels TV
At least one killed, 20 others wounded as police fire gunshots and tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters in Mali.
Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has said he has launched an investigation into violence committed during a mass anti-government protest on Friday, which saw at least one person killed and 20 others wounded.
Thousands rallied in the capital city Bamako to demand Keita’s resignation over long-running security issues, economic woes and perceived government corruption in the fragile West African state.
The rally was organised by an opposition coalition and is the third such demonstration in two months – significantly escalating pressure on the embattled leader.
Led by influential scholar Mahmoud Dicko, the so-called June 5 movement is channelling deep-seated frustrations in the country.
“We have recorded one death,” said Yamadou Diallo, a doctor in Bamako’s Gabriel Toure Hospital, adding that 20 people had been wounded.
An official from the prime minister’s office also confirmed the death. The circumstances under which people were wounded and one person was killed were not immediately clear.
Source___Aljazeera
D5 Creation