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Quake-hit Indonesia starts burying dead in mass grave

By Eric [update on Indonesia earthquake] Rescue personnel prepare the bodies of the earthquake victims at the compound of a police hospital in Palu, Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi on October 1, 2018, after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area on September 28. AFP PHOTO / MUHAMMAD RIFKI Indonesian volunteers began burying bodies in a mass grave with space for more than a thousand people on Monday, victims of a quake-tsunami that devastated swathes of Sulawesi and left authorities struggling to deal with the sheer scale of the disaster. Indonesia is no stranger to natural calamities and Jakarta had been keen to show it could deal with a catastrophe that has killed at least 844 people, according to the latest official count, and displaced some 48,000 more. But four days on some remote areas are only now being contacted, medicines are running out and rescuers are struggling with a shortage of heavy equipment as they try to reach desperate victims calling ou...

Nigeria at 58: president Buhari’s full independence day speech

By Eric [update on Nigeria Independence] President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday addressed Nigerians as the country marked its 58th Independence anniversary. In a speech broadcast across the nation, the President called for unity, while promising to ensure free and fair elections in 2019. Among other things, the President hailed the military and security agencies for the progress made in tackling insecurity in the country and warned disruptive and corrosive forces on social media to desist from their acts or be prepared to face the law. Read his full speech below: NATIONAL BROADCAST BY H.E MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE 58TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2018 Fellow Nigerians, Today is a day of celebration and solemn reflection. It is the anniversary of the day Nigerians realised one of the most cherished of human desires – the desire for freedom. We, therefore, give thanks to and remember our founding fat...

Anthony joshua kos alexander povetkin in seven rounds to reaffirm status as world's leading heavyweight and receive congratulates from grant

By Eric [Boxing Update] Boxing buff, Bernie Grant has congratulated IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO unified champion Anthony Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) over his recent victory over Russian pugilist, Alexande Povetkin. Bernie Grant The well-travelled Grant, who has been commentating on international boxing for the last three decades, watched last Saturday’s showdown in Wembley, and saw Joshua stop mandatory challenger Povetkin in the seventh round. In his post-fight reaction, Grant, hailed Joshua for keeping his unblemished fight record intact. ‘’I want to congratulate my Nigerian brother AJ on his well earned victory over Povetkin. I was expecting Joshua to win, given his height advantage and better fighting techniques when placed against the Russian fighter. But nonetheless, nothing is cast in stone, so Joshua deserves my commendations for rising to the occasion and stopping Povetkin in the seventh round’’, said Grant...

DEATH TOLL IN INDONESIA QUAKE-TSUNAMI TOPS 800

By Eric [update] People wear masks as they attempt to identify the bodies of their relatives at the compounds of a police hospital in Palu, Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi on September 30, 2018, following a strong earthquake in the area. The death toll from a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia leapt to 832 on September 30, as stunned people on the stricken island of Sulawesi struggled to find food and water and looting spread.BAY ISMOYO / AFP The death toll from a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia leapt to 832 Sunday, as stunned people on the stricken island of Sulawesi struggled to find food and water and looting spread. The new toll announced by the national disaster agency was almost double the previous figure. Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla said the final number of dead could be in the “thousands” as many regions have still not been reached. “It feels very tense,” said 35-year-old mother Risa Kusuma, comforting her feverish baby boy at ...

Voting begins to elect new parliament in Iraq's Kurdistan

By Eric [Iraqi election update] An Iraqi Kurdish man dips his index finger in ink after casting his ballot for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Arbil, the capital of the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, on September 30, 2018. Voting began across Iraq’s Kurdistan for a new parliament in the autonomous region which is mired in an economic crisis a year after an independence referendum that infuriated Baghdad.SAFIN HAMED / AFP Voting began Sunday across Iraq’s Kurdistan for a new parliament in the autonomous region, which is mired in an economic crisis a year after an independence referendum that infuriated Baghdad. Almost 3.1 million voters are eligible to cast ballots across three provinces in the northern region where 673 candidates from 29 political movements are vying for seats in the 111-member parliament. Eleven of the seats are however reserved for religious and ethnic minorities: five for Turkmen candidates, five for ...

OVER 300 KILLED, 500 INJURED IN INDONESIA QUAKE-TSUNAMI

By Eric [ New update ] Medical team members help patients outside a hospital after an earthquake and a tsunami hit Palu, on Sulawesi island on September 29, 2018. Rescuers scrambled to reach tsunami-hit central Indonesia and assess the damage after a strong quake brought down several buildings and sent locals fleeing their homes for higher ground. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD RIFKI / AFP Over 300 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said on Saturday, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region. The national disaster agency put the official death toll so far at 384, all of them in the tsunami-struck city of Palu, but warned the toll was likely to rise. Some 540 people were badly injured, it added. In the city — home to around 350,000 people — partially covered bodies lay on the ground near the shore, the day after tsunami waves 1.5 metres (fi...

BEAUTIFUL 21-YEAR-OLD STUDENT COMMITS SUICIDE AFTER TAKING COCAINE

By Eric-[Update] Hannah Daibell A popular horse rider sent a message saying ' you did this' before hanging herself hours after taking cocaine, an inquest has heard. Hannah Daibell, a past president of Liverpool University's Riding and Polo Club, was discovered dead at her student accommodation in Liverpool in July. A coroner was told of a mystery text which the 21-year-old had sent just before her death, which read: ' Whatever you come home to, you did this.' Her friends and family said they had not noticed any signs of her wanting to end her own life. But the exact meaning of that message remains unclear, Liverpool Coroner's Court was told. The recipient of the text has also not been revealed. Ms Daibell was studying veterinary science and was a lover of horses. Coroner's officer Nicola Griffiths told the court that toxicology tests had confirmed she had taken cocaine 'at some point prior to her death. That drug-taki...

BAYELSA SEEKS CUSTOMS’ PARTNERSHIP ON CARGO AIRPORT

By Eric-[ Vanguard] By Emem Idio YENAGOA—BAYELSA State Government has solicited the partnership and services of the Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, to ensure smooth operational take off of the state-owned international cargo airport. Governor Dickson The airport is billed for commissioning next month end. Director General, Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency, BIPA, Ms Patience Abah, made the appeal while conducting officers of the NCS on a facility tour of the airport facilities in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. Abah, who described the services of NCS as critical in a cargo airport, also disclosed that the state government was collaborating with NCS in the Agge Deep Seaport project. Gov Emmanuel attaches importance to airport, deep seaport — Commissioner In his remark, the Comptroller of the Rivers/Bayelsa Command of the NCS, who was represented by Assistant Superintendent Dyako Tyavkase, said the role of Cust...

COURT SUMMONS EFCC, BANKS OVER FREEZING OF BENUE GOVT ACCOUNTS

By Mod The Federal High Court in Makurdi has summoned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two commercial banks to appear before it over the recent freezing of the state government accounts. The banks are United Bank for Africa, UBA and Fidelity Bank. In the writ of summons issued to the defendants on Wednesday, the court demanded the EFCC and the two banks to, within 30 days, state why they froze the accounts of the state government. The state, through the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had asked the court to declare that the EFCC acted against the law when it directed the banks to freeze its accounts. The state government is also demanding a declaration of the court that by freezing the said accounts, EFCC denied the government the right to operate and transact on the affected accounts. Read Also: EFCC Unfreezes Benue Govt’s Accounts The suit also seeks the verdict of the court to the ef...

BREAKING NEWS: AISHA BUHARI'S ADC FINALLY RELEASED BY DSS

The State Security Service (SSS) has released the Aide De Camp (ADC) to the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha. Mrs Buhari said Mr Baba-Inna collected cash gifts totalling N2.5 billion from politicians and businesses over three years but kept it to himself. She asked the police to retrieve the money, and publicly asked persons who may have given money to Mr Baba-Inna to demand same from him. However, police investigations, according to sources in the police, failed to trace such huge amount to the ADC. Dissatisfied, Mrs Buhari reportedly asked the SSS to take over the case. Spokesperson of the service, Peter Afunanya, who confirmed the arrest to Premium Times on Tuesday said investigation was in progress. Mr Baba-Inna’s elder brother, Farouq Baba-Inna, told Premium Times Thursday afternoon that he has been released. “He has just been released and I am on my way to see him,” he said. A call to Mr Afunanya was not answered and is yet t...

MALDIVES OPPOSITION SEEKS FOREIGN HELP FOR TRANSITION

By Mod - [ Update Channels tv ] Opposition Maldives candidate for president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at a polling station on September 23, 2018. Ahmed SHURAU / AFP The Maldivian opposition appealed to the international community Thursday to help ensure a peaceful transition of power amid fears that strongman Abdulla Yameen may cling onto power despite his shock election defeat. The joint opposition, which includes four political parties that successfully put forward the little-known Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at Sunday’s vote, called for external help to re-establish democracy in the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago. “In this regard, we look towards our friends and partners in the international community to assist us, as we move forward in trying to create a Maldives in which all citizens can enjoy peace, prosperity and justice,” the opposition said in a statement. It did not say what form of assistance was requested, but opposition so...

NO GOING BACK ON STRIKE-LABOUR

By Eric - 16 minutes ago - [ Update Vanguard ] Mr Adamu Garba, Vice Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Gombe State, has warned that governors opposed to the new minimum wage will lose election for second term. Garba gave the warning in an interview in Gombe on Thursday. No going back on strike – Labour “Majority of governors that fail to implement the minimum wage may not come back for their second term. Instead they will be voted out of office, because of lack of political will. “Many governorship aspirants are willing to implement the minimum wage if given the chance in their various states, ‘’ the NLC chieftain said. The Gov. of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (centre), State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe (right), the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo and other labour members of the State……….. He said that the state council of NLC would not compromise ...