Worldwide Updates

The National Chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Mr Dan Nwanyawu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to send Mr Ibrahim Magu to the Senate for confirmation as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Nwanyawu, who made the call while addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, said that the good works of Magu in acting capacity was a justification for the call. "Let me join all well-meaning Nigerians to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, send Mr Ibrahim Magu's name to the Senate for confirmation. "That will give him more teeth to pick those he has not picked in the past four years; nobody will run away from this," he said. Nwanyawu said that intelligence had it that some people were moving around and had even interviewed some people to take over from him, NAN reports. The chairman said that the activities of such people would truncate the current effort of the EFCC in the good fight against corruption.

Nigerians under the platform of the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria on Thursday in the United Kingdom protested at the Abuja House in London over the visit by President Muhammadu Buhari for alleged medical treatment. The protesters led by Gabriel Agbontaen, demanded that President Buhari should return home and fix Nigerian hospitals instead of seeking medical treatment abroad and planning for the importation of foreign medical Doctors. They highlighted the insecurity and lack of basic amenities in Nigeria while Nigerian politicians continued to travel abroad to enjoy facilities provided by the politicians of other countries. The protesters queried why President Buhari continued to patronise foreign services when foreign products such as rice had been banned by his government. Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, on Monday travelled to London to meet with his boss to sign the amended bill of the Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contrac

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says the Federal Government has so far recovered in excess of N200 billion in final forfeiture in its anti-corruption fight. Malami disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a Special Town Hall Meeting on "Fight Against Corruption", organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture. The minister, who was represented by Mr Abiodun Ayodeji, Special Adviser to the President on Financial Crimes, said that there were other recoveries that were still in the interim, NAN reports. "We have recovered in excess of 200 billion in final forfeiture and there are recoveries still in the interim than cannot be dealt with. "The money we have earned for the federal government in the process of the anti-corruption war is in the excess of N200 billion. "Notable among the recoveries is the 325 million dollar Abacha loot and 75 million dollar connected to the Malabu oil transaction,'' he

The Federal Government has paid the sum of N157.35bn Pay-As-You-Earn tax liabilities owed by Federal ministries, departments and agencies to states. The Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Babatunde Fowler, said this on Thursday in Awka, Anambra State. Fowler, who is also Chairman of the Joint Tax Board, spoke at the opening of the new National Taxpayer Identification Number Registration System for the South-East. The amount, he said, represented the outstanding liabilities of PAYE by the federal MDAs to state governments from 2002 to 2016. According to a statement from the FIRS, Fowler said out of the N157.35bn, about N23.87bn went to states in the South-East.

The Senate at its plenary on Thursday ordered its Committee on Water Resources to investigate the delay in the execution of Kagara dam in Niger State, despite the receipt of funding to the tune of N7.7 billion from the Federal Government. In a motion sponsored by Senator Musa Mohammed Sani representing Niger North Senatorial district alongside nineteen others, the upper chamber said, the contract has failed after non completion in seventeen years. The Kagara Water Dam, which is located in Niger State, was awarded to WRECA in 1999, but remain uncompleted due to alleged non release of funds. In her contribution, Senator Uche Ekwunife, called for termination of the contract, saying that the contractor lacked capacity to executive that contract. Senator Musa in the motion revealed that the FG took over the project in order to provide portable water and irrigation to Kagara and its environs, which was re-awarded to Biwater Shellaber (Nig.) Limited in December, 1992 at the cost of N199, 222,

Customs agents seized $31 million worth of cocaine last week in Savannah, Georgia -- the largest cocaine seizure ever at the Port of Savannah. Officers found the cocaine, weighing 2,133 pounds, on a vessel from South America on October 29, US Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday. The discovery came when they noticed something odd about a shipping container that was supposed to be filled with scrap wire. When officers opened the container, they found 21 duffel bags containing a whopping 818 bricks of cocaine, the agency said. "I truly believe that we have disrupted these transnational organizations," said Christopher Kennally, Area Port Director Savannah, during a news conference Tuesday. "This is a significant blow to what they're trying to do."

France on Tuesday announced the death of a top jihadist leader in Mali as it sought to reassure the West African nation of European support in the fight against militant bloodshed. French troops killed Moroccan Ali Maychou of the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) in Mali last month, Defence Minister Florence Parly told AFP aboard a government plane as she returned from an official visit to the region. He was "the second most-wanted terrorist in the Sahel, including by the Americans", after GSIM's number one Iyad Ag Ghaly, she said. Comprising several jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the GSIM has claimed responsibility for the biggest attacks in the Sahel since its official launch in 2017. Ag Ghaly is a Tuareg Malian who has been involved in militancy for nearly three decades. Mali's army has been struggling to contain the Islamist insurgency despite help from France, African neighbors and the United Nations.

Thai police say attackers fired into security checkpoints in southern Thailand and killed at least 15 volunteer officers. Police Colonel Thaweesak Thongsongsi, a superintendent in a police station in Yala province, said an unknown number of assailants used heavy weapons in the attack late on Tuesday night that also injured five volunteer officers. The Bangkok Post newspaper reported that 11 of the victims were killed on the spot, while four others died at the hospital in Yala. A Muslim separatist armed campaign has left about 7,000 people dead since 2004 in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. Police, teachers and other government representatives are often targets of the violence. At least two other outposts in the area were also reportedly attacked, but there were no casualties.

Malaysian authorities have detained two Cambodian opposition activists while they were waiting to board a flight to Thailand in what is seen as part of a crackdown on exiled dissidents in Southeast Asia, a rights groups said late on Tuesday. Authorities in Malaysia, along with Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, have been accused by rights groups of detaining and returning critics of neighbouring governments, even those with political refugee status with the United Nations. The two Cambodians, who include an asylum seeker, were detained on Monday night and were to be deported to their home country the following afternoon. Malaysia's home ministry and immigration department withdrew the order after an appeal, said Jerald Joseph of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission. "Right now we are trying to visit them in detention as well as determine their status. But we are glad the ministry chose not to deport, I think that's a good sign," Jerald, a commissioner at the a

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday he will not resign in the face of deadly protests over inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week. Asked in an interview whether he will step down, the billionaire conservative leader said: "No." "These problems have been accumulating for the past 30 years," Pinera said. "I am responsible (for) part of it and I assume my responsiblity, but I'm not the only one." Fresh clashes broke out Tuesday, adding to the violence gripping one of Latin America's most prosperous countries. It has forced the government to cancel two major international economic and climate summits and open talks with the leftist opposition. Thousands of protesters took the streets in the capital, and in the southern cities of Concepcion and Vina del Mar, west of Santiago.

The United States and Britain remain committed to reaching a post-Brexit bilateral free trade agreement, the White House said Tuesday, after President Donald Trump questioned whether such a deal is possible. Last week, Trump warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the terms of his EU divorce deal meant that "under certain aspect... you can't trade" with the United States. Trump used a lengthy appearance on Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage's radio phone-in show Thursday to share his characteristically blunt views ahead of a December 12 snap election in Britain. Trump's remarks threatened to hurt Johnson at the outset of a campaign that has huge implications for Britain's future place in Europe and the rest of the world. Both Trump and Farage are deeply polarizing figures in Britain who could hurt Johnson's chances with more moderate voters.

Eddie Murphy is in a rush! The 58-year-old actor was spotted in character as Prince Hakeem while filming for the "Coming to America" sequel "Coming 2 America" on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia. Eddie is currently filming the follow-up to the 1988 hit movie, which tells the story of Prince Hakeem after his fairytale wedding to Shari Headley's Lisa McDowell, where the two presumably went back to Zamunda and lived happily ever after. The sequel picks up thirty years later, as Prince Akeem goes in search of his long lost son, LaVelle.

Richard Gere, 70, and his wife, Alejandra Silva, 36, are expecting their second child, according to Spanish publication Hola! Alejandra is reportedly three months pregnant, which is astounding since she and Richard welcomed their first baby together, Alexander, in February. Hola! was the publication that broke the news of Alexander's birth in February and published exclusive photos of their May 2018 wedding. Supposedly, the baby is due "next spring," around the time that baby Alexander will celebrate his first birthday. Richard and Alejandra, a Spanish publicist, tied the knot in 2018 and announced their pregnancy in September of that year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has disqualified Nigeria's "Lionheart" as the nation's contender for the Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category. The film, directed by and starring award-winning Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji, was initially one of 92 films submitted in the category. But the film was withdrawn Monday after the Academy ruled that it didn't meet the requirements for the award. Films in the category must be produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track, according to the Academy's rules. Most of "Lionheart" is in English with just under 12 minutes of dialogue in the Igbo language, primarily spoken in eastern Nigeria, making it ineligible to the Oscar category. "Lionheart," Nigeria's first Netflix original film, is about a Nigerian woman named Adaeze, portrayed by Nnaji, trying to keep her family's transportation business together.

Woody Allen's "A Rainy Day in New York" is nearing $11 million in foreign ticket sales even while it isn't being shown in the US. Through Nov. 4, the movie's foreign gross rested at $10.8 million, according to Box Office Mojo. The highest-earning territory is France, where Allen is particularly popular, with $4.3 million. That's followed by $1.7 million in Spain, $1.1 million in Poland and $1.1 million in Russia. The film began rolling out at the international box office in late September. A patchwork of distributors are handling the comedy-romance across Europe, Latin America and Asia. So far, "A Rainy Day in New York" is earning notably less overseas than many of Allen's other films. So far, no US distributor has picked up A Rainy Day in the New York after Amazon Studios returned domestic rights to Allen earlier this year. When the #MeToo movement shook Hollywood, claims that Allen has molested his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when

Angelina Jolie and Richard Madden had a scary experience while filming. The actors were evacuated from the set of their upcoming film "The Eternals" as an unexploded bomb was found at the shooting location, according to "The Sun". The device was found on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, and the film's cast and crew took cover. "It was obviously terrifying. Some of the biggest stars in the world were on set and nobody was taking any chances," an insider told the publication. It's worth noting that the Spanish island was originally used as a military base during World War II by Nazis, and there's a possibility it was lying there for decades untouched.

Colin Farrell is in talks to play "The Penguin". The 43-year-old actor is in negotiations with Warner Bros. to take on the villainous role in Matt Reeves' upcoming "The Batman", according to Deadline on Tuesday. The role was originated by Danny DeVito in "Batman Returns" in 1992. In addition, Andy Serkis is in talks to play Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's butler, in the film, according to Variety. As previously reported, Robert Pattinson will play Batman, Paul Dano will play The Riddler and Zoe Kravitz will play Catwoman. Pre-production is expected to begin next summer, and the movie is set to hit theaters on June 25, 2021.

The world’s people face “untold suffering due to the climate crisis” unless there are major transformations to global society, according to a stark warning from more than 11,000 scientists. “We declare clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency,” it states. “To secure a sustainable future, we must change how we live. [This] entails major transformations in the ways our global society functions and interacts with natural ecosystems.” There is no time to lose, the scientists say: “The climate crisis has arrived and is accelerating faster than most scientists expected. It is more severe than anticipated, threatening natural ecosystems and the fate of humanity.” The statement is published in the journal BioScience on the 40th anniversary of the first world climate conference, which was held in Geneva in 1979. The statement was a collaboration of dozens of scientists and endorsed by further 11,000 from 153 nations. The scientists say the urgent changes

A sprawling dispute between the US and China wiped out tens of billions of dollars in trade in the first half of the year and significantly raised prices for households, the United Nations warned Tuesday. Tit-for-tat tariffs levied between the two sides slashed US imports of Chinese products in the first six months of the year by more than a quarter, or $35 billion, according to the report. The international organization also said a majority of costs from tariffs have been passed down to American firms and consumers. "US consumers are paying for the tariffs in terms of higher prices," said Alessandro Nicita, an economist at the UN trade agency, UNCTAD. "Not only final consumers like us, but importers of intermediate products – firms which import parts and components from China." As the effects of recent tax cuts began to fade, the US economy was widely expected to cool this year. But economists said it's become increasingly evident that tariffs have weig

Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, revised his original testimony in the House impeachment probe into President Donald Trump to add that he conveyed to a Ukrainian counterpart that Trump would not release nearly $400 million in foreign aid until the country agreed to launch specific investigations sought by Trump. “I said that resumption of the US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anticorruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks,” Mr. Sondland said in a document released Tuesday by the three House committees carrying out an impeachment probe, describing his conversation on September 1 with a top Ukrainian official. Sondland went on to say that the Ukrainian official had pressed him for details about exactly what Trump wanted in exchange for releasing the aid, which had been appropriated by Congress. Sondland says he recalls telling the Ukrainian that the country’s newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, w

Iraqi security forces shot dead at least 13 protesters over the past 24 hours, dispensing with weeks of relative restraint in favour of trying to stamp out demonstrations against political parties that control the government. After eight people were killed during the day on Monday, security forces shot dead at least five others overnight or early on Tuesday, including one killed with live fire towards a funeral procession held for another who died hours earlier, security and medical sources told Reuters news agency. A protester was killed and dozens were wounded when security forces opened fire on demonstrators who for days blocked the entrance of the main Gulf port of Umm Qasr, south of the oil city of Basra. The officials, who spoke to news agencies on condition of anonymity, said security forces in Umm Qasr were firing live ammunition and tear gas, and protesters had seized an armoured vehicle. More than 260 protesters have been killed since the anti-establishment demonstr

Nigerian police have freed 259 people from an Islamic rehabilitation centre in the southwestern city of Ibadan, police said on Tuesday, taking the number rescued from abusive institutions since September to nearly 1,500. Images from local TV station TVC taken after the captives were released showed a group of mostly young men and teenage boys. Many were emaciated. An infant was also among the group. "We eat one meal a day," freed captive Olalekan Ayoola, told TVC, saying the food was not fit for a dog to eat. Nigeria launched a crackdown on informal Islamic schools and rehabilitation centres in late September after a man was refused permission to see his nephews at one institution and complained to police.

Yemen's internationally recognised government signed a power-sharing deal with southern separatists Tuesday, in a Saudi-brokered initiative to end a conflict simmering within the country's civil war. Unrest in the south, which saw secessionist forces seize control of Yemen's interim capital Aden, distracted the Saudi-led coalition from its battle against Iran-backed Huthi rebels and raised fears the country could fall apart entirely. The so-called Riyadh agreement, hailed as a stepping stone towards ending the wider conflict, would see the government's return to Aden and the formation of a new cabinet of 24 ministers with equal representation for southerners, including the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). The agreement, seen by AFP, would also place armed forces from both sides under the authority of the defence and interior ministries. "This agreement will open a new period of stability in Yemen. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands with you

Inter manager Antonio Conte has slammed how the club has set up to deal with a hectic schedule after seeing his side lose 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League The Nerazzurri were leading 2-0 at half-time but conceded three times in 30 second-half minutes to leave their hopes of progression in the tournament hanging by a thread. Conte unsurprisingly cut a frustrated figure post-match, but rather than criticise his side, the former Chelsea coach hit out at how the club has looked to navigate a busy campaign. “Big mistakes were made in planning this season. I am fed up of saying it," Conte told Sky Sport Italia post-match. “I don’t care about January or February. We should’ve planned this season out much, much better. We proved that we can trouble anyone if we are on form, but there are players who have played non-stop. I am fed up of saying it. You can take your conclusions from a second half like that. “It’s not about the club, it’s that we have to work toge

Tottenham's Son Heung-min has seen his red card against Everton overturned, the FA confirmed on Tuesday. The South Korea international was sent off on Sunday after tangling with Andre Gomes, who suffered a horrific fracture during the incident. Son was visibly upset with his part in the injury and was subsequently handed a three-match ban for serious foul play. Tottenham later appealed the decision, on the grounds that Son's challenge was not responsible for Gomes' fractured ankle. And the FA has found in favour of the forward, rescinding the full extent of his suspension and removing the red card.

Granit Xhaka has been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy, manager Unai Emery has confirmed, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang taking over the armband. Xhaka, who was named the Gunners' permanent skipper in late September, succeeded Laurent Koscielny in the role. But he has increasingly come under fire from supporters with abuse aimed at his conduct and performances, culminating in a encounter with fans during Arsenal's game with Crystal Palace on October 27. He has not played for the club since and was left out of their squad for their Europa League trip to Portugal later this week, leading to speculation that he has played his final game for the club. Reportedly elected to the captaincy on a full-time basis by his team-mates following a number of rotating skippers, Xhaka and the playing group were informed on Tuesday morning of the change in leadership. Aubameyang, who joined in January 2018, is currently in his second full season at the Emirates Stadium, having claime

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continued his fine form in front of goal by getting the winner as Liverpool saw off Genk 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, meaning the Reds usurp Napoli at the top of Group E. It was far from a vintage display from Jurgen Klopp's men, who for a period looked to be in danger of dropping points after Mbwana Samatta's fine header, but the impressive Oxlade-Chamberlain justified his selection with the winning goal that ensured Liverpool capitalised on Napoli's 1-1 draw with Salzburg. Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring early on with a clever finish, but Liverpool lacked a clinical edge for the remainder of the first half and were pegged back by Samatta five minutes before the interval. Still, Liverpool were dominant after the break and restored their lead with 53 minutes on the clock – Oxlade-Chamberlain getting his fourth goal in as many games to potentially put himself in contention for a start against Manchester City at the weekend.

Barcelona did nothing to ease the pressure on coach Ernesto Valverde as they were held to a 0-0 Champions League draw by Slavia Prague in another uninspiring performance at Camp Nou. Valverde saw his side stunned 3-1 by Levante in LaLiga at the weekend, and those expecting Slavia to fall victim to a Blaugrana backlash were left disappointed. Lionel Messi had numerous chances to score and hit the frame of the goal on 35 minutes, but he was frequently frustrated by the excellent Ondrej Kolar in the Slavia goal. His performance between the posts ensured the visitors earned a point they were good value for, having regularly found ways through the Barca defence at the other end, leaving Valverde's men with work still to do to progress from Group F, though they remain top with eight points from four games.

Achraf Hakimi scored twice as Borussia Dortmund came from 2-0 down to beat Inter 3-2 and give themselves a major boost in the Champions League. Lautaro Martinez and Matias Vecino had put the visitors in the driving seat at Signal Iduna Park, two weeks on from their 2-0 defeat of Lucien Favre's side in Milan. Dortmund came roaring back in the second half, though, with Achraf netting his double either side of a Julian Brandt strike to secure what could prove to be a valuable victory. Martinez became the first Inter player to score in three consecutive Champions League appearances since Samuel Eto'o in 2010 when he raced down the right, cut back into the box past the covering defence and side-footed high beyond Roman Burki.

Chelsea battled back from three goals down to earn a 4-4 draw in Tuesday's thrilling Champions League clash with Ajax, who were made to pay for two red cards at Stamford Bridge as the hosts were denied a dramatic winner by VAR. Frank Lampard's side conceded three first-half goals in the competition for the first time as Tammy Abraham and Kepa Arrizabalaga both put into their own net, either side of Jorginho and Quincy Promes netting. Ajax opened up a 4-1 lead through Donny van de Beek early in the second half and were still 4-2 in front - Cesar Azpilicueta pulling one back - when Daley Blind and Joel Veltman were dismissed in the space of a minute. Jorginho scored his second penalty of the match to reduce the arrears and substitute Reece James struck 16 minutes before Chelsea had a late Azpilicueta goal ruled out by VAR, leaving them second in Group H behind Ajax.