Muslim-Muslim ticket: Dogara and I will work against APC – Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, says he will be working with former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, against the Muslim-Muslim ticket of their party, APC.

Speaking on AriseTV on Wednesday, September 21, Babachir said northern Christian politicians are determined to kill the same faith ticket of the APC.

“The introduction of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC or same faith ticket is a wicked plan to further create divisions within the north.

We try as leaders of societies to live as brothers and sisters, but this demonic proposition just came out of the blues.

For all lovers of unity in this country, in the north in particular where we are most affected, this ticket must never succeed.

And we will make sure we defeat it in such a resounding manner that nobody in his right senses will ever think about it again at least in the near future for our political journey in Nigeria.

So we are set on it and we are determined to kill it( Muslim-Muslim ticket). Our people are mobilised, and our people are ready for the election.

I and Dogara alone aren’t the only ones involved in this. Indeed, we are leaders of groups of about 40 leading Christian politicians in the north.

We started work on this years back when we suspected that if a Muslim emerge from the south as the candidate for any of the political parties there is a risk of what has happened will happen.

So, while we plan that the same faith ticket of APC should fail, we also believe that we should align with one of the leading political parties that has the chance of wining.

Our strategy is we will not just waste our vote because we want to protest the same faith ticket of APC, we will like to partner with another group that is more sensible of the Nigerian situation and realised that Nigeria needs harmony, unity and peace.”

Russia releases 10 prisoners of war including 2 Americans and 5 British soldiers captured in Ukraine after Saudi Arabia mediation

Ten prisoners of war from countries including the United States and Britain have been released and transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange between Russia and Ukraine, the Gulf kingdom of Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday, September 21.

The release came following mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “in continuation of [his] commitment to the humanitarian initiatives towards the Russian-Ukrainian crisis”, the Saudi foreign ministry said.

The prisoners of war includes five British nationals, two Americans, a Croatian, a Moroccan and a Swedish national, the ministry said in a statement, adding that a plane carrying the prisoners landed in the kingdom.

The Saudi statement said they had arrived from Russia and that Saudi authorities were “facilitating procedures for their safe return to their respective countries”.

However, British lawmaker Robert Jenrick said Aiden Aslin was among those released.

Aslin was captured earlier this year then sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), one of Russia’s proxies in eastern Ukraine.

Russia also released US citizens Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, according to Reuters .

The pair, both from Alabama, were captured in June while fighting in eastern Ukraine where they went to support Ukrainian troops resisting Russia’s invasion.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have captured hundreds of enemy fighters since the start of the conflict, with a handful of prisoner exchanges having taken place.

World Athletics ratifies Tobi Amusan’s 100m hurdles record

The World Athletics has ratified the women’s world 100m hurdles record set by Tobi Amusan at the 2022 World Championships.

This was disclosed on Tuesday September 20, in a statement published on the athletics body’s official website.

They also ratified the record times of two other athletes, Mondo Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin.

All records were set at the World Athletics Championships that took place in Oregon, the United States in July. The statement read,

“The world records set by Tobi Amusan, Mondo Duplantis, and Sydney McLaughlin at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 have been ratified.

“Amusan’s 12.12 in the women’s 100m hurdles semi finals, Duplantis’s 6.21m in the men’s pole vault final and McLaughlin’s 50.68 in the women’s 400m hurdles final are all now officially in the record books, as is the world U20 mark of 9.94 set by Letsile Tebogo in the men’s 100m heats.”

The 25-year-old Amusan took the world by storm when she ran a time of 12.12secs – shaving almost a tenth of a second off the previous world record held by American Keni Harrison (12.20secs) – in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Oregon, USA, before going on to win gold in the final at the Hayward Field stadium.

Mexico’s foreign minister slammed for sharing selfie of him and his wife at Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral

Mexico’s foreign minister is facing backlash in his home country after he shared a selfie of himself and his wife prior to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

Marcelo Ebrard posed alongside his wife, Rosalinda Bueso, as the couple smiled before he uploaded the picture to his Twitter account Monday evening, September 19.

‘At the State Funeral of HM (Her Majesty) Queen Elizabeth II,’ wrote Ebrard before he joined other world leaders at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England.

His tweet was labeled as tasteless and a lack of respect towards the Queen, who died September 8 after 70 years as the head of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms.

‘I find it disrespectful to take selfies at a funeral,’ one person tweeted. Another user on the platform lashed out at Ebrard for not showing decency.

One follower said he displayed behavior that some vacationers tend to display when visiting The Tower of London.

‘Marcelo is the typical tourist who goes to bother the Beefeaters and the royal guards to see if they move,’ the user wrote.

‘He is the typical tourist who goes and wants to touch the Mona Lisa.

He is the typical tourist who puts the name of Mexico in the sewer. Thank you, I am honored by your visit.’

Trump mocks Biden for the 14th row seat he was given at the Queen’s funeral

Donald Trump has mocked Joe Biden for being given a seat on the 14th row at the Queen’s funeral and said if he were the president he would have been moved closer to the front of the audience.

The former President said on his social media platform – Truth Social – that it showed there is “no respect” for the United States anymore. He also insisted it was a good time for Biden to get to know “leaders of certain Third World Countries”.

In his first reaction to the funeral, Trump noted Biden’s position in Westminster Abbey behind the Polish president.

He wrote: “This is what’s happened to America in just two short years. No respect! However, a good time for our President to get to know the leaders of certain Third World countries.”

He added: “If I were president, they wouldn’t have sat me back there—and our Country would be much different than it is right now!”

He then quoted his own tweet and added: “In real estate, like in politics and life, location is everything.”

Dismissing Wike will be dangerous for PDP – Gov Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has warned the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to address the injustices meted out to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and other members of the party as ignoring Wike would be dangerous for the party at the polls.

Speaking at the Benue state government house on Monday, September 19, Governor Ortom said the leadership of the party has failed to deploy its internal mechanism and conflict management skills in handling the crisis.

“There is injustice that has been meted to my friend, Wike, because he stood for the party and supported it to the end.

The leadership of the party should do the needful to resolve the problem and not to shove people around as though they are not relevant.

Everyone is relevant and one vote can make you fail election. So, the leadership, at the national level, should do more.

Politics is interest and what is the interest of out state and our people. What do I tell my people in Benue?”

Governor Ortom cautioned the party at the national level not to relegate any member saying “If you dismiss us that you don’t need us, I believe that will be dangerous.

@I want the party to address the injustices so that as we move into election, we will work together and we will have no crisis.”

Policeman carried away on a stretcher after collapsing during Queen’s funeral

A police officer has been carried away on a stretcher after he fainted while on duty in London today, September 19, for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The funeral for the late monarch is underway and dignitaries have arrived at the venue.

But there was a slight ruckus as an officer was carried out of the venue on a stretcher by Royal navy personnel and some of his police colleagues.

The police officer’s condition is currently not known.

Two sisters, one other drown in Jigawa

Two sisters have drowned in a pond in Idan Zakara village, Dabuwaran Ward, Kaugama Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, CSC Adamu Shehu, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, September 17, also said that a 25-year-old man identified as Magaji Sani drowned while swimming in surface water in Taura Local Government Area.

“The sisters, Jamila Rabi’u (14) and Rabi Rabi’u (12) of Idan Zakara village, Dabuwaran Ward, Kaugama LGA drowned on Wednesday, 14th day of September, 2022 at about 1730hrs,” the spokesperson stated.

“The young girls were coming back from the farm and decided to wash their bodies in a local pond that was filled to the brim and unfortunately got drowned.

“The sisters were certified dead at the Kaugama General Hospital and handed over to their parents for burial.

“On Friday, 16th of September 2022, at about 13000hrs, one Magaji Sani, aged 25 of Sabon Garin Takanebu, Miga LGA drowned in a surface water in Gujungu Town, Taura LGA.

“The incident occurred when he was swimming, alongside other swimmers in the water that was caused by the heavy flood in the area. Effort to rescue him alive by his co-swimmers proved futile until local divers were invited to the scene by NSCDC personnel Gujungu Outpost to assist with the rescue.

“Sadly, after frantic effort his body was finally recovered from the water and certified dead. The body was thereafter released to his family members and buried in accordance with islamic rites.”

“NSCDC will still not relent in admonishing parents to cautioned their wards on patronizing flooded waters, ponds, rivers and streams. The casualty toll is on the increase.”

End Of Covid Pandemic In Sight – WHO

The World Health Organisation, on Wednesday, said the number of newly reported Covid-19 cases has dropped dramatically, urging the world to seize the opportunity to end the pandemic.

The disease which has killed millions since being identified in late 2019, last week fell to the lowest level since March 2020. According to AFP, the WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the world needs to seize the opportunity.

“We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic. We are not there yet, but the end is in sight,” he said.

Urging the world to seize the opportunity, Ghebreyesus said, “If we don’t take this opportunity now, we run the risk of more variants, more deaths, more disruption and more uncertainty.”

Queen Elizabeth’s coffin leaves Buckingham Palace

Queen Elizabeth II left Buckingham Palace on Wednesday for the final time as her coffin began its journey to Westminster Hall, where the late monarch will lie in state.

The queen’s coffin, draped in the royal standard and topped with the Imperial State Crown, was borne on a horse-drawn gun carriage out of the front gates of her London residence at 2.22 pm.

Irish PM says Queen’s death is chance to ‘reset’ relations between Britain and Ireland

Irish Prime Minister, Micheal Martin has said the Queen’s death is an opportunity to ‘reset’ relations between Britain and Ireland following bitter Brexit disputes.

The prime minister disclosed this in an interview with the BBC. The Taoiseach, who is due to attend a memorial service for the Queen at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, claimed Her Majesty’s passing should offer ‘time for reflection’ and ‘remind us of the need to proactively nurture the relationship’ between the two countries.

Queen’s death has come at a time of heightened political tensions at Stormont and between the UK and Irish governments over post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

But Mr. Martin, in an interview with the BBC, suggested it could now be a moment to repair relations that have been damaged by the Northern Ireland Protocol row.

‘I would like to think that the visit of Queen Elizabeth II first of all to Ireland, her passing would give us all time for reflection,’ Mr. Martin said.

‘And will remind us of the need to proactively nurture the relationship between Britain and Ireland to enhance it in the time ahead.

‘And that this moment gives us that opportunity for reflection and for resetting, in a good way, that relationship.’

The ‘bureaucratic’ implementation of the Protocol by the EU – including the imposition of physical customs checks – has been blamed by UK ministers for hampering trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The DUP have refused to re-enter a power-sharing administration in Northern Ireland until the Protocol, part of the UK’s Brexit deal with the EU, is reformed.

New Prime Minister Liz Truss is also threatening to push ahead with legislation at Westminster to scrap key elements of the Protocol if negotiations with the EU on revamping trade rules continue to stall.

R. Kelly trial juror excused by judge after suffering a panic attack in court

A trial juror in RnB star, R.Kelly’s case in Chicago suffered a panic attack during a break in proceedings, and was excused by the Judge.

TMZ reported that during the trial on Monday September 12, the white female juror started having a panic attack after the prosecution gave their closing argument.

The judge said he was told the juror “couldn’t last another minute” and he excused her, according to reporter Jon Seidel.

The judge says a white male alternate juror is now stepping in, and like the juror he’s replacing, this guy has also not seen the “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary.

As the trial comes to an end, the defense team is now giving their closing arguments, after the prosecution ripped Kelly to begin the day, labeling him a sexual predator who used his celebrity status to abuse minors.

Kelly, who was already sentenced to 30 years in federal prison following a June conviction in New York, is expected to learn his fate soon depending on how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict.

Protesters heard booing King Charles as they call for monarchy to be abolished

Anti-monarchists booed King Charles and one held up a sign saying “f*** imperialism, abolish the monarchy” in Edinburgh.

On Sunday, September 11, crowds had gathered in the capital city to hear the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who is responsible for overseeing state ceremonial in Scotland, formally announce King Charles as the Queen’s successor.

His Majesty’s State Trumpeters sounded a fanfare at the famous Edinburgh Castle and the Lord Lyon King of Arms read a proclamation for the King, prompting jeers and boos from other members of the crowd.

As the Lord Lyon King of Arms Joseph Morrow ended his proclamation by saying “God Save the King”, there were audible boos from people in the crowd while others called for a republic at King Charles’ proclamation in Edinburgh.

One protester was at Mercat Cross in the Scottish capital when police arrived and they took her away.

One man shouted: “Let her go! It’s free speech!” Other said: “Have some respect.” Police have confirmed that a 22-year-old woman was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace”.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “A 22-year-old woman was arrested outside St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Sunday 11 September, 2022 in connection with a breach of the peace.”

CNN’s Amanpour demands King Charles III move away from his mum’s shadow of ‘colonial legacy’ and address reparations and justice for countries colonized by UK

Days after Queen Elizabeth II’s death, CNN TV host, Christiane Amanpour has asked the new monarch, King Charles III, to step away from Britain’s ‘colonial legacy’ and possibly offer reparations to countries colonized by the UK.

Amanpour was in London over the weekend analyzing Charles III’s first public address as king and the conversation came around to how “different demographics” were listening to it for different reasons.

During his first televised address as king after he inherited the crown from the late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles III addressed the increasingly diverse state of the U.K.

“In the course of the last seventy years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths.

The institutions of the State have changed in turn,” he noted. “But, through all changes and challenges, our nation and the wider family of Realms – of whose talents, traditions and achievements I am so inexpressibly proud – have prospered and flourished.

Our values have remained, and must remain, constant.” Reacting to the king’s remarks, Amanpour spoke of British colonialism;

“I really do believe that we have to have this conversation right now, even at this moment,” “And look, what he said, ‘In the 70 years of her being on the throne, many cultures and faiths have flourished in these past seven decades,’” she paraphrased.

Amanpour appeared to suggest that this flourishing was overblown, “particularly in the wake of Black Lives Matter and particularly in the protests that erupted all over the world after what happened in Minnesota, in London, in France and other parts of these nations that had colonial servants, let’s face it.”

She recounted further that Britain, specifically, has a controversial imperial history, saying, “People were in service to this empire. The wealth of this empire was derived on the back of the people of their empire.”

“What we’re saying is that there is the generation of multicultural and diverse Britons who want this answered, who want to see their monarch finally talk about what it means and, you know, potentially the idea of reparations, definitely justice, right? Justice,” she said, warning that the citizenry of Britain has diversified and is looking to the King to address modern cultural issues with new policies.

She added that “Prince William who’s the heir and the next king, has talked about it, having been criticized for a trip he made in the Caribbean – again, colonial legacy – that we must have this discussion, and it must be up to those countries. But it also has to be had in this country [England] as well.”

Prince Charles III Proclaimed Britain’s New King

Charles III has officially been proclaimed king in a historic ceremony in St James’s Palace on Saturday.

The ceremony comes days after Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday aged 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

He pledged to emulate his late mother Queen Elizabeth II and serve for the rest of his life.

He said, “I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty, which have now passed to me,” in a speech before swearing the oath.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and senior members of her government have also taken oaths of loyalty to King Charles III in the House of Commons.

Charles is king and head of state not only of the United Kingdom but of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Meghan Markle was disinvited from seeing Queen Elizabeth in final hours

Prince Harry never had his wife, Meghan Markle by his side while visiting his grandmother as she was dying because she (Meghan) was disinvited in the final hours.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET that the Duchess of Sussex was not included in the reach-out to Harry when news came down that Queen Elizabeth was on her death bed, which explains why he made the voyage on his own.

It is also speculated that Meghan might have opted out as a courtesy or out of respect for Harry, but the report points to it being a decision made by higher powers within the Royal Family.

Nicholl revealed that Meghan had said she’ll go to Balmoral Castle where Queen Elizabeth II had died, at another time.

She and Harry could have easily visited the Queen since they were already in the UK for work-related matters, and even canceled an event in London when they got the news.

In the end, Harry arrived at Balmoral after the Queen’s death was announced.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla did make it in time, as they were already in Scotland for prior engagements.

It’s unclear which other family members made it to Elizabeth’s side before she actually passed.

Kate Middleton did not join Prince William in Scotland either, but she and William made it clear she was staying back with their 3 children at Windsor Castle. The Queen died at 96 and was the longest-serving monarch in British history. By

Russia confirms President Putin will not attend the Queen’s state funeral

The Russian government has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will not attend the Queen’s state funeral amid the estranged relationship between Russia and the West.

A Kremlin spokesman said a decision will be made on who will represent Russia at the service which is expected to take place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey.

Yesterday, Putin paid tribute to the monarch despite the his aggression in Ukraine which has caused relations between Russia and Britain to plummet to their lowest levels since the Cold War.

The leader said: ‘The most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom are inextricably linked with the name of Her Majesty.

‘For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage.

‘I wish you courage and perseverance in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss. I ask you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the members of the royal family and all the people of Great Britain.’

Meanwhile, a top Putin media chief has acted to block coverage of the Queen’s death on her Kremlin broadcasting network. Margarita Simonyan, head of sanctioned RT, posted on her Telegram channel: ‘Enough Queen news already, team.

‘So she died. Well, RIP. We all die. This is not our pain.’

UAE declares three-day mourning period over death of Queen Elizabeth II

The United Arab Emirates has declared three day period of mourning over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

In a statement, the Presidential Court said that the flags will fly at half-mast for three days, starting Friday, September 9, to Sunday, September 11.

Her Majesty passed away on September 8, 2022, surrounded by her closest family members at her Scottish estate. She was 96 years old and had served as the Queen of England for 70 years.

The UAE President and Vice-President were among the first to pay tributes as the country mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President, called Queen Elizabeth a “close friend of the UAE” and added she was a “beloved and respected leader whose long reign was characterised by dignity, compassion and a tireless commitment to serving her country”.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, wrote, “We join the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, a global icon who represented the finest qualities of her nation and people.

Her incredible lifetime of service and duty to the United Kingdom is unparalleled in our modern world.” HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, also shared a message, calling the royal a “Queen of love, wisdom, and humanity. The world will miss you”.

Sultan of Brunei becomes world’s longest-serving living monarch following Queen’s death

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah has become the world’s longest-serving living monarch following the passing of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Bolkiah, who took the throne in 1967, has reigned for 54 years and 339 days (as of Friday) – more than four years longer than Margrethe II of Denmark, now the second-longest reigning monarch.

Before her death, Her Majesty who came to the throne aged just 25 in 1952 in the aftermath of World War II, was far and away the longest serving monarch in the world, marking the 70th anniversary of her coronation earlier this year.

In addition to being the country’s Sultan and monarch, 76-year-old Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III has also been the Prime Minister of Brunei since the country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.

Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, died at her home in Scotland aged 96, on Thursday, September 8.

Her eldest son, Charles, 73, is now king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand

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