Indonesia earthquake :14 killed, over 160 injured

Indonesia earthquake: 14 killed, over 160 injured

At least 14 people were killed and over 160 injured after a large earthquake struck a popular island in Indonesia near the popular tourist destination of Bali on Sunday, officials said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of only 4.4 miles. Shallow earthquakes tend to do more damage than deeper ones.

The powerful temblor, which was followed by two smaller earthquakes and 60 aftershocks, hit the Lombok island, with the eastern part of the island sustained more language.

“People in East Lombok and Mataram felt the strong quake for 10 seconds, residents were panicking and running outside of their homes,” said  Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency, according to Sky News.

Spain rescues 123 migrants

Spain rescues 123 migrants in the Strait of Gibraltar

Spain’s maritime rescue service says it has saved 123 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa.

The service says it pulled the migrants from 12 different boats intercepted by rescue craft Sunday morning in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The latest arrivals come after Spain rescued nearly 1,000 people attempting the perilous journey from African to European shores on Friday and Saturday.

Spain has received over 20,000 migrants by sea in 2018. A crackdown by Libyan authorities and Italy’s refusal to let rescue boats dock has made it more difficult for migrants to reach Italy.

Human trafficking mafias pack the migrants into small craft unfit for open waters. Over 1,500 people have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean.

Palestinian girl who slapped Israeli soldiers released from prison

Ahed Tamini escorted to court by Israeli prison personnel

Ahed Tamimi, the Palestinian teenager turned protest symbol who was filmed hitting Israeli soldiers last year, was released early Sunday after serving almost eight months in prison, according to a local official.

Israeli Prison Service spokesman Assaf Librati said Tamimi, 17, and her mother, Nariman, who was also jailed over the incident, had been released and were being taken to the West Bank.

Images shared in Palestinian media showed a teary-eyed Tamimi, with her thick mane of strawberry-blonde curls, embracing her mother after being released

The teenager has been touted by Palestinians as a symbol of resistance to Israel’s military occupation while many Israelis accuse her of being an agitator seeking to provoke soldiers on camera.

Her case sparked an outpouring of international criticism against Israel and a renewed focus on the treatment of Palestinian youths in Israeli military courts.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called Tamimi “a model of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, independence and statehood,” according to Wafa, the official PA news agency.

Abbas said that the teenager is a “vital weapon” in nonviolent resistance to Israel’s control over the West Bank.

Tamimi is scheduled to speak at a press conference in her West Bank hometown, Nabi Saleh, at 4 pm (1300 GMT).

In a December 2017 video that quickly went viral, the then-16-year-old Tamimi is seen slapping and kicking soldiers in the driveway of her home. She was arrested shortly after and accepted an eight-month plea bargain in March.

She was released early for administrative reasons at the discretion of the Israel Prison Service.

“I have been longing for this moment because I missed them a lot,” Tamimi’s father, Bassem, told dpa on Thursday.

Bassem said that his family is seeking “to continue normal life” and has stopped the weekly anti-occupation protests in Nabi Saleh where confrontations with Israeli soldiers are common.

However, he added, sometimes “the occupation forces you to resist because there is no other way.”

He said his daughter is considering what university to attend and plans to study law.

Israeli police arrested two Italian artists and their Palestinian colleague who were attempting to paint a mural of Tamimi on a section of wall that separates the West Bank from Israel on Saturday, an Israeli police spokesman confirmed Sunday.

600 die in India floods, millions homeless

Around 600 people are feared dead over the past couple of weeks, hundreds of thousands of houses were washed away or greatly damaged, and millions of people rendered homeless in as many as six states across India due to incessant rains leading to flash floods and landslides.

In India, July-August are the monsoon months.

TV channels showed cars and other vehicles stuck on the roads with water flowing over them.

Incidents of flooding inside offices and houses were reported from various places across the country, including some parts of Delhi and neighbouring town of Noida.

According to media reports, the worst affected has been the southwestern state of Maharashtra which has witnessed nearly 140 deaths so far.

Quoting figures obtained from the national emergency response centre, English daily “The Times of India” carried a report saying that 126 deaths were reported from southern state of Kerala, 116 from eastern state of West Bengal, 70 from northern state of Uttar Pradesh, 52 from western state of Gujarat and 34 deaths from northeastern state of Assam.

Helping people to wade through the flood

Maharashtra state has so far received 99.30 millimeters of rainfall, while Kerala had 1451.85 millimeters of rainfall, Assam got 585.70 millimeters, Gujarat 449.92 millimeters and Uttar Pradesh 171.10 millimeters.

To carry out relief and rescue work, the government has deployed as many as 43 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel in the six floods-affected states. Each NDRF team comprises at least 45 personnel.

Besides the human deaths, huge damage has also been reported in terms of deaths of cattle even as thousands of hectares of agricultural lands lay submerged in rainwater.

Meanwhile, the river Yamuna that passes through parts of Delhi flowed above the danger mark. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held his cabinet meeting to take stock of the situation.

All the concerned departments in the Indian capital have been put on high alert to combat the situation if the river’s level rises further, causing damage to the nearby residential areas.

Mugabe addresses Zimbabweans ahead polls

Former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, on Sunday addressed the nation for the first time since stepping down in November and just hours before Monday’s historic election.

He said “I will not vote for those who have illegally taken power.”

In a slow and rambling address, he  spoke to reporters about the circumstances of his removal under military pressure and after a ruling party feud.

He was coy about endorsing a candidate ahead of the election in which the former deputy that he fired, President Emmerson Mnangagawa, faces a 40-year-old lawyer and pastor, Nelson Chamisa.

Mugabe, who has backed a new political party that is part of a coalition supporting Chamisa, said of him: “He seems to be doing well at his rallies.”

And Mugabe added: “Whoever wins, we wish him well … And let us accept the verdict.”

Many in Zimbabwe knew no other leader but Mugabe, who led the country for 37 years and since independence from white minority rule in 1980.

What began with optimism crumbled into repression, alleged vote-rigging, intimidation of the opposition, violent land seizures from white farmers and years of international sanctions.

The country hopes that a credible vote on Monday could get those sanctions lifted and bring badly needed investment for a collapsed economy.

Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe confidante, had tried to recast himself as a voice for reform, inviting back Western dozens of election observers and pledging a free and fair vote.

“I have during all this time liked our return to conditionality, our return to legality, an environment in which our people are free,” Mugabe told reporters.

But he blamed “evil and malicious characters” for his removal from power, which was met with a joyous outpouring in the capital, Harare, by thousands.

He said he resigned to avoid “bloodshed.”

While Mugabe, who has largely remained quiet in his Harare home since leaving power, spoke largely of the past, Zimbabweans are already impatient for the future and Monday’s vote.

Messi-Ronaldo: Simeone explains leaked World Cup WhatsApp message

Lionel Messi under-performed in Russia

Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone has sought to clarify his comments about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup last month, saying he would “without a doubt” choose his countryman over the ex-Real Madrid striker, AS English reports.

In a leaked WhatsApp to Atlético assistant Germán Burgos after Messi’s poor display in Argentina’s 3-0 defeat to Croatia, Simeone appeared to praise Portugal’s Ronaldo – who had just scored a hat-trick against Spain and the winner against Morocco – at the Barcelona forward’s expense.

“Messi is very good, but…”

“Messi is very good, but he’s very good because he’s accompanied by fantastic players [at Barça],” Simeone told Burgos in the audio message.

“If you had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo for an average team, who would you go for?”

“I’d always choose Messi, without a doubt”

However, speaking ahead of Atlético’s International Champions Cup pre-season clash against Paris Saint-Germain in Singapore on Monday, Simeone declared: “I’d always choose Messi [over Ronaldo], without a doubt.

“When I said what I did about Messi and Ronaldo, I wasn’t talking about who is the best player in the world. I was saying that in a team of average players, Ronaldo would probably be a better fit.

“But, when surrounded by top players, Messi is the best in the world.”

Egyptians upset President al-Sisi on Twitter

Egyptians upset President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Twitter

Egyptians renewed online criticism of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, hours after he said he was “saddened” by a similar campaign a few weeks ago.

The Twitter hashtag “Leave, Sisi” was the top trend in Egypt on the social media platform late in the day with more than 50,000 tweets.

The same hashtag trended last month, with nearly 300,000 tweets over several days, but then subsided. That campaign came as the government enacted painful austerity measures including increases in fuel, electricity, drinking water and Cairo metro prices. An opposing campaign defending Sisi appeared, but drew less online support.

Sisi said at a youth conference at Cairo University that last month’s campaign had upset him.

“I’m trying to get you out of this rut and you do a hashtag saying ‘Leave, Sisi’. Am I saddened or am I not saddened?” he said.

A few hours later, many Twitter users had responded by reviving the hashtag and posting criticism of his policies.

The number of Twitter messages is not necessarily an accurate indication of levels of satisfaction with Sisi. Many young Egyptians use social media, but many of its population of almost 100 million do not.

Critics of Sisi say he has presided over the most oppressive political crackdown in Egypt’s modern history, citing the jailing or alleged intimidation of opponents before March’s presidential election, and the arrests of journalists and online activists.

There has also been anger about economic reforms introduced in line with a $12 billion IMF loan agreement, which included slashing the value of the Egyptian pound in late 2016, making most people worse off.

Sisi has many supporters, however, who believe his economic measures will pay off.

They also say a crackdown on dissent is needed to stabilise Egypt, after a 2011 uprising and the unrest that followed, including an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula that has killed hundreds of police, soldiers and civilians.

Malians vote for new president amid tight security

Voters across most parts of Mali have started casting their ballots in crucial presidential elections. Today’s vote is seen as a crucial test for the security set up in a country riled by terrorist violence.
Most polling stations have opened and the processes are running smoothly so far according to Africanews correspondent, Serge Koffi.
Aside the elections officials and observers going about their duties, there is a high security presence as local and United Nations forces seek to thwart any threat of violence.
People are thoroughly searched in areas seen as flash points before being allowed into polling stations. There are twenty-four candidates in the race.
Incumbent Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and the main opposition candidate Soumaila Cisse are expected to be the two main candidates in a field that also includes former Prime Minister Cheick Mohamed Abdoulaye Souad known as Modibo Diarra.
Former ministers Choguel Kokala Maïga, Mohamed Ali Bathily and Mountaga Tall, religious leader Harouna Sankaré and businesswoman Djeneba N’Diaye are also among the list of candidates seeking the highest office in the land.
BRIEF ON THE ELECTIONS

1. This is the country’s 8th presidential election.
2. In total, there are 8 regions plus the capital, Bamako.
3. The regions – divided into 49 blocs.
4. Each bloc is further split into into 703 area.
5. There are 23,041 polling stations to cater for 8,461,000 voters.

Titi

Nigeria on track – Dabiri-Erewa

Abike Dabiri-Erewa addresses Nigerians in the Disapora

By Isaac Aregbesola

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, has said Nigeria is on track and government is determined to restore the glory of the nation.

“There is the need to support the administration that is determined to change the situation of Nigeria for better and President Muhammadu Buhari is doing that,’’ Dabiri-Erewa said.

Dabiri Erewa made the call in Abuja at a meeting with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO)led by its Chairman, Mr Obed MonagoShe urged the Nigerians in the Diaspora to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his fight against corruption.

The presidential aide said the present administration needs the support of everybody in the fight championed by the president to restore the glory of the nation.

“Though we have not had everything all perfect, there are still challenges but the good thing is that Nigeria is on track.

According to her, corruption is thriving in Nigeria not because of poverty or because people are greedy but because there are no sanctions and it is place where you get away with anything“You all come from various countries where corruption is being tackled because there is structure, there organisation, there is order and there is discipline.

“President Buhari is trying to stop that, it is a strong battle, but it is a battle we need to encourage and support him to continue and to win

“He ensures that the nations fund is truly spent on the people of Nigeria, now in Nigeria we have the Treasury Single Account where every revenue goes into federation account,” she said

According to her, in the past agencies are just using the money the way they like and of course it will reflect in the subsequent budget.

“Of course, we know we have many issues in the area of corruption.

“It is strong battle, but it is a battle that we must win, I urged you to encourage Nigerians to support Mr President in the battle against corruption,” she said

She said that Mr President had also made the issue of doing business in the country easier through the ease of doing business scheme which she said was to encourage Foreign Direct Investment.

“You all talk about coming home to do businesses; we have been working on that in Nigeria as you know we rise higher in the ease of doing business now.

“Though it is not yet perfect, but there is progress, it is slow and steady we may not get there is a year or two but we will get there,” she said

Monago said that NIDO was willing to work with the Federal Government to improve the country’s economic situation

“The knowledge we have in the Diaspora we will bring it back home, the resources we have would be brought back home.The chairman stressed that the organisation had been repositioned to assist the government and make things work better for the country.

“We are committed to that, once they give us the cooperation we will make things happen,” he said.

He commended Dabiri Erewa for her initiative and for her willingness to work with the Diaspora.

AYG: Federation satisfied with team’s performance – official

Fatai Atanda, member of the technical committee, Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) on Saturday scored the performance of Nigeria’s hockey contingent to the African Youths Games (AYG) in Algiers high.
Atanda said on Saturday in Abuja, that both the male and female teams were exceptional in their performances in spite not qualifying for the Youth Olympics.
He particularly extolled the team spirit of the country’s male team which he said was inspiring.
“Our boys were just unlucky because Zambia that qualified eventually was earlier beaten 2-0 by us.
 Our girls did their best in spite the fact this is their first international outing,” Atanda said.
The hockey official explained that the male team was very promising in almost all their games.
He said that the team had a bright future, as “age is on their side, and with good coaches like Baba Ndana, they will go places.’’
The Nigerian male hockey team on July 26 lost 3-2 to Kenya in the third place match.
South Africa had earlier beaten them 5-2 in the semifinals, which ended their dream of qualifying for Youth Olympics in Argentina.
Zambia and South Africa are qualifiers for the Youth Olympics.

NAN/ Jibril .O

Manchester United to step up Maguire chase

England central defender Harry Maguire’s impressive performances at the World Cup has made him a prime target for Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, according to British media reports on Saturday.
The 25-year-old is believed to want to secure the move although Leicester’s Thai owners are reluctant to sell after another of their stars Algerian forward Riyad Mahrez moved to champions Manchester City last month for a club record fee of £60m ($79m).
Maguire, who impressed alongside John Stones in England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals, will cost £65m with part of the outlay being offset by selling Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo  United value him at £30m and Italian full-back Matteo Darmian.
Rojo is attracting interest from Premier League newboys Wolverhampton Wanderers whilst Darmian is coveted by both the Milan clubs.
The injury-prone 28-year-old Rojo who cost United £16m when he signed from Sporting Lisbon in 2014 has been removed from the club’s branding by the marketing department for the upcoming season.
Maguire’s chances of moving to United could depend on whether Leicester are successful in buying Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles, they are preparing a £35m bid for the player voted by the fans The Magpies player of last season.
Maguire, who played every minute of ‘The Foxes’ league campaign last season after signing from Hull City on a five year contract, not only stood out in defence at the World Cup but crowned his first major finals with a goal in the 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarter-finals.

Jibril .O

Polls close in Cambodia’s general election

Polls have closed in Cambodia’s general election, amid criticism from some that the vote was neither free nor fair in the absence of any significant challenger to strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Critics have called the vote a sham as the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which narrowly lost the last election, has been dissolved.
The US and EU are among those who have questioned the credibility of the vote.
But the ruling Cambodian People’s Party says 19 other parties are standing.
On Friday, the Cambodian government ordered internet service providers in the country to block a number of independent news websites, including Radio Free Asia, Voice of America and Voice of Democracy.
It also singled out a post on the German version of the image-sharing site Pinterest, which had specifically referenced the Cambodia National Rescue Party.
English newspaper outlets were among other sites blocked.
As part of a large UN peacekeeping mission, Cambodia held its first multi-party elections in decades in 1993 after years of bloodshed and war.
Some two million people are estimated to have died between 1975 and 1979 when the country was ruled by the radical communists of the Khmer Rouge.
Hun Sen, a former soldier in the Khmer Rouge who later opposed them, has presided over a sustained period of rapid economic growth.
He has long been accused of using the courts and security forces to crush dissent and intimidate critics, but has for years allowed some measure of political opposition to his CPP party.
The election is the country’s sixth since 1993 when it emerged from decades of war. Officials at a polling station in Phnom Penh declared voting over at 3 p.m. local time (0800 GMT).
Preliminary results are expected around 6 p.m. local time. Official results will not be available until mid-August.

Zainab Sa’id

Katsina Governor seeks private sector participation in education

The Katsina state governor has called for more private sector participation in the development of education in the northern part of the country.
Gov. Aminu Masari made call in Daura on Saturday while addressing graduates of the Community College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Daura at its maiden convocation ceremony.
Masari decried the fact that over 13 million children are out of school in the 19 northern states adding that out of this the North West had the highest number.
He said that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of providing education for the masses, stressing that all hands must be on deck to reverse the trend for the benefit of future generation.
He said his administration, since inception, had introduced numerous measures to transform  the education sector including providing school infrastructure, recruiting additional teachers and improving their welfare.
He suggested a ten-year investment in education by states in the region to bailed it out of redundancy, poverty and indolence.
He said that the state government would erect a perimeter fence in the college and recruit permanent teachers for the school in order to improve teaching and learning.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, who was represented by Prof. Abdullahi Kabido, Director Institute of Education, commended the community for establishing the school.
He said the college academic programmes were affiliated to the institute for proper quality control, supervision and monitoring.
He said the institute also engaged in training and retraining of teachers, through partnership with different organisations and state governments.
Dr Abdul Aziz Mashi, Provost of the college said that 433 students graduated from the college specialising in education based courses.
He added that six students graduated with distinction during the 2016/17 academic year.
asariN64.9 million was realised during the fund raising event for construction of additional school structure in the college.