Atlanta Police Chief Resigns As Officer Kills Black Man by Raphael Bichene

Atlanta Police Chief Resigns As Officer Kills Black Man by Raphael Bichene

The police chief in the US city of Atlanta resigned after an officer fatally shot a black man during an arrest, the mayor said Saturday, with the new killing injecting fresh anger into protests against racism and police brutality.

Images on local media showed hundreds of protesters in the streets on Saturday and flames engulfing the Wendy’s restaurant where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed.

The officer who shot Brooks was dismissed Saturday and identified by Atlanta police as Garrett Rolfe. The second officer was placed on administrative duty, according to ABC News.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms — who has been touted as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden — earlier announced the resignation of Chief Erika Shields.

Wendy’s employees called police on Friday night to complain that Brooks was asleep in his car and blocking other customers on the premises, an official report said.

He failed a sobriety test and resisted when police tried to arrest him, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.

Surveillance video showed “that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer’s Tasers and began to flee from the scene,” the report continued.

“Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks,” it said.

Brooks was taken to hospital but died after surgery, it said, adding that one officer was injured.

An attorney acting for the dead man’s family said disproportionate force was used in the confrontation.

“In Georgia, a Taser is not a deadly weapon — that’s the law,” L. Chris Stewart told reporters.

“Support came, in I think 2 minutes. He would have been boxed in and trapped. Why did you have to kill him?”

“(The officer) had other options than shooting a man in the back.”

Brooks has four children, Stewart added, and had celebrated the birthday of his eight-year-old girl earlier on Friday.

His death is the 48th shooting involving an officer the GBI has been asked to investigate this year, according to local newspaper the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Fifteen of those incidents were fatal.

The unrest comes as the US faces a historic reckoning on systemic racism, with mass civil unrest ignited by the May 25 killing of another African-American man, George Floyd, while in police custody.

Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Protests which spread first around the country then the globe, have forced a conversation on the legacies of slavery, colonialism and white violence against people of color, as well as the militarization of police in America.

Police chief Shields had worked for Atlanta’s police department for more than two decades.

“Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country, Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief,” the mayor said in televised comments.

Source: AFP

UK Bows to US Pressure, Bans Huawei From 5G Network by Jessy Samuel

UK Bows to US Pressure, Bans Huawei From 5G Network by Jessy Samuel

The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that Huawei would be banned from its high-speed 5G telecommunications network, in a decision that will anger China but please the United States.

The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that Huawei would be banned from its high-speed 5G telecommunications network, in a decision that will anger China but please the United States.

The role of the Chinese tech giant has become a central theme in London’s increasingly uneasy relationship with Beijing.

The U.K. has faced months of pressure from Washington, which says Huawei is a security risk because the company could be used by the Chinese government to spy on the West. Both China and Huawei have repeatedly denied this.

“There’s no such thing as a perfectly secure network,” Media Secretary Oliver Dowden told the House of Commons, but he said that the U.K. had to make sure its system was “as secure as it possibly can be.”

He announced that all new Huawei 5G equipment would be banned in the U.K. starting next year, and that the government would remove all of the company’s existing infrastructure by 2027.

The decision attempts to balance technology, geopolitics and the practical impact on consumers. Dowden conceded that banning Huawei would delay the U.K.’s 5G rollout by two years and cost up to 2 billion pounds, around $2.5 billion.

Source: NBC News

Uncertainty Over Resumption of Domestic Flights in Nigeria by Raphael Bichene

Uncertainty Over Resumption of Domestic Flights in Nigeria by Raphael Bichene

The Federal Government says civil aviation authorities will determine the resumption of domestic flights in the country, This comes after an earlier information that operators were to work towards resuming 21 June.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, said this during a briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

While giving his update on Thursday, he said the PTF was yet to receive any update from the aviation sector on its preparedness to restart commercial flight operations.

According to Aliyu, “What we said to the aviation authorities is; you need to let us know from the 21st of June onwards if you are ready to start opening the skies. We didn’t say 21st of June skies open.

“We gave them a window of three weeks to prepare and I believe they are still preparing. We did not ask them for updates on how things are going but we expect them to get back to us.

“The aviation industry is highly regulated. There are certain things they have to do before they start flying such as retraining of pilots, recalibrating the aircraft, and ensuring safety at the airports to make sure people are safe”.

“We don’t have an update on that yet but we expect them to come to us by the 21st of June. If they come back to us by the 21st of June and they say, ‘we are ready’, we will open the skies for domestic travellers and that’s when we will address the issue of interstate restrictions and curfew but at the moment, there is no plan right now to say, 21st of June, here we go. It’s aspirational if anything.”

Gunmen Kill APC Chairman,District Head,Others by Raphael Bichene

Armed bandits have reportedly killed at least 27 people in different attacks across the country, including a district head, injuring many others and stole thousands of livestock.

Yesterday, armed bandits shot dead the district head of Yantumaki, Abubakar Atiku, in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Residents said the armed men spent at least two hours at the Yantumaki community during a downpour, trailing their prime target, the district head, Mr Atiku, until he fell to their bullets a few minutes to midnight.

A source added that a palace guard sustained an injury during the attack. The bandits’ mission was, allegedly, to assassinate the traditional ruler as they did not hurt anyone, apart from the palace guard, who was obviously hit by stray bullets, a source said, asking not to be named for security reasons.

Also, in another separate attack, gunmen also killed the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman of Batsari Local Government Area, Abdulhamid Sani, following alleged inability of the deceased to secure the release of one arrested bandit.

An eye-witness, Sadiq Hasaan, said the men headed with the stolen livestock towards other villages in the Batsari local government area, and thousands of residents had fled their homes.

The late APC chairman was a member, reconciliation committee working to ensure peaceful coexistence between Fulani residents, who are predominantly living in the bush and Hausa communities, who live in the town.

Residents said the APC chairman was killed by a faction of unrepentant armed men, who accused him of failure to secure the release of one of them arrested by the security agents, weeks ago.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, confirmed the incidents.

Six people, including a female suicide bomber, were reportedly killed in separate attacks on communities of Kwabula and Kondori villages of Askira-Uba and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno state

Three people were, yesterday, confirmed killed in Kondori village of Konduga Local Government Area of the state by suspected terrorists, leaving scores injured, while others fled into Jakana town and Maiduguri for safety.

Kondori is about 30km from Maiduguri, the state capital and a stone throw to Jakana town located on the busy Maiduguri-Damaturi-Kano road.

It was gathered from sources that “on May 30, 2020, at 11:45 pm armed terrorists suspected to be from Shekau’s faction stormed Kwabula village of Askira-Uba LGA.

“The terrorists came in large number with four gun trucks, enclosed the main entrance of the village and fired at the heart of the village.

“During the attack, many residents fled into surrounding mountains for safety, unfortunately, two civilians were killed and many others sustained injuries without confrontation.”

In Kwabula, two civilians were killed when suspected members of Boko Haram sect invaded the village, weekend, just as a female suicide bomber infiltrated part of Konduga Local Government Area and detonated her Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, killing herself and injured three civilians.

Secretary of the Local Government, Alhaji Mai Bukar, who confirmed the two incidents to our correspondent on phone, yesterday, said: “It is unfortunate that communities in my local government area came under Boko Haram attacks.”

3 killed as gunmen invade three villages in Oyo

Also, the Oyo State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the killing of three people by gunmen that invaded three villages in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

While confirming the attack, the Oyo State Public Relations Officer, SP Gbenga Fadeyi, said: “Yes, the hoodlums attacked a village, Olanla, and shot three men. Two of the suspects have been arrested while police detectives have been dispatched to the village to get other suspects arrested.”

According to sources, the hoodlums invaded Ikereku, Pade, Olanla and Babalola villages with dangerous weapons in the early hours of yesterday.

A lawmaker representing one of the constituencies in Akinyele said three people were killed in his constituency, wards 1 and 2.

Source: Vanguard

Derek Chauvin Guilty Plea Deal Falls Apart by Raphael Bichene

Derek Chauvin Guilty Plea Deal Falls Apart by Raphael Bichene

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was considering a guilty plea in the death of George Floyd, but the deal fell apart, ABC News has learned.

The Hennepin County prosecutor’s office confirmed to ABC News that Chauvin and his attorney were negotiating to plead guilty to local murder charges and federal civil rights violation charges before it fell through.

The prosecutor’s office would not elaborate on the specific charges Chauvin was considering pleading guilty to, or why the deal collapsed. It added that these negotiations in high-profile cases are not unusual, nor is the fact that a deal wasn’t reached.

Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 in Minneapolis after he was pinned down by Chauvin, who is white.

In a cellphone video taken by a bystander, Floyd, 46, was heard pleading for help and saying, “I can’t breathe,” as Chauvin’s knee pressed against the back of his neck. Prosecutors say Chauvin held his knee there for nearly nine minutes.

Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. He has not yet entered a plea.

On Monday, Chauvin, 44, made his first court appearance. He waived his right to appear in person, instead appearing via video from the state prison where he is being held.

During the hearing, a judge ordered Chauvin held on $1.25 million bail. Prosecutor Mathew Frank argued that Chauvin could be a flight risk because of the case’s high profile.

Bail conditions included surrendering guns;,not working in law enforcement or security, no contact with the victim’s family and not leaving the state without permission. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, did not object in court.

Chauvin’s next court date was set for June 29.

The three other officers who were at the scene of Floyd’s death have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting manslaughter.

All four officers were fired.

One of those ex-officers, Thomas Lane, posted conditional bail on Wednesday.

The Department of Justice is also looking into whether the former officers violated federal civil rights laws.

Floyd’s death has sparked nationwide protests calling for police reform.

On Wednesday, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced that the department is withdrawing from contract negotiations with the police union as part of reform efforts. The department will also introduce a system that tracks police behavior, he said.

The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously last week in an emergency hearing for immediate reforms within the police department, including banning chokeholds and other neck restraints.

Source: abc News

Pogba Scores First Goal in Over One Year by Raphael Bichene

Pogba Scores First Goal in Over One Year by Raphael Bichene

Manchester United should see success as winning the Premier League, not just making the top four, said Paul Pogba after netting his first goal for over a year in another comfortable 3-0 win for the Red Devils at Aston Villa.

United became the first side in Premier League history to win four straight games by a three-goal margin as they closed to within a point of fourth-placed Leicester with the in-form Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood also on the scoresheet.

Pogba missed the majority of the season prior to the coronavirus shutdown due to injury, but believes United must aim higher next season in the pursuit of newly-crowned champions Liverpool and Manchester City.

“We are really pleased with ourselves, but we know we have to carry on as well,” Pogba told Sky Sports.

“We are talking in training that we have to carry on, that’s what Manchester is, it is a big club and the performances the last few weeks are the standard of Manchester.

“We didn’t win the Premier League, that’s the standard, we didn’t win anything yet so there is a lot of work to do.”

United could still end the season with two trophies as they face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on July 19 before restarting their Europa League campaign in August.

“This year we have two goals, to go for the Europa League and the FA Cup so we go for that,” added Pogba.

AFP

At Least 50 Feared Dead in Fresh Katsina Attacks by Jessy Samuel Ejah

At Least 50 Feared Dead in Fresh Katsina Attacks by Jessy Samuel Ejah

At least 50 persons are feared dead following a fresh attack on Kadisau town in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Channels TV gathered that the bandits who were armed with sophisticated weapons arrived in the town at about 4:30 pm on Tuesday riding on over 100 motorcycles.

The attack happened hours after residents of Yantumaki Town in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state took to the streets to protest the rising insecurity particularly kidnapping in their area, following the abduction a man along with his daughter in the early hours of Tuesday.

Security operatives reportedly came to the aid of the residents about three hours after the attackers had left at about 6:00 pm.

The spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah was yet to respond to inquiries as at press time.

It could be recalled that on Sunday last week, the 55-year-old chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Batsari Local Government Area of the state, Abdulhamid Mamman Sani, was killed by bandits after he resisted them from kidnapping him.

In the meantime, no fewer than 12 district heads operating in the eight Frontline Local Government Areas of Katsina state have reportedly threatened to run away from their respective communities.

Drawn from Batsari, Dandume, Danmusa, Faskari, Jibia, Kankara, Sabuwa and Safana LGAs, the affected district heads have visited the emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman on Monday to lament the renewed bandits attacks bedevilling their respective communities.

A member of the Katsina Emirate Council told Channels Television that the unhappy district heads informed the emir that their lives are in great danger in recognition of the fact that it was just last week that their counterpart in ‘Yantumaki town of Danmusa LGA of the state, Alhaji Atiku Maidabino was killed by bandits.

Brazil Drops Bid For 2023 Women’s World Cup Backs Columbia by Raphael Bichene

Brazil Drops Bid For 2023 Women’s World Cup Backs Columbia by Raphael Bichene

Women’s World Cup 2023: Brazil withdraws bid to host and pledges support for Colombia

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) says the government did not consider it wise to offer financial guarantees asked for by FIFA

Brazil has withdrawn its candidacy to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, citing financial fears in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) says the government did not consider it wise to offer financial guarantees asked for by FIFA.

Brazil has hosted a string of international sporting competitions in recent years including the World Cup in 2014, the Olympic Games in 2016 and the Copa America in 2019 – and the CBF also felt they were outsiders to host yet another major event.

Brazil will instead join the other South American nations and support Colombia’s bid to stage the tournament.

Brazil’s withdrawal means Colombia, Japan and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand are the remaining contenders to host the 32-team tournament.

The winning bid will be decided by FIFA on June 25.

Colombia, who have qualified for two Women’s World Cups in 2011 and 2015, are bidding to become the first South American nation to host the competition.

Man City Face 2 Season Ban Appeal by Raphael Bichene

Man City Face 2 Season Ban Appeal by Raphael Bichene

Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year ban from European competition will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) from Monday in a case of wide-reaching repercussions.

City are accused of overstating sponsorship revenue to hide that they had not complied with UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2012 and 2016 and were also handed a 30 million euro ($34 million, £27 million) fine.

UEFA’s case was prompted when German magazine Der Spiegel published a series of leaked emails in 2018 that purported to show how City manufactured extra sponsorship revenue from a series of companies with connections to the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour.

Under the Sheikh’s ownership, City’s fortunes have been transformed from perennially living in the shadow of local rivals Manchester United to winning four Premier League titles in the past eight years.

However, billions of investment in players and managers has not yet been able to deliver the club’s first ever Champions League title.

City are still involved in this season’s competition and will be allowed to compete should the 2019/20 edition of Champions League return in August no matter the outcome of the appeal.

– Financial hit –

But a two-season ban from the competition would represent a huge blow to the club’s prestige, finances and hope of hanging onto manager Pep Guardiola and key players like Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.

“Two years would be long. One year is something I might be able to cope with,” De Bruyne told Het Laatste Nieuws last month.

City banked 93 million euros from prize money and television rights alone by reaching the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League.

The added loss of gate receipts and commercial revenue would make it extremely difficult for the club to meet FFP regulations in the future without cutting costs.

City have steadfastly refuted UEFA’s allegations.

“Based on our experience and our perception, this seems to be less about justice and more about politics,” said CEO of the City Football Group Ferran Soriano.

UEFA has been under pressure, most publicly from La Liga president Javier Tebas, to impose a harder line on clubs backed by states, like City and Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain.

European football’s governing body also have plenty riding on the case. Lose the appeal and the future of UEFA’s FFP regulations will be called into question.

– Premier League impact –

The hearing will be held by videoconference due to coronavirus restrictions from Monday to Wednesday.

If no verdict is immediately announced after the hearing, the decision “could be made during the month of July,” said Matthieu Reeb, secretary general of CAS.

Even if City’s appeal to CAS fails, the English champions could present a further appeal before the Swiss Federal Court.

A delayed outcome would leave a cloud hanging over the return of the Premier League season.

City seem certain to secure Champions League qualification on the field with a 12-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United.

If they are excluded, fifth would be good enough for the riches of next season’s Champions League, which are all the more valuable during the economic crisis caused by coronavirus.

Just six points separate United from Crystal Palace in 11th leaving plenty to play for in the final nine games of the season once the Premier League restarts on June 17.

Source: AFP

Lagos Discharges 47 Covid-19 Patients by Raphael Bichene

Lagos Discharges 47 Covid-19 Patients by Raphael Bichene

Lagos discharges 47 COVID-19 patientsLagos State Government on Saturday discharged 47 patients from various Isolation centres in the state having recovered fully and tested negative twice consecutively for COVID-19.The state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is the COVID-19 Incident Commander disclosed this in a statementAccording to Sanwo-Olu, “42 fully recovered COVID-19 Lagos patients; 11 females and 31 males have been discharged from our Isolation facilities today t(Saturday) to reunite with the society.“The patients; 20 from Gbagada, 11 from Eti-Osa (LandMark) and 11 from Lekki Isolation Centres were discharged today after testing negative to COVID-19.This brings to 994, the number of #COVID19 confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos.”