Leadership publisher, Nda-Isaiah, dies at 58 (Punch)
The publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah, is dead.
Multiple sources from his family and the newspaper organisation confirmed that he died on Friday “after a very brief illness.”
“Yes, it is true. I was just told now,” a family member told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday evening.
When asked if he had been sick, the source simply said “yes, but very briefly.” Read more
COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu goes into isolation (Punch)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has gone into self-isolation, the state government said on Friday.
This was contained in a statement titled ‘Sanwo-Olu goes into self-isolation’ by the Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.
He said one of the close aides to Sanwo-Olu tested positive for coronavirus, necessitating the governor to isolate.
However, Abayomi did not state the COVID-19 status of the governor.
The commissioner said Sanwo-Olu had been tested for COVID-19 for at least three times. Read more
Lagos to digitalise healthcare service delivery – Sanwo-Olu (Guardian)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday said that the state would enhance its healthcare delivery system through the introduction of digitalised system and new innovations.
Sanwo-Olu said this at a Hybrid Y2020 Health Forum organized by the Lagos State Health Service Commisson with the theme: Reform of Bureaucratic Processes: Creativity and Innovation in the Health Care System.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said that science and technology was fast evolving, bringing about new changes and innovations to the way of life across all facets. Read more
Kogi governor pledges speedy implementation of state university report (Vanguard)
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has pledged speedy implementation of recommendations for the take-off of the state-owned Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara, by 2021.
Bello, who gave the assurance when he received report of the committee set up by the state government for the commencement of the new university, said the school would have its first set of student by February.
The governor assured the committee that his government would implement its recommendations to the letter.
“As we speak, the account of financing the institution is already swelling. The take-off fund of slightly above N1.2 billion is never a problem. Read more
I killed motorcyclist to raise money for yam tubers, says suspect (Guardian)
A murder suspect, Ayo Lawal, who allegedly killed a motorcyclist in Ekiti State, has disclosed that he committed the crime to raise money to purchase yam tubers for the 2020/2021 planting season.
The offence was committed at Odo Oro in Ikole Council of the state recently, when Lawal, in company of Jimoh Ojo, Sule Abduallahi and one person named Wonder, killed the motorcyclist, simply identified as Isaac, in his farm.
Isaac was said to have conveyed the suspects from Ikole to a farmstead at Odo Oro Ekiti, where he was murdered and his body interred in a shallow grave in a farm belonging to Lawal. Read more
Three feared dead as three trucks explode in Ondo crash (Vanguard)
Three persons were feared dead in Akungba, Akoko South-West council area of Ondo State in a crash involving three trucks.
Several others were reportedly injured in the crash along the lkare/ Owo highway.
The three truck went up in flames following the impact of the collision.
Recall that a similar crash in which 16 persons were killed occurred in the same community over a month ago.
One of the truck according to eyewitness account was loaded with bags of cement while the two others were loaded with gift item, packs of frozen fish and chicken. Read more
COVID-19: Again, El-Rufai goes into isolation (Punch)
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has gone into isolation.
The governor, who stated this on Saturday in a broadcast, said the measure was necessary as family members and senior government officials around him tested positive for COVID-19.
El-Rufai said he is in self-isolation as a precaution pending a COVID-19 test to be conducted on Sunday.
The governor had earlier tested positive for the virus in March but recovered after some weeks. Read more
RMD bags ambassadorial brand appointment (Guardian)
LG Electronics has named veteran Nollywood actor and television personality, Richard Mofe Damijo, popularly known as RMD, as its brand ambassador in Nigeria.
Speaking on the development, Head of Corporate Marketing Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Hari Elluru, said the actor’s choice was informed by his style and dexterity, which resonate with the brand essence of OLED television, which he added boasts of superior picture quality with vibrant, natural colours and infinite contrast.
Responding, RMD said: “I have always admired LG Electronics as a premium brand, particularly its series of television, which outsmart other televisions in its category, but I never thought I could be a brand ambassador for same television I admire most.” Read more
Gov Emmanuel tackles insecurity in Akwa Ibom (Vanguard)
Governor Udom Emmanuel has taken decisive steps to tackle pockets of insecurity in Akwa Ibom state ahead of the Christmas by donating 30 new utility vehicles to the security agencies for use in combating crime.
The vehicles are the first batch of 100 patrol trucks earmarked for presentation to the security agencies.
The Governor who also presided over the security council meeting attended by all service commanders in the state also approved the reactivation of a Joint Task Force in the state.
He acknowledged reports of insecurity in parts of the state and promised to continue partnering security agencies for the safety of life and property of Akwa Ibom people. Read more
Disney announces landmark African collaboration with Kugali (BBC)
The pledge by Ugandan animator Hamid Ibrahim to the BBC that his team’s work is “going to kick Disney’s ass” certainly got the company’s attention.
Two years on and Disney – instead of battling Ibrahim and his colleagues – has announced a collaboration.
It is the first time that it will work with African storytellers to create an animated series set on the continent.
Iwájú will be a long-form series “steeped in science fiction” based in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, Disney says. Read more
France debates human rights at home while still selling weapons to oppressive regimes (France24)
As the French President Emmanuel Macron faces accusations that he is moving to curtail the civic rights in his country and reduce transparency, the recent state visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underscored France’s longstanding willingness to turn a blind eye to systemic oppression in the countries it sells weapons to.
When Sisi came to France for a state visit this week, less than a month after prominent human rights workers in Egypt were arrested and slapped with terrorism-related charges following a meeting with French and other European diplomats, Human Rights Watch called for arms sales to Egypt to stop and activists were looking to French President Emmanuel Macron to make a strong statement. Read more
US Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed bid to overturn election (BBC)
The US Supreme Court has rejected an unprecedented attempt to throw out election results in four battleground states that was backed by President Donald Trump.
The lawsuit, filed this week by the state of Texas, sought to invalidate results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
President-elect Joe Biden won all four.
The lawsuit was supported by 18 state attorneys general and 106 Republican members of Congress. Read more
Zodiac Killer’s cryptic letter finally deciphered after more than 50 years (RT)
Codebreakers investigating the Zodiac Killer’s cryptic letters have finally solved one of the murderers most fiendishly well encrypted messages. However, the identity of the killer remains a mystery.
Investigators have finally decoded one of the infamous Zodiac Killer’s messages, 51 years after it was mailed to the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle. One of the researchers told the Chronicle of his team’s discovery on Friday, revealing that the letter read:
“I hope you are having lots of fun in trying to catch me. … I am not afraid of the gas chamber because it will send me to paradice [sic] all the sooner because I now have enough slaves to work for me.” The letter continues with the killer repeating the same sentiment, declaring that death by execution would only send him to “paradice” quicker. Read more
Brexit: UK-EU trade talks to resume with one day to go (BBC)
Trade talks between the UK and European Union are due to resume in Brussels with one day to go until a deadline imposed by the two sides.
The leaders of both parties have warned they are unlikely to reach a post-Brexit trade deal by Sunday.
On Friday, Boris Johnson chaired a “stock-take” on the UK’s preparedness for a no deal scenario.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Defence has said four Royal Navy patrol boats are ready to protect UK fishing waters. Read more
North Korea using pandemic ‘to crack down on human rights’ (AlJazeera)
The United Nations Security Council took up the issue of human rights abuses in North Korea after the issue was raised by seven members who accused Pyongyang of using the coronavirus pandemic “to crack down further on the human rights of its own people.”
Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Estonia, the United States and the Dominican Republic brought up the issue in a closed-door virtual meeting on Friday, after diplomats said Russia and China objected to a public briefing on the situation.
“The DPRK’s human rights violations pose an imminent threat to international peace and security. The DPRK government diverts resources away from its people to its illicit ballistic missile and nuclear programmes,” the seven countries said in a statement, read by German UN Ambassador Christoph Heusgen. Read more
COVID vaccine: US drugs agency FDA to proceed with Pfizer approval (BBC)
The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has come under renewed White House pressure to approve emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine.
FDA head Stephen Hahn was told to approve it on Friday or quit, US media said, although he called this “untrue”.
The spotlight fell on the FDA after its experts on Thursday supported the vaccine. The US health secretary said it should roll out in a couple of days.
The Pfizer vaccine has approval in the UK, Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, the US recorded more than 3,000 deaths – the highest total in a single day anywhere in the world. Read more
We went to Chile World Cup with slippers, no kits – Amuneke (Punch)
Former Super Eagles assistant coach Emmanuel Amuneke has opened up on the challenges the Golden Eaglets went through before their victory at the U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015.
Amuneke led the Eaglets to their fifth U-17 victory to become the most successful team at the tournament ahead of Brazil, who have won the title four times.
Speaking on PUNCH Online interview programme, Kick&Follow, where football stars discuss topical issues in Nigerian football, the former Tanzania national team coach revealed that his team left the shores of the country without proper kits for the tournament.
“I knew what I went through with the U-17 at the World Cup we went to in Chile but I am somebody who doesn’t come out to blame others for his failures. Read more
Istanbul Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo says 8 December will be significant date in racism fight (BBC)
Istanbul Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo says 8 December 2020 will be a significant date in football’s fight against racism.
Basaksehir and Paris St-Germain players walked off the pitch during Tuesday’s Champions League game after the fourth official was accused of referring to Webo by the colour of his skin.
Webo, 38, said the days since have been the “most difficult” of his career.
He added he needed help from a doctor to sleep on the night of the incident.
Former Cameroon international Webo has accused the fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu, of disrespecting him by unnecessarily referring to the colour of his skin, instead of referring to him by name. Read more
Medics hoping to return Michael Schumacher to ‘a more normal life,’ says FIA president Jean Todt (RT)
Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher’s treatment is being tailored to help the German superstar “return to a more normal life,” according to FIA president and former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt.
Todt has kept in close touch with Schumacher and has tracked his friend and former colleague’s recovery following the German’s horrific skiing accident in 2013, though details of Schumacher’s injuries and subsequent treatment have remained a closely-guarded secret.
Speaking to Ouest France, Todt explained that doctors are attempting to return Schumacher to a level of health that will see him return to everyday life, or as close to it as possible. Read more
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton grateful to be back after coronavirus ‘experience’ (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton described having coronavirus as “an experience” after he returned to his Mercedes car at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton missed last weekend’s race in Bahrain after contracting Covid-19 but tested negative on Wednesday in time to race at Yas Marina.
“It’s not something I really want to go into deeply about,” the world champion said. “It was an experience, for sure.
“I am just happy to be back and grateful to be back with the team.” Read more
Mediapro seals agreement over French football rights dispute (France24)
Spanish media rights agency Mediapro has sealed an agreement with the French soccer governing body LFP over its Ligue 1 broadcasting rights to solve a dispute over payments, French newspapers L’Equipe and Le Parisien reported on Friday.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mediapro, majority-owned by Chinese private equity fund Orient Hontai, will give up the TV rights it had won for a record of 780 million euros per season over the 2020-2024 period and pay a fraction of the two payments missed by the heavily indebted group.
Mediapro agreed to pay 100 million euros to free itself from its financial commitments to the LFP, L’Equipe reported. The two payments it missed, due in October and December, were worth more than 300 million euros. Read more
Zambia coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic denies charges of sexual assault (BBC)
Zambia coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has denied charges of sexual assault in South Africa
The 51-year-old appeared at the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court on Friday before being released on R10,000 bail ($660).
He will have to appear again on 25 February next year.
It is alleged that two incidents happened on 7 December during the ongoing Cosafa Under-20 Cup at the Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
“(These are) total baseless accusations intended to unsettle Zambia team that has not conceded goal on this tournament (Cosafa Under-20 Cup),” Sredojevic told BBC Sport Africa. Read more