Suspects who burnt BRT buses, 518 others arrested (Nation)
The police in Lagos on Tuesday paraded 520 suspects arrested for their roles in last week’s violence.
Six policemen and four others were killed in the state during the mayhem unleashed on Lagos, the police added.
No fewer than 38 policemen were injured; 16 police stations were torched and 13 vandalised by hoodlums who hijacked the #ENDSARS protests, Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu explained.
Among those arrested were those who allegedly participated in the burning of BRT buses and Television Continental (TVC) offices. Read more
One dead as miscreants clash in Lagos (Punch)
Pandemonium broke out on Tuesday when miscreants clashed and killed one person in the Mile 12 and Owode-Elede areas of Lagos State.
The clash, which involved the Mile 12 Boys and the Owode-Elede Boys , was said to have been ongoing for days.
It was learnt that the miscreants took advantage of the clash to rob unsuspecting members of the public of their belongings and vandalise vehicles plying the areas.
Motorists were said to have abandoned the areas, leaving many commuters stranded on the road. Read more
Why Nigeria can’t run 100% e-learning – NUC (Guardian)
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has restated its position on e-learning in Nigeria, noting that the country cannot operate 100 percent e-learning in view of challenges of infrastructure, power, and internet access.
NUC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) Dr Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, also expressed concerns over issues of integrity surrounding the operation of the mode of learning in the country.
Ramon-Yusuf stated that e-learning must pass the integrity test before being fully embraced.
“We want to ensure that when there is e-learning in place,” Ramon-Yusuf. Read more
#EndSARS: Burna Boy calls for end to police brutality at BET Awards (Punch)
Singer Burna Boy and Chris Martin of Coldplay performed their hit song Monster You Made at the 15th BET Hip-Hop Awards which held on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
The song which is from Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall album was performed with a live band with Chris Martin singing from a remote location.
The song was dedicated to the Nigerians who lost their lives as a result of the brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
At the end of the performance, Burna Boy said, “This is for Tiamiyu Kazeem. This is for Kolade Johnson. This is for everyone that has lost their lives at the hands of SARS and all kinds of police brutality. End police brutality now and end profiling.” Read more
FG seeks support of lawmakers in tackling fake news (Guardian)
The federal government has solicited the support of the National Assembly in formulating a national policy on use of social media to control fake news and misinformation.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the request in Abuja while defending the 2021 budget proposal of the Information sector of his ministry.
Mohammed, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, said fake news and misinformation are serious and major challenges confronting the nation. Read more
Ayade stops transportation of scraps out of C’River (Thisday)
Following massive looting and destruction of public and private properties and businesses in Calabar by hoodlums, Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has ordered the immediate suspension of transportation of scraps of all categories out of the state.
A statement issued Wednesday by the governor’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, said: “It has come to the attention of the governor that in a desperate bid to escape arrest, criminals and their masterminds who callously looted government and private properties have now resorted to moving such items out of the state disguised as scraps. Read more
Viral video: NAF arrests personnel who flogged curfew defaulters in Osun (Punch)
The Nigerian Air Force has arrested its officials caught on tape flogging residents who defaulted the curfew imposed on Osun State.
NAF made this known in a series of tweets on Wednesday titled, ‘Alleged flogging of curfew defaulters in Ilesha, Osun State’.
The Osun State Government had imposed a curfew on the state after hoodlums invaded facilities to loot COVID-19 palliatives and other items. Read more
Amnesty International says Nigeria is plotting to ‘cover up killing of protesters’ (Guardian)
Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of plotting to cover up the killing of unarmed protesters at Lekki Toll Gate last Tuesday.
The rights group in a statement said, “Nigerian authorities’ must end their attempts to cover up the Lekki Toll Gate massacre.”
Amnesty International said it has proofs in a new timeline of investigation that shows the government that the shooting of unarmed protesters was done by state security forces.
“Photographs and video footage to confirm that Nigerian Army vehicles left Bonny Camp, a military base approximately a seven-minute drive from the toll gate, at 6.29 pm local time on 20 October. Read more
Microsoft stock slides on disappointing revenue forecast (NYPost)
Microsoft’s stock price dipped Wednesday after the software giant’s revenue forecast for the coming quarter fell short of Wall Street’s expectations.
The Window’s maker’s shares tumbled about 3 percent to $206.72 in premarket trading as of 9:07 a.m. even though its net profits jumped 30 percent to $13.9 billion, or $1.82 per share, in the July-to-September quarter.
While the quarterly results Microsoft released Tuesday beat analysts’ estimates for profits of $1.54 per share, investors were not thrilled about its outlook for the final three months of the year, which will see the launch of its next Xbox video game console. Read more
Charlie Hebdo: Turkey vows legal action over Erdogan cartoon (BBC)
Turkey has vowed to take “legal, diplomatic actions” over a cartoon of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
The cartoon depicts Turkey’s president lifting the dress of a veiled woman.
State media say Turkish prosecutors have launched an official investigation into the satirical magazine.
Tensions between France and Turkey are high after President Emmanuel Macron pledged a tougher stance against radical Islam.
Mr Erdogan has called on Turks to boycott French goods and said Mr Macron needed “mental checks”. Read more
Polls say Trump is in danger. These swing voters are why (CBC)
Who are the voters threatening to rain on the re-election prospects of US President Donald Trump? They include self-described independents, moderates, new voters and third-party dabblers.
These are some of the most powerful voters in the world. If the polls are to be believed, and we’ll soon discover if they are, they are the types of people who would end Donald Trump’s presidency.
Meet America’s shifting voters.
They represent a small slice of the electorate yet wield a colossal influence, not only on the politics of their country but on the U.S. relationship with the world. Read more
Poland abortion ruling sparks ‘women’s strike’ (BBC)
A strike is under way in Poland by women opposed to a court ruling that introduced a near-total ban on abortion in the mainly Catholic country.
It is the seventh straight day of demonstrations against the decision that outlawed terminations on the grounds of severe health defects.
Scuffles erupted in parliament on Tuesday with opposition MPs carrying signs saying “This is war” and “Shame”.
The powerful ruling party leader said the decision could not be reversed. Read more
Russia deploys army medics as daily COVID-19 death toll hits record high (CBC)
Russia is sending army medics to a region in the Urals hit by a surge in COVID-19 cases and its government may provide 10 billion rubles ($169 million Cdn) more in regional support as the country tries to bring a recent wave of infections under control.
President Vladimir Putin described the situation in some regions as alarming, speaking at a meeting with senior officials on Wednesday. Hospital beds were at more than 90 per cent capacity in 16 regions, according to Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova. Read more
Lady Gaga’s voting outfit included seven-inch platform boots and no pants (PageSix)
Leave it to Lady Gaga to always make a dramatic entrance — even when voting.
The “Rain On Me” hitmaker, 34, turned her walk to the ballot box into her own personal runway on Tuesday, clad in a gray “Chromatica” sweatshirt ($65) and face mask ($15), dark sunglasses, seven-inch-tall pink Demonia “Slay-301” platform boots ($125.95) and no pants.
“Category: Ballot Drop Off Realness,” Gaga captioned an Instagram video capturing the moment, which she set to her song “Babylon” from her latest album.
The Grammy winner has shared plenty of voting-related content in the weeks leading up to the presidential election; in addition to updating fans when she received her ballot earlier this week, she’s also highlighted the importance of voter protection at the polls, ensuring the signature on your ballot matches the one on file and more. Read more
WHO reports record 3m new COVID-19 cases in a week (VOA)
The World Health Organisation says a record 2.8 million new COVID-19 cases have been reported globally over the past seven days ending Tuesday, including 40,000 new deaths.
The UN health agency says Europe accounts for the greatest proportion of reported new cases for the second consecutive week with more than 1.3 million, an increase of 33% compared to the previous week. The region accounted for nearly half of the new COVID-19 cases during the seven-day period.
The figures also show that cases are also increasing in the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and African regions, while declines continue to be reported in Southeast Asia. The Western Pacific region also showed a slight decline in new cases and deaths over the seven-day period. Read more
COVID-19: NFF confirms receipt of $1m FIFA grant (Punch)
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, says the federation has received FIFA’s $1m COVID-19 relief fund.
FIFA had in June disclosed that it would spend $1.2bn as COVID-19 relief funds to member associations to cushion the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
All member associations got a universal solidarity grant of $1m, with an additional $500,000 grant specifically for women’s football.
Pinnick, in a series of tweets monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, confirmed that the federation had received the money, adding that plans were already in place for the disbursement to the various beneficiaries from next week. Read more
African Champions League: Raja’s semi-final against Zamalek in doubt again (BBC)
Raja Casablanca’s Champions League semi-final on Sunday against Zamalek in Cairo is in doubt after more players from the Moroccan champions tested positive for Covid-19.
Last week, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) postponed the second leg by a week to after eight Raja players reported positive for Coronavirus.
After another round of testing on Tuesday, the number of positive cases now stands at 14.
Caf’s Head of Communications Alex Siewe said talks are ongoing with both Raja and Egyptian authorities, who have expressed concerns. Read more
Sanusi shines in Porto’s 2-0 win against Olympiakos (Punch)
Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi featured for all 90 minutes as his FC Porto side beat Olympiakos Piraeus 2-0 in their UEFA Champions League Group C clash on Tuesday.
Sanusi, who recently debuted for the Nigerian national team, put in a good shift to help the Portuguese side to their first win in the group phase of the Champions League.
The match played at the Estadio do Dragao saw Fabio Vieira open scoring with an early goal for the hosts.
The win was a first in the pool for FC Porto and moved them into second place after two rounds of matches. Read more
Ronaldo to miss Barcelona match after latest Covid-19 test (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo criticised the Covid-19 testing system as Juventus left him out of the squad for the Champions League game against Barcelona.
The 35-year-old has been self-isolating since a positive result for the virus on 13 October, and had another test before Wednesday’s match.
The Italian club would not comment on whether he tested positive again.
Ronaldo said he was “feeling healthy” on social media and then lambasted the PCR test.
The result from a PCR test reveals whether someone currently has the virus or not. Read more
Manchester United executive bemused by social distancing rules (Guardian)
Manchester United chief operating officer Collette Roche says it is “bemusing” people can gather indoors in restaurants and hotels and watch football and yet the club cannot host spectators in an outdoor setting.
United have adapted their Old Trafford stadium so that 23,500 spectators could watch and be socially distanced under the coronavirus pandemic protocols.
However, there is a ban on spectators being allowed to enter stadia across sports due to the upsurge in infections in England — which has a huge economic impact on those hosting sporting events. Read more
Kaizer Chiefs handed transfer ban after losing CAS appeal (BBC)
Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt will not be able to buy any players for two transfer windows.
South African club Kaizer Chiefs have been banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows.
Kaizer Chiefs lost their appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following a Fifa punishment in December over the signing of Malagasy player Andriamirado Aro Hasina Andrianamimanana. Read more