June 29, 2019

Professor Wole Soyinka’s response to the aircraft seat saga

June 29, 2019 10:12 pm

I don’t know how much airlines succeed in raising for their charity drives through those envelopes they distribute to passengers into which their captive donors are exhorted to deposit their loose change before disembarking. Such monies are then distributed to worthy causes all over the world, especially in the pursuit of health. What I am convinced of is that they would generate a hundred times more if they were more creative. For instance, they could impose a fine on passengers who take the wrong seat on boarding, even for a second.

One can only rejoice in the thought of such …

Sudan military warns opposition over planned protest rally

June 29, 2019 11:44 am

The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition has called for a million people to take to the streets of the capital, Khartoum, to press its demands for the military council to cede power to civilians.

The generals and the opposition movement have been wrangling for weeks over how to manage a transition toward elections following the military’s ouster of long-time President Omar al-Bashir on April 11.

“We warn of the seriousness of the crisis our country is going through,” the council said in a statement carried by state news agency SUNA.

“We also hold the Forces for Freedom …

Nigerians are mobilising to stage a #ChurchToo protest against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) over the recent rape allegation against him.

Nigerians to protest against the alleged randy Coza Pastor

June 29, 2019 11:06 am

Nigerians are mobilising to stage a #ChurchToo protest against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) over the recent rape allegation against him.

The proposed protest followed a flyer and notice of protest which has been circulated on twitter and other social media urging Nigerians to converge for a protest march on Sunday.

Pastor Biodun was recently accused by Busola Dakolo, wife of artist Timi Dakolo of raping her when she was 17 and working as a member of the choir in his church.

Meanwhile, the pastor has denied the allegations against him by Mrs Dakolo.…

Mother-daughter killed over witchcraft allegation in India

June 29, 2019 10:18 am

An Indian mother and daughter were hacked to death by three men over allegations of witchcraft in the country’s remote tribal-dominated east, police said Saturday.

The 50-year-old woman and her young daughter were beaten by their neighbours before being attacked with knives on Wednesday night in West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand state.

Police said the victims’ family was embroiled in a land dispute with one of the accused, who used black magic allegations as a cover-up to commit the crime.

“One of the accused told the villagers that the women were …

Ebola: Death toll in DRC increases to 1,540 – WHO

June 29, 2019 12:04 am

The death toll in the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 1,540, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In an update on Friday, the world health body said 2,284 people had been infected since the outbreak in the country’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces nearly 11 months ago.

However, vital work of tracing people infected with the deadly virus is progressing, in spite of evidence of “several” massacres in the affected area earlier this month, the organisation said.

In spite of the insecurity, WHO insisted that frontline workers were doing all …