BAMY BLOG

A federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos has set the hearing of a case between MTN Nigeria and the attorney-general of the federation for January 30. MTN said the hearing on the matter has been adjourned to 30 and 31 January 2020 for commencement of trial. “We remain resolute that MTN Nigeria has not committed any offence and will continue to defend this position,” MTN said. In September 2018, Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation, had demanded that MTN pays $2 billion in tax arrears. The arrears requested cover import duties, value added tax (VAT) and withholding taxes on foreign imports/payments. The AGF had said his office made a “high-level calculation” that MTN should have paid approximately $2 billion in taxes relating to the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers since 2008. In response, MTN had described it as “regrettable and disconcerting” that the case has been reopened despite multiple tax assessments carried out over

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari. The seven-member panel led by Justice Tanko Mohammed held that having gone through all the documents and exhibits two weeks ago, the panel discovered that the appeal lacks merit. “We have examined the submissions of parties in this matter and the exhibit adduced and we have come to a conclusion that this appeal lacks merit, appeal is hereby dismissed. “A date for reason would be communicated to the parties,” Mohammed ruled. Abubakar and pdp on September 23, filed 66 grounds of appeal before the Supreme Court after the presidential election petition tribunal at the Court of Appeal on September 11 dismissed their petition against Buhari’s re-election. Following the tribunal’s judgment affirming the re-election of President Buhari, the PDP filed its request before the apex court challenging the decision. T

WhatsApp’s latest iOS update stops showing an unread notification badge on its app icon for messages you’ve muted. It’s a minor but welcome change that arrived with version 2.19.110 of the iOS app. The change applies for both individual and group chats. The messaging app’s mute feature is invaluable if you want to reduce distractions, particularly if you’re a participant in any large group chats. Before the update, muting a chat would only stop your phone from vibrating and playing a notification sound when it received a new message, while doing nothing about the anxiety-inducing red notification badge placed on the app’s icon on the home screen. The new update only affects iOS users. On Android, meanwhile, WhatsApp has a separate “Show notifications” toggle which you can either tick or untick when you’re muting a chat.

Roger Federer has pulled out of the inaugural ATP Cup. Organizers wrote on Twitter that Federer withdrew “due to family reasons and therefore Switzerland has been withdrawn as a country that qualified at the first entry deadline.” The ATP Cup will open the 2020 season in Australia from Jan. 3-12, with two four-team groups in each of Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. The Swiss were drawn into a group with Belgium, Britain and one other nation. Eight teams from the six-day group stage advance to the knockout rounds in Sydney. The ATP Cup joins a crowded 2020 season. It includes two other team events – the Davis Cup and Laver Cup, which the 38-year-old Federer part-owns – and the Tokyo Olympics.

Twitter announced yesterday that it will no longer take political ads, a major step as tech companies work to deal with misinformation ahead of the 2020 election. The ban will go into place in November. In a series of tweets, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey laid out the company's reasoning, focusing on the downside of political advertising when combined with digital advertising. "While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions," Dorsey tweeted. "Internet political ads present entirely new challenges to civic discourse: machine learning-based optimization of messaging and micro-targeting, unchecked misleading information, and deep fakes. All at increasing velocity, sophistication, and overwhelming scale," Dorsey added. As tech companies have moved to counter the spread of fake news and misin

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed is presiding over the 7-man panel that will hear the appeals filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23 poll. Other members of the panel are Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Amiru Sanusi, Uwani Abaji, Ejembi Eko, John Inyang Okoro and Olukayode Ariwoola. Atiku and his party are challenging the September 11 judgment of the Justice Mohammed Garba-led Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed President Buhari’s victory at the polls. The appeals hearing has generated some controversies especially due to the silence of the Supreme Court on the justices that would constitute the panel, with the Coalition of United Progressives Party (CUPP) demanding the use of seniority in selecting them. A senior member of Atiku’s legal team, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), told reporters that they considered it strange that as at

Slain terrorist Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s whereabouts were revealed to the American forces by one of his numerous wives, it has since emerged. The New York Daily Report revealed that one of Al-Baghdadi’s wives released the whereabouts of the slain terrorist leader. The woman was arrested in Iraq last week along with a man who was a courier for the extremist Muslim organization. According to the US tabloid, the wife said that her husband was in the northern Syrian village of Barisha. The US newspaper did not mention either the name of the informant. Islam allows Muslims to have up to four marriages simultaneously and Al Baghdadi was no exception on the culture. He was killed in Syria by US troops. Meanwhile, Newsweek magazine reported that the leadership of the terrorist group was taken over by Iraqi Turk Abdullah Kardash, whose name is sometimes spelt Karshesh and is also known as Hadji Abdullah al-Afari. According to recent reports, al-Baghdadi’s remains

A dozen people were shot at a home in Long Beach Tuesday night. According to the Long Beach Fire Department, fire crews responded to a shooting at a home in the 2700 block of 7th Street at 10:44 p.m. Firefighters found 12 patients — three dead adult males and nine others taken to the hospital in unknown condition. According to police, two hooded suspects opened fire at what neighbors said was a Halloween party taking place at the home. The suspects are currently still at large. More details shortly...

Fans at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in downtown Los Angeles yesterday thought they were seeing a screening of the 1991 movie, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” until the film’s stars popped onto the screen with an announcement. “You’re going to be this first audience to see “Terminator: Dark Fate,” actor Arnold Schwarzenegger said alongside his co-star Linda Hamilton. “I told you, I’ll be back.” The “Terminator” stars surprised fans with a secret screening of “Terminator: Dark Fate.” Schwarzenegger and Hamilton encouraged the fans to post reviews of the movie following the screening, most of which were positive. “And if you spoil our movie, I will hunt you down,” actress Linda Hamilton warned. “Terminator: Dark Fate” opens in theaters Nov. 1st.

The Federal Government has disclosed that there is no going back on the October 31 deadline President Muhammadu Buhari gave public servants to register for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Plannning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who stated this while briefing journalists after the National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, added that members of Academic Staff Union of Universities must join the IPPIS. She said, “I didn’t see the notice that ASUU is to go on strike if they are forced to be on the IPPIS. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has directed that every agency of government, every worker must be on the IPPIS. And my job is to comply with the President’s directive. That is what I do and we are going to do that.” The minister, however, said there was still room for negotiation, adding, “We will be engaging ASUU; we will be discussing wit

ASUU members in Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states have said they would resist the IPPIS. The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Lawan Abubakar, stated this while addressing journalists at a press conference held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He said, “We already have a standing order for our members that ‘if you are not paid, you don’t work’, as simple as that. In fact, if we don’t get our salary, the next day of the new month, we will not work.” National Secretary, Congress of University Academics, Dr Henry Oripeloye, in an interview, said the group would make its decision on the IPPIS known later in the week. He said the OAU chapter of CONUA would hold its congress on Thursday, adding that other chapters would deliberate on the issue during their meetings expected to hold before Friday this week. “We derive our powers from the congress. The OAU chapter will hold its congress on Thursday this week and we expect that other chapters will hold their congresse

John Witherspoon, American actor and comedian best known for his role as Willie Jones in the “Friday” film franchise, died on Tuesday at his residence in Sherman Oaks. He was 77. In a message posted to Witherspoon’s Twitter account Tuesday night, the family confirmed his death. Witherspoon also starred in films such as “Boomerang” and “Vampire in Brooklyn,” alongside Eddie Murphy. He also made numerous appearances on television shows such as “The Tracy Morgan Show,” “The Boondocks” and “Black Jesus.” The actor was born in Detroit in 1942 and launched his stand-up comedy and acting career in the late 1970s with guest-staring television roles. He made his feature debut in the 1980 film “The Jazz Singer.” Regina King tweeted out Tuesday evening, “My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King.” Before his death, Witherspoon was scheduled to appear at the Stand Up Live in Hunstville, Alabama later this month.

The Lagos State government over the weekend inaugurated a 10-member committee, ‘Art4Life Steering Committee,’ to oversee the use of art as healing therapy in health facilities across the state. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for health, who inaugurated the committee in his office at Alausa-Ikeja, explained that the committee would drive the Art4life project, an initiative of the Ministry of Health aimed at using art to create a soft and compassionate environment to aid the process of healing for patients in health facilities. “The Art4Life project marks a new dimension in how we manage healthcare and well-being of our people in Lagos. We are adding a softer touch to how we deliver quality health care to our people in Lagos by bringing arts to contribute and transform the healing process in our health facilities,” Abayomi said. The Art4Life project is in further fulfilment of the present administration’s promise and commitment to strengthen healthcare system in the state, he said,

The federal government has slammed a 12-count charge on former boss of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdul-Rasheed Maina. He was arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, for allegedly helping himself to the funds of pensioners. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecution agency, in the 12 -count charge, accused Maina of corruption and money laundering. The EFCC said that as chairman of the reform team, Maina laundered funds against EFCC Act. He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the 12-count charge. He is presently arguing his bail application …more details shortly

Thirty-six governors under the auspices of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have resolved that implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage and the consequential increments should be paid depending on the capacity of the states. This was the outcome of a meeting of the governors held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja yesterday. By the resolve, any state that is able to pay the new minimum wage can do so and it also implies that states that cannot implement it would not be compelled to do so. Briefing newsmen after the meeting that lasted for several hours, chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi, explained that the governors took the position based on the fact that states have different numbers of workers with varied trade unions. “We members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting today at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, deliberated on several issues. “Governors reviewed current progress in the implementation of the

About 5,000 traders in Ogun State have benefitted from the first phase of the State’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) clinic embarked upon by the Dapo Abiodun administration. The novel MSME Clinic which was established for smooth takeoff and operations of micro, small and medium-sized businesses, is designed to improve financial inclusion, offer credit facilities, register new businesses and facilitate exports of goods manufactured in the state. Speaking on the desired economic impacts of the MSME Clinic, Sola Arobieke, consultant to the state governor on Commerce and Industry, said during the MSMEs Clinic held in Ijebu-Ode, one of the major cities in the state, that the programme is meant to improve ease of doing business by giving MSMEs operators the needed facilities that improve their businesses. Arobieke said that the MSMEs Clinic was in fulfilment of the campaign promises of Governor Abiodun to empower more traders in their businesses towards boosting the stat

In a peculiar incident, Thane police have booked a man, who died in a road accident after his bike hit a pothole, for over-speeding and causing death due to negligence. The victim, Rajendra Dongre was on his way to Wada to meet his relatives on Diwali when his scooter hit a pothole and fell on the road. A biker who spotted Dongre's body on the road told police that he died on the spot. It has come to light that Ganeshpuri police has booked Rajendra Dongre under sections related to speeding and causing death due to negligence. According to the complaint, Abhimanyu Sonawne, 25, spotted Dongre on Ambaji Bridge. Sonawne was returning from his farm on a bike. Dongre's body and motorcycle were near a pothole. Dongre suffered injury on his head and was bleeding. Rajendra Dongre was dead by the time he was spotted by Sonawne. The police statement said that the accident took place due to a pothole and it was victim's negligence. A case has also been registered against Dong

President of the United States of America, Donald Trump announced this morning that US special forces have killed ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The raid took place Sunday morning local time in northwestern Syria. According to Trump, commandos cornered Baghdadi in a tunnel before “he ignited his [suicide] vest, killing himself and three children.” Baghdadi was long considered the most wanted man in the world. The US had offered a $25 million reward for information concerning his whereabouts. He had arrived at the location in Syria 48 hours prior to the US raid, a senior Turkish official told reporters. The military operation was three days in the making, said Trump, who thanked Russia, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq for their help with it. He went on to thank Syrian Kurds “for certain support they were able to give us.” Baghdadi’s death follows Trump abruptly, and controversially, removing the US military presence in a part of Syria bordering Turkey. That move led to T

Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka appeared to swear at his own team's supporters after being substituted yesterday when a two-goal lead was surrendered against Crystal Palace to draw 2-2 in the Premier League. The decision by Unai Emery to withdraw Xhaka in the second half was initially greeted by large cheers, which soon turned to jeers as he took his time to leave the field despite the score being level. Xhaka reacted by waving his arms, cupping his ears and seemingly mouthing a profanity twice as he pushed away a handshake from Emery. Xhaka took off his shirt and headed straight down the tunnel. "He's wrong but we are going to speak inside about that situation," Emery told the BBC. "I want to be calm but, really, he was wrong in this action." It had started so well, with goals in the opening nine minutes. Arsenal defensive duo Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz scored inside 106 seconds. But it started to go wrong in the 32nd minute when Luk

Nigerian music star, Wizkid has been nominated for the 2019 Soul Train Awards. The singer made it to the list for his collaborative song with Beyoncé, Brown Skin Girl. This would be the third time Wizkid is being nominated for the Soul Train Awards Wizkid recently made history for a second time in a row by selling out the 20,000 capacity O2 Arena in London, for the 2019 edition of his StarBoy Fest and just rounded up the tour last night in Paris. Trailing the heels of the success of the Starboy Fest is yet another impressive one! Nigeria's very own Wizkid has been nominated for the 2019 Soul Train Awards. The singer who made it to the list for his collaborative song with American music star, Beyoncé, Brown Skin Girl. He has been nominated in two categories: Best collaboration and the Songwriters award. This nomination will make it his third nomination at the Soul Train awards. He was nominated for Best Dance Performance in 2017 for his song ‘Come Closer’, a single

The Federal government has been urged to immortalize Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the former national chairman of the country’s electoral body, by naming the headquarters’ of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after him. The Association for Ethical Awareness in Nigeria (AEAN), which made the appeal yesterday in Abuja, added that INEC national headquarters should be called “Prof Humphrey Nwosu House.” Appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari for gazetting June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day and also honouring the late MKO Abiola as the winner of June, 1993 presidential election, the group urged the President to love Nigerians irrespective of their tribes. Addressing newsmen, the Chairman of the group, Hon. Franklyn Nsa Effiong said, “As a father and the leader of our beloved country Nigeria, you must love all your children irrespective of tribe or religions. “Nigerians are aware of the role Prof. Humphrey Nwosu played to ensure the success and reality of June 12 president

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has described the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), as Nigeria’s symbol of unity. Osinbajo said this during a courtesy visit to felicitate with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II on his third year coronation anniversary which coincided with the ongoing NAFEST activities holding in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The Vice President who said NAFEST will further unify the country, irrespective of its cultural diversity, added that the ongoing national festival is one of the very best seen so far. He noted that Edo State is the place where culture is most celebrated. “I am here to congratulate you on this special anniversary of your ascension of the throne of the palace and also to congratulate you on your birthday. “Thank you for all the support you have given to our government,” he said. In his remark, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for his visit and felicitation.

Microsoft has won the sought-after JEDI cloud computing contract with the Pentagon valued at as much as $10 billion (€9 billion) over a decade, dealing a blow to the market leader, Amazon, which had been the front-runner. The decision, which was announced by the Defense Department late Friday, may be challenged by Amazon, according to a person familiar with the matter, because President Donald Trump weighed in on the bidding process. The terms of the competition was also hotly contested by another rival, Oracle. The Pentagon has said the cloud project, known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, is intended to help bring American military technology into the modern era. The Defense Department is investing in commercial cloud services, which host computing power and storage in remote data centres, to improve data security and speed up real-time sharing of information across the military. The Pentagon said the contract was expected to be completed by 2029. M

Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has celebrated Leicester City record 9-0 win against Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium. The win was the biggest by an away team in the Premier League. This big win also now stands side-by-side with Manchester United 9-0 win over Ipswich Town in March 1995. Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy scored hat-tricks in the game with Ben Chilwell, Youri Tielemans and James Maddison getting the other goals. “What a night!!!💙,”Ndidi tweeted. Ndidi who played the entire 90 minutes of the game, won eight duels, was involved in seven tackles and made one interception. He has made nine league appearances for Leicester City this season and scored two goals. Leicester City sit in second position in the table with 20 points from 10 matches.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly been eulogising about Kylian Mbappe to Bernabeu chiefs over WhatsApp. The World Cup winner scored a hat-trick in just over 20 minutes in the second half of PSG’s 5-0 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday. The texts from Perez to his colleagues after the match according to AS said, ‘Have you seen the exhibition of Mbappe? ‘In the second half he scored a hat-trick against the same Club Brugge who put us on the ropes at the Bernabeu. ‘This is the signing that would set the fans on their feet and I would have Real on top for at least ten years.’ The Madrid chief sees Mbappe as the only player who could replicate Zinedine Zidane or Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at the Bernabeu. The Ligue 1 champions are not a selling club but Perez’s relationship with his PSG counterpart Nasser Al-Khelaifi could prove vital to negotiations. It would take £260million to take Mbappe out of PSG, which is the same amount Zidane’s side spent in total i

Top U.S. and Chinese trade officials are set to discuss plans for China to buy more U.S. farm products, but in return, Beijing will request cancellation of some planned and existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. Robert Lighthizer, the United States Trade Representative, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will speak by telephone, their latest attempt to calm a nearly 16-month trade war that is roiling financial markets, disrupting supply chains and slowing global economic growth. The two sides are working to try to agree on a text for a “Phase 1” trade agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 11, in time for him to sign it with China’s President Xi Jinping next month at a summit in Chile. So far, Trump has only agreed to cancel an Oct. 15 increase in tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods as part of understandings reached on agricultural purchases, increased access to China’s financial services markets, improved protect

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic after 39 people were found dead in a refrigerated lorry in Essex. The man and woman, both 38, from Warrington, Cheshire, were taken into custody after warrants were carried out, Essex Police said. Detectives are still questioning the lorry driver on suspicion of murder. The victims – 31 men and eight women – are believed to be Chinese. The bodies were found in a container at an industrial estate in Grays at 01:40 BST on Wednesday. Police have been given extra time to question driver Mo Robinson, of County Armagh in Northern Ireland, who was arrested on Wednesday.

Kanye West is heavy into gospel now -- we all know that -- but bet you didn't know he's been talking to perhaps the most famous pastor in America ... Joel Osteen, and according to reports by TMZ Kayne may be making an appearance at Osteen's famous Sunday Service. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, Kanye and Joel speak from time to time on the phone ... as recently as 2 weeks ago. We're told Joel has invited Kanye to take a trip to Houston and experience his megachurch, Lakewood, where 45,000 people show up to pray every week. The Sunday service reaches 100 MILLION homes in America and tens of millions more around the world. Ye reportedly told Joel he'd love to attend a service, and he wouldn't be the first celeb to do so. Oprah, Tyler Perry, the Clintons and many others have attended. The question ... would Kanye perform at the service? sources say Joel never asked him because he didn't want to put Kanye on the spot ... BUT if Ye wants to sing,

A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed November 5 for hearing in a suit filed by a Nigerian musician, Olumuyiwa Danladi a.k.a Danny Young, against a fellow musician, Tiwatope Savage, over alleged copyright infringement. In the suit, labelled FHC/L/CS/230/2019 and pending before Justice Mohammed Liman, Young is claiming N205 million in damages against Savage for allegedly, using his musical work titled ‘ONE’ without lawful authority. Also joined in the suit is Mavin Records, a Nigerian record label, founded by record artist, Don Jazzy, on May 8, 2012. The ‘Omo Lepa’ hit singer filed the suit through his counsel, Mr Justin Ige, of Creative Legal, claiming the sum of N200 million in damages against the defendants for copyright violation. He is also claiming N5 million as cost of action, as well as demanding an account for profits accrued to the defendants from the use of the infringing musical work titled ‘ONE’ The Plaintiff filed the suit since February this year. The cour

South African rapper AKA has said that Nigerian singer Burna Boy must apologise for threatening to beat him up, whenever he comes to South Africa. At the height of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, Burna Boy had condemned the act, threatened not to step a foot in the country, however, issues escalated to a personality clash between him and the South African rapper on Twitter. To the extent that Burna Boy tweeted a threat to beat him up. In a now-deleted tweet, Burna Boy had said, “Next time, I see you, you better have a big security bro, on Gambo’s Grave, ur gunna need it(sic).” AKA demanded an apology and resurrected the ‘beef’ after it was reported that Burna Boy would be performing in South Africa. Reacting to the news, AKA via his verified Twitter handle said, “I would love to attend this show and watch this man put his hands on me in my own country.” When asked to bury the hatchet by a fan, he responded, “I wouldn’t mind at all … he m

A Tanzanian court has upheld a ruling banning the marriage of girls under the age of 18 and won praise from rights activists. The High Court in 2016 ruled that laws allowing girls as young as 15 to be married with the permission of their parents, or even 14 with the permission of a court, were unconstitutional and discriminatory. However, the state had appealed. “We reject this appeal as it has no foundation,” the appeals court judges wrote in their ruling on Wednesday, giving the government one year to amend the law. In an initial ruling the court found the current law discriminatory, as the legal age for men to marry is 18, and said it was contradictory that a girl considered too young to vote would be allowed to marry. “It is a great day for Tanzanian girls,” the NGO Wasichana Initiative, which fights for the rights of young girls, wrote on Twitter. “It is a joyful day for all girls and all those who want what is best for them,” said Anna Henga of Tanzania’s main righ

Chinese embassy staff are heading to Essex in Britain to verify reports that 39 people found dead in a truck were its nationals, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. The victims were discovered in a container on the back of a truck in Grays, east of London, on Wednesday, shortly after arriving by ferry from Belgium. The local Essex Police force, which is working with immigration officials, said their initial priority was to try to identify the 39 victims. The truck was moved Wednesday to a more secure location at nearby Tilbury docks so the bodies could be removed. British media cited unidentified sources as saying on Thursday that the victims, thought to be 38 adults and one teenager, were Chinese nationals. “The staff of the Chinese embassy in the UK is driving to the scene to verify this situation,” the Chinese foreign ministry said on its Weibo social media account. “We read with a heavy heart the reports about the death of 39 people in Essex, England,” said an unve

Spain yesterday exhumed the embalmed body of former ruler Francisco Franco from a grandiose state mausoleum ahead of its relocation it to a more discreet grave in a country still conflicted over the dictator’s decades-long regime. Spaniards are divided over the exhumation, with 43 percent in favour, 32.5 percent against and the rest undecided, according to an El Mundo poll published earlier this month. The long-awaited exhumation process began at around 11:00 am (0900 GMT) with his coffin carried out of the imposing basilica at the Valley of the Fallen some two hours later. In 2017, the parliament approved a non-binding motion calling for Franco’s remains to be removed from the Valley of the Fallen, but it was ignored by the former conservative government of Mariano Rajoy. The coffin was carried by eight family members and placed into a hearse and driven to a helicopter where it was to be transferred to a grave just north of Madrid. The hearse drove the coffin several hundred m

Four American Airlines flight attendants are facing money laundering charges after they were allegedly found carrying $33,000 ($22,671 USD) in cash into the US from a flight that departed from Chile. Carlos Alberto Munoz-Moyano, 40, Maria Isabel Wilson Ossandon, 48, Maria Beatriz Pasten-Cuzmar, 55, and Miaria Delpilar Roman-Strick, 55, were arrested Tuesday at Miami International Airport, NBC Miami reported. A Customs and Border Patrol agent was reportedly tipped off to the alleged money transfer during a routine customs check. Munoz-Moyano told the CBP agent that he was carrying only $100, but $9,000 was found on him. The other flight attendants were then stopped and questioned, the Miami Herald reported, citing a copy of the arrest report. Roman-Strick was then allegedly found carrying $7,300 in US currency, while Wilson Ossandon had $6,371. It’s unclear what role Pasten-Cuzmar had, though authorities said she had allegedly plotted with the others to deliver the money to

The Nigerian Agip Oil Company has announced a shut-in at its oilfield in Aggah community in Ogbia/Egbema Local Government Area of Rivers State, following pipeline leakage to forestall further damage to the environment. Eni, the Italian parent company of NAOC, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday. The statement reads in part, “NAOC got a report of a leakage from a well flow line on 14th October 2019, in the southern part of Aggah territory, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. “The leakage was primarily bubbling of gas and sheens of condensate. “Following the report of the event, NAOC deployed containment booms around the leak spot and shut-in the well to stop the leak. “Statutory notification was issued to DPR, NOSDRA and Rivers State ministry of Environment for Joint Investigation Visit before effecting the repair.” Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency said that it was investigating the cause of a damaged