Derek Chauvin': The Police Officer who murdered George Floyd Had a History of Violence

A white Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck opened fire on two people during his 19-year career and had nearly 20 complaints and two letters of reprimand filed against him.

Derek Chauvin, 44, became the focus of angry street protests and a federal investigation after he was seen in cellphone video kneeling on the neck of 46-year-old Floyd, a black man, for almost eight minutes Monday night during his South Minneapolis arrest on a suspicion of passing a counterfeit bill. Floyd, who was handcuffed and heard saying he couldn’t breathe, was pronounced dead later that night at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Chauvin, whose Oakdale driveway was splattered with red paint and the graffiti “murderer,” has not spoken publicly since Floyd’s death and his attorney did not respond to calls seeking comment. He and the other three officers involved in Floyd’s arrest were fired Tuesday.Minneapolis City Council records show that Chauvin moonlighted as a bouncer at a downtown Latin nightclub. He was among a group of six officers who opened fire on a stabbing suspect in 2006 after a chase that ended when the suspect pointed a sawed-off shotgun at them. The suspect, Wayne Reyes, was hit multiple times and died. A grand jury decided the use of force was justified.

Two years later, Chauvin shot Ira Latrell Toles as he was responding to a domestic dispute.

According to a Pioneer Press account of the incident, a 911 operator received a call from an apartment and heard a woman yelling for someone to stop hitting her. Chauvin and another officer arrived just as Toles locked himself in the bathroom. Chauvin forced his way into the bathroom. Toles went for Chauvin’s gun and Chauvin shot him twice in the stomach. Toles survived and was charged with two counts of felony obstruction.

Toles told the Daily Beast that the mother of his child called police that night and he fled into the bathroom after officers broke down the apartment door. Chauvin then broke down the bathroom door and started to hit him without warning. He said he fought back in self-defense and was too disoriented to go for Chauvin’s gun.

Toles said he ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and still feels pain from the shooting.

“He tried to kill me in that bathroom,” Toles said.Online city records also show that 17 complaints have been filed against Chauvin. Sixteen complaints were closed with no discipline. The remaining complaint generated two letters of reprimand, with one apparently related to the use of a squad car dashboard camera. The records don’t include any details on the substance of the complaints.

Chauvin also was among a group of five officers in 2011 who chased down an American Indian, Leroy Martinez, in a housing complex after they spotted him running with a pistol. One of the officers, Terry Nutter, shot Martinez in the torso. Martinez survived. All the officers were placed on leave but absolved of any wrongdoing, with Police Chief Timothy Dolan saying they acted “appropriately and courageously.”

A much different side of Chauvin was portrayed in a 2018 newspaper profile of his wife, Kellie, a Laotian refugee who became the first Hmong Mrs. Minnesota. She told the Pioneer Press that they met when he dropped off a suspect at a Minneapolis hospital where she worked.

“Under that uniform, he’s just a softie,” she said. “He’s such a gentleman. He still opens the door for me, still puts my coat on for me. After my divorce, I had a list of must-haves if I were ever to be in a relationship, and he fit all of them.”

Less is known about the other three officers involved in Floyd’s arrest.

Online court records indicate that the officer who stood guard at the scene, Tou Thao, was sued in federal court in 2017 for alleged excessive force. According to the lawsuit, Lamar Ferguson claimed Thao and his partner stopped him as he was walking to his girlfriend’s house in 2014 for no reason and beat him up. The city ultimately settled the lawsuit for $25,000.

City records show six complaints have been filed against Thao. Five were closed with no discipline. One remains open. The records didn’t include any further details.

Thomas Lane joined the force as a cadet in March 2019, according to online city records. No information about J. Alexander Kueng’s service history was immediately available. City records show no complaints against either of them. Attorneys for Thao and Kueng didn’t return messages. Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, declined comment.

COVID 19: No Masquerade Festival In Ibadan in 2020

As this year’s egungun (masquerade) festival gets underway this week, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 has directed all masquerades-irrespective of grades to observe their rituals from their respective homes and pray for the speedy end to COVID-19.

Oba Adetunji disclosed this in a release signed by his Personal Assistant and Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Adeola Oloko in Ibadan on Sunday.

According to the first class monarch, the decision not to have long procession this year is not unconnected with the new coronavirus pandemic and the need to observe rules associated with social distancing. Oba Adetunji stated that the boisterous nature of the festival has made it imperative for all masquerades to stay at home and perform all necessary rites until the authorities’ state otherwise.

According to Oba Adetunji, the decision was reached after extensive consultation with the relevant authorities and stakeholders. Olubadan advised all the people to wash their hands, use face mask and maintain social distancing at all times to curb the spread of the plague.

independent.ng

Protests spread across US over George Floyd death: Key Points

• Protests erupt in cities across the United States over the deadly arrest of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, who was pinned to the ground by the knee of a white officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• The fired officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for several minutes, as Floyd pleaded "I can't breathe", has been charged with murder and manslaughter.
• The Minnesota National Guard has arrived in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and surrounding areas.
• Minneapolis has imposed a weekend curfew.
• Community leaders and residents demand the arrest of the three other officers involved.Pain and anger over the death of George Floyd 
• The Protests have spilled over into multiple cities across the country hours after the former Minneapolis officer seen in video with his knee on Floyd's neck was arrested and charged with murder.
  Demonstrators funneled their anguish in cities like Atlanta, New York and Washington into chants, signs and outbreaks of violence, smashing windows and setting vehicles ablaze.
  In Minneapolis, roughly 1,000 people marched peacefully along the city's major freeway Interstate 35, hours after a curfew went into effect. One black man held a sign that read, "Am I next?"
  Eventually the marchers made it to the 5th Precinct where some demonstrators threw rocks or bottles at police.

How Davido Got Money To Buy a Mansion in Banana Island

Songwriter, singer and record producer Davido has finally revealed how he got money to finance his dream house at the banana island.

Davido‘s banana island has been trending on social media for some days now. Most of his fans have been questioning how he got such an amount of money to purchase such property. However, Davido has come out to disclose how he got money to finance the dream banana island mansion.

According to him, he got money to purchase the property from singing about Bananas falling on someone, he jokely posted on his tweet. “Moved to banana with money I made from singing about Bananas falling on someone….. Cruise” he tweeted.   

It could be recalled that Davido‘s fall track hit Gold Gold in the United States and Canada. Davido has revealed the money he got from his track fall made him get to buy such a mansion.

ghgossip.com

INEC Gives Clarification on 2020 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the circulation of letters of employment.

The commission, in a terse statement posted on its verified Twitter page on Saturday, warned Nigerians to be careful, adding that it was currently not conducting any recruitment exercise.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the circulation of purported letters of employment/appointment.”

The commission described the letters making the rounds as a scam and advised affected members of the public to report to security agencies.

“Members of the public are hereby advised/warned that the commission suspended its recruitment programme in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, INEC has announced that elections in Edo and Ondo States will still take place despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Daily Post

The Murder of George Floyd and Matters Arising

On May 25, Minneapolis resident George Floyd was pinned face down on the ground, in handcuffs, by a white police officer who pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. He was unresponsive when paramedics arrived, and he was pronounced dead later.

Unrest has since erupted in Minneapolis, where protesters have set fire to buildings, and in several cities across the country. The police officer was fired and has been charged with third-degree murder. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Three other officers also have been fired.

What the US authorities need to do is to arrest all the officers at the scene of George Floyd murder and prosecute them alongside the one murderer,the one who knelt on George.  This is the way forward.  There is nothing else that can pacify the angry Americans who have continued to protest the killing of an innocent black man. 

The looting and the destruction of property would not have happened if some racist white policemen had not murdered an innocent African American man. It is therefore save to say that the demonstrations are all an expressions of the anger of the American people, whites included. 

The United States must work harder to eradicate every form of racial discrimination. If this is not done, the US will be sitting upon a time bomb that will eventually explode as we have continued to witness. 

 Only racial equality, justice and fairness, in addition to good brotherliness can usher in lasting and permanent peace in the United States and by extension, the rest of the world. For, it is certain that all men are created equal. Nature has constantly taught us that truth.  We are all the same, black or white, Asian or Latino.

Yemi Olakitan

AU speaks on George Floyd 'murder: US must sit up, eliminate racial discrimination

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has waded into the death of a black American man, George Floyd at the hands of police in the United States.

The AUC Chair issued a statement on the development on Friday voicing condemnation of the violence, rejection of discrimination and intensify call to action on the part of Washington.

According to him, the US must intensify efforts to eliminate forms of ethnic and racial discrimination. He said the AU rejected ongoing discriminatory practices against black citizens of the US.

George Floyd, 46, died in police custody earlier this week. The incident whipped up the #BlackLivesMatter movement especially after the viral video of a white police officer filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he repeatedly said he could not breathe.

A series of violent demonstrations have taken place across the country. President Trump warned that looting will not be countenanced and that the National Guard could be deployed especially to Minneapolis. The police officer in question has since been arrested and charged.

Over in South Africa, the Economic Freedom Fighter, EFF, also lambasted the US in a statement calling on African countries to call the US government to exercise restraint and to “call on Trump to seize from his genocidal deployment of the military against protesters.”

Kylie Jenner 'could face jail over billionaire business lies'

A legal expert has suggested that the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star could be in a whole lot of legal trouble amid allegations she lied about her wealth and tax returns.Kylie Jenner could face a criminal investigation and even jail time if allegations she was dishonest about her tax returns are true.

The reality star has seen a spectacular fall from grace after she was kicked out of Forbes Magazine Billionaire list– just two years after they declared her the youngest self made billionaire of all time.

The magazine alleges that the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star – who created a cosmetic company called Kylie Cosmetics in 2015 – may have filed false information to exaggerate the success of her cosmetics company after examining evidence from Kardashian family accountants.

Forbes claims that accountant reports suggest Kylie Cosmetics jumped in value from zero to $300 (£244 million) in the space of a year, leading the magazine to grow suspicious.

While in November last year, beauty giant Coty bought a 51 per cent stark in Kylie’s business for an astonishing $600 million (£487 million) – which would have valued Kylie Cosmetics at $1.2 billion (£970 million).

source:mirror.co.uk

INEC To Recruit Officials for Edo and Ondo Gov. Polls

As part of preparations for the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission says it will recruit and deploy 38,887 officials for the two elections.

The commission noted that the ad hoc staff would respectively serve as Returning Officers, Local Government Area Collation Officers, Registration Area Collation Officers, Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers (1, 2 and 3), Assistant Presiding Officers (Voting Points), Constituency Supervisors, LGA Supervisors, Governorship Constituency Supervisors and Reserves.

Liai Mohamed Praises Buhari's ''Courageous" Leadership

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday, took a holistic assessment of the Buhari administration in the last one year and concluded that President Muhammadu Buhari had been providing bold and courageous leadership and that the country “is marching surely and steadily to join the comity of great nations.”

But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fired back, saying that the five-year administration of President Buhari and the All Progress Congress (APC) had taken Nigeria 60 years backward.

On the same day, the President in an article published in Newsweek magazine on post-Coronavirus Africa, stated that the renewed infrastructural development in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan regions of Africa had positioned it to be the new global manufacturing hub in the post COVID-19 era.

Lai Mohammed spoke in Abuja at a press conference to mark the first anniversary (second term) of the Buhari administration.

The minister said though the President came to power on ‘change’ mantra, but that change was never easy and the birth of a new nation comes with pain.

“With the bold and courageous leadership provided by the President, Nigeria is marching surely and steadily to join the comity of great nations. Change is never easy, and the birth of a new nation comes with pain.

“We thank Nigerians for their support and perseverance, and hereby reassure them of the administration’s unrelenting commitment to making life more meaningful for the citizenry.

“President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on the strength of his promise of change.

Nigerians, who are satisfied with his performance, especially in the cardinal areas of fighting corruption, tackling insecurity and revamping the economy, overwhelmingly re-elected the President in 2019,” the federal government’s spokesman said.

In his message, “1st Anniversary (2nd term) of Buhari Administration: A Year of Momentous Change,” the minister added that one year later, the President was taking Nigeria to the “next Level of irreversible change for the better” and that the intractable power problem was finally being tackled in a way that would end poor power supply that had stunted Nigeria’s socio-economic development.According to him, “The days of unbridled massive importation of food are coming to an end, as Nigeria moves to become self-sufficient in major staples, especially rice. Thanks to the provision of many platforms and improved welfare, the Nigerian military is living up to the billing in tackling insurgency.”

Mohammed said as the President begins his second year of the second and last tenure, the stage was set for the implementation of the greatest agricultural revolution in the history of Nigeria.

“The unprecedented approval by the Buhari administration to inject $1.2 billion in-kind loan into the agriculture sector through the government-to-government bilateral loan from Brazil, with support from Deutsche Bank and the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Export Credit of the Islamic Development Bank, will revolutionise our agriculture at scale,” he explained.

On power supply, the Minister of Information said that top on the list was power, or electricity, saying it would be an “understatement” to say that inadequate power supply, hallmarked by regular blackouts, had stifled Nigeria’s economic development.

He claimed that it was perhaps the single most formidable obstacle to the country’s economic development; but added that following an agreement with German company Siemens in July 2019 to boost power supply in Nigeria, the stage was set for the perennial power problem to become a thing of the past.

He added, “Under the three-phase agreement, Nigerians will enjoy 7,000 megawatts of reliable power supply by the end of 2021 (phase 1), 11,000 megawatts by the end of 2023 (phase 2) and 25,000 megawatts in the third phase.

“To put things in perspective, Nigeria’s current power generation capacity is more than 13,000 megawatts, but only an average of 3,400 megawatts, reliably reach consumers.

Explaining what the administration had done to boost infrastructure development in the past years, the Minister further said the administration had embarked on a massive infrastructural renewal, the type of which the country had not witnessed since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

He gave examples of the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Expressway, the Owerri Interchange, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Port Harcourt-Enugu Expressway, and the commencement of road repairs in 92 locations across 24 states by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The minister further claimed that the fight against corruption, which he described as a “cardinal programme of the administration,” had continued unabated during the period under review, saying the leading anti-corruption agencies had been unrelenting in facing down the canker worm of corruption.

We’re Poised to Upstage Asia in Manufacturing, Post-Covid-19, Boasts President

Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday stated that the renewed infrastructural development in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan regions of Africa had positioned it to be the new global manufacturing hub in the post COVID-19 era.

In an article he contributed to Newsweek magazine on post-Coronavirus Africa, the President said Nigeria had established the first private oil refinery, which he described as one of the largest in the world, and thanked foreign countries that repatriated stolen funds to Nigeria for the rapid infrastructural provisions.

He said the story was the same with other African countries, describing sub-Sahara Africa as a more promising destination than Asia, North America and Europe in terms of the foreign direct investment inflow to the gross domestic product (GDP).

Buhari also noted that the position of Africa was not to contest with any world power or paly politics but merely to present the opportunity to contribute her own quota in solving global problems, especially with the youthful population of African countries.

He said as bright as that information looked, what was brighter was that Africa, which he described as the brightest manufacturing location, was not interested in geo-political competition.

He described Africa as “an opportunity,” with no threat to anyone, assuring that in future, institutions such as African armies or continental airline would never be created.

He argued that the continent’s drive was to grow its manufacturing prowess and not to showcase any strength but rather poised to position itself as partner in progress.

$1 billion Stolen from Nigeria under a Junta in the 1990s

President Buhari also disclosed in his article that close to $1 billion was stolen from Nigeria “under a previous, undemocratic junta in the 1990s”.

Although Buhari did not mention the name of late General Sani Sani Abacha directly, it was clear that he was referring to the dictator who presided over the nation between 1993 and 1998.

The Nigerian leader thanked countries that had returned the looted funds to Nigeria.

PDP: Buhari, APC Have Set Nigeria 60 Years Backward

The opposition PDP yesterday said its review of the five-year administration of President Buhari and the ruling APC showed that they had taken Nigeria 60 years backward.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja, added that in line with the assessments of majority of Nigerians, “Our party views the last five years of Buhari administration as wasteful and could at the best be described as the season of the locusts.”

The PDP lamented that the Buhari-led APC government had turned the nation into a wasteland, devastated her economy, shattered the national dreams, crushed the hope of citizens and set the country backward.

The PDP further stated that the APC administration had reversed all the gains achieved by the PDP for which May 29 was always celebrated and left the country dejected and despondent.

According to the PDP, “Under President Buhari, May 29 has become a day of grieving for Nigerians; a day for commemoration of failed promises, reversal of gains achieved by past leaders and retrogression in our body polity as a nation.

“This administration has failed woefully in its three major governance planks of provision of security, economic recovery and fight against corruption.”

The PDP said that in the last five years, the APC administration had done nothing but drive the nation along the precipices; reneged on all its campaign promises, ruined the productive sector, frustrated the farmers, manufacturers and small scale entrepreneurs, devalued the Naira, wrecked employment opportunities for the youth, turned the once prosperous nation into the poverty capital of the world, while accumulating huge foreign debts for this and future generation.

Under five years, it claimed, “President Buhari has borrowed from every corner of the world. These include external borrowing of $10.72 billion (N4.1 trillion) in 2015; $11.41 billion (N4.4 trillion) in 2016; $18.91 billion (N7.3 trillion) in 2017; $25.27 billion (N9.8 trillion) in 2018; $27.68 billion (N10.7 trillion) in 2019; as well as 2020 loans of $3.4 billion (N1.3 trillion) from IMF; $4.4 million (N1.594 billion) internal borrowing; $22.7 billion (N8.8 trillion) external loan and the recently yet to be approved $5.513 billion (N2.1 trillion) waiting before the National Assembly.”

According to the PDP, “Under the APC administration, insurgents, marauders and bandits, who have been pushed to the fringes under the PDP, have resurged and are now having field day ravaging communities and killing our compatriots while government continue in its lip service and empty condolence messages.”

The party said that it was distressing that “instead of heeding wise counsel to accept failure and avoid making false performance claims, the Buhari Presidency just yesterday, released a list of recycled fictitious achievements, including very insensitive claim of having routed out bandits; even as marauders were pillaging communities and killing our compatriots in Sokoto and in other states, particularly in the Northwest.”

Ologbondiyan said, “Our party once again asks President Buhari to wake up to the reality, accept failure and seek help since it has become clear that his administration, as presently constituted, has devastated our nation and is leading us on a journey to nowhere.”

Secondus Appraises APC Years in Office

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has described the five years’ administration of President Buhari and the ruling APC, as a road Nigeria should not have passed.

Prince Secondus said in a statement appraising the five years of President Buhari and the APC he personally signed titled “Five years of Buhari- The Road that should not have been followed” that in the last five years, all negative indexes in our socio-political and economic life as a nation were activated.

He said that the last five years have been regrettable years of anguish to the people due to the glaring incompetence and incapacity to deliver good governance.

Secondus said: “All gains after independence, the civil war as well as the era the PDP successfully midwifed the nation’s democratic evolution up to the point of successfully seeing an opposition win and transit into power have been destroyed. This happened at a time small nations like Ghana witnessed astronomic growth in all spheres.”

He said that “In 2015 the global international community stood in salute for Nigeria for the great feat recorded in area of democracy but rather than progress from it, the nation under the watch of APC has continued to go in retrogression.

“Our general elections have been anything but fair, with security agencies and the Election body abandoning their legitimate responsibilities of neutrality and fairness to being visibly partners of the ruling government”.

Source: THISDAY

Trafficked Nigerian Women Rescued From Lebanon

Fifty trafficked Nigerian women have been rescued from Lebanon and returned home, Nigeria's foreign minister says.

They have all been placed in quarantine following their arrival on Sunday as a precaution against coronavirus.

The country's anti-trafficking agency will interview them about their experiences after their isolation ends.

Last month, a Nigerian woman working as a maid in Lebanon was rescued after being put up for sale on Facebook for $1,000 (£807).

The UN says thousands of women and girls from Nigeria and other African countries are trafficked every year.

They are often lured away with promises of jobs in Europe or Asia, but usually end up being exploited as domestic maids or forced into prostitution.

Last year, an undercover BBC News Arabic investigation in Kuwait found that domestic workers were being illegally bought and sold online in a booming black market.Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, tweeted his thanks to the Lebanese authorities for their support in making the evacuation possible. 

A further 19 Nigerians, stranded in Lebanon because of Covid-19 lockdowns, were also repatriated.

Julie Okah-Donli, the head of Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (Naptip), said the hotel where the women were being quarantined was under guard to ensure their protection.

They would be offered ways to rebuild their lives after investigations into their cases, she said.

According to Naptip, at least 20,000 Nigerian girls were trafficked to Mali and forced into prostitution last year.

Ms Okah-Donli said the agency was working with the foreign ministry to repatriate citizens who had been trafficked.

BBC NEWS

Grave Diggers Caught with Fresh Human Heads

Four members of a grave scavenging syndicate were over the weekend caught in possession of human heads in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The gravediggers, Olomofe, 45; Adewale Abiodun, 40; Akinola Sunday, 69; and Oluwadare Idowu 67 who were workers at a public cemetery owned by Akure South Local Government along Imafon road, Akure were nabbed while trying to severe the head of a newly buried corpse.

The four suspects are already cooling off in the police net after being quizzed by detectives at the Ondo State Police Command.

It was gathered that on May 23, 2020, the suspects had tried to exhume the corpse of a young tipper driver buried a few hours earlier on that day.The bubble burst for the grave digging syndicate after some of the bereaved came back to the cemetery a few hours after they left to make arrangements towards cementing the grave.

According to a family member who craved anonymity the criminals were also caught in possession of a female human head and four other fresh severed heads.

“It was when we caught them in the act that we started beating them and we discovered that they were in possession of other human heads.We immediately contacted men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who came to pick them up.”

Meanwhile, residents of the community have appealed to both the local and state government to relocate the cemetery from the area.

According to them, such facilities should not be found within urban centres due to the health risks and other societal danger it portends.Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro said that investigation had begun into the matter towards unraveling other members of the syndicate.

While assuring of diligent prosecution of the case, ASP Ikoro said, “the ongoing investigation will reveal everything, particularly other members of the gang.

“From what we have found out, it shows that it’s not their first time. It’s something they have been doing, it’s a routine thing.

“Like we always hear, very many days for the thief, one day for the owner. I think this time, their cup is full,” Ikoro stated.

Daily Post

Man Falls from a Tree and Dies while Attempting to Commit Suicide

A 71-year-old man from Lusulu in Binga died after falling from a tree while trying to commit suicide, police have confirmed.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said Sianganda Mudenda of Zungwane 11 Village in Siandindi area had earlier attempted to hang himself from the roof truss in his bedroom hut but his 16-year-old granddaughter begged him not to hang himself.

The two were alone at home in the absence of the now deceased’s wife Mrs Noloa Mudenda (66).Determined to end his life, Mudenda later went outside the bedroom hut after lying to his granddaughter that he wanted to get something from a tree in the yard.

“On 18 May at around 4PM the now deceased was at his homestead with his granddaughter aged 16. He tried to hang himself from the roof truss in his bedroom hut and was restrained by the granddaughter,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

She said Mudenda later went outside after telling his granddaughter that he wanted to get something from a tree.

The minor reportedly begged her grandfather not to climb the tree to no avail.-@ncubeleon

US Issues New Travel Ban On Brazil

The United States of America has issued a travel ban on people travelling from Brazil after the South American country recorded 330 890 coronavirus cases including 21 048 deaths as of Friday 22 May, overtaking Russia for second place in the world for the highest number of cases, after the US.

The ban affects individuals who have been in Brazil within 14 days immediately preceding their attempt to enter the United States.

Issuing the ban, President Donald Trump said:I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.

Johns Hopkins University asserts that the proclamation is aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus coming into the United States from Brazil.

Meanwhile, some European countries are reopening their economies despite experts warning against reopening too soon, and recommending some form of confinement measures until a vaccine or treatment is developed.

Governments are however feeling immense pressure to ease lockdowns which have had an adverse impact on economies.

CNN

Nigeria's Economy Grows by 1.87%

Nigeria’s economy grew 1.87% in the first three months of 2020 from a year earlier, the statistics office said on Monday, shrinking from the previous quarter as oil prices and international trade fell due to the coronavirus pandemic

It is the slowest quarterly growth rate in one-and-a-half years, and comes as Nigeria has still not recovered from a 2016 recession that sent more than 13 million people into unemployment.

The slowdown reflects “the earliest effects of the disruption” from the global outbreak, said Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, and comes as the government expects Africa’s largest economy to contract this year as much as 8.9% in a worst case scenario.

Nigeria’s crude production was 2.07 million barrels a day, the statistics office said, the country’s highest level in more than four years.

But a global oil price crash due to reduced demand from the pandemic threatens to offset those gains, with annual growth in the oil sector contracting 1.3% from the previous quarter to 5.06%.

The non-oil sector was also hit: growing by just 1.55%, which was down 0.72% from the last three months of 2019, the statistics office said.

The World Bank expects the coming recession to be “much more pronounced” than in 2016 and potentially Nigeria’s worst financial crisis in four decades.

africanews.com