Twitter users, blocked by Trump, cry censorship

President Donald Trump may be the nation's tweeter-in-chief, but some Twitter users say he's violating the First Amendment by blocking people from his feed after they posted scornful comments.

Lawyers for two Twitter users sent the White House a letter Tuesday demanding they be un-blocked from the Republican president's @realDonaldTrump account.

"The viewpoint-based blocking of our clients is unconstitutional," wrote attorneys at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in New York.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The tweeters — one a liberal activist, the other a cyclist who says he's a registered Republican — have posted and retweeted plenty of complaints and jokes about Trump.

They say they found themselves blocked after replying to a couple of his recent tweets. The activist, Holly O'Reilly, posted a video of Pope Francis casting a sidelong look at Trump and suggested this was "how the whole world sees you." The cyclist, Joe Papp, responded to the president's weekly address by asking why he hadn't attended a rally by supporters and adding, with a hashtag, "fakeleader."

Blocking people on Twitter means they can't easily see or reply to the blocker's tweets.

Although Trump started @realDonaldTrump as a private citizen and Twitter isn't government-run, the Knight institute lawyers argue that he's made it a government-designated public forum by using it to discuss policies and engage with citizens. 

Indeed, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Trump's tweets are "considered official statements by the president."

The institute's executive director, Jameel Jaffer, compares Trump's Twitter account to a politician renting a privately-owned hall and inviting the public to a meeting.

"The crucial question is whether a government official has opened up some space, whether public or private, for expressive activity, and there's no question that Trump has done that here," Jaffer said. "The consequence of that is that he can't exclude people based solely on his disagreement with them."

The users weren't told why they were blocked. Their lawyers maintain that the connection between their criticisms and the cutoff was plain.

Still, there's scant law on free speech and social media blocking, legal scholars note.

"This is an emerging issue," says Helen Norton, a University of Colorado Law School professor who specializes in First Amendment law.

Morgan Weiland, an affiliate scholar with Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society, says the blocked tweeters' complaint could air key questions if it ends up in court. Does the public forum concept apply in privately run social media? Does it matter if an account is a politician's personal account, not an official one?

San Francisco-based Twitter Inc. declined to comment. The tweeters aren't raising complaints about the company. - AP

FAAN Bans Luggage Checking At Departure Hall

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria says checking of travellers luggage will no longer be done at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, said this was part of the plan to ensure the implementation of the Executive Order recently issued by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

Dunoma made this known after a meeting with all the participating agencies at the airport on Tuesday. “The Executive Order does not give room for pre-checks on luggage. All checks should be done in designated areas. Luggage should not be checked at the departure hall,” he said.

Dunoma added that there would be no compromise with the procedures and that whatever security procedure or security checks the agency would adopt would not be compromised.


He said, “We have to meet the deadline set by the Executive Order. There are strategies in line with the order, but the concerned agencies need to meet regularly to ensure that these strategies are adhered to and improved.

“Concentration is on the Lagos airport because it is the key airport due to its size, complexity and passenger traffic. If we get it right in Lagos, we will get it right in other airports.

Once we do that, I believe all the other airports will be easy for us.” Dunoma stated that the participating agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security, Quarantine Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Immigration Services, Nigeria Customs Services and FAAN Aviation Security, among others, would implement the directive successfully.

“All participating agencies are ready to key into this big committee set up for the implementation. Everybody is contributing positively.

From all indications, all hands are on deck to make sure the Executive Order is implemented successfully.

West Ham favourites to sign Henry Onyekuru

West Ham remain in the market for a striker or two this summer and they could be closing in on adding one to their squad.

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers have emerged as favourites to land KAS Eupen striker Henry Onyekuru this summer.

Arsenal, Swansea, Borussia Dortmund, Red Bull Leipzig, Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach, Lyon, Lille, Monaco, Nice, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Fiorentina and Roma have all been credited with interest in the teenager.

Onyekuru netted 24 goals and provided 13 assists for Eupen this season which has led to seven Premier League clubs opening talks to sign him, but the Hammers are leading the race.

With many offers seemingly on the table, it’s understood that the player and his representatives will be flying to England early next week to hold talks with a number of clubs before deciding on his next move.

Adding strikers to the squad is one of West Ham’s biggest summer priorities and fending off competition to land Onyekuru would be a major coup for the club.

El-Rufai orders arrest of ‘Arewa youth’ who asked Igbo to leave north

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has ordered the arrest of members of the groups which gave the Igbo three-month ultimatum to leave the north.

El-Rufai gave the order at a press conference in Arewa House, Kaduna, on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a coalition of northern youth declared that the north could no longer co-exist with the Igbo.

But speaking through Samuel Aruwan, his spokesman, the governor condemned the action of the groups and assured every resident of Kaduna that “nobody can tamper with their freedom to reside where they choose”.

“The Kaduna state government took exception to the fact that the ‘northern youths’ did their irresponsible press conference in Kaduna,” he said.

“This government has been consistent in taking action to punish hate speech and incitement. People who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right and they cannot use our state to do or say things that threaten the peace.”‎Kaduna state government has therefore ordered the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the signatories to the statement.

“‎Kaduna state government has therefore ordered the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the signatories to the statement.

“The Kaduna state government condemns in the strongest terms the press statement by some self-appointed ‘northern youths’ that threatened the safety and property of our citizens of Igbo extraction. Government assures every resident of our state that their constitutional and human rights to live peacefully and own property wherever they choose is sacrosanct. Even people who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right.

“Even people who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right.

“The Kaduna state government believes in and will uphold the right of every Nigerian to live safely and develop his/her full potentials within its territory.

“Reckless disregard for the rights of other citizens drips through the press statement by these “northern youths” who have chosen to use the discourse around restructuring to promote their own agenda of hate, division and incitement. This sort of opportunists cannot be allowed to distort debate, or turn it into a pretext for a barely-disguised agenda of displacement and dispossession of some citizens.

“We will not tolerate such irresponsible statements and conduct in our state. The statement issued by the “northern youths” violates the laws of Kaduna state. Therefore, the Kaduna state government has directed that its ministry of justice to prepare charges and prosecute the signatories and anyone complicit in arranging this egregious assault on the rights of fellow citizens.

“Preparatory to prosecution, the police have been directed to immediately arrest, interrogate the signatories to the statement and investigate all the circumstances and persons that may be implicated in the matter.

“The Kaduna State Government urges all residents to ignore the threats from the “northern youths”. We are in contact with the leadership of the Igbo community in Kaduna, and we delighted to say that this community, like all our other communities, believes in the strength of the constitutional order to protect all citizens.

“Kaduna state government wishes to encourage all our people to celebrate the diversity with which the Almighty has blessed us, to continue to shun agents of division, and to stand firm in upholding a common humanity. Everyone has a right to live in peace and harmony.” - Cable Nigeria

Emir Sanusi sacks Palace Secretary for leaking private information

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has sacked his Palace Secretary, Isa Sanusi Bayero, for allegedly leaking sensitive information.

LEADERSHIP reports that a senior figure in the emirate, who spoke anonymously said the sacked secretary masterminded most of the negative stories that leaking information from the palace.

Another source, who worked under the sacked secretary said, “It’s no longer news in the palace that the ex-Palace Secretary was antagonistic to Emir Sanusi, and was responsible for most of the leaks coming out of the palace.

“The recent rift between Emir Sanusi and Kano State government exposed the mole role so much to the level of leaking official documents to the media,” he said.

NDDC projects designed to enrich individuals – Osinbajo

The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday alleged that some of the projects initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission for the region in the past years were not designed to succeed.

He claimed that the projects were deliberately meant to enrich some individuals.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Acting President spoke while receiving a delegation from Bayelsa State regarding the $3.6bn Brass Fertilizer and Petro-Chemical Company that is expected to come on stream soon.

The delegation which included executives of the company was led by the state governor, Seriake Dickson.

Osinbajo was quoted as lamenting that only 12% completion rate was recorded in several of the projects undertaken by the NDDC in the past years, while the rest were abandoned.

“Sometimes, projects are designed not to succeed, but just for some people to make money,” the Acting President was quoted as saying.

Osinbajo however said that the present administration was promoting a new way of thinking and engagement that will secure the development of the region and the entire country.

That new approach, which he restated as the New Vision, according to him involves an active and effective collaboration between the government, the private sector and the communities.

He said the approach would ensure that whatever projects started would be completed.

“The Buhari administration, this government is committed to finishing whatever we start. At the end of the day, we shall ensure that,” he said.

Female nursery worker stabbed by three muslim women

A nursery worker was beaten up and stabbed by three girls as she walked to work in east London this morning.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was walking from Wanstead station to Little Diamonds nursery on Hermon Hill when the attackers came up behind her at just after 9.30am on Wednesday.
They shoved her to the ground before punching and kicking her during the terrifying attack.
Karrien Stevens, who runs Little Diamonds nursery on Hermon Hill where the victim works, told the Standard the three attackers were “chanting the Koran”.

She said: “A staff member was coming to work when three Asian girls came up behind her chanting the Koran.
“They pulled her to the ground, kicking and punching her.

“One of them got the knife out and cut her arm.
“They were shouting about Allah, that and the Koran.”
The nursery manager added the attack had "nothing to do with the nursery".

It is not being treated as terrorist-related.
The three suspects fled the scene before police arrived. Met officers and paramedics sped to the scene and found the victim suffering from a stab wound.

She was taken to a hospital in east London. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
No one has yet been arrested and enquiries into what happened continue.

A Met spokesman added: "The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command has been made aware of the incident but is not investigating at this time."

My Wife Is Stubborn, Snoops On My Phone- Divorce-Seeking Husband

54-year-old husband, Adekunle Bakare, on Wednesday asked an Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his six-year marriage to his wife, Ajarat, for alleged threat to life and stubbornness.

Bakare, a civil servant, who resides at Philips Nwokwe Street, Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos, also cited lack of respect and checking his phone without permission as reasons for the dissolution request.

At the resumed hearing, the petitioner told the court that he was fed up with Ajarat’s way of life.

“Ajarat has become used to fighting me with dangerous weapons when we have minor misunderstandings.“She usually checks my phone and accuses me of infidelity. In fact, she once destroyed my phone during argument.


“She is fond of attending parties with her friends without my consent; and she never respects me as her husband and father of her two children. I cannot continue to tolerate her stubbornness,’’ he said

But the 36-year-old respondent, who denied the allegations against her, accused her husband of lack of care.

She, however, pleaded with the court to save her marriage.

The President of the court, Mrs. Funmi Adeola, urged the couple to maintain peace pending the determination of the case.

She adjourned the case till July 8 for possible reconciliation. - NAN

Zimbabwean police : Female rapists attacking men

Zimbabwean police have cautioned unsuspecting men and the general public to be wary of a group of women accused of sexually assaulting men in the capital Harare.

Two separate incidents were reported last week after an August last year incident when four women drugged and “sexually molested” a 29-year-old man they had offered a lift.

Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi told local media The Herald that the first incident occured last Saturday when a 37-year-old man boarded a bus with two female passengers and a male driver.

He explained that another female passenger joined the bus before the driver later changed his route to “evade a police roadblock”.

“On the way, one of the females who had boarded the vehicle together with the complainant, drew what appeared to be a pistol and force-marched the complainant into a bushy area along Delport Road,” The Herald quoted the police spokesman.

“One of the females forced the complainant to have sexual intercourse with him without his consent while another female accused forced the complainant to drink an unknown liquid which left the complainant unconscious,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Nyathi also narrated the ordeal of the second victim who was given a lift to Harare by five women. He was offered a drink which left him unconscious.

“When the complainant gained consciousness he discovered that he had been abused,” he said.

He urged the public with information to assist the police with their investigation.

“We would like to urge members of the public to be on the lookout for a group of men and women who are giving unsuspecting victims transport and end up abusing them,” Chief Superintendent Nyathi advised.

Similar incidents also spiraled in September 2015 when two women allegedly raped a man at gunpoint after offering him a lift, The Herald reports.

The Burial Of Moji Olaiya in Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos ( video & photos)

Turkey seizes tonne of heroin in Congo-flagged ship raid: police

Turkish security forces have seized more than a tonne of heroin hidden in a Democratic Republic of Congo-flagged cargo ship in a raid in international waters, the largest such seizure in recent Turkish history, police said on Wednesday.

The operation was launched after the narcotics squad received a tip-off that the ship, Commander Tide, was heading towards Turkey with a major drugs consignment, police said in a statement.

Turkish naval forces, the coastguard and special forces from the eastern Mediterranean province of Mersin took part in the raid, seizing 40 sacks containing 1,071 kg (2,361 lb) of heroin hidden in secret compartments on the ship, police said.

It said the nine crew members were detained in an operation on the night of June 2 and transported with the ship to a naval base at Marmaris in southwest Turkey.

The drugs haul had a market value of around 200 million lira ($57 million), police said.

Turkey is on a major smuggling route for heroin from Afghanistan to Europe. -Reuters

17-year-old Pastor's Daughter Runs Away with Muslim Lover After He Impregnated Her in Lagos

An Assemblies of God church man cleric, Rev. Uche Okereke of the Iyana Ipaja branch, Lagos State, has dragged his 19-year-old daughter’s Muslim lover, Moruf, to court for impregnating her and making her abandon her family.

A mild drama played out in court when the 17-year-old girl, Chioma said to her father’s face in court that she was bound by the relationship and was already pregnant for Moruf.

However, the father told the court that Chioma abandoned her education at secondary school level, and started living with Moruf who is a fashion designer and of Muslim Faith in their family house.

The pastor said they have been dating for about 5 years and had tried to search and bring Chioma back to his house to continue her education but it was to no avail. The presiding Magistrate, Akeem Fashola declined to take Moruf’s plea and referred them to family court.

He said: “For the past five years, I have looking for Chioma and did not see her until last week when information got to me where Moruf was hiding her and have changed into Muslim faith.

“She was rescued and Moruf was arrested by the Police and detained at the station.”

The matter continues.

EFCC Arraigns Three ‘Ghost Workers’ for N9.7m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 arraigned the trio of Onukaogu Onyinyechi Esther, Ebenuwa Chinazo Jennifer and Onukaogu Joshua before Justice A. S. Adepoju of the FCT High court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, on a 13-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.

Esther allegedly abused her office while being a staff of Soft Alliance, consultants to the office of the Auditor General of the Federation on IPPIS
between 2012 and 2013, to input her name and two of her siblings (Jennifer and Joshua) into the IPPIS database as staff of Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Ministry of Works respectively, for the purpose of receiving salaries from the federal government.

Esther and her co-defendants were said to have drawn salaries as ghost workers from their ‘respective ministries’ for three years, to the tune of N9million before the law caught up with them.

The offence breaches Section 1 (1) (a) and is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.

Count six of the charge reads:
“That you Onukaogu Onyinyechi Esther and Onukaogu Joshua between January 2014 and December 2014, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with the intention to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,860,865.72 (One Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Five naira, Seventy Two Kobo, only), from the Federal government of Nigeria, under the false pretence that Onukaogu Joshua is a civil servant working in the Federal Ministry of
Education, which pretence you knew to be false”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In view of their pleas, counsel to EFCC, Elizabeth Alabi, urged the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the suspects in prison custody.

But, the defence counsel, M. M. Hirse, informed the court that he had pending applications for the bail of the defendants.

Responding, Alabi urged the court to refuse the application adding that, “they were once granted bail and they jumped it”.

However, Justice Adepoju opined that “the purpose of bail is to secure the attendance of the defendants in court. It is their constitutional right to be granted bail”.

The judge, therefore, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N5million with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must be civil servants not below salary grade level ten.

The matter has been adjourned to September 21, 2017 for hearing.

Meanwhile, the defendants are to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

David Beckham secures massive victory in quest to own Miami MLS team after years of battle

IT HAS BEEN a relentless slog with a litany of roadblocks. But it would appear David Beckham is now well on his way to becoming the owner of a Miami-based Major League Soccer franchise.
June 6th was always going to be judgement day – literally.

After three failed attempts at purchasing land in various locations to build a stadium, Beckham’s consortium made headway with a proposal for a 25,000-capacity venue in Overtown, in the northwest of the city.

Quickly and easily, they splashed out $19m for six acres of private land. But, they required three more. And the rest of the land they needed was owned by Miami-Dade county. So, Beckham’s team have had to lobby – hard – to persuade them of the benefits of the sale.

Understandably, there has been opposition to the plan and that has led to delays.
But, finally, on Tuesday, county commissioners approved the sale for a price of $9m.
So, Beckham now has the nine acres he requires – acquired for just under $30m. However, there’s a lot of work still to be done.

He now has to get approval from the city to actually start building the stadium. And that means getting residents onside. That won’t be easy, mainly because of the stadium’s parking proposals.

It will not have any car park facility on-site so anyone attending games will have to use public transit, walk (in searing Miami heat?) or arrange for drop-offs close-by. There’s even a relatively half-baked idea that would see fans being ferried along the Miami River by boat. It’s far from ideal and certainly a practical issue that needs fixing.

The stadium itself will cost – going by commitments Beckham’s team made when purchasing the land – at least $175m.
Still, the money is a long way from what other businessmen have had to pay to get involved in the MLS game.

Currently, the going rate to own an expansion team is about $150m.

When he signed for LA Galaxy ten years ago, Beckham’s contract stipulated he had the chance to own a franchise for just $25m.

Nigerian Government rewards 20 whistleblowers with N375.8m

The ministry of finance has confirmed the release of N375.8m to 20 providers of information under the whistleblower policy.

Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, who disclosed this in a statement, said those who got the money assisted the government in recovering over N11.6 billion.

The identities of the beneficiaries were not revealed.
“This payment is the first under the whistleblower policy,” the statement read.

“The payment underscores the commitment of the President Muhmmadu Buhari-led administration to meet its obligations to information providers under the whistleblower policy, which is an essential tool in the fight against corruption.”
The minister said recent amendments to the whistleblower policy of the government include the introduction of a formal legal agreement between information providers and the Federal Government.

The agreement is executed by the minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation.
She said in line with the policy, each whistleblower would be entitled to a minimum of five percent of the money involved in the corruption case reported.

The payment of the money would however be made after the successful recovery of the affected sum to government coffers, while informants who provide false hint, risk prosecution and jail.
The minister said standard procedures had also been introduced to ensure the protection of the identities of information providers during the payment process.

Adeosun explained that all payments were taxable and were only made upon confirmation of the final recovery of related assets, after confirmation by the attorney-general of the federation as being free of legal disputes.

She also gave details of the whistleblower unit, a multi-agency team resident in the ministry of finance headquarters.

The unit is staffed by personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Services (SSS), the Nigeria Police Force and Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), among others.

“The whistleblower unit is the first line of response to whistleblower information, where initial review is undertaken before cases are forwarded to the relevant investigative agencies,” Adeosun said.

The executive council of the federation approved the whistleblowers policy launched by the minister in December 2016 to encourage members of the public volunteer credible information about corruption cases in the country.

The policy, which is part of the government’s anti-corruption campaign, has seen the government receiving about 2,150 communications and 337 tips through the whistleblower unit’s dedicated channels from various Nigerians.

The minister said this has led to the recovery of substantial assets illegally acquired by individuals across the country.
Details of such asset recoveries are still not made public by government.

I am frustrated - Giroud

Olivier Giroud has issued a warning to Arsenal saying he will not tolerate another season on the bench.

The 30-year-old French striker recently signed a new contract until 2020 but his frustrations have grown after starting only 11 Premier League games in the last campaign with Alexis Sanchez preferred up front.

With Arsene Wenger committing to another two years, the Gunners are reportedly chasing Monaco's teenager striker Kylian Mbappe, and the French boss has also confirmed Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez is a target.

Speaking on Monday ahead of France's World Cup Qualifier against Sweden, Giroud said: "I will put up with the transfer market. I will discuss with the coach but he is relying on me.
"It is true that I have had limited playing time but it was for a certain amount of time, it is true there were things against me. I will not settle for another year with such little playing time.

"I will have to think carefully to consider it with my relatives and my advisers. It will be a decision that will be maturely thought about to have more playing time."
Giroud has continued to impress on the international stage, bagging a hat-trick in last Friday's friendly 5-0 win against Paraguay to score his 16th goal for his country in as many games.

The former Montpellier striker does not look set for a hasty decision and added: "I still have two or even three years left on my Arsenal contract, for the moment my future is at Arsenal.
"I feel good here, I want to win the Premier League with Arsenal. But I don't know what the future holds."

Harvard rescinds offers for 10 students over obscene memes

At least 10 students who were accepted into Harvard College have had their offers revoked, following the discovery of some offensive memes the students posted to a private Facebook group, according to The Harvard Crimson. The students were swapping sexually explicit memes and posting messages about how abusing children was sexually arousing.

A private group allegedly called “Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens” – according to another incoming freshman – included explicit memes mocking sexual assault and the Holocaust, among other offensive topics. One message described the hypothetical hanging of a Mexican child as “piñata time.”

Once the group was pointed out to the Harvard Admissions Committee, they reached out to the group’s members who were admitted to the college. A copy of the Admissions Office’s email obtained by The Crimson read: “The Admissions Committee was disappointed to learn that several students in a private group chat for the Class of 2021 were sending messages that contained offensive messages and graphics. As we understand you were among the members contributing such material to this chat, we are asking that you submit a statement by tomorrow at noon to explain your contributions and actions for discussion with the Admissions Committee.”

The meme group began when members of an official Harvard Class of 2021 page contacted each other. Members then formed a group specifically to swap memes; a second “R-rated” group was then created, with prospective members having to send a ‘dark’ meme to the group’s founder for vetting before being allowed to post.

One of the students who had their admission revoked said that the Admissions Committee asked to see every image that was posted by the student.

Cassandra Luca, a student who joined the first meme group but didn’t have her admission revoked said of the situation, “On the one hand, I think people can post whatever they want because they have the right to do that,” Luca told The Crimson. “I don’t think the school should have gone in and rescinded some offers because it wasn’t Harvard-affiliated, it was people doing stupid stuff.”

Harvard has previously stated that the decision to revoke an offer is final.

May: I’ll rip up human rights laws that impede new terror legislation

Theresa May has declared she is prepared to rip up human rights laws to impose new restrictions on terror suspects, as she sought to gain control over the security agenda just 36 hours before the polls open.

The prime minister said she was looking at how to make it easier to deport foreign terror suspects and how to increase controls on extremists where it is thought they present a threat but there is not enough evidence to prosecute them.

The last-ditch intervention comes after days of pressure on May over the policing cuts and questions over intelligence failures, following terror attacks on London Bridge, Manchester and Westminster.

She said: “But I can tell you a few of the things I mean by that: I mean longer prison sentences for people convicted of terrorist offences. I mean making it easier for the authorities to deport foreign terror suspects to their own countries.
“And I mean doing more to restrict the freedom and the movements of terrorist suspects when we have enough evidence to know they present a threat, but not enough evidence to prosecute them in full in court.

“And if human rights laws stop us from doing it, we will change those laws so we can do it.”
The proposed measures appear to be an attempt at strengthening terrorism prevention and investigation measures (Tpims) rather than a complete return to Labour’s control orders, which were repeatedly struck down by the courts and then scrapped by May in 2010 when she was home secretary.

They could involve further curfews, restrictions on association with other known extremists, controls on where they can travel and limits on access to communication devices.

The Conservatives have promised not to withdraw from the European convention on human rights during the next parliament but they could begin to try to replace or amend parts of the Human Rights Act after the UK leaves the EU.

It is possible May’s plans could involve seeking further derogations from the ECHR. This is the way the government is seeking to prevent human rights claims against soldiers in future military situations.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister tried to return her election campaign to the issues of Brexit and her leadership, as the Tories’ poll lead over Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour remained narrow.
But she continued to face a barrage of questions over the impact of cuts to policing. Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, said planned cuts of 10-40% in London over the next four years would make it “harder to foil terrorist attacks on our city”.

May was then repeatedly challenged about how the Home Office, police and intelligence services dealt with the information relating to the attackers, after Boris Johnson, her foreign secretary, said MI5 had questions to answer. One of the attackers, Khuram Butt, 27, had been reported to the anti-terror hotline in 2015 and a third attacker, Youssef Zaghba, 22, had been detained by Italian authorities in 2016.

Zaghba, named by police for the first time yesterday, was put on an international terrorism database for an attempt to travel to Syria in March 2016 which was thwarted after he allegedly told officials at Bologna: “I am going to be a terrorist.” But this does not seem to have been spotted by UK intelligence agencies.

His mother, Valeria Collina, told the Italian news magazine L’Espresso that her son was “friends” with the two other men and monitored by Italian officials after his failed journey to Syria.
May said she “absolutely recognised people’s concerns” and added that she expected the intelligence agencies to launch a review of the London Bridge attack.

“We need to look at how the terror threat is evolving, the way that terrorism is breeding terrorism and the increased tempo of attacks. We have had three horrific attacks and we have foiled five others. The tempo is there in a way we haven’t seen before,” she said.

“We will look at how the processes were followed, what they did. They will want to be looking at that because they will want to learn lessons for the future, if there are those lessons to be learned.”
She added: “The police and security service have done a good job in foiling a number of plots – just five in the last three months, and a significant number in the last few years as well.”

May declined to say whether Zaghba had been monitored or subject to an exclusion order when he returned to the UK after being stopped in Italy, and declined an opportunity to apologise for any failures by the intelligence agencies.

Despite having previously said she believed the police and security services had the resources they needed to deal with terrorism, she went on to announce details of a proposed crackdown on terrorism at a rally of Conservative activists in Slough.

Her remarks suggested that if she is re-elected her government could look to step up the use of orders that restrict the movement of terror suspects. She could even increase the period for which terror suspects can be held without trial, currently 14 days – a move that provoked clashes with civil liberties campaigners when Tony Blair attempted it after the 7 July 2005 attacks.

There are currently only seven terror suspects considered enough of a threat to be given Tpims, while there are about 23,000 people considered to have been subjects of interest by the security services. Tpims, which expire after two years, can include overnight curfews of up to 10 hours, electronic tagging, reporting regularly to the police, exclusion from certain zones, enforced relocation and some limitations on use of a mobile phone and the internet.

Elements of the orders could be strengthened but any attempt to return to the 18-hour-a-day curfews imposed by control orders would be likely to end up in the courts.
May’s proposals follow criticism from Labour and other parties about her cuts to policing and approach to tackling terrorism in the Home Office, which she led for six years. Corbyn accused the prime minister on Sunday night of trying to “protect the public on the cheap” by implementing 20,000 police cuts.

The prime minister has also been accused of politicising her response to the London Bridge terror attack when she addressed the nation outside Downing Street on Sunday. She declared “enough is enough” as she announced plans to introduce new anti-terror laws, without going into details about what she would do.

The London Bridge attack on Saturday night left seven people dead, and fifteen remain in hospital in critical condition. Raids and searches of properties in east London continue, but 12 others arrested as part of inquiries into whether anyone else helped the attackers have been released without charge. - The Guardian

Zimbabwean man loses wife in Champions League final bet

A Zimbabwean man with gambling addiction, who went to the extremes of betting his wife over the recently played Real Madrid, Juventus match has been fined two beasts.

ZimNews.net reports that Charles Jambaya (26) from Mkandapi village did the unthinkable on the 3rd of June when he pledged his wife Caroline Shumba (22) to another man over the Juventus, real Madrid match.

Jambaya had a verbal agreement with Eugene Gumbo (30) that if Real Madrid would beat Juventus in the UEFA Champion’s League final he would give him his wife, while the later told the former that if Juventus triumphed he would give him $500.

As fate would have it, Real Madrid trounced Juventus by four goals to one and all hell broke loose when Eugene demanded his prize after the match.

Jambaya told his bet mate to go and collect Caroline at his house.

Eugene went to Jambaya’s house and told Caroline that he had won her at the bottle store bet.

Puzzled and perplexed by the story, Caroline ran away and sought refuge at her aunt’s house.

Caroline told her aunt what had transpired and the matter was referred to Chief Mazivisa’s traditional court.

Appearing before Chief Mazivisa’s traditional court yesterday, Jambaya and Eugene told the court that they were not in their pure state of mind since they were drunk.

“Ishe nedare riri pano hongu makunana aya akaitika asi isu tanga takadhakwa, takanga tisiri mumindangariro yedu yakakwana zvomene”

Translated means : ”The chief and all the elders here present, the taboo took place but we were drunk hence we were not in our pure state of mind, explained Jambaya and Eugene in rapid succession.

Passing his judgement after a brief consultation with his elders, Chief Mazivisa fined Jambaya and Eugene one beast each for contravening the tenets of the Unhu or Ubuntu philosophy that dictates that a person cannot be sold, neither can anyone place a human being as a bet.

The chief also admonished villagers to desist from betting as this would result in illogical decisions.

“Muno mudunhu mangu handikurudzire njuga,zvemubhejo zvinemakuva akawanda,uye vechidiki regai mbanje neZvikiranco ndizvo zvinokanganisa hugaro hwemhuri zhinji.

Translated: in my Kingdom I do not encourage betting, betting has caused many deaths, also the youth should desist from smoking marijuana and drinking spirits since these are the major cause of problems in many families

Kano Court remands civil servant for sexually assaulting 3-year-old boy

A Kano Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded a 40-year-old civil servant, Abdullahi Abdulhamid, for allegedly sexually assaulting a three-year-old boy.

Abdulhamid, who lives at Dorayi Karama Quarters, Kano, is facing a one-count charge of act of gross indecency.

The prosecutor, ASP Rufa’i Inusa, told the court that one Ali Kabo of the same address reported the matter at Dorayi Babba Police Station, Kano, on May 18.

Inusa said that on May 17 at about 11 a.m., the accused lured the complainant’s three-year-old son into his house where he sexually assaulted the child.

“The accused assaulted the boy indecently by rubbing his manhood,” he said.

Inusa said that the victim was later rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the penal code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Muhammad Jibril ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter till June 26, for mention.

Wealthy Nigerian Pastors Spent $225 million Acquiring Private Jets in 2011 - Report Reveals

A few wealthy Nigerians spent at least $225 million acquiring private jets between March 2010 and March 2011, according to a report by Forbes.

 

The report which quoted another report published by the Punch Newspaper, revealed that other Nigerian billionaires like Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga also acquired private jets for themselves.

 

While Dangote acquired a US$45 million Bombardier jet as a gift to himself on his 53rd birthday, Mike Adenuga purchased a Bombardier Global Express XRS. Both Dangote and Adenuga own at least two private planes each, the report noted.

 

Apart from wealthy business tycoons, Nigerian clergymen and spiritual leaders are also joining the very elite league of jet owners.

 

Also, David Oyedepo, a Nigerian cleric generally believed to be Africa’s wealthiest gospel preacher, acquired a Gulfstream V jet for US$30 million in March 2011. Oyedepo, who presides over the Winners Chapel, one of Africa’s largest churches, now owns a private collection of four aircraft.

 

In addition to that, he previously owned two Gulfstream planes and a Bombardier Challenger Aircraft. He is also reportedly creating a private hanger to accommodate his flying toys.

 

Oyedepo is not the only Nigerian clergyman to own a jet. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the reverred overseer of Nigeria’s largest congregation, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, is also a proud jet owner. In March 2009, the great man of God spent $30 million on a Gulfstream jet amidst widespread criticism. Pastor Sam Adeyemi, another cleric and founder of the Daystar Christian center, a flourishing Pentecostal congregation which repeatedly preaches financial prosperity, is also a jet owner.

 

It’s not cheap to own a private jet. On average, it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to maintain a personal plane. The majority of Nigerians frown at such flagrant displays of opulence, particularly on the path of their clergymen, given that 60% of Nigerians still live below the poverty line.

 

Paradoxically, the same people who complain about the extravagant lifestyles of their spiritual leaders are the same ones who finance it. Every Sunday, swarms of worshipers rush to the church to give away their hard-earned money to the pastors’ coffers in the form of tithes, offerings and special gifts with the deluded hope of multiplied financial blessings in return. For many, this is but a pipe dream. Deep down, the pastors smile; they’ve got just the perfect suckers