GREECE CONFIRMS MIGRANT RESCUE ON STORMY MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Officials in Greece have confirmed an ongoing search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea east of Crete, following reports of a migrant ship in distress. Yet the situation remains a bit confusing, according to one NGO monitoring the ship’s fate.

On Friday, the Hellenic Coast Guard said they were conducting “one of the largest search and rescue operations carried out in the Eastern Mediterranean.”  The agency released an image of the Turkish-flagged cargo ship being towed, but it’s unclear what happened to it or the people onboard.

The Aegean Boat Report, a Norwegian migration NGO, first called attention to the migrants’ plight after getting reports that the disabled ship was drifting just south of Crete. The migrants, who said they are from Afghanistan, were en route to Italy but were turned aside by mechanical issues and bad weather in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has been battered by a “medicine” storm that is forecast to cross the sea and reach Libya by Sunday evening.

The NGO raised questions about whether the migrants would be returned to Turkey, in keeping with a European policy that for years has caused bitter contention and division among most Mediterranean coastal nations. They asked why the boat wasn’t taken to Crete and disputed the Greek authorities’ claims that they had not found any migrant ship.

Greek officials have yet to answer those questions but said they plan to make an updated statement on the incident.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has seen an uptick in Mediterranean Sea fatalities this year, although less so on eastern sea routes. Most migrant fatalities occur after ships leave Libya and Tunisia, or on a West African route through the Canary Islands, a territory of Spain.

IOM director António Vitorino appealed earlier this month for more assistance for Afghan refugees. There are now an estimated 5.5 million internally displaced persons in Afghanistan, with 5.7 million more who have fled to other nations.

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© Image: Hellenic Coast Guard

US-BASED SHOW PROMOTER ACCUSES NIGERIAN GRAMMY AWARD WINNER, BURNA BOY, MUM OF N28 MILLION THEFT, FRAUD

 

Uzoh, who is the CEO of Gold Moola Entertainment, accused the singer of refusing to perform at a show despite being paid in full.

A US-based show promoter, Emmanuel Chinyere Uzoh has accused Nigerian Grammy Award winner, Burna Boy and his mother, Bose Ogulu of extortion, fraud, and theft.

Uzoh, who is the CEO of Gold Moola Entertainment, accused the singer of refusing to perform at a show despite being paid in full.

Stating the allegations on his company’s Instagram handle on Tuesday, Uzoh also accused Ogulu, Burna Boy’s mother and manager, of attempting to extort $10,000 (about N6 million at the black market rate of N573 to $1) from him.

He said Ogulu insisted that he had to pay an additional $10,000 before Burna Boy could come downstairs to perform after he had already been paid.

He wrote, “Bose Ogulu attempted to extort me of $10,000. After the agreed sum was paid in full, she proceeded to ask for an additional $10,000.

“After the balance was paid in full, he posted and confirmed his attendance. That’s when Bose told me that I had to pay another $10k before he comes downstairs.

“I realized that I was being extorted. At that point, I no longer wanted to move forward with the deal. This was around 1:10 am. He was set to arrive at the club at 12:45 am. Once I requested a refund of the $15,000 (about N9 million) that was paid that night, (The deposit was paid on October 7th in Los Angeles) that was when he posted this canceled flyer.

“When I realized what was happening, I decided to pull from the show completely. I asked for the $15k balance that was paid on the night and they refused to return the money.

“After hours of negotiations in the hotel lobby, the entire team snuck out of the hotel through the back exit to avoid us.”

Uzoh vowed to take up the matter legally, saying his only demand is for Burna Boy and his mother to refund the money he had paid to them.

He continued, “These are just the primary details of what happened on the 31st of October in Houston, Texas. Because I didn’t fall for the demands of extortion, I was robbed of over $50,000 (about N28 million) and my name was left to be slandered in the city I love. We will allow the law to finish what it started. I pride myself on being a stand-up guy, especially in the entertainment industry.

“My only demand at this point is a refund. You were paid for a service that you didn’t complete. Be a stand-up guy and kindly return my money @burnaboygram.”

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LAGOS BUILDING COLLAPSE: US-BASED PROPERTY AGENT, BOB-OSENI UNDER RUBBLE, HE WAS TO RETURN TO AMERICA THE SAME DAY HE DIED

 

Oseni was on his way to the United States on Monday when he got a call from Osibona, to check out the ongoing development.

A US-based real estate dealer, Wale Bob-Oseni is among the victims of the building collapse which happened in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday.

According to reports, Oseni had gone to visit his friend, Femi Osibona at the ill-fated 21-story building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi before the unfortunate incident.

US-based real estate dealer, Wale Bob-Oseni is among the victims of the building collapse which happened in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday.

According to reports, Oseni had gone to visit his friend, Femi Osibona at the ill-fated 21-story building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi before the unfortunate incident.

The rescue and emergency personnel have evacuated nine persons alive from the debris of the fallen building. 

The survivors comprised eight males and one female, while the fatalities had three females and 33 males.

The 21-story building was still under construction when it crumbled on Monday in the upscale Ikoyi neighborhood of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Meanwhile, Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the establishment of an independent panel to probe the disaster.

Members will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), and other professional bodies.

The committee will investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrences.

“The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government,” Information Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso had announced in a statement.

Sanwo-Olu had also vowed to bring those responsible for the disaster to justice.

The governor also directed that the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, an architect, be suspended from work immediately.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who visited the site amid tight security, explained that the premises of the collapsed building had been sealed by the government agency in charge of testing, for more investigation into the integrity of the structure.

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SENEGAL'S MOHAMED MBOUGAR SARR WINS GONCOURT, FRANCE'S TOP LITERARY PRIZE

 

France's oldest and most prestigious literary prize is won by a Sub-Saharan African writer for the first time. 

Senegal's Mohamed Mbougar Sarr impressed the judges with his novel "The Most Secret Memory of Men". But first, world leaders pledge more support for Africa, a continent that has contributed the least to climate change but which bears the brunt of rising temperatures and environmental disasters.

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© FRANCE 24