Expo Gist

Sunday, 18 January 2015

Nigerian, 5 others executed in Indonesia for drugs

A Nigerian, Daniel Enemuo and 5 others have been executed by firing squad in Indonesia after being convicted of drug trafficking.

Apart from Daniel Enemuo of Nigeria, Namaona Denis of Malawi, Tran Thi Bich Hanh of Vietnam, Marco Moreira of Brazil, Ang Kiem Soei of The Netherlands and Rani Andriani of Indonesia were killed despite pleas from the international community to spare their lives.

The six convicts were executed at about midnight on January 18.
“The execution of the six convicts has been carried out,” spokesman for the attorney general’s office, Tony Spontana, told news agency AFP.

The Dutch government and Brazil had made final attempts to save the lives of their citizens but failed. The two countries have recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia for consultations.
A spokesperson for Brazilian President Dilma Roussef said that she is “distressed and outraged” by the execution.
“Using the death penalty, which is increasingly rejected by the international community, seriously affects relations between our countries,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders said: “My heart goes out to their families, for whom this marks a dramatic end to years of uncertainty.

The Netherlands remains opposed to the death penalty.”
Indonesia’s Attorney General, H.M Prasetyo, however justified the execution saying that the death penalty is not “something pleasing or fun” but had to be carried out in accordance with the law.

“Indonesia must be saved from narcotics… this is a crime against humanity that damages the morals of the younger generation. I hope everyone can understand this,” Prasetyo said.
The executions are the first in Indonesia since President Joko Widodo took office in October. Widodo has disappointed human rights activists who believed that he would stop capital punishment due to his image as a reformist.

Manchester City 0 Arsenal 2: Wenger´s men end champions´ long unbeaten run

Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffers major blow as Arsenal claim all three points at the Etihad Stadium.

Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud were on target as Arsenal won 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium to strike a blow to Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes.

Much had been made of Arsenal’s inability to beat the big clubs in the top flight ahead of Sunday’s encounter, but Arsene Wenger’s side proved they are no soft touch with an impressive display to consign City to a first defeat in 15 games.

Cazorla opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half after returning City captain Vincent Kompany was adjudged to have blocked off Nacho Monreal.

City, who also welcomed leading scorer Sergio Aguero back into the starting line-up, were devoid of ideas going forward in the first half but were far more threatening after the break.

The defending champions were unable to pull off a fightback, though, and there was no way back when Cazorla turned provider with a free-kick that was headed home by Giroud.

Defeat for City was their second at home in the league this season and a first loss since back in November ensured Manuel Pellegrini’s side remain five points behind leaders Chelsea, with the two teams set to face each other next in the Premier League.

Shocking sad news! Actor Muna Obiekwe has died

Yep, it's true! Actor Muna Obiekwe has died. He died this afternoon around 4:15pm in a hospital in Lagos after a battle with kidney failure. He was rushed to the hospital today after he collapsed at his home. Muna has been quietly battling this kidney disease but kept it hush hush from friends and colleagues. So Sad! A colleague said for over two weeks before he died didn't go for his dialysis.

Muna needed money for his health problems but instead of going public to raise money, he told friends he was planning a stage play to raise money but died before he could do it. Unbelievably sad!

Meanwhile, there's some twitter handle called @MunaObiekwe that's denying his death. That is not Muna! Unfortunately the real one is gone. Unbelievable! RIP to a great actor!

Pope Francis delivers final Mass to world record six million in Manila

Heartbreaking ... Pope Francis embraces two children, including 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, during his visit to the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Picture: AFP/Giuseppe Cacace Source: AFP

A WEEPING 12-year-old Philippine girl, asking how God could allow children to become prostitutes, moved Pope Francis to hug her before he celebrated Mass in front of a record six million people.

Glyzelle Palomar, a one-time homeless child taken in by a church charity, made her emotional plea during ceremonies at a Catholic university in Manila, ahead of the outdoor Mass on Sunday.
“Many children are abandoned by their parents. Many children get involved in drugs and prostitution,” Glyzelle told the pope as she stood on stage alongside a 14-year-old boy who also used to be homeless.
“Why does God allow these things to happen to us? The children are not guilty of anything.” Glyzelle broke down and wept profusely, prompting the 78-year-old pontiff with a man-of-the-people reputation to take her into his arms and hug her for a few seconds.
The pope later discarded most of his prepared speech that he was due to give in English, reverting back to his native Spanish to deliver an impromptu and heartfelt response.

Pope of the people ... Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives to celebrate a mass at a park in Manila. Picture: AFP/Ted Aljibe Source: AFP

“She is the only one who has put a question for which there is no answer and she wasn’t even able to express it in words but in tears,” the pope told a crowd, at that time about 30,000-strong.
“The nucleus of your question ... almost doesn’t have a reply.”
The pope, who is in the Philippines for a five-day visit, said the topic of Glyzelle’s question showed women were not adequately represented in society.
“Women have much to tell us in today’s society. Sometimes, we are too ‘machista’ and we don’t allow room for the woman,” he said.
“Women are capable of seeing things with a different angle from us. Women are able to pose questions that we men cannot understand.”
The pontiff told those in the crowd that they first had to learn to cry with other marginalised and suffering people. He said superficial compassion, which resulted in just giving alms, shown by many in the world was not enough.
“If Christ had that kind of compassion, he would have just walked by, greeted three people, given them something and moved on,” he said, with his response echoed in English by an official translator.

Final Mass ... more than six million turned out in wet weather for Pope Francis’ final Mass in the Philippines. Picture: AP/Bullit Marquez Source: AP

World record crowd for Pope Francis in Manila

After his emotional encounter, Pope Francis celebrated mass in the rainswept Philippines capital, drawing a record six million people as he delivered a powerful message for the poor to a rapturous audience in a triumphant finale to an Asian tour.
Filipinos are famous for practising a passionate brand of Catholicism and they turned out in force despite the wet weather, determined to see the charismatic pontiff, and in a celebratory mood that defied the gloomy skies.

Queen Elizabeth II & her husband pictured with former Head of State, Gen Gowon & wife, Victoria, at a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of Gen Gowon in June 1973. Photo credit - SeeMeSeeNigeria

Pics: Nigerian drug convict Daniel Enemuo, 5 others executed in Indonesia

Nigerian drug convict Daniel Enemuo and 5 other foreigners from Vietnam, Malawi, Brazil and Netherlands were executed in the early hours of this morning Sunday January 18th for drug offences.

The convicts, who were killed by firing squad, are the first people executed under new President Joko Widodo,who took office in October 2014. He signed off on the executions last month..

Brazil and the Netherlands have since recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia after the country defied their pleas and executed two of their citizens AFP reports. Brazilian Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira, was convicted of smuggling cocaine into Indonesia in 2004. Dutchman Ang Kiem Soei was arrested 8 years ago. Daniel Enemuo, 38, was also arrested in 2004

The others executed in the Boyolali district in central Java were Namaona Denis from Malawi; Indonesian woman, Rani Andriani, and Vietnamese woman Tran Thi Bich Hanh.

Indonesian police tighten security at the main gate of maximum security prison Nusa Kambangan in Cilacap, Central Java province, on January 17, 2015, prior to the scheduled execution of drug convicts ©Andika (AFP/File)