• A protester holds a flag stained with fake blood during a demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission in London. AFP
    A protester holds a flag stained with fake blood during a demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission in London. AFP
  • Protesters gather in Parliament Square in London during a demonstration against police brutality in Lagos, Nigeria. AFP
    Protesters gather in Parliament Square in London during a demonstration against police brutality in Lagos, Nigeria. AFP
  • Nigerians based in South Africa react to South African Police Service (SAPS) officers as they protest outside the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria. AFP
    Nigerians based in South Africa react to South African Police Service (SAPS) officers as they protest outside the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria. AFP
  • A Nigerian woman weeps as others comfort her during a protest outside their embassy in Pretoria. AFP
    A Nigerian woman weeps as others comfort her during a protest outside their embassy in Pretoria. AFP
  • Nigerians living in Kenya hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), outside the Nigeria High Commission offices in Nairobi, Kenya. EPA
    Nigerians living in Kenya hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), outside the Nigeria High Commission offices in Nairobi, Kenya. EPA
  • Protests against alleged brutal conduct of the SARS began in Nigeria earlier in October after a video reportedly showed personnel from the squad beating a man. EPA
    Protests against alleged brutal conduct of the SARS began in Nigeria earlier in October after a video reportedly showed personnel from the squad beating a man. EPA
  • A crowd of protesters barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against police brutality and the killing of protesters by the military, at Magboro, Ogun State. AFP
    A crowd of protesters barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against police brutality and the killing of protesters by the military, at Magboro, Ogun State. AFP
  • Protesters chant and sing solidarity songs as they barricade barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. AFP
    Protesters chant and sing solidarity songs as they barricade barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. AFP
  • A protester waves a Nigerian national flag. AFP
    A protester waves a Nigerian national flag. AFP
  • protester raise the Nigerian national flag at a barricade mounted by potesters on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. AFP
    protester raise the Nigerian national flag at a barricade mounted by potesters on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. AFP

International community calls for investigation into shooting of Nigerian protesters


  • English
  • Arabic

World leaders have condemned the Nigerian military and have called for a transparent investigation into the shooting deaths of 12 peaceful protesters in Lagos on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses said security troops opened fire on more than 1,000 people in the economic capital on Tuesday evening to disperse the crowd after a curfew was imposed.

The restrictions were intended to end growing protests over police brutality and other social injustices.

Amnesty International said troops killed at least 12 peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza, after firing on them without warning. It called on authorities to investigate.

The Nigerian government did not immediately comment on Amnesty’s allegations, while the military has denied responsibility for the shootings.

President Muhammadu Buhari did not mention the Lekki shootings on Wednesday but called for calm and promised police reforms.

“There were so many cases and so many incidents, but these were the ones that Amnesty International could independently verify so the number could be much higher,” said Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty Nigeria.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence on Wednesday.

“I call for demonstrations to be peaceful and for an end to reported police brutality and abuses," Mr Guterres tweeted.

"Authorities must investigate these incidents and hold perpetrators accountable."

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet strongly condemned the use of excessive and disproportionate force by Nigerian troops in Lagos, the country’s most populous city, with more than 14 million people.

Ms Bachelet called on the Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to deal decisively with persistent breaches by the security forces, and work harder to bring police and army personnel guilty of crimes against civilians to justice.

“While the number of casualties of yesterday’s shooting at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos is still not clear, there is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian armed forces,” she said.

“Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as, if confirmed, they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated, planned and co-ordinated.”

Ms Bachelet said Nigeria was “already at boiling point” due to years of violence including killings, rape, extortion and other breaches alleged to have been committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

“While the authorities have now dissolved Sars and announced a series of inquiries at federal and state levels, there have still been few if any charges levelled against its members, despite abundant evidence,” she said.

Many Nigerians are sceptical about police reforms that have been announced by authorities, and have been taking to the streets in several cities to protest since October 5.

Ms Bachelet said the way to restore trust and quell the unrest in Nigeria was for the authorities to take immediate steps to show they were committed to tackling impunity.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also condemned the attacks.

“I am deeply concerned by the recent violence and continued clashes in Nigeria and am alarmed by widespread reports of civilian deaths," Mr Raab said.

“We call for an end to violence. The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account.”

Protests took place at Nigerian embassies around the world on Wednesday, including in Dublin, London and Washington.

US Senator Bob Menendez called for a transparent investigation into the actions of the military.

“I stand in solidarity with Nigerians who are peacefully calling for police reforms and an end to government corruption, and call on President Buhari to ensure security forces cease their violent crackdown on demonstrators," Mr Menendez said.

“Civilian control of the military is a hallmark of a true democracy and the eyes of the world are now on Nigeria and President Buhari.”

Andor
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tony%20Gilroy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDiego%20Luna%2C%20Genevieve%20O'Reilly%2C%20Alex%20Ferns%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%205%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
LIST OF INVITEES

Shergo Kurdi (am) 
Rayhan Thomas
Saud Al Sharee (am)
Min Woo Lee
Todd Clements
Matthew Jordan
AbdulRahman Al Mansour (am)
Matteo Manassero
Alfie Plant
Othman Al Mulla
Shaun Norris

Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E268hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E380Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh208%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe. 

"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.

Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.

"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

Tell Me Who I Am

Director: Ed Perkins

Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis

Four stars

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi card

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m

6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m

The National selections:

5pm: Valcartier

5.30pm: AF Taraha

6pm: Dhafra

6.30pm: Maqam

7pm: AF Mekhbat

7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi  

First-round leaderbaord

-5 C Conners (Can)

-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);

-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)

Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)

Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng) 

1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)

3 R McIlroy (NI)

4 D Johnson (US)

The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
WWE TLC results

Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins

Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles

Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax

Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match

Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre

Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match

Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match

Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day

R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV

Power: 360bhp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh282,870

On sale: now

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
Alan Rushbridger, Canongate

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4