Nishikori out, Djokovic and Murray doubtful for Aussie Open

Injured Japanese star Kei Nishikori pulled out of the Australian Open on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, both former world number one, are doubtful. Djokovic says he will test his problem elbow at an exhibition before deciding whether to play. Andy Murray, is also struggling and withdrew from this week’s Brisbane International as he works to overcome a right hip injury which has sidelined him since Wimbledon. The Scot raised the prospect this week of surgery, but holds out hope of playing in Melbourne, saying he will decide…

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2019: Omokri attacks Buhari for reportedly appointing Amaechi campaign DG

Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has blasted President Muhammadu Buhari for reportedly appointing Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation as his 2019 campaign Director General. The former Special Adviser on New Media to Jonathan said rather than appoint Amaechi, Buhari should appoint a general to head “task force to stop killings of Nigerians by herdsmen.” Omokri, a United States, US-based Pastor asked Buhari to reciprocate the love Nigerians showed his family during the accident of his son by ensuring herdsmen who attacked Benue people were brought to justice. The…

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WHO approves new typhoid vaccine with longer-lasting immunity

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has prequalified the first conjugate vaccine for typhoid, which makes it eligible for procurement by United Nations agencies. In a statement released on the agency’s website, WHO said the vaccine meets acceptable standards of quality and safety “At the end of December 2017, WHO prequalified the first conjugate vaccine for typhoid, Bharat Biotech’s Typbar-TCV®. “Typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) are innovative products that have longer-lasting immunity than older vaccines, require fewer doses, and can be given to young children through routine childhood immunisation programs.…

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Israel to launch world’s first nanosatellites in 2018

The Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) and the Israel Space Agency on Wednesday said Israel will launch a group of three nanosatellites into space in 2018. The launch, which is the first of its kind in Israel, will be carried out by Dutch company Innovative Solutions In Space, which specialises in launching nanosatellites on India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), as part of the Adelis-SAMSON Project. The project was initiated by a team of researchers led by Pini Gurfil, director of the Asher Space Research Institute and member of the…

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DPR seals 80 petrol stations in Delta

More than 80 petrol filling stations have been shut in Delta state for selling above official price and hoarding. The stations were sealed by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Warri Zonal Office, since fuel scarcity begun in December, 2017. Mr Antai Asuquo, the Warri Zonal Operations Controller, said on Wednesday in Warri that the filling stations were sealed in Warri, Ughelli, Sapele, Isoko and Asaba. Asuquo, who led a group of surveillance team to Asaba, said that aside from selling above the government approved price of N145 per litre and…

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2019: We’re not bound by your prophecies on President Buhari – APC replies Fr. Mbaka

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday said it is not bound by the prophecies of any individual as regards the forthcoming presidential election in 2019. Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, while responding to a statement credited to Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the fiery preacher who advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election, said the APC as a political party is not run based on prophecies, which, according to him, “is a personal conviction or belief”. Abdullahi, however, said anyone who feels the prophecies are true…

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Donald Trump blasts ex-aide Steve Bannon

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on former chief strategist Steve Bannon, ahead of the release of an unflattering book. The US President distanced himself and his administration from Mr Bannon in a statement, saying: “Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my Presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.” Mr Trump went on to accuse his former ally of “spending his time at the White House leaking false information to the media to make himself seem far more…

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Diego Costa back in the old routine with a debut goal for Atlético Madrid

Diego Costa had been back for only five minutes when he scored his first Atlético Madrid goal in three-and-a-half years but no sooner had he started than he stopped again. As the supporters behind the goal celebrated, Costa sat on the turf, looking at his right leg. He had stretched to turn the ball into the net, diving in where the studs were, and he had paid for it. The game – his first for almost eight months – kicked off again while he limped round the touchline with the doctor and…

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Mary J. Blige’s husband blames divorce for hospitalization

There’s no shortage of drama in Mary J. Blige‘s divorce. The “Family Affair” singer is in the midst of a spousal support battle with her estranged husband Martin “Kendu” Isaacs recently filing court documents alleging that he “has experienced physical manifestations of stress and emotional distress” from the case “which has caused him to become hospitalized,” according to The Blast. Isaacs also claimed that he is “unemployable” so it is “impossible” for him to pay his rent without Blige’s help. He currently receives $30,000 from Blige each month and wants a judge to…

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Nigeria to get $550m new satellites from China

The Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the approved procurement of two new satellites from China at the cost of 550million dollars. Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with the president in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shittu said the China EXIM bank had agreed to pay the entire 550million dollars for the procurement of the satellites. The minister explained that the initial agreement was that the China EXIM bank would provide 85 per cent of the total cost ($550…

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