Turkey leader calls on US to reverse decision to arm Kurds

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BEIRUT (AP) – Turkey slammed the Trump administration’s decision to supply Syrian Kurdish fighters with weapons against the Islamic State group and demanded Wednesday that it be reversed, heightening tensions between the NATO allies days before the Turkish leader heads to Washington for a meeting with President Donald Trump. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the fight against terrorism “should not be led with another terror organization” – a reference to the Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the YPG, which Turkey considers an extension of the decades-long Kurdish insurgency raging in…

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Uproar, as Buhari tags VP ‘co-ordinator’ in letter to NASS

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There was uproar in the polity yesterday over wording of the letter President Muhammadu Buhari sent to the Senate on his medical vacation, in which the President said that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo “will co-ordinate the activities of the government.” President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, however, intervened on the Senate floor to stave off a constitutional fuss by quieting the agitation by senators over wording of the letter. Senior lawyers who spoke on the issue yesterday overwhelmingly backed the Senate President, affirming that transmission of the letter on the…

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Chelsea on brink, Boro relegated

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Cesc Fabregas sparkled as Chelsea moved to within touching distance of the Premier League title and condemned Middlesbrough to relegation with a breezy 3-0 home win on Monday. Fabregas made sure Chelsea capitalised on Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham United on Friday by supplying assists for Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic, with Marcos Alonso also finding the net. It left Chelsea seven points clear of Spurs at the summit and means they will be crowned champions for the second time in three seasons if they win at West…

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Chiobok Girls: UNICEF, UNFPA ready to offer comprehensive psychosocial support

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The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA has expressed readiness to provide comprehensive psychosocial support and other specialized services needed to 82 Chibok girls newly released by Boko Haram group. The two United Nation organisations said they are on standby to support the Nigerian authorities to provide emergency reproductive healthcare, psychosocial counselling and other critical support to the survivors. UNICEF described the released of the girls as heartening even as it lamented that the girls will face a long difficult process to rebuild their lives…

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Macron victory gives Brussels confidence boost over EU’s future

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With existential threat posed by French election averted, EU leaders appear assured and see opportunity to reset project Europe When Emmanuel Macron walked across the courtyard of the Louvre on Sunday evening to the rousing finale of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, the EU anthem, few doubted it was a win not only for his untested political movement, but for the European project too. After the recent defeat of the far right in Austria and disappointment for the rabble-rousing populist Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, Brussels hailed the Macron victory as…

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I will never exchange anything for Biafra – Nnamdi Kanu vows

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  Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOP, on Monday paid a visit to the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA in Enugu, vowing never to give up his agitation for Biafra. He was received by top members of the ECA, including Chief Mrs. Maria Okwor, Rev. Fr. John Odey, among others. Kanu also visited the founder of the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Ukoh. While expressing his gratitude for support showed to him by the two groups, Kanu said he chose the option of fighting to liberate the people…

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500, 000 malnourished children risk death over delayed passage of 2017 budget

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Five months into 2017, there is still no budget or funding for 2.5 million Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children in the country. And like in previous years, about 500,000 of them risk death before year end according to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). At the moment, the 2017 Appropriation Bill is yet to be passed by the National Assembly hence, there is no allocation to tackle malnutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health’s budget. Investigations by The Guardian revealed that even previous year’s budget was…

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Messi rejects new Barcelona contract

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Lionel Messi has turned down Barcelona’s offer of a new contract worth between £25m-30m a year. Spanish newspaper, AS, reports that the 28-year-old wants an improved offer from the club. Messi’s current deal at the Nou Camp runs out in June 2018 and he has been in discussions with the La Liga champions over an extension for months. However, negotiations between Messi’s father and agent, Jorge and Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, have not been concluded. But despite the initial contract rejection, AS reports that a deal is still likely…

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Intrigues over Buhari

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The  All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the verge of an imminent implosion, as fault lines in the ruling party widen. The fresh political acrimony is coming on the heels of anxiety and apprehension over the health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari. For three consecutive times, the president did not attend the Federal Executive Council meeting, giving rise to wild speculations about his health. While the APC national leadership appears to be taciturn about the developments, fearing to rock the boat, some forces within the party are unhappy that the…

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Rashford gives United Europa League edge

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  Marcus Rashford’s stunning free-kick 23 minutes from time put Manchester United on the brink of reaching the Europa League final with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Celta Vigo on Thursday. Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez kept the Spaniards in the tie before halftime with a string of saves to deny Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jese Lingard. However, he was wrong-footed by Rashford’s free-kick as United took a giant step towards reaching the final in Stockholm on May 24. And United manager Jose Mourinho hailed his wonder kid who has stepped…

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