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http://ift.tt/2qFD1vB Britain's main opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) reacts as he poses for a "selfie" photograph after addressing supporters during a general election campaign rally in Reading, west of London, on May 31, 2017, as campaigning continues in the build up to the general election on June 8. The opposition Labour party, led by veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn, has gradually nibbled away at the Conservative lead in the polls, with the campaign back in full swing after the Manchester terror attack. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL British Prime Minister Theresa May came under pressure to join a live television election debate Tuesday after opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn announced a last-minute decision to attend. May had ruled out any head-to-head debate with other party leaders ahead of the June 8 vote, and is due to send her interior minister to the seven-way hustings on the BBC on Tuesday evening. In response, Labour leader Corbyn had said he ...

http://ift.tt/2rAHXXy Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on October 29, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Justin TALLIS / Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insists reports that Sergio Aguero could be sold are ridiculous because the Argentine striker remains a key player for the Premier League club. Aguero lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up following the arrival of Brazilian starlet Gabriel Jesus in January. The 28-year-old, who has scored 122 league goals in 181 appearances since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2011, returned to the team following an injury to Jesus and finished the season as City’s leading scorer. That has not stopped rumours about his future, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid all linked with the star, but Khaldoon i...

http://ift.tt/2qs2wFn Most Nigerians observed on Monday that democracy has proved to be the best system of government that has come to stay in Nigeria. They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across the country, although some expressed mixed feelings about the performance of democracy in the last 18 years. For instance, Prof. Chika Aliyu, an economist, commended the Federal Government on the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (ERGP) as President Muhammadu Buhari marked second year in office. Aliyu, a lecturer at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said the government did very well by coming up with the plan to take the country out of recession. According to him, the ERGP aims at making significant progress to achieve structural economic change with a more diversified and inclusive economy in five key areas by 2020. He, however, advised the government to ensure effective implementation of the plan, commending the government for investing in agriculture as well. ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Osun State Government on Thursday said it had provided about 15 hectares of land for large scale cultivation to boost food production in the state. Dr Bukola Aluko, the coordinating director, Osun state Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Youths Engagement, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo. According to Aluko, the state government is collaborating with investors that will facilitate farming on large and commercial scales in the state. “Through this collaboration, billions of naira will be invested in agriculture: planting, processing and packaging of farm produce. “Currently, farmers that are interested in partnering the state government have started importing their raw materials. “The state government on its part has provided between 10 hectares and 15 hectares of land to investors for cultivation of farm crops, “ he said. He said that the state government would allocate plots of lands to farmers to cultivate crops like cass...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Kogi state government has demolished 18 houses serving as hideouts for kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals, an official said on Thursday. Jerry Omodara (retired), Special Adviser to the governor on security, told newsmen in Lokoja that the houses were destroyed in line with the provisions of the state’s law on kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes. He said that 17 of the houses were demolished in Kogi central senatorial district while one, an estate, was demolished in Kogi East senatorial district. Omodara said more houses were being identified, adding that any house where arms and ammunition were recovered, would be pulled down. He restated Gov. Yahaya Bello’s resolve to rid the state of criminals, and declared that there was no going back on that stance. Omodara advised criminals to steer clear of Kogi in their own interest. The post Terrorism: Kogi demolishes 18 houses used by criminals appeared first on Vanguard News . Vía Vangua...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it has set in motion strategies to increase non-oil export. Alhaji Hassan Bala, the NEPC Zonal Director in Minna, said this at an interactive session with exporters, othger stakeholders and staff of the agency. He said that part of the measure was to bring the staff and selected exporters together to share ideas on the way forward. Bala said that other measures would be unveiled over time. “The NEPC was established as a service unit to offer funding and support to indigenous manufacturing companies and other companies. “It is meant to assist companies that produce exportable products so they can get their products into the export market easily’’. The zonal director said the agency had taken measures to encourage Nigerian exporters to promote their business activities. He said that development of any economy was to a large extent tied to the growth of its exports which will boost the economy and create jobs op...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Alhaji Abdulmajid Danbulki-Kwamanda, has called on Nigerians, irrespective of their religious and political inclinations, to continue to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Danbulki-Kwamanda made the call in an interview with newsmen in Kano on Thursday. He said there was need for Nigerians to continue to support the Buhari Government in view of the achievements it had recorded in the last two years, especially in the fight against corruption and insurgency in the country. According to him, the administration deserves commendation and support of all patriotic Nigerians because of the success it has recorded in the two areas. “President Muhammadu Buhari deserves to be supported by all Nigerians if we go by the success his government recorded in the last two years, “he said. He noted that the government had been able to tackle insurgency particularly in the North-East and re...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A chef, Godwin Obot, 40, was arraigned in Lagos on Wednesday for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s eight-year-old daughter after luring the girl into his room with soft drink. The accused was brought before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court, charged with defilement of a minor. Obot, however, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kikelomo Ayeye, directed that Obot must provide two sureties, one of whom should be a community leader. Ayeye said the other surety should be a civil servant on grade level 16. She said the accused should be remanded in prison if he failed to meet the bail conditions. The Prosecutor, Insp. Nurudeen Thomas, told court that Obot committed the offence on May 18 at about 2 p.m. at Esther Adeleke Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Thomas said that the accused defiled the eight-year-old when her parents were away at work. “Obot, who kne...

http://ift.tt/2pXpAur Atletico players pose before the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Leicester City at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on April 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GERARD JULIEN For all coach Diego Simeone has changed at Atletico Madrid, one thing remains the same — an inferiority complex when faced with their richer, more successful cross-city rivals Real Madrid. Atletico have a huge task to overturn a 3-0 semi-final first-leg deficit if they are to avoid elimination at the hands of Real in the Champions League for a fourth consecutive season in the last ever European game at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium on Wednesday. Simeone has been in charge for what he described this weekend as “nearly six marvellous years.” In that time he has led Atletico to their first league title in 18 years, ended a 14-year winless streak against Real and put the club back on the map in Europe. But the defeats in the pas...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the plenary on Tuesday read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari informing the legislature of his medical vacation in the United Kingdom. This came as Senator Ohuabunwa said Buhari’s letter was not clear on the transfer of power from to Osinbajo. The letter read, “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I wish to inform the distinguished Senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow-up with my doctors in London. The length of my stay will be determined by the doctor’s advice. While I am away, the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the government. Please accept, the distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.” Ohuabunwa, argued that the letter was not clear on the transfer of power from Buhari to Osinbajo. He said, “Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representativ...

http://ift.tt/2oXWmai PHOTO:AFP Seven people including five policemen were killed Monday when suspected militants attacked a bank van carrying cash in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said. “All the seven in the van, five policemen and two bank employees, were killed,” director general of police S. P. Vaid told AFP. The van was returning to a bank in the village of Pumbai in Kulgam district, around 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar, when it came under fire, Vaid said. Another police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity that the attackers made off with cash and weapons. Suspected militants in recent months have targeted banks across the restive Kashmir valley, where several armed groups have been fighting against Indian rule for decades. Last week police said they foiled a bank raid in the southern district of Anantnag by two men who opened fire on paramilitary guards. One of the attackers was arrested while another managed to escape. A...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Mr Kenedy West, a Youth Leader in the Niger Delta, has lauded the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta for restoring and sustaining peace and reducing criminality in the region. West, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Bayelsa Governor on Niger Delta Youth Matters, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Yenagoa. He said that the existing peace in the region was due to the efforts of the military, adding that the activities of JTF brought the recent renewed agitation and attacks on oil infrastructure, under control. He said that the Rear Admiral Apochi Suleman-led JTF, had policed the Niger Delta region effectively, resulting in the reduction of attacks on oil installations to the barest minimum in the past eight months. “The present Commander of JTF, Rear-Admr, Suleman has been achieving results and has proved to be a round peg in a round hole; his deployment at a time there was renewed restiveness was apt and strategic. ...