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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, the Chairman, Ohaneze Youths Council (OYC) in Bayelsa on Thursday urged members of the group to remain law abiding and peaceful across the nation. Arthur-Ugwa made the call against backdrop of a quit notice purportedly issued to Ndigbo by the Arewa youths to leave the northern parts of the country. Arthur-Ugwa said in Yenagoa that preliminary investigations indicated that the purported quit order had no basis and should be disregarded. “The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo under the leadership of Chief Nnia Nwodo is on top of the situation and there is no cause for alarm following assurances from northern leaders, our people have no need to fear. “In the coming days, the leadership of Ohaneze will take a position but we in the youth wing of Ohaneze urge our people to refrain from panic because there is simply no need for it. “The Ohaneze Ndigbo has been working tirelessly to strengthen the bond of unity amongst Ndigbo and their hosts ac...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Militants fighting Government troops in Marawi in the southern Philippines were holding about 100 hostages that included a Catholic priest, the army said on Thursday even as it predicted that the crisis in the besieged city was nearing an end. Troops have “paralysed” the logistics of Islamist militants holed out in Marawi for more than two weeks, military officials said. More than 200 militants who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist movement were still hiding in buildings and houses in three districts of Marawi City, 800 kilometres south of Manila, officials said. Troops have captured one of the militant strongholds that leads to the centre of the city, said Major General Carlito Galvez, a regional military commander. “We found food, improvised explosive devices and mobility assets. Considering we have already paralysed the logistics capability, we are looking at possibility that the end will be near,’’ he added. Galvez said the militants ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Singer, Dammy Krane has reportedly been released from jail in the US jail after meeting his bail conditions which was set at $7500. He was last Friday arrested for credit card theft, grand theft and identity fraud in Miami, USA. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and demanded a trial by jury. The singer has been assigned an attorney and is billed to appear in court on June 23, 2017. His mother had blamed his troubles on the show promoter that booked his flight ticket while maintaining the innocence of her son. The post Dammy Krane granted bail after meeting requirements appeared first on Vanguard News . Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2sSj4Dh

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Rice millers in Kano State have attributed the high cost of locally-produced rice to the increasing cost of production of the commodity in the country. Mr Liman Muhammed, spokesperson, Medium and Small Scale Rice Millers Association in the state, said this during a visit to some rice mills in Kano on Wednesday. The  price of 50kg locally-produced rice ranges between N20,000 and N22,000 while that of imported rice is between N12,000 and N15,000. “For locally-produced rice, the cost of production is high. Our people are used to the imported rice but with government’s intervention, we are seeing good quality rice. “Most imported rice have spent more than 10 years in the storage and are not good enough but the local rice has more nutritional value. “The number of people consuming local rice is increasing and if everybody along the rice value chain is empowered, the cost of production will reduce,’’ he said. He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anch...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Russia on Tuesday announced its refusal to pay about 12.4 million dollars, a third of its annual payment to the Council of Europe due to restrictions imposed on it over the Ukraine conflict. “The annual financing is paid in stages. “The third remaining at the end of the year is not being transferred,’’ the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, said in comments carried by state media. Russia’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, lost much of its fundamental authority, including its right to vote, in 2014 after Russia annexed neighbouring Ukraine’s Crimea region. The Council of Europe, established to uphold human rights, democracy and rule of law in the continent, said Russia had repeatedly made similar threats before. “Today is not the first time that we are reading this in the Russian press; however, we cannot confirm that the Russian authorities have informed the Council of Europe,’’ spokesperson Da...

http://ift.tt/2qmbcwM DSP Jude Madu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the arrested suspects also included members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). The Police in Ebonyi on Saturday confirmed the arrest of some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in various part of the state for alleged unlawful sensitisation programme. The command’s spokesman, DSP Jude Madu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the arrested suspects also included members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Madu said that the suspects were arrested for unlawfully sensitising the public to stay at home on May 30, in observance of the group anniversary. “They would be charged to court and the command would ensure that they are duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. “IPOB and MASSOB are illegal groups and did not get permission from the police to embark o...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Italy’s Coast Guards have said that 20 dead bodies have been seen in the sea some 30 miles off the coast of Libya, as efforts to rescue some 1,700 people packed onto 15 boats continued. Coast Guard Commander Cosimo Nicastro told Reuters: “200 people fell into the water when one of the boats listed dangerously.” “At least 20 dead bodies were spotted in the water. Co-founder of humanitarian rescue group MOAS, Chris Catrambone, said on Twitter that many corpses had been brought on board their ship, and that toddlers were among the dead seen in the water. The Coast Guard is calling in more ships to help with rescues, Nicastro said. Apart from the MOAS vessel, a tug boat was assisting in rescues coordinated by the Italian Coast Guard in Rome   The post Italy: Coast guards recover bodies of migrants appeared first on Vanguard News . Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2qjrqSz

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A new survey by Gallup Poll shows that a record-low percentage of U.S. adults believe that God created humans in their present form. Thirty-eight percent accept the strict creationism view compared with 38 percent who believe man developed with God’s guidance and 19 percent think God had no role in man’s evolution. UPI reported It’s the first time since 1982 — when Gallup asked the question with the same wording — that belief in God’s direct creation of man is not the most-common response. Overall, 76 percent of Americans believe God was involved in man’s creation — the creationist view based on the Bible — or that God guided the evolutionary process theorized by scientist Charles Darwin and others. Since 1982, the “secular” viewpoint has doubled. “Since the Scopes Monkey Trial more than 90 years ago, the inclusion of creationism — and evolution — as part of public school curricula has been an ongoing and contentious topic,” Gallup’s Art Swift said. “This push...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday pledged an all-out effort to provide high-level services and create favourable conditions for players, officials and fans during upcoming football tournaments. Putin made the pledge during a meeting with visiting Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA). Russia will host the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup from June 17 to July 2 in four cities. It will also host the 2018 FIFA World Cup from June 14 to July 14, 2018 in 11 cities. “We will do our best to maintain the highest possible service standards at the sports facilities. “We will also create favourable living and other conditions for the numerous fans, spectators and players,’’ Putin said. Infantino, after visiting a new stadium, spoke highly of Russia’s football facilities, saying he believes Russia can deliver on its promises.   The post High-level preparations for upcoming football events- Putin appear...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in the early hours of Tuesday shot dead a notorious cultist during a gun battle in Sime community, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers. Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the division’s Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Port Harcourt. He said that the deceased cultist was the leader of Dey Bam secret cult group fingered in extra judicial killings. He added that the late cultist was on the wanted list of Rivers Police command. Iliyasu said one suspected cultist was arrested while several others fled the scene with gunshot wounds in the operation that lasted several hours. “Troops of 29 Battalion deployed to Ebubu, Eleme LGA and the anti-robbery team deployed along Port Harcourt–Akwa Ibom road conducted a successful raid operation in Sime community. “During the operation, the troops engaged in gun duel with members of the notorious Dey Bam cult group led by one Mr ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A physician, Prof. Christy Okoromah, has warned Nigerians against self-medication, as some of the elements included in drug products can endanger the heart. Okoromah, who is the Head of Pediatric Cardiology and Infectious Disease unit, University of Lagos, stated this in Lagos in furtherance of the World Hypertension Day. According to her, a lot of the drugs Nigerians buy over the counter and consume have the predisposition to cause persistent hypertension. “There are many drugs Nigerians and the general public just buy over the counter and consume without realising that it can cause persistent hypertension. “(Take thing) like acetaminophen, which is contained in panadol, paracetamol (for example). “Drugs must not be taken carelessly, people buy steroids, they give to asthmatics; it can also cause hypertension. “Ibuprofen; oral contraceptives that contain estrogen and progesterone can also cause hypertension. “I want to emphasise children can also have hype...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Ile-Ife (Osun) – The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has been invited as a special guest of the Canadian Government to grace the country’s 150th Independence Anniversary celebrations in July this year. The special invitation was conveyed to the Ife monarch in his palace on Sunday by a Canadian Member of Parliament (MP), Ramesh Sangha. Delivering the invitation, the Canadian MP said that the invitation was aimed at forging stronger ties between Canada and Nigeria. Sangha, representing Brampton Central in the Canadian Parliament, said he would collaborate with Federal Government in the areas of economy, youth empowerment, health services, agriculture, science and technology while in Nigeria. He described the Ife monarch as a “reference point in Nigeria in view of the enviable niche he has carved for himself since mounting the throne of his forebears. “We Canadians are very happy with Your Highness for the great work you are doing.” “On behalf of Canadian Pr...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, says it is collaborating with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure that no suspected drug trafficker is found among the 2017 intending pilgrims. Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of the board disclosed this on Monday in an interview in llorin. The secretary, who was reacting to the arrest of three pilgrims from Kwara in Saudi Arabia during 2016 pilgrimage, said the incident was regrettable and would not happen again in the history of the board. He said the NDLEA had assured the board of availability of modern scanning machines to detect suspected drug peddlers who might attempt to travel to the Holy Land from the state. According to him, any drug baron planning to travel with drugs through the board should have a rethink, as adequate arrangement has been put in place to fish them out. Tunde-Jimoh advised intending pilgrims not to travel with Kola nuts or other substances outlawe...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J … Set to fund NGOs under health, entrepreneurship, environment and leadership In line with its commitment to provide innovative solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges in Nigeria, grant making organization, Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation is calling on Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Non Profit Organisations (NPOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to apply for its 2017 grants. As an organization that is passionate about Health, Entrepreneurship, Environment and Leadership, the 2017 ACT Foundation is looking to fund sustainable programs that will positively impact Nigeria and the world at large. The ACT Foundation 2017 grant is only available to NGOs within its focus areas. Health intervention is at the heart of the foundation’s work and grant in this category is focused on interventions on Malaria, Cancer (Breast, cervical and prostrate) in addition to maternal and child health, with special focuses on infant and young...