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http://ift.tt/2qsjtux Chelsea coach Antonio Conte / AFP PHOTO / Mark Ralston Health-conscious Chelsea manager Antonio Conte plans to indulge himself with some champagne and a cigar if his side succeed in overcoming Arsenal in Saturday’s FA Cup final. Conte, 47, does not smoke, generally steers clear of champagne and even eschews carbohydrates, but he will make exceptions if his team manage to complete a Premier League and FA Cup Double. “We have to finish this great season and make it a fantastic season. There’s only one way to do that,” he told reporters at Stamford Bridge on Friday. “To try to win tomorrow and to celebrate. To drink a bit of champagne. I don’t smoke, but tomorrow I’m hoping to smoke a cigar if we win. I’m ready to do this!” The Wembley encounter is a repeat of the late-September fixture that proved to be the turning point in Chelsea’s season, with Conte switching to a back three after his side crashed to a 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea fin...

http://ift.tt/2rhwMii Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON / Arsene Wenger has revealed he has given away every single medal he has won during his more than 20 years as Arsenal manager.The Frenchman has the chance to lift the FA Cup for a record seventh time at Wembley on Saturday. No manager has won more than six finals, with Premier League champions Chelsea standing in the way of Wenger’s bid for a fresh piece of football history.Tony Adams, Wenger’s captain in his first five years at the London club, wrote in his autobiography that he saw Wenger angrily throw his runners-up medal from the 2001 FA Cup final in a bin. And while Wenger had no recollection about that he did confirm that memorabilia and nostalgia played little part in his life. “Don’t trust too much to what Tony Adams says,” he said on the eve of the final. “I don’t remember that. But I have no medals at home anyway – from anything. “I always give them out,” the 67-year-old We...

http://ift.tt/2r6C5UR Armed police looked on as thousands watched the Great CityGames in the centre of Manchester on Friday just days after a suicide bomb at a pop concert claimed 22 lives and wounded dozens. Similar robust security measures will be a feature of English football’s showpiece event the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday and several other high profile sporting events in the weeks to come. The re-inforced measures have been put in place with the terror alert raised to its highest level of ‘critical’ meaning another attack is believed to be imminent. Spectators attending the Scottish Cup final in Glasgow, the English Premiership rugby union final at Twickenham and the cricket one-day international between England and South Africa in Southampton all on Saturday will see a significantly increased armed police presence on the periphery of the stadia. They have also been asked to turn up earlier than usual for security checks and to act as eyes and ears for the secu...

http://ift.tt/2qshGWi Caterina Ciarcelluti From “Wonder Woman” and “Tank Woman” to “Naked Man” and “Violin Man,” ordinary Venezuelans photographed in extraordinary scenes have become icons of the country’s political unrest. Demonstrators are demanding elections to get rid of a socialist government they blame for food and medicine shortages. The government brands them “insurgents” and “terrorists.” Here are five striking faces of the anti-government street protests, during which 57 people have been killed over the past two months. – Wonder Woman – With a rock in her fist, her tanned and muscly thighs and arms braced to hurl it at police, fitness instructor Caterina Ciarcelluti became an image of strength and determination in the protests. AFP photographer Federico Parra’s close-up of her in a motorcycle helmet, red vest and denim hot pants on May 1 spread on social media, helping earn her the name “Wonder Woman.” “That is me all over, the strength and the passion,” Ciarce...

http://ift.tt/2qXpLWo Yemi Osinbajo Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has appealed to Nigerians especially Muslims to use the period of Ramadan for reflection on national challenges and join forces with the Buhari administration to overcome them. He gave the advice in his message to felicitate with the Muslim community in Nigeria as they join other faithful across the world to commence Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer. The Acting President implored Muslims to seek maximum benefits from the Ramadan period by replicating the teachings of the Holy Prophet in all their engagements, both private and public. He urged Muslims to use the Ramadan to renew their commitments to the virtues of love and peace taught by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and also works towards achieving them. He noted that the period was one for spiritual perseverance, temperance, introspection and retrospection with the Almighty Allah. The Acting President called on Nigerians to continue to pray for...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Nigeria Police Force on Friday warned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), against their planned protests and market closure on May 30. The Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja, said commissioners of police in the affected states and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police have been directed to be strict, polite, civil and firm in dealing with the situation. He said the force was deeply concerned about the security implications of the “renewed hostilities and subversive propagandas aimed at undermining law and order in some states of the federation by these groups. “The force sees the activities of these groups as not only unlawful, but highly provocative and capable of causing breach of the peace being enjoyed in the South East states and other states of the federation. “The planned protests and orders of market...

http://ift.tt/2rpRkcy CMD Funflex Park & Ride Children’s Day is celebrated every 27th of May in Nigeria. It is a holiday for primary and secondary school pupils. It was first marked in 1964. This year, it falls on a Saturday so parents and guardians have no excuse but to treat the young ones to a good time. Usually, select schools participate in a march past at the stadium in a formal ceremony organised by the state governor. Some states, like Lagos, have initiatives that allow a child to become 1-day-governor just like some radio stations have children broadcasters present, moderate and participate in different programmes all through the day. Across the nation, there will be workshops and seminars educating and advocating for better parent-child relationships and a collective respect for the rights, welfare and protection of children in general. Play is an important component of child growth and what better day to play other than a Children’s Day Saturday. Here are a number ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Friday, announced the appointment of Mr Olusegun Adekunle as the Alternate Chairman of the Economic Commission Board. OPEC made the announcement in a statement released in Abuja on Friday by Mr Idang Alibi, Director Press Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Alibi said: “In a welcome development, OPEC announced the appointment of Nigeria’s Mr Olusegun Adekunle as the Alternate Chairman of the 127th OPEC Economic Commission Board. Dr Ibe Kachikwu expressed delight at the development while congratulating Adekunle and urging him to continue to work hard to justify the appointment and make Nigeria proud.’’ Adekunle was before this appointment Nigeria’s representative to the organisation. The Commission is saddled with the responsibility of writing reports and making recommendations to the Conference of OPEC Oil Ministers on oil prices and other economic issues. It also assists OPEC in promoting stability i...

http://ift.tt/2s4Ftga Col. Sani Usman The Nigerian Army said it raided a Boko Haram cell at Mokwa and its environs in Niger State on Thursday and arrested three leaders of the terrorist group. The army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, named the suspects as Mustapha Muhammed (Adam Bitri), Ali Saleh and Uba Mohammed. Usman said that they were picked up at their hideout at Gidan Mai village on Mokwa-Tegina road. “Preliminary investigation has confirmed that one of the terrorists, Mustapha Muhammed (Adam Bitri), along with one Bakura (at large), was among the group of the Boko Haram terrorists that kidnapped the late elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, in Maiduguri on May 13, 2013. “Items recovered from them include Automated Teller Machines debit cards, Voter Registration cards, National Identity Cards, various mobile telephones and bank tellers, among other items. “The terrorists are currently being further interrogate...

http://ift.tt/2qXfZ6F A file photo taken on March 15, 2017 at the Stade Louis II in Monaco shows Monaco's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva celebrating after his team scored a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match Monaco and Manchester City. Portuguese playmaker Bernardo Silva is to join Manchester City from French champions Monaco on July 1, 2017 the English Premier League club announced on May 26, 2017.Valery HACHE / AFP Portuguese playmaker Bernardo Silva is to join Manchester City from French champions Monaco on July 1, the English Premier League club announced Friday. Silva’s arrival is the first high-profile signing by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ahead of the 2017/18 campaign. City gave no indication of the length of Silva’s contract nor did they specify a fee, although British media reports suggested they had paid around £43 million ($55 million, 49 million euros) for the 22-year-old. Manchester United were also said to be interested i...

http://ift.tt/2rHu0H3 Former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFP Hillary Clinton launched a stinging attack on fake news and delivered veiled barbs against President Donald Trump on Friday, returning to her alma mater to give graduates a rallying call for action. “You are graduating at a time when there is a full-fledged assault on truth and reason. Just log on to social media for 10 seconds it will hit you right in the face,” she said in a commencement address at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. “Some are even denying things we see with our own eyes, like the size of crowds,” she said alluding to but not naming Trump, who falsely accused the media last January of misrepresenting the size of his inauguration crowds. “Then defending themselves by talking about quote unquote alternative facts,” she added. “When people in power invent their own facts and attack those who question them, it can mark the beginning of the end of a free society.”...

http://ift.tt/2rtntf3 French President Emmanuel Macron .STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP France’s new President Emmanuel Macron on Friday brushed off Theresa May’s request for early talks on a trade deal with the EU after Brexit. As the two held their first official talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit, British Prime Minister May repeated that she would like to start talks on trade at the start of the negotiations, rather than waiting until after the thorny issues of Britain’s financial settlement and expatriate rights are resolved. “As regards Brexit I’m very clear and I remain clear that we have under the (EU) treaty up to two years to negotiate withdrawal and the future relationship, and when we leave the EU it’s important that we know not just what the withdrawal terms are but what that future relationship will be, which will include trade,” she told reporters. May also “reaffirmed her wish for early clarity on the position of EU citizens in the UK and vice versa”, a Downin...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J http://ift.tt/2r6rKrP http://ift.tt/2s4EdJX The post Video: Ag President Osinbajo visits Garki market, prices food stuff appeared first on Vanguard News . Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2r6gtb8

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Tare Youdeowei LAGOS—Zaria Mimano Foundation, a non-profit organization, has kicked off a nation-wide campaign to help indigent patients in hospitals, which have since started with National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos. The foundation which offers relief to the needy, has reached out to five-year-old, Adegboye Daniel an accident victim whose parents could not pay his medical bills. Showing appreciation to the foundation, Medical Director, Dr O.O Odunbi, through B.A Ayidina, thanked the foundation for offsetting Daniel’s bill which his parents had tried to pay to no avail. Speaking in Lagos on the work of the foundation, Zaria Mimano, said; “Zaria Mimano Foundation pays outstanding fees for patients that have been kept after discharge due to their inability to pay  for treatment. However, the foundation requires that patient cases be genuine with no financial means to pay. The foundation takes care of the rest and the doctors can focus on helping o...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J BY ROTIMI AGBANA Ahead of the committal proceedings initiated against the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, ‎by the Young Democratic Party (YDP) at the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, the Barrister Georgina Dakpokpo (Mrs.) led faction of the party, has declared that no court in the country can stop ‎them. ‎The Henry Nwanbueze and Horsfal Sebibo ‎led national leadership of the YDP have cited the INEC boss for committal for disobeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal directing the Commission to re-issue a certificate of registration to Young Democratic Party (YDP) as a dully registered political party as at May 2, 2014. Already, Form 49 has been issued against the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu by the appellate court commanding him to show cause why an order of committal to prison should not be made against him. The party is pressing for an order committing Yakubu to prison for refusing or negle...