Nigeria are now ranked the 47th best football-playing nation in the world according to the April Fifa Ranking released.

Inspired by their victory over Poland in March’s international friendly, Gernot Rohr’s men climbed five placed – a position which makes them the sixth best team in Africa behind Tunisia, Senegal, Congo DR, Morocco and Egypt.

However, Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup Group D foes plunged no thanks to their unimpressive performance during the Fifa international window.

After their 6-1 demolition to Spain, Argentina dropped a place to be ranked fifth, while Croatia fell to be rated as the 18th best country in the world.

It was the same tale for World Cup debutants Iceland who are rated 22nd after gathering 930 points.

Even at Nigeria’s rise, they are the least ranked team in Group D ahead of the global football showpiece which kicks off in June.

The three-time African champions begin their sixth World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16 at Report Kaliningrad Stadium, with Argentina facing Iceland at Otkritie Arena, Moscow.

Source: Yahoo News

Khloe Kardashian has forgiven her boyfriend Tristan Thompson over accusations he cheated on her after she gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday.

This is coming barely seven days after Thompson was accused of cheating the TV show

The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star, who gave birth to a daughter Thursday morning, “is feeling nothing but happiness right now”.

“Absolutely nothing else matters,” a source quoted Kardashian as saying.

Kardashian welcomed the bundle of joy just two days after photos emerged of the Cleveland Cavaliers player kissing a woman at PH-D Lounge in New York City.

The photos, obtained by the Daily Mail were snapped at the rooftop bar Saturday night.

Soon after, The Shade Room posted a separate video showing Thompson and the woman appearing to enter the Four Seasons hotel together.

TMZ also shared video from October appearing to show the basketball star kissing a woman at a DC hookah lounge.

The same video also appeared to show Thompson touching and engaging with two other women. Kardashian was three months pregnant at the time.

In spite the seemingly damning photos and video, Kardashian “isn’t even mad at Tristan right now”.

“She’s basically already forgiven him. She is in a bubble of love and peace and happiness right now”.

“Everything that happened with Tristan is less about ‘cheating’ and more like, it was just a random drunken hookup that meant nothing and was kissing at most and didn’t lead to anything else and was the fault of stupid groupies trying to trap him, and everybody just needs to move on,” the source said.

Kardashian’s forgiveness comes at the heels of another Daily Mail report alleging Thompson cheated on the reality star with a fifth woman.

According to The Mail, the basketball player has been intimate with a woman identified only as Tania over the past five months.

They have been pictured together several times at hotels and nightclubs.

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said government would continue to assist the 36 states irrespective of their party affiliation and also commit to the peoples welfare, especially the poor and vulnerable.

He said the gesture was a clear departure from the primordial practice, where past administrations at the centre limited their assistance to states ruled by the party at the centre.

Osinbajo made the commitment on Thursday in Umuahia at the inauguration of the states Tele-health initiative, Dial-a-doctor which he described as commendable effort in the healthcare delivery system in the state.

At the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) in 2015, the president publicly declared that our own NEC will assist every state because poverty in our nation is no respecter of ethnic group, religion or party affiliation.

The vice president said that in line with the decision, the federal government had so far supported states without discrimination along party lines to the tune of N1.91 trillion.

Today we are feeding 7.9million children in our own school feeding programme in 22 states.

We have employed over 200, 000 graduates in our N-Power scheme and 300,000 more awaiting funding.

We are giving loans to over 300, 000 traders and we are heading for a million traders and artisans.

We are giving 5,000 monthly to 300,000 of the poorest families in all the states of Nigeria without discrimination along party lines, Osinbajo said.

He also spoke on the Federal Governments School Feeding Programme, saying that 125,684 pupils in 724 schools in Abia were being fed, with no fewer than 2,000 cooks, handling the contract.

This is one state where there is collaboration between the state government and the federal government in the school feeding programme.

The federal government is feeding classes one to three and the state government is feeding classes four to six.

This is exactly the way the federal government designed it to be, he said.

Osinbajo further said that the federal government had given out loans to over 7,500 small businesses in the state.

In the healthcare sector, we have the save-one-million lives programme, which has made available $1.5 million to each state to improve the quality of basic healthcare, especially to women and children, he said.

On the tele-health initiative, he said, that it has become expedient for Nigeria to embrace technology to close the healthcare gap between the urban and rural areas.

He said Abia had blazed the trail in the utilisation of Global System of Mobile Telecommunication (GSM) in the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of the state.

This is an especially exciting project because it is leveraging on available technology, in this case, the mobile phone to deliver affordable healthcare to the people.

Osinbajo said that available records showed that Abia had about 1.5 million mobile phones.

According to him, the state has taken the lead in utilising the potential that mobile phone has as a means for delivering healthcare for the people.

I am told that citizens can through a dedicated telephone line and affordable prepaid cards access medical care through a state-wide network of doctors and communicate.

The initiative would cut the time spent travelling to see a doctor or waiting in line to see a doctor in a healthcare facility.

It will make Abia stand out in the healthcare delivery as a people-centred state that is open to life-changing innovation.

This is a very commendable initiative, Osinbajo said.

He, however, said that the success of the programme would depend on the willingness of stakeholders to take on feedback and make the adjustments necessary to meet the evolving needs of the target beneficiaries.

According to the Vice President, this initiative would be helpful to the state and other states that would want to copy it.

He assured Abia government of the unwavering commitment of the federal government to continue to partner and collaborate on any programmes designed to better the lives of the people.

In his speech, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu described the programme as a dream come true, saying the initiative is the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria and Africa.

Ikpeazu said that the state government would leverage on the programme not only to improve life expectancy in Abia but surpass the average national life expectancy.

In a goodwill message, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, commended the state government for the initiative.

Adewole, who was represented by the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Dr. Chuku Abali, said that the programme had the potential to make healthcare accessible to millions of Abia residents, if properly harnessed.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. John Ahukanna, said that the programme would make it possible for people to dial a dedicated GSM number and get medical attention from a doctor in the comfort of their homes. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The take-off of the university is yet another promise fulfilled to the people of Niger Delta by the Buhari administration.

granted approval in January by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence undergraduate degree programmes effective from the 2017/2018 academic session.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) also listed the University in its Central Admissions Processing System in January 24, 2018, while interviews for academic staff positions were conducted between 1and 2of March, 2018.

The NUC had approved that academic activities commence in three faculties namely; Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management, with a combined total of 13 departments with various specialisations from Marine Engineering, Marine Economics to Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the University from the N2bn earlier announced to N5bn.

The allocation was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in November 2017.

Similarly,an additionalN1Billion was approved by the President to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the Universityin November 2017.

Also, following the commencement of operations in 2017, the university had, in November 2017, invited job applications for academic staff with advert placement in major national dailies.

The Delta State government had also donated two 500KVA generators to the University.

Following President Muhammadu Buharis meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)in November 2016, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities in 2017; and thetake-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government.

Source: NAN

Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio has rolled out names of his cabinet including some members of opposition.

Veteran politician and lawyer Charles Francis Margai was named as Attorney General and Justice minister.

Mr Margai was one of 16 candidates who contested the March 7 first round presidential election.

He backed Brig (Rtd) Bio in the second round on March 31.

The veteran politicians father and uncle, both of who served as prime ministers, were among the founders of the governing Sierra Leones Peoples Party (SLPP).

Mr Margai ditched his kins party in 2007 after losing the contest to lead it in presidential elections that year.

He formed the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (MPDC), which joined forces with President Ernest Bai Koromas All Peoples Congress (APC) to defeat SLPP in a hotly contested run-off.

Mr Margai soon fell out with President Koroma who he accused of undermining his party.

His appointment will particularly provoke questions around the commitment of the new president to his campaign promise of separating the office of Attorney General from the Justice ministry, which has been seen as a hindrance to justice delivery.

A total of 12 ministers were named on Thursday, including those for Finance, Health and Energy.

Former World Bank development expert Jacob Jusu Saffa takes over the Finance ministry, while medical scientist and renowned educationist, Dr Alpha Wurie, was given the Health docket.

Primary and Secondary Education went to Dr Alpha Ousman Timbo and the Energy went to Mr Kanja Sesay.

Other ministerial appointments include Information and Communication (Mohamed Swaray), Marine Resources (Mrs Emms Kowa), Labour and Social Security (Adenkunle Joliff Milton-King), Water Resources (Dr Jonathan Tengbe), and Social Welfare, Gender and Childrens Affairs (Ms Baindu Dassama).

There were also appointments for Internal Affairs (Edward A. Suluku) and Deputy Defence minister, (Brig (Rtd) Simeon N. Sheriff.

Mr Sahr Lahai Jusu was named Financial Secretary.

President Bio also named his long term personal assistant Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, as Press Secretary.

Source:

Source: NAN

A bomb killed five spectators at a football match in southern Somalia, police and a lawmaker said on Friday, the first time an explosion has targeted a stadium.

The blast went off in the port town of Barawe, in the Lower Shabelle region, when residents were watching a football
match on Thursday afternoon, police said, adding that al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab could be behind the attack.

Police said it appeared to have been detonated by remote control.

The bomb killed five people and injured a dozen others in the football field.

All the casualties were from the onlookers, Mahad Dhoore, a lawmaker for South West state told Reuters.

Police officer Mohamed Aden said al Shabaab group was suspected of being behind the attack and put the number
of dead at four and wounded at 12.

We believe al Shabaab was behind (it) and that the target was officials who were not seated there at the
time of the match.

The bomb looked like a remotely controlled one that was planted there, Aden told Reuters from Barawe.

Al Shabaab are fighting to topple Somalias Western-backed central government and establish their own rule based
on their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The group frequently carries out bombings and gun attacks in the capital Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.

Al Shabaab carried out an explosion that killed teenagers who were just playing football in Barawe town.

Al Shabaab is the only enemy we have, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said during a farewell party for Somalias outgoing parliament speaker.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

President Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines on Friday threatened to arrest International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda if she conducts activities in his country.

He argued that Philippines was no longer an ICC member so the court had no right to carry out any investigation.

Hitting out at what he said was an international effort to paint him as a ruthless and heartless violator of
human rights, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICCs Rome Statute in March and promised to
continue his crackdown on drugs, in which thousands have been killed.

ICC prosecutor Bensouda in February announced the start of a preliminary examination into a complaint by
a Philippine lawyer which accuses Duterte and top officials of crimes against humanity, and of
killing criminals as a policy.

Duterte has cited numerous reasons why he believes the ICC has no jurisdiction over him, and on Friday
suggested that any doubts about that should have been dispelled by his withdrawal.

What is your authority now? If we are not members of the treaty, why are you in this country?, told
reporters, in comments aimed at Bensouda.

You cannot exercise any proceedings here without basis. That is illegal and I will arrest you.

It is not clear whether Bensouda or the ICC has carried out any activities in the Philippines related to
the complaint against Duterte.

The office of the prosecutor in The Hague and the Philippine foreign ministry did not immediately respond to
requests for comment.

Police have since July 2016 killed more than 4,000 people they say are drug dealers who resisted arrest.

Activists say many of those were executions, which police deny.

Duterte has told security forces not to cooperate with any foreign investigators and last month said he would
convince other ICC members to withdraw.

Duterte had earlier vowed to face the ICC and critics say pulling out is futile, because the ICC has jurisdiction
to investigate alleged crimes committed in the period from when the Philippines joined in 2011 to when
its withdrawal takes effect in March 2019.

Under the Rome Statute, the ICC can step in and exercise jurisdiction if states are unable or unwilling to
investigate suspected crimes.

The mercurial former mayor and his legal aides argue that technically, the Philippines never actually joined
the ICC, because it was not announced in the countrys official gazette.

If there is no publication, it is as if there is no law at all, Duterte said on Friday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) has pledged to build on the gains of the bilateral relations with Nigeria to achieve meaningful growth.

Mr Jon Tong Chol, the Ambassador, DPRK, made the promise at an event to mark the 106th birthday anniversary of the late Korean leader, Kim Il Sung, organised by the Embassy in Abuja.

He described the Sung as one who devoted his lifetime to preach on the importance of independence, self-reliance and self-defence in Korea and in the world.

According to him, his revolutionary cause has succeeded and even brought about the external relationship with countries like Nigeria, they enjoy today, which brought about economic ties between both countries.

The traditional relationship and cooperation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and DPRK have further consolidated and developed.

We sincerely wish the Nigerian people greater successes in maintaining the peace and security.

Also to consolidate the national unity in making Nigeria prosperous under the wise leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari

He wished the government and people of Nigeria success in the fights against corruption and terrorism.

Kim Il Sung, born April 15, 1912 was the leader of North Korea from its establishment in 1948 until his death on July 8, 1994.

Source: NAN

Lebanons Hezbollah does not believe the latest Syria crisis will spiral into a direct U.S.-Russia conflict or a wider all-out war, its deputy leader said in comments published on Friday.

The heavily armed and Iranian-backed Shiite movement has been a vital military ally of President Bashar al-Assad in the seven-year-old Syrian war.

We rule out the situation developing into a direct American-Russian clash or a wide state of war.

The conditions do not point to a total war unless U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completely lose their minds, Sheikh Naim Qassem told newsmen.

Trump has threatened strikes against Assads forces after a suspected gas attack on a rebel town where dozens of people died, and a Russian envoy has voiced fears of a wider conflict between Washington and Moscow.

The threat of confrontation between Russia, the Syrian states key ally, and the West loomed after Trump said on Wednesday missiles will be coming and lambasted Moscow for standing by Assad.

Trump has tempered those remarks since and even as he consulted allies Britain and France, there were signs of efforts to prevent the crisis from spiralling out of control.

The White House said no final decision has been made on Syria after Trump met his national security team on Thursday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

The National Assembly has endorsed the commencement of Higher National Diploma course in Official Reporting at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

The programme will commence in June, following its approval by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The Institute is the research arm of the National Assembly.

Director General of NILDS, Prof. Ladi Hamalai, stated this on Monday while declaring open a two-week certificate training programme on Official Reporting.

The event was put together by the Institute for staff of Anambra and Ogun State Houses of Assembly.

Represented by the Director of Research and Training in the Institute, Adeyemi Fajingbesi, Hamalai said the training was specifically designed to acquaint participants with information, methods and modern tools to report parliamentary practices and proceedings accurately.

The DG said topical issues to be discussed at the training include: Principles and Elements of Speed Writing/Shorthand Development, Hansard Styles Manual, ICT in Official Reporting, Editing, Keyboarding as well as Record Management and Archiving of Parliamentary Reports.

The central role of the legislature in the overall development of the nation particularly in the areas of law-making for the good governance of the country, oversight of other arms of government and representation of their respective constituencies cannot be overemphasized.

The present certificate programme is therefore part of NILDS efforts to assist the State Houses of Assembly to develop skills of Official Reporters to meet the present global challenges especially in the area of the use of modern technology, Hamalai said.

Source: NAN

The Senate on resumption from its two-week Easter break suspended plenary in honour of its member, the late Mustapha Bukar who died on April 4.

Until his death, Bukar, 63, represented Katsina North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber and was Chairman Committee on Capital Market.

Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, moved a motion for suspension of plenary.

A minute silence led by the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki was observed for the deceased.

Saraki, thereafter, said a valedictory service would be held on Wednesday in honour of their deceased colleague who served the country immensely.

It is a great loss, Saraki said.

In separate interview, Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katina South) said every life will test dead.

We are in this world as actors on stage: we come and do our action and leave.

He was a prominent politician, a well known person, he was my in-law, my son is married to his daughter, he was a highly respected person, he said.

Similarly, Sen. Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra) prayed God to spare the National Assembly of these deaths.

We carry a lot of stress , a lot of problems of Nigerians here.

These sudden deaths are signs that those who are in the National Assembly to take things easy.

Nigerians should pray for the members of the National Assembly, he said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate dated April 4, 2018 said I was saddened to receive the news of the deaths of Senators Ali Wakili and Mustapha Bukar.

He said their various contributions to the Senate deliberations and the wider democratic process in the country had been of immense values.

Please accept Mr Senate President, the expression of my deepest sympathy, Bugatti said.

Source: NAN

Comrade Oladele Nihi, an aspirant for the seat of the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), says he is excited over President Muhammadu Buharis decision to seek re-election in 2019.

Nihi, who addressed newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the Presidents declaration had put to rest the speculations on whether he would run in the 2019 elections or not.

Before now, we have listened to comments from both the sides of those who want the President to re-contest and those who do not.

Others have even written open letters and counter letters advising the president of what to do.

All these created some form of palpable tension in the polity. We are happy that the uncertainty has been brought to an end by Mr Presidents decision.

Nihi, who is the Chairman Kogi State chapter, NYCN, said it was time for all interested parties to return to the drawing board to strategise the way forward and let the people decide.

He lauded Buhari for the successes achieved so far in the area of security, anti-corruption fight, economy and social welfare.

The aspirant however, urged the President to ensure the total independence of INEC in carrying out its duties.

According to him, INEC is the umpire that will oversee the conduct of the 2019 elections and the scope of its independence will determine how efficient and effective it would be.

Though we are optimistic about free, fair and credible elections in 2019, youths must remain steadfast and avoid being used as tools to propagate disunity among ourselves. It takes the collective effort of all to achieve a better Nigeria, Nihi said.

He used the opportunity to call on the President to, as a matter of importance assent to the Not Too Young To Run Bill to give room for more people to participate in the electoral processes.

Nihi also pleaded with the president to reconsider his decision on the Peace Corps of Nigeria Bill as it was youth-oriented.

Source: NAN

The Senate on Thursday suspended a pro-Buhari senator, Ovie Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days for his remarks during and after the consideration of the electoral acts amendment.

Omo-Ageges suspension followed the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Sam Anyanwu.

With the suspension, Omo-Agege will stay suspended for 90 legislative days. This means that if the senate were to sit without any interruption, recess or adjournment for committee work, it would take 30 weeks (7 months for Omo-Agege to completely serve his suspension.

Currently the senate is yet to take its over 2-months long annual recess as well as its December break during which times the suspension will not be counted.

The senator had gone against the senate during the consideration of the electoral act amendment and went ahead to grant a press conference where he said that the move by the senate was targetted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senator was one of the 9 other senators who had insisted during the amendment that the election sequence targeted President Muhammadu Buhari.

His comments which infuriated other senator was seen as unethical and the senate mandated its committee on Ethics to investigate the matter.

However, Omo-Agege who later recanted came to the floor on another legislative day to tender an unreserved apology to his colleagues, however Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the days plenary only noted the apology and asked the ethics committee to submit its reports as soon as possible.

While submitting its report on Thursday, the Sam Anyanwu-led committee recommended that the lawmaker be suspended for 181 legislative days.

However, after pleas from many of his colleagues, the senate resolved to suspend senator Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days.

In a related development, the Senate also disbanded the Parliamentary Support Group for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group was chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu while Sen. Omo-Agege was the secretary. The group was made up of 11 members including the late Sen. Ali Wakili.

More details later

Source: NAN

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has pledged the willingness of his administration to upgrade allowances of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state.

Ugwuanyi made the disclosure in Enugu on Thursday during the passing-out ceremony of 2017 Batch A Stream 1 corps members in the state.

The state government recently increased allowances of medical and paramedical corps members serving in the rural areas from N3, 800 to N30, 000.

The governor, who was represented at the event by the Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr Uwakwe Azikiwe, said the gesture would soon be extended to the rest of the corps members.

Recently, the state government upgraded the allowance of medical and paramedical personnel and very soon this gesture will be extended to other corps members in the state.

As a responsible government, we will make sure that your state allowances will continue to be paid as and when due, he said.

Ugwuanyi urged the out-gone corps members to make good use of the skills they learnt during the service year as a veritable option for self employment in the face of white collar job.

You are stepping into another phase of life where you may discover that some of your preconceived ideas and dreams are not in tandem with present economic realities with regard to job opportunities.

It is now time to use the lessons learnt from this exposure to make the right decisions for your future, he said.

Ugwuanyi called on them to remain resolute and confident in their ability to decent living from genuine and honest endeavours.

Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Ikaka, commended the state government for organising a befitting passing out parade for the corps members.

Ikaka said that the corps members had commenced their service year on May 23, 2017, adding that their performances were satisfactory.

He, however, said that four of the corps members absconded from the service and would be re-mobilised to start the service afresh whenever they resurfaced.

He also noted that six corps members whose performances were exceptional were honoured with the state award.

With heavy heart, I wish you to inform you that we lost two corps members to death who are supposed to be passing out today.

I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the unwavering support and assistance the scheme enjoys in the state and as humans, we plead that you should not be tired of our ceaseless requests, he said.

Ikaka also commended the local government areas of the state, traditional rulers and employers for their contributions to the success of the scheme in the state.

Finally to my outgoing corps members, I congratulate you on your great achievements in rendering your services to the people of the state.

As you move ahead to assume greater responsibilities, do not forget the positive experiences acquired during your service and stay in Enugu State, Ikaka said.

The last time an elaborate passing out parade was organised for corps members was in November 2015.

Source: NAN

A trial by the London School of Hygiene

More than 100,000 households in England could be living in bed and breakfast accommodation and hostels by 2020 due to a critical housing shortage, a study showed on Thursday.

The report by charity group Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JFR) said current trends indicated the crisis would get worse as local councils battled to find homes for those in need.

It said 78,000 homeless households were in temporary accommodation so far in 2018, with Britain experiencing a housing crisis as homebuilding has declined since the 1970s, driving up property prices faster than wages.

High housing costs, low pay and insecure work are locking people in poverty restricting their choices: with councils finding it harder to help, more families are being forced into temporary accommodation, JRF Chief Executive Campbell Robb said in a statement.

Government data shows about one in six properties in England, or 4 million homes, are social housing, a figure that has stagnated for a decade.

The Crisis and JFR report, which is published each year, said 70 percent of local councils said they struggled to find social housing for homeless people last year.

About 89 percent of local authorities surveyed said they had also found it difficult to secure private rented accommodation with more landlords not wanting to rent to people on welfare.

It is pretty much impossible to access the private rental sector. The cost of doing so is prohibitive and the solution is unsustainable because of the massive disparity between LHA (local housing allowance) rates and market rent, one council in the Midlands said in the report.

Sleeping on the streets or rough sleeping has risen in England for seven consecutive years, according to government figures, with more than 1,000 homeless in London and more than 4,100 nationally, a 134 percent jump since 2010.

Britains parliament last year passed the Homelessness Reduction Act, which was designed to ensure that local councils increased obligations towards homeless people.

The government has set an ambitious target of building 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s.

*Reported by Thomson Reuters Foundation

Source: NAN

The Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday overturned the one year imprisonment imposed on 75-year-old Azeez Apempe.

Apempe had challenged his conviction by a magistrates court, which was affirmed by an Ekiti High Court, for allegedly giving false information to the police.

The magistrates court and the high court convicted Apempe of the charge preferred against him by the police.

Apempe reported about a case of theft on his farm.

Justice Ahmad Belgore, who delivered the judgment on behalf of the three-member appeal panel, set aside the verdicts of the two lower courts.

Belgore resolved all issues in favour of Apempe and discharged and acquitted the septuagenarian.

He described the trial and conviction of Apempe by the lower courts as a nullity.

Apempe, a popular printer and politician, had reported one Sunday Akoe and his family members to the police for alleged theft of his yams and destroying the farm in the process.

He had in his statement of claim, averred that the police turned him from being the complainant to an accused, and charged him to court for giving false information.

The magistrates court in arriving at its judgment, held that the appellants statement at the police station could not be found.

Apempe was subsequently sentenced to a one-year imprisonment or N5,000 option of fine, which he paid.

He appealed to the high court which also affirmed the one-year imprisonment by the magistrates court.

At the Court of Appeal, his counsel, Mr Magnus Ejelonu, argued that the two lower courts erred in law by entering judgment against the septuagenarian.

Ejelonu contended that: His statement at the police station that was missing should be resolved in his favour.

Source: NAN

President Donald Trump is now blowing cold over his missiles threat against Syria, as he became evasive Thursday over when the United States might fire missiles at Syria in retaliation for an alleged chemical weapons attack.

He now said the missiles could come at any time.

One day after warning regime-backer Russia that missiles will be coming to Syria, Trump in another early morning tweet storm wrote: Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!

Tension was mounting among top world powers over the alleged chemical attack against civilians in the Syrian town of Douma.

Frances Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he had proof that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons, and would respond to it at a time of our choosing.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting amid speculation she will support US action against the Syrian regime.

Germanys Angela Merkel said it was obvious that Syria hadnt eradicated its chemical arsenal as it had earlier claimed.

Meanwhile opponents of unilateral US action called an emergency closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council for Thursday.

The White House has said that Trump holds Assads regime and its military backers Russia responsible for an alleged attack on Douma on Saturday, which rescue workers said killed more than 40 people.

Trump on Wednesday slammed Russia for its military alliance with Assad, saying it should not be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it.

US officials have refused to rule out direct military engagement with Russia, with the White House saying that all options are on the table.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday the Pentagon was ready to provide options for a Syria strike but that the US and its allies were still assessing the intelligence on the suspected chemical attack.

A special hotline for the US and Russian militaries to communicate about operations in Syria is active and being used by both sides, Moscow said Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that it was crucial to avoid any steps that could lead to heightened tensions in Syria, saying this would have an extremely destructive influence on attempts to resolve the conflict.

Assad warned on Thursday that threats of Western military action will only contribute to further destabilisation in the region.

Russia has warned the United States against carrying out a military intervention on fabricated pretexts, and has accused the White Helmets civil defense organization in Syria of staging a fake chemical weapons attack in Douma.

The Russian army declared early Thursday that the Syrian state flag was flying in Douma, where the alleged chemical attack took place.

Moscow said this a significant event in the history of Syria, meaning that the whole of Eastern Ghouta had come under government forces control.

Rebels in Syrias Eastern Ghouta surrendered their heavy weapons and their leader left the enclave, while the Syrian flag was raised over the central mosque, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

However Douma residents told AFP that a dispute subsequently erupted with shots fired and the flag was taken down from the mosque.

Source: NAN

Germanys biggest music awards have become mired in controversy over a rap song which refers to the concentration camp Auschwitz.

Rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang remained in contention for the Echo awards on Thursday evening in two categories despite hefty criticism of their lyrics and accusations of anti-Semitism.

The criticism focuses on a line in one of their songs that translates as my muscles are more defined than an Auschwitz inmates (in the German original: Mein Koerper definierter als von Auschwitzinsassen).

The International Auschwitz Committee has described the rappers participation in the awards as a slap in the face for concentration camp survivors and shameful for Germany.

Bang has apologized for hurting anyones feelings and stressed that he and Kollegah distanced themselves from any and all form of anti-Semitism and hate against minorities.

Organizers of the prize ceremony see an absolute borderline case at play.

The controversy comes after a band called Frei.Wild was stricken from the list of Echo prize nominees amid allegations that it stood close to Germanys right-wing scene.

The 27th Echo awards take place in Berlin and are shown live on German TV, with such stars as Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora and Helene Fischer scheduled to perform this year.

The prizes cover 22 categories, with nominations based on sales figures in Germany.

A lifetime achievement award will be handed to graphic artist and musician Klaus Voormann. A friend of the Beatles, he designed, among others, the British pop groups famous album cover for Revolver.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Roma staged a stunning comeback from 1-4 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions quarter final pairing with Barcelona to beat the former champions and the Spanish leaders 3-0 and qualify for the semi-finals on goals aggregate and away goals.

The last time the Italians qualified for this stage of the competition was in 1983/84.

Bosnias Edin Dzeko started Roma revival in the 6th minute, when he beat the offside trap and latched onto a perfected weighted through ball from Daniele de Rossi.

In the second half, Captain De Rossi scored via a penalty and Manolas completed the coup de grace with a stunning header in the 82nd minute.

Romas Kostas Manolas headed the decisive third goal in the 82nd minute, putting the Italians in the last four for the first time since they reached the European Cup final in 1984.

The early goal lifted the hopes of the boisterous home fans in the Olympic Stadium. And the unexpected victory turned the fans into wild jubilation.

Liverpool at Etihad Stadium completed their demolition of Manchester City, cruising to the semi-finals on 5-1 goal aggregate, after surviving a nightmarish first half, in which City scored their only goal in two minutes.

The victory marked the first time since 2008 that Liverpool would qualify for the semi-final of the competition.

Source: NAN