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Showing posts from November, 2014

MH17 victim's mum is suing Ukraine for $1m

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The mother of a victim of the doomed flight MH17 is suing Ukraine for $1 million - for failing to close the country's airspace, reports Mirror.

EU to offer $622m loan to Ukraine for economic reform

Johannes Hahn, European Union, EU, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, said the EU will  offer another loan of $622 million to Ukraine next month for its economic and stabilisation reforms, reports Xinhua.

Ferguson mayor: No severance package for Wilson

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Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson did not receive a severance package when he resigned over the weekend, the St. Louis suburb's mayor said Sunday.

Activists, police clash outside Hong Kong govt HQ

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Pro-democracy protesters clashed with police as they tried to surround Hong Kong government headquarters late Sunday, stepping up their movement for genuine democratic reforms after camping out on the city's streets for more than two months, reports AP. Repeating scenes that have become familiar since the movement began in late September, protesters carrying umbrellas — which have become symbols of the pro-democracy movement — battled police armed with pepper spray, batons and riot shields.

Gambia dismisses Western criticism of anti-gay law

The Gambian government has lashed out at Western donor nations that have criticized a new law that punishes some homosexual acts with life in prison, report AP. The European Union and the United States recently expressed dismay at the law and discrimination against gay people in the West African country.

EU announces sanctions against Donetsk, Luhansk representatives

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The European Union, EU, published in its Official Journal a new sanctions list, which include 13 representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) and five east Ukrainian parties, which participated in the local elections on November 2, reports Tass.

Ukraine crises may last 14 years ---German foreign minister

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The conflict in Ukraine, as well as the disputes about it between Russia and the West cannot be settled short-term, Germany’s Foreign Minister, Mr  Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said in an interview with ZDF television channel, reports Tass.

Donetsk, Luhansk get Russian humanitarian aid

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A convoy of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry has delivered humanitarian aid to Donetsk and Luhansk, reports Tass. The ministry’s representative Oleg Voronov said “over 60 trucks carrying more than 800 tonnes of humanitarian cargo have come to Donetsk.”

FG to settle Police Pensions arrears

( Nigeria ) The Federal Government has concluded plans to clear the mess of corruption in the Police pension system and pay all outstanding arrears of gratuity, pension and entitlements including the 33 percent increment of former officers and men of the force.

Buhari commissions projects in Edo, hails Oshiomhole

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(Nigeria) Former Head of State and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major General  Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) has commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State for the monumental development his administration has brought to Edo State in the last six years.

Kano Mosque bombing: APC postpones state Assembly primaries

(Nigeria)  The All Progressives Congress, APC, has postponed its House of Assembly primaries, scheduled for Monday, December 1, across the nation, by one day as a mark of respect for those who were killed in Friday's terrorist attack on a mosque in Kano, and in sympathy with those who were injured or affected one way or the other by the senseless attack.

3 South Africans killed in Afghan attack

Taliban suicide attackers killed the South African leader of a foreign aid group, his son and daughter and an Afghan worker in an assault on the agency's Kabul offices, authorities said Sunday, as the city's police chief resigned in the wake of the latest insurgent attack there, reports AP.

Ebola death toll hits 7,000 -----WHO

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Nearly 7,000 people mainly in West Africa have died in what is the worst outbreak of Ebola, the World Health Organisation said at the weekend, reports DW. It is an abrupt increase of just over 1,200 deaths compared to its previous report, released days ago. A WHO spokesman said the steep hike in fatalities, mainly in Liberia , was mainly "a reconciliation of historical numbers" and not due to new deaths in recent days.

Lufthansa pilots to stage strike Monday

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A union representing Lufthansa pilots has called on its members to go on strike Monday in a dispute over retirement benefits, reports AP. The Vereinigung Cockpit union said Sunday that the strike will begin on short- and medium-haul services at noon local time (1100 GMT) Monday, and be extended to long-haul and cargo flights from 0300 (0200 GMT) Tuesday.

Michael Brown shooting: Officer resigns

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Ferguson officials planned to address the resignation of a white police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, a black resident of the St. Louis suburb whose parents on Sunday prepared to attend a church service where civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton was scheduled to preach, reports AP. On Monday night, prosecutors announced that a grand jury declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson, stoking racial tensions that led to looting and violence in the predominantly black St. Louis suburb of 20,000 residents, while also leading to weeklong protests nationwide.

Canada trains Nigerian security in blast investigation techniques

( Nigeria ) The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria , Mr Perry Calderwood, on Friday said training of Nigerian police personnel by Canadian Police investigation experts would build capacity in the investigation of post blast scenes in the country. According to him, it will also enhance response by the police.

Boko Haram victims:Red Cross launches N480m emergency fund

( Nigeria ) The International Red Cross, said it had launched a N480 million emergency fund to support intervention programmes for victims of insurgency in the North East of Nigeria. The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Mr Bello Diram, said this in a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Stay away from sex for 3 months, WHO to Ebola survivors

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Men who recover from Ebola should abstain from sex for three months to minimize the risk of passing the virus on in their semen, the World Health Organisation, WHO, said on Friday, reports NBC news. Ebola, a disease that has infected and killing thousands in a vast epidemic in West Africa , normally spreads via bodily fluids such as blood, saliva and faeces. Although sexual transmission of Ebola virus disease has never been documented, the virus has been detected in the survivors' semen.

Ferguson protests move to Target, Walmart stores

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Dozens of people have interrupted holiday shopping at major retail stores around the St. Louis area to speak out about a grand jury's decision not to indict the officer who fatally shot Michael Brown.

Italian man injured at West Bank protest

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An Italian man marching in support of Palestinians in the northern West Bank on Friday was shot and seriously wounded by Israeli forces, a Palestinian hospital official said, reports AP. Ramallah Hospital director Ahmad Bitawi says 30-year-old Patrick Corsi was shot during a peaceful protest Friday in the village of Kufr Qadom, near Nablus. He described Corsi's condition as stable.

S/Court dismisses appeal against Kogi Gov.’s election

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( Nigeria ) The Supreme Court on Friday, dismissed an appeal brought by All Progressives Congress, APC and defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, challenging the election of Idris Wada as Governor of Kogi State. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja , had on July 10, 2013, dismissed the appeal which was brought challenging Wada’s victory at the Kogi State Election Tribunal.

Stakeholders blame LASU crises on funding, government interference

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  ( Nigeria ) Stakeholders of the Lagos State University , LASU, Ojo, on Friday said that poor funding, government interference and bad leadership were the root causes of the looming crises in the institution. They stated this at the LASU Alumni summit on the theme: ``Charting a new course towards achieving stability in academic calendar and monumental development in the institution." Mr Yomi Orisha, Pioneer President, Lagos State University Students Union, LASUSU, said the history of the institution in the past 30 years was that of eluding crises due to government interference.

Bombs kill 64 during prayers at Kano mosque

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(Nigeria) At least 64 people were killed and 126 injured when two bombs exploded during prayers at a mosque of one of Nigeria 's top Islamic leaders Friday, a week after he issued a call to arms against Boko Haram, reports AFP. The blasts happened at the Grand Mosque in Kano , the biggest city in the Muslim north of the country, just as Friday prayers had got under way at about 2:00 pm (1300 GMT).

DSS fails to produce 5 APC workers in court

( Nigeria ) The five staff of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who were detained by operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS, will spend the weekend in jail, as the DSS,  ignored a Federal High Court, Lagos  judge's order to produce them in court. Meanwhile, following the refusal by the SSS to produce the detainees, Friday, the court adjourned further hearing in the matter till Monday.

Ex-minister, 26 chiefs, 2,500 others join APC in Edo

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(Nigeria) A former Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, 26 Palace Chiefs in Benin Kingdom and over 2,500 others on Friday decamped from the Peoples Democratic party into the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State. Benin City literarily stood still as supporters of the decamping former Minister and Palace Chiefs at the Urhokpota Hall held a carnival at the heart of the City.

Ebola vaccine promising in first human trials ----NIH

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  Researchers say they’re a step closer to developing an Ebola vaccine, with a Phase 1 trial showing promising results, but it will be months at the earliest before it can be used in the field, reports The Himalayan Times. The news comes amid the worst ever outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever, which has killed nearly 5,700 people, mostly in West Africa .

EU blacklists 13 Ukrainians over crisis

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European Union, EU countries have blacklisted 13 Ukrainian “separatists” and five entities, amid uncertainty on what to do if the conflict escalates, reports EUoberver. Ambassadors clinched the list in what EU sources described as “quick” and “easy” talks in Brussels on Thursday.

Russia warns Ukraine against membership of NATO

Russia has warned conflict-stricken Ukraine against joining the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, underscoring that such a measure would only aggravate regional tensions. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Moscow on Tuesday that Kiev's recent announcement about joining NATO will "further escalate" the situation in Ukraine, adding, "This will not ensure security in Ukraine and will not improve the Ukrainian people's life."

Boko Haram bombs kill 5 soldiers, 35 others in Adamawa

(Nigeria) A roadside bomb tore through a bus station near a busy junction in Adamawa State  on Thursday, killing 40 people including five soldiers, witnesses and a security source on the scene said, reports Reuters. The security source and witness Abubakar Adamu, a mechanic who narrowly avoided being blown up himself, said the blast set several buses on fire at the Marabi-Mubi junction, in a part of the country plagued by violence linked to the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency.

2015: No agreement on zoning in Rivers -----Wike

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(Nigeria) Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant, Mr Nyesom Wike and former Minister for State for Education, has said that he has never participated in any meeting where zoning of the governorship position was agreed upon in the state, noting  that he was in the governorship race as a collective will of the Rivers people.

Peres faults Israel's 'Jewish state' bill

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Israel's former president has come out against a bill floated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that would define Israel as "the Jewish state," reports AP. At a ceremony alongside Netanyahu on Thursday, Shimon Peres said the legislation was driven by political interests, would hurt the country's image and erode Israel's "democratic principles."

13 dead in Venezuela prison disturbance

At least 13 prisoners have died of drug overdoses after inmates at an overcrowded prison in Venezuela stormed an infirmary during protests demanding better living conditions, officials reported. Activists said Thursday the death toll could be far higher, reports AP. The disturbances at the David Viloria penitentiary began Monday when a group of inmates went on a hunger strike to force out the jail's new warden, according to the Prisons Ministry.

Oil spill: Nigeria parliament orders Shell to pay $3.6 billion

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A parliament committee in Nigeria says that hell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd, SNEPCO, should pay $3.6 billion in fines as punishment for a 2011 oil spill, reports AP. The committee's decision, made Wednesday, is non-binding. The spill occurred in 2011 of the Bonga oil field.

Lassa fever kill 8 in Benin, 170 under observation

Eight people have died in the west African nation of Benin from an outbreak of Lassa fever, while 170 others have been placed under observation, officials said Thursday. Fourteen suspected cases of the virus have been identified, with two confirmed and eight deaths in the small country bordering Nigeria, said a joint statement from the World Health Organisation, WHO, Benin's health ministry and United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF.

6 Ukrainian peacekeepers arrested over DR Congo army uniforms

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Six United Nations peacekeepers from Ukraine were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo for illegally being in possession of Congolese military uniforms, reports AFP. The six were detained at Goma airport in the country's restive east along with the supplier of the uniforms, a Congolese man, according to Lieutenant Colonel Olivier Hamuli, a spokesman for the Congolese army, FARDC.

10 killed as rebels clash with army in Kashmir

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Heavily armed militants fought a fierce gunbattle with soldiers in the Indian-held portion of Kashmir on Thursday, and four civilians were among the 10 dead, authorities said, reports AP. The nine-hour exchange of firing stopped as night fell, but some militants were still believed to be holed up in an abandoned bunker in the Arnia sector of Jammu region, an officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

14 convicted of sexually exploiting girls in UK

Fourteen men have been convicted in Britain of running a sex ring that involved the abuse, rape and prostitution of girls as young as 13, reports AP. The men, all from Somali backgrounds, were convicted in two trials that ended Wednesday. Reporting restrictions were lifted Thursday.

Police denies bungling terror suspect ‘Ogwuche’ prosecution

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(Nigeria) The Nigerian Police on Thursday, denied bungling the prosecution of Nyanya bombing terror suspect ‘ Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche,’ who  a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, struck out the three-count charge of terrorism preferred against him.

India: Girls died by suicide, not slain by rapists

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India's top investigative agency said on Thursday that two teenage girls believed to have been raped and hanged by attackers in a north Indian village actually committed suicide because of shame over a relationship with a boyfriend, reports AP.

India official banned by FIFA for taking election bribe

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Federation of International Football Association, FIFA says its ethics committee has banned a football official from India for three years for taking a bribe.

Ukraine parliament called to fight corruption

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Ukraine's president set out a strongly reformist agenda during the inaugural session of parliament Thursday, calling for the immediate overhaul of a justice system he said was corrupted from the top down, reports AP. Petro Poroshenko said a successful reform program would enable Ukraine to consider applying for European Union membership within five years.

PDP cautions Amaechi for ordering shooting of Ogoni protesters

( Nigeria ) Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State , has insisted that Governor Rotimi Amaech has never been favourably disposed towards the Ogoni people. Rivers State PDP Chairman, Mr Felix Obuah, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, reacting to the alleged shooting ordered by Governor Amaechi at the protesting Ogoni youths at the Government House gate Port Harcourt on Thursday, urged the Ogoni people to see Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC as their real enemies and distance themselves from him and his party, APC.

Putin's aide, Russian banker on Interpol list

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A Russian banker once close to Vladimir Putin is now on Interpol's most-wanted list, reports AP. Sergei Pugachev is wanted by Russian authorities on charges of misappropriation or embezzlement, according to the international police agency.

APC slams IG for not recognise Tambuwal as House Speaker

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( Nigeria ) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba for daring to say he does not recognise Mr. Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and for weaving a web of lies to cover up the real reasons the police invaded the National Assembly.

Group asks political parties to ensure free elections

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( Nigeria ) The Stop Impunity Nigeria, SIN, a civil society group, has called on all registered political parties in Nigeria to ensure that the country witnesses free and fair elections during the 2015 general elections. In separate letters to the chairmen of the 26 registered political parties, the campaign asked each of them “to make a commitment on behalf of your party to respect the laws of Nigeria relating to elections and the maintenance of public order, including relevant rules and regulations as well as the Code of Conduct for political parties which your party has subscribed to.”

Ferguson grand jury report full of inconsistencies

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Some witnesses said Michael Brown had been shot in the back. Another said he was face-down on the ground when Officer Darren Wilson "finished him off." Still others acknowledged changing their stories to fit published details about the autopsy or admitted that they did not see the shooting at all, reports AP.

5 killed as suicide bomber attack British embassy vehicle in Kabul

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At least five Afghan civilians were killed and 34 others wounded Thursday morning after a suicide car bombing targeted a British embassy armored vehicle in eastern Kabul, sources said, reports Xinhua. The British Embassy in Kabul confirmed one of its vehicles came under attack, but details about the people inside the car are not immediately available, according to local media.

Sierra Leone Ebola burial workers in pay protest, dump bodies

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Burial workers in Sierra Leone have dumped bodies in the street outside a hospital in protest at authorities' failure to pay bonuses for handling Ebola victims, reports Reuters. Residents said up to 15 corpses had been abandoned in the eastern town of Kenema , three of them at a hospital entrance to stop people entering.

2 remanded in prison for alleged unlawful purchase of twins

( Nigeria ) A Magistrates' Court in Sokoto State on Wednesday adjourned a case against one Chioma Ibia and Ama Ibiani of Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara, who were accused of unlawful purchase of twins at N76, 500 to December I. The police prosecutor, Insp. Shuai'bu Ahmed, had told the court that investigation into the case was still going on.

3 charged to court in Enugu for robbery, rape

(Nigeria) The police in Enugu on Wednesday arraigned three middle-aged men before Justice Catherine Nwobodo for armed robbery and rape. Malachy Okechukwu, Chigozie Ihesiulo and Chukwuebuka Onyi were accused of robbing Linda Ofozie, James Elom and his wife of N343,000 on February1, 2010 at No. 5 Orji Street, Ugbo-Ezeji in Abakpa Nike, Enugu.

Ferguson: Protest at US embassy in London over killing of Michael Brown

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Relatives of young black Britons who died as a result of controversial police actions have staged a rally outside the United States embassy in London to protest against the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , reports The Guardian.

Grand jury documents uncovers lax Police procedures in Ferguson

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The grand jury testimony in the Darren Wilson case reveals some shockingly lax procedures by the Ferguson and St. Louis County police departments: Unorthodox Police Procedures Emerge in Grand Jury Documents, reports LGF. When Ferguson , Mo. , police officer Darren Wilson left the scene of the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, the officer returned to the police station unescorted, washed blood off his hands and placed his recently fired pistol into an evidence bag himself.

Amaechi’s fees reduction for non indigene, political deceit –PDP

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  (Nigeria) The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State , Wednesday, described the report of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s directive to the managements of some state- owned tertiary institutions to collect equal amount of school fees from both indigenes and non-indigene students as politically motivated and another ruse.

EU calls for 5,000 doctors to fight Ebola

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 The European Commission called Wednesday for 5,000 doctors to be sent from European Union, EU states to combat West Africa's Ebola epidemic, a European source with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, reports France 24. "The situation is too serious and it needs an immediate response," the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP, adding that senior EU officials were in contact with national governments to mobilise the response.

Siasia explains players’ invitation in batches for under-23 team

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( Nigeria ) Coach of the National under-23 football team, Samson Siasia, has explained the rationale for inviting prospective players of the team to a screening camp in batches. Siasia told the News Agency of Nigeria at the end of the first batch screening on Tuesday in Abuja that the technical crew does not have enough time to watch the payers.

Egypt reopens Gaza crossing

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Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Wednesday for the first time since its closure in late October after a bombing in the Sinai Peninsula , officials said, reports AFP. The crossing, which is the only access point to the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel , will open for four hours on Wednesday and Thursday, a government official said.

Ukraine turn off ATMs, block Credit Cards in Donetsk,

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Ukraine's banks have turned off ATMs and blocked the acceptance of credit cards in a region that is riddled with pro-separatist rebels in a bid to turn locals against Russia supporters, reports IBTimes.co.uk  Many banks were closed in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk on 26 November and locals were left without personal funds after cash machines had been turned off.

Henry Okah 'terror mastermind' challenges S-Africa conviction

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A Nigerian jailed in Johannesburg for masterminding a series of terror attacks in his homeland is to challenge South Africa 's right to try him, his lawyer said Wednesday, reports AFP. Henry Okah was sentenced to 24 years in prison last year for masterminding attacks including twin car bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on October 1, 2010, and two explosions that March in the southern Nigerian city of Warri , a major hub of the oil-rich Delta region.

Russian journalist suspected of spying resists leaving Poland

 A Russian journalist suspected of spying in Poland says he is fighting an attempt by Polish authorities to expel him and says he wants the case against him to be declassified.

APC in not an Islamic party ------ AMAECHI

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(Nigeria) Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has denied rumours of people he called mischief makers and political opponents that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is an Islamic party. Speaking during an interactive session with students at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, UOE, in Port Harcourt, Amaechi said the APC is not an Islamic Party and has no intentions to Islamise Nigeria if it wins next year's Presidential election.

Supreme Court dismisses suspended Rivers CJ's appeal

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( Nigeria ) The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed three appeals for stay of proceedings application brought by the suspended Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice Peter Agumagu, against the National Judicial Council, NJC. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, in his judgment, held that the appeals were premature and dismissed them accordingly.

SERAP asks ICPC to probe N224m Lagos stolen council funds

( Nigeria ) A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Mr Ekpo Nta to “urgently and transparently investigate allegations of corruption in Lagos State Councils and to bring to justice suspected perpetrators.”

Protests against Ferguson decision grow across US

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  People protesting the Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury decision took to the streets in cities across the United States for a second day Tuesday, showing that the racially charged case has inflamed tensions thousands of miles from the predominantly black St. Louis suburb, reports AP.

National Guard join contain Ferguson protests

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National Guard reinforcements helped contain the latest protests in Ferguson, preventing a second night of the chaos that led to arson and looting after a grand jury decided not to indict the white police officer who killed Michael Brown, reports AP. Demonstrators returned Tuesday to the riot-scarred streets. But with hundreds of additional troops standing watch over neighborhoods and businesses, the protests had far less destructive power than the previous night. However, officers still used some tear gas and pepper spray, and demonstrators set a squad car on fire and broke windows at City Hall.

Female lawyer in court for assaulting colleague

( Nigeria ) A 59-year old female lawyer, Nina Lawani, was on Tuesday brought before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for assaulting her colleague, Mrs Helen Ibeji. Lawani of No. 6, Shomolu Road , Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos State , is facing a charge of assault.

Ferguson: A shameful scar in U.S. human rights history

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There are probably few other countries in the world as self-righteous and complacent as the United States when it comes to human rights issues, but the Ferguson tragedy is apparently a slap in the face, reports Xinhua. Following a grand jury decision on Monday not to indict white police officer Darren Wilson, who shot dead African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , protests and demonstrations have flared up and expanded to scores of cities across the United States .

Russia slams US over Ferguson

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As violence engulfed Ferguson , Monday and early Tuesday, Russia has slammed Americans hypocrisy for supporting anti-Russian forces in Ukraine, reports New York Post . “You want to export that kind of democracy?” political scientist Alexander Domrin said on state TV, according to a Global Post report. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Russia military 'rotating manpower' in Luhansk, Donetsk--- Ukraine

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  Ukraine 's National Security and Defense Council has reported of new Russian military movements in rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine , reports UPI. "The enemy is rotating manpower," NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Tuesday during a press conference.

Boko Haram: Displaced persons build new town in Adamawa

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(Nigeria) Following activities of Boko Haram terrorists in parts of the North East, thousands of displaced citizens from Gwoza have found a new town in Adamawa State called Daware in Fofure Local Government Area and there are indications that many of these may never return to their original homes.