Real Reason Buhari’s Sallah Message Came In Hausa Language – Mike Ozekhome Reveals

Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, has given his own interpretation of the Sallah speech credited to President Muhammadu Buhari where he addressed Nigerians in Hausa language.

He gave the analysis while backing the call by Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose for President Buhari to resign.

Ozekhome, speaking in an interview with Channels TV, said given Nigerians a voice in Hausa language, whether form the Buhari or not, was done in order to remind the Acting President that Buhari is still hovering around the Aso Rock in form of a cabal.

He also noted that the said cabal has not given Prof. Osinbajo the chance to act as he ought to because they always throw in the name of the president whenever he wants to perform in that capacity.

According to him, “We have seen a situation where what Dora Akunyili famously referred to as the cabal. The cabal has consistently flown the kite of Mr President, lurking behind and in front of the corridors of power which was why they gave us a voice some few days ago, whether genuine or stimulated, that it was President Muhammadu Buhari addressing Nigerians with much profanity, in his own native language of Hausa which is not the recognized lingual franca.

“The point they tried to make is that whether we like it or not, Mr President is hovering around here, he is right here with us.

“That has not given the acting president who has assumed full powers of the President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, the capacity, the ability, the space to act because he continues to look behind his shoulders whether they would throw in the name of the president.

“So, Fayose is therefore right and right to call for Mr President’s resignation because it is clear that under section 143 and 144 of the constitution, the Federal Executive Council, which is made up of ministers appointed by the President himself, cannot recommend that Mr President be subjected to medical report by a panel set up for that purpose.

“We cannot continue to be like a rudderless country, like an aircraft flying without a compass, it is dangerous.”

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Nathaniel Bassey Survives Fatal Car Accident In Lagos (Photos)

Hallelujah Challenge convener, gospel artist, Nathaniel Bassey survived a ghastly car crash in Lagos on 28th of June, two days to his birthday, The accident happened in lekki , ikate axis…. Thank God for his life…



He shared photos of his car and wrote;

“Thank You Jesus!
We cancel that appointment with death.
#####Good morning,I just want to use this opportunity to thank God and share my testimony with you.On the 28th of June I was on my way home from the last halleluyah praise challenge night which took place at the glitz event centre,I was inside a car and another car ran into us just at the lekki 3rd round about (ikate) and my car somersaulted inside the roundabout. People were scared that we were dead.The only thing I remembered saying last was the Blood of Jesus.I and the driver came out alive without a single scratch.The most amazing thing is that this happened two days to my birthday. I just want to bless God because the devil failed.He is the olowogbogboro indeed and I bless his name. Olowogbogboro🙏🏻olowogbogboro🙏🏻Nathaniel Bassey ,Nathaniel Bassey -Official 💃🏽I am a living testimony####”

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Heartbreaking story of a Kenyan female pastor who was gang-raped on her wedding day, lost her husband to carbon monoxide and was once told she would never conceive a baby.

Kenyan female pastor, Terry Gobanga from Nairobi has opened up on the horrific tragedy that befell her, leaving her praying for death to fast approach.

In 2014, the clergy who was then known as Terry Apudo was abducted, raped, stabbed and left for dead by the roadside on her wedding day.  

 

 The following year she lost her husband to carbon monoxide at their home, an incident which almost wrecked her life.

In a lengthy interview with BBC, the pastor who now has every reason to be happy again narrated her ordeal saying:

     'It was going to be a very big wedding. I was a pastor, so all our church members were coming, as well as all our relatives. My fiance, Harry, and I were very excited - we were getting married in All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi and I had rented a beautiful dress.'


'But the night before the wedding I realised that I had some of Harry's clothes, including his cravat. He couldn't show up without a tie, so a friend who had stayed the night offered to take it to him first thing in the morning. We got up at dawn and I walked her to the bus station.'

'As I was making my way back home, I walked past a guy sitting on the bonnet of a car - suddenly he grabbed me from behind and dumped me in the back seat. There were two more men inside, and they drove off. It all happened in a fraction of a second.'

''A piece of cloth was stuffed in my mouth. I was kicking and hitting out and trying to scream. When I managed to push the gag out, I screamed: "It's my wedding day!" That was when I got the first blow. One of the men told me to "co-operate or you will die".

'The men took turns to rape me. I felt sure I was going to die, but I was still fighting for my life, so when one of the men took the gag out of my mouth I bit his manhood. He screamed in pain and one of them stabbed me in the stomach. Then they opened the door and threw me out of the moving car.'

'I was miles from home, outside Nairobi. More than six hours had passed since I had been abducted.'

A child saw me being thrown out and called her grandmother. People came running. When the police came they tried to get a pulse, but no-one could. Thinking I was dead, they wrapped me in a blanket and started to take me to the mortuary. But on the way there, I choked on the blanket and coughed. The policeman said: "She's alive?" And he turned the car around and drove me to the biggest government hospital in Kenya.

I arrived in great shock, murmuring incoherently. I was half-naked and covered in blood, and my face was swollen from being punched. But something must have alerted the matron, because she guessed I was a bride. "Let's go around the churches to see if they're missing a bride," she told the nurses.

By coincidence, the first church they called at was All Saints Cathedral. "Are you missing a bride?" the nurse asked. The minister said: "Yes, there was a wedding at 10 o'clock and she didn't come."

When I didn't show up to the church, my parents were panicking. People were sent out to search for me. Rumours flew. Some wondered: "Did she change her mind?" Others said: "No, it's so unlike her, what happened?"

After a few hours, they had to take down the decorations to make room for the next ceremony. Harry had been put in the vestry to wait.

When they heard where I was, my parents came to the hospital with the whole entourage. Harry was actually carrying my wedding gown. But the media had also got wind of the story so there were reporters too.

I was moved to another hospital where I'd have more privacy. That was where the doctors stitched me up and gave me some devastating news: "The stab wound went deep into your womb, so you won't be able to carry any children."

I was given the morning-after pill, as well as antiretroviral drugs to protect me from HIV and Aids. My mind shut down, it refused to accept what had happened.

Harry kept saying he still wanted to marry me. "I want to take care of her and make sure she comes back to good health in my arms, in our house," he said. Truth be told, I wasn't in a position to say Yes or No because my mind was so jammed with the faces of the three men, and with everything that had happened.

A few days later, when I was less sedated, I was able to look him in the eye. I kept saying sorry. I felt like I had let him down. Some people said it was my own fault for leaving the house in the morning. It was really hurtful, but my family and Harry supported me.

The police never caught the rapists. I went to the line-up after line-up but I didn't recognise any of the men, and it hurt me each time I went. It set back my recovery - it was 10 steps forward, 20 back. In the end, I went back to the police station and said: "You know what, I'm done. I just want to leave it."

Three months after the attack I was told I was HIV-negative and got really excited, but they told me I had to wait three more months to be sure. Still, Harry and I began to plan our second wedding.

Although I had been very angry at the press intrusion, somebody read my story and asked to meet me. Her name was Vip Ogolla, and she was also a rape survivor. We spoke, and she told me she and her friends wanted to give me a free wedding. "Go wild, have whatever you want," she said.

I was ecstatic. I went for a different type of cake, much more expensive. Instead of a rented gown, now I could have one that was totally mine.

In July 2005, seven months after our first planned wedding, Harry and I got married and went on a honeymoon.

Twenty-nine days later, we were at home on a very cold night. Harry lit a charcoal burner and took it to the bedroom. After dinner, he removed it because the room was really warm. I got under the covers as he locked up the house. When he came to bed he said he was feeling dizzy, but we thought nothing of it.

It was so cold we couldn't sleep, so I suggested getting another duvet. But Harry said he couldn't get it as he didn't have enough strength. Strangely, I couldn't stand up either. We realised something was very wrong. He passed out. I passed out. I remember coming to. I would call him. At times he would respond, at other times he wouldn't. I pushed myself out of bed and threw up, which gave me some strength. I started crawling to the phone. I called my neighbour and said: "Something is wrong, Harry is not responding."

She came over immediately but it took me ages to crawl to the front door to let her in as I kept passing out. I saw an avalanche of people coming in, screaming. And I passed out again.

I woke up in hospital and asked where my husband was. They said they were working on him in the next room. I said: "I'm a pastor, I've seen quite a lot in my life, I need you to be very straight with me." The doctor looked at me and said: "I'm sorry, your husband did not make it."

I couldn't believe it.

Going back to church for the funeral was terrible. Just a month earlier I had been there in my white dress, with Harry standing at the front looking handsome in his suit. Now, I was in black and he was being wheeled in, in a casket.

People thought I was cursed and held back their children from me. "There's a bad omen hanging over her," they said. At one point, I actually believed it myself.

Others accused me of killing my husband. That really got me down - I was grieving.

The post-mortem showed what really happened: as the carbon monoxide filled his system, he started choking and suffocated.

I had a terrible breakdown. I felt let down by God, I felt let down by everybody. I couldn't believe that people could be laughing, going out and just going about life. I crashed.

One day I was sitting on the balcony looking at the birds chirping away and I said: "God, how can you take care of the birds and not me?" In that instant I remembered there are 24 hours a day - sitting in depression with your curtains closed, no-one's going to give you back those 24 hours. Before you know, it's a week, a month, a year wasted away. That was a tough reality.

I told everybody I would never ever get married again. God took my husband, and the thought of ever going through such a loss again was too much. It's something I wouldn't wish on anybody. The pain is so intense, you feel it in your nails.

But there was one man - Tonny Gobanga - who kept visiting. He would encourage me to talk about my husband and think about the good times. One time he didn't call for three days and I was so angry. That's when it hit me that I had fallen for him.

Tonny proposed marriage but I told him to buy a magazine, read my story and tell me if he still loved me. He came back and said he still wanted to marry me.

But I said: "Listen, there's another thing - I can't have children, so I cannot get married to you."

"Children are a gift from God," he said. "If we get them, Amen. If not, I will have more time to love you."

I thought: "Wow, what a line!" So I said Yes.

Tonny went home to tell his parents, who were very excited until they heard my story. "You can't marry her - she is cursed," they said. My father-in-law refused to attend the wedding, but we went ahead anyway. We had 800 guests - many came out of curiosity.

It was three years after my first wedding, and I was very scared. When we were exchanging vows, I thought: "Here I am again Father, please don't let him die." As the congregation prayed for us I cried uncontrollably.

A year into our marriage, I felt unwell and went to the doctor - and to my great surprise he told me that I was pregnant.

As the months progressed I was put on total bed rest, because of the stab wound to my womb. But all went well, and we had a baby girl who we called Tehille. Four years later, we had another baby girl named Towdah.

Today, I am the best of friends with my father-in-law.

 I wrote a book, Crawling out of Darkness, about my ordeal, to give people hope of rising again. I also started an organisation called Kara Olmurani. We work with rape survivors, as I call them - not rape victims. We offer counselling and support. We are looking to start a halfway house for them where they can come and find their footing before going back to face the world.

I have forgiven my attackers. It wasn't easy but I realised I was getting a raw deal by being upset with people who probably don't care. My faith also encourages me to forgive and not repay evil with evil but with good.

The most important thing is to mourn. Go through every step of it. Get upset until you are willing to do something about your situation. You have to keep moving, crawl if you have to. But move towards your destiny because it's waiting, and you have to go and get it.

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Just In!!! APC Chairman, Oyegun Gives Update On Buhari’s Health Condition (See This)

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is fast recovering from his illness. This claim is contrary to allegations that he is on life support.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, gave the assurance in Abuja on Friday, while speaking with newsmen at the end of a meeting between the party`s National Working Committee, NWC, and state governors elected on the party’s platform.

He said, “We are glad to inform you that President Muhammadu Buhari is recovering in a very robust manner.

“We hope he takes it easy and when he comes back, I have no doubt at all that we will have a new and active period of activities.”

The APC chairman further stated that only the president’s doctors abroad could decide when he would be fit to return to the country.

Recall that the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, had recently alleged that President Buhari was on life-support in a London hospital where he is receiving medical attention.

Oyegun, however, refused to respond to the governor’s comment, saying he would do that at an appropriate time.

    “If I respond, I will be dignifying him. At the appropriate time, people will answer him; at the appropriate level; at the appropriate time.

    “He is in a different world altogether.’’

According to him, the party’s leadership has confidence in President Buhari.

He added that the meeting x-rayed the nation, ongoing agitation for its restructuring and inciting statements emanating from different parts of the country.

Odigie-Oyegun stressed that such inciting statements are not good “for the nation`s health and have to be stopped.”

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‘Who Is Your Father?, How Did You Make Your Money? I Will Raise A Petition Against You’- Kcee Comes For Hushpuppi, Asks EFCC To Pay Attention To Him

This afternoon, Phyno went in hard on flamboyant Nigerian, Hushpuppi who called him out yesterday for wearing a fake wristwatch. Phyno in his response called Hushpuppi a ‘cow’ who wants to be relevant. (Read HERE )

Now, Kcee has jumped in defence of his fellow musician saying;

‘We want to know your source of income since you now have the nerves to come on social media and call out a brand. Who is your father, are you a taxable Nigerian.

Read his piece in full below:

Dear Hushpuppi,

We are musicians not paupers. Who exactly do you think you are to open your mouth and insult a musician that sweats day and night in the studio?

You have no credibility, no known source of income and yet you come on social media to attack hard working Nigerian musicians with traceable wealth.

Let’s face it, I think we’ve had enough of this nonsense and disrespect form you. Really, What do you do for a living, what is your talent, how did you make your money, what brand do you represent? I will take it upon myself to raise a petition against you. We want to know your source of income since you now have the nerves to come on social media and call out a brand.

Who is your father, Are you OBO , are you a taxable Nigerian. We need to start asking questions and the EFCC @officialefcc needs to start paying more ‘Attention To detail’.

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Merkel votes against same-sex marriage, parliament approves bill

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she has voted against a bill to legalize same-sex marriages in Germany, which was nevertheless approved at the German parliament.

Out of the 631 lawmakers in the Bundestag, 393 voted in favor of the bill to legalize such marriages on Friday. Another 226 lawmakers voted against it.

Merkel, who is also a member of the Bundestag, said she was among those who voted no because she believed marriage was the preserve of a man and a woman.

“To me, marriage as defined in the German constitution means the marriage between husband and wife, and that is why I voted against the law today,” she said.

This image shows German chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Christian Democrat Union party parliamentary group leader Volker Kauder (R) prior to a debate and vote on same-sex marriage in the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of the parliament, in Berlin, on June 30, 2017. (By AFP)

Merkel had said before voting that there was no need to follow party lines on the matter and that lawmakers had to vote on the bill as a “decision of conscience.”

Merkel’s 253-strong Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and coalition partners the Social Democrats (SPD), with 56 seats, had been against the bill.

On Tuesday, the SPD leader and candidate for the chancellery Martin Schulz took Merkel at her word and broke coalition ranks to call for an immediate vote on the issue.

The CDU slammed the call for the vote as a “breach of trust” after four years of joint rule.

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New Yorkers hold rally after Trump’s Muslim ban takes effect

Hundreds of people have descended upon Union Square in New York City to protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban that came into effect Thursday.

Protesters were gathering in Union Square Park at 5:30 pm to protest what they call "Trump's Muslim Ban 3.0."

Organizers also attended a town hall meeting on Muslims Thursday night.

"I believe that America is a country of liberty and of freedom, and that we should be accepting of all people," a female protester told local media.

After five months of bitter legal squabbling, President Trump’s revised travel ban took effect Thursday after the Supreme Court allowed the administration to go forward with the implementation.

"The use of national security as the rationale for implementing the Muslim ban is quite comical, to say the least," said Murad Awadeh of New York Immigration Coalition.

The US State Department has announced new criteria for visa applicants from six Muslim-majority countries.

Under the new rules, citizens of Iran, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen would be given a US visa only if they have a “close” family or business tie there.

People march at Union Square against President Trump's travel ban, June 29, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

"Donald Trump does not get to decide who is family or what is love," New York City protest organizers said in a statement on Facebook.

"It's up to us now to fight back against this latest attack and stand up for the values that truly make America great: opportunity and justice for all," they added.

The new guidelines do not allow grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins and fiancés to travel to the US.

“The president is supposed to protect American families, not rip them apart,” said Shayan Modarres, a lawyer with the National Iranian American Council.

The state of Hawaii has asked a federal judge for clarification regarding the Supreme Court ruling, arguing that the administration has interpreted the court's decision too narrowly.

Trump’s first travel ban caused much confusion in January with visa holders being kept off flights or barred entry on arrival in the US.

Lower courts blocked that initial directive and, in March, the president issued a revised order intended to overcome legal hurdles.

However, the revised order was also blocked by federal judges in the states of Hawaii and Maryland and upheld by the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.

The Supreme Court on Monday narrowed the scope of lower court rulings and agreed to hear the administration’s appeal in these cases.

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‘Why I Didn’t Think Twice About Selling Pogba To Manchester United’- Juventus Boss Allegri Reveals

Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri, has given reasons why he did not bother trying to keep France midfielder, Paul Pogba at the club.

Allegri said once he saw the amount involved in the midfielder’s record-breaking sale to Manchester United, he had to let go.

Pogba came back to Old Trafford last summer after four seasons with the Italian giants on a record move of €105 million plus €5 million in bonuses, making him the world’s most expensive footballer.

The player went on to make 51 appearances in all competitions this past season as the Red Devils won an EFL Cup and Europa League double.

Pogba had helped Juventus win four Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia crowns during his time with the club, and his former manager said he had no hesitation to sell once he saw the massive number put forth by Jose Mourinho’s side.

He told Sky Sports Italia, “I did nothing to keep Pogba. Because when the club told me the numbers…”

Allegri added, “Dybala’s game is easier on the eye, but Pogba is extraordinary because he has physicality and technique.”

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Jay Z sings about his mother's sexuality in new song, acknowledges she's a lesbian

For years, there have been reports that Jay Z's mother is gay. Jay Z and his mother seem to confirm the reports in his new album 4:44. In the album which just dropped, JayZ spilled a lot about his family, including his marriage to Beyonce.

Among the songs in the album is a track called "Smile". Jay Z's mother, Gloria Carter, collaborated with her son on this track and they both seem to be telling the world that Gloria has been a lesbian for years but had to remain in the closet.


Jay Z raps: "Mama had four kids, but she's a lesbian.  Had to pretend so long that she's a thespian. Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate..."

Jay Z's mom who had to raise the rapper and his three siblings on her own, after Jay Z's dad abandoned them when he was young also recited a poem at the end of the track.









She recited:

"Living in the shadow
Can you imagine what kind of life it is to live?
In the shadows people see you as happy and free
Because that's what you want them to see
Living two lives, happy, but not free
You live in the shadows for fear of someone hurting your family or the person you love
The world is changing and they say it's time to be free
But you live with the fear of just being me
Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be
No harm for them, no harm for me
But life is short, and it's time to be free
Love who you love, because life isn't guaranteed
Smile" 

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True Love! Couple both aged 99 celebrate 80th wedding anniversary and say their long union is due to honesty

Donald and Vivian Hart from Michigan are sure proof that true love exists, the pair both aged 99 recently celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary. The one thing anyone would want to find out from them is the secret to such a loving, long lasting union and they were happy to reveal their secrets. 'Make sure the relationship is honest,' said Donald.

    'Try to do what's right in God's eyes... It's good to laugh together. Have fun with each other, but don't make jokes at the expense of the other.'
    Vivian lovingly added: 'Always be willing to help and stay alert to your spouse.
    'We have prayer every day together in the morning and the night. We don't keep our mind on our troubles.'



 How they met is a lovely story on its own. One day after church, a group of girls asked Donald for directions and he ended up walking Vivian home. They got married on June 25 1937. Their were separated when Donald was drafted to serve in World War 2 but fortunately, he returned alive. Their family spoke of how Donald and Vivian's 'strength, forgiveness and commitment to their family and church' have seen them reach such an incredible milestone.







Their eldest son Don said:

    'When I look back on it I think, "Boy, we were really poor".
    'We lived in a dinky house — it had been a chicken coop. We didn't have things, but we had a lot of fun.' Those eight decades have not been all rosy but they stuck to the age old method of fixing broken things rather than discarding them.
    Donald said: 'When those times happen you get knocked down, but you just get up and go again.
    'When you get together again, it was better yet than ever. Seems that way.'

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Female undergraduate, Joy Odama, died of carbon monoxide inhalation, not cocaine, new autopsy report reveals

 Joy Odama, the 200-level student of Cross River State University whose mother alleged that she was killed by an Alhaji, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is according to the report of a recent autopsy authorized by the police.

Police Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, told journalists in Abuja on Thursday that the new report carried out by CP Wilson Akhiwu, Force consultant, showed that Joy died after inhaling carbon monoxide fumes ‎and not cocaine as reported by Dr. Jibrin.

Jimoh Ibrahim further disclosed that Alhaji Usman Adamu, the suspect in whose Abuja home the female undergraduate was found dead on December 21, 2016, has been arrested by the police as investigation into Ms. Odama's death continues. 

Apart from Ms. Odama, another young woman, Victoria Ezekiel, fell unconscious in the suspect’s house that same day and was rushed to the Federal Medical Center in Jabi, Abuja with the deceased. Sadly, Joy was pronounced dead while Victoria was resuscitated after the hospital placed her on oxygen and treated her for conditions that included carbon monoxide poisoning, dehydration, vomiting, and headaches.

Moshood added that Adamu will be charged to court soon while dismissing reports of police cover up. He disclosed that Mr. Adamu’s investigation for culpable homicide began after a law firm representing Philomena Odama, the mother of the deceased, wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police, urging the IGP to order an investigation into her daughter’s death in Mr. Adamu’s apartment.

Mrs Philomena Odama‎ alleged that her daughter was tricked by the suspect under the guise of offering her financial help.

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German Parliament Approves Same-Sex Marriage

BERLIN — The German Parliament approved a proposal on Friday allowing same-sex marriage, after a short, suddenly scheduled debate.

The country’s normally staid politics were jolted in the direction of approving gay marriage last weekend when two major political parties said they would make the legislation a condition of any future coalition agreement with the Christian Democrats, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is seeking a fourth term in the general election in September.

Ms. Merkel reacted swiftly by easing her party’s stance against same-sex marriage and freeing individual lawmakers to vote on the issue as they saw fit.

Same-sex couples in Germany have been able to live together in civil unions since 2001, and opinion polls have shown for years that most Germans favor legalizing same-sex marriage. But conservatives have consistently blocked the issue from coming to a vote in Parliament.

“I would like to lead the discussion more into a situation where it is a question of conscience, rather than something I push through with a majority vote,” Ms. Merkel said on Monday. That prompted opposition parties to try to schedule a vote on the measure this week, before the Parliament’s summer recess.

For gay rights activists, the debate and vote on the measure are a turning point.

“If the Constitution guarantees one thing, it is that anyone in this country can live as they wish,” said Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary leader of the opposition Social Democrats, while debating the law. “If gay marriage is decided, then many will receive something, but nobody will have something taken away.”

Arnd Bächler, a counselor and addiction therapist at a gay counseling center in Berlin, praised the legislation.

“It’s very positive for the self-esteem of gays and lesbians; it’s very important for people coming out, knowing that they have this equality; and it sends a clear message to any homophobic refugees coming to Germany: We have equality here,” he said, anticipating that the legislation would pass.

Approval of same-sex marriage in Germany could build momentum for similar legislation in other German-speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland, said Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director of ILGA-Europe, a gay and transgender rights group. She said the developments in Germany illustrated the difference that opposition parties could make.

“For us, the most important lesson is for the opposition to be very outspoken in supporting L.G.B.T.I. rights,” Ms. Hugendubel said. “The Social Democrats’ and the Greens’ making it a coalition condition raised the pressure on the conservatives, so it’s very important that those in favor across Europe make it a condition, and be very strong in their support.”

Some of the more conservative members of Ms. Merkel’s wing expressed dismay with these fast-moving developments.

“To me it remains clear that same-sex partnership is not the same thing as a marriage. In our cultural circles, marriage has for centuries been a union between man and woman,” said Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of the conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union.

More than a dozen European countries have legalized same-sex marriage, including Ireland, France and Spain.

Christine Lüders, the director of the German government’s anti-discrimination agency, said that the legislation was “not about special rights for anyone, but about equal rights.”

Ms. Lüders said adopting the law would play a significant role in combating discrimination, by helping make same-sex relationships a social norm in Germany, as they have become in many countries across Europe.

“I am certain that just a few years from now, as a society, we will look back on this decision on marriage equality and ask ourselves, ‘Why on earth did it take us so long?’” Ms. Lüders said.

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Photo: EFCC arrests NABDA's DG for N23m scam

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a serving Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, Professor( Mrs) Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, for her alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy and diversion of public funds to the tune of N23million.


Ogbadu was arrested on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following her alleged linkage with the Bayelsa State's Director of Bioresources Development Centre, Mr. Josiah Habu who is being investigated by the EFCC in a case of fraudulent diversion of the sum of N75,0000,000.00k( Seventy Five Million Naira only).

 Investigations by the EFCC showed that Ogbadu allegedly received the sum of N23million through a bank account belonging to the wife of Habu, Mrs. Esther Habu and admitted same in a voluntary statement made to the EFCC.

Further investigations have also shown that, Mrs Esther Habu is one of the contractors with Bioresources Development Centre, Odi, Bayelsa State and a total sum of N603,000,000.00k( Six Hundred and Three Million Naira only) has been traced to her, in different deals involving over 20 Directors of Bioresources Development Centres across the country.

Ogbadu's linkage with all these scams is being investigated. She has been duly served with bail conditions while investigations continue. 

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JAMB UTME 2017 Rescheduled Exam Slip, Centre & Exam Time Out – See How To Check

 The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) wishes to inform all 2017 Supplementary Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates that they can now re-print their registration slips to access their CBT examination centres online.

JAMB is currently sending to candidates information about their examination date and CBT venue via the email they used to register for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Note that the exam notifications are being sent in batches.

If you are yet to get your exam notification, follow the outlined procedure below to print your JAMB UTME slip by yourself anywhere.

How To Re-Print 2017 UTME Slip:

1. Visit the JAMB UTME Slip Printing page on the e-Facility portal via
     http://www.jamb.org.ng/PrintExamslip/PrintExaminationSlip

2.Enter your Reg Number or your registered e-Mail address,

3.Click on the “Print Examination Slip” on the page to access your examination slip. Note: Please allow popup for this site from your browser.

Candidates are to note that the supplementary examination will still hold on Saturday, 1st July, 2017.

The exam body has assured candidates that necessary machinery has been put in place to ensure a hitch free exercise.

Best Wishes To You All…

 Best Wishing Samesos

Best Wishes To You All…

 

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Presidency explains why presidential jet is parked in London

Yesterday, a photo of the presidential jet parked at the airport in the UK surfaced online. Many Nigerians criticized the Federal government for parking the jet at the airport, thereby incurring unnecessary expenses.

In a statement released today, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Shehu Garba, explained that the jet is being kept in the UK for reasons of National security and prestige accorded world leaders when they travel abroad. Read his statement after the cut...


     The Presidency is constrained to decry criticisms, mostly on social media, on the retention in London of the Presidential Aircraft, NAF 001 as mostly informed by lack of understanding of protocol around foreign trips by Heads of State all over the world. It is important to state that for reasons of protocol, national security, diplomacy and prestige, there is no world leader who travels abroad andis left without plans for immediate return or possible evacuation. From operational point of view, this country’s Armed Forces as represented by the Nigeria Air Force are not to abandon their Commander-In-Chief in whichever circumstance he is. This is a standard operating procedure. We have also read claims about outrageous fees allegedly paid by Nigeria. The published amounts are totally untrue. Aircraft conveying heads of state all over the world usually enjoy waivers even where payments for parking are differentiated by aircraft categories. We been assured that where the waiver is not granted, payment will not exceed £1,000, which is a quarter of the amount being peddled. For the avoidance of doubt, this President is not the first to have a presidential aircraft standing by for him, as he will certainly not be the last. All past Heads of this country have had this privilege, and the part that surprises the most is that leaders who in the past travelled with three Nigerian aircraft did not suffer this trenchant criticism. We appeal to Nigerians to ignore opposition campaign aimed at derailing this administration's big plans for the country. This is a government that is constructing the Second Niger Bridge, the Mambila Power Plant, the East-West and the North-South standard gauge railway lines. We are a government that has saved this country an annual loss of two trillion Naira from fraudulent petroleum subsidy schemes by influential citizens and their children, and rid the public service of about 50,000 ghost workers. The Buhari administration certainly deserves a chance.

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At Last! Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms Birth Of Two Boys

 Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he had become the father of two boys during the Confederations Cup.

Portugal were eliminated from the tournament on Wednesday, suffering a 3-0 penalty shoot-out loss to Chile after a 0-0 draw in Russia.

Ronaldo was left disappointed by his side’s exit, confirming the birth of his two boys and that he would miss the third place play-off on Sunday.

    “I was in the service of the national team, as always, body and soul, even though my two sons were born,” he wrote on Facebook.

    “Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve the main sporting objective that we wanted, but I am sure we will continue to give joy to the Portuguese.

    “The president of the Portuguese Football Federation and the national team have today had an attitude that has touched me and I will not forget.

    “I’m very happy to finally be with my children for the first time.”

Ronaldo’s first son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., turned seven earlier this month.

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Trump rakes in $10 million at first re-election fundraiser

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was whisked a few blocks from the White House to the Trump hotel on Wednesday night for his first re-election fundraiser, where he raised an estimated $10 million behind closed doors.

Some 40 months ahead of the 2020 election, the president held court for about two hours at a $35,000-per-plate donor event at the Trump International Hotel. About 300 people were expected to attend the event, which was expected to raise about $10 million, said Lindsay Jancek, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

Security was tight at the hotel, where guests in long gowns and crisp suits began arriving around 5 p.m. But the event also drew critics. The president's motorcade was greeted by dozens of protesters, who hoisted signs with slogans like "Health care not tax cuts" and chanted "Shame! Shame!"

Among the fundraiser's attendees: Longtime GOP fundraiser-turned television commentator Mica Mosbacher and Florida lobbyist and party financier Brian Ballard were among the fundraiser's attendees.

Breaking the tradition of his predecessor, Trump didn't allow reporters into the event — despite an announcement earlier in the day that a pool of reporters would be allowed in to hear the president's remarks.

"It's a political event and they've chosen to keep that separate," White House deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said when asked why the event is closed to the media.

After reporters complained, Sanders announced that the president's remarks would be opened to the press — only to reverse herself hours later.

Sanders said there was nothing unusual about raising political cash so early.

"He's raising money for the party," she said. "I don't think that's abnormal for any president."

Sanders' statement that Trump is raising cash for the GOP told only part of the story, though.

The first cut of the money raised goes to Trump's 2020 re-election campaign. The rest gets spread among the RNC and other various Republican entities. Having multiple beneficiaries is what allowed Trump to ask for well above the usual $5,400 per-donor maximum for each election cycle.

Those contribution limits are likely to change because this fundraiser is so early that new donation limits for 2020 have not been set by the Federal Election Commission.

Trump's hotel has become a place to see and be seen by current and former Trump staffers, as well as lobbyists, journalist and tourists. Several Washington influencers popped into the hotel's lobby even though they didn't plan to attend the event.

Several bar patrons also expressed enthusiasm about the unusually lucrative fundraiser so soon after the last election.

Trump's decision to hold a fundraiser at his own hotel again raised issues about his continued financial interest in the companies he owns. Unlike previous presidents who have entirely divested from their business holdings before taking office, Trump moved his global business empire assets into a trust that he can take control of at any time. That means that when his properties — including his Washington hotel — do well, he stands to make money.

Trump technically leases the hotel from the General Services Administration, and profits are supposed to go to an account of the corporate entity that holds the lease, Trump Old Post Office LLC. It remains unclear what might happen to any profits from the hotel after Trump leaves office, or whether they will be transferred to Trump at that time.

Under campaign finance rules, neither the hotel nor the Trump Organization that operates it can donate the space. It must be rented at fair-market value and paid for by either the Trump campaign, the RNC or both.

First-time candidate Trump got a late start on fundraising in 2016, holding his first big-ticket donor event only five months before Election Day. This time, he's started unusually early.

Trump's historically early campaigning comes with benefits and challenges.

In the first three months of this year, the Trump campaign raised more than $7 million, through small donations and the sale of Trump-themed merchandise such as the ubiquitous, red "Make America Great Again" ball caps.

The RNC also is benefiting from the new president's active campaigning, having raised about $62 million through the end of last month. The party has raised more online this year than it did in all of 2016 — a testament to Trump's success in reaching small donors.

Trump's re-election money helps pay for his political rallies. He's held five so far, and campaign director Michael Glassner says those events help keep him connected to his base of voters.

The constant politicking, however, means it is challenging for government employees to avoid inappropriately crossing ethical lines. Some watchdog groups have flagged White House employee tweets that veer into campaign territory. White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters says the employees work closely with lawyers to avoid pitfalls.

Walters also says the White House takes care to make sure that Trump's political events and travel — including the Wednesday fundraiser — are paid for by the campaign and other political entities.

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Drama as newly married wife is caught red-handed having sex with her ex-lover during honeymoon (Photos)

 According to H-Metro, a Zimbabwean sex starved lady who couldn't control her quest for sex was caught red-handed bedding her ex-boyfriend during her honeymoon earlier this year.
Kudzai Juliet Mudema, a former nurse in Gweru who got married to her husband Progress Walusi at Muzimukhulu Gardens in December 2016, was only two months into marriage before she cheated on him.
During their honeymoon, it was reported that Kudzai was caught by her husband when she was having sex with her ex- boyfriend only identified as Lawrence.

In a leaked WhatsApp chats, obtained by H-Metro, the heartbroken Walusi with Kudzai's sister Gulez had a discussion on the infidelity matter.

The chats which were typed in English and their indigenous language started with:  “… I’m hurt, more than hurt, as I am texting you so tears are flowing down my cheeks. The last time I cried was 2009 when my mum passed away. … you know us very well ndichimuregerera you are the best person to testify kuti ndakambozama because I always confided in you.

 Fracas dzese dzana Bule, abortion dzake I forgave her and opened a new chapter. If you check those chats it was barely two months into the marriage anga akutohura.

In as much as I love her wholeheartedly, for that I think in life there comes a time when a tough decision has to be made. I am doing this with a bleeding heart but I guess it’s the only way to go. For now better we go our separate ways….’

In response, Gulez said:

    “Please forgive her… I know and understand what you are going through and would not want to coerce you into a premature decision but I just feel there could be another chance.”

When Kudzai was contacted, her cousin who answered the phone, said Kudzai had gone to Namibia to talk to her husband about her identity.

Kudzai’s cousin Nyasha Mudema, who spoke to the publication said the embattled wife had resigned from her job and had relocated to Namibia to work out issues with her husband.

When H-Metro reached to Walusi via Whatsapp, he responded saying:

    “I know and very much respect the nature of your job but whatever happened to us, it’s a thing of the past. What I did back then or what she did back then zvaiva zvenguva iyoyo.. she is and will remain my wife.

    Am sure u phoned her number mukataura ne whoever has her phone ikoko kuZim. We are trying to deal with our situation and we're doing just fine".

    If u would seek to find more info u would realize whatever abt honeymoon it's not true and even contradicts how the event unfolded because honeymoon yacho we haven’t managed kuyiita due to work commitments.


But whoever is behind this has a score to settle after all it's our personal life', he added

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Good Samaritan targeted, beaten after helping lost toddler

 A Florida man who police said was trying to help a missing toddler locate her parents over the weekend ended up beaten and shamed on social media by the child's family members after they mistook him for a kidnapper, according to a report.

The good Samaritan, who was not identified by authorities, was attempting to help a 2-year-old who had become separated from her parents while attending a baseball game at the Southwest Sports Complex in Lakeland, Florida, on Saturday, but her parents "feared that the citizen was attempting to kidnap the child," the Lakeland Police Department said in a statement Tuesday.

"At least one independent witness stated they observed the citizen walking with the child trying to help find her parents," police said. "The parents were alerted by bystanders that the citizen was walking towards a playground, which is near the parking lot, and feared that the citizen was attempting to kidnap the child. This was not the case."

The police department said it "thoroughly investigated" the incident and concluded that the man committed no crime.

However, he ended up being attacked by the child's father, who admitted to punching him repeatedly, according to ABC affiliate WFTS.

"When I got there, I just swung on him," the father told WFTS. He acknowledged that he really didn't know whether the man was looking to kidnap his daughter but he said he doesn't regret assaulting him.

"You don't pick somebody's kid up in that direction, towards the parking lot, whether you were going towards the parking lot or not," the toddler's father said.

The good Samaritan, who police identified as a father and a local businessman, was also targeted in a social media smear campaign, according to WLS. The station reported that the toddler's family posted the man's name, photo and place of employment online, referring to him as a child predator.

The man has reportedly opted against pressing charges against members of the family.

The Lakeland Police Department did not confirm assault allegations, but it appeared to use the incident to educate the public about the dangers of posting or sharing inaccurate information on Facebook.

"Accounts of this incident have circulated on social media with false information and speculation," the department said in its statement Tuesday. "Be careful about what you post on social media so as not to victimize an innocent person."

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See The Top Barcelona Stars That Will MISS Lionel Messi’s Wedding This Weekend

When Lionel Messi ties the knot with his childhood lover, Antonella Roccuzzo, two of his Barcelona team-mates Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique may not be in attendance.

Messi is believed to have included the entire Barcelona senior squad in the guest list, with fellow attackers Luis Suarez and Neymar expected to arrive in Santa Fe this week.

Andres Iniesta has reportedly turned down an invitation for unknown reasons, while defender Gerard Pique will not attend because of the frosty relationship his wife Shakira has with Antonella.

Shakira, however, denied such speculations recently, while promoting her new album.

“I don’t know where that has come from, I don’t understand it at all because everyone has often seen us together

“If we can go to their wedding, we will go,” the Colombian pop star said.

It is understood that Xavi Hernandez is the only former team-mate set to attend.

Spanish media also claim that the backroom staff are on the list, although there was no room for the former head coach Luis Enrique, who left this summer or any of the Barcelona board members.

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‘President Buhari Has Been Away For 53 Days, It Is Time For Him To Resign’ – Governor Fayose

Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign on account of ill-health.

According to the governor, the resignation would avail the president enough time to attend to his health and also allow the country to move forward.

Fayose, who addressed a news conference yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, said Buhari has been away for 53 days, carpeting presidential aides for shielding the president’s whereabouts from Nigerians.

    The governor said: “Today, it makes 53 days since our President, Muhammadu Buhari, left Nigeria to attend to his health challenges abroad. No official information as to his whereabouts and his state of health.
    “Like every other Nigerian, I do not wish the president dead. I have, therefore, maintained dignified silence since we were told that thePresident embarked on his second medical trip abroad this year.

    “However, the recorded audio message which was released by thePresidency as the President’s Ramadan message to Nigerians necessitated my setting the records straight today. No doubt, the audio message was only a damage-control strategy aimed at further deceiving Nigerians.”
Fayose alleged that attempts were being made on his life for speaking out on issues of national importance.

    He said: “In closing, let me state that I am not unaware of the various attempts on my life; I am undaunted as I remain committed to truth and fearlessness because a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

    “Dear Nigerians, even though President Buhari needs our prayers and we should keep praying that God takes total control of his situation, it is equally imperative that our leaders must tell us the truth at all times.

    “It is time that the President takes the interests of Nigerians above his own and resign from office so that our country can move forward.”

But, Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) faulted Fayose’s call.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the senator stated: “Nigerians overwhelmingly elected President Buhari and if today he is having challenges, it is despicable for any reasonable person to play politics with it because nobody is above health challenges.

    ‘It is unfair and condemnable for Fayose to continue playing God over the President’s health condition; his ridiculous comments are invariably heating up the polity and fanning the embers of disaffection amongst Nigerians.”

The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) yesterday criticised Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for dishing out “cacophony of lies on the health of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

In a statement by its chairmen, Austin Braimoh, and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said it was not surprised by the governor’s coments because of “his penchant for exhibiting the characteristics of a serial liar and a born agent of confusion over the years, who thrives in hate speeches and campaigns of calumny.”

    It added: “BMSG believes that most Nigerians are already familiar with the infantile character of the Ekiti State accidental governor; Nigerians are already familiar with his antics.

    “Fayose operates based on his figment of imagination as he will never disclose his source of information or show proof of his utterances.

    “Today, the same character is telling us that the President is now on life support in London. If his assertions are right, then he needs to be told that it is an improvement to move from being dead to a life support.

    “BMSG, therefore, appeals to the loquacious governor to allow the President recuperate peacefully and return to his duties.”

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Beef Getting Hotter!! Wizkid Shades Davido Because Ronaldo Followed Him, Davido Replies (Read His Reply)

This guys are one time good friends only God knows what went wrong but whatever it is, i hope they put an end to it.

But then someone said This is just premeditated beef Gaining more popularity by the day They are just scamming our data…I pray oooo LOL!

Here is what surfaced this afternoon the screenshot explained it all



This one is really epic . what’s your say to this??

Who’s tweet do you think killed you?

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Barack Obama and Family Go on Adventures in Indonesia

Former President Barack Obama and his family are back in vacation mode, and this time they are in the tropical islands of Indonesia.

Michelle, Barack, and their daughters arrived in Bali on Friday for a 10-day vacation. They were invited to visit the country by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo after they left the White House in January.

Today the first family visited the famous Tirta Temple in Bali. Malia and Sasha were spotted wearing yellow sarongs, which are given out to visitors before they enter the temple. It’s customary to cover up when visiting a holy place in Indonesia.

The Obamas paddling down the Ayung River. (Photo: Getty Images)

On Monday, Barack and his daughters, Sasha and Malia, were seen rafting on the Ayung River in Bali. The whole family has also gone to see the rice terraces at Jailuwih Village in Tabanan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They walked through the trail along the paddy fields, with Michelle and Barack leading the crew.

The Obamas at the rice terraces on Sunday. (Photo: Getty Images)

The former president lived in Indonesia for several years as a young child.



 

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Eminem Looks Crazy Different With New Beard, Hair Color

Eminem is looking different these days. (Photos: Getty Images for MTV/Instagram)

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?

Eminem no longer looks like the Marshall Mathers we once knew. The one-time blond, 44, has been sporting dark locks and a beard to boot.

The rapper stepped out looking completely different at last Thursday’s premiere of The Defiant Ones, the docuseries about the partnership of Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. He later shared an Instagram from the party in which he stood between Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar.

“Just a couple of guys from Compton and one from Detroit. With a beard,” the “Lose Yourself” singer captioned it.

Just a couple of guys from Compton and one from Detroit. With a beard. #thedefiantones

A post shared by Marshall Mathers (@eminem) on Jun 23, 2017 at 12:53pm PDT

Of course, the Internet is all abuzz about the star’s new facial hair.
  

Can't believe it's 2017 & Eminem breaks the social media with 'beard.' what will happen when album drops?

Eminem ain't relevant, they said

— Southpawer Official (@Southpawer) June 23, 2017

New Eminem single "Mocking Beard" coming soon 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/H1RWMzbrhP

— D12 (@D12) June 25, 2017

eminem got a beard. Next album bout to be crazy pic.twitter.com/Oim5Zpwupf

— Flo (@Fdema123) June 24, 2017

EMINEM GOT A BEARD WTF THE WORLD IS ENDING

— ayad (@imfrenchfried) June 23, 2017

As for that new album, rumor has it that will be out later this year. But, as one person on Twitter noted, only the beard knows for sure.

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Don Jazzy Tells Linda Ikeji “I See You Are In The Other Room”

The Romance is Getting Hot!!

Popular Nigerian Blogger, Linda Ikeji shared a picture on her Instagram Page, and this drew a comment from Mavins Boss who said, “I see you are in the other room” with a smiley that sees him running off.

Running to the other room too, Don Jazzy?

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Messi And Antonella’s Rosario Wedding Menu Leaked [See Photo]

 On Friday June 30, Lionel Messi will marry childhood lover Antonella Roccuzzo in Rosario, Santa Fe, where he grew up and played for his first football club, Newell’s Old Boys.

The 30-year-old’s wedding will be covered by a team of 200 security agents led by a former Argentinian military official, as gathered . All 21 first team players at Barcelona have been invited although former coach Luis Enrique has not been invited for the occasion.





Barca legends Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol will be there likewise footballing god Diego Maradona. Argentine TV station Cadena 3 managed to get their hands on a copy of the menu that will be served at the reception



Guests will be treated to a cold buffet of hams, cheeses and pates to begin with which will then be followed by a variety of meats on offer for the main course, including Argentinian steak, spicy sausage and chicken chop suey.

Instead of asking for material gifts, the couple are requesting donations to his charity, the Leo Messi Foundation, which supports children in healthcare, education, and sport.

Source : Na

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CNN accepts resignations of 3 involved in retracted story

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN accepted the resignations Monday of three journalists involved in a retracted story about a supposed investigation into a pre-inaugural meeting between an associate of President Donald Trump and the head of a Russian investment fund.

The story was posted on the network's website on Thursday and was removed, with all links disabled, Friday night. CNN immediately apologized to Anthony Scaramucci, the Trump transition team member who was reported to be involved in the meeting.

The story's author, Thomas Frank, was among those who resigned, according to a network executive who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss personnel issues. Also losing their jobs were Eric Lichtblau, an assistant managing editor in CNN's Washington bureau, and Lex Haris, head of the investigations unit.

CNN, in initially taking down the story, said it didn't meet its editorial standards. The episode is a damaging blow for a network that Trump has frequently derided as "fake news," and for a story that never even made it onto any of CNN's television networks.

The story had been quickly questioned both internally and externally, including by the conservative site Breitbart News. It was determined that the story was posted without going through the expected checks and balances for a story of such sensitivity, the executive said.

The failure to follow proper procedures is what led to the resignations, the CNN executive said.

It's not immediately clear what in the story is factually incorrect, or whether CNN will continue to report on the issue. The retracted story had said the Senate intelligence committee was looking into a January 16 discussion between Scaramucci and Kirill Dmitriev, whose Russian Direct Investment Fund guides investments by U.S. entities in Russia. Scaramucci, in the story, said he exchanged pleasantries in a restaurant with Dmitriev.

The report also said that two Democratic senators wanted to know whether Scaramucci had indicated in the meeting whether sanctions against Russia would be lifted, a decision that could impact the investment fund.

Following the retraction, Scaramucci tweeted that CNN "did the right thing. Classy move. Apology accepted. Everyone makes mistakes. Moving on."

Haris, in a statement to CNN's "Reliable Sources," noted that he'd been with CNN since 2001, "and am sure about one thing: This is a news organization that prizes accuracy and fairness above all else. I am leaving, but will carry those principles wherever I go."

___

This story has been amended to correct congressional committee's name to Senate intelligence committee, and to correct the spelling of Lex Haris' name.

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US travel ban regrettable, misguided policy: Iran FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says it is regrettable that the US Supreme Court has decided to partially reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban on refugees and people from six Muslim-majority countries, warning that the move can fuel extremism in the region.

“It's regrettable that the citizens of the countries on the list have never participated in any act of terrorism against the United States and yet they are punished for acts of terrorism that have been committed by citizens of other countries who are not on the list,” Zarif said in a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin on Tuesday.

    “We always believed that the Muslim ban that President Trump imposed soon after assuming office had no basis in facts and it would not help fight terrorism,” he added.

The US Supreme Court on Monday partially reinstated the travel ban restricting citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from traveling to US.

People from the six countries and all refugees are not allowed to enter the US unless they have “a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States,” according to the court.

    The top Iranian diplomat criticized US Supreme Court's move as a “misplaced and misguided policy” and emphasized that it “would be the greatest gift to extremist groups who would use it as a rallying cry to attract new followers.”

“It is regrettable that the Supreme Court decided to overrule the decisions of the previous courts or at least consider overruling them, if you want to be more exact,” Zarif said.

He said the Supreme Court’s decision would fail to increase anybody’s security.

“It is not a call for putting anybody else on the list, but it’s just the problem that for some terrorism and support for terrorism is measured by the amount of money they spend on buying arms from the US and not by actually being involved in acts of terrorism,” the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.

On his first foreign trip, the US president visited Saudi Arabia and sealed arms deals worth almost $110 billion (98 billion euros) with Riyadh.

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Congress must stop Trump’s Muslim ban: Amnesty Internationa

Amnesty International has condemned the US Supreme Court ruling that partially reinstates President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban on 6 Muslim-majority countries.

The prominent international human rights group urged the US Congress on Monday to nullify the top court’s ruling that allows Trump’s executive order to take effect until it hears arguments on the travel ban in October.

“It’s always been crystal clear that this policy was based on discrimination. Reinstating any part of this ban could create chaos in the nation’s airports and tear families apart,” Margaret Huang, Amnesty International USA executive director, said in a statement.

“This bigoted ban cannot be allowed to take effect again, and Congress needs to step in immediately to nullify it once and for all,” she wrote.

"Rather than keeping anyone safe, this ban demonizes millions of innocent people and creates anxiety and instability for people who want to visit a relative, work, study, return to the country they call home, or just travel without fear.”

The Supreme Court on Monday narrowed the scope of lower court rulings that blocked Trump’s Muslim ban from taking effect nationwide, and also agreed to hear the administration’s appeal in these cases. The ban would affect people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The court announced that it would hear arguments on the legality of Trump’s executive order in the court's next term, which starts in October.

The court, however, granted the government's emergency request to put the presidential decree into effect immediately while the legal battle continues.

According to the ruling, citizens of the six countries who do not have a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in America would be denied entry, but people who can prove they have a relationship to a person or entity inside the US will be permitted to travel to the country.

Trump issued a revised travel ban on March 6 after his initial directive signed in January was blocked by a federal judge in Washington state and upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, California.

However, the revised order was also blocked by federal judges in the states of Hawaii and Maryland and upheld by the 9th Circuit Court and the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.

Last month, the 4th Circuit Court said the president’s revised order “drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination.”

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