Dozens of Chinese workers evacuated in northern Iraq

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Dozens of Chinese workers have been relocated from strife-torn northern Iraq, state media said Friday, with an additional 1,200 set to depart in the coming days. More than 50 China Machinery Engineering Corp (CMEC) workers arrived in Baghdad by helicopter from northern Iraq on Wednesday night, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported. Another 1,200 trapped in the northern city of Samarra will arrive in Baghdad by bus "within three days", the report added.

Militants from the jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have spearheaded a lightning offensive that has captured swathes of territory north and west of Baghdad this month.
Continue..

Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and EU sign free trade zone agreement with EU.

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The European Union and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia signed an Association Agreement in Brussels on Friday, June 27. Three documents carry the signatures of European Council President Herman van Rompuy, European Commission President Manuel Barroso and Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko, of Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili.

The 1,135-page agreement will now have to be signed by the leaders of the EU's 28 member countries.

After the signing the document, Ukrainian Presdient Petr Poroshenko expressed hopes of the rapid ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement by all members of the European Union.

Anti-constitutional coup has split Ukraine - President Putin

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The anti-constitutional coup staged in Ukraine and attempts to artificially impose a choice between Europe and Russia on that country have pushed Ukrainian society toward a split, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"The acute crisis in this neighboring country seriously troubles us. The anti-constitutional coup in Kyiv and attempts to artificially impose a choice between Europe and Russia on the Ukrainian people have pushed society toward a split and painful confrontation," the Russian leader said.

Emab plaza bomb blast: GEJ withdraws from AU summit, heads home

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 President Jonathan who was in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea attending the 23rd Session of the African Union Heads of States when the bomb blast occurred at Emab plaza in Abuja yesterday June 25th killing 21 people, is said to have withdrawn from the summit & is currently back in the country to assess the situation.

North Korea's Prime Minister Threatens To Go To War With USA Over New Movie.

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North Korea has promised "merciless" retaliation if a forthcoming Hollywood movie about killing Kim Jong-un is released, say agencies.  A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in state media that the movie's release would be an "act of war".

He did not mention the title, but a Hollywood movie called The Interview with a similar plot is due in October. Hollywood actors James Franco and Seth Rogen star in the action-comedy film.

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Check out Photos of VP Sambo visit Abuja bomb blast scene

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 Vice President Namadi Sambo earlier today visited the scene of yesterday's bomb blast at Emab Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja. VP Sambo is pictured above inspecting the site of the incident in company of some members of the Federal Executive Council. He also paid a visit to some of the injured victims at the Maitama District Hospital Abuja. 
See another pic after the break.

Terrorist attack in Nigeria condemned by Russian Foreign Ministry

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No Russian citizens were injured in the recent terrorist attack near a shopping mall in Nigeria's capital Abuja, Interfax reports the Russian Foreign Ministry sating on its website.

"On June 25, following a strong explosion of a bomb, which extremists placed in close proximity to a shopping mall in central Abuja, Nigeria's capital, 21 people died and over 50 were injured. According to the information of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, no Russian citizens are among those injured," was said in the document.

Obama seeks 500 million US dollars to train and equip Syrian rebels

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US President Barack Obama called on Congress Thursday to approve $500 million to train and equip the "moderate Syrian opposition" battling the forces of strongman President Bashar al-Assad.

In its overseas contingency operations request to Congress, the White House proposed the funding for "vetted elements of the Syrian armed opposition to help defend the Syrian people, stabilize areas under opposition control, facilitate the provision of essential services, counter terrorist threats, and promote conditions for a negotiated settlement."

Meet the Fake Glo Ambassador Who Duped Bayero University Student

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Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Gombe today sentenced one Khalil Ahmed Bappa, 29, who claims to be a GLO Ambassador, to 24 months imprisonment for fraudulently extorting goods and money worth N267, 000 from a female student of Bayero University, Kano, Yusra Ali Babakusa, with assurances of making her a Glo Ambassador.

GEJ: Boko Haram Are Demons Living Among Humans, They’re Difficult To Fight

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During a meeting with a delegation of the College of Bishops of African Church led by the Primate, Most Rev. Emmanuel Udofia, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Jonathan assures Nigerians that terrorism will end soon.

The President urged the clerics to continue with their prayers for the country which have kept Nigeria from disintegration.

For sake of army morale: Ukrainian TV advised against airing bodies

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Ukraine's Independent Media Trade Union has published recommendations for journalists on how to cover the deadly clashes in Ukraine's east, where a full-scale military operation against self-defense units is still underway.

The document, initially published on the journalism trade union web-site and then on the union's Facebook page, advises than demands a particularcode of conduct. It does insist though that, those who love their native land and who wish the ongoing war to end promptly, read the lines and listen to the voice of their conscience.

FIFA bans Luis Suarez for four months, fined $112,000

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Mr. biter biter Dracula has been banned for four months from all football related activities by FIFA for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the Uruguay-Italy match played on June 24th.  FIFA's disciplinary committee released a statement on their website stating this. See it below...

"The player Luis Suárez is regarded as having breached art. 48 par. 1 lit. d of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) (assault), and art. 57 of the FDC (an act of unsporting behaviour towards another player).

· The player Luis Suárez is to be suspended for nine (9) official matches. The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on 28 June. The remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay’s next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team qualifies, and/or in the representative team’s subsequent official matches in accordance with art. 38 par. 2a) of the FDC.

 Continue...

Strange Snakes, Bees Strike Boko Haram Camp; Eliminate Several

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MAIDUGURI—Some members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, arrested yesterday at Mairi ward behind University of Maiduguri by members of the Civilian JTF vigilante group, have confessed that most of them are fleeing the Sambisa Forest to areas across Borno State owing to what they believe is spiritual attacks from mysterious snakes and bees, which had killed many of their leaders.

sambisa-1According to Kolo Mustapha, one of the arrested insurgents, “most of us are fleeing because there are too many snakes and bees now in the forest. Once they bite, they disappear and the victims do not last for 24 hours.

Abuja Shopping Plaza Explosion, 21 dead, 17 injured!

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*IGP orders increased security presence and surveillance

Nigerian security agencies have commenced investigation into the bomb blast incident which occurred about 4:00pm, today, 25th June, 2014, at Emab Shopping Complex along Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja. The security Forces have condoned off the scene of the blast, while the Police Bomb Disposal Squad has commenced post-blast analysis as part of the general investigative process. So far, 21 persons have been confirmed dead while the 17 injured persons are receiving treatment at the following hospitals: Maitama hospital, Gwarimpa hospital, Wuse hospital and Garki hospital and National hospital.

VIDEO: Scene Of Car bombing Of Shopping Mall In Abuja

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Yoruba Socio-Cultural Group in Oyo Appealed to FG for a Poly

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A Yoruba socio-cultural association, Egbe Ogbomoso Ajisegiri, on Monday, urged the Federal Government to site one federal polytechnic in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, for the purpose of developing the area.

Chairman of the association, Layi Akangbe, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Akangbe said such institution would not only help to develop the area, but would also help to boost its commercial activities.

Ritualists' Den Discovered In Lagos

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A ritualists’ den has been discovered in Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
The den, where kidnapped children and adults were allegedly kept as hostages was found beside a church, Holy Family Church, situated in the remote area of the town.

A member of the church who spoke with our correspondents said that the discovery was made Wednesday morning when a lady was caught with two children kept inside a Ghana-must-go sack by residents of the area. The children, four years old were found alive and tied with a rope.

Video: Pregnant Woman Assaulted by a Policeman Caught On Video

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Suspected Fraudster Arrested In Dubai

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A suspected Nigerian fraudster, Mr. Lateef Adedoja, has been arrested in Dubai for allegedly committing several offences ranging from issuance of dud cheques, spending fake currencies and forgery of documents, among others.

The 29-year old Nigerian, who also claimed to be a British citizen and has for long been on the wanted list at various police stations for several offences, was eventually arrested after he conned a Nigerian businessman of about N15 million.

Adedoja allegedly collected money in installments from the businessman through his Nigerian bank account but did not keep his own side of their business bargain.

Luiz Suarez may get 2-year ban as pictures emerge of him trying to bite same player a year ago

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 Pictures have emerged of Uruguayan and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez trying to bite Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini  12 months before biting him again at their match last night in Brazil. The first incident happened during a Confederations Cup clash between Italy and Uruguay in 2013....

Bomb blast reported at Kasuwan Kuturu market in Mubi Adamawa state.

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A bomb explosion has been reported at Kasuwan Kuturu market in Mubi Adamawa state.

 According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa said the bomb was targeted at a police patrol team but there were no casualties from the explosion.

 This explosion comes three weeks after a similar bomb explosion rocked a football viewing center in Mubi Adamawa killing 14 people. Details later…

Massive Explosion rocks popular Emab Plaza in Abuja, at least 6 killed

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 People who live in the area have reported an explosion at popular Emab Plaza on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, Abuja, which happened just a few minutes ago around 4pm. Someone tweeted this pic above supposedly from the explosion. The explosion is said to have occurred at the gate of the very busy plaza and six people have been confirmed dead with at least 15 people injured.

 People who live in the  community have reported an explosion at popular Emab Plaza on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, Abuja, which happened just a few hours ago around 4pm. Someone tweeted this pic above supposedly from the explosion. The explosion is said to have occurred at the gate of the most busy plaza and six people have now been confirmed dead with at least 15 people injured...

More update later...see more photos after the break.

Photos: Triana Building in Apapa on fire

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 The popular Triana building on Commercial Rd in Apapa, Lagos was gutted by fire in early hours of this morning June 25th. The fire lasted for hours before firefighters could actually put it out...but not before an incredible million of naira worth of property was destroyed. See more photos after the break.

NDLEA nabs 11 school children over drug abuse and trafficking

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Eleven secondary school students and a resort manager were recently arrested in Kaduna by officials of the Kaduna State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, after being caught in a resort taking Psychotropic substances.

 

NDLEA Kaduna State Commander, Mohammed Jibrin made this revelation at The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking programme which held in Kaduna yesterday, June 24th. 

Just in: Galadima Adamawa Kicked the Bucket Today.

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The Galadima Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Raji, is dead. The late Raji passed away, Tuesday night at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola. He is going to be buried by 12 noon today at the Yola cemetery based on Islamic rites. 

Video: Our Close Shave With Death Abuja Bomb Blast Survivors

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Jonathan performs ground-breaking of ₦2.4trn centenary city

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President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Centenary City, Abuja.  Jonathan said the $18.6 billion (N3 trillion) centenary city which would start off with 10 storey building, would be a modern city with presidential archives. The president said his administration was developing the centenary city, sited at the Airport Road, Abuja for security and free trade zone.


Describing the project which was designed to cover 1,200 hectares of land as an elegant city of hope and a symbol of national unity, the president said no other sign could demonstrate the symbol of his administration’s determination for excellence than the city which, according to him, promises a unique and global standard in real estate project.

Ekiti election was fraudulent, says Aregbesola

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Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the All Progressives Congress lost the Ekiti State governorship polls due to fraud but maintained that it was impossible to rig him out in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun.
The governor spoke in Ikirun on Tuesday during the continuation of his campaign which was held in the town.

I’m excited to break winless jinx –Keshi

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Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi says he is excited to lead the team to break their 16-year winless jinx at the World Cup.

Nigeria last won at the World Cup in 1998 when they defeated Bulgaria 1-0 in a group game in France.

Keshi, who led Nigeria to a 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, said that breaking the jinx was the high point of the game, saying he was excited by its outcome.

“What gave me excitement after the game was the fact that Nigeria finally won again at the World Cup. I am excited to be part of this great team that changed things after a very long wait. It is indeed delightful,” Keshi, who led the team to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, said.

Cameroon arrests 40 B’ Haram suspects

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Cameroon’s military has arrested 40 suspected Boko Haram militants in the north of the country.   Soldiers have also sealed off a market where they suspect Boko Haram may be hiding arms for use in the insurgency over the border in Nigeria.

Col. Nyemeck Pierre, who led the military raid, told VOA that the central government ordered the military action as part of its fight against Boko Haram incursions into Cameroon.

“It is the duty of the military to filter the population so that enemies do not infiltrate into Cameroon,” he said in French Language.
He added that the matter was complicated because along the border there were Nigerians and Cameroonians “who belong to the same families and soldiers have to try to distinguish who is a militant.
Also, a state radio broadcaster in Cameroon also announced that, “A gendarme [military] raid on the Maroua Central Market has led to the arrests of over 40 people.
“The arrests are in connection with the ongoing investigations into the activities of the Boko Haram group in the far north region of the country.”

Fayemi lost but Fayose did not win.

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If you are talking about results from a population of 2.3 million, with over 1.6 million eligible voters and 700,000 plus registered voters from which meagre figures totalling just about half of registered voters voted, as victories and loses, then you can have a field day celebrating or crying. But if you are really recognising the depressing reality and hopelessness of Nigeria under its current democracy, if we can use that term, then the results of the Ekiti election are a cause of consolidated grief and reason to ask – when will the people stand up?

British PM's ex-press secretary found guilty in phone-hacking trial

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Former News of the World editor and ex-press secretary to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Andy Coulson was found guilty of plotting to hack phones, AFP reports. His predecessor Rebekah Brooks, who went on to become chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's News International media empire, was cleared of all charges as well as the paper's managing editor, Stuart Kuttner.

Putin proposes cancelling resolution on using Russian armed forces in Ukraine - Kremlin

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Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, has asked the Federation Council, the upper chamber of parliament, to repeal a March 1 resolution, which allows him to use Armed Forces on Ukrainian territory, should the need arise, reported Interfax, citing the presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov.

"On Tuesday, before leaving for Vienna on an official visit, Putin forwarded a letter to the Federation Council, addressed to the upper chamber's Speaker, Valentina Matviyenko, asking the Federation Council to repeal its March 1, 2014 resolution No. 48-FZ "On the use of the Armed Forces of Russia on the territory of Ukraine", Peskov said.

Swedish arrest warrant for Assange should be repealed – lawyers

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Stockholm District Court should repeal the arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and a new remand custody hearing should be held, his attorneys Thomas Olsson and Per E Samuelsson said Tuesday in a new legal challenge in the long-running case. A Swedish prosecutor requested his arrest, citing the need to question Assange over the alleged sexual assault of two women in August 2010 and that he had not been available for questioning.

The Australian national denies the allegations, his lawyers said in a 13-page writ filed Tuesday at the Stockholm District Court.

First US military advisers start operating in Iraq - Pentagon

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The first teams of up to 300 US military advisers have begun their mission in Baghdad to assist the Iraqi army in its fight against Sunni extremists, the Pentagon said Tuesday, according to AFP reports. Admiral John Kirby told reporters that "we have begun to deploy initial assessment teams" and two teams of about 40 troops "have started their new mission."

India wants to receive Russian gas through China - media

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India intends to hold negotiations, concerning the extension of a gas pipeline from Russia through China to the Indian border, Indian newspaper Financial Express says, citing the source. The issue may be discussed during BRICS summit in July.

The negotiations may be continued during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in India, in the end of the year. India's Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has already discussed the issue with his Russian colleague Aleksandr Novak during the most recent World Petroleum Congress in Moscow, Financial Express says. Russia hasn't commented on the issue yet.

US wants open and functional dialogue with Russia - US President spokesman

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US President Barack Obama is interested in maintaining "an open and business dialogue" with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Spokesman for the White House Josh Rogin confirmed this on Tuesday, responding to a question of ITAR-TASS correspondent during a regular press briefing.

Ernest said that Obama and Putin communicate regularly "in a businesslike manner." "Our president certainly respects the legitimate interests of Russia in the region,” continued spokesman. “But our president also wants to make sure that everybody respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent countries".

Putin forecasts Russia's GDP to grow higher than expected early in 2014.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin expects that Russia’s GDP growth would be higher than it was expected in 2014. "Last year, Russia’s GDP grew by not very much - 1.3%. This is slightly less than the year before, but still there was some growth. I think this year we will reach more significant figures than we predicted in the beginning of this year," Putin said at a meeting with Russian and Austrian business leaders in Vienna on Tuesday, reports Interfax.

Shooting in suburbs of Miami: two killed, 17 injured - TV

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Police detained three people after the shooting in the suburbs of Miami, resulted in two dead, seven injured, reported RIA Novosti, citing TV channel WPLG.

The shooting in the Liberty City took place early in the morning. According to eyewitnesses, two unidentified men started random shooting in a residential area.

Associated Press reports that victims are twenty-year-old man and a teenage girl. Another 17-year-old girl is in critical condition. For now motives of the shooters remain unknown.

Kiev continues hostilities in south-eastern Ukraine.

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Kiev has not stopped hostilities in the east of Ukraine in spite of the announced ceasefire until 27 June, Prime Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Alexander Borodai said at a press-conference on June 24, reports TASS. In the meantime, Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko has confirmed the violation during a telephone conversation with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, but saying that self-defenders have broken the ceasefire in the south-east of Ukraine, according to the website of the President of Ukraine.

"Today was just another day of the war. Slavyansk was shelled, as well as the city of Snezhnoye in the Donetsk Region. Recently, fighting began on the outskirts of Donetsk in the area of the airport, with the use of armoured vehicles, cannons and mortar fire," Borodai said.

Gunmen fire on passenger airliner at Pakistani Peshawar airport

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Gunmen fired on a Pakistan International Airlines plane as it landed in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday night, killing a woman on board and injuring three crew members in the third incident at a Pakistani airport this month.

The plane was carrying 178 passengers travelling from Saudi Arabia when it came under attack, policeman Asghar Khan said at the airport.

Beirut suicide bomber kills Lebanese security officer late on Tuesday

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An overnight suicide blast in Beirut's southern suburbs, Hezbollah's main bastion, killed a security officer, who had tried to stop the bomber, the General Security agency said Tuesday. No one has claimed the attack, but an audio recording posted on YouTube by a Sunni militant group said there would be more "strikes" if the Shiite movement does not pull out of Syria.

The explosion happened around midnight (21:00 GMT Monday) near an army checkpoint and cafe where football fans were watching a World Cup match.
An army statement said a suicide attacker driving a white Mercedes "blew himself up at an army checkpoint at the Tayuneh roundabout (in southern Beirut), wounding several civilians."

Putin and OSCE Chairperson discuss situation in Ukraine on Tuesday

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"Now we need to discuss exactly how we can help," said Didier Burkhalter, expressing satisfaction that he and Putin were able to arrange a meeting quickly. "Our direct contact and dialogue is very important," said the Chairman of the OSCE. The meeting of the two presidents, closing Putin’s official visit to Austria, lasted 50 minutes instead of the scheduled half an hour

OSCE Chairperson-in-office Didier Burkhalter considers it necessary to find at least a part of solutions   on the situation in Ukraine in the next several days, repors RIA Novosti.

Reasons P()rnography Is Harmful And You Should Beware

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Today’s twenty-somethings have been exposed to more pornography, and research is showing that they’ve become more accepting of it.
I heard from a young woman the other day who didn’t get why I was anti-p()rn. “It’s a great way for my fiancé, to meet his needs when I’m not in the mood. I don’t want him to keep bugging me if I’m not into it that night. And he shouldn’t just have to ‘deal’ with frustration, either.”

Kalu Uche’s Wife's father Found Dead In Delta Hotel Room (PICTURED)

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Ex-beauty queen, Stephanie Oforka-Uche has lost her lecturer father to the cold hands of death.  Professor N.C Oforka, who taught at the Department of Chemistry in the University of Port Harcourt, was found dead in a hotel room in Delta.Continue..

Young man pushed from a motorcycle by a Police man (Photo)

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The Guy pictured above named Sharafa, who works in a carwash was allegedly pushed from the motorcycle facing AP station Gberigbe along Ikorodu General Hospital on June 22nd by a police attached at the Igbogbo Divisional HQ along Igbogbo Road Barracks. The guy is now receiving treatment at another friend's house.

The DPO at the Igbogbo police station was contacted in regards to the incident but nothing has been done about any of it yet though a police source said the guy plied on restricted road.

Plane owned by US company, Global Aviation, flying from Nigeria to Gabon Missing

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A 4-seater plane flying from Nigeria to Gabon via Cameroon has gone missing. The plane, owned by US company, Global Aviation, took off from Kano Airport around 6pm yesterday Monday June 23rd and was billed to make a stop over at Doula Cameroon before continuing to Gabon to arrive at 11pm but it never arrived at Doula, Cameroonian Aviation authorities have said. Only an American pilot was on-board.

My Father or Your Father ? Edo Lawmakers Engage In Free For All Fight (Video)

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Kerry urges Kurds to save Iraq from collapse

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John Kerry arrived in Iraq's Kurdish region Tuesday in a US diplomatic drive aimed at preventing the country from splitting apart in the face of Sunni militants pushing towards Baghdad. Iraq's security forces have managed to retake a crucial border crossing along the frontier with Syria, but were struggling to contain advances by insurgents, led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who have taken swathes of five provinces north and west of the capital.

More than 1,000 killed in Iraq this month - UN

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At least 1,075 people have been killed amid the current wave of violence in Iraq in June, the UN human rights office reports.

Most of the dead were civilians, said Rupert Colville, the spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He added that the tally of dead "should be viewed very much as a minimum."

It includes alleged executions of civilians and police, as well as non-fighting soldiers.