Turkey mine rescue ends, death toll at 301 - minister

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Turkey on Saturday announced the final death toll from this week's devastating coal blast as 301, after retrieving the bodies of the last two miners trapped underground. "The rescue operation was carried out to completion. There are no miners left underground," Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters in the western town of Soma, site of the country's worst ever industrial disaster.

Another 485 miners either escaped or have been rescued since the explosion struck on Tuesday, AFP reports.

The disaster has led to a surge of popular anger in Turkey, fuelled by accusations of negligence by mine operators and what many saw as a heartless response from the government.

What is going on in Ukraine could be identified as war crimes

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The UN report on Ukrainian crisis released Friday would not go into the killings of civilians by junta's "elite" National Guard. Moreover, it has never even mentioned something like "war crimes" against civilian population. So, is mass killing of civilians by armed units a war crime? What is a war crime? And how do you qualify what's going on in Ukraine now? The Voice of Russia discusses this issue with a lawyer and political analyst Dr. Alexey Binetsky.

Hundreds of Italians protest against EU media distorting reports on Ukraine

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Hundreds of Italians took part in today's protests in Rome against European media distorting reports about the situation in Ukraine. The public demonstration took place in front of the Ukrainian embassy, at the initiative of Julietto Kieza, an Italian public activist, prominent journalist and a former member of European Parliament.

"No one in Italy knows the truth about what's happening in Ukraine. We're being fed nothing but falsehoods. We must awaken our people, and slowly but surely they are becoming more aware," Kieza told Itar-Tass.

Lugansk People's Republic to adopt own constitution - spokesperson

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Representatives of all public organizations of the Lugansk People's Republic will hold a congress shortly and pass a constitution for the republic, the chief spokesman of the United Army of the Southeast said on Saturday.

"In all cities of Lugansk region, public movements have become more active which are preparing documents for the Lugansk Peoples Republic," the spokesman, Vasily Nikitin, told a news conference.
"A state must be based on law. Work is underway on documents on forming and structuring the government, including the constitution and declaration," he said.
"There will very shortly be a large-scale assembly of the population of the Lugansk People's Republic for electing an interim parliament," Interfax reports.

Libya's "army" declares no fly zone over Benghazi

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The Libyan army has imposed a no fly zone over Benghazi Saturday in a direct challenge to forces that have been using airpower to press a campaign against Islamist militants in the city. Retired General Khalifa Haftar, who lived in exile in the United States before returning home to lead ground forces in the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, now commands what he calls a "National Army".

On Friday his paramilitary force, backed by warplanes and helicopters, pounded Islamist militiamen in Libya's second city and fought pitched battles with the former-rebels, AFP reports.

24 dead as Libyan ex-general battles Benghazi Islamists

Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani denounced Haftar's forces as "outlaws" and called on all parties to observe restraint.

Moscow demands halt to military action in Ukrane's southeast - Russian Foreign Ministry

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The Russian Foreign Ministry says it is outraged by operations the Kiev authorities launched in the southeastern part of Ukraine early on Saturday. "The situation around Slavyansk in the Donetsk region dramatically worsened in the early hours of May 17. Ukrainian troops supported by aviation once again attempted to storm the city. This time, civilian installations were shelled by heavy artillery. Some people were wounded. A real threat to peaceful civilian lives was created. All this provokes Russia's rightful outrage," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Man lost his life digging grave to steal skull in Osun state

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An unidentified young man in Ilobu community, in the Irepodun LGA of Osun State, was found head deep in a grave in the early hours of Wednesday May 14th, after allegedly attempting to cut off the head of a corpse, buried in Tonto compound in the area, Saturday Tribune reports

The suspect’s accomplices fled in terror after seeing half his body get stuck mysteriously in the grave. His death has generated concern among the terrified residents of the Ilobu community.

It was gathered that the victim and his partners in crime allegedly came to Tonto compound in the early hours of Wednesday with a plot to exhume the corpse of an aged woman and sever her decomposed head, allegedly for ritual purposes. Continue...

Caleb University' statement on students' riot on May 14th

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Find a statement from the school's PRO, Olusola Emiola, below
The protest by male students on campus on Wednesday 14, May 2014 had nothing to do with religion. A certain man, a non student was apprehended by our security personnel for trying to bring prohibited items into the school. After much interrogation, he mentioned the names of the culprits involved. An official went to the male hostel to get the students mentioned, one of whom was praying in the hostel.
Continue.

Asari Dokubo, Kids protest for #anti-BringBackOurGirls campaign, says Shettima played a script.

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 The ex-Niger Delta militant is obviously  convinced that there are no missing school children. He shared photos of children campaigning against Chibok. See more pics after the break.

Another Nollywood Veteran Actress Margaret Umanah Dies In Ghastly Accident

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The Nigerian movie industry called Nollywood, has been thrown into mourning yet again as another veteran actress, Margaret Umanah, died few days ago in a ghastly motor accident along the Lagos-Benin Expressway….

Margaret, who was one of the biggest actresses in the South-East, was based in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, and was a very popular and active member in the industry and would be remembered for her roles in some Ibibio indigenous movies like ‘Eka Abasi’, a blockbuster epic local movie.

Nadia Buari Allegedly Dumps Jim Iyke Due To His Short Hot Temper

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Well according to Ghanian blogs:

Quote
It took me quite a long time to buy into the speculation that Nadia Buari and Jim Iyke were not only banging mates, but were truly in a relationship. Even when my sources close to Nadia Buari confirmed to me that she was in a real relationship with Jim Iyke, I just couldn’t bring myself to accept this—and always wondered how Nadia Buari was going to handle Jim Iyke’s temper.

I only truly accepted that their relationship was real when my sources at a hotel they both stayed in at East Legon (a place I’ve stayed before) also mentioned that, Jim and Nadia were hiding there in one room—splashing what seems like love all over the place…But that was then!

Katsina to pay 1,820 Imams salaries

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The Katsina State Government has introduced the payment of monthly allowances of between N3,000 and N10,000 to some 1,820 imams in the state.  Governor Ibrahim Shema stated this on Friday in Katsina while handing out the allowances to some of the beneficiaries.

Shema also said that the state had so far constructed 500 mosques and rehabilitated a number of others in the 34 local government areas of the state.

He said that the gesture was part of the administration’s commitment to providing enabling environment for worshipping of the Almighty God.

Domestic Violence: Blessing Isanbora Was Shot By Younger Sister's Boyfriend

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 Blessing Isanbor a victim of domestic violence. Shot at close range in the face by her younger sister's policeman boyfriend! She had surgery 2day after waiting 2yrs. I believe God for a successful surgery and her full recovery.. She will need to have her jaw reconstructed amongst other things...

Boko Haram: Military moves against sabotage, espionage

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Indications have emerged that the authorities of the Nigerian military are responding to the threat of sabotage and leakage of information to insurgents in the North East.

Saturday PUNCH’s investigation revealed that the military had assigned two major agencies, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency and the Directorate of Military Intelligence to monitor troop movements and telephone conversations especially in the mission area.

A security source said on Thursday that the military leadership had been discreetly investigating suspected incidents of information leakage and inappropriate conduct during the operation.
Continue..

US General Claims Nigerian soldiers reluctant to fight.

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The United States has said that the Nigerian military is becoming afraid of engaging the Boko Haram insurgents.

Testifying on Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the US Air Force Chief of staff, Gen. Mark Welsh III, said, “We’re now looking at a military force that is, quite frankly, becoming afraid to even engage. The United States doesn’t have the capacity, the capability to go rescue every kidnapped person around the world.”
Continue after the break.

Child Suffocated To Demise Inside A Severe While Seeking To Cut Off Corpse's Head

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The people of Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, yesterday woke up to be confronted by a bizarre development as the body of a young man, simply identified as Abdullahi, was found in a grave where he was allegedly attempting to cut off and exhume the skull of a corpse buried not long ago.

Photo Of The Day: See Basketmouth & His lovely Kids!

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Caption this photo !

Doyin Okupe fired shots at Oby Ezekwesili, says she's trying to profit from a national calamity

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 Senior Special Assistant to the president on Public Affairs, Mr. Doyin Okupe, fired shots at former minister and a frontliner in the #Bringbackourgirls campaign, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, in some tweets this afternoon. According to him, her efforts with the campaign is simply her trying to benefit from a national calamity. See more tweets after the break.

ECOWAS To remove Resident Permit In movement Protocol.

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The ECOWAS Commission on Thursday said it had commenced the process of removing resident permit for citizens of member countries residing in other ECOWAS countries.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr Sunny Ugoh, a copy of which was given to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
It stated that ECOWAS’ resident permit constituted obstacle to freedom of persons and goods according to the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement.
Continue..

Twin Bomb Blasts rock Kenyan Market

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* Foreigners trying to leave Kenya after bomb warning

Two bomb explosions have already been reported to possess struck the Gikomba market section of the Kenyan capital Nairobi today.  Based on a report on Reuters quoting Kenyan official, the blasts have allegedly killed at least four people and injured scores. Earlier reports stated that the reason for the blasts is not known but Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks in recent years. They've mostly been blamed on the al-Shabab militant Islamist group from neighbouring Somalia.