Tusk re-election would be ‘sign of stability’ for EU, says Merkel

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves after addressing the Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament on March 9, 2017 in Berlin. Merkel, who spoke ahead of a EU summit in Brussels, said the planned re-election of Poland's Donald Tusk as president of the European Union is a "sign of stability" for the bloc, despite bitter opposition from Warsaw. / AFP PHOTO / Tobias SCHWARZ

The re-election of Poland’s Donald Tusk as European Union president would be a “sign of stability” for the bloc, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday, despite bitter opposition from Warsaw.

“Today we will decide on the re-election of Donald Tusk as president of the EU for another two and a half years,” Merkel told parliament before heading to a Brussels summit of EU leaders.

“I see his re-election as a sign of stability for all of Europe, and I am happy to continue working with him,” she added.

Merkel’s strong support for Tusk came as Poland’s right-wing government threatened to derail the EU summit if leaders went ahead and re-elected their countryman Tusk as the bloc’s president.

Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told TVN24 channel that “we’ll do everything we can to ensure that the vote won’t take place today”.

“We have informed the Germans that it isn’t necessary to elect the EU president today,” he added.

Poland’s eurosceptic government on Saturday proposed MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski as its official candidate to replace Tusk, but Warsaw appears to have won no support from other EU members.

Turning to refugee policies — a key issue dividing the bloc — Merkel said the EU had “undoubtedly made progress, but more progress still needs to be made”.

She made a fresh call for “solidarity” from other EU members, in terms of accepting refugees, and urged reform of the asylum system to share the burden more equally.

“We need to reform it for more solidarity, and above all, strengthen it against crises,” she said.

Countries including Hungary and Slovakia have proposed paying financial contributions instead of actually taking in any asylum seekers.

But others such as France and Germany insist that no country can shirk its duty to admit a minimum number of refugees under the plan, which was pushed through in September 2015.

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Britain sees stronger economy as Brexit looms

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A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond as he delivers his Spring budget in the House of Commons in London on March 8, 2017. British finance minister Philip Hammond will unveil his latest tax and spend plans Wednesday in a budget expected to exude caution as the country prepares to trigger Brexit. / AFP PHOTO / PRU AND AFP PHOTO / HO /

Britain’s economy will grow far stronger than expected this year, finance minister Philip Hammond said Wednesday, as the country readies to trigger its exit from the European Union.

With UK activity performing better than expected following its June referendum in favour of Brexit, Hammond said in a budget update the country’s gross domestic product growth would come in at 2.0 percent this year, much higher than the government’s previous 1.4-percent GDP forecast.

Highlighting however the uncertainty surrounding the UK economy as the country prepares to quit the EU, the earlier 1.4-percent forecast given in November was a sharp downgrade on a prior estimate of 2.2 percent.

“As we prepare for our future outside the EU we cannot rest on our past achievements,” Hammond told parliament Wednesday as he unveiled a series of measures, including new investment for British schools, as part of the government’s latest tax and spend plans.

“We must focus relentlessly on keeping Britain at the cutting edge of the global economy. The deficit is down, but debt is still too high. Employment is up, but productivity remains stubbornly low,” added the chancellor of the exchequer.

Hammond said UK growth would stand at 1.6 percent next year, down slightly on a prior official estimate of 1.7 percent.

And the Conservative government downgraded also its GDP forecasts for 2019 and 2020. The nation would however borrow far less this year than the amount predicted back in November.

Sterling, which has fallen sharply since the Brexit vote, enjoyed a bounce on Hammond’s revised estimates.

“The pound has risen off its lowest level against the US dollar since mid-January… after chancellor Philip Hammond announced upgrades to the GDP forecasts,” said David Cheetham, chief market analyst at XTB trading group.

“Hammond has also stated that public borrowing will decrease significantly in 2017 to £51.7 billion ($63 billion, 60 billion euros) from the £68 billion seen previously in another development that has caused a mildly positive reaction in sterling.”

The budget and latest economic forecasts come as Britain stands on the cusp of triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty by the end of March.

This starts a two-year withdrawal process, after which Britain will leave the European Union whether or not it has struck a deal on its future ties with the bloc.

– ‘Brighter future’ –
Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that Britain will leave Europe’s single market or tariff-free zone in order to control EU immigration, thus delivering a so-called “hard” Brexit meaning the country will need a series of new trade deals globally.

“As we start our negotiations to exit the European Union, this budget takes forward our plan to prepare Britain for a brighter future,” Hammond told the House of Commons.

“It provides a strong and stable platform for those negotiations. It extends opportunity to all our young people. It delivers further public investment in our public services, and it continues the task of getting Britain back to living within its means.

“We are building the foundations of a stronger fairer more global Britain,” he added.

The government on Wednesday confirmed plans to pump more than £500 million into Britain’s education system, building new schools and renovating others.

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4 policemen die in fatal accident

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Four policemen attached to the `A’ team of the Police X Squad at the Lagos State Police Command died on Sunday from a fatal accident while on surveillance and patrol duty.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the accident occurred on along Isiwu Road in Imota, near Ikorodu in Lagos State, at about 1p.m., in a statement.

“At about 1p.m.on Sunday, a police truck with Registeration No. NPF 409 D with five policemen on board was involved in ahead-on collision with a 911 tipper lorry with no Registration number.

“The driver of the Nissan frontier 911-van who could not be identified fled the scene.

“It was disclosed that both vehicles were coming from opposite directions and had a head-on collision at a point near Isiwu.

“Three policemen died on the spot.

“An ASP and an inspector who sustained serious injuries were rushed to LASUTH, Ikeja, where one of them was later confirmed dead.

“The fifth officer is currently on admission,’’ he said.

Famous-Cole said that the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu where they would be taken to LASUTH, Ikeja, for autopsy.

He said that both vehicles involved in the accident had been towed to the Ikorodu Police Division as investigation was ongoing

“As the Lagos State Police Command mourns the death of some of its finest officers who died in active duty, the command will not leave any stone unturned to bring justice to the lost souls,” Famous–Cole said.

He also urged the general public to come forward with any useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the fleeing suspect.

He advised Lagosians to be very cautious and alert while driving on the road.

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Why I postponed my return – Buhari (Read full details)

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President Buhari receiveing Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Senate Leader Senator Ahmed Lawan on Wednesday in London

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday gave an insight on why he has prolonged his current vacation in London.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, Buhari said the results of the test conducted on him indicated that he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating his staying longer than originally planned.

“During his normal annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the President staying longer than originally planned,” Femi Adesina said.

In a letter he sent to the National Assembly, Buhari said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would act as president pending his return.

“In the circumstances, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo would continue to act on my behalf. Please accept distinguished Senate President the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter read.

Buhari left Nigeria in January for London to “undergo routine medical check-ups” during a short holiday and was expected to resume work on February 6 before he his resumption was shifted indefinitely.

His current visit to London would make it the second time in less than a year he has gone there for medical treatment.

He visited London in June 2016 for treatment to what the presidency described as a persistent inner ear infection, which caused him to pull out of several scheduled engagements. But his latest visit, however, has been dogged by the rumours of his death.

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Europe must have ‘firm’ response to Trump

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French President Francois Hollande (R) is welcomed by Portuguese Prime Minister on arrival at Belem cultural center in Lisbon on January 28, 2017, to attend the Southern EU Country Summit. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa meets with the leaders of six other southern European nations including France and Italy in a summit that is expected to push for action to boost flagging growth in the bloc and fight the ongoing migration crisis.<br />FRANCISCO LEONG / AFP

French President Francois Hollande on Saturday urged Europe to be “firm” in its response to new US President Donald Trump, who a day earlier called Britain’s exit from the bloc a “wonderful thing”.

“When there are statements from the US president about Europe and when he talks about Brexit being a model for other countries, I think we must respond,” Hollande told reporters the sidelines of a summit of southern EU nations in Lisbon.

“When he adopts protectionist measures, which could destabilise economies not just in Europe but the economies of the main countries of the world, we have to respond.

“And when he refuses the arrival of refugees, while Europe has done its duty, we have to respond,” he added.

“We must affirm our positions and then engage in a firm dialogue on what we think”, with a goal towards solving global problems, the French president said.

Trump is due to speak Saturday with Hollande, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He has rattled America’s traditional European allies with a range of radical policy plans.

Trump has called NATO “obsolete”, announced he would rip up a planned transatlantic trade plan and supported Britain’s move to leave the EU, praising the decision during Friday’s meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

On Friday he also signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees and impose tough controls on travellers from seven Muslim countries.

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L.A.X – Big Daddy [Mp3 + Lyrics]

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Rasaki Music Frontier L.A.X Drops A Brand New Single After Feauritng On Juls’s Give You Love, This one is Titled Big Daddy..

Download and enjoy below…

DOWNLOAD

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My wife always refuses me sex until she collects N500, man tells court

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Lagos – Mr Sunday Olaosebikan on Wednesday, approached an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to end his seven-year-old marriage to his wife, Mutiatu, for allegedly demanding for money before sex.

He told the court, “My wife always refuses me sex until she collects N500. ‘’This, I am sure, is why she has not conceived after the birth of our only child, who is six-year old now.

“I am tired of paying N500 per round before having sex with my wife, please dissolve the union.

He further told the court said that Mutiatu always threatens to kill him.

“My wife is after my life, she stabs me with dangerous weapons whenever we have misunderstanding.

“She once stabbed me with a broken bottle on my head and I bled heavily which landed me in the hospital.

“Mutiatu used our kitchen knife as pillow, when I queried her; she said her pastor instructed her to use it against bad dreams.

“Many a times when I request for sex or during argument, she brings the knife out threatening to stab me.

“She is just aggressive and violent in nature; she may kill me if I continue with the marriage.

“Because of her violent nature, I ran away from the house to avoid untimely death,” he said.

He said that his family ejected his wife from his house for fear of unknown but that she came back begging, adding that he pitied her and accepted her back.

“I accepted my wife back because I thought she had learnt her lesson, but she refused to change, instead she is getting worse day by day.”

The petitioner also said that his wife failed to respect him.

“My wife does not obey my orders; she always tells me that I cannot control her because we are age mate.”
He said that because of his wife’s bad behaviour, she could not get a steady job.

“Employers always sack her when she exhibited her character.’’
Olaorebikan begged the court to terminate the marriage.

The respondent was not in the court for her defence.

The President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, therefore, ordered bailiff to serve her another summon to appear in court and adjourned the case to Feb. 28 for further hearing.

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My wife has turned our home into a brothel, man tells court

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Lagos – The 22-year-old marriage of Mr Tunji Oyedele, a 60-year-old Lagos businessman, may be dissolved over his wife’s alleged sexual recklessness and infidelity.

Oyedele told an Igandu Customary Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, that his wife, Rumoke, a 55-year-old trader, with whom he had four children, was promiscuous.

“Whenever I travel, my wife brings men into our house; on two occasions, I caught my wife with her lovers in our bedroom.

“On one occasion, I came home unannounced and caught her with one of her lovers in our bedroom.

“On another occasion, I caught her with another man who she claimed was her Pastor.

“She claimed that the said Pastor wanted to take her to a river for a special bath to avert spiritual attack,” he alleged.

The petitioner further alleged that his wife was fetish and was always in possession of different charms.

“I see different strange objects in my bathing water, food and everywhere in the house.

“There was a day I entered her room in her absence and saw feathers tied with clothes and other diabolical objects.

“I believe that my persistent illness, which has deferred medical solution, is as a result of her fetish acts.

“I have been forced to leave my own house because I don’t want to die now,” he said.

Oyedele presented the pictures of the charms as exhibits, and begged the court to dissolve the marriage as he was no longer in love.

Rumoke, however, debunked the allegations, and stated that she and her husband had lived in peace until January 2016, when he married a new wife.

“My husband and I never fought; but immediately he married another woman, his attitude changed.

“His new wife accused me of sending hired killers to her and my husband turned me into a punching bag,” she said.

Rumoke told the court that she was not adulterous.

“The man my husband first saw in our bedroom was my classmate in primary school.

“The other man was my Pastor, who came for spiritual purpose,” she explained.

The respondent said that she was not ready to divorce her husband because she was still in love.

The court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the case to March 7, for further hearing.

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Man bags 3 weeks imprisonment for certificate forgery

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Abuja – A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday sentenced a 24-year-old man, Ebi Valentine to three weeks imprisonment for certificate forgery.

Valentine, of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa, had pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of certificate forgery.

The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, however, gave the convict an option of N4, 000 fine.
The prosecutor, Mr Fidelis Ogbobe, had told the court that one Salawu of Asokoro Police Station arrested and brought the convict to Asokoro Police Station on Jan.18.

Ogbobe said that on Dec.6. 2016, the convict presented a National Diploma Certificate in Carpentry to the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, Rivers .

“It happened when the school demanded for additional qualification to upgrade her staff,’’ he said.

According to the prosecutor, the convict claimed that the certificate was, “purportedly issued by the Nigerian Opportunities Industrialisation Centre, Delta State programme.’’
He said that when the verification was carried out, it was discovered that the said certificate was forged.

Ogbobe also said that during police investigation, the convict confessed to have committed the offence.

He said the offence was contrary to Section 364 of the Penal Code.

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Resident doctors ends 7-day warning strike, gives 21 days ultimatum

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Abuja – The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday ended it seven days nationwide warning strike and gave the Federal Government another 21 days ultimatum to meet its demands.

Dr John Onyebueze, President of the association, made this known in an interview in Abuja.

The resident doctors had on Jan.18 embarked on seven days warning strike for the government to meet their demands.

According to Onyebueze, the demands border on welfare, revamping decay infrastructure and equipment in the government-owned health institutions, provide quality and affordable healthcare to the populace.

Others include immediate implementation of the National Health Act, 2014, release of the template and implementation of white paper on residency training programme.

“At the moment, we are still where we are, none of our demands have been met by the government, but the last time we met with the government officials they made some promises.

“So, we are giving the Federal Government another 21 days ultimatum now to see those promises translating into action.

“They cannot just tell us that they have set up machinery to implement the National Health Act, 2014 without actions.

“Between now and the 21days we have given, if we do not see the committee working or implementing the National Health Act that means it is a mere promise.

“On the other issues regarding welfare, the government also made some promises which of course they have been making since 2013.

“What we are waiting for is for those promises to translate into action,’’ Onyebueze said.

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FG reiterates commitment to sustainable water, food security

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Caleb Ayansina

 ABUJA – FEDERAL Government, yesterday, reiterated its commitment to up-scaling Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as tools for achieving water and food security in the African continent.

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu said President Muhammadu Buhari administration had put in place some measures to achieve this, and that, they were ready for collaboration on implementing innovative ideas that can improve the sustainable management of water resources in Africa.

Adamu was speaking at a 3-day workshop on South-South Cooperation for up-scaling Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Ecohydrology for achieving water security in Africa, in Abuja.

He said sustainable water solutions require creativity, new scientific knowledge, discoveries and innovations through scientific cooperation, adding that the government would welcome modern approaches for implementing IWRM in Africa.

“I wish to inform you (the gathering) that the Federal Executive Council of the present administration recently approved the Water Bill, and the Water Resources Road Map for Nigeria.

Furthermore, yesterday I inaugurated the newly constituted Management Teams of the River Basin Development Authorities. These efforts are geared towards up-scaling Integrated Water Resources Management as tools for achieving water and food security,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director, National Water Resources Institute Kaduna, Dr Emmanuel Adanu described water as a crucial resource in the basis of Africa development that must be given topmost priority by leaders in the continent.

He called on “organizations that deal with water-related issues to continue to forge collaborative partnership with the Regional Centre for Integrated River basin Management for capacity development and research in critical water-related areas for the sustainable development of the sub-region.”

 

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Wishing Buhari death not in keeping with our traditions – Adeyanju

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I have read the rumours of the death of President Muhammadu Buhari at an unknown hospital and the reactions that have trailed those rumours with a growing sense of dismay. While the rumours have since been dispelled, it is very disconcerting to watch many Nigerians wish President Buhari ill health & death.

It is a well known fact that I am not a fan of President Buhari or his administration. It is also very well publicised that I do not feel he has the capacity to deliver the socio-economic and political growth and development Nigeria desperately needs.

However, I believe we must draw the line somewhere. And the appropriate place to draw the line must be when we wish death and ill health on our President. I do not believe that such wishes are in keeping with our traditions – regardless of the ethnic groups to which we belong – or in keeping with our faiths – regardless of the gods to whom we pray.

It is not sufficient to say that members of President Buhari’s party resorted to similar antics while they were in the opposition. As true as this may be, those antics were despicable then and laid foundation for the deep seated divisions that pervade Nigeria today. It is my belief that to set Nigeria on the path to healing, we have to deviate from that negative trajectory – even when we disagree.

I have noticed that many people have wished President Buhari ill in the name of playing opposition politics. I believe that this course of action is erroneous.

Opposition politics should be about proffering credible alternatives; critiquing government policies and showing Nigerians how we can do better with similar resources; how our plans, policies and projections will improve the quality of life of the average Nigerian citizen from Sokoto to Port Harcourt, Kano to Lagos and Calabar to Maiduguri.

Only then can we convince Nigerians that we deserve much better than this government is giving us at the moment. If we say we are better, we must be better.

I urge Nigerians to remember the ethnic and religious tensions that the death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua (of blessed memory) threw Nigeria into, tensions that I do not think we have recovered from. As unpleasant as it might be to say this, the sad reality of our geo-political construct is that the death of President Buhari may return Nigeria to those days.

Do not get me wrong. I am very unhappy with President Buhari’s stewardship of Nigeria. I am unhappy that there is a 100% rise in the price of food, drugs and other necessary day to day items. I am unhappy that we have to pay N145 per litre of fuel.

I am unhappy that there is an absolute disregard for the rule of law. I am unhappy that our government sends our military out to kill protesters, no matter how misguided their protests may be. I am unhappy that our exchange rate is N499-$1. I am unhappy that we barely generate 2000mw of power. I can go on and on.

All I am saying is that instead of being motivated by our unhappiness to wish President Buhari death, let us put that unhappiness to good use by registering to vote, explaining to as many people as possible how his policies are impoverishing millions of Nigerians and ensuring that we vote him out in 2019.

That is the ideal to which we must aim.

God bless Nigeria.
By Deji Adeyanju
Adeyanju is the Convener of the Concerned Nigerians Movement, a Civil Advocacy Group aimed at promoting accountability and transparency in government in Nigeria.

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Gambia’s President Barrow to return on Thursday

18 abandoned babies recovered in Funtua within 4 months – official

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Funtua (Katsina State) – Eighteen babies, abandoned by their mothers, have been recovered in Funtua town, Katsina State, in the last four months, an official has disclosed.

Alhaji Ibrahim Nasir, Director of Education and Social Services (ESSD), Funtua Local Government Council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Funtua on Wednesday, that some babies were found in dustbins.

“Some of the babies were also thrown into toilets, while some were left in markets, public places and uncompleted buildings in the towns,” he said.

Nasir, who described the development as pathetic, said that the growing cases of abandoned babies and lunatics were becoming a source of concern to the council.

He said that the council was sinking much funds into taking care of the abandoned babies as well as in the evacuation and repatriation of lunatics.

“Just yesterday, (January 24), a newly born baby girl was found in a soak away; people rehabilitated her before they handed the baby to government officials,’’ Nasir said.

He said that some people had approached the local government for an approval to adopt babies, and explained that the requisite procedures were being worked out before granting the request.

The official commended the District Head of Funtua, Alhaji Sambo Idris, and other traditional leaders whose efforts and contributions had ensured the recovery and survival of the abandoned babies.

The Director also commended the Katsina State government’s commitment and support to psychiatric hospitals, less privileged families, lunatics and orphanage homes, and called for special funds for local government areas with high numbers of such social cases. (NAN)

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