The acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration is resigning, he said in an email Tuesday, a few weeks after he complained that President Donald Trump appeared to have "condoned police misconduct."

In the email to DEA staffers, Chuck Rosenberg, who became acting administrator in 2015, gave no reason for his departure, which takes effect on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the DEA confirmed Rosenberg's resignation but wouldn't comment on a report in The New York Times, which quoted law enforcement officials as saying Rosenberg had become convinced that Trump "had little respect for the law."

Rosenberg, 57, was kept on by Trump, but his future with the administration came into doubt after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey — a close associate whom Rosenberg had served as chief of staff.

But Rosenberg has already publicly criticized the president, saying in a memo to the agency's employees on July 29 that Trump's remarks in a speech to law enforcement officers "condoned police misconduct."

Rosenberg sent the memo a day after Trump appeared to encourage law enforcement officers not to take care to protect suspects in custody.

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has attributed the crisis on the review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law to the alleged ambition of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

The party said the former governor was allegedly taking advantage of the situation to broaden his personal interest and fight a needless war with his perceived political adversaries.

In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olawale Sadare, APC condemned Ladoja’s alleged role in the organisation and the violence that followed the installation of some village heads (baales) and family heads (mogajis) at the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Monday.

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In candid remarks Wednesday, former first lady Michelle Obama said women who voted for Republican nominee Donald Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton went against their "authentic voice" in the 2016 presidential election.

"Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice," she said at the Inbound 2017 conference in Boston, according to video from inside the event.

"What does it mean for us as women that we look at those two candidates, as women, and many of us said, that guy, he's better for me, his voice is more true to me," Obama said. "Well, to me that just says you don't like your voice. You like the thing you're told to like."

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President Trump's highest approval ratings are for his response to the recent torrent of hurricanes, as well as for his effect on the economy, as per a Fox News poll released Wednesday.

But Trump gets negative performance ratings on most other issues, including his handling of North Korea, Iran, immigration, taxes, Russia, and health care.

The majority of respondents said that they felt the president could say or do something that would make them change their mind about him and make them disapprove.

"Even though many have already made up their minds about Trump, performance and conditions matter," said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News poll with Democratic counterpart Chris Anderson. "His handling of the hurricanes has been a net positive for him, but that could turn if the situation in Puerto Rico continues to deteriorate."

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Nicki Minaj is squashing a crazy rumor that she stabbed a Britney Spears fan with a fork at a childhood sleepover.

The superstar rapper quote tweeted a fan's tweet with several articles reporting the story as if it was real.

“Can’t believe credible news outlets reported this. People will really believe the dumbest sh*t. [stabbed a Britney fan in leg w/a fork],” Nicki wrote. The rumors spread after a tweet from 2011 resurfaced.

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Multiple reports out of Argentina claim that Sergio Aguero has been injured in an automobile accident.  
 
The Manchester City striker attended a concert in Amsterdam featuring Colombian singer Maluma and was hurt on his return to the airport when the taxi he was in was involved in an accident.  
 
Aguero was reportedly wearing his seat belt but suffered broken ribs as a result of the crash, in which the taxi carrying Aguero reportedly hit a pole. He might not be able to feature for his club or country for the next the two months.

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The parliament of Uganda has taken a first step towards scrapping the presidential age limit, which would allow long-time leader Yoweri Museveni to stay in power, in a heated session that saw politicians brawling for a second consecutive day.

Tempers frayed in parliament for the second day over the plan, backed by members of Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

MPs brandished microphone stands, threw punches and clambered over benches as security officers sought to remove 25 legislators barred by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga after engaging in another brawl on the same issue on Tuesday.

Despite the disruption, the bill was passed after the leader of the parliamentary opposition, Winnie Kiiza of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), led a walk-out.

"We are not going to be part of Museveni's life presidency project," Kiiza said.Under the existing constitution, a person standing for president must be under 75 years of age - which would make Museveni, 73, ineligible to stand in the next polls in 2021.

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The Federal Government described as “unfortunate” and “unacceptable,” the position of the U.S. Government over the declaration of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government position Wednesday night in London when he featured on BBC Television programme, “Focus on Africa”.

The Minister, who stressed that the Federal Government was right in declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation, noted that he could not make up with the US seemingly disagreement with the position.

“It is very unfortunate, if countries decide to pick and choose which organisations are terrorists and which are not, bearing in mind that terrorism has no boundary. I think what we should do is that every country should work together to ensure that terrorism does not thrive,” he said.

Speaking on why the Government labelled IPOB a terrorist group, the Minister said, “the acts and utterances of IPOB were acts and utterances of terrorists”.

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JAY-Z, Jennifer Lopez, DJ Khaled and more artists will step up for those in need and headline the TIDAL X: Brooklyn charity concert in Brooklyn to raise money.

Other performers include J47, Kaskade, Chris Brown, Cardi B, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Daddy Yankee, Yo Gotti, A$AP Ferg, Vic Mensa, Fifth Harmony, Joey Bada$$, Willow Smith, Belly, Iggy Azalea, Jessie Reyez, Mack Wilds, Machel Montano and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

"This year's performers are coming together in an effort to raise awareness and funds for organizations that support relief and recovery for those affected by the unprecedented natural disasters, including: Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria and the earthquakes that took place in Mexico," an official release read.

JAY-Z will "return to the stage for a concert with [to] benefit those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma," Us Weekly first reported on Sept 21. They originally claimed that Beyonce would also be participating, but since she's not on the official lineup, it will come as a surprise if she makes an appearance!

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Air passengers are suffering major disruption at airports around the world after computer check-in systems crashed.

Problems were reported at airports including London's Heathrow and Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Zurich, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Changi in Singapore and Washington DC's Reagan Airport.

Travellers endured delays at check-in desks after the outage from about 10.30am on Thursday. The problem affected Amadeus Altea software used by 125 airlines and appeared to also have hit some online check-ins.

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The fastest growing ivory market in the world is now Laos, according to an investigation by Kenya-based group Save the Elephants.

China is banning all ivory trade by the end of 2017, but business is booming in neighbouring countries.

Investigators visited a Chinese casino resort on the Mekong River. They described a hub of gambling and prostitution, where ivory sales are booming among Chinese visitors who make up more than 80% of sales.

The researchers found dozens of shops selling thousands of items - carved tusks, ivory bangles, pendants and bracelets - openly for sale.

Like Vietnam and Myanmar, the prices are cheaper in Laos than on the Chinese mainland, and law and order is lacking - the report authors say - meaning the illegal cross-border trade is not policed.

"In the absence of effective law enforcement, the sales of ivory items to Chinese consumers will continue to rise," said researcher Esmond Martin.

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Help finally arrived to a desperate town in Puerto Rico after a single photograph signaled just how badly supplies were needed.

"Necesitamos Agua/Comida," which translates to "we need water and food," were written on the pavement of the small town of Humacao.

Angelina Ruiz-Lambides, an associate director of the Cayo Santiago Field Station, captured the scene while she was flying over Punta Santiago to survey the damage from Hurricane Maria.

"You may have seen the images on social media, it was a big SOS sign that they wanted food and water," Rosselló said.

"We went there, got food and water, established some of the security protocols ... we're really focusing on what needs to get done right now, which is making people have their life support."

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Beyonce is joining J. Balvin and Willy William for a new version of the song “Mi Gente” and you can listen to it right here! The 36-year-old entertainer will be doing good with the money she makes from the song.

“I am donating my proceeds from this song to hurricane and earthquake relief charities for Puerto Rico, Mexico and other affected Caribbean islands. To help go to Beyonce.com/reliefefforts " she wrote on her website.

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China on Thursday said North Korean firms or joint ventures in the country will be shut within the 120 days of the latest United Nations Security Council sanctions passed on September 12.

In a statement, the commerce ministry said that Overseas Chinese joint ventures with North Korean entities or individuals will also be closed.

On September 12, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted unanimously to enhance sanctions on Pyongyang, banning its textile exports and capping fuel supplies.

The decision to boost the sanctions was spurred after North Korea’s sixth and largest nuclear test this month. It was the ninth Security Council sanctions resolution over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs since 2006.

Taking into account the worst case scenario in the event of a war on the Korean peninsula, China struck a cautionary tone saying it will have no winner.

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Joshua Greene, whose father shot about 3,900 pictures of the actress between 1953 and '57, has turned restoring and preserving those images into a career, with a new book set to hit shelves Oct. 16 that he says will be the "last hurrah."

Cataloging, restoring and preserving his father's entire archive - and touting the photos in books and exhibitions - has been Joshua's full-time job for more than two decades, though he admits his efforts haven't always yielded the best results.

With 'The Essential Marilyn Monroe' by Milton H. Greene out Oct. 16, Joshua believes he has assembled a definitive collection that represents his father's collaboration and friendship with the iconic star.

The Essential Marilyn Monroe features images, ranging from candids and studio sessions to on-set photography while Monroe was filming 1956's Bus Stop and 1957's The Prince and the Showgirl (both films were produced by MM Productions, a company Monroe and Milton Greene formed in 1955).

The print edition retails for $65, but 500 deluxe, signed editions also have been produced: Priced at $2,000, the deluxe version includes a numbered, estate-stamped print, with both book and print housed in a lipstick-red clamshell case.

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There's a bug in the latest version of Internet Explorer that leaks the addresses, search terms, or any other text typed into the address bar.

The bug allows any currently visited website to view any text entered into the address bar as soon as the user hits enter. The technique can expose sensitive information a user didn't intend to be viewed by remote websites, including the Web address the user is about to visit.

The hack can also expose search queries, since IE allows them to be typed into the address bar and then retrieved from Bing or other search services.

The flaw was disclosed Tuesday by security researcher Manuel Caballero. This proof-of-concept site shows the exploit works as described on the latest version of IE.

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Inter president Erik Thohir confirmed that the Serie A side are interested in Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil.

The Germany international has seen his future called into question for some time now, with no extension agreed to a contract set to expire in 2018.

Arsenal face a similar situation with Alexis Sanchez, and blocked him from leaving Emirates Stadium over the summer.

The January window will, however, present a final opportunity for the Gunners to generate a fee for their want-away stars, and it could be that Ozil is the subject of an offer from Italy.

Thohir has admitted to being keen on the 28-year-old World Cup winner, but is also wary of winter deals after being stung in the past.

“He [Ozil] is definitely one of those players we are looking at, but the last January signings of [Lukas] Podolski and [Xherdan] Shaqiri proves winter signings can fail to live up to expectations,” Thohir told Metrotv.news.com.

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Britain's opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to pursue a foreign policy that will not fuel conflicts but solve them if elected while criticising Saudi Arabia for its "cruel" war in Yemen and urging Myanmar to end the violence against the Rohingya.

Corbyn made the comments in an energetic speech at the Labour Party conference in Brighton on Wednesday.

In his wide-ranging address, which was largely focused on Britain's future after its exit from the European Union, the Labour leader said he would put the pursuit of peace and human rights at the centre of his foreign policy if he became prime minister. 
 
He also called for greater accountability by governments engaged in conflicts around the world.

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Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state endorsed Governor Nasiru El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office come 2019.

At a stakeholders meeting held in the state capital, the APC members drawn from the 23 local government areas, say their endorsement of President Buhari and Governor El-Rufai for a second term in office is based on their impressive performance that is in line with the party’s manifesto and election campaign promises made to Nigerians in 2015.

During the meeting, members unanimously passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai for their outstanding performance, commitment and dedication to the development of Nigeria and Kaduna State respectively.

Governor El-Rufai in his speech appeals to all members of the ruling party in the state to bury their differences and unite to make the party much stronger ahead of 2019.

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An erupting volcano in Vanuatu has sparked an unprecedented evacuation of an entire island. All 11,000 residents of Ambae have been told to leave and will be moved to other islands in the Pacific state.

The Manaro Voui volcano, which has been rumbling for days, began spewing ash in a "moderate eruption" over the weekend. Officials had moved 6,000 residents to shelters elsewhere on Ambae earlier this week, but have now ordered a full-scale evacuation.

All islanders are expected to have been moved off Ambae by next Friday, in what emergency officials said would be a first for the country.

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China has hit out at Facebook Inc.’s WhatsApp, saying the messaging service should act to stop the spread of “illegal information” as the country seeks greater scrutiny over the internet in the run-up to its once-in-five years Communist Party Congress.

WhatsApp should take proactive measures to intercept information to do with violence and terror, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in a statement in response to questions from Bloomberg News. China has the authority to tell institutions to take these measures, said the agency, without specifying details of content it considered illegal.

“A country’s cyberspace sovereignty should be protected,” it added. The response comes as China is seen to be tightening the screws on WhatsApp, which has until recently been one of the only remaining major messaging services to operate unfettered in the country.

"China’s Internet is fully open,” the administration said. “We welcome internet companies from various countries to provide Chinese internet users with good information services.”

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A human rights group accused Russia and the Syrian government of mounting the "worst string of attacks" on hospitals in Syria since April despite an agreement on "de-escalation" zones.

New York-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said on Wednesday it believes either Russian or Syrian government jets were behind at least five air strikes on three hospitals in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province.

Three facilities came under fire on the same day, September 19, and two of the hospitals were bombarded again separately days later, PHR reported.

"These are the most dramatic, sustained attacks on Syria's healthcare system since the spring de-escalation agreement in Idlib went into effect," said the group's Syria research associate Racha Mouawieh.

An agreement by Russia, Turkey, and Iran to set up de-escalation zones in Syria was signed in May during talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

But the plan was sharply criticised by the Syrian opposition who rejected Iran's role as guarantor in any deal.

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In an effort to simulate what life will be like living on Mars, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will build a £100m city in the middle of the desert.

The "Mars Science City" project was unveiled at a meeting of the UAE government this week and will consist of gigantic domes covering a 1.9 million-square-foot area.

It will house a team of researchers who will live there for a year carrying out experiments involving food, water and energy needs on the distant planet. The UAE hopes to eventually build a fully-formed Martian settlement within the next 100 years.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, ruler of Dubai, said: "The UAE is a great country with vision and understanding of the challenges we face and the rapid changes our world is experiencing.

We believe in the potential of space exploration, and in collaborating with global partners and leaders in order to harness the findings of this research and movement that seeks to meet people's needs and improve quality of life on Earth."

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Wednesday has been a very important day for Trump passing the GOP Tax Bill and marketing it rather effectively and also, finally, responding like a president should to the Puerto Rico crisis after coming under fire the last few days‼️

🐦 Just arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana to make an announcement on TaxReform! Together, we are going to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

🐦This is the right TAX CUT at the RIGHT TIME. We will ALL succeed & grow TOGETHER – as one team, one people, & one American family. TaxReform

Trump pitched his plan for an overhaul of the tax system. It includes lowering the corporate tax rate 📈 and cutting the number of individual tax rates. His plan would also repeal the alternative minimum tax and the state tax.

🐦 It is time to take care of OUR people, to rebuild OUR NATION, and to fight for OUR GREAT AMERICAN WORKERS! TaxReform USA🇺🇸

The plan has received praise from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups.

🐦 Democrats don't want massive tax cuts - how does that win elections? Great reviews for Tax Cut and Reform Bill.

Though Trump has argued that his plan will help the middle class, Democrats have slammed the plan as a tax cut for the wealthy.

🐦 The electric power grid in Puerto Rico is totally shot. Large numbers of generators are now on Island. Food and water on site.

Hurricane Maria hit the U.S. territory more than a week ago, leaving it without power and its roughly 3.4 million residents short on fuel and other supplies. Trump came under withering fire earlier this week for what some critics said was his slow response to an escalating humanitarian crisis. Republicans and Democrats had urged Trump to waive a little-known federal law called the Jones Act that prohibits foreign-flagged ships from shuttling goods between U.S. ports.

Source: Duta

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A new study finds nearly half of all 55.7 million estimated abortions around the world each year between 2010 and 2014 were performed in an unsafe manner, putting women at risk for serious complications.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal The Lancet, suggests that unsafe abortions are still a major health problem globally, especially in developing countries. 

"These are the first global estimates to show the distribution of the abortions across three safety categories," said Dr. Bela Ganatra, a scientist at the department of reproductive health and research at the World Health Organization and lead author of the study. 

"For the first time, we actually tried to determine the conditions under which abortions take place, how, who, where. This allows us to develop a better understanding of actions needed," she said.

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Thousands of striking high school and university students have marched in Barcelona in support of Catalonia's independence referendum which the Spanish central government in Madrid has vowed to stop.

The Catalan government has insisted it will press ahead with Sunday's disputed plebiscite in the wealthy northeastern region which is home to 7.5 million people despite a crackdown by Madrid which wants to prevent a vote ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

"The majority of young people are separatists, and if they weren't, they have become separatist after seeing what Spain has done in recent weeks," 16-year-old high school student Aina Gonzalez told AFP news agency.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission withdrew its motion seeking an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja allowing it to serve the recall petition on Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, through substituted means rather than personal service.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba struck out the motion after INEC’s lawyer, Mr. Yunus Ustaz (SAN), announced its withdrawal in court on Thursday. The judge also directed that all issues pertaining to the case should thereafter be taken to the Court of Appeal.

He noted that since Melaye’s appeal against the court’s September 11 judgment of the court had been entered at the Court of Appeal, all pending applications, including the ones filed by Melaye for stay of execution of the verdict, should be taken to the Court of Appeal.

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The future looks bleak for Nigeria’s oil exports as its biggest crude oil buyer and three major European customers are poised to do away with petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2025.

India, China, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom bought a total of 24.4 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria in May this year, almost half of the nation’s total exports for the month, the latest data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation showed.

But the countries are now pushing ahead with plans to stop the use of oil-powered vehicles as part of efforts to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, a development that could spell trouble for Nigeria’s oil exports in the coming decades.

According to the NNPC, India bought 7.673 million barrels of Nigerian crude in May; France imported 4.783 million barrels; the UK bought 6.016 million barrels; Netherlands, 3.96 million barrels; and China, 1.95 million barrels.

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The US Senate Intelligence Committee criticised Twitter for offering an "inadequate" appearance in briefings on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said the briefings were "deeply disappointing".

The social network earlier said it had shut down about 200 accounts linked to a Russian misinformation campaign.

It follows a review by Facebook which found Russian-funded adverts helping to spread false misinformation online. Twitter said it found a match for 22 of roughly 450 accounts Facebook shared, and another 179 "linked accounts". Russia has repeatedly denied claims that it interfered in the US elections.

The Facebook case involved thousands of adverts, purchased in Russia, which directed users towards hundreds of different Facebook accounts. Those accounts did not support any particular candidate, but instead posted inflammatory information on hot topics such as immigration.

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A librarian at a primary school in the US state of Massachusetts has rejected a donation of books from First Lady Melania Trump.

Liz Phipps Soeiro, of Cambridgeport Elementary School, also criticised the Trump administration's policies. Mrs Trump said in a letter to the children who will receive the books: "Getting an education is perhaps the most important and wondrous opportunity of your young lives." 
But in a lengthy editorial for the Horn Book's Family Reading blog, Ms Phipps Soeiro explained why her school does not need the books, while thanking the first lady for her gesture. 

"My students have access to a school library with over nine thousand volumes and a librarian with a graduate degree in library science," she wrote. "Why not go out of your way to gift books to underfunded and underprivileged communities that continue to be marginalized and maligned by policies put in place by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos?" she wrote.

The Cambridge school district said its views are not represented by the editorial. "The employee was not authorized to accept or reject donated books on behalf of the school or school district," it said in a statement.

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Thousands of striking high school and university students have marched in Barcelona in support of Catalonia's independence referendum which the Spanish central government in Madrid has vowed to stop.

The Catalan government has insisted it will press ahead with Sunday's disputed plebiscite in the wealthy northeastern region which is home to 7.5 million people despite a crackdown by Madrid which wants to prevent a vote ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

"The majority of young people are separatists, and if they weren't, they have become separatist after seeing what Spain has done in recent weeks," 16-year-old high school student Aina Gonzalez told AFP news agency.

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Qatar rebut a human rights group's report that expressed concern about the safety of workers building stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup amid the scorching summer heat.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), which is overseeing the organisation of the football tournament in the Gulf state, issued a statement on Wednesday responding to concerns raised by US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The organisation said on Wednesday that Qatar must do more to protect construction workers from intense heat and humidity that often reach levels that are potentially fatal. Summertime temperatures in Qatar regularly approach 50 degrees Celsius.

Qatari organisers offered reassurances of their efforts to monitor data on a year-long basis and review working conditions on construction sites using an internationally recognised Humidex system.

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Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will bid to host the U-20 or U-17 Fifa World Cup in 2019. 
 
FKF boss, Nick Mwendwa says that the country has the goodwill of both the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and  
 
FIFA to table bids for either of the two age group tournaments. 
 
The statement comes after Kenya was stripped of rights to host the 2018 Africa Nations Champions (CHAN) by Caf during an executive committee meeting held in Accra, Ghana.

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A Sunni Muslim cleric was sentenced to death in Lebanon for his role in the death of dozens of people during clashes in the city of Sidon four years ago, according to officials.

Ahmed al-Assir, who was arrested in 2015, was tried in a military tribunal along with 38 others accused of killing Lebanese soldiers in the southern city in June 2013.

The court on Thursday also sentenced to death two other defendants and five people who remain at large, including the cleric's brother. Former singer Fadel Shaker, who was tried in absentia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while the other 30 defendants were handed life sentences.

Tyab said Assir was "relatively unknown" before the Syrian conflict started in 2011, but "rose to prominence quickly for his fiery speeches on TV criticising Hezbollah for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and praising the opposition", including al-Qaeda linked fighters.

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Theo Walcott scored twice and Olivier Giroud reached a personal milestone as Arsenal beat BATE 4-2 in the Europa League.

The Gunners boss stuck to his promise to hand his squad players the chance to impress, with Jack Wilshere involved, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson starting at wing-back and midfielder Joe Willock given a place in the senior starting line-up for the first time. 
 
Wilshere was especially effective early on and set up Walcott to prod in the opener before the forward capitalised on a goalkeeper howler to double the visitors' lead. 

Holding converted from point-blank range before Mirko Ivanic got a goal back in a breathless first half hour. 
 
Giroud's penalty restored Arsenal's three-goal advantage and they saw out an important win that keeps them top of Group H.

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Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness revealed Carlo Ancelotti's position at the club became untenable after a group of players turned against the Italian.

"There were five players against Ancelotti," Hoeness said. "It was impossible to get out of that." 
 
Star trio Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben have all voiced their discontent at various stages of the season, with the latter refusing to back Ancelotti after the defeat in Paris.

Ancelotti was sacked on Thursday following a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to former club Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

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The first photos of prototypes for President Donald Trump's promised U.S.-Mexico border wall — actually two walls — that are being constructed near San Diego are now accessible.

Four prototypes are being made of concrete for the wall the will face the U.S. And four others for the wall that faces Mexico will be made of other materials that allow that wall to be seen through. Six contractors were hired to construct the eight prototypes, which will range from 18-30 feet high.

"I'm gonna go out and look at them personally, and I'm gonna pick the right one," Trump said Friday during a campaign appearance in Alabama.

The prototypes will be tested and "will inform future design standards which will likely continue to evolve to meet the U.S. Border Patrol’s requirements," Customs and Border Protection said in a press release on Tuesday.

Trump ordered construction to begin on the wall in January, despite lacking the funding to do so in a significant way.

The Senate has so far declined to foot the bill for a $1.6 billion-dollar down payment and while as a candidate Trump insisted Mexico would pay for the wall, the nation has so far refused

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235 – Having been exiled to labor in the mines of Sardinia by Roman emperor Maximinus Thrax, Pope Pontian resigned to make the election of a new pope possible.

1821 – The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain was drafted in the National Palace in Mexico City.

1912 – Over 470,000 people from Ulster, Ireland, signed the Ulster Covenant in protest against the Third Home Rule Bill (Edward Carson pictured).

1972 – Against the backdrop of the Cold War, the Canadian ice hockey team defeated the Soviet team in the Summit Series.

2012 – War in Somalia: Somali National Army forces and their AMISOM and Raskamboni allies launched an offensive against Al-Shabaab in the latter's last major stronghold of Kismayo.

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Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State expressed confidence that he would defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair presidential election, citing his record of having defeated two incumbent governors in separate governorship elections in Ekiti State.

Mr. Fayose made his assertions Thursday in Abuja at his official declaration to contest the 2019 presidential election as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PDP party officials were conspicuously absent from the governor’s declaration of his desire to dethrone Mr. Buhari whose close aides have reportedly started organizing his reelection bid.

Governor Fayose vowed to wrest power from the incumbent President under a free and fair election, adding that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had deceived Nigerians for more than two years. He said it was imperative to put an end to the APC’s deceptive government by 2019.

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Marco Asensio has signed a new contract with Real Madrid which will keep him at the club until 2023.

The 21-year-old signed for the La Liga giants in 2014 for €3.9 million from Mallorca, and has agreed a new six-year-deal at Santiago Bernabeu.

He broke into the Blancos first team in 2016-17, starting in the UEFA Super Cup win over Sevilla and then making his La Liga debut shortly after.

Asensio played 23 La Liga games last season, and impressed in the Champions League, scoring three times in eight appearances, including a goal in the final against Juventus as Zinedine Zidane's side lifted the trophy.

Asensio's new deal comes just a day after Real Madrid signed defender Raphael Varane to a five-year contract extension, and follows Marcelo, Isco, Dani Carvajal, Karim Benzema and Marcos Llorente who have also recently committed their futures to the club.

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Lagos State has been named the third worst city for drivers in the world, with 60 per cent congestion and 10.70mph average speed.

Lagos was ranked third next to Karachi, Pakistan: 59 per cent congestion, 11.20mph average speed and Kolkata, with India topping the list.

The website states that the list was arrived at after considering the following: an analysis of local congestion levels, an average cost of parking and fuel, average roadway speeds, air pollution levels, number of traffic injuries, and road quality.

Also considered – and what should seem like a no-brainer to international travellers – is the frequency and perception of road rage. In the analysis of 100 international cities, Lagos is the only city in Africa that appeared on the list

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Authoritative sources from the Nigerian Army have said the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, is not in military custody.

The sources, from the army headquarters, Abuja, and the 82 Division headquarters, Enugu State, which coordinates _Operation Python Dance II,_ told one of our correspondents on Thursday that Kanu was not arrested or detained, as being speculated.

Kanu’s lawyers on Wednesday filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja praying for an order, directing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce Kanu in court.

The lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had declared Kanu missing, saying the IPOB leader was last seen after the September 14 invasion of his residence in Afara-Ukwu area of Abia State by soldiers.

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The first photos of prototypes for President Donald Trump's promised U.S.-Mexico border wall — actually two walls — that are being constructed near San Diego are now accessible.

Four prototypes are being made of concrete for the wall the will face the U.S. And four others for the wall that faces Mexico will be made of other materials that allow that wall to be seen through. Six contractors were hired to construct the eight prototypes, which will range from 18-30 feet high.

"I'm gonna go out and look at them personally, and I'm gonna pick the right one," Trump said Friday during a campaign appearance in Alabama.

The prototypes will be tested and "will inform future design standards which will likely continue to evolve to meet the U.S. Border Patrol’s requirements," Customs and Border Protection said in a press release on Tuesday.

Trump ordered construction to begin on the wall in January, despite lacking the funding to do so in a significant way.

The Senate has so far declined to foot the bill for a $1.6 billion-dollar down payment and while as a candidate Trump insisted Mexico would pay for the wall, the nation has so far refused

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Femi Falana called on the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to “Christianize” Nigeria.

Mr. Falana spoke at the strategic dialogue roundtable organized by the Social Economic Rights and Accountability, SERAP, held in Lagos.

The lawyer was reacting to the controversy surrounding the N100 billion Sukuk bond offered by the Nigerian government. CAN had in reaction to the offer said the move was an attempt to Islamize Nigeria.

But Mr. Falana, on Thursday, said the Sukuk bond was a legitimate means through which government could generate funds, as practised in many countries of the world.

He called on religious leaders not to set Nigerians against themselves based on religion. “I am challenging CAN to Christianize Nigerians; Christianize us by setting up interest-free banks…” he said.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, February 16, 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The electoral body made the announcement via its official Twitter handle on Thursday, stating that the election is exactly 505 days away from today.

It added that the gubernatorial and state assembly elections and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections will hold on March 2, 2019.

INEC also announced that the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections will be released on Thursday, October 5.

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CNN analyst Ana Navarro tweeted and then deleted a fake image of NBA star LeBron James wearing a shirt with the middle finger on it that referred to President Trump as a “son of a b---h” on Wednesday.

“Freedom of expression Makes America Great. Whether u approve or not, we're free to wear this. Could get u jailed or killed in some place,” Navarro wrote as the caption to her tweet that accompanied a fake photo of James wearing the anti-Trump shirt.

Navarro’s attempt at humor is presumably a reference to Trump’s recent comments about professional football players who do not stand for the national anthem, as he sparked a national conversation when using the same derogatory phrase when describing players who don’t respect the flag.

The Daily Caller tracked down the actual photo, in which James is wearing a shirt featuring WWE’s The Undertaker – proving that Navarro was fooled by a photoshopped image. Or, as Trump would probably say, a CNN analyst attempted to spread “fake news.”

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Nigeria moved two steps upward among the competitive economies in the world, according to the latest ranking by the World Economic Forum, WEF. Nigeria is now 125th out of the 137 economies that the ranking covers; it occupied the 127th position in last year’s ranking.

This is the first time the country’s ranking has gone up since 2012, according to the WEF’s Global Competitiveness Report released on Tuesday. The report, however, stated that the country’s macroeconomic conditions worsened, having gone 12 step-downward to 122nd position.

Inflation in Nigeria, according to the report, is high at 15.7 percent. On this, the country is ranked 131st. The report put Nigeria’s budget deficit at 4.4 percent and ranked the country 99th in this regards.

Mauritius and Rwanda, at 45th and 58th positions respectively, are ranked higher than South Africa (61th). Switzerland maintains its number one spot as the most competitive economy in the world. China and Russia are ranked 27th and 38th respectively.

From the WEF ranking, Nigeria has only fared a little better than a few sub-Saharan African countries like Democratic Republic of Congo (126th), Burundi (129th), Sierra Leone (130th), Chad (135th) and Liberia (134th), while several other sub-Saharan African countries like Cameroon (116th), Ghana (111th), Gambia (117th), and Uganda (114th) are better off than Nigeria.

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The federal government declared Monday, October 2nd, a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 57th Independence Anniversary.

Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and urged them to sustain the collective efforts towards maintaining and strengthening the unity of Nigeria.

Mr. Dambazau emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting national unity, economic growth, and political development on democratic principles.

Ministry of Interior, Engr Abubakar Magaji, the minister noted that in the past 57 years, Nigeria has made a lot of progress and positive impact not only on its citizens but also on human development globally.

Mr. Dambazau also expressed profound appreciation to Nigerians and their international community for the support and co-operation of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr. Dambazau wished all Nigerians a Happy 57th Independence Day Anniversary.

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Interpol has approved the Palestinian Authority's membership bid, a new victory in its drive for international representation despite strong Israeli opposition.

Israel lobbies hard against Palestinian efforts to join global organisations to advance their goal of statehood. It claimed victory last year when the Palestinian bid to join the global police body was suspended.

Interpol approved the Palestinian application along with a bid by the Solomon Islands during its annual general assembly in Beijing on Wednesday. "New member countries State of Palestine and Solomon Islands bring Interpol's membership to 192," it said on its Twitter account.

"Palestine's membership is the outcome of members defending this organisation's raison d'etre and advancing its core values, and a clear rejection of attempts at cynical manipulation and political bullying," Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said in a statement.

Israel's foreign ministry did not immediately comment.

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Tuesday seemed like a day spent making amends in President Trump's own way. The candidate he backed in Alabama lost the election, he seemed all the more empathetic about Puerto Rico's situation and ordered more aid to reach the island and also has been sheepishly standing by his national anthem comment, pulling the likes of Usain Bolt into the controversy.

🐦➿ Ricardo Rossello: Briefed POTUS realDonaldTrump in SituationRoom and thanked him for his leadership, quick response & commitment to our people 🇵🇷

Ricardo Rossello, Governor of Puerto Rico said he was “confident the president understands the magnitude of the situation”. A flotilla of ships and thousands more military personnel are being sent to Puerto Rico, the Trump administration announced.

🐦 Heading over to the UN to meet with Ambassador NikkiHaley and all of her great representatives! USA🇺🇸

🐦 America's hearts & prayers are with the people of PuertoRico & the USVI. We will get through this - and we will get through this TOGETHER

Suddenly, there too much empathy for Puerto Rico!

🐦 I want to express our support and extend our prayers to all those affected by the vile terror attack in Spain last month. 🇺🇸🇪🇸

🐦 It was an honor to welcome President MarianoraJoy of Spain. Thank you for standing w/ us in our efforts to isolate the brutal NoKo regime.

Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met at the White House on Tuesday, and afterward they said in a joint news 🎤 conference that they had discussed fighting terrorism, North Korea, and other threats to democracy. Notice how Trump thinks he met the 'president' of Spain‼️

🐦 Thank you to our wonderful team USUN and their families. Keep up the GREAT work! USA🇺🇸

🐦 Even Usain Bolt from Jamaica, one of the greatest runners and athletes of all time, showed RESPECT for our National Anthem! 🇺🇸🇯🇲

Even the World's Fastest Man can't outrun this debate! The message was a not-so-subtle dig at the NFL and its players, after nearly a week of debate over the merits of football players "taking a knee" during the anthem.

🐦 Congratulations to Roy Moore on his Republican Primary win in Alabama. Luther Strange started way back & ran a good race. Roy, WIN in Dec!

🐦 Spoke to Roy Moore of Alabama last night for the first time. Sounds like a really great guy who ran a fantastic race. He will help to MAGA!

After winning the election, Moore professed his backing for Trump. "Don't let anybody in the press think that because he supported my opponent, I do not support him," Moore said in his victory speech. Still, the outcome is an embarrassment to Trump, whose coattails proved shorter than bargained for in a state he overwhelmingly carried in last year's presidential election. And it may reignite the feud between Trump and McConnell if either is tempted to blame the other for the loss.

🐦 Spoke to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. Jerry is a winner who knows how to get things done. Players will stand for Country!

On Monday night, the team – joined by Jones – knelt before the playing of the national anthem in their game against the Arizona Cardinals. Trump had called out the spectacle on Twitter, saying the booing from fans was the “loudest I have ever heard” and claiming there was “Great anger” at such displays. In a second tweet, though, Trump noted the team stood for the anthem itself and described that as “Big progress.”

🐦 With one Yes vote in hospital & very positive signs from Alaska and two others (McCain is out), we have the HCare Vote, but not for Friday!

🐦 We will have the votes for Healthcare but not for the reconciliation deadline of Friday, after which we need 60. Get rid of Filibuster Rule!

🐦 Facebook was always anti-Trump.The Networks were always anti-Trump hence,Fake News, nytimes(apologized) & WaPo were anti-Trump. Collusion? But the people were Pro-Trump! Virtually no President has accomplished what we have accomplished in the first 9 months-and economy roaring

Trump’s comments came days after Facebook said it will provide 📋 the contents of 3,000 ads bought by a Russian agency to congressional investigators 🔎 and make political advertising on its platform more transparent. Several committees are investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Source: Duta

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Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are expecting, but they're reportedly saving the wedding for when after Kylie gives birth, just as Kim Kardashian did before her.

"They're still trying to figure out their relationship," the insider tells the site, adding that "Kylie has no issues about being an unwed mother."

Her plan is to marry Travis as soon as she drops the baby weight, because she wants her "child to have a father that is always there."

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Cameroon forcibly returned 100,000 Nigerian refugees in breach of international agreements, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

The rights group accused soldiers of deporting refugees escaping Islamist violence, as well as attacking and sexually exploiting them.

Cameroon is "punishing" refugees for Boko Haram attacks, HRW said. Cameroon has rejected similar accusations previously, saying Nigerians have returned willingly.

"Since early 2015, the Cameroonian authorities have summarily deported at least 100,000 Nigerians living in remote border areas back to war, displacement and destitution in Nigeria's Borno state," HRW said in a report. "In carrying out these deportations, Cameroonian soldiers have frequently used extreme physical violence."

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In private, President Trump took to physically mocking M&M: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (slumped shoulders; lethargic body language) and Sen. John McCain (imitating the thumbs-down of his historic health-care vote).

Trump is venting about his frustration with what he considers failed leadership by Senate Republicans as he takes his lumps this week in wars with everyone.

Steve Bannon beat him last night in the Alabama Senate primary, with the Breitbart-favored candidate thumping Trump's man by 10 points. Moderate Republicans killed the repeal of the Affordable Care Act — again.

NFL players lock arms in opposition to him. And Firehouse Strategies, a GOP firm, concludes from new polling: "[V]oters overwhelmingly (64%) say that the President should focus on other issues."

He's getting pounded in social and conventional media for a slow, cold response to the humanitarian tragedy in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.

Bob Mueller is tightening the screws on Trump's staff, and is now getting data from the IRS about "key Trump campaign officials."

"Rocket Man" government says Trump has declared war on North Korea. Washington Post: "North Korean government officials have been quietly trying to arrange talks with Republican-linked analysts in Washington, in an apparent attempt to make sense of President Trump."

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There was trouble in Bengaluru, India as some Nigerians took the Biafra battle to the streets of India.

One person was reportedly killed while the city police are now looking for the concerned persons so as to deport them, a source told Times of India.

According to the report, there were early attacks and counter-attacks but in the altercation that ensued on Sunday, a group of students said to be Nigerians in Hennur allegedly attacked the residence of one Elvis Ohachosim, 39, a fellow national, and set his car on fire.

The pre-dawn attack was in retaliation to Elvis attacking two Nigerian friends the previous evening.

Police said Sunday’s arson is the latest skirmish between two groups of Nigerians since September 3, when N Chigozie, a resident of Hennur, and a Nigerian national himself, allegedly died in suspicious circumstances, after clashes between the gangs at an African restaurant in Kothanur.

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a Republican framework for tax reform that calls for sweeping tax cuts and a simplification of the tax code, framing the effort in a speech as a historic opportunity.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and I guess it's probably something I could say that I'm very good at," Trump said during remarks in Indiana. "I've been waiting for this for a long time.

We're going to cut taxes for the middle class, make the tax code simpler and more fair for everyday Americans. And we are going to bring back the jobs and wealth that have left our country and most people thought left our country for good." 

Trump in recent weeks has sought to crank up public pressure on the need for sweeping tax reform. In Indianapolis, he offered specific numbers to back up his calls for the biggest changes to the tax code in decades. 

He called for reducing the personal income tax brackets from seven to three (12%, 25% and 35%), doubling the standard deduction for married and single filers (to $24,000 and $12,000 respectively), slashing the corporate tax rate to 20% and eliminating the estate tax -- among other proposals.

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China warned self-ruled Taiwan on Wednesday that it would “reap the consequences” of promoting formal independence, a red line for Beijing which claims the island as its own.

Taiwan’s government hit back, saying it was a reality that the Republic of China, the island’s formal name, was a sovereign country and that no matter what China said it could not change this fact.

Taiwan is one of China’s most sensitive issues. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring what it considers a wayward province under its rule.

Defeated Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of the Chinese civil war. Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1895 until 1945.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, newly appointed Taiwan Premier William Lai said he was a “political worker who advocates Taiwan independence”, but that it already was an independent country called the Republic of China and so had no need to declare independence.

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Arjen Robben poked fun at big-spending Paris Saint-Germain on the eve of Bayern Munich's key Champions League away match in the French capital.

With Anderlecht and Celtic also in the pool, the PSG-Bayern clash at Paris' Parc de Princes on Wednesday could well decide the winner of Group B.

'Paris have certainly given out a few more euros than us, but money doesn't score goals, quality on the pitch scores goals, good teams score goals,' said veteran winger Robben before the team jetted to Paris.

PSG signed Neymar from Barcelona for a world record 222 million euros ($264m) and recruited Kylian Mbappe from Monaco last month on an initial loan deal which is set to be made into a permanent move for 180 million euros next year.

But when asked about PSG's star-studded MCN attack - Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar - Robben was unphased: 'The important thing is the performance of the team, not just to focus on particular players'.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is convinced Bayern can get a good result in the French capital.

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US Republicans fell short yet again in their seven-year drive to repeal Obamacare, in a bitter defeat that raises more questions about their ability to enact President Donald Trump's agenda.

The party was unable to win enough support from its own senators for a bill to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act and decided not to put it to a vote, several Republicans said.

The bill's sponsors vowed to try again, but face steeper odds after Sunday, when special rules expire that allow them to pass health care legislation without Democratic support.

"We basically ran out of time," said Senator Ron Johnson, a co-sponsor of the measure with Senators Bill Cassidy, Lindsey Graham and Dean Heller. Republicans have now repeatedly failed to deliver on their longtime promise to roll back former Democratic President Barack Obama's signature domestic accomplishment.

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Gary Neville said that Manchester United "can get a lot better" and believes that Barcelona striker Luis Suarez or Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann would be ideal to help them reach their potential.

Jose Mourinho's men have set a terrific pace at the beginning of the season, behind neighbours City in the Premier League only on goal difference and having started their Champions League campaign by defeating Basel.

Among the players he has recommended are France international Griezmann, who was strongly linked with United in the summer, only to have Atleti's transfer ban complicate matters.

"I'd like to see a winger who can beat a man and get everyone on the edge of their seat.

“Having been in Spain for four months, I love Griezmann. I would love to see Griezmann at United. He's quick, he's inventive, he can beat players, he can score goals.

“Suarez, even though he played for Liverpool, is a United player,” he added. “It’s arrogance to say that but he’s fantastic. He scores goals, he’s aggressive, he chases every ball down.”

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Real Madrid have announced that Raphael Varane has agreed a new five-year contract.

The France international centre-back will stay with the Spanish and European champions until the end of the 2021-22 season. Varane follows Marcelo, Isco, Dani Carvajal, Karim Benzema and Marcos Llorente in committing his future to the club.

The 24-year-old, who signed from Lens in 2011, has established himself as a crucial part of Madrid's spectacular success under head coach Zinedine Zidane.

He has won 13 major trophies since arriving from France, including three Champions Leagues, two Club World Cups and two La Liga titles.

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A visually impaired female Ethiopian lawyer was named a joint winner of the 2017 Right Livelihood Award, also known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize.

The 35-year-old human rights lawyer Yetnebersh Nigussie was on Tuesday awarded 3 million Swedish crowns ($374,000) which will be shared among the three joint winners.

“I really want to see a world where nobody is discriminated because of his or her disability or any other status,” she told the Thompson Reuters Foundation.

“I started my fight, not by telling people, but showing people that I’m able to contribute. I have one disability but I have 99 abilities,” she added.

Yetnebersh Nigussie went blind at the age of five and was considered unfit in the community.

Her parents enrolled her at the Catholic boarding school for girls with disabilities in the capital Addis Ababa where her life changed for the better.

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Hugh Hefner, the iconic founder of Playboy magazine, died at his home, the Playboy Mansion, of natural causes at age 91, Playboy Enterprises said in a statement.

Playboy magazine was founded more than 60 years ago to create a niche upscale men's magazine, combining images of nude women with in-depth articles, interviews and fiction by a variety of well-known writers.

Hefner reportedly founded the magazine with $600 and another $1,000 borrowed from his mother. The first centerfold, an iconic feature of the monthly magazine, was of Marilyn Monroe.

While the magazine was a mainstay of college dorms and young men's libraries, the availability of free porn online has sent its fortunes on a downswing.

As for your humble correspondent, he always read Playboy for the articles!

RIP, Hugh!

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The Taliban targeted US defence secretary James Mattis with a rocket attack on Kabul airport after he arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit, officials said.

Mattis landed in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, alongside NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, and was met with several rockets landing in and around the airport, local police reported.

There were no reports of casualties or damage after the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban. The trip marks Mattis' first visit to the country since US President Donald Trump's pledge last month to win America's longest war.

There are reports that 5 civilians have been injured.

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An acquittal in a high-profile rape case in India has reignited debate over the meaning of consent after a judge set aside the conviction of a Bollywood filmmaker, saying "a feeble 'no'" could still signal willingness on the part of an alleged victim.

Mahmood Farooqui, the co-director of the hit Bollywood film "Peepli Live," was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2016 after he was found guilty of raping a Columbia University graduate student at his home.

"It is not unknown that during sexual acts, one of the partners may be a little less willing or, it can be said unwilling but where there is an assumed consent, it matters not if one of the partners to the act is a bit hesitant," Kumar observed in his ruling.

Elsewhere in his ruling, Kumar ruled that "instances of woman behavior are not unknown (sic) that a feeble 'no' may mean a 'yes'," particularly in cases where the parties involved "are known to each other, are persons of letters and are intellectually/academically proficient, and if, in the past, there have been physical contacts."

"In this judgment, the court has unfortunately elided over the legal definition of consent that, that many of us worked to bring into law in 2013," said Karuna Nundy, a Supreme Court lawyer who played a role in reforming India's sexual assault laws in the wake of the brutal gang rape of a physiotherapy student on a moving bus in Delhi in 2012.

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In another breakthrough for women in Saudi Arabia that coincided with allowing women to drive, the foreign minister has appointed Fatimah Baeshen as its first spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy in Washington.

“Proud to serve the Saudi Embassy USA as the spokeswoman. I’m grateful for the opportunity, the support, and well wishes #KSA,” Fatimah posted as she announced her appointment on her Twitter account early on Wednesday.

Fatimah, a Saudi national, was a director at the Washington-based think Arabia Foundation which she joined after working with the Saudi Ministry of Labour and the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning in Riyadh from 2014 to 2017.

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People forced to avoid gluten could soon have their bread (and cake) and eat it. Now there are strains of wheat that do not produce the forms of gluten that trigger a dangerous immune reaction in as many as 1 in 100 people.

Because the new strains still contain some kinds of gluten, though, the wheat can still be used to bake bread. “It’s regarded as being pretty good, certainly better than anything on the gluten-free shelves,” says Jan Chojecki of PBL-Ventures in the UK, who is working with investors in North America to market products made with this wheat.

So Barro’s team next tried using CRISPR gene-editing to get rid of the genes entirely. More genes need to be disabled before the CRISPR strain is ready for testing, but it should be worth all the effort: the team have already shown that the GM wheat strain makes an acceptable bread.

It cannot be used for making large sliced loafs, but is good enough for baguettes and rolls, says Chojecki.

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Tehran vowed on Tuesday to stand alongside Baghdad and Ankara against the outcome of an independence referendum staged by Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq, a day after thousands of Iranian Kurds marched in support of the vote.

State media also quoted an army commander as saying that new missile systems were installed on Tuesday, a day after the referendum, in western provinces that border Iraqi Kurdish areas to “firmly respond to any invasion”.

Iran, Iraq and Turkey - countries with Kurdish minorities - have all denounced the referendum as a threat to the stability of a region already beset by conflict, while the United States has expressed similar disquiet.

Ali Akbar Velayati, the top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stepped up the pressure as the Iraqi government ruled out talks on possible secession for Kurdish-held northern Iraq and Turkey threatened sanctions.

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After a week of misery, millions of Puerto Ricans are still suffering in primitive conditions without power, water or enough fuel.

About 97% of the island's 3.4 million residents are still in the dark one week after Hurricane Maria slammed into the Puerto Rico. And there's nowhere enough food to go around.

Some help is on the way. On Wednesday, a plane carrying 3,500 pounds of water, Army meals ready-to-eat, diapers and other supplies will head from Miami to Puerto Rico, said Rob Brisley, spokesman with US Customs and Border Protection.

The plane, which usually carries out intelligence missions, will travel back to the United States with 28 family members of federal employees, he said.

"We are getting help from the federal government, but this is an unprecedented set of circumstances," Governor Rosselló said Wednesday.

"We want to make sure that we recognize that a lot of resources are coming in. They are coming in by air or by boats. But they are starting to execute." 
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have seen fewer personnel since Hurricane Maria hit than Texas and Florida did during recent hurricanes in those states.

In a tweet Monday, FEMA said more than 10,000 federal staff members were on the ground in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands assisting search-and-rescue and recovery efforts.

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Researchers at the British Museum in London used drones to find the remains of Qalatga Darband, a fortified settlement in northern Iraq with a thriving wine trade, that went unrecorded in history.

It was established for the first time that there was a city dating back to the first and second centuries BC.

The archaeologists stumbled across the lost city while poring over declassified spy satellite photographs taken by the US government for military purposes in the 1960s but made public only in 1996.

The city was built on the likely route that Alexander took in 331 BC as he was pursuing Darius III of Persia, whom he had defeated in battle at Gaugamela, ‘The Times’ reported.

Statues of Greco-Roman deities and terracotta roof tiles show a strong Greek influence, indicating that its early residents were Alexander’s subjects and those of his successor, researchers said. They confirmed the location of the buried city by flying a drone equipped with a camera.

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America's top military officer, Gen. Joseph Dunford, told Congress Tuesday China is likely to be the "greatest threat" of any foe to the US within a decade.

"I think China probably poses the greatest threat to our nation by about 2025," Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing on his re-appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
Dunford was responding to a question from Hawaii Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono, who noted that the general had previously identified Russia, followed by China and North Korea, as representing the greatest military threats to US national security during a 2015 appearance before the same committee. 

But on Tuesday Dunford took the opportunity to reshuffle his list of national security concerns, saying that North Korea now "poses the greatest threat today" due to the "sense of urgency" involved as Pyongyang's develops its nuclear and missile programs.

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Tourism industry leaders from around the world are in Qatar to celebrate World Tourism Day. The number of tourists worldwide is expected to rise to around two billion by 2030, and sustainable tourism is a major concern for delegates.

Qatar wants to attract five-and-a-half million visitors within the next five years, despite a blockade by neighbouring countries.

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A new species of rat that is nearly half a metre long and can reputedly crack open coconuts with its teeth has been discovered on the Solomon Islands.

However the animal, unique to the remote Pacific islands, may soon become extinct as forestry companies are cutting down the rainforest where it lives.

For years, local people had told scientists about the “vika”. But, after searching without success, the scientists had begun to doubt the stories of a giant, tree-dwelling rat.

DNA analysis later confirmed that it was a separate species and it was given the Latin name, Uromys vika in honour of the local name.

“This project really shows the importance of collaborations with local people,” Dr Lavery said. And he added that the new species was “pretty spectacular”.

The scientists said they had not yet witnessed the rats cracking open coconuts, but said they did chew circular holes in the shells of nuts.

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World Tourism Day

Meskel in Eritrea and Ethiopia

1422 – The Treaty of Melno was signed, establishing the Prussian–Lithuanian border, which afterwards remained unchanged for about 500 years.

1875 – The Ellen Southard wrecked in a storm at Liverpool, England; the United States Congress subsequently awarded 27 gold Lifesaving Medals to the lifeboat men who rescued her crew.

1949 – Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference unanimously selected Zeng Liansong's design for the flag of China (pictured).

1975 – Two members of ETA political-military and three of the Revolutionary Antifascist Patriotic Front became the last people to be executed in Spain, having been sentenced to death for murders of policemen and civil guards.

2007 – NASA launched the Dawn probe, its first purely exploratory mission to use ion propulsion, from Cape Canaveral.

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Twitter today is moving away from its traditional 140 character tweet limit. The company has announced that it is testing a new 280 character limit for some users. Product manager Aliza Rosen made the likely controversial reveal in a blog post this afternoon.

The company says it came to this decision after realizing how character and word count varied based on different languages. Rosen writes that languages like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese can “convey about double the amount of information in one character” as other languages such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French.

For instance, some 9 percent of tweets sent in English have 140 characters, while just 0.4 percent of tweets sent in Japanese hit the cap.While some long-time Twitter users might be turned off by the move to double tweet length, the company hopes the move will make it easier for everyone to use the service:

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Israel's military chief of staff has reduced the sentence of a soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a severely wounded Palestinian, a decision denounced by Palestinian leaders as a "license to kill without any accountability".

The move to cut Elor Azaria's sentence from 18 to 14 months was announced on Wednesday, about 18 months after he shot a bullet from close range into the head of 21-year-old Abdel al-Fattah al-Sharif.

"Despite the fact that it is clear from the words of the chief of staff that Azaria's actions were contrary to the code of conduct and to the values of the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) ... he decided to do so out of consideration of the fact that he is a combat soldier and a warrior" who had "endured a lot", Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, said.

But human rights groups and Palestinian leaders, who had already slammed the 18-month sentence as "extremely lenient", said Wednesday's decision was further proof that for Israelis, "Palestinian lives mean nothing to them".

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A victory away in Champions League is almost always a result to be proud of. It's even more impressive when it comes against a top side.

Chelsea managed to check all those boxes and more on Wednesday as they did something never before accomplished by an English club — win away against Atletico Madrid.

After Antoine Griezmann put the hosts in front via a spot kick in the first half, a goal from Alvaro Morata in the 59th minute leveled the proceedings. It appeared the teams would then share the points, only for Michy Batshuayi, on for Morata, to bag the winner four minutes into stoppage time.

The 2-1 Blues victory not only stunned the Atletico supporters at the new Estadio Wanda Metropolitano stadium, but also broke that English duck against the Liga giants.

UCJ, UNILORIN.

Paris Saint-Germain CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi dubbed Neymar the best player on the planet after he starred in a dominant Champions League victory over Bayern Munich.

PSG claimed an emphatic 3-0 win in Paris on Wednesday as former boss Carlo Ancelotti's return to the French capital ended miserably thanks to Edinson Cavani and the world's most expensive player.

After a spat over penalty-taking duties Cavani and Neymar renewed their strike partnership, and both stars were on target against the Bundesliga champions following Dani Alves' second-minute opener at Parc des Princes.

"Neymar? Everyone knows him. He's a great player. The best in the world. But the others also had a great game," the PSG chief said.

"We are happy with the victory and the work we have done. I am very happy with the game we played against a great team. We are very proud. But we have not won yet."

UCJ, UNILORIN.

The European Commission unveiled a new plan that would allow for 50,000 refugees - mostly from a host of African countries - to be resettled to Europe over the next two years.

The proposal on Wednesday by the European Union's executive branch involves admitting asylum seekers under the bloc's resettlement programme, which was introduced at the height of a major refugee crisis in 2015.

The EU's executive arm said that while resettlement from Turkey and the Middle East is to continue, an increased focus should be put on resettling vulnerable people from Libya, Egypt, Niger, Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia.

UCJ, UNILORIN.

Wolfgang Schaeuble, the eurozone's staunchest advocate of austerity policies, is set to leave his post as Germany's finance minister, according to officials in Europe's biggest economy.

The news on Wednesday came three day after Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in a federal election, but her conservative CDU/CSU alliance plunged from 42 percent support in 2013 to 33 percent on Sunday - their worst showing since 1949.

Aristides Hatzis, associate professor of law and economics at the University of Athens, said that Schaeuble's "demonisation" in Greece and elsewhere as the "architect and warden of austerity policies" in the wake of Europe's sovereign debt crisis was an "exaggeration".

Although Schaeuble occasionally broke protocol by publicly differing with Merkel during crises such as the eurozone debt turmoil and 2015's record refugee influx, he was instrumental in handing Germany's first balanced budget in four decades in 2014.

Describing himself as "pitiless" in his management of Germany's public purse, he showed the same exactitude towards his euro partners, campaigning for austerity and insisting on stringent conditions for any bailout contribution by Berlin.

UCJ, UNILORIN.