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  West African leaders suspended Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at an extraordinary summit Sunday but stopped short of reimposing sanctions, after a second military coup in nine months. The putsch had sparked deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region and warnings of fresh economic penalties. Ten regional heads of state and three foreign ministers attended the summit in the Ghanaian capital Accra, with former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan serving as a mediator in the crisis. “The suspension from ECOWAS takes immediate effect until the deadline of the end of February 2022 when they are supposed to hand over to a democratically elected government,” Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said after the meeting. The final declaration called for the immediate appointment of a new civilian prime minister and the formation of an “inclusive” government. In a statement, ECOWAS also reiterated that “the head of the transition...

Late Ahmed Gulak   Imo State Police Command Sunday night claimed four persons who participated in the murder of Ahmed Gulak have been killed dead in a shoot out at Aboh-Mbaise. Gulak was killed on his way to the airport in Owerri, where he was going to catch a flight to Abuja. Imo State Police Command spokesmen Bala EIkana said the driver of the late Gulak identified the dead bodies as those of the men who assassinated the late politician. “Eyewitnesses account, especially the account given by the driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack,” Elkana said. “The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver colour; Toyota Sienna 1998 model with golden colour; Toyota Hilux with white colour; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden colour.” Elkana said the registration numbers of the vehicles were withheld for security reasons. He ...

  Ahmed Gulak, a former aide to former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, was killed on Saturday night in Owerri, Imo State capital city. Imo State police command spokesman Bala Elkana said Gulak was on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport to catch a flight when armed bandits intercepted and attacked a Toyota Camry in which he and two others were travelling. “Ahmed Gulak left his room at Protea Hotel without informing the Police nor sister agencies in view of the fragile security situation in the South East and Imo in particular,” Elkana said. “He left without any security escorts and while the cab driver took irregular route to the airport, six-armed bandits who rode in a Toyota Sienna intercepted, identified and shot at Ahmed Gulak at around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area close to the Airport.” Elkana said a discreet investigation into the matter will be carried out and that tactical and special forces have been deployed to cordon the area and arrest perpetrator...

  Stroke is one of the major public health problems in the world today. It is the third leading cause of death worldwide after ischemic heart disease and cancer. Interestingly, most of these stroke deaths are found in developing countries. The current prevalence of stroke in Nigeria is 1.14 per 1000 while the 30-day case fatality rate is as high as 40% according to the World Health Organisation. No one food can prevent stroke, but people with poor eating patterns are more prone to developing a multitude of chronic diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, [and] high cholesterol, which can increase the risk for having a stroke. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a risk factor for strokes, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help with weight and blood pressure management. However, you cannot be too careful in avoiding a stroke. Some foods help prevent exposure to stroke.  Find some of them below: 1). Dried Apricots The adult body needs about 4,700 milligrams of ...

  The Police Command in Imo says gallant officers killed four bandits who allegedly attacked  Izombe police division in Oguta Local Government Area of the state on Saturday night. The Commissioner of Police in the state,  CP Abutu Yaro disclosed this in a statement signed by the command’s Spokesman,  SP Bala Alkana on Sunday. Yaro said that many of the bandits fled with bullet wounds. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the attack came less than 24 hours after gunmen razed the Atta police station in Njaba council area. However,  just unlike the Atta incident, four of the hoodlums were killed in  a gun duel with security agents. The CP said the latest incident took place between 7 pm and 10 pm on Saturday in Izombe.  “The hoodlums in their numbers, launched an offensive on the Izombe police station but were repelled by the gallant policemen on duty. “Four hoodlums were neutralised during the attack while others escaped with bullet wounds. He s...

  Joe Willock has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for May. The academy graduate – who spent the latter half of the season on loan at Newcastle – enjoyed a formidable run of form in the closing games of the campaign, scoring seven goals in seven consecutive matches. In doing so, he became the only player since Alan Shearer in 1996 to complete that feat for the northeast side. Joe saw off competition from our own Nicolas Pepe, as well as Gareth Bale, Said Mane, Christian Benteke, Aaron Ramsdale, and Rodrigo.

Human blood transfusion and ‘donations’ of semen and ovaries have become big business at many hospitals and IVF centres in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. Those involved are mostly students of higher institutions and some middle-aged men who cited lack of jobs. The development is such that many blood banks are daily besieged by commercial ‘donors’ especially those with blood group ‘O’ Negative, said to be scarce and thus attracts the highest cost, between N10, 000 to 14,000. The risk factor is that many of the donors are said to be unfit for donations due to the level of frequency with which they donate. Consultant haematologist at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) who pled anonymity said, “One must wait 56 days between whole blood donations, at least seven days after donating blood before you can donate platelets but after an automated double red cell collection, you must wait 112 days before donating again.” Some donors when declared unfit for donations at a blood bank c...

  Imo State Police Commissioner, Abutu Yaro, has warned members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who directed residents in the Southeast zone of the country to sit at home from May 29 – 31, against disturbing public peace and order in the state. The Commissioner stated that operatives of the command would decisively deal with them if they try to enforce the sit-at-home order. In a statement yesterday by the Command’s spokesperson, Bala Elkana, a Superintendent of Police (SP), Yaro warned the separatist group to desist from creating fear and panic on the minds of patriotic and law abiding citizens of the state, saying they were looking for opportunities to steal from unsuspecting members of the public. The statement said:  “The attention of Imo State Police Command has been drawn to some messages circulating on social media purported to have emanated from leaders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOP), directing innocent and law abiding ...

  South Africa’s premiere beauty pageant has for the first time allowed transgender women to compete, a move that earned widespread praise on Wednesday. “Trans women are eligible to enter the Miss South Africa pageant,” the Miss SA organisation said on its website as entries for the competition opened up on Monday. “However, in order to be eligible to compete internationally, the contestant must be in possession of a valid South African ID document reflecting that their amended sex is female.” Shudufhadzo Musida crowned Miss South Africa 2020. | Image: Yolanda van der Stoep The historic move was widely and excitedly embraced on social media. “We all deserve favour and grace,” a young male user tweeted. Another said “finally inclusivity takes centre stage,” echoed by another who tweeted “cannot wait for the First Transgender to take part in Miss SA and represent us at Miss Universe pageant”. Homosexuality is legal in South Africa, blazing a trail in a continent where homophobia is v...

  Perhaps you have heart disease, perhaps you don’t, perhaps a close relative or a friend does – don’t panic. Anyone can live a healthier, longer life despite heart disease. How? Don’t worry; I’ll get there. Before I do, it is important to note that, unfortunately, heart disease, especially hypertensive heart disease, is the leading cause of death among adult and aged Nigerians. Also remember, this statement does not need to apply to you and your loved ones, which is the purpose of this article. How Can One Live A Healthier, Longer Life Despite Heart Disease?  Firstly, you need to know what heart disease means. Heart disease refers to any condition that causes the heart not to function appropriately. For example, atherosclerosis heart disease results from the build-up of plaques that clutters the arteries and vessels, thereby causing the heart to pump against high resistance. Other examples of heart diseases include hypertensive heart disease, congenital heart defects, coronar...

  Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday announced plans to let users stop displaying “like” tallies racked up by posts, letting people opt out of seeking status through the approval of others. The two platforms will let users shun ‘like’ counts completely or just keep such tallies to themselves, according to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri. “People will be able to decide if they want to see like counts or not,” Mosseri said in a briefing. Tools being added to the services will let users turn off “like” features on individual posts or all of them, according to Mosseri. He expected small creators trying to win fans to be most averse to eliminating “likes,” since they are typically trying to boost their popularity by showing how many people endorse their posts. A test of the option showed that some people shared more posts when the potential for them to be judged by viewers was removed, according to Mosseri. Instagram has dabbled with letting users hide “like” counts. “In 2019, we started ...

  Zinedine Zidane has resigned as manager of Real Madrid with immediate effect.   Los Blancos were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-final and also missed out on the LaLiga title.   According to Sportsmail,  Zidane would have walked away from the club regardless of whether they secured the title after Zidane sensed for some time that he did not have the backing of the club's president, Florentino Perez.  Spanish publication AS, report Zidane has already informed both the club's directors and the first team squad that he has left the club. The Frenchman had been in charge of in two spells since 2016, and has won three Champions Leagues in the Spanish capital.  He also guided Madrid to the LaLiga title last season but they were unable to repeat the feat this time around in a trophy-less campaign after struggling with injuries and an ageing squad. They lost in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea and were also dumped out of the Co...

  Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy or Area Fada, has revealed that he suffered an accident then thanked God for healing him well.   The grandfather shared photos of the injuries he sustained on his face after he fell on his scooter.   He wrote in the caption:    See as I go fall on top my scooter Scatter my face. Thank God am healing very wella. All those wey SORRY for me God bless una. All those wey yab me, dey call me Agbaya, biko allow me catch my cruise jare!!!  

  A suspected internet fraudster has been arrested over the death of his twin brother at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.    The suspect was reportedly found with a dog and the decomposing body of his twin brother in their apartment at Old Olomoro Road, Monday, May 24, after neighbours perceived an offensive smell emanating from the flat.   The neighbours broke into the house that had been locked for days. There, they found the suspected Yahoo boy, sitting beside his brother's decomposing corpse.   Though the reason for the killing could not be ascertained, eyewitnesses opined it might have been carried out for ritual purposes.     A source told Vanguard: "The house was locked for some days and after some time, the people living in the compound began to perceive foul smell that attracted flies around the apartment.   "The neighbours then alerted the police at the Oleh divisional headquarters. The door...

  Empire actor Bryshere Gray has been sentenced to 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to felony aggravated assault for choking his wife until she passed out. Gray, 27, who played Hakeem Lyon on the Fox TV series, entered a guilty plea in his domestic violence case, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. Gray was arrested on domestic violence charges in July last year after a woman said her husband had assaulted her for ‘several hours’. Bryshere Gray’s mugshot | Goodyear Police Department Gray then barricaded himself into his home in Goodyear, Arizona, overnight before his arrest. Police said the woman had multiple visible injuries on her body and that she had said Gray had throttled her at one point, leading to her temporarily losing consciousness. The actor has been sentenced to 10 days in a county jail and three years probation as part of his plea agreement, the online publication reported. He will reportedly not be allowed to consume illegal drugs and will have to subm...

  Prostitutes in Dema Growth Point, Zimbabwe are reportedly now accepting buckets of maize and cups of beans as payment from their cash-strapped male clients.   Some of the sex workers who spoke to New Zimbabwe, appealed to the government and other organisations for low-interest loans to start income-generating projects to fend for their starving families.   One of the sex workers who only identified herself as Alice, said;    “Gone are the days when we used to charge US$5 for the whole night. These days even one dollar is accepted, so that you are able to buy vegetables and tomatoes and cook something for your starving children."   Alice disclosed that she has three children, one of which is in Form 4. The child needs ZIMSEC (Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council) registration fees while the other kids are in Grade 7 and Grade One.   She added;    “I now even accept a bucket of maize or cups of dried beans as payment ...

The 2021 Billboard Music Awards took place on Sunday night, May 23, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with 500-600 attendees following all pandemic safety protocols.   The ceremony, which celebrates chart success was hosted by Nick Jonas.   Producer DJ Khaled opened the show with singer-songwriter H.E.R. and rap group Migos, performing their collaboration We Going Crazy.    Doja Cat and SZA were also among the early performers with their song Kiss Me More.   Canadian singer, The Weeknd led the way in nominations with 16 and won seven awards, including the top male artist. The singer also won the first award handed out on the live telecast, for top Hot 100 artist.   Drake, who holds the title for most Billboard Music Award wins of all time, received the Artist of the Decade Award. He was introduced by a group of his family and friends and came out onstage with his 3-year-old son, Adonis Graham.     “That video was really full of a lot of conf...