Archive for August 2015

A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY

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*They will SING ur NAME in SINGAPORE *U will LAND in HOLLAND *U will begin to SHINE in CHINA....... * U shall never JAM in JAMAICA.... *U will become a DON in LONDON...... *U shall not go HUNGRY in HUNGARY..... *In SPAIN there will be no PAIN but GAIN *U shall FLOURISH in FLORIDA..... *In CANADA u will obtain ur divine CALENDAR..... *U shall not be CAINED in CANAAN..... *You will surely send BLISSFUL TEXT in TEXAS..... *Therefore you shall count DOLLARS in DALLAS..... * U will break YOKE in NEW YORK...... *U will not always RUSH lyk RUSSIA.... Because * U will surely get enough TURKEY in TURKEY....... * MALARIA will Surely not Engulf you in NIGERIA..... *In UNITED STATES of AMERICA people will UNITE to Praise God jst because of YOU...... *D LORD shall PACKAGE u in PAKISTAN..... So that *In SYRIA u shall be seen as a series of Blessings to others....

League Cup Third Round Draw: Arsenal to face Tottenham, Man Utd to meet Ipswich

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Holders Chelsea travel to League One Walsall, while Manchester City are one of four all-Premier League clashes as they head to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland. Arsenal have been drawn against north London rivals Tottenham in the standout fixture of the League Cup third round draw. Elsewhere, Manchester United host Ipswich, while holders Chelsea head to Walsall and Manchester City take on fellow Premier League outfit Sunderland. West Ham enter at the third round stage following their Europa League exploits and travel to high-flying Leicester City, while minnows Carlisle head to Anfield to face Liverpool. Preston were the giant-killers of round two, becoming the only side to knock out a Premier League side on Tuesday night, defeating Watford at Deepdale and have the chance to repeat the feat when Bournemouth come to town. Elsewhere Aston Villa host Birmingham in a massive local rivalry, while Crystal Palace welcome fellow south Londoners Charlton. THIRD ROUND DRAW IN FULL Middlesbrough vs Wolves Norwich vs West Brom Hull City vs Swansea City Leicester City vs West Ham Aston Villa vs Birmingham Tottenham vs Arsenal Man United vs Ipswich Town Liverpool vs Carlisle Crystal Palace vs Charlton Athletic Fulham vs Stoke City Sunderland vs Manchester City Newcastle United vs Sheffield Wednesday Reading vs Barnsley or Everton PrestonNorthEnd vs Bournemouth Walsall vs Chelsea MK Dons vs Southampton

Valencia become fifth Spanish team in Champions League

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Spain became the first nation to have five teams qualify for the Champions League group stages as Valencia beat Monaco in a qualifying play-off. The 2001 runners-up, who have ex-Manchester United defender Phil Neville on their coaching staff, join Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Sevilla are also in the draw after qualifying via their triumph in last season's Europa League. The draw for the group stages will be made on Thursday. Valencia secured their place via a 4-3 aggregate victory, despite a 2-1 defeat in France. Former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo scored the visitors' crucial away goal. This was the first season that is was possible for one nation to have five team in the 32-team group stages, with Uefa introducing a Champions League place as a prize for the Europa League winners in 2014-15. Spanish teams have won four of the last seven Champions League, with Barcelona defeating Juventus in May's final. Spain lead Uefa's the club coefficient rankings- the system used to decide which leagues get most qualifying spots for its competitions - by a considerable margin.

Nigeria:Yobe teenage bomber kills pregnant woman, five others

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A teenage suicide bomber detonated an explosive device strapped to her body in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Tuesday, killing six people and wounding about 40, the state police command has said. No one claimed responsibility for the blast but Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been blamed for a series of similar attacks in the region in recent weeks. Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone, the head of Damaturu Response Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Bashir Idris Garga, said two bomb incidents happened at the Central Motor park in the centre of the town and at the Pompomari area. According to him, the bomb incident at the motor park occurred at about 7.30am and was caused by a teenage girl that had an improvised explosive device (IED) strapped on her. He said, “The girl was accosted by those manning the entrance to the motor park and while they were trying to search her she detonated the bomb which had a major impact on an already loaded bus that was taking off. “This killed four persons instantly and resulted in the injury of 22 others, six of which were critical.” He said both the corpses and the injured had been taken to the General Hospital in Damaturu. In the case of the bomb incident at the Pompomari area (Pompomari bypass), Garga said a naive boy was the courier and was accosted by a man who suspected that he might be carrying an explosive. The man in the process of getting the boy taken to security personnel was bombed along with the boy, Garga revealed. Six people, including two suspected suicide bombers, died in the two bomb explosions that occurred on Tuesday in Damaturu, Yobe State capital. The Yobe Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Toyin Gbadegeshin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying six people including the suicide bomber died in the blast. Gbadegeshin said three others were in critical conditions, while 40 others, who sustained various degrees of injury, had been taken to hospitals in the area. “The girl detonated the explosive at the screening centre of the motor park gate, killing herself and four others, including a pregnant woman and a baby. “The other explosive went off at about the same time with the first one at Pompomari, when a suspected male suicide bomber, sensing he would be apprehended, ran into a nearby bush and the explosive went off, killing him alone,” the police spokesman said. Meanwhile, the state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has described the twin explosions as “callous, senseless and condemnable,” even as he called on residents of the state to be more prayerful and vigilant. The governor in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Abdullahi Bego, said he “has been briefed on the two suicide bomb explosions in Damaturu on Tuesday in which six people were confirmed dead and 26 others injured.” Bego said the governor was heartbroken and mourned with the families of the victims of these “callous, senseless and condemnable attacks.” He added that the governor prayed that Allah would “grant repose to the souls of those who died and quick recovery to those who sustained injuries.” The media aide revealed that the governor had directed that injured victims be given quick and free treatment at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, where they were all taken to for medical care.

The UCB Word for Today - 26 Aug 2015

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Your Eyes: A Divine Masterpiece ‘…I am…wonderfully made…’ Psalms 139:14 Evolution says where there’s a want, nature will provide what’s needed. Really? In Natural Theology, Dr. William Paley writes: ‘To keep the eye moist and clean—which qualities are necessary to its brightness and its use—a wash is constantly supplied by a secretion for the purpose; and the superfluous brine is conveyed to the nose through a perforation in the bone as large as a goose quill. When the fluid has entered the nose, it spreads itself upon the inside of the nostril and is evaporated by the current of warm air which in the course of respiration is continually passing over it…It’s easily perceived that the eye must want moisture; but could the “want” of the eye generate the gland which produces the tear, or bore the hole by which it’s discharged—a hole through bone? Let the evolutionist tell us who bored the hole…and laid a water pipe through it for the dispersion of tears.’ When it encounters darkness, your eye’s ability to see increases one hundred thousand times. The finest camera ever made doesn’t even come close! And what’s more, your eye will find the object it wants to see, and focus on it automatically by elongating or compressing itself. Both eyes moving in tandem must adopt different angles in order to fix themselves on what’s to be seen. Evolution tells us when the eye got ready to create itself, it had forethought for its own protection and built a bony ridge of the brow, which provided a nose on which to position the glasses many of us need. Then it provided a shutter to protect itself from foreign objects. Perhaps it takes more faith to believe in evolution than creation! What do you think? Prov 30-31, 2 Cor 3

France train attack 'was well prepared'

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An attempted attack by a heavily armed man on a train in France last week was premeditated and well prepared, according to a French prosecutor. Ayoub El-Khazzani, 25, was carrying 270 bullets for his assault rifle and a bottle of petrol, prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters on Tuesday. The Moroccan's phone showed that he had watched a jihadist video shortly before launching the attack, Mr Molins added. Prosecutors have now filed formal charges against him. Mr Khazzani is accused of carrying out a "targeted and premeditated" jihadist attack. He is also accused of firearms offences and "participation in a terrorist association with a view to organising one or several damaging crimes," according to prosecutors' documents quoted by the AFP news agency. He was overpowered by passengers on the Thalys express train from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday. No-one died. Three Americans and one Briton who tackled the gunman were awarded medals for their bravery. The most important thing we learned from the Paris prosecutor's news conference was that Ayoub El-Khazzani fired himself up for his attack with a jihadist propaganda video. This is a crucial piece of evidence that convinced the prosecutor's office to proceed with terrorist-related charges. El-Khazzani has tried to argue that his motivations were purely criminal, but his interrogators do not believe a word of it. The other evidence includes his known past extremist links in Spain; the size of his arsenal; and his unlikely explanations given under questioning about finding the weapons in a park. Mr Khazzani's phone, which was found in a bag on the train, had been activated on the day of the attack, Mr Molins said. He boarded the Amsterdam-Paris train in Brussels and ticket sellers at the station said he paid for a first-class ticket in cash and turned down an earlier train. Mr Molins said this was an indication the target had been carefully chosen in advance. As well as the Kalashnikov assault rifle, ammunition, and petrol, he was also carrying a Luger pistol and a box-cutter, according to the prosecutor. Officials say Mr Khazzani is originally from Tetouan in northern Morocco. He reportedly moved to Spain in 2007 and lived there for seven years, in Madrid and Algeciras, before relocating to France then Belgium. In Spain, he is said to have come to the attention of authorities for making comments defending jihadists and attending a radical mosque in Algeciras. He was also reportedly involved in drug trafficking. Mr Khazzani told police he had been living rough in Belgium before the attack, but investigators believe he was staying with his sister in Brussels. Police in the city searched two buildings in the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean neighbourhood on Monday where Mr Khazzani may have stayed. A statement from the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office said no-one had been detained but "some objects" had been seized for further examination. No further detail was given. BBC

The UCB Word for Today - 26 Aug 2015

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Your Eyes: A Divine Masterpiece ‘…I am…wonderfully made…’ Psalms 139:14 Evolution says where there’s a want, nature will provide what’s needed. Really? In Natural Theology, Dr. William Paley writes: ‘To keep the eye moist and clean—which qualities are necessary to its brightness and its use—a wash is constantly supplied by a secretion for the purpose; and the superfluous brine is conveyed to the nose through a perforation in the bone as large as a goose quill. When the fluid has entered the nose, it spreads itself upon the inside of the nostril and is evaporated by the current of warm air which in the course of respiration is continually passing over it…It’s easily perceived that the eye must want moisture; but could the “want” of the eye generate the gland which produces the tear, or bore the hole by which it’s discharged—a hole through bone? Let the evolutionist tell us who bored the hole…and laid a water pipe through it for the dispersion of tears.’ When it encounters darkness, your eye’s ability to see increases one hundred thousand times. The finest camera ever made doesn’t even come close! And what’s more, your eye will find the object it wants to see, and focus on it automatically by elongating or compressing itself. Both eyes moving in tandem must adopt different angles in order to fix themselves on what’s to be seen. Evolution tells us when the eye got ready to create itself, it had forethought for its own protection and built a bony ridge of the brow, which provided a nose on which to position the glasses many of us need. Then it provided a shutter to protect itself from foreign objects. Perhaps it takes more faith to believe in evolution than creation! What do you think? Prov 30-31, 2 Cor 3

Boko Haram: Military to deploy 8,700 soldiers

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Military chiefs from the Lake Chad Basin Commission have perfected plans to deploy 8,700 troops of the Multi National Joint Task Force against the Boko Haram insurgents. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement on Tuesday that the move was made during a meeting of the military chiefs in Ndjamena, Chad. The meeting was attended by military chiefs from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic, the Commander of the MNJTF and other senior military officers. Abubakar said, “The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has visited Chad Republic where he joined other regional military chiefs to deliberate on the agreement to accelerate the deployment of the 8,700 strong Multi-National Joint Task Force. “The Chiefs of Defence Staff from the Lake Chad Basin Commission member- countries met in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad and finalised details of the deployment of a joint force to fight the Boko Haram which has sworn allegiance to ISIS and has killed hundreds of people through suicide bombings in the last three months.” He said that the CDS had been working hard to carry out the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to conclude the counter-terrorism operation against the Boko Haram in three months. He added that the meeting discussed modalities for the deployment of the troops of the MNJTF to two command posts in Nigeria and Cameroon. Abubakar added that a directive had been issued to officers on secondment to the MNJTF to report immediately to their duty posts. He stressed that the Force Headquarters of the Task Force had commenced operations. Meanwhile, President Buhari on Tuesday did a critical assessment of the ongoing anti-terrorism war and concluded that his administration was on course. Buhari said this during a joint press conference he had with visiting President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said his administration had identified its top priorities to include security and economy.

Sierra Leone’s last known Ebola patient leaves hospital

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Sierra Leone’s last known Ebola patient has been released from hospital, raising hopes the west African nation may finally have beaten the devastating epidemic. President Ernest Bai Koroma hailed “the beginning of the end of Ebola in Sierra Leone” pn Tuesday as Adama Sankoh, 34, was released from hospital in Makeni, the country’s third-largest city, in a festive ceremony. “The Ebola fight is not yet over – go and tell members of your community that,” the president said when presenting the certificate to the woman. “Go back to your community and continue to live life as you used to.” Sankoh, whose 23-year-old son contracted Ebola in the capital, Freetown, before traveling to his home village, thanked everyone who provided her with care during her illness. She also vowed to be the last person infected in Sierra Leone with the virus. “Although my child died of Ebola I am very happy that I have survived today,” she said, upon leaving the Ebola treatment centre in Mateneh village, on the outskirts of Makeni, the president’s hometown. Sankoh said she would “from now on be the number one messenger to sensitise people that although Ebola is on the run, vigilance should be the watchword”. The release of the cured patient was celebrated by crowds dancing in the streets, beating drums, cars honking their horns and radio and television stations playing the national anthem.

Ban Ki-Moon demands release of Chibok girls

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The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban
Ki-Moon, on Monday called for the unconditional
release of the abducted pupils of Government
Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
The over 200 girls were abducted by Boko
Haram insurgents on April 14, 2013. They were
seized from the hostel at night and had not been
set free since then notwithstanding the global
outrage the incident had provoked.
Ki-Moon spoke in Abuja while addressing State
House correspondents shortly after having a
closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu
Buhari at the Presidential Villa. The meeting with
Buhari was part of the activities lined up for the
UN chief’s two-day visit to the country.
Ki-Moon’s call was made same week the
kidnapped girls will be marking their 500 days in
captivity.
He said that he discussed with Buhari issues
leading to the violence being perpetrated by the
Boko Haram sect in the North-East zone of the
country and beyond.
He said, “I express my solidarity again with the
Nigerian people that the United Nations will work
together to address the encountering extremism
and terrorism.
“This week marks the 500 days of the kidnap of
the Chibok girls. I want to reiterate my support
for the Chibok girls and so many other innocent
abducted girls and boys whose names and fate
remain unknown.
“It is intolerable that their lives and schooling
have been disrupted in this way. The whole world
has been moved by their fate.
“I once again call with the strongest terms on
those responsible to unconditionally release
these girls and many other abducted children.
“Terrorism knows no boundary and no bounds.
Today, I laid the wreath in memory of Nigerians
and other victims.”
The UN scribe noted the regional engagement
efforts being made by Buhari to tackle
insurgency and expressed the hope that the
rapid operational direction of the Multinational
Joint Task Force would go a long way in tackling
the insurgents.
He recalled that Buhari had in his inaugural
speech recognised that human rights are
important parts of the counter-insurgency
response, adding that operations should be
conducted with the full respect for rights,
humanitarian and refugee law.
He however added that military operations alone
would not be sufficient.
Ki-Moon added that he also discussed with
Buhari efforts at addressing the causes of
insurgency by tackling social economic
grievances in the North-East particularly through
expansion of educational and employment
opportunities for young people.
He said there was an agreement by UN member-
states on the Sustainable Development Agenda
and on the Adis Ababa Action Agenda that would
provide further financing to help Nigeria in its
agenda for change.
The UN scribe said, “The humanitarian situation
in the North is particularly worrisome, we are
working with partners on ground to scale up
humanitarian operations.
“I congratulate President Buhari on the efforts to
protect and uphold the rights of displaced
persons.
“I pledge the full support of the United Nations
to advance the shared and universal cause of
peace, development and human rights.”
He commended the President, who, he said, had
embarked on an agenda for change thus
prioritising security and anti-corruption war.
He promised UN support for the President’s
agenda, saying that by changing Nigeria Buhari
would be changing Africa.
He said, “President Buhari has embarked on an
agenda for change and I commend him highly for
prioritising insecurity, anti-corruption and
unemployment issues.
“My message is simple: United Nations supports
your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable
development and human rights in a
comprehensive way.
“I am convinced that when you change Nigeria,
you have changed Africa. Nigeria has been a
source of stability in West Africa and the wider
continent.
“You have been a key contributor to UN peace-
keeping operations, including its successful
mission in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“Nigeria is once again playing a crucial role in
the UN Security Council over which Ambassador
Joy Ogwu is now presiding.”
Buhari, on his part, said they discussed the
difficult time Nigeria had found itself.
He said the step was taken so that the UN could
assist the country.
He thanked Ki-Moon for extending invitation to
him to attend the UN General Assembly holding
in New York on September 27and 28.
Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, later on Monday
said the President had accepted Ki-Moon’s
invitation to the New York meeting.
The meeting is expected to formulate a fresh
plan of action against extremism.
Shehu said US President Barack Obama and
President Francois Hollande of France are also
expected to participate in the September 28
meeting. He said the UN scribe also invited
Buhari to a meeting of a select group of 25 world
leaders in New York on September 27 to
deliberate on a global climate change agreement

80,000 sign UK petition for Netanyahu arrest

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Almost 80,000 people had by Monday signed a
petition urging the arrest of Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes
when he visits London next month.
The petition was launched earlier this month by
British citizen Damian Moran and is posted on
the government’s website.
“Under international law he (Netanyahu) should
be arrested for war crimes upon arrival in the UK
for the massacre of over 2,000 civilians in 2014,”
Moran said, referring to the 51-day offensive by
Israeli forces in Gaza last year.
If the number of signatories reaches 100,000, the
petition can be considered for debate in Britain’s
parliament.
But Moran told media he doubted it would reach
the chamber given the close relationship
between Israel and Britain.
The British government was obliged to respond
after the document received 10,000 signatories,
saying that “visiting heads of foreign
governments, such as prime minister Netanyahu,
have immunity from legal process, and cannot be
arrested or detained”.
“We recognise that the conflict in Gaza last year
took a terrible toll,” it added.
“As the prime minister (David Cameron) said, we
were all deeply saddened by the violence and
the UK has been at the forefront of international
reconstruction efforts.
“However the prime minister was clear on the
UK’s recognition of Israel’s right to take
proportionate action to defend itself, within the
boundaries of international humanitarian law.”
Britain is pushing for a two-state solution to
resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and “will
reinforce this message to Mr Netanyahu during
his visit” in September, according to the
response.
Any British citizen can launch a petition on the
government’s website, asking for a specific
action from the government or parliament’s lower
House of Commons.
Only British citizens are meant to sign the
petitions, but need only enter a name, email
address and valid postcode.
Israel launched military action in the Hamas-
ruled Gaza Strip on July 8 last year, leading to
the deaths of more than 2,000 Palestinians and
66 Israeli soldiers.
Pro-Palestinian British lawyers unsuccessfully
tried to arrest former Israeli justice minister Tzipi
Livni following the 2008-2009 Gaza war.
Israel’s embassy in London called the latest
petition a “meaningless publicity stunt.”
PUNCH

Seven dead after plane crashes on major UK road

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Seven people died when a plane crashed into cars on a major road during an aerial display at the Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex in the United Kingdom on Saturday. The aircraft, believed to be a Hawker Hunter jet, plummeted to the ground when it failed to pull out of a loop manoeuvre, smashing into the A27 in a huge fireball. The UK South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “SECAMB confirm 7 fatalities from the crash at the Shoreham air show today. Thoughts are with the families and loved ones.”

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Louis van Gaal has ruled out David de Gea leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid this summer. Goal revealed in July that the goalkeeper informed United of his intention to move to Santiago Bernabeu with the 24-year-old omittted from the club’s opening Premier League and Champions League matchday squads. United are adamant they will not let De Gea leave for less than €35 million (£25m) despite the player having fewer than 12 months left to run on his contract and Van Gaal has now moved to end all speculation. “I think when Manchester United wants a player he shall come, [apart from] when a club is not selling,” he told reporters on Friday. “Okay, then it is the same with us. We are not selling De Gea. It’s the same.” United have already moved to bolster their goalkeeping ranks this summer with the free signing of Sergio Romero, who has played all three of the club’s games this season in De Gea’s absence. PUNCH

Philippe Coutinho was nearly taken off before winner - Rodgers

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he nearly substituted Philippe Coutinho before his late winner at Stoke. Brazil midfielder Coutinho scored the only goal with a stunning long-range strikein an otherwise drab encounter. "You have to keep him on the pitch as long as you can because he has that moment," said Rodgers. "I am glad I kept him on but I can't profess to be any sort of genius. It was fortunate he got the goal and he stayed on." The Northern Irishman added: "He did well to last the match because he has only been back from the Copa America for three weeks. "He did well to turn Steve Sidwell with a wonderful touch. To beat Jack Butland shows the real quality of the goal." The two sides met in the last game of the 2014-15 season, when the Potters ran out 6-1 victors.Despite the result, Rodgers kept his job and was pleased with his team's improvement over the summer.

Turkey attacks: Deadly violence in Istanbul and Sirnak

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A wave of violent attacks hit Turkey on Monday, with four police officers killed in the south east and a bomb blast in the largest city, Istanbul. Separately, two assailants opened fire outside the US consulate in Istanbul, but no one was injured or killed. The four police were killed by a blast on a road in Sirnak province. Shortly after, gunmen opened fire on a military helicopter, killing one soldier. Tension between the Turkish government and Kurdish militants has been rising. Turkey also recently announced it was taking a more active role against Islamic State militants. It is not known whether the two attacks in Istanbul are connected. The US consulate attackers fled when police shot back, but one of the two assailants, possibly a woman, has now been arrested, reports say. The consulate said in a tweetthat it was closed until further notice. Two suspected militants have been killed in clashes with police in the district of Sultanbeyli where the attack on the police station took place, reports say. Exchanges then continued throughout the night as other militants fired on the police station. One policeman was also killed in the clashes, reports say. The explosion in Silopi, in Sirnak province, left four police officers dead and one seriously injured. One soldier was killed and another injured when their helicopter, also in Sirnak, came under fire. Turkish helicopters have also been bombing PKK targets. BBC.CO.UK

Swimming: Ten-year-old races at world championships

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AlzainTareq describes competing against adults at the world championships as ‘cool’, her idols are swimming stars Cate Campbell and Sarah Sjostrom — and she’s only 10 years old. The Bahraini caused a splash at the Kazan pool on Friday morning when she raced in the women’s 50m butterfly heats. The tiny Middle Eastern schoolgirl finished last in her heat after swimming 41.13 seconds, nine behind the heat winner, and is believed to be the youngest swimmer to have ever swum at a world championships. Overall, she was 15 secs off the fastest time of 25.43 secs, set by Sjostorm, the world record-holder, who swam in a later heat, and was last of the 64 competitors who raced in the event,AFPreports. Tareq caused a stir in the media mixed zone as reporters clamoured to interview the pint-sized swimmer, who coped admirably with the television cameras’ glare and answered all questions in crystal-clear English. “I’m happy, I feel so happy. It was really cool,” she beamed when asked what it was like to swim against adults here. Swimming’s governing body FINA has confirmed there is currently no age restriction on swimmers competing at either a world championships or an Olympics Games. So the Bahrain schoolgirl, who is her country’s fastest swimmer, has a clear goal, one year from Rio de Janeiro 2016: “I want to swim at the Olympics, but I don’t want to be the last one”. Sjostrom’s world record of 24.43 secs is on her bucket list. “It’s hard for me to beat the world record now, but I can do that when I am older. When I am 15 or 16,” she said. USA star Missy Franklin, who won six worlds gold medals two years ago in Barcelona, is already charmed. “She is so cute and tiny,” said the 20-year-old Franklin. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to her so far, but every time I see her she gives me the biggest smile.”

China named 2019 basketball World Cup hosts

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China has won the right to host the 2019 basketball World Cup, beating the Philippines in Friday’s vote in Tokyo,AFPreports. The sport’s international ruling body FIBA chose basketball-mad China following a presentation by the country’s delegation, helped by former NBA giant Yao Ming. “I’m very excited to bring the 2019 World Cup to China,” said the one-time Houston Rockets great, who represented China at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “I’m sure millions of Chinese fans share the same joy. I know the feeling to play in your home country and I’m sure that same feeling will encourage many young athletes to play basketball. “We have to make sure we deliver on the promises we’ve made,” added Yao, arguably his country’s biggest sporting celebrity. “We have to develop the level of basketball in China, in the national team, in the professional league, in high school and college.” The Philippines lost out, meanwhile, despite the support of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, himself an avid basketball fan, who was on hand in Tokyo to press his country’s case.

Ighalo scores on EPL debut

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Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo, scored on his English Premier League debut after just nine minutes on the pitch on Saturday, as newcomers Watford drew 2-2 at Everton. Ighalo came on in the 74th minute for Jose Manuel Jurado, only for Everton forward Ross Barkley’s stunning effort to cancel out Miguel Layun’s 14th minute opener, two minutes later. But the former Flying Eagles captain put his side ahead again when he turned Manchester United target John Stones inside out on the edge of the Toffees’ box, before unleashing a low drive past the diving Tim Howard, in goal for Everton. The 26-year-old Ighalo was calm in sending Stones crumbling down, before finding space to fire in his first Premier League goal. Substitute Arouna Kone then snatched a 2-2 draw for Everton with an angled shot past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, to the relief of the Goodison Park faithful. Ighalo joined Watford last season from Granada and he scored a remarkable 20 goals to help steer The Hornets back to the EPL, after an eight-year absence.

Liverpool beat Stoke with Coutinho's wonder strike

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Philippe Coutinho’s long-range strike won the game for Liverpool late on Philippe Coutinho’s late wonder strike saw Liverpool exact revenge on Stoke with a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium. The match appeared to be drifting towards a goalless draw before Coutinho unleashed a dipping, curling effort from 25 yards out to hand the visitors an unlikely three points. And the win for Liverpool will have eased the pressure on Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers after the Reds lost 6-1 at Stoke on the final day of last season. The visitors began the game with five players who had featured in that drubbing back in May, while Rodgers also handed debuts to the likes of Christian Benteke, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez and James Milner. Stoke boss Mark Hughes, on the other hand, gave first starts to former Barcelona attacker Ibrahim Afellay and defender Glen Johnson, against his old team, although BojanKrkic was not fit enough to feature as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury. However, in stark contrast to last season’s goal fest at the Britannia, the opening period was stale and lacklustre as both teams made a cagey start to the contest, although Stoke will still have been disappointed not to have gone in ahead at the break

London Marathon concerned by doping claims

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London Marathon organisers are “very concerned” by claims in a British Sunday newspaper that the race was won seven times over a 12-year period by athletes who recorded suspicious blood scores,APreports. In the latest allegations of widespread doping in track and field, The Sunday Times newspaper reported that almost 30 percent of winners in the 24 men’s and women’s London races are suspected of cheating. It also said that one in four winners of the six biggest city marathons around the world “had given blood tests that suggest they may have doped to improve their performance over time.” The suspected athletes were not named. In a statement Sunday, London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said organizers are “determined to make marathon running a safe haven from doping but we cannot do it all on our own.” He added that the London Marathon pays for the testing of athletes but does not administer the tests. This is done by the UK Anti Doping Agency (UKAD), Bitel said. The statement also said organizers would seek repayment of prize money from athletes who fail doping tests. Athletics was thrown into turmoil last week when German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper alleged that blood doping was rampant, citing test results from an International Association of Athletics Federations database that were leaked by a whistleblower. PUNCH

Nigeria's President to head ministry of petroleum for 18 months

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President Muhammadu Buhari is set to head the Ministry of Petroleum for 18 months before appointing a substantive minister for the ministry,The PUNCH has learnt. The President said this while meeting with some members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress, in Abuja recently. One of those at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, that the President said he would use the one and a half years of heading the sensitive ministry to reposition it. According to him, “At the meeting we had recently, we discussed the issues of portfolios and other matters,” the President said he was going to handle the Ministry of Petroleum himself for about 18 months. “He said it was after this that he would appoint a substantive minister for the ministry. He said he would only personally handle the reorganisation of the much-important ministry. “Besides, he said the ministry needed to be reformed and be rid of corruption. He promised to sanitise the ministry.” It was, however, gathered that the President was thinking of appointing an experienced person as his special adviser on petroleum. Buhari was once a minister in charge of the ministry and because of his experience, he was said to have vowed to make sure that he blocked all the loopholes that enabled those manning the ministry to either steal money or petroleum products. Speaking on the issue, the Peoples Democratic Party said it would be too early to speculate on whether the President would head the ministry or not. Rather, the opposition party urged Nigerians to wait till September when the President promised to name his cabinet. The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, told our correspondent that he was only sure that the President was going to split the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Jalo said, “That Buhari is going to head the ministry is speculative. But what we know, going by his body language and actions so far, is that he is going to split the NNPC. “This is what we know. So, let’s wait and see what he’s going to do before we make comments.” However, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties said the constitution vested powers on the President to head any ministry or parastatal of his choice or appoint a representative. The National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said that Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution “vested executive powers on the President. He said, “He can decide to exercise such powers by himself or delegate it to his deputy, or public officers of the public service of the federation. That’s what the law says. “Whether he chooses to manage any ministry by himself is immaterial. Whether he decides to be in charge of ministries such as power, works, women affairs or culture does not mean anything to the Nigerian people.” Copyright PUNCH

Van Gaal: Signing a striker not a priority for Manchester United

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WIth Wayne Rooney leading the line against Tottenham and the likes of Javier Hernandez and James Wilson also available, the Dutchman is not looking for another new face Louis van Gaalinsists buying a striker is not a priority for Manchester Unitedthis summer. Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao have both departed Old Trafford since the end of last season, with Wayne Rooney - often deployed in midfield last term - leading the line against Tottenham on Saturday. A lacklustre display, with United's only shot on target resulting in Kyle Walker's decisive own goal, prompted concerns over Rooney's sharpnessbut Van Gaal feels he has plenty of competition already available. "No, that is not a special item for me - it is more in the media they are discussing about a striker," Van Gaal told reporters. "The striker is Wayne Rooney and we also have [Javier] Hernandez, [Adnan] Januzaj and [James] Wilson. It is not a special objective for me. "But when we can buy another striker who has a lot of qualities, more than our players, then we buy. But we have always done that. "I said it before but they [the media] are not writing it. I have said it before, we have Rooney. You [the media] said he has to play in a striker’s position." A number of summer signings made their debuts on Saturday, with Memphis Depay installed in an unfamiliar supporting role behind the striker and Van Gaal afterwards revealed he challenged the youngster to step up. The United boss added: "It is a new position for him and he has to adapt because he is a goalscoring type. "We have to wait and see if he can fulfil the demands of this position but [he’s playing there] because Ashley Young is playing very good on the left side," said the manager. "Therefore those is the circumstances but they can change during the season. He can play in this position." Source: goal.com

The word for today: ASK GOD

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George Washington Carver, an agricultural chemist who discovered three hundred uses for peanuts, shared these observations about God: ‘As a very small boy exploring the almost virgin woods of the old Carver place, I had the impression someone had just been there ahead of me. Things were so orderly, so clean, so harmoniously beautiful. A few years later in these same woods…I was practically overwhelmed with the sense of some great pres-ence. Not only had someone been there, someone was there…Years later when I read in the Scriptures, “…in Him we live, and move, and have our being,” I knew what the writer meant. Never since have I been without this consciousness of the Creator speaking to me… the out–doors has been to me more and more a great cathedral in which God could be continuously spoken to and heard from… Man, who needed a purpose, a mission to keep him alive, had one. He could be…God’s co–worker… My purpose alone must be God’s purpose—to increase the welfare and happiness of His people… Why, then, should we, who believe in Christ, be so surprised at what God can do with a willing man in a laboratory?’ In 1921 Carver spoke before the United States House of Representatives. The chairman asked, ‘Dr. Carver, how did you learn all these things?’ He answered, ‘From an old book.’ The chairman asked, ‘What book?’ Carver replied, ‘The Bible.’ The chairman enquired, ‘Does the Bible talk about peanuts?’ Carver replied, ‘No sir, but it tells about the God who made the peanut. I asked Him to show me what to do with the peanut, and He did.’ Do you need a creative idea or solution today? Ask God! SoulFood: 1 Chr 6:1-7:19, Mark 4:13-25, Ps 119:17-24, Prov 20:22-24 The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International

Cech fumbles as West Ham harm Arsenal

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Petr Cech made a Premier League debut to forget for Arsenal as his errors helped West Ham United to record a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday,AFPreports. Cech’s arrival from Chelsea has been acclaimed as a signing that could turn Arsenal into title contenders, but he was found wanting as Arsene Wenger’s side opened their Premier League campaign with a home defeat for the second time in three years. Cech’s rash charge allowed Cheikhou Kouyate to head West Ham in front from debutant Dimitri Payet’s 43rd-minute free-kick and the Czech international’s slowness to get down saw him beaten at his near post from 25 yards by Mauro Zarate shortly before the hour. “We were not convincing offensively or defensively,” said Wenger, whose side beat champions Chelsea 1-0 in the Community Shield last weekend. “The players were maybe too nervous and put too much pressure on themselves. Today we have been hurt mentally and it is a good opportunity to respond.” West Ham’s win echoed Aston Villa’s 3-1 success at the Emirates on the first day of the 2013-14 campaign and enabled Slaven Bilic to crown his first league game as manager with a famous victory. “We are all very pleased and it is a great start for us – not only for the three points, but points against a team that are title contenders,” said the Croatian, who is a former West Ham defender. “If you add to that a London derby, it makes it an even bigger win. This is very special. I am very proud of the second-half performance.” Bilic named 16-year-old Reece Oxford in midfield and saw the teenager turn in a commanding display as West Ham bounced back from their Europa League elimination at the hands of Romanians Astra Giurgiu last Thursday. Wenger sent on Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal sought to claw back their two-goal deficit, but the closest they came to scoring was a deflected first-half shot by Aaron Ramsey that hit the bar. Meanwhile, Dutch midfielder Giorginio Wijnaldum scored on his competitive Newcastle United debut as former England head coach Steve McClaren began his St James’ Park tenure with a 2-2 draw at home to Southampton. After GrazianoPelle had put the visitors in front, goals from PapissCisse and £14.5m ($22.5m) new recruit Wijnaldum put Newcastle in front, but Southampton substitute Shane Long headed in a 79th-minute equaliser. Chelsea opened their title defence with a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City on Saturday, with Manchester United edging Tottenham Hotspur 1-0

Abandoning Iran nuclear deal could mean war – Obama

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US President Barack Obama has defended the international nuclear agreement with Iran and warned the US Congress that blocking the pact could spark a war in the Middle East. Obama’s speech at a Washington university came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a campaign on Wednesday to mobilise Jewish Americans to urge the Republican-led Congress to thwart the historic agreement. “It is a very good deal,” Obama said. “Every nation in the world that has commented publicly with the exception of the Israeli government has expressed support,” Obama said. “I recognise (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu disagrees, disagrees strongly – I do not doubt his sincerity – but I believe he is wrong.” Under the agreement reached between Iran and a group of six world powers known as the P5+1, the countries agreed to lift economic sanctions against Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Obama warned that abandoning the July 14 pact could accelerate Tehran’s path to a bomb and America’s credibility around the world would be seriously damaged if it refused to abide by the terms of the deal in lifting sanctions against Iran. PUNCH

Buhari rules out scrapping of NYSC scheme

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of scrapping the National Youth Service Corps as being suggested in some quarters. This was just as the NYSC management was considering the option of making the scheme voluntary in order to reduce the intake of corps members. There had been calls for the scrapping of the scheme since the outbreak of insurgency in parts of the country. Insurgency had claimed the lives of some corps members in the northern parts of the country. Proponents of the scrapping of the scheme had been arguing that the NYSC had outlived its usefulness. But a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as pledging that his administration would take all necessary actions to maintain and improve the scheme as a functional vehicle for the promotion of national unity and integration. Adesina said the President gave the assurance after receiving a briefing from officials of the Ministry of Youth Development led by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta. The President was said to have affirmed his confidence and trust in the programme, saying that the objective for which the scheme was established in 1973 was still very relevant for national development. “I firmly believe in the NYSC and I think it should remain a national programme to promote integration. “Whenever I go home to Daura, I look out for corps members from Lagos, Aba and other parts of the country. “I am always thrilled to learn that except for the NYSC, some of them have never left their states of origin to visit other cities in the country,” the President told the ministry’s officials. Jimeta told the President that the increasing number of NYSC participants posed a challenge to the scheme due to the dwindling revenue from the national budget to cater for their needs. She told the President that the annual enrolment of participants in the scheme had increased from 2,364 at inception in 1974 to 229,016 in 2014. “Given the increasing number of tertiary institutions, our projection is that the number of corps participants may rise to 300,000 by year 2020,’’ she said. Adesina also quoted the Director General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, as telling the President that there were plans to make the scheme voluntary. This, he said, Adewunmi explained was meant to reduce the corps population in order to make the programme more sustainable. Source: PUNCH.

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK IS HERE AGAIN

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World Breastfeeding Week(WBW) is an annual celebration which is being held every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries. According to the 26 August data of WBW website, 540 events have been held worldwide by more than 79 countries with 488 organizations and 406,620 participants for theWorld Breastfeeding Week 2010. Being organized by WABA, WHOand UNICEF,WBWcame up with the goal to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life which yields tremendous health benefits, providing critical nutrients, protection from deadly diseases such as pneumonia and fostering growth and development for the first time in 1991.

After 3 decades in power, President of Uganda is running for a 5th term

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On Friday July 31, Yoweri Museveni, 70, accompanied by hundreds of supporters picked up a form to run for re-election in 2016. He addressed his party officials and supporters afterwards saying he was asked by his party and members across the country to offer himself for the position. "The historicals [party leaders] agreed that as a way forward, I come and pick these nominations forms and I offer myself for the position of party chairman and NRM presidential candidate for the period 2015-2021,”The 70 year-old has been president of Uganda since 1986 after he came in through a coup and has been re-elected three times since 1996. Surprisingly, a recent poll suggests that 71% of Ugandans will vote for him again for another term. The elections will see Museveni challenged by his longtime rival Kizza Besigye, and another contestant, Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister. Source: Linda Ikeji blog
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