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Russians don't know whether to laugh or cry at the political chaos unfolding in the United States. In fact, they have been doing lots of both.  Sergey Lavrov, the wry Russian foreign minister, allowed himself a quip when asked whether the sudden dismissal of the FBI director, James Comey, would overshadow his talks this week in Washington.   "Was he fired?" Lavrov asked reporters, sarcastically. "You're kidding, you're kidding," he exclaimed. Perhaps it was an ill-judged attempt to lighten the mood, but it also revealed the extent to which Russian officials are reveling in their US rivals' current mess. Critics frequently accuse the Kremlin of wanting to discredit US politics. That work seems to be proceeding without them.   After firing Comey, President Trump almost immediately held a first, long-awaited meeting not only with Lavrov, but also with the Russian ambassador in Washington . That ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, d...

A year on from one of the worst top flight title defenses in the history of English football, the Premier League trophy is once again in the hands of Chelsea. A late goal from substitute Michy Batshuayi was enough to end West Brom's resistance at the Hawthorns Friday, ensuring Antonio Conte's men cannot be caught with two fixtures left to play. CNN Sport analyzes the London club's spectacular rise from tenth to the title. Mourinho's shadow After a campaign of ignominy and disharmony under Jose Mourinho, the Blues are 37 points better off than at this stage in 2015/16.   While Mourinho was the architect of his own downfall -- squabbling with club doctor Eva Carneiro before his undignified departure in December 2015-- Conte has been the architect of Chelsea's revival.    His passion is infectious, and emanates from every pump of the fist. Chelsea can conceivably finish this season with 93 points -- the most by any Premier League t...

British Prime Minister Theresa May says a cyberattack initially believed to be targeting only hospitals in the UK has now gone beyond, involving potentially dozens of countries. "We are aware that a number of NHS (National Health Service) organizations have reported they have suffered from a ransomware attack," May said, while speaking on the campaign trail in the UK. "This is not targeted at the NHS. It is an international attack. A number of countries and organizations have been affected."    A report from a security firm indicates more than 45,000 malicious computer attacks in 74 countries in the past 10 hours. CNN has not independently confirmed that number. The problem appeared to begin Friday morning when hospitals in the UK were crippled by a large-scale cyberattack, which forced operations to be canceled and ambulances to be diverted. Health workers reported being locked out of their systems and seeing messages demanding ransom pa...

Opera, the developer of popular mobile browser in Africa, has announced its plan to invest $100 million (N30 billion ) over the next two years to facilitate the growth of African digital economy. The company will use the investment to speed up internet adoption in Africa and strengthen the internet ecosystem with local partners.Africa is on its way to transform itself into digital continent with the rapid adoption of mobile internet. For the past five years, the Opera Mini browser has been a key facilitator in bringing more than half of Africa’s internet population online by featuring tools for lowering data costs. Recently, the company celebrated 100 million monthly users in Africa and is now focusing on making the next generation of web browsers to cater the needs of African internet users. Developing AI-powered news engine with compression technology for Africa According to a GSMA Intelligence report, the biggest consumer barriers to internet adoption in mos...

President Muhammadu Buhari (C) presenting copies of the 2017 budget documents to the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday in Abuja, said the 2017 budget approved by the National Assembly on Thursday would usher in better development in the country. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that rather than criticise the budget, Nigerians should commend the lawmakers and APC leadership for making it open for public scrutiny before it was passed. Abdullahi dismissed insinuations that the budget may have been padded by the lawmakers and said that the National Assembly deserved commendation.  He said that Nigerians were able to know how much was allocated to each sector of the economy, “because for the first time in Nigeria’s democratic...

Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 7, 2017. Jurgen Klopp admitted it was a “strange” experience to be a hologram guest, along with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, at a Munich press conference on Friday — while sat in Liverpool. 3D images of Klopp and Simeone were beamed in real time to a press conference in Munich to announce their teams’ involvement in August’s Audi Cup — a pre-season tournament hosted by Bayern Munich. Technology meant both Liverpool coach Klopp and Madrid boss Simeone could take part in the Bavarian capital, even though they were physically sat in Liverpool and Madrid respectively. The ethereal pair answered questions, with their images seated next to Bayern’s Carlo Ancelotti in a dimly lit press briefing. It is believed to be football’s first press conference conducted with two of the particip...

Carlo Ancelotti on Friday insisted Germany star Jerome Boateng and under-performing Renato Sanches will next season stay at Bayern Munich, who aim to assert their Bundesliga domination at title-rivals RB Leipzig this weekend.  Ancelotti’s Bayern, the confirmed 2016/17 Bundesliga champions, need a win at second-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday to maintain the status quo as Germany’s top club. As head coach, Ancelotti needs a moral-boosting victory to steady the ship with rumours of unrest behind the scenes amidst disappointment after last month’s Champions League quarter-final exit. Boateng had reportedly been considering his future and was unhappy about being left out of the starting side for their German Cup semi-final home defeat against Borussia Dortmund. A first-choice player for Germany Boateng has a Bayern contract until 2021. He faces stiff competition for a first-team place next season alongside ...

An Ebola outbreak has been declared in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said Friday, after the virus caused three deaths in the area since April 22. The WHO said the outbreak affects an equatorial forest region in Bas-Uele province, bordering Central African Republic. The last Ebola outbreak in Congo in 2014 was quickly contained and killed 49 people according to official figures. In a television address, Health Minister Oly Ilunga confirmed the outbreak while urging the population “not to panic”. The country “has taken all necessary measures to responde quickly and efficiently to this new outbreak”, he said. The WHO said it was working closely with DR Congo authorities to help deploy health workers and protective equipment in the remote area, which is difficult for teams to access, in order to “rapidly control the outbreak”. In 2013, an Ebola epidemic began in west Africa that killed 11,300 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and L...

Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that the party, despite some internal problems, would put up a good show in the elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the belief of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Bola Tinubu, that it will win nothing in the forthcoming council polls in Lagos is unfortunate. Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that the party, despite some internal problems, would put up a good show in the elections. He said that the electorate, and not the APC chieftain, would decide the outcome of the elections, and the PDP still had its following in the state. Gani said that the PDP would continue to insist on free and fair elections. “PDP is a party to reckon with in the state, we are watching them ...

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 18, 2016.   Pep Guardiola says he has made his mind up on the futures of Manchester City’s seven out-of-contract players, but added that they will have to wait until the end of the season to find out. Yaya Toure, Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Jesus Navas and Tosin Adarabioyo have yet to discover if Guardiola will keep them on for next season. However, City’s manager has made clear that he only wants focus on the final three matches of the season, starting with Saturday’s home game against Leicester, as his side try to secure Champions League qualification. Asked if he had spoken to any of the seven players about their futures, Guardiola said: “No.” He did, however, make clear that their fates have been...

2Baba, in a letter sent through his lawyers, demanded that Blackface apologises for making ‘false, misleading and the defamatory’ remarks about him. Music superstar , Tuface Idibia popularly called 2baba, has threatened a legal suit against his former band member, Blackface, for accusing him of song theft. 2Baba, in a letter sent through his lawyers, demanded that Blackface apologises for making ‘false, misleading and the defamatory’ remarks about him. It stated that Blackface (real name Ahmedu Augustine) should tender a general unreserved apology for all statements made and published by him in the past as well as cease form making further defamatory remarks. He gave Blackface a one-week ultimatum to retract his statements or face legal actions. According to media reports, Blackface recently claimed ownership of 2Baba’s 2014 hit ‘Let Somebody Love You.’ He also argued that he wrote the award-winning ‘African Queen’ song for 2Baba, and he was yet to be compens...

National Assembly Complex Abuja. A member of the House of Representatives, Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP), has said that the N125 billion appropriated to the National Assembly is not adequate to carry out its functions effectively and efficiently. Ossai made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, insisting that the legislators need more funds to discharge their duties. NAN reports that the National Assembly on Thursday published its 2017 budget of N125 billion, which was higher than the N115 billion approved in 2016. Ossai, however, said that the additional N10 billion inserted in the budget would strengthen oversight functions by members of the National Assembly. “This is necessary so that Nigerians will have the impact and value creation of what has been budgeted. “Nigerians are not looking at that, we are looking at the National Assembly as 360 members of House of Representatives and 109 Senators; calculate i...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan PHOTO: Philip Ojisua Former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, and Vice, Namadi Sambo, were among dignitaries that witnessed the wedding of Halima, daughter of former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, in Minna on Friday. Halima, Babangida’s last daughter, got married to Auwal Lawal Abdullahi, a business man, who holds the title of Sarkin Sudan of Gombe. Others at the ceremony included many former governors including Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Kaduna, Attahiru Barfarawa, Sokoto, Shinkafi Mamuda, Zamfara, Isah Yuguda, Bauchi and Sule Lamido, Jigawa. Other former governors included Ibrahim Shema, Katsina, Abubakar Dakingari, Kebbi, Sen Aliyu Wammako, Sokoto, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano. Also in Minna for the occasion were Sen. Pius Anyim Pius, former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Justice Idris Kutigi, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, former Head of Service, and Sen. Ben Obi. ...

Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho reacts at the final whistle in the UEFA Europa League semi-final, second-leg football match between Manchester United and Celta Vigo at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, north-west England, on May 11, 2017. Manchester United won through to the final after the game ended 1-1, United winning 2-1 on aggregate. Miguel RIOPA Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho accepts the club’s season will be judged a failure if they do not beat Ajax in the Europa League final on May 24. Mourinho says he has worked “harder than ever” during his maiden United campaign, which has already featured a League Cup triumph and victory over Leicester City in the Community Shield. But with United needing to beat Ajax to secure a place in next season’s Champions League, he knows he will not be spared by the media if his side succumb to defeat at Stockholm’s Friends Arena. “I think you, the media, have the right to say (that) and ...

(FILES) This file photo taken on March 20, 2017 shows  former FBI Director James Comey during the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Russian actions during the 2016 election campaign on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump warned sacked FBI chief James Comey on May 12, 2017 not to “leak” details of their conversations to the media, and suggested they may have been recorded. “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” Trump wrote in one of a series of early morning tweets assailing critics and the media over their response to Comey’s ouster.   President Donald Trump warned sacked FBI chief James Comey Friday not to “leak” details of their conversations to the media, suggesting they may have been taped. In a series of early morning tweets, Trump assailed critics and the media over their response to Comey’s ouster, and threatened to cancel daily n...

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the election of Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Abia. Delivering the judgment, Justice Ejembi Eko held that the apex court had no reason to set aside the Aug.18 decision of the Court of Appeal that upheld Ikpeazu’s victory. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two out of the three-man panel of the court had struck out the appeal instituted by Mr Uche Ogah. Ogah, also a PDP member had challenged Ikpeazu’s nomination as candidate of the party to contest the 2015 governorship election on account of alleged tax fraud. “The court having studied the merit of the appeal came to the conclusion that the respondent (Ikpeazu) had done no wrong. “The allegation of tax fraud levelled against Ikpeazu and the trial court judgment that accompanied it were misrepresentations of facts,’’ he said. He...

Pakistani volunteers move an injured blast victim to a hospital in Quetta on May 12, 2017, following a powerful explosion in Mastung district. A “huge” explosion in Pakistan’s restive southwestern Balochistan province that apparently targeted a top senator’s convoy killed at least 17 people and wounded many others. A “huge” explosion in Pakistan’s restive southwestern Balochistan province that apparently targeted a top senator’s convoy killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 30 others, officials told AFP Friday. The blast in Mastung district, roughly an hour east of provincial capital Quetta, struck a vehicle carrying the deputy chairman of Pakistan’s upper house Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, he told reporters. “I am alive, Allah has saved my life, it was a sudden blast, broken pieces of the windscreen hit me, I am injured but safe. The driver and other people sitting next to me were badly injured,” Haideri said on private TV channel SAMAA. Survivo...

Rebel soldiers stand near the entrance of Ivory Coast’s army headquarters in Abidjan on May 12, 2017 as they fired shots in the air just hours after a spokesman for the protesters publicly apologised for an earlier mutiny.<br />The gunfire erupted after disgruntled troops sealed off the area in the Plateau district of the Abidjan, the country’s economic capital, an AFP correspondent said. The shots came just hours after national television broadcast a ceremony in which a soldier presented as a spokesman for 8,400 former rebels, many of them based in Bouake, said they wished to apologise to President Alassane Ouattara for the mutiny. Rebel soldiers surrounded Ivory Coast’s army headquarters in Abidjan on Friday, firing shots in the air just hours after a spokesman for the protesters publicly apologised for an earlier mutiny. The gunfire erupted after disgruntled troops sealed off the area in the Plateau district of the Abidjan, the country’s economic capita...

it is July 2008. Five months have passed since Kim Clijsters gave birth to her first child, and the Belgian is back on the tennis court for the first time. Movements which were once as natural as flying is to a bird are now off limits. There will be no lunging towards tramlines, or stretching every sinew to serve at speed. The grand slam champion has to begin from the very beginning. She is starting from zero.   She attempts to hit the ball in quick succession, but her heart rate bursts to 180 beats per minute. A no-go zone for the new mum. A gentle two-shot rally with her coach is her maximum. Clijsters' return to professional tennis will be measured, calculated. Progress will be made at a crawl. For a 27-year-old woman who has already been world No.1, life will, sometimes, be frustrating, but there is no fast-track to sporting success, even for a talent such as Clijsters. It will be another seven months before she is ready to play competitivel...