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Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during his tennis match against Austria’s Dominic Thiem at the Roland Garros 2017 French Open on June 7, 2017 in Paris. Novak Djokovic insisted Wednesday that he still has the hunger to regain his status as the best player in the world, but did not rule out taking a break from the sport. The 30-year-old Serb crashed out of the French Open where he was the defending champion in a stunning 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 quarter-final loss to Dominic Thiem. Djokovic hinted he may step back from the sport to regroup even with Wimbledon fast approaching. “Trust me, I’m thinking about many things, especially in the last couple months,” he said. “At the same time, I have responsibility to the game itself, towards others. We’ll see. Obviously it’s not an easy decision to make, but I will see how I feel after Roland Garros and then decide what to do next.” The defeat was Djokovic’s first straight-sets loss at a major in four years and comes ...

Managing Director, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Bola Onadele (left); Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman; Moderator/ former Chairman, KPMG Africa, Seyi Bickersteth; Chairperson, Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Aishah Ahmad; Chairman, Lafarge, Bolaji Balogun; Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Head, Tax and Regulatory Services, PwC, Taiwo Oyedele at the chief executive Officer/policy maker interactive breakfast series titled “Easy of doing Business! A policy dialogue on regulations” organised by WIMBIZ in Lagos…yesterday. Corruption, insecurity and dilapidated infrastructure still constitute major obstacles daily to entrepreneurs in Nigeria. This was this submission of a panel of experts at the annual CEO/Policy Maker Interactive Breakfast Series tagged, Ease of Doing Business: A Policy Dialogue on Regu...

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode PDP, NCP, LP differ on achievements For the first time, since Nigeria returned to democratic rule 18 years ago, the camp of the opposition parties in Lagos State appears to be divided over the performance of the incumbent governor and the ruling party. The Lagos chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently shared a contrary but surprising position to the views of the Labour Party (LP) and the National Conscience Party (NCP), over the performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode two years in office. While the case has always been that the nature of bitter politics, synonymous with Nigeria democratic arena hardly allow opposition parties to see anything good about the party in government, it has a different case in respect of Governor Ambode, whose activities in the last two years have set the rival parties at discordant tunes. Both factions of the Lagos PDP ...

The Federal Government says it has paid N375.8 million to 20 providers of useful information under the whistle-blower’s policy. Mr Salisu Dambatta, the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the sum was paid with regard to the recovery of N11.6 billion. Dambatta said that the payment was only on recovered assets that had been declared free from litigation by the attorney-general of the federation. “This payment, which is the first under the whistle-blower policy, underscores the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to meeting obligations to information providers under the policy. “The policy is an essential tool in the fight against corruption. “The ministry, therefore, encourages all Nigerians with information on misconduct, violation or improper activity which can impact negatively on Nigeria, to report it to the appropriate authorities,’’ he said. Dambatta said that the policy had been amended t...

Computer Village Lagos State The Computer Village, which is adjudged as the largest ICT market in West Africa, has been in the news for some time now, following rumours that the Government planned to move it to the Kotangora Market, a suburb of the state. Although, the Lagos State Government has not come out categorical about when and how it planned to move the Computer Village market from its current location in Ikeja to another area, in this regard, the Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), has called for a long term approach. The Computer Village, which is adjudged as the largest ICT market in West Africa, has been in the news for some time now, following rumours that the Government planned to move it to the Kotangora Market, a suburb of the state. But the state has denied any immediate relocation of the market, while CAPDAN said it will welcome any government’s decision that would further improve the market and enhance its...

Wonder Woman Patty Jenkins’s “Wonder Woman” smashed the superhero glass ceiling in its opening weekend, earning $103 million at the North American box office, the biggest debut for a female director, industry figures showed Monday. The Warner Bros. and DC Comics film starring Gal Gadot is the first female-led superhero movie directed by a woman. The film had also fared well worldwide earning $120 million, the studio said. Jenkins edged out the previous record held by “Fifty Shades of Grey” director Sam Taylor-Johnson, whose film had an $85.2 million opening. “We’re incredibly proud of ‘Wonder Woman’ and thrilled that it has resonated with critics and moviegoers everywhere,” Sue Kroll, head of marketing and distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, said in a statement. Coming in second at the box office was another new release, “Captain Underpants,” which took in $23.9 million, according to Exhibitor ...

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 20, 2016, shows US singer Ariana Grande arriving for the 2016 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California. US pop star Ariana Grande will return to Manchester on June 4 to headline a star-studded concert in memory of the victims of the attack on her show, her publicist said on May 30, 2017. US singer Ariana Grande is to resume her world tour in Paris on Wednesday, more than two weeks after it was interrupted by the Manchester suicide bomb attack. Security will be extra tight in the French capital, a day after police shot and injured a man who attacked an officer outside the world-famous Notre Dame cathedral Roads will be blocked off around the concert venue in the east of Paris while police will help security guards to check fans as they arrive for the show. Even before Tuesday’s Notre Dame attack, police had announced a significant deployment planned for the US singer’s concert, noting its “powerful symbol...

Jamie  Vardy   Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has withdrawn from the England squad to play Scotland and France due to a “minor” injury, the Football Association announced on Wednesday. Vardy, 30, sustained the injury during training on Tuesday and will now miss Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Glasgow and next Tuesday’s friendly against France in Paris. “Jamie Vardy has left the England squad as a precaution after picking up a minor injury in training at St George’s Park yesterday,” the FA said in a statement. “No further players are due to be added to the squad at this moment in time.” Vardy took his England goal tally to six in 16 appearances with the second goal in March’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win at home to Lithuania. In his absence, Harry Kane, Jermain Defoe and Marcus Rashford will compete for a starting berth.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan leaves after observing a minutes’ silence with London ambulance staff in London on June 6, 2017, in memory of the victims of the June 3 terror attacks. Police on Monday identified two of the three London attackers as Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane, after Britain’s third terror assault in less than three months, as Prime Minister Theresa May came under mounting pressure over security just days ahead of elections. Anti-Muslim crimes in the British capital have increased fivefold since the London Bridge terror attack, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Wednesday, warning that police would take a “zero-tolerance approach”. “Provisional statistics for 6 June show a 40 percent increase in racist incidents, compared to the daily average this year, and a fivefold increase in the number of Islamophobic incidents,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. It said 54 racist incidents were reco...

Nasir El-Rufai The Kaduna State Government has ordered the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the signatories to the statement ordering the Igbos in the North to leave within three months. Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Gov. Nasir E-Rufai gave the order in a statement in Kaduna State on Wednesday. He said that the Kaduna State Government had therefore directed that its Ministry of Justice should prepare charges and prosecute the signatories and anyone involved in arranging egregious assault on the rights of fellow citizens. “Preparatory to prosecution, the police have been directed to immediately arrest, interrogate the signatories to the statement and investigate all the circumstances and persons that may be implicated in the matter. “The Kaduna State Government urges all residents to ignore the threats from the northern youths. “We are in contact with the leadership of the Igbo community in Kaduna and are ...

Orji Uzor Kalu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday called its fifth witness before a Federal High Court, Lagos, in the ongoing trial of a former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu. The EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016, preferred a 34-count charge bordering on N3.2 billion fraud against Kalu and his former commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo. Also charged is a company, Slok Nig. Ltd. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges. When trial resumed on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), called his fifth witness, Mrs Toyosi Ekorhi, into the witness box. In her examination-in-chief, the witness, who is a compliance officer at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that the bank had forwarded the account status of Slok Nig.Ltd to the EFCC. She said it was in response to an inquiry by the commission, over same, about two months ago. ...

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded in prison, the custody of two street traders who allegedly stoned a Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) official to death. The Chief Magistrate, Mr A.T. Elias, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison custody until hearing of their bail application on June 8. The accused – Fidelis Orichi, 18, and Jeremiah Nnanna, 21 – were charged with a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. Counsel to the accused, Funmi Okoya, urged the court to grant the accused bail, arguing that they were not present at the scene of the murder. The pleas of the accused were, however, not taken by the court for lack of jurisdiction to hear a murder case. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Omisakin, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 23 at Iyana Oworo, Oworonshoki area of Lagos. She said that the accused and o...

The protesters There was tension in Ikere-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Council of Ekiti State yesterday over the move by a contractor handling a road dualisation project to uproot a tree considered sacred by the community. The sacred tree is located in a historical site in the heart of the community. An attempt on Monday by the contractor handling the project to uproot the tree was disrupted by the youths and traditional religion worshippers, who invaded the scene. Some irate youths held up traffic and lit bonfires at Odo-Oja area of the town. The protesting indigenes claimed that the historical site known locally as “Ereja” was the source of Ikere Ekiti, and uprooting the tree would result in dire consequences for the community. They also claimed that the site of the tree was host to the annual Olosunta festival. Governor Ayo Fayose, who visited the scene yesterday, appealed for calm, saying he would ensure t...

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EU Ambassador with guests at the networking reception A seminar session on “Innovation in Ireland” A delegate of the Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany attending to visitors Seminar session on Erasmus+ EU Presents Nigerians More Opportunities with Study Abroad Fair Guardian-1 EU Ambassador cutting the tape to open the Study in Europe Fair in Lagos On Saturday, 20th May, 2016, The European Union (EU) at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, hosted its annual Study in Europe Fair 2017 to showcase the study options and post study opportunities in the EU for Nigerian students. Despite the heavy downpour and road blocks due to the Eyo Festival, more than 800 visitors attended the fair and the seminar sessions. Visitors were able to meet and interact with over 40 institution representatives and alumni from several EU countries. At the fair, the EU’s Head of Delegation to Nigeria ...

These decisions followed the adoption of a motion on “World Environment Day” sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. PHOTO: GOOGLE The Senate yesterday mandated its committee on environment to investigate the implementation of the celebrated Ogoni cleanup exercise. The Federal Government launched the Ogoni cleanup project in June last year with an initial cost of $1 billion. The Senate equally directed the committee to assess the progress of the Great Green Wall programme initiated to control desertification. These decisions followed the adoption of a motion on “World Environment Day” sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. She told her colleagues that it was worrisome that in spite of the launch of the Ogoni cleanup campaign, it does not appear that work has commenced in the area. Tinubu in her lead debate noted tha...

News  |   Nigeria  |   National   Osinbajo seeks Reps’ approval of $1.492b loan for 10 states By Adamu Abu and Otei Oham, Abuja   |   07 June 2017   |   4:34 am Lawmakers query Shell, Agip over alleged $17b crude oil, gas theft Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday sought the approval of the House of Representatives for a $1,492, 400,000.00 loan for 10 states. The loan, according to the letter dated May 25, 2017 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, is part of the 2016-2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan. The loan will boost the financial capacity of the benefitting states to execute their projects and programmes for the development of their areas. They are Ka...

oa   |   07 June 2017   |   4:22 am Commander of OPDS, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleman said: “Two of the armed kidnappers were killed in the ensuing battle while the rescued victim is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.” The joint military task force in the Niger Delta named ‘Operation Delta Safe’ (OPDS) yesterday said it killed two kidnappers who engaged its men in a gun battle while trying to rescue a kidnap victim. The incident happened at the weekend around Omuku Forest in Rivers State as the troops, who acted on a tip-off engaged the suspected armed kidnappers in a gun duel. Commander of OPDS, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleman said: “Two of the armed kidnappers were killed in the ensuing battle while the rescued victim is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcour...

The funds had been stashed in iron cabinets and juite bags in the apartment before they were discovered and recovered by the anti-graft agency, following intelligence information. A Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday ordered the permanent forfeiture of the sums of monies recovered from Osborne Towers, Lagos to the coffers of the government. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had uncovered $43, 449, 947, £27, 800 and N23, 218, 000 at No. 16, Osborne Road, Flat 7B Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos on April 11. The funds had been stashed in iron cabinets and juite bags in the apartment before they were discovered and recovered by the anti-graft agency, following intelligence information. As a result, the EFCC had filed and obtained an interim court order temporarily forfeiting the funds to the Federal Government on April 13, 2017. Justice Muslim Hassan, who granted the interim order, had given 14 da...

President Mohammadu Buhari Those calling on Buhari to resign are looking at the enormity of the office, where a single individual combines the roles of head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. In the presidential form of government adopted from the United States, the president of the republic combines three roles: that of a head of state, commander in chief of the armed forces, and that of head of government. As head of government, he or she is incharge of the executive branch of government. The other two branches, the judiciary and the legislature have their heads, and each branch is supposedly independent, though working in collaboration. In some democracies, for instance, what we had at Independence from the United Kingdom, the prime minister is head of two arms of government: the executive and the legislature. Although there is a speaker, he or she is ...

A logo of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is seen in Manila on June 7, 2017. A wave of unauthorised transactions have hit a major Philippine bank, triggering fears of hacking even as company officials said on June 7 it was an internal computer error. A major Philippine bank shut down online transactions and cash machines on Wednesday after money went missing from accounts, triggering fears it had been hacked even as company officials said it was an internal computer error. Customers of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) were shocked on Wednesday morning to see unauthorised withdrawals and deposits from their accounts. BPI said in a statement the problem was caused by an “internal data processing error” that had been identified. But it had to close its automatic teller machines (ATMs) and told its eight million customers they could not do online transactions on Wednesday as the bank scrambled to...