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Hillary Clinton to resume campaign Thursday after pneumonia treatment: campaign
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Campaign
Washington, Sept. 14, 2016 (Xinhua/NAN)  U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who has been staying at home since swooning at a 9/11 memorial ceremony due to pneumonia, will return to campaign trail on Thursday.

The former secretary of state is set to speak at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute gala in Washington D.C. on Thursday and due in several battleground states next week, said her campaign, which has promised to release Clinton’s medical records later this week.

Donald Trump, her Republican rival, also promised to offer up more information about his health later this week, following quarrels between the two campaigns over which candidate is more secret about their health and wealth.

A damaging video of Clinton’s faint at Ground Zero on Sunday has turned the issue of health transparency onto the central stage in their White House bids.

Clinton was diagnosed pneumonia two days before she fainted on Sunday but her campaign had kept it quiet until the video was put online.

However, earlier on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid blasted the media for having blown Clinton’s pneumonia out of proportion.

“You’ve all been unfair to Hillary, look at Donald Trump at his medical records, which are nonexistent,” he told reporters at a news conference.

Also on Tuesday, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine suggested that Clinton’s decision to keep campaigning despite suffering from pneumonia was influenced by the historic nature of her bid to become the country’s first woman president.

The U.S. is “uniquely bad at electing women to office,” the Virginia senator told a crowd at the University of Michigan, citing it a factor affecting her race against the New York billionaire.

Only 19 per cent of the U.S. Congress is female, though it is the highest percentage in the country’s history, Kaine noted.

The September race is observed unexpectedly rough for Clinton as her wounds were rubbed salt into continuously, including a gaffe about Republican “deplorable.”

A series of national poll results show that her lead over Trump has been narrowed since Labour Day. (Xinhua/ NAN)

Edited by Julius Enehikhuere
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ITF holds news conference in Jos on its new training programme in Plateau.

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno to inaugurate re-construction of houses in Bama town, damaged by Boko Haram.

Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Ogun branch, organises stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta with owners of patent medicine stores in the state.

A Gudu Upper Area Court hears a case of alleged abduction filed against two motorcyclists.

Justice Bello Kawu of FCT High Court, Kubwa, hears a suit filed by the Economic and Fina ncial Crimes Commission against Adefemi Mabogune.

African Union for Housing Finance in collaboration with Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company holds AGM/Housing Finance Conference at PTDF Centre, Abuja.

2nd Conference of pilgrimage leaders and managers of Nigeria ends today at Goshen City, Abuja.

3 matches to be played in the FCT super league at Area 3 Football pitch.

6th annual meeting of African Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions Working Group on Environmental Audit continues at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Defamation: Agency threatens to sue National Press Centre
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Defamation

By Tukur Muntari

Kano, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Management of Usmaniya Global Agency Ltd., Kano, has threatened to sue the Director, National Press Centre, Mrs O. K. Abegunde, for alleged defamation of character.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the company, Alhaji Abdullahi Usman, in Kano on Wednesday.

“The management of our company, Usmaniya Global Agency Ltd., is highly disturbed with the unfounded press statement issued and aired in some national media castigating our company.

“This is done without proper investigation and contact with our management which is an attempt by some government officials to use the centre against us,” Usman said.

Usman said that few weeks ago, Abegunde, a director at the centre, issued a statement warning Nigerians to be wary of alleged fraudulent activities of the company claiming to be admission agent in Nigeria.

“The said statement was concocted to destroy our business by some people with the cooperation of the director of the National Press Centre.

“We have to emphasise that no complaint against Usmaniyya Global Agency Ltd., was made or brought to our attention so that we can defend ourselves.

“This is also contrary to the new information order that allows us equal right of balancing and defence before any action against us is taken.”

He said that the publication was like an exparte order issued by a court pointing out that under civilised world, the centre could not act as a law court.

“In view of this, the management of Usmaniyya Global Agency Ltd has given the director two weeks ultimatum to retract the statement and make a written apology or face legal action.

“We are prepared to fight for our rights through the instrumentality of law courts,” Usman said. (NAN)
MTM/MNA/OFN
Edited: Maureen Atuonwu/Felix Nwadioha

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Stroke

Tel Aviv, (dpa/NAN) Former Israeli president Shimon Peres has been rushed to a hospital following a stroke, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The 93-year-old, who suffered a light heart attack in January, received a pacemaker last week.

Peres served as Prime Minister for eight months after the assassination of Premier Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 and for a brief term between 1984 and 1986, under a rotation agreement with Yitzhak Shamir.

He later was elected Israel’s ninth President between 2007 and 2014.

Widely respected abroad as a “warrior for peace,” he shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for signing the 1993 interim Oslo peace accords. (dpa/NAN)

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(Edited by Tope Ponle/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

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Database

Montreal, Sept. 13, 2016 (dpa/NAN) The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says that a Russian cyber espionage group hacked its database at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

WADA confirmed it in a statement that a Russian cyber espionage group operator by the name of Tsar Team (APT28), also known as Fancy Bear, illegally gained access to WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database.

The agency said that the group got access via an International Olympic Committee (IOC)-created account for the Rio 2016 Games.”

The statement said the group accessed data from athletes, including confidential medical data, and released some of it in the public domain threatening to release more.

It said access was likely obtained by gaining possession of passwords through phishing of email accounts.

“WADA has been informed by law enforcement authorities that these attacks are originating out of Russia,” WADA director general Olivier Niggli said.

“WADA condemns these ongoing cyber-attacks that are being carried out in an attempt to undermine WADA and the global anti-doping system.” (dpa/NAN)

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Migrants

Paris, Sept. 13, 2016 (dpa/NAN) The controversial migrant camp in the northern French city of Calais is to be dismantled and its inhabitants redistributed to migrant reception centres around France, French media reported Tuesday.

According to the daily Le Figaro citing the Interior Ministry, 12,000 new places for migrants are to be created by the end of the year around the country.

The only regions of France that would not receive migrants from Calais were the Paris region and the island of Corsica, both of which already had tense housing situations for migrants.

The policy had been criticised by the hard-right National Front party, which was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that moving the migrants from Calais to other cities and villages would be irresponsible.

Migrants had assembled for years at Calais where they attempted to move illegally over the channel to Britain, often attempting to do so by climbing on top of commercial vehicles travelling through the nearby underground Eurotunnel.

Earlier this month, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced that the Calais camp would finally be cleared, but did not name a date.

French authorities had said there were 6,900 people at the camp, while aid organisations said the number had surpassed 9,000. Some 1,900 lived in state-financed containers, while the rest reside in makeshift shelters. (dpa/NAN)

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Policy

By Olayinka Owolewa

Ilorin, Sept. 13, 2016 (NAN) An entrepreneur, Alhaji Yakub Gobir has called on the Federal Government to review the privatisation policy in the power sector.

He made the call on Tuesday in Ilorin while speaking with the newsmen.

Gobir said that the government decision to hand over the sector to private individuals was not sustainable.

According to him, most of the electricity generating companies are indebted to banks and thus cannot guarantee their effectiveness in providing stable electricity in the country.

He identified stable electricity and quality infrastructure as major ingredients to stimulate economic growth in the country.

Gobir explained that Nigeria was undergoing a very critical time, adding that the situation had become very challenging for entrepreneurs as well as investors willing to invest in the country.

The Gobir stated that the scarcity of forex at official rate had made it difficult to run business profitably.

He warned that the ongoing efforts to revive the moribund economy would be futile if the power sector as well as infrastructure were not critically addressed.

The Lagos-based business mogul also cautioned the government against adoption of austerity measures in the present economic situation, pointing out that such was not the best considering the social implication.

He pleaded with the government to make palliative measures available for Nigerians in order to cushion the hardship the current circumstance had imposed on them.

Gobir harped on the need to revive the industries that had gone comatose in order to provide more jobs for the teeming populace.

“We are at a very critical time in the history of this nation. This is the worst economic recession we have experienced in recent times.

“It is a very challenging time for entrepreneurs in this country. Another thing is that the scarcity of forex had made it difficult to run business profitably.

“It is not possible to look at the economic solution without social implication.

“The two are like siamens twins that cannot leave each other. Then austerity is not best for Nigeria considering the social implication.

“We need to appeal to the government to put in place first aid so as to relieve the people of the economic problems. We also need to ensure food security for Nigerians,’’ Gobir said.

He also called for injection of funds into the economy, particularly from the recovered loots in a bid to stimulate economic growth.

Gobir, who also noted that the war against corruption was fundamental to economic recovery, urged the government to strengthen the judiciary, the rule of law and the anti-graft institutions. (NAN)

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(Edited by Ese E. Ekama)

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Food

Katsina, Sept. 13, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina state has directed security agencies in the state to halt illegal exportation of food items through Katsina-Niger Republic borders.

Masari gave the directive on Tuesday while receiving Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir at Government House.

He said that illegal exportation of food items had created artificial increase of price of food items and their scarcity in the state.

Masari said that if security agents at border areas stopped illegal importation of rice, there was no reason to allow exportation of food items.

“It is on record that smugglers of rice are killed daily, but no record shows of arrest of those perpetrating illegal exportation of food items,’’ he said.

He insisted that those behind illegal exportation of food items should be arrested and prosecuted.

Masari, who reviewed security situation of the state, also directed the security agencies to rise and address problem of miscreants popularly known as “Kauraye’’.

He said that activities of the miscreants were source of concern to his government and people of the state, adding that many innocent people had lost their lives.

He said that his administration would train the miscreants in different handcrafts to provide them with a source of living.

On the delay in payment of salaries, Masari blamed it on banks, and assured that the state government was working to address the problem.

He said that his administration would continue to ensure regular payment of salaries and appealed to civil servants to reciprocate by dedicating themselves to duty.

He disclosed that through contribution of some civil servants, his administration was able to save about N60 million from illegal allowances to local government workers.

Earlier, the emir had called on the state government to address delay in payment of salary to civil servants.

Kabir also called on the state government to address delay in dispensation of justice at various courts. (NAN)

SUD/OPI/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)

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Operations

Lagos, Sept.13, 2016 (NAN)

The operation of Arik Air was on Tuesday disrupted due to aircraft insurance renewal, leaving its passengers stranded across airports in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the airlines’ scheduled flights were cancelled, prompting its customers to seek alternative flights.

The Communications Manager of the airline, Mr Ola Adebanji, said  that the disruption was temporary, pending approval of aircraft documentation related to insurance renewal.

Adebanji noted that Arik airline was working round the clock to resolve the necessary documentation.

According to him, all flights scheduled for Sept. 13 have been cancelled.

He added that the airline  would  get in touch with passengers to provide an update on rescheduling of their flights.

“This situation is likely to continue for the next few days until such time that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) approves a waiver on a priority basis for the new insurance company to renew the policy.

“All customers are advised to contact Arik Air’s Call Centre (01-2799999), Airport or City ticket offices or visit the airline’s Website (www.arikair.com) for further updates.

“Where flights have been cancelled, the airline will notify passengers through text messages and in such cases passengers will be accommodated on first available alternative flight as soon as normal flight operations resume.’’ 

Adebanji gave an assurance to members of the public that the airline was fully committed to returning to its normal operations and apologised for the inconvenience caused its passengers.

Passengers are also advised to check with the airline regarding the status of their flights before proceeding to the airport, a statement by the airline added.

“Arik Air’s Group CEO, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, wishes to advise and assure the public, its customers, stakeholders and partners that we are fully committed to returning to our normal operations and minimize any unfortunate inconvenience to our passengers.

“The Group CEO has apologised and appealed (on behalf of the airline) for the understanding of passengers while it works diligently to resume normal operations at the earliest.”

Arik Airline is the third airline to suspend operations. Debt plagued Aero Contractors announced suspension of services first, followed by First Nation Airline. The latter  however promised to resume operations on Thursday, 15 September.

(NAN)

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