Donald Trump will make sure Iran never gets nuclear weapons – Pence

US President Donald Trump will make sure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon capable of threatening any NATO member state or, especially, Israel, Vice President Mike Pence has said in a statement.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Pence claimed the easing of nuclear-related sanctions has given Iran more freedom to threaten the region.

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KWARA YOUTHS AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE SEASON 1

Good day our esteemed compatriots. The new year festivities are long over and we now even at the 2nd month of the year (February) and fast counting! Waooo!!! That is simply how time flies! It slowly ticks away as if it is inconsequential. But, the reality is, with each inconsequential ticking of that clock, we are growing older! JUST IMAGINE!!! That small boy born sometimes in the 70's, has now clocked 40 something! That small boy born in the early 80's, is now trending the way to 40 years! 

Those small boys of yester years, are now fathers having children they are catering for! The reality is, if we do not make adequate use of the available time at our disposal, time will invariably make use of us by taking away our youthfulness, strength, beauty and sharpness! Just like that Hymn that Christian fellows usually sing at Church. "Fading away like the stars in the morning". Time makes us to fade away! The youths by which implies those of us born between 1970 to 1999, we have never had the opportunity that those ahead of us had! The Nationalist by which we are referring to the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Chief Anthony Enahoro and the likes, were leaders who wanted the very best for the children coming after them. This fact was reflected in the kind of policies they made and projects they implemented. 

VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY... THE US PRESIDENT IS NOT AN EMPEROR... THE US CONSTITUTION IS SUPREME!

Appeals Court Shoots Down DOJ Request To Immediately Restore Travel Ban

By Yeganeh Torbati and Tom Perry

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court late on Saturday denied a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to immediately restore a immigration order from President Donald Trump barring citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries and temporarily banning refugees.

The court ruling dealt a further setback to Trump, who has denounced the judge in the state of Washington who blocked his executive order on Friday. In tweets and comments to reporters, the president has insisted he will get the ban reinstated.

BREAKING: A Syrian cease-fire backed by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight Thursday

The promise for peace in Syria has been revived, after a nationwide ceasefire officially took effect on Friday at midnight, local time.

A major agreement between the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and armed opposition groups was reached on Thursday and supported by Russia, Iran and Turkey as guarantors of the peace process. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the news after emerging as a key peace broker.

Russian President Putin announces ceasefire in Syria from midnight

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire between Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian government starting at midnight on Thursday.

The parties were also prepared to start peace talks, Putin said, after Moscow, Iran and Turkey expressed readiness to broker a deal to settle the nearly six-year-old Syrian war.

The Syrian army announced a nationwide halt to fighting but said Islamic State and ex-Nusra Front militants and all groups linked to them would be excluded from the deal. It did not say which unnamed groups would be excluded.

Trump's transition team studying new sanctions to implement on Iran

Trump Names General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense Nominee

(Reuters) - Donald Trump's transition team is examining proposals for new non-nuclear sanctions on Iran, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing congressional sources who have been in contact with the president-elect's team.

Officials with Trump's team have been in touch with fellow Republicans in Congress, where they hold the majority, to discuss possible sanctions separate from last year's Iran nuclear deal that could focus on its ballistic missile program or human rights, the sources told the FT.

"They (Trump team members) are already looking closely at their options - and that very much includes non-nuclear sanctions," a congressional official told the media outlet.

Donald Trump, Brexit and Other Lessons From Conservative Parties’ Politics

Conservative parties, be they called the Tory Party, or Republican Party, or Likud Party, have for the most part of the early 20th century to present advocated policies that seemed unreasonable but the world continued to vote them into office. These policies are often presented to the public lased with patriotic cinnamon sugars. And the public has consumed them with passion.

At the formative stages of the European Union, the conservatives urged Britons not join as Labor and other progressive parties pushed for joining European Union. General Charles De Gaulle’s opposition to Britain’s membership did not help but it was mostly internal British debate that stopped Britain from joining until after ten years (1975), when a twotoone flavor was negotiated and referendum held. Even after joining, the Conservative Party was still lukewarm in the association. It was this attitude that led some conservatives to propose that a referendum be held to exit. The leadership of the Brexit was mostly Conservative Party membership although the conservative PM campaigned against the exit. And when he lost he resigned and the new PM has proclaimed, loud and clear, that Brexit means Brexit and no attempt would be made to renter through a back door.

THE FEAST ON GENERAL TUKUR BURATAI.... By Sharon Faliya Cham

Oops! Woops! I haven't missed the sardonic relish on the faces and voices of Failing Wailers aka Wailing Wailers as they feasted on the non-story of the so called story of the ownership of two houses in Dubai by our Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai. From some followers of the man in Zaria city who felt General Buratai should have allowed them to punch the chests and faces of military officers without repercussion to the bulk of the followers of the man who famously said stealing is not corruption, the feast over the General's ownership of those two houses in Dubai was huge, and till now, wherever and whenever you see them, the glint of mirth on their foreheads over the deliciousness of this "tasty meal" is as bright as the brightness of a policeman's torch!

But wait a minute! While it is understandable to pardon the followers of the Zaria man for being so naive to expect the country's army to allow them ride roughshod over their troops, which even Iran itself can never ever allow, it is utterly unpardonable for Failing Wailers to mock or deride or accuse General Buratai of any wrongdoing over his ownership of two landed properties in Dubai! Why so? All the news stories about the General's Dubai properties have stated that the man has duly declared them in his assets declaration forms at the Code of Conduct Bureau, and that they are available for the scrutiny of the media and the public, which then clearly gives him a clear moral edge over ALL his accusers. First impression is, if those two properties were proceeds of some shady deals then the General wouldn't have had the audacity to include them in his assets declaration forms; he would have considered the option of that famous Senator who is battling so many cases of fraud even up to Panama!

5 Quick Suggestions for Nigerian Relation with the International Community -

Our President has travelled a lot to parley the international community. No doubt his integrity has earned him and the country greet respect from various “world leaders”. We wish him well and do not intend to join the debate as to if he should travel less or travel more. Rather, we want to offer some little points with regards to how to earn respect from the International community. Enjoy.                                                                                                                                  

President Muhammadu Buhari In Chin

1. Promote your Culture and Values

A large hunk of the greatness of the Western world is promotion of its culture. America owes more thanks to Michael Jackson, James Bond, 2Pac, and Hollywood than it owes its graduate in terms of the world view of America as a super power. Unfortunately these are the people who taught the world to dress, talk, think, and act like Americans. This is why it was more fanciful in Africa to use American products and operate American system of Government, both of which puts you under the country in terms of economy and leadership respectively.

Supreme Court Judgement: Iran Threatens Legal Action Against US Over Diverted Funds

Iran has threatened legal action against the United States if $2 billion in frozen funds are diverted to compensate American families of people killed by Tehran-sponsored terrorism.

"We hold the U.S. government responsible for protecting our (frozen) funds," said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. "If our funds are illegally accessed, we will surely claim damages from the American government at an appropriate time."

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 2012 law concerning the distribution of the funds. The court's ruling directly affects more than 1,300 relatives of victims, some who have been seeking compensation for more than 30 years.

FG Must Follow Up Supreme Court of the United States Ruling on Iran

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTU) ruling this week confirmed what some of us have always known and insisted on. Iran is a sponsor of terrorism, radicalization, extremism and other traits that undermine the safety of other nations.

The US Supreme Court ruled that Iran must lose nearly $2 billion in frozen assets to survivors and relatives of those killed in the 1983 US Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 Americans in Saudi Arabia, and other attacks linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran It took 33 years in the case of the first bombing for victims and relatives of the dead to get closure.

That is a luxury Nigeria cannot afford. The US is well established. Iran could not attack on its home soil so its proxies hit offshore targets. The approach is different in Nigeria. Iranian proxies live right among us. Their attack, if allowed to happen, would be catastrophic.

OPEC Unglued: Saudi Arabia Won’t Freeze Oil Growth Unless Iran Has To

No Iran, no deal

Oilfield

The much ballyhooed Doha, Qatar, meetings to freeze production among some OPEC and non-OPEC members, such as Russia, ended without agreement April 17.

The stumbling block: Saudi Arabia’s unwillingness to go forward on holding production steady without cooperation from Iran. After sanctions related to development of nuclear capabilities were lifted in January, Iran has been trying to ramp up volumes. The country's ability to sell oil on the global market had been hobbled since 2011.

By midday April 18, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) had fallen by about 3%. But Doha was a scene reminiscent of Lucy’s propping up a football in Charles Schulz’s famous "Peanuts" comic strip. WTI prices hit more than $42 per barrel April 13 before a more jaded Charlie Brown figured out who was propping up the market.

Crude Oil Price: Doha talks fail, new attempt to reach production agreement possible in June

Oil producing constructions did not manage to sign an agreement to freeze oil production at the January level following six hours of negotiations in Doha on Sunday, but they might hold another round of negotiations in June, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu told reporters.

OPEC and non-OPEC members will probably hold negotiations in June, he said.

Participants in the meeting, including the Nigerian minister and Oman Oil and Gas Minister Muhammad al-Rumhi, said countries need more time to agree on the conditions of an oil production freeze.

Agenda sets: Joint Press Briefing by Presidents Buhari, Obama

Security, economy, employment especially of youth, fighting corruption dominate the agenda!

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it’s a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here to the Oval Office for his first visit since the historic election that took place.

Nigeria is obviously one of the important countries in the world and one of the most important countries in the African continent. Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. And it was an affirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, a recognition that although Nigeria is a big country and a diverse country with many different parts, nevertheless the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process can change take place.

President Buhari comes into office with a reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda, and that is to make sure that he is bringing safety and security and peace to his country.

World Cup: Yobo's Dream

....what if I can make it to 104 in Brazil?

For Joseph Yobo, the pre-match ritual is as much a part of the game as the half-time team talk. In his 16 years as a professional, the Nigeria defender has always readied himself for action the same way, slipping on his shirt and then singing and praying before stepping on to the pitch. It is a routine he has gone through innumerable times – but on precisely 100 occasions for the Super Eagles. A sterling servant for his country, Yobo had the honour of bringing up his century of caps against Argentina in Nigeria's final Group F game at Brazil 2014.

Although his side slipped to a 3-2 loss in that match, the 33-year-old came away with almost entirely positive memories. After all, not only did he hit a significant personal milestone, Bosnia and Herzegovina's 3-1 victory against Iran ensured that Nigeria tied down a berth in the Round of 16. "Qualifying for the knockout phase was our first objective," the Super Eagles' captain told FIFA.com. "We're very happy because that hadn't happened to us since 1998. This time, we did it with pride, by finishing second and trying to win first place against Argentina."

'I'm proud of our team'
They gave the South Americans a genuine scare too, though Yobo feels they could have done even more. "We're disappointed because we didn't play that game to win it from the very first minute," explained the Fenerbahce stopper, who spent the last six months on loan at Norwich City. "We thought a draw would be a good result, but in the second half we came out even stronger to try and win the match. That's what we should have done from the very first minute."

Jay Jay Okocha frowns at Enyeama’s positioning

Former Super Eagles midfielder Austine Okocha says Vincent Enyeama’s poor positioning led to Messi’s brilliant curling free-kick that caught him napping for Argentina’s second goal.

Okocha, who was a guest in SuperSports World Cup studio for the match between Nigeria and Argentina believed Enyeama could have done better if he had positioned himself properly.

The former Bolton and PSG midfield maestro, however, hailed Enyeama for his wonderful saves to deny Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria from scoring more goals against the Super Eagles.

Despite losing this encounter 3-2 against Argentina, Nigeria is guaranteed of a place in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup thanks to Bosnia 3-1 win over Iran.

Independent

'Messi is from Jupiter,' says Keshi

The defeat to Argentina was one of the most entertaining and hard-fought games of the World Cup so far, but also a pleasingly fair clash with players joking on the field. The fact both sides progressed
to the Last 16 regardless of the result certainly helped the atmosphere. 

After the game, Super eagle's coach Stephen Keshi described Lionel Messi as an outstanding player saying "Messi is one heck of a player. You can't take that away from him."He's blessed. I think there are other players in the Argentina squad who are very strong, but Messi is from Jupiter." Keshi said.

Captain Yobo Prefers a win Against Argentina as Oboabona resumes training ahead of the clash

The Super Eagles' Captain, Joseph Yobo, who is just one game away from joining the centenary group with 100 international caps, has warned his teammates that the last Group F clash is going to be a difficult one.

“The Argentina match is going to be another exciting and difficult game because we know how good they are with a lot of talents.

“It will be great to achieve the centenary mark for Nigeria. It shows what I have been able to contribute to Nigeria’s progress in the game. But the most important thing for me is to help my country do well at the World Cup.

Yobo was quoted as saying he preferred a win on Wednesday to his much advertised attainment of 100 caps if featured in the match against Argentina.“It is good news that I will reach that milestone, but what is uppermost in my mind is for the team to win and for us to advance to the next stage.

Eagles Will Win Against Bosnia – Guru Maharaj Ji

Hopes were dampened after Nigeria’s first outing in the FIFA World Cup were they ended in a goalless draw against Iran.

The Brazil 2014 has been full of surprises, the top rated teams have shocked the world with below average performances, most shocking being the early exit of the defending champions, Spain, in the first round.

The Spiritual Leader of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji, has given hope to Nigerians by assuring them that this years World Cup will be a good one for the Super Eagles.

He said that not only will the Nigerian team win today’s crucial match against Bosnia but they will go ahead to finish strong in the rournament. Speaking to journalists on Friday, June 20, 2014 Maharaj Ji disclosed that he had warned the team before the commencement of the competition against blue colour in any form but, however, assured that he would intervene to turn the table in favour of the team.

FT: Messi produces late magic to lead #ARG to 1-0 win over #IRN

Full Time: Messi produces late magic to lead #ARGENTINA to 1-0 win over #IRAN. Lionel Messi scores late winner to put Argentina into World Cup knockout stages

Messi scored the goal that provided the eventual margin of victory for Argentina against Bosnia, and he should be at the center of everything again here. He'll want to improve his interactions with attackmate Sergio Aguero, though. Iran barely hung on to a 0-0 draw with Nigeria. Now it must face Messi and company.