The Kremlin on Wednesday said it regrets a proposed four-year ban for the country’s athletes over doping but Russia is still open to cooperation to resolve the scandal.
“This is definitely concerning information. We regret this,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
Anti-doping watchdog WADA’s compliance review committee on Monday recommended a four-year sporting ban over falsified lab data it received from Russia.
If WADA chiefs adopt the review committee’s recommendations, Russia faces exclusion from key sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In the Kremlin’s first reaction, Peskov stressed that Moscow was still open to cooperation with …
A 49-carat diamond which analysts estimate to be worth up to $12 million was among over a dozen jewel-encrusted items snatched from a German state museum in a spectacular heist, the museum confirmed Wednesday.
Publishing a list of the pieces taken in Monday’s brazen raid, the Green Vault museum at Dresden’s royal palace said the items stolen included a sword whose hilt is encrusted with nine large and 770 smaller diamonds, and a shoulderpiece which contains the famous 49-carat Dresden white diamond.
Eleven pieces were removed completely, while individual parts of a further three items were also missing.
The Dresden …
Emergency workers on Wednesday pulled dust-covered corpses from the ruins of an earthquake that has claimed nearly 30 lives in Albania, as aftershocks hampered the second day of search efforts for survivors.
The 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rattled the Balkan state early Tuesday morning was the most powerful and damaging in decades.
In the hard-hit coastal city of Durres and the town of Thumane, apartments and hotels collapsed into mountains of rubble, trapping residents beneath.
With the help of dogs and 200 experts flown in from across Europe, rescuers raced against time to clear away the wreckage after 45 people …
Police in Anambra state have discovered the dead and decomposing body of a 65-year-old medical doctor in his hospital, months after he died.
The medical doctor, Dr Gilbert Afam Gini is said to be occupying two flats, which he uses to run his hospital, Santa Cruz clinic at No 9 Eze Crescent Ezinifite Okpuno, near Awka.
A press statement by the Police PRO in Anambra, SP Haruna Mohammed stated that one Barr Duke Onyebuchi Ezeonwuka discovered the body on Tuesday when he visited the property which he manages and found it locked, and a strong stench emanating from it.
Haruna …
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who disclosed this in Calabar during a courtesy visit to Governor Ben Ayade, said the decision to source Air Force uniforms locally was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives to the Nigerian Armed Forces to lay emphasis on local content.
The Air Force chief, who was later conducted round some of the factories at the Ayade Industrial Park, including the Garment factory, expressed amazement at the …
GOING by the wisdom of the sage, great leaders are characterized by their ability to create positive impacts on the lives of their subjects. They achieve this feat by placing heavy emphasis on the understanding that the economy would look after itself if democracy is protected; human rights adequately taken care of, and the rule of law strictly adhered to.
In effect, their nation’s affairs are centrally planned over a period of time with their actions spelt out for both normal and contingency conditions. By contrast, for Nigeria, like other nations with not-too-impressive leadership, in addition to non-possession of …
Super Eagles’ star boy, Samuel Chukwueze, said he is worthy of emerging the Youth Player of the Year at the forthcoming 2019 CAF Awards scheduled for January 7, 2020.
Chukwueze, who plies his trade for Spanish club, Villarreal, will be jostling with compatriot, Victor Osimhen and 14 others for the continent’s youth player of the year award.
The awards celebrate African footballers and officials who have distinguished themselves in 2019.
The 20-year-old winger, via his official Instagram handle, revealed his readiness ahead of the ceremony.
“Your boy is out …
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed Dec. 11, for re-arraignment of a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, charged with laundering ₦338.8 million.
Ikuforiji was charged alongside his former aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, on 54 counts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they were first arraigned on March 1, 2012, before Justice Okechukwu Okeke on a 20-count charge bordering on funds misappropriation and money laundering.
They, however, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
The defendants were subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba, following a re-assignment of the case.
On Sept. …
The much touted hate speech Bill being proposed by the Senate Wednesday received another vituperation, as a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), described it as a slide into dictatorship.
Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), said it was needless and unwarranted for anyone to contemplate another law to deal with false publications, when there were laws already promulgated to take care of such situation.
The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Abdullahi, has passed the first reading at the Senate, prescribing death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading falsehood that led to the …
An aircraft operated by British Airways from London to Abuja on Tuesday made air return as a result of technical problem.
A statement issued by the airline, confirmed that BA 083 flight returned to Heathrow and was met by the emergency services as a precaution measure after experiencing a minor technical issue.
The aircraft took off from Heathrow airport Tuesday night and was airborne when pilot announced that the aircraft would be returning to its port of departure
Intending British Airways passengers to London from Abuja left the …
The governor of Imo State, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha has promised to set up a committee on prerogative of mercy aimed at setting free at least 48 juvenile offenders in the Imo State Command Correctional Service.
He disclosed this while declaring open a 3-day reformation, reorientation programmme. The programme is sponsored by the state government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Advocacy, Adaora Onyechere for juvenile offenders in the state with the theme “save them young”.
The governor regretted that there are only three Borstal training institutions in the country for reforming the juveniles, just as he clamoured …
“It is fake news, just disregard it,” Wilson Uwujaren, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesman, told The Guardian Nigeria in a phone conversation.
Asked if there was an amendment of charges against the former minister, Uwujaren again said it is all “fake news.”
The EFCC spokesman in a statement explained that prosecution of Diezani for a 14-count charge has suffered
