The Latest: Officials finalizing criteria for travel ban

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The Latest on the Trump administration's revived travel ban for visitors from six mostly Muslim countries 

Senior officials from the departments of State, Justice and Homeland Security are finalizing criteria that visitors from six mostly Muslim must meet to avoid the Trump administration's revived travel ban.

The White House deliberations come as U.S. embassies and consulates await instructions later Wednesday on how to implement this week's Supreme Court order that partially reinstated the ban after it was blocked by lower courts. The new measures are expected to be implemented Thursday.

The justices' opinion exempts applicants from the ban if they can prove a "bona fide relationship" with a U.S. person or entity. Government lawyers must determine how to define such a relationship. The court offered only broad guidelines — suggesting it would include a relative, job offer or invitation to lecture in the U.S. - AP

German police officers expelled after public sex, group urination, and a strip tease involving a service weapon ahead of G20 summit

Around 220 officers from Berlin were unceremoniously released from duty by the Hamburg authorities for the July 7-8 G20 summit in the city after they threw a wild party that involved public sex, brawling, urinating in a group and a bathrobe-clad female officer strip-dancing with her service weapon.

Berlin's police department said Wednesday that its officers were "only human" after they were expelled from the security force for next week's G20 summit after hardcore partying that earned them hero status from the German capital's clubbing scene.

"Yes, we partied," the Berlin police acknowledged in a statement on Facebook, with the slogan "human".

Two officers were celebrating their birthdays, they said, and their colleagues decided to throw a party inside the fenced-off grounds of their temporary container accommodation.

"They drank, danced, pissed and, yes, apparently also bonked, as our press officer put it so well," the police statement said.

But it said that "inside our uniforms are human beings" - young men and women who carry heavy responsibilities when on duty and are usually "very professional".

The Facebook post also sought to turn the unexpected attention into an opportunity to find new recruits.

"We invite you to get a personal picture of this professional work, and to convince yourselves that we are not party police, but rather we are the capital's professional police force," it said.

The department also added a postscript apology to colleagues from the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, who shared the Berlin officers' accommodation but did not join the party that reportedly went on until 6:30 am.

Details of the officers' exploits made the front pages of Germany's biggest newspapers, while Twitter was abuzz with the hashtag #partypolizei.

But the embarrassing incident bolstered the force's credibility on the street, with an association representing Berlin's world-renowned clubbing scene issuing a statement to celebrate the officers.

"Barely 10 days before the meeting of the world's political elites, Berlin's operation team has fulfilled its function as role models and organised a great party - traditionally costumed in uniforms, with music and excessive live performances," Berlin's Club Commission said.

In a tongue-in-cheek congratulatory message, the commission's spokesman Lutz Leichsenring promised: "We're holding a few guest tickets for you in the club of your choice on your return."

In Greek port, migrants play cat and mouse with police

Khalid, a 13-year-old from Afghanistan, spends his days in squalor repeatedly trying to scale a metal fence separating him from the better life he dreams about at night.

He is one of around 200 migrants camped next to the Greek port of Patras, dodging police patrols and irate truck drivers, attempting to board a boat to Italy after other countries shut down the overland route to northern Europe.
"One day I will make it, I know," says the boy, who hopes to become an engineer in Germany or Switzerland.

After the migrant crisis of 2015-16, which saw more than a million people reach Europe from Turkey, the EU struck a deal with Ankara that dramatically reduced the number of new arrivals.
The agreement coupled with some European countries essentially closing their borders to migrants has left around 60,000 people -- mainly Syrian, Afghan and Pakistani -- stuck in Greece with little prospect of employment.

"There is no future (in Greece)," Khalid says.
After leaving Kabul a year ago Khalid and his family reached the Aegean island of Chios by boat from Turkey.
Under the terms of the migrant deal, he should have waited in Chios to be returned to Turkey. But the camp there were so full he was instead transferred to mainland Greece.

Fearing he would be forced to leave Europe, and lacking the 4,000 euros ($4,500) needed to pay a smuggler, Khalid made his way to Patras, a port city on the northwestern Peloponnese.
He's now part of a 200-strong group of young men and children who roam the derelict factories opposite the port fence, constantly on the lookout for trucks bound for Italy in which to hide.

 'Everybody is sick' 
Khalid sleeps in an abandoned building with other young boys, mainly Afghans or Pakistanis -- a hodgepodge of makeshift tents and sleeping bags strewn with rotting garbage.
"Everybody is sick in here because it's not a good place," he says.

According to NGO worker Georgia Tzanakou, there are 30 unaccompanied minors currently living in a single migrant centre in Patras.
This includes "an eight-year-old boy who was left behind when his father caught a boat to Italy," she says.
"We found the child staying in precarious conditions inside a warehouse."

The closure of the land-based route to northern Europe has led more and more migrants to return to the sea passage between Greece and Italy, either as stowaways in cargo ships or crammed into smuggling vessels.
"This passage was never completely closed, but it was logical that when the road to the Balkans was open, very few would resort to it, because it is much more risky," according to a police source in Patras.

Europe's border agency Frontex earlier this year deployed a patrol boat in the Ionian Sea and in April Greek coastguards escorted a migrant vessel in distress to the island of Kefalonia.


Hundreds arrested 
For Khalid and his cohorts, trying to sneak aboard vehicles waiting to embark for Bari, Brindisi or Ancona is a full-time job.

The migrants mix discreet nightime solo attempts with mass group raids, braving stones thrown by angry truck drivers and regular police stings.
Even if they make it over the three-metre (10-foot) fence unscathed, many are discovered hiding in trucks during cargo checks. Most return home willingly, pocketing the occasional piece of fruit as loot.

Khalid says local police treat the minors leniently.
"They don't hurt the little ones. They just say 'go away' (but) they send the older guys to jail sometimes."

Although official figures are unavailable, local media reports suggest as many as 900 people have been detained in the port since the start of the year.
For Khalid, the prospect of leaving Greece's stagnant economy for booming Germany or Switzerland will keep bringing him back to the foot of the fence.

"It's a matter of luck. If you don't get lucky you can stay here for months," he says. "Anywhere is better than here." - AFP

Liverpool target Keita wants move to Barcelona, Madrid or City

RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita would love to play for "one of the very big clubs" but has omitted heavily-touted suitors Liverpool from a list of dream destinations that features Premier League rivals Manchester City.

The Guinea star enjoyed a stellar campaign after swapping Red Bull Salzburg for Leipzig in the 2016 close-season, scoring eight goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances having opted against a move to England.

Asked by Welt which clubs showed an interest last year, Keita said: "Arsenal, Southampton, Manchester City and Liverpool, although I did not talk with the coach."

The German news outlet claims Keita did hold talks with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, but it is Liverpool who have been credited with the greatest interest in his signature this time around.
The player himself, however, is eyeing a move elsewhere.

"I hope that I have the level in two or three years and could play for one of the very big clubs," Keita added.
"This includes Barcelona, but it also includes Real Madrid or Manchester City."

Diezani ‘bribed’ INEC officials with N264m to rig polls – Witness

The Federal High Court in Lagos heard on Wednesday that two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) employees, Christian Nwosu and Yisa Adegoyin, allegedly received N264million from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general elections.

A prosecution witness, Timothy Olaobaju, said the money was paid to Nwosu and Adedoyin in cash.
He stated these while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in the trial of Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir before Justice Idris.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused the duo of receiving gratification from the former minister.

Adedoyin had pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted following a plea bargain.
Olaobaju, who was his bank’s head of operations in Ilorin, Kwara State, said he paid the Nwosu and Adedoyin the cash based on Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s instructions.
He said: “I was the Head of Operations for Ilorin Branch where I had cause to meet Nwosu and Adedoyin. Sometime in 2015, there was a meeting between our Managing Director and the former Petroleum minister during which she explained that some companies and individuals would come to the bank to pay some money into some accounts.

“The companies were Northern Belt Limited, Actus Integrated Limited, Midwestern Company and one Mr. Leno Laitan. In addition, she said certain individuals would bring some cash to be kept for her.
“A total sum of $89million was paid into the accounts. A cash sum of $25million was brought, totaling $114million. The money was kept in the bank pending her instruction as agreed.

“On March 26, 2014, we got instruction that the money should be converted to naira. After it was converted, it was about N23billion. There was a list of beneficiaries that was sent, to be paid across the 36 states of the federation, including Kwara. I handled the transactions in my branch.”


He said the defendants came to his office to collect the cash payment, and that he only acted on instruction.
“There was an instruction that Nwosu and Adedoyin be paid N264, 880,000. The instruction came from the head office based on instruction from Mrs. Alison-Madueke and they were paid. They signed a receipt of payment for the money they collected,” Olaobaju said.

The witness said after the defendants were paid, they left with the cash and did not pay it into any account.
Under cross examination by defence counsel, Obinna Okereke and Nelson Imoh, the witness said he did not know the purpose of the payment.
“The only instruction we had was that they should bring means of identification and should be paid. They even waited for the money to be released to them. We did not know the purpose of the payment,” he said. - The Nation

US accuses Nigeria of using child soldiers

A US 2017 trafficking in persons report has accused Nigeria of involving children under the age of 18 in its military operations in “hostile environments”.

The report listed Nigeria among countries to face restriction for allegedly violating the child soldier prohibition act (CSPA), 2008.
Other countries also accused of violating the act in the report include Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The countries were said to have committed the said offences between April 1, 2016, and March 30, 2017, when the report was compiled.
The report accused the Nigerian security forces (NSF) of “using children as young as 12 years old in support roles”.

“NSF has continued to detain and arrest children for alleged association with Boko Haram, some of whom may have been forcibly recruited,” the report read.
“Governments identified on the list are subject to restrictions, in the following fiscal year, on certain security assistance and commercial licensing of military equipment.

“The CSPA, as amended, prohibits assistance to governments that are identified in the list under the following authorities: international military education and training, foreign military financing, excess defence articles, and peacekeeping operations, with exceptions for some programmes undertaken pursuant to the peacekeeping operations authority.

“The CSPA also prohibits the issuance of licenses for direct commercial sales of military equipment to such governments.
“Beginning October 1, 2017, and effective throughout the fiscal year 2018, these restrictions will apply to the listed countries, absent a presidential national interest waiver, applicable exception, or reinstatement of assistance pursuant to the terms of the CSPA.

“The Nigerian military also conducted on the ground coordination with the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF), non-governmental self-defense militias that continued to recruit and use children possibly unwillingly and mostly in support roles and at least one of which received state government funding.

“Government officials including military, police, and federal and state officials —were involved in the widespread sexual exploitation of Borno state women and girls displaced by Boko Haram, at times forcing women and girls in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps to provide commercial sex acts in exchange for food.

“Furthermore, despite identifying a large number of labour trafficking victims, the government only convicted two labour traffickers and it decreased funding for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), including its budget for victim services. Therefore, Nigeria was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List.”

The CSPA is a US law signed on October 3, 2008, under George Bush, the country’s former president.
It criminalises the involvement of children, under 18, in any form of employment in hostile military settings. - Cable Nigeria 

ISIS butchers baby, cooks, serves as meat to starving mother

An Iraqi MP, Vian Dakhill has revealed how the deadly terrorist sect, ISIS, killed and cooked a baby of a Yazidi sex slave held captive in a cellar and fed him to his unsuspecting and starving mother.

The Sun UK reports that Dakhill also revealed during TV interview that a ten-year-old girl was raped to death by evil jihadists in front of her father and five sisters.

He said the Jihadists believe they are free to murder, rape and torture Yazidi women because they are considered devil worshippers by many in the Middle East.
The politician made the revelation when he spoke in an interview with Egyptian TV channel Extra News.

He said, “One of the women we managed to retrieve from ISIS said that she was held in a cellar for three days without food or water

“Afterwards, they brought her a plate of rice and meat, she ate the food because she was very hungry.
“When she was finished they said to her: ‘We cooked your one-year-old son that we took from you, and this is what you just ate’.”
She further told the station about the appalling murder of a little girl, saying “One of the girls said that they took six of her sisters.

“Her younger sister, a ten-year-old girl, was raped to death in front of her father and sisters. She was ten-years-old.
“The question that we ask ourselves is: ‘Why? Why did these savages do this to us?’”

Buhari on life support in London – Fayose alleges

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has been on “life support for 20-days.”

Fayose made the allegation while berating Buhari’s handlers over the non-disclosure of the President’s health situation

In a statement he personally signed and sent to DAILY POST by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Fayose urged Nigerians to pray for the President.

The statement reads, “Today, it makes 53 days since our President; Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria to attend to his health challenges abroad. No official information as to his whereabouts and his state of health.

“Like every other Nigerians, I do not wish the president dead, I have therefore maintained dignified silence since we were told that the President embarked on his second medical trip abroad this year.

“However, the recorded audio message which was released by the Presidency as the President’s Ramadan message to Nigerians necessitated my setting the records straight today.
“No doubt, the audio message was only a damage-control strategy aimed at further deceiving Nigerians.
“I have therefore elected in good conscience to state as follows:

“That the audio message does not represent the truth as our President does not only have voice impairment, he has been on life-support since June 6, 2017 at a West-End, London Hospital.
“Of a fact, our First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari was not allowed to see her husband during her last visit to the United Kingdom if only she will be courageous enough to admit.

“Only three Nigerians who are of the President’s cabal are allowed access to the President. I will keep their identities for now.
“Anyone with contrary claim should produce the President to Nigerians within the next 48 hours.
“It is obvious that Nigeria is drifting like the last days of the Yar’Adua’s government.

“Nigerians will recall that I warned against electing President Buhari on the account of his age, health and mental capacity.
Nigerians will also recall that when they released pictures to the press claiming that President Buhari had an interview with Kemi Fadojutimi of “All Eyes on Africa” TV Show in London, on Monday, February 23, 2015, I proved to the whole world that the interview was conducted in suite 881 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

“Hate me or like me, again I am putting Nigerians on notice on the present state of health of our president.
“In closing, let me state that I am not unaware of the various attempts on my life; I am undaunted as I remain committed to truth and fearlessness because a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

“Dear Nigerians, even though President Buhari needs our prayers and we should keep praying that God takes total control of his situation, it is equally imperative that our leaders must tell us the truth at all times.

“It is time that the President takes the interests of Nigerians above his own and resign from office so that our country can move forward.
“The fate of Nigeria and its people must not remain in the hands of the Presidency cabal, our country must be set free.”

A new island in the Mediterranean...just off Gaza

At first glance the video looks like a promotion for a luxury offshore development, a Dubai Palm-style project on the Mediterranean. Then it becomes clear it's about Gaza and the future of the impoverished and fenced-in Palestinian enclave.

Israel's intelligence and transport minister has long pushed the idea of an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip, with plans for a port, cargo terminal and even an airport to boost the territory's economy and connect it to the world.

But now the minister, Israel Katz, has released a slick, high-production video setting out his proposal in more detail, complete with a dramatic, English-speaking narration, colourful graphics and stirring music. [ Video here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6apf052p5kiym5o/Island_En_HD_Will.wmv?dl=0 ]
"The artificial island initiative is aimed at providing an answer to a reality that is bad for the Palestinians and not good for Israel," says the narrator, acknowledging that the aim is in part to change the view that Israel is to blame for the deteriorating circumstances of Gaza's two million people.

The Islamist militant group Hamas has controlled Gaza for the past decade, during which time Israel and neighbouring Egypt have maintained a tight blockade, restricting the flow of goods and people in and out, in part to pressure Hamas.
While Israel withdrew its soldiers and settlers in 2005, it still limits Gaza's access to the sea and controls its airspace.

"Today, Israel continues to be perceived as being responsible for the Gaza Strip and is to a large extent the only lifeline to it, even though it withdrew from the strip over a decade ago," says the narrator.
To challenge that perception, and tackle the broader humanitarian and economic problems that beset Gaza - it is currently receiving less than three hours of electricity a day and has unemployment exceeding 40 percent - Katz's plan calls for a $5 billion investment over five years.

It envisages an international consortium building the 1,300-acre island (525 hectares) some three miles offshore, connecting it to the mainland via a causeway, which would have a bridge in the middle that could be raised, cutting off access.
Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since it seized control of Gaza from the rival Palestinian movement Fatah, has long called for a sea port and wants the airport in Gaza, destroyed by Israel in 2001, rebuilt.

It has not commented directly on Katz's island plan, but Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the group, said: "Building a sea port for Gaza is a right of its people to alleviate their suffering and end the blockade."

GAS, WATER WORKS
The projected island would hold vast infrastructure, including cargo and passenger ports, a marina, gas and electricity terminals, a desalination plant and space for an airport in the future.
While Israel would retain control of security in the sea around the island, and would carry out inspections at the port, an international policing force would be responsible for security on the island and at checkpoints on the bridge.

"In addition to its humanitarian and economic importance, and distinct security advantages, the artificial island initiative will strengthen the cooperation and relations between Israel and the countries in the region," says the video.

While at one level the idea sounds pie-in-the-sky, Katz has presented it internationally and raised it consistently for discussion. He showed his video to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet this month, where it met with widespread approval, according to Katz's spokesman.
But Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has responsibility for Gaza policy, remains unconvinced and has not endorsed the proposal. He has said Gaza does not deserve any development project as long as Hamas runs the territory.

Katz's hope is that if the Israeli government does get fully behind it, it can then be presented to international partners as a potential, if ambitious, project to finance. - Reuters

Monaco reject £31m bid from Arsenal for Thomas Lemar

Arsenal’s £31million bid for Thomas Lemar has been rejected by Monaco, according to David Hytner of The Guardian.

Monaco have been saying for a while that they will not sell both Lemar and Tiemoue Bakayoko in the same summer and with Bakayoko on the verge of joining Chelsea, Arsenal could be left frustrated in their attempts to sign Lemar.

21-year-old Lemar is keen to work under Arsene Wenger but Monaco are adamant to keep hold of some of the star players who led them to a league title win and as such, they are refusing to sell the player to the Gunners.

According to Hytner, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev told the Gunners that they are not even willing to negotiate a sale for a player who they have under contract until 2020.

Having already sold Bernardo Silva to Manchester City and with Benjamin Mendy and Bakayoko close to sealing moves away, Arsenal look to have left their attempts to sign Lemar too late.

Rihanna's handsome mystery lover named as wealthy businessman - who counts Naomi Campbell as a close pal

Rihanna's secret lover has been named as wealthy businessman Hassan Jameel - who counts Naomi Campbell as a close pal.

The Sun reports Hassan, whose Saudi-born family own the rights to the Toyota car dealership, and Rihanna's relationship is "the real deal."
The pair appeared to go public with their relationship as they were seen necking and boozing in a jacuzzi on a steamy break in Spain.
A source said: “Rihanna has told friends she’s in love with him and seems completely smitten.

“They’ve been spending a lot of time together away from prying eyes and are really serious. They’re really enjoying each others’ company.”

Hassan is listed as deputy president as well as vice chairman of family business Abdul Latif Jameel.
It comes as Rihanna responded to a writer who body-shamed the popstar in a blog.


In an article titled ‘Is Rihanna going to make being fat the hot new trend?', Barstool Sports writer Chris Spags took aim at the Bajan-born singer.

However, rising above it in true Rihanna-style, the star posted a meme on Monday, apparently indirectly acknowledging the blog and her body shamers.

Rih, who has been known to issue funny clap backs on social media in the past, posted a side-by-side meme of rapper Gucci Mane at different weights - one in 2007 and another in 2017.
“If you can’t handle me at my 2007 Gucci Mane / you don’t deserve me at my 2017 Gucci Mane," it read.

The star simply added a tongue in cheek crying emoji to her post. - UK Mirror

North Korea threatens to kill South's ex-president Park

North Korea threatened on Wednesday to impose the death penalty on the South's former president Park Geun-Hye over an alleged plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-Un.

Park had "pushed forward" a supposed plan by Seoul's intelligence services to eliminate the North's leadership, Pyongyang's security ministries and prosecutors said in a joint statement carried by its official Korean Central News Agency.

"We declare at home and abroad that we will impose death penalty on traitor Park Geun Hye," it said.
The former director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) Lee Byung-Ho would meet a similar fate, it added, along with "their groups".

They "can never make any appeal even though they meet miserable dog's death any time, at any place and by whatever methods from this moment".

The declaration comes after the killing of Kim's estranged half-brother Kim Jong-Nam by two women using the banned nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur international airport in February.
Both Malaysia and South Korea have blamed the North for the assassination, which retorts that the accusations are an attempt to smear it.

Last month Pyongyang's powerful ministry of state security said it had foiled a plot by the US and South Korean spy agencies to kill Kim using a biochemical weapon.
The lurid accusations came amid continuing high tensions over the North's nuclear and missile programmes and with Washington considering whether to re-designate Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Park is currently in custody and on trial in Seoul on charges of bribery and abuse of power related to the sprawling corruption scandal that saw her impeached.
Wednesday's statement from Pyongyang demanded that Seoul hand her over along with the other accused "without delay" as "organisers of the hideous international terrorist crimes".

The demand came with Park's successor, new South Korean President Moon Jae-In – who backs engagement with the North - on his way to Washington for a summit meeting with Donald Trump.
In a statement, the South's National Intelligence Service said: "As we have repeatedly clarified, the North's allegations are groundless."
It added: "It is intolerable that the North openly threatens the lives of our people."

- 'Dirty bodies' -
When Pyongyang announced in May it had uncovered the alleged plot it said the CIA and NIS had suborned, bribed and blackmailed a North Korean citizen which it identified only as Kim to carry out the attack.
Possible locations included the mausoleum where Kim Jong-Un's father and grandfather -- the North's founder -- lie in state, or a military parade.
"The villains even thought about disguising the operation as car or train accident," it added Wednesday.

Any such operation would be extremely difficult to prepare and carry out successfully. The North's leader is surrounded by tight security at all times, and Pyongyang maintains a gigantic surveillance system over its own population that is ingrained at every level of society, where open dissent is unknown.

In May, analysts said the accusations could be a pre-emptive attempt to try to dissuade Washington from any attempt at a surgical strike on its leadership, as suggested by some commentators.

Leader Kim was "a symbol of the dignity and might of the DPRK and it represents the life and destiny of the army and people of the DPRK", Wednesday's statement said, using the acronym for North's official name.
Its army and people were determined to "ferret out" those who would harm the supreme leadership "wherever they might be on the earth", it added, "and mercilessly cut their dirty bodies to pieces".

Experts had warned Park that “regime change will be difficult” in the North, it claimed, but she had examined and “directly signed” the alleged NIS "secret operational plan".
The United Nations and rights groups accuse the North of widespread abuses, including an absence of fair trials.

Pyongyang has a history of overseas killings. As well as the Kim Jong-Nam murder, 21 people including four South Korean government ministers were killed in a bombing in the Myanmar capital Yangon in 1983 targeting Seoul's then president Chun Doo-Hwan.

North Korean commandos also infiltrated Seoul in January 1968 in a failed attempt to assassinate its then leader Park Chung-Hee. Bullet holes are still visible on a tree above the presidential Blue House.

Top EFCC Investigator Shot

A top investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on June 24, 2017 escaped death by the whiskers when gunmen opened fire on him  in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

Mr. Austin  Okwor an operative in the Property Fraud Section of the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt, had closed late for the day and as he left office, he was suddenly accosted by a gang of daredevil hoodlums who opened fire on him. 

Luckily for him, he was able to shake off his assailants but not without sustaining some bullet wounds as they kept firing at him. He was rushed to a private hospital in Port Harcourt where he is  receiving treatment. According to Ishaq Salihu, Head of the Zonal office, the incident has already been reported to the Police in Port Harcourt.

Okwor is one of the operatives investigating some sensitive cases including that pertaining to corrupt judicial officials.
Before the incident, the officer had been receiving threat messages. One of such messages which he received sometime in May 2017 was reported to the Police.

This incident underlines the hazards which operatives of the Commission are daily exposed to in the discharge of their duties.

In 2010, precisely September 14, the head of the Commission’s Forensic Unit, Abdullahi Muazu was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Kaduna. Six months earlier a team of prosecutors returning to Enugu after a court appearance in Owerri, Imo state was attacked by gunmen who opened fire on them. Sergeant Eze Edoga the police escort was cut down while a senior counsel with the Commission, Joseph Uzor was critically wounded but survived. - EFCC

Abramovich meets with Conte to discuss Italian's future

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich met with manager Antonio Conte last week in an attempt to do a deal to keep the Italian at the club long-term.

As reported by Matt Hughes of The Times, the duo had a wide-ranging conversation, one that included topics such as transfer targets and a new contract for the Premier League winning manager.
Conte is apparently frustrated at the lack of transfer activity at Chelsea and it had been reported that he was willing to quit if the club wouldn’t secure the targets he wanted and as such, Abramovich set up the meeting.

Another topic which was apparently discussed was the future of striker Diego Costa who Conte had told via text message has no future at the club. According to Hughes’ report, the duo agreed to let the striker leave and they will look to sell him this summer if possible.

However, the player has his eyes set on a move to Atletico Madrid so there is a chance he could go out on loan until January as Atleti are unable to sign players until the winter due to their transfer ban.

Southampton claim defensive pair 'not for sale at any price'

Southampton executive director Les Reed has told Sky Sports that neither Virgil van Dijk or Cedric Soares are for sale at any price after an agreement was made with new manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

When asked about the future of defenders van Dijk and Cedric, Reed stated: “None of those players are for sale. I can’t make it any plainer than that and that’s the way we mean to go forward.”

Van Dijk, who is valued at £70 million by Southampton, has been of interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City, with Liverpool getting caught up in a transfer wrangle over the defender which led to them apologising to the Saints and claiming to have dropped their interest.

Portuguese full-back Cedric has been rumoured to be of interest from fellow Premier League sides Tottenham and Everton, which has led to director Reed publicly stating the pair are not for sale during this transfer window.