Nigeria's senate Bukola Saraki declares presidential bid

Nigeria’s Senate Bukola Saraki said on Thursday he will run for president in 2019, making him the highest profile contender to incumbent Muhammadu Buhari announced so far.

Saraki, Nigeria’s third most senior political official, made the announcement at a political event, where he was addressing young people in the capital Abuja.

“I thus announce my intention to compete for the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to participate in the general elections of 2019 under the banner of the Democratic People’s Party (PDP),” Saraki announced.

He recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and will have to win the PDP primary election before contesting for the presidency.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will run for a second term in 2019.

The road to 2019

Saraki will now vie with other candidates, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, to represent the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a group of other opposition movements, who agreed in July to field a joint contender.

“GDP growth rate has declined. Diversification remains an illusion. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Businesses are shutting down. Jobs are being lost in record numbers, and the capital needed to jumpstart our economy is going elsewhere,” Saraki said at a political event in the capital Abuja.

Fighting within the APC coalition, which united to unseat Buhari’s predecessor rather than because of ideological unity, has mounted for years in a struggle for power and influence between those loyal to the head of state and others who say they have been targeted in a witch-hunt by the presidency.

Divisions emerged publicly in the weeks following the APC’s conference in June where new party leaders were elected. Others saw their hopes of greater powers within the party dashed just months before the presidential and legislative elections.

Gov. Ambode in closed-door meeting with aides, reportedly set to dump APC

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has entered into an emergency closed-door meeting with his commissioners and aides over his political future in the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the commencement of party primaries.

DAILY POST gathered that the governor has been in talks with key stakeholders of his cabinet following reports of a decision by the “godfather” of Lagos politics and National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to withdraw support from his second term bid.

It was also learnt that the Governor is weighing the option of a last-minute defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or the Action Democratic Congress, ADC, both of which are part of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP.

Vodafone in $11bn Australian merger

Vodafone's Australian operations will become part of a new telecoms giant in a $15bn merger announced on Thursday.

Combining Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom will create a mobile, fixed-line and broadband provider with the scale to rival Telstra and Optus.

Vodafone Australia, owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison and Vodafone Group, will have a majority 50.1% stake.

TPG will hold the remainder of TPG Telecom Limited, which will be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

"The combination of the two companies will create an organisation with the necessary scale, breadth and financial strength for the future," Vodafone Hutchison Australia's chief executive Inaki Berroeta said in a statement.

"The equal terms of the combination preserves the competitive strengths of the two businesses, meaning a sustainable long-term fixed/mobile competitor to Telstra and Optus."

Mr Berroeta will be the managing director and chief executive of the new merged group. David Teoh, who is currently the CEO and chairman of TPG, will become the new group's chairman.

TPG is one of Australia's largest internet service providers.

Vodafone Hutchison Australia is the country's third largest mobile operator which is jointly owned by Vodafone Group and Hutchinson Telecommunications Australia. It has a mobile customer base of approximately 6 million subscribers.

Shares in Hutchison Telecommunications Australia surged 44%. Stocks in TPG Telecom jumped 18%.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it will soon begin a public review of the proposed merger to identify any competition concerns.

Davido enrolls for mandatory youth service

Nigeria’s international award-winning musician, Davido, is happy to begin his post-university national service program known in Nigeria as the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

The 25-year-old whose full name is David Adedeji Adeleke, posted a photo of him in full NYSC uniform on social media and captioned it: “Otondo OBO …#Nysc .. tying up every loose end !”

The local Vanguard news portal said Davido was enrolling for the mandatory national service program after three years of completing his university education. He is a 2015 graduate of Babcock University after studying music, the report said.

NYSC is a one-year mandatory service for any Nigerian graduate below the age of 30. Every Nigerian graduate must undergo the training to qualify for gainful employment in the country, the report added.

Davido is almost a household name across Africa when it comes to music. The artiste has flown across the continent and around the world playing shows. Some of his hit songs include “If” and “Fall.”


Social media has been reacting to his post with different perspectives. Some are lauding him for making time to serve, others doubt if he can effectively serve whiles for another it was where exactly he was serving.

A tweet asking how he got the NYSC uniform elicited an answer where Davido was to serve. According to the tweet Davido will be based in the commercial capital of Lagos.

He was filmed entering his car with armed escort apparently after registering for the program on Tuesday.



Recently, he won the Best International Act at the BET Awards and urged greater collaborations between American and African musicians.

The BET Awards, established by Black Entertainment Television to recognize the best in African American culture, maintains an international category for black music from

British Prime Minister, Theresa May arrives Nigeria, heads to Aso Villa

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, UK, Theresa May, has arrived Nigeria.

May landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and proceeded to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, according to Sahara Reporters.

Buhari and May are expected to hold discussions and sign vital defence and economic agreements involving both countries.

BA and Air France to stop flights to Iran next month

British Airways and Air France have announced that they will stop flying to Iran next month.

Both airlines said that the route was "not commercially viable."

The reintroduction of US sanctions has caused a slump in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, making it harder for Iranians to travel overseas.

BA restarted the service to Tehran two years ago after a four-year gap. The last flight will be on 22 September, returning the next day.

The airline apologised to travellers planning to travel to Iran and said it was offering refunds for affected customers or a possible rerouting through other airlines.

Air France, which had transferred its connections with Tehran to its low-cost airline Joon, had reduced the frequency of the flights from three to one a week since the beginning of this month. It will stop all flights on 18 September.

KLM said last month that it would also suspend flights from Amsterdam to Iran from September.

The sanctions, prompted partly by Washington's decision in May to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, have prompted many western firms to step back from business in Iran.

Companies such as the French energy giant Total, German insurer Allianz and Danish tanker operator Maersk have said they are preparing to wind down their operations in Iran.

Riley expects Haslem to return, will concentrate on Wade

Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Thursday he anticipates 38-year-old forward Udonis Haslem will return to the team and that he will ramp up his efforts to convince guard Dwyane Wade to come back, too.

“I have a real good feeling that UD is going to be back,” Riley told the South Florida Sun Sentinel while making a public appearance Thursday. “There’s not been any announcement on that. It’s just a gut feeling about UD and what he wants to do.”

Riley had said earlier he had hoped to have Wade on board by mid-August. But between his vacation schedule and Wade’s travels, the two haven’t connected, he said.

“I texted him after he got his long-term deal with [Chinese apparel company] Li Ning,” Riley said. “We want him back. He and Udonis, we want ‘em back, but we’re giving ‘em space. We know our young guys and we need to anchor our young team with a veteran presence of the both of them.”

Both players are pondering whether to return for a 16th NBA season.

Should Wade, 36, decide to return, Riley and his staff will have the task of figuring out the financial implications against the salary cap and the league luxury tax. The Heat could sign Wade for a $5.3 million taxpayer mid-level exception or the $2.4 million veteran minimum, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Because of the Heat’s luxury tax standing, should they sign Wade to the $5.3 million deal, he actually would cost the team $14.2 million for the 2018-19 season. If he were to play for the minimum, that would become a $3.8 million expense for the Heat.

“I don’t think this is about negotiating a mid-level or dollars,” Riley said. “It’s about getting Dwyane back. It’s not really about the tax right now. Even though we have a tax situation, we’ll work our way around that.

“All the business aspects of the tax and the cap, that’s all part of the equation, but let’s get the team together.”

Riley said he believes the situation will be settled soon after Labor Day.

He also briefly addressed the contract status of forward Justise Winslow, who at age 22 is entering his fourth NBA season and is eligible for a rookie-scale extension.

“I think there’s some timing issues there,” Riley said. “But we’re committed to Justise. He’s committed to us. And we have until Oct. 15 to make that decision. But we’ve been in constant communication with his agent and with Justise.”

Messi may never play for Argentina again - Coach

Argentina's interim coach Lionel Scaloni has admitted he doesn't know if Lionel Messi will return to play for the national team again.

Messi, who captained Argentina at the World Cup this summer in Russia where they were eliminated by France in the round of 16, has taken an indefinite break from the Albiceleste.

The Barcelona superstar was not included in Scaloni's first squad for international friendlies against Guatemala in Los Angeles on Sept. 7 and Colombia in New Jersey four days later.

Asked about the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's absence, Scaloni said in Tuesday's news conference: "I spoke to him and after that talk, he has not been called up for these games. Honestly, we have not spoken about what will happen in the future.

"We all know what he represents for us, and we shall see what happens. I have a good relationship with him, it was a good chat that we had and we were very clear. He will not be in this call-up, and in the future, we shall see."

Other veterans have been left out, with Manchester City pair Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi and Paris Saint-Germain's Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, who is currently on loan at AC Milan, all dropped.

Only nine players of the 23 who went to the World Cup have made Scaloni's squad. While Messi's absence was his decision, Scaloni indicated that was not the case for others.

"No player told me he did not want to come to the Argentina national team," Scaloni said. "All the decisions we have taken are for the good of the national team and to try to see what we can bring to the future. We have very clear in our minds that we need to add people to this new adventure. I spoke to the majority of the players and they all gave me their availability. We feel that we need these players right now. I feel it's the time for renovation. I'm convinced that the time to call up these players is now."

Scaloni was chosen along with Pablo Aimar to guide the team for the upcoming friendlies with former coach Jorge Sampaoli sacked shortly after the World Cup.

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) is looking for a full-time replacement, who would be their fourth manager in four years.

Among the 20 new faces in the Argentina squad are strikers Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan and Fiorentina's Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone. Inter captain Mauro Icardi, who was surprisingly left out of the World Cup squad, returns to the fold.

"Icardi, Martinez and Simeone are players of a very high level," Scaloni said. "Mauro is the one that has spent more time among the elite but everyone can add. We have full confidence in them. We will try to increase the pool of players as much as possible so that the future coach can choose.

"We believe that those selected have enormous potential besides having a good present. At this time I'm only thinking about the future of the national team. I'm extremely grateful to the AFA president [Claudio Tapia] for this possibility.

"I couldn't say no, and I'm thrilled to be here. Pablo Aimar and I want to see as many players as possible in the next games."

Senegal's Mane seals Liverpool win: Salah proves to be the difference

Liverpool’s James Milner’s converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime and Sadio Mane added a late second to secure a 2-0 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on Monday and maintain a 100 per cent start to the season.

While Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, who is the talisman of Liverpool’s attack was not on the scoresheet, he made major contributions to the Anfield side win.

After Palace’s Andros Townsend rattled the bar with a thundering effort from distance the visitors were awarded a penalty when Mamadou Sakho tripped Mohammed Salah.

Despite Palace’s protests, Milner kept his cool to fire past Wayne Hennessey and send Juergen Klopp’s side into the halftime break with the advantage.

Palace’s task was made harder 15 minutes from time when defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off for bringing down Salah in a goalscoring position.

Mane made it 2-0 in stoppage time with great strength and skill as he broke from the halfway line, after collecting a Salah through ball, and rounded Hennessey before slotting home for Liverpool’s second win in their two games this season.

How Buhari, El-Rufai’s plan to make Tinubu Vice President failed – Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Monday revealed how the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was stopped from being President Muhammadu Buhari’s Vice President in 2015.

Fani-Kayode writing on his Twitter page disclosed that opposition from Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo stopped APC’s plan to field Muslim/Muslim ticket in 2015.

He stated that he was the first to expose APC Muslim/Muslim ticket, describing it as reason why Tinubu hated him so much.

According to him: “I was the first to expose APC’s plan to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket in 2015. Buhari and El Rufai wanted that but Saraki and OBJ opposed it.

“Had it not been for them the APC would have had a Muslim/Muslim ticket and Tinubu would be VP today. That is why Tinubu hates them so much.”

Meanwhile, Saraki earlier revealed that Tinubu has been at loggerheads with him since 2015 after he opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket proposed by the APC.

Hundreds of US news outlets denounce Trump's war on press

US newspapers hit back at President Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on the news media, launching a coordinated campaign of editorials stressing the importance of a free press.

Leading the charge was The Boston Globe, which had issued an appeal for this drive accompanied by the hashtag #EnemyofNone that has been joined by more than 200 newspapers around the country.

“Today in the United States we have a president who has created a mantra that members of the media who do not blatantly support the policies of the current US administration are the ‘enemy of the people,” the Globe editorial said.

“This is one of the many lies that have been thrown out by this president, much like an old-time charlatan threw out ‘magic’ dust or water on a hopeful crowd,” it added in a piece entitled “Journalists are not the Enemy.”

Trump’s treatment of the press is also encouraging strongmen such as Vladimir Putin of Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey to treat journalists like enemies, the Globe argued.



The coordinated effort comes amid Trump’s persistent claims that mainstream media outlets that publish articles critical of him are churning out “fake news.”

Free press advocates argue that Trump’s efforts threaten the role of the news media as a check against abuse of power in government and imperil the constitutional First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press.

The New York Times, one of the most frequent targets of Trump’s criticism, ran a short, seven-paragraph editorial under a giant headline with all capital letters that read “A FREE PRESS NEEDS YOU” and with the statement that it is only right for people to criticize the press, say, for getting something wrong.

“But insisting that truths you don’t like are ‘fake news’ is dangerous to the lifeblood of democracy. And calling journalists the ‘enemy of the people’ is dangerous, period,” the Times wrote.

Across the country, other papers joined in, defending their place in society from upholding the truth to simply saving people time.

“At a practical level, we journalists sit through boring government meetings and learn about public school financing formulas, so you don’t have to,” said The Arizona Daily Star. “It’s not as lofty a statement as the First Amendment, but it serves.”

Cannot sit back

Free press advocates say Trump is a real threat to the role of the press.

“I don’t think the press can just sit back and take it, they need to make their case when the most powerful man in the world tries to undercut the First Amendment,” said Ken Paulson, a former editor-in-chief of USA Today who heads the Newseum’s First Amendment Center and is dean of communications at Middle Tennessee State University.

But Paulson questioned whether editorials would be effective.

“The people who read editorials don’t need to be convinced,” he said. “They are not the ones trying to shout you down at presidential rallies.”

In the face of a White House onslaught, Paulson said the media needs a broader marketing campaign to highlight the importance of a free press as a core value.

The campaign also faces the potential for galvanizing supporters of the president around the notion that the media is out to get him.

“The media are organizing an ever more deliberate and public attack on @realDonaldTrump and on the ‘deplorable’ half of the country who support him. And the media wonders why we think they are ‘fake news?’” tweeted Mike Huckabee, a former Republican governor who is a Fox News commentator.

But media rights advocates say the stakes are too high to allow the president’s claims to go unchecked.

Some say Trump’s comments have incited threats against journalists covering his events, and may have created a climate of hostility that opened the door to violent attacks like a deadly one in June against the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.

Details of Osinbajo’s meeting with governors, security chiefs emerge

The National Economic Council (NEC) says the security situation in Benue Sate has improved.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, briefed State House correspondents after NEC meeting presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.

Abounu said that the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongunu, briefed the council on behalf of the various security agencies on the critical security issues nationwide.

“This ranges from kidnapping, gun-running, cattle rustling, tension between pastoralists and farmers, pipeline vandalism and communal clashes that exist nationwide.

“There is a synergy between the security agencies in tackling the menace of security issues in the county.

“NEC noticed of course, that there is lot of improvement in handling the insecurity situation in the country.

“A particular example that was given is the issue of pastoralists and farmers crisis in some parts of the country especially, North-Central, the North-West and other parts.

“For instance, the deployment of Operation Whirlstroke in Benue, has brought about improvement and especially put a near end to the killings that was very rampant in the area,” he said.

The deputy governor said that the state had started enjoying relative peace.

He said that the council decided that the military personnel in ‘Operation Whirlstroke’ should not be withdrawn in a hurry because their presence will bring about the needed stability.

According to him, such stability is needed to enable the internally displaced persons to return to their various localities.

Abounu said that troops had been deployed to the various flashpoints and a lot of improvements had been recorded.

He added that there were plans regarding the handling of other security problems especially pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

Courtois faces £200,000 fine as Chelsea order disciplinary meeting

Chelsea have opened disciplinary procedures against Thibaut Courtois and are set to hit the goalkeeper with a £200,000 fine for failing to report back to training this week, according to reports.

The 26-year-old has told the club that he wants to join Real Madrid this summer as he wants to be closer to his two children who live in the Spanish capital.

Chelsea are willing to sell Courtois but will only give the deal the green light once a replacement is signed. Courtois was due back to training on Monday alongside his Belgium teammates Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi, but the goalkeeper failed to turn up in what appears to be an attempt to force through his switch to Madrid.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri had planned to hold talks with Courtois in a last-ditch bid to convince him to remain at Stamford Bridge for one more season.

Courtois has refused to return to Chelsea (Getty Images) But according to The Sun, Chelsea have opted to open disciplinary proceedings against the Belgian after he refused to show on Tuesday. It’s also reported that Courtois could be fined £200,000 – equivalent to two week’s wages – as punishment for missing training.

Presidency confirms appointment of Matthew Seiyefa as acting DG DSS

Presidency confirms appointment of Matthew Seiyefa as acting DG DSS

The Presidency, Tuesday evening, confirmed the appointment of Matthew Seiyefa, the most senior Director in the Department of State Services (DSS), as the Acting Director General of the agency.

The information was announced via the official Twitter account of the Presidency.

It reads: “UPDATE: Matthew B. Seiyefa, the most senior Director in the Department of State Services (DSS), will act as Director-General until further notice.” Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier in the day fired the former DG, Lawal Daura.

In a chat with our correspondent, a source close to the presidency said Osinbajo took the decision “following events in the last 24 hours”. PRESS had reported that no fewer than 30 Senators gathered in the wee hours of Tuesday to finalize plan to impeach against Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu.

The meeting was held around 12:30am at a location in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The lawmakers allegedly met with Daura and the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

As part of the plot, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) will be picked as Senate President while Hope Uzodinma (Imo West) will emerge as his deputy.

But according to our source, Osinbajo was in the dark all along and “only heard news of National Assembly invasion like other Nigerians”.

Iran sanctions: Trump warns trading partners

US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to anyone trading with Iran, following his re-imposition of sanctions on the country.

"Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States," the president tweeted. Some re-imposed sanctions took effect overnight and tougher ones relating to oil exports will begin in November.

Iran's president said the measures were "psychological warfare" which aimed to "sow division among Iranians".

The sanctions follow the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, earlier this year.

The deal, negotiated during the presidency of Barack Obama, saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Mr Trump has called the deal "one-sided", "disastrous" and the "worst I've ever seen". He believes renewed economic pressure will force Iran to agree to a new deal.

The European Union, which remains committed to the original agreement. has spoken out against the sanctions, vowing to protect firms doing "legitimate business".

What else did Mr Trump say in his latest tweet?

He praised the "most biting sanctions ever imposed" and said they would "ratchet up to another level" in November.

Iran's automotive sector

A second phase is planned to come back into effect on 5 November which will have implications for Iran's energy and shipping sectors, petroleum trading and transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran.

What has the reaction been?

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US government had "turned their back on diplomacy".

"They want to launch psychological warfare against the Iranian nation." he said. "Negotiations with sanctions doesn't make sense. We are always in favour of diplomacy and talks... but talks need honesty," The foreign ministers of Germany, the UK and France released a statement on Monday that said the nuclear deal remained "crucial" to global security.

They also unveiled a "blocking statute" which is intended to protect European firms doing business with Iran despite the new US sanctions.

Alistair Burt, the UK's minister of state for the Middle East, told the BBC: "If a company fears legal action taken against it and enforcement action taken against it by an entity in response to American sanctions, then that company can be protected as far as EU legislation is concerned."

He said Iran would simply "batten down the hatches" until the next US election. However, German car and lorry maker Daimler, which announced a joint venture in Iran last year, confirmed this week that it has now ceased activities in the country.

Analysis by BBC business correspondent Amir Paivar

Iran's reaction is a mix of defiance and denial. Parliament speaker Ali Larijani says sanctions will strengthen Iran, as the country will become "more self-reliant".

Previous sanctions saw a temporary dash towards manufacturing essential industrial components locally. But they hurt the economy so deeply Iran had to go back to the negotiating table in 2013. Sanctions of this magnitude are more likely to kill industries than boost them.

President Rouhani tried to show a brave face, saying Iran would survive. But his remarks lack recognition both of the extent of dissatisfaction with the economy, and of the ensuing street protests over rising prices, corruption and cronyism. Some Iranians reacted on social media by saying their leaders were in denial and wanted to fight the US at the cost of ordinary people's lives. Presentational grey line

How will Iran's economy be affected?

Iran has seen unrest since last December over a poorly-performing economy.

Rising food prices, unemployment and even poor water supplies have led to protests in a number of cities. Demonstrations in Tehran in June were said to be the capital's biggest since 2012.

Media captionTehran saw large-scale economic protests in June

How much they are tied to the new US sanctions policy

NEWSAtiku reacts to Osinbajo’s sack of DSS DG, Lawal Daura, reveals what should be done next

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has reacted to the sack of the Acting Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura.

Recall that the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo had sacked Daura, following DSS invasion of the National Assembly.

Reacting, the Waziri of Adamawa commended Osinbajo for listening to what he called “the clarion call of Nigerians” and also for taking action to “halt the illegal and anti-democratic siege” on the National Assembly by men of the DSS.

In a statement by his Media Office, the former Vice President said sack of Daura had given meaning to the “cries of Nigerians that we will not tolerate such anti-democracy actions.”

Abubakar, while supporting Osinbajo’s action, called on all statesmen and political leaders to put aside “partisanship and rally round the acting President during these fragile times for our democracy.”

He also called for an “independent judicial panel of inquiry to investigate Tuesday’s incidence at the National Assembly and get to the root of the matter so that those responsible can be identified and punished.’

“These are delicate times for Nigeria and all lovers of democracy and the rule of law must be extra watchful, lest anti-democratic forces take advantage of all we have worked hard to build,” he added

Apple is now worth $1 trillion

Apple just became the first American public company to cross $1 trillion in value. 

The iPhone maker achieved that big number on Thursday when the stock passed $207.04 a share. Apple is now up more than 20% this year.

Shares surged after Apple reported earnings that topped forecasts and a healthy outlook on Wednesday. 

Even though some think Apple (AAPL) needs a new product to keep sales and profits booming, Apple has rallied past the trillion level thanks to solid sales of the iPhone 8 and X — particularly in China and Japan — and surging services revenue from the App Store.

Apple is benefiting from investor euphoria surrounding the tech sector broadly as well — and it could soon have company in the trillion dollar club. 

Amazon (AMZN), Google owner Alphabet (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) have all rallied to near record highs this year, too. Amazon is worth nearly $900 billion while Google and Microsoft are each now worth more than $800 billion. 

Apple is not the first publicly traded company in the world to surpass the trillion dollar mark though. 

Oil giant PetroChina (PTR) briefly topped a trillion dollar valuation in 2007 when its stock began trading in Shanghai, but shares quickly plunged afterward. PetroChina, which is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is now worth about $205 billion.

What Saraki told PDP leaders at NEC meeting

Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Thursday, appealed to the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to accept defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) “from the bottom of their hearts”.

Saraki made this appeal in Abuja, during the 81st national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the opposition party.

“All of you who are here, please receive us from the bottom of your heart, not only in this room but down to the local government and wards because what we are learning in the history is that everybody is important.

“No sacrifice is too much for us to make to reach that promise land; it is only when we get to that promise land, when we see the sacrifice that we are all making, that we see a better tomorrow.

“I want to make an appeal on behalf of all of us because it is easier here in Abuja but when we get back to our constituencies, please let us continue to open our hands and receive other members, that will give us victory come February 2019,” he said.

The meeting had in attendance: Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto state; Samuel Ortom, Benue state Governor and other Senators and members of the House of Representative who crossed over to the PDP from APC.

Willian asks lawyers to act on 'forged' letter

Chelsea midfielder Willian says he has instructed his lawyers to act after a "forged" document was circulated on the "football market".

The letter appears to show the 29-year-old's signature authorising a change of agent to represent him.

However, Willian claimed he "never signed the letter" in an Instagram post on Thursday.

Willian has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer.

In the post, Willian said he had been made aware of a document that "has been circulated through the football market".

"I would like to clarify that I never signed such letter, the content of which I completely deny," he added.

And he alleged there was "clear evidence that my signature has been forged, or anyway misused", which had prompted him to instruct his lawyers "to proceed with all appropriate legal measures before any competent courts or authorities".

The midfielder, who has spent five years at Chelsea, was due to report to pre-season training with the Blues last Friday, after representing Brazil at the World Cup in Russia, but he failed to arrive.

New manager Maurizio Sarri says he is not happy about the "strange" situation, and he will seek immediate talks with Willian.

Trump imposes duty on Rwanda clothes

The US has formally locked out apparel products from Rwanda after the East African nation banned imports of second-hand clothes and shoes.

President Trump has issued a proclamation suspending duty-free treatment for all clothing from Rwanda just six months after he met President Paul Kagame and called him a friend.

Rwandan-made apparel will no longer enter the lucrative American market duty free after President Trump’s proclamation.

The US government says Rwanda has failed to uphold eligibility criteria for the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( Agoa) passed 18 years ago to allow more African products into the US.

Rwanda exported apparel worth $1.5m ( £1m) to the US in 2017 but that is just 3% of the country’s total exports to the US via Agoa.

In 2016, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda agreed to ban used clothing and footwear by 2019 to protect local textile industries.

Kenya and Tanzania backed down after the US threatened to shut out their exports but Rwanda has continued to impose huge tariffs on second-hand clothes and shoes.

The US says that an African ban on second-hand clothes threatens 40,000 American jobs but Rwanda has previously said it will no longer be a dumping ground.