Obama says what Muslims 'don’t hear often'

US President Barack Obama has made his first visit to a mosque to denounce the anti-Islam rhetoric promoted by GOPers in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, telling Muslims outside Baltimore that Christians "have to understand: An attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths."

Obama attended Wednesday at the Islamic Society of Baltimore in Windsor Mill, Maryland, where he spoke against "hugely distorted impression" of Muslims in the country.

Anti-Muslim discourse was intensified by the Republican candidates, with billionaire Donald Trump in the vanguard, after terrorist bombings by Takfiri affiliates of Daesh in Paris and San Bernardo, California.

“You’ve seen, too often, people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith,” Obama said tacitly touching on the discourse, calling the rhetoric an “inexcusable” one with “no place” in the country.

“We have to reject a politics that seeks to manipulate prejudice or bias and targets people because of religion. We’ve got to make sure that hate crimes are punished and that the civil rights of all Americans are upheld.”

The US president, who had taken off his shoes as Muslims do to respect the place of worship, said he was “grateful” for the efforts that the Muslim community has made “to keep us as one American family.”

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Minister says Artists' Village here to stay, promises to encourage Artists

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Monday paid an unscheduled visit to the Artists' Village at the National Theatre in Lagos, and promised that everything will be done to provide a conducive environment for Artists to thrive.

''The Artists' Village is here to stay,'' the Minister told the hordes of Artists who welcomed him to the village, which has been in the news in recent times after it was affected by the demolition of shanties within the National Theatre complex.

''We'll do everything to encourage the Arts. Within our little resources, we'll make sure that arts thrive,'' he said, while assuring that this will be a new era of better rapport between Artists and the Ministry of Information and Culture, as well as with the management of the National Theatre.

Alhaji Mohammed, who toured the village to see the damage done to the work of some of the Artists during the demolition exercise, promised to assist those affected as soon as he received their report detailing the losses they incurred during the demolition, and after studying the report he personally commissioned into the incident.

He said the village, which houses Arts and Dance Studios, among others, was under-developed and that the government will do more to develop and promote the village.

''We will build more on what we met here. Out of the ruins of this village will emerge a befitting Artists Village that will comprise standard studios, dance theatres and stands where artists can exhibit and even sell their works.

''Arts and Culture have placed Nigeria on the world map, perhaps second only to sports. Nigeria's work of arts are being celebrated globally. It is the responsibility of the government to promote them,'' the Minister said.

He urged the Artists to take advantage of the 500-billion-Naira Intervention Fund which the government has set aside in the 2016 budget, with a view to accessing the funds they need to expand the scope of their work.

Alhaji Mohammed also met with Mr. Smart Owie, the artist who was allegedly shot in the leg during the demolition exercise, and secured the assurances of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure that he is provided with the necessary police report to facilitate his treatment.

The Minister urged the artists to eschew bitterness and refrain from aggravating the situation, while the government awaits their report on the situation.

It was the second time since the incident occurred that the Minister had visited the Artists' Village.

British woman dies after developing blood clot caused by taking contraceptive pill

A British woman was killed by brain damage caused by a blood clot she developed after taking a contraceptive pill.

Charlotte Foster, 23, is thought to have died after suffering from a blood clot in her chest, a rare side effect of the medication.

The business executive died in the hospital in Telford, Shropshire, on Jan. 25,reported Mirror Online.

Her heartbroken parents Stephen and Cecilia described their daughter as extremely popular and said that she would be sorely missed.

“We are devastated at the sudden and unexpected loss of a very much-loved daughter, sister and granddaughter,” they said in a statement.

“Charlotte was a lively, intelligent, beautiful and caring young lady who will be deeply missed by her family, friends and work colleagues.”

Staff at Shrewsbury High School, where Foster studied, also paid tribute.

“Charlotte was always a very bubbly, happy and immensely caring girl who proudly went on to study at Liverpool University,” said headmaster Michael Getty.

“Charlotte still retained many friendships with her former high school classmates, who were also devastated to hear of her death.”

A preliminary inquest heard she had been prescribed the birth control pill Dianette by her doctor and her cause of death was recorded as “hypoxic brain damage as a result of a pulmonary embolism,” caused by the oral contraceptive pill.

British vicar installs locked gates to stop couples having sex on church steps

He’s praying for them to cool off a little.

A British vicar has installed iron gates at the steps of his church to prevent amorous couples from having sex on holy ground.

Rev. Tom Honey has been forced to put locked gates at the entrance to St. David’s Church in Exeter, Devon, after couples were caught on camera getting intimate at a side entrance.

Honey said local authorities were doing little to prevent the rowdy behavior being repeated, according to Mirror Online.

“Installing the gates is a positive step for the church, it will protect the property, its staff, volunteers and visitors from the anti-social behavior which the opening was being used for,” he said.

The cash for the gates came as part of a restoration project at the church.

Obasanjo tolerated me for three-and-half years — Buhari

Speaking in  the Ogun State capital, Buhari, who was the special guest at the 40th anniversary of the state, said Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Petroleum and tolerated him for three and half years.

He said:  “I express my thanks to General Obasanjo, who, as Head of State, made me Minister of Petroleum and tolerated me for three-and-half-years.

He tolerated me because God knows and he knows that I am not used to working as hard as he used to, but he allowed me to last that long and allowed me to work.

“If you go into records, that government made so much investment and infrastructural development in the petroleum industry.

“Two refineries were built, Warri and Kaduna. More than 20 depots were built; more than 3,500 pipelines were laid; and we were exporting refined products of 100,000 barrels per day. But what do we have today?”

Buhari said Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State had people-oriented programmes and prayed that the people of the state would continue “being lucky to have a governor that would look after them.”

The President said the transformation in the state capital was so obvious that although he was posted to Abeokuta when he was newly-commissioned in the army, he would not be able to trace his way around the town again.

He said: “I have previously, on commissioning of some projects, expressed my gratitude to the governor of Ogun State for inviting me and identifying me with his success.

“On my commissioning in January 1963, my first posting was to Abeokuta, where 2nd Infantry Battalion, Nigerian Army used to be. We were living in wooden flats, which were built in the last war and I was here for some time before I was posted to Lagos.

“But today if you drive me around Abeokuta and you ask me where the barracks is, I assure you that I will get missing. I won’t be able to remember Lisabi Club where we used to sit, those of us who used to drink Fanta and listen to music.

“Your programmes are certainly people-oriented. We have commissioned roads, schools and legal complex headquarters, where I met justices and I made an observation to the governor that women were more than men. I am just wondering that gentlemen, the ladies are taking over in very important profession.”

With Vanguard