Today's Devotion (Sunday)

Double Portion

DEUTERONOMY 21:10-17

Key Verse:

"But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his" (Deuteronomy 21:17).

In every family, there are some special privileges and rights that every firstborn enjoys. It is generally referred to as birthright, which ascribes to the firstborn the privilege of inheritance. This could vary in form or size from one family to another. In some cases, it could be estates willed to the individuals while in others, it could be a little less than that. But whatever the case, it is expected that the recipient attach utmost importance to it. The first son in Israel had the birthright. This was usually given in a double portion. God commands that whatever the father’s relationship with the mother, whatever scores there are to be settled between a man and his wife, the husband "...shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his" (Deuteronomy 21:17). There are blessings, promises and privileges attached to birthrights. Esau lost the Abrahamic blessings; Reuben, the blessing of lineage of Jesus Christ and Israel the privilege of undertaking special assignments for God which they ceded to the Levites. As Christians and members of the family of God, we have birthrights – promises, privileges and rights. We must be watchful and vehemently resist every temptation to despise and give away our birthright. Because the Levites gave themselves unto the Lord, He also gave Himself unto them. In the New Testament dispensation, believers are partakers of the divine nature and holiness is part of the benefits, promises and privileges. At salvation, we have peace with God when our sins are forgiven; at sanctification, we have the peace of God when the inclination to sin is removed and the adamic nature is purified and purged. The first part of the inheritance is received by confession of faith and the second part by consecration and faith. We should therefore not despise our birthright for temporal need but strive to keep and guard it jealously.

Thought for the day: Do not trade your birthright; it’s doubly packed.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 CORINTHIANS 15-16

What Man City & Man Utd need to do to win Premier League title next season

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were brought to Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford this season to claim major titles - and the attritional goalless draw in Thursday's Manchester derby leaves their hopes of Champions League qualification via league placing still in the balance.

United have at least claimed the Capital One Cup and could reach the Champions League by winning the Europa League, with a semi-final against Celta Vigo to come. But Man City manager Guardiola has suffered the first trophy-less season of his managerial career after the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal.

Both managers will be expected to fight for the Premier League title next season - so what areas must they address?

Manchester City

Goalkeeper conundrum

Guardiola's big decision on arrival was to send England goalkeeper Joe Hart packing to Torino on loan and sign Claudio Bravo from Barcelona in a £17.5m deal - a move that cannot be described as a success.

In Guardiola's defence, 34-year-old Bravo had a fine reputation at Barcelona and had been impressive in helping Chile to win the Copa America as captain on home soil in 2015.

Bravo, however, has looked uncertain, had spells out of the side and has not looked like the answer to City's goalkeeping dilemma. It was almost ironic that he sustained a calf injury against United as he confidently claimed a cross in a manner rarely seen this season. He has not even been convincing with the ball at his feet, something that was almost regarded as his unique selling point when replacing Hart.

Willy Caballero is 35, and with no likelihood of Hart reviving his Manchester City career, Guardiola must decide whether to maintain faith in Bravo, very much his man and signing, or accept this move has failed and move on.

Guardiola would be gambling if he sticks with Bravo, a goalkeeper who earned an unwanted reputation for not making saves. He may need to cast his net elsewhere as few teams win titles with an average goalkeeper.

Age is Man City's defensive barrier

Manchester City were reportedly linked with Tottenham's England right-back Kyle Walker before Thursday's derby and have also been mentioned in connection with his team-mate, left-back Danny Rose.

The chances of signing both are highly unlikely but these positions look certain to be two areas of interest for Guardiola in the summer.

City have talented defenders in those positions who have all been fine servants - but who are all much nearer the end of their careers than the beginning.

Pablo Zabaleta has been a magnificent player for City but is now 32. Bacary Sagna is 34 while Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov are both 31. This is an area in urgent need of young blood and renewal.

John Stones has had a tough introduction since his £47.5m move from Everton but has the quality to be a top-class City central defender for years to come.

And the current return to form and fitness of inspirational captain Vincent Kompany - outstanding against Manchester United - is a welcome bonus.

The 31-year-old can save City money in the markets should he stay fit, but the form of Nicolas Otamendi means Guardiola is likely to be looking for central defensive reinforcements.

Former England forward Chris Waddle watched the Manchester derby as a BBC Sport pundit and said: "It is easy to see what the biggest thing is that needs to change for City to get closer to winning the title. Their defence.

"That starts with the goalkeeper. Whether Pep Guardiola likes Bravo or not, I don't think he is the top-class keeper you need to win the league and neither is Caballero.

"I know he wants someone there who can use the ball with his feet and play the way he wants, but he also has to be able to stop the ball from going in the net because they concede too many goals.

"He also needs three defenders - a centre-back and two full-backs."

Guardiola's team must get ruthless

Manchester City - for a team of such enviable attacking riches - often suffer from a frustrating failure to make superiority count.

It was seen, albeit with large slices of bad luck, in the FA Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal at Wembley and also against Manchester United, when they could not break through despite camping out in their half for almost the entire second period.

In the league, City dominated at home to Spurs but drew 2-2 in January, and earlier in April they failed to build on dominance and an early Leroy Sane goal in a 2-2 draw at the Gunners.

Guardiola must believe that with the likes of Sergio Aguero, with 30 goals in all competitions, and the creativity of Kevin de Bruyne, Sane, Raheem Sterling and the emerging brilliance of Gabriel Jesus to call on, this problem will eventually solve itself.

David Silva is still an outstanding player and City will hope Ilkay Gundogan can build on his fine start once he recovers from a serious knee injury.

The talent is there but Guardiola will know City simply cannot be as generous next season as they have been in this campaign.

Manchester United

Keep De Gea or replace with world class?

It's that time again - when United goalkeeper David de Gea is linked with a return to his native Spain with Real Madrid.

De Gea's proposed £29m move to Real broke down in August 2015 but now the rumour mill is awash with talk it could be revived, although United would not even pick up the phone at the price agreed first time around.

At 26, De Gea is not even at his peak with years of quality and improvement to come. He is already in the elite group of the world's best keepers. United will demand twice as much as that initial fee if any potential move is to get off the ground.

United's preference would be to keep De Gea, who has maintained a superb level of consistency after he became accustomed to the demands of United and the Premier League following his £18.9m move from Atletico Madrid in June 2011.

If he does leave, though, his importance means United can only move at the top end of the market for a replacement. Sergio Romero is a fine deputy but the Argentine is just that - a deputy.

United could return to Atletico for 24-year-old Slovenian Jan Oblak, but being as though they are already linked with striker Antoine Griezmann, Atletico manager Diego Simeone is unlikely to want two prize assets presented to Old Trafford.

Another Slovenian, Inter Milan's 32-year-old Samir Handanovic, has a good reputation while AC Milan's brilliant 18-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma is regarded as the world's best young keeper and is reportedly involved in contract negotiations with his club.

United's preference will surely be to keep De Gea - but if he goes there must be a high-end replacement.

Ditch the draws to find success

One statistic stands out when it comes to analysing Manchester United's failure to mount a title challenge - 13 draws from 33 league games.

United's run of 24 unbeaten league games stretching back to October should have them in the title mix with Chelsea and Spurs, but a lack of wins has sabotaged those ambitions.

And nine of those have come at Old Trafford, with the likes of Stoke City, Burnley, West Ham United, Hull City, Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion all leaving "The Theatre Of Dreams" unbeaten.

The margins are fine and many of those games could and should have been wins, but Mourinho must find a way to cure a serious problem.

Sprinkle stardust on Old Trafford

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at 35, has proved a magnificent, charismatic addition on a free transfer with 28 goals following his move from Paris St-Germain.

Sadly, there must be doubts over his future after sustaining a serious knee injury in the Europa League quarter-final win against Anderlecht.

Wayne Rooney, an unused substitute at Manchester City, is also surely coming to the end of his 251-goal Manchester United career at the end of the season. He is 31 and his time at United, stretching back to 2004, looks done.

Mourinho has attacking resources in the exciting Marcus Rashford and Antony Martial, as well as goal threat from the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. But he needs another a game-changing superstar to add gold dust and goals to raise United's level - and maybe stop those damaging draws.

One man stands out as a potential target - 26-year-old Griezmann.

The France striker would cost a fee in the region of the £89m it required to bring Paul Pogba from Juventus, and there must be questions about whether the he would even entertain a move to United if they were not in the Champions League next season.

'Let Manchester United off the leash'

Is the fact United have drawn so many games a sign that Jose Mourinho applies the handbrake to his players?

Waddle thinks so and told BBC Sport after the derby: "There is a reason they have drawn too many games. Next season, Mourinho has got to know when to be a little bit more attack-minded against certain teams.

"It is against the lesser sides that United have struggled, and that is where Mourinho needs to change. He has got to have more players in his team who can open doors and score goals.

"He might argue that his side dominate possession every time they play at Old Trafford without getting the rewards.

"Mourinho is great at organising his teams against the top sides but he has to let them off the leash more if he wants to get results. Creativity is the hardest thing to bring to a team.

"The way he sets up, his wide men are not luxury players - he wants them up and down that flank and it is hard work for a winger to do that all game, making 70, 80 yard runs all the time."

City and United are locked in a battle for places in the league's top four - but managers of the pedigree of Guardiola and Mourinho must deliver more.

Source: All Football

Tottenham join Chelsea and AC Milan in race to sign Ghoulam

Tottenham have joined Chelsea and AC Milan in race to sign Napoli star Fauzi Ghoulam who is contracted with the Serie A giants until 2018 but has no intention to sign a new deal with his club.

Calciomercato.com exclusively reported AC Milan met representatives of the Algeria International yesterday as the rossoneri are planning to replace their wantaway defender Mattia De Sciglio with Napoli’s 26-year-old star.

The talented left-back is on a € 800.000-a-year deal at Napoli and the partenopei have offered him a new € 1.8 million-a-year deal. Ghoulam, however, has demanded a € 2.5 million-a-year salary throwing his Napoli future into doubt.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (via mondonapoli) claims the player’s wife wants to remain in Naples to grow the couple’s child and that may persuade the Algerian left-back to sign a contract extension with the club.

Bayern Munich have also been monitoring the situation of Ghoulam as they are looking for a long-time replacement for their captain Philip Lahm who will retire at the end of the season.

Source: All Football

Trump administration considering assisting Arab coalition in war against Houthis

The new US administration is aware that the conflict in Yemen has been stirred by Iranian interference. (AFP)

US officials have revealed that elaborate discussions are taking place within the administration of President Donald Trump that will provide more assistance to the Gulf States in their war against the Houthi militias and their Iranian allies.

According to Reuters, they explained that this aid includes expanding the range of intelligence provided by Washington. Administration officials have not ruled out US assistance in the battle to be waged by the coalition and the Yemeni army on the port of al-Hudaydah, explaining that they would not strike at Houthi targets or deploy ground troops.

According to sources, the naval support will be through maritime surveillance and preventing arm smuggling to the militias across the Red Sea while the intelligence aid will provide more Intel on the movements of the Houthis that Americans are monitoring through the satellites.

The new US administration is aware that the conflict in Yemen has been stirred by Iranian interference, which has become an obstacle to the war on al-Qaeda and threatens the strategically important Bab Al Mandab strait.

Observers confirm that Iran is helping to raise the level of proficiency of guerrilla fighters. The commander of the US Central Command’s Marine Corps believes that the militias have weapons they did not have before the war, including long range Ballistic missiles.

An Emirati official revealed that the militias have aircraft, anti-tank missiles, ships and land and marine mines.

Source: Al arabiya

Today's Devotion (Saturday)

 

Love, Not Hatred

1 SAMUEL 20:24-34

Key Verse:

"And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David" (1 Samuel 20:33).

Being loved is the second-best thing in the world, while loving someone is the best. When you love, you do yourself a favour because you open the floodgates of love from others to you. Hatred or a feeling of revenge does more harm to the hater than the hated. This is because the hater bears alone the tearing within, of a deep-seated, untreated wound everywhere he goes. Oh, what needless pain! King Saul, in our text, displayed so much anger as a result of hatred for David that he almost killed his heir-apparent, Jonathan, with a javelin. Saul had been after David’s life since the day the women of Israel sang and attributed ten thousands victory to David and just thousands to him (1 Samuel 18:6-9). His jealousy and hatred made him forget the victory that God wrought in Israel through David. He so sought David’s life at all costs that he lost his peace of mind and murdered eighty-five priests including men, women and children (1 Samuel 22:6-19). The Scripture is clear on the issue of hatred. "...He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:14,15). You cannot harbour thoughts of hatred, malice, strive, envy, jealousy, wickedness or vengeance in your heart against anyone and claim to have eternal life at the same time. The love of God in the heart of many Christians today is decreasing because the devil is stealthily gaining access into their minds through a swarm of iniquities that dug the landscape. Examine your life to see if the true love of God still abides in you. Do you still love people sincerely and unconditionally as you used to when you first met the Lord? Christ counsels: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent..."

Thought for the day: Love, a spiritual force transforms an enemy into a friend.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 CORINTHIANS 12-14

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pushed the UN Security Council on Thursday to focus “all eyes and all pressure” on Russia. (AFP)

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pushed the UN Security Council on Thursday to focus “all eyes and all pressure” on Russia to try and end the Syrian conflict and pressed for council action even if it faces a veto by Moscow.

“They are the ones who could stop this if they wanted to,” Haley said of Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his country’s six-year-long civil war. “We need to put pressure on Russia.”

Russia has vetoed eight resolutions on Syria to shield Assad’s government from action, most recently blocking a council condemnation of a deadly chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people, many of whom were children. China has backed Russia and vetoed six resolutions.

“I will continue to press the Security Council to act, to do something, regardless of if the Russians continue to veto it because it is our voice that needs to be heard,” Haley told a Security Council meeting on aid access in Syria.

“Russia continues to cover for the Syrian regime, Russia continues to allow them to keep humanitarian aid from the people that need it, Russia continues to cover for a leader who uses chemical weapons against his own people,” she said.

Responding to Haley’s remarks, Deputy Russian UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev told the council that Russia, Iran and Turkey were working to ensure compliance with a cessation of hostilities to allow delivery of humanitarian aid.

“Neither you nor Western colleagues said a single word about what you are doing to improve the situation,” Iliichev said.

source: Al arabiya

Today's Devotion (Friday)

Escape From God’s Anger

1 KINGS 15:25-34

Key Verse:

"Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger" (1 Kings 15:30).

God is described in the Scriptures as the Almighty Creator, loving Father and merciful Redeemer; but He is also described as the All-knowing Judge and a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:23,29). He watches our thoughts, words and actions to see if they conform to His laid-down precepts of righteousness and holy living. And for anyone who chooses to disregard His commandments and warnings, judgment is certain. In the text, Nadab’s (the son of Jeroboam) reign was exactly like that of his father who made Israel to sin and provoked God to anger with the sins of idolatry, disobedience and forsaking of the words of the Lord. God’s judgment came upon him and he was destroyed with every member of his family by Baasha according to the word of the Lord spoken through prophet Ahijah. Several other instances abound in the Scripture of God’s judgment. The first man and woman were judged by God for their disobedience. Cain was judged for his wickedness. All the people who refused to repent in the time of Noah perished; the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were also judged. Egypt also experienced divine judgment when they refused to release Israel from captivity. Even the children of Israel were not spared when they sinned in the wilderness. If you look closely at each of these cases, you will realise that indeed, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). God’s judgment is certain. He is plenteous in mercy to those who humble themselves before Him but fearful in judgment to those who despise the manifold riches of His grace. Be wise; escape for your life. If you choose to be obedient to the warnings of the Lord, repent of your sins and live a consistent Christian life, you will certainly avoid God’s anger and ultimately get to heaven. But if you choose to linger in sin, the consequences will be severe and regrettable.

Thought for the day: A presumptuous attitude towards God is a deadly opiate for the sinner.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 CORINTHIANS 8-11

Turkish army, Kurdish militia exchange fire across Syria border

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported clashes between Kurdish fighters and Turkish forces along the border near Darbasiya. (Reuters)

Turkey’s military outposts on the border with Syria came under fire from Kurdish militia across the frontier, the army said on Wednesday, a day after Turkish warplanes bombed groups in northeastern Syria and Iraq affiliated to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Four outposts of the Turkish army along the Syria border were attacked on Wednesday with artillery and mortar shells, the army said.

Three of the attacks were carried out from territory held by the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, while the other originated from a region under the control of the Syrian government. There were no casualties but minor material damage.

YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said there was heavy Turkish artillery fire across the border into Syria on Wednesday. The shelling hit near Darbasiya, a town in a Kurdish-controlled part of northeast Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported clashes between Kurdish fighters and Turkish forces along the border near Darbasiya.

Tensions in the area escalated after Turkish warplanes struck Kurdish targets in Iraq’s Sinjar region and northeast Syria, killing about 70 inside the two neighboring states, according to a Turkish military statement.

The air strikes in Syria targeted the YPG, a key component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the United States and have been closing in on the ISIS bastion of Raqqa.

The Turkish raids showed the challenges facing US-led attempts to defeat ISIS in Syria and tension between NATO allies Washington and Ankara over Kurdish combatants who have been crucial in driving back the extremists.

Ankara sees the YPG as a hostile force and an extension of the outlawed PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state and is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

On Wednesday, Turkish warplanes continued cross-border raids, striking Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq and killed six militants, the army said.

‘Inadequate’

Turkey’s strikes drew criticism from the United States and Russia. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has long said Ankara would not allow Iraq’s Sinjar to become a PKK base, said all partners were informed ahead of the operation.

The Turkish military gave the US-led coalition against ISIS less than an hour of advance notice, a US coalition spokesman said on Wednesday, describing it as inadequate time to ensure the safety of forces on the ground.

“That’s not enough time and this was...not coordination as you would expect from a partner and an ally in the fight against ISIS,” US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian told a Pentagon teleconference.

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu said the partners were informed through both military and diplomatic channels.

The Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar, responsible for providing command and air control in regions including Iraq and Syria, was also informed in advance, Muftuoglu said.

The Russian foreign ministry said Turkey’s had violated the fundamental principles of intergovernmental relations.

Source: Al arabiya

Today's Devotion (Thursday)

Be Prepared!

LUKE 12:32-48

Key Verse:

"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not" (Luke 12:40).

The Boys’ Scouts motto briefly reads: "Be prepared". This is at once a synopsis, an abbreviated message to the discerning to be well tutored for every situation in life. Nothing can be more succinct for the believer who is firmly admonished to always be ready for the sudden emergence of Christ at the rapture. Without this state of readiness, the unwary, so-called believer might be left behind. Jesus teaches the importance of being ready at all times for the rapture. He states that blessed are those servants waiting and watching, giving the illustration that the return of the Lord will be like the break-in of a thief and the loss of precious valuables. He advises believers to be ready always as His coming will be sudden. The uncertainty of the time of the Lord’s return should jolt every believer to never retire to bed at night without taking stock of his or her life and settle any scores with others. It is incumbent on the believer to forgive offenders and remain blameless within and without. During the day, as we go about our duties (whether spiritual or secular), we should be vigilant. Don’t be too encumbered with or too busy to miss the call-up signal. Don’t be so weighed down by the affairs of this world that you become too heavy to be caught-up to be with the Lord in the air. Get rid of every leaven of carnality, worldliness, hypocrisy and sin which can sap all spiritual strength. The life of Enoch who walked with God for so long and was called up alive is a reality to reflect on. "It is not over until it is over" – so goes the popular saying. And nowhere is this more applicable than in the race to heaven. The countdown to eternity has begun. Get prepared like the bride who is fully prepared for her bridegroom. Get washed in the blood of the Lamb, remain pure and live blamelessly.

Thought for the day: Be ready: it’s not over until it is over.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 CORINTHIANS 5-7

Nigeria Police Force commences investigation into the threats made by their officer to kill 200 people if Buhari dies

Earlier today, LIB reported about a police office, Inusa Saidu Biu from Borno state, who threatened to kill at least 200 people if anything happens to President Buhari. Inusa threatened Nigerians in his post on Facebook, saying if anything happens to the president, he will murder 200 innocent people in revenge.

The Nigeria Police Force has now reacted. A statement released minutes ago by Force Public Relations officer (FPRO), read;

"The Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigation into the unfortunate Personal comments made by the alleged Police officer named Inusa Saidu Biu on his Facebook account. Police officers are not to make unauthorized public comments."

Deparadigm

Trump proposing ‘biggest tax cut’ in US history

Mnuchin said the proposed overhaul would amount to “the biggest tax cut” and the “largest tax reform” in US history. (AP)

President Donald Trump is proposing “the biggest tax cut” ever, even as the government struggles with mounting debt, in an effort to fulfill his promises to stimulate job creation and middle class prosperity.

White House officials on Wednesday were to release broad outlines of a tax overhaul that would provide massive tax cuts to businesses big and small. The top tax rate for individuals would drop by a few percentage points, from 39.6 percent to the “mid-30s,” according to an official with knowledge of the plan.

Small businesses would see their top tax rate go from 39.6 percent to the proposed corporate tax rate of 15 percent, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a Wednesday morning speech.

Mnuchin said the proposed overhaul would amount to “the biggest tax cut” and the “largest tax reform” in US history.

He said the lower tax rate for small business owners - a category that under current legal definitions could include doctors, lawyers and even companies such the Trump Organization - would not be used as a loophole for the rich to reduce their tax burden.

But the Treasury secretary declined to say there would be no absolute tax cut for the wealthy, a promise he made last year during a TV interview. “Our objective is simplifying personal taxes,” he said.

The plan will not include provisions to increase spending on infrastructure projects, one possible sweetener that could help gain congressional support.

The proposal faces a massive hurdle in that lower rates would blow a hole in the budget, possibly causing the national debt to soar by more than a trillion dollars over a decade.

Without additional revenue sources to offset the tax cuts, the broad proposal would need Democratic support to clear the required 60 votes in the Senate. Congressional Republicans could pass changes on their own with a simple Senate majority, but that would only be temporary under Senate rules.

Mnuchin said he would like the tax overhaul to be permanent, but “if we have them for 10 years, that’s better than nothing.”

Trump sent his team to Capitol Hill Tuesday evening to discuss his plan with Republican leaders.

“They went into some suggestions that are mere suggestions and we’ll go from there,” said GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The White House’s presentation will be “pretty broad in the principles,” said Marc Short, Trump’s director of legislative affairs.

In the coming weeks, Trump will solicit more ideas on how to improve the plan, Short said. The specifics should start to come this summer.

Short said the administration did not want to set a firm timeline, after demanding a quick House vote on a health care bill and watching it fail.

But, Short added, “I don’t see this sliding into 2018.”

Republicans who slammed the growing national debt under President Barack Obama have said they are open to Trump’s tax plan, even though it could add trillions of dollars to the deficit over the next decade.

Echoing the White House, Republicans argue the cuts would spur economic growth, reducing or even eliminating any drop in tax revenue.

“I’m not convinced that cutting taxes is necessarily going to blow a hole in the deficit,” Hatch said.

“I actually believe it could stimulate the economy and get the economy moving,” he said. “Now, whether 15 percent is the right figure or not, that’s a matter to be determined.”

The argument that tax cuts pay for themselves has been debunked by economists from across the political spectrum.

On Tuesday, the official scorekeeper for Congress dealt the argument - and Trump’s plan - another blow.

The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation said a big cut in corporate taxes, even if temporary, would add to long-term budget deficits. This is a problem for Republicans because it means they would need Democratic support in the Senate to pass a tax overhaul that significantly cuts corporate taxes.

Republicans have been working under a budget maneuver that would allow them to pass a tax bill without Democratic support in the Senate, but only if it doesn’t add to long-term deficits.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Senate was sticking to that strategy.

“Regretfully we don’t expect to have any Democratic involvement in” a tax overhaul, McConnell said. “So we’ll have to reach an agreement among ourselves.”

Democrats said they smell hypocrisy over the growing national debt, which stands at nearly $20 trillion. For decades, Republican lawmakers railed against saddling future generations with trillions in debt.

But with Republicans controlling Congress and the White House, there is no appetite at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue to tackle the long-term drivers of debt, Social Security and Medicare. Instead, Republicans are pushing for tax cuts and increased defense spending.

“I’m particularly struck by how some of this seems to be turning on its head Republican economic theory,” said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

Source: Al arabiya

Lai Mohammed said; Buhari to now work from home

President Buhari

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says President Buhari will henceforth begin to work from his home in the Presidential villa Abuja. President Buhari for the third time in weeks, was absent from the Federal Executive Council meeting today April 26th.

Speaking with state house correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi osinbajo, Lai Mohamed said President Buhari needs some rest and has asked that all his work files be brought to his residence in the villa so he can continue with his work.

Deparadigm

Roma, Napoli, Inter, Milan and Fiorentina are all interested in Baselli

Torino midfielder Daniele Baselli is reportedly in demand, with a whole host of top Serie A sides said to be considering a summer move.

According to Tuttosport, Roma, Napoli, Inter, Milan and Fiorentina are all interested in the 25-year-old former Atalanta youth product.

At Torino since summer 2015, Baselli has represented Italy at U18, U19 and U21 levels and is tipped to soon break into the first team under former boss Giampiero Ventura.

Meanwhile the Granata are looking to tie the player down, reportedly deciding to start negotiations for a contract renewal, with his current agreement set to expire in 2019.

Source: All Football

In Mauritania, doctors compete with sorcerers for patients

Vendors and traders pass through yellow plastic curtains at an oceanside fish market in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott. (Illustrative photo: Reuters)

Nouakchott - In the heart of the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott a street is filled with sorcerers and fortune tellers who make a living by claiming they can heal the sick, chase away bad luck and bring good fortune.

Dubbed the “collective clinic street”, the location frequented by sorcerers makes it one of the busiest streets in the Mauritanian capital. It has been chosen by dozens of Mauritanian sorcerers as well as Africans for work. They live in filthy camps and small huts on the roadside and offer their skills those who seek their help.

Ironically, this street is located near the largest health cluster of clinics in the country. They compete with actual doctors to attract and treat patients. Before making it to the health compound, the patient passes the place of gathering of sorcerers and astrologers and so naturally, they try to convince the patient that they have the answers to what ails them and recipes for a full recovery.

Ironically, the street frequented by sorcerers is located near the largest health cluster of clinics in the country. (Supplied)

Despite the security campaigns carried out by the authorities to chase them away, many still remain on the street. Mauritanian society is among the most believing society in the mystic powers of charlatans and seeks the advice of fortune tellers and astrologers hoping to find solutions to their problems.

“Ignorance, poverty, lack of religious faith, inability to solve daily problems and the search for luck, as well as customs, traditions and social mentality, have made Mauritanians approve the charlatans and astrologers whose numbers have multiplied and have come from far away African countries because they found in Mauritania a fertile ground for work and earn money easily especially that people react to their activities and welcome them,” Sayed Ahmed Ould Abdallah, a Mauritanian pharmacist, told Al Arabiya.

“Infertility, the quest for marriage, tarot reading, exorcism, protection against the evil eye and the search for success and wealth, are the problems and diseases that drive Mauritanians to resort to sorcerers and charlatans, who sell them only illusions, fables and superstition, in exchange for large sums of money spent by families in the hope of finding solutions to their crises” Ould Abdallah said, adding, “the need to raise awareness of the dangers of this phenomenon among the groups of society and warn them of the consequences of resorting to such hoax.”

Source: Al arabiya

Barcelona will attempt to sign Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin

Barcelona chief Robert Fernandez has dropped the biggest hint yet that they are planning a summer swoop for Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin by admitting they need a new right-back.

The La Liga giants have been linked with the Gunners star for months as they look to fill their problematic position.

And it now appears they will be going all out to try and bring the 22-year-old, who was in their Masia academy before his departure in 2011, back to the Nou Camp.

Fernandez, when asked whether they wanted to sign a new right-back, told RAC1: “We can do something there. It’s true. Signing [a right-back] could be now important.

“Well, Bellerin is a player who has a contract at Arsenal. He is a magnificent player, undoubtedly, but there are more right-backs [who could be interested]. Barcelona have the obligation to have many right-backs under control.”

Sergio Roberto and Aleix Vidal have been used in the role this season following the loss of Dani Alves a year ago.

However, the latter has been ruled out since February while the former is usually deployed in midfield.

Meanwhile, Bellerin is not the only man linked with a move to Barcelona this summer that Fernandez was willing to discuss.

Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu is currently impressing on loan at Serie A giants AC Milan.

As part of the deal that took him to Goodison is 2015, Barca chiefs inserted a £10.2million buy-back clause into the agreement. And they look ready to activate that this summer.

He added: “We have the option to incorporate him by activating the clause. We can do it, we will think about it. He is playing well and as a starter.

“I like him. He’s a young player who came from our academy. He has good conditions to help the team.

"It's an option that I really like but we have to wait. This season he had a difficult start at Everton but he is doing well at Milan.

"He is playing well and was called up by the national team. This is good news for the club.

"He has an important role to play [in the final decision]. The decision of the player is always important. Clubs have an important role [in a signing], but players do as well. The player has an important part in the final decision."

Source: All Football

Citi gets capital markets license to operate in Saudi Arabia

Citigroup has obtained a license to conduct capital markets business in Saudi Arabia. (Shutterstock)

Citigroup has obtained a license to conduct capital markets business in Saudi Arabia, a move that will allow the US bank to return to the kingdom to offer banking services after an absence of almost 13 years.

The business, which will be branded Citigroup Saudi Arabia, will provide a full range of investment banking services including debt and equity capital markets operations, according to a Citi statement.

The license comes as the Gulf country seeks to diversify its funding resources away from oil revenues under its National Transformation Plan.

“Saudi Arabia has embarked on a profound economic transformation journey and we are excited and committed to contributing to this endeavor,” said Jim Cowles, Citi’s CEO for Europe Middle East and Africa.

Citi, which had formally applied for a license, is not the only international bank seeking to expand in Saudi Arabia.

Global lenders such as Credit Suisse are also exploring the possibility of obtaining banking licenses as a number of investment opportunities open up in the kingdom.

The most notable is the government’s plan to list up to 5 percent of oil giant Saudi Aramco in an initial public share offering that could raise as much as $100 billion.

Citi exited Saudi Arabia in 2004, when it sold a 20 percent stake in Samba Financial Group. In 2015, it obtained permission from the Saudi regulator to invest directly in the country’s stock market.

On April 17, the bank appointed Carmen Haddad as head of the bank’s Saudi Arabia business, with the mandate to lead the bank’s strategy and business development in the kingdom.

There are over a dozen licensed foreign bank branches in Saudi Arabia, including Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, according to the Saudi central bank’s website.

Source: Al arabiya