COLU @ CONCEPTS

Turkey referendum: Final campaigning ahead of landmark vote The final day of campaigning is taking place in Turkey ahead of a referendum on whether to grant sweeping new powers to the president. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to replace the parliamentary system with an executive presidency. Approval could see him stay in office until 2029. Supporters say a "yes" vote would streamline and modernise the country; opponents fear the move would lead to increasingly authoritarian rule. The referendum could bring about the biggest change to the governing system since the modern republic was founded almost a century ago. It also takes place under a state of emergency which was imposed following  a failed coup last July . A government crackdown since then has seen tens of thousands of people arrested. President Erdogan told supporters at one of his final rallies, in Istanbul's Tuzla district: "The new constitution will bring stabilit...

Syria war: Huge bomb kills dozens of evacuees in Syria A huge car bomb has blasted a convoy of coaches carrying evacuees from besieged government-held towns in Syria, killing at least 39 people. It shattered coaches and set cars on fire, leaving a trail of bodies including children, as the convoy waited in rebel territory near Aleppo. There are fears of revenge attacks on a convoy of evacuees from rebel-held towns, being moved under a deal. But reports suggest both convoys have resumed their journey or will do soon. The "Four Towns" deal brokered by Iran and Qatar was meant to relieve suffering in besieged towns - Foah and Kefraya in the north-west which are under government control, and rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani near Damascus. About 20,000 besieged people would be taken out in all. According to AFP news agency, up to 5,000 government evacuees and 2,200 from rebel towns had been stranded in transit on Sunday. Last month, the UN described the situatio...

North Korea 'ready for nuclear attack' amid show of force North Korea has warned the US not to take provocative action in the region, saying it is "ready to hit back with nuclear attacks". The comments came as North Korea marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-sung. A huge parade in Pyongyang was held amid speculation current leader Kim Jong-un could order a new nuclear test. Among the hardware on display appeared to be new intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The show of strength comes amid mounting tension,  with a US aircraft carrier group steaming towards the region . "We're prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war," said Choe Ryong-hae, believed to be the country's second most powerful official. "We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks," he said. Rows of military bands and goose-steppi...

US troops to help Somalia fight al-Shabab The US says it is sending dozens of troops to Somalia to train forces fighting Islamist group al-Shabab. This is the first time regular US troops have been deployed in Somalia since 1994, although some counter-terrorism advisers are already there. President Donald Trump last month approved a directive allowing tougher action against al-Shabab. In 1993, 18 US special forces personnel were killed in the incident dramatised in the Hollywood film Black Hawk Down. Who are Somalia's al-Shabab? The deaths, and the shooting down of two US helicopters in Mogadishu, shocked the US and the rest of its military personnel were withdrawn from Somalia shortly afterwards. Hundreds of Somalis were also killed in the 15-hour battle sparked when US forces tried to  capture close allies of warlord Mohammed Farah Aideed . Since then, the US has restricted most of its activities in Somalia to drone and missile attacks against Islamis...

Why Buhari was missing from FEC meeting President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice PResident Yemi Osinbajo at the president’s office at the State House, Abuja on March 13, 2017. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA The Presidency on Wednesday said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting because President Mohammadu Buhari was engaged with other pressing state issues. This is the first time Vice President ‎Osinbajo will be presiding over the meeting since President Buhari returned from his medical vacation in London, United Kingdom (UK). Buhari returned to the country on March 10, after spending 49 days attending to his health.He was at the presidential villa as at 11 am when the council meeting commenced‎. But, his absence at the meeting sparked wild speculations that his health had relapsed and rendered him indisposed to preside over the council. However, addressing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Inform...