A bitter feud between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance drags into a fourth year on Friday with no end in sight.
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia led its Gulf allies the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt, to cut all ties with Qatar, accusing it of backing radical Islamist movements and Iran — a charge denied by Doha.
There were indications of an imminent thaw around the turn of the year, but all overtures have so far come to nothing.
Here is a recap:
– Ultimatum to Doha –
On May 24, 2017, a statement attributed to Qatar’s
Trade negotiators from Britain and the EU embarked on a fourth round of post-Brexit negotiations Tuesday but no-one in London or Brussels expects a breakthrough this week.
Instead, once the latest cross-Channel video conferences are over, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will meet to decide how to proceed.
A “high-level” June meeting to take stock of the talks was already foreseen in the political declaration signed by both parties alongside the divorce accord.
But it may take on more urgency now, as talks between EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost …
It is 26 June 1984. Mission Specialist Mike Mullane lies in his couch in the cockpit of Space Shuttle Discovery. This will be the 12th flight in the Space Shuttle programme but Discovery’s and Mullane’s first. The upgraded spacecraft is showroom fresh – the surfaces shiny, free of scratches and scuff marks, the displays polished and controls untouched.
Mullane, the veteran of 134 US Air Force
In the meantime, protests have swept across the US and the UK – and sports stars have added their voices in various ways too.
On Tuesday, across the world, people and organisations have been sharing a simple, but striking message of protest, with a social media ‘blackout’.
A Twitter account that tweeted a call to violence and claimed to be representing the position of “Antifa” was in fact created by a known white supremacist group, Twitter said Monday. The company removed the account.
Standard Chartered has appointed Abbas Husain as the Regional Head of Corporate Finance, Africa and the Middle East (AME).
Abbas has nearly 24 years of banking experience, 17 years of which has been with Standard Chartered.
He has a proven track record in structuring and executing project finance transactions in the power, water, oil and gas, metals and infrastructure sectors.
Abbas’ will also expand his role as Head of Project & Export Finance for Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) to cover Europe, Africa, Middle East and Pakistan.
He will continue to be based in Dubai.
…
Some members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday raised the alarm over the rising cases of insecurity occasioned by killing of innocent citizens in some rural communities and rural areas in the state.
The lawmakers in their submissions noted with dismay the recent rate of killing of innocent citizens in some rural areas in the state.
Those who expressed their fear and raised the alarm over the rising cases of insecurity in the state included, Hon. Kazeem Tunde Isiaka who represents Atiba Constituency, Majority leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi and the Minority
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to apologize to people of the state for misleading them on COVID-19 pandemic.
Recall that the Kogi State government had in May insisted that no resident tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.
The state, however, recorded its index case last week and this led to the declaration of a total lockdown in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of the state be the governor.
Reacting to lockdown, PDP said Bello should apologize for not allowing people of the state to be tested.
The latest autopsy conducted on slain African-American George Floyd classified his death as a homicide.
It said his heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck, in a widely seen video that has sparked protests across the nation.
“Decedent experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s),” the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a news release.
Cause of death was listed as “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression.”
Under “other significant conditions” it said Floyd suffered from heart disease and hypertension, and listed fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use. …
Following interventions by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari is set to intervene in the political impasse in Edo State as he has summoned Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for a parley.
A member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who confirmed the development to Daily Independent, said Oshiomhole will meet with the president at the Presidential Villa tomorrow (today)
“I’m aware the president has summoned the national chairman and they will meet at the Villa tomorrow (today). I think the issue will be resolved.
There will be primaries but I think it …
Google has rejected demands it pay hundreds of millions of dollars per year in compensation to Australian news media under a government-imposed revenue sharing deal.
The company’s top executive in Australia said Google made barely Aus$10 million (US$6.7 million) per year from news-linked advertising, a fraction of a government watchdog’s estimates for the sector.
In an effort being closely watched around the world, Australia is set to unveil plans to force major internet firms to share advertising revenue they earn from news featured in their services.
The country’s competition regulator, the ACCC, has estimated that Google and Facebook together earn …
United States President, Donald Trump, is being derided over his brief stay in the White House bunker.
The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) serves as a shelter and communications center for sitting Presidents and others in case of an emergency.
It is five stories into the ground, has air and food supply, and is sealed off from the aboveground area to stave off terrorist or nuclear attack.
The Secret Service had taken Trump to the PEOC as protesters against George Floyd’s death gathered outside the official residence and
