Politics

More Americans will die if Trump cancels peace talks

Asylum Case: Trump issues new directives

US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to charge fees for asylum claims and handle cases within 180 days, the White House said in a statement Monday night.

The announcement came as Trump blasted what he described as the United States’ “weak, ineffective and dangerous” immigration laws on Twitter.

The memo outlined other changes including charging asylum seekers to file work permit applications, and barring people who enter the US illegally — or attempt to — from receiving temporary work permits before being approved for relief.

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Pastor, 5 others slain in attack on church in Burkina Faso

Six people, including a pastor, were killed in an attack on a Christian church in Burkina Faso, a government spokesman said.
The violence took place Sunday in the village of Silgadji, in the country’s north, not far from the volatile border with Mali.
Trump govt. to divert $40m in aid to Venezuela's opposition

Trump sues banks to stop Congress probing his accounts

US President Donald Trump, along with his family and businesses, on Monday sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to stop them from complying with Congressional subpoenas issued as part of a probe into foreign political influence.

The subpoenas — which the Trumps described in their suit as “intrusive and overboard” — were issued to several banks by the Democratic-majority House’s intelligence and financial services committees, which are looking into the president’s finances as part of a larger probe into election meddling by Russia.

The lawsuit is the latest step in Trump’s fightback against the Democrats, and alleges …

More than 20 states willing to pay minimum wage

Twenty states are likely to pay the N30,000 monthly minimum wage.

Their governors spoke on the controversial matter after Jubril Al-Sudani (President Muhammadu Buhari) signed the New Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill into Law.

Many of the states, however, said certain conditions must be reached between the workers’ umbrella unions and the Federal Government for them to pay.

Some said they were waiting for the implementation template from the Federal Government.

Labour, which vowed not to condone non-implementation of the new wage, plans to pile pressure on the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to release the template to state

Organ theft in India

By May Ebute 

 

I was planning a trip to India. I had even began to discuss with a doctor over there. But l developed cold feet after someone told me a story when l travelled home for Xmas. His eleven years old nephew needed surgery.

His father had the means so off they went to India. When they arrived, the boy was sedated for the surgery. A minor surgery.

All went well but there was a problem. The boy slept for several hours. He slept for so long that his father became worried.

He decided to ask questions.  “Doctor, …

Merkel, Macron to host Balkans meeting in Berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are hosting a meeting of Balkan leaders in Berlin, a move intended to restart deadlocked talks between Serbia and Kosovo.

The meeting on Monday will include the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia, several Western Balkans leaders and the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini.

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Nigeria loses $29.3b annually to erratic power supply

The Electricity Generation Companies (GenCos) at the weekend said the country loses $29.3billion yearly to low   supply resulting from load shedding and inadequate facilities.

The Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Joy Ogaji, in an emailed response to questions,  urged the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to upgrade its network to absorb the 8,000megawatts (Mw) capacity of the GenCos.

She said: “In urban areas where electricity access has been provided, the availability of electricity supply is drastically low, due either to load shedding or inadequate power supply facilities.  It is estimated that the Nigerian economy is losing $29.3 …

Bayelsa condemns bill for lawmakers’ life pension

A crisis is brewing in Bayelsa State over a bill passed by the House of Assembly approving life pension for all past and current members of the legislature.

It was learnt that stakeholders in the state, including civil society organisations and political parties are preparing to protest.

The House of Assembly had triggered anger last Wednesday when it hurriedly passed the bill sponsored by the Leader of the House, Peter Akpe.

The bill approved N500, 000 post-service monthly pension to a speaker of the assembly, while a deputy speaker will receive N200, 000 and a member N100, 000 .

The …

Fulani elders lambaste Bodejo over comment on Tinubu

Fulani elders have distanced themselves from Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore president, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, for attacking All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over 2023 presidency.

Bodejo attacked the former Lagos State governor in a newspaper interview on Saturday.

But in a statement yesterday, Concerned Fulani Leaders Forum, led by Muhammad Musa Bawa (Manman) from Sabin Garin Nabordo in Bauchi State, said Bodejo made the statement to serve some dubious interests.

The forum questioned Bodejo’s credentials to speak for the Fulani and slammed him for attempting to arrogate to himself the power of Nigerians to determine who leads …

Easter Sunday mayhem: Sri Lanka bans face coverings

Sri Lanka has banned all kinds of clothing that cover the face and prevent identification, such as niqabs and burqas, officials said on Sunday, a week after the Easter bombings that left over 300 people dead.

The ban does not directly refer to Muslim female garb, burqa and niqab, but was seen as a clear reference to the type of dress.

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Alledged oil theft: Navy apprehends Ghanaian, 8 Beninoise

Nigerian Navy arrests 19 imposters in 3 Month

The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Sunday said its operatives had arrested a total of 19 imposters in the First Quarter of 2019.

Navy spokesman, Commodore Suleman Dahun,made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

A breakdown of those arrested criminals given by the spokesman showed that 13 were arrested in Calabar/Ikang area; 5 in Yenogoa/Port Harcourt area and 1 in Lagos area.

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