The Nation Newspaper

Tag: United States

  • Gatlin blames TV scheduling for Bolt injury

    Gatlin blames TV scheduling for Bolt injury

    Justin Gatlin agreed with the complaints of the Jamaican relay team that a long wait before their 4x100m final at the World Championships on Saturday contributed to the injury suffered by Usain Bolt in his last race.

    Bolt, having been passed the baton by Yohan Blake, was in third behind Great Britain and the United States, who eventually won gold and silver, but pulled up almost 50m from the line and fell to the track.

    Jamaica’s team doctor later said that the 30-year-old had suffered a hamstring cramp.

    Bolt’s teammates complained that a 45-minute wait in the call room before the race had hampered their preparations.

    “I think they were holding us too long in the call room,’’ Blake told reporters. “Usain was really cold. In fact Usain said to me ‘Yohan, I think this is crazy’. Forty minutes and two medal presentations before our run.’’

    Gatlin, who beat Bolt to gold in the 100m last Saturday, agreed with the complaints and laid the blame at the television scheduling for the event.

    “I know it’s TV magic, and everybody has to be prepared on time to make everything happen for the viewers at home.

    “(But) I personally think that we were held in the stadium a little too long without our clothes on, and there was a little draught in there. I lost all my sweat and body heat,’’ Gatlin said.

    When asked if he thought that contributed to Bolt’s injury, the 35-year-old said: “I believe so.

    “Knowing how Usain performs, he’s always ready, he’s always making sure he’s not injured and it’s very rare to see Usain injured when he comes to performances.’’

    Gatlin ran the second leg for the United States as they finished runners-up behind Britain, who became world champions for the first time.

    Amidst the home crowd’s jubilation, there was also relief at the sight of Bolt being able to walk off the track after being helped to his feet by his teammates.

    “I’m not sure what the extent of his injury is, but when I saw him go down I thought it was a calf cramp or a hamstring cramp. But he walked off the track, so that’s good thing.

    “I hope that he gets well soon,’’ Gatlin added.

  • ‘Embrace compassion in healthcare’

    ‘Embrace compassion in healthcare’

    Health workers and medical students from some countries converged on Louisville, Kentucky in the United States (U.S.) for the Healthcare Leadership Summer School organised by Humans of Health and Compassionate. EDDY UWOGHIREN (500-Level Medicine and Surgery, University of Benin) was there.

    The roles of medical students and health workers in transforming the health sector topped discussions at the  Healthcare Leadership Summer School held at All Saint’ Camp and Conference Centre in Kentucky, United States (U.S.).

    The week-long event, which drew participants from over 30 countries, was organised by a Louisville, Kentucky-based Humans of Health and Compassionate, an international organisation developing leadership skills of students in all aspects of the healthcare system.

    Stephaine Barnett of the Humans of Health said the leadership school was initiated to be a global community of students and health professionals promoting sustainable healthcare system. The objectives, she said, are to equip participants with skills and knowledge to build the healthcare system of their dream.

    In his paper on Compassionate care, Dr Robin Youngson, a New Zealand anesthesiologist and founder of Hearts in Healthcare, said compassion is vital to transforming health care, advocating that physicians should exhibit good manners to help patients recuperate faster and comply with medication use.

    He said: “As health workers, don’t be too busy with the work that you fail to listen to the complaints of your patients. If work is taking a toll on you, you need to slow down. Research has it that patients heal faster in a compassionate environment. I advise you to take note of your personal health challenges, because no meaningful change can happen in a system where the physician is not stable physically and psychologically.”

    Youngson urged the participants to go for mentoring, saying it would enable them to gain from experts and improve their skills.

    “I have interacted with medical practitioners from different parts of the world and I must say it is sad that most practitioners, especially in developing countries, do not see the need to mentor younger colleagues. If we do not train students to be compassionate healthcare workers, they would graduate and transfer the aggression onto their patients. This would lead to crises in the healthcare system. In the long run, the doctor, patient and society lose,” he said.

    Dr Amy Coleman, a flight surgeon with the U.S. Army, in her lecture titled: How to see a patient, said health workers must see patients as real humans and not mere cases or sick bodies. She bemoaned harshness of some health workers towards patients, saying it would amount to compounding the patients’ medical condition.

    She said: “Before attending to any patient, ask yourself if you could render the same service if the patient was your relative. It is quite sad that health workers are losing compassion. It is important we redefine our engagement and approach to this profession. We must all go back to our communities and change people’s attitude in the discharge of their duties.”

    Meriem Kahlaouli, a midwife from Tunisia, praised the organisers for the training, noting that it gave her opportunity to learn tips to discharging her duty in line with best practice. She promised to use the knowledge to bring change to Tunisian health sector.

    Melinda Ruberg, a part-four medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said: “I stood in awe watching other participants sharing their intellects and experience to help each other develop blueprints to make fundamental changes in healthcare system. I am grateful for this opportunity to assist them in building compassion support group. This training has rekindled my passion for transforming healthcare in America.”

  • CAMPUSLIFE man completes U.S. fellowship

    CAMPUSLIFE man completes U.S. fellowship

    A 300-Level student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Pelumi Olugbenga, has been named a fellow of Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, United States (U.S.).

    Pelumi, a CAMPUSLIFE reporter in LASU, was among the five African students selected to participate in the leadership programme on scholarship.

    In the course of the programme, the participants went through series of leadership and civic engagement learning sessions, which were facilitated by business professionals, senior officers in the U.S. Army and top executive officers of organisations.

    After the training session, Pelumi volunteered to work with Rise Against Hunger, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in New York in the task of packaging thousands of meals that would feed over 10,000 children in poverty-stricken countries across the world.

    In carrying out his civic engagement exercise, Pelumi worked with four other Hesselbein fellows from other countries at the American Red Cross in Western Pennsylvania to generate ideas that would help the humanitarian body to be more effective in its operations.

    After completing his projects, Mr Pelumi was honoured with a medal for his contributions at an award held at the University of Pittsburgh, which was attended by the President of the school, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher.

  • U.S notifies UN of withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

    U.S notifies UN of withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

    The United States has submitted to the United Nations a formal notice  of withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement.

    The notification was made Friday, with the UN  Secretary-General António Guterres  appealing  to the U.S. to reconsider its action, in the interest of humanity.

    President Donald Trump had announced on June 1, 2017 that the U.S. would leave the agreement.

    The Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Mr Stéphane Dujarric, confirmed that Guterres received, “in his capacity as Depositary of the Paris Agreement, a communication from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America”.

    The Secretary General, however, welcomed  any effort to re-engage in the Paris Agreement by the United States.

    Dujarric said the communication expressed “the intention of the United States to exercise its right to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, as soon as it is eligible to do so under the Agreement, unless it identifies suitable terms for re-engagement”.

    Guterres stressed his statement on June 1, 2017 that the decision by the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement is a major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote global security.

    “It is crucial that the United States remains a leader on climate and sustainable development. Climate change is impacting now.

    “He looks forward to engaging with the American government and all other actors in the United States and around the world to build the sustainable future for our children and future generations,” Guterres said.

    Under article 28 of the Paris Agreement, a Party may withdraw at any time after three years from the date on which the Agreement has entered into force for that Party, and such withdrawal takes effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal.

    The United States accepted the Paris Agreement on Sept. 3, 2016 and the Agreement entered into force for the United States on Nov. 4, 2016.

    The Secretary-General would circulate the text of this communication as a depositary notification, in English and French, early next week.

    The U.S. Department of State, in a statement, confirmed “the United States submitted a communication to the United Nations, in its capacity as depositary for the Paris Agreement, regarding the U.S. intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as it is eligible to do so, consistent with the terms of the Agreement”.

    “As the President indicated in his June 1 announcement and subsequently, he is open to re-engaging in the Paris Agreement if the United States can identify terms that are more favorable to it, its businesses, its workers, its people, and its taxpayers.

    “The United States supports a balanced approach to climate policy that lowers emissions while promoting economic growth and ensuring energy security.

    “We will continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through innovation and technology breakthroughs, and work with other countries to help them access and use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently and deploy renewable and other clean energy sources, given the importance of energy access and security in many nationally determined contributions.

    “The United States will continue to participate in international climate change negotiations and meetings, including the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP-23) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to protect U.S. interests and ensure all future policy options remain open to the administration.

    “Such participation will include ongoing negotiations related to guidance for implementing the Paris Agreement,” the department said.

  • ‘How Aluko, Omokore laundered $1.76b stolen from NNPC’

    ‘How Aluko, Omokore laundered $1.76b stolen from NNPC’

    Court papers  in Lagos Nigeria have detailed how oil businessmen, Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Jide Omokore laundered  the $1.7 billion creamed off the questionable oil swap transactions between them and the NNPC, during the tenure of Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Some of the money laundered through the United States and which had been used to acquire assets are now the subject of a forfeiture bid by the United States Justice Department. But the filings in a Lagos court have provided the most insightful details yet into how the entire money was laundered, while the Nigerian treasury was left dry and emasculated.

    According to an affidavit sworn  at the Federal High Court by Isaac Kehinde Oginni, a lawyer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, both Aluko and Omokore lifted and sold allotted Nigeria’s crude oil. While they were paid for their service,  they deliberately diverted to private use, what was due to the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria,  in the sum of $1,762,338,184.40.

    *They bought vehicles  with a combined value of over N800million and donated them to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through its then  National chairman Prince Secondus.

    *They also bought  vehicles valued at over N130million and gave them as gifts to former minister of Petroleum,  Mrs Dieziani Alison-Madueke and some other management staff of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    *Kolawole Aluko paid $18,548,619.99 and N1,070,000,000  to FBN Mortgages Limited  as part payment for block A consisting of 26 Flats at 46 Gerrard Road Ikoyi Lagos. The block was bought for a total cost of N5,210,520,315.

    *Payment of a total sum of $25,839,606.77and N95,000,000 was made to Real Bank for the purpose of part financing the acquisition and renovation of properties by  the Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited (AEDC) and Atlantic Energy Brass Development limited (AEBD). The Properties are: Mason apartments  at 6 Gerrard Road Ikoyi Lagos comprising 60 units of 3 bedrooms apartment valued at $78,000,000, Marion apartments Block 8 located at 4&5,Onikoyi Estate, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos consisting of 43 units of apartments valued at $76,160,000,  apartments  at 33A Cooper Road Ikoyi, Lagos renovated at a total cost of $4,937,750,  Admiralty Towers at 8 Gerrard Road Ikoyi, Lagos., which was also renovated.

    The two businessmen also transferred $69,912,981.15  to the following companies ;Mia Hotels Limited, First Motors Limited, V.I.Petrochemicals, Evergreen Reality &Management, WIz Trade limited, DE First Union Integrated Services and Amity Plus limited.

    Mr Ogini also averred that Kolawole Aluko literally took residence outside the shores of Nigeria, to embark on a spending spree and assets acquisition in Britain, Canada, United States and Switzerland.

    Among the assets acquired were houses at: Grove End Road, London NW;   755 Sarbone Road, Los Angeles;952 North Alpine drive Los Angeles;815 Cima Del Mundo. He also bought land at  807 Coma Del Mundo in Los Angeles.

    Aluko also bought houses or apartments at 1049 Fifth Avenue, New York, 1948&1952 Tolls Avenue, Santa Barbara, 157 West 57th St,New York , 4100 Let Revenge, Dubai. In Nigeria , he bought Avenue Towers in Lagos. He also bought a piece of  land in Mont Tremblat, Canada and a property at Colina D’oro Montagnola, Switzerland

    After hiding his loot in many assets, he also bought the luxury $80million yacht, the Galactica Star,  58 exotic cars, expensive watches, private jets, Global Express  S5-GMG and a Bombardier Global 6000 9H-OPE.

    Cash found in his bank accounts, according to documents before the court are:  LDT Switzerland -$25million, Corner Bank, Lugano, Switzerland -$ 1million, Deutsche Bank, Geneva -$40million, HSBC London $175,000.

    He also had 75% shareholding in Atlantic Energy Drilling concepts  Nigeria and Atlantic Energy Brass Development and 10% Shareholding in Seven Energy.

    The case came before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos state last Friday, incidentally the same day the US Justice Department filed a forfeiture bid at a court in Houston.

    The Nigerian  judge adjourned hearing  till 29th of September, 2017 to decide whether to stay proceeding in tune with an application filed by the defendants  or continue with the case.

    The Federal Republic of Nigerian and two of its agencies are the plaintiffs and they are ranged against Aluko and Jide Omokore’s  Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited (AEDC) and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited (AEBD). The Nigerian government wants to recover $1.76 billion from the businessmen and their companies.  Omokore is the chairman of the companies, while Kolawole Aluko is a Director.

    Apart from Aluko and Omokore’s application, a limited liability company Virtual Properties and Investment Limited, has also filed another application as an intervener.

    The company is urging the court to discharge or vary its order,as it relates to Marion Apartments, on the ground that the property located at Block 8 Plots 4&5 Onikoyi Estate, Banana Island, Ikoyi consists of 56 apartments owned and developed by the intervener.

    By virtue of two separate deeds of sublease,  the intervener said it  conveyed its interest in 43 out of the 56 apartments to Realblanc Energy Engineering limited, an affiliate of the defendants.

    The intervener  contends that it still retains ownership of  13 out of the 56 apartments in Marion Apartments. It says that the order of the court is prejudicial to its interest and interferes with its right ownership over these flats.

    Last year, the Nigerian government had frozen the accounts of the defendants in 19  banks in Nigeria and  eight  offshore banks.

    This was sequel to the affidavit deposed  by Oginni of  the Federal ministry of Justice  in Abuja and filed by a Lagos lawyer Oladipo Okpeseyi SAN.

    The court was urged as a matter of utmost urgency and public interest, in aid of administration of justice to issue a  worldwide Mareva order restraining the defendants from dissipating all  known assets directly or indirectly by the defendants including but not limited to assets listed on the face of the motion paper filed before the court.

    After hearing the submission of Okpeseyi, counsel to the Federal Government, Justice  Oguntoyinbo restrained the defendants and their agents from demanding, receiving, transacting, mortgaging or whatsoever dealing in any manners with the assets of the defendants in banks, houses, land and shares in Nigeria and others located outside Nigeria ,while the Nigerian banks listed in the motion papers were ordered to within 7days to sequestrate all money and negotiable instruments standing to the credit of the defendants in the sum of $1,762,338,184.40 and keep same in an interest yielding account in the name of the Chief Registrar of the court as trustee of same pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    The court also ordered that its ruling should be served on the affected parties by way of  advertisement in newspapers circulating within and outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Nigerians should love themselves – US Envoy

    Nigerians should love themselves – US Envoy

    The Charge d’ Affairs of the United States Mission in Nigeria, Mr David Young, on Sunday enjoined Nigerians to shun political, religious and ethnic sentiments, and to always love themselves.

    Young, who is also an ordained Pastor, made the appeal in a sermon entitled “Where is Nigeria as a Nation Today and Where Do You Want to be?,’’ in Lagos.

    The Envoy said in a sermon at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olive Tree Parish, Banana Island, Lagos, that it was imperative for Nigerians to embrace agape love.

    “Whether you are Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani or Hausa, Muslim or Christian, Nigerians should love themselves and their neighbours.

    “We must understand the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have for ourselves and for God. Agape love is a special love. This is the kind
    of love that would make Nigerians truly love themselves and even their enemies.

    “This is really the type of love that Nigerians need today. This kind of love is also needed in America,’’ he said.

    Young said that it was important for Nigerians to realise that God sent Jesus to demonstrate and teach humanity agape love.

    The Charge d’ Affairs also urged Nigerians to learn to begin to live according to Biblical Scriptures on the need for them to always love
    themselves and their neighbours.

    Young said that it was imperative for Nigerians to also known that Jesus did not encourage or support actions and attitudes that would
    divide people and communities.

    “You should love yourselves because love came from God to us all. We must all focus on how to live on agape love.

    “We need to work for justice and respect for all people around us, irrespective of their tribe, religion and lifestyle.

    “We need to symbolically wrap everything we do or engage in, with the love of God. We need to know that Jesus is always walking with us, but we are not seeing him.

    “We need to allow Jesus walk the roads of our lives with us always. We need to always show hospitality to our neighbours, so that we can see Jesus,’’ he added.

  • U.S. lifts laptop restriction for flights from Abu Dhabi

    U.S. lifts laptop restriction for flights from Abu Dhabi

    The United States has lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.

    Etihad welcomed the decision on Sunday and credited a facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers clear U.S. immigration before they land in the U.S. for “superior security advantages” that had allowed it to satisfy requirements.

    Transportation Security Administration officials have checked that the measures had been implemented correctly, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    Acting chief executive of operations, Abu Dhabi Airports, AbdulMajeed al-Khoori, told Reuters on Monday that U.S. officials assessed the airport on Saturday night.

    The disruption to passengers from the new measures will be “very minimal” with the processing time for those traveling to the United States unchanged, he said by phone.

    Etihad is the only airline that operates direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States.

    In March the U.S. banned laptops in cabins on flights originating at 10 airports in eight countries, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey, to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

    Britain quickly followed suit with a similar set of restrictions.

    On Friday, the United States unveiled security measures for flights to the country designed to prevent the expansion of the ban to more countries that could cause major logistical problems and deter travel.

    DHS spokesman David Lapan said in a statement provided to Reuters that Ethiad’s efforts to implement extra security measures were a model for foreign and domestic airlines.

    He said other airports and airlines in the region, such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, remain under the restrictions.

    “We look forward to working with other airlines to ensure implementation of these critical measures as quickly as possible,” said Lapan.

    Dubai Airports, the operator of Emirates hub Dubai International Airport, said on Monday it had offered its “full cooperation … to satisfy the U.S. directive as quickly as possible.”

    The company said Etihad operates 45 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the United States.

    Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline and a rival to Etihad, said in April it was cutting flights on five U.S. routes because of reduced demand after a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump and the laptop ban.

  • PDP mourns Suntai, former Taraba governor

    PDP mourns Suntai, former Taraba governor

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the late former governor of Taraba, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, as an outstanding and professional man.

    Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, the Deputy PDP National Chairman in Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction, said this on Wednesday.

    “We are proud of late Suntai. He left his profession and became a politician in order to bring quality to governance.

    “This, he exhibited, while in office until the unfortunate plane crash incident.
    “Suntai represented PDP well and are very proud of him.”

    Ojougboh said that until his death Suntai never gave up as he was involved in the struggle for the progress of PDP and Nigeria.

    He said that the PDP commiserated with the family of late Suntai, the people and government of Taraba state on the great lost.

    Suntai, 56, who has been receiving treatment in hospital across the world since he was involved in a plane crash in October 2012 died in Houston, Florida, in the United States on Wednesday.

    Mr. Emmanuel Bello, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Darius Ishaku on Public Affairs had confirmed the incident to NAN on telephone on Wednesday.

  • Nigeria’s Yonov Agah reappointed WTO Deputy Director-General

    Nigeria’s Yonov Agah reappointed WTO Deputy Director-General

    Nigeria’s Yuonov Frederick Agah has been reappointed as Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for another four-year term.

    The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agah, who hails from Benue, was first appointed as Deputy Director-General of WTO in 2013 for a four-year term, which he assumed on Oct.1 that year.

    He will resume his second term at the WTO headquarters in Geneva on Oct. 1, 2017 till Sept. 30, 2021.

    The Director-General of WTO, Roberto Azevêdo, announced the appointment of Agah alongside three other Deputy Directors-General.

    Azevedo said “serving Deputy Directors-General Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria, Karl Brauner of Germany and Yi Xiaozhun of China have been reappointed to serve a further four year term, and will continue to fulfil their current responsibilities.

    “They will be joined by a new Deputy Director-General from the United States, Alan Wolff, who will replace David Shark.

    “I want to thank the Deputy Directors-General for their excellent work over the last four years.

    “I am delighted to confirm that Frederick Agah, Karl Brauner and Yi Xiaozhun will continue in their roles for a second term.

    “I look forward to continue to work with you to strengthen the multilateral trading system.”

    The 164-member countries’ organisation is the only global international body that deals with the rules of trade between nations to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers to conduct their business.

    Agah was appointed as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the WTO in 2005.

    In that capacity, he served as the Alternate Chief Negotiator for the Doha Round and Head of Nigeria’s Trade Office to the WTO in the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

    The Trade Office is responsible for Nigeria’s participation in Geneva-based trade-related international organisations,, particularly the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the International Trade Centre and the WTO.

    The WTO deputy chief served as Chair to WTO’s General Council in 2011.

    He was responsible for organising the Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference, which was acknowledged to be successful in spite of prevailing stalemate in the Doha Round.

    He also served as Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body in 2010 and the Council for Trade in Services in 2009.

    He was also the chair of the Trade Policy Review Body in 2008, the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in 2007, and the Council for Trade in Goods in 2006.

    He chaired the Council for the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights – an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the – Special Session, in 2013.

    Agah had previously worked as a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State from 1979 to 1981 and Senior Features Writer/Circulation Manager, Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation from 1982 to 1984.

    He was Sales Manager, Benue Bottling Company Limited from 1984 to 1987, Field Manager, UTC Nigeria PLC from 1990 to 1991, Deputy Director (Multilateral) from 1991 to 2001 and Director (External Trade) from 2002 to 2005.

    Born on Aug. 28, 1956, Agah holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    He obtained a Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (International Trade) from University of Jos in 1989 and 2007.

    His doctoral dissertation was on “Trade Policy Reform and Economic Growth in Nigeria Since 1986”.

    Agah also obtained a Bachelor of Laws from University of Abuja, Nigeria in 2009.

  • Qatar demands difficult to meet – U.S.

    Qatar demands difficult to meet – U.S.

    The U.S. says some of the demands by four Arab countries as conditions to lift the sanctions over Qatar would be difficult for Doha to meet.

    The U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, in a statement on Sunday recommended that the countries sit together and find an amicable compromise to the crisis.

    Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirate had accused Qatar of backing terrorism, a charge it denied.

    Tillerson said: “Qatar has begun its careful review and consideration of a series of requests presented by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

    “While some of the elements will be very difficult for Qatar to meet, there are significant areas which provide a basis for on-going dialogue leading to resolution.”

    According to him, a productive next step would be for each of the countries to sit together and continue this conversation.

    “We believe our allies and partners are stronger when they are working together towards one goal which we all agree is stopping terrorism and countering extremism.

    “Each country involved has something to contribute to that effort. A lowering of rhetoric would also help ease the tension.

    “The United States will continue to stay in close contact with all parties and will continue to support the mediation efforts of the Emir of Kuwait,” Tillerson said.

    On Saturday, Qatar’s foreign minister rejected the list of 13 conditions imposed by the four countries.

    The conditions have put Qatar under unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions for more than two weeks.

    The four countries also want Qatar to reduce its ties with Iran and close a Turkish military base, setting a deadline on Friday of 10 days.