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Tag: United States

  • US to give 600,000 Africans access to power, others – USAID

    US to give 600,000 Africans access to power, others – USAID

    The United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) has announced that more than 600,000 people would have  access to affordable power and the internet under the U.S. Power Africa Initiative.

    USAID’s Administrator, Mr Mark Green, who disclosed this at the ongoing Fourth Annual Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC, said that the Power Africa project had so far benefited many African communities.

    “Power Africa is helping our private sector partners to set up micro-grids, which will bring reliable and affordable power to these camps for the first time.

    “Once the camps are electrified, USAID’s innovation team and other coalition members will work to connect them to the Internet.

    “We are creating digital tools that tap into residents’ mobile phones to track health records, to provide digital identities, and to enable pay-as-you-go power, school fees, and other digital vouchers for services.

    “In total, we expect to give more than 600,000 people access to affordable power, internet, and these digital tools,’’ he said.

    According to him, Power Africa has so far helped 58 million people across Africa to gain access to electricity using market forces and enterprise principles.

    Green said that to make Power Africa a success, the agency was
    releasing the Administration’s strategy for Power Africa 2.0.

    The USAID Administrator said that the new strategy would ensure that Power Africa could continue to bring innovative ideas and enterprise-driven approaches to bear to help meet Africa’s power needs.

    “Under Power Africa 2.0, we will be expanding beyond our previous targets of increased energy generation and access and looking to make gains in the areas of distribution and transmission.

    “And perhaps most importantly, we will be taking on the enabling environments that allow private enterprise to grow and thoroughly flourish,’’ he said.

    Power Africa is a U.S. Government initiative that addresses one of the most pressing challenges to sustainable economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa — access to electrical power.

    NAN

  • HIV, North East, others get $89m US assistance

    HIV, North East, others get $89m US assistance

    The United States (U.S) Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced $89 million in additional development assistance to Nigeria.

    The latest assistance, according to the statement issued by the U.S Embassy in Abuja yesterday is part of the development agreement between US and Nigeria in 2015.

    The statement reads: “The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced $89 million in additional development assistance to Nigeria to continue its support for development goals outlined in a Development Objectives Assistance Agreement between the U.S. and Nigerian governments signed in 2015.

    Nearly half of the new funding ($44 million) will support HIV/AIDS control through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

    Read Also: ‘Antiretroviral treatment inaccessible by HIV patients’

    The remainder will help northeast Nigeria increase agricultural productivity and economic growth ($15 million); strengthen education ($11 million); support good governance ($10.5 million); and improve water and sanitation infrastructure ($9 million).

    The new funding brings the total U.S. government assistance provided under the five-year assistance agreement to $808.5 million.

    “This new assistance underscores how important the relationship between Nigeria and the United States continues to be,” USAID Acting Mission Director Julie Koenen said. “Our strong partnership with Nigeria and its institutions will help Nigeria’s efforts to improve its health, education, agriculture and governance systems where they are needed most throughout the country.”

    USAID collaborated with the Nigerian Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the Nigerian Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education, and state-level government counterparts – among others to structure the bilateral assistance agreement, which runs through 2020.

    “In addition to the development assistance funding, the United States provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin. The U.S government led by USAID has provided more than $526.7 million in humanitarian assistance since 2017, and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region.”

     

     

     

     

  • United States visa appointments to hold despite govt shutdown

    United States visa appointments to hold despite govt shutdown

    United States visa  processes across the world may not be disrupted  following government shut down at the stroke of midnight Friday.

    All but the most essential operations of the US government are affected including the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

    There were fears that all US offices overseas handling visa issuance and federal regulatory agencies, including those overseeing grants and contracts will remain closed while the shutdown lasts.

    However, the spokesman of the US Embassy in Abuja, Russell Brooks, told The Nation last night scheduled visa appointments would hold.

    He said: The State Department has informed the public on travel.state.gov that scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at posts overseas will continue during the lapse on appropriations as the situation permits.

    Earlier yesterday a State Department official said:

    “We are expected to still show up for work on Monday and figure it out from there,”

    In an email sent to State Department employees Friday morning, acting Director General William Todd said:  “a number of government activities would cease due to a lack of appropriated funding, and that a number of employees would be temporarily furloughed,” if a government shutdown were to occur.

    He did not specify which activities would stop or which employees should stay home next week.

    Heather Nauert, a spokesperson for the State Department, on Thursday said that the department had yet to make any decisions about which services it could provide during a shutdown but that “we will be prepared for all contingencies.”

    The shutdown was sparked by the Senate rejection of a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government running.

    A few Republicans joined Democrats in blocking the crucial measure, which would have provided short-term funding for the Pentagon and other federal agencies.

    The bill to fund the government until February 16 did not receive the required 60 votes.

    The Senate voted 50-48 to block the stopgap funding measure.

    The short-term spending bill was passed by the House on Thursday.

    This is part of the Democrats strategy to force President Trump and the Republicans to negotiate with them on illegal immigrants who are facing deportation.

    Trump, in a series of tweets,  accused the Democrats of  being more concerned with illegal immigrants than the country’s armed forces and “holding the military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration”.

    Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Democrats’ insistence that the interim measure include protection for undocumented immigrants who arrived as children killed the deal.

    “Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown,” she declared, referring to the minority leader, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who met with Trump earlier Friday.

    “Tonight, they put politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans.”

     

     

  • UN is a house of lies – Israeli PM

    UN is a house of lies – Israeli PM

    Israel Prime Minister,  Benjamin Netanyahu, described the United Nations as a “house of lies” ahead of a vote on Thursday on a draft resolution calling on the United States to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

    “The State of Israel totally rejects this vote, even before (the resolution‘s) approval,” Netanyahu said in a speech at a hospital dedication in the port city of Ashdod.

    The 193-member UN General Assembly will hold a rare emergency special session on Thursday at the request of Arab and Muslim countries to vote on the draft resolution, which the U.S. vetoed on Monday in the 15-member UN Security Council.

    Generating outrage from Palestinians and the Arab and Muslim world, and concern among Washington’s Western allies, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed decades of U.S. policy on December 6 when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

    Palestinians have protested daily in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip since Trump’s announcement, throwing stones at security forces and burning tires.

    Read also: Netanyahu to attend ECOWAS Summit in Liberia

    Gaza militants have also launched sporadic rocket fire.

    Eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire during the demonstrations and dozens wounded, Palestinian health officials said.

    Two militants were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza after a rocket attack.

    Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut off financial aid to countries that vote in favour of the UN draft resolution, and his ambassador to the world body, Nikki Haley said the U.S. “will be taking names”.

    Netanyahu, in his speech, thanked Trump and Haley for “their brave and uncompromising stance”.

    He repeated his prediction that other countries would eventually follow Washington’s lead in pledging to move their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

    “The attitude towards Israel of many countries, on all continents, outside the walls of the UN, is changing and will ultimately permeate into the UN-the house of lies,” he said.

    Most countries regard the status of Jerusalem as a matter to be settled in an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, although that process is now stalled.

    Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there.

    Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the city’s eastern sector, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed in a move never recognised internationally.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Ex-Twitter worker claims responsibility for Trump’s account shutdown

    Ex-Twitter worker claims responsibility for Trump’s account shutdown

    A German man has come forward as the former Twitter Inc employee who shut down the account of U.S. President Donald Trump for 11 minutes this month on his last day of work at the social network.

    The technology news website TechCrunch published an interview on Wednesday with Bahtiyar Duysak, whom it called a 20-something with Turkish roots who was born and raised in Germany.

    The website said he was a temporary contract worker in San Francisco for Twitter.

    Duysak, who had not previously been identified as the person behind the takedown, told TechCrunch that he considered Trump’s temporary silencing a “mistake” and never thought the account would get deactivated.

    He said it was not a planned act.

    Rather, he said, the chance to shutter the account fell into his lap near the end of his scheduled final shift, and he decided to take it.

    “There are millions of people who would take actions against him if they had the possibility.

    “In my case, it was just random,” Duysak said in a video of the interview posted online. He wore a gray sweater emblazoned with the American flag.

    Twitter on Wednesday would not confirm whether Duysak was the ex-employee in question or answer other questions. Reuters could not immediately reach Duysak.

    BuzzFeed News, citing two anonymous sources, reported separately that Duysak was the ex-employee responsible.

    Duysak is a former volunteer security guard at a Muslim community center in California, BuzzFeed reported.

    Trump has been critical of Muslims, calling during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the United States.

    The takedown of Trump’s account on Nov. 2 sparked concerns among Twitter users over how much power employees have over sensitive accounts and whether abuse of their power could lead to international incidents.

    Twitter said in a statement on Wednesday: “We have taken a number of steps to keep an incident like this from happening again.”

    He said Duysak did not shed much light on the incident. Near the end of his last day at the San Francisco-based company, an alert came to him that someone had reported Trump’s account for an unspecified violation.

    Duysak put the wheels in motion to deactivate it, TechCrunch said, although the account did not go offline until hours later.

    Neither Duysak nor TechCrunch explained the delay.

    “I didn’t hack anyone. I didn’t do anything which I wasn’t authorised to do,” he said.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Mugabe appears in public for first time since coup

    Mugabe appears in public for first time since coup

    Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe arrived at a university graduation ceremony in the capital on Friday, his first public appearance since a military seizure of power that political sources say is aimed at ending his 37 years in office.

    Wearing a blue and yellow academic gown and mortar board hat, the 93-year-old sat in large wooden chair at the front the hall.

    He was greeted by ululations from the crowd as he declared the ceremony open.

    Earlier, leaders of Mugabe’s party are making plans to force him from office if the 93-year-old leader resists pressure from the army to quit.

    The self-styled grand old man of African politics, the only leader Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980, insists he is still in charge. But the source, a senior member of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, made clear the party wanted him gone.

    “If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday,” the source said. “When that is done, it’s impeachment on Tuesday.”

    Zimbabwe’s official newspaper, the Herald, ran photographs late on Thursday that showed a grinning Mugabe shaking hands with military chief General Constantino Chiwenga, who seized power this week.

    That suggested Mugabe was managing to hold out against Chiwenga’s coup, with some political sources saying he was trying to delay his departure until elections scheduled for next year.

    The ZANU-PF source said that was not the case. Anxious to avoid a protracted stalemate, party leaders were drawing up plans to dismiss Mugabe at the weekend if he refused to quit, the source said.

    “There is no going back,” the source told Reuters. “It’s like a match delayed by heavy rain, with the home side leading 90-0 in the 89th minute.”

    Mugabe’s options look limited.

    The army is camped on his doorstep.

    His wife, Grace, is under house arrest, and her key political allies are in military custody.

    The police, once a bastion of support, have showed no signs of resistance.

    Furthermore, he has little popular backing in the capital, a hotbed of support for the opposition, which has tapped into the anger and frustration at his handling of the economy, which collapsed after the seizure of white-owned farms in 2000.

    Unemployment is now running at nearly 90 per cent.

    Chronic shortages of hard currency are driving up the price of imports as much as 50 per cent a month.

    On social media, Zimbabweans circulated a spoof message to Chiwenga demonstrating the depth of anger at Mugabe.

    “If Mugabe refuses to resign, let the army take him to First Street and leave him there. People of Zim will negotiate with him,” the message read.

    In a statement broadcast on national television, the military said it was “engaging” with Mugabe and would announce an outcome as soon as possible.

    The United States, a longtime Mugabe critic, is seeking “a new era”, the State Department’s top official for Africa said, an implicit call for Mugabe to quit.

    In an interview with Reuters, acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto appeared to dismiss the idea of keeping Mugabe in an interim or ceremonial role.

    “It’s a transition to a new era for Zimbabwe, that’s really what we’re hoping for,” Yamamoto said.

    The army appears to want Mugabe to go quietly and allow a smooth and bloodless transition to Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice president, whose sacking on Nov. 6 triggered the military takeover.

    NAN

  • Celebrating National Press Day

    Celebrating National Press Day

    National Press Day ( NPD ), is celebrated across the country on every 16th day of November. The National Press Day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in the country.

    Just as Nigeria commemorates the day, NPD celebration takes place in  many countries of the world including the US, UK and India.

    Similarly, the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebration holds every May 3rd. This commemorative day however, is celebrated world wide.

    NPD imperatively calls for reflection on among others, free press, the role of the press in enhancing a more viable democracy and essentially a participatory press in the rising world of social media.

    The press, as matter of fact, needs to be free from all forms of censorship or control that may hinder its duty of and responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people.

    It is instructive to note that the press at this umpteenth time needs to be developmental-oriented and setting agenda for national peace, cohesion and development.

    In light of this, the United States Consul General,  Mr. John Bray earlier this year, advocated for more freedom for the Nigerian press in carrying out its “watch dog” duty for the society and holding government accountable to the people.

    Mr. Bray made the plea in Lagos while giving a keynote address at the 2017 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD)  celebration which held at the Lagos television auditorium, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

    The theme of this year’s WPFD was “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.”

    He noted that the press deserves more freedom because an unfettered press is essential for democracy to thrive.

    The consul general however, said the United States understands that with more freedom comes more responsibility.

    He added that advances in technology and increased reliance on social media platforms as sources of information make the accuracy and objectivity of your reporting crucial.

    He urged journalists to check and double check for facts before putting out their stories saying adequate increases their personal credibility and the reliability of their platform.

    “Be thorough in your research and strive to look for every side of a story before you hit send,” he said.

    He said the role of the press  as the government’s watchdog was key to the system of checks and balances that is fundamental to the smooth running of every democracy.

    Bray stated that according to Reporters Without Borders, more than a third of the world’s people live in countries where there is no press freedom.

    “Most of them are quasi democracies, with systemic deficiencies in the electoral process, or countries where there is no system of democracy at all.
    Working under such conditions, journalists risk everything to hold regimes accountable.

    “Before my arrival in Nigeria four years ago I had read about the courage and sheer doggedness of the Nigerian press in the dark days of military dictatorship.  In my time here, I have seen that you are still the voice of the forgotten.

    “You have not lost your thirst for the truth or your willingness to go wherever a story leads you, thereby contributing to transparency, accountability, and good governance in your country,” Bray added.

    Governments at all levels need to unconditionally and  strongly supports freedom of the press because  “an unfettered” press is essential for  democracy to thrive.

    Fortunately or unfortunately, Nigeria’s Freedom Information Act was passed in May 27, 2011 and has yet to be amended since then even in the face of lots of outcries for its amendment.

    This backdrop had been described as detrimental to the desirable free press in Nigeria.

    On media law and ethics in the digital age,  Mr. Oluyomi Lords, Nigeria Institute of Journalism ( NIJ ), argued that the failure of the Nigeria media industry stemmed from the failure of the Nigeria constitution.

    Calling for the amendment of the sections establishing the media and the role of the Press – Sections   39 and 22, Lords said the sections  must be amended because they are limiting the performance of the Press.

    He however, expressed optimism that the amendment will make the Nigerian stronger and help resolve among others issues of litigation, defamation, remuneration and corruption.

    A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy and that is why government must be fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms.

    The media space must be used more and more to showcase the skills, strengths and creativity of our people going by  this age where we are witnessing the rise of social media and news being consumed through mobile phones.

    We strongly believe that these  advancements will further the reach of the media and make the media space even more democratic and participatory.

    The hard work of our media, especially the reporters and photojournalist, who tirelessly work on the ground and bring forth various news that shapes national as well as global discourse must be appreciated.

    The role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable and must be  acknowledged. However, the press should increase the public participation and ensure that press freedom will be protected by his government

    The press should be helped to function as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only the press maintains the high standards expected from the industry, but also guide against overbearing  influence or threats of any extraneous factors.

    The functions of journalists essentially include maintaining the high standards of press which is expected from them. The press must not be brought under  pressure of any force. The basic concept of self-regulation of the Press Council has been articulated by Mahatma Gandhi.

    The Nigeria Press Council  as a unique entity should exercise an authority over the instruments of the state by safeguarding the independence of the press.

    The council should facilitate more seminars, discourse and conferences on the occasion of National Press Day. More public discourses must be geared towards attacks on the freedom of the Press and Right to Information

    The role of media in crises situations (Sub-Topics)– Constitutional Crises, Political Crises, Economic Crises, Social Crises, Security Crises and Threats to the Freedom of the Press on Internal and External should be widely covered.

    Media professionals should be educated on the role of Media in nurturing awareness of fundamental duties among citizens and the role of media in preserving rich composite heritage and tradition of the country and in promoting democracy.

    We need to enlighten people on the media’s role in arousing popular conscience to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood transcending barriers of ethnicity, religion and sectional interests.

    Role of Media in preparing people to cope with disasters is another topic that can not be overemphasised.

    Also, projection of women by media in present day context and occupational hazards faced by media persons in conflict situations on the NPD event should be discussed.

    The occasion will motivate every member to be more responsive, responsible and proactive.

    Media persons should continue their excellent tradition of constructive journalism, displaying highest standards of professionalism in their duties.

    The media play a crucial role in shaping the society and has also become a bridge between the government and the citizens. The consistent coverage by all forms of media on diverse issues of the society creates a immeasurable impact and thus making it one of most important of professions at present.

    The press is one of the foundation stone of democracy and its freedom is an essential pre-requisite in a world of challenging phase of media reporting today.

    The media should continue to play their vital role in creating a new Nigeria which is strong and prosperous; free of secession, crimes and insurgency.

    As we felicitate with the Nigerian press on the successful celebration of this day, it is our hoping that our media continue to represent the voice of the people particularly the oppressed in the country.

  • Reps urge FG to harmonize biometric database

    Reps urge FG to harmonize biometric database

    The National Identity Management Commission has been mandated by the House of Representatives to coordinate the harmonization of biometric data of Nigerians.

    The Green Chamber has also urged the Federal government to collate the number of birth and death of persons in local government areas of the country.

    A motion sponsored by a member, Hon. Ochiglegor Idagbo (PDP, Cross Rivers) at plenary yesterday titled “Call for the harmonization of Biometric Data of Nigerian Citizens” resulted in the resolutions of the House.

    While moving the motion, the lawmaker said biometric data gathering have been separately initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the National Pension Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the National Population Commission, Telecom Service Providers and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    This, he said, has led to duplicity of efforts due to lack of coordination, resulting in multiple agencies storing the same biometric data.

    His words: “The harmonization of biometric databases of the agencies of Government and private entities will help in saving about N40 billion in operational cost and citizens will not be required to have their biometrics taken over and over again by different agencies working for the same Government.”

    According to him, through the harmonization of the biometric data of their citizens.

    Several countries of the world like the United States, Canada, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, among others have achieved great outcomes in economic development and crime prevention detection and fighting.

    Support for the motion came from members like Hassan Saleh (APC, Benue), Chris Azubuogwu (PDP, Anambra), among who argued that it will help the country to plan economically and in terms of security

    There is the need to ensure the implementation of policy in achieving the data harmonization, a member, Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu) said in his contribution.

    The motion was passed by a majority vote when the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Population and Governmental Affairs

    The committee was mandated to ensure implementation and report its findings back to the House in six weeks for further legislative action.

     

  • NIMC advises Nigerians to obtain national identification numbers

    NIMC advises Nigerians to obtain national identification numbers

    Mr Aliyu Aziz, the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission ( NIMC ), has advised Nigerians and other residents in the country, to get their National Identification Numbers ( NINs ).

    Aziz said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that Nigerians should regard the NIN as a most crucial feature of their lives, since it was the unique identifier for all in the country.

    He said that Nigerians should regard the NIN the same way Social Security Number was regarded in the United States, the National Insurance Number in the United Kingdom or AADHAR number in India.

    According to him, what is common in all the countries mentioned is just the number.

    “Therefore, you need a unique NIN from cradle to grave,” he said.

    The NIMC boss advised Nigerians and residents in the country to present themselves to be enrolled for NIN to avoid any rush.

    He said that rush might arise with the enforcement of the mandatory use of NIN for transactions and access to services, as stipulated in Section 27 of the NIMC Act of 2007.

    “By law and along the entire lifecycle of individuals in Nigeria, you need to present your NIN, whenever you need to be identified for services such as passport issuance.

    “You will need to present NIN during banking services, land transactions, insurance services, pension, health insurance, payment of taxes, voter’s registration, consumer credits and all government services.

    “In all these, there is nothing temporary about the NIN slip issued after registration, the NIN is your identity and is considered more important than the card.

    “NIMC’s current focus is on the number – NIN, and not the card.

    “We are already in a digital economy driven by unique index numbers and not by physical tokens such as a card.

    “The law specifies that we should issue general multipurpose smart cards as the exercise continues,’’ he said.

    Aziz said the commission was mindful of the demands of the public for the physical cards and efforts were being made to meet them.

    The NIMC director general said however that provision of the physical cards had huge financial implication for the nation.

    According to him, the number of people with their NINs is 23.3 million, an increase from seven million in November 2015, when he took over the mantle of leadership in NIMC.

    “So, please enroll for the NIN, encourage everyone you know to do same, including children and legal residents.

    “This is necessary as all other government agencies will follow soon and make their respective announcements on the mandatory use of the NIN,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • China approves domestically-developed Ebola vaccine

    China approves domestically-developed Ebola vaccine

    China has approved a domestically developed Ebola vaccine, according to China Food and Drug Administration ( CFDA ) on Friday.

    CFDA said the vaccine was developed by Academy of Military Medical Sciences and CanSino Biologics INC.

    It stated that the approval made China the third country to develop vaccine against Ebola following  United States and Russia.

    The vaccine is based on 2014 mutant gene type and in the form of freeze-dried powder which can
    remain stable for at least two weeks in temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius and suitable for climate in West Africa.

    The vaccine was clinically approved by CFDA in February 2015 and underwent clinical trials in Sierra Leone, one of the country’s worst hit by Ebola.

    The virus was discovered in 1976 and severely affected countries including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2013, claiming the lives of more than 11,000 people.

    NAN