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Tag: USA

  • Abdulmutallab sues U.S. over free speech, religious rights

    Abdulmutallab sues U.S. over free speech, religious rights

    Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigeria-born underwear bomber who is serving a life imprisonment   in the United  States of America for terrorism, has filed a suit against the US government for allegedly denying his free speech and religious rights.

    Abdulmutallab,30, was jailed for trying to set off a bomb in his underwear during a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009.

    He is being held  at the United States Penitentiary-Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado,USA.

    The convict, in the suit filed  in a Colorado federal court, claims authorities of the  prison  are violating his constitutional rights by not allowing him to communicate with the outside world or practice his religion as a Muslim.

    He also alleges that the authorities are repeatedly force feeding him during a hunger strike using “excessively and unnecessarily painful” methods.

    Besides,he accuses the Justice Department of  restricting his communication, including not allowing him to talk to his nieces and nephews since his solitary confinement was based on a special administrative measures imposed on national security grounds.

    According to him, white supremacist inmates are  also let loose to harass him during prayer times.

    His counsel, Gail Johnson, said in a statement that prisoners “retain fundamental constitutional rights to communicate with others and have family relationships free from undue interference by the government.”

    He added: “The restrictions imposed on our client are excessive and unnecessary, and therefore we seek the intervention of the federal court.”

    The Northwest Airlines flight that flew him from Amsterdam to Detroit on the fateful day had  289 people on board.

  • Iran nuclear deal: Iran to withdraw if U.S quit

    Iran nuclear deal: Iran to withdraw if U.S quit

    Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Wednesday that Washington could not understand that it was incapable of pushing Iran back into the past due to the “retarded status” of the U.S. authorities.
    On Oct. 13, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would remain part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal, but would not re-certify Iran’s compliance with it, thus making the first step in line with his numerous threats to denounce the accord.
    Trump added that his administration would work with Congress on the JCPOA’s shortcomings and vowed to impose a new batch of sanctions against Iran for its alleged support of terrorism.
    “They [the United States] want to return the young, faithful, revolutionary and advanced Iran to 50 years ago.
    “Of course, it is clear that this can’t be done, but they can’t decipher this reality due to their retarded status and therefore, they experience repeated miscalculations and defeats from the Iranian nation,” Khamenei said at a meeting with young academics in Tehran.
    The leader of the Islamic republic added that Trump’s latest actions against Iran were nonsensical, but it should not put Tehran off guard and make it turn a blind eye to the policy of the United States.“The President of the United States displays nonsense; however, this should not lead us to ignore the mischief of the U.S. regime.

     “Everyone should be certain that the U.S. will, once again, be beaten and defeated by the Iranian nation,” Khamenei stated.The Iranian leader also highlighted the importance of the nuclear deal, but threatened to withdraw from the accord unless the other signatories stick to it.

    “JCPOA serves their [US] interests; but, we will not tear up the deal before the other party does: if they tear up JCPOA, we shred it,” Khamenei said.

    Iran’s supreme leader argued that Iran had managed to curb U.S. dominance and become a powerful state inspite of Washington’s oppression.

     He blamed the U.S. for being behind the emergence of the Islamic State terror group (IS, outlawed in Russia).
    Khamenei claimed that Washington’s hostile actions against Tehran were incited by Iran’s successful fight against the IS.He also called on the European Union, another party to the JCPOA, to be more vocal in its opposition to Washington’s actions against the deal.

    In July 2015, Iran, the European Union and the so-called P5+1 group of nations that includes five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China, France, Russia, UK, U.S., plus Germany signed the JCPOA.

     The deal stipulates for the gradual lifting of nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Tehran in exchange for assurances that its nuclear program will remain peaceful.
    Inspite of this, the U. S. has imposed a series of sanctions on Iran for alleged support for terrorists and its ballistic missile programme.(Sputnik/NAN)
  • 2018 FIFA W/Cup: USA Lament on Social Media after defeat

    2018 FIFA W/Cup: USA Lament on Social Media after defeat

    After a shock 2-1 defeat in Trinidad and Tobago, the USA team has expressed disappointment at their inability to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

    On their twitter handle, they stated:”Devastated. But we are forever grateful to our supporters. We will persevere.”

     Meanwhile according to reports by Reuters, the impact of the U.S.’s absence will be felt as broadcasters Fox, who takes over coverage of the World Cup from ESPN starting with the 2018 tournament and a host of sponsors, such as Nike, who had been hoping for plenty of World Cup exposure.

    It could be recalled that back in 1989, the US defeated Trinidad with a single goal for their last qualifier for the 1990 World Cup.

    However,in their quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup they got a 2-1 defeat in Trinidad and Tobago thus ending their run of seven successive finals appearances.

  • Las Vegas Update: Death toll rises to 58

    Las Vegas Update: Death toll rises to 58

    The police in Las Vegas has confirmed that the shooting in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is the deadliest in American history.

    Las Vegas shooting

    Read: 20 killed, 100 injured in Las Vegas shooting — Police

    Death toll has risen to 58 people and 515 are injured after a gunman, Stephen Paddocks started firing at festival goers at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

    Stephen Paddock

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here are some of the things we have information at the moment:

    • The event was the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a three-day country music event.
    •  The Festival was held at the Las Vegas Village and Festival Grounds, run by MGM Resorts.
    • It happened at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
    • The gunman fired from a Las Vegas hotel.
    • Country singer Jason Aldean was performing, when the shooting started.
    • He has reacted to the shooting, asking that “People should pray for Las Vegas”
    • Several SWAT teams were sent to the hotel immediately after the first reports of the shooting at 10:08 p.m.
    • One off-duty officer has been reported to died in the wake of the shooting.
    • Shortly before midnight the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported that “one suspect is down,”.
    • He was neutralised in a hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
    • Police believes he killed himself prior to their entry.
    • Police found a cache of weapons, including 10 rifles.
    • The gunman was identified as Stephen Paddock, 64 from Nevada.
    • The gunman’s brother, Eric Paddock, said he was stunned to learn Stephen was responsible for the mass shooting
    • More than 50 victims died, and at least 200 others were wounded.
    • It is one of the deadliest mass shootings in United States modern history.
    • Marilou Danley has been contacted, no longer sought by the police.
    • There is no group claiming responsbility for the attack.
  • FG consoles with victims of US Hurricane Harvey

    FG consoles with victims of US Hurricane Harvey

    Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has commiserated with victims of the recent Hurricane Harvey in Houston, USA, especially Nigerians living there.

    In a statement Tuesday by her Media aide, Abdurrahman Balogun, she expressed concern about the damage done to the homes of those living in that area thus rending thousands homeless.

    With over four million estimated Nigerians living in the US, Dabiri-Erewa stated that statistics show that Houston hosts one of the highest community of Nigerians in that country.

    It must be noted that at the very least 80 per cent of Nigerians resident in places like Galveston, Cypress, Houston and the Bayou area have had their properties and personal belongings damaged.

    There was a case of a rescued Nigerian from Akwa Ibom state on Monday by speed boat having lost his car, home and personal belongings

    “This is to send my  heartfelt concern to Nigerians living in Houston, and indeed all residents affected by Hurricane Harvey. It is really sad and disturbing”.

    Dabiri-Erewa, however, called on Non- Governmental Organisations, corporate bodies as well as well-endowed individuals  to join in raising funds for victims of hurricane Harvey in Houston.

    “We should always be our brothers keepers and lend a helping hand as we are now one big global family”, Dabiri-Erewa pleaded.

    She commended the efforts of the US government in giving succour to the victims of the Hurricane Harvey in Houston and pray unto God to protect those living there.

  • U.S. must reject all forms of bigotry, hate -Ex presidents Bush

    U.S. must reject all forms of bigotry, hate -Ex presidents Bush

     

    Former Presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush said in a statement on Wednesday that the U.S. must turn away from all forms of racial hatred and anti-Semitism.

    “America must always reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred in all forms,” the statement said.

    The former presidents said the founding document of the U.S. asserts that all people are created equal, and said they were praying for the city of Charlottesville, Virginia

    A 32-year old woman, Heather Heyer, was killed on Saturday by a man who rammed his car into a group of anti-white nationalist protesters in Charlottesville.

    The attack prompted outrage from Democrats and some Republicans, who criticised current US President Donald Trump’s response to the incident, which condemned the protesters along with the white supremacists demonstrators.

     

    “Recent incidents in California, Oregon, New Orleans and Kentucky, as well as Charlottesville, demonstrate the geographical spread of the problem,” they stressed.

    The experts noted that the Charlottesville far-right demonstrators had chanted anti-Black, anti-Semitic, and anti-immigrant slogans, and said it was of critical importance for those who had committed racist crimes or violence to be held to account.

    “We call for the prosecution and adequate punishment of all perpetrators and the prompt establishment of an independent investigation into the events,” they noted.

    On Sunday, thousands of white nationalists, neo-Confederates and

    After hours of brawls, a sports car ploughed into a group of counter-white supremacist protesters, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring 19 others.

  • Ogbeh ‎advises critics of FG yam export policy to grow yam

    Ogbeh ‎advises critics of FG yam export policy to grow yam

    Chief Audu Ogbeh,  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has advised critics of the Federal Government yam export policy to grow the commodity.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Ogbeh dismissed the criticisms of the policy, saying that the effort was in the best interest of the nation’s economy.

    He said the energies being dissipated by critics in condemning the initiative could be better used to produce yam, a staple in most parts of the country.

    The minister allayed the fears of some Nigerians who believed that the policy would lead to shortage of yam in the country.

    According to him, there is currently a glut in yam production in the domestic market.

    “I have seen attacks on the social media. There are questions all over as to why we are exporting yam when Nigerians are said to be hungry.

    “With all due respect, Nigeria accounts for 61 per cent of the world output of yam. We have 60 varieties of yam in this country.

    “In fact, 30 per cent of the yams we produce get rotten because we don’t have facilities to preserve them.

    “Ghana is a famous country for exportation of the commodity, but most of the yam they export is from us.

    “There has never been shortage of yam in the country. Prices might be high toward the end of the season, but new yam is already in the market.

    “Why are you so cowardice, Why lay back by not trying anything because of some sentimental reasons that might be raised.’’

    Critics of the policy believe that investment in local processing of yams into finished products is of more economic benefit to the country than exporting the commodity.

    But the minister dismissed this suggestion, arguing that export made more economic sense than processing.

    “Analysts are saying that we are supposed to add more value to yam production in order to earn more money, fantastic view.

    “But they forget to tell us how much a tuber of yam costs in the USA. Three kilogrammes cost 15 dollars, which is equivalent to about N5, 000.

    “In London, a cartoon of yam, this contains three tubers, costs 30 pounds, bringing the average cost per tuber to 10 pounds.

    “At that price, it is more sensible to export to earn more money for our economy.

    “Economy is 90 per cent common sense. You can’t keep on buying until you are broke. What are you selling?”

    To further buttress his point, the minister said foreign trade partners came to complain when Nigeria limited its food imports.

    “They complained that we were not buying stock fish from them. I asked them if they were buying anything from us. Let us do some selling as well too.

    “Nigerians should stop the sarcasm and negativity in trying to rubbish every government policy. If Ghana can export yam, Nigeria too can.”

    The minister commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for setting guidelines for yam exporting, promising that the standards would be adhered to.

    Ogbeh urged the commissioners of agriculture in states to keep on educating farmers to use the right yam seedlings to increase their output.

  • Dickson in US defends FG’s plans on modular refineries 

    Dickson in US defends FG’s plans on modular refineries 

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, at the ongoing Oil and Gas Trade Conference (OTC) in USA, defended the decision of the Federal Government to establish modular refineries.

    The governor in the event holding at Houston, Texas, commended President Muhammandu Buhari-led administration for the initiative describing it as a brilliant idea that would create more jobs and increase the economic fortunes of Nigeria.

    He said the refineries when completed would also curb the illegal refining of petroleum products and the problems associated with it.

    A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor spoke on the sidelines of the conference.

    The statement said Senator Foster Ogola, House of Representative members Fred Agbedi and Henry Ofongu; Secretary to the State Government, Serena Dokubo-Spiff, Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Commerce and Industries, Mr. Kemela Okara, Chief Economic Adviser, Duate Iyabe, Special Adviser on Investment, Cyril Akika were among other top aides of the governor, who accompanied him.

    Already Dickson said his government fully embraced the initiative by setting up a firm, Bayelsa Petrochemical and Refinery Company Limited, to partner with willing investors in the modular refineries.

    The governor reportedly told his audience in the global oil industry that as a home of of oil and gas in Nigeria, Bayelsa provides strategic investment opportunities and a conducive and secured environment to drive investment in that sector.

    He said that the participation of his state in the OTC was strategic adding that it would afford Bayelsa the opportunity to meet and leverage on prospective investors in various opportunities offered by his government.

    Dickson boasted that Bayelsa has in abundance gas feedstock to power the modular refineries.

    “It is interesting to note that we already have more than enough gas in abundance to deliver the three modular refineries so we are good to go”, he said.

    The governor assured prospective investors that all investments would be fully secured and allayed fears expressed on threats to destruction of pipelines.

    He said: “To a large extent, as a state government given our strategic and massive investment in security ‎over the last five years, we make bold to say that our state is one of the safest in the Niger Delta and Nigeria. So would-be investors have nothing to worry about”.

    ‎Dickson said that the Kolo Creek Gas plant which is the first independent power plant in the country has been running for in the state for years.

    He listed the opportunities available in the state to drive investments in modular refineries, power plants and allied petrochemical industries.

    The statement also said that Dickson was a guest at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) strategic stakeholders’ event as part of the OTC roundtable side meetings, where the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe kachukwu, was said to be present.

    At the forum, the governor called on major players in the industry to partner with the state on a number of opportunities in driving investment in key sectors of the state.

    He lauded the recent federal government policy directing oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the oil producing states.

    He said that Bayelsa already provided the enabling environment to make the relocation of the oil companies easy and seamless through the 3.5km runway international airport presently under construction in the state.

    “The airport will enable the oil companies executives to be able to fly in and out of the state without the stress of travel time from Port Harcourt to Yenagoa and the completion of the new heliport will serve the purpose of helicopter shuttles.

    “In addition to that, the ambitious infrastructural projects provided by the present government to facilitate businesses in the state has made Bayelsa to be fully ready and open for business,” he said.

     

  • California launches campaign to secede from USA

    Californians  are seeking to secede from the United States of America (USA).

    California Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Thursday gave the green light for the  proposed initiative to start collecting signatures.

    If enough signatures are collected, ‘Calexit’ could be on the ballot in 2018.

    If the ‘yes’ have their way at the referendum,  provisions  in the California Constitution which stipulate  that the state is an “inseparable part of the United States” and that the U.S. Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” will automatically be repealed

    This would mean California could govern itself.

    Yes California, the campaigners for the proposal,  have argued the state is culturally out of step with the rest of the US.

    With 38.8million people, California is the most populous state in the US and the third most extensive at 433,970 square kilometers..

    It is the state with the most electoral college votes, with 55.

    “California loses [by] being a part of America culturally and financially,” Marcus Ruiz Evans, one of the group’s founders told the LA times.

    “It could be a nation all its own, everybody knows that. The only question is if they want to break off.”

    61.5 per cent of Californians voted for Hillary Clinton and 31.5 per cent  did for Donald Trump.

    To qualify for the ballot, Yes California has to collect 585,407 valid signatures from registered voters over the next 180 days.

     

  • Trump appoints Nigerian on economic advisory forum

    Trump appoints Nigerian on economic advisory forum

    Nigerian-born Adebayo Ogunlesi, who is the chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm and one of Fortune 500 companies, has been named a member of an economic advisory forum to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

    The 63 year-old Nigerian is the only African face in the 16-man team, which has Steve Schwarzman, CEO of private-equity giant Blackstone as chairman.

    “President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced that he is establishing the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum,” said a statement from
    Blackstone.

    “The Forum, which is composed of some of America’s most highly respected and successful business leaders, will be called upon to meet with the
    president frequently to share their specific experience and knowledge as the president implements his plan to bring back jobs and Make America Great Again,” Blackstone said.

    The members of the forum are: Stephen Schwarzman (forum chairman), Chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone; Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global Partners, former Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Mary Barra, Chairwoman and CEO, General Motors

    Others include Toby Cosgrove, CEO, Cleveland Clinic; Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan
    Chase & Co.; Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO, BlackRock; Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney
    Company

    Trump also appointed Rich Lesser, President and CEO, Boston Consulting Group; Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Wal-MartStores Inc.; Jim McNerney, former chairman, President, and CEO of Boeing; Adebayo, “Bayo” Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing partner, Global Infrastructure .

    Apart from being managing partner of Global Infrastructure, Ogunlesi also serves on the boards of Callaway Golf Co. and Kosmos Energy Ltd.

    The former chairman of Africa Finance Corporation and serves on the boards of various not-for-profits ranging from New York Presbyterian Hospital to the NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund, Inc. Ogunlesi, whose father came from Makun, Sagamu in Ogun, was born in 1953.

    His father, T.O. Ogunlesi, was Nigeria’s first Professor of medicine.

    After attending Kings College, Lagos, for his secondary education, he received his B.A. with first class honours in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, from Oxford University.

    He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1979 and later got an MBA from Harvard Business School.

    Ogunlesi had a banking career with Credit Suisse First Boston from 1983 and rose to become its executive vice chairman.

    Before joining Credit Suisse, Ogunlesi was an attorney in the corporate practice group of the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

    From 1980-81 he served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall of the United States Supreme Court.

    He was a lecturer at Harvard Law School and the Yale School of Organization and Management, where he taught a course on transnational investment projects in emerging countries, according to Wikipedia.

    He is married to an optometrist, Dr. Amelia Quist- Ogunlesi.

    His company, Global Infrastructure, managesGatwick Airport in the UK.(NAN)