TheNewsGuru

Tag: U.S.

  • U.S. Navy drops ban on sailors putting hands in pockets

    U.S. Navy drops ban on sailors putting hands in pockets

    The U.S. Navy on Friday eliminated a source of anger and online mockery announcing that it had lifted its ban on sailors keeping their hands in their pockets.

    “Sailors were authorised to have hands in their pockets when doing so does not compromise safety nor prohibit the proper rendering of honors and courtesies,’’ the Navy said in a statement.

    The change was largely made at the request of sailors, who saw the rule as pointless and irritating.

    The ban had been in place because the Navy believed that keeping your hands in your pockets detracts from a sailor’s military appearance.

    The Feb.7, announcement also included several other notable changes, some reflecting the growing presence of women in the Navy.

    However, female sailors were now permitted to “optionally wear T-shirts specifically designed for female bodies with Navy uniforms.”

    “The intent of this policy update is to address expressed dissatisfaction regarding the required wear of male or unisex T-shirts that are not designed to fit female bodies,” the statement said.

    Women can also now wear false eyelashes or eyelash extensions provided the lashes project a natural appearance and are not longer than 14 millimeters as measured from the eyelid to the tip of the eyelash.

    “False eyelash color will match the color of the natural eyelash. Eyelash extensions cannot hinder wear of protective eyewear.|”

    The rules changes will have a big impact in San Diego, home to nearly 60,000 active-duty sailors.

  • Houthis order U.S., British nationals to leave Yemen

    Houthis order U.S., British nationals to leave Yemen

    Yemen’s Houthi authorities have ordered the United States and British staff of the United Nations and Sanaa-based humanitarian organisations to leave the country within a month.

    A document and a Houthi official said on Wednesday.

    The decision followed the strike of the United States and Britain, with support from other nations, against military targets of the  Iran-aligned group.

    The group had been launching attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea that are linked to Israel.

    The U.S. government last week likewise returned the Houthis to a list of terrorist groups as Washington tries to stem attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

    The Houthis said their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel bombards Gaza.

    “The ministry … would like to stress that you must inform officials and workers with the United States and British citizenships to prepare to leave the country within 30 days”

    This was said by Peter Hawkins in a letter sent by the Houthi foreign ministry to the UN’s acting humanitarian coordinator in Yemen.

    The letter also ordered foreign organisations to not hire American and British citizens for Yemen’s operations, Houthi top negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Reuters.

    A British national, in the Hawkins office did not respond to a request for comment.

    The United States embassy said in a statement it was aware of reports about the letter.

    However, “cannot speak on behalf of the United Nations or humanitarian organizations in Yemen as to what they may have received from Houthi ‘authorities’”

    The British embassy said staff had not yet been told to leave and the mission was in close contact with the United Nations on the issue.

    “The United Nation provided vital assistance to the Yemeni people … via the very sea routes that the Houthis are jeopardising”

    In addition “Nothing should be done that hinders their ability to deliver,” the British mission in Yemen said in a statement.

    The Houthi movement controls much of Yemen after nearly a decade of war against a United States-backed and Saudi-led coalition.

    The war shifted to a “no-war, no-peace” stalemate as the fighting largely stopped, but both parties failed to renew formally a United Nation-brokered ceasefire.

    United States and British warplanes, ships, and submarines have launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks.

    Equally Container vessels have been forced to divert from the Red Sea, being the fastest freight route from Asia to Europe.

    The United States and British forces on Tuesday targeted a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities, the Pentagon said.

  • Lagos ban on plastic containers well-thought, but – U.S Nigeria Trade Council

    Lagos ban on plastic containers well-thought, but – U.S Nigeria Trade Council

    The U.S. Nigeria Trade Council USA says the Lagos State Government’s sudden ban on single-use plastic containers, though well intentioned, could have adverse  economic effects.

    Mr Titus Olowokere, President of the council, said this in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Olowokere urged the government to consider the potential economic impact of the ban and work with stakeholders to implement sustainable waste management strategies that would support entrepreneurship, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

    Olowokere said that the council recognised the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability but the abrupt prohibition of single-use plastics could be problematic..

    “We firmly believe that this ban will have  detrimental effects on Lagos state economy and exacerbate the unemployment crisis.

    “We urge the government to reconsider this decision and take into account alternative solutions that promote entrepreneurship, sustainable consumption, and waste management,” Olowokere said.

    The council said that Lagos relied heavily on plastic manufacturing and packaging industries that employed thousands of people across the state.

    ” This ban directly affects not only industry workers but also countless small-scale entrepreneurs who depend on the plastic sector for their livelihoods.

    “Furthermore, from an economic standpoint, the ban imposes an enormous financial burden on businesses, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as they are forced to find alternatives or invest in costly infrastructure to comply with the regulation.

    “This additional expenditure, coupled with the already challenging business environment, will impede growth and hinder economic development, not only in Lagos, but in Nigeria as a country,” Olowokere said.

    He explained that the council was suggesting a more comprehensive approach that balanced environmental concerns, economic sustainability, and job creation.

    He said that rather than a sudden blanket ban, the council had some advice on solutions to mitigate the negative impact on both the environment and the economy, promote entrepreneurship and pave the way for a greener Nigeria.

    He said that the first one bordered on public awareness and education.

    Olowokere said that this entailed implementing public awareness campaigns and educational programmes about sustainable waste management practices.

    This, according to him, will promote responsible consumer behaviour and support the transition towards eco-friendly alternatives.

    He said that the state could also engage with industry stakeholders for the development and adoption of eco-friendly packaging alternatives, such as biodegradable or compostable materials.

    Olowokere said this could help to minimise the environmental impact of packaging waste.

    He said that the council also advocated investment in recycling infrastructure.

    “The establishment and expansion of recycling facilities will create new job opportunities and support the growth of a sustainable recycling industry in Nigeria.”

    In terms of entrepreneurship development, he said that encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs to invest in alternative packaging materials and innovative waste management solutions would stimulate economic growth and create new business opportunities.

    “USTC advocates for collaboration between the Lagos State government, private sector entities, and civil society organisations to develop and implement waste management projects that drive entrepreneurship and job creation,” he added.

    Olowokere said that the council remained committed to fostering mutually beneficial trade relations between the United States and Nigeria, while advocating for sustainable economic development and environmental conservation.

    The Lagos state government had on Sunday announced a ban on the use of styrofoam and single use plastic with immediate effect.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, issued the ban on behalf of the government.

    Wahab said that the nonbiogradeable properties of the products constitute serious environmental threat as styrofoam and other single use plastics block drainage channels in the state.

    Reactions have continued to trail the development.

  • U.S. Secretary of State visits Nigeria from Sunday

    U.S. Secretary of State visits Nigeria from Sunday

    U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, will travel to Nigeria, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire and Angola from Sunday, Jan. 21 to Friday, Jan. 26.

    The U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, in a statement on Thursday said that the trip was to deepen the diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Africa.

    Throughout the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership in areas such as climate, food and health security, since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Dec. 2022.

    Blinken would begin his visit to the four countries on Sunday for talks focused on regional security, conflict prevention, democracy promotion and trade.

    Nigeria is West Africa’s regional heavyweight and plays a major role in security issues, especially those involving Islamic extremist violence in the Sahel, the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert.

    The trip will be his third overseas mission in the new year.

    He returned from a Gaza-focused, weeklong 10-nation trip to the Middle East last Thursday and a three-day trip to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.

    Blinken’s Africa trip comes as the United States is increasingly nervous about its relationships on the continent, particularly after coups in Niger and Gabon in 2023, and escalating unrest in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    In addition, the U.S. and  China are in a battle for influence throughout Africa. That topic will likely top his agenda in Angola, which China has targeted for significant investment.

    Blinken will highlight the administration’s partnership with African nations on issues such as the climate, economic investment, food and health.

    While in Ivory Coast, Blinken may attend an Africa Cup of Nations soccer match between the host country and Equatorial Guinea.

  • U.S. embassy in Baghdad attacked with missiles

    U.S. embassy in Baghdad attacked with missiles

    Two rocket salvos were fired at the U.S. embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Friday, according to a U.S. embassy spokesman.

    An embassy spokesman said there were no casualties and said they were investigating the incident.

    There are indications that pro-Iranian militias were behind the attack.

    So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    “We again call on the Iraqi government to do everything in its power to protect the personnel and facilities of diplomats and coalition partners,” the spokesman said.

    He referred to the right to self-defence.

    The US State Department in Washington also condemned the attack and called on the Iraqi security forces to immediately investigate who was behind it and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    “The many Iran-aligned militias operating freely in Iraq threaten the security and stability of Iraq, our people and our partners in the region,” a ministry spokesman said.

    Iraqi security sources had previously reported that several rockets had been fired at the area surrounding the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

    According to reports from the Arabic television station Al Arabiya, up to 14 rockets were fired.

    Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have increasingly attacked U.S. military bases in Syria and Iraq in response to the Israeli military operation.

    The U.S. Department of Defence said there have been at least 78 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since mid-October.

    Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani condemned the act. He said the attackers were jeopardising Iraq’s internal security. He gave the order to search for the perpetrators.

  • How to easily get U.S. visa

    How to easily get U.S. visa

    David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has advised persons desiring to travel to the U.S. to apply for visa early and ensure that the visa requests are tied to events.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Greene gave the advice in view of the gap between supply and demand for U.S. visas.

    Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Greene assured visa applicants of the mission’s commitment to tackling all visa-related hitches.

    According to him, issues related to visas would fully become a thing of the past, saying the mission is doing everything within its power to tackle such challenges.

    “When it comes to visas specifically, well of course, it is a simple fact, the demand for visa appointments outnumbers the supply.

    “So, those appointments are available and we are doing everything we can to address that gap. What folks do not know is that this year we have interviewed more than 150,000 Nigerians.

    “This is in addition to 30,000 students. Hundreds of thousands of students have had the opportunity to seek visas from the U.S.

    “We are doing the best we can to get proper ways for all the categories and after having an enormous backlog as a result of COVID-19, and all that.

    “We have made great progress though. In March we instituted a five-year term for visas to the U.S.,” he added.

    He urged persons desiring to travel to the U.S. to apply early and ensure that the visa requests are tied to events.

    “Folks that are seeking visas should apply early, make sure that the plan is for an event as they can.

    “This is because we do acknowledge that there is a backlog and we will do what we can to make sure people that need a warrant visa to the U.S. can get them,” he said.

  • U.S. Embassy to tackle visa-related hitches in Nigeria

    U.S. Embassy to tackle visa-related hitches in Nigeria

    Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S, Embassy in Nigeria Mr. David Greene has assured visa applicants of the mission’s commitment to tackling all visa-related hitches.

    Greene gave the assurance during an interview with NAN in Abuja.

    According to him, issues related to visas would fully become a thing of the past, saying the mission is doing everything within its power to tackle such challenges.

    “When it comes to visas specifically, well of course it is a simple fact, the demand for visa appointments outnumbers the supply.

    “So, those appointments are available and we are doing everything we can to address that gap. What folks do not know is that this year we have interviewed more than 150,000 Nigerians.

    “This is in addition to 30,000 students. Hundreds of thousands of students have had the opportunity to seek visas from the U.S.

    “We are doing the best we can to get proper ways for all the categories and after having an enormous backlog as a result of COVID-19, and all that.

    “We have made great progress though. In March we instituted a five-year term for visas to the U.S.,” he added.

    He urged persons desiring to travel to the U.S. to apply early and ensure that the visa requests are tied to events.

    “Folks that are seeking visas should apply early, make sure that the plan is for an event as they can.

    “This is because we do acknowledge that there is a backlog and we will do what we can to make sure people that need a warrant visa to the U.S., can get them,” he said.

  • FG replies US Embassy over travel advisory on hotels

    FG replies US Embassy over travel advisory on hotels

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji, Mohammed Idris says, Nigeria is safe and open to foreign investments and tourists to explore and benefit.

    Idris made this know in his address at an interactive session with senior media editors and executives on Monday in Abuja.

    Recall that on November 3rd, the US Embassy issued notice of an increase threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities.

    According to the Minister, all countries in the world have one challenge or the other which could be economy, political, gun violence, social or cultural.

    “We understand the concerns raised by the United States Government in their recent travel advisory, but believe that it is imperative that we do not generalise isolated incidents across the entire hospitality industry.

    “What we have seen is that, such advisories do not achieve anything other than needless panic, and they can have severe adverse economic impact, not to talk of what they do to undermine the government’s efforts to attract investment.

    “We have consistently prioritised the safety and well-being of all visitors to our country. We have implemented comprehensive security measures, both at the Federal and State levels, to ensure the safety of tourists and international guests.

    “These measures include intense intelligence gathering, acquisition and deployment of additional platforms, training and re-training of personnel, cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, among others, to maintain a secure environment.

    “The Nigerian Government is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians and visitors to the country and will continue to work towards maintaining a secure and hospitable environment for tourists and business travelers and the likes.

    “Our country is relatively safe and open to foreign investment and tourists to come and invest, explore and ripe the benefits,” Idris stressed.

    He further explained that the Nigerian security agencies have been very busy, doing their best to keep us all safe.

    The Minister emphasised that in various parts of Kaduna State, seven bandits were neutralised, in various operations between the Nov. 1 and Nov.3.

    He explained that on Nov.3  in Kano State, a joint operation by troops of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services carried out a dawn raid operation on terrorists’ hideout in Gezawa Local Government Area.

    He added that the dawn raid operation successfully averted an imminent attack on Kano by insurgents.

    “The operation recovered AK 47 Rifles, AK 47 Rifle Magazines, a Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG), RPG Bombs, Hand Grenades, Improvised Explosive Device (IED)-making materials, among others.

    “In Katsina, two NYSC members abducted by bandits were successfully rescued.

    “In the North-East and North-West of the country, the Nigerian Air Force has been very busy, with several successful airstrikes on bandits’ and terrorists’ camps and hideouts in Katsina, Zamfara and Borno.

    “The Air Force has also recently taken delivery of four new aircraft, to strengthen the fight against banditry and terrorism.

    “In our maritime environment, on Oct. 25, the Eastern and Central Naval Commands flagged off a Joint Sea Exercise, Exercise SEA GUARDIAN 2023.

    “I have taken some time to outline some of these efforts to make the point that our security and intelligence agencies are constantly at work, foiling threats, and neutralising those who seek to undermine the security of the country,” he said.

    The Minister said such successes deserve the full support of all Nigerians and the media included.

    He urge Nigerians and the media to pay attention to what the armed forces are doing, and give amplified coverage to their successes and gains.

    “The bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, pirates, etc are waging not only a physical battle but also a psychological one, trying to undermine our faith and confidence in our security agencies.

    “As media leaders, we must be very careful to not play into their hands, through reporting that might be misleading or sensational or that undermines the morale of our security personnel,” Idris said.

    Those present during the interactive session include the Speacial Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of NAN, Mr Ali M. Ali and Mr Silas Nwoha respectively.

    Others were the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Jibrin Ndace, the Director-General of National Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Charles Ebuebu and many media gurus and personalities across the the country.

  • U.S. forecasts $100bn revenue for Nigeria’s creative industries

    U.S. forecasts $100bn revenue for Nigeria’s creative industries

    An Assistant Secretary for U.S. Economic and Business Affairs, Ramnin Toloui, has forecast a 100 billion dollar revenue from Nigeria’s creative industries by 2030.

    Toloui, who spoke during the Africa Creative Market Conference in Lagos on Monday, also said if the potential of the industry was well harnessed, it could create up to  2.7 million jobs by 2050.

    The conference on Intellectual Property(IP) protection was organised by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos in partnership with Ascend Foundation Studios.

    Toloui’s remarks aimed to highlight the importance of IP protection and enforcement framework in fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the creative industries.

    According to him, the Nigerian creative sector has grown in leaps and bounds, with American actors now interested in featuring in Nigerian movies.

    Part of this success, he said, was due to rising demand for Nigerian content from the global African diaspora.

    This, Toloui said, has led to a steady rise in the export of African content through digital streaming and international touring, and growing numbers of African-based investors who are directing capital towards early-stage creator economy startups.

    “The U.S. government supports and is proud to see burgeoning ties in the creative industries between the United States and Nigeria.

    “Bringing both countries closer together and furthering investment opportunities in the film and television, music, arts, sports, gaming, and tech arenas.

    “During the portion of the U.S.- Africa Summit that highlighted the economic potential of the creative industries, we announced our intention to partner with stakeholders across the creative ecosystem, creatives and policymakers alike, to help grow the creative economy.

    “We have taken up this charge by focusing on a key piece of the puzzle that allows creatives to monetise their work and attract additional investment:  intellectual property protection,” he said.

    Speaking on why the U.S., in its partnership with Nigeria, would highlight the creative industries, he said the cultural sector alone accounted for 3.1 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He added that according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the creative industries generated annual revenues of over 2 trillion dollars and accounted for nearly 50 million jobs worldwide.

    He said strong IP rights regimes established secure legal frameworks for investment in – and commercialisation of – innovation and creativity.

    This, he said, enabled firms, including innovative start-ups, to navigate the perilous process of transforming a creative work into a commercially viable product and to successfully compete in the global marketplace.

    “A strong system of IP rights assures inventors, industrial designers, and creative artists that their ideas will be protected and that they can receive payment for the use of their creations.

    “Strong IP protection, therefore, creates value and jobs that extend well beyond the traditional boundaries of the creative sector.  It attracts additional investment into the creative industries.

    “This is why we are so delighted to see Nigeria continuing to invest in the growth of the creative industries with the newly announced Destination 2030 Initiative,” he said.

    According to Toloui, the creative industries also employ more young people, namely those aged 15 to 29 than any other sector, with women constituting nearly half of the creative workforce.

    He noted that several U.S. film and entertainment companies, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Paramount were making large investments in the Nigerian market and seeing strong prospects for future investments.

    “Nigeria is a powerhouse of creativity, and we stand in steadfast partnership with all of you in this room to support the conditions that allow creatives to thrive.

    “I want to see many more investments and increased commercial ties. It serves us all to support a sector that is creating equitable opportunity for all,” Toloui said.

  • BREAKING: Mike Johnson elected U.S. House Speaker

    BREAKING: Mike Johnson elected U.S. House Speaker

    Constitutional law attorney, Rep Mike Johnson has been elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America (USA).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Rep Johnson, Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.

    Johnson is a former Chair of the Republican Study Committee Conference and served on Donald Trump’s first Senate impeachment trial defense team.

    The 51-year-old Louisiana congressman first elected in 2016 won the Speaker position with the unanimous support of House Republicans.

    TNG reports Johnson ward off challenge with 220 votes against Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, who polled 209 votes to be elected Speaker.

    As the Speaker, Johnson will be second in line to the presidency behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

    Mike Johnson reacts after emerging U.S. House Speaker

    Meanwhile, Johnson has reacted following his emergence as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

    As 56th Speaker, he vowed to ensure that the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people.

    Speaker, Johnson wrote via X: “It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House. Thank you to my colleagues, friends, staff, and family for the unmatched support throughout this process.

    “It has been an arduous few weeks, and a reminder that the House is as complicated and diverse as the people we represent.

    “The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance. Our House Republican Conference is united, and eager to work.

    “As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people. We will restore trust in this body.

    “We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work,” Johnson stated.