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Tag: U.S.

  • U.S. overtakes Spain in coronavirus death toll, now second highest in the world

    The United States coronavirus death toll is now the second highest in the world, after Italy.

    The U.S. overtook Spain early today, with new deaths recorded, taking the country’s tally to 14,797. Spain has 14,792 deaths.

    Italy, the world’s leader has 17,669 deaths.

    U.S. death toll is expected to go higher later today when figures from New York and other worst-hit areas are added up.

    On Wednesday, a record 1,940 people died from the virus and the COVID-19 illness that it causes.

    The U.S. also reported 31,935 new infections, that takes its tally to 434,927.

    The figure grew to 435,160 early today.

    Only four countries in the world have recorded infections above 100,000.

    They are Spain with 148,220 cases, Italy 139,422, Germany 113,296 and France 112,950.

    China where the virus started from has 81,865 cases, with 3,335 deaths.

  • U.S. offers $15 million reward for Venezuela’s Maduro capture

    U.S. offers $15 million reward for Venezuela’s Maduro capture

    The United States on Thursday slammed a $15million bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

    The reward is for information that could lead to his arrest for drug-trafficking charges.

    Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo made the announcement as the Justice Department unsealed charges against Maduro and associates.

    “The Venezuelan people deserve a transparent, responsible, representative government that serves the needs of the people — and that does not betray the trust of the people by condoning or employing public officials that engage in illicit narcotics trafficking,” Pompeo said.

    The Justice Department accused Maduro and others of narco-terrorism and drug smuggling into the United States.

    Attorney General William Barr said charges involved some 15 defendants between Maduro and other political and military leaders in Venezuela.

    He noted that Venezuela allegedly allows Colombians linked with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to use its airspace to fly cocaine north through Central America to destinations in North America.

    U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman, explained that the scheme between the Colombians and Venezuelans had been operating for some two decades.

    President Donald Trump administration considers Maduro an illegitimate president following his controversial election.

    Washington openly supported major opponent, Juan Guaidó, and recognises him as the legitimate winner of that poll.

    Trump invited Guaidó to the State of the Union address early February.

  • U.S. approves popular malaria drug for COVID-19 treatment

    U.S. approves popular malaria drug for COVID-19 treatment

    The U.S. on Thursday approved a malaria drug, chloroquine, for Coronavirus disease, COVID-19 treatment.

    President Donald Trump said at a Coronavirus Task Force news conference that the drug could help with symptoms of COVID-19.

    According to him, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is fast-tracking approval of using the drug chloroquine for COVID-19 treatment.

    “It is known as a malaria drug and it’s been around for a long time and it’s very powerful.

    “The nice part is, it’s being around for a long time, and so we know that if things don’t go as planned it’s not going to kill anybody.”

    Trump praised the FDA for fast-tracking approval of the COVID-19 treatment.

    “Normally the FDA would take a long time to approve something like that and it was approved very, very quickly,” Trump said.

    “We’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately.”

  • Unable to get coronavirus test in U.S., woman flies back to China

    Unable to get coronavirus test in U.S., woman flies back to China

    A Chinese citizen living in Massachusetts became ill earlier this month, with symptoms consistent with the coronavirus.

    She went to a local hospital and asked to be tested three times, but was denied. Frustrated, she flew to China – and tested positive upon arrival.

    According to Chinese officials, who provided the details, she is one of the nation’s 114 imported coronavirus cases, the newest concern for the country where the coronavirus global pandemic began.

    Seven weeks ago, 5 million people fled Wuhan and an unknown number left the country as China went into lockdown in a dramatic move to combat the deadly virus’ spread.

    But with many governments abroad failing to act swiftly to implement testing, prepare hospitals and medical workers or implement tough social distancing practices, infections and deaths are mounting worldwide.

    And now, in an ironical twist, some Chinese living abroad are returning to China for testing and medical help.

    The imported case from Massachusetts was reported by Beijing health authorities at a press conference Saturday.

    The woman, who was identified only by her surname, Li, was originally from Chongqing, Chinese authorities said, without specifying what work she did or how long she’d lived in Massachusetts.

    She’d attended a company meeting from Feb. 26-27 where another attendee later tested positive for coronavirus, she told Chinese authorities.

    She said she began exhibiting symptoms on March 1: chills, then a fever of 102 degrees, then a cough, runny nose, nausea, muscle aches and fatigue.

    Chinese officials said that Li went to a local hospital in Massachusetts on March 3 and she was given oseltamivir, an antiviral medication used for the flu. She returned to the same hospital on March 5 and Tuesday for chest scans, which turned out normal.

    On Wednesday, Chinese health authorities said, Li returned to the hospital for another chest scan, and it showed that her lungs were infected.

    But she was not admitted to the hospital. She requested to be tested for the coronavirus three times, but was rejected.

    On Thursday, Li flew with her husband and son from Los Angeles International Airport to Beijing on the 1 a.m. Air China flight, CA988.

    A flight attendant surnamed Sun told the Beijing News that Li was seated in an isolation area in the back of the plane, blocked from other passengers by a curtain, after she told the attendant she had low blood sugar.

    Li and her family were taken to a hospital upon arrival: She had a fever, fatigue and dry cough at the time.

    Her husband had fatigue and her son had no symptoms.

    She was tested and confirmed positive for coronavirus on Friday.

    Beijing authorities said 59 people who’d come into close contact with Li were all being monitored as well.

    The World Health Organisation has praised China’s tough measures of virus control for “flattening the curve” of the coronavirus outbreak through social distancing, contact tracing, and strict quarantine of suspected and confirmed virus patients and their contacts.

    In recent days, China has reported new infections in the single digits. Beijing is now loosening domestic restrictions on movement, with downgraded emergency response levels in many provinces and an increasing number of companies slowly allowed to go back to work.

    But at the same time, concern is rising over imported cases, many of Chinese nationals returning from other countries now struggling with coronavirus outbreaks.

    The first imported case was of a 23-year-old translator who returned from Iran – where more than 12,000 people have been infected and more than 600 have died so far – to his hometown in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

    The translator flew from Iran to Shanghai via Moscow on Feb. 19, according to local official reports, arrived on Feb. 20 and took consecutive trains to Lanzhou, the capital of Ningxia, then to his home in Zhongwei.

    Local reports recounted the flight and train numbers as well as seats he’d been in on every leg of the journey, and requested any close contacts to come forward.

    After that case, Beijing found several other imported cases from Iran of people who had been in close contact with the translator.

    Shanghai city and Zhejiang province, meanwhile, reported imported infections among Chinese nationals who returned from Italy, where more than 21,000 people have been infected and more than 1,400 have died. Guangdong province recently found an imported infection in a Chinese national returned from the Philippines, while Gansu province reported imported cases from Saudi Arabia and Iran.

    On Sunday, China reported 20 new infections, 16 of which were imported, including five cases in Beijing: three of travelers from Spain, one from Italy and the other from Thailand.

    The capital is now cracking down on arrivals from abroad: Beijing authorities announced Sunday that anyone flying into Beijing from anywhere abroad, starting at midnight March 16, would be subject to 14 days of quarantine in government centers.

    Those put in quarantine would have to pay for it themselves, authorities said.

    Anhui province and the city of Sanya in Hainan province have implemented similar measures, according to local reports.

    Other regions including Guangzhou province, Shanghai, and several cities in Shandong province, close to South Korea, have required all incoming travelers to home quarantine for 14 days.

    Zhang Wenhong, head of the infectious diseases department at Shanghai’s Huashan hospital, wrote in a widely shared article analysing other countries’ COVID-19 responses Sunday that the rise in cases abroad and imported cases brought “great risk” to China.

    “China has already been through the darkest hour. At first we believed that if China controlled (the outbreak) well, the world would also implement simultaneous controls, like Singapore, Japan, South Korea and other East Asian countries did very well,” Zhang said.

    “But now Europe has suddenly become the new center of the epidemic, bringing us immense uncertainty.

    Looking at the global virus response situation, it is basically impossible to control this outbreak by the end of summer,” he said.

  • Coronavirus: U.S. suspends travels from Europe for 30 days

    Coronavirus: U.S. suspends travels from Europe for 30 days

    By Dayo Benson Editor Politics,Law/Human Rights New York

    In a drastic move to stem the spread of Coronavirus in America, President Donald Trump, Wednesday night, announced a 30-day suspension of travels from Europe to the United States, effective midnight, Friday, March 13, 2020. This came hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a Pandemic .

    The travels suspension which President Trump called temporary, would also affect cargoes, but excludes U.S. citizens and legal residents of the United States. The United Kingdom was also excluded from the ban even as he blamed Europe for acting late to stop the spread from China.

    In a televised national broadcast from the White House which lasted about 10 minutes, President Trump, in a subdued voice, put politics aside even as he called for a bi-partisan effort to fight the scourge.

    President Trump who had earlier been criticized for downplaying the seriousness of the virus spread in the country, also announced some palliative economic measures to cushion the effects of Corona spread on the economy and businesses. Payroll tax reduction was also announced.

    On the heels of the President’s broadcast, National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced an indefinite suspensions of its league following a basketball player, Rudy Gobert, as well as an actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, tested positive for Corona Virus.

    Below is the full text of President Trump’s address:

    “My fellow Americans. Tonight, I want to speak with you about our nation’s unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and is now spreading throughout the world. Today, the World Health Organization officially announced that this is a global pandemic. We have been in frequent contact with our allies, and we are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people.

    “This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history. I am confident that by counting — and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus. From the beginning of time, nations and people have faced unforeseen challenges, including large scale and very dangerous health threats.

    “This is the way it always was, and always will be. It only matters how you respond, and we are responding with great speed and professionalism. Our team is the best anywhere in the world. At the very start of the outbreak, we instituted sweeping travel restrictions on China, and put in place the first federally-mandated quarantine in over 50 years.

    “We declared a public health emergency, and issued the highest level of travel warning on other countries as the virus spread its horrible infection. And — taking early intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States that are now present in Europe. The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots.

    “As a result a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe. After consulting with our top government health professionals I have decided to take several strong, but necessary, actions to protect the health and well-being of all Americans. To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

    “The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground. There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval.

    “Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom. At the same time, we are monitoring the situation in China and the South Korea, and as their situation improves, we will re-evaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening.

    “Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry, who have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing. We are cutting massive amounts of red tape to make antiviral therapies available in record time.

    “These treatments will significantly reduce the impact and reach of the virus. Additionally, last week I signed into law an $8.3 billion funding bill to help CDC and other government agencies fight the virus, and support vaccines treatments and distribution of medical supplies. Testing and testing capabilities are expanding rapidly, day by day.

    “We are moving very quickly. The vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low. Young and healthy people can expect to recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus. The highest risk is for elderly population with underlying health conditions. The elderly population must be very, very careful.

    “In particular, we are strongly advising that nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically-unnecessary visits. In general, older Americans should also avoid nonessential travel in crowded areas. My administration is coordinating directly with communities with largest outbreaks, and we have issued guidance on school closures, social distancing, and reducing large gatherings.

    “Smart action — today — will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow. Every community faces different risks, and it is critical for you to follow the guidelines of your local officials who are working closely with our federal health experts — and they are the best. For all Americans, it is essential that everyone take extra precautions and practice good hygiene.

    “Each of us has a role to play in defeating this virus. Wash your hands, clean often-used surfaces. Cover your face and mouth if you sneeze or cough, and most of all, if you are sick or not feeling well, stay home. To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action — which is unprecedented — to provide financial relief.

    “This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus. I will be asking Congress to take legislative action to extend this relief. Because of the economic policies that we have put into place, over the last three years, we have the greatest economy anywhere in the world by far.

    “Our banks and financial institutions are fully capitalized, and incredibly strong. Our unemployment is at a historic low. This vast economic prosperity gives us flexibility, reserves and resources to handle any threat that comes our way. This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation, and as a world.

    “However, to provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, tonight, I am announcing the following additional actions. I am instructing the Small Business Administration to exercise available authority to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus. Effective immediately, the SBA will begin providing economic loans in affected states and territories.

    “These low-interest loans will help small businesses overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus. To this end, I am asking Congress to increase funding for this program by an additional $50 billion. Using emergency authority, I will be instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments — without interest or penalties — for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted.

    “This action will provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy. Finally, I am calling on Congress to provide Americans with immediate payroll tax relief. Hopefully, they will consider this very strongly. We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus. We made a lifesaving move with early action on China.

    “Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay. I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health and safety of the American people. I will always put the well-being of America first. If we are vigilant, and we can reduce the chance of infection — which we will — we will significantly impede the transmission of the virus.

    “The — The virus will not have a chance against us. No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States. We have the best economy, the most advanced health care, and the most talented doctors, scientists, and researchers anywhere in the world. We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship and unify together as one nation and one family.

    “As history has proven time and time again, Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity. Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine. Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before. God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you.”

  • Cure for Coronavirus: U.S. pharmaceuticals report on progress

    Cure for Coronavirus: U.S. pharmaceuticals report on progress

    U.S. pharmaceutical companies met and reported progress being made on a vaccine and cure for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to President Donald Trump on Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the meeting held at the White House at the bidding of President Trump, who at a press conference said more cases are likely in the U.S. after the country confirmed death caused by the disease recently.

    “I am meeting with the major pharmaceutical companies today at the White House about progress on a vaccine and cure. Progress being made,” Trump had announced.

    As the world is putting efforts to find a vaccine or possibly a cure for the dreaded disease, recall that Israel had announced a major breakthrough vaccine against the disease for poultry, and are only three months away from testing the vaccine on humans.

    The researchers from Galilee Research Institute claimed that the vaccine they have been developing for the past four years could be modified for use in humans within three months.

    Announcing the breakthrough vaccine at a press conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Galilee Research Institute, David Zigdon said the vaccine it has been developing for the past four years has similar DNA structure in the virus that had spread from China.

    “There is a high urgency around the world to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus in humans, so we are working to expedite the development process and achieve an effective vaccine for the COVID-19 virus over the next 8-10 weeks and move to safety trials [in humans] within 90 days.

    “The vaccine developed by us for poultry is administered orally and the human vaccine offered by us is also expected to be administered orally” Zigdon said at the press conference.

    The Galilee Research Institute CEO noted that due to the urgent global need for the vaccine, the Institute is working around the clock with potential partners to help accelerate the research process in humans needed to complete the final product development and regulatory process.

    Prof. Dan Levanon, founder of Galilee Research Institute said that the duration of the vaccine’s development process is contingent upon health officials’ regulations.

    “Under these conditions, where the disease causes enormous damages as it worsens, I believe the regulations will be eased,” Levanon said.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Science and Technology, Ofir Akunis has welcomed the researchers’ breakthrough.

    “Had [the vaccine] had to be subjected to the usual regulations, it would have taken several years. Of course, without risking human life. I hope and believe there will be further progress soon,” he said at the press conference.

    Akunis also instructed the Director of the Ministry to promote any possible collaborations that would expedite the production of the vaccine in humans.

  • U.S. military kills al-Shabaab leader who helped plan Kenya base attack

    U.S. military kills al-Shabaab leader who helped plan Kenya base attack

    A senior al-Shabaab leader who is believed to have helped mastermind the terrorist group’s deadly attack on a Kenyan military base in January has been killed in an airstrike, the US military’s Africa Command (Africom) said.

    Three Americans – two contractors and a soldier – were killed during the Jan. 5 attack on the Manda Bay base, which is used by U.S. and Kenyan soldiers.

    The man killed in the Feb. 22 airstrike was “in charge of planning and directing terrorist operations on the Kenya border region, including the recent attack on Manda Bay,” Africom said in a statement.

    His wife was also killed in the airstrike, which was carried out near the town of Saakow by Africom in coordination with the Somali government.

    She was a “witting and active member of al-Shabaab responsible for facilitating a wide range of terrorist activities,” according to Africom.

    “This strike demonstrates that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those responsible for Manda Bay and those wishing to do harm to Americans and our African partners,” said Africom’s commander, Gen. Stephen Townsend.

    “Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, is an evil and remorseless enemy of peace, stability, and freedom in East Africa and threatens the very way of life of people there, as well as Americans and U.S. interest in the region and abroad,” he added.

    The terrorist militia, which wants to establish an Islamist state in Somalia, repeatedly attacks security forces and civilians.

    It is based in Somalia, but also regularly carries out attacks in neighbouring Kenya.

  • FG holds campaign against visa ban in U.S.

    A Federal Government team on Tuesday visited the U.S. state of Delaware to campaign against the recent immigrant visa restriction on Nigeria and seek development cooperation.

    The delegation, led by the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also comprised the Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs Tolulope Akande-Sadipe.

    At separate meetings with top officials of the Delaware state government, the Nigerian delegation denounced the immigrant visa restriction on Nigeria by the administration of President Donald Trump.

    Those visited were the Governor of the state, Mr John Carney; Mayor of the City of Wilmington, Mike Purzycki; President of the Wilmington City Council, Hanifa Shabazz, and some Delaware lawmakers.

    Trump had cited Nigeria’s alleged noncompliance with U.S. information sharing and security protocols at airports as grounds for the policy, which came into effect on Feb. 21.

    The policy has suffered condemnation from a section of the U.S. media and politicians, including Joe Neguse Neguse, a Colorado Democratic federal lawmaker.

    Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria ought not to be in the list, citing the enormous contributions of its nationals to the development of the U.S. economy, a fact acknowledged by her hosts.

    She rallied the support of the governor, the Wilmington mayor and council president, and the lawmakers for the ban to be lifted.

    The NIDCOM CEO said that the information-sharing and security gaps cited by Trump were already being addressed, adding that Nigeria had started capturing the biometrics of passengers arriving in the country at points of entry.

    On development, the NIDCOM boss said that Nigeria and Delaware had a lot to gain from economic and educational cooperation as well as cultural exchange, among others.

    She told the Nigerian community present, that government had initiated policies and programmes to harness their huge potentials for national development.

    Also speaking, Akande-Sadipe said that NIDCOM in collaboration with the House Committee were out to change the bad narrative about Nigeria and build bridges of cooperation.

    “ When we build bridges it leads to development and at the end of the day the narrative changes.

    “Nigeria as a nation is not what people see on TV or what they have read on social media. Nigeria is a nation of progressive people who are there to add value,’’ she said.

    Both officials invited their hosts to the 2020 edition of the Door of Return programme scheduled to hold in Badagry, Lagos, from Oct. 21 to 25.

    In separate reactions, the Delaware officials welcomed the idea of economic cooperation and cultural exchange with Nigeria.

    They lauded the contributions of the Nigerian community to the development of the state.

  • Trump speaks on receiving election ‘help’ from other countries

    Trump speaks on receiving election ‘help’ from other countries

    President Donald Trump has said that no country is trying to help him win the election, after a top intelligence official told lawmakers that Russia was meddling in the 2020 presidential vote to help Trump win a second term.

    Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday as he concluded a two-day visit to India, Trump said: “I want no help from any country and I haven’t been given help from any country.”

    After the congressional briefing, Trump ousted the acting intelligence chief, Joseph Maguire, and replaced him with a political loyalist.

    At the news conference, Trump denied reports that Maguire had been ousted from the top spy job, saying he needed to be replaced because of “statute”.

    Trump has said he will announce his pick soon for the job, which requires Senate confirmation.

    U.S. officials have also said that Russia has been mounting disinformation and propaganda campaigns to help Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in this year’s election.

    The intelligence community concluded that Russia had meddled in the 2016 election, though Moscow has denied the assessments.

    Trump, who is sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has questioned those findings and repeatedly criticised American intelligence agencies.

  • Controversial Naira Marley secures U.S. visa amid restrictions

    Controversial Naira Marley secures U.S. visa amid restrictions

    Amid new visa restrictions slammed on Nigeria by the United States (U.S.) recently, controversial Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley has secured P2 visa to enter the U.S. for a music tour.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the P2 visa issued Naira Marley by the U.S. is for artists and entertainers who wish to participate in government permitted programs in the country.

    It is a temporary work visa for non immigrants to perform in the U.S. through the government reciprocal program between an organization in their own country and the U.S.

    Recall U.S. President Donald Trump recently signed a presidential proclamation that imposed an immigrant visa ban on Nigeria and five other countries in an expanded version of his travel ban list, sparking outrage from many of the countries, including Nigeria.

    The development meant that citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar are now blocked from obtaining an immigrant visa.

    U.S. officials have said the six countries failed to meet U.S. security and information-sharing standards, necessitating the new restrictions.

    However, the option of P2 visa is available for artists and entertainers to exploit.

    The artist or entertainer, who must possess skills that are equal to those of artists of U.S. performing outside the U.S., must enter U.S. through the government recognized reciprocal exchange program.

    A US organization or employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker, and the individual artist, entertainer or group should be invited through reciprocal program. The applicants must meet the health and character requirements as well.

    Also, a P2 visa holder can participate in any exchange program in the U.S. The visa is granted for the duration of the program but can also be extended. A P2 visa holder can apply for green card and remain in the U.S. permanently. The spouse and dependent children can apply for P4 visa and stay in U.S. with the P1 visa holder. The spouse and children are entitled to study in the U.S. but not employment.

    Naira Marley, who at various times has been arrested by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for sundry financial related crimes, has secured this visa option as he is billed for a performance tour in the U.S. in March. All the crisis seems to be far behind him now.

    The controversial musician, who his American fans refer to as ‘Africa’s snoop Dogg’, will perform in Dallas and other cities, with his show titled ‘Marlays Yankee’.

    TNG learnt Naira Marley is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on or before March 4. He will be performing to a crowded fan base in Swayz Ballroom in Dallas on March 6.

    After a successful performance in Dallas, Naira Marley will proceed to Chicago, Maryland, Washington DC and North Carolina.