TheNewsGuru

Tag: U.S.

  • Boko Haram: U.S. report on terrorism war misleading – Army

    The Nigerian Army has said it disagrees with the report of the United States Department of State where it accused the Nigerian Army of not doing enough to effectively secure and hold onto territories recaptured from Boko Haram terrorists despite the successes recorded by the Multi-National joint task force (MNJTF).

    This was stated on Monday by the Director of Defence Information; Major General John Eneche.

    Eneche says the content of the report submitted to the U.S. Congress is misleading and does not portray the reality of things in Nigeria’s fight against insurgents in the north east.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the report, published on July 19, highlights the successes and failings of the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

    It indicates that the Federal Government’s progress report on the fight against terror is merely a duplication of failed efforts carried over from the end of last year’s fighting season.

    It says the Nigerian government has not been able to rebuild civilian structures and institutions in areas captured. Just as it has not been able to rescue the remaining Chibok school girls abducted in 2014.

    Eneche, however, stressed that the pockets of attacks still experienced are a result of inside information by Boko Haram collaborators whom he believes are still amongst us.

    “I am sorry to say that this is not the first time we are hearing this. The same people say we cannot contain Boko Haram; it is an opinion of the United States Military. It is not real. Is it an issue of deliberate operation they are talking about? No.

    “The nature of these things happening now are information bound strongly and I still want to state that there are informants, there are still collaborators otherwise, how come they did not attack them on the first day when they started the exploration exercise with the soldiers when they had finished and they were going back.

    “Somebody gave them information and must have monitored them to ensure that they came to a place that they can easily be ambushed unsuspecting. So one cannot really say that the Armed Forces are not really on top of the situation but the pockets of attacks we are having here and there like I said, are based strongly on information by their collaborators who are still amongst us,” he stressed.

  • Boko Haram: Nigerian military unable to hold recaptured territories – U.S.

    The United States Department of State is worried about Nigeria’s inability to effectively secure and hold onto territories recaptured from Boko Haram terrorists despite the successes recorded by the Multi-National joint task force.

    This assertion is contained in the United States country report on terrorism for the year 2016 submitted to the US Congress in compliance with the title 22 of the US Code.

    The report, published on July 19, highlights the successes and failings of the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

    It indicates that the Federal government’s progress report on the fight against terror is merely a duplication of failed efforts carried over from the end of last year’s fighting season.

    It says the Nigerian government has not been able to rebuild civilian structures and institutions in areas captured. Just as it has not been able to rescue the remaining Chibok school girls abducted in 2014.

    “Despite gains made by the MNJTF, much of its reported progress was merely duplication of failed efforts carried over from the end of the last dry/fighting season. The Nigerian military was unable to hold and rebuild civilian structures and institutions in those areas it had cleared,” the report reads in part.

    “Most of the remaining students abducted by BH in Chibok remained in captivity, although one girl was found in Borno, and the Government of Nigeria successfully negotiated the release of 21 of the kidnapping victims.”

    According to the report, terrorist activity accounted for the displacement of nearly two million persons in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobes.

    Although it notes that the Nigerian government continued to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their home communities, it said this was sometimes done without first putting “appropriate conditions in place for safe, informed, and voluntary returns”.

    It adds, “There was no evidence in 2016 of the implementation of a coordinated plan to restore civilian security in recaptured territories.” In partnership with international donors, the Nigerian government set up several institutions to coordinate the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the conflict in the northeast.”

    The report also accuses the Nigerian government of failing to get help from regional organisations.

    It says, “The Nigerian government has not invested significant resources or time enlisting regional organisations, such as the Economic Organisation of West African States and Economic Community of Central African States, to assist with the BH problem.

    “Instead, the Government of Nigeria preferred to engage BH militants in direct, unilateral military action and through the MNJTF, which is headed by a Nigerian military officer.”

    Some notable attacks of 2016, highlighted in the report

    • On January 28, six male and female suicide bombers detonated explosives in Chibok, killing 16 people. While other attacks this year may have resulted in greater casualties, the number of bombers made this attack significant.
    • On January 30, BH attacked Dalori with three female suicide bombers and dozens of conventional attackers. At least 85 people were killed.
    • On February 9, two female suicide bombers detonated explosives at the Dikwa camp. At least 58 people were killed and 78 people were injured.
    • On September 20, a military convoy was attacked in the town of Malam Fatori, Borno State, killing 40 people and injuring dozens.
    • On October 16, a Nigerian Army battalion located in Gashagar Village, northern Borno, was attacked by BH members who overran the army position. At least 24 soldiers were reported as missing in action and have not been reported as found. Several of the army’s vehicles were reportedly destroyed or recovered by BH.
    • On December 9, two female suicide bombers detonated themselves in a market in Madagali Village, Adamawa State. Nigerian military officials reported 30 people dead and 68 people wounded. Open source news reported up to 57 people dead and 177 people wounded.

     

  • U.S intensifies clampdown on Nigerians, Brazilians, others with overstayed visas

    U.S intensifies clampdown on Nigerians, Brazilians, others with overstayed visas

    Indications have emerged that a crackdown on visitors with visa overstays is imminent in the United States of America with Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, China and Colombia listed as countries with the most total overstays that do not participate in the visa waiver programme.

    The Trump Administration says it has a problem with visa overstays in the country and is now determined to step up enforcement to try to cut down on the violations.

    Consequently, the government is introducing a face scan for all US citizens travelling abroad.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said this is aimed mainly at better tracking visa overstays and also at tightening security.

    The agency said it’s the only way to successfully expand a programme that tracks non immigrant foreigners.

    A report in May showed that more than 54 million visitors checked in last year – and nearly 630,000 of them didn’t go back home.

    John Wagner, the Customs deputy executive assistant commissioner in charge of the programme, confirmed in an interview that U.S. citizens departing on international flights will submit to face scans.

    The number of visa overstays was about 200,000 higher than the previous 12-month period.

    Libya, a country of special interest because of terrorism concerns, saw 43 percent of its students refuse to leave on time, while a staggering 75 percent of students from Eritrea broke the terms of their deal, the report said.

    Jessica Vaughan, policy studies director at the Centre for Immigration Studies, said those kinds of rates should force a rethink at the State Department, which issues visas, and should spur immigration officials to put more effort into deterring and deporting overstays in the U.S.

    “The fact that more than 700,000 visits were overstayed last year shows just how much we need to step up interior enforcement to create more of a deterrent, not only by identifying and deporting overstays, but by weakening the job magnet by cracking down on employers who hire illegal workers,” she said.

     

     

  • U.S. lifts flight electronic ban on Qatar, Turkey, others

    Qatar on Thursday became the third nation on a list of eight Muslim-majority countries, where ban on electronic devices in aircraft cabins heading to the U.S. has been lifted.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the U.S. had earlier (on Tuesday) removed Turkey and Dubai-based Emirates Airlines from the list.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that in late March, the Trump’s administration imposed a ban on large electronic devices from airline cabins on direct flights out of Middle Eastern airports in eight countries.

    The 10 affected airports are in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Casablanca, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Jeddah, Kuwait City and Riyadh. US authorities cited security concerns for the ban.

    The U.S. move followed President Donald Trump’s 90-day ban on most travellers from Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, and a 120-day halt to refugee approvals from around the world.

    A few days later, the British government said that Britain would follow the U.S. ban on electronic devices.

    “We have been in close touch with the Americans to fully understand their position,” Prime Minister Theresa May’s office said.

    After three-and-a-half months of restricting the devices on Middle East flights to the U.S., the United Arab Emirates announced that the ban had been lifted on Etihad Airways on Sunday.

    The relaxation of the order came after the UAE, Turkey and Qatar implemented additional security measures.

    The U.S. had justified the decision as a protective security measure against potential terror attacks.

    The U.S. said intelligence authorities suspected terrorist groups of continuing “to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items”.

    Saudi Arabia may be the fourth country where the ban on electronic devices will be lifted.

    Saudi Arabian Airlines is working with the General Authority of Civil Aviation on implementing new security measures in connection with the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department Homeland Security, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

    “As soon as Saudi Arabian Airlines meets the U.S. Homeland Security Department’s requirements, all passengers will be allowed to carry electronic devices on flights heading to the U.S. latest by July 19,’’ the agency said.

    Turkey is also in talks with Britain to lift a similar ban, the Turkish transportation minister told private broadcaster, NTV.

    On April 19, Dubai-based airline, Emirates, said it would decrease flights to five from its 12 U.S. destinations starting May 1 due to weakened demand.

    Turkish Airlines said the ban affected a total of 1,087 flights in the past months.

    However, the U.S. laptop ban is still being considered for flights from Europe, with the Department of Homeland Security saying on May 30 that the ban was still “on the table.”

    By the end of June, the U.S. said it would require more stringent screening of passengers boarding commercial flights to the U.S. as part of a series of aviation security measures.

    The new measures are independent of the ban on large electronic devices and would affect 280 airports in 105 countries and 180 airlines.

    The measures include enhanced screening of electronic devices, more thorough passenger vetting and new measures designed to mitigate the potential threat of insider attacks.

  • Children’s Day: U.S. provides N3bn grant for 175,000 pregnant women, children in Borno

    The United States Government has provided an additional 9.5 million dollars (about N2.9 billion) to the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) to ensure good health for pregnant women and children under five years in Borno.

    The U.S Embassy in a statement on Friday in Abuja said the fund was to ensure that more than 175,000 mothers and children did not suffer from malnutrition during “lean” season in 2017.

    It quoted U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID), Nigeria Mission Director Stephen Haykin as saying that “the grant was from USAID’s Health, Population, and Nutrition Office.

    Haykin said the grant was to augment ongoing support for the humanitarian assistance in Nigeria by U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and Food for Peace.

    He said it was also to seek to bridge a funding shortfall announced by WFP late last month.

    According to him the grant will fund a blanket supplementary feeding programme to protect the nutrition status of children aged six months to five years.

    He said that it would also help in lactating women in Internally Displaced Persons Camps and host communities of Borno State through provision of specialised nutritious foods.

    “In response to the call by WFP to meet a severe funding shortfall, USAID is pleased to play a part in making sure that the most vulnerable of those impacted by the Boko Haram conflict are taken care of.

    “This support will go to nine areas where the needs of mothers and their children are the greatest”, he said.

    He said that the assistance would help WFP reach additional 110,000 children under five and 65,000 pregnant and nursing mothers with specialised nutritious food commodities in nine local government areas in Borno.

    “WFP launched what is known as a Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program aims to prevent the further decline in nutritional status among young children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition.

    “It is also aimed at protecting the nutritional status of others who are not yet malnourished but are at high risk”, he said.

    He said the programme would distribute the nutrient-rich food monthly through the end of the rainy, or “lean”, season in August.

    According to him, the programme anticipates to significantly reduce the burden on the health system related to treating malnutrition as well as other health conditions related to under nutrition, consequently preventing related mortality.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • U.S., UK give conditions for peace over North Korea

    The United States and United Kingdom as well as their allies have given conditions for peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict over North Korea’s nuclear threats.

    The two countries gave the conditions at a high-level meeting on North Korea, attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 15-Member UN Security Council on Friday in New York.

    This was just as North Korea reportedly launched another missile test on Friday as a Security Council’s meeting chaired by the U.S. got underway at the UN.

    The high-level meeting was chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to end the country’s Presidency of the Council for the Month of April 2017.

    Tillerson said: “For the past 20 years, well-intentioned diplomatic efforts to halt these programs have failed.

    “It is only by first dismantling them that there can be peace, stability, and economic prosperity for all of Northeast Asia.

    “With each successive detonation and missile test, North Korea pushes Northeast Asia and the world closer to instability and broader conflict.

    “The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real.

    “And it is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland.

    “Indeed, the DPRK has repeatedly claimed it plans to conduct such a strike.

    “Given that rhetoric, the United States cannot idly stand by. Nor can other members of this council who are within striking distance of North Korean missiles”.

    The U.S. envoy warned that there was no reason to think that North Korea would change its behaviour under the current multilateral sanctions framework.

    “For too long, the international community has been reactive in addressing North Korea. Those days must come to an end.

    “Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences.

    “We have said this before and it bears repeating: the policy of strategic patience is over. Additional patience will only mean acceptance of a nuclear North Korea.

    “The more we bid our time, the sooner we will run out of it,” Tillerson warned.

    He added: “Lastly, as we have said before, all options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table.

    “Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by a willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action if necessary”.

    On its part, the UK, through Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, called for a change of approach by the Security Council, towards North Korea.

    “This Council must be united in its demand that the present course cannot continue and Britain is proud today to have joined its allies to lead the enforcement of sanctions and seek a peaceful solution.

    “We urge other partners with direct influence on North Korea to use their leverage to the full, with the aim of easing tensions and ensuring compliance with the expressed will of the UN.”

    The UK called on Russia and China and other Member States to use whatever influence they possess to restrain North Korea and guide its leaders towards a peaceful settlement.

    “Britain stands alongside our allies in making clear that North Korea must obey the UN and halt its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, disarming in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

    “Only then can this Council be assured of the peace and security of the region – and only then can the people of North Korea have the chance of a better future.

    “But the catastrophic effects of a North Korean nuclear strike outweigh any economic benefits.

    “We must be willing to face the hard truths and make hard choices right now to prevent disastrous outcomes in the future.

    “For years, North Korea has been dictating the terms of its dangerous course of action; it is time for us to retake control of the situation,” Johnson said.

    Other members of the Security Council that supported U.S. and UK included Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Sweden and Ukraine.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • We’ll arrest, prosecute those who commit crimes against humanity – United States

    We’ll arrest, prosecute those who commit crimes against humanity – United States

    The United States Government on Monday said it will stand up against anyone who commits crimes against humanity anywhere in the world.

    This was revealed by Secretary of States, Rex Tillerson. Tillerson made this known less than a week after Washington launched missile strikes in response to an alleged Syrian chemical attack.

    Tillerson said the U.S. would not let such crimes go unchallenged.

    “We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world,” he told reporters while commemorating a 1944 German Nazi massacre in Sant’Anna di Stazzema.

    Trump ordered his military to strike Syria in retaliation for what the U. S. said was a chemical weapons attack by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces which killed scores of civilians, including many children.

    European ministers are eager to hear whether Washington is now committed to overthrowing Assad, who is backed by Russia.

    They also want the U. S. to put pressure on Moscow to distance itself from Assad.

    Tillerson, who travels to Russia after the two-day G7 gathering, said at the weekend that the defeat of Islamic State remained the U.S. priority, while the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that “regime change” in Syria was also a priority for Trump.

    The mixed messages have confused and frustrated European allies, who are eager for full U.S. support for a political solution based on a transfer of power in Damascus.

    “The Americans say they agree, but there’s nothing to show for it behind (the scenes).

    “They are absent from this and are navigating aimlessly in the dark,” said a senior European diplomat, who declined to be named.

    Italy, Germany, France and Britain have invited foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar to sit down with the G7 group on Tuesday morning to discuss Syria. All oppose Assad’s rule.

    The foreign ministers’ discussions in Tuscany will prepare the way for a leaders’ summit in Sicily at the end of May.

    Efforts to reach an agreement on statements ahead of time – a normal part of pre-meeting G7 diplomacy , have moved very slowly, partly because of a difficult transition at the U.S. state department, where many key positions remain unfilled.

    Some issues, such as trade and climate change, are likely to be ducked this week.

    “The more complicated subjects will be left to the leaders,” said an Italian diplomat, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

    However, the foreign ministers will talk about growing tensions with North Korea, as the United States moves a navy strike group near the Korean peninsula amid concerns over Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

    They will also discuss Libya. Italy is hoping for vocal support for a UN-backed government in Tripoli which has struggled to establish its authority even in the city, let alone in the rest of the violence-plagued north African country.

    The Trump administration has not yet defined a clear policy and Rome fears Washington may fall into step with Egypt and Russia, which support general Khalifa Haftar, a powerful figure in eastern Libya.

    The struggle against terrorism, relations with Iran and instability in Ukraine will also come up for discussion, with talks due to kick off at 4.30 p.m. (10.30 a.m. ET) on Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the UN said at least 70 people were killed and hundreds more affected in Khan Skeikhoun.

    It added: “The likelihood of exposure to a chemical attack is amplified by an apparent lack of external injuries reported in cases showing a rapid onset of similar symptoms, including acute respiratory distress as the main cause of death.

     

     

    Reuters/NAN

  • U.S., UN, others condemn Egypt’s churches attacks

    The United States and United Nations has condemned terrorist attacks on two churches in Egypt during the celebration of the Palm Sunday.

    The Department of State, in a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Mr Mark Toner, described the bombings as barbaric.

    “The United States condemns in the strongest terms, the barbaric attacks on Christian places of worship in Tanta and Alexandria that killed dozens of innocent people and injured many more on this holy day of Palm Sunday.

    “We express our condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish a quick recovery for all those injured.

    “The United States will continue to support Egypt’s security and stability in its efforts to defeat terrorism,” the statement said.

    Personally, President Donald Trump condemned the attacks and urged the Egyptian Government to handle the “unfortunate’’ incident properly.

    “It is so sad to hear of the terrorist attack in Egypt. U.S. strongly condemns it.

    “I have great confidence that President Al Sisi will handle the situation properly,” Trump said on his Twitter handle.

    Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres and the Security Council also condemned the bombings.

    Guterres, in a statement by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, hoped that “the perpetrators of this horrific terrorist act will be swiftly identified and brought to justice”.

    In a separate statement, the Security Council called the bombings “heinous and cowardly”, and reaffirmed that terrorism was one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

    The bombings were also strongly condemned by the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

    The UN body said that the attacks, which occurred during Palm Sunday when both churches were packed with worshippers aimed at ruining the unity and diversity that characterized the Egyptian society.

    Launched in 2005 through the initiative of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the UN, the Alliance maintains a global network of partners.

    The UNAOC’s alliance includes States, international and regional organizations, civil society groups, foundations and the private sector, to improve cross-cultural relations between diverse nations and communities.

    Guterres, the Security Council and the UNAOC expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the attacks and to the Government of Egypt.

    They also wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured, according to the statements.

    The UN scribe and the bodies stressed the need to bring everyone responsible for the attacks to justice, and urged UN member-states to cooperate with Egypt and all other relevant authorities.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the attacks killed no fewer than 41 people and injured more than 100 others in two Coptic churches.

     

     

    NAN

  • Nigeria, U.S. firms partner to power 25 communities

    Nigeria, U.S. firms partner to power 25 communities

    In a bid to seek alternative source of power supply in the country, a Nigerian firm, Community Energy Social Enterprises Limited (CESEL) has signed a 767, 512 dollars (about N241.6 million) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Renewvia Energy Corporation, a U.S. firm.

    Dr Patrick Tolani, Managing Director of CESEL, a Nigerian privately owned firm signed on Tuesday in Abuja, on behalf of the company while Mr Clay Taber, Managing Director Renwvia, signed for his company.

    Tolani said that the MoU was for development of solar microgrids in 25 communities in Bayelsa, Ondo, Ogun, and Osun.

    He said the communities to benefit from the projects are those that had no access to electricity for more than ten years which includes Braz in Bayelsa and Magboro in Ogun State.

    Others, he said included Ilaje areas and Igbokoda in Ondo State; and a community which was completely cut off the grid because of isolation in Osun State.

    Taber in his remarks said Renewvia would install and operate microgrid systems with solar photovoltaic generation capacity and battery storage in 25 communities in Nigeria.

    According to him, the design of the microgrids for the project will include PV panels, string inverters, aluminum racking and energy storage backup power.

    “It is expected that the majority of the power off takers for the project will be residential and commercial end users located within one kilometer of the microgrid generation units that will be connected at the time of project construction.

    “Renewvia and CESEL will sell microgrid customers electricity by KiloWatts through a “pay as you go” structure.

    “The competitiveness of the system helps to ensure payment, as the project would provide consistent and reliable power at a less expensive price than current rural power generation by diesel,” he said.

    He said Renewvia and CESEL also planned to facilitate the transaction through mobile payments.

    He said the companies would employ local and remote resources to support the needs or the power plant for each microgrid.

    The project was supported by Power Africa, a U.S. energy project initiated in 2013 to assist nations in African accessing energy.

    The U.S. Trade and Development Agency would provide grant funding support to CESEL for feasibility study that would access the rollout of 25 solar microgrids in rural and peri-urban communities across Nigeria.

    It is expected that the project would provide up to 10 megawatts and connects over 10, 000 households.

  • Russia invites incoming U.S. administration to Syria peace talks

    The incoming U.S. administration led by Donald Trump has been invited to participate in Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Tuesday.

    Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the Syrian civil war, have been coordinating the peace talks between the Syrian government and rebel groups.

    They are scheduled to begin on Monday in the Central Asian nation.

    Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow that terrorism has been the world’s biggest threat over the past year.

    He said he hoped that with Trump as president, Russia, and the U.S. would be able to work more closely on countering terrorism, particularly in Syria.