News

Thursday, 09 July 2020 05:10

Boris Johnson nominates ex-Minister to contest against Okonjo-Iweala, others for World Trade Organization head

British government on Wednesday announced that it was nominating former International Trade Secretary, Mr Liam Fox to head the World Trade Organization – selecting a strongly pro-Washington candidate at a time when U.S. is debating quitting the trade body. “Fox is a passionate advocate of multilateralism, who brings detailed knowledge of the global trading system from his years as a UK cabinet minister and secretary of state for international trade,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a letter to the Geneva-based organization. “He has first-hand experience of the political and technical challenges of negotiating trade agreements and the reforms that…

Thursday, 09 July 2020 05:08

Pandemic highlights limits of populism - Angela Merkel

Coronavirus pandemic is showing the limits of “fact-denying populism,” German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel said Wednesday, as she urged European Union countries to quickly agree on a major economic recovery package and deprive nationalists of any opportunity to take advantage of the crisis. The virus has killed more than 100,000 people in the 27 EU nations. It sparked what is likely to be the worst economic crisis in Europe in almost a century, according to European Commission, after the disease ravaged health care systems and forced the closure of businesses, transport systems and schools. Merkel's remarks to European Parliament came…

Thursday, 09 July 2020 05:07

Analysis: Why is the new US policy for international students causing backlash from universities?

The administration of President Donald Trump issued new rules this week that could force tens of thousands of international students to leave the United States if their schools hold all classes online amid coronavirus pandemic, causing panic among colleges and foreign students. Two of the country's most elite universities, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), sued to try to stop the rule, and the attorney general of Massachusetts, which is home to both schools and numerous other colleges and universities, signaled her state was likely to bring a legal challenge as well. Here is what is known so…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 16:44

Domestic flights have resumed, but four airlines are denied approval to fly

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, denied Aero Contractors, Azman Air, and Max Air approval to restart flight operations yesterday because they have not met the new flight protocols. This is just as passengers were yesterday elated that domestic flight operations have resumed at the two major hubs, Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamidi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The five airlines approved to start operations yesterday are Arik Air; Air Peace, Dana Air, Overland and Ibom Air. Arik Air started the first commercial flight out of Lagos. However, only Arik Air, Air Peace and Ibom Air operated flights yesterday in…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 16:41

Two US frontline universities drag Trump to court over new rule on international students

Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging Trump administration’s decision to bar international students from staying in US if they take classes entirely online this fall. The lawsuit, filed in Boston’s federal court, seeks to prevent federal immigration authorities from enforcing the rule. The universities contend that the directive violates the Administrative Procedures Act because officials failed to offer a reasonable basis justifying the policy and because the public was not given notice to comment on it. In a statement, US State Department said that while international students are welcome in the US, the…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 16:40

Third Mainland Bridge will soon be shut. This is how traffic will be managed, according to FRSC

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, says diversion and safety precaution are imminent, owing to the emergency rehabilitation on the third mainland bridge in Lagos. In a statement issued by FRSC Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Bisi Kazeem, on Wednesday in Abuja, Oyeyemi said that the bridge would be partially closed for three months for the first phase of the job. Federal government had announced plans to shut down the third mainland bridge for maintenance work from July 24 to January 24, 2021. The first phase of the project covers rehabilitation of the Oworonshoki bound lanes.…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 16:39

Seven killed in explosion caused by operations mishap in NNPC facility

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reported an explosion incident at Gbetiokun, OML 40 operated by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), on behalf of NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture. Seven people died in the incident. The incident happened during installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production. The release stated that detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion has commenced, while Department of Petroleum Resources has been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the Industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature. The Nation

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 16:37

Kogi gets replacements for dead Chief Judge, President Customary Court of Appeal

Kogi State government, on Wednesday, inaugurated Mr Henry Olusuyi as acting chief judge of the state. The swearing-in ceremony was held in Lokoja, the state capital, after Olasuyi took his Oath of Office. In attendance were Governor Yahaya Bello, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Edward Onoja, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Matthew Kolawole and other top government functionaries. This comes five days after Bello approved Olasuyi’s appointment in an acting capacity. The position became vacant following the death of the former chief judge, Mr Nasir Ajanah on June 29. Meanwhile, Bello has approved appointment of Mr Bayo Olowosegun…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 16:33

Leading authors, academics, public figures sign open letter condemning ’cancel culture’

Some 150 writers, academics and activists - including authors JK Rowling, Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood - have signed an open letter denouncing so-called cancel culture. They say they applaud a recent "needed reckoning" on racial justice, but argue it has fuelled stifling of open debate. The letter denounces "a vogue for public shaming and ostracism" and "a blinding moral certainty". Cancel culture refers to online shaming of individuals who cause offence. "The free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted," says the letter. US intellectual Noam Chomsky, eminent feminist Gloria…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 05:13

Senate grants IGP fixed tenure in amended Police Act

Senate, on Tuesday, passed a bill, which amended the Police Act and prescribed among others, a four-year single tenure for Inspector-General of Police. The proposed legislation is titled, ‘Police Act CAP P19 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2020.’ The bill stated that the tenure was introduced to give stability to the office of IG. It also stated that the appointment and removal from office of the police boss would henceforth be based on the advice of the Police Council. The legislative action followed the consideration of the report of Senate Committee on Police Affairs. The report read by the…

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Wednesday, 08 July 2020 05:12

WAEC releases guidelines for 2020 exams

West African Examination Council (WAEC) yesterday released guidelines for the conduct of the examination amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This was contained in a statement by Head of WAEC Public Affairs, Mr Damian Ojijeogu. The statement quoted Head of Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Mr Patrick Areghan, as saying the examination would hold for five weeks. Areghan, who spoke at a press briefing in Lagos State yesterday said, “in conducting the examination, we have taken due cognisance of the various measures/protocols rolled out by Federal and State governments of Nigeria, aimed at checking spread of the pandemic. “Schools must provide wash-hand…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 05:10

Coronavirus claims Kwara gov’s chief of staff

Chief of staff to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, Mr Aminu Adisa Logun has died, the state government announced Tuesday evening. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, said in a statement “With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, we wish to announce the passing of Chief of Staff to Governor of Kwara State Aminu Adisa Logun. “Logun, an industrialist, a public intellectual, and an elder statesman, died Tuesday evening of complications from Covid-19. He died only a few hours after test of his result returned positive. “The entire government and the people of Kwara…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 05:09

FG releases 7,813 from jail due to Covid-19 fears

Federal government has released 7,813 inmates from Nigeria Correctional Service centres across the country since the outbreak of Covid-19 to curb spread of the virus among inmates. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at an event to celebrate achievements of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion, since its inception in October 2017. Mr Malami said the measure was taken to reduce risk of inmates contracting the virus. “The Committee, since its inauguration, has visited and appraised about 39 prisons in 18 states and has released a…

Wednesday, 08 July 2020 05:07

Aircraft operated by private, charter carriers grounded over compliance issues

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended some aircraft in the fleet of private charter carriers for non-compliance with Operations Specifications Part G covering aircraft leasing operations. NCAA listed the affected aircraft to include planes marked with registration number: CL604-N605JA operated by Jedidiah Air; CL604-N880ET operated by OmniBlu; CL604-N604WL operated by West Link Airlines; G.IV-N990EA operated by NestOil; CL601-N253LA operated by West Link Airlines; G1159A-N313MS operated by Izy Air and CL604-G-FABO operated by Jet Support Services. Its Director General, Mr Musa Nuhu has directed that affected carriers and their airplanes undergo full audit in line with relevant Nigerian Civil Aviation…

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