As a result of ceaseless protests by prospective candidates who have not been
able to complete their registration for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination, UTME, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has
announced the reopening of the portal for a period of 48 hours.
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2016 Budget: I Will Deal With Those Who “padded” The Budget, Buhari Vows
ON February 24, 2016 11:00 AM / IN News / Comments
In a development that has openly shown his anger and dissatisfaction with the
controversy trailing the 2016 budget proposal currently being debated at the
National Assembly, President Mohammadu Buhari has vowed to deal decisively
with those said to be the masterminds of the “budget padding”.
Read More
TUC Serves Buhari, Osinbajo Notice To Kick Start Work On New Minimum Wage
ON February 24, 2016 10:58 AM / IN News / Comments
Apparently jolted by the governors threat to reduce the minimum wage, the Trade
Union Congress, TUC, has asked the federal government to review the current
minimum wage with the aim of increasing it.
Read More
Seven Take-aways From President Buhari’s Visit To Egypt
ON February 24, 2016 10:55 AM / IN News, Politics / Comments
In the difficult moments of our history, looking precisely at the period of Nigeria’s
war of unity 1966-1971, Egypt proved to be a strategic partner from helping to
train our military to support with equipment and aircraft maintenance.
Read More
South-East Students Burdened With Fees, Levies
ON February 24, 2016 10:48 AM / IN News / Comments
Although the governors of the five South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi,
Enugu and Imo, always affirmed their determination to give priority to the
education of youths as leaders, the situation on ground show otherwise, as
students pay exorbitant school fees in the region.
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APGA To Okorocha: Apologise For Botched Re-run Polls
ON February 24, 2016 10:47 AM / IN News / Comments
The last may not have been heard about the botched re-run elections in Imo
State, as the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has asked
Governor Rochas Okorocha to “apologize to the citizenry for the riotous
misconduct of All Progressives Congress, APC, youths that led to the rescheduling
of the exercise.”
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I’ll Name Those Behind Forex Crisis If…, Says Ifeanyi Ubah
ON February 24, 2016 10:44 AM / IN News / Comments
The Managing Director, MD, of Capital Oil and Gas, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, yesterday,
followed up his claim to a magic wand that would firm the Naira to an exchange
rate of N200==$1 within 30 days, with fresh claims that he knew those behind the
current foreign exchange crisis facing the nation and was ready to name them
publicly.
Read More
N-Delta Affairs Ministry Urged To Implement Niger Delta Master Plan
ON February 24, 2016 10:40 AM / IN News / Comments
The Director of Development and Leadership Institute, Olaoshebikan Clement, has
called on the leadership of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry to pursue the
comprehensive implementation of the Niger Delta Master plan.
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Reps Reject FAAN’s N52.5bn IGR
ON February 24, 2016 10:33 AM / IN News / Comments
MEMBERS of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation yesterday
rejected the N52.5 billion annual revenue generation by the Federal Airport
Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
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$2b Malabu Scam: Stop Maligning Me, Go And Clear Your Name, Atiku Tells
Adoke
ON February 24, 2016 10:29 AM / IN News / Comments
BARELY 24 four hours after writing a comprehensive letter to Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, exonerating himself of any infraction in the controversial Malabu Oil
scam, the immediate past Attorney General , Mohammed Adoke, has been asked
to face his problems and stop dragging others in the mud.
Read More
One Dies As 18 Passengers Bus Tumbles, Bust Into Flames On TMB
ON February 24, 2016 10:23 AM / IN News / Comments
One person was said to have burnt to death while 18 passengers escaped death
by whiskers, Wednesday morning , when an 18 passengers Mazda bus fully loaded
went up in flames on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
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$24bn Oil Swap/OPA Deals: They Lied Against Me—Diezani
ON February 24, 2016 10:15 AM / IN Headlines, News / Comments
Former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has
described the narratives of her former group managing directors, GMDs, Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with regard to the ongoing legislative
probe of the oil swap and OPA deals as fabricated tissues of lies
Read More
Rickey Tarfa Denies Credited Account Belongs To A Judge
ON February 24, 2016 10:10 AM / IN News / Comments
Lagos lawyer, Mr Rickey Tarfa, SAN, who initiated a N2.5billion fundamental rights
suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in which he is
challenging his arrest and detention, as well the seizure of his phone and car, has
told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that the N225,000 allegedly paid into
Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, was a lie, as the said
money was paid into the account of a former staff of the chambers, Mohammed
Awwal Yunusa.
Read More
23 Boko Haram Terrorists Killed, 150 Hostages Rescued By Nigeria/Cameroon
Troops
ON February 24, 2016 10:07 AM / IN News / Comments
23 Boko Haram terrorists killed, 150 Hostages rescued as Nigeria/Cameroon
troops continue clear out of terrorists hideouts.
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
JAMB Gives 48hrs Ultimatum For Candidates To Complete Registration
40 visible achievements of President Buhari - CAN
Director-General of the Change Ambassadors of Nigeria (CAN), Chris
Nwaokobia, has listed 40 achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in
nine months of his administration.
Nwaokobia, who has often declared his passion for a better Nigeria, sent the
list of Buhari’s achievements to our correspondent in the face of criticisms by
Nigeria against the government.
The list, as sent, is reproduced below:
1. A frugal and prudent President as opposed to an era of profligacy.
2. From a near pariah status to its rightful place in the comity of nations.
3. Saved over 2Trillion through the Treasury Single Account TSA.
4. Renewed effort at diversifying our sources of revenue.
5. A reinvigorated war against corruption.
6. Allowing the independence of the Legislature.
7. Allowing the independence of the Judiciary.
8. Encouraging local content in production.
9. Encouraging pan Nigerian interest in local goods and services.
10. Protecting indigenous enterprise and businesses.
11. Strengthening institutions of government.
12. Introducing social securities and welfare as the linchpin of governmental
engagement.
13. Providing for the feeding of school children.
14. Providing for the employment of additional 500,000 teachers in 1year.
15. Creating and funding a sub-regional force to curtail and defeat insurgency.
16. Funding and equipping the Armed Forces for National security.
17. Providing a window for the recruitment of additional 10,000 Policemen/
women.
18. Inspiring Patriotism through a pan Nigerian engagement of functionaries of
government.
19. Increasing Power wattage from less than 2,000 to over 5,000mega Watts.
20. Regaining all Nigerian territories hitherto under Boko Haram control.
21. Curbing corruption in the Customs and increasing the revenue that accrues
through the Customs Service.
22. Recovering Billions of Dollars from Treasury looters.
23. Repositioning and restoring the productive capacities of our Refineries.
24. Suspending the drainpipe/scam called Fuel Subsidy.
25. Purging the Civil Service and removing close to 24,000 Ghost Workers.
26. Reworking our moral margins in governance.
27. Introducing fiscal and financial discipline.
28. Making accountability and transparency the only permissible minimum.
29. Reaching bilateral agreement with foreign nations to facilitate the
repatriation of looted funds.
30. Attracting foreign/counterpart funding for the construction of ultra modern
rail travel network across Nigeria.
31. Making financial provision for the 2nd Niger Bridge.
32. Increasing duties that accrue on imported goods, with intent to inspire and
re-engineer exportation.
33. Bail out and support of States in paying salaries and workers emoluments.
34. A renewed public/private sector partnership on Agricultural development.
35. Financial provision for the Bank of Industries to support and fund
agricultural projects.
36. A renewed effort at rehabilitating our national sporting facilities and
stadiums.
37. Commissioning a North East development and intervention body.
38. Approving the Cleansing of the Niger Delta space to mitigate the damage
of oil spillage.
39. The commitment of leadership to creating skill acquisition centres and
support for SMEs in collaboration with the Private Sector.
40. None interference with Court judgments regarding election matters, and
advancing the independence of the electoral process across the Nation.
PDP past ministers reject Ali Modu-Sheriff as national chairman
Past ministers who are also members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
on Tuesday, February 23, rejected the appointment of a former Borno state
governor Ali Modu-Sheriff as its party’s national chairman.
In a communique from a meeting held by the PDP ministers’ forum, the
ministers resolved that the appointment process of Modu-Sheriff is illegitimate.
The ministers also commended and supported the PDP board of trustees for
rejecting “ the imposition of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff for lack of transparency and
internal democracy in the proces s”.
The forum further called for the conduct of congresses at all levels of the
party.
READ ALSO: Shocking! PDP reveals what will happen to new chairman after
three months
The congresses the ministers said will lead to a national convention which
should be held before Monday, March 28 to return power to the people in
tandem with the party’s constitution as encapsulated in the party’s motto:
“Power to the People”.
“The forum condemns all acts of impunity in the running of the affairs of the party,
at all levels and implores all members to respect the constitution of the party and
that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the communique stated.
The forum resolved to continue consultations with relevant stakeholder groups
with a view to solving the present challenges and strengthen the party.
READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Former ministers to hold meeting
They also condemned the threat on one of its members, a former minister of
aviation Femi Fani Kayode by the new chairman.
“The forum noted with dismay the threat on one of its members, Chief Femi Fani
Kayode, by Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff. The forum considers a threat to one as a
threat to all,” it said.
Modu-Sheriff had threatened the former aviation minister after Fani-Kayode
called for his step down from the seat as the party’s national chairman over
his credibility and link to the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists operating in the
northeast.
While Fani-Kayode has said he does not feel intimidated by Modu-Sheriff’s
threat, the former governor have also vowed to remain in his seat as the
national chairman despite various oppositions from Nigerians, the party’s board
of trustees and many members of the PDP.
Also, after a meeting between the PDP governors’ forum, the party’s board of
trustees, the national assembly caucus, the party’s national working committee
and the state caucuses, Modu-Sheriff was given a three-month mandate to lead
the party.
He is expected to help the party plan its forthcoming national convention where
a new national chairman will be duly elected.
Troops deal Boko Haram terrorists fatal blow, rescue 150
Nigeria’s military forces have recorded a major victory against Boko Haram
sect in its war against terrorism after further decapitating the fighters in a
recent raid.
According to information made available to Naij.com, about 20 of the terrorists
were killed during the raid as the Nigerian troops advanced in its Lafiya Dole
operation in the country’s northeast.
READ ALSO: B’Haram attacks gave me a rare medical condition (photos, video)
Colonel Kukasheka Usman, the spokesperson of the Nigerian army noted that
this recent victory is in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s directive for troops
to maintain the momentum.
He stated that “today (Tuesday), troops of 7 Division have carried out major
operations against the Boko Haram terrorists locations in Talala and Kumshe axis.
“The joint operation which was carried out with Cameroonian forces was quite
successful as a number of the terrorists were killed, some of their weapons and
equipment either destroyed or captured.
“The joint operation between elements of 7 Division and the Cameroonian forces
along Banki-Kumshe axis, led to the killing of 20 Boko Haram terrorists,
destruction of 4 AK 47 rifles and capture of a gun truck mounted with an Anti-
Aircraft Gun (AA Gun) and 2 AK 47 rifles, as well as a 60mm mortar and a Dane
gun.”
While expressing regrets over the injury sustained by three soldiers and a
damaged vehicle caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Colonel
Usman noted that, “troops also encountered about 10 other IEDs along the
route of advance which were cleared. Most of the terrorists ran in disarray
towards Fatake where troops on blocking position cleared them.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram: MASSOB makes scandalous claims against FG
“Along the Talala axis despite an IED in which 1 soldier was wounded and a
damaged vehicle, the operation is progressing very well. More so as the Nigerian
Air Force has been assisting with interdiction and surveillance.”
During the raid, troops at Kodo rescued 150 persons who were mainly children
also, a house with Boko Haram terrorists’ flag at Fatake caught fire with
several ammunitions explosions in which three Boko Haram terrorists were
killed in the house.
The army spokesperson also eulogised the equipment used in taking out some
of the terrorists high-tech ammunition against the soldiers, Colonel Usman
hailed the 5 Brigade and 7 Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF), saying they
were “doing very well in their respective area of operations. This is made possible
by the steady supply of needed logistics into the various formations and units
fighting the Boko Haram terrorists.
“The Army also launched new mine clearing equipment, weapons and their
ammunitions. It is noteworthy, apart from being the first mine clearing machines in
the inventory of the Nigerian Army, it is one of the best in the world.”
And in his usual manner, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, the (Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) has personally commended the troops for their impressive
performance thus far.
“He made the commendation shortly after a briefing by the Deputy Theatre
Commander and also the Land Component Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE,
Major General LEO Irabor and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division,
Brigadier General VO Ezugwu at the Theatre Command, Operation LAFIYA DOLE,
Maiduguri.
“The Chief of Army Staff was in Maiduguri on official visit to formations and units
in the North East. He was accompanied by the Chief of Training and Operations,
Major General YM Abubakar and other senior officers from the Army
Headquarters,” Usman noted, adding that the soldiers remained in high spirits
after this latest success.
In furtherance of his commitment to fighting terrorism in the country, President
Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, held a discussion with King Salman Bin Abdul-
Aziz during a meeting in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.
According to reports, the leaders discussed the Islamic Military Alliance to
Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), which was formed middle of December, 2015 by
Saudi Arabia to take global Islamic extremism head on.
Buhari said that though Nigeria was not a part of the force, it shared the zeal
of the coalition to stamp out terrorism, and he went on to reveal that Nigeria
will be making an official comment since the formation of the group.
Young boy from Kaduna builds real looking models of aircrafts
Nigeria is full of talented people in all aspects of life, and the story
of Abdullahi Lawal is a perfect example of it.
A mechanical genius from Zaria, Kaduna state, has an amazing hobby: he
builds very real looking models of spacecraft and aircraft. The young boy who
is dreaming to study Aeronautical Engineering even built a model of a space
shuttle.
See his fantastic works below:
Abdullahi Lawal is holding one of his models.
Amazing model of a space shuttle.
Expressing praise and admiration, Nigerians noted that such young talents need
support from relevant aithorities who may help them to fulfil their dreams.
“Proud of this great talent from our soil…. but Abdullahi really need help to make
his dreams come true,” Idris Sani noted
“Such of this person are in hundreds (if not thousands) hidden in many nook and
cranny of our giant country. May Allah (SWA) reveal them all and Naija could have
a significant impact from them,” Mansur Muhammad Salis wrote.
“So proud of Abdullahi Lawal from Zaria, Kaduna State. Highly creative young man.
Support from relevant authorities will surely help in advancing his career to
greatness,” Sir-Jalal Falal noted.
READ ALSO: Imo Man Builds First Nigerian Handmade Mini Excavator
“Guys really good oh…! May almighty GOD see you through & like the crafts you’re
modelling, may you fly to greater heights than your contemporaries…!” Biakolo
Derick Andrew wished.
“Proud of hausa proud of northerners we are proud of you, government have to do
somethıng on this guy. Sır jalal you should help hım pleaase,” Badaması
Haruna begged.
“We are really endowed with abundant talents (human resources) and natural
resources. We only lack the enabling environment for them to blossom and
flourish. God bless Nigeria!” Zero-Tolerance To noted.
Another talented boy is living in Enugu state. A few months ago, he constructed
an aeroplane with the help of locally sourced materials. Although the mini
airplane had no engine, it looked like a real jet and even could contain two or
three passengers.
Lecturer urges house of assembly to reject Elrufai's religious bill
The infamous lecturer, John Danfulani who was suspended over a Facebook post
has sunk his fangs into El Rufai, asking lawmakers in Kaduna to reject a
proposed bill.
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A social critic and Lecturer, Dr John Danfulani, has called on the members of
Kaduna State House of Assembly to reject a bill sent to them by Kaduna State
governor, seeking to censor religious activities in the State.
The bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna State religious preaching law, 1984 is
seeking to stop playing or circulation of “all cassettes, CDs, flash drives or any
other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited
preachers other than inside one’s house, porch, church, mosques and other
designated places of worship” is in committee level after scaling through first and
second reading.
The bill, if it succeeds would ban the use of loud speakers in all churches and
mosques and offenders will attract punishment while clerics who preach without
license would pay a fine of N20,000.
The lecturer in a letter to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, urges the
members not to pass the bill into law.
" One must not be bestowed with Solomonic wisdom to project that the security
council resolution of January 2016, and the bill before KDSHA will be like a
combination of HIV and TB to freedom and liberty of the people of Kaduna State”
Danfulani said in the letter.
“ There is no doubt that the passage of the bill will provide an opening for "a powerful
man" like Governor El-rufai who believes his definition of truth in political matters "is
divine" to hunt political opponents and voices of dissents .”
“ A democratically elected element who can tell people who don't agree with his
idiosyncrasies and intuitions as truth to go climb a mountain and fall, a technical
way of telling them to go die- can't and shouldn't be trusted with powers of
overseeing and implementing the spirit of such a bill ” Danfulani said.
“ The bill will be a weapon that will convert people to prisoners of conscience in
Kaduna State. In fact, I see the prisons and police cells overcrowded with innocent
citizens if this bill is passed by Honourable members of KDSHA” he said.
Lawmakers not responsible for padding 2016 budget - Rep Namdas
In fact, we should be commended for identifying some areas that became
problematic and we are working hand in hand with the executive to see how we
can solve this problem in the best interest of this country.
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The House of Representatives on Tuesday said that lawmakers were not
responsible for the padding of the 2016 budget proposal.
Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa), the Chairman, House Committee on
Media and Public Affairs, said this when he visited the Headquarters of the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Namdas expressed concern over conflicting figures discovered in the budget
proposal, saying that the legislature was committed to addressing the anomalies.
He said that the sacking of some personnel in the Budget Office had vindicated
the lawmakers from the misconception that the National Assembly was
responsible for padding the budget.
" This problem is not with the National Assembly, so the padding is not done by the
National assembly.
"In fact, we should be commended for identifying some areas that became
problematic and we are working hand in hand with the executive to see how we can
solve this problem in the best interest of this country.
"And that is why we had to shift the idea of passing the budget by Feb. 25, because
we realised there were conflicting issues, ’’ Namdas said.
According to the lawmaker, NASS must tinker with the budget to address the
issues of conflicting figures.
" We realised that figures were not agreeing; some ministers disowned budgets that
were prepared by them and if you look at the quantum of the problem, we cannot just
pass this budget ,’’ Namdas said.
We've been pushed to the wall - MASSOB threatens to fight back
Pro-Biafra group, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign
States of Biafra (MASSOB) has threatened the Federal Government to
get ready for another civil war if security agents do not stop killing
Biafra agitators.
The group's National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor , made threat while
speaking to Vanguard on Monday, February 22.
READ: IPOB, MASSOB condemn killing of Biafra agitators, threaten retaliation »
MASSOB also threatened to drag the Muhammadu Buhari administration to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, over the killings of pro Biafra
protesters.
“MASSOB is worried at the rate at which defenceless pro Biafra agitators are being
killed. It is unheard of to have soldiers shoot people who were gathered for prayers.
We believe it is a strategy to incite the people of the South East and South-South to
war," Okereafor said.
"These are antics we know too well. We refuse to be deceived. The people of the
former Eastern region have been thoroughly provoked. MASSOB will not keep quiet at
these senseless killings and have decided to let the international community know
about the atrocities being committed by Nigerian security agents.
“MASSOB have concluded plans to take our case to the International Court of Justice,
Hague. We have compiled our evidences on the killings and the dramatis personae.
Our group will not keep quiet on these acts of killings of innocent citizens.”
A combined force of Nigerian soldiers and policemen, had on February 17,
attacked an unarmed crowd » of Biafra supporters in Abia state, brutalising some
women and opening fire of fleeing protesters.
Why soldiers clashed with militants in Port Harcourt
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said its operation in Yeghe community in
Rivers was largely focused on fishing out ex-militant leader, Solomon
Ndigbara, popularly known as Osama Bin Laden.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was prolonged exchange of
gun fire on Monday between soldiers and suspected militants defending the home
of Ndigbara.
But addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji , the
Commander of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, said there
was no loss of life during the incident.
"Around 12 noon on Monday, we received reports of gun fire in Yeghe community,
Gokana Local Government Area and I immediately dispatched my Commanding Officer
to investigate the incident.
“On reaching the house of Solomon Ndigbara, who had been declared wanted by the
army for gun running, some hoodlums fired at the commanding officer.
“The attack on the commanding officer led to a gun battle between our forces and
hoodlums which resulted in them (hoodlums) being chased out from the community.
“We learnt that the hoodlums, who fled Yeghe community, later went to Bori
community in Khana Local Government Area and burnt down a campaign office
belonging to APC,'' he said.
READ: Soldiers, loyalists to ex-militant leader clash in Port Harcourt, 4 killed »
Olabanji said that the command had assessed the situation in Bori and was
currently "conducting a stabilisation operation with focus on arresting criminals
who committed that heinous crime.’’
“No soldier was killed or sustained gunshot injury nor was there anybody (civilian)
killed during the operation,” he said.
Olabanji also denied accusations that the army was being used by some powerful
individuals and groups to influence political interest in the state.
The accusation, he said, was propaganda as no personnel in the brigade would be
involved in such activities.
Olabanji also paraded seven suspected cultists accused of masterminding the
killings of civilians a fortnight ago in Omoku community in Onelga Local
Government Area of the state.
He said that the vehicle used by the suspected cultists had been recovered,
adding that they had provided useful information to aid further investigation.
The army commander further said that his officers had recovered arms and
ammunitions during a two- month mop-up operation in the state.
“ During our two-month operation against illegal bunkering and other criminal
elements, we recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, three G3 rifles, eight pump action rifles, 14
dane guns and nine locally made pistols.
“We also recovered one sub-machine gun, two Berretta pistols, 1,073 assorted live
ammunitions, two boat engine lines, several military camouflage uniforms among
others.
“Several suspects were also arrested during the period and handed over to other
security agencies for further investigation and prosecution,'' he said.
He gave an assurance that the state would no longer be a safe haven for
criminals as the brigade would hunt down perpetrators of crime.
Olabanji, however, called on members of the public to provide information to
security agencies that would lead to the arrest of criminals, adding that their
identity would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
Oil mogul says he'll fish out those manipulating foreign exchange
Following his claim on Sunday, February 21, that he could make the
depreciating naira rise to an exchange rate of N200 to $1 within 30
days » , Capital Oil and Gas boss, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, says he knows those
behind the current foreign exchange crisis.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja today, February 23, Ubah said he would make good
his promise to strengthen the naira and name those manipulating crash if only
President Muhammadu Buhari would appoint him a consultant on Financial
Stability, stressing that he does not want to be paid for the job.
However, with the naira rising to 340 at the close of trading hours » today, Ubah
claims the recovery of the naira was not unconnected to his effort, despite the
fact that he has not been appointed a consultant by the federal Government.
He said in a statement: “Fellow Nigerians, I wish to thank you for the support and
encouragement you have given me so far. It has been unprecedented.
“As at this evening, the Dollar has dropped further to N310 as against N390 on
Sunday evening before my interview on Channels.
“This shows that the earlier increase has been artificial as some people were
manipulating and benefitting from it. They will all be fished out in due course so that
Nigeria will be better and the suffering of the masses will end.
“With God and our sincere efforts, even when we have not been fully consulted, the
Dollar can still be brought down to N200 and below. Let the discourse continue.
Shun the Dollar till it’s N200."
The Cable, after an independent investigation, reports that “big companies” are
shunning dollars on the parallel market, reducing demand, consequently leading to
an appreciation of the currency.
In US Plan to close Guantanamo costs up to $475M
The Pentagon plan to close the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay , Cuba, references
13 potential sites for detainees to be transferred to U.S. soil but does not endorse
a specific facility, administration officials said on Tuesday.
The cost of the transfer and closure would be $290 million to $475 million, an
official told reporters on a conference call. Housing the remaining detainees in the
United States would be $65 million to $85 million cheaper than at the Cuba
facility, the official said, so costs would be offset within three to five years.
Some 35 prisoners will be transferred from Guantanamo to other countries this
year, leaving the final number below 60, officials said. President Barack Obama
believes the United States can safely house the rest at a domestic facility, they
added.
Ali Modu Sheriff New Chairman to serve for only 3 months
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) leadership has approved a three
months tenure for the newly appointed Chairman of the party, Ali Modu
Sheriff, The Nation reports.
It was reported that the decision was taken at the Ondo State Governor's lodge in
Abuja today, February 23, by a large number of the party's stakeholders and
authority.
The meeting comprised of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the party’s Board of
Trustees (BoT), the National Assembly Caucus, the party’s National Working
Committee (NWC) and state caucuses.
READ: ‘Ali Modu Sheriff is an agent sent to destroy PDP,’ Party chieftain says »
According to the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko , who spoke to newsmen
after the meeting, Sheriff was asked to lead the party for the next three months.
After the three months, he is expected to make preparations for the party's
National Convention where new leaders of its National Working Committee will be
elected.
Since the Sheriff, a former governor of Borno state, was announced as the party's
National Chairman, several chieftain of the party, including its founding fathers
had threatened to decamp unless he steps down.
Leave us out of TSA policy - ASUU urges President
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the
Federal Government to exempt federal universities from the Treasury
Single Account (TSA) policy.
Dr Nasir Isa, President of ASUU made the call at a news conference on Tuesday
in Abuja.
Isa said TSA had made it difficult for the universities to discharge their duties,
especially in research.
“The practice will cause shortfalls in personnel costs and ASUU will be compelled to
take appropriate steps against it if this is not checked on time.
“TSA is incompatible with the autonomy of universities and our union calls on FG to
exempt it from implementation on account of peculiarities of the institutions.
According to him, federal universities experienced shortfalls in personnel cost in
December 2015 and January 2016.
READ: Sacking of 12 VCs by Buhari is illegal - ASUU President »
He said the adoption of the TSA was hindering payment of salaries.
“The TSA adopted by the Federal Government, ostensibly to ensure transparency and
avoid misapplication of public funds has constituted a clog in the wheel of progress
of federal universities in Nigeria.
“With the operation of TSA, federal universities find it difficult to discharge their core
responsibilities of teaching, research and community services,’’ Isa said.
He also said it was hindering international academic networking due to inadequate
access to budgeted funds.
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Africans shine in big games
As the second half of the NBA season keeps rolling on
and more teams are looking up the conference standings
sheet trying to figure out their next game, the Warriors
haven't flinch and it is really hard to imagine at this
point that this incredible run might end any time soon.
Golden State reached their 50th win on Monday night
and needed one game less than the 1996 Chicago Bulls
to get there. At 50-5 this late in the season, the Warriors
look good, really good. The Bulls’ record at this point of
their season 20 years ago was 50-6.
DENG ROCKS FOR THE HEAT
After scoring 30 against Atlanta on Friday and 27 against the Wizards on
Saturday, Luol Deng struggled with his shot (5-for-18) in Miami’s win over Indiana
on Monday night. But Deng was the man for the job once again and went on to
finish with 13 points and 16 rebounds, five of them on the offensive side of the
court. Whiteside pulled off 19 points and 18 rebounds also, becoming the key in
the Heat’s recent winning streak as they await a decision on Chris Bosh and his
further involvement this year. Miami beat Indiana in overtime 101-93.
GIANNIS SHINES V LAKERS
In Kobe’s last game in Milwaukee it was, well, all about Kobe, but the Bucks'
young forward kept shining down the stretch. Giannis Antetokounmpo got his first
triple-double and four blocks. Bryant visited the Bucks’ locker room to speak to
him after the game.
Giannis "has the physical tools, the intelligence. Now it is just a matter of him
believing in himself and going after it” – Kobe Bryant
TOWNS AND DIENG DOMINATE
Karl Anthony-Towns got 28 points and 13 rebounds, Gorgui Dieng added 17 points
and 12 rebounds and the Wolves beat the Celtics 124-122 on Monday night. Both
players combined for 25 of Minnesota’s 51 rebounds and Boston simply could not
find the answer in the paint (38 rebounds).
AFRICAN CONNECTION
Luol Deng (South Sudan/Chicago Bulls) – 37:16 minutes, 13 points, 16 rebounds
Bismack Biyombo (DRC/Toronto Raptors) – 19:21 minutes, 10 points, 9 rebounds,
1 assist
Thabo Sefolosha (South Africa/Atlanta Hawks) – 24:16 minutes, 6 points, 4
rebounds
Dennis Schroder (Gambia/Atlanta Hawks) – 18:04 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds,
6 assists
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Nigeria/Milwaukee Bucks) – 41:44 minutes, 27 points, 12
rebounds, 10 assists, 4 blocks
Gorgui Dieng (Senegal/Minnesota Timberwolves) – 36:59 minutes, 17 points, 12
rebounds
Luc Mbah a Moute (Cameroon/LA Clippers) – 20:19 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds
Mikel wants Hiddink to reconsider exit
Midfielder John Obi Mikel wants interim manager Guus
Hiddink to extend his stay at Chelsea beyond the current
season, despite the Dutchman confirming his intention to
leave the club in May.
Hiddink replaced Jose Mourinho in December and has
lost just once in 13 games in all competitions with the
same squad that suffered their worst start to a league
season since 1978 under the Portuguese.
"Obviously, definitely I want him to stay," Mikel, who has
featured in 11 games for Hiddink after falling out of favour under Mourinho, told
British media.
"It is the choice of the owner, the club and the board... but if you speak to the
players, 98 or 99 percent of them want him to stay."
Hiddink, 69, said on Friday that he would leave as planned after the current
campaign but Mikel feels there is a chance he may stay on.
"It depends on the board and it depends on Guus if he wants to continue. He has
said that he is here until the end of the season but you never know, he might
change his mind," the 28-year-old Nigerian added.
"If the club want to appoint him, fair enough. His record speaks for itself."
Hazard back to his best - Azpilicueta
Eden Hazard has returned to form at the perfect time
and is like a new signing for Chelsea as they enter the
business end of the season, teammate Cesar Azpilicueta
has said.
Hazard was voted England's PFA player of the year last
season after scoring 19 times for Chelsea, who romped
to the Premier League title by eight points ahead of
Manchester City.
The 25-year-old Belgian has struggled in this campaign,
however, scoring his first goal in Chelsea's FA Cup
fourth-round win over MK Dons last month and his second in the Sunday's fifth-
round defeat of Manchester City.
"We are a much stronger squad if we have Eden playing at his best and have a
better chance to get good results," defender Azpilicueta told Standard Sport.
"Playing like this, Eden is like a new signing for us. It is better to have Eden in his
best form now than at the start of the season. It is at the end of a season when
you are playing for trophies."
Chelsea must overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit when they face Paris St Germain at
Stamford Bridge on March 9 to reach the Champions League quarterfinals and
play Everton in the FA Cup last eight three days later.
They are 12th in the Premier League table, 20 points behind leaders Leicester
City with 12 games left.
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De Gea could play in must-win game
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal may have
goalkeeper David De Gea back for Thursday's Europa
League Last 32 match against Danish side Midtjylland.
De Gea injured his knee before the 2-1 first leg defeat in
Denmark last week with Argentine Sergio Romero
stepping in for the Spaniard.
"I don't know (if De Gea will be fit for Thursday), it is not
so heavy but we have to wait and see when we can
start him again," the Dutchman told the club's website
(www.manutd.com) after Monday's 3-0 FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town.
United have more than 10 first team players out with injury and Van Gaal said
fixture congestion could be blamed for the problems.
"It is unbelievable because I have taken Cameron Borthwick-Jackson off because
he was injured and Jesse Lingard was struggling towards the end too," Van Gaal
told BT Sport after the fifth round win.
"I changed (Juan) Mata and (Anthony) Martial to give them rest and we picked up
more injuries, so it is unbelievable -- it is the programme (of fixtures) I think."
Fifa presidential elections since 1904
On February 26, football's world governing body, Fifa,
holds its second Congress in less than eight months to
elect a new president following the resignation and
subsequent banning of Sepp Blatter in the wake of
corruption scandals.
Only two men have held the office since 1974, but a
record five candidates are competing on Friday for the
votes of 207 of Fifa's 209 member associations. Two associations are currently
suspended.
Following is a brief history of the Fifa presidency:
PARIS, 1904
Fifa's seven founding members - Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands,
Spain, Sweden and Switzerland - unanimously elected Frenchman Robert Guerin
as FIFA's first president.
BERNE, 1906 Daniel Burley Woolfall became the first of three Englishmen to hold
the position. He helped to standardise the rules of the game internationally and to
organise the soccer tournament at the 1908 London Olympics. He died in 1918,
and Carl Anton Hirschmann of the Netherlands took over as interim president.
ANTWERP, 1920
After the upheavals of World War One, a provisional board was elected with
Frenchman Jules Rimet as its chairman. Member associations then formally
elected him Fifa president by postal vote, and he took office in 1921. Rimet
oversaw the birth of the World Cup in 1930 and held the position for 33 years, the
longest of any president.
BERNE, 1954
Rodolphe Seeldrayers of Belgium succeeded Rimet, but he died in office just over
a year later. Ernst Thommen of Switzerland took over as acting president.
LISBON, 1956
Arthur Drewry of England was elected. He died in office in 1961.
LONDON, 1961
Another Englishman, Stanley Rous, was elected at an extraordinary Congress.
FRANKFURT, 1974
Rous was beaten in an election by Brazil's Joao Havelange, who became Fifa's
first president from outside Europe, securing votes by promising funding and
World Cup places to Asian and African countries. It was the moment the modern
Fifa was born.
Havelange never faced a challenge to his presidency, standing unopposed for five
straight terms until he eventually retired in 1998, aged 82.
PARIS, 1998
Blatter, Fifa's secretary general, defeated Lennart Johansson, president of the
European soccer federation Uefa, after a fierce four-month election campaign.
SEOUL, 2002
Blatter was challenged by Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, president of the African
confederation (CAF).
Shortly before the election, 11 Fifa Executive Committee members including
Secretary General Michel Zen-Ruffinen filed a formal legal complaint in
Switzerland accusing Blatter of an abuse of power and misuse of funds.
Blatter won the vote nevertheless, defeating Hayatou by 139 votes to 56. Zen-
Ruffinen left his post and the complaint was withdrawn.
ZURICH, 2007
Blatter was re-elected unchallenged.
ZURICH, 2011
Blatter was challenged by Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, the president of the
Asian confederation (AFC) who had supported him against Hayatou in 2002.
A week before the election, Bin Hammam was accused of offering bribes for
votes at a meeting of Caribbean delegates in Trinidad and withdrew his candidacy,
leaving Blatter to be re-elected unopposed, although a formal vote was still held.
Bin Hammam was subsequently banned from football for life.
ZURICH, 2015
Two days before the election, American and Swiss authorities arrested a number
of soccer officials on suspicion of corruption, some of them Fifa figures gathered
in Zurich for the Congress, plucked in a dawn raid from the luxury hotel where
they were staying.
It was the start of the crisis that has led to this week's Congress and the vote for
a new president.
Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan polled 73 votes to Blatter's 133 as the Swiss
secured a fifth term in office. But four days later, the pressure from the growing
scandal prompted Blatter to announce that he was stepping down. In December,
Fifa's Ethics Committee found him guilty of ethics violations and banned him from
soccer for eight years.
Hayatou, the senior Fifa vice-president, has been acting as interim president.
Juve stage two-goal comeback to draw
Juventus staged a superb revival to battle back from two
goals down and rescue their Champions League hopes
with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in their last 16
first leg in Turin on Tuesday.
Thomas Mueller pounced on a deflected cross to put the
visitors ahead in the 43rd minute and Dutchman Arjen
Robben doubled the lead early in the second half as the
2013 champions took control of the tie.
The Italians looked dead and buried after an hour with
the Germans having close to 70 percent possession and Juve desperately waiting
for a rare chance to break.
Yet last season's finalists, who have been in superb form in recent months,
staged a scintillating comeback.
Paulo Dybala scored in the 63rd minute and substitute Stefano Sturaro levelled
with 14 minutes remaining to leave all to play for in the second leg after a
frustrating finish for the Germans.
"We can live with this result and return home having a good starting position for
the second leg," Bayern captain Philipp Lahm told reporters.
"Juventus are a good team but it was our own mistakes that got them back in the
game. We played great for an hour."
Bayern shot out of the blocks in search of a quick goal and were almost rewarded
when former Juve player Arturo Vidal's powerful volley forced 38-year-old keeper
Gianluigi Buffon to palm his effort round the post.
Mueller then missed an excellent chance when he failed to tap in from two
metres after being teed up by Robert Lewandowski's superb assist.
The Germany international, however, proved why he is such a prolific goalscorer,
when he was in the right place to slot in from 10 metres for his sixth goal in
seven Champions League matches this season, after Juve failed to clear a ball in
the box.
Robben doubled their lead 10 minutes after the restart with his first goal of the
year, a trademark move by the Dutch winger, who cut inside from the right and
curled a left-footed effort into the net.
Dybala, however, made the most of a bad clearance by Bayern to beat Manuel
Neuer on the hour and inject new life into the game and trigger a frantic Juve
search for an equaliser.
Juan Cuadrado almost got it minutes later but Neuer calmly stood his ground to
block the Colombian's shot. The keeper, however, could do nothing when Sturaro
beat his marker to slide in and level.
"We knew it would have been tough, but I think we did well tonight," Dybala said.
"We gave everything we had, and we never gave up. It is going to be very difficult
in Munich, but we know that we can make it with our heart, especially if we play
like we did in the second half tonight."
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Messi's late double sinks Arsenal
Lionel Messi left Arsenal spellbound as the Barcelona
striker's clinical double sealed a 2-0 last 16, first leg
victory on Tuesday that put the Champions League
holders firmly on course for the quarterfinals.
Barca coach Luis Enrique joked this week that all he
needed to do was shout 'Abracadabra' for Messi, Neymar
and Luis Suarez to deliver the kind of magic display that
would bewilder the Gunners.
On this occasion, it was Messi who answered his
coach's call with a second-half brace as the Spanish champions survived a stern
examination from Arsene Wenger's side to escape the Emirates Stadium with a
result likely to condemn the hosts to a sixth successive last-16 exit.
The leaders of La Liga, chasing a sixth European Cup triumph, are now unbeaten
in 33 games in all competitions -- a blistering streak that includes 14 wins from
their last 15 games.
After being dazzled by Messi's magic wand, it will take an act of astonishing
escapology for Arsenal to go through in the return leg at the Camp Nou on March
16.
"I liked everything about us today from the very beginning," Luis Enrique said.
"I liked the way we scored and we had plenty of possession.
"Our opponent defended with every player in their own half but we still managed
to hamper them."
Wenger added: "Barcelona is a great team. The regret I had was we looked like
we could dominate the game, then we give the goal away.
"Realistically it is very, very difficult, if not impossible (to make the
quarterfinals)."
Aware that Arsenal's refusal to curb their attacking instincts had left them fatally
vulnerable in the Champions League knockout stages, Wenger set out to stifle
Barca with a cautious game-plan.
Nacho Monreal had clearly taken Wenger's words to heart and he earned an early
booking for chopping down Ivan Rakitic.
But there was more than just mindless muscle to Arsenal's approach.
Aaron Ramsey sent Mesut Ozil clear down the left edge of the penalty area with
an exquisite backheel and then raced onto the German's return pass for a
powerful shot that was blocked by the visitors.
IRREPRESSIBLE
Only a last-ditch block denied Hector Bellerin, with the rebound falling to Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose scuffed close-range shot was straight at Barca
goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
But with half-time looming, Barca, refusing to be hounded out of their stride,
finally escaped Wenger's tactical straitjacket.
An opening goal should have followed when Dani Alves met Sergio Busquets's
pass with a volleyed cross that Suarez headed wide with only Petr Cech to beat.
Completely anonymous in the first half, Neymar underlined Barca's renewed
sense of purpose immediately after the interval with a surging run past Bellerin
onto Andres Iniesta's astute pass.
The Brazilian should really have scored, but Cech came to Arsenal's rescue as he
raced off his line to save.
Olivier Giroud rose above the Barca defence to meet Ozil's cross with a header
that ter Stegen brilliantly clawed away.
But Luis Enrique's men were irrepressible and Suarez drilled narrowly wide of
both Neymar and the far post.
Messi had never scored against Cech in six encounters with the Arsenal
goalkeeper during his time at Chelsea.
But the Argentine did have six goals in his four meetings with Arsenal and he
extended his mastery over the Gunners in the 71st minute.
In the blink of an eye, Neymar turned defence into attack as he seized on a
clearance, flicked a pass to Suarez on the left and sprinted onto the return ball.
For virtually the first time all night, Arsenal had left themselves exposed and
Neymar slipped a pass to Messi, who was left all alone to plant an emphatic
finish past Cech.
Suarez should have doubled the visitors' lead soon after, but the former Liverpool
striker hit the post when it seemed easier to score.
It mattered little as Arsenal sealed their own fate in the 84th minute when
substitute Mathieu Flamini, exposed by Per Mertesacker's sloppy clearance,
conceded a penalty with a crude challenge on Messi, who picked himself up to
slot home from the spot.
commen
Former Disney actor Orlando Brown arrested on assault charge
Orlando Brown denied the allegations on Instagram
He starred as Eddie on "That's So Raven"
Actor Orlando Brown has been charged with drug possession and battery.
(CNN)— Actor Orlando Brown, known for his role as Eddie Thomas on Disney's
"That's So Raven," was arrested in Los Angeles last month on suspicion of
battery, drug possession and resisting arrest.
A felony complaint provided by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office claims
Brown was arrested January 17 by officers with the Torrance Police Department
after striking a woman with whom he is in a relationship.
Brown, 28, denied the allegations in a series of videos and photographs posted on
Instagram, which were later made private.
Brown was charged with possessing and bringing methamphetamine into police
headquarters, possessing drug paraphernalia, battery and resisting or delaying
arrest.
The drug counts are felonies, while the battery and delaying arrest charges are
misdemeanors.
Brown, who was also in the film "Straight Outta Compton," refuted the allegations
and declared his love for his partner on Instagram.
"I've been in jail for a whole month and every day in jail is two days," Brown said
in one post. "Nobody cared about me. How do you think I feel?"
The actor is due back in court March 28 for a hearing.
A request for comment from Brown's representatives has not been answered.
Nigerian navy recovers hijacked oil tanker after gun battle
The Nigerian navy has rescued a hijacked oil tanker,
arresting six men
Officers engaged in a gun battle with the pirates on
board, killing one of them, the Nigerian navy said
The suspected hijackers, all Nigerians, are paraded in front of the media in Lagos.
Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)— This was the dramatic moment that the Nigerian Navy
showed six men who they say hijacked a Saudi Arabian oil tanker off Ivory Coast.
Bare-chested and handcuffed, the men were paraded in front of local and
international media as the Nigerian naval officers described how they stormed the
ship on Saturday and arrested the pirates off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe,
West Africa.
Officers engaged in a gun battle with the pirates on board, killing one of them, the
Nigerian navy said. His body was later seen being carried from the ship on
Monday at the Lagos naval base.
The Saudi Arabian tanker, Maximus, was taken on February 11 with at least 18
crew, including 10 Indian sailors.
Two of the crew are still missing after they were taken hostage by two pirates
who escaped in another vessel. The hostages are believed to be from India and
Pakistan.
The suspected hijackers, all Nigerians, were named as Captain Mike Ugborama,
Ayo Joshua, Marcus Adesoji, Adeyemi Paul, Oluwafemi Samuel, and Collins Friday.
Among the haul recovered from the ship were AK47s, magazines, bullets,
different currencies, satellite phones and even protection charms from local
traditional medicine men.
Rear Admiral Henry Babalola told CNN the ship, chartered by a South Korean
company, was carrying 4.700 metric tons of diesel, which the pirates hoped to
sell on the black market. They had also renamed the vessel MT-ELVIS-5 to try to
avoid detection.
The Indian defense attache, Capt. Gautam Marwaha, was at the scene to
welcome the rescued crew. He told CNN no ransom demand had been received
yet for the missing crew members.
However he hailed the operation a "success," adding "as we say in the Navy:
'Bravo, Zulu to the Nigerians.'"
The plan came seven years after Obama made an Oval Office vow to permanently shutter the prison
The proposal identifies 13 potential sites inside the
United States to which detainees could be
transferred
Washington (CNN)— President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for the closure of
the Guantanamo Bay detention facility after delivering his plan to Congress to
achieve a goal that has long eluded his presidency.
The blueprint comes seven years after Obama made an Oval Office vow to
permanently shutter the prison for enemy combatants, but it already faces
objections from Republicans and legal obstacles they have placed to transferring
Guantanamo detainees to U.S. prisons.
Obama nonetheless said emptying the prison would move the country past what
he described as a troubled era of wartime behavior.
"The plan we're putting forward today isn't just about closing the facility at
Guantanamo. It's not just about dealing with the current group of detainees,
which is a complex piece of business because of the manner in which they were
originally apprehended and what happened. This is about closing a chapter in our
history," he said during short remarks at the White House.
"Keeping this facility open is contrary to our values," Obama said. "It undermines
our standing in the world. It is viewed as a stain on our broader record of
upholding the highest standards of rule of law."
Obama outlined a blueprint that involves transferring the bulk of remaining
detainees to other countries and moving the rest -- who can't be transferred
abroad because they're deemed too dangerous -- to an as-yet-undetermined
detention facility in the United States.
But Republicans in Congress wasted no time in voicing their opposition to the
administration's proposal.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said the President's plan "fails to provide critical
details required by law," adding "It is against the law -- and it will stay against the
law -- to transfer terrorist detainees to American soil."
John McCain, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, also criticized the
strategy, saying it was "not a credible plan for closing Guantanamo, let alone a
coherent policy to deal with future terrorist detainees."
A major concern of lawmakers has been the risk that released detainees will
return to terror. Underscoring the threat, on Tuesday Spain, working with
Moroccan intelligence officials, announced the arrest of four individuals in anti-
terror operations in Spain and Morocco, including one who had spent time at
Guantanamo.
U.S. officials said Tuesday morning the plan would identify 13 potential U.S. sites
for transfers.
The officials added, however, that funding restrictions prevented Pentagon
planners from determining precise details for converting U.S. facilities into
detention centers for accused terrorists. Since current law prevents using funds
to close the prison, they weren't able to conduct as thorough a cost calculation
as they otherwise might have.
Options for housing prisoners in the U.S. include the federal Supermax prison in
Florence, Colorado; the military prison in Leavenworth, Kansas; and the Naval
Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina. Pentagon officials visited those
sites last year to develop "prototype" plans for converting them into detention
facilities.
The additional sites included in Tuesday's plan include other federal and military
prisons. The closure plan does not identify a specific facility, though
congressional language mandating the plan called for a location to be specified.
RELATED: Guantanamo Bay Naval Station Fast Facts
The U.S. officials Tuesday said the plan would save the U.S. government
between $65 million and $85 million per year compared to housing detainees at
Guantanamo.
Obama on Tuesday cited the high costs of keeping prisoners at the Cuba facility
as a reason for closing the prison, in a new argument the administration is making
to press the case that Guantanamo should be shut.
Most Republican lawmakers, however, remain staunchly opposed to moving
detainees into the United States and insisted upon language in two bills recently
signed by Obama -- the defense authorization and defense appropriations bills --
that bars the transfer of Guantanamo detainees into the U.S.
McCain, a rare Republican proponent of closing Guantanamo, still hammered
Obama's plan Tuesday as a "vague menu of options" for reaching that goal.
"The Senate Armed Services Committee will closely scrutinize and hold hearings
on the details of what the President submitted today, but we can say now with
confidence that the President has missed a major chance to convince the
Congress and the American people that he has a responsible plan to close the
Guantanamo Bay detention facility," McCain said.
Obama bemoaned the opposition to closing the facility, saying when he entered
office there was bipartisan agreement on the issue.
"Because we had bipartisan support, I wanted to make sure that we did it right,"
Obama said in explaining why it took so long to put a plan before Congress.
"I indicated that we would need to take our time to do it in a systematic way, and
that we had examined all the options," he continued. "And unfortunately during
that period where we were putting the pieces in place to close it, what had
previously been bipartisan support suddenly became a partisan issue. Suddenly
many backed off because they were worried about the politics."
However, many Republicans -- and some Democrats -- have long been wary of
closing the facility and having to transfer remaining inmates.
Administration officials said Tuesday they were planning conversations with
lawmakers in a bid to change minds, but the outcome remained hazy.
"We hope this will be the beginning of a sustained conversation," one official said,
conceding "it's not entirely clear on how that conversation will play out."
Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, responded Tuesday to assessments
declaring the administration's closure plan already dead on Capitol Hill.
"That just reinforces a pretty significant problem that Congress has right now. I
think by anybody who's paying attention, it's hard to figure out exactly what
Congress is doing," he said. "They're certainly not doing their job."
While White House officials have refused to rule out unilateral action to close the
Guantanamo prison -- and Obama said Tuesday he would use "all legal tools to
deal with the remaining detainees" -- others in the administration have said firmly
that current law disallows any detainee transfers onto U.S. soil.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter, whose department worked for months to compile
Tuesday's plan, said on CNN last month, "It's against the law now to establish
another detention facility."
"So, therefore, we have to get the support of Congress," he told "GPS" host
Fareed Zakaria.
RELATED: Obama still plans to shut Guantanamo. Can he?
Attorney General Loretta Lynch echoed that sentiment in November, arguing the
law "currently doesn't allow" detainees to be transferred to the United States, and
said the option "is not, as I am aware of, going to be contemplated, given the
legal prescriptions."
Lee Wolosky, the U.S. Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure, said last month
that the State Department hoped to transfer a large portion of the remaining
detainees by this summer. U.S. officials said Tuesday the government has either
concluded or is in the final stages of agreements with several countries to
resettle 35 detainees.
With 10 of the remaining 91 detainees expected to undergo military tribunals, that
leaves another 47 detainees who could be approved by an interagency review
board to be sent home or to a third country.
Last month, 10 Yemenis held at Guantanamo were released and sent to Oman. All
10 were held in U.S. custody for at least a decade without being charged. It was
the largest release of prisoners at the U.S. military detention center since 2009.
Oman has taken 20 detainees who are banned from going back to their home
countries, more than any other of the 25 countries that have taken in detainees.
Another four inmates were sent away earlier last month, including an inmate
released to his home country of Saudi Arabia, where the U.S. has hailed the
government's rehabilitation program.
RELATED: Mistaken identity keeps detainee at Guantanamo Bay
More than half of the remaining detainees are Yemeni nationals. The
administration is prohibited by law from transferring Guantanamo detainees back
home, given the security situation in the country. Yemen is racked by civil war
and home to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Three previously released
Guantanamo detainees have gone on to join AQAP since leaving the facility.
U.S. officials compare the painstaking negotiations to resettle detainees to a
game of chess, with Secretary of State John Kerry, and his predecessor Hillary
Clinton before him, intimately involved in the discussions.
"This is hard," Wolosky said in an interview with CNN. "It's a difficult ask of the
U.S. to make, to say please take these individuals whom the world has branded
as terrorists. And frequently we have little to offer them in return, except the
continued goodwill of the United States."
U.S. officials expect that Obama, who is scheduled to visit Cuba next month, will
be pressured by the regime there to return control of Guantanamo back to the
island. A group of Republican senators, including Republican presidential
candidate Marco Rubio of Florida, said Tuesday they were introducing a measure
that would prevent Obama from ceding control of the facility back to Cuba
without congressional approval.
But Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said last week that
returning Guantanamo to Cuba "is not on the table as a part of our discussions."
UK nurse who had Ebola hospitalized again for 'complication'
Story highlights
Pauline Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working in
Sierra Leone in 2014
Ten months later, she was hospitalized with
meningitis triggered by the Ebola
Cafferkey is now at a London hospital with another
"late complication" from her previous Ebola
infection
(CNN)— For the second time, a Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola 14 months
ago has been hospitalized for a "late complication" from the original infection.
Pauline Cafferkey has been admitted to London's Royal Free Hospital "due to a
late complication from her previous infection by the Ebola virus," the hospital said
Tuesday.
The hospital did not specify when she was admitted. But the nurse "will be
treated by the hospital's infectious diseases team under nationally agreed
guidelines," it said.
The hospital also did not say what the complication was.
Cafferkey was previously readmitted to the hospital in October for what UK health
officials called a "late complication." Dr. Michael Jacobs, a specialist in infectious
diseases at that London hospital, later clarified that Cafferkey's complication was
meningitis, not a relapse of Ebola.
"This is the original Ebola virus that she had many months ago which has been
inside the brain, replicating at a very low level probably, and which has now re-
emerged to cause this clinical illness of meningitis," Jacobs said last year about
the October complication.
Cafferkey recovered from the meningitis and was released in December.
2014 Ebola infection
Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working in Sierra Leone in December 2014.
How much did Ebola cost Sierra Leone?
She didn't learn that her own life was at risk until she fell ill shortly after
returning to the UK later that month. Cafferkey was diagnosed with Ebola and
was moved for intensive treatment to the Royal Free Hospital, which has an
isolation unit with a tent with controlled ventilation set up over the patient's bed.
At one point during that initial stay, the London hospital said that Cafferkey's
condition had "gradually deteriorated over ... two days" and that she was then in
critical condition .
She managed to rebound, and weeks later she went home .
U.S. Ebola survivors: Where are they now?
More than 10,000 people have died from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa since
2014.
Last July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that a newly
developed vaccine was " highly effective" and could help prevent the spread of
Ebola.
Ebola virus found in male survivors nine months after symptoms
Canada PM Trudeau joins gay pride march
Canada's Justin Trudeau is to become one of the first world leaders to take part
in a gay pride march, say organisers of the Toronto event.
Obama in Guantanamo closure push
A plan to close Guantanamo Bay prison and move some detainees to US soil is
unveiled by President Barack Obama, who calls it a "stain" on America's image.
23 February 2016 US & Canada
'It's contrary to our values'
Life after Guantanamo prison
Life in the real Guantanamo Bay
KOUYATE RED CARD RESCINDED
Kouyate was dismissed by referee Jon Moss for bringing down Rovers defender
Adam Henley in the 75th minute of West Ham's 5-1 FA Cup win at Ewood Park.
But the Hammers appealed against the decision, contesting that the ball had run
a long way in front of Henley and was not therefore presenting an obvious
goalscoring opportunity.
The Football Association on Tuesday agreed with the appeal, meaning Kouyate
will not serve a suspension and will be able to face Sunderland at Upton Park on
Saturday.
WOULD CONTE FIT CHELSEA?
With Antonio Conte the odds-on favourite to become the next Chelsea manager,
what do we know about the Italy manager?
19:47 HAZARD LIKE A NEW SIGNING
Cesar Azpilicueta believes Eden Hazard's return to form is like a 'new signing' for
Chelsea.
The 25-year-old was named the double Footballer of the Year last season but has
struggled to recapture that form this term.
Blues defender Azpilicueta told the Evening Standard : "Playing like this, Eden is
like a new signing for us. Eden is a big player and we need him.
"We are a much stronger squad if we have Eden playing at his best and have a
better chance to get good results.
"It is better to have Eden in his best form now than at the start of the season. It
is at the end of a season when you are playing for trophies and we will try to win
the two we are in."
Juventus produced a remarkable second-half fightback against Bayern Munich to give themselves hope going into the Champions League last 16 second leg.
The Bundesliga leaders overwhelmed their Serie A counterparts in the first half,
and took the lead when Thomas Muller slotted in before Arjen Robben curled in
the second.
Juve pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Paulo Dybala tucked home.
The comeback was complete when Stefano Sturaro poked in from close range.
Juve's first-half humbling
At half-time, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri must have thought "let's keep this
respectable".
His team were pummelled in the first half. The graphic shows that they were
camped in their own half by wave after wave of Bayern attacks.
Juve went into the match having conceded only once in the 11 matches they had
played since the start of 2016 - however, they had yet to play a team of Bayern's
potency.
Arturo Vidal and Juan Bernat tested veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Muller
went close, before they took the lead. It came when defender Andrea Barzagli's
clearance from Douglas Costa's volleyed cross fell at the feet of Muller, who did
the rest from 10 yards,
Bayern went again and this time it was a three-man break. Striker Robert
Lewandowski appeared to send Robben too far wide with his pass into the area,
but the Dutchman - in customary style - cut in and feigned to shoot before
sending his effort past the reach of Buffon.
The Old Lady finds her teeth
Even the most adventurous punter would have hesitated putting money on Juve
to turn this around.
The key to the change in fortunes were the substitutions. Hernanes, Sturaro and
Alvaro Morata provided more energy to the attack, as Allegri experimented with
his tactics.
There was a bit of luck with the first as Joshua Kimmich lost the ball 25 yards
from goal. This allowed Mario Mandzukic to play in Dybala, who converted with a
composed finish.
The Bayern defence was breached again when Morata's headed pass into the six-
yard area was slammed in by fellow substitute Sturaro.
Bayern are still favourites to go through because of their two away goals, but
Juve's second-half display makes this next match an intriguing prospect.
Fernando Alonso said he has no intention of leaving McLaren or Formula 1 before his contract ends in 2017.
Fernando Alonso said he has no intention of leaving McLaren or Formula 1 before
his contract ends in 2017.
His future has been the subject of speculation after McLaren boss Ron Dennis
said last November that they had discussed the idea of a sabbatical.
After his first test in the new McLaren, Alonso said he would "of course" see the
season out, adding: "And the next one.
"I have a contract for three years. I'm not thinking about anything else."
He added: "This is a very important year for us."
The 34-year-old two-time champion, who is still regarded by many as the best
driver in F1, indicated on Tuesday his wish for McLaren - and Honda - to turn their
performance around after a difficult 2015 in which they finished ninth out of 10
teams.
"The ambition is very high," he said. "I am not here just to travel around the world
and to jump in the car and have some fun on Sunday. I am here to win."
At the end of 2014 Alonso quit Ferrari because he believed McLaren offered him
a better chance of winning a third world title. Ferrari's lead driver Sebastian Vettel
was fastest for the second day running on Tuesday during pre-season testing in
Barcelona.
Alonso ended his first day in the 2016 car eighth fastest, 3.2 seconds off the
pace, but 0.7secs quicker than team-mate Jenson Button had been on Monday.
The McLaren ran reliably - Alonso did the equivalent of a race distance in the
morning session and managed well over 100 laps for the day.
Honda, which announced a new head of its F1 programme on Tuesday, has,
according to Button, fixed one of the biggest issues with its engine - its weakness
in deploying recovered electrical energy.
However, the engine is still believed to be a significant margin - perhaps as much
as 100bhp - down on the standard-setting Mercedes in terms of absolute
performance.
Honda has a new engine for next week's second and final test.
Alonso said McLaren-Honda needed to "improve all areas of the car" but said he
believed the team could have the best chassis by the start of the European races
in May.
However, he said he believed Mercedes' domination of F1 "had not finished".
Testing day two - who was fastest and what does it mean?
Vettel set the pace 0.715 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, as
both drivers became the first to use the new ultra-soft tyre introduced for slow
tracks this year.
Force India's Sergio Perez was third fastest on the super-soft tyre and Mercedes'
Nico Rosberg fourth on the medium tyre.
Rosberg was two seconds off Vettel but Mercedes had an impressive day.
Don't believe the times
Rosberg completed more laps than anyone else - as did team-mate Lewis
Hamilton on the first day of the test on Monday - and taking into account the
differences between the tyres, world champions Mercedes still appear to have a
very strong car.
The ultra-soft tyre is designed for low-grip slow tracks, not Barcelona, where the
long corners and abrasive surfaces are hard on tyres. But it is much softer and
would provide better grip and therefore greater speed over a short distance.
Tyre supplier Pirelli estimates the lap-time difference between the ultra-soft and
the medium at 1.8-2.3secs, based on initial data.
Pirelli also said it believed the difference between the medium and super-soft was
about 1.4-1.5secs - and Rosberg was only 1.2secs slower on medium tyres than
Vettel's best time on the super-softs.
On the face of it, that might suggest Mercedes still had a small advantage over
Ferrari.
However, the times are not necessarily directly comparable - even taking the
tyres into account - because the teams do not reveal the fuel loads the cars are
carrying - and 10kg of fuel is equivalent to nearly 0.4secs a lap at Barcelona.
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