US President Donald Trump shocked allies at a fraught NATO summit on Wednesday by suddenly demanding that members double their defence spending commitments.

Trumps surprise demand came after he clashed with Chancellor Angela Merkel, calling Germany a captive of Russia because of its gas links and singling out Berlin for failing to pay its way.

The summit in Brussels is shaping up as the alliances most difficult in years, against a backdrop of deepening transatlantic tensions in fields ranging from trade to energy and defence.

NATO allies agreed at their Wales summit in 2014 to try to spend two percent of GDP on defence within 10 years, but the White House said Trump suggested that was not enough.

During the presidents remarks today at the NATO summit he suggested that countries not only meet their commitment of two percent of their GDP on defence spending, but that they increase it to four percent, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

The president raised this same issue when he was at NATO last year. President Trump wants to see our allies share more of the burden and at a very minimum meet their already stated obligations.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev confirmed that Trump had made the demand and asked what it meant for the future of the alliance that has been the bedrock of European security for 70 years.

NATO is not a stock exchange where you can buy security. NATO is an alliance of sovereign countries united by strategic targets and common values, he told reporters.

All 29 NATO leaders including Trump backed a joint statement committing themselves to greater burden sharing and to the the alliances founding commitment that an attack on one member is an attack on them all with no mention of the four percent.

Trump arrived on the back of a barrage of criticism of Europe on issues ranging from trade to energy and above all his claims that the continent freeloads on the back of America for its defence.

He then set the tone for the day with a blistering attack on key ally Germany at a breakfast meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

Germany is a captive of Russia because it is getting so much of its energy from Russia, Trump said, taking particular aim at the proposed Nord Stream II gas pipeline, which he has previously criticised.

Everybodys talking about it all over the world, theyre saying were paying you billions of dollars to protect you but youre paying billions of dollars to Russia.

Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany, shot back that she knew what it meant to be under Kremlin domination and Germany had the right to make its own policy choices.

I myself have also experienced a part of Germany being controlled by the Soviet Union, she said.

I am very glad that we are united today in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany and that we can therefore also make our own independent policies and make our own independent decisions.

The pair later met for a one-on-one meeting and while Trump insisted they had a very very good relationship, their frosty body language suggested otherwise.

Merkel said she welcomed the chance to have an exchange of views with Trump.

Source: NAN

The National Chairman, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) , Dr Jay Osi Samuel, has dissociated the group from the loose alliance of 30 partiesformed by the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday.

He said the party walked out of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) because the two parties have different ideologies.

I was invited for a meeting which I wasnt properly briefed about the agenda of the meeting, and when I got to the meeting and I saw the attendance and what was being discussed, I wasnt comfortable because what was being discussed did not represent what Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) as a party believes in, he said.

So, I decided to take my leave. I didnt even have any idea of what they were there for but I knew I was informed but when I got there, I was sweating and I finally took the decision of not participating in the meeting.

Dr. Samuel made this known during the partys NEC meeting and the declaration of intention by its presidential aspirants on Wednesday in Abuja.

ANN is clearly focusing on what we believe in and why we came up as a party. From the very beginning, we were coming to wrestle with any of the current major political parties whether it is APC or PDP.

We wanted to create our plans. Our agenda is to create a new voting bloc not the currently existing crop of leaders and do away with current leaders.

What I saw in that room was the same people that we are committed to retiring. We have our hashtag, we have been running almost to a year now to replace. So, I wasnt comfortable coming to a room where I saw all the grandfathers and the grand patrons of all and everything that has been wrong with Nigeria politically in a room, he declared.

The ANN is the second major group to sever links with CUPP.

On Tuesday, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the national chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party also denounced CUPP, for being an opportunistic alliance.

He said his party was not part of the group.

I dont think a coalition like this which is opportunistic will be able to defeat the governing party that is, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Musa told NAN.

Remember, the reason for coming together is simply because they have lost the opportunities for sharing power.

It is not because of anything which they can do which APC didnt do. No, it is not because they have a different ideological position.

There is no fundamental difference between them and the APC; they are just an electoral gang to defeat the APC. I dont think the coalition is enough, he said.

According to him, what is needed is an alliance which is ideologically more focused than the APC and not just an aberration of what APC stands for.

In any case also, they have to contend with other alliances. I dont think it will make any difference at all, Musa said.

Source: NAN

London Breed Wednesday was sworn in as the first African-American female mayor of San Francisco, a major tourist city on the U.S. west coast, amid challenges ranging from homeless crisis, skyrocketing housing prices and a widening income gap between the rich and poor.

The 43-year-old San Francisco native succeeded former Mayor Ed Lee, who died unexpectedly last December, as the 45th mayor after she won 50.55 percent of vote in a tight race for the mayoral office last month.

Breed took oath outdoors on the steps of City Hall in a public ceremony in downtown San Francisco that was watched by around 1,000 audience.

The first black female mayor, who grew up in a poor family in the Western Addition neighbourhood in the city, promised to address pressing problems afflicting the city, including housing shortage.

We will build more housing and change the politics of no to the politics of yes, she said.

She promised to be a mayor of everyone, a main theme of her campaign in the past six months, and help immigrant families, small businesses, public housing projects and efforts to create a better social security order.

We have so much to do: re-envision our transportation system to make biking safer and improve Muni, invest in our parks, rebuild the seawall, reform our criminal justice system, support small business, and protect all our communities from what comes from Washington D.C., she tweeted after her inauguration ceremony.

She said she would try her best to help homeless population off the street and into care and shelter.

There were 7,500 people sleeping on the streets every night, said Jeff Kositsky, director of the citys Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing last year.

Breed served as the president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and briefly acted as interim mayor of the city after Lees death in December last year.

Lee was the first Chinese American mayor who had served the city for many years.

Source: NAN

By Aisha Cole

The Tin Can Island Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a cache of ammunition at two terminals on Monday and Tuesday, an official has said.

The Customs Area Controller of the command,Musa Abdullahi, said in Lagos that about 150 rounds of live ammunition were intercepted at Terminal C (Ports

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, said non-members heading most agencies are sabotaging Federal Government and the party’s change agenda.

He said henceforth, the party would no longer appoint non-members to oversee federal agencies.

Oshiomhole said this on Wednesday in Abuja, while addressing the party’s newly elected National Executives of the 39 member non National Working Committee (NWC).

He noted that a lot of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members were still occupying important positions in federal agencies under the APC-led Federal Government, adding that they must be weeded out.

“We have a duty to do everything possible to purge these them out of the system, because we are a party of change and they are the conservative right wing party.

“We cannot entrust to conservative forces an agenda for change, government is not in the villa, villa is the head of government.

“Government is in the agencies, what they do, how they do it, the quality of service delivery and the style of that service delivery.

“That is how the ordinary man interface with power, when these agencies are in the hands of those who do not believe in our change agenda, then we cannot expect miracles from them.

“Therefore, we have a duty to convince the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that this government has no business maintaining PDP members in sensitive federal agencies and using their old tactics in service delivery,’’ he said.

The APC national chairman said the party’s executives must work consciously to ensure that in replacing such PDP members holding federal appointments, it must replace “sinners with believers’’.

He explained that believers were card carrying members of the APC.

Oshiomhole affirmed that before the party goes outside its family to appoint anyone, it must be convinced that the person it was engaging had a particular expertise which was not within the party.

“But even so, he must first change the card and demonstrate loyalty, because if you don’t believe in a process, you cannot be entrusted in the management of that process.

“It is not because we are hungry to have our people have jobs, but because I have no confidence that PDP appointees can drive the changes that APC promised.

“APC promises must be kept by APC activists, at managerial level, board level and at political levels. While we are working on that, I urge you all to be patient,’’ Oshiomhole said.

He charged the newly inaugurated executives to be ambassadors to their constituencies in explaining to the people what the APC-led Federal Government was doing across the country.

The chairman also charged them to see themselves as foot soldiers with responsibility to explain to the people why there was the need for all to join hands with government to fight corruption.

He noted that while the APC-led Federal Government was doing well in improving the economy and developing the country, it could do better.

“We haven’t come here to share resources or privileges but to resume work, to work not only for our party, but for the entire nation.

“And because we are in a governing party, we must lead by example and engage in healthy contestations and debates on policy choices.

“We must allow ourselves to agree and disagree not necessarily on direction, but how best to get to the direction.’’

He said they must show capacity to engage and have a conversation and to reach agreement after contestations.

Oshiomhole assured that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership was committed to working with the party’s Constitution.

He added that issues would be discussed and addressed as they come up, stressing that while elections were held once in every four years, challenges arise daily.

According to him, meetings will be held as and when due to address challenges as they come up in the party’s state chapters.

This, he said, would help to nip in the board challenges before they become national embarrassment, adding that the executives had what it takes to rebuild the party.

Oshiomhole, while noting that the party had challenges in its last state congresses, said such challenges were being addressed by its leadership.

“We are in the process of identifying those states where we had challenges, identify people involved to see the role we can play to help everyone.

“The goal is to find a common ground and resolve issues not on the basis of winner or loser, but to have a win-win solution in all of those places we had challenges,’’ he said.

He told the executives that he had met with APC caucus in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives and other party leaders with a view to addressing the challenges.

Oshiomhole added that the party’s leadership was committed to justice, fairness and respect to democratic principles, saying that arrogance and disrespect must be avoided.

He said that every challenge of the party would be addressed if its members worked in unity and consciously demonetised and remove corruption from the process of nominations.

The chairman, however, maintained that the APC leadership would not be compromised or intimidated, adding that it would also not misuse its privileges.

“We will use our privileges judiciously, with an eye for justice, fairness and also for those who are electorally resourceful,” he said.

Member countries of the West African Parliamentary Press Corps (WAPPC), have unanimously elected a Nigerian, Mr. Ezrel Tabiowo, as the Secretary General of the regional body.

The election came ahead of the a Symposium and Media summit which heldin Accra, Ghana.

The West African countries which presently constitute the membership of WAPPC are parliamentary reporters from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Benin Republic and Liberia.

Tabiowo, who is presently the Chairman of Nigerias Senate Press Corps, while addressing WAPPC members after his election as Secretary-General, thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him.

He gave the assurance that he would not relent in his effort towards reaching out to other countries in the West African sub region.

He said: I want to sincerely thank my colleagues present today for voting unanimously to have me elected as Secretary General of the West African Parliamentary Press Corps.

Let me assure you that going forward, I shall devote my time and energy towards driving the growth of the association, and as well ensuring that other countries in the sub region are brought on board, he added.

Tabiowo also urged parliamentary reporters in the sub region to remain committed to the ethics of the Journalism profession, as well as ensure the defense of democracy in parliamentary reportage.

Source: NAN

Ekiti: Police bars officers from polling units, promises fair play

By Opeyemi Aremu-Gbemiro

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, Mr Habilal Joshak, has assured residents of Ekiti of a level playing ground during Saturdays governorship election.

The DIG gave the assurance at a news conference on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

He said the Force was ready to perform its statutory duties of protecting lives and property before, during and after the election.

Joshak noted that a robust security mechanism had been put in place for not only the electorate but all stakeholders participating in the election.

He, however, said all police officers attached to very important personalities would be withdrawn on the day of the election, adding that this is to ensure a level playing ground for everyone.

Joshak said any police officer found to have contravened the guidelines of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended ) will be sanctioned.

I assure Ekiti citizens that no officer will intimidate any one during the process of the election; if any officer does, such officer will be sanctioned, he said.

He also said that there would be restriction on vehicular movement on the day of the election, adding that the entrance and exit points in the state would be properly manned.

The police boss warned the electorate and party agents to be well behaved and avoid loitering, saying any attempt to disrupt the orderly manner of the election would be dealt with.

He also warned the people of the state against being armed and wearing of party insignia on the day of the election.

Joshak , who also warned against distributing money at polling units, urged media professionals to ensure accurate, unbiased and responsible reportage before, during and after the election.

The DIG explained that four policemen would be deployed to man each polling unit with the assistance of other sister security agencies.

He pointed out that the military had also been deployed to patrol on the outer perimeter of the state.

They will not be seen at polling units except when there is complete disturbance.

I want every citizen of the state to feel free and come out to cast their votes, the DIG said.

Source: NAN

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, on Wednesday in Lagos said that the emergency rehabilitation/maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge project would begin on July 27.

Kuti who disclosed this a stakeholders meeting at the Ministry of Works office in Lagos.

He said that the repair works on the bridge would be staggered over a period of 27 months and would be handled by Borini Prono Construction Company.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was convened by the ministry for stakeholders to brainstorm on effective traffic diversion and management to prevent gridlocks during the period.

Some of the stakeholders at the event include: NUPENG, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police.

He said that the bridge would be totally shut to traffic on the first three days for the contractor to carry out various tests on it.

He said that subsequent closures would be on partial basis.

A Dynamic Test on Bridge Expansion Joints on Third Mainland Bridge is to be carried out between Friday, July 27, 2018 and Sunday, July 29, 2018 and it has been done in such a way that it will have minimum impact on road users.

Consequently, the Third Mainland Bridge will be closed to traffic by 12.00 midnight of Thursday 26th July, 2018 and be opened by 12.00 midnight Sunday 29th July, 2018.

Alternative routes will be plied during this period and traffic control will be in place to direct and help traffic movement.

We regret any inconvenience this might cause road users as this closure is inevitable, he said.

He appealed for the patience of road users and promised that all alternative routes would be repaired to make them smooth for easy access.

Also, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr Hyginus Omeje, appealed to motorists to use mass transportation facilities during repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Omeje told journalists that the vehicular occupancy ratio in Lagos was 1:1 which meant that there was an average of one driver per vehicle that plied the road hence, the usual heavy traffic.

He said that all the traffic regulatory and law enforcement agencies at the event were going to work in synergy to prevent gridlock.

Instead of everybody coming out with their vehicles within this period, can we do the park-and-ride option which we have been advocating to really help us to ease off traffic in Lagos, he said.

He also appealed to the media to increase its awareness campaign on the dangers of drivers of articulated vehicles parking on the roads and bridges.

They should change their attitudes toward indiscriminate parking of trucks on the roads and bridges, Omeje said.

Source: NAN

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has disassociated itself from the recently formed Coalition of United Political Party (CUPP), led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it is an old wine in a new bottle.

National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Sani Yabagi made the partys position known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

You will recall that on July 9, the PDP, in conjunction with about 34 other political parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to field a common presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections, after forming the CUPP.

The parties are also to collaborate in several other areas to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led Federal Government is defeated in the coming elections.

Let me say here for the avoidance of doubt that we are not part of the coalition,he said.

Yabagi added that his party however believed that the time had come for a generational shift in leadership, but not by putting old wine in new bottles.

This, according to the ADP national chairman, is what the PDP- led coalition represented.

He recalled that similar coalition was formed in 2015, noting that it is time for Nigerians to wake up and resist another deceit by desperate and corrupt politicians ahead of 2019 general elections.

He stressed that ADP was committed to building a new Nigeria that offers hope to all, and ensure transformation in health, education, infrastructure, security, and employment, among others.

According to Yabagi, what Nigerians need at the moment, is a new direction, championed by true patriots, a process he said his party was determined to drive.

We shall be calling on like-minded patriotic, God fearing and credible Nigerians, to join the ADP-led coalition to rebuild Nigeria and make our nation the pride of Africa,he said.

He said that ADP was a child of necessity that would deepen democracy and good governance to establish the credible political platform that would rescue the country.

He stressed that the party was not prepared to jettison its values and Constitutional provisions such as the use of direct primaries as against the often used corrupt delegate system by the other parties in the CUPP.

The ADP is also not in a hurry to hobnob with those who mismanaged Nigeria for sixteen years, and now re-grouping in an un-strategic haste to resume unprecedented loot of the nations treasury.

It is important to know that those who pushed Nigeria to the precipice are the drivers of the coalition and have nothing new to offer.

To collaborate with them is to sleep with strange bedfellows,the ADP national chairman said.

He maintained that the ADP was however, not averse to any political coalition that could bring a positive overhaul of the Nigerian system, but stressed that such coalitionmust be done with true patriots.

He added that such patriots must not be seen to be a part of the Nigerian problem.

Yabagi added that in the desire to acquire power, the ADP would not compromise its basic principles and ideology.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Monday said the organisation has opened talks with critical stakeholders on MTNs labour issues.

Mr Tony Ojobo, NCCs Director of Public Affairs,made this known in a statement by in Abuja.

NCC under the leadership of Prof. Umar Danbatta has opened talks with other critical stakeholders through the office of the Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management, Mr Sunday Dare on the issue.

Both Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON ) leadership are working with NCC on these developments.

The regulator is working behind the scene to protect telecom infrastructure and minimise telecom service disruptions in order not to compromise, national security, and quality of service and protection of over 160 million subscribers, he said.

Ojobo said that NCC had also activated the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU with) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) to protect telecom critical national infrastructure.

He said that NCC activated the MoU in the wake of the labour dispute between MTN one of its major licencees and the labour following the protests that had resulted in the vandalisation of telecom infrastructure.

The NCC on Monday night activated the MOU with NSCDC to protect the switch stations and BTSs belonging to MTN and other telecom operators.

The commission had contacted Assistant Commandant General (ACG) Jonathan Iyogho of the NSCDC on the matter.

And directed MTN to liaise with the NSCDC on the issue of the picketing by NLC and the reported destruction of telecom infrastructure across the country.

Ojobo said NCC had also briefed the security agencies on developments, particularly the implications of the attempt to shut down the Ojota switch station.

A collapse of the telecommunications grid is likely, if these attacks on MTN and other telecom facilities are not abated.

NCC recalls clearly that telecom infrastructure was classified as Critical National Infrastructure under the Cyber Security Act domiciled with the Office of the National Security Adviser, he said.

Source: NAN