The United States of America says plans are on to open its embassy in Jerusalem in May, the State Department has revealed. This will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe) and the creation of the state of Israel in Palestine.

We are excited about taking this historic step, and look forward with anticipation to the May opening, The embassy will be gradually expanded in existing consular facilities in the Arnona neighbourhood, while the search for a permanent site has already begun for a longer-term undertaking. said State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

Nauert added that the interim embassy will have office space for the ambassador and a small staff. An annex on the Arnona compound will be opened by the end of next year. Trump administration officials said that Congress had been notified of the impending move. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed off on the security plan for the new embassy on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US decision. It will turn Israels 70th Independence Day into a much greater celebration, he crowed. According to Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian Authoritys chief negotiator, though, the US move shows a determination to violate international law, destroy the two-state solution and provoke the feelings of the Palestinian people as well as of all Arabs, Muslims and Christians around the globe.

Izzat Al-Reshiq of the Hamas Political Bureau said that this move needs an urgent and strong Palestinian, Arab and Islamic response.

He called upon the PLO and Arab and Islamic states which recognise Israel to withdraw their recognition immediately.

Source: NAN

A year and 17,000 kilometers later, a Swiss couple arrived in Pyeongchang this week to watch their son compete in the Winter Olympics. The father and step-mother of Swiss freestyle skier Mischa Gasser left their home in Olten, 70 kms west of Zurich, in February last year to cycle across the world. They arrived in Pyeongchang on Tuesday after journey that took them through 20 countries.

The distance they covered is like going from Lagos to Abuja 22 times as the distance between the two Nigerian states is put at 755km. To arrive here and see my son waiting for us. We were really touched. I had no words, Guido Huwiler, 55, told Reuters Television.

Huwiler, who sported a long bushy beard, and Rita Ruttimann, 57, said cycling every day was difficult. Their toughest challenge was travelling the Pamir Highway which can reach more that 4,000 metres in height as it crosses several countries in Central Asia.

We were really tired afterward. We were finished and had to recover for two to three weeks, he said. When they reached the Chinese border, Huwiler said he was refused a visa because of his beard. He refused to cut it but they are hoping to travel through China later in the journey.

In South Korea, the couple camped outdoors in sub-zero temperatures en route to Pyeongchangs Phoenix Park, the venue for Gassers freestyle skiing event. Huwiler said his 26-year-old son had dreamed of competing in the Olympics since he was four or five years old.

I think its most important that he lives his dream and I just wish to be close to him when he gets this moment, Huwiler said. After cheering on Gasser, the cyclists will continue through South Korea before flying to Japan. From there they plan to return to Switzerland to get visas for China, Russia and Mongolia before resuming their adventure. We are crazy!, Huwiler said with a laugh. Additional reporting by Hyun Oh, editing by Darren Schuettler and Ed Osmond

The National Economic Council Committee on Farmers and Herdsmen clashes on Saturday visited Zamfara on a fact-finding mission over security challenges in the state. The committee was led by its Chairman, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi.

Speaking during the courtesy visit at government house Gusau, the Umahi said we are in Zamfara today for fact finding over the recent security challenges faced by the state. He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, constituted the committee on behalf of the Federal Government. Umahi said the committee is expected to interact with the government and major stakeholders in the state. According to him, the aim is to find solutions to the security problems in the state and country at large.

The committee since inception have been working hand in hand with the governors forum to address security challenges in the country. We have earlier visited Benue, Nasarawa,Taraba and Adamawa and we have recorded great successes during the visits. We are in Zamfara today and from what we have seen we are expecting good outcome from the people of the state. I am using this opportunity to call on Nigerians irrespective of our differences to continue to cooperate with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari to improve security of the country, he said.

Responding, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari who described the visit as timely, commended the Federal Government for establishing the committee. Yari said the state government would support and cooperate with the committee to end security challenges in the state and country at large. The committee also met with the major security stakehokders in the state.

Source: NAN

Emmanuella made the announcement on her Instagram page thanking Disney Studio for the opportunity. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a tweet described Emmanuella as an inspiration to young Nigerians and invited her to the upper Legislative Chamber.

Chinyere Bassey/Lagos The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Saturday advised state governors who could not address workers problems to resign. The TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, said in Lagos that workers could no longer vouch for state governments that non-payment of salaries was as a result of lack of funds. He said that the non-payment could be due to corruption.

Kaigama made the TUCs views known while addressing journalists after the unions National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. He said that it was only the Lagos State Government that had been regularly paying workers salaries and allowances.All the other states have one issue or the other in terms of salaries or benefits of their workers. You will discover that it is 13 months arrears of gratuities or pensions that have not been paid. In some cases, it is the contributory pension deductions that have not been remitted or promotions arrears and death benefits not been paid, he said.

He advocated a return to regional government, saying that state governments were failing in their responsibilities. The trust we have in state government has eroded. If it is for the purposes of payment of salaries and infrastructure development such as provision of health facilities, roads, rail transportation and others, we are better off with regional government, Kaigama said.

The union leader noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved bailout funds and budget support funding to enable states to settle workers salaries, to no avail. Kaigama said that accountability in Nigeria was weak, and called for the strengthening of anti-graft agencies. On national minimum wage, Kaigama said that state governments should be determined to pay the wage when approved.

He also called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the power sector due to its deteriorating condition. No nation can develop without power, he said.The labour leader urged the government to arrest and prosecute killers of innocent Nigerians in the guise of herdsmen and militia in different parts of the country.

Source: (NAN)

Nigerian troops in Borno have killed five Boko Haram insurgents and captured a top commander of the group in the ongoing operation in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad basin. Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of Operation Lafiya Dole, in a statement in Maiduguri, said troops also rescued three civilians, recovered vehicles and high calibre ammunition in various operations in the past two days.

Nwachukwu said on Thursday, the troops engaged and neutralised a number of fleeing insurgents while attempting to escape the military blocking position in one of the cleared enclaves Sabil-Huda, deep in Sambisa Forest. He said that the troops also recovered one G-III rifle magazine, one life jacket, a light Machine Gun metal link, four rounds of Anti-Aircraftammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and three rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

Unfortunately, two soldiers were injured in the process; they had been evacuated by the Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment, he said. Nwachukwu said that the troops on Friday launched offensive targeting a terrorists hideouts up CAMP ZAIRO, and neutralized a number of insurgents in spite of initial damaged caused to their Armoured Fighting Vehicle by Improvise Explosive Device (IED) planted beneath the ground.

He said that the troops killed five insurgents; several others wounded and recovered ammunition at a hideout in Parisu, Sambisa Forest. Nwachukwu disclosed that troops of 151 Battalion in conjunction with 7 Division Support Group had also cleared nine terrorists hideouts along Frigi-Izza area. The director added that the troops also recovered one motorcycle, two bicycles, 10 bicycle tyres,one bicycle, three Boko Haram flags, a solar panel, five drums filled with grain, two mattresses, two grinding machines, three bags of metal scraps, two motorcycle tyres and two underground grain silos. Also recovered are one AK-47 Rifle Magazine, 1 dummy rifle, a round of12.7mm ammunition, 12 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, assorted IED materials and a tool box.

According to him, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE provided air cover for the land troops in the conduct of the operations.

Source: NAN

Tiwa Savage has a new song and it’s titled ”Get It Now”. The video which shows the mother of one working out in the gym with very sexy clothings will keep you entertained.

Sex always sells right? This visual with a lot of sex appeal is one of the hottest songs trending. Check it out…

Tiwa Savage - Get It Now ( Official Music Video ) – 03:48
— Tiwa Savage

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the embattled National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The meeting was held less than 24 hours after a letter written by a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in which he accused Odigie-Oyegun of sabotaging his efforts aimed at reconciling aggrieved party members as directed by Buhari was released.

It was believed that the meeting which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja was to afford the party chairman the opportunity of responding to the allegations contained in the letter, Punch reports.

Odigie-Oyegun arrived the Presidential Vill at about 3pm and left at about 3.50pm.

Apparently aware that State House correspondents would seek his reaction to the letter, the party chairman avoided them.

As soon as he sighted the journalists who were waiting for him at their operational base inside the Council Chambers Briefing Room, Odigie-Oyegun increased his pace as he was finding his way out of the premises.

The Buhari Presidency has questioned the criteria or facts used by Transparency International, the anti-corruption watchdog to rank the country 148th least corrupt in the world.

In a statement by spokesman, Garba Shehu, the government questioned the method used by TI to arrive at what it called TI’s ” very misleading and unfair conclusions in its assessment of the Federal government’s efforts in this anti-corruption crusade”.

Government said while it welcomes constructive criticisms from the anti-corruption watchdog, the organisation has a responsibility to reflect the larger picture of the concrete and verifiable achievements of the Buhari administration since it came into office in May 2015.

“Political will is the first major component of fighting corruption in any country and President Buhari has made a huge difference by demonstrating not only the political will but also the extraordinary courage to go after high profile looters, including former military service chiefs and Judges.

“It was once unthinkable to touch or prosecute the ‘‘big men’’ for corruption in Nigeria but President Buhari has ended impunity for corruption.

“Today, the Buhari administration has made accountability the bedrock of governance and corruption is no longer fashionable because it attracts consequences.

“Blocking leakages for corruption through the rigid enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) had made life tougher for corrupt officials. He regretted that these efforts were not acknowledged by the Corruption Watchdog.

“Figures published by the EFCC, the anti-corruption agency, reveal that N738.9 billion was recovered in just two years of the Buhari administration and this impressive and unprecedented record is worthy of mention and acknowledgement by anybody genuinely looking at the larger picture of the country’s progress in the war against corruption.

“During the 7th session of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Vienna, Austria, the Chairman of the Agency Ibrahim Magu noted that the figure represents $2.9 billion dollars.

“Besides these impressive recoveries of looted funds, the EFCC has recorded more than 140 successful prosecutions.

“The Federal government has also signed international agreements to recover the proceeds of corruption and to block the laundering of stolen assets abroad by public officials.

“Anybody who knows where Nigeria was coming from would not believe that corruption is worse under the Buhari administration.

“We wonder where they got their facts from. At a time, they are alleging increase in the incidence of corruption under this government, the whole of Africa is applauding by choosing President Buhari as the continental Champion to lead the fight against it.

“Nothing can be more eloquent than this.

“In the end, this whole episode may turn out to be just a political distraction, given the strong views some of TI’s patrons have expressed against the Buhari Administration.

“This notwithstanding, facts are facts, and those facts won’t cease to be facts even if you don’t care to pay attention to them,” the statement concluded.

Source: NAN

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has, Thursday, asked Governors under the All Progressives Congress, APC, party to give him more time to decide if he would seek a second term in office come 2019.

President Buhari who had a closed-door meeting with the APC governors at the First Lady’s wing of the presidential villa, Abuja, on Thursday, told them he needed more time to carry out consultations before deciding.

Disclosing this to State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting, the Chairman of APC Governors Forum and Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, said that President Buhari would address the nation and the caucus of the APC on the matter at the appropriate time.

Governor Okorocha also revealed that all the APC governors wanted the President to seek re-election in 2019. He also said that Nigerians would be better off if President Buhari seeks re-election.

According to him, “We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Mr President’s ambition to run for 2019 elections. “Anyhow, Mr President in his usual manner has requested that we give him time and that he will address the nation and the caucus of the party very soon.

“So, we should be full of expectations that Mr President will make it known to Nigerians his intentions officially. “But we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking,’’ he said.”

Okorocha also said that, “We believe that if he continues Nigeria will be better for it.’’

Source: VGN