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A rift between the US and China over the novel coronavirus escalated on Tuesday as President Donald Trump angered Beijing by referring to the pathogen as the “Chinese Virus.” The two countries have sparred over the origin of the virus for days, with a Chinese official promoting conspiracy theories claiming it was brought to China by the US army and American officials using terms seen as stigmatising a nation. On Monday night, he tweeted “The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus,” Trump’s allies had previously referred to the pandemic as the “Chinese coronavirus”. Beijing said Tuesday it was “strongly indignant” over the phrase, which it called “a kind of stigmatisation”. The United States should “immediately stop its unjustified accusations against China,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters.

Acting president Yemi Osinbajo has renamed the Federal University Oye-Ekiti after late Major-General Adebayo who was buried in Ekiti state on Saturday, May 20. The development was announced by media to the acting president Laolu Akande on his Twitter handle after Osinbajo made the declaration. According to Akande, the presidency will now send a bill to the National Assembly to have the new name confirmed. Akande tweeted: Osinbajo said in his speech: “We can never thank the late General enough for his service and sacrifice to the nation. But we must also not take for granted the labour of this redoubtable hero. “Indeed, we owe him a duty to continue to pursue the values which his iconic life represented. It is for this reason that the Federal Government of Nigeria has decided in recognition of his service to Nigeria to name the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti–The Adeyinka Adebayo Federal University.” Acting President Yemi Osinbajo paid a visit to Ekiti state today, Satu

Quizzes Inde, ex-Customs CG, over N40bn cash diversion By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor ABUJA — Barely a year in office, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has come under the searchlight of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following allegation he caused the transfer of the state’s cash amounting to N4.29 billion from banks to unknown recipients. This came as the immediate past Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, was also arrested by the EFCC for questioning over alleged fraud and abuse of office. On the strength of the three petitions fired by insiders in Benue State government, the EFCC has already swung into action by questioning some persons close to the government in relation to the cash transfers. Ortom A top official of the commission confirmed to Vanguard, last night, that the agency received two petitions against the governor and some top officials of the administration and had already commenced investiga

The Nigerian government has warned ‘certain elements’ within some of the nation’s national institutions whom it said were using their accomplices to manipulate the foreign exchange market. Reading a riot act to financial regulators on Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said the government was aware of the activities of the elements. He said the individuals rather than exert their regulatory powers have chosen to manipulate the market to the detriment of the national economy. “Deliberately Undermined” Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Mr Malami said these forces, who have failed in their attempts to force devaluation of the Naira, were creating artificial currency situation with the aim of undermining the economic programme of President Muhammadu Buhari. “The current state of the Naira is not the result of neutral economic factors or directly related to demand and supply forces alone. “On the contrary, and indeed, on a va

We look at how US mainstream media are helping the Trump and Clinton presidential campaigns as well as themselves. ump solidifies his lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, his unconventional campaigning style continues to be ratings rocket fuel for US TV news. The networks want Hillary Clinton to win and they're positioning people on the air to make sure she is going to win. Wall Street does not want Bernie Sanders.... Fact is, the major media outlets in this country don't want to see Wall Street attacked because they're big time advertisers. Ed Schultz, Presenter, RT America On the eve of Super Tuesday, a potentially pivotal day of voting in the race for the White House, the CEO of CBS, Leslie Moonves, said the Trump phenomenon "may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS." Trump's ascent has boosted ratings for US corporate news networks which are providing him with a disproportionate amount of airtime. The anti-esta

*Says DSS going beyond its constitutional duties Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has declared that even if the State was invaded by one million armed men of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari, the government and the people of the State will never be intimidated to surrender governance of the State to political desperadoes, whose four years reign destroyed the economy of the State. Gov. Ayodele Fayose The governor, who said the DSS under President Buhari was operating beyond its constitutional mandate, added that “the government of Ekiti State may have to reconsider the usefulness of men of the DSS in the government house and other institutions of the State government.” In a statement on Sunday by the Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government was pursuing a clandestine agenda of truncating democracy in Ekit

Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Macomb Community College March 4, 2016, in Warren, Mich. Rough up a protester at one of Donald Trump's rallies? Don't worry, the billionaire businessman will defend you in court. After a protester interrupted Trump as he campaigned in Michigan, he offered supporters a little legal help. "Get him out," Trump said to cheers. "Try not to hurt him. If you do, I'll defend you in court, don't worry about it." Trump's rallies around the country are regularly interrupted by protesters, and he has faced criticism over his response before. After a Black Lives Matter demonstrator was pushed to the ground at a November 2015 Trump rally, Trump said in an interview that "maybe he should have been roughed up," before later softening his stance. Recently, at a Las Vegas rally though, Trump held nothing back, saying that he was nostalgic for the days when you could physically fight back against protesters.

Ben Carson at the ABC GOP debate on Feb. 6, 2016. After failing to win a single state on Super Tuesday, Ben Carson says he sees "no political path forward," and suggested that he would soon leave the race. The retired neurosurgeon said in a statement that he will also skip this Thursday's Fox News debate. Carson hasn't officially suspended his campaign. However he said he will discuss his future during a speech on Friday at CPAC in Washington, D.C. Over the past few weeks, Carson's presence hasn't been as big as it was in the beginning of his run. After getting little talk time during last week's Republican debate, Carson got a laugh from the crowd when he begged one of his rivals to berate him , if only so he could get some attention. Carson's campaign was once promising. Last fall, he surged to the top of the Iowa polls, but ultimately finished a distant fourth in the state's Feb. 1 caucuses. He also had dismal finishes in New Hampsh

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during an election night watch party Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Stafford, Texas. February was the warmest month in the satellite record of atmospheric temperatures, according to new data. This is just the first domino to fall during what will likely prove to be the warmest, or one of the warmest, months on record as more data trickles in on conditions during February. The satellite data deals a setback to climate deniers that frequently cite the satellite record of atmospheric temperatures as evidence that human-caused global warming either doesn't exist or is far smaller than scientists claim. Satellite data showing temperature anomalies through Feb. 2016. IMAGE: ROY SPENCER/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA A prominent proponent of this view is Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who won three primaries on Tuesday night, bolstering his bid to challenge Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. At a Senate subcomm

The Presidency on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari is currently participating in lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia because he and Nigeria needed prayers. Addressing journalists in Saudi Arabia yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the lesser hajj would strengthen the president to revive the nation. “The president needs God, the nation needs God so that the God of creation would support the good work that the new administration is doing in order to restore, revive the nation”, Shehu said. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Relations, Mr. Rufa’i Abubakar, said the prayers of Buhari and his delegation had so far centred on Nigeria’s peace, development and progress. Member of the president’s delegation and chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, described the spiritual exercise as an indication of Buhari’s commitment to the peace, progress and stability of th

Niyi Odebode, Olusola Fabiyi and Eniola Akinkuotu The Economic and Financial Crime Commission has arrested the immediate past Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus. It was learnt on Wednesday that he was arrested by operatives of the commission in Abuja on Tuesday. Investigations by one of our correspondents showed that Secondus was picked up over statements made by Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore. Omokore was arrested by the commission last week over investigation into fuel subsidy payments when Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke was the Minister of Petroleum Resources. It was gathered that Omokore mentioned Secondus’ name during his interrogation over the fuel subsidy payments and other oil deals. It was also learnt that names of some prominent members of the party, including a former chairman during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan featured during the interrogation. The source at the com

EX-INTERIOR MINISTER, ABBA MORO WITH ONE OF THE INJURED VICTIMS AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA The Federal Government on Tuesday took the long-awaited step of filing charges against the immediate past Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and three others before the Federal High Court, Abuja. The erstwhile minister is to be arraigned on an 11-count charge. He is to be prosecuted alongside the ministry’s ex-Permanent Secretary, Anastasia M. Daniel-Nwaobia, F. A. Aleyebami and Drexel Global Technology Limited. The charges were filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and endorsed by a director in the commission’s Legal Department, Aliyu Yusuf. Moro and others are charged with money laundering, obtaining under false pretext by allegedly inducing applicants in the botched Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise of 2014 to part with N1,000 each. They were also accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act with the manner

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said the present administration would not listen to those who have been putting pressure on the government to concentrate on governance and allow looters of public fund to go free. Osinbajo had disclosed recently that some unnamed Nigerian elite were putting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari The post We won’t bow to pressure on anti-corruption war -Osinbajo appeared first on Punch Newspapers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) on Tuesday said it could effectively prosecute the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, without necessarily involving former President Goodluck Jonathan in the case. The EFCC’s position was sequel to an argument by the PDP spokesman that since Jonathan was allegedly involved in the process leading to the payment of funds for his presidential campaign, he ought to have been invited as a witness in the case. Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly receiving N400m from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for security services, which he allegedly diverted to fund the PDP’s activities. The PDP spokesperson and his company are also accused of contravening the money laundering Act by making $2m suspicious investment. At the conclusion of the prosecution’s witness last week, Metuh filed a no-c

The Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) on Tuesday said it could effectively prosecute the trial of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh, without involving former President Goodluck Jonathan in the case. This came following Metuh’s argument that since Jonathan was allegedly involved in the process leading to the payment of funds for his presidential campaign, the ex-president is a necessary witness in the case. Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are being tried before the Federal High court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving N400m from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for security services, which he allegedly diverted to fund his party’s activities. They are also accused of flouting the money laundering Act by making suspicious investment of $2 million. At the conclusion of the prosecution’s witness last week, Metuh filed a no-case submission in court, arguing, among others, that the prosecution has failed to make out a prima

A New Hampshire state representative who supports Donald Trump referred to the pope as the "anti-Christ" in a Facebook post thread. That comment came in a thread the same day, Feb. 18, that Pope Francis suggested that Trump's desire to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico is "not Christian," provoking a response from the Republican frontrunner. Story Continued Below Susan DeLemus, in the thread to a post on one of her favorite psalms was asked by a commenter if she saw the Pope's comments. "The Pope is the anti-Christ. Do your research," DeLemus wrote, following up in the thread saying "I'm not sure who the Pope truly has in his heart." DeLemus on Monday told POLITICO she was actually referring ...

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) congratulated former Senate President David Mark on his victory in the last Saturday’s Benue South Senatorial re-run election. According to a statement by the national publicity secretary of PDP, Oliseh Metuh, the victory of the former senate president leaves no one in doubt of his “popularity and that of the PDP not only in Benue State, but also in the North Central geo-political zone and other states of the federation.” The party further described Senator Mark as a valuable statesman and national leader intensely needed in the Senate, while thanking Nigerians for their renewed support for the PDP and its candidates as demonstrated in recent elections across the country. “It is instructive to note that the PDP had won 70 percent of all the polls conducted since May 29, 2015, a development that underlines the fact of its deep roots and popularity as

As the tenure of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor comes to an end in July, tension is mounting within the Christian community, as a group of Christians under the auspices of Christ Redeemers Union, has claimed that the Presidency was interested in CAN election for some reasons. The Christian group alleged that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government and All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded plans to install a Northern successor after the tenure of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor ends. The National Director of CRU, Dr. Ebenezer Abednego, told journalists on Sunday in Abuja, that Christians would resist any plan by the Presidency to install anynody in CAN Presidency. “Our determination to resist Buhari and APC in determining who becomes President of CAN is a battle of no retreat, no surrender. A top official in the Presidency, who is spearheading the campaign, has started deploying resources for logistics towards ensuring the e

Some aggrieved chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former governor of old Gongola State, Wilberforce Juta, has asked the new PDP national chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff to resign and save the party further embarrassment. The aggrieved party members under the aegis of PDP Rescue Group, further described the emergence of Sheriff as an imposition, stressing that he was not nominated by any state from the North-east. They noted that the Borno State chapter of the party has rejected Sheriff. Juta, who spoke on behalf of the group at a press conference on Sunday, called on the party organs to commence the search for “persons with high, strategic insight and fear of God almighty” to lead the party. The former governor who was screen for the chairmanship position, listed the organs to include state and zonal chapters, board of trustees, national caucus, PDP ministers Forum, PDP governors forum, G84 as well as PDP leaders past and present. Reeling out the grouse of the group, J

President Muhammadu Buhari will begin a week-long official visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Feb. 22, a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said on Sunday in Abuja. The statement also said that the President would first fly to Riyadyh for talks on Tuesday with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and senior officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It stated that the President would be accompanied by a high-powered Federal Government delegation, including Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State (Petroleum) and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC). It noted that the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to achieve greater stability in the price of crude oil exports were expected to be high on the agenda of discussions between the President and the Saudi Monarch. “Crude oil prices and market stability will also be on the fr