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Sean Dampte UK based singer, drops new track,‘Energy’

Wednesday 31 January 2018

Sani Usman: Troops neutralise militia on Benue/Nasarawa border

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, who confirmed this in a statement, said troops of 72 Special Forces Battalion and 177 Guards Batallion were alerted to the presence of an armed militia on the border.

Troops on Wednesday morning neutralised a militia along the Benue/Nassarawa State border during a clearance operation.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, who confirmed this in a statement, said troops of 72 Special Forces Battalion and 177 Guards Batallion were alerted to the presence of an armed militia on the border.

Usman said at the time of the alert “the criminals were setting houses on fire in Igacha village, about 4 km away from Kadarko town.”

“Troops responded immediately by mobilising to the area to stop the arson and apprehend the perpetrators.

“The militia on sighting troops, abandoned their mission and scampered for safety in different directions.

“However, the troops neutralised one of the assailants, while others escaped with gun shot wounds,” he said

The army spokesman said a cordon-and-search operation was in progress in the general area to track down the fleeing armed criminals.

He appealed to the inhabitants of the area to be on the lookout for wounded persons and report to the security agencies.

Sani Usman: Troops neutralise militia on Benue/Nasarawa border



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Are you Arsenal in disguise?! Sanchez left looking lost again as Man Utd submit to Spurs

Alexis Sanchez made his league debut for Manchester United, but it was a familiar tale for the Chilean as his new outfit rolled over

Are you Arsenal in disguise?! Sanchez left looking lost again as Man Utd submit to Spurs



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Bournemouth beating proves Chelsea new boy Giroud facing familiar fight for top-four finish

The new arrival from Arsenal was powerless as the Blues suffered a shock 3-0 loss that saw them slip to fourth in the Premier League

Bournemouth beating proves Chelsea new boy Giroud facing familiar fight for top-four finish



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Politics: The GOP tax law unintentionally created the potential for a huge disaster if Congress doesn't act

paul ryan mitch mcconnell chuck schumer

A report from the CBO found that the new debt ceiling deadline could fall right around the DACA deadline, which could make both negotiations tougher.

  • The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the deadline for Congress to raise the debt ceiling is now in early March instead of early April.
  • The deadline is pushed up because of changes to tax receipts from the GOP tax law.
  • That would put the debt limit deadline close to the deadline to codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program.
  • Both issues are politically divisive, and adding the two together could be a recipe for disaster.

Republicans cheered the passage of their massive tax overhaul in December, but the new law could unintentionally cause a serious headache for their leaders by March.

According to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, decreased tax receipts stemming from new law required a change to the projected debt ceiling deadline.

"CBO previously projected that the extraordinary measures would be exhausted and the Treasury would run out of cash sometime in late March or early April 2018," the CBO report said. "After incorporating the anticipated effects of recent tax legislation and actual spending and revenue amounts in December into its calculations, CBO now projects the range of possible dates as falling earlier in March."

The revised timeline could cause lawmakers to speed up often-contentious debt ceiling negotiations. And it also runs the risk of complicating immigration negotiations.

The deadline for Congress to codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program into law is March 5, potentially setting up a massive conflict if Congress does not address immigration prior to the deadline.

DACA has been a key Democratic priority since President Donald Trump announced he would end the program in September with a six-month window for Congress to pass a law to preserve the program. Republicans also expressed a desire to maintain the program, but legislation that would do so does not have enough support in both the House and Senate right now.

With the two sides still far apart on the issue, it is highly unlikely parties reach a solution by the next government funding deadline on February 8. That means the DACA fight will continue to slip closer to its early March deadline.

If that happens, the debt ceiling and DACA negotiations could be forced into one big fight.

Given the divisive nature of the two issues, entangling the duo increases risks not only the expiration of the DACA program but also a disastrous default on some of the federal debt. Already, conservatives in the House and Senate have signaled they will oppose a DACA solution and a debt ceiling increase.

Both issues carry risks. On immigration, letting the DACA program expire could endanger protections for approximately 700,000 unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the US as minors.

On the debt, a default on the US debt would send shockwaves throughout the global economy and potentially cause chaos in financial markets.

"Already, the dire effects of the GOP Tax Scam’s giveaways are being exposed," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said. "Far from paying for itself, as Republicans promised, the GOP’s fevered push to pad the pockets of corporations and the wealthiest one percent is exploding the deficit."

Politics: The GOP tax law unintentionally created the potential for a huge disaster if Congress doesn't act



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CHAN 2018: Nigeria qualifies for final after 1- 0 victory over Sudan



  1. CHAN 2018: Nigeria qualifies for final after 1- 0 victory over Sudan  Daily Post Nigeria
  2. CHAN 2018: Nigeria beat Sudan, ride into final  Premium Times
  3. Eagles pip Sudan to reach CHAN 2018 final  BusinessDay (satire) (press release) (blog)

    Full coverage

CHAN 2018: Nigeria qualifies for final after 1- 0 victory over Sudan



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Christian Eriksen's lightning start for Spurs blindsides Manchester United



  1. Christian Eriksen’s lightning start for Spurs blindsides Manchester United  The Guardian
  2. Jose Mourinho replaces Marouane Fellaini just seven minutes after bringing him off the bench in Spurs defeat  Independent.ie
  3. Premier League round-up: Spurs make light work of Man United, Chelsea embarrassed by Bournemouth  talkSPORT.com
  4. Tottenham 2 Man Utd 0: Christian Eriksen’s 11-second strike and Phil Jones own goal sink sorry Reds  Telegraph.co.uk

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Christian Eriksen's lightning start for Spurs blindsides Manchester United



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PDP’s failed mission in Edo and its legacy of despondence, deceit

Breaking: Super Eagles to battle hosts Morocco in CHAN final

Nigeria’s home based Super Eagles have qualified for the finals of the African Nations Championship(CHAN), their first ever, after edging Sudan 1-0 in the semi-final played in Marrakech.

The Nigerians will on Sunday meet hosts Morocco, who earlier spanked Libya 3-1.

Gabriel Okechukwu scored Nigeria’s winning goal in the 16th minute.

In the first semi-final match in Casablanca, hosts Morocco were inspired by Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored two goals to take his tournament tally to eight overall

African Nations Championship leading scorers after Wednesday’s semi-finals:

8: El Kaabi (MAR)

3: Mulenga (ZAM), Saeid (LBA)

2: Gabriel, Okpotu (both NGR), Bakhit (SUD), Kambole (ZAM), Makiesse (CGO)

African Nations Championship (CHAN) semi-finals results in Morocco on Wednesday (aet denotes after extra time):

At Casablanca

Morocco 3 (El Kaabi 73, 97, El Karti 117-pen) Libya 1 (Khalifa 86) aet

At Marrakech

Nigeria 1 (Gabriel 16) Sudan 0

Saturday

Third place play-off

At Marrakech

Libya v Sudan (1900 GMT)

Sunday

Final

At Casablanca

Morocco v Nigeria (1900 GMT)

The post Breaking: Super Eagles to battle hosts Morocco in CHAN final appeared first on Vanguard News.

Breaking: Super Eagles to battle hosts Morocco in CHAN final



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Ekwueme burial: Anambra govt declares Thursday public holiday

Benue Killings: Government imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Gboko town

Herdsmen strike again in Benue, kill policeman, farmer

Speaking to Journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said the curfew was approved by the State Security Council whose meeting was chaired by Gov. Samuel Ortom.

The Benue Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Gboko town in Gboko Local Government Area of the state beginning from Jan. 31 till further notice.

Speaking to Journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said the curfew was approved by the State Security Council whose meeting was chaired by Gov. Samuel Ortom.

Owoseni said the curfew would be from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

He explained that the curfew followed the killing of 7 persons by hoodlums in Gboko.

He said the victims who were suspected to be Herdsmen were beaten to death at the Gboko motor park and burnt to ashes.

The commissioner said some of the victims came to the park to travel to Okene, while some were on their way to Taraba.

He said the situation in the town had been brought under control and assured that those responsible for the murder of the victims and their sponsors would be apprehended and brought to book.

He said strict measures had been adopted to ensure compliance with the curfew, stressing that police personnel were well equipped to enforce it.

Owoseni disclosed that criminal elements both within and outside the state were planning to carry out more reprehensible attacks on the state along its borders with Nasarawa State.

He said that the planned attacks were being facilitated by those who equipped their “foot soldiers” with illegal arms.

He warned that the police would not allow the state to be thrown into commotion and anarchy.

The commissioner also warned of the danger of possible escalation of the security situation in the state and assured that the police would not hesitate to arrest anybody found to be connected with the crimes, no matter how highly placed.

He said the police were monitoring those suspected to be stockpiling arms and that the law was “no respecter of persons’’.

Benue Killings: Government imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Gboko town



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Politics: Journalist Michael Wolff claims Nikki Haley embraced rumors that she and Trump are having an affair

Michael Wolff

Now that Wolff's conclusions about Haley have come under fire, many other claims in the book are looking suspect.

  • Author Michael Wolff has faced renewed criticism for his suggestions that US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is having an extramarital affair with President Donald Trump.
  • Wolff's book, "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," uses suggestive language in a passage about the pair, and Wolff confirmed that he believes the affair is real.
  • "I would say she seems to have embraced it," Wolff said of Haley, despite her denial of the rumors.
  • In response, critics have noted that "we must question other conclusions he has reached."

Nearly a month after the publication of his explosive book " target="_blank"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," author Michael Wolff has again found himself under fire — this time for his role in fueling a rumor that US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is having an affair with President Donald Trump.

Wolff doubled down on suggestions he made about the affair in his book during an interview with theSkimm on Wednesday.

"I would say she seems to have embraced it,” Wolff said. "All she does is hammer on this fact. I mean, if I were being accused of something, and I am not accusing her of anything. She hasn't tried to avoid this, let's say."

A passage toward the end of Wolff's book uses suggestive language to describe the pair's interactions.

"She had become a particular focus of Trump's attention, and he of hers. … The president had been spending a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One, and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future."

During an appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher" earlier this month, Wolff expanded upon this passage, saying he was "absolutely sure" Trump was having an affair with someone.

"You just have to read between the lines,” Wolff told Maher.

Haley's alleged affair came up during an interview she did with Politico in which she called the rumors "disgusting."

"It is absolutely not true. It is highly offensive and it's disgusting …" Haley told Politico. "It amazes me what people will do and the lies they will say for money and power."

Erik Wemple, an opinion writer for The Washington Post, pushed back on this claim in a scathing op-ed piece about Wolff's explosive suggestions.

"Embraced it? In what reportorial universe is Wolff living?" he wrote, referring to Wolff's comments for theSkimm. "If Wolff has genuinely concluded that Haley has really and truly 'embraced' this rumor, then we must question other conclusions he has reached."

Numerous claims in Wolff's book have been disputed by those quoted in it, including the Trump administration.

Wolff's justification for his claims has often failed to live up to journalistic standards.

"My evidence is the book," Wolff told MSNBC's Katy Tur. "Read the book. If it makes sense to you, if it strikes a chord, if it rings true, it is true."

Politics: Journalist Michael Wolff claims Nikki Haley embraced rumors that she and Trump are having an affair



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Youths on rampage in Benue, kill seven, raze houses



  1. Youths on rampage in Benue, kill seven, raze houses  Daily Post Nigeria
  2. Governor imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Benue town  Premium Times
  3. Benue targets 900, 000 children for vaccination  Daily Trust
  4. Minister, I’ll not surrender Benue land to foreign invaders — Ortom  Vanguard

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Youths on rampage in Benue, kill seven, raze houses



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Rice Smuggling: Federal Govt. approves purchase of `anti-rice smuggling' vehicles



  1. Rice Smuggling: Federal Govt. approves purchase of `anti-rice smuggling’ vehicles  P.M. News
  2. FG prosecutes 18 Chinese for illegal mining  The Punch
  3. FEC approves N2.328bn for patrol vehicles, housing  The Nation Newspaper

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Rice Smuggling: Federal Govt. approves purchase of `anti-rice smuggling' vehicles



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Gov. Bello swears in 4 commissioners, advises them to steer clear of public funds



  1. Gov. Bello swears in 4 commissioners, advises them to steer clear of public funds  Vanguard
  2. Education Minister Commends Gov Sani-bello’s Policy  The News
  3. Gov. Bello refers to rift with legislators as ‘technical fault’  The Nation Newspaper

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Gov. Bello swears in 4 commissioners, advises them to steer clear of public funds



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Tragedy: Nigerian female migrant dies in mysterious fire in Italy

Becky Moses was killed in a strange fire that started at a refugee camp in Italy.

The deceased died following a mysterious fire which occurred at a refugee camp in Italy.

A Nigerian female migrant, Becky Moses, has tragically died in a mysterious fire which occurred at a refugee camp in Italy.

She reportedly lost her life at a tent city on Friday, January 26, 2018, in San Ferdinando, inspiring protests from over 100 immigrants.

La Repubblica reported that two women were badly injured from the inferno while a non-specific amount of people are receiving treatment.

During the protest, fellow migrants held out pictures of the deceased who died within few days of residing at the camp.

 

She was previously living in Riace according to reports. Moses started living at the location shortly after having her request for a political asylum denied.

ALSO READ: Rescued Libya returnee narrates how friend's girlfriend was raped to death by Libyans

Local authorities have however offered others who reside in the camp to register as occupants of the community.

This is believed to have occurred due to pressures mounted by protesters.

Tragedy: Nigerian female migrant dies in mysterious fire in Italy



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Davido: Here are all the members of OBO’s ’30 Billion’ Gang

Davido accepting his award at the 2018 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, January 12, 2018.

Do you know who the members of the '30 Billion Gang' are? Dive into their world.

It all started from with a song. ‘If’, the record by Davido released in 2017 came through with a line that resonated with millions of people across the continent. “30 Billion for the account oh.”

It was a harmless line, designed to show affluence to his love interest who he was threatening to kill with enjoyment. But as the record grew, and the line spread, Davido and his team members, his record label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) knew that they had struck gold.

While ’30 Billion’ became the pop standard for wealth, at home, the creators of the line branded themselves with it. The name ‘DMW’ might have a nice ring to it, but since Davido packed his bags and left HKN Gang, he’s never had a catchy term to describe the movement that he and his team had created.

But all thanks to ‘If’, the name “30 Billion Gang” was created, and it quickly became a strong rallying banner for OBO and all who contribute to the success of his business. The name was catchy and fitting because of what it connotes: strength, wealth, affluence, opulence, pride, happiness, and success.

It was perfect.

 

Within the coming months, everyone associated with Davido became a member, from de factor branding, a logo was born. As the success of ‘If’ continued to astound people, the name grew.

The real use of the name came during his long-running fight with Wizkid. As fans of Nigerian music split themselves between OBO and Wizkid, while they battled on social media, the name transitioned into a movement not only for Davido’s team, but inclusive of every fan who openly supports and shows Davido love.

 

But who are the members of the 30 Billion Gang? They are mostly comprised of Davido, his family members, employees, friends and key assistants who ensure that the movement continues to grow and attain more success. Check out the list below.

N/B: This isn't an exhaustive list, and we will keep updating as we go along.

Davido – Head

 

Asa Asika – Manager

 

Sir Banko – President, Davido Music Worldwide

 

Adewale Adeleke – Chairman HKN, Affiliate Consultant

 

King Spesh – Hypeman, Head Of Client Relations

 

Sam ‘Olofofo’ Frank – Talent Management, Digital Strategy

 

Mayorkun – Musician

 

Dremo – Musician

 

Ichaba – Musician

 

Yonda – Musician

 

DJ E-Cool – Disc Jockey

Kiddominant – Producer

 

Fresh VDM – Producer

 

Sna Rambo – Musician, Affiliate

B-Red – Musician, Affiliate

 

Peruzzi – Artist

Kayode Umarudeen – Head of Security

 

Eric – Promotions

 

Davido: Here are all the members of OBO’s ’30 Billion’ Gang



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Father laments harassment of exiled son over IPOB link

LASG Director forfeits N28.5m, houses to FG

JUSTICE Rilwan Aikawa of a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the final forfeiture of N28.5 million and some properties belonging to Mr Jamiu Anifowoshe, a director of Finance in the Public Works Department of Lagos state, to the federal government of Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the money and properties are proceeds of unlawful activities.
Properties ordered to be forfeited include: six flats of three bedroom, another six flats of two bedroom, and six flats of 1 bedroom, located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos: and four flats of three Bedroom duplex, located at 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu Area Pako Bus Stop Agege, Lagos.
Justice Aikawa also ordered the final forfeiture of a semi-detached three bedroom flat, and one unit of three bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate Arepo, Ogun State, and a  plot of land situated at Queen’s Garden Estate off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge had earlier granted an interim order forfeiting the money and the properties to the Federal government after the EFCC made an application.
Justice Aikawa also directed the Federal government to take an administrative step to ensure that both the money and the properties are transferred to the Lagos state government in view of the affidavit before the court.
However, the director through his lawyer, Wole Okenile, said they are appealing the ruling in the next 24 hours.
Specifically, the director said he is going to appeal against the forfeiture of six flats of three bedrooms, another six flats of two bedrooms, and six flats of 1 bedroom, located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos, which he claimed to have acquired before assuming office of the Director in the Ministry.
Reviewing the case earlier, before reaching his conclusion, Justice Aikawa said Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offence Act, Number 14, 206, empowers the court to grant an order of forfeiture of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime to the Federal Government.
The judge said that the respondent in the case did not file any counter-affidavit to challenge the plaintiff”s averment, but was  only represented by a counsel who made oral application asking the court to set aside its earlier order of interim forfeiture, on the ground that the applicant failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the properties in contention were stolen.

The post LASG Director forfeits N28.5m, houses to FG appeared first on Tribune.

LASG Director forfeits N28.5m, houses to FG



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Kenya TV stations to remain off-air after Odinga ‘inauguration’

Court orders final forfeiture of Lagos Director’s N28.5m, other properties to FG

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture to the Federal Government the sum of N28.5 million and other property belonging to Jamiu Anifowose, a Director in the Public Works Department of Lagos State.

Justice Mohammed Aikawa gave the order while ruling on an application filed by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought against the director.

The court ordered the forfeiture of the sum for being proceeds of unlawful activities.

Newsmen report that among the property ordered to be forfeited are six flats of three-bedroom, another six flats of two-bedroom and six flats of one-bedroom located at Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile in Igbogbo-Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Others include four flats of three-bedroom duplex located at 6, Tunde Gabby Close in Dopemu area of Lagos.

Justice Aikawa also ordered a final forfeiture of a semi-detached three-bedroom flat and one unit of three-bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate, Arepo in Ogun.

Also to be forfeited was a plot of land situated at Queen’s Garden Estate, off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The judge had earlier granted an interim order forfeiting the money and the properties to the Federal Government.

Justice Aikawa also directed the Federal government to take administrative step to ensure that both the money and the properties were transferred to the Lagos State Government in view of the affidavit before the court.

The judge said Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act empowered the court to grant an order of forfeiture of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The judge said that the respondent in this case did not file any counter-affidavit to challenge the plaintiff’s averment.

The judge said he was only represented by a counsel who made oral application asking the court to set aside its earlier order of interim forfeiture.

Aikawa added that while making his submissions, counsel to the respondent, had said the onus of proof was on the applicant (EFCC).

On the side of Lagos State Government which filed an application for joinder, the judge said the state filed an application to show cause that the money belonged to it.

He held that the court had inherent powers to vary its order despite the provisions of Section 17 of Advanced Fee Fraud Act.

NAN

The post Court orders final forfeiture of Lagos Director’s N28.5m, other properties to FG appeared first on Vanguard News.

Court orders final forfeiture of Lagos Director’s N28.5m, other properties to FG



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African All Stars transfer news & rumours: Ayew close to Swansea reunion

Andre Ayew West Ham United

Goal brings you all the latest news, rumours and deals related to African stars as the January transfer window heats up

African All Stars transfer news & rumours: Ayew close to Swansea reunion



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So, how did conservatives like the State of the Union?



  1. So, how did conservatives like the State of the Union?  The Guardian
  2. Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on immigration, citizenship [Full text]  Daily Post Nigeria
  3. Trump preaches cooperation, but can he follow through?  Eyewitness News
  4. Trump to project success as Washington rots from within  CNN
  5. Opinion: 3 key quotes from Trump’s first State of the Union, explained  MarketWatch

    Full coverage

So, how did conservatives like the State of the Union?



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Youtube: Beauty enthusiast Lola OJ talks us through the truth about Microblading

Lola OJ tells us the truth about Microblading in new Youtube video.

Microblading is the answer to our eyebrow woes but what does it really entail?

Beauty guru Lola OJ's Youtube channel is packed full of useful information about everything from make-up to skincare. This week, she tackles the issue of microblading and tells us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about this procedure sweeping the beauty community.

ALSO READ: Beauty enthusiast releases skincare line; 'Coco'

Ever wondered what microblading is?

Ever wondered how long semi-permanent make up lasts?

Well, its fair to say that semi-permanent make up is becoming more and more popular across the world and even right here in Lagos, Nigeria. I have had first hand experience with the 'microblading' procedure and in this video I answer the most common question that I get asked about this procedure.

From how much it hurts….to if it got infected…to the costs. Watch this video and you will find a lot of your questions will be answered.

I sincerely hope it helps.

ALSO READ: Beauty enthusiast on how to maintain a healthy skin in a new environment

 

Youtube: Beauty enthusiast Lola OJ talks us through the truth about Microblading



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Politics: Here's the 4-part immigration plan Trump outlined during the State of the Union

donald trump

Trump's immigration plan was a large focus of his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, outlining a deal for Dreamers and a tighter legal immigration policy.

  • President Donald Trump's immigration plan was a big focus of the State of the Union on Tuesday.
  • The plan includes a pathway to citizenship for nearly 1.8 million immigrants that are either enrolled in or qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
  • The plan also includes $25 billion for funding of a proposed wall along the Mexican border and changes to legal immigration programs.

President Donald Trump used the State of the Union as a platform to wade into a the largest policy fight facing Congress: immigration.

During the speech, the president touted a recently released four-point plan that addresses immigration both legal and illegal.

"In recent months, my Administration has met extensively with both Democrats and Republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration reform," Trump said. "Based on these discussions, we presented the Congress with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise — one where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the critical reforms it needs."

The proposal, released Thursday, includes a codification of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects from deportation nearly 800,000 unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the US as minors. The plan would give these recipients, as well as immigrants who qualify but do not participate in the program, a pathway to citizenship.

DACA codification has been a central demand from Democrats for any immigration deal, since the program is set to expire on March 5. Trump announced in September that he would end the program, but gave Congress six months to settle the issue through legislation.

But in a nod to the most conservative immigration hawks in the Republican Party, the plan proposes changes to legal immigration programs, as well as $25 billion in funding for a wall along the Mexican border.

The major aspects of the deal include:

  • A pathway to citizenship for roughly 1.8 million DACA recipients or potential DACA recipients.
  • $25 billion in funding for Trump's long-promised wall along the US border with Mexico. The funding would go to hire more border patrol agents and immigration judges.
  • A curtailing of "chain migration," officially known as the family reunification policy of the immigration system. The new plan would allow immigrants to only sponsor minor children and spouses. The current policy allows immigrants to sponsor other family members like married children and parents
  • Termination of the diversity visa lottery program. This program allows up to 50,000 immigrants a year from countries typically underrepresented by US immigrants. While Trump said the program admits immigrants "without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of our people," the lottery does have education and/or work requirements as well as a built-in vetting process for applicants.
  • Faster deportation for immigrants not from countries bordering the US.

The plan already drew criticism from many Democrats, saying the changes to legal immigration programs like the family reunification policy are outside the scope of the current DACA debate in Congress.

Even some Republican have cautioned against such a wide-ranging set of ideas, saying to ensure bipartisan support any plan should focus on border security and DACA for now.

Politics: Here's the 4-part immigration plan Trump outlined during the State of the Union



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Tricycle rider appears in court for alleged manslaughter



  1. Tricycle rider appears in court for alleged manslaughter  The Nation Newspaper

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Tricycle rider appears in court for alleged manslaughter



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Tears as 3 years old baby, others perish in Lagos-Ibadan auto crash



  1. Tears as 3 years old baby, others perish in Lagos-Ibadan auto crash  Vanguard
  2. Trailer falls off Kara Bridge along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway  BellaNaija

    Full coverage

Tears as 3 years old baby, others perish in Lagos-Ibadan auto crash



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Nigerian Army embarks on road project in Sambisa forest



  1. Nigerian Army embarks on road project in Sambisa forest  Vanguard
  2. Army begins construction of road into heartland of Sambisa forest  TheCable
  3. Army constructs road into heartland of Sambisa Forest + photos  The Eagle Online

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Nigerian Army embarks on road project in Sambisa forest



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N'Delta agitators raise 4 posers for FG



  1. N’Delta agitators raise 4 posers for FG  Vanguard
  2. Delta police clarifies Fulani herdsmen invasion of Asaba  Lagos (press release)

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N'Delta agitators raise 4 posers for FG



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John Ogu: Gun-wielding fans of Beitar Jerusalem threaten to kill Nigeria player

Gun-wielding fans of Beitar Jerusalem threatens to kill Nigeria player

The safety of John Ogu is important as the group has a history of violent conduct against opposing teams or players.

An ultra extremist fans group of Beitar Jerusalem, La Familia has threatened to kill Nigeria and Hapoel Beer Sheva midfielder, John Ogu.

According to a short video tweeted by an Isreali sports journalist, Raphael Gellar, the Nigerian player is told to run away from the country for an undisclosed offence. However, police in the country are currently investigating the case.

John Ogu is an active team member of the Super Eagles. He played in most of Nigeria’s qualifiers to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He moved to the Isreali Premier League side, Hapoel Beer Sheva, in 2014 from Académica FC in Portugal.

About La Familia fans group of Beitar Jerusalem

La Familia is a football supporters' group of Beita Jerusalem, an Isreali Premier League club side, and it is made up of Mizrahi Jewish descendents.

The group has about 3,000 supporters and occupy about 20 percent of the stadium during league matches of Bietar Jerusalem. La Familia has a history of violent conducts during football matches and it is notable for its anti-muslim posture.

In 2013, the group burnt down one of the club's offices for singing two Chechnyan Muslims, Dzhabrail Kadiyev and Zaur Sadayev.

John Ogu: Gun-wielding fans of Beitar Jerusalem threaten to kill Nigeria player



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Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund reach Batshuayi loan agreement

The 24-year-old striker is set to spark a chain reaction as his move paves the way for Aubameyang and Giroud to make their deadline day transfers

Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund reach Batshuayi loan agreement



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Junior Lokosa reiterates Kano Pillars’ determination to beat Plateau United

Kano Pillars starting XI vs Enyimba

The Sai Masu Gida attacker says they are fired up to beat Kennedy Boboye’s men to make their title winning intention known

Junior Lokosa reiterates Kano Pillars’ determination to beat Plateau United



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World: Vice Media's Digital Chief Loses Job After Sexual Harassment Investigation

mike germano vice

Vice Media announced Tuesday that its chief digital officer, Mike Germano, would not return to the company after the public disclosure of sexual harassment allegations against him prompted an internal investigation into his behavior.

Germano was placed on leave after a New York Times investigation last month detailed the treatment of women at the company.

The article included allegations made by two women against Germano, including that he told a former employee at a holiday party in 2012 that he had not wanted to hire her because he wanted to have sex with her and that, in 2014, he had pulled an employee onto his lap.

Germano declined to comment. In an earlier statement, he said he did “not believe that these allegations reflect the company’s culture.”

Germano was a co-founder of Carrot Creative, the digital ad agency that Vice acquired in 2013. In an email to the staff Tuesday, Sarah Broderick, Vice’s chief operating officer, said that Vice’s creative ad agency was completing “the long planned integration of Carrot Creative” and that more details regarding the group’s leadership would be announced in the weeks ahead.

A spokesman for said its investigation into Andrew Creighton, the company’s president, was continuing. Creighton was also put on leave after the Times investigation, which found that he had reached a $135,000 settlement in 2016 with a former employee who claimed she had been fired after she rejected an intimate relationship with him.

Broderick said in a memo to the staff this month that a special committee of Vice’s board was “reviewing the facts” related to the settlement and had planned to make a recommendation regarding the matter to senior management before the company’s Jan. 11 board meeting.

The Times’ investigation, published Dec. 23, found four settlements involving allegations of sexual harassment or defamation against Vice employees, including Creighton. In addition, more than two dozen women said they had experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct at the company, including unwanted kisses, groping, lewd remarks and propositions for sex.

Vice got its start in 1994 as a free magazine in Montreal. Over the years it has grown into a global company with roughly 3,000 employees, a television network, a digital footprint and its own film-production company. It has a documentary program on HBO and counts among its investors the Walt Disney Co. and 21st Century Fox.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

EMILY STEEL © 2018 The New York Times

World: Vice Media's Digital Chief Loses Job After Sexual Harassment Investigation



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FG Urged To Tighten Security On Highways

Police, FG

Lagos – The Federal government has been urged to tackle, with urgency, the various killings, shootings and kidnapping by unknown gunmen that daily attack Nigerians on various highways across the country.

The attacks, which are mostly not reported in the dailies, have caused many homes sorrow and pain and also put fear in the minds of travellers across the country.

Mr. Giwa Osagie, a financial analyst and building project manager, while narrating his ordeal to INDEPENDENT said on June 18, 2017, on his way with his family members from Yenagoa to Port Harcourt, that he was accosted by some unknown gunmen who came out from hiding in the bush and opened fire on their vehicle whilst shooting sporadically.

He said he did not stop but kept driving only to discover later that bullet had hit his two year old daughter on her left knee.

“On our way from Yenagoa to Port Harcourt, along the highway, some armed men came out of the bush and started shooting sporadically at our vehicle.

“I did not stop but kept driving only to discover later that bullet had hit our two years old daughter “Aisosa” on her left knee,”

Speaking further, he said he and his wife Claris managed to get first aid for their baby along the road in order to stop the bleeding before they took her to University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital for full medical treatment. Ever since, she has been undergoing therapy for her to regain full motion on her leg because the injury incurred affected some nerves.

“We were referred to University of Benin teaching hospital for follow up treatment but due to medical officers’ industrial strike we continued the treatment with a private therapy centre, off Iyaro Quarters, in Benin city”.

He called on the federal government to increase the number of security personnel on major highways in Nigeria, especially along the Yenagoa – Port Harcourt Road.

“I am using this medium to call on various government security agencies to ensure the safety of Nigerians especially travellers”.

In the same vein, Nnimmo Bassey, an environmentalist,  in a media parley said government must do all within its power to ensure that those who are not entitled to be in possession of arms are not permitted. He added that the number of security points on the highways should be increased as a way of reducing arms attacks of the citizens.

He said it is not the duty of the citizens to stop people from carrying arms but that of government to withdraw such weapons from circulation.

“If you drive along our highways what you find are people wearing T-shirts and sandals carrying rifles, they even stop you telling you they are special anti -robbery squad. Now we have people who dress casually and carry weapons and say they are security officers, we need to check and stop such practices to guide against misuse of such weapons by unauthorized individuals,” he said.

The post FG Urged To Tighten Security On Highways appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.

FG Urged To Tighten Security On Highways



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Buhari solicits support of traditional rulers on peacebuilding

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, solicited the support of the traditional rulers in restoring peace to all part of the nation under security threat. The President made the appeal in Port Harcourt at the opening […]

The post Buhari solicits support of traditional rulers on peacebuilding appeared first on Tribune.

Buhari solicits support of traditional rulers on peacebuilding



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Commit more funds to Agric, Industrialisation, Ajimobi urges BOI

GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has urged the Bank of Industry (BOI) to ensure that more of its offerings to residents of the state were focused on Agriculture and Industrialisation. Ajimobi made this call […]

The post Commit more funds to Agric, Industrialisation, Ajimobi urges BOI appeared first on Tribune.

Commit more funds to Agric, Industrialisation, Ajimobi urges BOI



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FULL TEXT: Donald Trump’s Speech At The #SOTU

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump gave his first State of the Union address on Tuesday. Read the President’s speech as prepared for delivery and released by the White House:

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans:

Less than 1 year has passed since I first stood at this podium, in this majestic chamber, to speak on behalf of the American People — and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. That night, our new Administration had already taken swift action. A new tide of optimism was already sweeping across our land.

Each day since, we have gone forward with a clear vision and a righteous mission — to make America great again for all Americans.

Over the last year, we have made incredible progress and achieved extraordinary success. We have faced challenges we expected, and others we could never have imagined. We have shared in the heights of victory and the pains of hardship. We endured floods and fires and storms. But through it all, we have seen the beauty of America’s soul, and the steel in America’s spine.

Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be.

We saw the volunteers of the “Cajun Navy,” racing to the rescue with their fishing boats to save people in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane.

We saw strangers shielding strangers from a hail of gunfire on the Las Vegas strip.

We heard tales of Americans like Coast Guard Petty Officer Ashlee Leppert, who is here tonight in the gallery with Melania. Ashlee was aboard one of the first helicopters on the scene in Houston during Hurricane Harvey. Through 18 hours of wind and rain, Ashlee braved live power lines and deep water, to help save more than 40 lives. Thank you, Ashlee.

We heard about Americans like firefighter David Dahlberg. He is here with us too. David faced down walls of flame to rescue almost 60 children trapped at a California summer camp threatened by wildfires.

To everyone still recovering in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, California, and everywhere else — we are with you, we love you, and we will pull through together.

Some trials over the past year touched this chamber very personally. With us tonight is one of the toughest people ever to serve in this House — a guy who took a bullet, almost died, and was back to work three and a half months later: the legend from Louisiana, Congressman Steve Scalise.

We are incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of the Capitol Police Officers, the Alexandria Police, and the doctors, nurses, and paramedics who saved his life, and the lives of many others in this room.

In the aftermath of that terrible shooting, we came together, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as representatives of the people. But it is not enough to come together only in times of tragedy. Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve.

Over the last year, the world has seen what we always knew: that no people on Earth are so fearless, or daring, or determined as Americans. If there is a mountain, we climb it. If there is a frontier, we cross it. If there is a challenge, we tame it. If there is an opportunity, we seize it.

So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong.

And together, we are building a safe, strong, and proud America.

Since the election, we have created 2.4 million new jobs, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. After years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages.

Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low. African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded, and Hispanic American unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history.

Small business confidence is at an all-time high. The stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion in value. That is great news for Americans’ 401k, retirement, pension, and college savings accounts.

And just as I promised the American people from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history.

Our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and small businesses.

To lower tax rates for hardworking Americans, we nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone. Now, the first $24,000 earned by a married couple is completely tax-free. We also doubled the child tax credit.

A typical family of four making $75,000 will see their tax bill reduced by $2,000 — slashing their tax bill in half.

This April will be the last time you ever file under the old broken system — and millions of Americans will have more take-home pay starting next month.

We eliminated an especially cruel tax that fell mostly on Americans making less than $50,000 a year — forcing them to pay tremendous penalties simply because they could not afford government-ordered health plans. We repealed the core of disastrous Obamacare — the individual mandate is now gone.

We slashed the business tax rate from 35 percent all the way down to 21 percent, so American companies can compete and win against anyone in the world. These changes alone are estimated to increase average family income by more than $4,000.

Small businesses have also received a massive tax cut, and can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.

Here tonight are Steve Staub and Sandy Keplinger of Staub Manufacturing — a small business in Ohio. They have just finished the best year in their 20-year history. Because of tax reform, they are handing out raises, hiring an additional 14 people, and expanding into the building next door.

One of Staub’s employees, Corey Adams, is also with us tonight. Corey is an all-American worker. He supported himself through high school, lost his job during the 2008 recession, and was later hired by Staub, where he trained to become a welder. Like many hardworking Americans, Corey plans to invest his tax‑cut raise into his new home and his two daughters’ education. Please join me in congratulating Corey.

Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses — many of them thousands of dollars per worker. Apple has just announced it plans to invest a total of $350 billion in America, and hire another 20,000 workers.

This is our new American moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American Dream.

So to every citizen watching at home tonight — no matter where you have been, or where you come from, this is your time. If you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in America, then you can dream anything, you can be anything, and together, we can achieve anything.

Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of Nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family.
We all share the same home, the same heart, the same destiny, and the same great American flag.

Together, we are rediscovering the American way.

In America, we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of the American life. Our motto is “in God we trust.”

And we celebrate our police, our military, and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support.

Here tonight is Preston Sharp, a 12-year-old boy from Redding, California, who noticed that veterans’ graves were not marked with flags on Veterans Day. He decided to change that, and started a movement that has now placed 40,000 flags at the graves of our great heroes. Preston: a job well done.

Young patriots like Preston teach all of us about our civic duty as Americans. Preston’s reverence for those who have served our Nation reminds us why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem.

Americans love their country. And they deserve a Government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return.

For the last year we have sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and their Government.

Working with the Senate, we are appointing judges who will interpret the Constitution as written, including a great new Supreme Court Justice, and more circuit court judges than any new administration in the history of our country.

We are defending our Second Amendment, and have taken historic actions to protect religious liberty.

And we are serving our brave veterans, including giving our veterans choice in their healthcare decisions. Last year, the Congress passed, and I signed, the landmark VA Accountability Act. Since its passage, my Administration has already removed more than 1,500 VA employees who failed to give our veterans the care they deserve — and we are hiring talented people who love our vets as much as we do.

I will not stop until our veterans are properly taken care of, which has been my promise to them from the very beginning of this great journey.

All Americans deserve accountability and respect — and that is what we are giving them. So tonight, I call on the Congress to empower every Cabinet Secretary with the authority to reward good workers — and to remove Federal employees who undermine the public trust or fail the American people.

In our drive to make Washington accountable, we have eliminated more regulations in our first year than any administration in history.

We have ended the war on American Energy — and we have ended the war on clean coal. We are now an exporter of energy to the world.

In Detroit, I halted Government mandates that crippled America’s autoworkers — so we can get the Motor City revving its engines once again.

Many car companies are now building and expanding plants in the United States — something we have not seen for decades. Chrysler is moving a major plant from Mexico to Michigan; Toyota and Mazda are opening up a plant in Alabama. Soon, plants will be opening up all over the country. This is all news Americans are unaccustomed to hearing — for many years, companies and jobs were only leaving us. But now they are coming back.

Exciting progress is happening every day.

To speed access to breakthrough cures and affordable generic drugs, last year the FDA approved more new and generic drugs and medical devices than ever before in our history.

We also believe that patients with terminal conditions should have access to experimental treatments that could potentially save their lives.

People who are terminally ill should not have to go from country to country to seek a cure — I want to give them a chance right here at home. It is time for the Congress to give these wonderful Americans the “right to try.”

One of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs. In many other countries, these drugs cost far less than what we pay in the United States. That is why I have directed my Administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices one of our top priorities. Prices will come down.

America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs, and our Nation’s wealth.
The era of economic surrender is over.

From now on, we expect trading relationships to be fair and to be reciprocal.

We will work to fix bad trade deals and negotiate new ones.

And we will protect American workers and American intellectual property, through strong enforcement of our trade rules.

As we rebuild our industries, it is also time to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.

America is a nation of builders. We built the Empire State Building in just 1 year — is it not a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a permit approved for a simple road?
I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.

Tonight, I am calling on the Congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment we need.

Every Federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with State and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment — to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit.

Any bill must also streamline the permitting and approval process — getting it down to no more than two years, and perhaps even one.

Together, we can reclaim our building heritage. We will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways, and waterways across our land. And we will do it with American heart, American hands, and American grit.

We want every American to know the dignity of a hard day’s work. We want every child to be safe in their home at night. And we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we love.
We can lift our citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity.

As tax cuts create new jobs, let us invest in workforce development and job training. Let us open great vocational schools so our future workers can learn a craft and realize their full potential. And let us support working families by supporting paid family leave.

As America regains its strength, this opportunity must be extended to all citizens. That is why this year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a second chance.

Struggling communities, especially immigrant communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American workers and American families.

For decades, open borders have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our most vulnerable communities. They have allowed millions of low-wage workers to compete for jobs and wages against the poorest Americans. Most tragically, they have caused the loss of many innocent lives.

Here tonight are two fathers and two mothers: Evelyn Rodriguez, Freddy Cuevas, Elizabeth Alvarado, and Robert Mickens. Their two teenage daughters — Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens — were close friends on Long Island. But in September 2016, on the eve of Nisa’s 16th Birthday, neither of them came home. These two precious girls were brutally murdered while walking together in their hometown. Six members of the savage gang MS-13 have been charged with Kayla and Nisa’s murders. Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as unaccompanied alien minors ‑- and wound up in Kayla and Nisa’s high school.

Evelyn, Elizabeth, Freddy, and Robert: Tonight, everyone in this chamber is praying for you. Everyone in America is grieving for you. And 320 million hearts are breaking for you. We cannot imagine the depth of your sorrow, but we can make sure that other families never have to endure this pain.

Tonight, I am calling on the Congress to finally close the deadly loopholes that have allowed MS-13, and other criminals, to break into our country. We have proposed new legislation that will fix our immigration laws, and support our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, so that this cannot ever happen again.

The United States is a compassionate nation. We are proud that we do more than any other country to help the needy, the struggling, and the underprivileged all over the world. But as President of the United States, my highest loyalty, my greatest compassion, and my constant concern is for America’s children, America’s struggling workers, and America’s forgotten communities. I want our youth to grow up to achieve great things. I want our poor to have their chance to rise.

So tonight, I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties — Democrats and Republicans — to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed. My duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber, is to defend Americans — to protect their safety, their families, their communities, and their right to the American Dream. Because Americans are dreamers too.

Here tonight is one leader in the effort to defend our country: Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Celestino Martinez — he goes by CJ. CJ served 15 years in the Air Force before becoming an ICE agent and spending the last 15 years fighting gang violence and getting dangerous criminals off our streets. At one point, MS-13 leaders ordered CJ’s murder. But he did not cave to threats or fear. Last May, he commanded an operation to track down gang members on Long Island. His team has arrested nearly 400, including more than 220 from MS-13.

CJ: Great work. Now let us get the Congress to send you some reinforcements.

Over the next few weeks, the House and Senate will be voting on an immigration reform package.

In recent months, my Administration has met extensively with both Democrats and Republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration reform. Based on these discussions, we presented the Congress with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise — one where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the critical reforms it needs.

Here are the four pillars of our plan:

The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age — that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration. Under our plan, those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States.

The second pillar fully secures the border. That means building a wall on the Southern border, and it means hiring more heroes like CJ to keep our communities safe. Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country — and it finally ends the dangerous practice of “catch and release.”

The third pillar ends the visa lottery — a program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of our people. It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system — one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country.

The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration. Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and our future.

In recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration. In the age of terrorism, these programs present risks we can no longer afford.
It is time to reform these outdated immigration rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century.

These four pillars represent a down-the-middle compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system.

For over 30 years, Washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. This Congress can be the one that finally makes it happen.

Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfills my ironclad pledge to only sign a bill that puts America first. So let us come together, set politics aside, and finally get the job done.

These reforms will also support our response to the terrible crisis of opioid and drug addiction.

In 2016, we lost 64,000 Americans to drug overdoses: 174 deaths per day. Seven per hour. We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge.

My Administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need. The struggle will be long and difficult — but, as Americans always do, we will prevail.

As we have seen tonight, the most difficult challenges bring out the best in America.

We see a vivid expression of this truth in the story of the Holets family of New Mexico. Ryan Holets is 27 years old, and an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. He is here tonight with his wife Rebecca. Last year, Ryan was on duty when he saw a pregnant, homeless woman preparing to inject heroin. When Ryan told her she was going to harm her unborn child, she began to weep. She told him she did not know where to turn, but badly wanted a safe home for her baby.

In that moment, Ryan said he felt God speak to him: “You will do it — because you can.” He took out a picture of his wife and their four kids. Then, he went home to tell his wife Rebecca. In an instant, she agreed to adopt. The Holets named their new daughter Hope.

Ryan and Rebecca: You embody the goodness of our Nation. Thank you, and congratulations.

As we rebuild America’s strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad.

Around the world, we face rogue regimes, terrorist groups, and rivals like China and Russia that challenge our interests, our economy, and our values. In confronting these dangers, we know that weakness is the surest path to conflict, and unmatched power is the surest means of our defense.

For this reason, I am asking the Congress to end the dangerous defense sequester and fully fund our great military.

As part of our defense, we must modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression. Perhaps someday in the future there will be a magical moment when the countries of the world will get together to eliminate their nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, we are not there yet.

Last year, I also pledged that we would work with our allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the Earth. One year later, I am proud to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria. But there is much more work to be done. We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated.

Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck is here tonight. Near Raqqa last November, Justin and his comrade, Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy, were on a mission to clear buildings that ISIS had rigged with explosives so that civilians could return to the city.

Clearing the second floor of a vital hospital, Kenton Stacy was severely wounded by an explosion. Immediately, Justin bounded into the booby-trapped building and found Kenton in bad shape. He applied pressure to the wound and inserted a tube to reopen an airway. He then performed CPR for 20 straight minutes during the ground transport and maintained artificial respiration through 2 hours of emergency surgery.

Kenton Stacy would have died if not for Justin’s selfless love for a fellow warrior. Tonight, Kenton is recovering in Texas. Raqqa is liberated. And Justin is wearing his new Bronze Star, with a “V” for “Valor.” Staff Sergeant Peck: All of America salutes you.

Terrorists who do things like place bombs in civilian hospitals are evil. When possible, we annihilate them. When necessary, we must be able to detain and question them. But we must be clear: Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are.

In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds of dangerous terrorists, only to meet them again on the battlefield — including the ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi.

So today, I am keeping another promise. I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay.

I am also asking the Congress to ensure that, in the fight against ISIS and al-Qa’ida, we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists — wherever we chase them down.

Our warriors in Afghanistan also have new rules of engagement. Along with their heroic Afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies our plans.

Last month, I also took an action endorsed unanimously by the Senate just months before: I recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Shortly afterwards, dozens of countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly against America’s sovereign right to make this recognition. American taxpayers generously send those same countries billions of dollars in aid every year.

That is why, tonight, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to America’s friends.

As we strengthen friendships around the world, we are also restoring clarity about our adversaries.

When the people of Iran rose up against the crimes of their corrupt dictatorship, I did not stay silent. America stands with the people of Iran in their courageous struggle for freedom.

I am asking the Congress to address the fundamental flaws in the terrible Iran nuclear deal.

My Administration has also imposed tough sanctions on the communist and socialist dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela.

But no regime has oppressed its own citizens more totally or brutally than the cruel dictatorship in North Korea.

North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland.

We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening.

Past experience has taught us that complacency and concessions only invite aggression and provocation. I will not repeat the mistakes of past administrations that got us into this dangerous position.

We need only look at the depraved character of the North Korean regime to understand the nature of the nuclear threat it could pose to America and our allies.

Otto Warmbier was a hardworking student at the University of Virginia. On his way to study abroad in Asia, Otto joined a tour to North Korea. At its conclusion, this wonderful young man was arrested and charged with crimes against the state. After a shameful trial, the dictatorship sentenced Otto to 15 years of hard labor, before returning him to America last June — horribly injured and on the verge of death. He passed away just days after his return.

Otto’s Parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, are with us tonight — along with Otto’s brother and sister, Austin and Greta. You are powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world, and your strength inspires us all. Tonight, we pledge to honor Otto’s memory with American resolve.

Finally, we are joined by one more witness to the ominous nature of this regime. His name is Mr. Ji Seong-ho.

In 1996, Seong-ho was a starving boy in North Korea. One day, he tried to steal coal from a railroad car to barter for a few scraps of food. In the process, he passed out on the train tracks, exhausted from hunger. He woke up as a train ran over his limbs. He then endured multiple amputations without anything to dull the pain. His brother and sister gave what little food they had to help him recover and ate dirt themselves — permanently stunting their own growth. Later, he was tortured by North Korean authorities after returning from a brief visit to China. His tormentors wanted to know if he had met any Christians. He had — and he resolved to be free.

Seong-ho traveled thousands of miles on crutches across China and Southeast Asia to freedom. Most of his family followed. His father was caught trying to escape, and was tortured to death.
Today he lives in Seoul, where he rescues other defectors, and broadcasts into North Korea what the regime fears the most ‑- the truth.

Today he has a new leg, but Seong-ho, I understand you still keep those crutches as a reminder of how far you have come. Your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all.

Seong-ho’s story is a testament to the yearning of every human soul to live in freedom.

It was that same yearning for freedom that nearly 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called America. It was a small cluster of colonies caught between a great ocean and a vast wilderness. But it was home to an incredible people with a revolutionary idea: that they could rule themselves. That they could chart their own destiny. And that, together, they could light up the world.

That is what our country has always been about. That is what Americans have always stood for, always strived for, and always done.

Atop the dome of this Capitol stands the Statue of Freedom. She stands tall and dignified among the monuments to our ancestors who fought and lived and died to protect her.

Monuments to Washington and Jefferson — to Lincoln and King.

Memorials to the heroes of Yorktown and Saratoga — to young Americans who shed their blood on the shores of Normandy, and the fields beyond. And others, who went down in the waters of the Pacific and the skies over Asia.

And freedom stands tall over one more monument: this one. This Capitol. This living monument to the American people.

A people whose heroes live not only in the past, but all around us — defending hope, pride, and the American way.

They work in every trade. They sacrifice to raise a family. They care for our children at home. They defend our flag abroad. They are strong moms and brave kids. They are firefighters, police officers, border agents, medics, and Marines.

But above all else, they are Americans. And this Capitol, this city, and this Nation, belong to them.

Our task is to respect them, to listen to them, to serve them, to protect them, and to always be worthy of them.

Americans fill the world with art and music. They push the bounds of science and discovery. And they forever remind us of what we should never forget: The people dreamed this country. The people built this country. And it is the people who are making America great again.

As long as we are proud of who we are, and what we are fighting for, there is nothing we cannot achieve.

As long as we have confidence in our values, faith in our citizens, and trust in our God, we will not fail.

Our families will thrive.

Our people will prosper.

And our Nation will forever be safe and strong and proud and mighty and free.

Thank you, and God bless America.

The post FULL TEXT: Donald Trump’s Speech At The #SOTU appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.

FULL TEXT: Donald Trump’s Speech At The #SOTU



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