• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• March 1, 2025
• 41 views

TRUMP ORDERS UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, ZENLENSKY, OUT OF WHITE HOUSE

TRUMP ORDERS UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, ZENLENSKY OUT OF WHITE HOUSE A senior White House official provided details on Friday regarding a tense confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their recent meeting at the White House. The encounter, which reportedly turned heated, resulted in the abrupt cancellation of a key minerals agreement between Washington and Kyiv. According to the official, Trump met with top advisers in the Oval Office following the discussion with Zelensky. Among those present were Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. After deliberations, Trump concluded that Zelensky was “not in a position to negotiate” and subsequently directed Rubio and Waltz to inform the Ukrainian leader that it was time for him to leave the White House. According to reports from CBS News, the fallout from the meeting also led to the cancellation of a planned signing ceremony for the minerals agreement between the two nations. The deal, which had been in the works for months, was expected to bolster Ukraine’s economy while strengthening U.S. access to critical resources. However, in light of the tense exchange, Trump decided to scrap the agreement entirely. Following the encounter, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share his perspective on the meeting. Describing it as “very productive,” he claimed that the discussions provided insights that would not have been possible under less confrontational circumstances. “I have concluded that President Zelensky is not ready for peace,” Trump wrote. “He believes our involvement in the conflict gives him leverage in negotiations but I don’t want leverage, I want peace.” Trump also accused Zelensky of showing a lack of respect toward the United States during their discussions in the Oval Office. “He can return only when he is ready for peace,” the president stated, signaling a clear shift in his approach to Ukraine’s leadership.

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 28, 2025
• 62 views

US INTRODUCES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR IMMIGRANTS

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 27, 2025
• 35 views

TRUMP THREATENS 25% TARIFF ON EU, SAYS BLOC WAS FORMED TO SCREW USA

TRUMP THREATENS 25% TARIFF ON EU, SAYS BLOC WAS FORMED TO SCREW USA Donald Trump has said he will impose 25% tariffs on the EU “very soon” and claimed the bloc was “formed in order to screw the United States”. The US president made the remarks while holding his first cabinet meeting at the White House since his inauguration in January. The world’s richest man Elon Musk, who leads the US Department of Government Efficiency but is not a cabinet member, was among those present. During his second term as president, Mr Trump has sparked fears of a global trade war by either imposing, or threatening to impose, high tariffs on both America’s allies and geopolitical rivals. Earlier this month the US government imposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on imports from China. Beijing retaliated by imposing 10% duties on many US imports and 15% tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas. Meanwhile, the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada were paused after agreements were reached on border security. ‘They’ve taken advantage of us’ Asked whether he had made a decision about imposing tariffs on the European Union, Mr Trump said: “We have made a decision, we’ll be announcing it very soon and it will be 25% generally speaking and that will be on cars and all other things The European Union is a different case than Canada, a different kind of case, they’ve really taken advantage of us in a different way. “They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept essentially our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not, and we accept everything from them, and we have about a $300bn (£237bn) deficit with the European Union.” He added: “The European Union, it was formed in order to screw the United States. “Let’s be honest – the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States, that’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it, but now I’m president. Asked what he will do if the EU retaliates, Mr Trump said: “They can’t, I mean, they can try, but they can’t.” He added: “They can retaliate, but it cannot be a successful retaliation, because we just go cold turkey, we don’t buy anymore. “If that happens, we win.” The threat of tariffs comes at a time of fragile relations between the US and Europe as the Trump administration appears to favour Moscow over Kyiv as it tries to bring about peace in Ukraine. Mr Trump shocked European leaders last week by calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator with no elections”. Mr Zelenskyy accused the US president of living in a Russian-made “disinformation space”.

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 25, 2025
• 61 views

UK, NIGERIA EXCLUDED FROM ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES FOR US VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME

UK, NIGERIA EXCLUDED FROM ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES FOR US VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME The United States of America has released the list of eligible countries for its 2025 Visa Waiver Programme. Among other African countries, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana are not listed in the new visa waiver programme for 2025 as the country introduces policy updates on permit privilege eligibility and others. The US Department of State recently announced the 2025 visa waiver programme (VWP) update, featuring a revised list of eligible countries and new travel policies. This update simplifies visa-free entry into the United States for millions worldwide, making business, tourism, and transit travel more accessible. However, as the new VWP brings exciting opportunities for international travellers from many countries, some others are regretting the new development. The 2025 visa waiver programme includes 40 countries whose citizens can now travel to the United States without a visa. This year, Romania has joined the list as a new entrant. However, Taiwan and the United Kingdom remain eligible under specific conditions. According to the US Bureau of Consular Affairs website, the Visa Waiver Programme allows most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. The agency stated: “Travellers must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel and meet all requirements explained below. If you prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may still apply for a visitor visa.” What is the US visa waiver programme means The visa waiver programme allows travellers from eligible countries to visit the United States without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. Instead of going through a lengthy visa process, eligible individuals can apply for an electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA) before departure. What changed in the 2025 VWP While most of the VWP list remains unchanged, adding Romania marks a significant update. The U.S. has also focused on enhancing security checks and prioritising countries with strong diplomatic ties and border security standards. Nevertheless, Romania, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom are excluded from the U.S. visa and interview waiver programme for 2025. Here is the full list of eligible countries: Morroco Andorra Australia Austria Belgium Chile Czech Republic Croatia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Israel Norway Poland Portugal San Marino Singapore Slovakia Japan Slovenia Latvia South Korea Liechtenstein Spain Lithuania Sweden Luxembourg Switzerland Malta Netherlands New Zealand Qatar Romania

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 19, 2025
• 73 views

US TO PROBE ALLEGED USAID FUNDING OF BOKO HARAM

US TO PROBE ALLEGED USAID FUNDING OF BOKO HARAM The United States Mission to Nigeria has announced that the U.S. government is set to investigate how past aid allocated to Nigeria and other countries has been utilised. On January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump suspended all foreign aid for 90 days, citing concerns about global destabilisation and misalignment with American interests. This move follows growing calls for a comprehensive review of how U.S. Agency for International Development health funds have been spent. In a post on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria confirmed ongoing efforts to track past assistance provided by the U.S. government. So This Happened, (Ep288) Reviews Dangote refinery, FCCPC Dispute as NNPCL insists on fuel import0:00 / 0:00 So This Happened, (Ep288) Reviews Dangote refinery, FCCPC Dispute as NNPCL insists on fuel import0:00 / 0:00 “Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to help verify that U.S. assistance reaches intended recipients,” the mission stated. The U.S. Mission also strongly condemned the ongoing violence and loss of life caused by Boko Haram in Nigeria. “The United States condemns the violence and blatant disregard for human life perpetrated by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria and the region,” it declared. The statement further highlighted that Boko Haram was officially designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the U.S. Secretary of State on November 14, 2013. It said the designation was to block the group’s assets, restrict its fundraising efforts, prosecute its members, and prevent them from travelling to the United States. The U.S. government reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria and regional partners to combat terrorism and enhance security in West Africa.

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 18, 2025
• 139 views

TRUMP DEPORTS 85 NIGERIANS, 201 IN DETENTION

TRUMP DEPORTS 85 NIGERIANS, 201 IN DETENTION The United States has commenced deportation proceedings for Nigerian nationals, with 85 individuals set to arrive in Lagos, while 201 others remain in detention. The Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has expressed concerns over the process, calling for a more humane approach. Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement signed by her media aide, Magnus Eze, on Sunday, disclosed that “with about 201 Nigerians currently detained in US immigration centres and about 85 cleared for deportation,” the government is advocating for adherence to internationally prescribed guidelines. Similarly, she reiterated the government’s stance in a post on her official X account on Monday, titled “US Deportations Begin.” Lagos as Sole Deportation DestinationThe United States also confirmed that deported Nigerians will be flown directly to Lagos. Mills emphasised that individuals serving prison sentences in the US would be among the first group of deportees. “Those to be repatriated would be dropped in Lagos. There would not be room for whether it should be in Port Harcourt or Abuja. “The first group will be convicted prisoners—those who committed crimes and are in US prisons. Some of them are those who have clearly violated US immigration laws. “They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the US. They have committed immigration crimes, people who have been ordered to leave,” Mills stated. Bianca expressed concerns over the emotional and financial impact of deportations on Nigerians in the US and their families, emphasising the need for humane and compliant processes. “With the new administration in the US, we want a situation where there will be commitments. If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return. “At the moment, we’re told that about 201 Nigerian nationals are in US immigration camps, and about 85 have been cleared for deportation. “Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains? This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these diasporans. “We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated? It will really be traumatic, especially for those who had not committed any violent crime,” she asked. Trump’s Immigration CrackdownThe deportation process comes as part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Donald Trump Administration. On his first day in office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump signed several executive orders aimed at tightening immigration policies. These include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border. He also announced the deployment of more troops to the southern border and reiterated his pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. These policy shifts, according to multiple media reports, have heightened concerns among immigrant communities.

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 14, 2025
• 101 views

USAID FUNDED BOKO HARAM, OTHER TERROR ORGANISATIONS – US CONGRESSMAN

USAID FUNDED BOKO HARAM, OTHER TERROR ORGANISATIONS – US CONGRESSMAN US Congressman, Scott Perry, has said that US aid agency, United States Agency for International Development, funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram. Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made the claim during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday. The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds. “Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry said. According to the subcommittee’s website, it will “actively work with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to root out waste, shore up vulnerable payment systems, and fully investigate schemes to defraud taxpayers.” Perry further cited USAID’s reported funding of $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan, alleging that there was “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction. Perry added, ” If you think that the programme under Operation Enduring Sentinel entitled Women’s Scholarship Endowment, which receives $60 million annually, or the Young Women Lead, which gets about $5 million annually, is going to women who, by the way, if you read the Inspector General’s report, it is telling you that the Taliban does not allow women to speak in public, yet somehow you’re believing, and American people are supposed to believe, that this money is going for the betterment of the women in Afghanistan. It is not. “You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan, because Pakistan’s right next door. “USAID spent $840 million in the last year, the last 20 years, on Pakistan’s education-related programme. It includes $136 million to build 120 schools, of which there is zero evidence that any of them were built. Why would there be any evidence? The Inspector General can’t get in to see them. “But you know what? We doubled down and spent $20 million from USAID to create educational television programs for children unable to attend the physical school. Yeah, they can’t attend it, because it doesn’t exist. You paid for it. “Somebody else got the money. You are paying for terrorism. This has got to end.” US President Donald Trump has previously called for the closure of USAID, accusing the agency of corruption in a post on his Truth Social platform. The move is part of Trump’s–and his billionaire ally Elon Musk’s–drive to shrink the US government. Musk, whom Trump appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, has also criticised USAID, alleging that it engages in rogue operations. Musk has called USAID “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and has vowed to shut it down. Among other criticisms, which Musk has claimed that USAID does “rogue CIA work” and even “funded bioweapon research, including COVID-19, that killed millions of people.” Trump said DOGE would “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 13, 2025
• 88 views

BEWARE OF FAKE UK VISA, WORK, SCHOOL OFFERS – BRITISH GOVT WARNS NIGERIANS

BEWARE OF FAKE UK VISA, WORK, SCHOOL OFFERS – BRITISH GOVT WARNS NIGERIANS The British High Commission in Nigeria has issued a warning urging Nigerians to be cautious of scams related to UK work and study opportunities if they are planning to migrate to the United Kingdom. The warning, which was made in a press statement, follows increasing reports by universities in the UK of fraudulent schemes targeting foreign students, reports The Guardian. The UK memo lists the types of scams that have been found to target foreign students, saying, “Over the years, there have been reports of the sharing of worthless visas and work offers, especially for care homes that do not exist in the UK, have become more widespread in recent years. These schemes have left many individuals stranded in the UK, having invested all their savings in what turned out to be fake opportunities.” A BBC investigation revealed that, in September 2024, a network was found selling bogus work visas and care worker jobs, leading to the exploitation of unsuspecting applicants. Some victims, particularly women, are now trapped in the UK, unable to return home without losing the money they paid for these fraudulent offers. The British High Commission has specifically warned against offers that guarantee visa approval or claim to provide quicker, easier entry into the UK than official methods. They also cautioned against requests for money to prove financial support, as genuine visa processes do not ask for such payments. The UK government urges applicants to verify job and study offers using official sources, including the government’s Register of Worker and Temporary Worker licensed sponsors, to ensure the legitimacy of potential employers and institutions. It is also important to avoid paying fees to agents claiming to work for UK authorities, as these are often scams. For those considering UK opportunities, the British High Commission stressed the importance of researching official guidance pages to identify common fraud tactics and ensure their applications are legitimate.

• Dons Eze
• Foreign Affairs
• February 11, 2025
• 73 views

KEMI BADENOCH WON’T MAKE GOOD PRIME MINISTER – MAJORITY UK CONSERVATIVE VOTERS

KEMI BADENOCH WON’T MAKE GOOD PRIME MINISTER – MAJORITY UK CONSERVATIVE VOTERS A new YouGov poll has revealed that most Conservative voters do not believe Kemi Badenoch would make a good prime minister, casting doubt on her leadership prospects as she nears 100 days at the helm of the party. The poll found that while 48 per cent of those who voted Conservative in the last general election see Badenoch as a potential prime minister, only 26 per cent believe she would perform well in the role. Among the wider electorate, just 14 per cent say she has what it takes to lead the country. Badenoch, who has taken a firm stance on immigration, faces scepticism from opposition voters. According to the poll, 39 per cent of respondents across Labour, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK supporters view her as untrustworthy, while 19 per cent consider her trustworthy. Additionally, 39 per cent of voters described her as unlikeable, compared to 24 per cent who see her favourably. Despite mixed perceptions, Badenoch retains some support among her party’s base. The poll found that 56 per cent of 2024 Conservative voters approve of her performance, while 17 per cent rate her leadership negatively. The findings come at a challenging time for the Conservative Party, as another recent poll indicated that the party has fallen to third place behind Labour and Reform UK in voter preference. Born in the UK to Nigerian parents, Badenoch has championed stricter immigration policies, recently proposing that immigrants should reside in the UK for at least 15 years before becoming eligible for a British passport. “Britain is our home, it’s not a hotel,” Badenoch said. “It’s time to tell the truth on immigration and propose real plans. I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something. I’m announcing that the Conservative Party is going to do things differently.”