SABINEWS MORNING NEWS UPDATE FOR AUGSUT 5, 2016
250 Reps want Dogara to step down, says Jibrin
A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, says at least 250 out of the 360 members of the House have signed a petition calling for the probe and removal of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
He added that the Department of State Services had beefed up security around him due to threats he had been receiving. Read more
We’ll kill Christians, says B’Haram leader
The new Boko Haram leader, Abu Masab Al-Barnawi, says Christians in Nigeria will be the new target of the sect’s attacks, vowing that the sect will kill all Christians and “blow up every church that we are able to reach.”
Al-Barnawi was the spokesman for the fundamentalist sect until August 3 when he was declared its new leader to replace Abubakar Shekau. Read more
Jonathan seeks end to PDP crisis
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he needs to do more to reconcile aggrieved members of the party and bring the two factions in it together.
He said though he had been doing it silently without the media knowledge, he nevertheless promised to be more committed to get the warring factions to sheathe their swords. Read more
NSA office arrests seven for diverting explosives to militants
Five security operatives, a storekeeper and an accomplice have been arrested for alleged diversion of 9,000 kilogrammes of high calibre explosives and over 16,420 pieces of detonators in the Niger Delta.
The National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Monguno (retd.), said that investigation conducted into the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the oil-rich region revealed that commercial explosives and accessories were being used for the dastardly acts. Read more
Budget padding: APC bars Dogara, Jibrin, other Reps from talking to press
APPARENTLY disturbed by the dimension the padding allegations surrounding the 2016 budget has taken, the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday barred Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmunin Jibrin, and other lawmakers from talking to the press on the issue.
Towards this direction, the party formally wrote a letter to the leadership of the House which it also copied other members elected on its platform, barring them from making further comments on the allegations to the media. Read more
Court grants Fayose’s ally, Agbele, N500m bail
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, bail in the sum of N500m.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who had on Wednesday ordered the remand of the accused in Kuje Prison, Abuja, ruled on Thursday that the N500m bail sum should be guaranteed by two sureties in the sum of N250m each. Read more
Buhari alone is against Nigeria restructuring – Avengers
The Niger Delta Avengers on Thursday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being the only Nigerian against calls for the nation’s restructuring.
The group also said the recent bombardments of some of its members in Arepo community of Lagos/Ogun communities was unprofessional. Read more
Fayose, Mimiko better than Ambode –PDP
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has faulted a poll by the African Leadership Magazine which rated Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the best performing governor in the country.
The Lagos PDP said the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and his Ondo State counterpart, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, had performed better than Ambode. Read more
IG visits Lagos creeks, military uncovers weapons
No fewer than 95 arms and ammunition were picked up in the Isawo and Igbo Olomu creeks, Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Wednesday during the military’s mop up operation in the area.
There was tension in the area on Thursday when the acting Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, visited Isawo and Igbo Olomu communities to see the joint operation going on. Read more
Economy would’ve been worse but for Buhari – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari has saved Nigeria from economic crisis and prevented the economy from getting worse than it would have been.
Mohammed said this at the All Nigerian Editors Conference 2016 in Port Harcourt on Thursday, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeyemi. Read more
PDP zones chair to South-West
Indications emerged on Thursday night that the Peoples Democratic Party had zoned its national chairmanship to the South-West even as it zoned the deputy national chairmanship to the South-South.
A reliable source confided in our correspondent that the zoning was done at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, where the PDP governors met. Read more
US warns citizens against travelling to 20 Nigerian states
The United States of America has warned its citizens against travelling to 20 states in Nigeria due to security concerns.
According to the travel advice on the Department of State’s website, the North-Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where the Boko Haram terrorists were more brutal, topped the list. Read more
Human trafficking: UK jails Nigerian woman for 22 years
A Nigerian woman, Franca Asemota, 38, found guilty of attempting to traffic Nigerian girls through Heathrow Airport to work as sex workers in brothels across Europe, was on Thursday sentenced to 22 years imprisonment
Asemota was convicted on Wednesday at Isleworth Crown Court on 12 counts of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual exploitation, trafficking persons outside of the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation and assisting unlawful immigration. Read more
Buhari’s wife accepts Fayose’s challenge, visits US
Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on Thursday travelled to the United States where she was scheduled to be the special guest at the 25th Anniversary of Zumunta Association.
According to a statement by her Director, Media, Zakari Nadabo, the event is scheduled to take place at the Silver Spring Civic Centre in Maryland, Washington DC. Read more
Magistrate’s absence stalls Ogah, Somoye’s tri
The trial of President of an oil firm, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, also Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain and governorship claimant of Abia State, Dr. Uche Ogah, and an ex-employee of a first generation bank, Deji Somoye, before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, was, yesterday, stalled, following the absence of the trial magistrate.
The defendants were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye over alleged fraud. Read more
‘ISIS’ appointment of Boko Haram leader dangerous’
A security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has asked the Federal Government to see the danger in the appointment of Abu Musab Al-Barnawi as the new Boko Haram leader by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Ekhomu, who is the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, said the appointment was a dangerous development in the ongoing war against terrorism in the country. Read more
Niger Delta Avengers: We are Not Intimidated by Arepo Air Raids
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has dismissed the military exploits in the last one week in Arepo, a boundary riverine community between Lagos and Ogun States, and challenged the military to show the public the “so-called militants” killed during the air strikes.
A statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, said it would not be intimidated by the military with its “scrap jet bombers.” Read more
LASG unveils policy on youths
The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has inaugurated a uniform policy framework for all ministries, departments and agencies for youth-related activities in the state.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the decision was meant to align with the vision of the state government in providing avenue for harnessing the potential of Lagos youths. Read more
Kogi: A’Court dismisses Faleke, Wada’s appeals, upholds Bello’s victory
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday dismissed all the four appeals challenging the election of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in the 2015 governorship election in the state.
The All Progressives Congress had substituted Bello as its governorship candidate and retained James Faleke as its deputy governorship candidate following the death of its original governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, after the conclusion of the first round of the election held on November 21, 2015. Read more
States not responsible for LG workers’ salaries – Oshiomhole
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has exonerated the state government from the failure of the local government councils to pay the salaries of their workers, saying that it cannot be responsible for their woes.
Oshiomhole stated this during a meeting with the national leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, led by its President, Ibrahim Khaleen, at the Government House in Benin on Thursday. Read more
How Unpaid Pension Allowances Leave Pensioners In The Lurch
The unpaid allowances of pensioners in the country arising from the inability of some state governments to clear the backlog of pensions due to the current economic downturn has left many homes in shambles, retirees including senior civil servants have declared.
The pensioners including federal and state civil servants are being owed allowances for several months, just as many are yet to receive their gratuities and death benefits of their deceased ones. Several states in the country are unable to pay pension allowances. Read more
NSCDC arrests five for adulterating fertilizer
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Thursday said it had arrested five people suspected to be dealing in adulterated fertilizer.
The Commandant of the NSCDC in Bauchi State, Ibrahim Raji, stated this while briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Bauchi. Read more
Five die as soldiers, villagers clash in Niger
No fewer than five persons were feared killed and two others injured when some soldiers clashed with some villagers at Kpaidna village in the Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours of Thursday.
Also four vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army were burnt and destroyed in the milieu. The two injured people were said to be soldiers while the identities of the deceased were yet to be known as of press time. Read more
Gunmen kill driver in Delta Govt House
Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers, on Thursday, attacked the Delta State Government House Annex, Warri, when members of the Delta State Waterways Security Committee were holding a meeting, killing a driver attached to the annex.
The incident, sources told our correspondent, occurred at 11.12am on Thursday amid sporadic gunshots. Read more
Shekau’s Audio Fuels Talk of Split in Boko Haram
Boko Haram’s elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau finally broke his silence yesterday to insist he was “still around” following reports that Islamic State had replaced him, but his message fuelled talk of a split within the jihadist group.
For months, speculation has been rife over the fate of Shekau, who has led the Nigeria-based Islamist group since 2009 but has not been heard from since March. Read more
Ogun police arrest five for Ogijo killings
Five suspected members of cults in the Ogijo area of Ogun State, which clashed on Tuesday leading to the death of four persons, including a 16-year-old boy, have been arrested.
The suspects were paraded on Thursday at the headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Magbon, Abeokuta. Read more
I have stolen only four cars this year – Cleric
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old Islamic cleric, Rasheed Ayuba, for alleged car theft.
Ayuba, who hails from Igbesa, Ogun State, was apprehended along with a transporter in Ibadan, Oyo State, Falade Igbekele, who reportedly bought six of the stolen cars. Read more
FG blames economic crunch on failure to save
THE Federal Government has blamed the current economic hardship facing the nation on the failure by past governments to save for the rainy day. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Guild of Editors conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that the nation had nothing to fall back on to cushion the harsh effect brought about by the drop in the international price of crude oil.
He said that the nation only has $26 billion in foreign reserve despite the fact that oil sold at a time for over a $100 per barrel. He charged editors to contribute their quota to nation buildingHe said: ‘’Nigeria has nothing to rely on to cushion the effects of the lost earnings. Many other oil producing countries and fellow OPEC members are doing better because they saved for the rainy day. Read more
Recall of sacked workers: PENGASSAN canvasses firms’ compliance
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has urged the Federal Government to take measures against agencies and oil companies that behave as if they are more powerful than the government and not answerable to it.
Recently, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, met with oil firms and an agreement was reached not to sack their workers and to recall sacked workers in the oil sector. Read more
Resolving the oil pricing dispute
Nigeria’s depleting oil revenue could be worse if the lingering dispute between the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Crude Oil Marketing Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is not settled soon. This disclosure is contained in the 2013 Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report.
According to the report, Nigeria may have lost an estimated N2.56 trillion (about $8trn at current exchange rate) as a result of the unresolved dispute. The huge amount which is more than 30 percent of the 2016 Federal Budget, is said to represent the project cumulative revenue losses from the under-assessment of the fiscal valuation of crude oil for a 7-year period (2006 – 2013). Read more
Eleme Indorama Petrochemicals Plans $2.2bn Expansion Project
The managing director, Eleme Indorama Petrochemicals Company Limited, Mr Manish Mundra, has disclosed that the company was planning a $2.2billion petrochemicals expansion by 2020, which if completed would make them the largest petrochemical hub in Africa.
Mundra said this at the investigative hearing by the House of Representatives committee on privatisation on the privatisation process and performance of the company in Abuja. Read more
NNPC Moves To Increase Refining Capacity
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), said it was currently undergoing transformation which includes increasing the corporation’s refining capacity.
Group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Kachalla Baru, who disclosed this while receiving the Spanish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Alfonso Barnuevo, to the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Thursday, also said that the country was strengthening bilateral trade relationship with Spain in every spectrum of the oil and gas industry for the benefit of the two countries. Read more
Spain buys €4.6bn oil, gas from Nigeria – Envoy
The Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Alfonso Barnuevo, on Thursday said that his country was currently spending about €4.6bn (N1.6tn) on the purchase of Nigerian oil and gas.
Barnuevo, who stated this when he paid a visit to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated that Nigeria and Spain had an established cordial relationship dating back to over three decades. Read more
2016 Hajj: Sell dollars to pilgrims @ N197, CBN authorises banks
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Thursday, directed banks and authorised forex dealers to sell the Pilgrims Travelling Allowance, PTA, to intending pilgrims at a concessionary exchange rate of N197 to $1.
In a circular on Thursday, marked, TED/FEMFPC/GEN/01/005, the CBN said: “Each pilgrim is entitled to purchase a minimum of $750.00 and maximum of US$1,000.00 as PTA. The Federal Government has approved that intending pilgrims are to be sold the PTA at a concessionary exchange rate of N197.00 to the US dollar. Read more
Naira hits 400/dollar as banks sell forex to BDCs
The naira plunged to 400 against the dollar at the parallel market on Thursday as shortage of foreign exchange continued to have negative effects on economic activities in the country.
The local currency had closed at 390 against the greenback on Wednesday.
The shortage of forex at the interbank and the black market has continued to weigh on the value of the naira. Read more
NEPC targets non-rejection of Nigeria’s exports
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council is targeting ‘zero rejection’ of Nigeria’s exports in the international market and in line with this aim; it has been organising a series of capacity-building workshops for exporters to train them in standards and requirements in the global market.
The Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Mr. Segun Awolowo, declared this through the Director, Product Development, NEPC, Mr. Olajide Ibrahim, during a one-day capacity building programme on best practices for animal and animal products exporters in Lagos recently. Read more
Dangote Sugar Refinery posts N11.1bn Q2 profit
Nigeria’s sugar producer, Dangote Sugar Refinery, has announced a profit before tax of N11.1bn for the six months ended June 30, 2016.
According to a statement from the firm, the unaudited results for the half year indicated that all performance measurement indices trended upwards, adding that profit before tax rose by 13.3 per cent compared to N9.8bn in the same period in 2015.Read more
Transcorp suspends plan to build $1bn power plant
Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc has suspended plans to build one of the nation’s biggest power plants amid gas shortage and a downturn in the nation’s economy that is hindering efforts to raise funds for the project.
The company in 2014 said it would raise $1bn to build a 1,000-megawatt gas-fired facility. Two years earlier, it bought the Ughelli plant in Delta State from the Federal Government and more than doubled its output to 700MW. Read more
Visafone Begins Test-run Of 4G LTE Internet Services
Visafone, MTN Nigeria’s subsidiary, yesterday began the test-run of its Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) internet technology service for smartphone users which is expected to drive broadband penetration from under 10 percent presently to the targeted 30 per cent by 2018, in line with the federal government’s broadband plan and target.
LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported on Tuesday that MTN would kick-start its LTE network this month. The launch of 4G LTE services by the merged entity of MTN and Visafone would roll-out superior high-speed internet services in major cities, empowering Nigerians with the latest mobile broadband technology. Read more
Dangote Seeks Collaboration With FG On National Development
The chairman and chief executive, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji, Aliko Dangote, has said that the government and the organised private sector must continue to collaborate not only to build structures but also build other national values and maintain existing structures to stimulate national development.
In a statement by Mohammed Manga, assistant director of media relations for the head of the civil service of the federation, Alhaji Dangote stated this during the ground breaking ceremony of federal civil servants housing estate, a project of Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme in partnership with ABSI Building System International at the Apo, Tafyi district, Abuja as part of the activities marking the 2016 Nigeria Civil Service Week Celebration. Read more
How We Are Coping With Exchange Rate At Lagos Ports – Shippers
Importers and clearing agents operating at the Lagos seaports -Tin Can and Apapa- have disclosed how they were coping with the new exchange rate policy since the adjustment of exchange rate from N282 to N313 by the federal government on Monday.
They explained that the policy was a necessary sacrifice needed to reposition and refocus the country’s economy. The Apapa chapter chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Fred Ajuzie, said clearing agents were coping with the new exchange rate although activities were low at the ports for …Read more
Emefiele mulls CBN, Police Committee, donates to IDPs
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has canvassed the resuscitation of the Inter-Agency Committee to improve on the logistic needs of the Nigeria Police, just as he donated 600 bags of rice to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State.
Emefiele made the call Tuesday in Abuja when the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and his management team , paid him a courtesy call at the CBN Head Office.
While recalling that the apex bank and the commercial banks had always collaborated with the Police on other issues, he emphasised the need to revamp the activities of the committee in order to come up with far-reaching recommendations on possible areas of partnership between the banks and the police. Read more
Investors gain N21.8bn as FBN Holdings drive activity at NSE
Equities investors yesterday gained N21.8 billion as trading at the nation’s stock exchange closed on a positive note.
The Nigerian Stock Exchnage (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 0.23 percent to close at N27,751.34 basis points, just as market capaitalisation added N21.8 billion to close at N9.531 trillion compared to a loss of N49 billion recorded previously when market capitalisation closed at N9.509 trillion. Read more
Banks to accept cheques into savings accounts
Deposit money banks have allayed fears on the immediate implementation of the acceptance of cheques into savings accounts, as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying that it will help to monitor cash flows in the nation’s financial system.
They also said the embedding of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) on payments cards will facilitate the tracking of money laundering in the system. Read more
‘Our own coal mills will have 100% quality assurance’
Dangote Cement Plc has stated that its coal mining facility, expected to commence operations by September 2016 would have 100 per cent quality assurance without product blend.
The facility, which would be located in Ankpa, Kogi State, according to the company would drive its future profitability and help reduce foreign exchange (forex) volatility in its business operations. Read more
‘Intensify efforts on diversification’
As the price of crude oil continues to crash in the international market, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts to diversify the economy from oil.
This was among several resolutions adopted by the union at its 29th National Executive Meeting (NEC) in Bauchi State. Read more
Foreign Airlines Lost N6.4bn to Naira Devaluation
The Country Manager of British Airways, Kola Olayinka has disclosed that foreign airlines operating in Nigeria lost N6.4billion in the N157.6 billion ($800) of their revenues trapped in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) when the Naira was devalued from N197 to N280 by the apex regulator.
The BA Country Manager explained that the total amount of money trapped in CBN before the devaluation was $800 million and for every $1million the airlines lost N80million. Read more
Nigeria shakes off travel issues, defeats Japan in Olympic opener
The days leading up to the start of the Olympic men’s soccer competition were anything but smooth for Nigeria, with their being disputes with the Nigerian Football Federation regarding items such as the payment of their bonuses and the size of the plane that was supposed to take them from Atlanta to Manaus. Thursday morning things were finally sorted out, with the team arriving in Manaus just under seven hours before they were scheduled to face Japan in the group opener for both. What would Nigeria be able to give from a competitive standpoint given their travels?
Turns out the Nigerians had plenty left in the tank, as they scored five goals in holding off the Japanese for a 5-4 victory in the final match of the day. Read more
Barcelona goals thrill Musa
Leicester City forward Ahmed Musa says he is delighted to have hit the back of the net twice in the Foxes’ 4-2 defeat by Spanish powerhouse Barcelona in their International Champions Cup clash in Stockholm on Wednesday.
The electrifying Super Eagles winger, who is expected to spearhead the Premier League holders’ attack against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in the FA Community Shield on Sunday, scored in the 47th and 66th minutes. The La Liga champions started the preseason match with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets. Read more
Uche Martins may return in four weeks – Maikaba
Wikki Tourists technical adviser Abdul Maikaba has confirmed that Uche Martins could make his return to active football in the next four weeks.
The former Plateau United forward undergone surgery on his troubled knee at Daisyland Hospital in Jos few weeks back. Read more
Conte wants Moses at Chelsea
New Manager of Chelsea Antonio Conte has from all indications suggested that Nigerian forward Victor Moses will finally get his chance at Stamford Bridge next season.
The Nigerian is back at Stamford Bridge, after straight loan deals away from the club and has taken their pre season games by storm with performances which have earned him praise from the Italian manager. Read more
Philippines’ DoJ becomes target of Chinese hackers over South China Sea row
RESEARCH by Finnish security firm F-Secure has revealed that hackers believed to be based in China have targeted a number of government and private-sector organizations in Asia Pacific in relation to the recent South China Sea dispute.
The hackers were found to have targeted the Philippines’ Department of Justice, as well as organizers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and employees of an unnamed major international law firm using a malicious program identified as ‘NanHaiShu’. Read more
FBI rounds up nearly 50 mob suspects accused of litany of mafia crimes
Nearly 50 alleged mobsters have been charged by US prosecutors with being part of an east coast crime syndicate.
The 46 suspects include an old-school mafioso in New York and a reputed mob chieftain in Philadelphia who has been pursued by the government for decades. Read more
Egypt Says It Has Killed the Leader of ISIS in the Sinai
Egypt’s military said on Thursday that the leader of Islamic State’s affiliate in the Sinai Peninsula had been killed, along with several key aides and 45 other members of the extremist group.
Few details were immediately available and there was no word from the extremist group’s branch in Egypt on what, if confirmed, would be a major setback for the Sinai-based militants. Read more
British teenager survived 9 metre plunge at waterfall in Thailand – but broke ‘half the bones in her body’
A teenager cheated death on her gap year when she slipped and fell 9 metres at a Thailand beauty spot and broke “half the bones in her body”.
Natalie Cook, 19, suffered a catalogue of injuries including a double femur fracture, broken hip, pelvis, pubic bone and wrist. Read more
Russian diplomat ‘shoots dead’ man who tried to rob him in Rio
A Russian diplomat has reportedly shot dead a man who tried to rob him in Rio on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The deadly incident happened just after the Olympic torch passed through the Avenida das Americas when the mugger, who was on a motorbike, hit the diplomat as he was sitting in his car, the Globo newspaper reported. Read more
Taliban Ambush Wounds 5 Foreigners in Afghanistan
Afghan officials say five foreigners were wounded when the Taliban ambushed their convoy in the country’s western Herat province.
A provincial spokesman, Jilani Farhad, says the attack happened Thursday in the district of Chishti Sharif. He says the insurgents opened fire on a minibus traveling from Bamyan province with 11 foreigners, whom he identified as “tourists.” Foreigners rarely travel as tourists in Afghanistan. Read more
Thailand referendum: End to political turmoil or boost to military power?
Thailand is holding a referendum on Sunday to decide whether to adopt a draft constitution.
After years of political upheaval and sporadic violence, the military took power in 2014, throwing out the old constitution. Read more
Clint Eastwood says people should ‘get over dumb things Donald Trump has said’
Clint Eastwood has said people need to “get over” the “dumb” things Donald Trump has said.
The four-time Oscar winner said he was backing Mr Trump because Hillary Clinton has “declared that she’s gonna follow in Obama’s footsteps”.
The 86-year-old, a prominent Republican supporter, told Esquire magazine: “We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff. When I grew up, those things weren’t called racist.” Read more
