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Saturday, 23 January 2016

IMMIGRATION & POLICY

Q&A: What the EU is doing about the migrant crisis

BRUSSELS (AP) — Following the death of more than 40 people off the Greek islands Friday, here are some questions and answers about the migrant crisis and what Europe is doing to respond to it. More than a million people entered the bloc in 2015 and around 3,700 died or went missing on the way. Already in the first three weeks of this year, another 37,000 people have entered the EU, according to the International Organization for Migration.

IMMIGRATION & POLICY

Greece 'facing exclusion' from Schengen passport-free zone
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Berlin (AFP) - Greece faced fresh pressure Saturday over its handling of the migrant crisis after Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner warned that Athens faced "temporary exclusion" from the EU's passport-free Schengen zone.

OPINION

China: Underground move that killed Nigeria’s textile industry
By Odimegwu Onwumere

 
Indigenous textile operators are howling that Chinese operators have taken over the Nigeria’s textile industry. From East to West, North to South there is ranting. The local operators weep stalks to the fact that China, which was formerly an import dependent country, had 16 textile factories in China devoted to tossing out textiles with a “Made in Nigeria” badge sewn in them around 1997, with Nigeria’s textile industry vibrantly operating over 300 vivacious factories. The vibrancy of the industry in Nigeria earned her the status of the second largest in Africa, battling with South Africa, after Egypt’s, then.

OPINION/IMMIGRATION


Germany: The trouble with being good
Markus Ziener

Image result for germany flagIn Cologne on New Year's Eve there was no terrorist attack and no one got killed. But the massive assaults on women by a huge crowd with many asylum seekers has sent a nation into shock. The shock is multi-dimensional and deep: Germans are rubbing their eyes about a helpless police that was incapable to upholding the law. They are shocked about the criminal behavior of people Germany had welcomed and opened the doors for. But most of all: Germany is wondering about the values the country stands for - and whether they can be defended.

IMMIGRATION

French PM says refugee crisis threatening idea of EU

A French riot policeman stops migrants in a field near Calais, France, as migrants gather in the hopes of attempting to board lorries and making their way across the Channel to Britain .
LONDON (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Friday Europe cannot cope with the number of refugees arriving at its borders and that the influx was threatening the idea of the European Union.

Thursday, 21 January 2016

EUROPE NEWS

Europe on the verge of collapse: Soros

Europe on the verge of collapse: Soros
Soros
Billionaire financier George Soros has warned that the European Union is on the "verge of collapse" over the migrant crisis and is in "danger of kicking the ball further up the hill" in its management of the issue which has seen more than a million migrants and refugees arrive in the region in 2015.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

LAW & PUNISHMENT

Ghana’s president sacks two corrupt judges caught on tape for bribery

Justice Ernest Obimpeh 
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate removal of Justice John Ajet-Nasam and Justice Ernest Obimpeh from the office of Justice of the High Court. Reports say this is a result of revelations from the leaked videos made public by anti-corruption crusader, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. as well as President Mahama’s acceptance of the recommendations of a 5-member Impeachment Committee which investigated the conduct of the indicted justices.

PROTEST

10 synchronized protests to rock Ghana on Wednesday

Over 10,000 public sector workers are expected to hit the streets of Accra Wednesday, January 20, to protest high taxes and tariffs recently introduced by the government of Ghana. Labor organizations including the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are asking their 500,000 members to turn up to express disapproval.

OPINION

As Ngige laments the jobs cut
By Odimegwu Onwumere

Image result for ngige pics
Ngige, Minister of Labour & Employment
In the labour front something called jobs cut is fetching primacy. It is becoming a phenomenon across the world – from America to Africa and from the United Kingdom to United Arab Emirate – the story is the same.  It is hitting Nigeria dangerously due to the economic slump that the country is experiencing. This has pushed the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, to complain.

IMMIGRATION POLITICS & POLICY

Norway deports refugees who biked across Russian border in sub-zero temperatures

496813890Norway on Tuesday began a controversial new practice of sending migrants and refugees who battled freezing temperatures to cross the country's arctic border with Russia on bike, back across the border.

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

BANKING & FINANCE

Nigeria: Customers can now transfer foreign currency, says Banks

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
Deposit Money Banks in the country are now allowing customers to transfer foreign currency cash deposits made into their domiciliary accounts. The announcement from the banks started coming in four days after the Central Bank of Nigeria lifted the ban on foreign currency deposits.


The CBN had on Monday said holders of ordinary domiciliary accounts were allowed to deposit foreign currencies into their accounts, a move that ended a six-month embargo on the DMBs from receiving cash deposits from the customers.


The Head, Media and External Relations, FirstBank of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, confirmed to our correspondent on Saturday, "Banks can do transfer now. We sent messages to some of our customers yesterday (Friday)."


The message sent to customers read in part, "Please be informed of the following: Customers can make foreign currency cash deposits into their FirstBank domiciliary accounts without restrictions.


"We have recommended the transfer of US dollar and other currencies for our customers who make such cash lodgements subject to the monthly limit of $10,000. A flat rate of two per cent on the sum to be transferred is to be charged on all the transfers. We implore all branches to re-commence foreign currency transactions for all our customers."


In an emailed statement sent to customers on Saturday, Guaranty Trust Bank, also said, "We are pleased to inform you that you can now transfer foreign currency cash deposits made into your GTBank domiciliary account(s) via internet banking, mobile app or at any of our branches nationwide, subject to a daily cumulative limit of $10,000."


Similarly, Sterling Bank, in an email to customers on Friday night, said, "We are pleased to inform you that effective Monday, January 18, 2016 you will be able to transfer cash deposits from your foreign currency domiciliary accounts, up to a maximum of $10,000 per transaction. Kindly visit any of our branches to submit your request as applicable."


The PUNCH had on Friday reported that bank customers were shying away from making cash deposits into their domiciliary accounts.


A currency strategist at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ezun, had, three days after the lifting of the ban on cash deposits into domiciliary accounts, said the CBN would need to come back to the banks and provide a clearer view about what the banks would do about the cash deposits in their vaults.


He said, "With what they have done now, it is now a win-win situation. The banks will be happy to do business. Then again it allows the naira to have a sort of cushion. People can now do wire transfer to and from abroad. It will create a free flow of funds in the market.


"People who have dollars can bring it in now and banks can do transfer for them. With this, the market will calm a bit next week and we expect to some appreciation in the naira in the parallel market."



The CBN had in a circular on August 5, 2015 banned the payment of cash into domiciliary accounts in a bid to stop illicit financial flows in the Nigerian banking system.



EUROPEAN UNION & IMMIGRATION

End of Europe? Berlin, Brussels' shock tactic on migrants
By Alastair Macdonald and Noah Barkin

Flag of Europe.svgThe Germans, founders and funders of the postwar union, shut their borders to refugees in a bid for political survival by the chancellor who let in a million migrants. And then -- why not? -- they decide to revive the Deutschmark while they're at it.

Monday, 18 January 2016

SPEECH

"Over-reliance mono-product:  unhealthy & unsustainable

Image result for Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya PICS
Monday Igbuya
"Our over-reliance on a mono-product is unhealthy and unsustainable" Being text of remarks by the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya

EDUCATION



OPINION

Excuse me, Rev, Dr. Prempeh Agyemang
By Daniel Danquah Damptey

On Tuesday, January 5, 2016, I listened to the Good Evening, Ghana Programme hosted by Paul Adom Otchere.  The Guest was Reverend Dr. Prempeh Agyemang.  The discussion was on Prophetic Revelation which was sequel to Rev Owusu Bempah’s prophecy that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has the key to the Flagstaff House. Abeeku Santana featured on the same programme as one of the guests and occasionally, he threw one or two occasional jab here and there to indicate where his allegiance was.