Trump ordered the new restrictions to replace an expiring measure that had locked him into political and legal battles over what critics alleged was an effort to block Muslims from entry into the country since he took office in January.
“Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet,” Trump said in a tweet.
Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list. Under the new restrictions, eight nations now have complete or partial blocks on travel to the United States.
Full travel bans were placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, while the restrictions for Venezuela were limited to officials from a long list of government agencies and their families.
Other countries included in the ban were Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
In a presidential order, Trump said the action was needed to press the countries to improve procedures for identifying their nationals and sharing information with the United States.
In addition, he said, the list was created to “advance foreign policy, national security and counterterrorism objectives.”
“These restrictions are both vital to national security and conditions-based, not time-based,” a senior administration official said, noting that countries can be removed from the list if they can rise to US traveler vetting standards.
Officials stressed that while Iraq was not included on the new list, it was deeply deficient in security vetting of immigrants and travelers to the United States.
But Baghdad is a close ally and supports the presence of large numbers of US troops and civilian officials. But acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke recommended tough restrictions on travelers to the United States.
– Not a ‘Muslim ban’ –
Speaking on background, government officials said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated that the measure was set on the basis of security and was not a “Muslim ban,” as detractors have argued.
“Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor,” a senior government official told reporters.
“The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements.”
Chad was added to the list even though Trump’s order called it “an important and valuable counterterrorism partner.”
But the order noted the presence in Chad of several designated terror groups like the so-called Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.
Nevertheless, “Chad does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information,” it said. And, the order added, the country failed on one “key” but unspecified criterion used in a broad review of countries for the travel ban.
North Korea, locked in a dangerous face-off with Washington over its nuclear weapons program, was added, the order said, because Pyongyang “does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect.”
Venezuela, in a political and economic crisis due to its embattled, increasingly oppressive regime, was listed for a limited ban.
The order placed a prohibition on officials from state agencies responsible for weak security vetting and lack of cooperation with the United States, including the interior and foreign ministries and the main police and intelligence services.
The bans for the five countries from the previous 90-day order, which expired Sunday, would immediately continue under the new order. For North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela, the restrictions will be implemented starting October 18.
President Donald Trump issued a new travel ban on Sunday that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for ...
According to a report by Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday that the United States would not carry out a strike on North Korea because it knows Pyongyang has nuclear bombs.
“The Americans won’t carry out a strike on (North) Korea because it’s not that they suspect, they know for sure that it has nuclear bombs,” Lavrov said in an interview with Russia’s NTV television aired Sunday.
“I’m not defending North Korea, I’m just saying that almost everyone agrees with such an analysis,” the Russian diplomat said.
North Korea this month carried out an underground test on a hydrogen bomb estimated to be 16 times the size of the US bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. It was its sixth and largest nuclear test.
Lavrov said the crisis can only be resolved with a softer approach.
“Only with caresses, suggestion and persuasion,” Lavrov said, when asked how.
He warned that if US did not take the same approach, “we could drop into a very unpredictable nosedive and tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens of South Korea but also North Korea, of course, and Japan will suffer — and Russia and China are nearby.”
The interview aired after President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “deeply concerned” at the escalation of tensions.
Peskov also criticised what he called “an exchange of rather rude statements replete with threats.”
Lavrov at the United Nations on Friday described the rhetoric between leaders of the United States and North Korea as a “kindergarden fight between children” and urged calm.
In his first address to the world gathering on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump threatened to “totally destroy North Korea.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shot back at Trump, warning he would “pay dearly” for his threat.
According to a report by Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday that the United States would not carry out a strike on No...
According to a report by Punch, the United States Government has said it does not consider the Indigenous People of Biafra a terrorist organisation.
Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja gave a judicial backing the executive order of President Muhammadu Buhari, outlawing the group and its activities in the country.
The court granted the order to proscribe the group on Wednesday.
It declared that the activities of the group constituted acts of terrorism.
The Federal Government also accused France and the United Kingdom of aiding IPOB activities.
The spokesman for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that the US government does not view IPOB as a terrorist group.
He said this in response to our correspondent’s email which asked if the United States sees IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
Brooks stated further that the US was committed to Nigeria’s unity and would support a peaceful resolution of any crisis in the country.
According to a report by Punch , the United States Government has said it does not consider the Indigenous People of Biafra a terrorist orga...
Your hair has the ability to create a tremendous impact on the way you look. Therefore, you should take necessary steps to take care of your hair and prevent it from damage. Some of your bad habits have the ability to ruin the way how your hair looks. Therefore, it is important for you to figure out those bad habits and make sure that the good look of your hair is maintained throughout. Here is a list of 9 shocking habits, which have the ability to damage your hair.
1. Failing to Avoid Stress
Stress would not just create an impact on your mental health. It can also trigger rapid loss of hair. In fact, people who fail to avoid stress would lead their hair into the fall-out phase. Therefore, you need to make sure that you don’t become a victim of stress.
2. Poor Diet
Unhealthy food habits can also trigger hair loss. Your hair is in need of a variety of minerals and vitamins to remain healthy. If you fail to provide these elements through your meals, you will not be able to maintain the good look of hair for a long period of time.
3. Hairstyling Tools
Women in today’s world tend to use a variety of hairstyling tools. It would not be a good idea to experiment with these tools because they can ruin the overall look of your hair.
4. Swimming in Hard Water
Minerals that can be found in hard water can create a tremendous impact on your hair. Therefore, you need to be careful to save your hair from hard water. It would be a good idea to refrain from swimming in hard water as much as possible.
5. Using Chemical Hair Dye Products
Hair dye products contain a variety of unhealthy chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. If you are concerned about the good look of your hair, you must avoid such chemical products.
6. Reckless Teasing
It has been identified that reckless teasing can also trigger hair loss. It can lead you towards getting hair breakage and split ends, which can last for several months. If it is difficult for you to get rid of teasing, you should at least use a comb with fine teeth.
7. Tight Hairstyles
Wearing tight hairstyles can also lead you towards hair fall and damages in hair. Therefore, you need to be careful to avoid hair pulling hairstyles as much as possible. When you go for hairstyles, you need to keep a little loose.
8. Brushing Wet Hair
When your hair is wet, you should never brush it. That’s because your hair becomes fragile when it is vet. As a result, it is more vulnerable to damages. You should make it a habit to comb your hair before washing.
9. Over Washing Hair
Over washing your hair can also trigger rapid hair loss. When you over wash your hair, you tend to use too much of shampoos. This can suck out the natural moisture in your hair and lead it towards damage.
Your hair has the ability to create a tremendous impact on the way you look. Therefore, you should take necessary steps to take care of your...
Nominees for the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards 2017 were unveiled in the city of Abeokuta during the week.
The event had in attendance Nollywood stakeholders, top government functionaries of the host state, Ogun and movie buffs.
BON received over two hundred entries. At the nominees unveiling, Kannywood actresses, Jamila Nagudu and Rahama Sadau were named Best Actress in a leading role in Hausa.
Rahama Sadau who was on the cover of This Day Style at the weekend got nominated for her role in the movie, Matatace Shaida, which also gave Adama Zango his best actor in Hausa nomination. Rahama Sadau is definite the uncrowned queen of Kannywood with her sudden rise to fame somewhat occasioned by her ban from Kannywood last year after which she got attention of the public and film makers.
Interestingly, Rahama made Best Actress in English movie for her role in Tatu. The 23-year-old battles the BON award with accomplished stars like Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde for her role in a sensual movie on Post Traumatic Disorder, ‘Alter Ego’. Others are Ivie Okujaye in Slow Country, Ufuoma Mcdermott in The Women, Michelle Dede in What lies Within and Esther Audu in Inikpi.
This year seems to be the one for Sambasa Nzeribe. The actor, who got awards for roles in ‘Soldier’s Story’ and ‘Slow Country’, has been nominated for Best Actor in English. Having received Best Actor at AMVCA 2017, the action-stereotyped thespian may expect another at Best Of Nollywood. Until then, he slugs it out with Alexx Ekubo in Inikpi, Joseph Benjamin in ‘Dance to my Beat’, Bolanle Ninalowo in ‘Picture Perfect’, Gabriel Afolayan in Tatu and Paul Utomi in What lies Within.
Indeed the die is cast as the best BON awards presentation holds in the rocky city, Abeokuta in few weeks time.
Nominees for the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards 2017 were unveiled in the city of Abeokuta during the week. The event had in attendance Nol...
According to a report by The Breaking Times, the Presidency has said that those demanding for the whereabouts of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu should direct their inquiries to those who signed Kanu’s bail in April.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made the remark on Thursday.
According to Shehu, “I am surprised someone would ask this question. Look, some people went to court and obtained his freedom, they signed his bail.
“I believe that a high profile group including a Senator of the Federal Republic signed in a court of law and obtained his freedom. So, if you are looking for him, why don’t you ask the people who bailed him?
“Nobody has informed me that Mr Kanu is in the hands of any institution of government. But if I was looking for him, I would ask the guy who bailed him because that is the deal he has with the court of the land.”
According to a report by The Breaking Times, the Presidency has said that those demanding for the whereabouts of the leader of the Indigeno...
Outspoken actress, Lizzy Anjorin, has made a clarion call to women to guard their hearts jealously, as 80 per cent of men are born polygamists and may lust after their best friends.
In an interview with Sunonline, she said:
“Ladies should be more concerned about what they have in their bank accounts or in their brains before showing off their men to friends or uploading proposal videos on social media.
You can’t tell, anything can happen. How good you are in bed or in the kitchen are not enough to satisfy men. Some of them even say worst and evils things about their women when things are no longer rosy.”
She also added that some men derive joy in making their women cry or go through pains. According to her some men even go as low as sleeping with your house help or friends but that does not make him a bad person neither is it a strong excuse for you to quit.
“Instead, buckle-up and raise your head, be positive and work harder, better things are ahead of you. In case you find yourself in an unpleasant relationship; unpleasant is different from abusive; if you don’t have a better offer yet, don’t quit or start showing him attitude. Who knows, the next man may be more disastrous. We all know that sometimes, some of our past relationships are far better than the one we are into presently. That’s why an adage says: a bird in hand is better than millions in the bush,” she concluded.
That your husband is sleeping with your friend or housemaid doesn’t make him bad – Lizzy Anjorin
Outspoken actress, Lizzy Anjorin, has made a clarion call to women to guard their hearts jealously, as 80 per cent of men are born polygamis...