Paul Ikpe's Blog ❤

​ Media captionBoris Johnson said it was “not too late to save Brexit” Boris Johnson has said it is “not too late to save Brexit” as he accused Theresa May of “dithering” over the UK’s strategy for leaving the EU. In a resignation speech in the Commons, the former foreign secretary said a “needless fog … Continue reading Boris Johnson: It is not too late to save Brexit

​ Getty ImagesPresident Abdul Fattah al-Sisi toom power in a coup in 2014 Egypt’s parliament has approved a tough new law to regulate social media, raising fears that it could curb dissent against President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s regime. The law states that social media users who have more than 5,000 followers could be placed under … Continue reading Egypt unveils new social media laws, if you have 5000 fb friends, you are govt property

​ Getty ImagesPresident Ouattara is crediting with achieving stability in Ivory Coast after a civil war Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has promised to step at the end of his two terms in 2020, saying he wanted to hand power to a new generation of leaders. A few weeks ago, Mr Ouattara said he would … Continue reading Ivory Coast leader to step down after two terms

In Ethiopia, officials of the Oromia and Somali regional states have agreed to the deployment of soldiers and police to end a conflict that has displaced more than 800,000 people. They also said a series of public meetings would be held in the communities along the states’ common border to help build peace. On Monday, … Continue reading Ethiopia deploys soldiers to end conflict

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionDairy products are one of Europe’s biggest exports to Japan The European Union and Japan have signed one of the world’s biggest free trade deals, covering nearly a third of the world’s GDP and 600 million people. One of the biggest EU exports to Japan is dairy goods, while cars are … Continue reading EU signs its biggest free trade deal with Japan

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionThree of the band members were arrested and convicted for the cathedral performance in 2012 The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned Russia’s arrest and imprisonment of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot in 2012. In a ruling, the court held Russia had violated five articles of the convention, … Continue reading Pussy Riot: Russia condemned by European rights court

​ https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.21.4/iframe.html Media captionThe ways Trump and Putin see eye to eye There has been a barrage of criticism in the US after President Donald Trump defended Russia over claims of interference in the 2016 elections. At a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland, Mr Trump contradicted US intelligence agencies, saying Russia had … Continue reading Trump-Putin summit: US president under fire for supportin Russia over his own intelligence agencies

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES The head of US aerospace and defence giant Boeing has warned about potential damage of the growing US-China trade row. “Aerospace thrives on free and open trade,” said chief executive Dennis Muilenburg. He said he was concerned tariffs could push up costs for aircraft manufacturers. “The aerospace sector drives economic benefits … Continue reading US airspace giants, Boeing ‘concerns’ over US-China trade row

​ https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.20.2/iframe.html Media captionPresident Trump describes EU as a foe in an interview with CBS. US President Donald Trump has described the European Union as a foe on trade. He told CBS News that European countries were taking advantage of the US and not paying their Nato bills. EU Council President Donald Tusk said anyone … Continue reading Donald Trump: European Union is a foe on trade

​ Image copyrightADDISALEM HADIGUImage captionIn happier times: Addisalem Hadigu’s daughter is now an Eritrean soldier Ethiopian journalist Addisalem Hadigu hopes to see his Eritrean wife and two daughters for the first time in 16 years. It comes after the leaders of the two nations signed a declaration, ending the “state of war” which has existed … Continue reading How the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process could reunite one family

https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.20.2/iframe.html Media captionLloyd’s of London chief executive Inga Beale criticises Brexit White Paper The Lloyd’s of London chief says the government’s plan for relations with the EU after Brexit will speed up the departure of firms from the UK. Inga Beale told the BBC the White Paper would see the 300-year old insurance market go “full speed … Continue reading Brexit services plan will speed up relocation of many firms, says Lloyd’s boss

​ Russians indicted over US election hack Image copyrightCBS The US Department of Justice has charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic officials in the 2016 US elections. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the dozen accused used spear phishing emails and malicious software. He said the hackers also stole data on 500,000 voters … Continue reading Russians charged to court over US election hack

​ Image copyrightEPAImage captionIt is the deadliest militant attack in Pakistan in more than a year A suicide bomber has killed at least 85 people and injured about 150 in an attack on a campaign rally in south-western Pakistan, officials say. They say a provincial candidate was among the dead in the town of Mastung. … Continue reading Pakistan election: Many killed in bomb attacks on poll rallies

https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.20.2/iframe.html Media captionTheresa May and Donald Trump were both positive about UK-US trade after Brexit A US-UK trade deal “will absolutely be possible”, Donald Trump has said, after he told The Sun Theresa May’s Brexit plan could kill an agreement. Speaking after talks at Chequers, Mr Trump said the US-UK relationship is “the highest level … Continue reading Donald Trump: US-UK trade deal ‘absolutely possible’

​ Ex-Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns to face ‘jail cell’ Image copyrightAFPImage captionSupporters of Nawaz Sharif have started to gather in Lahore ahead of his arrival Ousted Pakistani leader Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan despite facing a 10-year jail sentence for corruption. Sharif and his daughter Maryam face arrest when they arrive in … Continue reading Ex-Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns to face ‘jail cell’

https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.20.2/iframe.html Media captionWhy Tory MPs are fighting over the government’s Brexit white paper The government has published its blueprint for UK relations with the EU, with Theresa May saying it “delivers on the Brexit people voted for”. The long-awaited White Paper is aimed at ensuring trade co-operation, with no hard border for Northern Ireland, and global trade … Continue reading ​PM says White Paper delivers ‘the Brexit people voted for’

​ Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionDonald Trump (far right) says Nato members would “substantially” up their budgets Nato allies have cast doubt on US President Donald Trump’s claim they had pledged to “substantially” raise their defence budgets, saying they simply remained committed to a 2014 deal. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told US broadcaster CNN the allies had … Continue reading Trump Nato spending claims in dispute

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionJean-Claude Juncker was pictured using a wheelchair at the same event The European Commission says its president Jean-Claude Juncker is taking medication for acute leg pain which made him stumble during a Nato summit – and it insists that he was not drunk. It was “a particularly painful attack of sciatica, … Continue reading EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker stumbled ‘in sciatica attack’

Image copyrightAFPImage captionUS forces take part regularly in Nato exercises President Trump says the US is being “taken advantage of” by other members of the Nato alliance, which was set up in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union. Shortly before leaving for the Nato summit, he said other members should increase their financial contributions. Skip Twitter … Continue reading Trump: What does the US do for the Nato alliance in Europe?

Image copyrightESTELA MARTÍNImage captionEstela Martín argues that under a change in army rules her tattoo will never need to be exposed When Estela Martín got a black lotus flower tattooed on the upper part of her right foot at the age of 18, her parents were unhappy about it, but she saw it as a … Continue reading Tattoo taboo: Spanish woman fights rejection by army