International
Nigerian students, others in Canada must leave after studies – New policy
Nigerian students, others in Canada must leave after studies – New policy
Nigerians and others categorised as foreign students studying in Canada hoping to remain in that country as permanent residents have been denied the opportunity.
This came as Canada announced an end to the policy whereby international students could convert their study permits to permanent residency.
The new regulation mandates that international students return to their home countries upon the expiration of their study visas in Canada.
Canada is also terminating the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program and halting asylum claims tied to such immigration pathways.
Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, confirmed this development during an interview on Tuesday, where he discussed the nation’s immigration policies and the challenges faced by international students.
The announcement follows recent protests by international students across Canada who demanded a streamlined process to transition from study permits to permanent residency or an extension of their stay.
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Responding to these demands, Miller said, “When people come here and decide they want to be students, there are no guarantees to become permanent residents.”
He emphasized the distinction between study permits and resident permits, stating that while students have a right to protest, the priority of Canada’s immigration policies is to maintain balance and order in the system.
Launched in 2018, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) aimed to fast-track the processing of study permits within 20 days for eligible students from 14 countries.
Over time, it expanded to include students from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
This program had initially been introduced to ease political tensions but will now be discontinued as part of Canada’s revised immigration framework.
Nigerian students, others in Canada must leave after studies – New policy
International
Russia vows ‘tangible’ response against US missiles on its territory
Russia vows ‘tangible’ response against US missiles on its territory
Russia says the use of US long-range missiles by Ukraine will lead to “an appropriate and tangible” response.
Such an attack inside Russian territory “would represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia”, a foreign ministry statement said.
President Joe Biden approved the use of the missiles on targets in Russia in a major change of US policy – two months before he is due to leave the White House.
It is not clear if his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, was consulted or whether he will stick by the decision, having promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ukraine has had US ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) with a range of 300km (190 miles) – as well as French and British Storm Shadow missiles of a similar range – but the Western allies had barred Kyiv from hitting Russia with them.
Biden’s decision to lift that condition is a significant moment in the war, which marks its 1,000th day on Tuesday.
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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Moscow has now intensified attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as the sides appear to have reached a stalemate on the battlefield.
The US decision also follows the arrival in Russia’s western Kursk region – where Ukrainian forces captured and are holding onto a small piece of territory – of more than 10,000 troops from North Korea to help President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Unconfirmed reports say North Korea may send as many as 100,000 soldiers, in addition to artillery and other weapons to its ally.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated there may be no formal announcement of the US deal – “the missiles will speak for themselves,” he said on Sunday.
Ukraine may use the ATACMS in Kursk first – in fact some reports suggest the US may have restricted their use there as a signal to North Korea to stop sending aid to Russia and to Moscow itself.
Biden’s approval of the long-range missiles – which may be followed by similar authorisations by the UK and France – is being seen in the West as a way of signalling to the Russian leader that he cannot win the Ukraine war militarily.
Putin has not commented on the latest move.
In September, the Russian leader said the use of such missiles by Ukraine would represent the “direct participation” of Nato countries in the war.
On Monday, Putin’s spokesman said the US was “adding oil to the fire”.
But Jon Finer, US deputy national security adviser, said Washington had made it “clear to the Russians that we would respond” – both to the presence of North Korean forces and the “major escalation” in Russian aerial attacks on infrastructure across Ukraine.
The weekend saw intense Russian attacks against Ukraine’s power grid, causing large-scale blackouts. Several people were killed or injured.
On Monday, a Russian strike on Odesa killed another 10 people and injured nearly 50.
Donald Trump has not reacted to Biden’s decision so far.
He swept to victory on 5 November and will return to the White House on 20 January.
Trump has promised to end US involvement in foreign wars and use the taxpayers’ money to improve the lives of Americans.
He has also said he will end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but has not given details how.
Zelensky recently said he expected Trump to exert pressure on Ukraine and Russia to agree a peace deal within the next year.
Biden’s decision was hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron as a “totally good” step.
The US authorisation could potentially enable France and the UK to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia. Storm Shadow is a Franco-British long-range cruise missile with similar capabilities to the ATACMS.
So far, neither Macron nor UK Prime Minister Sir Keir have publicly said whether they will allow Kyiv to use their missiles in the same way.
Meanwhile, China’s Xi Jinping urged world leaders to “cool the Ukraine crisis” and seek a political solution, according to Chinese state media.
China has become a vital partner for Russia, as it seeks to soften the impact of US and European sanctions imposed over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Beijing has repeatedly denied allegations that it supplies Moscow with weapons.
Russia vows ‘tangible’ response against US missiles on its territory
BBC
International
Portland Gas secures licence for CNG conversion centre
Portland Gas secures licence for CNG conversion centre
In a move to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority has granted a Free Zone Enterprise Licence to Portland Gas Limited to establish a state-of-the-art Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion and refilling center in the Onne Free Trade Zone, Port Harcourt.
Speaking after receiving operational licence, Founder and CEO of Portland Gas Limited, Mr Folajimi Mohammed said bold initiative, achieved in conjunction with the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, is poised to deepen CNG compliance nationwide and aligns seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visionary drive to implement widespread CNG adoption.
He emphasized the importance of deepening CNG compliance in the country. “This project is not just about setting up a facility; it’s about securing a cleaner and healthier future for Nigeria. We are proud to contribute to this national priority and look forward to the official commissioning.”
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Mr. Mohammed said the move is a significant step towards reducing Nigeria’s dependence on petrol and diesel while promoting cleaner energy alternatives.
The Portland Gas Limited CEO added that the Onne Free Trade Zone, which is a strategic hub for industrial activity, offers an ideal location for the transformative project.
Mr. Mohammed said the facility is expected to create numerous jobs, attract investments, and serve as an expansion of the infrastructure and services the company has already established in Abuja and Lagos.
Also speaking, MD/CEO of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Mr Bamanga Jada, hailed the development as a movement in the right direction towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
He further stated that “ The shift of our Oil and Gas Zone into a CNG compliant region not only aligns with global energy trends but also propels us toward a sustainable and economically vibrant future.
Portland Gas secures licence for CNG conversion centre
International
FBI arrests mastermind of Borno terrorist attack on Nigerian soldiers
FBI arrests mastermind of Borno terrorist attack on Nigerian soldiers
The federal law enforcement officials in the United States have announced the arrest of Anas Said, who was linked to a terrorist attack on Nigerian soldiers at the Borno checkpoint last year.
Federal Bureau of Information last Thursday said Mr Said was arrested when he attempted to carry out a possible terrorist attack in Houston., Texas.
An indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Texas also indicated that Mr Said, 28, was charged last month with attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS.
Mr Said had been posting pro-ISIS messages on various social media platforms since 2017, according to court papers.
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In July last year, Mr Said posted videos of an attack against Nigerian soldiers manning a checkpoint in Borno to Islamic State-affiliated websites. It was unclear how many Nigerian soldiers were killed during the attack.
Apart from the charges for his offence against the Nigerian state, he was also involved in terrorism in Damascus and Homs in Syria.
Mr Said now risks up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine if found guilty as charged.
The Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, did not respond to Peoples Gazette’s request seeking comments on Mr Said’s arrest.
FBI arrests mastermind of Borno terrorist attack on Nigerian soldiers
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