The Biden administration had proposed the talks as part of its efforts to negotiate a path back to the 2015 nuclear deal that was abandoned by Trump in 2018 paving the way to waves of economic sanctions on the country.

But even with a less hostile US administration now in power, Iran says it will not sit down for talks, for now.

A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that conditions are not ripe for informal nuclear talks between Iran, the U.S. and other world powers.

“There has been no change in the U.S. position and behavior yet, and the Biden administration has not only not abandoned Trump’s failed policy of maximum pressure, but has not even announced its commitment to fulfilling its overall commitments as part of the nuclear deal,” said Iranian spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh.

He added Iran won’t re-negotiate the nuclear deal and reiterated Iran’s longstanding insistence that the U.S. start the process by removing sanctions.

The US reacting to Iran’s statement said;
“While we are disappointed at Iran’s response, we remain ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the nuclear deal commitments,” a White House spokesman said.

“We will be consulting with our P5+1 partners on the best way forward,” the spokesman added, referring to the other parties to the nuclear deal: China, Russia, the U.K., France and Germany.

 The Iranian response to the U.S. proposal seems to be connected to a diplomatic effort by the U.S. and European signatories to pass a resolution against Iran at an upcoming meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The resolution is expected to criticize Iran for curtailing the access of nuclear inspectors to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

By Kingsley U.

Former US president, Donald Trump was back in action in Florida on Sunday night, February 28 at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), his first public address since leaving office in January 20.

Trump told conservatives at the conference that he is considering running for the White House for a third time while also revealing that he won’t form a new political party as that will make the Republican party weaker and the Democratic party stronger.
 

In a ‘Trumpism’ laden speech, the former president repeated false claims of election fraud and accused Democrats of “recklessly eliminating our border”.

Trump also attacked tech firms like Facebook and Twitter saying they “should be punished with sanctions when they silence conservative voices”.

“They are radicals who want to turn America into a socialist country”.

He also accused the Democrats of using Covid in order to cheat the American people.

“Our election process is worse than that of a third-world country,” he says.

“There should be comprehensive election reforms, they changed the laws due to China virus to make the election illegal”.

“Illegal aliens and dead people voted’

“The level of dishonesty is not to be believed,” “It’s such a disgrace. This election was rigged and the Supreme Court didn’t want to do anything about it.

“They didn’t have the guts or the courage to make the right decision.”

Trump then got the biggest roar of the evening when he suggested he might run for president again.

“I may even decide to beat them for a third time”, he says, presumably counting his victory over the Democrats in 2016 along with his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020.

“Hello CPAC – do you miss me yet?” To which there is a deafening scream from the crowd.

Trump said the journey he began four years ago “is far from over” and “just getting started”. “In the end we will win,” he says.

“I am not starting a new party,” he says. “We have the Republican Party. It’s going to unite and be stronger than ever before.”

Trump then turned to women’s sport, claiming that Democrats are destroying women’s sport by allowing trans women to compete.

“It’s crazy, it’s crazy what’s happening,”  Trump says. “Women’s sports as we know it will die.

“Somebody said, ‘that’s going to be very controversial'” and pauses to wait for the cheers before adding: “That’s OK, you haven’t heard anything yet”.

He then criticised the White House for removing sanctions on Iran as Washington prepares to negotiate a new nuclear deal.

“Had we had a fair election, we would have had a deal with Iran within the first week.”

Trump concluded his speech by predicting that in the coming years, “a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House.”

“And I wonder who that will be,” he said, in a typical nod toward a third campaign in 2024. “I wonder who that will be. Who? Who? Who will that be? I wonder.”

By Kingsley U.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has reacted to the arrest of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s former media aide, Salihu Tanko Yakasai ‘Dawisu’. 

Recall that Salihu was arrested and subsequently sacked by the Kano state governmemt after he called for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation over insecurity.

The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) led by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria who demanded for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankasai from “illegal custody”, recalled how leaders of the APC including Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign between 2013-2014. 

Falana wondered why Salihu would be arrested after many civil society, chieftains of the APC and both chambers of the National Assembly have called for Buhari’s resignation or impeachment over insecurity.

The statement read; 

“On Friday, February 27, 2021, Mr. Salisu Tanko-Yankassai, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state called on President Mohammadu Buhari to either guarantee the security of the Nigerian people or resign from office. Even though Mr. Tanko-Yankassai was legitimately exercising his freedom of expression enshrined in section 39 of the Constitution he was sacked by Governor Ganduje and arrested by the State Security Service. ASCAB has confirmed that Mr. Tanko- Yankassai is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention facility.

“Having regard to the fact that civil rights advocates, retired military officers and political party leaders including chieftains of the All Progressive Congress have repeatedly asked President Buhari to call it quits due to the worsening insecurity in the country there is no justification whatsoever for the arrest and detention of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai.

“In both chambers of the national assembly, there have been strident calls by legislators for President Buhari’s resignation or impeachment on the ground that criminal gangs have taken over the monopoly of violence in the country. Since such concerned citizens were never arrested the ongoing harassment of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai is high-handed, discriminatory, and illegal.

“It is on record that the APC and its leaders including General Mohammadu Buhari; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu; Malam Nasir El-rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014. Yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time. Since the call for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neocolonial State it is pertinent to draw the attention of the State Security Service to the case of Arthur Nwankwo v The State 1985 6 NCLR 228 where the Court of Appeal charged the Nigerian people to engage in relentless criticism of democratically elected governments. In particular, Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed memory) had this to say:

“‘The decision of the founding fathers of the present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech which must include freedom to criticise should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible, plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.’

“In view of the foregoing, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankassai from illegal custody. However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law he should be transferred to the Police for proper investigation and possible prosecution without any delay.”

By Hajia R.

The White House has reacted to allegations leveled against Democrat and Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo.

Two former female aides to Cuomo alleged this week that the governor attempted sexual assault and harrasment on them.

A lady, Boylan first accused Cuomo of kissing her on the lips and asking her to play “strip poker,”

Another former aide, Bennett?, 25,? alleged? on Saturday February 27, that the governor asked her inappropriate questions and told her he was open to relationships with women in their 20s, comments that left her feeling that he “wanted to sleep with me.” read Here .

Cuomo has since denied the allegations.

Beth Garvey, special counsel and senior adviser to Cuomo?,? ?63, ?said in a statement ?Saturday ?that Cuomo “has requested an independent review and all staff will cooperate in that endeavor. 

The White House has now responded to the allegations, stating that President Joe Biden backs an “independent review” of the sexual harassment claims.

Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said;

“There should be an independent review looking into these allegations, and that’s certainly something he supports, and we believe should move forward as quickly as possible,?” 

“They’re serious. It was hard to read that story as a woman, and that process should move forward as quickly as possible?,? and that’s something we all support and the ?p?resident supports?,” Psaki said.?

Psaki was asked by CNN anchor Dana Bash whether the president believed the allegations from Charlotte Bennett and Lindsey Boylan about Cuomo.

“President Biden has been consistent that he believes that every woman should be heard, should be treated with respect and with dignity?.? Charlotte should be treated with respect and dignity, so should Lindsey?,” Psaki responded to Bash.?

On Thursday, days after the first allegations came out, Psaki told reporters at the White House that women who come forward with sexual harassment claims should have their voices heard and the allegations reviewed.

By Jide N.

The US House of Representatives on Thursday, February 25, passed the Equality Act, a landmark LGBTQ rights bill that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. 

Lawmakers passed the legislation on a 224-206 vote. It was largely along party-line with three Republicans throwing their support behind the bill with all Democrats. 

The bill is one of President Joe Biden’s top legislative priorities, one he wants to pass in his first 100 days in office. During his campaign, he said passage of the Equality Act would be a priority in his first 100 days in office.

“Today’s vote is a major milestone for equality bringing us closer to ensuring that every person is treated equally under the law,” Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement. “Now, the ball is in the Senate’s court to pass the Equality Act and finally allow LGBTQ Americans the ability to live their lives free from discrimination.”

The legislation amends civil rights laws including the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which had banned discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion and national origin, to include protections on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would prohibit such discrimination in public places, on transportation and in government-funded programs. 

Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., who introduced the House measure, said “every American deserves respect and dignity,” and the Equality Act, if it became law, would “ensure that LGBTQ Americans can live lives free of discrimination.” 

He said it was important to pass the legislation because many Americans thought the protections were already enshrined in law. The idea that Americans could be denied service in a restaurant simply because of their sexual orientation “doesn’t comport with our basic understanding of fairness and equality,” he said. 

The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democratic caucus members. It would need at least 10 Republicans to vote with all Democrats to advance the bill.

By Jide N.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman approved the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a U.S. intelligence report released on Friday, February 26. 

“We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” the report’s executive summary states.

“We base this assessment on the Crown Prince’s control of decision-making in the Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman’s protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince’s support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi,” the report says.

The report builds on classified intelligence from the CIA and other agencies after Khashoggi’s murder in October 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The Biden administration gave the green light for the long-awaited declassified intelligence report compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to be made public on Friday.

The congress mandated release of the report followed a phone call President Joe Biden had with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Thursday, CNN reports. 

 The four-page report, titled “Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi” is dated February 11 and marked as declassified by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines on February 25.

The report notes bin Salman’s “absolute control” of Saudi intelligence and security operations.

“Since 2017, the Crown Prince has had absolute control of the Kingdom’s security and intelligence organizations, making it highly unlikely that Saudi officials would have carried out an operation of this nature without the Crown Prince’s authorization,” the report says.

It says that the 15-person Saudi team that arrived in Istanbul in October 2018 when Khashoggi was killed included members associated with the Saudi Center for Studies and Media Affairs (CSMARC) at the Royal Court, led by a close adviser of bin Salman, as well as “seven members of Muhammad bin Salman’s elite personal protective detail, known as the Rapid Intervention Force.”

The report notes that bin Salman viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the Kingdom “and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary, to silence him.”

The intelligence report says that they still do not have visibility on when the Saudis decided to harm the father of five. “Although Saudi officials had pre-planned an unspecified operation against Khashoggi we do not know how far in advance Saudi officials decided to harm him,” it said.

The report also noted that at the time of Khashoggi’s murder, “the crown prince fostered an environment in which aides were afraid that failure to complete assigned tasks might result in him firing or arresting them.”

This comes a day after administration officials hinted that Biden may also be considering an announcement of punishment for the Saudis once the report was released.

When asked if the administration would consider sanctions against those found responsible for Khashoggi’s murder, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday, “I expect that we will be in a position before long to speak to steps to promote accountability going forward for this horrific crime.”

Prince Mohammed has since denied his involvement in the killing, but said he accepts symbolic responsibility in the Khashoggi’s murder as the country’s de facto ruler. 

“This was a heinous crime,” he said in an interview with CBS in 2019. “But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.”

In September 2020, a Saudi court sentenced eight suspects to prison in what the UN investigator called a “parody of justice.”

By Lucky B.