British PM says no-deal Brexit would not be a disaster

Prime Minister Theresa May indicated Today that a no-deal Brexit would not be a disaster for Britain, playing down warnings of serious consequences for the UK economy.

May said she was confident of striking an acceptable new deal with Brussels as Britain prepares to leave the European Union in March.

She cited WTO director general Roberto Azevedo as she made her case.

“Look at what the director of the World Trade Organization has said,” she told British media on her tour of Africa.

“He said about a no-deal situation that it would not be a walk in the park but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

Her government last week outlined its preparations for a no-deal scenario.

“What the government is doing is putting in place the preparations such that if we’re in that situation we can make a success of it, just as we will make a success of the good deal I believe we’re able to get and the good deal we’re working to get,” she said.

London and Brussels have yet to reach an agreement on the terms of Britain’s exit from the bloc.

British lawmakers are split on May’s proposals to keep Britain close to the EU on trade — parts of which have since been rejected by Brussels.

London and Brussels hope to strike a deal by October, to allow its ratification by the European and British parliaments before Britain leaves the EU.

Last week, British finance minister Philip Hammond warned a no-deal Brexit could have “large fiscal consequences” on productivity and borrowing.

And Alexander Winterstein, a European Commission spokesman, said the bloc was focused on achieving Britain’s “orderly withdrawal” but “preparing for all possible outcomes”.

“The withdrawal of the UK is going to lead to disruption regardless — with a deal or without a deal,” he said.

May was asked about whether she would instruct her Conservative lawmakers to support a no-deal Brexit if her blueprint falls through.

“I’ve said right from the beginning that no deal is better than a bad deal,” she said.































Rainbowgist

McCain asked Bush, Obama to speak at funeral, told Trump to keep off —Reports

Former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush have reportedly been asked to deliver eulogies to the late Senator John McCain.

McCain, who died on Saturday at the age of 81, had asked that the former presidents speak at his funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral on Saturday, according to CBS News.

And though he had reportedly banned President Donald Trump from attending his funeral, Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend.

President Donald Trump will not be invited to McCain’s funeral, at the request of the late senator, it has been reported.

The White House was told of McCain’s wishes by family members before his death, Huffington Post has reported.

Both Obama and Bush defeated McCain in races for the presidency. Bush bested him in the 2000 Republican primary and Obama won the presidency in 2008 against McCain.

But both men deeply admired the Arizona senator.

Obama said McCain had the “courage to put the greater good” above his own.

Bush called McCain “a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order.” Some lives, he said, “are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled.”

McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday, his birthday.

Ex-Vice President Biden is expected to speak the following day at a service in the North Phoenix Baptist Church before McCain’s body is transported to Washington to lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda on Friday.

Bush, Obama, McCain’s family and others are slated to speak at a full-dress service on Saturday in the National Cathedral.

A private ceremony will be held on Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, and McCain will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery next to Naval Academy classmate and long-time friend, Admiral Chuck Larson.

“I want, when I leave [to] just have a couple of people that stand up and say, ‘This guy, he served his country,’” McCain told Leslie Stahl last year on “60 Minutes.”












Rainbowgist

Bianca Ojukwu begins senatorial campaign today

the widow of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianco Ojukwu, will begin her senatorial campaign for the 2019  Anambra South Senatorial District on Tuesday (today).

The event, it was gathered, would take place at the Ekwulobia Township Stadium in the Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

Bianca, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Spain would contest the senatorial poll on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Her late husband led APGA for over a decade during his lifetime and was at several times the presidential candidate of the party.

Ojukwu’s widow is expected to fight it out with oil magnate, Ifeanyi Uba and business mogul Nicholas Ukachukwu in the APGA primary to be held any moment soon.

Investigations show that the APGA hierarchy was amenable to her ambition as a payback time to Ojukwu who mentored the party.

Speaking on her declaration, a United States-based philanthropist, Dr Godwin Maduka, described her aspiration as a blessing to the district.

He urged the people of the district to maximise the opportunity by supporting her, adding that “she has the capacity to showcase Nigeria as a country of heroes and heroines through her academic, professional, family and political experiences.

“We know her life history. We should appreciate her for agreeing to run for a public office. I believe that Bianca Ojukwu is qualified. I am sure she had learnt a lot from her late husband, Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Igbo supreme leader and, from her father, former governor C. C. Onoh.























Rainbowgist

Bride Cancels Wedding After Guests Refused To Pay To Attend

A Canadian bride, simply identified as Susan, has cancelled her wedding after guests refused to pay to attend.

Susan, who was due to tie the knot with her childhood sweetheart in a lavish $46,020 wedding had charged her guests, $1152 each to attend, an amount, most of her guests refused to pay.

This led the couple to cancel the ceremony just four days before exchanging their vows after they struggled to pay for everything by themselves.

Taking to Facebook to explain their decision, the furious mother-of-one blamed her family and friends for the breakdown of her relationship as she vented her frustration in a lengthy post.















Rainbowgist

Nigerians react to Trump’s alleged reference to Buhari as ‘lifeless’

Nigerians have expressed diverse opinions about a report in the Financial Times alleging that America’s President Donald Trump referred to President Muhammadu Buhari as ‘lifeless,’ after their meeting last April in the White House.

See the reactions:

A slight on all Nigerians, says Onajinrin Olusegun @onajinrinoluse2:

No matter the political differences we share or the dislike we share about the present government performance, the president symbolises us as a people. Clapping for Donald Trump describing the president as lifeless, shows us as the most lifeless people.

— onajinrin olusegun (@onajinrinoluse2) August 27, 2018

Buhari’s acceptability still high, claims yahaya wada @WadayahayaWada:

All these negative comments against the President has not been able to reduce his acceptability by the people. It is high time the sponsors of all these learn their lessons that God is superior.

— yahaya wada (@WadayahayaWada) August 27, 2018

It’s disgraceful to support Trump, says Usman @UsmanWeird

President Trump Ridicule President Buhari call him “lifeless” meaning he has no life or death. And some Nigerians are happy, what a disgrace.

— Usman ♻ (@UsmanWeird) August 27, 2018

He has been abusing all his allies — UK, Canada, notes Dele A @delexxyy:

But this same man has been abusing all his allies-UK,Canada etc even with their “liveliness”…so may be its better this way.

— Dele A (@delexxyy) August 27, 2018

I would be worried if Trump had praised Buharis — Devaan Hanmation-Mom @SweetMOMdee

I think I’d be more worried if Trump praised Buhari.

— Devaan Hanmation-Mom (@SweetMOMdee) August 27, 2018

Poor Trump,he didn’t get to share jokes about having extra marital sexual intercourse with the likes of Stormy Daniels and others with Buhari,definitely nothing to laugh about

— kaytoned (@kaytoned) August 27, 2018

It’s fake news, says Wale III @arijoniglimited:

If he truly said that, then why was he this happy meeting him in the picture below👇 it was reported om all social media then that they’ve not seen him this happy. I’m pretty sure he will call this new paper or who ever reported this #fakenews and rightly so too. ✌ pic.twitter.com/TNiIUp6ZyA

— Wale III (@arijoniglimited) August 27, 2018

God calls him chosen, says GbemiAfrica cut @gbemiafrica:

Thank goodness. If Trump uses such word and God calls him chosen. whose report is final? Remember everyone also condemned Trump before today.

— GbemiAfrica cut (@gbemiafrica) August 27, 2018

What did Trump mean, asks Oladeji Eniola @oladeji_eeny:

Ask what @realDonaldTrump meant in context

— Oladeji Eniola (@oladeji_eeny) August 27, 2018

Buhari is scandal-free, unlike Trump, says Omolola Victoria @OluwaferanmiVi3

What of himself? We’re happy with our scandal fee President unlike Trump.

— Omolola Victoria (@OluwaferanmiVi3) August 27, 2018

The enemies of Trump @realDonaldTrump will suddenly become his friends now.

— Abdurraheem (@I_am_Oara) August 27, 2018

He that has his finger prints all over american crime scenes,who is more lifeless?

— Ayo (@tweet2ayo) August 27, 2018

This is funny, so a lifeless person is the one constructing all the Federal roads and second Niger bridge in my zone, projects that could not be done by two living President? I rather prefer to reelect this lifeless person oo. Nija!

— Emeka Ossai (@EmekaOssai10) August 27, 2018

@MBuhari has met with several credible world leaders, if they have this opinion about him then fine. If not @RealDonalTrump is an idiot and a liar as shown in the past 18months of his horrible presidency.

— Kit Kool (@KitKolington) August 27, 2018

‘The west is wary of Trump,’ notes Devaan Hanmation-Mom @SweetMOMdee

Yeah. That’s why the entire West is frightened of his leadership style.

— Devaan Hanmation-Mom (@SweetMOMdee) August 27, 2018

Understand why the meeting is not a success first… Trump likes taking advantage of people and countries making them vulnerable, Buhari wasn’t ready for that maybe that’s why the meeting wasn’t successful. It might be a cool idea for Nigeria. Thanks

— Sanwils (@sanwils07) August 27, 2018

It’s an aberration to support Trump, warns Mazi Kelechi @kelisofgod:

So maybe, Trump wanted a trade advantage over Nigeria and your president was smart enough to avoid that? Your president that doesn’t know the meaning of ‘inclusive’ governance. Let’s all join hands and just destroy Nigeria, all of us will suffer it, let’s keep defending aberation

— Mazi Kelechi (@kelisofgod) August 27, 2018

Sarcasm was thrown into the bargain, Henry Shield @henryshield:

Every US President has access to high-level, top-secret, intelligence reports on major situations around the world. Rather than laugh at @realDonaldTrump‘s calling of President Buhari “lifeless”, we should ask if there’s something he knows that the citizens of Nigeria don’t. pic.twitter.com/TYeHzaaP6k

— Henry Shield (@henryshield) August 27, 2018

If a Noun is a name of a Living thing, Animal, Place or Things.. What does that make Buhari being lifeless 🤔🤔🤔??

— ʟıғєoғ_ɢєňċo (@Genco_Billz) August 27, 2018

Meanwhile, many Nigerians agree with Trump’s alleged statement:

It’s not about praising Buhari but what he’s praise on. Trump is about governance not your emotions. He’s interested in deals. He’s a business man. Your Buhari went there for photo ops while Trump was expecting him to come with proposals for bilateral issues.

— ThankGod Ukachukwu (@kcnaija) August 27, 2018

If Donald Trump legit called Mohammed Buhari “Lifeless”… I am proud of him cos no one has used a better descriptive word to describe his Excellency. 🤣🤣

— Ferdinand (@Burmese_Tyga) August 27, 2018

If the leader of the Free World can’t stand @MBuhari and believes that he is absolutely ‘lifeless’, can Nigeria expect any cooperation from the West with Buhari in charge. We need an assertive leader who can look Trump in the eye and say NO! Buhari is not that leader #RenosDarts

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) August 27, 2018

Trump referred to Buhari as “lifeless” embarrassing himself in the process of embarrassing Buhari who is yet to disclose his alignment to Nigerians.

— Dr. Dípò Awojide (@OgbeniDipo) August 27, 2018

Trump referred to Buhari as Lifeless, after their first meeting.
Buhari that took the fastest growing economy in Africa to recession,
Made Nigeria the capital of poverty in the world.
Only a lifeless person can do that successful, and still be seeking second term.

— AJALA (@UNCLE_AJALA) August 27, 2018

Am looking forward to Donald Trump’s assessment of Mr Kenyatta because, ladies and gentlemen, that’s the most honest assessment there cab be. Well, he feels buhari is lifeless.

— Nicholas (@uckoci) August 27, 2018











Rainbowgist

Abramovich says he’s ready to sell Chelsea for £2.5bn

The Russian owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, has indicated his interest to sell the club, only if the potential buyer can pay £2.5billion.

According to Reports, the Russian businessman, who was denied a new visa to enter the UK back in May has been receiving numerous sale inquiries about the club.

The visa problem also made him put on hold the £1 billion redevelopment of Stamford Bridge, he had planned.

Now, rumours  claim that Abramovich has even set an asking price, and will demand at least £2.5bn, a sum that would make any takeover the biggest of a football club in history.

However, Chelsea sources insisted on Sunday that Abramovich remains committed to the club and has no plans to sell following reports of a failed bid from Silver Lake, an American private equity company which was seeking to buy a minority stake.

The Russian has reportedly hired US investment bank Raine Group to seek interest from investors in China, the US and Middle East.

They are the same specialist that helped Manchester City sell a 13% stake in the club to Chinese investors, and have a long association with Chelsea.

 

 













Rainbowgist

Mother sells six-week-old baby, buys phone with proceeds

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have begun investigation into the alleged sale of a six-week-old baby by her a 23-year-old mother, Miracle Johnson.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the incident, described it as a serious offence.

It was gathered that Miracle sold the baby, Greatness, to an orphanage in Onitsha, Anambra State, for N200,000.

It was learnt that the nursing mother, who hails from Agenebode, in the Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, was paid in cash.

She was said to have used part of the proceeds to buy a mobile phone.

Miracle, a mother of two, blamed her action on frustration and the inability of her husband to take care of her and her other children.

She said she was persuaded by one Mama Joy, said to be at large, to sell the infant and give the money to her husband to start a business.

She said, “My baby was born on July 2. I sold her due to frustration. My husband was just struggling (to provide for us).

“My friend (Mama Joy) said that since my husband was not taking care of me, if I did it (sold the baby), I could give the money to my husband to start a business or buy a motorcycle.

“Two weeks later, she came back. I did not know what happened to me. So, I carried a bag, picked some things and left.

“I sold her to an orphanage in Onitsha. The orphanage bought the child for N200,000. I just bought only a phone; I did not want to buy it, but she (Mama Joy) forced me to do so,” she added.

Miracle stated that she regretted her action and later confessed to her pastor.

She said, “I told my pastor what I did and that it was a mistake for which I would never forgive myself. So, my husband and I went to a police station to report. I know what I did was not good. I pray that my child will forgive me.”

 Her husband, Johnson Omovuokpor, expressed anger that his wife went ahead with her plan, in spite of his disapproval.

He said, “When she told me about her plan, I told her to forget about it and exercise patience.

“On that day, I took my motorcycle out for repairs. When I went back home to get some money, I saw my first daughter with my neighbour.

 “When I asked about my wife’s whereabouts, I was told that she went out with a bag, saying that she was going to buy something. So, I remembered what she said she wanted to do with the baby.

“When she called me later in the afternoon to tell me that she had sold the baby, I cursed her and ended the call. I became confused afterwards and could not do anything for the rest of that day.”

The Commissioner of Police in the state said the baby would be rescued while the suspect would be charged to court.

Kokumo said, “It is an act against laws in Nigeria. Now that we have the woman in our net, we will definitely charge her to court. The baby will be rescued.”




















Rainbowgist