tw News Headlines – December 9
NPAN, NUJ, CSOs reject Social Media Bill – The Guardian
CNPP asks Senate to apologise
A groundswell of opposition has developed against the move by the Senate to pass the controversial Frivolous Petitions Prohibition Bill, otherwise known as Social Media Bill, which some stakeholders have described as anti-democratic and abominable in modern society.
Hundreds of protesters yesterday stormed the National Assembly, demanding withdrawal of the Bill.
Malpractices in Kogi, Bayelsa elections unfortunate, says Buhari – Punch
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday lamented that despite government’s efforts aimed at ensuring the conduct of credible elections, some malpractices were witnessed in the recent governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
He called on Nigerians to support all necessary measures aimed at ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country, including the use of card readers and permanent voter cards.
Remove oil subsidy now, World Bank tells Buhari – Vanguard
Against the backdrop of the current fuel crisis across the country showing no sign of abating, the World Bank, yesterday, told President Muhammadu Buhari that the time to remove petroleum subsidy is now.
While the Buhari administration has given hints of its intention to remove fuel subsidy, many Nigerians, including the organised labour, have rejected the plan. But in what appears to be a prelude to the eventual removal of fuel subsidy, President Buhari made no provision for kerosene subsidy in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP, which he presented to the National Assembly, yesterday.
Syrian rebels ‘leave Homs’ under truce – BBC
Syrian rebels have begun evacuating from the last area they hold in the city of Homs under a ceasefire deal reached with the government, a monitoring group has said.
The deal means the entire city returns to government control.
Those leaving are due go to areas of Idlib province still in rebel hands.
Homs, in central Syria, was once dubbed the “capital of the revolution” and saw some of the first protests against President Bashar al-Assad, in 2011.
White House: Donald Trump Muslim plan ‘disqualifies’ him from presidency – CNN
Donald Trump’s statement that Muslims should be banned from entering the United States “disqualifies” him from being president, the White House spokesman said Tuesday.
“The fact is what Donald Trump said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in Tuesday’s press briefing. For a White House administration to so heavily weigh in on an opposing party’s nominating contest is a highly unusual step.
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