World News
Trump could compromise over concrete wall on Mexico border, says top aide
Donald Trump may be ready to compromise to win funding for a wall on the Mexico border, with his chief of staff suggesting it does not have to be concrete.
Mr Trump is trying to convince the Democrats to approve around $5bn (£3.95bn) to build the wall, which he says is vital to stop illegal immigrants and criminals entering the US.
The stalemate between the two sides has led to a shutdown of some government departments, with around 800,000 employees off work without pay, and Mr Trump threatening to keep it going for “months or even years”.
He has also said he is considering declaring a national emergency so he could bypass US Congress and get the funding.
But hinting at a possible compromise, Mr Mulvaney told US TV show Meet the Press: “If he has to give up a concrete wall, replace it with a steel fence in order to do that so that Democrats can say, ‘See? He’s not building a wall anymore,’ that should help us move in the right direction.”
The president has previously suggested his definition of “wall” is flexible, but Democrats view the whole idea as immoral and ineffective, and prefer other forms of border security.
Mr Trump campaigned for on a promise to make Mexico pay for the barrier but, predictably, America’s southern neighbour refused.
Talks to end the government shutdown – led by Vice President Mike Pence – again ended without a breakthrough on Saturday.
The president meanwhile continued to press his case on Twitter, posting an image of a barrier alongside the caption “The wall is coming” – a reference to the tagline from hit TV show Game of Thrones.
He added: “V.P. Mike Pence and team just left the White House. Briefed me on their meeting with the Schumer/Pelosi representatives. Not much headway made today. Second meeting set for tomorrow. After so many decades, must finally and permanently fix the problems on the Southern Border!”
Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, has said Democrats will start approving individual bills to reopen government departments, starting with the Treasury, so Americans could get their tax refunds.
“While President Trump threatens to keep the government shut down for ‘years’, Democrats are taking immediate further action to re-open government, so that we can meet the needs of the American people, protect our borders and respect our workers,” Ms Pelosi said.
Democrats now hold the balance of power in the house after it reconvened this week with a record number of women taking up seats following the midterm elections.
World News
Nigeria postpones presidential election at last minute | World News
The country’s election commission said it was delaying the vote to 23 February due to unspecified “challenges”, amid reports that voting materials had not been delivered to some areas.
The delay is expected to spark anger in Africa’s most populous nation and largest democracy after many people had relocated for the chance to vote.
Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said: “This was a difficult decision to take but necessary for successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy.”
A review of logistics led the commission to conclude that going ahead with the election as planned was “no longer feasible,” he said.
Nigeria also postponed its presidential election in 2015 because of deadly insecurity in the northeast of the country, which remains under threat from Islamic extremists.
More than 84 million voters had been expected to head to the polls on Saturday, in what is seen as a close and heated race between President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, a billionaire former vice president.
:: ‘Four’ killed in stampede at election rally for Nigeria president
Both men have pledged to work for a peaceful election even as their supporters, including high-level officials, have caused alarm with warnings against foreign interference and allegations of rigging.
Mr Buhari made history when he came to power in 2015 with the first defeat of an incumbent Nigerian president.
That election was hailed as one of the most transparent and untroubled ever in Nigeria, which has seen deadly post-vote violence in the past.
Mr Buhari’s term has been marked by a crash in global oil prices that spun Nigeria’s economy into a rare recession, from which it only emerged in 2017.
Unemployment shot up and the country passed India as the nation with the most people living in extreme poverty. More than 13 million children are said to be out of school.
Many Nigerians also worry about Mr Buhari himself after he spent more than 150 days outside the country for an unspecified medical treatment.
In December, he bizarrely denied rumours he had died following a period of ill health and had been replaced by a Sudanese clone.
Meanwhile, Mr Abubakar has followed in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump by campaigning on the theme of “Let’s Make Nigeria Work Again”.
He has vowed to apply his business acumen to privatise Nigeria’s state oil company and lift 50 million people out of poverty by 2025, but has faced years of corruption allegations.
Entertainment
Vogue Brazil executive Donata Meirelles quits over ‘slavery’ party picture | World News
A guest at the lavish party, held in Bahia, northeastern Brazil, posted a picture showing Donata Meirelles sat on an elaborate, throne-like chair, flanked by black women in traditional white dress.
Critics likened the women’s clothes to the uniforms worn by house slaves, and pointed out the chair’s similarity to one commonly used by slave masters.
Marie Claire columnist Stephanie Ribeiro said on Twitter: “The black women were used as objects to create an exotic scene.
“It’s reminiscent of colonialism and romanticises those times. She was recreating the image where whites are superior and blacks are dehumanised.”
Ms Meirelles insisted in an Instagram post that the chair was an artefact from the Afro-Brazilian folk religion candomblé, and the clothes were traditional Bahian party attire.
“Even so, if I caused any different impressions, I am sorry,” she added.
In a statement on Instagram, the magazine said: “Vogue Brasil profoundly regrets what happened and hopes that the debate that has been generated serves as a learning experience.
“We believe in affirmative and purposeful actions and also that empathy is the best alternative for the construction of a more just society, in which the historical inequalities of the country are debated and faced.
Vogue has said it will also create a panel of activists and academics to help produce content to combat inequalities.
Hausa
‘Yaki na sanadin mutuwar Jarirai 500 kullum’

Jarirai da yara na mutuwa saboda tsananin yunwa, da rashin abinci mai gina jiki
Wani sabon rahoto da aka fitar dauke da cewa Jarirai 5 ne ke mutuwa sanadiyyar yaki, kafin soja guda ya mutu.
Rahoton da kungiyar Save the Children ta fitar, ta ce shekaru biyar da suka gabata, jarirai dubu dari biyar ne ke mutuwa a kowacce rana, sanadiyyar yaki.
Wasu lokutan kuma 300 ko dai sanadiyyar yunwa da rashin abinci mai gina jiki, ko cututtuka kamar amai da gudawa da rashin kulawar likita da magani.
Kasashen da lamarin ya fi munana sun hada da Yemen da Syria da Afghanistan, da Jamhuriyyar Dimukradiyyar Congo.
Save the Children ta ce idan za a hada da yara ‘yan shekara biyar da ke mutuwa, adadin ka ya kai waDubu dari tara.
Haka kuma ba a sanya yaran da suka mutu a lokacin da ake gwabza yakin ba, ko dai ta harbin bindiga, ko tashin bam ko rikitowar gine-gine.
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