The goodwill message titled, ‘President Buhari wishes US President, Trump, family quick recovery’, reads “President Muhammadu Buhari joins all citizens of United States of America in prayers for the quick and full recovery of President Donald Trump and his wife, Melanie, who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. While wishing the American First Family speedy turnaround in their current health status, President Buhari urges more compliance among Nigerians to protocols, and adherence to the advice of medical doctors, particularly epidemiologists.”

The letter was discovered at a screening facility for White House mail earlier this week, a U.S. official familiar with the matter said on Saturday, September 19.

The official said a substance found inside the envelope was identified as ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans before it was to be delivered to the White House.

According to CNN, investigators are looking into the possibility the ricin package sent to Trump came from Canada.

Mary-Liz Power, chief spokeswoman for Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair, said in a statement, “We are aware of the concerning reports of packages containing ricin directed toward US federal government sites. Canadian law enforcement is working closely with their US counterparts. As this is an active investigation we cannot comment further.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service are investigating to find out who sent the package and whether others have been sent through the US postal system.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they are working with the FBI to investigate the “suspicious letter sent to the White House”.

Ricin is a lethal substance that, if swallowed, inhaled or injected, can cause nausea, vomiting, internal bleeding, and ultimately organ failure.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a person is exposed to ricin, death can take place within 36 to 72 hours, depending on the dose received.

For decades, most Arab states have boycotted Israel, insisting they would only establish ties after the Palestinian land dispute and city of Jerusalem issue was resolved.

But surprisingly, last month the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to normalise its relationship with Israel after Trump intervened and now Bahrain has followed suit.

Trump tweeted on Friday “The second Arab country to make peace with Israel in 30 days”

Trump with help from his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner presented his Middle East peace plan in January aimed at resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he was “excited” that “another peace agreement” had been reached with another Arab country.

He said “This is a new era of peace. Peace for peace. Economy for the economy. We have invested in peace for many years and now peace will invest in us”

Pelosi said “Don’t tell anyone I told you this but I don’t think there should be any debates. I don’t think there should be any debates. I wouldn’t legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States.’ Now, I know that the Biden campaign thinks in a different way about this What he did in 2016 was disgraceful, stalking Hillary Clinton like that. … He will probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency. He does that every day. I think he will also belittle what the debates are supposed to be about. They’re not to be about skullduggery on the part of somebody who has no respect for the office he holds — much less the democratic process. Why else would he try to undermine the elections in the manner that he is doing? I don’t think that he should dignify that conversation with Donald Trump”

According to a lengthy joint statement between the US, UAE and Israel, posted on the website of the US Embassy in Israel, the new deal will establish diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE.

The agreement calls for the “full normalization of relations” between the two Middle Eastern countries and calls for Israel to “suspend” plans to annex the West Bank — which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a temporary postponement.”

Read the full statement between the three countries released by the White House below:

“President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates spoke today and agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region. All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement. Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit. Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations. As a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world. The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal. The United Arab Emirates and Israel will immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus. Working together, these efforts will help save Muslim, Jewish, and Christian lives throughout the region. This normalization of relations and peaceful diplomacy will bring together two of America’s most reliable and capable regional partners. Israel and the United Arab Emirates will join with the United States to launch a Strategic Agenda for the Middle East to expand diplomatic, trade, and security cooperation. Along with the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates share a similar outlook regarding the threats and opportunities in the region, as well as a shared commitment to promoting stability through diplomatic engagement, increased economic integration, and closer security coordination. Today’s agreement will lead to better lives for the peoples of the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the region. The United States and Israel recall with gratitude the appearance of the United Arab Emirates at the White House reception held on January 28, 2020, at which President Trump presented his Vision for Peace, and express their appreciation for United Arab Emirates’ related supportive statements. The parties will continue their efforts in this regard to achieve a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As set forth in the Vision for Peace, all Muslims who come in peace may visit and pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, and Jerusalem’s other holy sites should remain open for peaceful worshippers of all faiths. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan express their deep appreciation to President Trump for his dedication to peace in the region and to the pragmatic and unique approach he has taken to achieve it”

US officials and lawmakers in recent weeks have voiced fears of the wildly popular video platform being used by Beijing for nefarious purposes, but the company has denied any links to the Chinese government.

Media reports circulated earlier Friday saying that Trump would require the US operations of the app be divested from its Chinese parent firm ByteDance, but the president announced a ban.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: “As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States.”

He added he would take action as soon as Saturday using emergency economic power or an executive order.

Trump’s move comes following a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) in the United States, which investigates deals affecting US national security.

TikTok, especially popular with young audiences who create and watch its short-form videos, has an estimated billion users worldwide.

Queried by AFP, TikTok declined to comment on the reports of the forced sales, saying only: “We are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.

“Hundreds of millions of people come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, including our community of creators and artists who are building livelihoods from the platform.”

The firm this week pledged a high level of transparency, including allowing reviews of its algorithms, to assure users and regulators.

“We are not political, we do not accept political advertising and have no agenda — our only objective is to remain a vibrant, dynamic platform for everyone to enjoy,” TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer said in post this week.

“TikTok has become the latest target, but we are not the enemy.”

The popularity of the platform surged after ByteDance acquired US-based app Musical.ly in 2017 and merged it with its own video service.

James Lewis, head of the technology policy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he believes the security risk of using TikTok is “close to zero” but that ByteDance could face pressure from China to engage in censorship.

“It looks like ByteDance may be getting squeezed by Beijing, so making them divest makes sense,” Lewis said. “They could start censoring stuff.”

Lewis said US authorities under CFIUS have the power to unwind an acquisition previously approved and that a similar action was taken in 2019 with the dating app Grindr after it was bought by a Chinese firm.

Source: Agency Report

Vice President Mike Pence presided over the historic 98-0 vote to confirm Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to be chief of staff of the Air Force, a vote that came in the wake of the nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd.

The confirmation also makes Brown the second African American officer to sit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Chairman Gen. Colin Powell.

President Donald Trump, who nominated Brown in March, hailed the general in a statement via his Twitter page.

He tweeted “My decision to appoint @usairforce General Charles Brown as the USA’s first-ever African American military service chief has now been approved by the Senate,” Trump said, though the tweet came before the confirmation vote. “A historic day for America! Excited to work even more closely with Gen. Brown, who is a Patriot and Great Leader!”

Brown, a four-star general and former combat pilot is currently the commander of Pacific Air Forces, a command which supports approximately 46,000 airmen serving mainly in South Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska.

In a four-page letter addressed to WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, the US President criticized the stages of the body’s response to the outbreak of the disease since December.

The US President, who disclosed that talks on reforming the WHO had already begun, had earlier called the UN health body a “puppet of China”.

The letter read in parts “It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world. The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China. My administration has already started discussions with you on how to reform the organization. But action is needed quickly. We do not have time to waste. It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world. The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China. My administration has already started discussions with you on how to reform the organization. But action is needed quickly. We do not have time to waste.”

This is coming after Trump temporarily halted funding to the organization last month.

Here is the full letter

According to the US president, Donald Trump, he ordered the killing of al-Rimi during a counter-terrorism operation in Yemen,  saying that the U.S and its allies are safer as a result of al-Rimi’s death.

He said “We will continue to protect the American people by tracking down and eliminating terrorists who seek to do us harm”.

On Wednesday, the Republican majority senate voted against impeaching the president, bringing the impeachment trial to an end.

Chief Justice Roberts announced after the vote. “48 senators have pronounced Donald John Trump, president of the United States, guilty as charged. 52 senators have announced him not guilty as charged. 2/3 of the senators present not finding him guilty, the Senate judges Donald John Trump – the president of the United States – is not guilty as charged in the first article of impeachment”

The impeachment process initiated by House speaker Nancy Pelosi started on the 24th of September after a whistleblower complaint alleged that Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine in exchange for launching investigations into his political rival, Joe Biden