Terrorism : Residents flee as Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri

Barely 24 hours after the Boko Haram sect released new video claiming attack on military base in Kumshe and Gulumba areas of Borno State, another village Baleh Shuwari less than 500m from Giwa Barracks is said to be currently under attack by the insurgents.

Hundreds of people living in Jiddari Polo Ward in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital have reportedly fled their homes as at the time of this report.

According to some families who fled their homes to join relations in Bolori ward in the city centre, the village Baleh Shuwa is currently in flames.

DAILT POST observed that the Saturday’s incident was the third time the insurgents would be attacking the village.

The first attack claimed 19 lives; while second attack left 33 people dead.

Meanwhile, details of the attack are still sketchy at them moment as neither the police authorities nor the Army has reacted to the development. - Daily Post

Nigeria ranks 3rd with premature birth globally, says Shinkafi-Bagudu

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, wife of the Kebbi State Governor, says Nigeria is ranked third among 10 top countries with high rate of preterm birth of 773,600.

Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu, who disclosed this in Abuja when the National Association of Nigerian Paediatric Nurses (NANPAN) paid advocacy visit on her, attributed the statistics to the latest data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that preterm birth also know as premature birth is the birth of baby at fewer than 37 weeks gestational age.

The wife of the governor frowned at the rating, lamenting that a lot of preterm related death often occurred due to lack of sophisticated equipment that would ensure proper care for the babies.

She however noted that it was important and high time for the nation to rise up to its responsibilities by coming up with innovations and policies that would help in saving the lives of number of neonatal death.

“Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide and if we can save some of these babies we will definitely record more economic impact in our country.

“The resources in terms of human and material that is expended on premature birth and babies dying every year is enormous and we can do something about it,” she said.

Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu identified one of the easy ways to restore the lives and ensure better health for premature babies to include Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), adding that it would enable the baby cuddle with mother in the absence of incubators.

According to her, if this care can be taken to the grassroots by educating mothers on how to effectively do it, it will go a long way in reducing the number of deaths associated with premature delivery.

Mrs Olubunmi Lawal, National President of the NANPAN, said the visit was aimed at soliciting the support of Mrs Bagudu on the association’s upcoming annual national conference slated for Nov. 13 to 17 in Enugu.

She emphasised that the conference was geared toward adopting modalities to ensure the survival of large number of premature babies.

According to her, it is also part of pre-event activities for the commemoration of the International Day of Preterm Birth billed for Nov. 17.

Lawal noted that part of the conference activities was for members of the association to engage policy makers as well as wives of governors to help improve, promote and protect the survival of premature babies.

“Premature babies are vulnerable hence we are here to pay advocacy visit on Her Excellency in order to promote the survival of preterm babies.

“We are also paying advocacy to tell the world that the association is significant when it comes to improving the survival of preterm babies and newborns as a whole.

“Preterm babies need a skillful care and if you are not trained on it you cannot do it effectively,” Lawal said. - PM News

Impossible to end Utd title hopes - -Pep Guardiola

 Guardiola says it is "impossible" to end Manchester United's title hopes with victory in Sunday's derby, live on Sky Sports.

The Manchester City manager was denied the opportunity to win the Premier League against their rivals last season when United came from behind to win 3-2 at the Etihad.

City were eventually crowned champions, 19 points ahead of United.

Unbeaten in the league so far this season, City already have a nine-point advantage over United this time around.

But Guardiola said: "Win or lose they are not out of the race no way. In November? It's impossible.

"They've shown it, they were in a tough moment, they recovered well.

"It's a big club, big club mentality, since we arrive we try to convince [the players] that club never give up."

He added: "Of course games against contenders are special because if you win they don't win but we are in November so maybe the game at Old Trafford [in March] will be more decisive."

The apparent rivalry between Mourinho and Guardiola dominated the build-up to the Manchester derby in their first season together in the Premier League.

But the pair have since aimed to end their supposed feud, and Guardiola insists "at the end we are both good guys, more than you expect".

Guardiola is wary of a dogged United, though, after Mourinho's side came back from a goal down to beat Juventus in Turin.

It was the third time in six matches United have won from a losing position, leading Paul Pogba to say the club are relishing their "outsiders" tag.

"I see a team with a lot of commitment for what they have to do, aggressive without the ball, everybody runs backwards," said Guardiola.

"Now is a good moment for them so of course [they have] confidence, always it is complicated.

"In the whole history of Manchester City it was never easy to beat United."

Pogba's double early in the second half inspired United's comeback in last season's game at City, and Guardiola warned his team not to get complacent even if they are winning.

"The top teams like United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool - these kind of teams you cannot imagine and think that for 90 minutes we are going to do amazing and they won't have chances.

"I think in 75 minutes last season I would like to play the same game - but United showed us they only need 10-15 minutes to create a lot of chances.

"The succession when they have the ball, the people in front, wow, they can create something because they have an incredible talent in front and in the middle as well.

"We have to defend deep, well, strong, defend the crosses because they are so strong, avoid set pieces because they are huge, by far better than us.

"We have to try to bring our game the way we can control more, be clinical when we have the chances, that is the game we try to do." - Sky Sports

Dialogue is the most effective way, FG’s negotiating panel tells ASUU

The team set up by the federal government to negotiate with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says dialogue is the most effective way of resolving the lingering dispute between the union and the government.

University lecturers across the country are currently on strike to protest the alleged refusal of government to meet their demands.

While declaring the strike on Sunday, Abiodun Ogunyemi, national president of ASUU, said the union took the decision due to the poor funding of universities in the country, failure on the side of the government to honour the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the union and the federal government in 2017.

Ogunyemi said all appeal made to the federal government to honour the agreement with the union fell on deaf ears, saying they had no other alternative but to begin the strike.

But speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, Wale Babalakin, chairman of the panel, said there is need for ASUU to reconsider its action.

“Our attention has been drawn to the several statements made by Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, President of the ASUU and echoed by various zonal heads and other members of the same union,” he said.

“As we had stated in our previous communication on this matter, we believe that negotiations are best done on the table rather than on the pages of the newspapers, hence we have been very reluctant to respond to the campaign of our co-negotiators.

“Our position is that dialogue on the same table is the most effective way of resolving issues.

“Unfortunately, we are compelled to respond to the allegations by ASUU which have been made in the print and electronic media because some Nigerians may begin to believe the inaccurate narratives that have been consistently provided by ASUU.

“Our position as a team is that, Nigerians deserve and should have quality education. This must not be compromised as a result of inadequate funding which has been the situation in the last 30 years.”

Babalakin said government would need over N2 trillion to meet the demands of the union.

He said such amount is not too much to invest in education but the resources are not available at the moment.

“We also believe that no Nigerian should be deprived of university education because of his/her financial circumstance,” he said.

“This position is consistent with that of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Going by the figures provided by ASUU, Nigeria requires over 2 trillion per annum to fund university education.

“This figure exceeds in value the total amount of money available for all capital projects in Nigeria including Health, Infrastructure, Security and others. No doubt that if the money were available for university education as ASUU has insisted it is, the government will have no difficulty in spending it on university education.

“However, as it is, government cannot ignore all other areas of expenditure that require funding.

“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to appeal to ASUU to return to the negotiating table and resolve issues based on accurate information and verifiable data. We remain committed to a permanent resolution of the recurrent industrial disputes that have militated against the progress of the Nigerian University System. We are determined to ensure that Nigerians receive proper education.” - TheCable

Turkey shares tape of Khashoggi’s killing

Turkey has given recordings on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, France and Britain, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday.

Turkish sources, according to the newspaper Daily Sabah, have said previously that authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting the murder.

“We gave the recordings, we gave them to Saudi Arabia, we gave them to Washington, to the Germans, to the French, to the English. They all know since they all listened to the conversations and everything,” he said in a televised speech.

CIA Director Gina Haspel, who visited Turkey last month for information on the investigation, is reported to have heard the audio recordings of the killing. The existence of the recordings was leaked to the media but never openly confirmed until now.

Speaking ahead of his departure for France to attend commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Erdoğan said Saudi Arabia knows the killer of Jamal Khashoggi is among a group of 15 people who arrived in Turkey one day ahead of the Oct. 2 killing.

“The 15 people who came to Istanbul [from Saudi Arabia], who are also among 18 detained by Saudi authorities, surely know who killed Jamal Khashoggi and where his body is. Saudi Arabia could resolve this by making this 15 talk,” Erdoğan said. “The murderers are surely among this 15 or 18, there’s no need to look elsewhere.”

Erdoğan also criticised the stance of Saudi authorities. “Saudi attorney general arrived in Turkey to dodge the column,” he said, referring to the visit of Saudi Arabia’s top prosecutor Saud al-Mujeb to obtain information about the case and his meeting with Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan, who is leading the investigation. “He [Al-Mujeb] asks for our prosecutor down there. Here [Turkey] is the place where the incident took place, you can discuss whatever you want to discuss here.”

Erdoğan also called on Saudi officials to do their part to reveal the unanswered parts of the dissident journalist’s murder. “Now Saudi Arabia should rid themselves of this stain by acting just against our goodwill,” he said.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi government and its de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, went missing on Oct. 2 after entering the consulate to obtain documents for marriage procedures. After initially denying and later playing down the incident as a fistfight, Saudi Arabia accepted that the journalist’s killing was premeditated and he died in an unplanned “rogue operation.”

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump agree that more details needed from Saudi Arabia on journalist Khashoggi’s death, Reuters reported Saturday citing French presidency sources. Macron and Trump were meeting in Paris to discuss security issues and bilateral ties on the sidelines of WWI commemorative ceremonies. - PM News

Tribal bigot: Presidency backs El-Rufai, reveals what Obi did to northerners as Anambra Governor

The Presidency has backed Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for describing Peter Obi, the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar as a ‘tribal bigot’

El-Rufai had in a tweet claimed that Obi supported his (El-Rufai’s) arrest by the Department of State Services, DSS in 2014 on the ground that “El-Rufai has no business being in Anambra State as it is not Katsina State.”

Speaking on the development, Buhari’s Special Assistant on New media, Bashir Ahmad, in a post on his Twitter page, accused Obi of deporting northerners from his state during his tenure as governor of Anambra.

Replying a tweet from Peter Obi, Ahmad wrote: “It’s a FACT that when you were Governor you deported Northerners back home, majority from my State, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina etc, and it’s still very fresh in those people’s mind and their families. They don’t even need a reminder.

“What Mallam El-Rufai did was just a reminder, but those people don’t forget at all, many of them lost their businesses. Sure, they will respond appropriately in February 2019.”

Meanwhile, Obi had warned El-Rufai to stop making hate speeches that will divide and destroy the country but rather focus on encouraging Nigerians. - Daily Post

Nigerian Army announces major shake-up, top Generals affected

The Nigerian Army has redeployed some of its officers from Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Operation DELTA SAFE, as well as over-stayed officers from the theatre as part of routine posting.

Also, a Deputy Vice Chancellor is appointed for the newly established Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB).

Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement on Saturday said the posting affected 103 officers including Majors and Captains.

Those affected in the redeployment included; The Commander Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE Major General Abba Dikko who moves to the Department of Civil Military Affairs as the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major General Jamil Sarham to remain in Headquarters 6 Division as the General Officer Commanding/Land Component Commander, Major General Nuhu Angbazo now moves to Headquarters 3 Division as the General Officer Commanding while Major General Benson Akinroluyo redeployed from Headquarters 3 Division to Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE as Commander.

Others were; Major General Victor Ezugwu from Depot Nigerian Army to Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Major General Adeyemi Adetayo from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to Department of Army Standard and Evaluation as Director Procurement and Projects and Brigadier General Ifiok Obot redeployed from Headquarters Operation DELTA SAFE to Nigerian Army University Biu as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Military).

Also affected in the redeployment were; Brigadier General Olufemi Dada from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Director Combat Development, Brigadier General Solomon Udounwa redeployed to Defence Headquarters as Deputy Director Campaign planning, Brigadier General Adekunle Adesope from Department of Army Standard and Evaluation to the Office of the Chief of Army Staff as Acting Director in the Directorate of Audit and Financial Management.

Brigadier General Caleb Dalhatu moves from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Headquarters 81 Division Garrison as Commander, Brigadier General Abdu Hassan redeployed from Headquarters 2 Brigade to Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre as Chief of Staff (COS), Brigadier General Kabir Mukhtar from Headquarters 81 Division Garrison to Headquarters Department of Army Administration as Acting Director Manpower, Brigadier General Nasiru Jega redeployed to Headquarters 2 Brigade as Commander.

Brigadier General Sani Mohammed moves from Department of Administration to Depot Nigerian Army as Acting Commandant, Brigadier General Kevin Aligbe is to remain in Headquarters 16 Brigade as Commander, Colonel Adamu Nura from Headquarters 21 Special Armour Brigade to Nigerian Army Armour School as Chief Instructor, Colonel Louis Lepdung redeployed from Headquarters 25 Task Force Brigade to Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre as Deputy Director Research and Development.

Colonel Kingsley Umoh from Administration Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to Defence Headquarters as Assistant Director Defence Information and Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya moves from Headquarters 3 Division Army Public Relations to Defence Headquarters Garrison Army Public Relations as Deputy Director Army Public Relations. - Daily \Post

Police nab 3 ‘Yahoo Boys” over alleged attempt to use girlfriends for ritual

Police detectives at the Delta State Police Command Asaba have arrested three “Yahoo Boys” following their alleged failed attempt on Monday to use their girlfriends for money rituals.

It was gathered that the suspected ritualists who live within Ifant Jesus area in Asaba had on Monday attempted to Use their girlfriends for alleged money rituals when the bubble burst after their failed move in the early hours.

The Commissioner of police in the state, Mustafa Muhammad, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects on Saturday in Asaba, said “they have been going out with the girls.

“They lavish money on them until the fateful Monday when they gave them water in pots to drink, one of them refused and immediately called her brother at the State CID and described the house to them, and the police mobilized to the house and arrested them in an apartment around Ifant Jesus area of Asaba”

The police Boss gave the suspects’ names as Tochukwu Tobi, 35, Ikedihua Emeka, 34, and Dennis Sylvia 35.

He added that the suspects having made useful statements to the police, were being detained for further investigation as they will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

CP Muhammad disclosed that the police were working hard with a view to arresting other Yahoo boys in the state.

“The police will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all the Yahoo boys are brought to book, the police have enough reports on the Yahoo boys and we are closing in on them, very soon it will be history in the state,” he added.

It was further gathered that the state had in the recent times been invaded by Yahoo Yahoo Boys, especially in major cities like Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, Ibusa, Okpanam and Kwale towns.

One of the girls, who spoke to journalists in Asaba on Condition of anonymity said “I have been dating one of the suspects for three years now before the bubble burst.

“He used to give me money, and he told me that he is a business man unknown to me that he is a Yahoo, Yahoo man.” - Daily Post

Tonye Cole’s convoy kills 2 women in Rivers

Tragedy struck on Friday as the convoy of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, hit and killed two women in Abua, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the state.

According to Punch, the incident happened in Egbolom area of Abua Central-Ogonokom Road in Abua in the afternoon, and another woman was said to have been injured.

It was gathered that Cole was on his way to Otapha on a ward-to-ward sensitisation tour before the accident happened.

The security details of the governorship candidate, in an attempt to avoid hitting a motorcyclist on the road, swerved their vehicles to the edge of the road, crushing the women on the walkway to death in the process.

An eyewitness, who only identified himself as Kipoye, told one of our correspondents that Cole’s convoy hit the two women in Egbolom, while they were walking on the side of the road.

He said, “The Rivers APC governorship candidate was on his way to Otapha in Abua on a ward-to-ward sensitisation visit.

“While on their way in Egbolom, a motorcycle suddenly joined the road and the soldiers leading the convoy tried to avoid hitting the bike and in the process, they swerved to the edge of the road, hitting and killing two women on the spot.

“The deceased women have been taken to the morgue. Right now, we have not been able to ascertain the identities of the women. But they are from Egbolom.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, adding that Cole and the Divisional Police Officer of the area were currently in touch with the families of the deceased persons and the injured person.

Omoni said, “We are aware that the convoy of the APC candidate was today involved in an accident. Three women were hit in the accident and two of them died while one was injured.

“I understand that the governorship candidate and the DPO of the area have reached out to the families of the deceased and injured persons.”

Speaking about the accident, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said they were heading to Ward 8 in Abua/Odual when the incident occurred, adding that the political activities of the day were cancelled following the accident.

“When the accident occurred, the candidate was in about the eighth vehicle in the convoy. A pick-up van was involved in the accident and we all went out to give first aid to the women that were affected.

“The candidate, who was in one of the vehicles that had moved about half a kilometre ahead, ordered the vehicles to make a U-turn. The candidate joined others to visit the hospital, where the two women were confirmed dead.

“We then went to report the matter to the divisional police in the area while the activities of the day were cancelled as a result of the death of the two women. It was an accident that could happen to anybody.

“The candidate and the party have restated that they would stand by the family of those deceased and injured,” the state APC spokesman said. - PM News

Udoma: In four years, all 774 LGAs will have internet connectivity

Udo Udoma, minister for budget and national planning, says in four years, every of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria will have internet connectivity. 

The minister disclosed this while speaking at the 42nd Annual Conference of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

He said the government is working to increase broadband penetration across all geopolitical zones of the country.

“Government has set up an Industrial Policy & Competitiveness Advisory Council (Industrial Council), with extensive private sector membership, as a vehicle for partnering with the private sector on the industrialization drive,” Udoma said.

“One of the projects supported by the Industrial Council, is a project to increase broadband penetration across all geopolitical zones of the country.

“This project is intended to ensure that within the next four years every single one of the 774 LGAs in the country will be provided with fibre connectivity.”

Speaking on Agriculture, Udoma said “through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, over N120.6 billion has been disbursed as concessionary loans to more than 800,000 farmers”.

This, he said, is for the cultivation of 12 different commodities including rice, wheat, cotton, soya beans, cassava, and groundnuts.

“To date, 11 Fertilizer Blending Plants with the capacity to produce 2.1 million metric tonnes have been revitalized,” he said.

He said the government has also been working consistently to deliver diversification of the economy through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“There is no doubt that we are making good progress in our efforts to revive and diversify the economy. However, is the economy sufficiently diversified? My answer is not yet,” he added.

“Whilst the oil and gas sector constitutes less than 10% of our GDP, it still represents too large a percentage of our foreign exchange earnings.

“We need to grow our non-oil exports to overtake oil in terms of our foreign exchange earnings as countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia have achieved.

 “This will take some time. However, there is no doubt in my mind that we are on the right track.

“If we consistently and faithfully continue with the implementation of the ERGP we will become an economic production powerhouse. We will be able to feed ourselves and have extra for export.” - TheCable

Stephen Hawking's thesis and wheelchair sell for $1 million

 

A motorized wheelchair used by the late British physicist Stephen Hawking sold at auction on Thursday for almost 300,000 pounds ($391,740.00) while a dissertation raised nearly twice that at a sale to raise money for charity.

Famed for his work exploring the origins of the universe, Hawking died in March at the age of 76 after spending most of his life confined to a wheelchair with motor neurone disease.

Some of his belongings including essays, medals, awards and a copy of his book a "Brief History of Time" signed with a thumbprint were sold online on Thursday alongside letters and manuscripts belonging to Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.

Hawking's 117-page dissertation "Properties of expanding universes" from 1965 sold for 584,750 pounds, well ahead of the estimate of up to 150,000.

 Medals and awards sold for 296,750 pounds, compared with an estimate of 15,000 pounds, while the red motorized wheelchair sold for 296,750 pounds, also compared with an estimate of 15,000 pounds. 

Auction house Christies ran the nine-day online auction called "On the Shoulders of Giants" to raise money for the Stephen Hawking Foundation and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

It also offered fans of the physicist known for his electronic voice synthesizer a chance to buy some of his possessions.

"Stephen Hawking was a huge personality worldwide. He had this amazing ability to connect with people," Thomas Venning, head of the Books and Manuscripts department at auction house Christie's London, told Reuters ahead of the event. - Reuters 

New blow to Theresa May as EU leaders demand scrutiny of Brexit deal

Theresa May has been dealt a blow in the Brexit negotiations by EU leaders ahead of a crunch week during which the Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, had been expected to visit Brussels to unveil the negotiated agreement.

Ambassadors for the EU27, including France and Germany, told the European commission that they would need to scrutinise any deal reached with the British before it was made public and a special summit called.

The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has largely been given free rein until now. An “optimistic” timetable would have seen Raab arrive on Tuesday to present the legal text agreed between the commission and the British government.

But during a two-hour meeting with the EU’s deputy chief negotiator, Sabine Weyand, the member states’ representatives insisted they would not be steamrollered into accepting the agreement secured between the two negotiating teams.

They told the commission they would need the best part of a week to go through the text should there be an agreement in a sign of the growing nervousness over the prospect of giving away an all-UK customs union in the withdrawal agreement.

The development makes it less likely that a November Brexit summit could be convened. EU officials have privately said that 25 November is the last possible date for a summit, and that it would need to be called early next week to allow preparations in EU capitals. May’s chief Brexit adviser, Olly Robbins, is expected to visit Brussels on Sunday given the lack of time to find agreement.

For the withdrawal agreement to be agreed by the EU27, it will need to contain commitments that a hard border on the island of Ireland will never be required. The EU has suggested that Northern Ireland could in effect stay in the single market and customs union. The prime minister has said she could not sign up to such a “dislocation” of the UK and is insisting on the whole of the country staying in a temporary customs union. Brussels is placing a high price on such a concession, including so-called “level playing field” commitments to ensure the British do not gain any unforeseen competitive advantages.

Frustration has been growing at the manner in which the commission has engaged in the talks with the UK. It has taken them into “the tunnel”, a period of private discussions in which consultation with the member states has been limited.

There is particular concern about giving away a customs union to the UK without sufficient commitments that the UK will sign up to EU labour, environmental and social standards, and open up their seas and fishing stocks to European fleets.

A senior EU diplomat said: “The member states insisted that they cannot be in the dark on this, it is just too important.”

One senior diplomat added that “we are far away from a high fives moment”, following the briefing from the commission.

“The UK needs to go back to London, get a clear mandate and start talking again in Brussels”, one EU diplomat said. “There are levels of fluid. Things are fluid between the commission and the UK, and then things are fluid in London.”

The European Commission, meanwhile, is expected to ramp up its no-deal plans in the coming days, given the growing volatility in Westminster. It will also publish legislation on exempting UK nationals from its visa requirements as a third country. - The Guardian