US raps DPRK missile launches

WASHINGTON. — The United States condemned North Korea’s launch of four ballistic missiles, vowing that Washington was ready to “use the full range of capabilities at our disposal against this growing threat”. “The United States strongly condemns the DPRK’s ballistic missile launches tonight, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea’s launches using ballistic missile technology,” the State Department’s acting spokesperson Mark Toner said.

ABUJA. — Nigeria is advising its citizens against all but essential travel to the United States because of the lack of clarity on new immigration rules, the government said yesterday.

A special adviser to the president on foreign affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said in a statement that Nigerians “without any compelling or essential reasons” should consider delaying.

“In the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple- entry US visas being denied entry and sent back to Nigeria,” she said.

“In such cases reported to the office, such affected persons were sent back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were cancelled.”

Dabiri-Erewa said “no reasons were given for the decision by the US immigration authorities”.

The recommendation to postpone trips was given “until there is clarity on the new immigration policy” from Washington, she added.

Of the 2,1 million African immigrants living in the United States in 2015, 327 000 were born in Nigeria, according to data from the Pew Research Centre, published in February.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 27 to bar people from seven Muslim-majority countries from travelling to the US for 90 days.

It also stopped all refugees for 120 days and Syrian refugees permanently.

The ban caused global outrage as well as chaos across the US, before it was frozen by a legal ruling.

Trump was expected to sign a revised travel ban yesterday. — AFP.