Politics
US: Kamala Harris to visit hurricane-struck North Carolina
Kamala Harris is set to visit North Carolina to survey the damage after Hurricane Helene. Her trip comes after that of Donald Trump, who has been accused of lying about the federal response to the crisis.
Her visit comes one day after a visit by Republican nominee Donald Trump, who used his trip to disparage the Biden administration’s handling of the disaster and repeat his declared view that climate change is a “scam.”
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on September 26 and swept over several states before dissipating three days later, claimed more than 220 lives, making it the deadliest US mainland storm since Katrina in 2005.
More than half of the deaths from Helene were in North Carolina.
Proactive response
Harris’ trip comes after a similar visit to the state of Georgia, which also suffered severe damage from the hurricane.
In Georgia, Harris helped distribute meals and tried to give comfort to families that were hard-hit by the storm.
Harris said this week that she wanted to “personally take a look at the devastation, which is extraordinary.”
The Biden administration, in which Harris is vice president, has so far pledged to cover all rescue and recovery costs across the entire Southeast for several months.
President Joe Biden has also called on lawmakers to quickly restore funding to the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program.
Biden also visited the disaster zone during a two-day trip in the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia.
Trump claims
The realities of the federal government’s response to the disaster contrast strongly with remarks made by Trump on his visits this week to the region.
Trump claimed the Biden administration was failing to do enough to help hurricane victims in Republican areas.
During a stop in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Thursday, Trump once more criticized the federal response and cited “lousy treatment to North Carolina in particular.”
Trump is of the view that climate change is a hoax
© Win McNamee/Getty Images
That goes in the face of comments by the state’s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, who said more than 50,000 people in the state have been registered for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Cooper said some $6 billion (€5.5 billion) had already been paid out in financial aid.
Trump also continued to make false claims about climate change, calling it “one of the great scams of all time.”
In fact, climate scientists say that natural weather disasters on the scale of Helene are made many times more likely by human-induced global warming.
Country music star Dolly Parton donates a million
Meanwhile, the country music star Dolly Parton, who was born in Tennessee — another state badly hit by the hurricane — has said she will donate $1 million (approx €910,600) for relief efforts.
Parton, 78, said the money would be given to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to provide fast assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims.
“These are special people here; they’re my people,” Parton said while announcing her donation in Newport, Tennessee.
tj/rm (AP, Reuters)
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
Politics
PRESIDENT TINUBU FORWARDS NEW AMBASSADORIAL LIST TO SENATE, NOMINATES DAMBAZAU, IBAS, CHIOMA OHAKIM AND OTHERS
By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
4-DEC- 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh set of ambassadorial nominations to the Senate, featuring a mix of distinguished public figures and seasoned professionals drawn from across the country.
Among the notable nominees are former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former senator Ita Enang; and Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State.
The President formally transmitted two comprehensive lists containing 34 career and 31 non-career ambassadorial nominees, bringing the total number of nominees awaiting Senate confirmation to 68.
The newly submitted lists mark another significant step in the administration’s ongoing diplomatic restructuring, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s representation and presence across global missions.
The Senate is expected to commence screening and confirmation proceedings in the coming days.
IMO ON GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT AS GOVERNOR UZODIMMA KICKS OFF 2025 IMO ECONOMIC SUMMIT.
IMO ON GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT AS GOVERNOR UZODIMMA KICKS OFF 2025 IMO ECONOMIC SUMMIT.
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