Boris Johnson listed among those who renounced their American citizenship

Boris Johnson listed among those who renounced their American citizenship

World Unknown   09:45

The US treasury department has released a comprehensive list containing details of all those who renounced their American citizenship last year. Among them is Boris Johnson who was born in New York when his parents worked in the States and ranked 5,411 in the list

People from different quarters are wondering if his decision to renounce his US citizenship is a ploy to exonerate himself from the current political situation in the States under the leadership of President Donald Trump, though the decision not be unconnected to America’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Boris announced in 2014 that an heavy tax was imposed on him by the US government after he sold his house in Islington, north London which he paid later on, despite seeing it as ‘absolutely outrageous’.

It was revealed that the American government’s resolve to crackdown on finding out how much dual citizens is forcing a lot of people to renounce their US citizenship.

As dual nationals are liable for tax bills in both countries Boris’ decision was most likely an effort to rid himself of a sizeable bill.

During a visit to New York in 2014, he told National Public Radio that it would be hard to renounce his citizenship: ‘The great United States of America does have some pretty tough rules, you know.

‘You may not believe this but if you’re an American citizen, America exercises this incredible doctrine of global taxation, so that even though tax rates in the UK are far higher and I’m mayor of London, I pay all my tax in the UK and so I pay a much higher proportion of my income in tax than I would if I lived in America.

‘The United States comes after me, would you believe it … for capital gains tax on the sale of your first residence which is not taxable in Britain, but they’re trying to hit me with some bill, can you believe it?’

Foreigners visiting America may be required to submit their social media ID and password for scrutiny

Foreigners visiting America may be required to submit their social media ID and password for scrutiny

World Unknown   09:47

There seem to be strong indication that nationals from the Muslim-majority countries wanting to visit the United States may be required to give details of their social media accounts for scrutiny or be barred from entering. According to source, American visa applicants could be told to submit their social media password during the application.

Speaking on the issue, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly stated the proposal could be part of the tough measures being put in place by the government in an effort to fish out suspect terrorists.

Furthermore, he stated that such a check may be narrowed down to the seven countries being placed under security watch, like: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Mr Kelly told a hearing of the Homeland Security Committee: "We're looking at some enhanced or some additional screening.

"We may want to get on their social media, with passwords.

"It's very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries. But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet."

He said anyone who refused to cooperate would not be allowed into the United States.

He stressed that no decision had been made, but tighter screening would be implemented, even if it means longer delays for awarding US visas to visitors.

"These are the things we are thinking about. But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line."

President Donald Trump vows to reverse Friday’s court ruling against his executive order

President Donald Trump vows to reverse Friday’s court ruling against his executive order

World Unknown   10:54

Could Friday’s ruling by a federal judge James Robert which brings to a halt the executive order of President Donald Trump mean that the interests of affected countries under the terror watch list which are subject to rigorous vetting to ensure that anyone from the listed countries coming into the US is free from any form of terrorism or its related activities supersedes that of the American citizens?

According to our source, the 9^th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the official request made by the US Department of Justice seeking to lift the said ruling, and gave President Trump till Monday (today) to put in more arguments prior to the reaching of a final decision. That also allows states such as Washington and Minnesota to also make good their case.

It was maintained on Saturday night by the acting solicitor general Noel Francisco that the President's authority is "largely immune from judicial control" when it comes to deciding who can enter or stay in the US.

Accordingly, the government also issued out a warning stating the risk thwarting the president’s order could cost the States, as aliens have “no constitutional right to come into the US.

Nevertheless, the president is fully determined to ensure terrorists and their allies do not attack the US and is resolved to overturn the “ridiculous” ruling.

Also in a swift reaction, the president launched some kind of personal attack on James Robert on Saturday, as he called him a "so-called judge" in a series of ill-tempered tweets. Where the Seattle judge was accused of opening "up our country to potential terrorists and others that do not have our best interests at heart".

It will surprise you how 24 rattlesnakes invaded a house through a broken toilet pipe

It will surprise you how 24 rattlesnakes invaded a house through a broken toilet pipe

World Unknown   09:39

Amazing how dozens of rattlesnake invaded a family home in Texas, United States. The nightmare turned to reality, when the adult snake was discovered in the toilet boil, another found in the basement, more 10 which includes baby snakes were later seen living in the foundations of the infested building.

The petrifying encounter was reported to have occurred in Jones country, near Buffalo Gap in Texas. Thus, pest control company Big Country Snake Removal was called in to take away the snakes.

It was believed  that the snakes got their way into the house, via a broken pipe. The company shared images of the mission to round up the snakes on Facebook.

It said: "Last week we received a call from a family in Jones County who had an adult rattlesnake in their toilet. Yes, in their toilet!

"The snake found its way in from an opening in a relief pipe that I later sealed.

"This was the first snake that the family has seen on the property in several years.

"When I arrived, I immediately noticed a few problematic areas. Intuition took me directly to a storm cellar where I safely removed 13 adult rattlesnakes.

"After a thorough perimeter check, I crawled underneath the house where I removed another 10, five being babies... 24 snakes total, including the toilet snake, and the family had no idea.

"How is this possible? It's actually quite simple - rattlesnake are secretive and can be very cryptic.

"They rely heavily on their camouflage. This is simply how they survive. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there."

Irrespective of the various protests, new poll shows that majority of Americans are in support of President Trump

Irrespective of the various protests, new poll shows that majority of Americans are in support of President Trump

World Unknown   12:14

New poll have revealed that how more Americans give their support to President Trumps travel ban on nationals of certain countries in the US terror list.

According to the survey, which was made available on 30 and 31 January 2017 49 percent of American adults “strongly” or s”omewhat” agree with the President’s executive order, as against 41 percent that “strongly” or “somewhat” disagreed, while 10 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

Be that as it may, the reactions were part completely along partisan divisions. Exactly 53 percent of Democrats said they "firmly dissent" with Mr Trump's activity while 51 percent of Republicans said they "unequivocally concur."

Mr Trump's official request restricted refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and it put an inconclusive hang on Syrian exiles. It additionally blocked subjects from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The president during his campaign promised to bring what he called "extreme vetting" to the country's migration framework, said the request he marked on Friday was intended to safeguard the nation and its borders. "This is not a Muslim ban," he said.

Be that as it may, disarray over who was secured by Mr Trump's request left travellers, aircrafts and foreign governments scrambling to get clarity from US authorities, a considerable lot of whom were likewise puzzled.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey discovered 31 percent of Americans feel "more safe" in light of the ban, against 26 percent who said they felt "less safe." Some 38 percent said they felt the United States was setting "a good example" of how best to stand up to deal with terrorism, while 41 percent said the nation was setting "a bad example."

Democrats were more than three circumstances as likely as Republicans to state that the US ought to keep on taking in settlers and refugees, and Republicans were more than three circumstances as likely as Democrats to concur that "banning people from Muslim countries is necessary to prevent terrorism."

                                     

American embassy disputes assertions by British government that Muslim travel ban will not affect Brits with dual citizenship from the listed countries

American embassy disputes assertions by British government that Muslim travel ban will not affect Brits with dual citizenship from the listed countries

World Unknown   10:01

Contrary to the assertions made by the UK government, which states that British nationals will not be affected by the travel ban signed by President Donald Trump, the US embassy seem to have contradicted such a claim by the UK.

The assertion was made by Boris Johnson on Sunday as he told the public that he got assurances directly from the US which says only UK citizen who have dual nationality and have travelled to the listed countries would however be affected.

On the contrary, the American embassy issued a statement on Monday morning tagged “urgent notice” stated there will be no issuance of visa to dual national of the countries in the terror watch list.

Stating further that the US embassy would not even book any appointment for dual citizens of the nations pencilled down by President Trump for any visa interview.

“Per U.S. Presidential Executive Order signed on January 27, 2017, visa issuance to aliens from the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended effective immediately until further notification,” the US embassy’s statement said.

“If you are a national, or dual national, of one of these countries, please do not schedule a visa appointment or pay any visa fees at this time.

“If you already have an appointment scheduled, please DO NOT ATTEND your appointment as we will not be able to proceed with your visa interview.”

Though a representative of the Prime Minister, explained to newsmen on Monday morning that he is yet to see any notice regarding such and was not in any position to make any comment on that, but he was “confident” that’s the Foreign Secretary’s criteria would stand.

Accordingly, the Foreign Office says Mr Johnson's statement was relied upon an explanation he was given by the White House.

But a UK Government spokesman insisted the FCO guidance "was cleared by the top team in the White House and they are in charge".

A Government source said that after seeing the US Embassy guidance, Mr Johnson "sought clarity from the White House and was informed that the FCO statement was correct".