NBA Looks To Africa As Next Growth Area - Silver

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks before Game One of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors, outlining the NBA's plans for global expansion. Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

REUTERS

NBA commissioner Adam Silver delivered a state of the league address on Thursday that sounded more like a foreign policy briefing that underscored the league's international ambition.

With the NBA Finals being played outside of the United States for the first time, the Toronto Raptors hosting the Golden State Warriors provided the perfect setting for Silver to detail the league's global vision.

The first question put to Silver and the last along with several in-between dealt with the league's efforts to grow markets outside the U.S. particularly in China, Africa, and India.

"I think symbolically having our first Finals outside the United States maybe has a big impact on countries that follow the NBA but don't have teams, whether that be in Asia or whether that be in Latin America," said Silver.

"So I think as we look back in time at the NBA calendar this clearly is a marker of sorts that here we are 2019 our Game One of the Finals taking place in Toronto, Canada.

"That will, I think, be a milestone."

The NBA announced at its all-star game earlier this year that it would partner with FIBA, international basketball's governing body, and for the first time operate a league outside of North America.

The Basketball Africa League is set to begin next year with 12 teams spread across the continent.

The competition is part of a development model the NBA successfully implemented in China, which is now their biggest market outside of the United States.

The sport will also be developed at the grassroots level with programmes like Basketball Without Borders Africa, with plans to reach more than 2.5 million boys and girls ages 16 and under through programmes in 21 African countries this year.

Silver said the fact that four players on the rosters of the Warriors and Raptors were either born in Africa or had a parent born there was a testament to how the sport had internationalised and could be developed.

"I think it absolutely speaks to the opportunity across the roughly 55 countries of Africa," he said.

"It's one of the places we're looking in the world where we see enormous opportunity."

It is not just an untapped talent pool, however, with millions of potential new fans that can now be reached through technology and social media, he said.

"I think ultimately it's because of transformational nature of digital media where in Africa, a continent of over a billion people, where there are something like 700 million cell phones, 400 million of which are smart phones," said Silver.

"So we see enormous growth opportunities both in terms of players and for participation and ultimately an interest for the league."

Silver said the NBA was aware they were not immune to the forces of global politics and were mindful of a developing trade war between the Chinese and U.S. governments, but he hoped the league could provide some sort of bridge between the two.

"I am not concerned at this time," said Silver.

"Of course we are not immune from global politics, so it's something we're paying a lot of attention to.

"I look though to sports, and this is something Yao Ming and I have discussed, where we can use basketball maybe in the way ping-pong was used in the days of Richard Nixon, that there could be something called basketball diplomacy.

"It is an area where our two countries have excellent history of cooperation."

NIGERIA: Taraba Assembly Speaker Passes Vote Of Confidence In Journalists

BY SYLVANUS VIASHIMA

JALINGO (SUN NEWS ONLINE) -- Speaker, Taraba House of Assembly, Abel Peter Diah, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence in journalists working in the state, as lawmakers marked the end of the Eighth legislative session.

Diah, who made the special commendation said that journalists working in state have displayed a very high sense of responsibility and professionalism by reporting issues objectively.

“I must say that we have a unique breed of journalists in Taraba State. Most of you are not even from the state and yet, conduct yourselves with a very high sense of responsibility and professionalism. Your objectivity in reportage and wide coverage of issues that affect the state, even at the risk of coming to conflict with the authorities, is admirable.

“As a House, we have enjoyed good coverage and objective criticism that has helped to sharpen our operations and we enjoin you to give the ninth Assembly as much cooperation.”

The speaker said that he was humbled by the amount of support he got from his colleagues and promised a more purposeful leadership in the ninth assembly if elected speaker.

He urged the people to always put the interest of the state at the forefront and let their personal interests be subsumed by the well-being of the state.

“Humility gave me a leadership edge. I realised that I was just leading my equals so I made sure I didn’t lord it over them. I feel humbled by the comments of my colleagues. It is a trust I should not betray.

Let us always put Taraba State first and work for the good of the people,” Diah said.

He noted that the proliferation of the media industry by the social media is a major threat of disastrous magnitude, not just to the profession but the entire society.

WHO: 4.7m Nigerians Use Tobacco, 16, 000 Die Yearly

BY CHARITY NWAKAUDU

ABUJA (SUN NEWS ONLINE) -- The World Health Organisation (WHO), has raised the alarm that more Nigerians, including children, could face untimely death due to direct or indirect use or exposure to tobacco.

The UN health agency confirmed that tobacco consumption was the primary cause for lung cancer, which it added is responsible for more than two third of lung cancer -related deaths.

WHO Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who disclosed the information at a press conference to mark the 2019 World No Tobacco Day, in Abuja, with the theme “Tobacco and Lung Health” confirmed that 90 percent of persons with lung cancer stand less chance of survival.

He explained that the Day was set aside by UN to sensitise global audience and raise awareness on the negative effect of tobacco consumption on adults and children who are exposed to it.

Moeti, who spoke through the officer in charge of Nigeria, Dr. Clement Peter, confirmed that outcome of a research it conducted last year revealed that over 4.7 million Nigerians use tobacco, and 16, 000 die from its usage annually

While maintaining that tobacco smoke is dangerous, he said: “It contain more than 7, 000 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer.

Tobacco affects the lungs in multiple ways. Smoking is responsible for more than two thirds of lung cancer deaths.

“In Africa, a total of 39, 353 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in 2018, and no fewer than 37, 748 deaths were recorded. However, people that quit smoking reduce their risk of lung cancer by 50 percent after 10 years.”

He said that children were also at great risk of tobacco related infections when they are exposed to tobacco smoke.

“It reduces lung growth and function in children. Children exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke risk pneumonia, bronchitis and lower respiratory infections.

“Globally, no fewer than 165, 000 children die before the age of five years because of lower respiratory infections caused by second-hand tobacco smoke.”

He appealed to Federal Government to adopt and enforce tobacco-control policies that would reduce the demand for tobacco, promote cessation and adequately treat tobacco dependence.

SOUTH AFRICA: School Shoes Give Hope And dignity To Thousands Of Children In KwaZulu-Natal

Pupils from KwaSimamane Junior Primary School in Ndwedwe were overjoyed after the Soul2Sole team distributed new and gently-worn school shoes. For many of the little ones, these are the first pair of school shoes they have owned.

Aimed at making a significant change one school, one child and one pair of shoes at a time, Soul2Sole2019 is spearheaded by the Blue Sky Society Trust in partnership with the Lion Match Company and Aramex South Africa.

Nearly 3, 000 children from poverty-stricken areas in KwaZulu-Natal can now walk with dignity and hope after receiving school shoes, socks and shoe polish to the value of more than R330, 000 from the corporate and community initiative, Soul2Sole2019.

Aimed at making a significant change one school, one child and one pair of shoes at a time, Soul2Sole2019 is spearheaded by the Blue Sky Society Trust in partnership with the Lion Match Company and Aramex South Africa.

The project saw 2881 pairs of new and gently-worn school shoes, socks and Lion Quality Shoe Polish distributed to little ones in the KZN Midlands and in the greater Durban area, many of whom had never owned a pair of school footwear before.

The contributions serve as a helping hand for families too, most of whom rely on social grants to survive thereby making school shoes a luxury purchase.

“Soul2Sole is of great help to the school and the community,” said Mrs Nomasonto Mntungwa, principal of Sanele Primary School in Ndwedwe that received 295 pairs of shoes from Soul2Sole.

Most of their pupils are vulnerable, dependent on their grandparent’s grant.

There were smiles all around as the children laced up and buckled their school shoes. “Thank you very much. Now I have school shoes I did not have. I am very happy,” said KwaSimamane junior primary grade four pupil, Lindani Hlophe.

The school’s principal, Mr Nhlanhla Mosby Msomi, said Soul2Sole2019 has brought hope, relief and gratitude to the broader community.

Children in South Africa are among more than seven million pupils in Africa who go to school either barefoot or without proper footwear, risking injury and infection.

Milena Domiro, group corporate affairs and marketing manager, the Lion Match Company said they got involved in the ongoing Soul2Sole project to help grow and empower the future leaders of our country.

“No child should have to go to school without a pair of shoes on their feet. Seeing the joy in the faces of these children when they receive the socks, Lion Quality Shoe Polish and school shoes, is priceless. Brand-new school shoes cost a lot of money and these families cannot afford them. It warms my heart to know they will have one less thing to worry about,” said Domiro.

Children from 14 schools in KZN rallied round to help, generously donating their shoes to less fortunate learners during the campaign that began in July 2018 and May 27, 2019.

The full list of contributing schools is as follows:

Three Midlands schools, namely Hilton College (269 pairs), Michaelhouse (175 pairs) and Maritzburg College (158 pairs), six Durban North and Umhlanga schools, namely, Danville Park Girls High School (137 pairs), La Lucia Junior Primary (120 pairs), Virginia Prep (106 pairs), Chelsea Prep (102 pairs), Our Lady of Fatima (65 pairs) and Reddam House (188 pairs), and five schools in Durban, namely, Clifton College (232 pairs), Orient Islamic School (121 pairs), Durban Girls College (112 pairs), Durban Girls High School (111 pairs) and Al Falah College (53 pairs).

In addition to the donation of gently-worn shoes, the Lion Match Company purchased 932 pairs of new shoes for distribution.

Schools in the greater Durban area that benefited from project Soul2Sole are Sanele Primary School and KwaSimamane Primary School in Ndwedwe, Empilweni Primary School in Botha’s Hill, and St Martin’s Diocesan Home for Children in Glenwood.

Aramex South Africa kindly sponsored transportation costs, assisting with the collection, storage and distribution of the shoes.

“Being able to see the smile and feel the appreciation from the children for something as small as a pair of school shoes, is the biggest reward that makes the amount of effort invested that much more worth it,” said Dinesh Dheepnarain, Aramex South Africa regional operations manager – East.

“These children endure long walks in shoes that either have holes in them, worn out soles, or are just too tight. Therefore, any part that we could play in connecting the dots so that each child within this campaign receives a pair of shoes, is value that cannot be measured,” he added.

Soul2Sole has tripled in size and reach since its inception in 2014. Project manager, Anna Sacks, pointed out that they introduce new elements each year to grow the campaign.

“This year, we asked each recipient school to give back to their local community in some shape or form. We want to help pupils realise that kindness and generosity does not necessarily come in the form of money or donations. Just by reading at a local creche or assisting the community with collecting rubbish one day a week can change and uplift many lives,” she proudly stated.

SOURCE: rISING SUN CHARTSWORTH

God Loves A Cheerful Giver, Zambian Ambassador To US Tells Books For Africa

Dr Ngosa Simbyakula, (R) Zambia Ambassador to the United States. Image via Embassy of Zambia

BY TOM GITAA

ST. PAUL, MINN. (MSHALE) – Books for Africa (BFA) held its annual fundraiser luncheon Thursday at the Town and Country Club with 300 people attending. This year’s African ambassador speaker was Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula, the ambassador of Zambia to the United States. Sponsored by Thomson Reuters, Bremer Bank, Lerner and the University Club, the event was expected to raise more than $100,000 for the organization once all numbers are tabulated.

“The 44 million books and counting that Books for Africa has shipped to Africa for the last 31 years, has touched and changed the lives of millions in the continent,” said Ambassador Simbyakula. “Most of Africa are still youth, so through your kindness you are helping to educate Africa’s future.”

The ambassador said that the books sent also helps in strengthening democracy and the rule of law in the continent, adding that a well-informed electorate is “vital to a thriving democracy.”

“The bible says God loves a cheerful giver and that is what you are,” said Simbyakula. “I would therefore beseech the almighty to add many more years to your life, so that you might continue the wonderful work you are doing. Through books, you are giving Africa the greatest gift of all”

This year’s program was moderated by Books for Africa board president Jote Taddese while former board president Rosemond Sarpong-Owens moderated the ask portion of the luncheon. Highlights included the unveiling of a 30th anniversary short video that was shot last year featuring testimonials from supporters and recipients of books in Africa. “My US dollar goes further with this organization than any other non-profit based in the US,” said former board president Luanne Nyberg in the video.

BFA benefactor Frank Babka, as in previous years, committed to match any new container sponsorships pledged at the luncheon – a two for one deal. A container typically contains over 22,000 school textbooks. Kenyan-American Mutune Mutisya who has a project in the works with BFA to ship a container to his hometown in Kenya, was eager to sign up for a new container project to take up Babka on his offer. “(This) is a sweet deal man,” he said, beaming.

Books for Africa founder Tom Warth, spoke of the urgent need to increase book shipments to the continent, saying there are still millions of children that do not have access to reading material, despite the millions of books the organization has shipped.

Earlier at a breakfast reception at the University Club attended by its top donors known as the Kilimanjaro Society, Books for Africa honored its volunteers and donors. In a moment that drew heartfelt applause, the organization bestowed its Volunteer of the Year Award to students from the Metro Deaf School of Saint Paul. The students have been regulars at the Books for Africa warehouse in Saint Paul, volunteering to help sort and pack books, according to Patrick Plonski, BFA’s executive director.

Also honored by Books for Africa was prominent businessman, Abdirahman Kahin, a member of the Kilimanjaro Society. Members of Kilimanjaro are donors who give at least $1,000 annually, but Plonksi heaped praise on Kahin for being a longtime high-level donor and also helping BFA during its many events with food and other assistance. Kahin owns the popular Afro Deli whose delicacies have become mainstays at Books for Africa events.

Notables attending this year’s luncheon included Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Liberia’s Consul General in Minnesota Jackson George and former Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie who now heads Global Minnesota. Plonksi noted that Ellison has been a longtime BFA supporter such that when he was a congressman, he would take along books from the organization during congressional trips to Africa.

SOURCE: MSHALE

Nigeria Market Is A Great Place To Invest Now – Edwards

Gerry Edwards, Western Digital. Image: PR Revue

BY CHIMA AKWAJA

LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW
In this interview with CHIMA AKWAJA, the marketing director for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India at Western Digital Corporation, Gerry Edwards, explains why his company came to Nigeria, its expansion plans and need for data security for institutions and individuals. You came to Nigeria at a time of economic recession when others were exiting. Has the market been receptive to you? Nigeria in many ways has more challenges but we have other markets about the same amount of challenges. By investing sustainably in very good quality products in a methodical way, through the recession we have always come out on the right side of it. As a country with a significant percentage of digital savvy individuals, Nigeria is an important country for us. We aim to create value to consumers and stakeholders by providing innovative storage solutions. The introduction of an extended product portfolio is a step in the right direction – as we continue to provide improved performance and efficiency for our customers.

The population of 200 million people in Nigeria, mobile phones growth and penetration is right around a 150 mobile phones, I think 50 per cent of which are smartphones right now, each one of them with a microSD card. Consumers want to expand their capacity within the mobile phones. Even during recession, consumers have the need for more storage in their phones and we know that is only going to get bigger and bigger as data is the new oil. So, that is going to continue at a consumer level and beyond for the next 10 years.

What is your objective for the Nigerian market?

We have long been at the forefront of game changing innovations. From the invention of the first hard drive to recent advancements in 3D NAND, our journey of innovation continues to inspire those who dare to think big about the possibilities of data. Western Digital is enabling a bigger, faster experience in its portfolio with new solutions that give consumers an excellent combination of performance and capacity so they can do more with the rich content they capture. In the Nigerian market, we are setting up and we are here to stay in terms of our investment in the infrastructure and our go-to-market. We came first with our SanDisk brand and the guys in the sales team have set up the infrastructure through distributor and retailers with the aim of making sure that consumers are protected with original products. We have a ‘Buy Original’ programme on SanDisk products which will go to markets in Nigeria through our authorised resellers. Our objective is to ensure that the consumer has what we believe is the best technology for consumer flash products from microSD cards, USB drives and OTG drives for mobile phones in the Nigeria market. We believe the technology is best and we believe that the Nigeria market is a great place to invest now and into the future. How long have you been in this Nigeria market? We started three years ago, very methodical planning to make sure we do it the right way, not to just come in to do some deals and go. We set up the infrastructure and the plan to make sure that we are here for the long run and we are investing sustainably, not doing things that are going to be a flash in the pan. We invest in a sustainable way into the future because we see opportunities not just for now but also 10, 15 years from now. We understand the magnitude of this market, which is why we have expanded our distribution channels, so that more people can have access to our products. Nigeria has millions of individuals who use data digitally, one way or the other – we have recognized this opportunity and provided storage solutions for their needs. We offer high-performance, high-capacity and high-quality storage solutions to fit the increasingly digital lifestyles of consumers.

There is the issue of fake products, how have you been tackling it?

First of all, we compete globally with many other brands. We are by far the biggest market shareholder globally with our SanDisk brand for flash micro SD cards. We are a manufacturer of flash memory, one of only five in the world. You see a lot of brands, if they are not manufacturers, they are buying from the market. This means that we can guarantee the best level of quality at a very competitive price and the consumer gets the best possible products. It is not rocket science, we invested in very good products, in quality ways to go to market over the years and globally; in Nigeria we do exactly the same. Universally, we are compatible with everything, on the consumer side, we have a solution for everybody. We advise consumers to go to one of our authorised resellers where they would see the SanDisk sign, a ‘Buy Original’ sign and a stand with a ‘Buy Original’ sign, you will then see an original product within that store and that store owner will help to take them through the process. If it is not SanDisk, don’t touch because the brand has to be SanDisk. But we have educated our resellers, we have educated the market what the SanDisk brand looks like and what are the elements.

Your products, do they come with warranties?

Yes, it differs per product. For example, on our brand, the external hard drive comes with a local Nigeria warranty. The consumer has a level of trust on the product and they know it’s an original product, it is not fake, we have it in the country; this is a locally distributed product, it has an hologram sticker so everyone knows it is genuine product and has a local Nigeria warranty.

What are your plans to expand across the cities as well as channel distributions?

Our plan was always to reach all the major cities of Nigeria, so we started in Lagos. As you know, we are already now in Onitsha. We are in Abuja, and we have started expanding into Ibadan. In two to three years we should be covering all the major cities in the country. In terms of your retail outlets, we are supplying directly almost 12,000 stores in the country and we are in at least 3,000 to 4,000 branded stores for SanDisk. We are already in all the 66 stores of Slot, Pointek, and Spar and so on.

What is your vision for Nigeria now and in the future?

In the near future, we want to continue the growth that we doing in a sustainable way. We are going to continue on our SanDisk brand of products, developing our ‘Buy Original’ programme, going to more store fronts and more outlets and we going to concentrate on our branded products and launch them in the same way we did for SanDisk and then grow exactly the same way. We have authorised distributors and we go through retail and our resellers in the same methodical way, enter into Lagos and beyond the rest of the country as well.

Why is it important for individuals and organisations to secure their data?

Your data is very valuable even if it’s professional data, through to your personal memories and photos of you and your family, how you secure that is very important. On all of our products we offer a secure access software which can be used to set up a simple password on all of our hard drives and we want for all consumers to have the ability to be able to look after their data on hard drives.

NIGERIA: DMGS’ Ex-Students Plan More Projects For Alma Mater

DMGS IMAGE VIA FACEBOOK

BY OKORE UGURU

ONITSHA (THE NATION) -- In a bid to support efforts at providing conducive learning environment and facilities at its alma mater, the Lagos branch of the Old Boys Association of Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha, is planning more projects in addition to the ones executed by the association in the recent past, as well as, support the school management in maintaining high standards.

Speaking during a rededication and thanksgiving service held on Sunday at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Mr Nelson Okoli, president of the association’s Lagos branch, said the old boys association worldwide has done projects worth over N1billion. “We are hoping to do more and expect the new DMGS to be greater than the old one in terms of learning facilities. The library is over equipped now, new classrooms and hostels are coming and the school is going to be number one as it used to be”, Okoli said.

He further noted that the continued support to the alma mater was intended to provide learning facilities, help in maintaining the high standards, which the school is known for, and to motivate both teachers and students to go for excellence in their work and academic pursuit.

In his sermon at the service, Dr. Kin Egwuchim, a guest preacher and also an old boy of the school, disclosed that the school, which opened its doors to students on January 25, 1925 as the first and best available school in the Eastern Nigeria then, has today produced prominent scholars, professionals and eminent Nigerians who have impacted the society positively.

He therefore called on members of the Lagos branch of the association to see the rededication service as opportunity to consolidate on the strong foundation of the school laid on the gospel that liberated the Igbo land and high quality education that enlightened and empowered the people.

After the rededication service graced by members of the association, their families and friends, the celebration continued at the Police Officers’ Mess, Onikan, Lagos where guests were treated to exciting food, wine and music offerings.

Speaking on the import of the event, Sylvester Okonkwo, a politician, chairman of the occasion and an old boy, said the rededication and thanksgiving is an annual event, which has now become a culture of the association.

For him, it is very wonderful been an old boy of DMGS, as everywhere you go, you see your people, and have the inspiration to do right and show the light and it is rewarding.

In the same vein, Ifeanyi Atuenyi, a pharmacist and a student of the 1958 class, said it has been a wonderful association with DMGS as the ex-students would keep appreciating what the school has done in their lives, especially the strong foundation to excel in life. “There is no student that will not give a good report of DMGS because it was founded on the fear of God and training of students to be very good citizens. We old boys are trying to be close to the school so that the young generation will not depart from the foundations we have laid”, he noted.

Going down the history lane, Dr Chike Mogilim of the 1986 class disclosed that the school has a very long and rich history, especially in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. “It is one of the oldest grammar schools in Nigeria, and grammar schools were the best available schools then in the country”.

For him, going to DMGS was a thing of pride, even being admitted because it has a rich history of good tutors, good students, good results, and excellence in sports.

Unveiling other plans for the school, Victor Enwesor of the 92 class, disclosed that talks are ongoing between the school management and the association on the provision of electricity power supply, new hostels, classrooms and other learning facilities.


On the poor standard of education across the country, Mogilim said there are efforts at keeping the standards at DMGS as high as it has always been. According to him, the old boys have invested a lot in the school by building infrastructure, helping to pay teachers among others. ‘The decay in Nigeria is very big, but even in the decay; you will still find some oasis of sanity. DMGS is what it should be”, he said.

Immigration Largely Absent From Democrats' 2020 Policy Blitz

In this May 6, 2019, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate and former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks to the media following a roundtable discussion on climate change in Des Moines, Iowa. Top Democratic presidential candidates are one-upping each other with ever-more-ambitious plans on global warming, gun violence, health care and abortion. But largely left out of the policy parade are the thousands of immigrants flooding the U.S. border to seek asylum (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File

BY WILL WEISSERT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential contenders are in a feverish battle to one-up each other with ever-more-ambitious plans to beat back global warming , curb gun violence , offer universal health care coverage , slash student debt and preserve abortion rights . Largely left out of the policy parade: immigration.

The field of 24 candidates is united in condemning President Donald Trump’s support for hard-line immigration tactics, particularly his push to wall off as much of the U.S. border with Mexico as possible, roll back asylum rights for refugees and since-suspended efforts to separate immigrant children from their parents. But only two contenders — ex-Obama Housing Secretary Julián Castro and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke — have released detailed, written policies addressing the future of the immigration system.

The dearth of formal policy plans signals the challenge that immigration could pose for Democrats. White House hopefuls can easily rally their party’s base with broad, passionate attacks on what they see as Trump’s failures, but it’s riskier to grapple with the complexity of the immigration system. Trump, meanwhile, has tapped into fervor around immigration to energize his own supporters and has worked to seize on it as an issue of strength — territory Democrats risk ceding to him ahead of 2020 if they don’t find a way to go deeper.

“For the most part, the Democrats aren’t even trying to make the case to a centrist voter of what a reasonable immigration plan would look like,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the Washington-based National Immigration Forum, which works with faith leaders and law enforcement to promote the value of immigration. Undecided voters “know that Trump’s simplistic approach to this isn’t working,” Noorani said, “but they’ve got nowhere else to go.”

The issue isn’t likely to recede as the presidential campaign intensifies. Much of the Democratic field is heading this weekend to California — it borders Mexico and is home to the largest Hispanic population in the U.S. — for a state party convention. Meanwhile, the U.S. Border Patrol has said it plans to fly hundreds of immigrant families out of Texas as it struggles to process the large numbers of Central American families that are reaching the U.S. border with Mexico and asking for asylum.

Castro called in April for ending criminalization of illegal border crossings entirely. O’Rourke didn’t go that far in a plan he unveiled Wednesday , instead pledging to use an executive order to mandate that only people with criminal records be detained for crossing into the U.S. illegally. O’Rourke also promised to send thousands of immigration attorneys to the border to help immigrants with asylum cases while wiping out Trump polices separating immigrant families and banning travel to the U.S. from several mostly Muslim countries.

Other 2020 hopefuls have mostly focused on criticizing Trump rather than offering deeply articulated alternatives. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the early Democratic front-runner, has called Trump administration immigration policies an example of the president’s “demonization” of entire groups of people, but he hasn’t made the topic a top issue.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has laid out a case for “comprehensive immigration reform” on her campaign website while Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California have all previously voted for or sponsored plans to loosen immigration rules.

Then there’s Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has issued a steady stream of sweeping plans on such issues as forgiving nearly all student debts and offering free tuition at public universities, but she hasn’t released a written immigration proposal. Spokesman Chris Hayden noted Wednesday that Warren has previously praised Castro’s plan and said the senator supports an immigration overhaul that creates a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally, including those who came to the U.S. as children.

The Trump administration has proposed its own overhaul that would bolster border security while creating a “merit-based” immigration system prioritizing people with in-demand job skills rather than relatives of people already in the U.S. But that was largely seen as symbolic, and the president has repeatedly returned to his calls for extending the U.S.-Mexico border wall and imposing stricter immigration policies to excite supporters.

Feelings on the issue, meanwhile, are far from settled. About 54 percent of national voters said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of immigration policies, compared to 45 percent who approved, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the 2018 national electorate.

Tyler Moran, who was a senior policy adviser to former Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, said that the primary campaign is still in an early phase and that candidates shouldn’t feel pressured to rush out policy positions on such a complicated issue.

“They have all said that they reject Trump’s approach and his vision of America and that we can do better,” Moran said. “Not everybody has packaged it together yet, but I think it’s coming, and I think every single one of them is prepared to answer the question of what they see as the plan on immigration.”

Israel Faces Repeat 2019 Election After Parliament Dissolves

Israeli Ministers and Parliament Members in their chairs before voting in the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Israel's parliament has voted to dissolve itself, sending the country to an unprecedented second snap election this year as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition before a midnight deadline. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

BY ARON HELLER

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel embarked Thursday on an unprecedented snap election campaign — the second this year — after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition and instead dissolved parliament.

In what seemed an improbable scenario just days ago, Israel’s newly elected Knesset dissolved itself in an early morning 74-45 vote and set a new election date for Sept. 17.

The parliament’s disbanding comes just a month after it was sworn in and sets the stage for a second election in the same year — a first in Israeli history.

The developments were a shocking setback for Netanyahu, who had appeared to secure a comfortable win in last month’s election. But he was unable to build a parliamentary majority because his traditional ally, Avigdor Lieberman, refused to bring his Yisrael Beiteinu faction into the coalition.


Netanyahu’s Likud party excoriated Lieberman, accusing him of betraying voters, abandoning his right-wing ideology and selfishly carrying out a personal vendetta against his former patron Netanyahu.

Lieberman, a former top aide to Netanyahu who for two decades has alternated between a close alliance and bitter rivalry with his former boss, delivered his own rebuke Thursday. A former defense minister and foreign minister under Netanyahu, he appeared to break with him for good by alleging that Likud Party members were blind Netanyahu followers who needed professional help.

“This has nothing to do with ‘the right’,” Lieberman, a West Bank settler, said at a press conference. “This is about a cult of personality and not any political ideology.”

Netanyahu, who has led Israel for the past decade, now faces another challenge to his lengthy rule. It comes as he prepares for a pre-indictment hearing before criminal charges are expected to be filed against him in a series of corruption cases.

Assuming they would sweep into power again, Netanyahu’s allies in the ruling Likud had already begun drafting a contentious bill aimed at granting him immunity from the various corruption charges awaiting him. He was also looking to push legislation limiting the power of Israel’s Supreme Court and paving his path to several more years in office.

But it was a separate issue that sparked the extraordinary crisis, and for the first time ever thrust Israel into a repeat election before a new government was even formed.

Lieberman — a veteran nationalist and a secular politician — demanded that current legislation mandating that young ultra-Orthodox men be drafted into the military run its course.

Years of exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men have generated widespread resentment among the rest of Jewish Israelis who serve. The ultra-Orthodox, backed by Netanyahu, refused to bend and the showdown quickly devolved into a full-blown crisis that imploded the perspective government.

“The public chose me, and Lieberman, unfortunately, deceived his voters. From the beginning he had no intention to do what he said,” Netanyahu said after the vote, accusing Lieberman of aligning with “the left.”

“He made one demand after another and every time his demand was met, he raised another one,” Netanyahu also said, adding that Lieberman “clearly wanted to topple the government for his own personal reasons.”

Lieberman called the accusations ridiculous and retorted that the new election was indeed unfortunate but a result of Netanyahu caving in to the ultra-Orthodox.

“This is a complete surrender of Likud to the ultra-Orthodox,” he said.

Though a staunch hard-liner who has drawn accusations of racism, Lieberman also champions a secular agenda aimed toward his core political base of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. He has pledged to confront efforts of ultra-Orthodox parties to impose their lifestyle on the country’s secular majority, earning him some centrist support as well.

In contrast to Netanyahu’s deal-making pragmatism, Lieberman has earned a reputation as a maverick willing to break from his traditional ideological bloc. This time, both dug in and refused to budge.

“Israel has known many political crises in its 71 years. It has also known some dirty and even dirtier political tricks, corrupt and even more corrupt political bribery offers,” wrote Nahum Barnea, a columnist with Yediot Ahronot. “What we saw last night in the Knesset was a new page in the process of the decline of Israeli democracy.”

The new election gives the anti-Netanyahu forces in Israel, led by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, another shot at toppling the longtime leader. It also complicates Netanyahu’s efforts to pass the proposed bills to protect himself from prosecution.

Even if Netanyahu wins the election, it is unlikely he will be able to form a government and lock down the required political support for an immunity deal before an expected indictment. That would force him to stand trial, and in turn put heavy pressure on him to step aside. No one in Likud has yet challenged him publicly.

The political uncertainty could also spell trouble for the White House’s Mideast peace efforts. The U.S. has scheduled a conference next month in Bahrain to unveil what it says is the first phase of its peace plan, an initiative aimed at drawing investment into the Palestinian territories.

The Trump administration had vowed to unveil its plan after the Israeli election and it’s unclear how the current political shakeup will affect that rollout.

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Follow Heller at www.twitter.com/aronhellerap

'RADICAL AND VIOLENT REVOLUTION IS A VALID DEFENSE': A CONVERSATION WITH NNAMDI EHIRIM

BY JAY A. FERNANDEZ

When Nigerian writer Nnamdi Ehirim was eight years old, his family left their home in Lagos on the Gulf of Guinea and moved to the city of Enugu, 350 miles to the east, where his father had been transferred for work. Now 27, Ehirim considers that period the most formative of his life.

"I traveled around Nigeria a lot within those years, and it gave me a chance to learn things about different parts of Nigeria and its people I wasn't previously privy to," he says. "I developed the capacity to look at the same thing with many different lenses of context."

That capacity gives insightful shape to the characters and time-shifting structure of Ehirim's debut novel, Prince of Monkeys. Set mostly in Lagos from the mid-1980s through dictator Sani Abacha's reign in the '90s, Ehirim's ambitious coming-of-age novel follows four friends from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds as they navigate a tumultuous path to adulthood in a country marked by religious fanaticism, political corruption, and prostitution.

After a tragic incident during an anti-government riot, the narrator, Ihechi, is sent away by his mother to live with relatives in Enugu, where he gains unexpected prestige working for a corrupt army general. When he reunites with his friends years later, the opposing positions they've taken in a divided country prompt a harsh reckoning that affects how they look at their homeland and themselves. The plot includes two critical appearances from Nigerian icon Fela Kuti, the revered Afrobeat musician and human rights activist who was arrested hundreds of times for his outspoken criticism of political corruption. As the narrative unfolds, Ehirim paints an acute and complex portrait of Nigeria during a convulsive historical moment.

Also an entrepreneur, Ehirim in 2017 co-founded a start-up in Lagos designed to make clean energy more accessible to rural portions of the country. His company distributes liquefied petroleum gas, which can be used for domestic and industrial fuel instead of coal or diesel, and solar home systems. The following year, he moved to Madrid to complete a one-year MBA program at IE Business School, where he studied renewable energy entrepreneurship. Now back in Lagos, Ehirim is at work on a handful of screenplays, a new novel that's "very strongly influenced by Oscar Wilde plays and the Berlin techno scene," and a handful of essay series, including one about the criminalization of prostitution in Nigeria. "The only pattern to all of this is I really want to do things that I can feel good about," he says.

Ehirim spoke with Pacific Standard about his evolution as a writer, the historical and cultural context of Prince of Monkeys, the powerful multigenerational appeal of Fela Kuti, and the psychological toll of economic stagnancy on Nigerian youth.

Who or what inspired you to write fiction?

I did a lot of writing from early on. I wrote rap—I think nearly everyone growing up around the time I did attempted that at some point. I did a lot of essays in secondary school that were mostly academic, for myself and for clients who could afford me. And then, while faffing around the school library, I discovered Edgar Allan Poe, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and the rest, so I began exploring the short story form. It was with the short story form I became a steady, prolific writer.

Why did you decide to set Prince of Monkeys at the end of the 20th century as opposed to in the present day?

I wanted to write a story that explores my thoughts on politics, nationalism, and cultural diversity without being misconstrued as a direct critique of the current state of these things in Nigeria. Yes, it was influenced by the current state, and no, I'm not happy with the current state, but I intended it to be a work of art that could be digested beyond being political critique. To achieve that, it was best to set it in history, and that particular period was appealing because it's arguably the least written-about period in Nigerian history, as there was a lot of censorship.

Is there something in particular about telling this story that you could only achieve by telling it through the viewpoint of young people?

Definitely. The story explores how individuals—their beliefs, biases, relationships, and motivations—evolve. To best depict this evolution, we have to first look at these individuals in their state of innocence, their childhood, and then at the point where the evolution is most significant: their adolescence. I also don't see much fun in writing about old people altogether, but then I'm young, naïve about a lot of things, and haven't lived a full life.

The way you construct the narrative around Ihechi and his friends being torn in different directions, with different fixations—it's almost like they're aspects of the Nigerian soul at war with itself. Did you have that in mind when writing?

Oh yeah, it was very deliberate. The diversity of the characters was motivated by a desire to capture the diversity of the Nigerian experience. And more importantly the stubbornness, because everyone believes their path is the best, and they leave little room for compromise. At different points, the biases and motivations [the characters] had adopted while being away from each other for so long manifest in their interactions and take a toll on their relationships. That is a core part of every young Nigerian growing up in a very diverse environment. And with the way the world is set up, we could easily say it's a very human problem that is universally relatable.

Has much changed for the youth of Lagos in the 20 years since the turn of the millennium? What are young people's biggest concerns now?

The things you want to last forever—the music, film, and other aspects of pop culture—have changed an incredible lot. It's also safe to say that that era has had a heavy influence on what's being produced now. But then, the things you want to change—the regressive politics, the inequality, the cultural, religious, and ideological intolerance—have remained fixed through time. The first massive brain-drain we had was in the late '80s, after the economic recession of General [Muhammadu] Buhari's regime. Twenty years later, we're having another massive brain-drain after another economic recession [under] President Buhari's regime. So that's our biggest concern, if I were to speak for the Nigerian youth: the stagnancy that breeds hopelessness, and the consequences of the desperation that is born from the hopelessness.

Why bring Fela Kuti into the narrative? What does he represent for you and in the story of the novel? And did you meet him before his death in 1997?

Fela is an artistic, political, and, to some, spiritual icon, all themes critical to the story. And even the core theme of the novel: friendship. I never met him or watched him perform live, but my father forged friendships listening to him perform, decades later I've forged friendships listening to his son perform, and it's likely my children will forge friendships listening to his grandchildren perform. Now it wouldn't exactly be sensible for me to say I portrayed Fela because he represented an ideal, because he was a very imperfect man, even in his core competencies. I think it's more accurate to say he was a very balanced man who strongly represented these different themes I was exploring, and I wanted to pay homage to that.

Social justice is a prominent focus of your writing. Do you plan to keep addressing it in the future?

Definitely. The manuscript I'm working on now also explores themes of social justice, just more radical, probably more violent—partly because radical and violent revolution is a valid defense against radical and violent oppression, but also partly because radicalism and violence are always cool to represent in art. They provoke a reaction in almost every audience. But, of course, Prince of Monkeys is beyond a work of social justice, and my future work will go beyond social justice. It will explore other aspects of human relationships, other forms of pop culture.

How important is literature in telling the story of Nigeria?

It all depends on how wide or narrow our definition of literature is. Is it in the classical sense—the novel, the play, short stories, especially in print? These are important, but because these forms of output are not as accessible to Nigerian storytellers, they are not very holistic representations of the Nigerian narrative. While the demand is growing and a lot of writing is being done, we still have very few viable publishing houses. A lot of our newspapers and magazines are parodies of what they should be because of lack of funding, censorship, or basic competency issues.

Because of this, a lot of Nigerian storytellers are hacking other forms that have fewer barriers, fewer gatekeepers, and [are] more readily accessible platforms: blogs, online literary journals, SoundCloud, Twitter, Facebook. And if we expand our definition of literature to include these new-age forms of writing, storytelling, and lyricism, then yes, literature is extremely pivotal to telling the true Nigerian story. We have a lot of people putting out incredible and very relevant work on these platforms.

Is there a Nigerian or broader African literary tradition you feel part of? Which writers have you found inspiring or instructive?

I feel part of a new generation of African literature writers and community members who are breaking all borders that define African literature. Things Fall Apart [by Chinua Achebe] is seminal, but nobody is trying to write another Things Fall Apart any more. We want to explore new things and tell new stories. Nothing is too taboo or too conservative, too radical or too mundane. Everything is valid. Akwaeke Emezi is writing on the trans experience from the context of Igbo ontology, Oyinkan Braithwaite is writing crime fiction, Panashe Chigumadzi is merging contemporary conversations on hair politics and Zimbabwe's post-colonial history in the same body of work. Nnedi Okorafor is winning awards for African sci-fi, magical futurism, juju fantasy, and mystical realism.

As regards Nigerian writers I find instructive, I enjoy Wole Soyinka's style. He reminds me that any topic can be well written about. His 1971 prison memoirs, The Man Died, could easily be [delivered as] a Trevor Noah special, and his "intervention" essays are my favorite works of socio-political commentary. But for inspiration, I read my peers. I always have unread essays and short stories bookmarked. [My peers] push and challenge me.

Mueller's Public Statement Fuels Calls For Trump Impeachment

Special counsel Robert Mueller speaks at the Department of Justice Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Washington, about the Russia investigation. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

BY LISA MASCARO; MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Mueller’s first — and possibly last — public statement on the Russia investigation is fueling fresh calls on Capitol Hill to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, a step that Democratic leaders have so far resisted.

Surprising Washington with brief remarks Wednesday, Mueller indicated it’s up to Congress to decide what to do with his findings. The special counsel reiterated that, bound by Justice Department policy, charging a sitting president with a crime was “not an option.” But he also stressed he could not exonerate Trump. Instead, he cited that same policy to say, “The Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system.”

With Mueller closing his office and not expected to comment further, it all amounted, for some, to an open invitation for Congress to launch impeachment proceedings.

“He’s asking us to do what he wasn’t allowed to — hold the president accountable,” said Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the panel with impeachment power.

“We have one remaining path to ensure justice is served,” said Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, a Democratic presidential candidate. “It’s clear that the House must begin impeachment proceedings. No one is above the law.”

But top Democrats, with almost no support from Republicans, are hesitant to go it alone on an impeachment inquiry that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has warned would be divisive for the nation. They prefer to continue the work of investigating the president and building, as Pelosi said Wednesday, a case that’s “very compelling to the American people.”

“We are legislating, we’re investigating and we are litigating,” Pelosi said at an event in San Francisco.

“Nothing is off the table,” she said. “We want to do what is right and what gets results.”

Staying the course, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, at a news conference in New York stopped short of calling for an impeachment inquiry.

“All options are on the table and nothing should be ruled out,” Nadler said Wednesday.

Nadler’s committee is among six in the House that are conducting dozens of probes in the Democratic-controlled House into subjects such as Trump’s tax returns, the handling of the Russia probe and the running of government.

“Given that special counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump - and we will do so,” Nadler said in a written statement issued immediately after Mueller’s remarks.

Before Mueller’s unexpected appearance, Democratic leaders had tamped down increasingly vocal voices calling for an impeachment inquiry. Pelosi sent lawmakers home for a weeklong recess brushing back the pro-impeachment faction, urging her caucus to stick with the step-by-step approach of investigations. They hoped to hear directly from Mueller in a high-profile hearing that could help focus public attention.

But now that Mueller has made clear the work ahead won’t likely include him — announcing his office is closing and he’s resigning his position — it’s igniting new urgency on Capitol Hill to pick up where the special counsel left off.

Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, another Democratic presidential hopeful, said, “Mueller did his job. Now it’s time to do ours. Impeachment hearings should begin tomorrow.”

While some Democrats want to focus on investigating Trump, building the record in the public, as happened during the Watergate era with Richard Nixon, others, including some new voices Wednesday, say Mueller has all but punted the issue to Congress. They believe opening a formal impeachment proceeding would strengthen their hand in the legal battles over documents and testimony.

“It is very clear that President Trump is engaging in a cover-up, obstructing of justice and betraying his oath of office,” said Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn. “I fully expect the responsible House committees to expedite their investigations and, as soon as possible, formally draft articles of impeachment.”

Mueller’s report did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign to sway the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in Trump’s favor. Investigators examined nearly a dozen episodes involving the president for potential obstruction of justice but ultimately reached no conclusion on whether Trump had illegally tried to stymie the probe.

Mueller made clear his desire to avoid testimony, declaring the report his final word on the matter. He said it wouldn’t be “appropriate” for him “to speak further about the investigation.”

Nadler would not say whether he would compel Mueller to testify, as he has threatened to do. But he hinted that he may not pursue an aggressive approach against the special counsel, saying, “Mr. Mueller told us a lot of what we need to hear today.”

Republicans, as they have done since Mueller’s report was released, called for Congress to move on.

The GOP chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said that Mueller “has decided to move on and let the report speak for itself. Congress should follow his lead.”

Graham has said his committee doesn’t need Mueller to testify. Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary panel, had supported Democratic requests for Mueller’s House testimony but appeared to be satisfied by the special counsel’s comments Wednesday.

“While I had hoped he would come before the committee and answer questions from lawmakers, Robert Mueller has led an extraordinary life of public service and is entitled to his life as a private citizen once again,” Collins said.

But at least one Republican isn’t ready to move on: Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, who has become the sole GOP voice in Congress urging impeachment proceedings.

“The ball is in our court, Congress,” Amash tweeted.

Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman and Elana Schor in Washington contributed to this report.