Attempted Rape; United States cancels visas of Nigerians lawmakers who patronized prostitutes

The US embassy has reportedly cancelled the visas of three members of the House of Representatives to the country. The affected were accused of attempted rape and soliciting for sex from prostitutes while on a trip to the United States.

The three representatives were among 10 lawmakers invited by the US government for the programme held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The legislators, according to report, include: Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue).

Reacting, however, Gbillah expressed surprise that within some hours of bringing the matter to the attention of the House, the US Government had gone ahead to cancel their visas.

Air strikes pound rebel-held areas of Aleppo, thousands flee under cover of darkness

At least 20 air strikes hit rebel-held areas of Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Saturday, in the ninth straight day of violence in which bombardments by both sides have killed nearly 250 civilians, a monitoring group said.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not immediately say whether Syrian government warplanes or Russian jets, which have been supporting Damascus, carried out the strikes.

Bombing by the government side on rebel-held areas of Aleppo since April 22 have killed 140 people including 19 children, the Observatory said.

NATO-Russia council to hold extraordinary meeting in Brussels Wednesday to discuss Ukraine invations

Russia accepts NATO proposal which will enable NATO-Russia council to hold extraordinary meeting in Brussels Wednesday to discuss Ukraine.

NATO allies are holding emergency talks in Brussels on the crisis in Ukraine, the second time in three days, following a request from Poland.

In calling the meeting, Poland, a neighbour of Ukraine, invoked a NATO rule allowing any ally to consult with the others if it feels its security, territorial integrity or independence are under threat, the so-called Article 4.