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Category: Foreign

  • Malian parties say leaders arrested amid political crackdown

    Malian parties say leaders arrested amid political crackdown

    Parties

    Bamako, June 21, 2024 (Reuters/NAN) An alliance of political parties and civil society groups in junta-led Mali said several of their leaders were arrested on Thursday during a private meeting at a house of a former minister, demanding in a statement their prompt release.
    The West African country, which has been under military rule since a coup in 2020, in April issued a decree that restricted political life in the name of maintaining public order.
    The group did not say how many people were detained, but Boubacar Toure, a representative for one of the parties, told Reuters on Friday that 11 people had been arrested at the private meeting, for the most part political leaders.
    “The parties … condemn with the utmost rigor these arbitrary arrests, which violate the constitution and all the laws of Mali,” the group’s statement said.
    It accused the authorities of pursuing “a path to dictatorship … with the sole aim of staying in power and silencing all democratic and republican voices.”
    The authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    Mali’s junta has suspended all activities by political parties and “associations of a political nature” after the group of political parties and civil society organisations jointly called out the authorities on March 31 for not scheduling elections within the promised time frame.
    In response to the junta’s order, the group turned to the Malian Supreme Court but it is unclear when the top court will consider the appeal. (Reuters/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • China warns of possible ‘trade war’ with EU

    China warns of possible ‘trade war’ with EU

    War

    Beijing, June 21, 2024 (Reuters/NAN) Beijing warned on Friday that escalating frictions with the European Union over electric vehicle imports could trigger a trade war, as Germany’s economy minister arrived in the Chinese capital with the proposed tariffs high on his agenda.
    Robert Habeck’s three-day trip to China is the first by a senior European official since Brussels proposed hefty duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles to combat excessive subsidies.
    That has unleashed countermeasures by China and harsh criticism from Chinese leaders.
    This week alone, Chinese automakers urged Beijing to hike tariffs on imported European gasoline-powered cars and the government launched a dumping probe into EU pork imports in retaliation for the EU Commission’s move.
    “Responsibility lies entirely with the EU side,” a spokesperson for China’s commerce ministry said in a statement.
    “In its countervailing duties investigation, the European side intimidated and coerced Chinese enterprises threatened to apply punitive high tariff rates, and demanded overly broad information,” it added.
    Habeck’s visit is seen as an opportunity for Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, to explain to Chinese officials the recent tariff announcement while allaying the risk of retaliation from China that could harm German businesses.
    Germany’s voice carries particular weight, and its leading car manufacturers have vociferously opposed the EU tariffs. Berlin has urged dialogue while also expecting China to compromise.
    The country’s carmakers would be the most exposed to any counter-moves from China, as almost a third of their sales came from the 18.6 trillion-dollar-economy last year.
    The EU’s move on EV tariffs plunged trade ties with the world’s second-largest economy to a new low.
    But Chinese state media portrayed his visit as a chance to defuse tensions. Germany should seek consensus, some experts said, according to Chinese state-controlled tabloid Global Times on Friday. (Reuters/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Hungarian PM sees new EU leadership as ‘Coalition for war and migration’

    Hungarian PM sees new EU leadership as ‘Coalition for war and migration’

    Coalition

    Budapest, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has described the emerging new leadership of the European Union, under a potential second term for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as a “coalition for war and migration.”

    In an interview with a Hungarian state broadcaster on Friday, Orbán stated that the “increasingly left-wing” coalition of conservatives, social democrats, and liberals, who hold a majority in the new European Parliament, have already reached an agreement on this matter.

    At an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Monday, no agreement had yet been reached on filling the EU’s top jobs after the European elections on June 9.

    However, it was a “match that has already been whistled,” said Orbán.

    “A warmongering, anti-business, and pro-migration coalition has emerged in the EU,” he continued.

    As the leader of the conservative European People’s Party (EPP), the party with the most votes in the European Parliament, the German Manfred Weber had played “the role of Beelzebub” – a demon or devil – in forging this coalition.

    Weber is “an old enemy and evildoer of Hungary” and von der Leyen is “just a little altar girl” to him, Orbán said.

    The coalition of “Weberians” would execute the so-called “Soros plan,” Orbán continued.

    According to this plan, the Hungarian-born US billionaire and philanthropist George Soros is attempting to flood Europe with migrants to rob European nations of their Christian and national identity.

    “A population exchange is taking place in Europe, the white, Christian, tradition-conscious – let’s say European – person is becoming fewer, the number of imported migrants is increasing,” Orbán continued.

    The allegation of an – unverifiable – “Soros plan” and the complaint about an alleged “population exchange” are part of the conspiracy narratives propagated by right-wing extremists.

    The radio interview with Orbán was recorded in Berlin.

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to meet with Orbán for talks on Friday. Hungary takes over the EU Council Presidency on July 1. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint during Italy’s loss to Spain

    Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint during Italy’s loss to Spain

    Robbery

    Rome, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Former world player of the year Roberto Baggio has been injured in a robbery at his home in northern Italy and had to be treated in hospital.

    According to Italian media reports, five armed men forced their way into the 57-year-old’s villa near Vicenza on Thursday while he was watching Italy’s 1-0 European Championship defeat to Spain on television with his family.

    One of the perpetrators is said to have hit Baggio with a rifle butt and injured him in the head as Baggio tried to defend himself.

    “Fortunately, the violence I suffered only caused me stitches, bruises, and a lot of fear.” he was reported as saying by the ANSA news agency on Friday.

    Baggio and his family were reportedly locked in a room.

    The thieves then ransacked the house and stole watches, jewellery, and money.

    After the criminals had left the villa, Baggio broke down the door and alerted the police.

    Nobody else was injured apart from the 1993 World Player of the Year and 1994 World Cup runner-up. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    YEE

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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • UK public debt increases to highest since 1961

    UK public debt increases to highest since 1961

    Debt

    London, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) UK state debt rose to levels not witnessed for more than 60 years in May in spite of lower-than-expected government borrowing, according to official figures.

    The data, which comes only two weeks before the general election, underscores the financial challenge facing the next Government, with both Labour and the Conservatives pledging to cut debt.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that public sector net debt as a proportion to UK GDP (gross domestic product) rose to 99.8 per cent for the month.

    This marks the highest reading since March 1961, the ONS said.

    Both the Labour and the Conservative parties have said in the run-up to the election that they will meet a fiscal rule to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio over the next five years.

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to reduce debt as one of his five pledges at the start of 2023.

    This came as the statistics body also revealed that public sector net borrowing hit 15 billion pounds (19 billion dollars) for the month.

    Initial data found public sector borrowing – the difference between Government spending and income – was 0.8 billion pounds higher than the same month a year earlier.

    It was also the third-highest May since monthly records began in 1993.

    Nevertheless, this was 0.6 billion pounds below forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the Government’s official forecaster, and was less than economists had predicted.

    The central government had receipts – the money it receives, predominantly through taxes – of 76.8 billion pounds for the month.

    This represented a one-billion-pound increase after receiving more through income tax, corporation tax, and VAT (value-added tax).

    Meanwhile, government spending was recorded as 91.6 billion pounds for May, up 2.8 billion pounds from the same month a year earlier.

    The increase was partly linked to a 2.2-billion-pound rise in social benefits following the inflation-linked increase in benefit payments.

    Departmental spending on goods and services was also higher after inflationary pressure on running costs. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Russia open to dialogue with U.S. amid global security concerns – Kremlin

    Russia open to dialogue with U.S. amid global security concerns – Kremlin
    Dialogue
    Moscow, June 21, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN)  Russia is ready for comprehensive dialogue with the United States, particularly due to the rise of global security concerns, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
    “The Russian president said that we are ready for dialogue with the United States but only for comprehensive dialogue,” Peskov said.
    He added that such talks are necessary as problems continue, especially about the global security architecture.
    Such dialogue must be comprehensive and cover all spheres, including the current Ukrainian crisis and “the direct involvement of the United States in this conflict,” the Kremlin spokesman said.
    Peskov further noted that Russia’s cooperation with its partners “is in no way directed against third countries,” and is ultimately only aimed at improving the well-being of the peoples of those countries. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng )
    UMD/YEE
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    (Edited by Ummul Idris/Emmanuel Yashim)

  • Below-average rainfall threatens Botswana’s livelihood

    Rainfall
    Gaborone, June 21, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi has declared the 2023-2024 an “extreme agricultural drought year”.
    He made declaration after considering a report on the recently ended Drought and Household Food Security Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis.
    The report indicated that the rainy season from October 2023 to March 2024 was exceptionally dry, with below-average rainfall throughout the entire country.
    It noted further that February was particularly harsh, with the country experiencing the driest conditions since 1980, leading to critically low water levels in reservoirs, and major rivers.
    It said that the rivers such as Thamalakane and Chobe experienced lowest water levels in a decade.
    “The delayed rains and extended dry spells have severely impacted crops, with most wilting and failing early.
    The area planted for this season fell 36 per cent compared to the previous year.
    “The total output is expected to meet only six  per cent of the country’s need of 300,000 metric tonnes,” it observed.
    It also noted that at the time of assessment, grazing conditions had started to show signs of deterioration across the country, with limited surface water availability in some areas.
    “An estimated 16,000 heads of livestock died as a result of drought”, said Gaba Mogapi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
    Dry conditions and high temperatures have forced wild animals to travel long distances for water, resulting in human-wildlife conflict, the report analysed.
    “More than 1,170 fires have also been reported around the country, affecting about 855,861 hectares of land”, Mogapi said.(Xinhua/NAN(www.nannews.ng)
    UMD/KAY
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    Edited by Ummul Idris/Kayode Olaitan

  • Armenia recognises Palestinian state

    Armenia recognises Palestinian state

    Recognition

    Berlin, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Armenia is the latest country to recognise an independent Palestinian state, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan on Friday.

    “The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing military conflict are among the primary issues on the international political agenda that require settlement,” the ministry said.

    Armenia had always regarded a two-state solution as the best way out of the conflict between Israel and the Palestine, it noted.

    “We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that both Palestinians and Israelis can fulfil their legitimate aspirations,” it said.

    Israel, has, however, reacted with indignation and, according to the ministry, summoned the Armenian ambassador to deliver a rebuke.

    In recent weeks, Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have recognised a Palestinian state to exert pressure for a resolution to the decades-old conflict.

    However, there is currently no visible practical path to a two-state solution.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected a two-state solution. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Ijeoma Popoola

  • Mob kills man in Pakistan over blasphemy allegation

     

    Blasphemy

    Islamabad, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) A mob in Pakistan has killed a man over alleged desecration of the Quran.

    The incident took place in Madyan, a popular hill station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, north-western Pakistan, according to local media.

    Hundreds of men stormed and vandalised a police station where the man was kept after he was handed over by the locals.

    Videos of the incident circulating on social media showed scores of men beating and then torching the body of the man.

    A police spokesman, Mr Wajid Rasool, said that the man accused of blasphemy was a tourist from the Sialkot district of the Punjab.

    “We have started investigations into the incident and are tracing those who attacked the police station,” he said.

    Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan, and those accused can become targets of extremist Muslim vigilante groups.

    In some cases, they have been gunned down, burned alive or bludgeoned to death.

    In May, a mob vandalised a Christan neighborhood in Sargodha and tortured a man over an allegation of blasphemy.

    The man died in a hospital some weeks later.

    In one of such incidents in 2020, a Pakistani-U.S. citizen was shot and killed inside a courtroom during his trial. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Ummul Idris/Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

     

  • South Korea summons Russian ambassador over pact with Pyongyang

    South Korea summons Russian ambassador over pact with Pyongyang

    Summons

    Seoul, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) South Korea has lodged an official protest with Russia over its new partnership agreement with North Korea and demanded an immediate halt to military cooperation with Pyongyang.

    Two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, the foreign ministry on Friday summoned Moscow’s ambassador in Seoul, Georgy Zinoviev.

    Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun conveyed the government’s readiness to take decisive action with the international community against any behaviour that threatens the people of South Korea, the ministry said.

    North Korea has for decades been illegally developing nuclear weapons and missiles and is threatening to use them against its neighbour.

    Any cooperation that directly or indirectly helps North Korea to expand its military capabilities is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang, Kim was quoted as saying.

    He also warned of negative consequences for Russian-South Korean relations, saying that “Russia should act responsibly.”

    Attempts to intimidate Russia were unacceptable, Zinoviev was quoted as saying by his embassy in a post on X after he was summoned.

    The ambassador said that “cooperation between Russia and North Korea is not directed against any third country.”

    South Korea has already condemned Russia’s agreement with North Korea on a comprehensive strategic partnership, signed by the sides in Pyongyang on Thursday.

    The treaty also provided for mutual assistance in the event of war.

    In Seoul’s view, the agreement also aims to strengthen military cooperation. South Korean National Security Advisor Chang Ho Jin indicated that his country could drop its previous refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine.

    South Korea participated in international financial sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine.

    However, it did not export weapons to Ukraine after Putin threatened severe consequences for any South Korean arms deliveries there.(dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    COO/FAA
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Folasade Adeniran