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Category: Foreign

  • ECOWAS disability inclusion action plan inching towards vision 2050 realisation —Commissioner

    R-L: Prof. Fatou Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development; Mr Abel Enitan, Permanent Secretary and Acting Minister of Humanitarian Affairs; and Mr Mohammed Isa, Senior Special Assistant to President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, at the event on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Vision

    By Mark Longyen

    Abuja, June 5, 2024(NAN)The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says adopting a subregional disability inclusion action plan will be a step towards realizing its “ECOWAS of the Peoples” Vision 2050.

    Prof. Fatou Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner, Human Development and Social Affairs, stated this at a meeting to adopt the bloc’s action plan on the social inclusion of people living with disabilities (PWDs) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was the maiden edition of the West African ministers in charge of PWDs.

    “With the adoption of this action plan on the inclusion of people with disabilities, a further step is taken in the realisation of Vision 2050, towards the ECOWAS of the peoples.

    “Currently, we are implementing a pilot project which covers two ECOWAS member states which are Togo and Nigeria.

    “This program will provide assistive devices to children with disabilities and is expected in the future, to cover all member states.

    “This is an invaluable opportunity, not to reaffirm our commitment to the provisions of Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of ECOWAS 2050,” Sarr said.

    The commissioner explained that the 2022-2030 action plan covered three main priority areas aimed at to further strengthening disability inclusion in ECOWAS and its member states.

    “The three priority areas, which include activities, verifiable results and timeline, are improving disability inclusion across all aspects of the work of the ECOWAS Commission.

    “Also, improvement of the legal and policy environment for the inclusion of people with disabilities and strengthened regional partnerships for increased resource mobilisation for the inclusion of people with disabilities.

    “Knowing that persons with disability are vulnerable and living in most cases in precariousness, the ECOWAS Commission has intensified its collaboration with the national and regional associations of persons with disabilities and organised various awareness forums for PWDs,” she said.

    Also speaking, Mr Abel Enitan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, lauded ECOWAS for the move to adopt the action plan.

    Enitan, who is also the Acting Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, called for the establishment of an ECOWAS Agency for Disability Affairs.

    According to him, Nigeria has demonstrated a strong commitment to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities (CRPD), which was ratified in 2007.

    “In order to make ECOWAS an all-inclusive region for persons with disabilities in member states, Nigeria is calling for the establishment of the ECOWAS Agency for Disability Affairs (EADA).

    “This is to integrate regional disability policies and strategies for rehabilitation and equal opportunity in the community, as well as provide a mechanism to protect, promote, support and respect the actions of people with disabilities.

    “This affirmative action must be viewed through the prism of human diversity, while ensuring that individuals with disabilities have as many opportunities as possible to participate in all levels of decision-making in ECOWA, so that no one is left behind,” he said.

    Mr Mohammed Isa, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, also lauded ECOWAS for the initiative, stressing that the President had directed the implementation of the action plan.

    “In line with this mandate, my office has initiated the Beyond Disability Project to help drive the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan.

    “The project is aimed to promote inclusivity and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities in Niger,” Isa said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

  • Nigeria, China reaffirm commitment to promote cultural diplomacy

    Group photograph of dignitaries and participants at the Energy China-Nigeria Dance Competition Final in Abuja.

    Diplomacy

    By Sarafina Christopher and Eletta Mercy

    Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Hon. James Sule Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fostering lasting mutual ties through cultural diplomacy.

    Sule said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the “Energy China – Nigeria Dance Competition Final ” hosted by the China Cultural Centre and China General Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria in collaboration with China Energy International Group Nigeria Co., Ltd.

    According to him, Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions are essential elements that can be showcased globally through cultural diplomacy.

    “By collaborating with China, a country with a long history and rich cultural legacy through cultural diplomacy, Nigeria aims to enhance its cultural influence and facilitate cross-cultural dialogue that transcends political and economic boundaries.

    “We believe that by promoting cultural diplomacy, we can build connections that span continents, promoting understanding beyond politics and economics,” Sule said.

    According to him, Nigeria aspires to be a beacon of artistic innovation, a hub where diverse voices converge, and a place where cultural exchange thrives.

    Sule assured that with the unwavering support of the Ministry of Art, Nigeria was committed to fostering enhanced cooperation and collaboration with China to strengthening their partnership through cultural diplomacy.

    Also speaking, Mr Li Xuda, Director of China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, said,” China views cultural diplomacy as a key component that can not only go beyond political, religious and cultural boundaries, but also play an important role in multinational cultural exchanges.”

    According to him, Nigeria is a land of rich and colorful cultural heritage which gives opportunity for cultural exchanges to thrive.

    “Nigeria, long celebrated for its festivals, music, sculptures, literature, film, and dance, is seen by China as an essential partner in advancing its cultural diplomacy objectives in Africa.

    “By nurturing cultural exchanges and forging cultural connections, China envisions a more profound bilateral relationship with Nigeria in the future,”Li said.

    Mr Li Baisheng, Managing Director from China Energy, expressed appreciation to the Embassy, the China Cultural Centre judges and participants for their strong support towards China-Nigerian cultural exchanges.

    He noted that since entering the Nigerian market in 1999, Energy China had actively participated in the development of Nigeria’s power and infrastructure field.

    “Energy China is also committed to promoting economic, trade and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries to reach the goal of sharing Chinese harmony, and performing Nigeria-China,”he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Bwari Dance Group, Nigeria and Wang Ao from China, both emerged tops,with each group cashing home the star prize of N500,000.

    While first and second runners up received cash prizes of N200,000, and N100,000 respectively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Halima Sheji

  • Scientists identify new gene that may resist aging, kill pests

    Scientists identify new gene that may resist aging, kill pests

    Gene

    Hangzhou, June 5, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) A team of Chinese scientists on Wednesday said they have identified a longevity gene that may potentially enhance human resistance to aging and become a new target for managing pests .

    Mitochondria, as the powerhouses of the cell, played a pivotal role in cellular energy production and are closely linked to the aging process.

    The research on extending lifespan through optimizing mitochondrial function has garnered considerable interest across the scientific community.

    Previous research has predominantly concentrated on the mitochondria, while comparatively less emphasis has been placed on the influence of cell nuclei, which have undergone a long-term co-evolutionary process alongside the mitochondria.

    The researchers are from Zhejiang University and the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    They analysed evolutionary changes of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes from 472 insects, and identified 75 nuclear genes that co-evolve with mitochondrial genes.

    They pinpointed four, including one called CG11837, and undertook experiments to diminish their activities in fruit flies.

    The findings have revealed that, in contrast to the control group, the diminished activity of these specific genes resulted in conspicuous alterations to the mitochondrial structure.

    This is according to the study published this week in the journal Nature Aging.

    Furthermore, the team discovered a significant positive correlation between the activity of CG11837 and the lifespan of the organism.

    They knocked down the gene across a spectrum of six distinct species, including brown plant hoppers, fruit flies and mosquitoes.

    The gene suppression led to a pronounced shortening of their lifespans, with the diminution spanning from 25 to 59 per cent.

    In contrast, the over expression of the gene is shown to extend median life spans in fruit flies, according to the study.

    Also, in vitro studies using human cells it has shown that the activation of the CG11837 gene boosts their capacity to combat aging, achieving a 30 per cent enhancement.

    The CG11837 activation may emerge as a novel strategy for extending human lifespan, and in the agricultural sector.

    According to the researchers, this gene knockdown could potentially serve as a new way for pest control.(Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Halima Sheji

     

     

  • EU Fundamental Rights Agency says European democracy is under threat

    EU Fundamental Rights Agency says European democracy is under threat

     

    Democracy

     

    Vienna, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) believes that democracy and human rights in Europe are at risk, its boss said on Wednesday.

     

    “Polarisation across Europe is leading to widespread intolerance and dividing societies, causing many groups to suffer,” FRA Director Sirpa Rautio said in Vienna.

     

    In its annual report, the agency warned that civil society organisations were coming under increasing pressure.

     

    In a survey of more than 200 organisations, more than 60 per cent reported threats on the internet and 40 per cent reported personal threats or attacks against employees.

     

    Around a quarter of the organisations surveyed had been confronted with attacks by hackers.

     

    The FRA experts criticised the fact that the democratic scope is also becoming ever smaller because state authorities are excessively interfering with freedom of assembly and the right to express opinions.

     

    They pointed to restrictive rules and planned legislative changes in Spain, Hungary, France, the Netherlands and Italy.

     

    The report mentioned Germany in connection with surveillance measures, house searches and preventive detention of climate activists.

     

    The Fundamental Rights Agency also expressed concern about economic inequality in Europe.

     

    Around a fifth of the population in the EU is at risk of poverty, according to surveys.

     

    The surveys also showed a large number of people are dissatisfied with how governments and EU institutions have reacted to the sharp rise in prices.

     

    The FRA is also alarmed about the rise in anti-Semitism in connection with the terrorist attacks by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip.

     

    The increasing intolerance throughout Europe also affects Muslims, people with roots in Africa, migrants and the Roma minority, it said. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

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    Edited by Ummul Idris and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

     

  • Israeli strike kills IRGC member in Syria, Iran vows retaliation

    Israeli strike kills IRGC member in Syria, Iran vows retaliation

    Retaliation

    Tehran, June 5, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has threatened to retaliate after an Israeli airstrike near Aleppo, Syria killed its member.

    Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday.

    Salami offered condolences over the death of Saeed Abyar, who was identified as a “military adviser’’ in Syria.

    The airstrike, which occurred earlier on Monday, also reportedly killed several others.

    According to IRNA, Israel should know that it will pay the price for Abyar’s death and should wait for the response, said Salami,.

    The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Israeli attack targeted several locations in Aleppo’s countryside, primarily in the town of Hayyan.

    The Syrian Defence Ministry also confirmed casualties from the Israeli aggression.

    There was no comment on the strike from Israel, which has carried out hundreds of strikes inside Syria since the country’s civil war broke out in 2011.

    Iran claims it maintains an advisory role in Syria, with military personnel deployed at the Syrian government’s request.

    Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes against suspected Iranian targets in Syria, including several attacks in recent months that killed Iranian military advisers.

    On April 1, an Israeli airstrike on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Syria’s capital Damascus killed seven Iranians, including two senior military commanders.

    Iran responded weeks later with a large-scale drone and missile attack against Israel. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Halima Sheji

     

     

  • Indonesia denounces Israel for labelling refugee agency as terrorist organisation

    Indonesia denounces Israel for labelling refugee agency as terrorist organisation

    Refugee

    Jakarta, June 5, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Indonesia has strongly denounced Israel’s decision to label the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organisation through a bill approved by the country’s parliament.

    Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Wednesday.

    “Israel is trying to systematically weaken UNRWA by this labelling,’’ Marsudi said.

    Marsudi emphasised that Israel’s earlier charge, which was later found to be unfounded after an investigation, alleged that the UNRWA employees were involved in the attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

    Donor countries temporarily stopped providing funding to the agency as a result of this charge.

    According to Marsudi, Israel’s systematic weakening of the agency aim to erase the issue of Palestinian refugees, forcing them to remain in host countries without hope of returning to their homeland.

    Marsudi added that this weakening was consistent with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to undermine the idea of a two-state solution and continue his attacks on Palestine. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Cecilia Odey and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

  • China-Russia forum focuses on AI application in libraries

    China-Russia forum focuses on AI application in libraries

    Library

    Beijing, June 5, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) The second China-Russia Library Forum, themed on the application of artificial intelligence in libraries, concluded in Beijing on Wednesday.

    In-depth exchanges and discussions on “professional libraries, document preservation and protection, social public service and smart libraries’’ were conducted during the two-day forum.

    The forum was co-hosted by the National Library of China and the Russian State Library.

    Digital transformation in the library sector is not a fad, but a necessary condition for success, said Vadim Duda, director general of the Russian State Library.

    Libraries are faced with more diversified and complex user information needs and reading service scenarios, which required us to think more deeply about how to use modern advanced technology.

    Chen Ying, deputy librarian of the National Library of China has said.

    The first China-Russia Library Forum was held in Moscow in July 2023. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

  • U.S. President Biden lands in France for state visit

    U.S. President Biden lands in France for state visit

    Arrival

    Paris, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday landed in France for a visit to meet European leaders and mark the D-Day landings.

    French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal received Biden at Paris Orly Airport.

    Biden is set to attend ceremonies in Normandy on Thursday to mark the Allied landings in Normandy 80 years ago during World War II.

    The arrival of the troops marked the start of the successful campaign to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.

    On Friday, Biden is scheduled to give a speech in Normandy in defence of freedom and democracy.

    While on Saturday, the president will be welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron as a state guest at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

    During his visit to France, Biden is also due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Halima Sheji

     

     

     

  • German prosecutors demand jail term for suspected Hezbollah members

    German prosecutors demand jail term for suspected Hezbollah members

    Prosecutors

    Hamburg, June 5, 2024 (dpa/NAN) German prosecutors have demanded prison sentences for two defendants in the first trial of suspected members of the Lebanese Hezbollah in Germany.

    The press office of the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court announced on Wednesday that if convicted, a 50-year-old Lebanese man could face five and a half years in jail for membership in a foreign terrorist organisation.

    The second defendant, a 56-year-old German-Lebanese citizen, the prosecution requested three years in prison.

    The two suspects were detained in the Lower Saxony on May 10, 2023.

    The 56-year-old is said to have been a member of an elite military unit in Hezbollah.

    From 2009, he was reportedly active as a member and later chairman of the al-Mustafa community which was banned in Germany in 2022.

    Hezbollah has been banned from operating in Germany since 2020 April’s ending.

    The Shia Islamist organisation, which Germany classifies as a terrorist group, denies Israel’s right to exist.

    The prosecution argues that in addition to attacks on military targets, the Iran-backed group also sees attacks on civilians as legitimate.(dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Sarafina Christopher/Halima Sheji

     

  • Italian embassy celebrates Yoruba culture through artwork

    Italian embassy celebrates Yoruba culture through artwork

    Culture

    By Maureen Okon

    Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) The Italian Embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba through a collage of artworks with the theme – `human and spiritual wealth of Yorubas”.

    The celebration involved a solo exhibition of artworks of prominent Italian artist,  Mr Luigi Ballarin.

    The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stefano De Leo speaking at the solo art exhibition, said art collection was a tribute to the over 40 million Yoruba-speaking people in West Africa.

    De Leo said that Ballarin’s artworks had captivated audiences around the world.

    “Today, it was a privilege to have his exhibition celebrating the Yoruba culture of Nigeria.

    “His passion for exploring the intricacies of different cultures is evident in his work, reflecting a deep respect for tradition and a profound understanding of the human experience.

    “In doing that, Ballarin has taken profound inspiration from the rich tapestry of traditions and artistry that define this vibrant community.

    “Through his art, he has sought to capture the essence of the Yoruba people, their history, and their enduring legacy of creativity and spirituality.

    “With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the world around him, Ballarin invites us to join him on a journey of discovery and enlightenment, ‘’he said.

    Also speaking, Ballarin said that the Yoruba people were one of the largest in West Africa, adding that, over the centuries they had developed a refined culture.

    “This is why the title of the exhibition is called the human and spiritual wealth of the Yoruba people.

    “One of the most characteristically masks and headdresses, together with ritual costumes.

    “Within each Yoruba community, art occupies a prominent place and a distinct artist tradition that remains vital and influential even in the current era.

    “I think immersing myself in such a different and complex culture is incredibly constructive, fascinating, and stimulating, ” he said.

    According to the artist,  preparing for this exhibition,  I felt pushed into a dreamlike dimension because Nigeria is full of prodigious stories.

    He also referred to a recent book titled; “African Venice in Italy”, adding that it was the first guide that spoke about the African presence in the Venetian city of yesterday and today.

    “There are about 20 essays, poems, and reflections that enrich the narratives of the African past and present of Venice.

    “Therefore, art and writing can act as a bridge which unites people and continents.

    “How do you explain Africa to those who judge it without ever having to caress this red and dusty land with their own hands? He queried.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Yoruba language is spoken in the Western African countries of Nigeria, Benin Republic, parts of Togo, and Sierra Leone.

    It, therefore, constitutes one of the largest single languages in sub-Sahara Africa.

    NAN recalls that Ballarin did a similar art exhibition in July 2023 titled ” Colours of Noble Cultures’’ of the Northern part of Nigeria, precisely depicting the Kano Durbar. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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    (Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Emmanuel Yashim)