WordPress

Blog

  • China says EU to blame for escalating trade frictions

    China says EU to blame for escalating trade frictions
    Trade
    Beijing, June 21, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN)  China’s commerce ministry on Friday said the European Union (EU) is to blame for escalating trade frictions, which could lead to a “trade war.”
    “The responsibility lies solely with the EU side,” the ministry said in a statement commenting on concerns from the European side over possible escalations of trade frictions.
    China does not want to see the ongoing trade frictions with the EU, the ministry stressed, pointing out that it was the European side that “regrettably” kept provoking trade disputes.
    Since the beginning of this year, the EU imposed 31 restrictive trade and investment measures against China, 25 of which were trade remedies, seriously undermining China-EU economic and trade cooperation, according to the ministry.
    Meanwhile, China has demonstrated an open and cooperative attitude and explicitly sought to solve the issues through dialogue and consultation, said the ministry.
    China has always followed the rules of the World Trade Organisation and used trade remedy measures with prudence and restraint, it said.
    In face of the EU’s protectionism, China is determined to safeguard its legitimate and lawful interests, and hopes the EU will handle the differences through dialogues and prevent trade frictions from escalating, the ministry noted. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannes.ng)
    UMD/HA
    ========
    Edited by Ummul Idris/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • 2 men in court for allegedly stealing, receiving stolen N3m iPhones

     

    Arraignment

    By Moronke Boboye

    Ikeja, June 21, 2024 (NAN) The police in Lagos on Friday arraigned two men before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing and receiving two iPhones 15 pro Max, valued at N3million.

     

    The defendants, Damilare Kehinde,32, unemployed, and Collins Okoro, 26, business man, reside at Igando and Akowonjo, in Lagos, respectively.

     

    Both defendants are standing trial for stealing, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

     

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

     

    The prosecutor, ASP Racheal Williams, told the court that the duo allegedly committed the offences on May 4, 2024, at Zenith Bank, Awolowo way, Ikeja.

     

    Williams said that the first defendant ordered for two iPhones 15 promax valued at N3 million, from Mr Oluwasegun Odutayo.

     

    The prosecutor said that a dispatch rider delivered the iPhones to the first defendant at the address he gave.

     

    He said that after collecting the iPhones from the despatch riders, the defendant  told him he wanted to transfer the money from the bank and disappeared.

    “From there, all efforts made to locate him failed,” she said.

     

    Williams also said that the second defendant, who bought the iphones from the first defendant, was later tracked and apprehended.

     

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287, 314, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

     

    The Magistrate, Mr A. J Odueke, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

     

    Odueke adjourned the case until June 28 for mention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

     

    MTO/AYO/IU

    ==============

    Edited by Ayodeji Alabi /Isaac Ukpoju

  • European Commission approves German subsidies for hydrogen pipelines

     

    Subsidies

    Brussels, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) The European Commission has given Germany permission to invest about three billion Euros in its hydrogen infrastructure to build long-distance pipelines.

    The commission on Friday said that the positive effects of the government subsidies would be greater than the potential damage that could be caused by distortions of competition.

    Germany and other countries are investing in hydrogen as a potentially climate-friendly fuel for use in industry and transport.

    The European Union generally has strict rules about state support for companies through direct subsidies or tax benefits.

    The rules are aimed at ensuring companies from different EU countries can compete fairly within the bloc’s single market.

    The European Commission monitors compliance with these rules.

    So-called “green” hydrogen produced using renewable energy from wind and solar power is intended to replace fossil fuels such as diesel for trucks or coal in blast furnaces for steel production.

    The first major pipeline in Germany is due to go into operation in 2025, and a complete core network should be ready by 2032.

    In concrete terms, companies are to be supported in the form of state guarantees, through which they can obtain favourable loans.

    This could cover losses that are expected at the start of the project. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    UMD/EEE
    ========

    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ese E. Eniola Williams

     

  • Chairman wants Church to preach against GBV

    Chairman wants Church to preach against GBV

    GBV
    By Joy Mbachi
    Nibo (Anambra State), June 21, 2024 (NAN) The Church has been called upon to dwell more on teaching and talking to followers on the need to shun any form of Gender-Based Violence against women and girls.

    Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, the Chairman, Post Primary Schools Service Commission in Anambra,
    made the call while delivering a paper at the 38th Awka Diocesan Women’s Conference (ADWOC) holding at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikediugwu spoke on “Gender-Based Violence Against Women: The Role of the Church” at the conference which opened on Friday.

    Describing violence as any act that injures the emotional or physical wellbeing of a woman or girl-child, she listed some of the acts to include early marriage, battering, abusive words, undue control, among others.

    Ikediugwu, a professor in Education Management and Policy Department, Faculty of Education,  Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said “such acts inhibit women freedom of choice either in marriage, friendship or right to spend her own money.

    “Some husbands forcefully take over their wives’ salaries and spend at will, while some parents force their daughters to marry men they do not love, either to cement old-time friendship or for material gains.”

    She said such acts must be discouraged to enable women and girls to exercise their rights and achieve their goals.

    She also listed the use of internet, peer group and cultural beliefs as some factors that contribute to certain types of violence in the society.

    Earlier in a homily, Vicar of the hosting Church, Emmanuel Ajakor, urged women to pay attention to presentations during the conference “so that you can learn new things that will enable you become good builders of the family as a unit of societal development.”

    Dr Chioma Ibezim, the Conference President, Mother’s Union, Women’s Guild, Girls Guild, Province of the Niger and Diocese of Awka, urged the women to listen to the teachings of the conference for great development of the church and society at large.

    NAN reports that the conference was declared open by Rev. Alexander Ibezim, the Archbishop of  Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger.

    The conference will feature motivational talks and thanksgiving on Sunday, June 23.(NAN)(www.nannews,ng)

    JOY/HA
    =======
    Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

  • 2 Beninoises jailed five years each for assaulting a woman 

    2 Beninoises jailed five years each for assaulting a woman

    Imprisonment
    By Raji Rasak
    Badagry (Lagos State), June 21, 2024 (NAN) A Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Badagry, on Friday, sentenced two Beninoises, Sossou Marc, 34; and Wesu Abdulraman, 30; to five years imprisonment each for assault.
    Chief Magistrate N. A. Layeni sentenced them after they pleaded guilty to assault.
    The police also charged them with felony, theft and breach of peace.
    The Chief Magistrate, however gave that the convicts an option of N500,000 each.
    He adjourned hearing in the other three-count charge until July 18, for mention.
    Earlier, the Prosecution Officer, Insp Edet Ekpe told the court that the convicts committed the offence on May 15, at about 12.10 p.m in Pipeline Area, Imeke, Badagry.
    Ekpe  said that they stole a bag containing N276,500 belonging to Ms Chinyere Onwuka, the complainant.
    “They pushed the complainant from a motorcycle after stealing her bag which contained N276,500. She  sustained injuries all over her body.
    “The convicts conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.
    “The convicts are trans-border robbers from Republic of Benin, they came to Imeke on motorcycle mainly to steal.
    “The complainant has a POS shop at Imeke,” he said.
    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 411, 287, 297 and 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
    ROR/SH
    =======
    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • Police arraign 3 men over alleged N10m fraud, impersonation

    Police arraign 3 men over alleged N10m fraud, impersonation

    Arraignment

    By Olawale Akinremi

    Ibadan, June 21, 2024 (NAN) The Police Command in Oyo on Friday arraigned three suspected fraudsters before a Mapo Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan over alleged impersonation and N10 million fraud.

    The suspects are Tajudeen Adeleke, 65, Elijah Adeoti, 54, and Akin Olawale, 69.

    They pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, false presentation and conduct likely to cause breach of peace when they were read to them.

    The presiding Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Latunji admitted each of the suspects to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two reliable sureties who must show evidence of landed property in like sum.

    Latunji adjourned the suit until July 18 for commencement of hearing.

    The police prosecution, Insp Oluseye Akinola had told the court that Adeleke, Adeoti and Olawale committed the crime on June 19, at Mapo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

    According to Akinola, the first defendant impersonated high chief Lekan Alabi, the ‘Abese’ Olubadan of Ibadan in connivance with the second and the third defendants.

    He added that they impersonated high chief Lekan Alabi, in order to fraudulently obtain the sum of N10 million from a UK based Nigerian businessman, Waheed Olokobi.

    Akinola said the defendants assured Olokobi that they were members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and would secure him a piece of land at a Government Reservation Area in Ibadan using their connection. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    SEM/GOM/AMM

    ============

    Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam and Abiemwense Moru

     

  • Registration: CAC Ambassador urges business owners to beat July 7 deadline

    Registration

    By Rukayat Moisemhe

    Lagos, June 21, 2024 (NAN) Michael Nwabufo (aka Mike Premium), the Ambassador for the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), on Friday urged business owners to beat the July 7 deadline for registration.

    Nwabufo, a talent and brand manager, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.

    He said the CAC business registration could be completed within 24 hours through the new Special Registration Portal (SRP).

    According to him, the CAC has made a lot of significant advancement recently through SRP to ease registration of businesses in line with the new government directives.

    On the mandatory business registration, the CAC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nwabufo said the portal had enabled businesses to be registered and receive documentation in a day.

    “There is a crucial deadline for agents and fintech companies to register their businesses.

    “Compliance is mandatory under new regulations aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within the financial sector. The deadline ends on July 07.

    “To facilitate this, the CAC has introduced a Special Registration Portal, a new system enabling businesses to complete their registration directly through their mobile banking apps.

    “This innovation streamlines the process, making it quicker and more convenient for agents to comply with the regulatory requirements,” Nwabufo said.

    He urged business owners to take advantage of the SRP immediately to ensure timely registration and avoid any potential penalties for non-compliance.

    Nwabufo urged business owners to arm themselves with further information and access to the portal by visiting the official CAC website or consult your banking app.

    Emphasising the importance of business registration in Nigeria, Nwabufo said that it would foster uniqueness and trust among entrepreneurs.

    According to him, there is a partnership between the Practitioners of Content Creating, Skit-Making, and Influencers Guild of Nigeria and the CAC.

    He said that the partnership was aimed at registering over five million new businesses nationwide within a year.

    Nwabufo thanked the Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji SAN, for his continuous efforts in making sure the Nigerian business space was safe and secure.

    He also commended Magaji for his unwavering support for Small Medium Enterprises.

    “The CAC has been one of the top performing government parastatals in the past one year scoring 53.36 per cent in the Efficiency Compliance Ranking, 65.12 per cent in Overall BFA Performance and highest score on the ReportGov.NG platform with 67.86 per cent, indicating full compliance,” he said.

    He also mentioned the possibility of the Federal Government grants for content creators who register their businesses through this new process.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwabufo was appointed CAC ambassador on April 26.  (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    ARM/GOM/JNC
    =============
    Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

  • Police nab 2 over alleged murder, fraud in Adamawa

     

    Killings

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 21, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Police, Adamawa Command has arrested two men over alleged murder and fraud.

    The command’s Spokesperson, Mr Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed their arrest in a statement issued in Yola on Friday.

    Nguroje said, one of the suspects, a 31-year old Mali Bori, was arrested for allegedly firing and killing two men, Emmanuel Shehu and Almond Shehu, both residents of Bori village, Koma District of Jada Local Government Area(LGA) of the state.

    “The suspect had a dispute with the Victims over a farm  located at Bori, in Jada LGA, which resulted into a fight.

    “During the altercation, he used his Dane gun and shot the victims leading to their unfortunate death”, he said.

    According to Nguroje, investigations are on going to get more information on the matter.

    The spokesperson also  said the other suspect, a 36- year old Aliyu Yakubu, a resident of Jalingo Daddawa village in Hong LGA, was being held for alleged fraudulent act and  killing  of one Bassey Isah.

    He said on June 13, the suspect deceived and dishonestly obtained by fraud from the victim, three bags of maize, under the pretense that he would print and produce Naira notes for him.

    “The suspect further demanded and received from the Victim a Toyota Starlet car, a Motorcycle, and a tricycle, promising to make him rich over night.

    “The suspect then took the victim to a forest, where he brutally struck him with an iron rod and buried him.”

    Nguroje said that the suspect volunteered confessional statement to the allegations and would be charged to court for Culpable Homicide (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/KOO/YGA
    =============
    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Gabriel Yough

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • German environmental groups warn against cuts to climate funding

    German environmental groups warn against cuts to climate funding

    Warning

    Berlin, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Environmental groups are demanding that the German Government should not cut funding for efforts to address climate change, amid tough negotiations over a reduced 2025 budget.

    In a joint appeal published on Friday, several large advocacy groups appealed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck not to allow the cutbacks.

    They said this based on “necessary investments in greenhouse gas neutrality” as well as international funding for climate initiatives.

    They argued that the investments now would prove to be far cheaper than the eventual cost of having failed to address climate change.

    The letter was signed by the leaders of the German League for Nature and Environment (DNR), the German Association for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND).

    The Environmental Action Germany (DUH), Germanwatch, Greenpeace Germany and the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) are all parts.

    Scholz’s three-party coalition is locked in difficult negotiations over the 2025 draft government budget, which included deep proposed cuts at several ministries to address large budget shortfalls.

    Finance Minister Christian Lindner, a leader of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), has insisted that the government must abide by strict rules against government borrowing and deficit spending.

    “The current negotiations for the 2025 federal budget will not only decide whether social cohesion can be maintained.

    ”They will also decide whether Germany can achieve its climate targets, which are binding under international law,” the letter said.

    The letter also criticised the tight budget restrictions, arguing that failing to make “necessary investments in the climate-neutral transition” now would also endanger Germany’s economy. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    COO/BRM
    =============
    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Bashir Rabe Mani

  • Father held after suspected grenade kills child on Croatia holiday

    Father held after suspected grenade kills child on Croatia holiday

    SuspectA

    Prague, June 21, 2024 (dpa/NAN) A child from the Czech Republic died instantly when a hand grenade apparently exploded in a car during a family holiday in Croatia, police in the Balkan country said on Friday.

    The 46-year-old father of the child, who was around nine years old, was taken into custody after the incident on Wednesday, according to a police report.

    Two women were seriously injured, as well as the child’s father, who suffered minor injuries.

    Among other infractions, he has been accused of committing a serious violation of public safety.

    According to the report, the man ignored warning signs in Croatian and English and entered the marked danger zone of a military training area near the town of Knin with family members.

    He let the child take a device, probably a hand grenade, that it had found into the car “in the reckless belief that there would be no undesirable and life-threatening consequences.”

    The vehicle later had to stop in the central town of Bilišane due to a breakdown.

    The explosive charge detonated as the child attempted to remove it from the car.

    Police are investigating the incident at both locations.(dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    COO/BRM
    ================
    Edited by Cecilia Odey/Bashir Rabe Mani