Category: International News

International News

FG, Russian firm sign deal to revive Ajaokuta Steel Plant

Aminu Imam
FG, Russian firm

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the builders of the Ajaokuta steel plant, Messrs Tyazhpromexport, for the rehabilitation, completion and operation of the plant, and the National Iron Ore Mining Company. The Minister of Steel Development, Shu’aibu Audu, signed the agreement on behalf of the FG in Moscow, Russia, a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Salamotu Jibaniya, stated yesterday. According to her, the MOU was signed when Audu led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow from September 14 to 21, 2024. The Ajaokuta Integrated Steel Complex,…

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President Tinubu meets King Charles III in London

Aminu Imam
Tinubu meets King Charles

…To explore new strategies for climate financing In a significant diplomatic engagement, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The meeting, which marked their first direct encounter since the COP 28 Climate Summit in Dubai last year, underscored the strong and enduring relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. According to President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the meeting was initiated at King Charles III’s request. “The two leaders focused on global and regional issues, particularly the pressing challenge…

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UK charges’s Glencore’s billionaire ex-Head of Oil over bribing NNPCL, FG officials

Aminu Imam
GLENCORE GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL AG, ROHSTOFFHAENDLER, ROHSTOFFHANDEL,

A billionaire former head of oil at Glencore Plc, Alex Beard, has been charged with corruption by the UK’s top fraud agency, alongside four other ex-employees from the commodities trader. Beard, 56, who was one of Glencore’s top executives for more than a decade before his departure in 2019, is the highest profile individual to be charged in a sweeping series of investigations into corruption and market manipulation at the company – and one of the most senior commodity traders ever to be charged with wrongdoing. The UK’s Serious Fraud…

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USA: Joe Biden withdraws from 2024 presidential race

Aminu Imam
Joe Biden withdraws

…Endorses Kamala Harris The United States (US) President, Joe Biden, has withdrawn from the race for the US presidency, an extraordinary decision upending American politics, that plunges the Democratic nomination into uncertainty just months before the November election against Donald Trump, a candidate he has warned is an existential threat to US democracy. In a letter announcing his decision, Biden said, “While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and…

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Liberian President, Boakai, slashes own salary by 40 percent

Aminu Imam
Liberian President, Boakai

President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, has voluntarily slashed his salary by 40 percent. Boakai, who was quoted in a statement published on Liberia’s government website on Saturday, said this move was “aimed at setting a precedent for responsible governance and nation-building”. “In fulfilment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced a voluntary 40 per cent reduction in his salary”, the statement added. According to Boakai, the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government…

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Tinubu re-elected as ECOWAS Chairman

Aminu Imam
Tinubu ECOWAS

President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS). He was re-elected at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of States and Government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Tinubu, who accepted his re-election, appointed the President of Senegal to join in the mediation with Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. Meanwhile, the President called on Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to work towards the establishment and sustenance of a regional standby force for the security and economic…

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New UK Foreign Secretary Lammy backs ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza

Aminu Imam
UK Foreign Secretary

Britain’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has reiterated his support for international efforts to secure an “immediate ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war and for the release of remaining hostages. “The job now is to get to work with tireless diplomacy to support an immediate ceasefire and move towards getting those hostages out,” Lammy told UK broadcasters, in his first comments after becoming the country’s top diplomat hours earlier.

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US Elections: New York Times asks Biden to leave presidential race

Aminu Imam
NY Times on Biden

America’s most influential newspaper, The New York Times, called in an editorial on Friday for President Joe Biden to step aside and allow another Democrat to challenge Donald Trump for the White House in November. Describing Biden as “the shadow of a great public servant,” the newspaper’s editorial board — which is separate from its newsroom — said Thursday’s debate between the president and Trump proved the 81-year-old “failed his own test”. His determination to run again is a “reckless gamble,” it said, adding: “the greatest public service Mr. Biden…

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Treaty violation: Court gives Chinese firm go-ahead to seize Nigeria’s UK properties

Aminu Imam
IMG COM 202406250938415010

A commercial court in London, United Kingdom (UK), has granted Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., final charging orders over two residential properties owned by Nigeria in the UK. A master at the court, Lisa Sullivan, granted the final charging orders to the Chinese firm following Nigeria’s prior opposition to the orders’ jurisdiction. The Chinese firm seeks to enforce a $70 million investment treaty award against Nigeria. In 2010, Zhongshan, through Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd (Zhuhai), its Chinese parent company, acquired rights to develop a free trade zone…

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Hardship Allegations: Presidency denounce New York Times report, defends Tinubu 

Aminu Imam
NY Times report

The Presidency has fiercely denounced a New York Times report on Nigeria’s economic situation as jaundiced, slamming it for painting a bleak and misleading picture and unjustly blaming it on President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In an issued statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, the Presidency criticised the New York Times feature by Ruth Maclean and Ismail Auwal, titled: “Nigeria Confronts Its Worst Economic Crisis in a Generation”, published on June 11.​​Onanuga condemned the article, labelling it as a predetermined, reductionist, derogatory,…

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