Category: International News

International News

UK to cut aid to Nigeria by 58% – Report

Aminu Imam

The United Kingdom, (UK), is proposing a cut of its aid facility to Nigeria by 58 percent, an international media outfit, Open Democracy, has said. The report from the organisation disclosed on Friday that the cuts were “discussed by senior officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)” in February. The report says other countries to expect cuts in the UK aid facilities between 2021 and 2022 are: Libya 63 percent; Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 60 percent; Sudan 60 percent, Lebanon 88 percent, and Western…

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COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for Hajj pilgrims in 2021

Aminu Imam

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has mandated pilgrims to be vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of 2021 Hajj. The Kingdom’s Health Minister, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, made the disclosure in a circular issued on Monday. “The COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory for those willing to come to the Hajj and will be one of the main conditions (for receiving a permit to come),” the minister stated. In 2019, the pilgrimage programme recorded over two million visitors across the globe. The pilgrimage, however, suffered a huge setback in 2020 due to the out-break of COVID-19…

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Former French President, Sarkozy found guilty of corruption, sentenced to prison

Aminu Imam

A Paris court has found Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s former president, guilty of corruption and influence peddling, sentencing him to one year in prison and a two-year suspended sentence.The 66-year-old politician, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted on Monday for having tried to illegally obtain information from a senior magistrate in 2014. This came to light, they said, while they were wiretapping conversations between Sarkozy and his lawyer Thierry Herzog after the former left office. The wiretapping was carried out in relation to another investigation into alleged…

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Saudi women can join military, in latest widening of rights

Aminu Imam

Women in Saudi Arabia can now take up arms and enter the military, which is the latest profession in the Kingdom to open up to female recruits. According to the Saudi-based Arab News. Saudi Arabian women can be employed as soldiers, lance corporals, corporals, sergeants, and staff sergeants The plan to allow women into the military was first announced in 2019, the same year the kingdom said it would allow women to leave the country without permission from a male relative, a major step toward ending a restrictive guardianship system…

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After 6 years of marriage, Kim Kardashian officially files for divorce from Kanye West

Aminu Imam

Kim Kardashian has officially filed for divorce to end her marriage of six years to Kanye West. A representative for the reality star confirmed the new development to TMZ, saying the divorce is “amicable,” and that Kardashian is asking for joint legal and physical custody of the couple’s four kids, which West is “fine” with the joint custody arrangement. It was also reported that both Kim and Kanye are committed to co-parenting together. The report also said there is a prenup and that they have since reached a property settlement…

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WTO: ‘My performance’ll open doors for Africans, women’, says Okonjo-Iweala

Aminu Imam

Ahead of her resumption at the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation, (WTO), on March 1, 2021, Nigeria’s pride, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said her performance in office between March this year and August 31, 2025, will open doors for Africans and women to lead international organisations. Speaking during an interview on a TV programme, the Nigerian development economist said she unabashedly “love being African and being Nigerian”. Known for many firsts including the first female finance minister in Nigeria and now the first female WTO DG, the 66-year-old Harvard graduate said…

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Oil spills: ‘Polluted Nigerian communities can sue Shell in English courts’, U.K. Supreme Court rules

Aminu Imam

The United Kingdom, (UK) Supreme Court has ruled that polluted Nigerian communities can sue oil giant Shell in English courts. The decision is a victory for the communities after a five yr-long battle and also overturns a Court of Appeal ruling. The Niger Delta communities, which comprises of more than 40,000 people, say decades of pollution have severely impacted their lives, health and local environment. Shell is responsible for about 50% of the delta’s oil production. It had argued that it was only a holding company for a firm that…

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Just In! WTO: South Korean’s Myung-hee withdraws from race, Okonjo-Iweala remains sole candidate

Aminu Imam

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian finance minister, has become the sole candidate in the World Trade Organisation’s Director-General race, as the South-Korean candidate for the position, Yoo Myung-hee, withdrew her bid to contest. This was disclosed by Myung-hee after she had mentioned it to the United States, according to Bloomberg. This means that Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is now the sole candidate left in the race. Yoo Myung-hee is South Korea’s Trade minister and its candidate for the top job at the WTO following the resignation of Roberto Azevedo. Okonjo-Iweala had secured…

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Covid-19: Saudi Arabia bars entry from 20 countries

Aminu Imam

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, suspended entry from 20 countries, ranging from some neighbouring States to the United States, in a bid to curb a jump in coronavirus infections.  The Interior Ministry announced the “temporary suspension” would be effective from 9.00 pm (Saudi time) yesterday,  Wednesday, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The ban applies to neighbouring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, (UAE) and in the wider region, to Lebanon and Turkey, but it excludes Nigeria. The announcement comes after Saudi’s health minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah warned…

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Trump’s daughter announces engagement to ‘Nigerian boyfriend’

Aminu Imam

The youngest daughter of immediate-past US President Trump, Tiffany, on Tuesday  announced that she is engaged to her Nigerian boyfriend, Michael Boulos. The ex-first daughter posted  the following on her Instagram page:“It has been an honor to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House; none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiancé, Michael! Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter!”. Alongside the post was an image of the couple standing in the White House. Mr. Boulos also shared…

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