International News Archives - Page 7 of 23

USA: Joe Biden withdraws from 2024 presidential race

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 Aminu Imam

�Endorses Kamala Harris The United States (US) President, Joe Biden, has withdrawn from the race for the US presidency, an extraordinary decision upending American politics, that plunges the Democratic nomination into uncertainty just months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…

Liberian�President,�Boakai,�slashes own salary by 40 percent

July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 Aminu Imam

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…

Tinubu re-elected as ECOWAS Chairman

July 8, 2024July 8, 2024 Aminu Imam

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…

New UK Foreign Secretary Lammy backs �immediate ceasefire� in Gaza

July 6, 2024July 6, 2024 Aminu Imam

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.

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

June 30, 2024June 30, 2024 Aminu Imam

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…

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

June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 Aminu Imam

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…

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

June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 Aminu Imam

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,…

Israel: War cabinet minister vows to quit if there is no post-war plan for Gaza

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Aminu Imam

Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, has threatened to resign unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets out a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip. Gantz set an June 8 deadline for a plan to achieve six ‘strategic goals’, including the end of Hamas rule in Gaza and the establishment of a multi-national civilian administration for the territory. Gantz was speaking just days after another war cabinet member, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, urged Netanyahu to state publicly that Israel had no plans to take over civilian and military rule in Gaza.…

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger form new confederation after exiting ECOWAS

May 19, 2024May 19, 2024 Aminu Imam

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republics have finalised plans to form a new confederation, the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, marking a geo-political shift in the region. The announcement was made following a meeting of the three nations� foreign ministers in Niger�s capital, Niamey, on Friday, as reported by AFP. This move according to observers, showed their departure from their former colonial ruler, France, and a turn towards closer relations with Russia. Niger�s Foreign Minister, Bakary Sangare, confirmed the finalisation of the draft text that outlines the institutionalisation…

African leaders to attend Abuja counter-terrorism summit today

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 Aminu Imam

Heads of State and Governments and high-level government officials across Africa, representatives of international organisations and multi-lateral institutions, members of the diplomatic corps, and members of civil society groups are expected to storm Abuja today, Monday, April 22, as President Bola Tinubu opens the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The summit is being organised by Nigeria, with the support of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, (UNOCT). ?The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, is billed to attend the event.The high-level African counter-terrorism summit under…