The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • China launches satellite

    China launches satellite

    China has launched a satellite, state broadcasting has CCTV said.

     “At 3:03 pm Beijing time yesterday, China successfully launched the Einstein Probe satellite,” CCTV reported.

    The launch triggered immediate concern in Taiwan, where authorities issued emergency phone alerts, warning the public to “please beware of your safety”.

    The Einstein Probe set off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwestern Sichuan province, around 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles) away from Taiwan’s capital Taipei.

    Read Also: FG partners China for new Steel Plant

    CCTV said it was launched “using the Long March-2C carrier rocket… and the satellite entered its designated orbit”.

    The satellite will “observe mysterious transient phenomena in the universe comparable to the flickering of fireworks, with the aim of unveiling the violent and little-known aspects of the cosmos”, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

  • Gunmen storm Ecuador television studio live on air

    Gunmen storm Ecuador television studio live on air

    A group of armed men have broken into a live television studio in Ecuador and threatened staff, footage shows. 

    A live broadcast by station TC in the city of Guayaquil was interrupted yesterday by the group, who were wearing hoods and carrying guns. 

    Staff were forced on to the floor before the live feed cut out. 

    A 60-day state of emergency began in Ecuador on Monday after a convicted gang leader vanished from his prison cell. 

    The hooded men were seen leaving the TC studios, with police seen entering the set about 30 minutes after the gunmen first appeared.

    National police units in Quito and Guayaquil have been deployed to the scene.

    The country’s National Police Force said in an update on X, formerly Twitter, that staff had been evacuated from the studio.

    Read Also: Ecuadorian terminates Mati ‘s stay at WTT Singapore Smash

    Following the incident, President Daniel Noboa signed an Executive Order declaring an internal armed conflict and listed several organised crime groups as “terrorist organisations” and “non-state actors”.

    At least seven police officers have been kidnapped by gang members since the state of emergency was declared.

    The measures were introduced by President Noboa after the boss of the Los Choneros gang disappeared from a maximum security jail on Sunday.

    Nearly 40 other inmates, including another convicted drug lord, broke out from another prison in the city of Riobamba in the early hours of Tuesday.

     It is not clear at this stage whether the storming of the television station is linked to the prison escape, but it is an example of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

  • Cameroon to introduce malaria vaccine Jan.22

    Cameroon to introduce malaria vaccine Jan.22

    Cameroon Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachieon, says Cameroon will introduce malaria vaccine in Jan. 22.

     The minister, in a statement yesterday said the move was part of concerted efforts to enhance the fight against malaria and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.

     “The selected vaccine, Mosquirix RTS, has been chosen by the country based on its pre-qualification, ensuring guaranteed quality, efficacy, and safety for its inclusion in the vaccination programmes.

    Read Also: Nigeria missing from new list of malaria vaccine beneficiaries

     “The vaccine will be offered in both public and private health facilities across 42 health districts. The vaccines provided for children are safe, free, and effective.” 

    Cameroon took delivery of 331,200 doses of malaria vaccine in November 2023, the first consignment to arrive in the Central African country.

     Malaria is responsible for 70 percent of deaths among children in Cameroon, according to the Ministry of Public Health.  

  • US appeals court judges appear sceptical of Trump immunity claim

    US appeals court judges appear sceptical of Trump immunity claim

    A panel of US Appeals Court Judges appeared deeply skeptical of Donald Trump’s claim that as a former president, he should be immune from prosecution on charges that he conspired to overturn the 2020 United States election. 

    The 77-year-old Trump attended the appeals court hearing held under tight security in a federal courthouse yesterday just blocks away from the US Capitol stormed by his supporters on January 6, 2021. 

    Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, listened quietly to the slightly more than hour-long arguments before a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals.

     He later addressed reporters, warning of “bedlam” in the US if his prosecution goes ahead. 

    Trump, who was impeached twice by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives while in office but acquitted both times by Republicans in the Senate, is scheduled to go on trial in Washington on March 4 on charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election won by Democrats and current US President, Joe Biden. 

    Trump’s attorney, John Sauer, told the judges that a president can only be prosecuted for actions taken while in the White House if they have first been impeached and convicted by Congress.

     “To authorise the prosecution of a president for his official acts would open Pandora’s box from which this nation may never recover,” Sauer said. 

    US prosecutors argue that Trump was acting as a candidate, not a president when he pressured officials to overturn the election results and encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol. 

    US District Judge, Tanya Chutkan, who is to preside over Trump’s trial, rejected his immunity claim last month and the judges who heard the former president’s appeal on Tuesday also appeared to be unconvinced by the argument. 

    “I think it’s paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty ‘to take care that the laws be faithfully executed’ allows him to violate criminal laws,” said Judge Karen Henderson, an appointee of former Republican president, George HW Bush.

     “You’re saying a president could sell pardons, could sell military secrets, could tell SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival?” Judge Florence Pan asked Sauer.

     Sauer insisted that even in this case, the president could only be prosecuted if first impeached and convicted by Congress.

    Read Also: Trump ineligible to run for president over capitol attack role, court rules

     James Pearce, an attorney for the US Department of Justice, called that an “extraordinarily frightening” prospect and said it would allow a president to resign before being impeached and escape punishment.

     Pushing back against the immunity claim, Pearce said Trump’s conduct was unprecedented.

     “Never before has there been allegations that a sitting president has with private individuals and using the levers of power sought to fundamentally subvert the democratic republic and the electoral system. The president has a unique constitutional role, but he is not above the law.” Pearce said.

    Special Counsel, Jack Smith, who brought the case against Trump, is eager to get the case to trial before November’s election. The case has been put on hold for the appeal.

    Trump’s lawyers are not only seeking to dismiss the case but are also hoping to benefit from a protracted appeals process that could delay the trial past its scheduled March start date, even potentially after the election.

    It’s not clear how quickly the court will rule on the appeal, but court representatives have signaled that they intend to work quickly.

  • Gabriel Attal, 34, becomes France’s youngest Prime Minister

    Gabriel Attal, 34, becomes France’s youngest Prime Minister

    French President, Emmanuel Macron, has appointed Gabriel Attal as the country’s new Prime Minister, making him the youngest to hold the position. 

    The 34-year-old education minister was announced yesterday, and is one of the country’s most popular politicians, according to recent opinion polls. 

    Attal replaces outgoing Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne who resigned on Monday amid a cabinet reshuffle as Macron hopes to give new momentum to the final three years of his presidency. 

    The move will not necessarily lead to any major political shift but signals a desire for Macron to try to move beyond last year’s unpopular pension and immigration reforms and improve his centrist party’s chances in the June EU ballot.

     Opinion polls show Macron’s camp trailing far-right leader, Marine Le Pen’s party by around eight to 10 percentage points. 

    Macron, at the end of 2023, had said he would announce new political initiatives.

    “Dear @GabrielAttal, I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the project of revitalisation and regeneration that I announced,” Macron said. 

    Attal will be France’s youngest Prime Minister and the first to be openly gay. 

    He and Macron have a combined age just below that of Joe Biden, who is running for a second mandate in this year’s U.S. presidential election.

    Read Also: Gabriel Attal, 34, becomes France’s youngest Prime Minister

    Macron has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being re-elected in 2022.

    Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old leader of Le Pen’s National Rally party, said: “By appointing Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron wants to cling to his popularity in opinion polls to alleviate the pain of an interminable end to his reign.

    “Instead, he risks taking the short-lived education minister with him in his fall.” 

    Other opposition leaders were quick to say they did not expect much from the change in Prime Minister, with Macron himself taking on much of the decision-making. 

    Socialist Party Leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio: “Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, or someone else, I don’t care. It will just be the same policies,”

    However, MP Patrick Vignal, who belongs to Macron’s Renaissance party, said Attal is “a bit like the Macron of 2017”, referring to the point at which the president first took office as the youngest leader in modern French history at the time, a popular figure among voters.

    “It is clear, he has authority,” Vignal said.

  • Nigeria lauds release of Bazoum’s wife, son

    Nigeria lauds release of Bazoum’s wife, son

    Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf  Tuggar,  has lauded the release of the dethroned Niger President Mohammad Bazoum’s wife and son from house arrest.

    Bazoum’s family have been under house arrest since the coup on July 26, 2023, by the National Council for the Safeguard of Homeland, the ruling military junta in Niger.

    This is contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the minister on Media and Communications Strategy,  Alkasim Abdulkadir, in Abuja.He said Tuggar, who was also the Chairperson of the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),  said it was a logical step in returning normalcy to Niger and the region in general.

    Read Also: Tuggar applauds release of Bazoum’s wife, son

    Tuggar reiterated the call to the government led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, to hasten the release of Mohammed Bazoum from its custody, and allow him to fly to a third country as a step towards further talks on lifting sanctions.

    According to Tugger, the release of Bazoum will also initiate the transition to constitutional rule in the interest of the people, peace and stability of Niger and the region.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on July 26, 2023, a coup d’état occurred in Niger.

    The country’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, and Presidential Guard commander,  Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta, shortly after confirming the coup a success.

    ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the coup leaders, threatening military intervention if deposed Bazoum was not returned to power.

    ECOWAS member states suspended relations with Niger and closed their land and air borders with the country.

  • Gabriel Attal, 34, becomes France’s youngest Prime Minister

    Gabriel Attal, 34, becomes France’s youngest Prime Minister

    French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday appointed  34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as France’s new Prime Minister.

    This is in a bid to seek to breathe new life into Macron’s second mandate ahead of European parliament elections.

    The move will not necessarily lead to any major political shift, but signals a desire for Macron to try to move beyond last year’s unpopular pension and immigration reforms and improve his centrist party’s chances in the June EU ballot.

    Opinion polls show Macron’s camp trailing far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s party by around eight to 10 percentage points.

    Attal, a close Macron ally, who became a household name as government spokesman during the COVID pandemic, will replace outgoing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

    Attal, one of the country’s most popular politicians in recent opinion polls,  has made a name for himself as a savvy minister at ease, on radio shows and in parliament.

    Macron, at the end of 2023, had said he would announce new political initiatives.

    “Dear @GabrielAttal, I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the project of revitalisation and regeneration that I announced,” Macron said.

    Attal will be France’s youngest Prime Minister and the first to be openly gay.

    He and Macron have a combined age just below that of Joe Biden, who is running for a second mandate in this year’s U.S. presidential election.

    Macron has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being re-elected in 2022.

    Jordan Bardella, the 28-year old leader of Le Pen’s National Rally party, said: “By appointing Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron wants to cling to his popularity in opinion polls to alleviate the pain of an interminable end to his reign.

    Read Also: French Prime Minister resigns

    “Instead, he risks taking the short-lived education minister with him in his fall.”

    Other opposition leaders were quick to say they did not expect much from the change in prime minister, with Macron himself taking on much of the decision-making.

    “Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal or someone else, I don’t care. It will just be the same policies,” Socialist Party Leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio.

    However, MP Patrick Vignal, who belongs to Macron’s Renaissance party, said Attal is “a bit like the Macron of 2017”, referring to the point at which the president first took office as the youngest leader in modern French history – at the time, a popular figure among voters.

    “It is clear, he has authority,” Vignal said.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • Tuggar applauds release of Bazoum’s wife, son

    Tuggar applauds release of Bazoum’s wife, son

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has applauded the release of the wife and son of the former president of Niger, Mohammad Bazoum from house arrest.

    The first family had been held under house arrest by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, the ruling military junta in Niger.

    Applauding the release, Tuggar, who is also the Chairperson of the Mediation and Security Council, said it is a logical step in bringing normalcy back to the country and the region in general.

    The minister, according to a statement by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir also reiterated the call to the government led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani to hasten the release of Mohammed Bazoum from its custody and allow him to fly to a third country as a step towards further talks on lifting sanctions and to initiate the transition to constitutional rule in the interest of the people, peace and stability of Niger and the region.

    Read Also: Bazoum asks ECOWAS Court to free him

    The regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had imposed sanctions on the military junta in the Republic of Niger following the removal of the democratically elected government, President Bazoum in what could be described as a palace coup on July 26, 2023.

    The Head of the junta, General Tchiani was the head of the security guard securing the presidential palace.

    There were reports that the disposed President Bazoum had planned to replace the head of the presidential palace guard before he struck.

  • French Prime Minister resigns

    French Prime Minister resigns

    The French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, has resigned, the French presidency confirmed.

    Borne’s announcement coincides with President Emmanuel Macron’s preparation to unveil a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle in an attempt to give a new impetus to his presidency.

    The presidency in a statement yesterday said: “Ms Elisabeth Borne today submitted the resignation of the government to the president, who accepted it,”

    Macron in a post on X, formerly Twitter thanked Borne for “work in the service of our nation that has been exemplary every day,”

    Borne, appointed in May 2022, was only the second female prime minister in French history. She will act as a caretaker until a new government is named.

    In December, the president had promised a fresh political initiative, which ignited rumors of a government shake-up. 

    This occurred following political events in 2023 that were triggered by strongly contested changes to the immigration and pension systems.

    The move comes just five months before European Parliament elections, with Eurosceptics expected to make strong gains at a time of widespread public discontent over surging living costs and the difficulties European governments face in curbing migration flows.

    Opinion polls show Macron’s party is trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by around eight to 10 points ahead of the June vote.

     Among those cited as potential candidates to replace Borne are 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal and 37-year-old Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, either of whom would become France’s youngest-ever prime minister.

     Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, and former Agriculture Minister, Julien Denormandie have also been mentioned by pundits as possible options.

    Read Also: Court adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s N1b suit against Fed Govt, DSS till March 4

    The change in prime minister will not necessarily lead to a shift in political tack but rather signal a desire to move beyond the pension and immigration reforms and focus on new priorities, including hitting full employment.

    Macron and his government, led by Borne, have struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament to pass laws since losing their absolute majority shortly after Macron was re-elected for a second mandate in 2022.

    The French president’s advisers say he has managed to pass the most challenging parts of his economic manifesto in the first year and a half of his second mandate, despite the lack of an absolute majority, and that future reforms, on education and euthanasia for instance, would be more consensual.

    But Macron’s decision to use executive powers last year to pass a contested increase in the pension age to 64 triggered weeks of protests.

    The reshuffle is likely to intensify the race in Macron’s camp to succeed him in the next presidential election in 2027, with Le Maire, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and current Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin all seen as potential candidates.

  • Sierra Leone court-martials 27 soldiers for ‘coup attempt’

    Sierra Leone court-martials 27 soldiers for ‘coup attempt’

    Twenty-seven soldiers in Sierra Leone yesterday appeared before a court-martial which charged them with mutiny over their alleged role in what authorities say was an attempted coup in November 2023.

    Security was stepped up around the courthouse in the capital Freetown where the proceedings were later adjourned to tomorrow.

    The 27 accused struggled to squeeze onto the stand at the court-martial.

    Justice Minister Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley was also present in the courtroom, according to the AFP journalist at the scene.

    On November 26, armed attackers stormed a military armoury, two barracks, two prisons, and two police stations, clashing with security forces.

    Read Also: Court adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s N1b suit against Fed Govt, DSS till March 4

    Twenty-one people were killed and hundreds of prisoners escaped before authorities were able to regain control after what they deemed a coup attempt by members of the armed forces.

    At least 80 people were arrested in connection with the clashes, most of them military personnel.

    Former president, Ernest Bai Koroma was charged last week with treason and other offenses for his alleged role in the events.

    His case was adjourned until January 17.

    Authorities have charged 12 other people with treason in connection with the coup attempt, including Amadu Koita, a former soldier and bodyguard of Koroma.

    The violence in Sierra Leone at the end of November sparked fears of another military coup in West Africa, where Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea have all experienced putsches since 2020.