Category: Foreign

Nine people were killed in a crash involving two Army Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters conducting a nighttime training exercise in Kentucky, Army officials said yesterday.

 Nondice Thurman, a spokesperson for Fort Campbell, said the deaths happened Wednesday night in southwestern Kentucky during a routine training mission.

  A statement from Fort Campbell stated that the two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, part of the 101st Airborne Division, crashed around 10 p.m. Wednesday in Trigg County, Kentucky. The 101st Airborne confirmed the crash about 30 miles (48 kilometres) northwest of Fort Campbell. The crash is under investigation.

 The helicopters crashed in a field near a residential area with no injuries on the ground, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the 101st Airborne deputy commander, said. One helicopter had five people aboard and the other had four, Lubas said.

 Speaking a news conference yesterday morning, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the state would do everything it can to support the families of those killed.

 “We’re going to do what we always do. We’re going to wrap our arms around these families, and we’re going to be there with them, not just for the days, but the weeks and the months and the years to come,” Beshear said.

 Lubas said it is unclear what caused the crash. He said a team of investigators from Fort Rucker in Alabama was headed to the crash site.

 “This was a training progression, and specifically they were flying a multi-ship formation, two ships, under night vision goggles at night,” Lubas said.

 He said officials believe the accident occurred when “they were doing flying, not deliberate medical evacuation drills.”

 The helicopters have something similar to the black boxes on passenger planes, which records the performance of aircrafts in flight and are used by investigators to analyse crashes.

 “We’re hopeful that will provide quite a bit of information of what occurred,” Lubas said.  The Black Hawk helicopter is a critical work horse for the U.S. Army, used in security, transport, medical evacuations, search and rescue and other missions. The helicopters are known to many people from the 2001 movie “Black Hawk Down,” which is about a violent battle in Somalia eight years earlier

Pope Francis had a “quiet night” in the hospital after he was admitted for a respiratory infection on Wednesday, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency.

 The agency quoted sources from the Gemelli University Hospital yesterday morning that medical staff was “very optimistic’’ that the Pope could be back in the Vatican in just a few days, in time for Palm Sunday and ahead of what is a busy season for the Catholic leader.

 The 86-year-old was taken to the hospital on Wednesday for a respiratory infection, according to the Holy See.

 A Vatican spokesman said he would have to stay for “a few days.” No further medical details were given.

 Earlier, on Wednesday, spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis, 86, had complained of breathing problems in recent days..

In a partial victory for Iran, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) yesterday ruled that Washington had illegally allowed courts to freeze assets of Iranian companies and ordered the United States to pay compensation, the amount of which will be determined later.

 However, in a blow for Tehran, the World Court said it did not have jurisdiction over $1.75 billion in frozen assets from Iran’s central bank, by far the largest amount claimed back by Iran.

The ruling comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran after tit-for-tat strikes between Iran-backed forces and U.S. personnel in Syria last week.

 Relations are also strained after attempts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers stalled, and as Iranian drones are being used by Russia against Ukraine.

The case before the ICJ, also known as the World Court, was initially brought by Tehran against Washington in 2016 for allegedly breaching a 1955 friendship treaty by allowing U.S. courts to freeze assets of Iranian companies. The money was to be given in compensation to victims of terrorist attacks.

 In hearings last year, the U.S. argued the whole case should be dismissed because Iran has “unclean hands” and the asset seizures were the result of Tehran’s alleged sponsoring of terrorism. The court dismissed this defence entirely and ruled the treaty was valid.

 The Islamic Republic denies supporting international terrorism.

 The 1950s friendship treaty was signed long before Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which toppled the U.S.-backed shah, and the subsequent severing of U.S.-Iranian relations.

 Washington finally withdrew from the treaty in 2018. Nonetheless the ICJ ruled that as it was in place at the time of the freezing of the assets of Iranian commercial companies and entities, Washington violated the treaty.

 The judges explained the court had no jurisdiction over the $1.75 billion in assets from Iran’s central bank held by the U.S. because that bank was not a commercial enterprise, and thus not protected by the treaty.

 The rulings of the ICJ, the United Nations’ top court, are binding, but it has no means of enforcing them. The United States and Iran are among a handful of countries to have disregarded its decisions in the past.

Scottish nationalists yesterday picked Humza Yousaf to be the country’s next leader after a bitterly fought contest that exposed deep divisions in his party over policy and a stalled independence campaign.

The 37-year-old practising Muslim succeeds Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the governing Scottish National Party (SNP) and will take over as head of the semi-autonomous government once he wins an approval vote in the Scottish parliament.

Yousaf, who will be the first Muslim to lead a country in Western Europe, said he would concentrate on tackling the cost of living crisis, ending the divisions in the party, and making a renewed push for independence.

“The people of Scotland need independence now, more than ever before and we will be the generation that delivers independence,” he said in a speech in Edinburgh after the results were announced.

Yousaf’s victory was confirmed at the national rugby ground after a six-week campaign where the three candidates spent much of the contest criticising each other’s record in a series of personal attacks.

The SNP’s unity, which had been one of its strengths, broke down over arguments about how to achieve a second independence referendum and the best way to introduce social reforms such as transgender rights.Yousaf takes over a party with an overriding objective to end Scotland’s three-centuries-long union with England. His predecessor stepped down after the British government repeatedly blocked a route to a new vote on independence.

While about four in 10 Scots support independence, according to a poll this month, the departure of Sturgeon – a charismatic and commanding leader – may initially slow some of the momentum behind a breakup of the United Kingdom.Yousaf won 52% of the vote of SNP members in the second round of counting, beating Kate Forbes, the finance secretary, who got 48%. Ash Regan, who had quit the government because of her opposition to proposed changes to gender recognition, was eliminated in the first round.

Coree Brown Swan, a lecturer in politics at Queen’s University Belfast, said it would be difficult for the party to unite after a divisive leadership contest.

“It’s a broad church of a party, which incorporates lots of different ideologies and opinions on things beyond independence,” she said.

The frontrunner to replace Sturgeon, Yousaf has stressed continuity with her record, including her push to make it easier for transgender people to gain official recognition to change their gender.

Yousaf has spoken of the need to focus on building the case for independence and achieving consistent support for the movement, adding that he was open minded on which process to pursue once that level of support was achieved.

He pointed to his own background – born in Glasgow, with a father from Pakistan and mother from Kenya – and views as examples of the inclusive, socially liberal and multi-ethnic Scotland that the SNP has promoted.

During the campaign, Yousaf appeared more relaxed than Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, in balancing his religious views with the party’s socially progressive policies.

While Forbes faced criticism when she announced her opposition to same-sex marriage, Yousaf said he supports it. In 2016, Yousaf took his oath of allegiance in the Scottish parliament in Urdu while wearing a kilt, and he has referred to himself as coming from a “bhangra and bagpipes” heritage.

Scotland voted against independence by 55% to 45% in 2014. Britain’s vote to leave the EU two years later when most Scots wanted to stay, and Scotland’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, brought new support for independence.

However, an opinion poll this month showed the backing for independence dropped to 39%, or 46% when ‘don’t knows’ are excluded. That compares with a record 58% in 2020.

Asked if the British government would grant permission for Yousaf to hold an independence referendum, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said its position had not changed, and people’s priorities were healthcare and the economy rather than a new vote on secession.

Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Gangadharan Balasubramanian, has said the much anticipated direct flights from Nigeria to India will start on March 31.

Balasubramanian told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline, had concluded plans for the inaugural flight from Lagos to Mumbai, Bombay.

“I can announce to you that that Air Peace will be flying directly from Lagos to India on March 31 for the inaugural flight.

“This is part of the implementation of the

Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) aimed at deepening relations between both countries. So, I have been invited for the inauguration,” he said.

Balasubramanian explained that the direct flight would further strengthen economic, trade, bilateral relations, and people-to-people ties between both strategic countries.

“The volume of trade between both countries as at 2022 is $14.95 billion. So, we believe agreements, such as this, will go a long way in boosting our relations,” he said.

The high commissioner expressed optimism that the new route would increase the volume of trade between both countries, while opening new vista of opportunities for citizens of both countries.

NAN reports that Nigeria and India had, in 2019, signed a BASA to deepen flight operations end to end.

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika had expressed optimism that the agreement would further deepen cooperation between both countries.

BASA covers the basic framework under which airlines are granted bilateral rights to fly two countries. The frequency, designated airlines of the signatories, origin, intermediate points as well as traffic rights, type of aircraft and tax issues are normally covered by Memoranda of Understanding.

The new route is expected to further boost relations between both countries as more than 135 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria.

India is becoming the prime destination for Nigerians seeking medical tourism, studies, and businesses, among others.

A conflict resolution expert and lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, United States (U.S.), Prof. Fonkem Achankeng, has canvassed that the idea of secession is not peculiar to Nigeria, Cameroun and other parts of Africa and hence, parties to such conflicts must sit down and tall to find solutions to their problems.

Achankeng, who is also the traditional ruler and the Nyatema of Atoabechied in Cameroon, said he would not say anything new or give new advice to them.

The expert, who spoke in an interview with The Nation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) after presenting a paper, “Self- Determination and Secessionism in Postcolonial States: Reflections on Possible Solutions from Peace and Conflict Studies”, said: “Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. If some people feel aggrieved, it is not just Nigeria, it is the same with us in Cameroon and everywhere else. People feel aggrieved, then get together and talk.

“We are not the only ones in it. It happens in Canada, Great Britain and other parts of the world.” The traditional ruler who queried why African must keep killing themselves over secession or marginalisation, noted that advanced nations with such problems are not fighting or killing themselves.

“Why are we fighting? Why are we killing each other? Why is it that the blood of our people doesn’t matter to us? That is my problem. Self-determination is not an African thing. That is what I’m trying to say,” he said.

On the issue of self-determination in Canada, Britain and around the world today, the expert said: “Self-determination or what some people like to call secessionism will always be there, as long as people have to meet. It is not just with us; it is across the entire world. That is why Scotland still wants to be free from Great Britain.

“Freedom is a human need; we would just know the way to address those needs when they come up. That is why I was looking at the options available in conflict studies for addressing such issues.”

On appropriate intervention stimulus for Africans especially, to deal with self-determination, he submitted: “It is about understanding that the nation we found ourselves in was put together by foreigners. When they were putting us together, they were not considering you and me; they were doing it for their own interest. Now that we own it, how do we make it at peace? It is left to us.

“When the Americans won the war of independence, they came together in Philadelphia to craft the American Constitution that can stand the test of time. And when that Constitution hasn’t worked, or where the Constitution doesn’t work, they got amendments.

“You will hear the First Amendment and the Second Amendment. It is about the people being conscious of who they are and what their country is, and addressing their problems; not sweeping them under the rug when the matters arise, because there will always be.”

On Southern Kaduna and Biafra issues, he said: “Get together; that is it. There is no way a solution will be found without the two sides getting together. Is that also applies to the reference to sovereignty. Does that means that the unity of a country is indisputable? When that comes around, it is because, in the Morgenthau Theory, the Nation-State is not indivisible. That is how a nation-state functions. The state was built in 1648.

“What we know since the Westphalia Treaty. Since the history of Westphalia, Nation States were formed, and they believed that they owned the ultimate power, to decide on what is important for others. It has not stopped anything. I think we should learn from what Scotland and Great Britain have done.

“After 307 years together, they still allowed the Scottish to come forward with their problems; they had a vote they lost; they are still part of Great Britain. The people in Quebec had voted and lost and are still part of Canada. What I am saying is that countries that understand themselves should get together to see what they can do when some people complain.”

On whether he agreed whether the governments in power still have the monopoly of power of violence with the coming on board of non-state actors, the traditional ruler explained: “It’s the nature of nation-states. They think they have the monopoly of violence but, I think with the examples of Martin Luther King and other non-violence leaders, they realised that the people also have the power to react to the decision of the state and disagree with the state.

“Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. If some people feel aggrieved, it is not just Nigeria, it is the same with us in Cameroon and everywhere else. People feel aggrieved, then get together and talk. We are not the only ones in it. It happens in Canada, Great Britain and other parts of the world. They are not fighting. Why are we fighting? Why are we killing each other? Why is it that the blood of our people doesn’t matter to us? That is my problem. Self-determination is not an African thing. That is what I’m trying to say.”

President of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) and former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Kayode Fayemi has called for greater investments and commitment to water security in Africa.

He has also called for an increased role for the continent’s mayors and governors to manage water resources.

The former Ekiti State governor spoke at a side event of the UN-Water Conference in New York, US, which was held last week.

According to Fayemi, the key to water security in Africa lies with its subnational leaders. ‘

’Mayors and city leaders hold the key to water security.

“They are closer to citizens and oversee critical investments and decisions related to land use, solid waste, infrastructure, and environmental amenities. They can drive water security and promote low-cost, green, and nature-based solutions. Even where water policies remain highly centralized, mayors are taking bold actions to fix water pipes and institutions,” he said.

He, therefore, called for greater partnerships between national and local leaders in light of the mounting pressures on water resources from climate change, urbanisation, and demographic trends.

Fayemi said: “Governors and Mayors in particular, now need to turn the key to unlock the development of better water policies for better lives. As many decisions affecting urban water management are taken outside the water arena and vice-versa (spatial planning, agriculture, energy, etc.), coordination is essential to ensure a whole-of-government approach through which water can become a factor for sustainable growth and contribute to the broader economic, social and environmental agenda.’’

In his speech titled: Leveraging City-Basin Governance to Boost Water Security in African Municipalities; Unlocking their Potential to Achieve SDG 6 in Africa, Fayemi discussed the water crisis in Africa and the need to achieve SDG 6 targets by 2030.

He highlighted the challenges faced by African countries in terms of too little, too much, and too dirty water, with COVID-19 exposing critical gaps in water and sanitation services.

He noted that poor water quality was the root cause of 70-80% of diseases in Africa, with lack of access to safe water disproportionately affecting women and girls.

‘’Lack of access to safe water has clear gender impact as the burden of securing water falls disproportionately on women and girls with consequences for their income and educational opportunities. Lack of sanitation also creates specific risks for women and girls’ safety, ‘’ he said.

 The President of FORAF stated that Africa was still deeply water-insecure, with data from the UN’s first-ever assessment of water security in Africa indicating that not a single country is at the highest “model” stage of water security, explaining that Weak governance exacerbates these water challenges, leading to conflicts over water resources.

He further highlighted the importance of integrated basin governance systems in addressing the mismatch between hydrological and administrative boundaries, noting that river basin organizations are critical tools for coordinating water policy at the territorial level, promoting sound hydrological cycle management, and fostering adaptive and mitigation strategies.

Fayemi proposed building a “City-Basin Dialogue” to move towards sustainable water management in Africa and called for urgent action to improve data collection and monitoring of water resources for Africa to accelerate progress on SDG 6.

He also called on all stakeholders to collaborate in developing better water policies that can contribute to the broader economic, social, and environmental agenda of Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, a warning to the West as it steps up military support for Ukraine.

Putin said he was responding to Britain’s decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Russia falsely claimed these rounds have nuclear components.

He said Russia would maintain control over the tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus. Construction of storage facilities for them would be completed by July 1, Putin said.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has long asked for the weapons, Putin said, speaking in an interview broadcast Saturday evening (local time) on Russian state television.

Putin insisted that Russia would not be violating its international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, saying the United States has long deployed its nuclear weapons on the territory of its Nato allies. Belarus shares borders with three Nato members: Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Russia has used the territory of Belarus as a staging ground to send troops into Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24, 2022, and Moscow and Minsk have maintained close military ties.

Putin noted that Russia helped modernise Belarusian military aircraft last year to make them capable of carrying nuclear warheads. He said 10 such planes were ready to go. He said nuclear weapons also could be launched by the Iskander short-range missiles that Russia provided to Belarus last year.

Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for use on the battlefield, unlike more powerful, longer-range strategic nuclear weapons.