Category: Foreign

By Grace Obike and Omowaleayo Wale-Olaitan, Abuja

THE Federal Government said on Tuesday the much anticipated 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the Beijing implementation action plan on women has been cancelled due to coronavirus infections.

The session, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64), was earlier scheduled for between March 9 and 20.

Read Also: Italy hit by earthquake amid Coronavirus outbreak

Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen, who stated this, added that the 25th anniversary of Beijing meeting was cancelled due to the outbreaks in China, New York and other countries that have claimed hundreds of lives.

She spoke in Abuja at the Osasu Show Foundation’s news conference organised to inaugurate the foundation’s women and girls empowerment programme.

 

 

By Our Reporter

•Shares slip back over infections
•Disease ‘curbed’ in Wuhan, Hubei
•Israel to quarantine new arrivals

Italy faced an unprecedented lockdown on Tuesday that left streets in the capital, Rome and other cities deserted after the government extended a clampdown across the entire country in a bid to slow Europe’s worst outbreak of the coronavirus.

The measures, announced late on Monday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, widen steps already taken in the rich northern region of Lombardy and parts of neighbouring provinces, restricting movement and banning public gatherings.

“The future of Italy is in our hands. Let us all do our part by giving up something for our collective good,” Conte said in a tweet, encouraging people to take personal responsibility.

The latest steps came after data showed the coronavirus outbreak continuing to spread, with 9,172 positive cases recorded as of Monday and 463 deaths, heavily concentrated in the prosperous northern regions of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Veneto.

In Rome, cars circulated freely under a clear blue sky in the normally traffic-clogged centre and commuters could find seats in the usually packed underground system during rush hour.

Rome landmarks including the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and St Peter’s Square in the Vatican were closed or empty, with police telling tourists to return to their hotels.

For at least the next three weeks, people have been told to stay at home if possible, moving only for reasons of work, health needs or emergencies.

Anyone travelling will have to carry a document declaring their reasons and schools and universities will remain closed.

But, shares in Europe slipped back into negative territory yesterday, continuing to slide a day after suffering the biggest falls since the 2008 financial crisis.

London’s FTSE 100 ended the day almost flat, after a 7.7% drop in the previous session.

The main share indexes in France and Germany dropped back by more than 1.4% despite initial bounce-backs.

In the U.S., shares were up about 1% at mid-day on hopes of government relief.

Markets were battered on Monday in reaction to the threat of an oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

But after falling as much as 30% on Monday, oil prices rebounded slightly, with Brent crude more than 7% higher.

On Monday, the major US stock indexes fell so sharply at the start of trading that the buying and selling of shares was halted for 15 minutes, as a so-called “circuit breaker” aimed at curbing panicky selling came into effect.

Read Also: Coronavirus: CBN advises Nigerians to adopt alternative payment methods

President Xi Jinping yesterday visited the city of Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, sending a message that Beijing has the situation under control.

His visit comes as China recorded its lowest number of infections, just 19 yesterday, all in Wuhan apart from two who had arrived from overseas.

China has seen 80,754 confirmed cases, 3,136 of whom have died.

The visit was Xi’s first trip to the city since the outbreak began.

According to state media, Xi arrived in Wuhan on Tuesday to inspect epidemic prevention and control work in the province.

Wuhan and its province, Hubei, have been locked down to prevent the spread of the disease. The president visited a community in the city currently in self-quarantine.

During his visit, Xi declared that the spread of the disease had been “basically curbed” in Hubei province and Wuhan.

In the wake of the Italy’s clampdown, neighbouring Austria said it would deny entry to people arriving from Italy, while British Airways cancelled all flights to and from the country.

The World Health Organisation has praised Italy’s “aggressive” response to the crisis, since the first cases emerged near Milan almost three weeks ago, saying it could help contain the spread of the disease from its northern epicentre.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that all travellers entering Israel will be required to enter into a 14-day quarantine amid concerns over the novel coronavirus.

President Emmanuel Macron warned France yesterday that it was just the start of a health epidemic as the coronavirus outbreak crept closer to the heart of French political power.

By Vincent Ikuomola and Tony Akowe, Abuja

HE non-payment of levies is hampering the growth of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), its speaker’s parliament Sidie Mohammed Tunis has said.

Tunis has, therefore, urged member-countries to ensure the payment of their levies as at when due.

He argued that prompt payment will enable the sub-regional body to be able to execute planned programmes within a timeframe.

Tunis spoke on the sideline of the ongoing inaugural session of the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase was reelected as the ECOWAS first Deputy Speaker at the session.

Aklesso Atcholi from Togo was elected as third Deputy Speaker and Adja Pinto from Guinea Bissau was voted as fourth Deputy Speaker.

Tunis, the newly elected Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, who is from Sierra Leone, also proposed the establishment of Public Account Committee in the parliament with the core mandate of reviewing audit reports submitted by the commission.

Tunis said PAC shall ensure effective financial management that places greater implementation responsibility with managers and makes them more accountable for their performances.

He, however, explained that the non-payment of such levies had denied defaulting countries like Cape Verde certain privileges they should have enjoyed as member-states.

Tunis added that it would have been easier to deploy professional health workers to any member country to provide assistance where the resources are readily available.

He said emphasis should be on prevention and not just reacting when viruses like Coronavirus strike.

Read Also: ECOWAS seeks proactive approach to Africa’s devt, peace, stability

The speaker also pledged to pay more attention to the media and to make the activities of the parliament more visible and known to citizens of the community.

Statistics on payment of the community levies showed that between 2003 and 2015, Nigeria paid more than $710 million dollars, equivalent to 480 million West Africa Units of Account (UA).

The West Africa UA is the official nominal monetary unit of measure or currency used by ECOWAS to represent the real value.

In the same period, 13 other countries contributed a cumulative amount of $697, 947 million apart from Ghana, which paid $327. 976 million.

The new speaker also promised that the parliament under his leadership would ensure that the community’s budget is dedicated to programmes and projects that would impact positively to citizens at grassroots levels.

“We must pay close attention to the performance aspect of budgeting by demonstrating to stakeholders that ECOWAS resources are being used effectively to achieve results and that these results are beneficial to our citizens.”

He also revealed that the parliament would be sending election monitors to four member-states that will be conducting election this year.

The affected countries are: Guinea, Cote d’ Ivoire, Niger and Ghana.

On the political situation in Togo, he said the ECOWAS Parliament would continue to monitor the election process there.

In the area of security, the new speaker promised to work with the Authority of Heads of State and Government as well as Council of Ministers to ensure that the region was safe, secured and prosperous.

By Vincent Ikuomola

Member-states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been advised to adopt macro-economic policies for the take-off of the Eco single currency plan for the region.

Niger Republic President Mahamadou Issoufou gave the advice at the opening of the inauguration of the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Niamey, Niger.

The regional body had scheduled year 2020 as the take-off date for single currency.

Issoufou, who doubles as the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, urged members to enhance the power of the ECOWAS Parliament by practicing direct universal suffrage He said the adoption of a single currency for the region remains a major project.

The West African monetary institution had spelt out 10 convergence criteria to be met by each member state for the implementation of a single currency.

Some of the primary criteria for each member state to meet include achieving a single-digit inflation rate at the end of each year for at least three years, a fiscal deficit of no more than four percent of the GDP, a central bank deficit financing of not more than 10 per cent of the previous year’s tax revenues, gross external reserves that can give import cover for a minimum of three months.

According to Issoufou, his country, Niger, has achieved all the criteria and ready for the launch of the currency this year.

Read Also: ECOWAS seeks proactive approach to Africa’s devt, peace, stability

Issoufou said: “Our people want this single currency because it helps their interest,  in particular to support the growth of the economy of our state, supporting inter-ECOWAS commerce and trade that will grow the promotion of roads, infrastructure, railways, power and so many other projects that will make it possible for our region to contribute to the 2053 agenda and especially the continental free trade area.”

He challenged the ECOWAS parliament to play its role in the realisation of the projects that would transform ECOWAS region and the continent as a whole.

Issoufou applauded the fourth Legislature and its Speaker Moustapha Cisse -Lo for the promotion of national integration through dialogue, consultations and consensus.

He, therefore, urged the fifth legislature to build on the achievements of their predecessors.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term yesterday but his main rival refused to recognise the inauguration and held his own swearing-in ceremony as a rival president.

Both Ghani and former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah said they are Afghanistan’s rightful leader following a disputed election last September, a stand-off that threatens political chaos days after the United States and the Taliban signed a deal on the withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces.

Ghani’s ceremony was disrupted by the sound of two rockets hitting the edge of the compound of the presidential palace compound in the capital Kabul, Reuters witnesses said, but there was no word of any casualties and he continued his speech.

Planned morning ceremonies were postponed, and guests kept waiting, while U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad tried to broker a last-minute deal between the longtime political foes, but there was no immediate word of a breakthrough.

Television footage showed Ghani taking an oath at the presidential palace in a ceremony attended by foreign diplomats including Khalilzad and NATO forces commander Scott Miller.

Ghani said in a speech that the government he was forming would not include only members of his political camp though he would continue with the previous cabinet for two weeks.

“Then we will form an inclusive government after consultation,” he said.

He plans to finalize a negotiating team for talks with the Taliban on Tuesday and to make a further announcement on demands by the Islamist militant group for the release of 5,000 prisoners.

The Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and has been waging an insurgency since shortly after its fall from power, has made their release a condition for talks but Ghani said last week he had rejected the demand.

Diplomats are now waiting to see whether Abdullah appoints rival ministers and governors, and whether they take up office by force, said two diplomatic sources who declined to be named.

Ghani and Abdullah have been holding talks with U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad as he tries to secure a deal between the two camps, an official for Ghani said earlier on Monday.

“We have been in serious negotiations with the Abdullah team since last night, and it is still underway,” the official said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media. Details of the talks were not made available.

The Election Commission last month announced that Ghani had retained power by winning the Sept. 28 election. But Abdullah rejected that and proclaimed himself winner.

CAMEROON protesters yesterday charged at police officers in Westminster, United Kingdom (UK) in an attempt to break fences built to protect the royal family ahead of the Commonwealth Service procession.

Queen Elizabeth II was moments away from arriving to celebrate the annual event at Westminster Abbey with the rest of the Royal Family.

Westminster Police released the following statement: “As part of the policing operation for Commonwealth Day celebrations, officers arrested two men at approximately 2.20pm in Victoria St, SW1 for breach of Anti-Terrorism Road Traffic Regs (ATTRO). Both are in police custody. An operation remains in place whilst the celebrations are ongoing.”

The killings in Cameroon since the beginning of the 2016 insurrection over agitations for self-determination by the people of the southern region, a former British colony, have generated concerns among the United Nations (UN) diplomats and human rights community.

The massacre of dozens of people in two areas—Mbam in Nkum area in Bui Division and Ngarbuh in Ntumbaw in Donga Mantum Division in the North West Region of Anglophone Region— had further alarmed aggrieved Anglophone Cameroonians, who now call themselves Ambazonians, and the international community.

In one of the incidents, nine members of one family with an eight-month-old baby were killed and houses razed on Valentine’s Day in Ngarbuh.

According to sources, who spoke with The Nation from Cameroun, on February 24, barely 10 days after 38 persons were killed, another massacre occurred. Biya’s forces went back to eliminate witnesses of the massacres that happened on February 14.

“This is the most disheartening action and genocide, when civilians are targetted and killed in broad daylight simply because of their support and commitment to their country, Ambazonia,” a witness said.

It was learnt that a governor landed in Ntumbaw by helicopter, accompanied by Mbororo militia, to wipe traces of genocide in the area.

A human rights activist said: “We are informed the bodies of those buried in mass graves were exhumed and villagers were intimidated into silence ahead of an international and independent investigation.

“Malam Danjuma, popularly known as DJ, who helped the UN and Human Right Watch get information about the Ngarbuh massacre was picked up by Biya’s forces.

“It is the duty of the UN to give its witnesses protection unless they want to discourage everyone from telling the truth. Cameroun is wiping evidence of genocide.  Anyone, who has records of these killings, including the Bishop of Kumbo, must now be on high alert.

“We gathered that Danjuma had been killed by Cameroun.

“Another massacre has occurred in Chuku, in the village of Babanki Tungo in the North West region of Southern Cameroon. Fifteen people were killed –  five women, four children and  six men. Those are just figures gotten from the person who succeeded in hurriedly snapping photos before running away.”

SUDAN Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Monday survived an assassination attempt when his motorcade came under a car bomb attack at the entry of the Sudanese army bridge in Khartoum, the state capital.

The country’s Council of Ministers described the bombing incident as “terrorist act”.

The cabinet said in a statement: “The motorcade of Hamdok on Monday morning came under a terrorist attack while en route from his home to the headquarters of the council of ministers.

“The motorcade came under terrorist bombing and gunfire under the army bridge.

“The prime minister and those accompanying him were unharmed, except for one of the escorts who sustained a minor shoulder injury after falling from his motorcycle”.

According to the statement, the prime minister is performing his duties at his office normally.

It added that the security authorities have embarked on investigating the incident to determine those behind it.

The cabinet vowed to deal decisively with all terrorist and sabotage acts and to carry on with implementing the tasks of the revolution and dismantle the pillars of the former regime.

Similarly, Sudanese police yesterday announced that one of its personnel was injured during the bombing incident against Hamdok earlier in the day.

“A traffic policeman, who was on his motorcycle at the front of the motorcade, was injured due to the explosion,” it said.

A number of vehicles, including two of the prime minister’s motorcade, have been damaged, it said, adding that no other injuries have been reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese police vowed that the incident will be investigated, noting that all security bodies are on maximum alert to probe the terrorist plot.

CLOSED shops, plunging stock markets and prison riots marked the first day after Italy locked down much of its northern region in a bid to fight the coronavirus outbreak with some of the most draconian control measures since World War Two.

Faced with Europe’s most serious outbreak of the highly contagious virus, Italy imposed strict controls on travel from the northern region of Lombardy and parts of neighbouring Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna.

The government also ordered cinemas, theaters and museums to close, cancelled sporting events and told shops and restaurants to ensure that patrons remained at least a meter apart.

The measures, unprecedented in Italy’s postwar history, tightened controls, including school closures that were imposed after the coronavirus emerged in a small town outside the financial capital, Milan, last month.

In a little over two weeks, the number of recorded cases has surged to 7,375 with 366 deaths, putting the health system under massive strain, with intensive care facilities struggling to handle the influx of new cases.

“We have two objectives, contain the spread of this virus and strengthen the health system so that it can meet this challenge,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview with the daily La Repubblica. “We’re a strong country,” he added

In Milan, public transport was working but streets were much quieter than normal, with many smaller shops and cafes closed. Even among those left open, most remained empty, meaning any requirement to maintain a distance of at least a meter between customers was purely theoretical.

“There’s been nobody at all. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said a shop assistant at the Rinascente department store in the city center.

But the most dramatic illustration of the shock came in the country’s overcrowded prisons where inmates rioted in jails across the country. In Modena, in the red zone, six prisoners died in a riot apparently triggered by restrictions on visiting rights imposed to fight the virus.

The World Health Organisation said aggressive measures were warranted to stop the spread of the virus.

“What is critical at this stage is that everybody join the efforts and do their part,” a spokesman said.

But with Italy on the brink of recession, the government’s steps have come at an economic cost.

Also yesterday, Iran temporarily freed about 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of coronavirus in jails, the country’s head of the judiciary said yesterday.

The temporarily release came after an official reported hundreds of new infections and dozens more deaths across the country.

Iran has reported 595 new infections and 43 new deaths in the past 24 hours.

This brings to 7,161, the total number of cases of coronavirus in the country, with 237 deaths, the health ministry spokesman said.

Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi announced the temporary release of prisoners as Iranian authorities seek to counter one of the worst national outbreaks outside China, where the new virus originated, and one of the highest death rates from the illness.

Raisi said the release of prisoners would continue “to the point where it doesn’t create insecurity in society”, according to the Mizan news site of the judiciary.

He did not give further details or specify when those released would have to return to jail.

By Our Reporter

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman meant to send a strong message to critics within the royal family by detaining senior princes this weekend: don’t you dare oppose my succession to the throne.

The main target in the crackdown, sources said, is King Salman’s brother, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, one of only three members of the Allegiance Council, the royal body that endorses the line of succession, for opposing Mohammed bin Salman becoming crown prince in 2017 in a palace coup.

Four sources with royal connections said the move aimed to ensure compliance within the ruling Al Saud family, in which there have been rumblings of discontent, ahead of an eventual succession upon the king’s death or abdication.

One of the sources described the detentions as a preemptive effort to ensure Prince Mohammed’s “ascent will be rubber stamped by the Allegiance Council when the time comes”.

Ahmed, 78, was detained on Friday along with Mohammed bin Nayef, who was crown prince until he was ousted in 2017 and replaced by Mohammed bin Salman. Ahmed’s son Nayef and Mohammed’s brother Nawaf were also detained, said two other sources with royal connections.

The princes have been held at royal villas in the capital, Riyadh and some were allowed to contact their families, those sources said.

Crown Prince Mohammed, who has moved ruthlessly to tighten his grip on power, feared disaffected princes might rally around Ahmed and Mohammed bin Nayef as potential alternatives to take the throne, said two of the sources with royal connections, and a senior foreign diplomat.

“This is a preparation for transferring power,” said one of those sources. “It is a clear message to the family that no one can say ‘No’ or dare challenge him.”

Saudi authorities have not confirmed or commented on the detentions, which have not been covered by Saudi media. The media ministry has not responded to detailed requests for comment.

If Mohammed bin Salman, 34, succeeds his father, it will be Saudi Arabia’s first generational transfer of power since the death of state founder Abdulaziz Ibn Saud in 1953, who was followed by six of his sons in succession.

The Allegiance Council, made up of one member from each house of 34 sons of Abdulaziz, is designed to ensure that the hundreds of princes that make up the royal family’s next generation unite behind the new king.