The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • S/African court issues arrest warrant for ex-president Zuma

    A South African court issued an arrest warrant for former President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, after he skipped court on grounds of needing medical treatment, but the judge stayed the warrant until his corruption trial resumes on May 6.

    Zuma’s lawyer presented the judge with a sick note from what he said was a military hospital, but the judge questioned whether the note was valid or even written by a doctor.

    The former leader of Africa’s most industrialised country is on trial for on corruption charges over a 2 billion dollars arms deal with French defence firm Thales in the 1990s.

    READ ALSO: South Africa court rejects Zuma appeal to prevent corruption trial

    Zuma, president from 2009-2018, had previously applied for a permanent stay of prosecution on 18 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to the deal, but the court in Pietermaritzburg threw out his appeal in November.

    Zuma is accused of accepting 500,000 rand (34,000 dollars ) annually from Thales in 1999, in exchange for protecting the company from an investigation into the deal.

    He rejects the allegations as a politically motivated witch-hunt against him.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • Japan to amend laws to help elderly work until 70

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet on Tuesday approved bills to call on businesses to allow their employees to work until the age of 70.

    The step was taken to help mitigate a chronic labour shortage and cover growing social security costs in the rapidly ageing country.

    The legislation urges corporations to pick one of five options, including abolishing the retirement age, raising it, or allowing employees to work beyond the age limit, Kyodo News reported.

    The government is expected to introduce the bills to the current parliament session and hopes to enforce them from April 2021.

    READ ALSO: U.S., Japan fly nationals from China as coronavirus death hits 133

    The government also plans to cut benefits given to employees aged between 60 and 64, whose salaries drastically drop when they turn 60, Kyodo reported.

    Japan is facing an increased demographic burden after decades of rapid ageing of the population and falling birth rates.

    Critics argue Abe’s government has done little to reverse the trend.

    People aged 65 or older are expected to reach nearly 40 per cent of the population by 2060, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • El Chapo’s daughter weds at Mexican Cathedral

    Agency Reporter

    IT was the society wedding of the year in Mexico’s drug cartel heartland: Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán, daughter of the convicted kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, tied the knot with the kin of another member of Mexico’s underworld.

    And in the ostentatious style of a family accustomed to getting its way, they were married in a closed-door ceremony in the cathedral of Culiacán – the city at the centre of the Sinaloa cartel’s criminal empire.

    The wedding, according to a report by The Guardian of London, took place on 25 January, according to the Mexican newspaper Reforma, which scandalised Mexico with the headline: “Cathedral locked down for the wedding of El Chapo’s daughter.”

    Photos and videos posted on social media showed the bride arriving at the Culiacán cathedral, which had been cordoned off with yellow police tape, and a reception featuring popular Mexican musicians and the newlyweds taking in a private pyrotechnics show.

    To seasoned Mexican observers, the wedding once again offered an uncomfortable reminder of organised crime’s influence in many pockets of the country, its ability to ingratiate itself into society at large and its relationship with the Catholic church, which has long been accused of laundering drug cartel funds through the collection plate.

  • Coronavirus: China admits ‘shortcomings, deficiencies’

    Agency Reporter

    China’s top leadership has admitted “shortcomings and deficiencies” in the country’s response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

    The Politburo Standing Committee said the national emergency management system had to improve.

    A crackdown on wildlife markets, where the virus emerged, has been ordered.

    There are more than 17,000 confirmed cases in China, with 361 deaths, and more than 150 in other countries, with one death in the Philippines.

    The number of deaths in China, excluding Hong Kong, now exceeds the 349 killed on the mainland in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03.

    The new coronavirus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms usually start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.

    The outbreak took its toll on Chinese shares when financial markets reopened yesterday following the Lunar New Year holiday. The Shanghai Composite index closed nearly 8% lower, its biggest daily drop for more than four years.

    Reports of the standing committee meeting, chaired by President Xi Jinping, were carried by the official Xinhua news agency.

    It said lessons had to be learned from what had been a “big test” of China’s governance system.

    One area to be tackled is the trade in illegal wildlife, which should be “resolutely banned”, while supervision of markets should be strengthened.

    It is thought a market in the city of Wuhan was the source of the viral outbreak. On Monday, a study by a Chinese virologist said bats were the likely source.

    Wuhan remains the “top priority” and additional medical staff will be sent there, the committee said.

    It said officials should assume full responsibility for their duties in epidemic prevention, and that those who failed to perform them would be punished.

    The Chinese government has accused the U.S. of causing “panic” in its response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

    It followed the U.S. decision to declare a public health emergency and deny entry to foreign nationals who had visited China in the past two weeks.

    Outside China, there are more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus – and one death, in the Philippines.

    The virus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms seem to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.

    The outbreak took its toll on Chinese shares when markets reopened yesterday following the Lunar New Year holiday. The Shanghai Composite index closed nearly 8% lower, its biggest daily drop for more than four years.

    On 23 January, the U.S. ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. personnel and their family members from the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the virus originated.

    Any U.S. citizen who has been in Hubei province will be subject to 14 days’ quarantine upon returning to the U.S.

    Russia said yesterday it may deport foreigners, who test positive for coronavirus as Russian military planes flew in to evacuate its citizens from the Chinese province at the epicentre of the outbreak.

    Russia, which has a 4,300km (2,670-mile) land border with China, reported its first two cases of the virus last week in the Siberian regions of Tyumen and Zabaykalsk. Both involved Chinese nationals.

  • Brexit: Buhari excited over Johnson’s stance on Commonwealth trade

    Our Reporter

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed delight in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s choice to buy his (Buhari) idea to make exploring new economic deals with Commonwealth countries a priority after Brexit.

    Prime Minister Johnson, in an address he delivered at Greenwich yesterday, expressed optimism that the United Kingdom stood a good chance of enhancing its economic well-being in new trade deals with Commonwealth countries.

    A statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, noted that President Buhari, on the eve of the just concluded UK- Africa Investment Summit in London, in a written opinion, urged the prime minister to direct the UK towards exploring greater trade and economic deals with Commonwealth countries.

    Shehu, in the statement, said “with the expected exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union having taken place, the stage is set for a new trade regime between the UK and its old partners as well as an alignment with new trading partners.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari, understanding the inevitability of the situation, had stated earlier of the opportunities presented by Nigeria and indeed other nations of the Commonwealth in the emerging trade scenario occasioned by the Brexit.

    “It is, therefore, heart-warming that Prime Minister Boris Johnson also believes that indeed, a new dawn awaits the United Kingdom in its trade relationship with countries within the Commonwealth, Nigeria inclusive as reflected in his speech earlier Monday (yesterday) in Greenwich.

    “President Buhari, while writing on, “A new case for a Commonwealth based on trade”, on the eve of the ‘UK- Africa Investment Summit’ in London in January, had said: ‘I – like many other Commonwealth leaders – also seek a new settlement: not only of closer relations between the UK and my own nation, but of unleashing trade within the club in which we together shall remain’.

    “With a population of nearly 200 million made of largely of vibrant and energetic young men and women brimming with ideas, and being the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria looks forward to a trade engagement with the United Kingdom, which will undoubtedly present for Nigeria and indeed the Commonwealth a mutually benefiting dawn.

    “President Buhari is, therefore, optimistic that the forthcoming Commonwealth meeting in June promises to be one to look forward to by all participants,” the statement said.

  • Visa requirements: Schengen

    A Schengen visa allows free travel within selected countries of Europe. You will not need to apply to numerous embassies when travelling within these countries and you can easily take a short flight or train ride to move between them. There are different types of Schengen visas and most travellers will apply for a short stay visit, which is valid for 90 days.

    Citizens from Nigeria, all of Africa and many other countries would need to apply for the Schengen visa to visit Europe.

    If you are travelling through one of the countries in the Schengen area, you will need an airport transit visa.

    There are 26 countries in total that the visa covers. While 22 of them are part of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are not.

    Your Schengen visa will be valid for 90 days of travel in the Schengen area, over a period of 180 days (six months) from the day that it is issued.

    Countries you require a Schengen visa:

    They are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iceland and Latvia.

    Others include: Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia and Sweden.

    Types of Schengen Visas

    Category A: Airport Transit Visa – needed when travelling through an airport situated within the Schengen area.

    Category C: Short-term Visa – this is standard tourist visa, which is valid for up to 90 days. Short-term visa will also include how many times you will be allowed to re-enter countries within the Schengen area. This includes: single entry, double and multiple entry.

    Other than a tourist visa, there are many other types of short-term visas. These include: business, medical treatment, religious purposes, sport competition, conference, government delegation, study and invitation visas.

    Limited Territory Visa

    This Schengen visa allows the holder to only travel within the country/countries that the visa has been issued to. You will not be allowed entry into any other countries in the Schengen area. This type of visa is usually only issued in some type of emergency, limiting the user to a specific country or area.

    You may also apply for a long-term visa if you are going to be reunited with family living in one of the Schengen countries, have a family member that is an EU citizen and plan to visit for an extended period of time, as well as if you have been granted a job in the Schengen area.

    What you need to apply

    *You need to apply in time for visa processing

    *A completed Schengen application form

    *Valid passport (with 2 consecutive clean pages) and a full-colour copy of data page

    *Two passport photos

    *Bank statements of the last three months- Bank details

    *Hotel reservations in your choice of country

    *Medical insurance

    *Round trip flight reservation

    *Evidence of a need to return back to Nigeria (letter from employer, etc)

    *Colour copies of all previous Schengen visas (if applicable)

    *Employment details of the last three months

  • Russia may deport foreigners with coronavirus, halts train to Beijing

     

    Russia on Monday said it may deport foreigners who test positive for coronavirus as Russian military planes flew in to evacuate its citizens from the Chinese province at the epicentre of the outbreak which has killed 361 people.

    Russia, which has a 4,300km (2,670-mile) land border with China, reported its first two cases of the virus recently in the Siberian regions of Tyumen and Zabaykalsk.

    Both involved Chinese nationals.

    “Russia halted passenger trains to China as of Sunday night and the last train from Beijing rolled into Russia empty after 136 passengers – all Chinese nationals, were taken off at the border,’’ the RIA news agency reported.

    Moscow has already restricted direct flights to China, its largest trade partner, and the remaining flights are being routed through a separate terminal at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport.

    “We’re not scared yet but if doctors diagnose (coronavirus) cases in Moscow then of course we will be,” a security official wearing a mask at a checkpoint at the terminal for China flights, told Reuters.

    Starting from Tuesday, Sheremetyevo will be the only place where foreign citizens coming from China by air can enter Russia.

    “In the capital, people have been rushing to stock up on masks and some pharmacies have sold out,’’ the Vedomosti newspaper reported.

    Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told senior government officials that Moscow has formally labeled coronavirus a “very dangerous disease”, granting authorities enhanced powers to combat it.

    Read Also; UPDATED: No Nigerian infected with Coronavirus – Chinese envoy

    “This will allow us to deport foreign citizens if they are found to have such a disease, and to introduce special restrictive measures, including isolation or quarantine,” he said.

    Mishushin also proposed postponing Russia’s annual economic forum in the Black Sea resort of Sochi which was initially set for Feb. 12 to Feb. 14.

    “Military planes are due to fly back 130 Russian nationals from China’s Hubei province on Monday,’’ officials said.

    Local authorities said that separately, 58 other citizens had been repatriated via Russia’s far eastern border as of Saturday.

    “The Far East Primorsk region has also opened special quarantine zones for Chinese people arriving in Russia and they will be held there for 14 days regardless of whether they have tested positive for the virus or not,’’ officials said.

    Russia’s second-largest food retailer Magnit said it was suspending fruit and vegetable imports from China due to the spread of the coronavirus and logistical complications.

    “In the Far East, some vegetables doubled in price and even disappeared altogether when authorities restricted trucks passing into Russia from China, but that measure was lifted on Monday,’’ local officials said.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • S’ Korea pledges improved cultural relations with Nigeria

    From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

    THE Republic of South Korea has promised to enhance the mutual understanding between the country and Nigeria this year in order to enhance the cultural relations between both countries.

    Director, Korea Cultural Centre Nigeria, (KCCN), Lee Jin-su, said this during the 2020 Korea Lunar New Year in Abuja.

    Jin-su said the KCCN would continue working hard on its cultural exchange programmes and events to enhance cultural relations between the two countries.

    He said: “We are celebrating this event here with you because the KCCN considers you all as our family here in Nigeria. Through these practices, it is my wish to enrich the cultural relationship between Korea and Nigeria, understand its culture with each other and make a great memory once again.

    “We as a centre has since been passionately working on the meaningful exchanges between the two countries in areas of art, culture, education, sports, just to name a few.

    Read Also: Nigeria is South Korea’s key trade partner in Africa, says envoy

    “This year, to enhance the mutual understanding between Korea and Nigeria, the centre promises to continue working hard on our cultural exchange programmes and events.

    “This includes creating a more open door policy to Nigerians who are willing to use the centre in various capacities and the centre’s participation and support in various events.”

  • Russia queries feasibility of U.S. Middle East peace plan

    Agency Reporter

    A Middle East peace plan presented by United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump contravenes several United Nations resolutions, Russian news agencies cited a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, as saying on Sunday.

    The Russian spokesman questioned the plan’s feasibility.

    The Palestinian Authority has cut all ties with the United States and Israel, including those relating to security, after rejecting the Middle East peace plan put forward by Trump.

    “We see the reaction from the Palestinians; we see the reaction of a wide range of Arab states, which have sided with the Palestinians in rejecting the plan. This, obviously, makes one think about its feasibility,” Peskov was quoted as saying.

    The Palestinian Authority at the weekend cut all ties with the United States and Israel, including those relating to security, after rejecting the peace plan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said.

    Abbas was in Cairo to address the Arab League, which backed the Palestinians in their opposition to Trump’s plan.

    Read Also: Travel ban: We’ll do better without foreign interference – APC Chieftain

    The blueprint, endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for the creation of a demilitarised Palestinian state that excludes Jewish settlements built in occupied territory and is under near-total Israeli security control.

    “We’ve informed the Israeli side … that there will be no relations at all with them and the United States including security ties,” Abbas told the one-day emergency meeting, called to discuss Trump’s plan.

    Read Also: Travel ban: We’ll do better without foreign interference – APC Chieftain

    Israeli officials had no immediate comment on his remarks.

    Israel and the Palestinian Authority’s security forces have long cooperated in policing areas of the occupied West Bank that are under Palestinian control. The PA also has intelligence cooperation agreements with the CIA, which continued even after the Palestinians began boycotting the Trump administration’s peace efforts in 2017.

  • Police shoot man dead after London stabbings incident

    Agency Reporter

    UNITED Kingdom (UK) policemen yesterday shot dead a man in south London after several people were believed to have been stabbed in what authorities described as a terrorism-related incident.

    “A man has been shot by armed officers in Streatham (south London). At this stage it is believed a number of people have been stabbed. The circumstances are being assessed; the incident has been declared as terrorist-related,” the police said on Twitter.

    Police said later the man they had shot had been pronounced dead.

    Sky News cited security sources as saying the incident was related to Islamist militancy.

    Armed police cordoned off the area, on the main shopping street in Streatham, a busy residential district south of the River Thames. Police said people should avoid the area.

    Read Also: Four dead, suspect arrested in shooting spree

    Several videos of the scene were posted on Twitter, but not verified by Reuters. In one, filmed from inside a shop across the road, a man can be seen lying on the street while at least two armed police officers point their guns from behind an unmarked car with its blue lights flashing.

    Helicopters flew overhead and police cars were in surrounding streets, with the area blocked off by tape.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter: “Thank you to all emergency services responding to the incident in Streatham, which the police have now declared as terrorism-related.”

    “My thoughts are with the injured and all those affected,” he added.