The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Kuwait targets over 200,000 out-of-school children in Nigeria

    Kuwait targets over 200,000 out-of-school children in Nigeria

    The Kuwait Government has set up projects to reach over 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna State.

    The Ambassador of Kuwait to Nigeria, Mr. Salim Khalifa Almuzayen, disclosed this on the 64th National Day of the State of Kuwait and the 34th Liberation Day.

    The envoy said the initiative through Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project aims to provide equitable access to quality primary education for children in Kaduna State, particularly those with disabilities, girls and adolescents.

    He said: “I would like to mention the ambitious and pioneer project funded by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development with distinguished partners and UNICEF in Kaduna State, named: “Reaching Out of School Children” Project, which aims to assist over 200,000 students.”

    He said the democratic system that distinguished Kuwait since its inception based on a constitution that provides people’s participation in decision-making, with a clear commitment from the political leadership, which is a source of pride and honour for Kuwaitis.

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    He added that the State of Kuwait adopts the principle of moderation in its foreign policy, with clear features and frameworks in its diplomatic relations, with its aspiration for the whole world to participate in its Vision 2035 for the future Kuwait as a regional financial, commercial and cultural centre.

    “I would like to commend on the excellent and historical bilateral relations between the State of Kuwait and the friendly Federal Republic of Nigeria, which extend since the sixties of the last century, as the Al-Sabah School, was built in Kaduna State in that era,” he said.

    The Senior Counselor of the Middle East and Gulf Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adeolu Okenla, commended the strong diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Kuwait, which dates back to 1971.

    Okenla said: “Nigeria commended Kuwait for its contributions to regional peace and development in the Middle East, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

    “The council comprises member states, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.”

    Kuwait’s free education policy, which provides education from primary school to university level, was also praised for achieving a total adult literacy rate of 96.46%.

  • Starmer to boost UK defense spending against Russian threat

    Starmer to boost UK defense spending against Russian threat

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said yesterday that the United Kingdom would increase its defence spending by 2027 to bolster its security against the threat of Russian aggression exhibited by Moscow’s three-year war against Ukraine.

    He told Parliament that defence spending would increase by $17 billion annually, boosting outlays from 2.3% of the United Kingdom’s economic production to 2.5%, with corresponding cuts in overseas development assistance.

    Starmer told lawmakers the increased spending was a “generational response” and the “biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.”

    He said it was necessary because “tyrants like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin only respond to strength.”

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    “We must stand by Ukraine, because if we do not achieve a lasting peace, then the economic instability and threats to our security, they will only grow,” said Starmer, who is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday.

    “And so, as the nature of that conflict changes as it has in recent weeks, it brings our response into sharper focus, a new era that we must meet as we have so often in the past, together, and with strength,” Starmer told the House of Commons.

    Britain previously said it would increase its defence spending to 2.5% of its national economic production but did not pinpoint a date. It already is one of 23 of the 32 countries in NATO that meets the goal of the West’s main military alliance for each country to spend at least 2% of its gross domestic product on defence.

    Starmer’s push to increase defence spending comes as European countries have expressed new concerns about ongoing military support from the United States as Trump advances his “America First” foreign policy agenda and pushes to settle the Ukraine war in discussions with Putin.

  • U.S. siding with Russia, Belarus in UN vote sparks anger

    U.S. siding with Russia, Belarus in UN vote sparks anger

    The United States opposition to a European-drafted United Nations resolution that condemned Moscow’s full-scale invasion has sparked anger on both sides of the Atlantic.

    At the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, the U.S. joined Russia and Moscow’s closest ally Belarus, as well as North Korea, in opposing a resolution condemning Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

    In another vote in the 15-member UN Security Council (UNSC), Russia and the U.S. approved an American-backed resolution calling for a swift end to the conflict. It avoided labeling Russia as the aggressor or acknowledging Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

    Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea said the Washington-backed resolution “puts us on the path to peace,” but many former officials, and even a serving Republican senator, lined up to condemn the American motions.

    Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department for comment.

    The votes coincided with the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and, while non-binding and so largely symbolic, illustrates a growing divide between the U.S. and Kyiv’s other allies as President Donald Trump upends American support for Ukraine.

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     Some 93 countries backed the 193-member General Assembly resolution, which expressed concern over Russia’s full-scale invasion and its consequences for Ukraine and international security. It called for de-escalation, a ceasefire and Moscow’s withdrawal from Ukrainian territory.

    But rather than abstaining, the U.S. surprisingly opposed the motion, joining 17 other countries, including Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, and Hungary.

    The U.S. proposed a resolution that omitted references to Russian aggression or Ukraine’s territorial integrity and urged a swift end to the conflict. Russia used its permanent member status to veto European attempts at stronger language.

    Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt described it on X, formerly Twitter, as a “shameful moment in U.S. history.” Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul was among those who condemned the American vote as “one of the most shocking foreign policy events of my lifetime.” Another former diplomat, Steven Pifer, ex-U.S. envoy to Kyiv, posted on X: “how appalling was U.S. vote on UN resolution on just, lasting peace to settle Russia Ukraine war?” Republican Senator John Curtis (R-UT) said on X that he was “deeply troubled by the vote at the UN today which put us on the same side as Russia and North

  • Pope Francis’ health crisis sparks prayers among Catholic faithful

    Pope Francis’ health crisis sparks prayers among Catholic faithful

    Thousands of people gathered yesterday in St. Peter’s Square to pray for an ailing Pope Francis, expressing sorrow for his suffering, hope for his recovery and gratitude for his efforts to steer the Catholic Church in new directions.

    The 88-year-old Francis has pneumonia in both lungs and remains in critical condition despite showing a slight improvement after 11 days in the hospital. The Vatican said early on Tuesday that he had “slept well, all night.”

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    As Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s No. 2, led prayers for 45 minutes on a chilly, rainy night Monday, the faithful fingered rosary beads while hoping for Francis’ recovery. The Vatican issued a dose of optimism earlier in the evening, delivering a more upbeat health bulletin than in recent days.

    Still, the mood was mostly grim in the monumental square, with many of the roughly 4,000 assembled understanding they may be in Rome for Francis’ final days. Crowds sat under umbrellas on folding chairs or stood by the vast colonnades as they reflected fondly on the pontiff’s legacy.

    “To see him suffer hurts,” said Robert Pietro, a Romanian seminarian who stood at the prayer holding a small, fragrant candle in tribute. “But we also pray in thanksgiving for what he has done for the Church.”

    The Rev. Roberto Allison, a priest from Guadalajara, Mexico, said members of his community had come together to show appreciation for “all that we have learned from him.”

  • Zelensky hails Ukraine’s ‘heroism’ on third anniversary of war

    Zelensky hails Ukraine’s ‘heroism’ on third anniversary of war

    •Trump: battle may end within weeks

    Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed his country’s “resistance” and “heroism” on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion as European leaders arrived in Kyiv in a show of solidarity.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch what he called a “special military operation” set off the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

    But, U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that Russia’s war against Ukraine could end “within weeks” and claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow European peacekeepers to be stationed in Ukraine as part of a potential agreement.

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    “I think we could end it within weeks. If we’re smart. If we’re not smart, it’ll keep going, and we’ll keep losing young, beautiful people that shouldn’t be dying,” he said, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.

    Trump claimed the U.S. supported sending European troops to monitor a ceasefire and that he had discussed the proposal with Putin, who “would accept it.”

    Tens of thousands of soldiers – from both sides – and Ukrainian civilians have been killed, cities across the country’s south and east have been flattened and millions forced to flee their homes.

  • Foundation urges AU, ECOWAS to oppose foreign military intervention in Africa

    Foundation urges AU, ECOWAS to oppose foreign military intervention in Africa

    The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has urged the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS) to reject foreign military intervention and develop indigenous security strategies.

    It urged the Federal Government and other African leaders to prioritise diplomatic, intelligence-driven and economic approaches over militarised solutions.

    Executive Director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, who opposed the United States’ plan to conduct airstrikes against terrorist targets across Africa, warned that foreign military interventions have historically escalated conflicts rather than resolved them.

    Hamzat’s position followed a statement by Gen. James Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces, Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), who announced during the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium (AACS) in Lusaka, Zambia, that the U.S. military would continue targeting terrorist groups like ISIS in Africa.

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    Hamzat, who has been championing the demilitarisation of Africa, maintained that foreign airstrikes have a history of causing civilian casualties, destabilisation, and increasing terrorist recruitment rather than eliminating threats.

    He said: “While we acknowledge the security challenges facing Africa, we firmly oppose the militarisation of our continent by foreign powers. The U.S. military’s interventions in Libya, Somalia, the Sahel and other regions have shown that airstrikes and external military actions often escalate conflicts, lead to civilian casualties and create long-term instability. Africa’s security challenges must be addressed through African-led solutions, not foreign bombings.”

  • Experts meet to validate logistic depot policies for ECOWAS standby force

    Experts meet to validate logistic depot policies for ECOWAS standby force

    Government experts’ from the Economic Community of West African States gathered yesterday in Abuja to validate the Logistics Depot policies of the regional standby force.

    This is coming ahead of the commissioning of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which is part of the efforts at equipping the regional standby force.

    Speaking at the opening of the validation exercise, Commissioner, Political Affairs Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the increased acts of terrorism, violent extremism and political instability within the region have necessitated the urgent need for fully functional and operational static depot.

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    Musah, who was represented by Dr. Sanni Adamu Mohammed,  Acting head of peace support operations in ECOWAS, said that the project remains a critical one for  peace  support operations, explaining that the depot is expected to warehouse all the equipment that are supposed to be deployed for peace support operations.

    He said: “The ECOWAS Commission has injected substantial resources towards the construction as well as the operationalisation of the depot, and it remains a critical flagship project for ECOWAS region’s peace support operations infrastructure.

    “The increased act of terrorism, violent extremism, and political instability being experienced in a number of our countries, with heavy and dire consequences, are a clear testament to the urgent need for a well-resourced logistics strategy with a fully functional and operational and static depot.”

    On why it took the commission this long to put in place the depot, Musah said, “not because of reluctance on the part of management, but because of the need to mobilise the required resources that will enable the commission to actually put in place a depot that will be, you know, consistent with not only continental but also global best practises. So, we are happy the depot is in place now in Lungi, Sierra Leone.

  • Nigeria, Kazakhstan discuss bilateral relations to explore agriculture, ICT others

    Nigeria, Kazakhstan discuss bilateral relations to explore agriculture, ICT others

    …as Ooni facilitates business engagement

    Nigeria and Kazakhstan in the next few days will be engaged in a series of discussions to enhance bilateral relations.

    Both countries are exploring areas of cooperation in agriculture, trade, and information technologies at a business conference in Abuja facilitated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

    No fewer than thirty member delegations from Kazakhstan’s public and private sector operators are in the country to explore several areas of cooperation.

    Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the giant strides made so far in the agriculture sector by the current administration, including having more harvest compared to the previous year.

    He therefore said Nigeria could collaborate with Kazakhstan in many areas of the sector.

    He said: “We’re meeting with them on Tuesday at 2 o’clock, and we will talk more and elaborately on some of the opportunities that exist between Nigeria and Kazakhstan in terms of the agricultural space.

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    “We are not asking only for them to come and invest. We are also asking for us to partner with them. What is it that they need? We have products that we have in abundance here.”

    Speaking at the conference, the minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications, innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the ministry had already developed a strategic blueprint with six pillars, adding that each of these pillars is a potential area of collaboration and partnership with the Kazakhstan team.

    “In particular, pillar number one speaks about knowledge, capacity building, and talents. I’m aware that Kazakhstan is quite advanced in terms of its knowledge base in ICT. So this is a big area that we can partner,” the Minister represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Faruk Yabo.

    “We already have the world’s largest capacity-building initiative that we are running, which is the three million technical talents by 2027. This is intended to train Nigerians in technical talent so that at least 1.5 million of them will be able to work in Europe and the remaining ones could be here.”

    He also said the two countries were looking to cooperate in artificial intelligence, adding that Nigeria had just finished drafting its artificial intelligence strategy.

    Besides, the minister called for cooperation in the development of digital infrastructure.

    On his part, the Kazakhstan head of delegation, Alibek Kuantyrov, said this is the first official delegation from Kazakhstan to Nigeria, adding that the huge young population of youths in the two countries provided an opportunity for cooperation.

    “Our main trajectory is economic development, and we are the largest economy in Central Asia. So the same as Nigeria, Nigeria is a leader in the African continent.

    “We see Nigeria as a very important partner and also the channel to go through the whole continent, and I think we can work together in terms of the transit of goods, trade and also making pure mutual investment in the field of minerals. 

    “We’re also an ICT and AI nation and also a FinTech nation, the sectors that are being developed in Nigeria and now we have managed and come to a conclusion that we can also open some FinTech and banking companies in the Nigerian markets.

    “We can also exchange our ICT products and make an exchange of students because we have a target in our country to prepare at least 1 million IT specialists.”

    The Ooni of Ife said President Bola Tinubu should be credited for being proactive and making the business conference a reality, adding that it was a follow-up from the meeting between the presidents of the two countries in Abu Dhabi in January.

    “They are very bullish. They are serious. They mean business. They’re here with their largest contingent, and they want to see how to explore so many things, and it will really help Nigerian youth in terms of employment. Look at another beautiful thing that came up today as a country. They’re changing their visa policy for them to accommodate Nigerians that are so talented in the area of tech, artificial intelligence, in area of writing codes.”

  • Experts meet to validate logistic depot policies for ECOWAS standby force

    Experts meet to validate logistic depot policies for ECOWAS standby force

    Government experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are gathered in Abuja to validate the logistics depot policies of the regional standby force.

    This is coming ahead of the commissioning of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which is part of the efforts at equipping the regional standby force.

    Speaking at the opening of the validation exercise, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah said the increased acts of terrorism, violent extremism, and political instability within the region have necessitated the urgent need for a fully functional and operational static depot.

    Musah, who was represented by Dr. Sanni Adamu Mohammed, acting head of peace support operations in ECOWAS, said that the project remains a critical one for peace support operations, explaining that the depot is expected to warehouse all the equipment that is supposed to be deployed for peace support operations.

    He said: “The ECOWAS Commission has injected substantial resources towards the construction as well as the operationalization of the depot, and it remains a critical flagship project for ECOWAS region’s peace support operations infrastructure.

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    “The increased acts of terrorism, violent extremism, and political instability being experienced in a number of our countries, with heavy and dire consequences, are a clear testament to the urgent need for a well-resourced logistics strategy with a fully functional and operational and static depot.”

    On why it took the Commission this long to put in place the Depot, Musah said, “Not because of reluctance on the part of management, but because of the need to mobilize the required resources that will enable the Commission to put in place a depot that will be, you know, consistent with not only continental but also global best practices. So the depot we are happy is in place now in Lungi, Sierra Leone

    “It’s a coastal depot, so anywhere, from anywhere we are shipping, you know, equipment to the depot either by land, air, or sea, we’ll be able to comfortably, you know, evacuate them and put them in the depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone. Well, the ECOWAS standby force is already fully activated. It’s in place.

    Like, you know, we have two missions that are currently running in Guinea-Bissau as well as the Gambia. The missions are there, and the troops, you know, from the standby force are the ones there. The activation of the ECOWAS standby force to fight terrorism is actually what we are now planning to do.

    “We need to have the required resources. Already member states have given us the troops that will populate, you know, the contingent that will move, you know, in activation of the standby force in its kinetic form. So we are up and doing to be able to deliver on that task.

    “Well, currently, you know, there are a number of multiple processes we need to engage. Firstly, with our various governments to be able to mobilise the resources. We want to see that resources are mobilised internally.

    “This is a fight that you need to have internal resources to allow you, you know, comfortably confront the challenges. Instead of relying on external funding that will not be always sustainable. Sir, I want to ask you something.

    “The depot we are talking about, is it for the standby force to fight terrorism or the peacekeeping? No, the standby force and the peacekeeping, this is a comprehensive depot that will enable, you know, ECOWAS to put in place equipment, you know, relevant equipment, you know, for deployments. Either during peace support operations or also during fighting. If you are fighting terrorism.

    “So it’s a comprehensive depot, which is multidimensional, you know, in nature. And it’s going to house, you know, all the necessary needs, you know, that will be required. When deploying, either you want to address the internal crisis in member states or you want to fight, you know, these terrorist activities.”

    He added, “Well, the ECOWAS standby force is a stand-by arrangement where countries in the ECOWAS region contribute their capabilities and capacities to meet challenges, security challenges in the region. Challenges could vary from one form to the other. Whichever one is prevalent now, we are trained to come together and bring our capacities to respond to it.

    “Whichever one it may be, we must be well trained and equipped with the kind of task, the kind of task that we are not well equipped for. And that’s why this workshop or meeting is to bring all our capabilities for logistics so that we can support operations in the region, be it in peacetime or non-peacetimes, in terms of emergencies, humanitarian situations, and other emergencies in the region.”

    Air Commodore, Sampson Eyekosi, who is the meeting Chairman said ECOWAS standby force is not taking the role of the Multinational joint taskforce, stressing that Security is a connected thing.

    “You cannot work in isolation. It’s not taking any role. We all work together for the attainment of peace and security in the region.”

    On the number of personnel to be deployed as standby force, Eyekosi said the number would be determined by the threat.

    “It is not fixed. The threat determines how big the force will be. However, units in member states are placed on alert based on what is pledged to the collective effort. And they are trained together, they are prepared, and they are deployed as the situation requires.

    He therefore added: “As we all know, the conduct of Peace Support Operations (PSO) in the ECOWAS region must be properly guided by well-thought-out and proven logistics procedures and processes.

    “Likewise, the need to look closely at the nitty-gritty of all essentials that are required to be in place to ensure that the ECOWAS Logistic Depot (ELD) at Lungi, Sierra Leone becomes functional and attains full operational capability in the shortest possible time.

    “In order to properly structure and organize it up to fully and effectively support ongoing and future peace missions in the region. Especially as the ELD is now on the verge of being commissioned this year, with over ninety percent of expected infrastructural work already completed on the facility.

    “Furthermore, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, our beloved region calls us now to duty and has deliberately brought together, the brightest professional logistics, administrative, and management minds here to brainstorm and produce a final product that will indeed stand the test of time in the real world.

    “This unique opportunity, therefore, requires that we all bring to bear our wealth of experience in various aspects of the gamut of logistics, administration, and management to give back to the interest of our region. Particularly, as it relates to Peace Support Operations in West Africa and Africa as a whole,” he added

  • China Achieves Space Refueling Technology: A New Era of “Space Equality” Dawns

    China Achieves Space Refueling Technology: A New Era of “Space Equality” Dawns

    On February 20, 2025, China’s Shijian-25 satellite successfully refueled the Beidou G7 satellite at an altitude of 30,000 km, extending the life of the satellite by eight years, which was approaching the end of its service life.

    What seemed like a routine space refueling actually marked a historic first: it was the first in-orbit refueling completed on a geostationary orbit in human space history. This milestone signifies the beginning of a new era in space infrastructure development. While NASA in the U.S. is still struggling with refueling technology for low Earth orbit, China has quietly broken the West’s half-century monopoly on this technological hegemony.

    The Beidou G7 satellite is a critical component of China’s Beidou global navigation system. Since its launch in 2015, it has exceeded its intended lifespan. Traditionally, when a satellite’s fuel runs out, the mission ends, and the satellite becomes space debris.

    However, the appearance of the Shijian-25 satellite changed this fate. Equipped with an advanced autonomous navigation system and robotic arm, the satellite is capable of precisely locating the target satellite in distress through radar and optical equipment. It can approach within two meters in “autopilot” mode and then use its robotic arm to connect to the fuel interface. By transferring just 50 kg of fuel, it can extend the target satellite’s life by about one year. Moreover, with 1.3 tons of fuel onboard, Shijian-25 can support multiple rescue missions, reducing the cost by 35% compared to launching a new satellite.

    Faced with China’s technological breakthrough, Western countries have shown mixed reactions. Space News in the U.S. openly expressed concerns about the “dual-use” nature of the Shijian-25, stating that its robotic arm and docking technology “could be used to interfere with or capture satellites from other countries.”

    Some European think tanks have criticized China for its “lack of transparency,” arguing that the absence of details about the mission “increases the risk of space militarization.” This rhetoric echoes the skepticism when the Shijian-21 satellite performed its “space tug” mission in 2024. At the time, China had moved a decommissioned Beidou satellite into a “graveyard orbit,” yet the West had sensationalized it as a “counter-satellite weapon test.”

    However, this anxiety may be rooted in a deeper competitive fear. The head of the American “Satellite Services Alliance” admitted, “China is defining the standards for the next generation of space infrastructure.” Currently, there are over 8,000 satellites in orbit globally, with 40% having exceeded their lifespan. If life-extension technology becomes widespread, the commercial launch market will face a major overhaul. Thanks to its low-cost, highly reliable Long March 3B rocket and the technical accumulation of the Shijian series satellites, China has already gained a head start in this transformation.

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    For developing countries, China’s technological breakthrough holds even more practical significance. The cost of manufacturing and launching a geostationary satellite typically exceeds $300 million, a sum many small countries cannot afford. The life-extension technology demonstrated by Shijian-25 dramatically reduces satellite operational costs, enabling resource-constrained countries to maintain space assets over the long term. This represents true “space equity.”

    Currently, China has been providing free navigation services to Africa and Southeast Asia through the Beidou system. If life-extension technology is incorporated into the “Belt and Road” space cooperation framework in the future, it could help more countries establish their own satellite systems.

    The success of Shijian-25 is, in essence, a demonstration of the values of “how to treat technology.” Through independent innovation, China has proven that space technology can be both a strategic tool in great power competition and a global public good. When the Beidou G7 satellite was reactivated, it was no longer just a navigation satellite; it became a beacon for humanity in breaking technological monopolies and exploring a win-win cooperative future.