The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Trump faces backlash for Gaza ‘clean out’ plan

    Trump faces backlash for Gaza ‘clean out’ plan

    • Israel blocks returning Northern Gaza residents

    President Donald Trump is facing backlash after he suggested Saturday “we just clean out” the Gaza Strip, with critics accusing the president of supporting ethnic cleansing.

    Speaking on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that Egypt and Jordan should accept the Palestinian refugees, who would be displaced by the plan.

    “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over,’” Trump said.

    Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment on the issue.

    Less than a fortnight ago, Hamas and Israel reached a tenuous ceasefire amid the longest and deadliest-ever war in the Gaza Strip.

    The war began with a Hamas-led surprise attack on October 7, 2023 against Israel, killing more than 1,200. Since then, Israel had been relentlessly bombing Gaza. Hamas-run health authorities claimed over 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s campaign, which some critics have characterised as genocide.

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    In a 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters, Trump suggested a “clean out” of Palestinians from Gaza. “But it’s literally a demolition site right now,” the president said.

    “Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there. So, I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change.”

    Trump decided to lift a Biden-era hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, asserting that the weapons were purchased and overdue for delivery. Last Monday, on his first day in office, he said, “I looked at a picture of Gaza; Gaza is like a massive demolition site… It’s got to be rebuilt in a different way.”

    But several historians, journalists and political commentators took to social media to call Trump’s plan ‘ethnic cleansing.’

    Assal Rad, Middle East historian and foreign policy analyst, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Does no one in the media know what it’s called when you ‘clean out’ an ethnic group and expel them from their land? ‘Trump calls for ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza,’ that is your headline.”

  • EU rejects election in Belarus, threatens new sanctions

    EU rejects election in Belarus, threatens new sanctions

    The European Union (EU) rejected the election in Belarus yesterday as illegitimate and threatened new sanctions.

    Belarus held an orchestrated vote virtually guaranteed to give 70-year-old autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko yet another term on top of his three decades in power.

    “Today’s sham election in Belarus has been neither free, nor fair,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said in a joint statement.

    “The relentless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions to political participation and access to independent media in Belarus, have deprived the electoral process of any legitimacy,” Kallas and Kos said.

    They urged the Belarusian government to release political prisoners, estimating their number at more than 1,000, including an employee of the EU delegation in Belarus’ capital, Minsk.

    Kallas and Kos said that the decision to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe only 10 days ago prevented the group from monitoring the full electoral process.

    “For these reasons, as well as the involvement of the Belarusian regime in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its hybrid attacks against its neighbours, the EU will continue imposing restrictive and targeted measures” against the Belarusian government, the EU officials said.

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    They didn’t elaborate on what eventual new sanctions would target, or provide a time frame.

    Kallas and some EU foreign ministers are expected to meet Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya  yesterday night in Brussels for an informal, closed-door dinner.

    However, Israel kept thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza yesterday as it accused Hamas of violating a fragile ceasefire by changing the order of hostages it has released.

    Local health officials said Israeli forces fired on the crowd, killing two people and wounding nine.

    Israeli forces also opened fire in Lebanon on protesters demanding their withdrawal by yesterday’s deadline in line with a separate ceasefire agreement with the Hezbollah militant group, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 80.  Israel refused to withdraw by the deadline, accusing Lebanese forces of not deploying quickly enough. Lebanon’s army says it cannot move into areas until Israeli troops leave.

  • U.S. says Gulf of Mexico now ‘Gulf of America’

    U.S. says Gulf of Mexico now ‘Gulf of America’

    The U.S. Department of the Interior (DoI) on Friday said that the Gulf of Mexico is now to be known as the “Gulf of America” following an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump.

    On Monday, Trump issued an order saying that the body of water on the south coast of the U.S. and east coast of Mexico would be renamed in honour of “American greatness.”

    The name Gulf of Mexico has been in use since the 16th century.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday said that “for us it will continue to be the Gulf of Mexico and for the entire world it will continue to be the Gulf of Mexico.”

    The DoI also said that North America’s highest mountain, Denali, was also to change name and would now be known by its previous moniker of Mount McKinley.

    The mountain had been officially renamed, at the request of the state of Alaska after years of dispute, in 2015 under then U.S. president Barack Obama.

    The name change was a sign of cultural sensitivity towards the Indigenous population of Alaska, for whom the mountain has had a special significance for centuries.

    The 2015 order changing the mountain’s name to Denali notes that William McKinley, a former U.S. president from Ohio, “never visited, nor did he have any significant historical connection to, the mountain or Alaska.”

    The DoI said that the “name restorations … honor the legacy of American greatness,” echoing Trump’s order.

    “These changes reaffirm the nation’s commitment to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the United States and ensuring that future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets,” the statement continued.

    The DoI said that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names was “working expeditiously to update the official federal nomenclature in the Geographic Names Information System to reflect these changes, effective immediately for federal use.” (dpa/NAN)

  • Tiffany Trump stuns in Jovadi Jewelry at presidential inauguration

    Tiffany Trump stuns in Jovadi Jewelry at presidential inauguration

    Tiffany Trump brought a touch of timeless elegance to the Presidential Inauguration festivities, adorned in exquisite pieces from the celebrated luxury brand Jovadi Jewelry. 

    Her choice of diamond earrings and a matching diamond ring reflected the impeccable craftsmanship and bold sophistication for which the brand has become globally renowned. 

    Paired with her silver, off-the-shoulder Zuhair Murad gown, the ensemble was a study in modern glamour.

    At the heart of Jovadi’s success is Ella Peters, the Nigerian-American founder and creative force behind the brand. 

    A pioneer in luxury design, Peters attended the inauguration not only as a guest but as a key supporter of the event’s celebratory spirit. 

    Her presence marked yet another chapter in her remarkable journey to redefine the meaning of high jewelry on the global stage.

    “Seeing Jovadi Jewelry worn on such a monumental occasion is an honor that speaks to the universal language of beauty, craftsmanship, and culture,” Peters reflected. 

    Since founding Jovadi, she has earned a reputation for merging contemporary design with a reverence for African heritage, creating pieces that resonate with power and individuality. 

    Jovadi’s bold yet refined aesthetic has captured the attention of icons like Priyanka Chopra and royalty alike, making it a coveted name in luxury circles.

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    Tiffany Trump’s jewelry selection carried deeper significance. Recently married to Michael Boulos, a Nigerian-American entrepreneur from one of Nigeria’s most prominent families, Tiffany’s choice of Jovadi was a nod to the cultural intersection that defines her personal and public life. 

    The luminous diamonds she wore underscored Jovadi’s ethos: a celebration of beauty that transcends borders, steeped in craftsmanship and meaning.

    Jovadi, which launched its flagship store in Paris directly across from the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel on Avenue George V, has become a global leader in high jewelry, celebrated for its daring designs and commitment to showcasing Africa’s rich artistry and resources. 

    Each piece tells a story of empowerment and individuality, qualities that resonated perfectly in the dazzling inauguration setting.

    Ella Peters, known for her artistry as well as her philanthropic vision, has built Jovadi not just as a jewelry house but as a symbol of possibility. Beyond her creative pursuits, she has championed initiatives that train African gemologists and support children’s education worldwide, embodying a commitment to progress and empowerment. 

    “Jewelry should make you feel powerful — it’s not just about beauty but about owning your story,” Peters has said, a sentiment brought to life through Tiffany Trump’s radiant appearance.

    As one of the event’s major donors, Peters joined a distinguished circle of supporters rallying behind the occasion. Her presence underscored her commitment to not only redefining luxury but also contributing to meaningful global initiatives.

    As the world watched the inauguration, Jovadi’s presence spoke volumes about the growing influence of African-inspired luxury on the global stage. It was a defining moment, not only for Tiffany Trump but also for Ella Peters and the house of Jovadi — a moment that underscored the brand’s unique ability to merge tradition with modernity and style with substance.

    This was more than a display of jewelry; it was a celebration of identity, creativity, and global heritage, woven seamlessly into the fabric of one of the most significant cultural events of the year.

  • Chevening: UK sponsored over 1,500 Nigerians, says envoy

    Chevening: UK sponsored over 1,500 Nigerians, says envoy

    British Deputy High Commissioner, Johnny Baxter,  has revealed that in the last 40 years, over 1,500 Nigerians have received the United Kingdom Government’s Chevening scholarship.

    He added that 3,400 Nigerians have also benefitted from Commonwealth scholarships.

    Baxter noted that,  in 2023, Nigerians were the second largest group of international students in the United Kingdom, adding that, for a long time, Nigeria had been in the top three position with China and India.

    He made this known while making remarks yesterday at a panel discussion organised by the British Deputy High Commission in collaboration with the University of Lagos.

    This event, in commemoration of the International Day of Education 2025, had the theme, “Leveraging UK-Nigeria Educational Partnerships for Economic Growth.”

    The International Day of Education is marked annually on Jan. 24 in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

    The envoy said for many years, education had been one of the most significant towers connecting both countries, adding that it remained a key priority for the United Kingdom.

    “What is so important is that we have students bringing their expertise into the UK system and vice-versa, but at the end, we have students with international experience coming back to contribute to Nigeria.

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    “Between 2017 and 2021, the number of Nigerian students in the UK rose from about 10,000 to now over 44,000, and that is a fantastic success.”

    According to Baxter, education should be a global exchange as it is a privilege and luxury  to study and make the best of it.

    Speaking during the panel session, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), University of Lagos, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, urged students to embrace opportunities for growth.

    According to her, to remain valuable, students should be willing to learn vastly, have  excellence-driven mindsets and take advantage of opportunities to develop nonlinear skills.

    “We should particularly network often and learn to value other people because you never can tell when you will need them.” Also, Toki Mabogunje, Vice-Chair, Africa, International Chamber of Commerce  World Chambers Federation, highlighted the benefits of studying in the United Kingdom and how it prepared students for global opportunities.”

  • WTO chief warns against ‘catastrophic’ tit-for-tat tariffs

    WTO chief warns against ‘catastrophic’ tit-for-tat tariffs

    World Trade Organisation chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged nations to keep calm over tariffs, warning that a tit-for-tat trade war would be “catastrophic” for the world economy.

    Okonjo-Iweala issued her appeal during a panel discussion on tariffs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in a week that saw U.S. President Donald Trump threatening 9tariffs against China, the European Union, Mexico and Canada.

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    The WTO director-general urged cooler heads to prevail, quipping: “Please let’s not hyperventilate. I know we are here to discuss tariffs. I’ve been saying to everybody: could we chill, also. I just sense a lot of hyperventilation.”

    She recalled the fallout from the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in the United States during the Great Depression in 1930, which prompted retaliation and worsened the global economic crisis at the time.

    “We are very much saying to our members at the WTO: you have other avenues. Even if a tariff is levied, please keep calm, don’t wake up and without the necessary groundwork levy your own,” she said.

    “If we have tit-for-tat retaliation, whether it’s 25 percent tariffs, 60 percent, and we go to where we were in the 1930s, we are going to see double-digit global GDP losses, double-digit. That’s catastrophic.”

  • Ethiopia bus accident kills 25

    Ethiopia bus accident kills 25

    A bus overturned in northern Ethiopia yesterday killing 25 people, police said.

    The accident in the Dawunt district of Amhara region also left 14 people seriously injured and receiving treatment at hospitals in Delanta and Dessie, local authorities said.

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    Road accidents are common in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, where roads are often poorly maintained.

    More than 70 people died in December when a truck carrying a wedding party fell into a river.

    Another bus swerved into a river in southern Ethiopia in September, killing at least 28.

  • Judges: Capitol rioters’ pardon can’t whitewash the truth

    Judges: Capitol rioters’ pardon can’t whitewash the truth

    Three federal judges yesterday strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardons of supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol four years ago in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election

    “No pardon can change the tragic truth of what happened on January 6, 2021,” District Judge Tanya Chutkan said in an order dismissing the charges against a Capitol riot defendant.

    “It cannot whitewash the blood, feces, and terror that the mob left in its wake,” Chutkan said. “And it cannot repair the jagged breach in America’s sacred tradition of peacefully transitioning power.”

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    Trump, just hours after taking office on Monday, granted pardons to more than 1,500 of his supporters who stormed the Capitol in a bid to halt congressional certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.

    In doing so, he also commuted the sentences of 14 members of the far-right Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers militia.

    Chutkan presided over the criminal case filed against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith accusing him of seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

    The case never came to trial, and it was dismissed after Trump won the November election, in line with a long-standing Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.

    Two other Washington-based federal judges who presided over cases involving Capitol riot defendants also dismissed the charges on Wednesday with strongly worded condemnations of the pardons.

  • Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship

    Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship

    A federal judge has temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the country’s constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship.

    John C. Coughenour, US district judge, gave the ruling on Thursday.

    The order to end birthright citizenship had originally been slated to take effect on February 19 but 18 states’ attorneys general filed lawsuits on Tuesday challenging it.

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    The Democratic officials also filed a request asking the court to put the case on a fast track and rule on whether to block enforcement before it takes effect.

    During a brief hearing in Seattle, Brett Shumate, justice department lawyer, began to argue that Trump’s order was valid, but his speech was cut off abruptly.

    “Is this order constitutional?” Coughenou interrupted. “This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.  “We look back in history and say ‘where were the judges, where were the lawyers?’”

    “Frankly I have difficulty finding that a member of the bar can state confidently that this is a constitutional order.”

    Coughenou said the order “boggles the mind”, adding that he could not remember seeing another case where the action challenged was so clearly unconstitutional in his over four decades of practice.

  • Nigeria commiserates with Turkiye over hotel fire incident

    Nigeria commiserates with Turkiye over hotel fire incident

    Nigeria has expressed its sympathy with the people of Turkiye over the fire incident at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort.

    The fire, which claimed the lives of 76 persons and injured over 50 others in Bolu Province in Northwestern Turkiye, was reported to have started in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The government, in a statement issued by Acting Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, stated: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to express deep condolences to the Government and People of the Republic of Turkiye over the unfortunate fire incident at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria sympathizes with the Government of the Republic of Turkiye and the families of the victims of the fire incident, and also wishes a speedy recovery of the injured.”

    Meanwhile, Turkey has declared a day of mourning for the 76 victims of the fire incident.

    The fire broke out at the wooden-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu at 03:27 local time (00:27 GMT) during a busy holiday period when 234 people were staying there. It took 12 hours to put it out.

    An investigation has been launched into the incident and there have been conflicting reports about whether the hotel was up to safety standards.

    Nine people have been arrested, including the hotel’s owner.

    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Bolu yesterday, said those responsible for negligence leading to the fire “will be held accountable”.

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    Flags are flying at half-mast across Turkey in memory of the victims of the fire, while the first funerals are being held. Search and rescue teams are making their final efforts to find any remaining bodies.

    The authorities said that they were assessing all risks, including the possibility of collapse, for the building.

    Alongside the fatalities, 51 people were injured in the fire, according to health minister Kemal Memisoglu. One was receiving treatment in intensive care, and 17 people have been discharged. Relatives have been gathering outside the hospitals, where they are being treated.

    A person the BBC met in front of the morgue said that he had received news that seven of his relatives had died and that he had visited hospitals looking for their bodies. He later learned that the morgue was empty.

    Footage circulating showed linen hanging from windows which was used by those trying to escape the burning building. Yesterday, these could still be seen swaying in the wind.

    The cause of the fire has not yet been found, but Bolu governor Abdulaziz Aydin said initial reports suggested it had broken out in the restaurant section of the hotel’s fourth floor and spread to the floors above.