The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Korea cultural festival to strengthen bilateral ties with Nigeria

    Korea cultural festival to strengthen bilateral ties with Nigeria

    The fourth edition of the Korean Culture Festival is expected to strengthen cultural and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Korea. 

    The festival organised by KVibe Ltd., will take place on November 24, 2024 at Bay Water Park, Lekki, Lagos with the theme “East Meets West: Culture Reimagined” 

    In a statement, KVibe Ltd. spokesperson Oreoluwa Ademulure described the festival as a celebration of both countries’ shared values. 

    “Beyond pop culture and entertainment, the intrinsic values of the Korean core like respect, hard work, and cultural conservation are a corresponding fit for our values in Nigeria,”

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    She added that: “Our goal is to create a space where attendees, whether Nigerian or Korean, feel at home.”

    She stated that since its inception in 2022, the event has grown significantly from its initial attendance of 100 people to become one of the most anticipated cultural festivals in Lagos, attracting a diverse audience eager to experience Korean culture.

    Ademulure explained that this year’s event will include live music, karaoke competitions, dance performances, Korean cuisine, photobooths, virtual reality experiences, and traditional Korean games. 

    A highlight is the Hanbok fashion contest, which will combine Korean traditional attire with Nigerian Ankara fabric, as well as a Korean speech competition. Winners of these contests can receive cash prizes of up to ₦300,000.

  • PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria sparks jubilation among Indians

    PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria sparks jubilation among Indians

    The Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP), Nigeria Chapter, has expressed excitement over Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s planned visit to Nigeria from Nov. 16 to Nov.17.

    Mr. Sanjay Srivastava, Founder of OFBJP, in a statement, yesterday, said the visit would boost bilateral ties between Nigeria and India.

    “This is the first visit of our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nigeria since he assumed office in 2014, and this marks almost 18 years since a prime ministerial visit to Nigeria.

    “This visit will enhance bilateral ties, strengthen our diplomatic, cultural, and economic relationships. So, we are excited look forward to a rewarding experience,” he said.

    Srivastava, who is also the President of the Afro-Asian Initiative for Community Development, said the India Support Group in Nigeria was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Modi to Nigeria.

    According to him, this will  spur a new chapter of friendship and trade promotion with Nigeria.

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    “The India Support Group is wholeheartedly ready to honour the Prime Minister’s arrival,” he said

    He disclosed that among those to welcome Modi were: Mr Pravin Kumar, General Secretary of OFBJP Nigeria, Mr. Vikas Kane and Mr. Sabir, Vice Presidents of OFBJP Nigeria.

    Srivastava noted that the visit aimed to solidify trade and investment opportunities, enhance cooperation in key sectors like energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.

    He said that Nigeria and India were expected to explore deeper educational, cultural, and people-to-people connections to celebrate shared values and traditions.

    “It is planned that there would be joint efforts to address security challenges, counter-terrorism, and maritime security will be highlighted to align with regional and global stability goals, ” he said.

    He added that India was committed to contributing to Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and skill-building programmes, offering expertise in medical services and workforce development.

  • Institute gives award to Nigeria, Egypt cities

    Institute gives award to Nigeria, Egypt cities

    The Institute for Environment Research and Development (IERD) has given awards to Nigerian and Egyptian cities for quality of life.

    Cairo was awarded for its smart city approach to urban governance, particularly the development of “Greater Cairo,” an administrative entity that includes parts of Giza and Qalyubia provinces.

    Lagos was celebrated for its proactive approach to crime prevention and efficient transportation systems, earning the award for Outstanding Urban Governance and Safe City Model. The award was accepted on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu by Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and Engr. Fatai Akinderu, Honourable Commissioner for Housing.

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    It announced the award winners during the “Voice from Cities” event, themed:  “Rejuvenation of Slums and Local Economic Interventions for Nigerian Cities.” It held at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF), organised by UN-Habitat,  in Cairo.

    Its Executive Director, Prof. Adedeji Daramola, noted that this award initiative began in 2008 at the fourth WUF in Nanjing, China, and continued at the fifth WUF in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, adding that it has since become a biennial event assessing the quality of life in cities.

    He noted  that the awards aim to integrate Nigerian cities into the global community of urban excellence and development.

    He said IERD would collaborate with UN-Habitat to publish a report on the state of Nigerian cities, following the model of the Global Report on the State of World Cities, adding that the documentation would support proactive urban governance and growth.

  • ECOWAS Court orders Togo to pay CFA5m damages to citizen

    ECOWAS Court orders Togo to pay CFA5m damages to citizen

    The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Togolese government to pay five million CFA Francs damages to its citizen, Mr. Kessei Menveinoyou, for the violation of his fundamental rights.

    Delivering judgment, the court held that Togo violated the right of Menveinoyou to a fair and timely appeal under Article 7(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    The court’s three-member panel presided by its President, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves and delivered by Justice Edward Asante, held that Togo was under obligation to uphold its citizens’ rights to fair trial.

    According to the court, the Republic of Togo is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and has every legal obligation to comply with the charter’s provisions.

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    “The failure of the Togolese judicial authorities to transmit the Applicant’s appeal to the relevant appellate court violated his right to a fair trial within a reasonable time,” the court said.

    The Community Court also dismissed Togo’s preliminary objection that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    Justice Asante held that cases of alleged violations of fundamental human rights instruments fell under its purview and were binding on all ECOWAS member states.

    The court, therefore, ordered the Togolese Republic to pay Menveinoyou five million CFA Francs in damages.

    It also directed the Togolese government to take the necessary legal or administrative steps to expedite the processing and hearing of Menveinoyou’s appeal before the appropriate domestic court.

  • Welby split global Anglican communion says Ugandan Archbishop

    Welby split global Anglican communion says Ugandan Archbishop

    The head of Uganda’s Anglican Church said yesterday that Justin Welby, who has resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury, had split the global Anglican communion.

    Stepping down as the spiritual leader of Anglicans worldwide on Tuesday, Welby said he had failed to ensure a proper investigation into allegations of abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps decades ago.

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    The Church of Uganda has long been at loggerheads with the Church of England on its stance on homosexuality and said in 2023 that it no longer had confidence in Welby.

    Ugandan Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba said yesterday’s statement that the Church of Uganda stopped recognising Welby’s authority over his “inability to uphold the historic and Biblical teaching of the Church of England on marriage and family.  “Unfortunately, this is the same compromised leadership that has led to the fabric of the Anglican Communion being torn at its deepest level,” he said. Welby, who had spent years trying to prevent the global Anglican communion fracturing, had faced calls to quit after a report last week found he had taken insufficient action to stop one of the Church’s most prolific serial abusers.

  • America’s seniors to face higher Medicare costs in 2025

    America’s seniors to face higher Medicare costs in 2025

    America’s seniors will see higher Medicare costs in 2025, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces a 6% increase in Part B premiums.

    This change will impact millions of seniors enrolled in the program, which covers services like doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment.

    Starting in January 2025, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B will rise from $174.70 to $185.00, a $10.30 increase.

    Additionally, the annual deductible for Part B will climb from $240 to $257.

    CMS attributes these adjustments to projected price increases and higher demand for medical services, in line with historical trends.

    The agency notes that these changes are necessary to manage rising healthcare costs.

    This increase follows a rare drop in premiums for 2023, when Part B premiums decreased by over $5—a temporary adjustment.

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    For seniors already receiving Social Security, the higher premium will be automatically deducted from their benefits starting in January.

    Those not yet drawing Social Security benefits will need to pay the new premium directly.

    Meanwhile, Medicare Part A, which covers hospital stays and inpatient services, remains premium-free for most beneficiaries, thanks to payroll taxes paid during their working years.

    Only a small fraction—about 1%—of enrollees pay a premium for Part A coverage.

  • Trump picks Musk to advise on how to ‘dismantle’ bureaucracy

    Trump picks Musk to advise on how to ‘dismantle’ bureaucracy

    US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Elon Musk to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) for his incoming administration.

    He announced that Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech investor, will work with the SpaceX and Tesla founder on the project – whose acronym refers to Musk’s favourite cryptocurrency Dogecoin – to “dismantle” bureaucracy.

    The pair will provide external advice to the White House on how to “drive large scale structural reform”, said Trump.

    Earlier, Trump announced the nomination of the Fox News host and combat veteran Pete Hegseth to be his defence secretary and named John Ratcliffe – a former Texas congressman and federal prosecutor – to lead the CIA.

    Musk – a mega-donor to the Trump campaign – has been hotly tipped for a role in the administration. Ramaswamy ran as a Republican candidate for president earlier this year against Trump, before dropping out and endorsing him.

    In Tuesday night’s announcement, Trump said the Doge initiative would help the administration “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Agencies”.

    The Doge is not an official government department – such agencies have to be established through an act of Congress and typically employ tens of thousands of staff.

    Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy would work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to tackle “massive waste and fraud” in $6.5tn (£5.1tn) of annual government spending.

    Musk recently called for at least $2tn in cuts to federal spending, nearly a third of the government’s budget, without offering specifics. He has also proposed eliminating hundreds of federal agencies, arguing that many of them have overlapping areas of responsibility.

    Trump has likened the new Doge initiative to the Manhattan Project, a top-secret World War Two programme to develop the first nuclear weapons.

    The president-elect said Musk and Ramaswamy would complete their work no later than 4 July (American Independence Day) 2026.

    “A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,” Trump wrote.

    In a press release from Trump’s campaign, Musk said: “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people.”

    After the announcement, Musk posted on his social media platform, X: “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!”

    Ramaswamy reposted Trump’s announcement on social media saying “we will not go gently”. He also said he was withdrawing from consideration to fill incoming US Vice-President JD Vance’s soon-to-be-vacated Ohio Senate seat.

    Last year, while running for president, Ramaswamy said he would fire more than 75% of the federal work force and close down several major agencies, including the Department of Education, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Since Trump’s election victory last week, Musk has reportedly spent every day with Trump at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

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    He also took part in a recent phone call Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

    Meanwhile, the Musk-boosted cryptocurrency Dogecoin has been soaring in value over the past week.

    Trump announced the appointments of Musk and Ramaswamy amid a flurry of press releases on Tuesday evening, which also saw several senior national security positions filled.

    John Ratcliffe, slated to lead the CIA, previously served as Trump’s director of national intelligence and oversaw US intelligence agencies. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been nominated to serve as secretary of homeland security.

    Meanwhile, some eyebrows have been raised at the nomination of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon. A veteran of the Iraq war, he has limited experience of government but has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s for several years.

  • Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over child abuse allegations

    Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over child abuse allegations

    Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has resigned following the publication of the Makin Review, which exposed the Church of England’s mishandling of historic abuse allegations involving John Smyth.

    In a heartfelt statement yesterday, Welby acknowledged the extent of the church’s failures in responding to the abuse and expressed regret over the delayed response to survivors of Smyth’s crimes

    Welby stressed the importance of institutional responsibility and expressed sorrow for the victims and survivors of abuse, emphasising his commitment to creating a safer environment within the church.

    “The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth,” Welby said.

    “When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.

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    “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.

    “It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.

    “I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church.”

    Welby noted his efforts to implement improvements in safeguarding over the last twelve years.

    “The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England,” he said.

    “For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.”

    Welby expressed his commitment to his faith, stating that stepping aside was “in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve”.

    “My deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person,” he added.

    Welby said he would continue his work with victims of abuse, delegating his other responsibilities until a proper risk assessment process is completed.

    He also requested prayers for his family, who have been a constant source of support during his ministry.

  • UK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025

    UK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025

    The United Kingdom (UK) government has announced plans to issue 45,000 seasonal worker visas in 2025.

    This initiative aims to support the nation’s food production by ensuring sufficient workforce availability during peak demand periods, thereby addressing labour shortages in its agricultural and poultry sectors,

    The seasonal worker visa scheme is intended to provide a temporary labour force for essential roles in food production.

    Additionally, 2,000 visas will be granted to poultry workers for processing tasks between October and December.

    This allocation, reports inform, is part of a broader strategy to provide businesses with the workforce needed during peak seasons.

    Applicants for the Seasonal Worker visa must meet specific eligibility requirements. They must be; at least 18 years old, have a valid sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and meet the necessary health and safety standards for the job.

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    Applicants must also provide evidence of sufficient funds for their stay and have valid health insurance coverage. Importantly, visa holders are required to leave the UK when their employment period ends and cannot change their visa type while in the country.

    The Seasonal Worker visa applies to a variety of roles within the horticulture and poultry sectors. In horticulture, workers may be tasked with duties such as planting, pruning, weeding, harvesting, and packing produce.

    Poultry workers will typically be involved in tasks like feeding and caring for the birds, egg collection, processing, and other related duties.

  • North Korea signs off on military cooperation treaty with Russia

    North Korea signs off on military cooperation treaty with Russia

    North Korea has signed off a treaty with Russia calling for a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” Pyongyang’s state-controlled news agency KCNA reported yesterday.

    It comes as North Korean troops are in Russia fighting against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and other military sources.

    In a statement, KCNA said North Korea signed the treaty, which was concluded on June 19 in Pyongyang, on Monday.

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    It will take effect once both sides exchange their ratification documents, the agency said.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on the agreement on Saturday, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing Russia’s TASS news agency.

    Moscow’s lower house of parliament or Duma okayed the treaty on Oct. 24.

    The agreement takes the military cooperation between the two countries to a new level and stipulates that they will provide mutual assistance should either country be attacked.