The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rio de Janeiro

  • Tinubu arrives Rio de Janeiro for 17th BRICS Summit

    Tinubu arrives Rio de Janeiro for 17th BRICS Summit

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the BRICS economic bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, announced the President’s arrival in Rio de Janeiro.

    Touching down at the Galeao Air Force Base at 8:45 pm on Friday, the Nigerian leader was received with a Guard of Honour coordinated by the Galeao Air Force Base Commander. 

    On hand to receive President Tinubu were Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture.

    Tinubu is visiting at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and is expected to attend a bilateral meeting hosted by the Brazilian leader today, July 5, ahead of the main summit scheduled for July 6 and 7.

    At the summit, Tinubu will deliver an address during a plenary session, highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning its economy for global competitiveness. 

    He is also expected to make a strong investment case for Nigeria, spotlighting key opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy sectors.

    Themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” this year’s BRICS summit will focus on issues such as health, Artificial Intelligence, governance, and climate change. 

    In the build-up to the summit, BRICS political negotiators have been deliberating on enhanced commitments to tackle socially determined diseases, AI governance, and climate finance, with emphasis on addressing structural challenges faced by countries of the Global South.

    Accompanying President Tinubu to the summit are five Nigerian state governors: Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).

  • Black people more likely to be murdered in Brazil – Study

    Black people more likely to be murdered in Brazil – Study

    Black citizens in Brazil are 23.5 per cent more likely to be murdered than non-blacks, a study published by the Brazilian Public Security Forum and the Institute for Applied Economic Research said on Tuesday.

    According to the report 2017 Atlas of Violence, the murder rate among black citizens rose by 18.2 per cent between 2005 and 2015.

    The report added that among non-blacks, the rate fell by 12.2 per cent over the same period.

    The figures reflect inequality between black and non-black people in Brazil.

    According to the study, of every 100 people murdered in Brazil, 71 are black.

    “We not only have a sad historical legacy of discrimination by skin colour, but also, when it comes to lethal violence, we have an open wound that keeps getting worse in (the) latest years,’’ the study stated.

    Report says there is a significant variation in the murder rate among Brazilian states.

    The three states with the sharpest rises in the murder rate of black citizens from 2005 to 2015 were all in the north-eastern region , Rio Grande do Norte (331.8 per cent), Sergipe (197.4 per cent) and Ceara (149.7 per cent).

    On the other hand, the states with the sharpest falls in the murder rate of black people were Sao Paulo (50.4 per cent) and Rio de Janeiro (41 per cent), both in the south-eastern region.

    According to the atlas, among cities, there is also a significant change: only 2 per cent of Brazilian cities, 111 out of over 5,000 municipalities, witnessed half of the murders that occurred in Brazil in 2015.

  • Ndidi’s award excites Amiesimaka

    Ndidi’s award excites Amiesimaka

    Ex-Green Eagles Winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka, says recent young player award bestowed on Wilfred Ndidi by English Premiership Club, Leicester, is a big plus for Nigerian football.

    Ndidi, 20, a Super Eagles midfielder and former Nigerian youth international, joined the EPL side from Genk FC of Belgium.

    Amiesimaka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the award by the former league champions showed that Ndidi was a top quality player.

    “For him to be given such an award by Leicester who won the Premier League only last season is obviously a plus.

    “It means he is a top quality player and its impact on us here is good, by virtue of the fact that he is a member of the national team,’’ he said.

    Amiesimaka, former Chairman, Sharks FC of Port Harcourt, said the award was also an indication that Nigerian football had a quality player in one of the best organised leagues in the world.

    “Even more importantly is what we’ll do with that plus, how do we make the most of that in the national team and how will it benefit us?’’ he said.

    He said that the derivation of the award should be translated to his optimal use in the national team to achieve good results in major national and international matches.

    Amiesimaka said that the welfare of Ndidi and other members of the national team should be a priority to excel in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

    NAN reports that Ndidi started his career playing for the Lagos-based Nath Boys Academy in the Lagos Junior League (J-League) and won numerous accolades.

    He then played as a central defender for Nigeria’s youth team, the Golden Eaglets in 2013 for the African U-17 Championship.

    He later played for the Manu Garba U-20 youth team of Nigeria that played in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Ndidi was called up to the Senior Nigeria team, the Super Eagles, on Oct. 8, 2015, making his debut in the friendly game against DR Congo.

    He also played again a few days later in the 3-0 win against Cameroon, when he replaced Mikel Obi in the 63rd minutes.

    He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

     

  • Police: Ryan Lochte made up robbery claim

    Police: Ryan Lochte made up robbery claim

    Brazilian police official told The Associated Press that American swimmer Ryan Lochte fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro.

    The official, who has direct knowledge of the investigation, spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday because he was not authorised to speak about an ongoing probe.

    He said that around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Lochte, along with fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, stopped at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, a suburb of Rio where many Olympic venues are located. One of the swimmers tried but failed to open the door of an outside bathroom.

    A few of the swimmers then pushed on the door and broke it. A security guard appeared and confronted them, the official said.

    The official says the guard was armed with a pistol, but he never took it out or pointed it at the swimmers.

    According to the official, the gas station manager then arrived. Using a customer to translate, the manager asked the swimmers to pay for the broken door. After a discussion, they did pay him an undisclosed amount of money and then left.

    The official says that swimmers Conger and Bentz, who were pulled off a plane going back to the United States late Wednesday, told police that the robbery story had been fabricated.

    Lochte first lied about the robbery to his mother, Ileana Lochte, who spoke with reporters, the police official said. That led to news coverage of the incident and prompted police attention.

    A police news conference was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

    Lochte’s lawyer, agent and father did not immediately return messages seeking comment from the AP.

    USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said late Thursday morning that Lochte’s teammates were scheduling a time and place to meet with authorities.

    “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio,” Sandusky said.

    The swimmers could face punishment — probation, suspension, a fine or expulsion — under USA Swimming’s code of conduct, which prohibits dishonesty or fraud. It was not immediately clear if the organization planned to act.

    Mario Andrada, a spokesman for the Rio organizers, said he was relieved that the story had turned around.

    “Let’s give these kids a break. Sometimes you take actions that you later regret,” Andrada said. “Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all-time. They had fun, they made a mistake, it’s part of life, life goes on, let’s go.”

  • In the arms of The Lord

    In the arms of The Lord

    A construction worker walks on an arm of 125-foot (38-metre) Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to inspect it for damage caused by lightening during recent storms. The iconic statue is the largest stone-work of Jesus ever built and stands more than 2,000 feet above Rio on top of the Corcovado Hill. It was named one of the seven new wonders of the world in 2007.

  • Pope warns against drug legalisation

    Pope warns against drug legalisation

    Pope Francis has criticised drug legalisation plans in Latin America during the inauguration of a clinic for drug addicts in Rio de Janeiro, BBC reports.

    The roots of drug abuse should be tackled, he said on the third day of his visit to Brazil.

    Uruguay is close to allowing the legal sale of marijuana, with other countries pondering similar liberalisation.

    Earlier, the Argentine-born pontiff celebrated the first Mass of his trip, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.

    He warned tens of thousands of faithful against the “passing idols” of money, power and pleasure.

    After the visit to Aparecida, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, the pope flew back to Rio de Janeiro.

    At the inauguration of a drug rehabilitation clinic at the Sao Francisco hospital, he hugged former addicts and heard their stories.

    “It is necessary to tackle the problems which are at the root of drug abuse, promoting more justice, educating the youth with the values that live in society, standing by those who face hardship and giving them hope for the future,” he said.

    Pope Francis also warned against plans to legalise drugs in Latin America and condemned drug-traffickers.

     

  • Brazil fire caused by ‘cheap fireworks’

    Brazil fire caused by ‘cheap fireworks’

    The chief investigator in the southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria has said that cheap fireworks meant for outdoor use caused a deadly nightclub fire.

    The death toll in Sunday’s blaze reached 235 people after a 21-year-old man died of his injuries in hospital.

    Police chief Marcelo Arigony said the band had chosen not to buy more expensive indoor flares.

    Earlier, a court froze the assets of the owners of the Kiss nightclub.

    BBC says four people have been arrested in connection with the blaze, Brazil’s deadliest in five decades.

    One of those detained is the co-owner of the nightclub.

    A member of the band Gurizada Fandangueira, blamed by Mr. Arigony for the start of the flames, has also been arrested.

    “The pyrotechnics were part of their show. The guys even wore gloves on stage so they wouldn’t burn their hands,” the policeman – who lost a cousin in the fire – told reporters.

    He added that the band chose a $1.25 (£0.80) outdoor flare at a local shop over the $35 (£22) indoor variety.

    Authorities say that more than 120 people are being treated in hospitals, and around 70 are said to be in critical condition.

    Brazil is marking three days of national mourning, while politicians discuss what measures can be taken to prevent such a tragedy happening again.

    President Dilma Rousseff, who had an emotional meeting with bereaved relatives, called for a stricter stance on safety rules across the country.

    The fire has also prompted widespread domestic concern about Brazil’s ability to host major sporting tournaments in the next four years.

    The 2014 World Cup is set to be hosted in 12 Brazilian cities, while the 2016 Olympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro.