Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil.
During the meeting, Putin praised the strength and potential of bilateral ties between Russia and China.
The 11th meeting of leaders of the BRICS emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – kicked off earlier on Wednesday.
France’s EU commissioner candidate, Thierry Breton, is due to be grilled by EU lawmakers on Thursday about his fitness for the role after they rejected the first nominee proposed by Paris.
Breton, was a former tech industry executive.
To be confirmed, Breton will need a two-thirds majority from the EU lawmakers attending Thursday’s hearing, a hurdle that could be hard to clear.
European Commission president-elect, Ursula von der Leyen, has had a tough time assembling her top team, which should include one official from each of the European Union’s member states.
The setbacks forced her to delay her planned Nov. 1, start date.
Lawmakers from several political groups have raised questions about possible conflicts between Breton’s former role as head of technology giant Atos and the responsibility he would have to oversee the sector, as future EU internal market commissioner.
The veteran German politician now hopes to secure the European Parliament’s approval for her full commission line-up in time for her to take office on Dec 1.
Besides France, Hungary and Romania had to propose new commissioners after the parliament rejected their initial nominees due to conflicts of interest.
Breton, along with Hungary’s Oliver Varhelyi and Adina Valean of Romania passed the first hurdle on Tuesday, when the parliament’s legal affairs committee narrowly cleared all three of any financial conflicts of interest.
French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Breton after his first choice, former EU lawmaker Sylvie Goulard, was rejected by the parliament.
She came under fire for an EU anti-fraud inquiry and lucrative consulting work during her time in office. (dpa/NAN)
India on Thursday celebrated the 130th birthday of its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Born on Nov. 14, 1889, Nehru remained as Indian prime minister for nearly 17 years from August 1947, until his death in May 1964.
His birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day every year, as he had a special bonding with the children.
Remembering Nehru on the occasion, current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Tributes to our former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary’’.
Nehru belonged to the INC, the longest serving political party in India. (Xinhua/NAN)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says no voter will be allowed to vote without voter card recognised by the Smart Card Reader in the Nov. 16 elections in Bayelsa and Kogi.
Prof. James Apam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), told NAN on the sideline of a one-day Training on Election Duties, organised by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for its Staff at Kogi Sector Command Headquarters in Lokoja.
Speaking on behalf of Apam, Mr Olugbenga Ajayi, a staff officer of the commission, warned that no person would be allowed to vote without being accredited using the card reader.
“We keep learning everyday; and we want to obey what we have said as electoral umpire; if card reader cannot identify you, you cannot vote.
“It is either card reader or no voting in Kogi and Bayelsa elections; anything apart from the use of card reader for accreditation and voting will be disqualified.
“No manual accreditation would be allowed; it is either card reader or no voting,” he reiterated.
He enjoined all the personnel participating in the elections to conduct themselves very well and not to compromise but respect their dignity and protect the sanctity of the elections.
He further urged other security personnel to adequately secure electoral staff and election materials, saying all eyes are on Kogi and Bayelsa elections.
He also called for timely arrival of security personnel at INEC Local Government Secretariat, who would be escorting their staff and election materials to INEC Registration Area Centre (RAC) for timely dispatched.
“We urged the security personnel to live by the oath they swore to and not chasing after politicians for money,” he said.
(NAN)
The EU is preparing to sign off on a Brexit extension to 31 January 2020 with an option for the UK to leave earlier if a deal is ratified, according to a leaked draft of the agreement seen by the Guardian.
Despite objections raised by the French government, a paper to be agreed on Monday circulated among member states suggests the EU will accede to the UK’s request for a further delay.
The UK would be able to leave on the first day of the month after a deal is ratified, according to the paper.
The draft paper suggests a no-deal Brexit on 31 October is off the table as demanded by opposition party leaders as a prerequisite for a general election.
Until there is official signoff on the agreement, there remains the possibility that the terms could change, but it is the first time firm dates have been written into an official document.
“The period provided for in article 50 (3) TEU as extended by the European council decision (EU) 2019/584 is hereby further extended until 31 January 2020,” the draft agreement says.
“In the event that the parties to that agreement complete their respective ratification procedures and notify the depositary of the completion of these procedures in November 2019, in December 2019 or in January 2020, the withdrawal agreement will enter into into force respectively on [the first of the month of the relevant month].”
The potential date of 15 November for the UK to leave the EU – an idea raised by France – is not included in the draft paper.
An EU declaration attached to the draft agreement stipulates that the bloc will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement. It is also says the UK has “an obligation” to nominate a candidate to join the European commission. The prime minister has previously said he will not put forward a nominee.
The European council president, Donald Tusk, has been in intensive discussions with EU leaders over the weekend. Ambassadors for the EU27 are meeting on Monday morning.
Tusk had said he wanted to avoid calling leaders to a summit in Brussels to discuss the issue and would seek to find unanimous agreement to allow sign-off via a “written procedure”.
The Guardian view on general election calls: stay and finish the Brexit job
Read more
The circulation of the draft agreement suggests Tusk has been successful in convincing France, in particular, that a three-month extension avoids the EU being dragged into the domestic row in the UK.
A source close to Emmanuel Macron said an agreement between the EU27 on the new Brexit extension would “very probably” be announced on Monday morning following political discussions with London over the weekend, notably a conversation between the French president and Boris Johnson.
Among weekend developments that had persuaded Paris to drop its objections to a new delay lasting up to three months was “the significantly more likely prospect of fresh elections, now backed by several parties including the Liberal Democrats and the SNP”, the source said.
The conditions attached to the extension had also been “further specified and reinforced” on Saturday and Sunday, the source added, in particular the “non-renegotiability” of the deal and the fact that the 27 will be able to work on the bloc’s future plans without the UK.
While wishing to preserve the unity of the 27 that had been their guiding principle throughout the negotiations, the source said, Paris had “insisted on these conditions as necessary”.
The terms in the draft agreement are in line with those stipulated under the Benn act that forced Boris Johnson to make a request to the EU for a further delay.
The extension had been due to be signed off on Friday. But the French ambassador had stood alone at a meeting of EU diplomats in arguing it was not the right time.
It was suggested by France’s ambassador that only after the vote on Monday should the EU decide to “go short, to push for ratification, or long to accommodate a general election”. Only France insisted the EU wait on agreeing to an extension.
Since then, Johnson told the cabinet the French president, Emmanuel Macron, had informed him he was too isolated to insist on a shorter extension.
Developments over the weekend, in which the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National party agreed to table a one-line bill in which they would back a general election on 9 December, have convinced many EU officials the UK will soon go to the polls.
Downing Street has let it be known that if Labour does not support its plan for an short extra period of scrutiny of the withdrawal agreement bill up to 6 November, and then a general election on 12 December, it will look at the joint proposal.
Hoodlums gave the disasters recorded in Onitsha, Nnewi, Agulu and Nteje communities in Anambra, between Wednesday Oct.16 and Friday Oct.18, the colouration of sponsored attacks, because the incidences occurred in quick succession.
The inferno caused by fuel tanker occurred at Upper Iweka and Ochanja Market, Onitsha, on Wednesday Oct.16, while another petrol tanker fire also occurred at Omagba Phase 2, also in Onitsha on Friday, in addition to fire incidents at Nnewi and two accidents in Nteje and Agulu respectively.
The disasters gave rise to the fake news that the incidents were sponsored by enemies of Biafra.
Emma Powerful, spokesperson of the group, had issued a statement claiming the attacks were handwork of enemies of Biafra.
The tragedy started at about 12:30p.m. on Oct.16, when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit (PMS) fell in front of Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, near the popular Upper Iweka flyover.
The product spilled through the gutters to Ochanja Market axis and caught fire.
Those not conversant with Onitsha, especially Upper Iweka/Ochanja axis, may believe Emma Powerful, since the distance from Upper Iweka to Ochanja Market is about 500 metres.
One would now wonder how the fire wreaked havoc in Ochanja, leaving out some buildings very close to the scene of the tanker fire.
From the point of the incident, there is a drainage that slopped towards Ochanja Market roundabout, on Emordi and Amobi streets, where many traders deal on plastic containers and other highly inflammable products.
It was this section of Ochanja, that Mrs Ifeoma Nwoye, a native of Urum in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra, who died with her only child was consumed by the fire.
Another trader who also died, was said to have ran into his shop to take the money he stacked in his shop.
“In all, seven persons died in Ochanja, three, including Nwoye and her child died on the first day, plus four bodies burnt beyond recognition, that were recovered in debris after four days”, Mr Chukwuka Okeke, an eye witness said.
Okeke, a neighbour to Nwoye, said the deceased had ran out of her shop, but remembered that her baby was still inside the shop and went back to rescue her.
While Onitsha residents were still grappling with the Ochanja incident, another tanker also conveying PMS fell down at Omagba Phase 2 axis of Onitsha, at Chukwudi Bus Stop, near Bessoy Filling Station about 3.30a.m. on Oct.18.
The second fire incident took the same dimension as the one at Upper Iweka/Ochanja Market, except that it did not extend to a market.
Mr Emeka Obinwa, Executive Assistant to Gov. Willie Obiano on Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Media, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 28 vehicles and six buildings were burnt.
Obinwa who led a team of emergency workers to Omagba Onitsha, said they arrived the scene at about 4.30 a.m. that Friday.
“It was the prompt arrival of fire fighters that made the inferno not to be as severe as the Ochanja fire.
“The inferno which began at about 3:30a.m. on Friday equally affected six buildings, apart from the petrol tanker that was complete razed,’’ he said.
But that was not all for the emergency workers on Friday.
As they were leaving Omagba, another fire alert came, that fire affected a drinking joint at Otolo Nnewi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area.
Three female waiters were burnt to death at the Otolo Nnewi fire incident.
It was learnt that the waiters were locked inside the building by their employer, and could not be rescued when the inferno started, even though they raised alarm and were therefore burnt to death.
Apart from the fire incident at Otolo Nnewi, a fatal accident claimed four lives in Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
In addition, another accident, involving a petrol tanker, laden with diesel, occurred in front of St. Stephen Anglican Church, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, on that same Friday.
It was the Agulu accident that actually frightened residents and made some believe the fake news from IPOB about possible sponsorship of the incidents by enemies of Biafra.
The last accident that occurred on that Friday on Amawbia-Ekwulobia federal highway, involved a tanker owned by Tonimas and laden with diesel.
It was the Agulu accident’s news that almost put the area in confusion, as it coincided with the statement issued by IPOB, that Anambra was under enemy’s attacks.
The Agulu accident did not claim any life, no property destroyed, it only caused delay, as the road was blocked by the vehicles involved in the accident.
People were forced to take alternative routes, which prolonged their journey to Awka and Ekwulobia areas.
Retired AVM Ben Chiobi, Special Adviser on Creative Security to Obiano, who led a team of emergency workers to Agulu, said security and emergency workers arrived on time and took proactive measures, which prevented the Agulu incident from resulting to fire outbreak.
As a result of the incidents, people outside Anambra even started telephoning their loved ones in the state to know about their safety.
Obinwa, the Governor’s SA Media on SEMA, explained that there was no truth in the rumoured involvement of enemies in the disasters recorded in the state between Oct. 16 and Oct.18.
“All that happened in the state between Oct.16 and Oct.18 were disasters.
“Most of these articulated vehicles conveying petroleum products are not road worthy, yet they carry highly inflammable substances,’’ he said.
He stressed that there was nothing to worry about, adding that the owner of Tonimas truck involved in the Agulu accident, is an illustrious son of Anambra and would not have been part of any sabotage against the state.
Gov. Willie Obiano, on his part assured that government would overhaul the fire service department to enable it function better.
He also said that the state has opened Victims’ Support Fund Bank Account, with Chief Chidi Anyaebgu, Chief Executive of Chisco Nigeria Ltd as Chairman.
He appealed to all and sundry, irrespective of tribe and creed to come to the aid of those affected by the disasters.
The multiple incidents in Anambra within three days, is a wakeup call to properly equip the fire service, regulate the movements of articulated vehicles conveying petroleum products, as well as ensure proper urban planning.
Some rice farmers have appealed to the Federal Government to provide them with affordable loan facilities to boost production to reduce the price of the commodity as they described the closure as a welcome development.
The Flowerbud News reports that the price of a 50kg bag of local rice, which sold for N14,000 before the closure of the country’s borders on Aug. 19, now goes for N22,000.
The farmers, who called for the loans in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, noted that the current price of rice was too high.
A Benue-based rice farmer, Mr Egio Boniface, said there was the need for government to provide loans to enable them to increase their productivity.
Boniface faulted government’s failure to carry rice farmers along before the border closure, adding that the increase in the price of the commodity should be expected.
“Before we can address the increase in the price of rice, farmers need to have prepared to boost their production through the cultivation of high-yield species.
“We are expecting that government will give us loans to secure inputs on time to produce high-yield rice to reduce the cost for the benefit of Nigerians.
“We need the help of the government to help the rice farmers to breakeven,” he said.
According to him, when farmers increase their production, the price of the commodity will fall.
Another farmer, Mr Adenekan Ayodele noted that rice farmers should be adequately supported by the government with affordable loans and other inputs.
“Farmers need to invest more in rice production to reduce the price of rice in the market.”
According to him, the prices of other inputs in rice cultivation should be reduced to enable farmers to buy and increase their productivity.
Ayodele, however, appealed to rice marketers not to use the border closure to increase the price of the commodity arbitrarily.
Taraba-based farmer, Mrs Sumaiya Ahmadu said there was need to train farmers on the modern farming techniques to boost production and to reduce the price of rice in the market.
She advised youths to engage in farming, describing it as the way to go.
In Lafia, Mr Adamu Ibrahim, Nasarawa state Chairman of Rice Millers and Dealers Association of Nigeria (RIMDAN) said that the closure of the country’s border would boost production.
Ibrahim told us in Lafia that the development had heightened the demand for the local rice by consumers.
He said that the price of the commodity had increased a little as a result of the high demand.
“For instance, before the border closure, we sell a 50 kg bag for N10, 000 but it now goes for N14,000, ” Ibrahim said.
According to him, the action has boosted local production of the commodity and has seriously helped in employment generation.
He said that when there was no restriction on the importation, millers in Lafia could not even sell one truck of rice in one week.
“Now we sell up to six trucks of rice daily from the Lafia Central Mill alone.’’
He said that the decision had also generated employment for women and youths involved in the processing of the commodity.
Ibrahim said that over 40, 000 were currently engaged in the rice processing in the state.
He appealed for government’s support through soft loans to procure modern milling equipments that would enable them add value to their production to meet international standard.
He stressed the need for adequate power supply as a major challenge to their production.
Similarly, Mr Jonathan Joshua, Secretary of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Nasarawa state chapter lauded the Federal Government for the action.
Joshua said that since the closure of the border, a lot of people have shown interest in investing in agriculture, especially rice production.
He said local producers were also trying to improve on their production by adding value and making it more attractive to consumers, who were used to the foreign rice.
“We this action and the high level of interest by investor and farmers in rice production, there is hope that Nigeria can produce enough to feed its citizen and export as a foreign exchange earner,” Joshua said. (NAN)
The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari will be embarking on a private visit to London after attending the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
The Flowerbudnews reports that the Economic Forum of the Future Investment Initiative will be holding from Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 and President Buhari is expected to perform Lesser Hajj immediately after the forum.
Adesina stated that, on the sideline of the economic forum, President Buhari, who will be departing Abuja today, would hold bilateral talks with His Majesty King Salman and His Majesty King Abdullah ll of Jordan.
“On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the President will participate in the High Level Event titled “What is Next for Africa: How will Investment and Trade Transform the Continent into the Next Great Economic Success Story?” with Presidents of Kenya, Congo-Brazzaville and Burkina Faso.
“At the end of the summit, President Buhari will on Saturday Nov. 2, proceed to the United Kingdom on a private visit,’’ he added.
According to the presidential aide, President Buhari is expected to return to Nigeria on Nov. 17.
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Hong Kong has fallen into recession, hit by five months of anti-government protests that erupted in flames at the weekend, and is unlikely to achieve any growth this year, the city’s Financial Secretary said.
Black-clad and masked demonstrators set fire to shops and hurled petrol bombs at police on Sunday following a now-familiar pattern, with police responding with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.
TV footage showed protesters, who streamed into the Kowloon hotel and shopping artery of Nathan Road on Sunday, setting fires to street barricades and squirting petrol from plastic bottles on to fires at subway entrances.
At one station, activists rolled a flaming metal barrel down a long staircase towards police below.
Police fired 88 volleys of tear gas and 27 rubber bullets on Sunday, they said.
“The blow (from the protests) to our economy is comprehensive,” Paul Chan said in a blog post, adding that a preliminary estimate for third-quarter GDP on Thursday would show two successive quarters of contraction – the technical definition of a recession.
He also said it would be “extremely difficult” to achieve the government’s pre-protest forecast of 0-1 % annual economic growth.
The rallying cry of Sunday’s protests was to fight perceived police brutality and defend Muslims and journalists. Police last weekend fired water cannon at a group of people standing outside a mosque and journalists have been wounded in the clashes.
The programming staff union of public broadcaster RTHK said on Monday it had called on police to identify officers who “attacked and ripped the face mask” off one of its journalists on Sunday. It said she was wearing a reflective vest clearly identifying herself as a journalist.
It was not immediately clear if she was wearing a gas mask to protect against tear gas and pepper spray. Ordinary face masks were banned this month under a resurrected colonial-era emergency law.
Hong Kong Free Press, an online news service, called for the release of a freelance photographer arrested on Sunday.
The city’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club condemned the arrest in a statement on Monday calling for an independent investigation into “police violence against journalists and interference with the media’s right to cover the protests under Hong Kong law”.
The police, who deny using excessive force in life-threatening situations, held a news conference on Monday which ended in chaos when some journalists started yelling at police, shining bright lights in their eyes “just like you do to us”