TheNewsGuru

Tag: World Leaders

  • World leaders arrive Zambia for Kaunda’s state funeral

    World leaders arrive Zambia for Kaunda’s state funeral

    Foreign dignitaries have started arriving in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, ahead of founding President Kenneth Kaunda’s state funeral on Friday.

    President Edgar Lungu will lead world leaders at the ceremony, set to be held at Lusaka’s show grounds.

    African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has arrived in Lusaka accompanied by AU Commissioner for Trade, Albert Muchanga.

    Angolan Vice President Bornito De Sousa, also arrived in the country while more leaders are due to land in Lusaka ahead of KK’s official funeral.

    UK’s Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, is expected in Lusaka on Thursday for the same purpose.

    The Minister will represent Queen Elizabeth II at the State Funeral on Friday. He is expected to visit the family of the late Kaunda on Thursday and sign the book of condolence there.

    In her message of condolence to Zambian President Edgar Lungu, Queen Elizabeth said she was greatly saddened by the death of Kaunda.

    “I was greatly saddened to receive news of the death of Kenneth Kaunda. During and after his presidency, he worked tirelessly for the good of the Zambian people. His regional leadership in maintaining Zambia as a bastion against Apartheid has earned him a place in history. I will always remember our meetings, and the warmth that Dr Kaunda felt for the Commonwealth. I send you and the Zambian people my condolences in this great loss,” wrote The Queen.

    The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, have also expressed their condolences and sadness at the passing of Kaunda.

    Kaunda, 97, died on 17 June at the military Maina Soko Hospital in Lusaka. He will be buried on 7 July.

  • Defiant Trump: World leaders react to embarrassing chaos in U.S. Capitol, attempts to overturn election

    Defiant Trump: World leaders react to embarrassing chaos in U.S. Capitol, attempts to overturn election

    Police in the U.S. Capitol responded with drawn guns and tear gas as hundreds of protesters stormed in and sought to force Congress to undo President Donald Trump’s election loss shortly after some of Trump’s fellow Republicans launched a last-ditch effort to throw out the results.

    Here are reactions from around the world:

    SWEDEN
    Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in a tweet described the incidents as “an attack on democracy”. “President Trump and many members of Congress bear significant responsibility for what’s now taking place. The democratic process of electing a president must be respected.”

    UNITED KINGDOM
    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a tweet described the scenes in the U.S. Congress as a “disgrace”, saying the United States stood for democracy around the world and that was it was “vital” now that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.

    GERMANY
    German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said democracy’s enemies would be cheered by scenes of violence at the United States Capitol, and he called on Trump to accept U.S. voters’ decision.

    In a Tweet posted after protesters stormed the seat of the U.S. legislature, Maas said the violence had been caused by inflammatory rhetoric. “Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy.”

    RUSSIA
    “Quite Maidan-style pictures are coming from DC,” Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on Twitter, referring to protests in Ukraine that toppled Russian-backed President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich in 2014.

    “Some of my friends ask whether someone will distribute crackers to the protesters to echo Victoria Nuland stunt,” he said, citing a 2013 visit to Ukraine when then-U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland offered food to protesters.

    NATO
    NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the violent protests in Washington “shocking scenes” and said the outcome of the democratic U.S. election must be respected.

    SPAIN
    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: “I am following with concern the news that are coming from Capitol Hill in Washington. I trust in the strength of America’s democracy.

    “The new Presidency of @JoeBiden will overcome this time of tension, uniting the American people.”

    CANADA
    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern about the violent scenes in Washington. “Obviously we’re concerned and we’re following the situation minute by minute,” Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station. “I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly.”

    Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Twitter: “Canada is deeply shocked by the situation in Washington DC. The peaceful transition of power is fundamental to democracy – it must continue and it will. We are following developments closely and our thoughts are with the American people.”

    TURKEY
    Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern about the violence and called for calm and common sense while urging its citizens to avoid crowds and the protest area.

    FRANCE
    French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Twitter: “The violence against the American institutions is a grave attack on democracy. I condemn it. The will and the vote of the American people must be respected.”

  • Obasanjo, 139 other world leaders demand free COVID-19 vaccine

    Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is among 140 current and former world leaders calling for “a people’s vaccine” against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The leaders signed a petition on Thursday in which they urged all governments to push for a free COVID-19 vaccine for all when developed.

    President of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa; his Senegalese and Ghanaian counterparts, Macky Sall and Nana Akufo-Addo, respectively, are among the signatories.

    The petition was initiated by the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating the HIV/AIDS virus.

    Obasanjo, who led Nigeria as a civilian Head of State between 1999 and 2007, is a member of the Champion for an AIDS- Free Generation.

    In the petition, the leaders demand that when a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, it should be made available free of charge to all.

    According to UNAIDS, the demand is the most ambitious position yet by world leaders “on what has become the most urgent quest in modern science”.

    The petition came ahead of a virtual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the world’s highest health policy making body comprising health ministers from UN member states, holding on May 18.

    “We are calling on Health Ministers at the World Health Assembly to rally behind a people’s vaccine against this disease urgently.

    “Governments and international partners must unite around a global guarantee which ensures that, when a safe and effective vaccine is developed, it is produced rapidly at scale and made available for all people, in all countries, free of charge.

    “The same applies for all treatments, diagnostics, and other technologies for COVID-19,” they said.

    The petitioners noted that the world would be safer only when everyone could benefit from the science and access a vaccine, “and that is a political challenge”.

    “We must heed the warning that ‘those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.

    “We must learn the painful lessons from a history of unequal access in dealing with disease such as HIV and Ebola.

    “But we must also remember the ground-breaking victories of health movements, including AIDS activists and advocates who fought for access to affordable medicines for all,” they said.

    Other signatories include former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown.

    The demand comes as the world searches for a vaccine against the novel virus.

    As of Thursday morning, the disease had infected no fewer than 4.4 million people and killed more than 300,000 others, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO).

    On April 24, the WHO in collaboration with world leaders launched what they call Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.

    ACT Accelerator seeks to speed up the development, production and equitable distribution of COVID-18 drugs, tests kits and vaccines around the world.

    The petitioners called for a mandatory worldwide sharing of all COVID-19-related knowledge, data and technologies with a pool of COVID-19 licenses freely available to all countries.

    “Countries should be empowered and enabled to make full use of agreed safeguards and flexibilities in the WTO Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health to protect access to medicines for all

    “We call for an agreement that establishes a global and equitable rapid manufacturing and distribution plan, that is fully-funded by rich nations, for the vaccine and all COVID-19 products and technologies that guarantee transparent ‘at true cost-prices’ and supplies according to need.

    “Action must start urgently to massively build capacity worldwide to manufacture billions of vaccine doses,” they demanded.

    The leaders also called for urgent steps to recruit and train millions of paid and protected health workers needed to deliver them.

  • COVID-19: Consider these six conditions before lifting lockdown order, WHO tells world leaders

    COVID-19: Consider these six conditions before lifting lockdown order, WHO tells world leaders

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a stern warning against lifting coronavirus restrictions too soon, saying it could lead to a deadly resurgence.

    WHO issued the warning on Friday as some of the European countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic are starting to see signs of slowing in infections.

    “In the past week, we’ve seen a welcome slowing in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, like Spain, Italy, Germany and France,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a regular press briefing.

    As “some countries are already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions,” the WHO chief warned that “lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence.”

    “The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly,” he said.

    The WHO chief stressed that decision of lifting restrictions should be made on the following conditions:

    * that transmission is controlled;

    *that sufficient public health and medical services are available;

    * that outbreak risks in special settings like long-term care facilities are minimized;

    *that preventive measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go;

    *that importation risks can be managed;

    *that communities are fully aware and engaged in the transition.

    Globally, 1.7million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now been reported to the WHO, as well as more than 100,000 deaths.

    He underlined that the WHO is working with affected countries on strategies for gradually and safely easing restrictions.

    Denmark is one of the countries planning to ease restriction.

    The Scandinavian country, has over 5,000 cases of coronavirus and a total of 237 fatalities.

    But it said it has seen deaths and hospital admissions stabilise in recent days.

    From Wednesday, it will reopen schools and day care centres.

    Remaining lockdown measures, such as the closure of bars, restaurants, shopping complexes and bans of public gatherings of more than 10 people, will stay in place for at least another month.

  • Xmas: Pope calls for peace, urges world leaders to end conflicts in Africa, other troubled states

    Pope Francis urged the world to let the light of Christmas pierce the “darkness in human hearts” that leads to religious persecution, social injustice, armed conflicts and fear of migrants.

    In his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) Christmas Day message, the 83-year-old pope called for peace in the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Venezuela, Ukraine and several African countries caught up in conflicts.

    The common thread of his address to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and millions watching or listening around the world was that change starts in the hearts of individuals.

    “There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still,” Francis said, as he marked the seventh Christmas of his pontificate.

    “There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ,” he said.

    Francis singled out the persecution of Christians by militant groups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, asking God to console those who suffer for their faith.

    On Dec. 1, at least 14 people were shot dead in an attack on a church in eastern Burkina Faso, where an Islamist insurgency has ignited ethnic and religious tensions.

    Francis, who has been scorned by populist politicians because of his defense of refugees and migrants, dedicated a section of his address to their plight.

    “It is injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. It is injustice that forces them to endure unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement of every kind and torture in inhumane detention camps,” Francis said.

    This month, Francis called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya.

    “It is injustice that turns them away from places where they might have hope for a dignified life, but instead find themselves before walls of indifference,” he said.

    Francis said that while there were many huge problems in the world, people did not have to look far to correct injustices. They could make a difference in their own communities as a start to healing all the “suffering members of our human family”.

    “May (God) soften our often stony and self-centered hearts, and make them channels of his love. May he bring his smile, through our poor faces, to all the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and those who suffer violence,” Francis said.

    To underscore his message, the two cardinals Francis chose to join him on the basilica’s central balcony were Renato Martino, president emeritus of the Vatican’s immigration office, and Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner who distributes aid to Rome’s poor and homeless.

    “Through our frail hands, may he clothe those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick,” he said, adding that through friendship, everyone could be close to the elderly, the lonely, migrants and marginalised people.

    “On this joyful Christmas Day, may he bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of this world,” he said.

  • ‘Lifeless Buhari’ statement: Trump’s ‘hate speech,’ disregard for world leaders worrisome – Group

    ‘Lifeless Buhari’ statement: Trump’s ‘hate speech,’ disregard for world leaders worrisome – Group

    …says statement won’t stop PMB’s reelection in 2019

    The Buhari Media Organisation ( BMO ) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not be distracted by the derogatory remarks credited to President Donald Trump of the United States of America, but will remain focused on his mandate to deliver on his promises to the Nigerian people.

    The group was reacting to a report by the Financial Times that the American President told his aides after a meeting with the Nigerian Leader in April that he never wanted to hold such a life less meeting again.

    While describing the comment as disrespectful, Chairman of the group, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Maduekwe said in a statement whether it was indeed said or in fact unsaid, Buhari would in his character continue to remain focused on his mandate to deliver on his promises to the Nigerian people.

    The group said that “President Muhammadu Buhari is fit and capable to run for the 2019 elections and oversee the affairs of the country for four more years President Donald Trump’s hate speech notwithstanding.”

    They stressed that this was not the first time the US President was heard to make such derogatory remarks about World leaders, and thus President Buhari would not be distracted by such.

    They said: “We are aware that President Trump’s disrespect for World Leaders is not new; his comments on Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, calling him ‘meek and mild’; his reference to Germany’s Leader, Angela Merkel’s actions as ‘insane’, or his outlandish Tweet at the UK’s Theresa May, and more recently, the alleged remarks he made after meeting President Buhari.

    “It is indeed not the first time President Trump would be heard to lower the standards of respect for his colleagues on the world stage. We are not surprised, we know that this age-long character of the US President would not change anytime soon. But it is important that we put it on record that President Buhari remains fit and sprightly, even for the next decade.

    “We recall that during President Buhari’s visit to Trump in the White House, the US President commended the successes that the Buhari administration had recorded especially in the fight against insurgency and the war on corruption.

    “The US President was full of admiration for Nigeria’s President during the visit, thus such outlandish remarks as reported by the Financial Times are not just to be taken with a pinch of salt but are untrue in themselves.

    “President Buhari has continued to show fitness and capacity to run the country post-2019; it went further to highlight that though the President’s 800 metre walk, where he acknowledged the cheers of members of his constituency, was not intended at showboating, it was an unscripted reference point that further proves a fit and lively President.”

     

  • In Pictures: Osinbajo with world leaders at G7 summit

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived Taormina, Italy to be part of the ongoing G7 summit in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Osinbajo departed for the summit this morning from Abuja.

    The summit which started on Friday, May 26 will end today, Saturday, May 27.

    G7 member states are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States and the European Union.

    Guests invited include Hailemariam Desailegn of Ethiopia, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Beji Essebsi of Tunisia and Osinbajo.

    The 43rd G7 summit is the first summit for British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, and U.S. President Donald Trump.

    The acting president is expected back in the country later today.

    See pictures from the summit below:

    In Pictures: Osinbajo with world leaders at G7 summit

     

     

  • Buhari’s programmes gaining attention of world leaders – Presidency

    The Presidency has said the right won by Nigeria to host the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference in 2018 is “a global endorsement of programmes and efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration”.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said on Thursday in Addis Ababa that the hosting right reiterated the confidence the global community has in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Nigeria, on Wednesday, won the right to host, in 2018, the 61st meeting of African Ministers in charge of Tourism tagged UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF)

    Mohammed, who led Nigeria’s delegation to Addis Ababa for the 59th edition of the meeting and a high level meeting on Chinese Outbound Tourism in Africa, said the country would leverage on the hosting opportunity.

    In Mohammed’s words: “Wednesday was a big moment for Nigeria here in Addis Ababa because Nigeria got the endorsement of the whole world to host the 61st session of the CAF mission of the UNTWO.

    What that means really is that the entire world has endorsed the programmes and efforts of President Buhari’s administration.’’

    Mohammed said that hosting the conference should be seen in a bigger picture that “Nigeria “is once again on the global stage’’.

    He said the event would provide the country, the opportunity to showcase its diverse culture and give its own narrative from its own perspective.

    “Hosting this conference will give confidence to investors that this is a country they can come and invest in.

    It will also convince the entire world that Nigeria is serious in promoting culture, music, film and entertainment industry to diversify its economy,’’ he said,

    The minister said that no amount of money invested in hosting the conference could be seen as waste because of the goodwill it will bring to the country.

    He said so many other countries were bidding to host the event to boost their tourism industry and attract goodwill to their nations.

    Speaking in same vein, the Secretary General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifa said “the endorsement of Nigeria for the hosting of 61st CAF “is a great piece of news for the country’’.

    “I am absolutely sure that with the hosting of the CAF meeting, you will see that the Nigeria’s tourism industry will get on the right track and achieve results.

    In addition to the direct economic benefits this event will bring to the country, the limelight the country will be exposed to is unquantifiable.

    “Nigeria will be hosting all Ministers of Tourism in Africa, that itself will send the powerful message that tourism is important for Nigeria,” Rifa explained.

    Rifai said Nigeria was a major player in tourism industry and the UNTWO had missed the country in its fold until the minister launched it back last year.

    “Nigeria is one third in times of number and the weight it represents in the arts, the movie and the creative industry in general in Africa.

    What comes out of Nigeria in these areas of the industry is enough to be disseminated to the whole world.

    However, Nigeria is not utilising that yet and this conference will be a great opportunity to realise that,’’ he said.

    Rifai commended the passion and efforts of the minister at repositioning the tourism and creative sector.

     

     

     

    NAN