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Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Russia Sanctions: German economy faces wave of bankruptcies — banking chief

Russia Sanctions: German economy faces wave of bankruptcies — banking chief

German industrial production dropped beyond expectations


Aggressive sanctions against Russia are sending financial shockwaves through Germany





Germany will be battered with a wave of bankruptcies due to Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia, according to Commerzbank Chief Executive Officer Manfred Knof.

“The energy supply in Germany is at risk, supply chains are breaking down, we have high inflation,” Knof was quoted by the Handelsblatt daily as saying.

According to the executive, almost a third of Germany’s foreign trade has been impacted, forcing companies to navigate complex issues with customers, including surging commodity prices and supply-chain bottlenecks.

“We shouldn’t delude ourselves: the number of insolvencies in our markets will probably increase and the risk provisions of the banks with it,” Knof said.

On Friday, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc’s foreign ministers will meet next week should member states fail to reach an agreement by the weekend on banning Russian oil.

Brussels unveiled plans for a Russian oil embargo earlier this week. The measure is expected to come into force within nine months, with the timeframe varying for different petroleum products.

Several EU nations including Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are seeking an exemption from the ban.

Already for Germany which is the largest Europe's economy, industrial production dropped more than expected in March, data released on Friday by the country’s statistics office shows. According to Destatis, Covid-related supply chain issues have been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.

Production slid by 3.9% last month following a 0.1% increase in February, far outstripping expectations of a one-percent decline. On an annual basis, industrial output slumped by 3.5% in March following a 3.1% jump the month before.

Manufacturing production lost 4.6% in March and energy production was down 11.4%, while construction output gained 1.1%, according to the data. On Thursday, it was reported that manufacturing orders logged a 4.7% month-on-month decline in March.


The largest drop was recorded for capital goods, used by businesses in production, which tumbled by 8.3%.

“In these politically and economically difficult times, the decrease also shows a growing reluctance to invest,” the statistics office said in a statement.

Foreign orders from outside the eurozone nosedived 13.2% in March, while demand from inside the area strengthened by 5.6%. Domestic orders edged down by 1.8%.

“Many enterprises still have problems completing their orders because of interruptions in supply chains, which is due to continuing Covid-19 crisis restrictions and the war in Ukraine,” Destatis said.

German industrial production dropped beyond expectations


Aggressive sanctions against Russia are sending financial shockwaves through Germany





Germany will be battered with a wave of bankruptcies due to Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia, according to Commerzbank Chief Executive Officer Manfred Knof.

“The energy supply in Germany is at risk, supply chains are breaking down, we have high inflation,” Knof was quoted by the Handelsblatt daily as saying.

According to the executive, almost a third of Germany’s foreign trade has been impacted, forcing companies to navigate complex issues with customers, including surging commodity prices and supply-chain bottlenecks.

“We shouldn’t delude ourselves: the number of insolvencies in our markets will probably increase and the risk provisions of the banks with it,” Knof said.

On Friday, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc’s foreign ministers will meet next week should member states fail to reach an agreement by the weekend on banning Russian oil.

Brussels unveiled plans for a Russian oil embargo earlier this week. The measure is expected to come into force within nine months, with the timeframe varying for different petroleum products.

Several EU nations including Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are seeking an exemption from the ban.

Already for Germany which is the largest Europe's economy, industrial production dropped more than expected in March, data released on Friday by the country’s statistics office shows. According to Destatis, Covid-related supply chain issues have been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.

Production slid by 3.9% last month following a 0.1% increase in February, far outstripping expectations of a one-percent decline. On an annual basis, industrial output slumped by 3.5% in March following a 3.1% jump the month before.

Manufacturing production lost 4.6% in March and energy production was down 11.4%, while construction output gained 1.1%, according to the data. On Thursday, it was reported that manufacturing orders logged a 4.7% month-on-month decline in March.


The largest drop was recorded for capital goods, used by businesses in production, which tumbled by 8.3%.

“In these politically and economically difficult times, the decrease also shows a growing reluctance to invest,” the statistics office said in a statement.

Foreign orders from outside the eurozone nosedived 13.2% in March, while demand from inside the area strengthened by 5.6%. Domestic orders edged down by 1.8%.

“Many enterprises still have problems completing their orders because of interruptions in supply chains, which is due to continuing Covid-19 crisis restrictions and the war in Ukraine,” Destatis said.

‘Terrorism defeated?’ Merkel says ‘not all goals’ reached after 9/11 as intel head warns of 2,000 dangerous extremists in Germany

‘Terrorism defeated?’ Merkel says ‘not all goals’ reached after 9/11 as intel head warns of 2,000 dangerous extremists in Germany


The US and its allies have failed to achieve all their goals after 9/11 but did “defeat terrorism,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said as her own intelligence warned about thousands of Islamists in the country.


“We have now had to recognize that although we have been able to defeat terrorism, which is endangering our security, at the present time we have not achieved all our goals,” Merkel said on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The chancellor then suggested focusing on safeguarding those few accomplishments, including education for girls in Afghanistan while admitting “this will not be easy with the Taliban” in power. Merkel also said that bringing people in need of protection to Germany should be one of the nation’s top priorities since that was something Berlin felt it had “a moral obligation to do.”

Yet, it seems that not all German officials would agree with their chancellor that the war on terror was that victorious. The head of the nation’s domestic security service, the BfV, which is tasked with tackling the threat of terrorism in particular, painted a much grimmer picture.

Germany’s domestic intelligence has classified some 2,000 Islamists living in the country as “particularly dangerous,” the BfV head, Thomas Haldenwang, told Tagesspeiegel daily in an interview published earlier on Saturday.

“These are all that we, as an intelligence service, believe could be potentially engaged in terrorist activities up to committing [terrorist] attacks,” Haldenwang said.

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police reported 551 existing Islamist ‘threats’ and 536 people that could potentially be supporters of terrorists, according to the German media. Haldenwang explained that his agency’s number is higher since some of the persons on the list have no prior criminal records and are thus likely unknown to the criminal police.



The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan could be used by such extremist groups to launch a “propaganda offensive” and start a recruitment drive, Haldenwang warns, adding that this development could be portrayed as a victory for Islamists all over the world.

Germany’s Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said that the nation’s security services have managed to thwart 23 terrorist attacks since 2000. The minister believes, though, that the danger is far from over.

“We prevented terrorist attacks, but the risk of an attack still exists today,” he told Germany’s Funke media group on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Seehofer then called on the BfV to be granted powers to covertly access computers, smartphones and other IT devices to be able to study their content to better prevent terrorist threats.

Such provision was removed from a controversial amendment to the Federal Constitution Protection Act, which granted the security service broader powers in the field of telecommunication surveillance. Adopted by the German parliament in June, the amendment allowed the BfV to monitor encrypted messages sent via WhatsApp, for example, but only in strictly regulated individual cases.

Seehofer, however, hopes that the next government, which would take office following the general elections later in September, will continue the work he started.

RT

The US and its allies have failed to achieve all their goals after 9/11 but did “defeat terrorism,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said as her own intelligence warned about thousands of Islamists in the country.


“We have now had to recognize that although we have been able to defeat terrorism, which is endangering our security, at the present time we have not achieved all our goals,” Merkel said on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The chancellor then suggested focusing on safeguarding those few accomplishments, including education for girls in Afghanistan while admitting “this will not be easy with the Taliban” in power. Merkel also said that bringing people in need of protection to Germany should be one of the nation’s top priorities since that was something Berlin felt it had “a moral obligation to do.”

Yet, it seems that not all German officials would agree with their chancellor that the war on terror was that victorious. The head of the nation’s domestic security service, the BfV, which is tasked with tackling the threat of terrorism in particular, painted a much grimmer picture.

Germany’s domestic intelligence has classified some 2,000 Islamists living in the country as “particularly dangerous,” the BfV head, Thomas Haldenwang, told Tagesspeiegel daily in an interview published earlier on Saturday.

“These are all that we, as an intelligence service, believe could be potentially engaged in terrorist activities up to committing [terrorist] attacks,” Haldenwang said.

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police reported 551 existing Islamist ‘threats’ and 536 people that could potentially be supporters of terrorists, according to the German media. Haldenwang explained that his agency’s number is higher since some of the persons on the list have no prior criminal records and are thus likely unknown to the criminal police.



The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan could be used by such extremist groups to launch a “propaganda offensive” and start a recruitment drive, Haldenwang warns, adding that this development could be portrayed as a victory for Islamists all over the world.

Germany’s Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said that the nation’s security services have managed to thwart 23 terrorist attacks since 2000. The minister believes, though, that the danger is far from over.

“We prevented terrorist attacks, but the risk of an attack still exists today,” he told Germany’s Funke media group on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Seehofer then called on the BfV to be granted powers to covertly access computers, smartphones and other IT devices to be able to study their content to better prevent terrorist threats.

Such provision was removed from a controversial amendment to the Federal Constitution Protection Act, which granted the security service broader powers in the field of telecommunication surveillance. Adopted by the German parliament in June, the amendment allowed the BfV to monitor encrypted messages sent via WhatsApp, for example, but only in strictly regulated individual cases.

Seehofer, however, hopes that the next government, which would take office following the general elections later in September, will continue the work he started.

RT

Like Buhari, like Adolf Hitler: The same scheme now playing out in Nigeria right under our noses

Like Buhari, like Adolf Hitler: The same scheme now playing out in Nigeria right under our noses


Same thing like Adolf  Hitler did in German(1939 - 45) is now playing out in Nigeria right under our noses.


When Adolph Hitler started his plans against the Jews in Germany there were many Jews who couldn't bring themselves to believe that such a scheme against them was possible.


They reasoned like Nationalists, it was such a "parochial" argument by those who carried the "rumours" and traded in "premordial sentiments".



 They argued that they have been in Germany and indeed other parts of Europe for CENTURIES and were fully assimilated therein. They considered themselves no less Germans than the race Hitler claimed to be a superior race over theirs.


They were WARNED AND ALERTED but they refused to believe.


There were many men like the great  Scientist,  Albert Einstein who stayed back until it was too late.


Then it came and it caught millions unprepared.  it is said  that over 6m Jews, many from the very cream of Jewry,  eventually got caught in the insanity of Adolph Hitler and were killed in a wave of genocide.


Same thing is playing out in Nigeria right under our noses.


We are seeing it but we are too naive to believe it is happening.


Even with the benefit of hindsight and the MANY SIGN POSTS we see roundabout us we fail to understand the clear dangers of an approaching Genocide on the indigenous people of Nigeria especially the Yorubas and Igbos.


The FULANIZATION AND ISLAMIZATION AGENDA started a long time ago when the Federal Government of Nigeria took over the Missionary schools and at about the same time encouraged a proliferation of warped doctrines of Christianity and Islam which have totally changed the configurations of the social balances all over the country.


The signs are just too obvious. It is so amazing that we refuse to learn from History, history is full of all the ways and style of operation of the Fulani ethnic group,  even history as recent as what happened in the Congo.


The FULANIS have never bothered to cover their tracks, not until recently when they are desperately trying to discourage the study of HISTORY in the curriculum of our schools. 


1. By clandestine overtures, the Fulanis have taken over the EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL ARMS OF NIGERIA.


2. They hold the ENTIRE SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE by the jugular - MILITARY, POLICE, IMMIGRATION, CUSTOM, PRISONS, DSS, DMI, NSA etc.


3. They control the SEAS AND WATERS through the NAVY, NPA, NIMASA CUSTOMS etc.


4. They have taken control of the REVENUES majorly determined by NNPC and FOREX .


5. They are in firm control of FOOD by using the Ministry of Agriculture and CBN to encourage the farmers of the North while frustrating those of the South and middle belt by the unceasing  incursions of Herdsmen Militias and their cattle roaming all over the place.


6. By a dangerous play of the highest CONSPIRACIES, they have FLANKED a network of a  group of barbarians masquerading as BANDITS, HERDSMEN MILITIA AND BOKO to cover the entire Norther region from the NW through the NC to the NE. It is only too obvious that these guys are only getting prepped up for their eventual entries down south which is already happening.


7. Over the last 10years there has been a VERY NOTICEABLE mass movement of foot Soldiers all over the south who are currently masquerading as Okada riders, Alms beggars, Mai guard, scrap metal pickers etc.


Those guys are all over the place studying every inch of the land and neighborhoods.


The Fulanis inter-mingle quite pretentiously as though they were assimilating whole in actual fact they are erecting a FULANI CIVILIZATION right under the noses of our people and altering the demographics of these areas 


While all these are going our  forest reserves are full of heavily armed Militias who are constantly harrasssing farmers away from their lands, taking People hostages for ransom payments, raping women and killing innocent citizens who happen to be unlucky to meet them.


The combination of these actions further IMPOVERISHED the people, poverty is worsening at an alarming rate and the people are consequently now more malleable and easier to conquer.

8. Our local people are still very much  capable of rising up to the challenges of security around us but our POLITICAL LEADERS have been caged through the instrumentality of POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY, GREED  which has blinded then from reason and the FEAR OF EFCC [ controlled by same Fulanis ] keeps them in check.


The same Political Leaders prevail on our TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS, KEPT THEM ON TIGHT LEASH, and our people are rendered impotent. 


9. Meanwhile, ISA PANTAMI, a man who is heavily sworn to ISLAMIZATION, is the one in charge of our data. He knows every of our information. He got us into SIM Registration, NIN and very soon, PHONE REGISTRATION.


His skills and resources available to him haven't been able to detect how the Bandits and Boko Haram are able to manage their communications for YEARS.


10. Very so often we hear from AGF Abubakar Malami, SSA Garba Shehu, MIYETTI ALLAH, HISBAH,  FUNAM, GUMI, EVEN ONION SELLERS  and a host of others talk freely, threaten as much as they wish, sometimes they issue ultimatums  and they simply go to bed.


Ahmad Gumi can even publicly accuse Christian SOLDIERS of killing Muslim BANDITS and warning us that we MUST NEGOTIATE with Bandits if we ever hope to find peace.


Garba Shehu can publicly tell Benue People that MUST give lands to Herdsmen for their private businesses if they want to live in peace.


Nasir El-Rufai, a sitting Governor told us publicly that he took money to FULANI BANDITS to beg them to stop killing People.


Aminu Bello Masari, another sitting Governor was happily posing for pictures with an arm-bearing bandit even as a soldier of the Nigeria stood besides them.


11. But Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho do not have the right to talk freely about their desires of SELF DETERMINATION ON THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS even when they hadn't carried arms.


Even as the Army, DSS and Police know the locations of the Bandits all over, they don't go there but will rather visit the homes of Kanu and Igboho WITH SOLDIERS to "deal with them".


12. Even as Hisbah can stop the sales of BEER IN KANO, publicly destroying the goods of a trader, and the same Hisbah Perverts are telling Tailors to stop using Mannequins for display on their clothes, THE COMBINED DECISION OF 17 GOVERNORS OF THE SOUTH TO STOP OPEN GRAZING will not be allowed by the Northerners!


Even when Zamfara and many Northern State Governors can implement Shari'a and their Hisbah Police to PROTECT RELIGION, the same people will not allow the Governors of the SW to have ÀMÒTÉKÙN to PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS 


Oh My God!!!


13. A small Okada riders in Sángo in Ibadan must not hurt his foot otherwise you will have to recieve many Governors from the North accompanying the local Seriki of the area to go BREATHE DOWN THE NECK OF THAT STATE GOVERNOR.


The "Hausa-Fulani" man starts a fight in Ile-Ife and he got beaten by his Yoruba adversary, the immediate reaction of the police is to send invitation to the Yoruba man TO REPORT TO ABUJA immediately.


Iskilu Wakilu was openly terrorising the people of Igangan for years, even said to have boasted that he owned his part of town and no one could remove him. Even when he was heavily armed, some brave sons of Igangan went after him, got him and took him to the Police. The men who thought they were bringing peace got themselves locked up for over three months.


If you as much  as have an argument with an "aboki" in Abeokuta here and you will get MOBBED in matter of minutes by his fellow "abokis". If you attempt to take the matter to the Police station, you will only be wasting your time because you may yourself end up in the cell if you are not careful. They will NEVER be the ones in cell, NEVER!


When a PEOPLE get to the 13 points listed above, they are ripe for any other things that will hit them.


We have now reached the stage where the Fulanis are just short of proclaiming themselves a Superior race/ethnic group in Nigeria


We are  just a few years away from TOTAL SUBJUGATION, especially the Yorubas. 


These things are happening at a very alarmingly fast rate in the last 6years of Buhari but we are just to UNREALISTIC AND BLINDED BY THE PRIDE AND FOOLISHNESS OF "CORRECTNESS" to see the clean sign posts of dangers that stare at us.


There will never be a RESTRUCTURING in Nigeria, banish the thought because it doesn't serve the interest of the emerging agenda.

 

Nothing short of a breakup of Nigeria will save us.


The YORUBAS of SW are particularly the most endangered ethnic group in Nigeria, the earlier we know this the better for us.


Adedamola Adetayo


Same thing like Adolf  Hitler did in German(1939 - 45) is now playing out in Nigeria right under our noses.


When Adolph Hitler started his plans against the Jews in Germany there were many Jews who couldn't bring themselves to believe that such a scheme against them was possible.


They reasoned like Nationalists, it was such a "parochial" argument by those who carried the "rumours" and traded in "premordial sentiments".



 They argued that they have been in Germany and indeed other parts of Europe for CENTURIES and were fully assimilated therein. They considered themselves no less Germans than the race Hitler claimed to be a superior race over theirs.


They were WARNED AND ALERTED but they refused to believe.


There were many men like the great  Scientist,  Albert Einstein who stayed back until it was too late.


Then it came and it caught millions unprepared.  it is said  that over 6m Jews, many from the very cream of Jewry,  eventually got caught in the insanity of Adolph Hitler and were killed in a wave of genocide.


Same thing is playing out in Nigeria right under our noses.


We are seeing it but we are too naive to believe it is happening.


Even with the benefit of hindsight and the MANY SIGN POSTS we see roundabout us we fail to understand the clear dangers of an approaching Genocide on the indigenous people of Nigeria especially the Yorubas and Igbos.


The FULANIZATION AND ISLAMIZATION AGENDA started a long time ago when the Federal Government of Nigeria took over the Missionary schools and at about the same time encouraged a proliferation of warped doctrines of Christianity and Islam which have totally changed the configurations of the social balances all over the country.


The signs are just too obvious. It is so amazing that we refuse to learn from History, history is full of all the ways and style of operation of the Fulani ethnic group,  even history as recent as what happened in the Congo.


The FULANIS have never bothered to cover their tracks, not until recently when they are desperately trying to discourage the study of HISTORY in the curriculum of our schools. 


1. By clandestine overtures, the Fulanis have taken over the EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL ARMS OF NIGERIA.


2. They hold the ENTIRE SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE by the jugular - MILITARY, POLICE, IMMIGRATION, CUSTOM, PRISONS, DSS, DMI, NSA etc.


3. They control the SEAS AND WATERS through the NAVY, NPA, NIMASA CUSTOMS etc.


4. They have taken control of the REVENUES majorly determined by NNPC and FOREX .


5. They are in firm control of FOOD by using the Ministry of Agriculture and CBN to encourage the farmers of the North while frustrating those of the South and middle belt by the unceasing  incursions of Herdsmen Militias and their cattle roaming all over the place.


6. By a dangerous play of the highest CONSPIRACIES, they have FLANKED a network of a  group of barbarians masquerading as BANDITS, HERDSMEN MILITIA AND BOKO to cover the entire Norther region from the NW through the NC to the NE. It is only too obvious that these guys are only getting prepped up for their eventual entries down south which is already happening.


7. Over the last 10years there has been a VERY NOTICEABLE mass movement of foot Soldiers all over the south who are currently masquerading as Okada riders, Alms beggars, Mai guard, scrap metal pickers etc.


Those guys are all over the place studying every inch of the land and neighborhoods.


The Fulanis inter-mingle quite pretentiously as though they were assimilating whole in actual fact they are erecting a FULANI CIVILIZATION right under the noses of our people and altering the demographics of these areas 


While all these are going our  forest reserves are full of heavily armed Militias who are constantly harrasssing farmers away from their lands, taking People hostages for ransom payments, raping women and killing innocent citizens who happen to be unlucky to meet them.


The combination of these actions further IMPOVERISHED the people, poverty is worsening at an alarming rate and the people are consequently now more malleable and easier to conquer.

8. Our local people are still very much  capable of rising up to the challenges of security around us but our POLITICAL LEADERS have been caged through the instrumentality of POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY, GREED  which has blinded then from reason and the FEAR OF EFCC [ controlled by same Fulanis ] keeps them in check.


The same Political Leaders prevail on our TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS, KEPT THEM ON TIGHT LEASH, and our people are rendered impotent. 


9. Meanwhile, ISA PANTAMI, a man who is heavily sworn to ISLAMIZATION, is the one in charge of our data. He knows every of our information. He got us into SIM Registration, NIN and very soon, PHONE REGISTRATION.


His skills and resources available to him haven't been able to detect how the Bandits and Boko Haram are able to manage their communications for YEARS.


10. Very so often we hear from AGF Abubakar Malami, SSA Garba Shehu, MIYETTI ALLAH, HISBAH,  FUNAM, GUMI, EVEN ONION SELLERS  and a host of others talk freely, threaten as much as they wish, sometimes they issue ultimatums  and they simply go to bed.


Ahmad Gumi can even publicly accuse Christian SOLDIERS of killing Muslim BANDITS and warning us that we MUST NEGOTIATE with Bandits if we ever hope to find peace.


Garba Shehu can publicly tell Benue People that MUST give lands to Herdsmen for their private businesses if they want to live in peace.


Nasir El-Rufai, a sitting Governor told us publicly that he took money to FULANI BANDITS to beg them to stop killing People.


Aminu Bello Masari, another sitting Governor was happily posing for pictures with an arm-bearing bandit even as a soldier of the Nigeria stood besides them.


11. But Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho do not have the right to talk freely about their desires of SELF DETERMINATION ON THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS even when they hadn't carried arms.


Even as the Army, DSS and Police know the locations of the Bandits all over, they don't go there but will rather visit the homes of Kanu and Igboho WITH SOLDIERS to "deal with them".


12. Even as Hisbah can stop the sales of BEER IN KANO, publicly destroying the goods of a trader, and the same Hisbah Perverts are telling Tailors to stop using Mannequins for display on their clothes, THE COMBINED DECISION OF 17 GOVERNORS OF THE SOUTH TO STOP OPEN GRAZING will not be allowed by the Northerners!


Even when Zamfara and many Northern State Governors can implement Shari'a and their Hisbah Police to PROTECT RELIGION, the same people will not allow the Governors of the SW to have ÀMÒTÉKÙN to PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS 


Oh My God!!!


13. A small Okada riders in Sángo in Ibadan must not hurt his foot otherwise you will have to recieve many Governors from the North accompanying the local Seriki of the area to go BREATHE DOWN THE NECK OF THAT STATE GOVERNOR.


The "Hausa-Fulani" man starts a fight in Ile-Ife and he got beaten by his Yoruba adversary, the immediate reaction of the police is to send invitation to the Yoruba man TO REPORT TO ABUJA immediately.


Iskilu Wakilu was openly terrorising the people of Igangan for years, even said to have boasted that he owned his part of town and no one could remove him. Even when he was heavily armed, some brave sons of Igangan went after him, got him and took him to the Police. The men who thought they were bringing peace got themselves locked up for over three months.


If you as much  as have an argument with an "aboki" in Abeokuta here and you will get MOBBED in matter of minutes by his fellow "abokis". If you attempt to take the matter to the Police station, you will only be wasting your time because you may yourself end up in the cell if you are not careful. They will NEVER be the ones in cell, NEVER!


When a PEOPLE get to the 13 points listed above, they are ripe for any other things that will hit them.


We have now reached the stage where the Fulanis are just short of proclaiming themselves a Superior race/ethnic group in Nigeria


We are  just a few years away from TOTAL SUBJUGATION, especially the Yorubas. 


These things are happening at a very alarmingly fast rate in the last 6years of Buhari but we are just to UNREALISTIC AND BLINDED BY THE PRIDE AND FOOLISHNESS OF "CORRECTNESS" to see the clean sign posts of dangers that stare at us.


There will never be a RESTRUCTURING in Nigeria, banish the thought because it doesn't serve the interest of the emerging agenda.

 

Nothing short of a breakup of Nigeria will save us.


The YORUBAS of SW are particularly the most endangered ethnic group in Nigeria, the earlier we know this the better for us.


Adedamola Adetayo

How Merkel, German state and Civic leaders plan to improve integration of immigrants into society?

How Merkel, German state and Civic leaders plan to improve integration of immigrants into society?

Merkel

By DW: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state and civic leaders have finalized a plan to improve the integration of immigrants into society, the education system and the job market. It outlines a road map for the coming decade.

Getting a job might have been once been considered enough to be successfully integrated into society as a foreigner. For Germany, that type of thinking is on its way out.

After nearly three years of planning and discussion, on Tuesday Chancellor Angela Merkel and state and civic leaders announced 100 measures as part of the National Action Plan for Integration.

On measure would introduce "integration scouts," a type of buddy system for apprentices. The idea is for German trainees to mentor non-German trainees so that no one falls through the cracks.

"Real social cohesion takes more than just the absence of hate and violence," Merkel said. "It requires tolerance and openness for one another."

Tuesday marked Merkel's last integration summit before her chancellorship comes to an end with German elections this fall.

Remarking on how the concept of integration had shifted over her time in office, she said, "we've learned that integration doesn't just affect some groups: It affects society as a whole."

Pushing back against pandemic setbacks
The summit, headed by Integration Commissioner Annette Widmann-Mauz, brought together some 120 people representing states, municipalities and civil organizations.  

During a press conference after the summit, Widmann-Mauz stressed the importance, especially during the pandemic, of ensuring an effective integration strategy as soon as possible to secure Germany's role as "an economically strong, modern country of immigration for the future."

"We've achieved a lot over the past few years, and now we must do everything in our power so that the corona pandemic isn't a setback for these achievements," she said.

What is the National Action Plan for Integration?
Launched in 2018, the National Action Plan has the goal of creating a road map for integration in the 2020s.

The project has been a significant undertaking for about 300 partners, who represent states, cities and an estimated 75 migrant organizations.

At its core, the 100-point plan breaks down into five categories that range from pre-integration measures such as setting expectations before a person immigrates to German to bolstering social cohesion through education and social activities.

Tackling discrimination, fostering social cohesion
Discrimination was one of the main focuses of Tuesday's talks. Merkel and other speakers at the press conference following the summit stressed that racially motivated terror attacks such as the 2020 killing spree in Hanau or the murders carried out by the NSU are huge setbacks to creating a safe, inclusive environment in Germany.

Along with violence prevention, the action plan also calls for an expansion of anti-discrimination efforts such as counseling centers that can help people who have, for example, experienced hate speech or found themselves turned away from jobs because of their ethnicity or religion. 

A report released ahead of the summit further called for unified documentation of these cases to better understand how discrimination comes about.  

"Victims of discrimination cannot be abandoned: Their experiences must be taken seriously. To ensure this, they need support from professional anti-discrimination counseling," the head of Germany's Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, Bernhard Franke, said in a press statement.

Why is integration such a hot topic in Germany?
Integration has been the focus of many a heated debate in Germany in recent years, sparked in large part by  a historic influx of refugees  between 2015 and 2019. During that period, Germany received more than 1.8 million asylum requests, or roughly 75% of all asylum claims filed over the past decade.  

Discussions about how to handle the logistics of such a large refugee population, hailing primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and parts of Africa, quickly became ensconced in concerns about integration. 

Indeed, concerns about integration reopened questions about the integration of immigrant groups long settled in Germany, particularly Turkish immigrants and their descendants who make up the country's largest minority. Despite an improvement in education rates, this group was, as of 2017, still three times more likely to have trouble finding a job or to rely on state welfare than Germans without Turkish roots, according to an OECD study. 

This gave way to a larger debate spearheaded by immigration organizations and second and third-generation immigrants who called on lawmakers to learn from past integration failures and to promote measures beyond language classes and job placement.  

language classes and job placement.  

04:12 mins.
DW NEWS | 25.08.2020
How have migrants and refugees who arrived in Germany in 2015 fared?
Germany's immigration trend goes beyond the refugee crisis
Roughly one out of four people currently living in Germany boasts foreign roots.  This — along with the fact that Germany ranks second among OECD countries for immigration after the US — points to another facette of integration: Integration goes beyond refugees.  

Thanks to a strong economy, Germany has seen a rise in a third group, namely skilled workers, which hail from a number of countries. EU member states have accounted for the largest rise in recent years. In 2018 they made up 60% of all immigrants that came to Germany, primarily neighboring EU member states, which accounted for 60% of all immigrants in 2018. Its higher education system has also been a magnet for foreign students, with over 400,000 enrolled at German universities before the pandemic.

Speaking to reporters at the press conference on Tuesday, Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert, who heads the integration foundation Deutschlandstiftung Integration, said that many young people who come to Germany are highly talented and often speak two native languages, plus at least two other foreign languages. 

"They don't have to stay here and they won't if what they have to offer isn't recognized," she said.

While you're here: Starting on March 16 DW editors will round-up for you what is happening in German politics and society, with an eye toward understanding this year’s elections and beyond. Sign up here for the weekly e-mail newsletter "Berlin Briefing," to stay on top of developments as Germany enters the post-Merkel era.
Merkel

By DW: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state and civic leaders have finalized a plan to improve the integration of immigrants into society, the education system and the job market. It outlines a road map for the coming decade.

Getting a job might have been once been considered enough to be successfully integrated into society as a foreigner. For Germany, that type of thinking is on its way out.

After nearly three years of planning and discussion, on Tuesday Chancellor Angela Merkel and state and civic leaders announced 100 measures as part of the National Action Plan for Integration.

On measure would introduce "integration scouts," a type of buddy system for apprentices. The idea is for German trainees to mentor non-German trainees so that no one falls through the cracks.

"Real social cohesion takes more than just the absence of hate and violence," Merkel said. "It requires tolerance and openness for one another."

Tuesday marked Merkel's last integration summit before her chancellorship comes to an end with German elections this fall.

Remarking on how the concept of integration had shifted over her time in office, she said, "we've learned that integration doesn't just affect some groups: It affects society as a whole."

Pushing back against pandemic setbacks
The summit, headed by Integration Commissioner Annette Widmann-Mauz, brought together some 120 people representing states, municipalities and civil organizations.  

During a press conference after the summit, Widmann-Mauz stressed the importance, especially during the pandemic, of ensuring an effective integration strategy as soon as possible to secure Germany's role as "an economically strong, modern country of immigration for the future."

"We've achieved a lot over the past few years, and now we must do everything in our power so that the corona pandemic isn't a setback for these achievements," she said.

What is the National Action Plan for Integration?
Launched in 2018, the National Action Plan has the goal of creating a road map for integration in the 2020s.

The project has been a significant undertaking for about 300 partners, who represent states, cities and an estimated 75 migrant organizations.

At its core, the 100-point plan breaks down into five categories that range from pre-integration measures such as setting expectations before a person immigrates to German to bolstering social cohesion through education and social activities.

Tackling discrimination, fostering social cohesion
Discrimination was one of the main focuses of Tuesday's talks. Merkel and other speakers at the press conference following the summit stressed that racially motivated terror attacks such as the 2020 killing spree in Hanau or the murders carried out by the NSU are huge setbacks to creating a safe, inclusive environment in Germany.

Along with violence prevention, the action plan also calls for an expansion of anti-discrimination efforts such as counseling centers that can help people who have, for example, experienced hate speech or found themselves turned away from jobs because of their ethnicity or religion. 

A report released ahead of the summit further called for unified documentation of these cases to better understand how discrimination comes about.  

"Victims of discrimination cannot be abandoned: Their experiences must be taken seriously. To ensure this, they need support from professional anti-discrimination counseling," the head of Germany's Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, Bernhard Franke, said in a press statement.

Why is integration such a hot topic in Germany?
Integration has been the focus of many a heated debate in Germany in recent years, sparked in large part by  a historic influx of refugees  between 2015 and 2019. During that period, Germany received more than 1.8 million asylum requests, or roughly 75% of all asylum claims filed over the past decade.  

Discussions about how to handle the logistics of such a large refugee population, hailing primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and parts of Africa, quickly became ensconced in concerns about integration. 

Indeed, concerns about integration reopened questions about the integration of immigrant groups long settled in Germany, particularly Turkish immigrants and their descendants who make up the country's largest minority. Despite an improvement in education rates, this group was, as of 2017, still three times more likely to have trouble finding a job or to rely on state welfare than Germans without Turkish roots, according to an OECD study. 

This gave way to a larger debate spearheaded by immigration organizations and second and third-generation immigrants who called on lawmakers to learn from past integration failures and to promote measures beyond language classes and job placement.  

language classes and job placement.  

04:12 mins.
DW NEWS | 25.08.2020
How have migrants and refugees who arrived in Germany in 2015 fared?
Germany's immigration trend goes beyond the refugee crisis
Roughly one out of four people currently living in Germany boasts foreign roots.  This — along with the fact that Germany ranks second among OECD countries for immigration after the US — points to another facette of integration: Integration goes beyond refugees.  

Thanks to a strong economy, Germany has seen a rise in a third group, namely skilled workers, which hail from a number of countries. EU member states have accounted for the largest rise in recent years. In 2018 they made up 60% of all immigrants that came to Germany, primarily neighboring EU member states, which accounted for 60% of all immigrants in 2018. Its higher education system has also been a magnet for foreign students, with over 400,000 enrolled at German universities before the pandemic.

Speaking to reporters at the press conference on Tuesday, Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert, who heads the integration foundation Deutschlandstiftung Integration, said that many young people who come to Germany are highly talented and often speak two native languages, plus at least two other foreign languages. 

"They don't have to stay here and they won't if what they have to offer isn't recognized," she said.

While you're here: Starting on March 16 DW editors will round-up for you what is happening in German politics and society, with an eye toward understanding this year’s elections and beyond. Sign up here for the weekly e-mail newsletter "Berlin Briefing," to stay on top of developments as Germany enters the post-Merkel era.

Bayern Munich’s Sarr reveals ultimate France dream

Bayern Munich’s Sarr reveals ultimate France dream


Bayern Munich winger Bouna Sarr is focused on representing France at the 2021 European Championship. The 28-year-old winger of Senegalese and Guinean origin has set his sights on representing Les Bleus in the 2021 European Championship



Born to a Senegalese father and a Guinean mother in Lyon, France, the 28-year-old had been invited by coach Didier Deschamps in November ahead of the Uefa Nations League games versus Portugal and Sweden – however, an injury then ruled him out.

Nevertheless, Sarr revealed that his immediate ambition is to play for the reigning world champions when Euro 2021 gets underway, while disclosing that his move to the Allianz Arena giants would draw him closer to that ‘big target’.

“There’s a word in French that’s even stronger than fighting… Perhaps you could translate as: I’m sweating blood for this big target,” Sarr told Bayern Munich magazine.

Bayern Munich winger Bouna Sarr is focused on representing France at the 2021 European Championship. The 28-year-old winger of Senegalese and Guinean origin has set his sights on representing Les Bleus in the 2021 European Championship



Born to a Senegalese father and a Guinean mother in Lyon, France, the 28-year-old had been invited by coach Didier Deschamps in November ahead of the Uefa Nations League games versus Portugal and Sweden – however, an injury then ruled him out.

Nevertheless, Sarr revealed that his immediate ambition is to play for the reigning world champions when Euro 2021 gets underway, while disclosing that his move to the Allianz Arena giants would draw him closer to that ‘big target’.

“There’s a word in French that’s even stronger than fighting… Perhaps you could translate as: I’m sweating blood for this big target,” Sarr told Bayern Munich magazine.

Moscow expands list of German officials banned from Russia

Moscow expands list of German officials banned from Russia

Russian President Putin

Authorities in Moscow on Tuesday expanded a list of German officials who are banned from entering Russia in response to EU sanctions that the bloc imposed over Russian cyber attacks on the German parliament, AFP reported.

According to the report, the Russian foreign ministry said that in response to the EU sanctions in October, "Moscow made a decision to expand the reciprocal list of German citizens who are prohibited from entering Russia."

The EU  andthe UK had in October this year hit senior Russian intelligence officers with the penalties for their alleged role in hacking the German parliament's computer network in 2015.  The said cyber attack in April and May 2015 completely paralysed the IT infrastructure of the Bundestag and the entire parliament had to be taken offline for days while it was fixed.

Consequntly, the head of the GRU military intelligence agency, Igor Kostyukov, and intelligence officer Dmitri Badin were banned from EU soil and are subject to an asset freeze.

However, Russia on Tuesday did not specify which German officials were being handed entry bans, but said the individuals were senior members of the intelligence services and defence ministry.

The foreign ministry in Moscow described EU allegations that Russia was involved in the hacking attacks as a "pretext".

Moscow and Brussels have recently ratcheted up tit-for-tat sanctions, including renewed food import bans and penalties over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.


AFP
Russian President Putin

Authorities in Moscow on Tuesday expanded a list of German officials who are banned from entering Russia in response to EU sanctions that the bloc imposed over Russian cyber attacks on the German parliament, AFP reported.

According to the report, the Russian foreign ministry said that in response to the EU sanctions in October, "Moscow made a decision to expand the reciprocal list of German citizens who are prohibited from entering Russia."

The EU  andthe UK had in October this year hit senior Russian intelligence officers with the penalties for their alleged role in hacking the German parliament's computer network in 2015.  The said cyber attack in April and May 2015 completely paralysed the IT infrastructure of the Bundestag and the entire parliament had to be taken offline for days while it was fixed.

Consequntly, the head of the GRU military intelligence agency, Igor Kostyukov, and intelligence officer Dmitri Badin were banned from EU soil and are subject to an asset freeze.

However, Russia on Tuesday did not specify which German officials were being handed entry bans, but said the individuals were senior members of the intelligence services and defence ministry.

The foreign ministry in Moscow described EU allegations that Russia was involved in the hacking attacks as a "pretext".

Moscow and Brussels have recently ratcheted up tit-for-tat sanctions, including renewed food import bans and penalties over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.


AFP

How Chelsea handed David Alaba transfer boost, Bayern Munich chief offers confirmation

How Chelsea handed David Alaba transfer boost, Bayern Munich chief offers confirmation


The Bayern Munich chief executive - Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - has revealed that David Alaba's time at the Allianz Arena is all but over after the club failed to strike an agreement with him over a new contract, Football.London reported.

According to the report, the Austrian defender, who has been on the books of the Bundesliga heavyweights since 2009, is out-of-contract at the reigning Champions League title holders at the end of the season. Despite having being an integral part of Bayern's plans in recent years, he looks set to leave the club at the end of the season, with him having refused to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Alaba, who has been transformed into a centre-back in recent months following the rise of talented left-back Alphonso Davies, has made demands that Bayern are not willing to meet, despite the best efforts of the German giants to reach an agreement.

Now, chief executive Rummenigge has confirmed that his time at Bayern is all but over, confirming that he will be free to speak to any potential suitors in less than two weeks time. "Bayern did everything we could to try and reach an agreement," Rummenigge said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. "We had a lot of conversations, but we wanted answers from him by the end of October.


"This didn't happen and I don't know if we'll return to the negotiations. What I want to be clear about is that our offer showed exactly how much we value him, but he didn't accept it."

This news will have put a plethora of big-name clubs across Europe on red alert, including Chelsea, who have been closely linked with a move for the 28-year-old in recent weeks.

Though the Blues are currently well-stocked at centre-back, Chelsea may see an opportunity to sign Alaba on a free-transfer as too good an opportunity to turn down. At this moment in time, the Blues have five senior centre-backs on their books in the shape of Thiago Silva, who is poised to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Fikayo Tomori.

But with Silva now at the age of 36, Rudiger's future in west London in doubt and Tomori poised to leave on loan in January, Chelsea may feel as though they could use the signing of Alaba to their advantage, though a deal would not be formally concluded until next summer, once the Austrian's deal at Bayern comes to an end.

Chelsea are not the only club to have been tracking Alaba's development, with Spanish giants Real Madrid also reportedly keeping tabs on the situation. Despite that, Rummenigge claims he does not know anything about Madrid's reported interest.

Rummenigge added: "I don't know anything about the Real Madrid rumours.

"He's free to speak to whoever he wants from January 1."

The Bayern Munich chief executive - Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - has revealed that David Alaba's time at the Allianz Arena is all but over after the club failed to strike an agreement with him over a new contract, Football.London reported.

According to the report, the Austrian defender, who has been on the books of the Bundesliga heavyweights since 2009, is out-of-contract at the reigning Champions League title holders at the end of the season. Despite having being an integral part of Bayern's plans in recent years, he looks set to leave the club at the end of the season, with him having refused to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Alaba, who has been transformed into a centre-back in recent months following the rise of talented left-back Alphonso Davies, has made demands that Bayern are not willing to meet, despite the best efforts of the German giants to reach an agreement.

Now, chief executive Rummenigge has confirmed that his time at Bayern is all but over, confirming that he will be free to speak to any potential suitors in less than two weeks time. "Bayern did everything we could to try and reach an agreement," Rummenigge said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. "We had a lot of conversations, but we wanted answers from him by the end of October.


"This didn't happen and I don't know if we'll return to the negotiations. What I want to be clear about is that our offer showed exactly how much we value him, but he didn't accept it."

This news will have put a plethora of big-name clubs across Europe on red alert, including Chelsea, who have been closely linked with a move for the 28-year-old in recent weeks.

Though the Blues are currently well-stocked at centre-back, Chelsea may see an opportunity to sign Alaba on a free-transfer as too good an opportunity to turn down. At this moment in time, the Blues have five senior centre-backs on their books in the shape of Thiago Silva, who is poised to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Fikayo Tomori.

But with Silva now at the age of 36, Rudiger's future in west London in doubt and Tomori poised to leave on loan in January, Chelsea may feel as though they could use the signing of Alaba to their advantage, though a deal would not be formally concluded until next summer, once the Austrian's deal at Bayern comes to an end.

Chelsea are not the only club to have been tracking Alaba's development, with Spanish giants Real Madrid also reportedly keeping tabs on the situation. Despite that, Rummenigge claims he does not know anything about Madrid's reported interest.

Rummenigge added: "I don't know anything about the Real Madrid rumours.

"He's free to speak to whoever he wants from January 1."

COVID-19: Biden receives vaccine live on TV as Nigeria's FG releases new restrictions, orders closure of restaurants

COVID-19: Biden receives vaccine live on TV as Nigeria's FG releases new restrictions, orders closure of restaurants

EU approves first coronavirus vaccine


US President-elect @JoeBiden received his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on live TV Monday, hoping it shows Americans there’s “nothing to worry about” once they get the chance to get vaccinated.

According to AFP, Biden received a Covid-19 vaccine live on televisio in a campaign to boost Americans' confidence in the jabs. The 78-year-old got the Pfizer vaccine at the Christiana Hospital in Delaware.


Biden said "there's nothing to worry about" when getting the shot. He was vaccinated in a photo-op at a hospital in Delaware on Monday afternoon, as his wife Jill looked on.


Meanwhile, in Africa, the Nigeria's federal government on Monday approved new measures to curb the further spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.


According to the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, speaking at a press briefing of the task force in Abuja ordered the closure of all clubs, bars and restaurants.

Nigerian authorities also restricted number of guests at weddings , conference to 59 as new strain of Coronavirus hits the country.

“Accordingly, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has authorised the PTF to engage with the states and the FCT to assume full ownership of this stage of the response by deploying legal structures and resources, including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions.

The measure will be for the next five weeks as Nigeria hopes to curb the spread of Coronavirus. “ All bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues should be closed.  All restaurants to be closed except those providing services to hotel residents; takeaways, home deliveries and drive-ins shall remain closed.” Mustapha added.

Also the government ordered that gatherings linked to religious events should be less than 50% capacity of the facility.

EU approves first coronavirus vaccine


The EU has finally gave the green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday, paving the way for the first inoculations to start across 27 countries just days after Christmas. AFP reported.

According to the report, the decision was rushed through under pressure from European governments after Britain and the United States authorised the jab weeks earlier. The European Medicines Agency recommended the vaccine developed by US pharma giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech for use, and the European Commission formally approved it hours later.

The EMA added that the vaccine would "very likely" be effective against a new strain of the disease spreading through Britain.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said vaccinations would start across the EU on December 27, adding that the vaccine was a "true European success story".

"This is a very good way to end this difficult year and finally start turning the page on Covid-19," von der Leyen said in Brussels.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the decision allowed a "road out of the crisis" while Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the EMA decision "is the news we have been waiting for".

- 'Historic scientific achievement' -

The Amsterdam-based EMA, the drugs watchdog for the 27-nation EU, had moved the decision forward from December 29 under pressure from EU governments, particularly Berlin.

"It is a significant step forward in the fight against this pandemic that is causing suffering and hardship," EMA chief Emer Cooke told an online press conference as she announced the decision to recommend the vaccine.

"This is really a historic scientific achievement, within less than a year a vaccine will have been developed and authorised against this disease."

The urgency surrounding the virus has increased with the news that a fast-spreading variant is sweeping Britain, prompting a growing number of countries worldwide to suspend flights from the UK.

But EMA officials said they believed the Pfizer-BioNTech jab would be effective against it.

"At this moment there is no evidence to suggest this vaccine will not work against the new variant," Cooke said.

The EMA's head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, added that while they were waiting for more data "for the time being we are not too worried".

"It is very likely that the vaccine will retain protection also against this new variant," he said.

"What would scare us is if we see multiple mutations", particularly on the "spike" that the virus uses to enter human cells, but those had not been seen yet, Cavaleri added.

- 'Cause for concern' -

The EMA said it took longer than Britain -- the former home of the agency -- and the US because they used a special, short-term emergency authorisation.

The "conditional marketing authorisation" issued on Monday however lasts for one year and required more rigorous testing, it said.

The EMA also had to contend with a cyberattack in which data from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines was stolen.

Cooke said the agency had "worked night and day" to speed things up, but needed to make sure the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was safe and effective, in order to avoid any doubts that could affect uptake.

"We know very well that the speed at which these vaccines were developed and authorised is a cause of concern for many Europeans," said Harald Enzmann, chairman of the EMA committee that took the final decision.

But he said the authorisation followed "one of the largest trials we have ever evaluated for a vaccine" and that it "met the standards for robustness and quality that we have set out".

The authorisation is for over-16s only and says that the vaccine should be given to pregnant women on a case by case basis, the EMA said.

Following a "small number" of reports of allergic reactions in Britain and the United States, the EMA had recommended that people should be kept under "close observation" for 15 minutes after vaccination.

A European decision on another vaccine, produced by US firm Moderna, is due by January 6.


With AFP.

EU approves first coronavirus vaccine


US President-elect @JoeBiden received his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on live TV Monday, hoping it shows Americans there’s “nothing to worry about” once they get the chance to get vaccinated.

According to AFP, Biden received a Covid-19 vaccine live on televisio in a campaign to boost Americans' confidence in the jabs. The 78-year-old got the Pfizer vaccine at the Christiana Hospital in Delaware.


Biden said "there's nothing to worry about" when getting the shot. He was vaccinated in a photo-op at a hospital in Delaware on Monday afternoon, as his wife Jill looked on.


Meanwhile, in Africa, the Nigeria's federal government on Monday approved new measures to curb the further spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.


According to the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, speaking at a press briefing of the task force in Abuja ordered the closure of all clubs, bars and restaurants.

Nigerian authorities also restricted number of guests at weddings , conference to 59 as new strain of Coronavirus hits the country.

“Accordingly, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has authorised the PTF to engage with the states and the FCT to assume full ownership of this stage of the response by deploying legal structures and resources, including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions.

The measure will be for the next five weeks as Nigeria hopes to curb the spread of Coronavirus. “ All bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues should be closed.  All restaurants to be closed except those providing services to hotel residents; takeaways, home deliveries and drive-ins shall remain closed.” Mustapha added.

Also the government ordered that gatherings linked to religious events should be less than 50% capacity of the facility.

EU approves first coronavirus vaccine


The EU has finally gave the green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday, paving the way for the first inoculations to start across 27 countries just days after Christmas. AFP reported.

According to the report, the decision was rushed through under pressure from European governments after Britain and the United States authorised the jab weeks earlier. The European Medicines Agency recommended the vaccine developed by US pharma giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech for use, and the European Commission formally approved it hours later.

The EMA added that the vaccine would "very likely" be effective against a new strain of the disease spreading through Britain.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said vaccinations would start across the EU on December 27, adding that the vaccine was a "true European success story".

"This is a very good way to end this difficult year and finally start turning the page on Covid-19," von der Leyen said in Brussels.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the decision allowed a "road out of the crisis" while Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the EMA decision "is the news we have been waiting for".

- 'Historic scientific achievement' -

The Amsterdam-based EMA, the drugs watchdog for the 27-nation EU, had moved the decision forward from December 29 under pressure from EU governments, particularly Berlin.

"It is a significant step forward in the fight against this pandemic that is causing suffering and hardship," EMA chief Emer Cooke told an online press conference as she announced the decision to recommend the vaccine.

"This is really a historic scientific achievement, within less than a year a vaccine will have been developed and authorised against this disease."

The urgency surrounding the virus has increased with the news that a fast-spreading variant is sweeping Britain, prompting a growing number of countries worldwide to suspend flights from the UK.

But EMA officials said they believed the Pfizer-BioNTech jab would be effective against it.

"At this moment there is no evidence to suggest this vaccine will not work against the new variant," Cooke said.

The EMA's head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, added that while they were waiting for more data "for the time being we are not too worried".

"It is very likely that the vaccine will retain protection also against this new variant," he said.

"What would scare us is if we see multiple mutations", particularly on the "spike" that the virus uses to enter human cells, but those had not been seen yet, Cavaleri added.

- 'Cause for concern' -

The EMA said it took longer than Britain -- the former home of the agency -- and the US because they used a special, short-term emergency authorisation.

The "conditional marketing authorisation" issued on Monday however lasts for one year and required more rigorous testing, it said.

The EMA also had to contend with a cyberattack in which data from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines was stolen.

Cooke said the agency had "worked night and day" to speed things up, but needed to make sure the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was safe and effective, in order to avoid any doubts that could affect uptake.

"We know very well that the speed at which these vaccines were developed and authorised is a cause of concern for many Europeans," said Harald Enzmann, chairman of the EMA committee that took the final decision.

But he said the authorisation followed "one of the largest trials we have ever evaluated for a vaccine" and that it "met the standards for robustness and quality that we have set out".

The authorisation is for over-16s only and says that the vaccine should be given to pregnant women on a case by case basis, the EMA said.

Following a "small number" of reports of allergic reactions in Britain and the United States, the EMA had recommended that people should be kept under "close observation" for 15 minutes after vaccination.

A European decision on another vaccine, produced by US firm Moderna, is due by January 6.


With AFP.

German economy to shrink 5.4% in 2020, more than expected: think-tanks

German economy to shrink 5.4% in 2020, more than expected: think-tanks

Germany's economy will shrink more than expected in 2020 and not regain strength until end-2021, leading research institutes said Wednesday, as a coronavirus resurgence weighs on the recovery.

German gross domestic product will contract by 5.4 percent, deeper than a previous prediction made in April of 4.2 percent, according to five think-tanks including Ifo, DIW and RWI in their annual autumn report.

"Although a good part of the slump from the spring has already been made up, the remaining catch-up process represents the more arduous route back to normality," said Stefan Kooths, head of economic research at IfW Kiel.

Pre-crisis levels of economic output will "probably not be reached until the end of 2021", the report said, with GDP set to grow 4.7 percent next year, compared with an earlier forecast of 5.8 percent.

For 2022, the experts predict 2.7 percent growth.

Sectors dependent on close social contacts, such as food and drink, tourism and events, have been particularly hurt by the pandemic and will "continue to suffer for some time to come and will not participate in the recovery process until infection control measures are largely eliminated," Kooths said.


The downgraded forecasts add to a string of gloomy data coming out of Europe's top economy.

On Tuesday, a closely watched survey by the ZEW institute showed that investor confidence plummeted in October on rising coronavirus numbers and renewed Brexit tensions.

The German economy initially bounced back sharply after it emerged from the spring lockdowns in early May, allowing consumer spending and exports to ramp up.


But the momentum has slowed in recent weeks and fears are mounting about the impact on Germany's crucial export sector as countries around the world reimpose restrictions to halt a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

Although Germany has so far coped better with the pandemic than many of its neighbours, it recorded more than 5,000 new cases on Wednesday, the highest level since April.


Limits on overnight stays and early closures of bars and restaurants are already in place in several major German cities, including the capital Berlin and the country's financial centre, Frankfurt.


German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in September that the economy would contract 5.8 percent in 2020 on the back of a V-shaped recovery, a prediction that will be severely tested in the coming months.

The greatest risk to the forecast remains the course of the pandemic, the report says.

"The economic downturn is less severe than feared. However, the economic recovery will be tougher than we would like," said Martin Wansleben, managing director of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce.


"A second general lockdown could lead many companies to economic ruin."

AFP
Germany's economy will shrink more than expected in 2020 and not regain strength until end-2021, leading research institutes said Wednesday, as a coronavirus resurgence weighs on the recovery.

German gross domestic product will contract by 5.4 percent, deeper than a previous prediction made in April of 4.2 percent, according to five think-tanks including Ifo, DIW and RWI in their annual autumn report.

"Although a good part of the slump from the spring has already been made up, the remaining catch-up process represents the more arduous route back to normality," said Stefan Kooths, head of economic research at IfW Kiel.

Pre-crisis levels of economic output will "probably not be reached until the end of 2021", the report said, with GDP set to grow 4.7 percent next year, compared with an earlier forecast of 5.8 percent.

For 2022, the experts predict 2.7 percent growth.

Sectors dependent on close social contacts, such as food and drink, tourism and events, have been particularly hurt by the pandemic and will "continue to suffer for some time to come and will not participate in the recovery process until infection control measures are largely eliminated," Kooths said.


The downgraded forecasts add to a string of gloomy data coming out of Europe's top economy.

On Tuesday, a closely watched survey by the ZEW institute showed that investor confidence plummeted in October on rising coronavirus numbers and renewed Brexit tensions.

The German economy initially bounced back sharply after it emerged from the spring lockdowns in early May, allowing consumer spending and exports to ramp up.


But the momentum has slowed in recent weeks and fears are mounting about the impact on Germany's crucial export sector as countries around the world reimpose restrictions to halt a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

Although Germany has so far coped better with the pandemic than many of its neighbours, it recorded more than 5,000 new cases on Wednesday, the highest level since April.


Limits on overnight stays and early closures of bars and restaurants are already in place in several major German cities, including the capital Berlin and the country's financial centre, Frankfurt.


German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in September that the economy would contract 5.8 percent in 2020 on the back of a V-shaped recovery, a prediction that will be severely tested in the coming months.

The greatest risk to the forecast remains the course of the pandemic, the report says.

"The economic downturn is less severe than feared. However, the economic recovery will be tougher than we would like," said Martin Wansleben, managing director of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce.


"A second general lockdown could lead many companies to economic ruin."

AFP

German Merkel Says She Will Meet Belarus Opposition Leader Soon

German Merkel Says She Will Meet Belarus Opposition Leader Soon

(AFP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday she would hold talks with Belarus's main opposition leader, days after French President Emmanuel Macron met with her and pledged to help mediate in her country's crisis.

"I will soon meet the opposition leader Ms (Svetlana) Tikhanovskaya," Merkel told parliament, hailing the "courage" of the women demonstrating since a disputed election last month in which the opposition has claimed victory against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Merkel, who holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said Germany did not recognise Lukashenko as the winner of the vote and that she condemned the government's violence against protesters.

"When you see the courage shown by the women who are appearing on the streets for a free life without corruption, then I can only say: I admire that and find it truly impressive," she said.

Macron spoke with Tikhanovskaya this week on a visit to Lithuania in her most high-profile meeting so far since the Belarus election.

"We will do our best as Europeans to help mediate and we will come back to OSCE mediation in order to progress," Macron said.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has offered to help broker a negotiated end to the crisis in Belarus.

Mass protests that have continued since the election have been met with a bloody crackdown and Tikhanovskaya's husband Sergei is in prison accused of trying to overthrow the government.
(AFP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday she would hold talks with Belarus's main opposition leader, days after French President Emmanuel Macron met with her and pledged to help mediate in her country's crisis.

"I will soon meet the opposition leader Ms (Svetlana) Tikhanovskaya," Merkel told parliament, hailing the "courage" of the women demonstrating since a disputed election last month in which the opposition has claimed victory against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Merkel, who holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said Germany did not recognise Lukashenko as the winner of the vote and that she condemned the government's violence against protesters.

"When you see the courage shown by the women who are appearing on the streets for a free life without corruption, then I can only say: I admire that and find it truly impressive," she said.

Macron spoke with Tikhanovskaya this week on a visit to Lithuania in her most high-profile meeting so far since the Belarus election.

"We will do our best as Europeans to help mediate and we will come back to OSCE mediation in order to progress," Macron said.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has offered to help broker a negotiated end to the crisis in Belarus.

Mass protests that have continued since the election have been met with a bloody crackdown and Tikhanovskaya's husband Sergei is in prison accused of trying to overthrow the government.

Accusations range on between Armenia, Azerbaijan as German Merkel calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Karabakh fighting

Accusations range on between Armenia, Azerbaijan as German Merkel calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Karabakh fighting

France urges international talks on Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes





Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Tuesday of firing into each other’s territory, far from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, as the worst spate of fighting since the 1990s raged for a third day and the civilian death toll mounted.

The forces of the two countries pounded each other with long range rockets and artillery in a new round of the decades-old conflict in the disputed region.

The fierce fighting, which continued for a third day on Tuesday, has killed dozens of soldiers and at least 11 civilians so far.

Dozens have been reported killed and hundreds wounded since the fierce clashes between Azerbaijan and its ethnic Armenian mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh broke out on Sunday in a new eruption of a decades-old conflict.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said 10 civilians had been killed by Armenian shelling since Sunday. There was no official information about casualties among Azeri servicemen.

The Armenian defense ministry said an Armenian civilian bus in Vardenis — a town in Armenia at the border with Azerbaijan and far from Nagorno-Karabakh — caught fire after being hit by an Azeri drone, but no one appeared to be hurt. It said it was making further checks.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians and is supported by Armenia. It broke away from Azerbaijan in a war in the 1990s, but is not recognized by any country as an independent republic.

Any move to all-out war could drag in major regional powers Russia and Turkey. Moscow has a defense alliance with Armenia, which provides vital support to the enclave and is its lifeline to the outside world, while Ankara backs its own ethnic Turkic kin in Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged an immediate end to the fighting in the region of Nagorny Karabakh in phone calls with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, her spokesman said Tuesday. “The chancellor urgently called for an immediate cease-fire and a return to the negotiating table,” Steffen Seibert said.

Merkel spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday and with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday, he added.

The so-called Minsk Group of mediators, led by France, Russia and the United States, “offers an appropriate forum” for dialogue, Merkel said in the calls.

The UN Security Council is due to hold emergency talks Tuesday behind closed doors on Nagorny Karabakh, diplomats said.

France has also said that it would call for talks among the ‘Minsk Group’ and mediates between Armenia and Azerbaijan – to try to resolve an escalating conflict between the two South Caucasus countries.

“We will trigger in the coming days a co-ordination of the Minsk Group to clear up what happened, who is responsible and find a way out,” an official at Macron’s office told Reuters on Tuesday.

Yerevan and Baku have been locked in a territorial dispute over the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorny Karabakh for decades, with deadly fighting flaring up last July and in 2016.


France urges international talks on Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes





Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Tuesday of firing into each other’s territory, far from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, as the worst spate of fighting since the 1990s raged for a third day and the civilian death toll mounted.

The forces of the two countries pounded each other with long range rockets and artillery in a new round of the decades-old conflict in the disputed region.

The fierce fighting, which continued for a third day on Tuesday, has killed dozens of soldiers and at least 11 civilians so far.

Dozens have been reported killed and hundreds wounded since the fierce clashes between Azerbaijan and its ethnic Armenian mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh broke out on Sunday in a new eruption of a decades-old conflict.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said 10 civilians had been killed by Armenian shelling since Sunday. There was no official information about casualties among Azeri servicemen.

The Armenian defense ministry said an Armenian civilian bus in Vardenis — a town in Armenia at the border with Azerbaijan and far from Nagorno-Karabakh — caught fire after being hit by an Azeri drone, but no one appeared to be hurt. It said it was making further checks.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians and is supported by Armenia. It broke away from Azerbaijan in a war in the 1990s, but is not recognized by any country as an independent republic.

Any move to all-out war could drag in major regional powers Russia and Turkey. Moscow has a defense alliance with Armenia, which provides vital support to the enclave and is its lifeline to the outside world, while Ankara backs its own ethnic Turkic kin in Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged an immediate end to the fighting in the region of Nagorny Karabakh in phone calls with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, her spokesman said Tuesday. “The chancellor urgently called for an immediate cease-fire and a return to the negotiating table,” Steffen Seibert said.

Merkel spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday and with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday, he added.

The so-called Minsk Group of mediators, led by France, Russia and the United States, “offers an appropriate forum” for dialogue, Merkel said in the calls.

The UN Security Council is due to hold emergency talks Tuesday behind closed doors on Nagorny Karabakh, diplomats said.

France has also said that it would call for talks among the ‘Minsk Group’ and mediates between Armenia and Azerbaijan – to try to resolve an escalating conflict between the two South Caucasus countries.

“We will trigger in the coming days a co-ordination of the Minsk Group to clear up what happened, who is responsible and find a way out,” an official at Macron’s office told Reuters on Tuesday.

Yerevan and Baku have been locked in a territorial dispute over the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorny Karabakh for decades, with deadly fighting flaring up last July and in 2016.


France, Sweden confirm Novichok poisoning in Navalny case: Germany

France, Sweden confirm Novichok poisoning in Navalny case: Germany

The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Germany had asked France and Sweden "for an independent review of the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning) on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny," who is receiving treatment in Berlin.

"The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning)," Seibert said.

He said Germany was still waiting for the outcome of a separate evaluation by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog.

On the basis of the findings by the three European laboratories, however, Seibert said Germany was "renewing its call for Russia to make a declaration on the events" of the Navalny case.

"We are in close contact with our European partners about further steps," he added.

The 44-year-old Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin.


Germany said two weeks ago there was "unequivocal evidence" that he was poisoned with Novichok but Russia has angrily dismissed the findings, saying its doctors found no trace of poison.
Absurd

Navalny has now emerged from a medically induced coma and is reacting to speech, Berlin's Charite hospital has said.

The Kremlin has denounced attempts to blame the Russian state for the poisoning as "absurd" and said it wants to know what happened.

Western politicians have said the incident appears likely to have been state-ordered and urged Moscow to prove its lack of involvement.

Navalny's associates believe the use of Novichok shows only the Russian state could be responsible.

The case has prompted international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions, but the country has not opened a criminal investigation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia rejected "when other countries dictate to us what legal procedures we should start and when".

He insisted Russia "de facto" is probing the incident, but cannot open a criminal case "on the basis of tests by the German side, especially when carried out in German military labs."


Russian authorities want to question Navalny at his Berlin hospital, with Siberian transport police, who have been retracing Navalny's movements, saying Friday that Russia would be preparing a request for its officers and an "expert" to shadow German investigators.
This story was produced by AFP. For more information go to AFP.com.
© Agence France-Presse
The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Germany had asked France and Sweden "for an independent review of the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning) on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny," who is receiving treatment in Berlin.

"The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning)," Seibert said.

He said Germany was still waiting for the outcome of a separate evaluation by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog.

On the basis of the findings by the three European laboratories, however, Seibert said Germany was "renewing its call for Russia to make a declaration on the events" of the Navalny case.

"We are in close contact with our European partners about further steps," he added.

The 44-year-old Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin.


Germany said two weeks ago there was "unequivocal evidence" that he was poisoned with Novichok but Russia has angrily dismissed the findings, saying its doctors found no trace of poison.
Absurd

Navalny has now emerged from a medically induced coma and is reacting to speech, Berlin's Charite hospital has said.

The Kremlin has denounced attempts to blame the Russian state for the poisoning as "absurd" and said it wants to know what happened.

Western politicians have said the incident appears likely to have been state-ordered and urged Moscow to prove its lack of involvement.

Navalny's associates believe the use of Novichok shows only the Russian state could be responsible.

The case has prompted international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions, but the country has not opened a criminal investigation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia rejected "when other countries dictate to us what legal procedures we should start and when".

He insisted Russia "de facto" is probing the incident, but cannot open a criminal case "on the basis of tests by the German side, especially when carried out in German military labs."


Russian authorities want to question Navalny at his Berlin hospital, with Siberian transport police, who have been retracing Navalny's movements, saying Friday that Russia would be preparing a request for its officers and an "expert" to shadow German investigators.
This story was produced by AFP. For more information go to AFP.com.
© Agence France-Presse

Germany 'in contact' with Moscow on Navalny's 'humanitarian emergency': ministry

Germany 'in contact' with Moscow on Navalny's 'humanitarian emergency': ministry

Kremlin says not evacuating Navalny 'purely a medical decision'


Kremlin says not evacuating Navalny 'purely a medical decision'


Iran cries victory after UN rejects US bid to extend arms embargo, says United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation

Iran cries victory after UN rejects US bid to extend arms embargo, says United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation

Iranian Hassan Rouhani
(AFP) Iran on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has "never been so isolated". President Hassan Rouhani said the United States had failed to kill off what he called the "half alive" 2015 deal with major powers that gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

"The United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation," Rouhani told a televised news conference. "In my opinion, this day will go down in the history of our Iran and in the history of fighting global arrogance."

Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favour of the US resolution seeking to extend the embargo, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord in May 2018.

Washington's European allies all abstained, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for only winning the support of one other country, the Dominican Republic.

"In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

"Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them," he tweeted. The result increases the likelihood that the US will try to unilaterally force a return of UN sanctions, which experts say threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises.


- 'Inexcusable' -


"The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defence of international peace and security is inexcusable," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Since Trump pulled out of the JCPOA and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran under a campaign of "maximum pressure", Tehran has since taken small but escalating steps away from compliance with the nuclear accord as it presses for sanctions relief.

European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East.

However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA.

The US text, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear agreement.

Iran says it has the right to self-defence and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the nuclear deal.

Pompeo announced that members had failed to back the proposal around 30 minutes before Indonesia, the current president of the Security Council, announced that the official results included two votes against and 11 abstentions.

Russia and China opposed the resolution.

"The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail," China's UN mission tweeted.


- 'Snapback' -


Ambassador Gunter Sautter of Germany, which abstained, said "more consultations are needed" to find a solution that is acceptable to all council members.

During a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders "discussed the urgent need for UN action to extend the arms embargo on Iran".

Hours earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on China, France, Russia, Britain, the US, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf.

Washington has threatened to try to force a return of UN sanctions if it is not extended by using a controversial technique called "snapback".

Pompeo has offered the contested argument that the US remains a "participant" in the nuclear accord as it was listed in the 2015 resolution -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms.

European allies have been sceptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and warn that the attempt may delegitimise the Security Council.

Nevertheless, the US is expected to deliver the snapback letter next week, AFP understands.

Analysts suspect that Washington purposefully put forward a hardline draft that it knew Council members would not be able to accept.

"The fact is that everybody at the UN believes this (resolution) is just a prelude to a US effort to trigger snapback and sink the Iranian nuclear deal," Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group, told AFP.

pdh-fff/ap/dv/kir
Iranian Hassan Rouhani
(AFP) Iran on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has "never been so isolated". President Hassan Rouhani said the United States had failed to kill off what he called the "half alive" 2015 deal with major powers that gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

"The United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation," Rouhani told a televised news conference. "In my opinion, this day will go down in the history of our Iran and in the history of fighting global arrogance."

Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favour of the US resolution seeking to extend the embargo, highlighting the division between Washington and its European allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord in May 2018.

Washington's European allies all abstained, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for only winning the support of one other country, the Dominican Republic.

"In the 75 years of United Nations history, America has never been so isolated," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

"Despite all the trips, pressure and the hawking, the United States could only mobilise a small country (to vote) with them," he tweeted. The result increases the likelihood that the US will try to unilaterally force a return of UN sanctions, which experts say threatens to plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises.


- 'Inexcusable' -


"The Security Council's failure to act decisively in defence of international peace and security is inexcusable," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18 under the terms of a resolution that blessed the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Since Trump pulled out of the JCPOA and slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran under a campaign of "maximum pressure", Tehran has since taken small but escalating steps away from compliance with the nuclear accord as it presses for sanctions relief.

European allies of the United States -- who, along with Russia and China, signed the deal with Iran -- have voiced support for extending the 13-year-long conventional arms embargo, saying an expiry threatens stability in the Middle East.

However, their priority is to preserve the JCPOA.

The US text, seen by AFP, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the embargo on Iran, which diplomats said would threaten the nuclear agreement.

Iran says it has the right to self-defence and that a continuation of the ban would mean an end to the nuclear deal.

Pompeo announced that members had failed to back the proposal around 30 minutes before Indonesia, the current president of the Security Council, announced that the official results included two votes against and 11 abstentions.

Russia and China opposed the resolution.

"The result shows again that unilateralism enjoys no support, and bullying will fail," China's UN mission tweeted.


- 'Snapback' -


Ambassador Gunter Sautter of Germany, which abstained, said "more consultations are needed" to find a solution that is acceptable to all council members.

During a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders "discussed the urgent need for UN action to extend the arms embargo on Iran".

Hours earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on China, France, Russia, Britain, the US, Germany and Iran to convene an emergency video summit to avoid an escalation of tensions in the Gulf.

Washington has threatened to try to force a return of UN sanctions if it is not extended by using a controversial technique called "snapback".

Pompeo has offered the contested argument that the US remains a "participant" in the nuclear accord as it was listed in the 2015 resolution -- and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms.

European allies have been sceptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and warn that the attempt may delegitimise the Security Council.

Nevertheless, the US is expected to deliver the snapback letter next week, AFP understands.

Analysts suspect that Washington purposefully put forward a hardline draft that it knew Council members would not be able to accept.

"The fact is that everybody at the UN believes this (resolution) is just a prelude to a US effort to trigger snapback and sink the Iranian nuclear deal," Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the International Crisis Group, told AFP.

pdh-fff/ap/dv/kir

Germany summons Belarus ambassador over disputed vote, according to government source

Germany summons Belarus ambassador over disputed vote, according to government source

Profile Picture
AFP: Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, on Thursday summoned the Belarusian ambassador to urgent talks over President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election.

"Today the Belarusian ambassador was invited to the Federal Foreign Office for an urgent discussion in view of current developments," a government source told AFP. The move comes ahead of a meeting on Friday of EU foreign ministers to discuss possible sanctions on Belarus.

Lukashenko's opponents accuse him of rigging Sunday's election to defeat his main rival, popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has left the ex-Soviet country for neighbouring Lithuania.

During four nights of unrest since the vote, police have used stun grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and, in at least one case, live fire to disperse the crowds.

At least two people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the violence while nearly 7,000 have been arrested.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had said earlier Thursday that the latest developments, including the "brutal" repression of peaceful demonstrators, were "unacceptable" in 21st century Europe.

"That's why we have to raise the pressure on those in power there," Maas said at a Berlin press conference alongside his Norwegian counterpart.

"We will certainly have to talk about the question of sanctions, an issue that is being intensely discussed at the moment. I hope we will find a common solution at tomorrow's meeting," he said.

Cautious optimism in the recent past that Belarus was headed in the right direction has proved unfounded, he said.

The election and the events that followed "have destroyed these hopes", he said, and with that, "any prerequisites for easing sanctions against Belarus".
Profile Picture
AFP: Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, on Thursday summoned the Belarusian ambassador to urgent talks over President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election.

"Today the Belarusian ambassador was invited to the Federal Foreign Office for an urgent discussion in view of current developments," a government source told AFP. The move comes ahead of a meeting on Friday of EU foreign ministers to discuss possible sanctions on Belarus.

Lukashenko's opponents accuse him of rigging Sunday's election to defeat his main rival, popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has left the ex-Soviet country for neighbouring Lithuania.

During four nights of unrest since the vote, police have used stun grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and, in at least one case, live fire to disperse the crowds.

At least two people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the violence while nearly 7,000 have been arrested.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had said earlier Thursday that the latest developments, including the "brutal" repression of peaceful demonstrators, were "unacceptable" in 21st century Europe.

"That's why we have to raise the pressure on those in power there," Maas said at a Berlin press conference alongside his Norwegian counterpart.

"We will certainly have to talk about the question of sanctions, an issue that is being intensely discussed at the moment. I hope we will find a common solution at tomorrow's meeting," he said.

Cautious optimism in the recent past that Belarus was headed in the right direction has proved unfounded, he said.

The election and the events that followed "have destroyed these hopes", he said, and with that, "any prerequisites for easing sanctions against Belarus".

LIBYAN WAR: EU foreign policy chief Borrell Urges All Parties To Abide By Berlin Pledges

LIBYAN WAR: EU foreign policy chief Borrell Urges All Parties To Abide By Berlin Pledges

European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday urged all parties to abide by their pledges made at the Berlin International Conference on Libya.

Borrell made the satement during his visit to Turkey on Monday, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Kavusoglu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to review all aspects of bilateral relations in light of recent tensions.

According to the European Commission’s statement, Borrell confirmed in press statements that an important meeting will be held soon in the European Parliament to discuss the Syrian and Libyan files, saying, “we wanted to listen to the Turkish government to know its position”.

“Relations with Turkey are not at their best, and we must improve them and many problems must be resolved,” he added.

Since a meeting of world leaders held in Berlin in January 2020 to draw up a Libyan peace plan, both sides in the civil war have rejected international appeals and have sought support for further arms and mercenaries.

In February, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding enforcement of the arms embargo on Libya and a ceasefire.
European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday urged all parties to abide by their pledges made at the Berlin International Conference on Libya.

Borrell made the satement during his visit to Turkey on Monday, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Kavusoglu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to review all aspects of bilateral relations in light of recent tensions.

According to the European Commission’s statement, Borrell confirmed in press statements that an important meeting will be held soon in the European Parliament to discuss the Syrian and Libyan files, saying, “we wanted to listen to the Turkish government to know its position”.

“Relations with Turkey are not at their best, and we must improve them and many problems must be resolved,” he added.

Since a meeting of world leaders held in Berlin in January 2020 to draw up a Libyan peace plan, both sides in the civil war have rejected international appeals and have sought support for further arms and mercenaries.

In February, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding enforcement of the arms embargo on Libya and a ceasefire.

HOW British warplanes intercept Russian long-range bombers flying in international airspace ?

HOW British warplanes intercept Russian long-range bombers flying in international airspace ?

Britain's RAF Voyager and two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from a number of different bases. The planes were responding to monitor Russian long-range aircraft flying in international airspace north of Scotland. 

It comes after a spate of incidents involving Russian aircraft nearing UK or NATO airspace.

According to Reuters reports, the British Air Force on Friday, sent Typhoon fighters from Lossiemouth Air Force Base in Scotland to accompany Russian aircraft while flying in international airspace.

“The Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters took off to monitor the flight of a Russian long-range aircraft into international airspace in northern Scotland,” a statement from the British Air Force said.

It is worth noting that the Russian aircraft did not enter the flight information region in the United Kingdom, and therefore, “it was not required to intercept them.”

The Royal Air Force confirmed that on Friday's occasion the Russian aircraft turned away as they approached the UK Flight Information Region (FIR), north of the Scottish coast and as such no interception was needed.

The RAF stated the Russian aircraft was monitored throughout their flight.

And activity was coordinated closely with NATO allies, including the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem in Germany.

Previously, reports said that three Tupolev-142 aircraft completed a planned flight over neutral waters from the Barents and Norwegian seas and the Northeast Atlantic.

Despite flying over the neutral zone, Russian aircraft were accompanied in some parts of the flight by Norwegian F-16 fighters and an F-35 aircraft.
Britain's RAF Voyager and two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from a number of different bases. The planes were responding to monitor Russian long-range aircraft flying in international airspace north of Scotland. 

It comes after a spate of incidents involving Russian aircraft nearing UK or NATO airspace.

According to Reuters reports, the British Air Force on Friday, sent Typhoon fighters from Lossiemouth Air Force Base in Scotland to accompany Russian aircraft while flying in international airspace.

“The Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters took off to monitor the flight of a Russian long-range aircraft into international airspace in northern Scotland,” a statement from the British Air Force said.

It is worth noting that the Russian aircraft did not enter the flight information region in the United Kingdom, and therefore, “it was not required to intercept them.”

The Royal Air Force confirmed that on Friday's occasion the Russian aircraft turned away as they approached the UK Flight Information Region (FIR), north of the Scottish coast and as such no interception was needed.

The RAF stated the Russian aircraft was monitored throughout their flight.

And activity was coordinated closely with NATO allies, including the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem in Germany.

Previously, reports said that three Tupolev-142 aircraft completed a planned flight over neutral waters from the Barents and Norwegian seas and the Northeast Atlantic.

Despite flying over the neutral zone, Russian aircraft were accompanied in some parts of the flight by Norwegian F-16 fighters and an F-35 aircraft.

JCPOA: Hassan Rouhani says US was ‘politically defeated by Iran in a UNSC meeting

JCPOA: Hassan Rouhani says US was ‘politically defeated by Iran in a UNSC meeting

Hassan Rouhani
The Persian President Hassan Rouhani said the United States was defeated in the UN Security Council on Tuesday when participants expressed support for the nuclear deal.

Iranian Rouhani affirmed that the US, despite its economic pressure against Tehran, was “politically defeated by Iran,” according to the Iranian channel Al- Alam. The Iranian President indicated that his country is ready to cooperate with the 4 + 1 group if it abides by its pledges within the framework of the nuclear agreement.

Rouhani pointed out that his country would respond firmly if the United States tried to attack the nuclear agreement politically.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) also known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany).

On 8 May 2018, Trump announced United States withdrawal from JCPOA.  Following the U.S.'s withdrawal, the EU enacted an updated blocking statute on 7 August 2018 to nullify US sanctions on countries trading with Iran

In November 2018 U.S. sanctions came back into effect intended to force Iran to dramatically alter its policies, including its support for militant groups in the region and its development of ballistic missiles. 

In the aftermath of the Baghdad Airport Airstrike  and assassination of the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Iran declared that it would no longer abide by the limitations of the deal but would continue to coordinate with the IAEA, leaving open the possibility of resuming compliance.

The U.S. is currently focused on reimposing the arms embargo against Iran, which the Islamic Republic has already said they will fight at the United Nations.

Hassan Rouhani
The Persian President Hassan Rouhani said the United States was defeated in the UN Security Council on Tuesday when participants expressed support for the nuclear deal.

Iranian Rouhani affirmed that the US, despite its economic pressure against Tehran, was “politically defeated by Iran,” according to the Iranian channel Al- Alam. The Iranian President indicated that his country is ready to cooperate with the 4 + 1 group if it abides by its pledges within the framework of the nuclear agreement.

Rouhani pointed out that his country would respond firmly if the United States tried to attack the nuclear agreement politically.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) also known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany).

On 8 May 2018, Trump announced United States withdrawal from JCPOA.  Following the U.S.'s withdrawal, the EU enacted an updated blocking statute on 7 August 2018 to nullify US sanctions on countries trading with Iran

In November 2018 U.S. sanctions came back into effect intended to force Iran to dramatically alter its policies, including its support for militant groups in the region and its development of ballistic missiles. 

In the aftermath of the Baghdad Airport Airstrike  and assassination of the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Iran declared that it would no longer abide by the limitations of the deal but would continue to coordinate with the IAEA, leaving open the possibility of resuming compliance.

The U.S. is currently focused on reimposing the arms embargo against Iran, which the Islamic Republic has already said they will fight at the United Nations.

Auditors EY accuse German payments provider Wirecard of 'elaborate fraud'

Auditors EY accuse German payments provider Wirecard of 'elaborate fraud'

Wirecard files for insolvency



Auditors EY said Thursday they saw "clear indications" of fraud on global scale at German payments provider Wirecard, which filed for insolvency after admitting that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) were missing from its accounts.



Wirecard's former CEO Markus Braun has already been detained on suspicion of falsifying accounts before being released on bail, in what is fast becoming one of Germany's biggest financial scandals.

"There are clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud involving multiple parties around the world in different institutions with a deliberate aim of deception," audit group EY said, adding it had been given false statements when it was poring through the firm's 2019 accounts.

The damning assessment came hours after Wirecard said it was filing for administration.

Wirecard said it had opened bankruptcy proceedings with a district court in Munich "due to impending insolvency and over-indebtedness".

Trading in the group's shares was temporarily halted by the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, but when it resumed the stocks collapsed, reaching 3.70 euros at 1450 GMT. Just over a week ago, it stood at around 100 euros.

- From vice to DAX -

Founded in 1999, the Bavarian start-up rose from a company piping cash to porn and gambling sites to a respectable electronic payments provider that edged traditional lender Commerzbank out of the DAX 30 index.

Once held up as an example of an innovative, nimble company outsmarting lumbering banking giants at their own game, Wirecard's fall from grace began in January 2019 when questions emerged about accounting irregularities in its Asian division.

The Financial Times in particular flagged the issues in a series of articles. But the company in turn accused the FT of colluding with speculators to drive down their shares.

At one point, prosecutors in Munich even launched an investigation against one of the FT's journalists.

But the allegations persisted, leaving Wirecard's stocks on a rollercoaster ride for several months.

- Final nail -

The final nail in the coffin came last Thursday when auditors Ernst & Young said they were unable to find 1.9 billion euros of cash in the company's accounts.

The missing cash makes up a quarter of the balance sheet.

The sum was held to cover risks in trading supposedly carried out by third parties on Wirecard's behalf and was meant to be sitting in trustee accounts at two Philippine banks.

But the Philippines' central bank said the cash never entered its monetary system and both Asian banks, BDO and BPI, denied having a relationship with Wirecard.

Wirecard, which employs nearly 6,000 people, admitted on Monday that the funds likely "do not exist".

The group's former CEO Braun, an Austrian computer scientist, turned himself in that evening before being bailed for five million euros the following day.

Prosecutors believe Braun artificially "inflated" the company's assets and revenues through "fake transactions with so-called third party acquirers in order to make the company seem financially stronger and more attractive to investors and customers".

The scandal has stunned Germany and comes at a time when Europe's biggest economy is already grappling with the deepest recession since World War II because of the coronavirus pandemic.

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has called for a thorough investigation and warned that the controversy could erode confidence in the country's finance sector.

Banking supervision chief Feliz Hufeld has admitted that the watchdog Bafin "had not been effective enough to prevent something like this from happening".

Wirecard files for insolvency



Auditors EY said Thursday they saw "clear indications" of fraud on global scale at German payments provider Wirecard, which filed for insolvency after admitting that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) were missing from its accounts.



Wirecard's former CEO Markus Braun has already been detained on suspicion of falsifying accounts before being released on bail, in what is fast becoming one of Germany's biggest financial scandals.

"There are clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud involving multiple parties around the world in different institutions with a deliberate aim of deception," audit group EY said, adding it had been given false statements when it was poring through the firm's 2019 accounts.

The damning assessment came hours after Wirecard said it was filing for administration.

Wirecard said it had opened bankruptcy proceedings with a district court in Munich "due to impending insolvency and over-indebtedness".

Trading in the group's shares was temporarily halted by the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, but when it resumed the stocks collapsed, reaching 3.70 euros at 1450 GMT. Just over a week ago, it stood at around 100 euros.

- From vice to DAX -

Founded in 1999, the Bavarian start-up rose from a company piping cash to porn and gambling sites to a respectable electronic payments provider that edged traditional lender Commerzbank out of the DAX 30 index.

Once held up as an example of an innovative, nimble company outsmarting lumbering banking giants at their own game, Wirecard's fall from grace began in January 2019 when questions emerged about accounting irregularities in its Asian division.

The Financial Times in particular flagged the issues in a series of articles. But the company in turn accused the FT of colluding with speculators to drive down their shares.

At one point, prosecutors in Munich even launched an investigation against one of the FT's journalists.

But the allegations persisted, leaving Wirecard's stocks on a rollercoaster ride for several months.

- Final nail -

The final nail in the coffin came last Thursday when auditors Ernst & Young said they were unable to find 1.9 billion euros of cash in the company's accounts.

The missing cash makes up a quarter of the balance sheet.

The sum was held to cover risks in trading supposedly carried out by third parties on Wirecard's behalf and was meant to be sitting in trustee accounts at two Philippine banks.

But the Philippines' central bank said the cash never entered its monetary system and both Asian banks, BDO and BPI, denied having a relationship with Wirecard.

Wirecard, which employs nearly 6,000 people, admitted on Monday that the funds likely "do not exist".

The group's former CEO Braun, an Austrian computer scientist, turned himself in that evening before being bailed for five million euros the following day.

Prosecutors believe Braun artificially "inflated" the company's assets and revenues through "fake transactions with so-called third party acquirers in order to make the company seem financially stronger and more attractive to investors and customers".

The scandal has stunned Germany and comes at a time when Europe's biggest economy is already grappling with the deepest recession since World War II because of the coronavirus pandemic.

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has called for a thorough investigation and warned that the controversy could erode confidence in the country's finance sector.

Banking supervision chief Feliz Hufeld has admitted that the watchdog Bafin "had not been effective enough to prevent something like this from happening".

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