Although her stint was unexpectedly brief, Andersson made history by becoming the first woman elected to the post of prime minister in Sweden, she was to formally take over on Friday.
The 54-year-old economist who has served as finance minister for the past seven years said she hoped to be elected to the position again soon as the head of a minority government made up of only the Social Democrats.
US President Joe Biden has invited Taiwan to a virtual summit on democracy alongside more than 100 countries — a move bound to anger China, which is not on the list.
The conference was a campaign pledge by the US president, who has placed the struggle between democracies and “autocratic governments” at the heart of his foreign policy.
The “Summit for Democracy” will take place online on December 9 and 10 ahead of an in-person meeting at its second edition next year. The meeting was long advertised, but the guest list — published Tuesday on the State Department’s website — will be closely scrutinized. Unsurprisingly, America’s main rivals China and Russia are not on the list.
By Jane Uwa
The United States has excluded Nigeria from its list of religious violators.
In a statement by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the US blacklisted Russia, China, and eight other countries. The communique listed the nations as “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and violations of religious freedom.”
In a similar vein, the US also designated Al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.
The US Secretary of State, also in his statement, said, the United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country, adding that they will continue to press all governments to remedy shortcomings in their laws and practices and to promote accountability for those responsible for abuses.
The United States and China have agreed to ease travel and visa restrictions on each other’s journalists following highly-anticipated talks between Chinese Premier, Xi Jinping and US President, Joe Biden.
Reportedly, the agreement was the result of “more than a year of difficult negotiations” and the move will allow journalists to enter and depart from both countries more freely.
The Taliban has banned the use of foreign currencies in Afghanistan, a move that could further disrupt an economy on the brink of collapse.
The economy is struggling due to the withdrawal of international financial support after the Taliban took control.
The US dollar has been used widely in Afghanistan’s markets.
Dollars are also often used for trade in areas bordering Afghanistan’s neighbors such as Pakistan.
READ ALSO : Sudanese soldiers arrest members of transitional government amid reports of a military coup
STILL ON THE FOREIGN SCENE; Republican Glenn Youngkin has been elected as Virginia’s next governor in a major upset, according to US media projections.
He was 2.1 points ahead of Democrat Terry McAuliffe, with 99 percent of votes counted.
McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014-2018, saw his opinion poll lead vanish in recent weeks.
The ballot has been widely seen as a referendum on Joe Biden’s presidency, and defeat will unnerve the Democrats.
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By Anthony Esin
The Senate committee on local and foreign Debt has kicked against President Muhammadu’s request to borrow 700 million dollars.
Buhari had earlier requested approval of the loan to enable his administration to embark on Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) under the Ministry of Water Resources in 2022.
The rejection was coming less than 24 hours after a sum of a 200 million dollars loan was requested by the Ministry of Health for procurement of Mosquito nets which was contained in the budget proposal presented to the Senate
READ ALSO : Senate kicks against President Muhammadu’s request to borrow 700 million dollars for water project
Members of the Committee faulted the idea of seeking a loan to fund Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, noting that there were enough loans which the country has been servicing.
The Committee, therefore, agreed to summon the Minister of Water Resources, Adamu Suleiman to appear to give an explanation on the loans and state of loans collected so far.
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The Ethiopian army has launched coordinated attacks on all fronts against forces from the northern Tigray region.
They said the government was using artillery, tanks, jets, and drones in an attempt to “reinvade” the region.
Meanwhile, a senior rebel source said Tigray forces were holding their ground. The Ethiopian government has not confirmed any fighting, and a communications blackout makes independent verification impossible.
Asked if a ground offensive had been launched, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum said the government had a responsibility to protect its citizens across the country from acts of terrorism but gave no further details.
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By Jane Uwa
Over 100 music students and teachers have fled Afghanistan in a nail-biting flight from Kabul over the fear of the Taliban’s taking over the country and cracking down the music.
About half of the group consists of women and girls, intending to fly to Portugal with the support of the government there, But the success of the operation was in doubt until the last moment.
READ ALSO: President Muhammadu Buhari sues for peace and stability in Ethiopia amid challenges
The Taliban, who banned music outright during their brutal and oppressive rule from 1996 to 2001, swept back into power on August 15 and promised a more moderate brand of rule this time though they have made clear that they will run Afghanistan within the restrictive limits of their interpretation of sharia law.
Fumio Kishida has formally taken office as Japan’s new prime minister, succeeding Yoshihide Suga who resigned after just one year in office.
64year old Kishida, won the race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) last week.
Reports say he will face a range of tough issues, including post-pandemic economic recovery and threats from North Korea. He will also hope to help his party regain popularity after its unpopular push to host the Tokyo Olympics.
Germany’s center-left Social Democrats (SPD) are edging towards election victory, as projected results look increasingly bleak for the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Merkel’s successor, Armin Laschet, is still vowing to form a government, but his conservative CDU party has seen its worst performance in history.
The SPD currently leads by a small margin, but the results are not yet final. Their leader Olaf Scholz says his party has a clear mandate to rule.
READ ALSO: Imo State Police Command arrest 54-year-old man for conniving with wife to murder son
IN THE UK – The government is to suspend competition law to allow oil firms to target fuel deliveries at petrol stations following recent panic buying.
Officials said the move would make it easier for companies to share information and prioritize parts of the country most at need.
It follows days of long queues at the pumps after fears of disruption to the fuel supply sparked panic buying. Ministers are also considering deploying the Army to deliver fuel.
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By Saviour Robert