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US president Joe Biden calls for more Western support to Ukraine on visit to Berlin

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President Joe Biden shake hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Markus Schreiber/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
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Outgoing US president Joe Biden has called on Ukraine’s Western allies to keep up their support for Kyiv, telling a meeting of European allies in Berlin that the West needs to “sustain our resolve”.

Biden was welcomed to the event by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose government is Ukraine’s second-biggest military supplier after the US.

“As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must — we must — sustain our resolve, our effort and our support,” Biden said.

“And I know the cost is heavy. Make no mistake, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in the world where aggression prevails, where large states attack and bully smaller ones simply because they can,” he added.

Scholz said that “we will stand beside Ukraine as long as it is necessary,” pointing to a planned €46 billion international loan package funded by interest on profits from frozen Russian assets.

Biden and Scholz were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for discussions that also addressed the conflict in the Middle East.

Earlier, Biden said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which he described as “a moment of justice.”

“I told the prime minister of Israel yesterday, let’s also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace and a better future in Gaza without Hamas.”

An election in the balance

The visit comes amid worries that a victory for Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, could upset the relationships that Biden, the outgoing US leader, is hoping to pass on to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.

The US presidential election, less than three weeks away, cast a long shadow over Friday’s visit as fears grow that another Trump presidency would see a return to punitive trade tariffs imposed on imports from key US security partners.

The former president has frequently expressed indifference to the security of Ukraine, refusing to say in a debate with Harris whether he wants the US ally to win its war against Russia — and even blaming Ukraine for Russia’s invasion in a recent interview.

He has also voiced doubts about coming to the defence of NATO members if they come under attack.

Germany’s Scholz seemed to address those concerns in Berlin. “Our position is clear: We are supporting Ukraine as strongly as possible,” Scholz said.

“At the same time, we are taking care that NATO does not become a party to the war so that this war doesn’t culminate in an even bigger catastrophe.”

Having visited other key allies such as Japan, South Korea, France, India, the UK, Poland, and Ukraine, Biden did not want his term to end without a visit to Berlin.

The 81-year-old was honoured with the highest class of Germany’s Order of Merit for his contribution to transatlantic relations, an award that was also bestowed on his predecessor George H.W. Bush in recognition of his support for German reunification.

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Ugwanyi, Ikpeazu, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

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A reliable source disclosed to Ekwutosblog that two former south-eastern governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have been screened for the role.

The source added that Shehu Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, are among the nominees who have also been screened.

The source also confirmed that former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have already gone through the screening process and have been cleared for their prospective national assignments.

It would be recalled that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career.

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Trump tariffs: 50 nations seek new US trade talks — official

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Some Trump officials are claiming that the tariffs are intended to get other world leaders to contact the president on potential new trade deals © Alex Brandon/AP/picture alliance
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A senior advisor to US President Donald Trump said dozens of countries have contacted the White House seeking to renegotiate new US tariffs. Chip-making Taiwan says it wants to cut tariffs to zero.

Trump adviser: White House inundated with calls seeking fresh trade talks EU ready with “proportionate countermeasures,” says von der Leyen Netanyahu will urge Trump to cut tariffs on Israel during talks next week Chip leader Taiwan says it will seek zero-tariff deal with US

Here are the latest developments following the new round of Trump tariffs on Sunday, April 6:

EU’s von der Leyen warns bloc will ‘defend its interests’

European Union chief Ursula Von der Leyen said the bloc is prepared to “defend its interests with proportionate countermeasures” against Trump’s tariffs and will work with partners towards this end.

Von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, issued a statement following a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose country has been hit by 10% tariffs.

The president also reaffirmed the EU’s “commitment to engaging in negotiations with the US.”

The Commission, which also coordinates the bloc’s trade policy, is due to propose to EU states on Monday a list of US products, worth $28 billion (€25.6 billion), to hit with extra duties.

The imports targeted include US meat, cereals, wine, wood and clothing, among other goods.

Those retaliatory measures are in response to Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs rather than the broader reciprocal levies announced last week.

The 27-nation EU faces 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and car exports and “reciprocal” tariffs of 20% from Wednesday for almost all other goods.

The new US tariffs will cover more than two-thirds of EU exports to the US.

On Monday, Luxembourg will host the first meeting of EU trade ministers since Trump’s sweeping tariffs were announced, where ministers are expected to push for a unified response.

Trump adviser: More than 50 countries want to renegotiate trade

Dozens of countries have so far reached out to renegotiate tariffs with the United States, a senior economic advisor to US President Donald Trump said.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told ABC News that Trump’s tariffs had so far driven “more than 50” countries to contact the White House to begin trade talks.

Hassett also denied that Trump hoped the new tariffs would crash financial markets to pressure the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

He insisted there would be no “political coercion” of the US central bank.

In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump shared a video that suggested his tariffs aimed to hammer the stock market on purpose in a bid to force lower interest rates.

US stocks tumbled by around 10% on Thursday and Friday, after Trump announced a new global tariff regime that was more aggressive than investors had been anticipating.

Welcome to our coverage

Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest developments on US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan, that has sent shockwaves around the world.

As nations digest the impact of the punitive new levies, several leaders have spoken about the desire to cut their own tariffs on imports from the US.

Investors, meanwhile, are nervously awaiting the opening of financial markets on Monday, after large falls in stock prices late last week, following the announcement.

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Peter Obi Is weak and Spineless , That’s why he couldn’t field any candidate for the November Anambra Election – Noble Eyisi (Former Unizik President

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Peter Obi Is weak and Spineless , That’s why he couldn’t field any candidate for the November Anambra Election – Noble Eyisi (Former Unizik President)..

He Posted this on his X account 👇:

This shouldn’t surprise anyone that knows Peter. ‘A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything’.

The upcoming November election should be a walk in the park for Obi if he decides to put a candidate forward but because he’s weak, he won’t. He wants to reap all the rewards but shun the hardwork.

Come 2027, the spineless man will talk about a ‘structure of criminality’; whereas he refused to take up the opportunity to build his own structure and define it the way he wants it to be.

 

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