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New York Consulate installs machines for 10-year passport

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The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York has started installing machines to produce passports with 10 years of validity for its nationals.

The Consul-General,  Amb. Lot Egopija announced this at the virtual 5th Town Hall Meeting with the Nigerian Community within the New York jurisdiction.

Egopija had during the February Town Hall meeting said that the Consulate had communicated with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would soon start the process of issuance of the passport.

“In the last meeting, we informed you that the enhanced 10-year passport process would soon come to New York.

“The Vice-Consul in charge of Immigration will inform you better when this will take off, but a team is already on the mission today.

“To this end, we have expanded the second floor and it will be the hub of our activities.  We are bringing all the biometrics machines to the same floor,’’ he said.

Egopija, however, urged the nationals who have not enrolled for National Identity Number (NIN) to do so, noting that without the number it would be impossible to get the passport.

“We have published NIN centres and those responsible should also inform the Consulate so that we can pass the information to our nationals,’’ he said.

The envoy said the Consulate was doing everything possible to ensure that the nationals get improved services.

He said the mission had just embarked on passport intervention in Michigan, noting that more than 450 applicants enrolled for the intervention.

On cultural matters, he said the Consulate had partnered with Bayelsa indigenes within its jurisdiction on cultural shows as there were plans to combine trade and cultural events together.

In addition, Egopija urged the nationals to do diligent work before bringing their documents for authentication, noting that the Consulate still had records of some people bringing fake documents for authentication.

“We will always insist on doing the right thing. I‘m encouraging Nigerians to do the right thing and any Nigerian in doubt, let them call and ask us.

“We are always available in rending assistance in this regard. We want to be sure that documents presented or certified by this mission are authentic and that doubts are not cast,’’ he said.

(NAN)

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Foreign

German authorities arrest woman suspected of spying for China

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China

German police arrested a woman on allegations of spying as a Chinese agent, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

The woman, a Chinese citizen identified only as Yaqi X, was arrested by police in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday.

Her home and workplace were also searched by police.

According to German prosecutors, Yaqi worked for a company providing logistics services at the Leipzig/Halle airport.

She is accused of having repeatedly transmitted sensitive data about flights, cargo shipments and passengers at the airport to Chinese intelligence.

Prosecutors allege that the data included particular details about the transport of military equipment and people connected to a German armaments firm between August 2023 and February 2024.

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Foreign

Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

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Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

Aiyub bin Omar, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, has reiterated his country’s dedication to strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria, particularly in trade and education, as they approach 60 years of bilateral relations by 2025.

Omar speaking at an event commemorating Nigeria’s 67th Independence Day and Malaysia’s 61st National Day on Friday in Abuja, highlighted Malaysia’s contributions to Nigeria’s development through technical assistance and expertise under the South-South Cooperation framework.

He said since 1981, 569 Nigerian government officials have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in various technical courses, including trade, economy, construction skills, and cybersecurity.

Omar emphasised the longstanding relationship between the two nations, built on mutual interest in politics and economy.

“In essence, our bilateral relations focus on trade, education, people-to-people contact, and bilateral development assistance.

“Globally, Nigeria ranks as Malaysia’s 37th trading partner, with total bilateral trade valued at USD956 million in 2023.

“This year, our bilateral trade reached USD747 million by July; Nigeria is currently Malaysia’s 4th largest trading partner in Africa, after South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.

“Malaysia remains a preferred destination for Nigerian students pursuing tertiary education, with approximately 3,386 students enrolled in Malaysian public and private institutions.

“Malaysia’s journey to post-independence was marked by challenges, struggles, and negotiations among political parties, ultimately leading to self-governance.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Amb. Mistura Abdulraheem, Director of the Asia-Pacific Division in the ministry, commended the Malaysian people for their unity, resilience, and progress.

He noted that Nigeria and Malaysia have a long-standing diplomatic relationship built on mutual respect, shared aspirations, and common interests, which have been strengthened through economic cooperation.

“Our two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties for decades, built on a foundation of mutual cooperation in various sectors, including trade, education, and technology.

“A shining example is the collaboration between Nigeria and Malaysia, which has facilitated critical exchange in technology transfer, capacity building, and innovation.

“This partnership in technology highlights the potential of our countries working together to address the challenges of the 21st century.

“By leveraging Malaysia’s advancements in areas such as ICT, digital innovation, sustainable development, and oil markets, we are creating opportunities for our people and economies,” he said.

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Crime

Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

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Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

In a shocking case that has gripped the southern French city of Avignon, a 71-year-old woman gave harrowing testimony in court, recounting years of abuse after her husband allegedly drugged her and allowed dozens of men to rape her.

“The image is unbearable, I’m lying lifeless in my bed, asleep, and they’re about to rape me,” the woman told the court. “It’s a barbaric scene. They look at me like a bag of rubbish, it’s unbearable, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get up again.”

Her 72-year-old former husband, who she has since divorced, is standing trial, accused of orchestrating the horrific abuse over a period of 10 years by drugging his wife and arranging for other men to assault her. Fifty men have been accused of participating in the assaults, with 18 currently in custody.

According to the indictment, the husband, a pensioner, made contact with the men online. While no money was exchanged, he reportedly gained satisfaction from watching the rapes. The crimes were discovered after the man was arrested for filming under the skirts of women in a supermarket, leading investigators to uncover hundreds of videos of the assaults on his computer.

The woman, who appeared in court alongside her three children, bravely confronted the accused, some of whom claimed they were unaware that she had been drugged and believed she was pretending to be asleep as part of a consensual game.

“These people knew very well what they were doing and what a lethargic state I was in,” the woman testified, rejecting the defence’s claims.

The abuse only came to light after her husband’s arrest, although she had long complained of memory lapses and extreme fatigue, unaware that her husband had been drugging her.

“I was sedated, like before going into the operating theatre. Afterwards, you can no longer remember the operation. That’s exactly what happened to me,” she told the court.

While 72 men were recorded assaulting the woman, authorities have been unable to identify all the perpetrators from the videos. The trial continues, with most of the accused having admitted to their involvement.

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