World Tour: India’s prime minister strengthens ties with Nigeria

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: WORLD Tour with our reporter in Africa, Onize Oduah.

SOUND: [MILITARY BAND]

ONIZE ODUAH: We begin here in Nigeria, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wrapped up an official weekend visit. Indians living in Nigeria welcomed Modi at the international airport in Abuja on Sunday.

It’s the first time in more than 15 years that an Indian leader has visited Nigeria.

After meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, both leaders agreed to safeguard maritime trade routes and combat terrorism.

The leaders said they directed officials to finalize the terms of an economic cooperation deal, a tax avoidance agreement, and a bilateral investment treaty.

Tinubu said he looks forward to increasing mutual benefits for both countries.

TINUBU: Your transformative leadership, working hard at the heart of the people to reform the economy and place India on the top ladder of transformative governance -- a good example of democratic value that we should continue to share, cherish and promote economic development of our people.

Modi left Nigeria to attend the G20 summit in Brazil… before heading on to Guyana.

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Over in France farmers are once again in the streets protesting a trade deal between the European Union and four South American countries.

The pact seeking to create the world’s largest free-trade zone includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

But French farmers worry the deal could open European markets to cheaper meat and produce that don’t abide by strict regulations on pesticides, hormones, and other environmental rules.

On Monday, some farmers set up mock gallows and crosses and used tractors to block highways.

Michel-Edouard Leclerc is the president of a chain supermarket. He says he’s defending French agricultural production.

LECLERC: [SPEAKING FRENCH]

He says that leaders poorly negotiated the pact and did not involve concerned parties.

French President Emmanuel Macron has opposed the deal.

Earlier this year, farmers across France and elsewhere in Europe staged nationwide protests to oppose EU regulations and push for fairer agricultural policies.

Moving now to Hong Kong where a court Tuesday found 45 former lawmakers and activists guilty of subversion. Their prison sentences range from four to 10 years.

The sentencing ends a controversial trial under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Authorities say the defendants organized and participated in an unofficial primary election … for the city council in 2020. They include prominent pro-democracy activists like Joshua Wong and legal scholar Benny Tai … who received the longest sentence of 10 years.

Chris Tang is Hong Kong’s security secretary.

CHRIS TANG: [SPEAKING CANTONESE]

He says here that the sentences match the severity of the crimes and show the city has zero tolerance for any acts endangering national security.

Only two people were acquitted in the trial. They include Lee Yue-shun a former district councilor.

LEE YUE-SHUN: [SPEAKING CANTONESE]

He says that his acquittal gives him more responsibility to make the most of his freedom.

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We wrap up at the parliament in Colombia, where lawmakers approved a measure banning marriages for anyone younger than 18.

The legislation is known as “They are Girls, Not Wives” and it follows eight earlier attempts to pass the bill through the House and Senate.

It now closes a loophole that allowed people younger than 18 to get married with parental consent.

According to the World Bank, about 1 million women in Colombia married before turning 15.

Clara Lopez is a Colombian senator.

CLARA LOPEZ: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

Lopez says that the ban goes hand in hand with serious public policy to educate people on the consequences of early marriage.

Colombia is now one of 12 countries in Latin America to entirely ban underaged marriage.

That’s it for this week’s World Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Oduah in Abuja, Nigeria.

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