A decision by Western allies on Saturday to block “selected” Russian banks from the SWIFT payments system will inflict a crippling economic blow, but also cause much pain to their own companies and banks. And the allies still have room to do more. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is a secure messaging system to ensure rapid cross-border payments which has become the principal mechanism to finance international trade. Russian banks denied access to SWIFT will find it harder to communicate with peers internationally, even in friendly countries such as China, slowing trade and making transactions costlier. read…
Author: Editor
Footage captured by a CNN crew of the deployment of a T0S-1 heavy flame thrower system which was filmed being transported towards the Ukrainian border on Saturday has focused increased attention on what weapons Russia is beginning to deploy and how indiscriminate they are. The TOS-1, nicknamed the “Buratino” – the Russian version of Pinocchio – for its big nose, is one of the most feared weapons systems in Russia’s conventional armoury, a multiple launch rocket system mounted on the chassis of a T-72 tank capable of firing thermobaric rockets which use oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a…
If one has been following the metamorphosis of developments in Academia globally, it is easy to observe that Universities (I mean those who know what that edifice was created to achieve) started as ordinary centres for teaching (spreading knowledge about known concepts to students) with some research. Gradually, research gained momentum and focus moved to applications of knowledge learned to deepen and widen research because some earlier concepts were challenged and modified to establish better understanding of older concepts or discovery of newer ones. As research widened and deepened, competition commenced among universities that sometimes, led to unhealthy rivalries that…
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, has honoured the vice chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere in Gombe state, Professor Umaru Pate with an ‘Award of Excellence’ for service to humanity. The award, presented on Thursday, which took place at the 32nd anniversary ceremony of NAWOJ with the theme: “Leadership with a Difference, Setting the Pace for a Better Future,” held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The association’s national president, Ladi Bala said that the award was in recognition of Pate’s immense contribution to human development and communications study. According to her, NAWOJ was launching an endowment…
By Martha Agas Researchers observe that language is what makes people humans; a dynamic integral part of culture and a constituent part of human civilisation. According to them, when language, a fabric of culture dies, the culture goes also with it to extinction. Similarly, linguists often argue that languages become extinct due to globalisation, politics, economic influence and neocolonialism, among other reasons. They emphasise that there might be extinction of some languages if there are no more known native speakers of the language, especially if the language has no living descendants. According to them, a language is endangered when speakers…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, finally signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. He assented to the bill at past midday, at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Aso Villa in Abuja. Present at the ceremony were vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. The President had received the bill from the National Assembly, NASS, on January 31, after which various stakeholders including political actors and civil society groups had been awaiting its signing into law by the Nigerian leader. Earlier scheduled…
Nigeria’s national educational policy is based on the premise that the greatest investment that a nation can make for the quick development of its economic, political, social and human resources is education. The Nigerian Constitution defines education as a public good that Government should provide – Article 18 of the Constitution states that: 18.(3) Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall as and when practicable provide (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education; (b) free secondary education; (c) free university education; and (d) free adult literacy programme. In pursuance of this policy, university stakeholders have…
A cursory review of online, print newspapers and journals focused on maritime related issues reveal certain curiosities among a few freight forwarding practitioners and clearing agents. In this peculiar group of individuals will be found those who demand the automation of Customs processes but still insist on human interference. They demand standardisation but prefer randomized values. They demand simplification of trade processes but prefer a little complication here and there. For this lot the contradictions in their demands makes sense so long as it translates to the payment of the least tax to government. Their propensity to give advice but…
…We need to start addressing the root causes of migration, instead of the symptoms By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Centre for Innovative and Pragmatic Development Initiative, CIPDI, has called on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, UNHRC, to look more into reasons of migration from, especially Sub Saharan Africa to Europe and the rest of the world. President of the Centre, Ifeanyi Nwanoro stated this at the Intersessional Panel Discussion on Human Rights of Migrants in vulnerable situations with the topic: “Situations of vulnerability Arising from the Reasons for Migration” on Monday. CIPDI articulated three positions which include country of origin,…
By Abujah Racheal The federal government has been implementing various initiatives to address Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) across the country. Although the principle strategy remains “inpatient” care, there is a growing consensus that Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is a crucial approach for achieving widespread, effective coverage and treatment of all children with SAM in Nigeria. Under CMAM, malnourished children, who are between six months and five years, are given Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for about two months. RUTF is a peanut-based paste, which contains milk powder, sugar, and multiple micronutrients. SAM is real and despite efforts of international…