Complying with the US’ directive to stop Russian crude oil purchases, India is set to reduce its direct imports of crude oil from Moscow by December this year. Indian refiners, accounting for more than half of the country’s imports of crude oil from Russia are expected slash their imports after the latest round of sanctions on two of Moscow’s largest exporters, Rosneft and Lukeoil, say analysts. India is set to reduce its direct imports of Russian crude from late November, following new US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, effective November 21. Indian refiners accounting for more than half of the…
Author: Newsdesk
China has announced suspension of its 24 per cent additional tariff on US goods for one year, but decided to retain a 10 per cent levy, said the State Council’s tariff commission on Wednesday, following last week’s meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Busan on the sidelines of the APEC summit. The commission also announced that China will lift some tariffs of up to 15 per cent on US agricultural goods from November 10. US-China relations took a hit for the worse last month after China placed curbs on export of rare earth minerals, following…
Global experts at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025) have warned that widening funding gaps and uneven political commitment threaten progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The warning was issued on Wednesday in Bogotá, Colombia, where experts noted that low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, risk losing hard-won gains if urgent action is not taken. The four-day conference has brought together more than 3,500 delegates from 120 countries, including policymakers, donors, researchers, and advocates. Recent research from the World Health Organization (WHO), The Lancet, the Guttmacher Institute, and Rutgers University highlights that global SRHR progress…
Pivot Nigeria has urged a coordinated national effort to unite government, faith communities, and diaspora voices in promoting peace and unity across the country. The call was made by the group’s founder, Victoria Uwadoka-Anyianuka, in a statement released to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos. Uwadoka-Anyianuka highlighted the recurring violence that has plagued parts of Nigeria over the years. She noted that between November 2022 and the present, analysts and NGOs reported an increase in deadly attacks and forced displacement across the Middle Belt, North West, and North Central regions. She also cited renewed Boko Haram activities in parts of the…
The Federal Government has pledged to boost the country’s current annual milk production of 700 million litres to meet the 1.6 billion litres national demand. The assurance was given by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, at the ongoing workshop on the “Final Review and Validation of Framework for the Implementation of the National Dairy Policy” on Wednesday in Abuja. Maiha said Nigeria possesses sufficient livestock resources to meet domestic milk needs if properly harnessed. He noted that the nation’s dependence on imported dairy products is unsustainable and contrary to President Bola Tinubu’s vision for economic diversification and self-reliance.…
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) says the ongoing construction of 260 Smart Farm Estates in Enugu State will enhance security in the hinterland while boosting agricultural productivity. The IFAD-VCDP, funded by the United Nations, the Federal Government, and participating states, aims to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. Dr. Edward Isiwu, IFAD–VCDP State Programme Coordinator, told reporters on Wednesday in Enugu that each farm estate, covering at least 20 hectares per political ward, would open up previously inaccessible areas. “The ungoverned forest spaces in each of the 260 political…
Global energy experts have emphasized the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), energy integration, and decarbonization in driving industrial transformation amid shifting global dynamics. The remarks were made at the ongoing 2025 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Speaking during the expert session on “New Energy Equilibria: Shaping the Eurasian Response to a Changing Global Order,” Mr. Arzybek Kozhovshev, Minister in charge of Energy at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EAEU), highlighted the increasing importance of AI-driven systems in the evolving energy infrastructure. Kozhovshev noted the need to harness automation and data analytics…
Farmers in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi States have called on the Federal Government to deploy additional security personnel to protect their farms from bandit attacks, which they say are threatening the harvest season. Speaking with reporters in Gusau, a cross-section of farmers said bandits have been imposing levies on rural communities, disrupting farming activities and preventing many from harvesting their crops. Kabir Ibrahim, Sarkin Noman Mayanchi of Maru Local Government Area, urged the government to address the insecurity by deploying more security operatives to rural areas. “We have recorded bumper harvests across different parts of the state, but the harvest…
The Federal Government on Tuesday announced plans to invest N12 billion in research projects aimed at advancing Nigeria’s digital economy, ensuring the country maximizes the benefits of digital transformation. Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, made the disclosure at the opening of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) in Abuja. The four-day conference, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), carries the theme: “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance Through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion.” Tijani said platforms like ICEGOV offer countries opportunities to explore emerging technologies while developing policies…
The Kaduna State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has intensified efforts to improve access to education and healthcare for children and women in hard-to-reach communities. UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Wafa Abdelatef, during a field monitoring visit on Tuesday, assessed interventions aimed at enhancing learning outcomes and healthcare delivery across the state. The visit began at Government Secondary School, Mararaban Jos, which has been upgraded with support from Fifth Chukker Polo Club, Access Bank, and UNICEF. The facility now offers a safer and more conducive learning environment for students. The delegation also visited a pilot…