Friday, January 14 Morning Briefing

Good morning. We’re covering an ominous outcome of talks with Russia and a stinging rebuke to Prince Andrew.

Russian tanks near the border with Ukraine on Wednesday.Associated Press

 

Russia warns it may abandon diplomacy

Russian officials signaled yesterday that they might abandon diplomatic efforts to resolve the security crisis surrounding Ukraine, bringing a whirlwind week of talks to an ominous end and deflating hopes that negotiators could move to ease tensions in Eastern Europe. Russia’s next move will most likely be up to its president, Vladimir Putin.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said the West’s current approach led only to a “dead end.” Michael Carpenter, the U.S. official present at the negotiations, also depicted the two sides as engaged in a standoff with no clear resolution. Ukraine said Russia’s massing of troops needed to be reversed.

Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, said that the U.S. was prepared to talk further, especially about missile deployments and military exercises in Europe, but was also preparing to respond “to a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.” “We have been very clear with Russia on the costs and consequences of further military action or destabilization,” he said. “So we’re ready either way.”

Twitter Commends Resumption Of Service In Nigeria

Twitter commends the Federal Government’s decision to lift the ban placed on its services in Nigeria since June 2021.

The company wrote on its public policy account that it was delighted with the restoration of its services in Nigeria.

“We are pleased that Twitter has been restored for everyone in Nigeria. Our mission in Nigeria and around the world is to serve the public conversation,” Twitter’s Public Policy team said in a tweet on Thursday.

“We are deeply committed to Nigeria, where Twitter is used by people for commerce, cultural engagement, and civic participation,” the tech giant Tweeted.

I Blamed Myself For Failed Marriage - Caroline Danjuma

Actress, Caroline Danjuma has opened up about her failed marriage to her ex-husband, Musa Danjuma.

Caroline, dropping the message via her Instagram page submits that she blamed herself for not having a perfect marriage and she only realised, she was not a failure when she started to heal.

President Muhammadu Buhari has lifted the suspension on Twitter operations in Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday lifted the suspension placed on Twitter from operating in Nigeria for deleting his post.⁠

The president said Twitter would start re-operating in Nigeria with effect from 12.00am, January 13, 2022.⁠

The lifting of the suspension was contained in a statement issued by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency and Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement, Kashifu Abdullahi.

CATCH-UP: Qatar Airways

 

On Catch-Up this week we have our spotlight on Qatar Airways, positioned as the World’s Best Airline as it continues to expand its West African network, offering seamless connectivity via the Best Airport in the Middle East to destinations in Asia, Europe and North America, particularly now as it strengthens its commitment to Nigeria, connecting to four gateways via its international hub in Doha.   

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was recently announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021).

Hamad International Airport (HIA), the airline’s home and hub, was recently announced as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ in the Skytrax 2021 World Airport Awards. HIA has been steadily rising in the ‘World's Best Airports’ rankings since the start of its operations in 2014.

Zeetin boss advocates devotion to science, technology development

The founder of Zeetin Engineering Limited, Azibaola Robert, has said that sincerely embracing and deploying science and technology by Nigerians would facilitate and deepen the economic and infrastructural development of Nigeria.

Robert stated this when he hosted a delegation of the national executive of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), led by its president, Dr Elizabeth Eterigho, on Tuesday in Abuja.

“There are many things wrong with Nigeria’s technological advancement and until we sincerely embrace and deploy science and technology as the necessary tools to facilitate and deepen the economic and infrastructural development of Nigeria, we will not be able to develop and make progress as a country.

Decreasing inflation, rising prices of goods: Experts explain

By Folasade Akpan, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Inflation has been on a steady decrease for seven consecutive months from April to November, 2021, indicating an improvement in the economic indices of the nation.

At the last measurement in November, it was put at 15.40 per cent after the nation’s gradual recovery from recession in the fourth quarter of 2020, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 0.11 per cent from the 6.11 per cent contraction in the third quarter, signaling a gradual recovery from recession.

Although this was a positive trajectory, it did not reflect on the inflation rate until April when there was a decline of 0.05 per cent to 18.12 per cent from 18.17 per cent recorded in March.

This decrease continued in May to 17.93 per cent, June recorded 17.75 per cent, July 17.38 per cent, August 17.01 per cent, September 16.63 per cent and October 15.99 per cent.

Qatar Airways Announces the Start of Service to Kano and Port Harcourt in Nigeria

Press releases

The World’s Best Airline continues to expand its West African network, offering seamless connectivity via the Best Airport in the Middle East to destinations in Asia, Europe and North America

Airline strengthens its commitment to Nigeria, now connecting to four gateways via its international hub in Doha   

Doha, Qatar – Qatar Airways is boosting its service to Nigeria with the launch of four weekly flights to Kano (KAN) on 02 March 2022, and three weekly flights to Port Harcourt (PHC) on 03 March 2022, both operating via the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Happy soot year - Hilda

Hilda Dokubo, one of Nigeria’s foremost actor expresses deep concern over “soot” situation in the Niger Delta but somehow uncertain about something else. 

She delivered the message in a post via her IG few days ago, urging Port Harcourt people to wear a face mask.

Let's feel your pulse on this: Tinubu's interest in 2023 presidency

What do you think of Bola Tinubu's expression of interest to contest the presidency in 2023?

I come to you today to ask for help

 

Credit: Instagram | youversion

Kano bans men and women from swimming in the same pool

The Kano State Government has banned men and women from swimming in the same pool and entry of children into hotels.

The agency also banned shisha smoking, lesbianism and gay practices in the state.

The Chairman of the Committee, Baffa Babba Dan-agundi, made this known to newsmen after a meeting with the owners of hotels, restaurants, and event centers in the state.

The committee informed them of a new levy by the state government that will help in sanitizing their places of business for the purpose of avoiding acts of prostitution in the state.

Omicron May Infect Half of Europeans Within Weeks - WHO

More than half of Europe's population could become infected with omicron within weeks at current transmission speeds, a World Health Organization official said.

In other words, half of the continent’s population will get infected with coronavirus variant within the next six to eight weeks.

The fast-spreading variant represents a "west-to-east tsunami sweeping the region," Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said in a briefing Tuesday.