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.

You have been my source of strength – Sanwo-Olu

To my delectable wife, Ibijoke. You have been my source of strength, my prayer partner, my happy place, my supporter, my cheerleader, the co-pilot in our home, and most importantly an exemplary mother to our children.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu dropped the message on his official Instagram handle as he celebrates his dear wife on her birthday.

Fallouts from the recent Capitol Riot Anniversary

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation on Thursday, marking the anniversary of the deadly attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Recall on January 6, 2021, a mob stormed the Capitol building in an effort to halt the confirmation of Biden's victory, fuelled by Trump's claims of election fraud. Reportedly, five people died, and over 130 police officers sustained various degrees of injuries.

Grandfather Graduates College Side By Side His Granddaughter

CNN reports that Melanie Salazar, 23, and her 88-year-old grandfather Rene Neira both graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio in December.

Recall SEB brought you this story very late last year curtsey, NPR with the title “Rene Neira Graduates From UTSA”

Well, same report is today captured by CNN with the caption “A terminally ill grandfather graduated college side by side his granddaughter”.

Minister orders clean-up of Abuja’s satellite towns

The Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Ramatu Aliyu, has ordered the comprehensive cleaning of all satellite towns across the six Area Councils of the territory.

Ms Aliyu gave the order in a statement issued by the Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Obinna Ogwuegbu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister explained that the directive is part of efforts to rid satellite towns of environmental nuisance characterized by poor sanitation.

Gov Wike bans nightclubs, prostitution in Port Harcourt … cart-pushers from Port Harcourt streets

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has banned Nightclubs and prostitution in his state.

The governor gave the order in his New Year broadcast in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike banned nightclub activities including night-time trading and street prostitution especially along Abacha road and surrounding streets particularly in the Casablanca area.

‘Boys and girls have equal freedom’: Kerala backs gender-neutral uniforms

Pupils at Valayanchirangara primary school wearing their gender-neutral uniforms. Photograph: RK Sreejith

It’s break time at Valayanchirangara primary school and the pupils run freely beneath the mango trees and palms. Girls race against the boys, hitching up their knee-length shorts, cargo green for girls and teal blue for boys, as they go.

It’s been three years since this small government primary school introduced gender-neutral uniforms for its pupils, and in doing so set in motion a quiet revolution that is now sweeping across the south Indian state of Kerala.

“I feel very thrilled and comfortable with the uniform. It’s quite distinct from that of my friends studying in nearby schools. I can play well with this dress,” said 10-year-old Sivananda Mahesh.

Pope calls for end to violence against women in New Year message

Pope Francis leads a holy mass in St Peter's Basilica. Photograph: Giuseppe Lami/Ansa/Zuma Press/Rex/Shutterstock

Pope Francis has used his new year’s message to call for an end to violence against women, saying it was an insult to God, Guardian reports.

Celebrating mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, on the day the Roman Catholic church marks its annual World Day of Peace, Francis wove his new year’s homily around the themes of motherhood and women, saying it was they who kept the threads of life together, the report stated further, adding that he used the message to make one of his strongest pleas yet for an end to violence against them.

“And since mothers bestow life, and women keep the world [together], let us all make greater efforts to promote mothers and to protect women,” he said.

Every life lost to insecurity gives me concern - Buhari

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration remains committed to protecting Nigerians by addressing insecurity.

In his New Year message to Nigerians, the President said ‘every life lost to insecurity is of concern to him and that his government will do more to protect Nigerians in this New Year’.

According to the President, the issue of security has remains at the front burner of priority areas that his administration has given utmost attention to and that the government has invested heavily in re-equipping the military in line with upgrading the platforms and firepower required to tackle the current challenges being faced in the country.

Simple things that will help in 2022 and beyond - Ugezu

Popular Nigerian Filmmaker, Ugezu Ugezu drops his fans a message for 2022.

The message which comes as a post on his IG submits in part that a woman who is a wife actually derives pleasure in watching her husband lie through his teeth just to save a bad situation because some truths are better left unsaid. By extension according to the message, unlike a ‘woman’ who is a wife, a 'lady' would go out of her way to prove to her man that he is a liar.

Lagos has since 1999 established a fine judicial tradition, for which we are known around the country - Sanwo-Olu

Lagos has since 1999 established a fine judicial tradition, for which we are known around the country.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State made the statement in a recent post via his IG.

“Our system is staffed by well-trained and highly motivated judges, and we have over the years pioneered such landmark judicial reforms as the introduction of Citizen Mediation Centers, new High Court rules, Infrastructure upgrades for our High Court premises, introduction of a robust welfare package, post-retirement care, amongst others.

A song reminding us why preserving our memories of an historic year is vital

FROM THE 2020 ARCHIVE: From a church where white deacons once refused to seat African Americans, a group of Black singers in Alabama reminds us why preserving our memories of this historic year is vital. (Video by @1504.co ), NPR reports.

They’re singing “Auld Lang Syne,” which begins with this line: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind?”

That question — of whether to forget the past — is central to the @1504.co art film, “For The Sake Of Old Times.”

Don't overthink stuff you can't change or control - Linda

FROM THE IG DESK OF LINDA IKEJI

In 2022..

Do you! Live your life. Enjoy yourself. Spoil yourself. Things shouldn't be reserved for 'special occasions', treat everyday as a special day!

Don't worry about what anyone says about you or thinks of you. Their opinion is not your business. They probably don't like their lives that much that's why they care so much about yours!.😉

Dont send anybody whose opinion or action won't affect the quality of your life or your money. In 2022, we don't care! 😅😅