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Iran Says Will Return to Vienna Only to Finalize Nuclear Deal, Not for Negotiation

By
Elizabeth Williams
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International Atomic Energy Organization, IAEA, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, right, speaks with with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, left, during their meeting in Tehran, Saturday, March 5, 2022. Grossi met Saturday with Iranian officials as talks in Vienna over Tehran's tattered atomic deal with world powers appear to be reaching their end. (AP Photo)

Iran Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Monday, Iran will only return to Vienna to finalize an agreement to revive its landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

“We will not be going to Vienna for new negotiations but to finalize the nuclear agreement,” Khatibzadeh told reporters in Tehran.

However, Iran said there were still outstanding issues that it was waiting on Washington to settle.

“At the moment, we do not yet have a definitive answer from Washington,” Khatibzadeh said. “If Washington answers the outstanding questions, we can go to Vienna as soon as possible.”

Tehran has been engaged in negotiations to revive the deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly, and the United States indirectly.

Iranian and US delegations in Vienna do not communicate directly, but messages are passed through other participants and the European Union, the talks’ coordinator.

Nearly a year of negotiations have brought the parties close to renewing the 2015 accord. But the talks were halted last month, after Russia demanded guarantees that Western sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine would not damage its trade with Iran.

Food Security: FAO Warns of Far-reaching Global Consequences

By
Elizabeth Williams
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05 July 2019, Chernihiv, Ukraine - An employee shows wheat grains on a conveyor belt during its loading for storage in tanks at the Chernihiv granary.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says it is deeply concerned about the food security situation in Ukraine and has warned of potential far-reaching global consequences.

According to the FAO, the war that began on 24 February 2022 has caused extensive damage and loss of life in key population centres, spread across rural areas, and sparked massive displacement.

It is clear that the war has resulted in a massive and deteriorating food security challenge.

“It has already significantly disrupted livelihoods during the agricultural growing season, through physical access constraints and damage to homes, productive assets, agricultural land, roads, and other civilian infrastructure.

“It is uncertain whether Ukraine will be able to harvest existing crops, plant new ones or sustain livestock production as the conflict evolves,” said the FAO.

The FAO noted that as insecurity persists, and both local and national supply chains are disrupted, people are likely to fall deeper into emergency levels of hunger and malnutrition.

The FAO noted that the immediate food security dimension of the conflict is related to food access and not food availability.

Pakistan To Explore Space Technologies For Sustainable Development

By
Angel Gimalo
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The hands-on educational opportunities, fascinating demonstrations and interaction with top scientists at a recent conference wowed several young students and inspired them to pursue science and technology careers.

“Generally, when we think about space science, all that comes to mind is astronauts. But this field is incredible. It offers benefits that are as infinite as the space itself in every field from health and medicine to transportation and computer technology” said Arsalan Khan, an Islamabad-based young student, sharing his understanding of the field after attending a conference focused on space science.

Space technology for socio-economic development

Held in Islamabad, the three-day international conference on space 2022 focused on the role of space technology and applications in socio-economic development.

Experts at the conference encouraged applications of space technologies for sustainable development, including ensuring food security, health applications, access to telecommunications, reducing disaster risks, preventing humanitarian crises, monitoring natural resources, and environmental management.

The third International conference on space was organized by Pakistan Space and Upper Research Commission (SUPARCO) – the country’s national space agency mainly responsible for conducting peaceful research in space technology and promoting the technology for the socio-economic uplift of the country.

Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO), Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET) also cooperated in organising the space summit.

Research and investment

As many as 250 scientists, researchers, engineers, academia and heads of space agencies, including 35 foreign participants from 16 countries including UAE, Turkey, China, Azerbaijan, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia, Austria and Switzerland attended the conference.

The conference featured 125 paper presentations on topics such as space technology, applications and education as well space laws and policy while workshops were focused on space applications, big data analytics, satellite navigation and microgravity.

Scientists called for “investments in space science, research and innovation” as well as attractive funding to create future career opportunities to attract and retain top talent in the country which has made minor progress in the field in the last decades.

President urges self-reliance in space tech

Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi urged efforts to “achieve self-reliance” in space technology which he said was “significant for the country to match the pace of global scientific advancements.”

He asked the country’s space scientists “to explore capabilities in satellite navigation and promote relevant applications in areas of socio-economic development” and to use satellite data to strengthen climate resilience, farming system and water resources.

President Alvi also stressed the use of outer space for peaceful purposes to ensure and achieve sustainable development goals and called on the international community to prevent countries from turning space into a battlefield. He also visited the exhibition where he was briefed about Pakistan’s aerospace navigation systems and multi-purpose robots.

Investment in space technology

Experts suggested regional and international cooperation for capacity building, human resource development, technical infrastructures and attracting financial resources.

Recently, Pakistan’s national space agency signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to jointly develop communication satellites and other space projects.

The joint manufacturing would “significantly improve Pakistan’s existing space technologies as well as research and development,” aviation analyst Fahad Ibne Masood said. Investments in space technology “is critical for Pakistan to develop and adopt applications for peaceful purposes, commercial space exploration.”

Central Bank of Nigeria Disburses N948bn to Smallholder Farmers

By
Elizabeth Williams
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has disbursed N948 billion to 4, 478, 381 smallholder farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) across the country.

The Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, disclosed this in Enugu during the ongoing Enugu International Trade Fair.

The ABP is an agricultural loan scheme launched in 2015 by the Federal Government through the CBN.

The main aim of the programme is to boost agricultural yields, halt large volumes of food importation and address negative trade balance.

Meanwhile, Nwanisobi said that the smallholder farmers who benefited from the scheme cultivated 5.2 million hectares of farmland across the country, thereby, creating over 12.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

Under the CBN targeted Credit Facility designed to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, the director said that the apex bank had disbursed N368.79 billion to 778, 000 beneficiaries.

He said that the beneficiaries comprised 648, 052 households and about 130, 000 Small and Medium Enterprises.

“Specifically, the bank disbursed N1.452 trillion to 337 large real sector projects in agriculture, manufacturing, services and mining under Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF).

“The CBN did it through its developmental role as enshrined in the CBN Act 2007 (as amended) led policy and financing support to about 40 interventions.

“The interventions were executed through the bank’s development finance initiatives,” he said.

He mentioned some of the initiatives to include the RSSF, the Agri-business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme and the Non-oil Export Stimulation Facility, among others.

Nigerian Bars Outgoing Calls On SIM Cards Not Linked to NIN

By
Elizabeth Williams
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The federal government of Nigeria has barred all outgoing calls on every SIM card that is not linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) of the SIM card owner in the country.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who gave the order Monday to bar outgoing calls on every unliked Subscriber Identification Module (SIM card), also ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, to direct all telecoms operators to begin deactivation of all unlinked SIM cards with immediate effect, insisting that all telecoms subscribers must comply with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy of the federal government of Nigeria.

The federal government however, commended Nigerians for the compliance level in registering and linking their SIM to their NIN, saying that 125 million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication, and that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 million unique NINs till date.

In a statement issued by the federal government and jointly signed by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Corporate Communications, at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Pantami commended Nigerians and legal residents for their support during the exercise to link the National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).

“As of date, over 125 Million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication. Similarly, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 million unique NINs till date,” Pantami said.

The statement added: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria.

Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022. Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines.

Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.

Once Upon A Time – April 4 – 1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Treaty Signed In Washington, D.C.

By
Angel Gimalo
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1581 Francis Drake knighted by Queen Elizabeth I aboard Golden Hind at Deptford

1655 Battle at Postage Farina, Tunis: English fleet beats Barbary pirates

1789 1st US Congress begins regular sessions during George Washington’s presidency at Federal Hall, NYC (ending 1791)

1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) treaty signed in Washington, D.C.

1968 US civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee

1973 World Trade Center, then the world’s tallest building, opens in New York (110 stories). Later destroyed in 9/11 terrorist attacks.

1975 Microsoft is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800

Historical Events Today

Today In Film & Tv

1914 Film serial “Perils of Pauline” shown for the first time in Los Angeles

Today In Music

1971 Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 524 performances, then most expensive Broadway musical at the time

Today In Sport

1974 Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s home-run record by hitting his 714th in Cincinnati, facing Jack Billingham

Do You Know This Fact About Today?

1958 1st march against nuclear weapons from London to Aldermaston, England, home of the Defence Ministry’s Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)

Would You Believe This Fact About Today?

2013 Poecilotheria rajaei, a giant tarantula with a 20cm leg span, is discovered in Sri Lanka

CBN Imposes Sanctions On DMB’s Over Mutilated Notes

By
faith Jegede
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The Central Bank of Nigeria has expressed concern over the increasing amount of mutilated banknotes deposited with the apex bank by Deposit Money Banks.

The CBN has warned banks to stop including composed currency notes in their deposits or risk paying a penalty of 400 percent of the value of the banknote.

Composed banknotes are mutilated currency notes that comprise several parts of different banknotes of the same denomination.

The parts of such currency notes are usually put together with the intention of receiving value.

The CBN gave the warning in a circular titled, ‘Treatment of Composed Banknotes’, issued to all deposit money banks on March 31, and signed by its Director, Currency Operations Department, Ahmed Umar, saying that the existence of such banknotes in the economy falsifies the true value of the currency in circulation and could also be an avenue for fraudulent activities.

The directive was to take effect from April 1.

The circular read in part, “The management of the CBN observed with concern the increasing number of composed banknotes deposited by DMBs and request for replacement of such banknotes by members of the public.

“The existence of composed banknotes in the economy falsifies the true value of the currency in circulation, and can also be an avenue for fraudulent activities.

“Consequently, any composed banknote discovered in the deposit of DMBs shall attract a penalty of 400 percent of the value.

In April 2019, the CBN introduced the Clean Note Policy to put an end to the regime of mutilated naira notes.

In a circular containing the policy, the CBN defined mutilated notes as a poor quality banknote that requires a special examination to determine their value.

The note could be partially or permanently damaged by fire, water, dye, insects, rodents or destroyed by natural disasters, the apex bank added. The circular directed banks and cash processing companies making deposits at the apex bank to classify or sort their cash deposits into fit and unfit notes.

According to the circular, failure to do so will attract a penal charge of N12,000 per box, or an amount determined by the CBN.

It however noted that the CBN and the DMBs would continue to receive mutilated notes from the public, however, with the new directive by the apex bank, it is now unclear if banks will continue to accept mutilated naira notes.

Disgraced Duke To Escort Queen To Derby Despite Public Outrage

By
faith Jegede
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0

Prince Andrew will be accompanying the head of the British monarchy, Queen Elizabeth to the Derby over the Platinum Jubilee weekend this year, despite public outcry.

The Duke is planning on escorting his mother to the Epsom race, despite a source saying that he was meant to ‘stay invisible’ during the weekend celebrations in June.

The 62-year-old, who settled a case of sexual misconduct with Virginia Giuffre in February this year, was Centre in the public eye last week at his father, Prince Phillip’s memorial service.

‘The Queen needs a chaperone on all occasions at the moment due to her mobility issues and Andrew has earmarked the Derby as the one he will accompany her at,’ the source said.  ‘He just doesn’t seem to understand the public outcry.’

The Duke’s prominent role at the memorial service was said to have left Princes Charles and William ‘dismayed’, as he walked his mother through Westminster Abbey to her seat in full view of the live broadcast cameras — to the shock of many in the congregation.

Even his siblings were said to be ‘dismayed’ by the stunt, with them earlier hoping ‘common sense’ would prevail and he would accept playing a backroom role in the event.

The Queen arrived at the service holding the Duke of York by the elbow with her left hand and her stick with the right, having said it was her ‘wish and final decision’ for Prince Andrew to walk with her that day.

It was the shamed royal’s first public appearance since he paid a reported £12million settlement to Jeffrey Epstein victim Ms Giuffre to end a highly-damaging civil sexual assault case in New York.

He was forced to step back from public life over his association with late Epstein and the scandal that followed.

It is reported that Princes Charles and William raised concerns ‘on more than one occasion’ about the optics of allowing the duke to escort the 95-year-old monarch down to her seat at such a well-publicized event.

Sources claimed that the Duke of York got his way after lobbying to take his 95-year-old mother to her seat because she ‘couldn’t say no to her favorite son’ despite objections from William and Charles.

The Dean of Westminster had been expected to take the Monarch to her seat while the Prince followed behind, according to the order of service. After walking arm in arm with his mother, he then sat in the front row next to brother Prince Edward, rather than with his daughters as was expected. 

Critics have painted the move as a brazen attempt by the 62-year-old to slide back into the spotlight, hoping it might lead to a ‘mission creep’ return to public life or a ‘springboard’ to appear at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Taking an official role, such as riding in procession for Trooping the Colour, has been ruled out.

A source close to the duke previously suggested the service would mark his final public appearance and that it was ‘highly unlikely’ he would appear at the flagship events to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

He was stripped of his military honors and royal patronages, and told by Charles he would be made to ‘disappear’ from public life following his final official outing for his father’s memorial.

Pakistan’s PM Khan Calls For Fresh Elections

By
Zoe Maven
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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called Sunday for the president to dissolve parliament and hold a fresh election, minutes after the national assembly deputy speaker declined to hear a no-confidence motion into his rule.

In an address on state TV, Khan said there had been unacceptable interference in Pakistan’s democratic institutions, and an interim government should be formed to hold fresh elections.

No premier of Pakistan has ever completed a full term, and Khan has been facing the biggest challenge to his rule since being elected in 2018, with opponents accusing him of economic mismanagement and bungling foreign policy.

On Sunday parliament was due to debate a no-confidence motion on Khan, but the deputy speaker refused to accept it, causing uproar in the chamber.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) effectively lost its majority in the 342-member assembly last week when a coalition partner said its seven lawmakers would vote with the opposition.

More than a dozen PTI lawmakers had also indicated they would cross the floor.

Khan has accused the opposition of conspiring with “foreign powers” to remove him because he won’t take the West’s side on global issues against Russia and China.

Earlier this week he accused the United States of meddling in Pakistan’s affairs.

Local media had reported that Khan had received a briefing letter from Islamabad’s ambassador to Washington recording a senior US official saying they felt relations would be better if Khan left office.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Ministers Resign Amid Protests

By
Zoe Maven
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People shout slogans against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a residential area after the government imposed a curfew following a clash between police and protestors near the President's residence during a protest amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Sri Lanka’s entire cabinet aside from the president and his sibling prime minister resigned from their posts Sunday as the ruling political clan seeks to resolve a mounting economic crisis.

The South Asian island nation is facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials – along with record inflation and crippling power cuts – in its most painful downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.

All 26 ministers in the cabinet aside from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted letters of resignation at a late-night meeting, according to education minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The move clears the way for the president to appoint a new cabinet on Monday – and some of those stepping down may be reappointed.

It came with the country under a state of emergency imposed after a crowd attempted to storm the president’s home in the capital Colombo, and a nationwide curfew in effect until Monday morning.

Earlier, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka’s main opposition alliance, denounced a social media blackout aimed at quelling intensifying public demonstrations and said it was time for the government to resign.

Troops armed with automatic assault rifles moved to stop a protest by opposition lawmakers and hundreds of their supporters attempting to march to the capital’s Independence Square.

The road was barricaded a few hundred metres from the home of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and the crowd engaged in a tense stand-off with security forces for nearly two hours before dispersing peacefully.

Eran Wickramaratne, another SLB lawmaker, condemned the state of emergency declaration and the presence of troops on city streets.

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