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FG Bans Foreigners From Direct Purchase From Farmers

By
faith Jegede
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Foreigners and their representatives have been barred from purchasing agricultural produce directly from farmers in the country by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

With the new ban, only licensed and duly registered local buying agents can now buy farm produce directly from farmers in Nigeria.

According to the federal government, the effort is to ensure that the farmers are no longer cheated in the purchase of farm produce.

Speaking on the development, Niyi Adebayo, minister of industry, trade, and investment, said that as part of the FEC approval, the attorney-general would draft a law that would be sent to the national assembly to support the implementation of the new policy.

“We will also use commodity associations, to which the farmers belong, to ensure effective implementation,” the minister said.

Briefing state house correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the minister said he presented two memos on behalf of his ministry, one, was the promotion of agribusiness in Nigeria through right farm gate pricing and the second was a ban on foreigners and their representatives from purchasing agricultural commodities at the farm gates.

Adebayo said the council approved the establishment of an appropriate mechanism that would protect indigenous farmers in terms of achieving the right prices for their goods and commodities.

Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance Ship Found In Antarctica After 107 Years

By
Angel Gimalo
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More than a century after it sank off the coast of Antarctica, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship HMS Endurance has been located, apparently intact and in good condition.

The ship, which sank in 1915, is 3,008 meters (1.9 miles or 9,842 feet) deep in the Weddell Sea, a pocket in the Southern Ocean along the northern coast of Antarctica, south of the Falkland Islands.

The discovery was a collaboration between the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust and History Hit, the content platform co-founded by historian Dan Snow.

Who was Shackleton?

Irish-British explorer Shackleton had a longtime obsession with the South Pole and set off on a total of four expeditions toward the White Continent.

Endurance departed from the UK in 1914 and reached Antarctica’s McMurdo Sound the following year on a journey called the the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.

However, due to the extreme conditions, the ship got stuck amid thick, impenetrable ice in the Weddell Sea. The 28 men on board, including Shackleton himself, abandoned the Endurance and set up rudimentary camp facilities on board ice floes that were floating northward.

Eventually, the team made it to the uninhabited Elephant Island, then some — including Shackleton — volunteered to get in a lifeboat and head toward South Georgia Island, finally crossing it on foot to reach Stromness whaling station, which was then manned by the Norwegians, and organize a rescue of the men left behind on Elephant Island.

Although the expedition was a failure, the team’s survival and eventual rescue months later, without any loss of life, was seen as a triumph of their tenacity and the incredible leadership skills of Shackleton.

Following another expedition later in his life, Shackleton died on South Georgia Island in 1922, at the age of 47, and is buried there.

How was Endurance found?

After being abandoned, Endurance eventually sank into the Weddell Sea, where she has been ever since.

Its resting place is about four miles south of where Captain Frank Worsley, a New Zealander who helmed the ship, had believed it to be.

The discovery team departed from Cape Town on the South African polar research and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II. Fittingly, they dubbed their ship — and mission — Endurance22.

On board were a mixed group including scientists, historians and filmmakers who were capturing footage for an upcoming National Geographic documentary about the journey to locate Endurance.

Once they were close to where they believed the shipwreck was, explorers used Sabertooth hybrid underwater search vehicles made by Saab to locate her.

What happens next?

As per the guidelines of the Antarctic Treaty — which was signed by 12 countries in 1959 and is the closest thing to a constitution for the southernmost continent — Endurance will not be moved or taken apart.

Instead, she will remain where she is and be studied, mapped and photographed there.

While Shackleton’s name and biography are still famous around the world, the Endurance22 mission is as focused on the future as the past.

Dr. John Shears, the expedition leader, said, “We have also conducted an unprecedented educational outreach program, with live broadcasting from on board, allowing new generations from around the world to engage with Endurance22 and become inspired by the amazing stories of polar exploration, and what human beings can achieve and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together.”

India To Resume International Flights, End Air Bubbles With UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman

By
Angel Gimalo
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FILE PHOTO: An Air India Airbus A320neo plane takes off in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, December 13, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo

India on Tuesday announced that it will lift a ban on overseas commercial flights this month.

Scheduled international flights will be able to arrive in and depart the country from March 27, according to India‘s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

It will be the first time in nearly two years that many major airlines will be able to operate to India after the country restricted air travel in a bid to limit the purported spread of Covid-19.

Only destinations that set up air bubble agreements with India were able to fly to and from the country amid the pandemic.

The UAE’s arrangement with India meant flights between the two destinations already operate.

However, the lifting of the ban is likely to see increased capacity and seat availability on UAE-India flights. The National has reached out to Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia for updates on any network changes.

The lifting of restrictions later this month comes amid increased vaccination rates around the world, said the country’s civil aviation authority.

UNESCO To Protect Ukraine’s Priceless Heritage

By
Angel Gimalo
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Aerial view of Pechersk Lavra in Kiev. UNESCO world heritage in Ukraine

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, has said that it is taking measures as best it can, to try and protect some of Ukraine’s priceless heritage from destruction in the face of the Russian invasion, noting that the international community also has a duty to help protect and preserve the country’s historic buildings, and other treasures.

Since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, UNESCO has acted within the framework of its mandate, in particular to protect culture. The agency released its latest progress report on Tuesday.

Heritage For Peace

Although the most pressing priority is the protection of civilian life as the Russian advance continues, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, said in a statement that cultural heritage “must be safeguarded as a testimony of the past, but also as a catalyst for peace and cohesion for the future, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve”.

The agency is in regular contact with all relevant institutions, as well as with Ukrainian cultural professionals, to assess the situation and to reinforce the protection of cultural properties.

Designated For Protection

“The first challenge is to mark cultural heritage sites and monuments, and recall their special status as protected areas under international law”, Ms. Azoulay continued.

According to the press release, the agency is in contact with Ukrainian authorities to mark cultural sites and monuments with the distinctive “Blue Shield” emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to avoid deliberate or accidental damages.

World Heritage List

Properties inscribed on World Heritage list, such as Kyiv’s Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, and Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, are considered a priority.

The marking process started last weekend at the site of L’viv’s Historic City Centre, in western Ukraine, where many have fled to following the fighting further east.

Respect International Humanitarian Law

At the beginning of the conflict the UN cultural agency had called for respect of international humanitarian law – notably the 1954 Hague Convention, and its two Protocols, “to ensure the prevention of damage to cultural heritage in all its forms”.

This includes the obligations under Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of conflict, to promote free, independent and impartial media as one of the essential foundations of a democratic society, and which can contribute to the protection of civilians.

The looting and destruction of cultural heritage has been a feature of armed conflict, UNESCO noted, for almost as long as the history of warfare itself.

Monitoring The Damage

In partnership with the UN Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR, UNESCO is also analysing satellite imagery for priority sites, which are endangered or already impacted, in order to assess damage.

 “As of today, a dozen priority sites are already covered by this monitoring system, including World Heritage Sites”, said Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Furthermore, the agency has also contacted civil society specialists, “living heritage” professionals and practitioners, regarding the impact of the crisis on the situation of artists and cultural institutions.

Supporting The Custodians Of Heritage

UNESCO is meeting on Wednesday and Thursday with Ukrainian cultural professionals, including World Heritage Site managers and museum directors, in order to determine what technical or financial assistance can be offered.

To address urgent needs, UNESCO will then mobilize international partners during an emergency response coordination meeting with UNITAR, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Blue Shield International, the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and ALIPH, among others.

Russia – Ukraine Crises Provide Lessons for Taiwan Against China

By
faith Jegede
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epa09698886 Taiwanese military personnel prepare during the visit of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (not pictured) at a military base in Taitung, Taiwan, 21 January 2022. President Tsai Ing-wen pledged to strengthen Taiwan?s defense capabilities amidst the rising military tension between China and Taiwan. EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO

Taiwan’s military strategists may be studying the Russia – Ukraine crisis for a reason much different from anyone else.  

Reports say Taiwan is monitoring Russia’s moves and Ukraine’s resistance, for the island’s own battle strategy in the event its giant neighbor China ever makes good on its threat to take them by force.

Russia’s use of precision missiles, as well as Ukraine’s tactically well thought through resistance despite being outmanned and outgunned, are being carefully watched in security circles in Taiwan, whose own forces are likewise dwarfed by China’s.

While Taiwan’s government has not reported any unusual activity by the military in China, Taipei has raised its alert level.

President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan has championed the idea of “asymmetric warfare”, to make its forces more mobile and hard to attack, with for example vehicle-mounted missiles.

Ma Cheng-Kun, director of the Graduate Institute of China Military Affairs Studies at Taiwan’s National Defence University, said Ukraine had used the same concept with mobile weapons to stymie Russian forces.

“Ukraine’s military has been making full use of asymmetric warfare, very effectively, and so far successfully holding off Russia’s advance,” added Ma, a government advisor on China policy.

“That’s exactly what our armed forces have been proactively developing,” he said, pointing to weapons like the lightweight and indigenously-developed Kestrel shoulder-launched anti-armour rocket designed for close-in warfare.

“From Ukraine’s performance we can be even more confident in our own.”

Last week, the defense ministry said it plans to more than double its yearly missile production capacity to close to 500 this year, including the upgraded version of the Hsiung Feng IIE missile, the longer-range Hsiung Sheng land-attack missile which military experts say is capable of hitting targets further inland in China.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says it has a “close grasp” of the international security situation and that it is working hard to “improve its armaments and national defense combat capability all the time” but that the military is “not provocative”

REPORTS say Taiwan can easily detect signs of Chinese military movements and make preparations ahead of an invasion in which China would need to mobilize hundreds of thousands of soldiers and equipment like ships, which could be easily targeted by Taiwanese missiles.

This highlights the differences between Taiwan and Ukraine’s physical positions that have offered reassurance.

Taiwan’s government has repeatedly pointed out, for example, the natural barrier of the Taiwan Strait which separates it from China. Ukraine has a long land border with Russia.

However, Looming at the back of their minds is the perennial debate – given light by the present conflict – whether U.S. forces would ride to Taiwan’s aid in the event of a Chinese attack. Washington practices “strategic ambiguity” on the subject, giving no clear answer either way.

Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, hopes its geographic and supply chain importance makes it different from Ukraine.

But the Biden administration repeatedly ruling out sending troops to Ukraine has caused unease for some in Taiwan.

Exploring Lake Chad, A Piece Of African Jewel

By
Angel Gimalo
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Lake Chad is one of the most important lakes, which is historically large, shallow, an endorheic lake located in Africa, and being shared between four countries; Chad (from where the country gets its name), Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

Straddling The Borders Of Chad, Nigeria, Niger And Cameroon In West Africa, Lake Chad Has Been A Source Of Freshwater For Irrigation Projects In Each Of These Countries.

Maps drawn from a series of satellite images show a dramatic decrease in the size of the lake over the past 30 years.

Since 1963, The Lake Has Shrunk To Nearly A Twentieth Of Its Original Size, Due Both To Climatic Changes And To High Demands For Agricultural Water.

The Basin of Lake Chad covers a surface area of around 2.3 million square km (888,034 sq mi), but the lake itself in the past covered an area of more than 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq miles), making its surface the fourth largest in Africa.

The Chari River, fed by its tributary the Logone River, provides over 90% of Lake Chad’s water, with a small amount coming from the Yobe River in Nigeria/Niger, where despite high levels of evaporation, the lake is fresh water.

Lake Chad Was First Surveyed From Shore By Europeans In 1823, And It Was Considered To Be One Of The Largest Lakes In The World Then.

After the discovery of the lake, and with the increased demand of lake’s water from the local population, the shrinkage has accelerated throughout the years, nonetheless, in the last couple of decades it has shrunken rapidly.

There Are Plans For Diversion Of Some Rivers To Flow Into The Lake, however, due to insufficient funds, and not approving funds/credits from Agencies and Banks that could help, Lake Chad is most of the time “praying” for the flooding of the wetland areas to be greater than usually they are.

This Is One Piece Of African Jewel That Should Be Restored To Its Greatness Not Just For The Lake, But Also For The Population That Lives Around The Lake.

We Deserve Places In Eagles, Say NPFL Stars

By
Emenike Agu
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After being overlooked by Super Eagles head coach Austin Eguavoen for Nigeria’s World Cup play-off clash against Ghana, some players in the Nigeria Professional Football League has lamented being left out of the squad for the crucial qualifiers.

Eguavoen on Friday released the Eagles’ 32-man provisional squad to face Ghana for the World Cup play-off games later this month, with no single player from the Nigerian league listed.

It’s not the first time the local league players have voiced their frustrations at being excluded from the national team. Erstwhile coach of the team, Gernot Rohr, did not hide his preference for overseas-based stars in over five years in charge of the side, but with the appointment of Eguavoen on interim basis in December, the NPFL stars were hoping for a change of fortunes.

However, the players were left disappointed once more after the list for the clash against the Black Stars was released and none of the home-based players were included.

“It’s a very big issue because it’s obvious that they don’t regard the NPFL players. I see no reason why players from the league cannot be invited, even if it’s just three,” MFM goalkeeper, Jerry Isaac, told The PUNCH.

“Let’s check other countries national teams, they usually have at least two or three home-based players, but the reverse is the case here. It’s so unfair how they treat us and it bothers me because the message they are sending to us is that the league is just empowerment to help alleviate poverty.

“But the bad part is that they deceive us by coming to watch matches and yet they can’t find any good player. We know we have good players that can make the team and that’s why we don’t really get encouraged.”

FIBA Backs Ahmadu-Kida’s NBBF, Stakeholder Demands Fresh Polls

By
Emenike Agu
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World basketball body FIBA has thrown its weight behind the Musa Ahmadu-Kida-led board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, after parallel polls in Abuja and Benin City ushered in two NBBF presidents January 31.

Ahmadu-Kida was re-elected as NBBF president at the Benin election, while Mark Igoche emerged as president from the Abuja poll.

However, according to a letter dated March 7, 2022 from FIBA and signed by Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, the body congratulated Ahmadu-Kida and members of his board, stating that it looked forward to working with them for the next four years.

The letter read in part, “FIBA acknowledges receipt of the results of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Elective Congress held in Benin City on 31 January 2022. Accordingly, FIBA takes note of the election of the following persons to the NBBF Board for the following four (4) years.

 “FIBA takes the opportunity to request your confirmation as to the remaining members of the NBBF Board as per article 21.2 (d) to (I) of the NBBF Constitution.

 “FIBA congratulates all the elected members and looks forward to close collaboration in furtherance of the development of basketball in Nigeria.”

 Meanwhile, a former board member of the NBBF, Mustapha Liman, has called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to broker peace between the warring parties.

He added that the ministry should organise “a fresh and inclusive election” using its guidelines.

 “What is happening in Nigeria basketball is so sad, but I am happy that the ministry is taking the right decision; from all indications, the ministry has shown they are neutral,” Liman told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

 “The best thing to do now is for the ministry to organise a fresh election by using their guideline as applicable to other federations and not the satanic document they (NBBF) call a constitution,” Liman added.

Attacks on Ukrainian hospitals, ambulances increasing rapidly, says WHO

By
Cleopatra Okohai
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The World Health Organisation has alerted that attack on hospitals, ambulances and other health care facilities in Ukraine have increased rapidly in recent days, noting that the country is running short of vital medical supplies.

The WHO disclosed this on Tuesday, noting that this development calls for serious concern.

As reported by Yahoo News, the U.N. agency had confirmed on Monday that at least nine people had died in 16 attacks on health care facilities since the start of a Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. It, however, did not say who was responsible.

The WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, told a news briefing that the tally included incidents where ambulances had been commandeered for purposes other than emergency healthcare.

“We will continue to update those numbers. They’ve been increasing quite rapidly over the past few days,” Smallwood said.

ReadAlso: UN agencies warn against consumption of sick, dead animals

The WHO said it is working to rapidly provide medical supplies to Ukraine, where oxygen, insulin, personal protective equipment, surgical items and blood products are running low.

The supply of oxygen, children’s vaccines, especially against polio amid an outbreak, and mental health expertise are among the WHO’s top priorities for the region, he said.

In a separate statement, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said countries neighbouring Ukraine that are hosting Ukrainian refugees should include them in their vaccine programmes against a range of diseases,

They should prioritise vaccinating against polio and also against measles, as the current inoculation coverage is insufficient to prevent measles outbreaks, the ECDC said in a statement.

“Crowding in bomb shelters and reception centres could facilitate the start of a measles outbreak, particularly as spring coincides with the natural seasonality of the disease,” the WHO added.

Nigerian Basketball Prodigy Gabe Inspires Vanung to UBA Top 4 In Taiwan

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Vanung University made it to the Taiwan University Basketball Association Final 4 following 81-68 win against the National Taiwan University of Arts with Nigerian Born Forward Humphery Gabe Gabriel in inspiring form.

Gabe raked in 22 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists as Vanung recorded their 3rd win in the series.

Going into the Game, Vanung knew it is win or lose after suffering 3 previous losses and 2 wins  but NTUA took the game from the tip-off and raced to a 7-0 lead before Gabe took the game on his hands and pushed his side back with a Dunk, followed by a 3 pointer.

Both sides were neck in neck until the last second of the First Quarter and NTUA took the lead 21-20.

Vanung got their strides right in the Second Quarter to take a a seven-point lead into the interval leading 44-37.



Gabe has raked in 5 double-doubles in the last 5 games and was not going to take his foot off the gas as he continued to lead the team at both ends with both offensive and defensive rebounds. The Forward made 100%  shots from the free-throw line as well as 3 point shots as Vanung continued to pull away to end the 3rd Quarter 67-48.

Despite Coach Bamsim resting his talisman and his starting 5 for the final 5 minutes of the last quarter, Vanunng was comfortable and saw out the game to win 81-68.

Gabe and his teammates went into the locker room with the final game on Friday in mind oblivious of the Ranking only to receive the news that results from other games have come in favor of Vanung that they are through to the Final Four even with a game in hand.

“We were shocked to know we are through to the final four with a game in hand, We came into the game today knowing we must win our last two games to make it through and that was the impetus we needed to really go all out for the win today,” He said.

“We will return to the court tomorrow with the aim to end the series in style so we won’t take off our foot from the pedal, ending the tie with a win will be fun” he added.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XXKtY1QQeY&feature=youtu.be

Humphrey Gabe Gabriel has recorded an average of 13.8 Rebounds and 16 Points in the 6 games played and will be looking to crown the series with another double-double on Friday.

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