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Japan to evacuate nationals from Sudan

Hauwa Mustapha
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Japan has announced on Wednesday that it was preparing to evacuate its nationals to Sudan, becoming the first country to take such a step in the country where violence has lasted since Saturday despite calls for a truce.

Fighting in the country between the paramilitaries of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo ‘s Rapid Support Forces (FSR) and the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, in command since the 2021 putsch, has already claimed nearly 200 lives. since Saturday according to the UN.

About 60 Japanese nationals are in Sudan, including embassy staff, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defense has made the “necessary preparations” for the evacuations, he told a press conference, saying the government was doing “everything in its power to ensure the safety of Japanese expatriates”.

International calls are increasing for an end to hostilities in Sudan, the G7 foreign ministers, who met earlier this week in Japan, called for an immediate ceasefire between the two sides on Tuesday, as did UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday.

africanews

Public sector workers begin strike in Canada

Zainab Sa'id
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More than 155,000 public sector workers in Canada have embarked on strike after failing to reach a wage deal with the federal government.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union said contract negotiations would continue even as it called for its members working for the Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency to begin strike action from midnight.

“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s federal public service workers,” PSAC president Chris Aylward said.

The union, which has been in collective bargaining for a new contract since 2021, had set a deadline of 9 p.m. (0100 GMT on Wednesday) for a deal.

“We are still here at the table. We will remain at the table. We will remain for as long as it takes during the strike and we will remain on strike until the government addresses our key issues at the bargaining table,” Aylward said.

The PSAC said its members would form picket lines at 250 locations across the country.

The federal government said in a statement that it presented a “fair, competitive offer to the PSAC”, including a 9% wage increase over three years, and that it would continue negotiations with to reach an agreement quickly.

“Even though there is a competitive deal on the table, the PSAC continues to insist on demands that are unaffordable and would severely impact the government’s ability to deliver services to Canadians,” the Treasury Board of Canada, which oversees public administration, said in a statement.

The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees – 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers.

Also Read: Police arrest suspect in Canada mass shooting

Tax agency workers initially sought a pay bump of more than 30% over three years, while the other group is seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. Inflation peaked at 8.1% last year.

The strike will affect several federal services and could delay tax refunds since the walkout by revenue agency workers comes in the middle of the tax filing season. Passport renewals ahead of peak summer travel are also set to face delays.

The strike would also affect 65% of employees at the Canadian Grain Commission, including most inspectors of outbound grain at ports, according to the commission. Canada is a major wheat and canola exporter.

 

Zainab Sa’id

Vice-President Osinbajo Presides Over Cabinet Meeting

Aisha John-Mark
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Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is presiding over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan are among those attending the meeting.

Others are Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Science and Technology, Olorunimbe Mamora; Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar; Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; and Sports, Sunday Dare, among others.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected back in Abuja later today, after an eight-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he performed lesser Hajj, also known as Umrah.

He also visited the Prophet’s Holy Mosque and toured the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography in Madinah where he sued for a balanced understanding of Islam in a way that corrects misperceptions of the millennia-old religion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PPP TODAY: How the Nigerian Army Research Center is re-positioning Nigeria’s security architecture

vonacess
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VON Anti-Corruption Unit Highlights its Performance Scorecard

vonacess
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Nigerian Government Inaugurates National Bioethics Committee

Aisha John-Mark
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The Nigerian Government on Tuesday in Abuja, inaugurated the National Bioethics Committee(NBC) to safeguard the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of citizens.

The rationale for the establishment of a National Bioethics Committee is hinged on the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and human rights.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Dr Adeleke Mamora said that science and technology now included arts, education and social sciences in all nexus that required ancient use of the sector for its development.

Said that with the advancement in science and technology, countries became confronted with several challenges concerning the diversity of values at different places and times.

Mamora said capacities on ethical aspects in both human and environmental aspects became necessary to ensure the building of ethical grounds for policies for the smooth running of society.

“It is therefore important to note that no matter the level of development of a country, there is a need to establish the NBC, and strengthen it to deliver informed, acceptable and adaptable policies,’’ he said.

The minister said the committee would advise the government, parliaments and other governmental bodies on bioethical challenges and issues raised by the progress in healthcare, biology and biomedical sciences among others.

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said the quest to establish the NBC began 14 years ago.

He said this was when the first Bioethics Stakeholders meeting was organised in collaboration with UNESCO in Abuja, at the expression of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Mustapha said the objective of the meeting was for UNESCO to provide the government with the required information for the establishment of the NBC.

“In May 2022, the National Bioethics Framework and Policy Documents were approved by the Federal Executive Council with the directive that NABDA should commence the implementation of the policy, hence the establishment of the NBC.

“Prior to the approval of the policy documents by  FEC, Nigeria has been a member state of UNESCO since 1960 and a signatory to the 2005 UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and human rights,’’ he said.

Mustapha said that Nigeria was experiencing numerous moral problems, which became imperative to establish ethical standards to guide policy decision-making geared towards the attainment of the SDGs.

He  said the NBC would promote ethical values of discipline, integrity, the dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance, patriotism, good clinical and ethical research practices

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu said other purposes of the committee include assisting healthcare providers, hospital administrators, patients, families and the government.

He said the committee would serve as a mechanism to develop, recommend, and review broad decisions, standards, processes and procedures related to bioethical issues.

Mr Adamu said that the challenge of bioethics for government, health, bioethical institutions, citizens and stakeholders was to create value with the outcome of scientific research without violating existing moral and ethical rules.

“This is a major challenge for a sector that generated more than 640 billion dollars in 2020 globally,’’ he said.

Adamu advised that Nigeria should utilise this opportunity to anticipate and identify challenges to mitigate them timely.

Dr Dimitri Sanga, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for West-Sahel Africa, UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja, said the NBC remained a platform for guiding policymakers.

He said that it was also to stimulate increased awareness and informed debate on crucial bioethical issues.

Sanga who was represented by Regina Prisco of the Education department, reminded the members of the committee that the task ahead was serious.

 

NAN

Comedian Buchi thrills Abuja residents with Easter Comedy show

vonacess
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North Korea’s Kim orders launch of spy satellite

Zainab Sa'id
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered that preparations for the planned launch of the country’s first spy satellite should go ahead to counter what he called threats from the United States and South Korea.

Kim said it was “natural” for the North to develop its military deterrence, criticising deployment of U.S. strategic assets in the region as an attempt “to turn South Korea into an advanced base for aggression and an arsenal for war.”

State news agency KCNA reported that during a visit to the official space agency on Tuesday, Kim told officials to ensure the launch went ahead on time, and also ordered a series of more reconnaissance satellites to be launched.

KCNA said the satellite production has been completed but it did not elaborate when the launch is scheduled for.

Analysts say the military satellite is part of the reclusive, nuclear-armed state’s efforts to advance surveillance technology, including drones, to improve its ability to strike targets in the event of a conflict.

In December, North Korea conducted what it called an important “final phase” test for the spy satellite and said it would complete preparations for the launch by April. At that time, it released grainy black and white images of the South Korean capital Seoul, which it said had been taken during the test.

Also Read: North Korea completes test of spy satellite

Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said North Korea wants to use satellites to try and secure real-time information necessary to hit targets when mobilising its missiles and other nuclear delivery systems.

North Korea has had multiple attempts to launch “earth observation” satellites, of which two appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, including the latest in 2016.

International observers have said the satellite seemed to be under control, but there was lingering debate over whether it had sent any transmissions.

 

Zainab Sa’id

Ekiti government offers 50% subsidy on hybrid seedlings for farmers

Kamila Bello
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Ekiti Government has created a scheme through which smallholder farmers will be provided with improved seeds and seedlings, with 50 per cent subsidy, for maximum production.

This is contained in a statement issued by Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, on Tuesday in Ado- Ekiti.

Boluwade expressed the state government’s commitment to supporting maximum productivity for smallholder farmers, as part of its efforts at achieving food security.

“This, had accounted for the need for the introduction of a financing intervention support scheme.”

The special adviser listed the various crops targeted to include: Rice Upland Faro 59 and Rice Lowland Faro 44, SWAN F1, open-pollinated maize, cassava stems and cocoa hybrid seedlings.

According to him, “The hybrid seedlings, with high pest resistance capacity and high yield, will boost farmers’ productivity at very low costs.”

He called on farmers in the state to take advantage of the scheme to enrich themselves and the state, by extension.

Boluwade said that the Gov. Biodun Oyebanji-led administration was committed to unveiling the state’s agricultural potentials for economic viability.

He called on interested farmers to contact or visit the ministry of agriculture and food security for more information and clarifications.

READ ALSO: 3,000 Farmers Get Free Cocoa Seedlings In Ogun State

Troops Neutralise Terrorists, Rescue Kidnapped Victim

Aisha John-Mark
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Troops of Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF Nigeria) have engaged and neutralised 3 terrorists rescuing a 7-year-old girl, Yakura Jalori who was kidnapped by suspected bh/ISWAP terrorists that demanded ransom for her release.

According to a statement by the Chief Military Public Information Officer MNJTF Lieutenant Colonel Kamarudeen Adegoke, the troops who were on a fighting patrol recovered from the terrorists the sum of Fifty Four Thousand, One Hundred and Four Naira (#54,104. 00), one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 rifle magazine and  4 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

Other recovered items include 3 mobile phones, 2 cutlasses, one digger, 3 Sim cards and one Torch light while the kidnapped victim was reunited with her family by troops of  Sector 3 MNJTF.


In another development, troops of the 242 Battalion intercepted Mrs Aisha Muhammad with her 7 children along Maiduguri – Monguno Road.  Aisha is suspected to be the wife of one Mr Mustapha who is a tailor in the terrorists’ enclave at Tumbun Gini. The woman and her children are in the custody of Sector 3 MNJTF.

In a related development, on 14 Apr 2023 at Fulatari IDP Camps in Monguno, two persons were injured through a grenade explosion.  Investigation revealed that a 13-year-old Adamu Muhammad picked up the grenade charger from the old Charlie 6 location and took it home.

The grenade exploded when the child hit the grenade on a metal plate while he was playing. Thereafter the troops cordoned the area and the Explosive Ordnance Devices Team also scanned and secured the area.

Consequently, Headquarters MNJTF advises civilians within the area of operations to sensitize their wards to refrain from picking strange and suspicious objects.  He encouraged them to promptly report to troops when such objects are sighted to ensure proper disposal of such items.

Also the troops of Sector 3 MNJTF (Nigeria ) during a patrol to Amburam and adjoining bht/ISWAP enclaves encountered bht/ISWAP terrorists. The troops destroyed 4 x motorcycles and several shelters with large quantities of foodstuff and other logistics.

2 terrorists were neutralized, 2 x AK 47, quantities 243 x 762 mm x 54 mm ball rimmed, and quantity 89 x 5.56 x 45 mm ball ammo were also recovered.

Furthermore, on 11 Apr 23, troops of Sector 4 Diffa (Niger) while on a joint patrol with Quick Reaction Force recovered 28 cows and 200 rams from the terrorists along the Island of Kajuiwa. The troops also destroyed 5 canoes, and 25 carts and set ablaze several bags of fish belonging to the terrorists.

The outgoing Force Commander (FC) MNJTF, Major General Abdul-Khalifah Ibrahim has commended the troops for welcoming the new FC with an aggressive posture and urged them to continue to dominate their areas of operation to deter the terrorists and other criminals all across the area of operations.

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