Dozens of Russian soldiers have surrendered in Vovchansk, a northern town in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, as heavy fighting continues. A video released by Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade appears to show Russian prisoners of war (POWs) emerging from trenches with hands raised, confirming reports of Russian soldiers surrendering en masse. The footage, although not independently verified by Business Insider, illustrates the dire conditions faced by Russian troops. Captured soldiers, interviewed in what looked like a school classroom, revealed they were often forced into the Russian army due to financial or legal troubles. With minimal training and insufficient supplies, many Russian units…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced 137 federal institutions now collaborating to facilitate student loans across the country. The announcement made on NELFUND’s website however, did not specify the names of these institutions or clarify whether they are exclusively federal government institutions or include state-controlled ones. The data insight section on the website simply noted, “137 collaborating with esteemed institutions.” In a recent interview NELFUND’s Head of Media, Nasir Ayitogo, confirmed that the collaborating institutions are federal institutions. This aligns with NELFUND’s mission to support students in federally-funded educational establishments. NELFUND plans to release a comprehensive list of…
Scientists warn that a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami are inevitable for the Pacific Northwest coast. The Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 700-mile fault located 100 miles off the coast from Northern California to Vancouver Island, could trigger a 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami. This scenario mirrors the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Diego Melgar, a seismologist at the University of Oregon, notes that 30 to 40 years ago, the possibility of such large earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest was unknown. Recent studies, including in-depth imagery reported in “Science Advances,” reveal that the fault is divided into 3…
Modular refineries in Nigeria have echoed the concerns raised by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, regarding the powerful cartels obstructing the domestic refining of crude oil. Operators, represented by the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN), highlighted the detrimental impact of these cartels, calling for President Tinubu’s intervention. Eche Idoko, Publicity Secretary of CORAN, emphasized that these mafias have held the country hostage, crippling the economy by restricting domestic petroleum supply. This, in turn, has contributed to rising inflation, particularly in food prices, due to high petroleum product costs. Dangote recently revealed that both local and international mafias…
The Nigerian government has announced that the visa ban restricting Nigerian travelers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will soon be lifted. This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, during a 44-minute interview with Otega Ogra, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu, published on the official YouTube page of the State House. Keyamo assured Nigerians that all necessary resolutions have been reached between President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during Tinubu’s visit to the UAE in September 2023. He emphasized that the Nigerian government has completed all required processes,…
US journalist Evan Gershkovich will go on trial on espionage charges in Russia’s Urals city of Yekaterinburg behind closed doors on June 26, the court overseeing the process said on Monday. The Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg and has been held in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo prison since. He became the first Western journalist since the Soviet era to be arrested for spying in Russia. Last week, Russia’s prosecutor general accused him of working for the CIA and “collecting secret information” about tank maker Uralvagonzavod in the…
To address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on June 14, 2024, that the U.S. will provide more than $315 million in additional humanitarian aid. This effort, backed by USAID and the U.S. Department of State, aims to support millions of Sudanese people severely affected by the ongoing conflict. The announcement, made by USAID Administrator Samantha Power, comes in response to 14 months of war that have pushed nearly five million Sudanese into extreme hunger. Current data indicates rising levels of acute malnutrition and hunger-related deaths among internally displaced…
Youths in Rivers State have stormed local government secretariats to protest the tenure extension of local government chairmen. On Monday, youths took over the council headquarters in Degema Local Government Area, expressing their opposition to the extended terms of the chairmen. This unrest follows the recent move by local government chairmen, under the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to remain in office for an additional six months. This extension is supported by a law passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which empowers them to extend their tenure. ALGON Chairman Allwell Ihunda, who is also…
The United States has issued a dire warning about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stating the urgent need for international intervention and aid access. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and USAID Administrator Samantha Power spoke in a press call on June 14, 2024, urging immediate action to address the catastrophe unfolding in the war-torn country. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield painted a harrowing picture of the situation in Sudan, particularly in Khartoum and West Darfur. “We need the world to wake up to the catastrophe happening before our very eyes,” she emphasized, describing the destruction and humanitarian needs exacerbated by ongoing ethnic…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said that it destroyed not less than 10, 534.78 kilograms of cannabis (also called Marijuana) cultivated on 4.213912 hectares of farmland in Edo. NDLEA’s spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, said that the farm was located at Uhen forest in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state. Babafemi said that the operatives of the agency, who raided the forests on Wednesday, June 12 arrested four suspects. He gave the names of the suspects as Frank Ishoku, 38; Clifford Ossai, 49; Vanger Timothy, 30; and John…
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has taken legal action against 60 top executives from 13 commercial banks, including chairmen, CEOs, directors, and company secretaries, in a case involving a N17bn loan under the Anchor Borrowers Programme. The executives face contempt proceedings for allegedly failing to implement a No-Debit Order on Afex Commodity Exchange’s accounts, as directed by the Federal High Court in Lagos. The court’s order, presided over by Justice CJ Aneke, mandates the 20 banks to transfer the funds standing to Afex’s credit to GTBank until the N17.81bn debt, which includes unpaid amounts and recovery costs, is fully…
The Nigeria Liability Insurance Pool (NLIP) reported 51.6% increase in its gross premium earnings for 2023, attributed to the rise in third-party insurance premiums. The annual earnings soared from N1.18bn in 2022 to N1.79bn, driven by the National Insurance Commission’s (NAICOM) directive to increase motor insurance premiums effective January 1, 2023. In the new directive, premiums for private vehicles increased from N5,000 for a N1m Third Party Property Damage Limit to N15,000 for N3m claims. Similarly, owner good vehicles saw their premiums rise to N20m for N5m claims, while staff buses were directed to pay N20,000 premium for N3m claims.…