Headlines
Russian President Putin Heads to Tehran for Talks with Leaders of Iran, Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Iran on Tuesday in just his second foreign trip since he launched the invasion of Ukraine in February.
Mr Putin will meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Grain exports, Syria and Ukraine will be discussed in Tehran, a Turkish official said.
The Russian leader has limited his international visits to former Soviet states since war broke out in Ukraine.
In June, Mr Putin made his first international trip since February when he visited Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, both former members of the USSR now led by authoritarian rulers and Russian allies.
Tuesday’s visit will offer Mr Putin the opportunity to deepen ties with Iran, one of Moscow’s few remaining international allies and a fellow target of Western economic sanctions.
It follows allegations by US officials last week that Tehran was planning to supply Russia with hundreds of drones for its war in Ukraine.
“The contact with Khamenei is very important,” Yuri Ushakov, Mr Putin’s top foreign policy adviser, told a media briefing on Monday. “A trusting dialogue has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda.”
Turkey and Russia have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war and have been searching for ways to reduce the violence in recent months.
But the meeting comes amid Turkish threats to launch a fresh offensive in northern Syria against US-backed Kurdish militants, a move which both Iran and Russia oppose. The operation is part of Mr Erdogan’s plans to create to create a 30km (20 mile) safe zone along Turkey’s border with Syria.
Last week, the UN Security Council agreed to reauthorise cross-border deliveries of aid to rebel-held Syria for six months after Russia had initially blocked a proposal for a one-year extension.
Ankara has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow since Mr Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, with Mr Erdogan’s government seeking to play the role of mediator.
The meeting could offer an opportunity for the Turkish leader to conclude a tentative agreement struck between Russian and Ukrainian leaders to ensure the export of 22 million tonnes of desperately needed grain.
Last week, Turkey’s defence minister said both sides had agreed on ways to ensure the safety of shipping routes for grain ships.
Russia’s Black Sea fleet is said to be stopping any shipments getting in or out, and the BBC has documented mounting evidence that Moscow’s forces have stolen and exported Ukrainian grain. Other routes have been heavily mined.
“The issue of Ukrainian grain shipment will be discussed with Erdogan,” Mr Ushakov said. “We are ready to continue work on this track.”
But the talks come as local officials and farmers near the front line of the conflict accused Russia of deliberately shelling grain fields.
Oleh Pylypenko, a local politician in southern Ukraine and a former Russian prisoner, told the BBC that farmers in his constituency near the southern city of Mykolaiv were under constant artillery and missile fire.
He said Russian forces had been “shelling the fields, agricultural machinery, and grain sheds” and said that many farmers had “become victims of such attacks and received shrapnel injuries”.
“Professional firefighters from the city of Mykolaiv are afraid to go, because it is very dangerous,” he added. “Many fires are extinguished by our own efforts. But now the shelling has increased.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says a comprehensive investigation is in progress to ascertain the veracity of reports of loss of civilian lives in the course of recent airstrikes in Zamfara.
The Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, AVM Olusola Akinboyewa, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Akinboyewa said that the NAF dealt a decisive blow to bandits terrorising villages in the area in recent airstrikes at Tungar Kara in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.
“The operation successfully eliminated several bandits and led to the recovery of some kidnap victims, the NAF viewed with grave concern reports of the loss of civilian lives in the course of the operation.
“As a responsible and professional custodian of airpower for the security of the nation, the NAF believes in the absolute value of the life of every Nigerian.
“Accordingly, a comprehensive investigation is in progress, to ascertain the veracity of the reports, the outcome of which will be duly communicated to inform and re-assure the public.
“Please rest assured that, while our mission in the North West remains to combat banditry and restore peace, the safety and well-being of all Nigerians are of utmost importance.
“We will therefore work closely with all relevant authorities to unravel the facts and take appropriate steps, as part of our unwavering commitment to prevent, minimise and mitigate any harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure in the course of our operations,” he said.
The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official air carriers to transport intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, made this known in a statement by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.
Usman explained that the four airlines were selected out of the 11 companies that submitted applications to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Muslims pilgrimage.
According to Usman, the four approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas, a Saudi Arabia designated airline, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd.
The NAHCON boss stated that the airlines were screened and shortlisted by a team of 32 members that were inaugurated by the NAHCON on Nov. 26, 2024.
He said that the composition of the Aviation Screening Committee included representatives from State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, three members from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and one member each from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He also said that some members of the committee were drawn from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
Similarly, Prof. Usman said that one member each was drawn from Nigerian Customs’ Service (NCS) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Others, he listed, were NAHCON Board members representing each geo-political zone of the country, NAHCON Heads of Aviation, Procurement, Legal, Internal Audit, and Special Duties as well as Board Member representing the Aviation industry.
The NAHCON boss also disclosed that three excess cargo carriers were selected for the hajj operations.
He named them to include; Aglow Aviation Support Services Ltd, Cargozeal Technology Ltd and Qualla Investment Ltd.,
The Chairman, who congratulated the successful companies, urged them to fulfil their responsibilities as promised during the screening.
Meanwhile, Prof. Usman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat, at the signing ceremony.
The event was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to formalise this year’s Hajj engagements.
Some health stakeholders have said that Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), which serve as the backbone of the country’s healthcare system, are in dire need of revitalisation.
The stakeholder said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, (more…)
NAF investigates reports of vigilante losses in Zamfara airstrikes–official
FG approves 4 airlines for 2025 hajj operation – NAHCON Chair
Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres in need of urgent revitalisation – Stakeholders
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