Foreign
Russia University Adopts Three African Languages.
By Ngozi Ekugo.
Russia University Introduces Yoruba Language and Two Other African Languages to curb international isolation.
Russia will start teaching three major African languages at Lomonosov Moscow State University
The languages will help forge closer ties with the continent.
These are Swahili, Amharic and Yoruba
Starting this year, the Russian government will begin teaching three major African languages in a few Moscow schools as part of efforts to strengthen links with the continent.
This is coming in light of the growing international isolation Russia is experiencing as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.
According to Alexei Maslow, director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University, the languages will be taught in four yet-to-be-disclosed schools starting in September 2023. The languages include Swahili, which is widely spoken in Eastern Africa, Amharic, and Yoruba, which are spoken in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The Russian news source Sputnik reported last week that the African languages will be taught as a part of a special program of the IAAS-MSU and is intended to assist create deeper links with the continent.
The announcement was made at a Sputnik international roundtable on Russia-Africa relations that was attended by academics from universities in the two countries and focused on “prospects for economic cooperation. If implemented, the decision will make Russia the first nation in Europe to offer African language instruction in public schools.
What they said
This news brought excitement in some circles in both Russia and Africa, with the Russian embassy in Uganda happily tweeting the news.
“Starting this September, students from four schools in Moscow will begin learning African languages – Swahili, Amharic and Yoruba”, it announced.
“An abrupt turn to Africa requires a completely different type of specialists who could work directly with the economy and with modern political and economic elites, and most importantly, would realise that Africa is not just one big continent, but, a patchwork of diverse national, ethnic, religious and linguistic traditions,” Maslov said at the event.
“An abrupt turn to Africa requires a completely different type of specialist”
The selection of the languages
One of the most widely used languages in Africa, Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is spoken largely in the East African nations of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The language is spoken by more than 200 million people. It is the official tongue of Kenya and Tanzania, and the African Union has adopted it as their common language.
Yoruba, on the other hand, is primarily spoken in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa, where over 50 million people do. Over 50 million people speak Amharic in the nations of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
According to the Study in Russia organization Racus, over 100,000 African students have expressed interest in studying there, and about 30,000 of them are currently enrolled in Russian universities. In recent years, the nation has increased its recruitment efforts, utilizing affordability and quality as the selling point. Russia gets $110m yearly as tuition from 22,000 African students.
The cooperation between Russia and Africa in the field of education is even said to be “at a traditionally high level,” according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also noted that 5,000 of the 27,000 African students studying there are being supported by his government through scholarships.
Source: https://nairametrics.com/2023/06/02/russia-university-introduces-yoruba-languageothers-to-curb-international-isolation/
Foreign
SECRET SERVICE CHIEF, KIMBERLY Cheatle RESIGNS TWO WEEKS AFTER TRUMP’S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
SECRET SERVICE CHIEF, KIMBERLY Cheatle RESIGNS TWO WEEKS AFTER TRUMP’S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
By Tobouke JEMINE
Kimberly Cheatle, the embattled Secret Service boss, has announced her resignation following the agency’s failure at Donald Trump’s July 13 campaign rally, where he narrowly escaped assassination.
Cheatle, who has been with the Secret Service for 28 years, faced persistent pressure to step down but had initially insisted on remaining in her position.
During a House Oversight Committee meeting on July 22, she admitted the agency’s response at the rally was a “failure” but controversially awarded her agents an “A” grade for their efforts. She communicated her decision to resign in a letter to agency staffers on Tuesday morning.
“All of you are worthy of trust and confidence.”
“You deserve the nation’s support in carrying out our critical mission,” she said. “One of my favorite things about this workforce is that the men and women are fiercely committed to our mission.”
“Thank you for all that you do, and will continue to do, for our great nation,” she concluded.
Following the resignation of Secret Service Director Cheatle, U.S. president, Biden expressed his appreciation her “for her decades of public service.”
“She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service. We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our Administration and we are grateful for her service to our family,” Biden said.
“As a leader, it takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service,” he continued.
“The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to assessing its conclusions,” Biden added. “We all know what happened that day can never happen again. As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new Director soon”
IduwiniVoice
AUSTRALIA/NIGERIA>Government Announces $915 Minimum Wage Effective From July 1st…
By Tobouke JEMINE
The recent announcement by Australia’s Fair Work Commission about a new minimum wage of $915.90 per week (or $24.10 per hour) effective from July 1, 2024, is a significant development for workers in Australia.
This 3.75% increase aims to help workers cope with inflation and economic shifts. It also improves Australia’s attractiveness for skilled international workers, given that meeting these wage standards is crucial for employers, especially those seeking to sponsor overseas employees.
In Nigeria the case is different. It’s been months Nigeria has not fixed its minimum wage challenges. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have proposed a substantial increase from N30,000 to N494,000, citing the high cost of living.
However, the federal government has not agreed to this demand, saying it is financially unsustainable. This institutional differences recently led to a nationwide strike, resulting in a temporary agreement to raise the minimum wage to over N60,000 while further negotiations take place.
Snake In the Plane: Imagine, You Were on this Flight.
By Admin
A peculiar incident unfolded on Thai AirAsia’s FD3015 flight from Bangkok to Phuket on January 13, as captured in a TikTok video posted by user @wannabnailssalon. The video showcased a small snake making its way through the cabin, prompting swift action from the flight crew.
Upon being alerted by passengers, a resourceful flight attendant ingeniously employed a plastic bottle and a bag to safely capture the slithery stowaway before the aircraft’s scheduled landing in Phuket.
The video quickly garnered attention on social media, leaving netizens both amused and astonished at the unexpected guest’s appearance at cruising altitude. However, the central mystery remains: how did the snake manage to find its way onto the plane? Despite the buzz surrounding the incident, no passenger has come forward to claim responsibility for bringing the reptile on board.
The airline has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, leaving travelers curious about the security protocols in place and how such an occurrence could unfold. As the aviation community awaits further details, the snake’s brief adventure in the skies serves as a reminder that even at 30,000 feet, surprises can slither their way into the ordinary.
Click Link to See Video:
https://x.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1747174569449025792?s=20