Author: Omolemi Eboisetale

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) hosted a successful ‘EXIM 101’ webinar in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Commercial and Business Affairs, showcasing the critical interagency cooperation essential for boosting American exports. The event featured remarks from EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis and Special Representative Sarah Morgenthau. The webinar, organized by EXIM’s Office of Global Business Development, provided a comprehensive overview of financing resources and tools available to American businesses seeking to export internationally. It also celebrated EXIM’s ninety-year legacy of supporting domestic exports and highlighted key initiatives such as the China…

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President Biden has partially lifted the ban on Ukraine using U.S.-provided weapons for strikes inside Russia. This decision, announced Thursday, permits Ukraine to target Russian positions near the besieged Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to three U.S. officials speaking to CBS News. The newly granted permission allows Ukrainian forces to strike concentrations of Russian troops and artillery pieces in the Belgorod region of Russia. One U.S. official clarified that Ukraine is permitted to shoot down Russian airplanes over Russian soil if they are attacking Ukraine. However, the use of U.S.-provided long-range equipment, such as the ATACMs, remains prohibited to avoid…

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The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution extending the sanctions on South Sudan for another 12 months, aiming to promote peace and stability in the conflict-ridden region. The United States, represented by Ambassador Robert Wood, expressed strong support for the measures, which include the continuation of the arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze. In a speech delivered at the UN, Ambassador Wood highlighted the importance of these sanctions in curbing violence and supporting the South Sudanese people’s democratic aspirations. He emphasized that the extension of the Panel of Experts’ mandate is crucial for providing independent reports that…

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama has announced the passing of her mother, Marian Robinson, at the age of 86. In a statement shared on her X account, Michelle Obama described her mother as a pillar of strength and support throughout her life. “My mom, Marian Robinson, was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share that she passed away today. We wanted to offer some reflections on her remarkable life.”Michelle Obama wrote. Marian Robinson during  Barack Obama’s presidency, played a major role in the…

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is desirous of a tobacco-free Nigeria and for its products to be completely banned in the nation. The Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, said this on Friday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate 2024 World No Tobacco Day with the theme “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference.” According to Mulombo, everyone can work towards ensuring future generations are free from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction. He said, “I dream of the day when tobacco products will be banned in Nigeria and not allowed to be sold or…

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Donald Trump’s recent conviction has created uncertainty among Republican voters in Northampton County, an area in Pennsylvania known for its role as a bellwether in presidential elections. Bronwen Brown, a 72-year-old former opera singer and registered Republican, was initially inclined to support Trump in the upcoming November election. However, his conviction by a New York jury on charges of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star has made her reconsider. “He’s been found guilty on all 34 counts. Do I want to go with that? Probably not,” she told Reuters. Brown is now contemplating voting…

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Former United States President, Donald Trump, lashed out in rambling, angry comments Friday at his “sick” opponents and “fascists” after what he called a “very unfair” trial that made him the first former US president to become a convicted felon. The 77-year-old Republican, who is neck and neck with President Joe Biden in the 2024 White House race, confirmed he would appeal. “We’re going to be appealing this scam,” he said. Trump was speaking at what was billed as a press conference in the upscale lobby of his signature Trump Tower property in Manhattan. But after taking to the podium,…

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The former first lady of Zambia, Esther Lungu has been arrested on charges of money laundering, according to her lawyer Makebi Zulu. The arrest occurred Thursday evening, following an extensive interrogation regarding properties held by the Lungu family in Lusaka. Esther Lungu, 66, along with her two daughters, was detained and questioned about a block of flats located in Lusaka’s upscale New Kasama district. These properties, constructed at a cost of 41 million kwacha ($1.6 million), are suspected to be proceeds of crime. The Anti-Drug Agency of Zambia stated that Lungu failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the…

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has left hospital and will continue his recovery from a gun attack at his Bratislava home, the interior minister said on Friday. Fico was shot several times on May 15 as he greeted supporters after an offsite government meeting in the central town of Handlova. He was taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Banska Bystrica, where he underwent two lengthy surgeries and remained in recovery until Thursday. “Yesterday, we managed to take the prime minister home. He is at home and will be recovering there,” Interior Minister Matus Sutaj…

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The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must translate to job creation for youths to ensure growth on the continent. Adesina said this at a presentation on the African Economic Outlook held on the sidelines of the ongoing 2024 Annual Meetings in Nairobi. The AfDB president dismissed the pursuit of GDP growth, adding that the quality and impact of growth on job creation are paramount. “We have to ensure that our growth also gives value to youth and women. We do not need GDP. “It does not…

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The website of South Africa’s electoral commission was down on Friday as the country counted votes from a key election in which the ruling ANC looked set to lose its majority. “We apologise for the issue with our public-facing NPE system, and are working on restoring service”, the commission said. “The results system is still operational and local offices continue to capture results”, it said. With a third of votes in Wednesday’s election tallied, the ANC was leading but with a score of only 42 percent – well below the 57 percent it won in 2019. The…

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A top United Nations official stated that humanity is in a “race against time” to harness the vast potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for the common good while mitigating its significant risks.  Speaking at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU), stated the urgency of the situation, declaring, “We’ve let the genie out of the bottle.” Bogdan-Martin stressed the transformative power of AI, noting its remarkable advancements and the role it can play in addressing critical global issues such as climate change, hunger, and social care. “Recent developments in…

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