US presidential hopeful Kamala Harris launched a searing attack on Donald Trump Tuesday, telling her biggest campaign rally yet that the momentum was shifting in the White House race and daring the Republican to debate her face to face. Vice President Harris’s trip to Atlanta, Georgia, comes as re-energised Democrats regard the swing state as being in play again after it looked beyond hope under President Joe Biden before his shock withdrawal from the 2024 election. The presumptive Democratic nominee is aiming to expand the party’s 2024 battleground map and appeal to young Black voters, delivering a firm, 20-minute speech…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission has scheduled local government elections for November 30, 2024. The announcement was made by the Commission’s Chairman, Sani Malumfashi, during a news conference in Kano on Wednesday. Nomination forms for the elections will be available from October 1 to October 11, with the deadline for submission set for October 18. The screening of candidates will take place from October 18 to October 20, and the list of eligible candidates will be published on October 24. Malumfashi outlined that the results of the elections are expected to be announced by December 10, 2024. He emphasized…
Nigeria is currently grappling with $200 million annual funding gap for immunisation, according to Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, Director General of the Budget Office. Speaking at the Multi-Stakeholders Technical Workshop for the Optimisation of Immunisation Financing in Nigeria, Yakubu stated the need for increased public sector funding to address this shortfall. “Nigeria faces an annual funding gap of $200 million out of the required $580 million for immunisation,” Yakubu stated. “However, considering the public sector’s contribution of only $150 million, the actual funding gap is more significant.” He emphasized that without international donors like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and…
The killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in an air strike in Tehran on Wednesday blamed on Israel has stunned the international community. Israel has not commented on the death but many countries have warned that it could help turn the Gaza war into a regional conflict. Here are some key reactions: – Iran leader vows ‘harsh punishment’ – Haniyeh had been in Tehran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “harsh punishment” for Israel. “With this action, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime prepared the ground for harsh punishment…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has committed to providing journalists with unimpeded access to voting and collation centers during the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections. This assurance was given by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja. Professor Yakubu announced that the Edo State governorship election is scheduled for September 21, 2024, while the Ondo State election will be held on November 16, 2024. He emphasized the importance of combating fake news ahead of these elections and urged journalists to remain vigilant. “Our preparations are progressing in earnest, and…
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has grounded several aircraft belonging to Arik Air due to an outstanding debt of $2.5 million. This follows a court order issued by the Federal High Court, as detailed in a statement released on Tuesday by Abdullahi Musa, NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection. The court’s order, stemming from a judgment in favor of Atlas Petroleum International Ltd, directed NAMA to enforce the grounding of Arik Air’s planes. The enforcement began on July 19, 2024, and was backed by a recent ruling by Honorable Justice O. A. Adeniyi of the FCT High…
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos is set to transition to a new visa services provider effective August 26, 2024. In an announcement made on Wednesday, the embassy advised visa applicants to take specific actions based on their appointment dates to avoid disruptions. Applicants with interviews scheduled on or before August 16, 2024, can continue using their existing account on ustraveldocs.com. However, access to this portal will be suspended after August 16. The embassy urged those with interviews between August 16 and August 26 to print their appointment confirmation letters before the deadline, as they…
Qatar Airways has announced an expansion of its fleet with an order for 20 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, increasing its total number of commercial aircraft to 94. The order also includes a commitment for 40 GE9X engines and spare engines, alongside a long-term services agreement to support the new fleet. The announcement was made by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Badr Al-Meer. Al-Meer also introduced the Qsuite Next Gen, an upgraded version of the World’s Best Business Class, which will be featured on the new Boeing 777-9 aircraft. The Qsuite Next Gen includes advanced features such as movable monitors with…
Oil prices have fallen below $80 per barrel as global commodity markets face demand and supply risks ahead of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee meeting on Thursday. As of the latest reports, Brent crude prices have decreased by 0.7%, settling at $79.75 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude has dropped by 0.8%, reaching $76.56 per barrel. Both benchmarks experienced a downward trend at the start of the week following an attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which is expected to further impact the supply side. The escalating geopolitical…
Chaos erupted in Southport Tuesday night following a deadly knife attack that left three young girls dead, leading to a series of violent confrontations outside a local mosque. The tragic events unfolded after a 17-year-old boy, arrested for the stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event, was linked to a fatal attack that took the lives of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. The suspect’s identity remains undisclosed due to his age, and police have stated there is no indication of his religious affiliation. In the wake of the attack, violence broke out as…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that next-of-kin, legal representatives, or beneficial owners can now claim unclaimed balances in dormant accounts. This update, released over the weekend, provides a clear procedure for accessing these funds, requiring the submission of applications to financial institutions with legal proof of title. The CBN’s new guidelines aim to streamline the management of dormant accounts and unclaimed funds, ensuring that beneficiaries can reclaim these balances efficiently. The funds will be placed in the Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund (UBTF) Pool Account and invested in treasury bills and other securities, with the principal and any…
Venezuela braced for new demonstrations Tuesday, after four people died and dozens were injured when the authorities broke up protests against President Nicolas Maduro’s claim of victory in the country’s hotly disputed weekend election. Security forces had fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday at angry protesters who claimed the election was stolen and flooded the streets chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!” Some ripped down and burned Maduro campaign posters while at least two statues of Hugo Chavez — the late authoritarian socialist who led Venezuela for more than a decade…