Canada has announced a significant adjustment to its visa requirements, impacting international students seeking study permits. Starting January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants will be increased from $10,000 to $20,000, according to a statement from Marc Miller, the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship. In his announcement on Thursday, Miller stated that this adjustment aims to ensure that international students are financially prepared for life in Canada. For the year 2024, a single applicant will be required to demonstrate possession of $20,635, representing 75% of the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), in addition to covering their…
Author: Editor Francis
You can also add a noun or pronoun between the words, like ‘check this out’, ‘check the items out’ etc. For example, when you are ready to check out at the grocery store, you wait in the checkout line. Or when you want to check out of your hotel after the standard time, you might ask for a late checkout. It’s important to understand the unique fields a check contains, as well as which ones you’ll be responsible for. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence.It can take a few days for transactions to show…
In a virtual meeting held on December 6, 2023, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) reaffirmed their commitment to addressing global challenges and shaping a better future. The G7, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, gathered virtually to discuss critical issues and express solidarity in pursuing international peace, prosperity, and sustainable development. The meeting, held in the wake of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, a city symbolic of peace due to its history of atomic bombings, emphasized the group’s dedication to upholding the rule of law, global security, and human…
In a high-level pledging event for the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Ambassador Lisa Carty, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Economic and Social Council, delivered remarks reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting CERF’s vital role in humanitarian response. Ambassador Carty expressed gratitude to Under-Secretary-General Griffiths and the panelists for their compelling insights into the crucial importance of the CERF. She announced a substantial contribution of nearly $10 million from the United States, highlighting the nation’s steadfast dedication to ensuring swift aid delivery to communities affected by crises. Throughout her remarks, Ambassador Carty emphasized the CERF’s effectiveness as…
In response to concerns over Uganda’s flawed 2021 presidential elections, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has announced an expansion of the visa restriction policy. Originally aimed at individuals believed to be responsible for undermining the democratic process in Uganda, the policy now includes current or former Ugandan officials and others associated with suppressing marginalized or vulnerable populations. Secretary Blinken initially introduced the visa restriction policy after the flawed 2021 elections, urging the Government of Uganda to address concerns related to flawed electoral processes, violence, and intimidation. Today’s expansion broadens the scope to encompass individuals involved in policies or…
The U.S. Department of State has officially granted a cooperative agreement to the Atlantic Council for the implementation of the AI Connect II program. This initiative extends the engagement established under the “Promoting American Leadership, Democratic Values, and Economic Prosperity in Artificial Intelligence (AI)” initiative. Funded by the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy’s (CDP) Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP), the project aims to advance an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure digital economy. AI Connect II is strategically designed to promote the responsible stewardship of AI technologies, aligning with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) AI Principles.…
Administrator Samantha Power of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) conveyed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s determination that members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have committed war crimes in Sudan. Additionally, the RSF and allied militias are held responsible for crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, sexual violence, deportation, or forcible transfer, as well as persecution, contributing to ethnic cleansing in Darfur. This declaration comes nearly two decades after Secretary Colin Powell announced a determination of genocide in Darfur. Since April 15, the SAF and RSF have engaged in a devastating conflict…
The U.S. Department of State, together with the Bezos Earth Fund and The Rockefeller Foundation, revealed the foundational framework of the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA). This innovative carbon finance platform aims to mobilize private capital to support ambitious and equitable energy transition strategies in developing and emerging economies. During the launch event at the U.S. Center at COP28, the three ETA partners highlighted major achievements since the initiative’s inception at COP27 one year ago. Their objective is to formally establish the ETA as an independent initiative by Earth Day 2024. The ETA seeks to unite governments and private sector stakeholders,…
The U.S. government, in collaboration with USAID and the Presidential initiative, Prosper Africa, has unveiled its participation in a pioneering public-private initiative. This venture aims to establish the Green Guarantee Company (GGC), a groundbreaking privately operated guarantee company with a focus on catalyzing green bonds and loans in partner countries, specifically targeting regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Pending final documentation, the United States, represented by USAID, the State Department, and Prosper Africa, along with the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Green Climate Fund, Norfund, and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, is set to contribute to the…
Opay and Palmpay ceased operations due to NIBSS Orders, driven by evolving policies, often influenced by government decisions. Have you ever questioned why your Opay and Palmpay apps suddenly stopped functioning today ? It’s a result of the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), enforcing alterations in the conventional policies of banks and mobile banking. Nigerians resist stress, always seeking a way out, guided by the ‘Naija’ spirit within us. NIBSS envisions Nigerian banks excelling in their functions, particularly in facilitating secure, automated interbank payments and efficient fund transfers. The Inter-Bank Agency now requires Nigerian banks to discontinue involvement with…
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has unveiled plans to host two reverse trade missions (RTMs), bringing delegations of industry leaders from Nigeria and three Central Asian countries to the United States. The purpose of these missions is to acquaint them with U.S. technologies, services, and best practices in methane abatement, aiding them in achieving emissions reduction and energy security goals. The announcement was made by USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Scheduled for 2024, the RTMs will feature one delegation from Nigeria and…
The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to dispatch its largest-ever delegation to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Headed by Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Dr. Richard Spinrad, the delegation comprises senior officials from over 20 U.S. Departments, Agencies, and organizations. Their mission is to collaborate with leaders from more than 190 countries in advancing collective efforts to combat the global climate crisis. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. has taken bold strides, delivering on its…