In a recent diplomatic exchange, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken engaged in a conversation with Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, extending congratulations on his new role as Foreign Minister. The call emphasized the enduring and strategic partnership between the United States and Kenya, acknowledging Kenya’s substantial contributions to global peace and stability. During the conversation, Secretary Blinken expressed gratitude for Kenya’s commitment to lead a multinational security support mission to Haiti, addressing the crisis in Sudan, promoting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and countering extremism in Somalia.…
Author: Editor Francis
African telecommunication giant, MTN, is reportedly considering an exit from three markets on the continent, namely Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, and Liberia. This potential move, as reported by Business Insider Africa, is part of discussions surrounding the “orderly exit” of operations in these countries. MTN, a pan-African mobile operator with a current presence in 19 countries across Africa and the Middle East, is contemplating this strategic shift. While the specific reasons for the potential exit have not been disclosed, the company’s financial reports indicate challenges in the West and Central Africa region. CEO Ralph Mupita highlighted signs of inflation and currency devaluation…
Property owners in Abuja are set to face new tax obligations as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given the green light to a draft property tax regulation for the city. The FCT-Internal Revenue Service has initiated the implementation of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in accordance with the Capital Gains Tax Act 2004. The CGT imposes a 10 percent tax on the total chargeable gains accrued to individuals from the disposal of chargeable assets in a given year of assessment, after allowable deductions have been made. Haruna Abdullahi, the Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, announced these…
In an unexpected twist, former Prime Minister David Cameron has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary, marking a comeback for the ex-PM responsible for austerity measures. The move, orchestrated by current Chancellor Rishi Sunak in a reshuffle, involves Cameron being granted a seat in the House of Lords to facilitate his return to ministerial duties. The announcement came as Cameron was spotted walking into No10 during Sunak’s reshuffle proceedings. As part of the reshuffle, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has been shifted to the role of Home Secretary, taking over from Suella Braverman. Since leaving office in 2016 in the…
British leader, Rishi Sunak, on Monday, sacked controversial interior minister, Suella Braverman, multiple UK media outlets reported, as he reshuffles his top team ahead of a general election expected next year. Sunak had come under growing pressure to axe Braverman, an outspoken right-winger after critics accused her of heightening tensions during weeks of contentious pro-Palestinian demonstrations and counter-protests in Britain. Details later… AFP
As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, countries around the world are taking sides, leading to protests against Israel. In a significant turn of events, several nations in Africa and South America have chosen to recall their Ambassadors in response to the escalating hostilities. In Montreal, Canada, a Jewish school, Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal, faced gunfire, marking the third attack in less than a week amidst heightened tensions over the Gaza conflict. Fortunately, no injuries were reported when the school’s facade was struck early on Sunday. Bullet marks and shells were discovered after residents heard gunfire. The incident follows overnight shootings at…
In a significant move towards addressing historical inequalities stemming from its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, Lloyd’s of London has announced a $50 million commitment to global development projects. This pledge follows the market’s apology three years ago for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, which included providing crucial insurance for voyages and even insuring slaves as cargo. Despite calls for direct financial compensation to descendants of enslaved individuals, Lloyd’s has opted to focus on supporting development initiatives. Historical evidence linking Lloyd’s to the transatlantic slave trade will be revealed by the Black Beyond Data project at Johns…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has successfully mediated a peace deal between the management of TotalEnergies, the operator of the NNPC/TotalEnergies Joint Venture, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) along with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). This reconciliation, brokered on Sunday, has resulted in the suspension of the ongoing industrial action, leading to the immediate reinstatement of 275,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) production. The breakthrough emerged from a lengthy negotiation session chaired by Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd. All involved parties have committed…
In the aftermath of Saturday’s governorship election in Imo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Governor Hope Uzodimma as the triumphant candidate. The announcement came from the state Returning Officer, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and took place at INEC’s state collation center in Owerri on Sunday morning. Governor Uzodimma, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured victory with an impressive 540,308 votes. Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed behind, securing a distant second place with a total of 71,503 votes. Athan Achonu of the Labour Party claimed the third spot with 64,081 votes. Other…
Imo Results The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won at the polling unit 007 Ama John Comunity School, Akabo, Ikeduru Local Government Council PDP polled 44 votes to defeat its close rival All Progressives Congress (APC), which secured 17 votes while the Labour Party got eight votes.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 country scorecards, introducing notable improvements in education indicators. These scorecards play a pivotal role in MCC’s competitive country selection process, determining eligibility for a five-year grant agreement known as a compact in FY 2024. Out of the 80 country scorecards evaluated by MCC, 25 countries successfully met the criteria, while 55 did not. The publicly available FY24 scorecards on MCC’s website feature 20 independent, third-party indicators assessing a country’s policy performance in economic freedom, just governance, and investment in people. In a move to bolster education assessments, MCC…
In a joint announcement today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), unveiled a groundbreaking partnership aimed at enhancing coordinated disaster response efforts and pre-disaster planning. This collaboration, building on previous successful joint operations such as the response to the 2021 earthquake in Haiti, marks a significant stride in bolstering the U.S. government’s capacity to deliver crucial life-saving aid to vulnerable populations worldwide. As the primary federal coordinator for international disaster assistance, USAID remains dedicated to saving lives and alleviating suffering in the face of global crises. Leveraging the USCG’s unique capabilities, particularly…