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…
Author: Editor Francis
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…
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated Nigeria’s appeal for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Speaking at the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh on Friday, Tinubu urged an end to the fighting that erupted after the Islamist group Hamas launched attacks in Israel in October, killing over 1,400 people. Israel retaliated with airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza that has left more than 10,500 dead, sparking international calls for a ceasefire. While Israel agreed to temporary four-hour pauses in northern Gaza, President Joe Biden ruled out a full ceasefire for now. At the…
The inaugural Saudi-Africa Summit 2023 commenced on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with significant expectations. African leaders gathered for this summit, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Gabonese interim President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, among others. The leaders were warmly welcomed by Riyadh Deputy Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman upon their arrival at King Khalid International Airport. The primary objectives of the inaugural Saudi-Africa summit include enhancing political coordination, addressing regional…
The U.S. Department of State has officially launched its inaugural “Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Strategy FY 2024-2025: Empowering Diplomacy through Responsible AI” (EAIS). The strategy, signed by Secretary Blinken, signifies a landmark step towards a centralized vision for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, infrastructure, policy, governance, and culture within the Department. At a pivotal moment, where the potential of an emerging AI ecosystem holds vast opportunities, the EAIS aims to guide the Department in responsibly and ethically harnessing AI capabilities. The strategy envisions breakthroughs in public diplomacy, language translation, management operations, information dissemination, task automation, and code generation. However, it underscores the…