In a joint statement, the G7 foreign ministers, representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the High Representative of the European Union, expressed unity in pursuing international peace, security, and prosperity. The ministers discussed their commitment to upholding a free and open international order based on the rule of law. The statement addressed the situation in Israel, condemning terror attacks by Hamas and others and emphasising Israel’s right to self-defense. The G7 urged the immediate release of hostages and called for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They pledged…
Author: Editor Francis
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons at NYU Langone Health have successfully performed the world’s first transplant of an entire human eye as part of a comprehensive face transplant. The recipient, Aaron James, had suffered severe facial and eye damage in an accident involving high-voltage power lines, leaving him with a devastated face and the loss of one eye. While it’s too early to determine if James will regain vision in his new left eye, the initial results are promising. The surgery, conducted last May, aimed to improve the cosmetic outcomes of James’s face by supporting the transplanted eye socket…
In a surprising turn of events, the Nigerian naira experienced a significant setback, closing trading on the Investor & Exporter forex window at N996.75/$, marking a 13.95% decline from the previous day’s close at N874.71/$. This represents a staggering 27.75% loss in value since the beginning of the week when it opened at N780.23/$, making the naira one of the worst-performing African currencies in 2023, according to FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. Despite recent efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to stabilize the foreign exchange market, the naira’s decline has been relentless, affecting both official and parallel markets. In…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns about the potential impact of China’s declining growth on Nigeria’s economic prospects. Noting the deep economic ties developed between China and sub-Saharan African countries over the past two decades, the IMF predicts a potential average decrease of 0.5 percentage points in Nigeria’s growth due to China’s recent economic slowdown. China holds a pivotal role in the region as its largest single-country trading partner, accounting for one-fifth of sub-Saharan Africa’s exports, including metals, minerals, and fuel. Additionally, China supplies the majority of manufactured goods and machinery imported by the region. The IMF’s analysis,…
Pushed on his plan for Gaza’s future, he said the impoverished and blockaded territory must be “demilitarized, deradicalised and rebuilt.” “We’ll have to find a government, a civilian government that will be there,” he added, without detailing who might form such a government. And he said Israeli forces would have to remain ready to reenter Gaza and “kill the killers”. “That’s what will prevent the reemergence of a Hamas-like entity.” The October 7 attack and subsequent conflict came as Israel moved closer to a peace deal with Saudi Arabia, building on the so-called Abraham accords that normalised ties with several…
Google has introduced a new Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) that transforms and creates new opportunities for content to be discovered on its search engine. This was made known at a media roundtable in Lagos focusing on introducing its Search Labs and Search Generative Experience (SGE) to the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. The General Manager, Google Search, Africa, Ms Wambui Kinya, said at the roundtable that the SGE was a new generative AI experience in Search to help one get even more from a single search. Kinya said that with the new generative AI capabilities in Search, Google was taking more…
Israel has agreed to daily four-hour pauses in northern Gaza to let civilians flee, the White House said Thursday, even as President Joe Biden said there was no chance of a full ceasefire. Biden has been pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for longer breaks in the fighting after more than a month of war sparked by the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Israeli troops and Hamas are now locked in heavy, close-quarters fighting in Gaza City in the north of the Gaza Strip. “Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an…
In preparation for Election in Imo State this Saturday,the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday distributed electoral materials to all 27 Local Government Areas of the State. Happening in Owerri at the Central Bank of Nigeria Branch, the INEC officials distributed Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, ballot papers and result sheets for the election to the 27 LGAs. Kenneth Ukeagu, the Southeast National Commissioner who addressed the journalist during the distribution said the team is ready for the Saturday poll in the state. Revealing that the election would take place as planned in all recognised local government areas in the…
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), says the company has not increase the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Mr Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, dismissed the alleged report of the increase in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. He said the company cannot be blamed for any current surge especially as NLNG has so far delivered over 380,000 metric tonnes of LPG to the domestic market. He said “NLNG has noted media reports insinuating that a price hike by the company is responsible for the surge in the domestic LPG, commonly…
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the posting and redeployment of 40 senior police officers to various commands and formations nationwide. The affected officers include 14 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and 26 Commissioners of Police (CPs). The police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said the reshuffle reflects the elevation of the officers to their new ranks. Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, listed the AIGs as follows: Zone 7 Abuja – AIG Ogundele Joshua Ayodeji Zone 11 Osogbo – AIG Patrick Ogon Edung Border Patrol FHQ – AIG Badru Banji Lawal, mni Zone 8 Lokoja – AIG Bartholomew N.…
A 43-year-old man has been shot dead in Nigeria’s Bauchi state while testing a bullet-proof charm, according to police spokesman Ahmed Wakil. The traditional healer who fired the shot with a locally made gun has been arrested, along with two others, while additional suspects remain at large. The victim has been identified as Muhammadu Ali, a villager from the area. Police responded swiftly upon learning of the incident and rushed Mr. Ali to the hospital, but he was declared dead upon arrival. Supt Wakil cautioned the public against becoming unwitting participants in such dangerous experiments. Investigations are ongoing, and the…
The Federal government is set to finalise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Algeria in the coming months to establish direct flights between the two countries. Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo revealed the planned agreement after meeting with an Algerian delegation in Abuja led by Algerian Ambassador Hocine Latli. While Nigeria and Algeria have long had a Bilateral Air Service Agreement allowing flights between Algiers and Lagos, the route has been underutilised. The new MoU will add Abuja as a destination in Nigeria, with Algeria’s second largest city Oran also open to Nigerian carriers under a reciprocity clause. Keyamo…