Germany is playing host to the 2019 edition of the G20 Compact with Africa summit in Berlin. The summit hopes to increase investments on the continent and help improve standards of living. It will be addressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who also doubles as chairman of the African Union. Leaders of Ethiopia, Ghana, Benin, Tunisia and Morocco are amongst African leaders attending the summit. The German Chancellor said Europe and Africa both stand to benefit. She told a public broadcaster, that ‘’ we should do everything to cooperate with Africa, not to talk about…
Author: Peters Okwudili
Huawei Technologies has dismissed a new 90-day extension by the Trump administration allowing U.S. firms to continue doing business with the Chinese company as making little difference, repeating that it was being unfairly treated. U.S. regulators are crafting rules on telecommunications firms that pose national security risks. But after adding Huawei to an economic blacklist in May, the U.S. Commerce Department has allowed it to purchase some American-made goods. Its 90-day license extensions aim to minimize disruption for its customers, many of which operate networks in rural America. Huawei said on Monday that the latest extension would not “have a…
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates most warmly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 16 election in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, on his impressive victory. President Buhari also commends APC supporters in particular and Nigerians in general in the State who exercised their civic rights in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the pockets of unrest recorded in some locations. Condemning the loss of lives in Bayelsa, particularly prior to the election, the President commiserates with the families of the victims. According to President Buhari, ‘‘Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming generation that…
The Diplomatic Watch deployed teams from Austria, the European Union Delegation, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States to the elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states on 16 November. We express our alarm at reports of widespread incidents of violence and intimidation, some of which were witnessed by our teams in Kogi. There are reports of fatalities and people missing, including INEC staff. Our thoughts are with all victims and their families. We encourage all stakeholders, in particular, political leaders, to call for calm and we encourage security agencies to investigate thoroughly and bring perpetrators to justice. We are also concerned by evident vote-buying and…
Amid the ongoing impeachment hearings against him by a Democrats-dominated Congressional panel, US President Donald Trump has asserted that he has the right to speak and the freedom of speech. The president made the assertion while accusing the opposition Democratic party of denying the Republicans the due process in the House-initiated impeachment proceedings against him. “In the history of our country, there has never been a disgrace like what’s going on right now. So, you know what, I have the right to speak. I have the freedom of speech just as other people do have. But they (Democrats) have taken…
Bangladesh High Commissioner for Nigeria, Shameen Ahsan, announced that both countries will soon sign an agreement in the area of agriculture. Ahsan, who spoke at a bilateral business forum in Lagos said it was necessary to create a better link to promote business activities between the two nations. It is very important to interact with members of civil society to create a better understanding and dispel misconceptions, he said. In this regard, he said that the agricultural agreement would provide a key platform for sharing best practices between the two countries. For his part, the president of the Chamber of…
A teenager was shot dead by Guinean police on Thursday as he tried to flee a crackdown on mass anti-government protest, his family and doctor said. Alpha Souleymane Diallo,19, was reportedly caught up in the clashes. A doctor at the Amitie Hospital in Conakry confirmed he died from bullet wounds. Hundreds of protesters draped in red, the color of the opposition, took to the streets of Conakry a day after President Alpha Conde confirmed parliamentary elections for February 2020. The National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), a coalition of politicians and activists opposed to a constitutional change…
On Saturday November 16, voters in two states, Bayelsa and Kogi, will be left alone to decide who takes charge of the administration of their important states for the next four years. Since the ban on campaigns was lifted a few weeks ago, their citizens have been called to attend political rallies of various hues and were bombarded with advertising on bill boards, radio and TV; texts, tweets, WhatsApp and Facebook posts in campaigns that sadly, have so far recorded not a few uninspiring incidents of violence and of intemperate use of language. President Muhammadu Buhari has made a strong…
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday congratulated Jeanine Anez, a Bolivian senator who became interim president of the South American country following the resignation of Evo Morales, the State Department said. “The United States applauds Bolivian Senator Jeanine Anez for stepping up as Interim President of State to lead her nation through this democratic transition, under the constitution of Bolivia and in accordance with the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter,” Pompeo said in a statement. Culled from Reuters
Nigeria’s state security agency on Wednesday denied that its officers opened fire on campaigners calling for the release of a Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate who remains in detention despite having been granted bail. Omoyele Sowore, who ran for president as a minor candidate in the February election in which former military ruler President Muhammadu Buhari secured a second term in office, was arrested in August for calling for a revolution. In September Sowore pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, money laundering and harassing the president. He was granted bail on Oct. 4 but he has not been…
Fuel stations along Nigeria’s land borders have closed and prices have spiked after customs authorities banned deliveries of petroleum products to stations within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of the border in an attempt to curb smuggling. Border communities have complained about the move however, prompting Nigeria’s lower chamber of parliament on Tuesday to call on the customs service to lift the indefinite ban. Nigeria, Africa’s top crude oil producer imports most of its refined fuel due to the moribund state of its refineries. Some 10-20% of Nigerian fuel is then smuggled to neighbouring countries, according to the Major Oil Marketers…
Growth in global oil demand is expected to slow from 2025 as fuel efficiency improves and the use of electric vehicles increases, but consumption is unlikely to peak in the next two decades, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. The Paris-based IEA, which advises Western governments on energy policy, said in its annual World Energy Outlook for the period to 2040 that demand growth would continue to increase even though there would be a marked slowdown in the 2030s. The agency’s central scenario – which incorporates existing energy policies and announced targets – is for demand for oil to…
Pneumonia killed more than 800,000 babies and young children last year – or one child every 39 seconds – despite being curable and mostly preventable, global health agencies said on Tuesday. In a report on what they described as a “forgotten epidemic”, the United Nations children’s fund UNICEF, the international charity Save The Children and four other health agencies urged governments to step up investment in vaccines to prevent the disease and in health services and medicines to treat it. “The fact that this preventable, treatable and easily diagnosed disease is still the world’s biggest killer of young children is frankly…
Africa has the potential to expand the continental economy fourfold, with energy demands expanding by only 50 percent, according to a new report. The International Energy Agency (IEA) unveiled its report on the first day of the second African Investment Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.Africa Energy Outlook 2019 found that the continent’s future energy prospects look bright, but only if Governments can make the shift to more renewable energy sources. The report says there are three factors that will determine the continent’s future energy consumption – its growing population, the rapid increase in urbanisation and industrialisation.Kieran McNamara, an analyst at…
Bolivian President Evo Morales resigned on Sunday after a disputed re-election in October. Morales agreed to call for new elections after an audit by the Organization of American States called for the October polls to be annulled. There have been mounting pressure on the leftists leader to step down as government allies resigned. In a televised speech, Morales said ‘‘I resign my post as President’‘. His Vice president, Alvaro Garcia Linera also resigned. The Organization of American States, which audited the October 20 polls, found serious irregularities in the vote won by Morales. This ignited widespread protest around the country.…
Mexico on Sunday invited the FBI to participate in the investigation of an attack in its north that killed nine dual citizens of the United States and Mexico. The Foreign Ministry said it made the invitation through a diplomatic note to the U.S. embassy in Mexico. “The Mexican government reiterates its commitment to investigate the facts, in order to … offer justice to the affected families,” it said in a statement. The U.S. agents must work in coordination with their Mexican counterparts and will not be armed, it added. In a statement, the FBI said it would assist in the…
As Nigerian Muslims join more than 2.6 billion Muslims around the globe in celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigerians from all walks of life to embrace programmes initiated by the Federal Government (FG) instead of searching endlessly for white collar jobs thereby remaining jobless and idle. This was contained in a Maolud Nabiyy message circulated by the human rights organization on Monday, 11th November, 2019. MURIC felicitated with the head of the Nigerian Muslim community, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic…
The Africa Investment Forum will be short on talk and heavy on deals, the South African Government, the African Development Bank and key partners affirmed at a press conference ahead of the 2019 edition of the event. Organized by the African Development Bank and its partners, the second edition of the Forum, will take place from place from 11 to13 November 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Themulti-stakeholder transactional marketplace is aimed at raising capital, advancing projects to bankable stage and accelerating financial closure of deals. “Last year we achieved remarkable results with over $ 36 billion of investments interests that were signed…
Congolese forces said on Saturday they had killed 25 Islamist rebels since launching an offensive against them late last month in an eastern region also struggling with an Ebola outbreak. Seven soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo had also died since the campaign to root out the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia began on Oct. 30, the general in charge of the operation, Jacques Nduru, told Reuters. He said the army had seized four of the group’s positions around the eastern city of Beni in North Kivu province. Regular militia attacks have hampered efforts to contain Ebola across the…
The most common symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, a sore throat and a runny nose. Each year, millions of people come down with flu. Most recover within a week, but for an unlucky few, flu can be deadly. Seasonal flu epidemics typically occur in late autumn and winter, so we can anticipate them, and prepare accordingly. In tropical regions, influenza can occur throughout the year, causing outbreaks more irregularly, but prevention is still important. Here’s how you can protect yourself, and those around you. Get vaccinated Annual vaccination is the most…
The Trump administration is trying to turn up pressure on three senior al-Qaeda leaders in Africa and the Middle East. The State Department placed the head of the main al-Qaeda affiliate in Mali on a terrorism blacklist. It also offered rewards for information leading to the location of two top members of al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen. The sanctions are against Amadou Kouffa for attacks in Africa’s Sahel region. The action announced Thursday freezes any assets he may have under U.S. jurisdiction. A reward of up to $6 million was also offered for information about the emir of Yemen’s Shabwah province…
A corridor that will allow Sikhs to cross from India into Pakistan to visit one of the religion’s holiest sites is set to open Saturday, with thousands expected to make a pilgrimage interrupted by decades of conflict. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will see off the first group of pilgrims, and they will be welcomed by his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan at the shrine marking the grave of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak at Kartarpur, just four kilometres (two miles) inside Pakistan. The Kartarpur Corridor marks a rare example of cooperation between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars since…
Gunmen killed nine women and children in the bloodiest attack on Americans in Mexico for years, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to offer to help the neighboring country wipe out drug cartels believed to be behind the ambush. The nine people killed in Monday’s daytime attack at the border of Chihuahua and Sonora states belonged to the Mexican-American LeBaron, Langford, Miller and Johnson families, members of breakaway Mormon communities that settled in northern Mexico’s hills and plains decades ago. A video posted on social media showed the charred and smoking remains of a vehicle riddled with bullet holes that was…
An 18-year-old Hausa girl, Maryam Dauda, who had been missing for several months has been found in the home of an Igbo man, Alex Chukwugo. Maryam went missing in January 2019 and all efforts made by the parents to locate her failed. Although the parents heard news of the missing girl in June 2019 (six months later), they were not allowed to see their daughter until October 2019 when they were invited to Alex Chukwugo’s house to see her with a newly born baby. Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has kicked against the circumstances in which the girl…
The Academy has disqualified Nigeria’s “Lionheart” from the Oscar race in the Best International Feature Film category. “Lionheart” made by actress-turned-director Genevieve Nnaji, was the first film ever submitted to the Oscars by Nigeria. “Lionheart,” in which Nnaji also stars, is partially in the Igbo language of Nigeria. But it is mostly in English, which violates an Academy rule that entries in the category must have “a predominantly non-English dialogue track.” The film had not been vetted by the Academy’s International Feature Film Award Executive Committee in advance of the Oct. 7 announcement of qualifying films but was recently viewed…
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Monday detained and charged a cabinet minister and long-time ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for abuse of office alleged to have cost the government $3.7 million, the second high-profile graft case this year. Joram Gumbo, a minister in the presidency, was arrested on suspicion of directing a government-owned airline formed in 2017 to use a property owned by his relative as its headquarters, according to a charge sheet seen by Reuters. Gumbo, who was transport minister at the time, is also accused of abusing his position by forcing the re-appointment of the head of…
Nigeria will keep its land borders closed to trade until at least January 31, 2020, the customs spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. Nigeria launched a partial border closure in August to tackle smuggling of rice and other goods. Last month the head of customs confirmed that all trade via land borders was halted indefinitely. Joseph Attah, spokesman for the Nigerian customs service said the “present phase” of the closure would end on January 31, 2020, and that would not be the end of the closure. “The operation is in phases, it will continue until the set objective is attained,” Attah…
Onions can spice up any dish by providing layers of texture, flavors and taste, but they’re useful not just in the kitchen. From removing acne to cleaning the grill, here are nine surprising ways you can use onions. Clean Rusty Knives Have rusty knives lying around that you are hesitant to use? Plunge your knife into a large raw onion and this will immediately remove rust. Soothe a Bee Sting If you are ever stung by a bee, rub an onion on your skin. It will ease the soreness. Color Easter eggs Onion skins make great dyes! It’s as simple…
Islamic state has claimed responsibility for an attack in northeastern Mali that killed at least 53 soldiers, the group’s Amaq news agency reported on Saturday without citing evidence. Mali government said that the soldiers and one civilian had been killed in an attack on an army post in northern Mali, in one of the deadliest strikes against the West African country’s military in recent memory. “The dispatched reinforcements found 54 bodies including one civilian, 10 survivors, and found considerable material damage. The situation is under control,” government spokesman Yaya Sangare said on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday. The…
At least 53 soldiers and one civilian were killed in a militant attack on a military post in northern Mali on Friday, the government said. The attack is one of the deadliest strikes against the West African country’s military in recent memory. It is still reeling from jihadist raids in late September that underscored the increasing reach and sophistication of armed groups operating in the region. “The dispatched reinforcements found 54 bodies including one civilian, 10 survivors, and found considerable material damage. The situation is under control,” government spokesman Yaya Sangare said on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday.…
