Author: Akintayo Adams

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.46% in real terms during the third quarter of 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This marks an increase from the 2.54% growth recorded in the same period last year and the 3.19% growth observed in the second quarter of 2024. Sectoral Performance Economic Indicators The federal government announced plans to rebase the country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and GDP by 2025 to enhance policy accuracy and boost investor confidence. This rebasing effort will provide a clearer and more reliable depiction of the economy. Get instant and latest news updates…

Uruguay has elected Yamandú Orsi, the left-wing candidate of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition, as its next president, ending five years of conservative rule. Official results confirmed Orsi’s victory in a tightly contested runoff election held on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Orsi, who campaigned on a platform of unity and dialogue, secured 49.8% of the vote against 45.9% for Alvaro Delgado of the center-right National Party. In his victory speech, Orsi promised to lead a government that seeks national consensus. “I will call again and again for dialogue to find the best solutions,” he told supporters in the capital,…

The UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have released their Gender-Based Violence report. The report reveals that intimate partners or family members killed 140 women and girls daily in 2023, marking a slight increase from 2022. This translates to one woman being killed every 10 minutes. The report emphasizes that the home is the most dangerous place for women and girls. In 2023, 51,100 women and girls lost their lives, compared to 48,800 in 2022. Africa faced the highest incidence, with approximately 21,700 victims, making it the region with the highest frequency of such violence.…

Two boats carrying a total of 70 Somali migrants capsized in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. Local fishermen rescued 48 survivors, but unfortunately, at least 24 people lost their lives. The boats had set sail from Somalia, aiming for the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, a common but perilous route for migrants seeking better opportunities. Survivors reported that the boats’ engines failed, leaving them adrift before the fishermen found them. The incident has drawn attention to the severe risks faced by migrants attempting these dangerous journeys, often driven by the hope of escaping poverty and conflict in their home…

Pakistan has witnessed a tragic surge in sectarian violence, resulting in the deaths of over 80 people and injuries to 156 others. The violence erupted in the Kurram district, near the Afghan border, when gunmen attacked convoys of Shia Muslims traveling under police escort. This initial attack, which claimed the lives of more than 40 people, triggered a series of retaliatory attacks between Shia and Sunni communities. The clashes have forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, seeking refuge in nearby mountains under harsh conditions. The provincial government has managed to broker a seven-day ceasefire between the rival sectarian…

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is set to meet on Monday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 26, 2024. The committee is expected to make a decision on the country’s interest rate, which was at 27.25 percent as of September 2024. This meeting comes in the wake of Nigeria’s headline inflation surging to 33.88 percent in October 2024. The MPC has previously justified its series of interest rate hikes as measures to combat inflation. In the last MPC meeting, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso pledged that the bank would take all necessary actions to reduce Nigeria’s inflation. While…

Namibia is on the brink of making history as it heads to the polls, with the possibility of electing its first-ever female president. Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is a leading candidate in the upcoming presidential election, which is set to take place on Wednesday. Approximately 1.4 million Namibians, representing nearly half of the population, have registered to vote. Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is 72 years old, is a member of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO). Early results from special polls indicate that she and her party are currently in the lead. SWAPO has governed Namibia since its independence from…

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has revealed that new manager Ruben Amorim was “really frustrated” with several players during their 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Sunday. Omari Hutchinson’s long-range goal equalized after Marcus Rashford’s early opener at Portman Road. After the match, Amorim admitted that the players were struggling to adapt to their new style of play. Hargreaves, who was near the Red Devils’ technical area during the game, noted that Amorim was particularly unhappy with Diogo Dalot, Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund, and Rashford at various points during the match. He told Premier League Productions: “He was pretty…

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the recent conversion of structures housing the Oyo State Library Board in Ibadan into shops, calling it unacceptable. This declaration was made in a statement on Sunday by APC Publicity Secretary Wasiu Olawale Sadare. Our reporter observed that some buildings at the headquarters of the Oyo State Library Board, which include a library and other public utilities, have been repurposed into commercial shops. The APC criticized this move, describing it as shameful, ill-conceived, and grossly unacceptable. The party questioned the rationale behind converting a library into shops, expressing…

Russia is gearing up to launch rockets from Africa by building spaceports in several African countries. This initiative is part of Russia’s strategy to diversify its space services and strengthen its relationships with friendly nations. The Russian state space corporation, Roscosmos, is actively negotiating with countries like South Africa, Algeria, and Zimbabwe to construct these spaceports. Yury Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, mentioned that this move aims to expand Russia’s ground infrastructure for launching carrier rockets. This development is seen as a significant step in enhancing Russia’s presence in the global space industry and fostering international cooperation. Get instant and…