Category: World

Environmental analysts and transport groups have called for a major shift in Uganda’s boda-boda motorcycle sector, urging adoption of electric bikes as a means to curb greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and relieve economic burdens on riders.A health-impact modelling study led by Dr Gabriel Okello and Dr Lambed Tatah found that converting petrol-powered boda-bodas in Kampala to electric ones could lower fine particulate matter levels by about 15 per cent. That reduction is projected to translate to an

Tech companies across North America are scrambling to assess the fallout after the U. S. government announced that new H-1B visa applications will require a $100,000 fee per applicant, a steep jump from the previous cost. Critics warn the change will severely reduce access to foreign talent, while Canada is increasingly seen as a prime alternative destination.The executive proclamation, signed on 19 September, stipulates that employers must pay $100,000 when filing H-1B petitions for specialty-occupation workers who are outside the

Airports across Brussels, London, Berlin and Dublin are working to restore normal flight operations after a cyber-attack on the Muse check-in software operated by Collins Aerospace disrupted check-in, boarding pass and baggage tag services. Brussels remains the worst affected, with cancellations, delays and airport officials warning of further cancellations into Monday.Collins Aerospace, part of RTX Corporation, confirmed its check-in and baggage drop systems have suffered a “cyber-related disruption” at several select European airports. Self-service kiosks and online check-in remain functional,

A cyberattack that compromised the MUSE software of Collins Aerospace has caused delays and cancellations at several of Europe’s busiest airports, including Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg, and Brussels. The disruption has affected electronic check-in and boarding systems, forcing manual processing and straining airport operations.The attack, which targeted a service provider used by multiple airlines, has resulted in subdued automated systems at these airports. Heathrow warned of potential delays for departing passengers while Brussels confirmed flight cancellations and Berlin reported longer wait

A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House, ruling that the complaint was legally insufficient and procedurally improper. U. S. District Judge Steven Merryday criticised the 85-page document for lacking a “short and plain statement” required by the federal rules, and for including excessive laudatory language and irrelevant attacks rather than cogent legal allegations. Judge Merryday has given Trump’s legal team 28 days to file a revised complaint, limited

Lusaka remains locked in negotiations over whether the African Export-Import Bank and the Trade and Development Bank must take losses in Zambia’s debt restructuring, a matter posing a serious barrier to the country exiting default. Zambia struck a writedown agreement with its major private creditors last June after more than three years of negotiations, but failure to settle the issue with these regional lenders means the process remains incomplete.Felix Nkulukusa, Zambia’s Secretary to the Treasury, has said the

A group of U. S. Senators have filed a resolution pressing the government to formally recognise a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. Led by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the measure calls for a demilitarised Palestinian state under Palestinian Authority governance based on the pre-1967 boundaries, adhering to the principles of a two-state solution.Senators Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, Tina Smith, Tammy Baldwin and Mazie Hirono are among the co-sponsors. The resolution demands, in addition

The UK government announced a record-breaking inward investment package of £150 billion from U. S. companies during President Donald Trump’s state visit, with commitments aimed at clean energy, AI infrastructure, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. The deals are expected to create around 7,600 high-quality jobs across the country.Blackstone pledged the largest share of the investment with £100 billion over the next decade. Prologis committed £3.9 billion to projects at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and expansion at the Daventry International

Leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold a phone call on Friday that may finalise a framework deal governing TikTok’s operations in the United States, even as tensions over tariffs and semiconductors sharpen.Senior U. S. and Chinese officials have indicated agreement on a deal which would transfer ownership or control of TikTok’s U. S. assets to American entities, meeting U. S. national security concerns, while Beijing retains certain “Chinese characteristics” linked to algorithm licensing or IP oversight.

Adamu Aliyu, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, handed himself over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Abuja, after a Federal High Court issued a declaration that he was wanted on charges arising from contract fraud allegations. Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on ICPC’s request after investigators said Aliyu failed to respond to repeated summonses.Court documents show that Mohammed Jidda, a businessman, accused Aliyu of soliciting ₦73.6 million under

Single-family housing starts in the United States dropped by 7.0 per cent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of about 890,000 units, marking the lowest level since April 2023, according to Commerce Department data. Permits for future single-family construction fell 2.2 per cent to roughly 856,000 units, underscoring weakening builder confidence. Overall housing starts, including multifamily units, tumbled 8.5 per cent month-on-month to 1.307 million units.Builders are struggling under a glut of unsold newly built homes and cooling

A constitutional referendum in Guinea is scheduled for 21 September 2025 under the government led by General Mamady Doumbouya, with a draft constitution that would allow him to run for president, extend presidential term limits, and reshape the country’s political structures.The proposal removes a provision in the current transition charter that bars junta members from contesting elections. It introduces a seven-year presidential term renewable once, up from the existing five-year term, and establishes a bicameral legislature including a Senate. Under

Johannesburg – MTN Group has moved to broaden Africa’s AI infrastructure by initiating plans to build a network of data centres across its 16 markets, partly self-financed and partly through collaborations with U. S. and European technology firms. CEO Ralph Mupita told Bloomberg the company aims to finalise these partnerships before year-end.The first facility under this rollout is a $240 million, 9-megawatt data centre in Nigeria, named the Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre. It is being built in two phases;

Vitol and Sunoco have taken delivery of the first U. S.-bound gasoline shipment from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, marking a milestone in its global trade profile. The cargo, about 320,000 barrels, was loaded aboard the tanker Gemini Pearl, purchased from Mocoh Oil by Vitol and mostly resold to Sunoco, and discharged at Sunoco’s Linden facility in New York Harbor.Dangote’s refinery, the largest single-train facility in Africa with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is now proving that its fuel

Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its journalists, and Penguin Random House, alleging that a pattern of false reporting and published material has severely damaged his reputation and business interests.The suit, lodged in the U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, identifies articles and a book written by Times reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner titled Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune

A vast photograph of Donald Trump standing beside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been unfurled on the grounds of Windsor Castle as the president prepares for a state visit to the United Kingdom.The installation was organised by the activist collective Everyone Hates Elon, which claims the display was crowd-funded by members of the British public to draw attention to Trump’s historical connections with Epstein. The group posted that “Trump is coming to the UK to AVOID the EPSTEIN story.

Heavy downpours have unleashed destructive floods and landslides across Himachal Pradesh, killing three people when a house collapsed in the Nihri area of Mandi district and leaving widespread damage to infrastructure, property and transport.A massive landslide struck a house in Bragta village under Boe panchayat, Sundernagar subdivision, early morning when debris from an adjoining cliff gave way. Five family members were inside; two were rescued critically injured, while three were recovered dead. The Tehsildar confirmed the bodies were sent for

Germany faces a mounting environmental and safety crisis with approximately 1.6 million tonnes of unexploded munitions lying on the seabed of its North Sea and Baltic Sea waters. These ordnances—from bombs, grenades and mines to artillery shells—stem largely from post-World War II disposal practices and are now rusting away, releasing toxic substances into marine ecosystems.The Environment Ministry has launched an “immediate action programme” with a €100 million budget to locate, retrieve and safely destroy submerged munitions. The operation involves

Washington and Doha are on the verge of agreeing a substantially upgraded defence cooperation treaty following an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, sources say. The move signals a deepening strategic alignment as tensions in the region intensify.US diplomat Marco Rubio confirmed that both countries are “nearing finalisation” of an agreement that would strengthen joint military planning, basing, intelligence sharing and oversight of operations on Qatari territory. He described Qatar as a key mediator in the Gaza conflict and

Australian legislation banning under-16s from holding social media accounts will permit platforms to make some errors when checking age, government and watchdog officials have clarified, as new trials show limits in technology and equity in age verification.The law, passed in November 2024, comes into force on 10 December 2025, obliging “age-restricted social media platforms” to take “reasonable steps” to stop users under 16 from creating or retaining accounts. Platforms may face fines up to AUD 49.5 million should they fail

Kathmandu’s streets remain tense as Sushila Karki assumed the premiership and formed an interim cabinet, calling for unity after anti-corruption protests left at least 72 people dead and more than 2,100 injured. Violent demonstrations over corruption, nepotism and a short-lived social media ban triggered the collapse of the previous government led by K. P. Sharma Oli.Ms Karki, a former chief justice and Nepal’s first woman prime minister, appointed three ministers noted for their reform credentials: Rameshwore Prasad Khanal, Kulman Ghising

Tanzania’s Independent National Electoral Commission disqualified opposition presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina for the second time on Monday, reversing an order from two days earlier that had reinstated his nomination.Mpina, leader of ACT-Wazalendo, Tanzania’s second-largest opposition party, had his nomination papers accepted by INEC following a high-court ruling. That court decision had overturned an earlier disqualification. But the electoral commission, citing procedural irregularities, reimposed the ban.With Mpina out, President Samia Suluhu Hassan faces a much clearer path toward re-election