Category: World

SOAR MUSIC, a prominent global music services company, has announced its strategic entry into the Colombian market in 2025, aiming to foster a comprehensive career incubation ecosystem for Latin American music creators.The initiative seeks to empower local artists by integrating digital recruitment, offline incubation, and professional training. By collaborating with government agencies, music institutions, technology platforms, and non-profit organizations, SOAR MUSIC intends to establish an innovative ecosystem that supports the sustained prosperity of Colombia's—and Latin America's—music industry.Colombia's music scene has

President Joseph N. Boakai has appointed former Bomi County Senator Sando D. Johnson as his legislative liaison to the Liberian Senate, a move that has stirred both support and criticism across the political spectrum.The appointment, formalised in a letter dated May 1, 2025, underscores Johnson's return to a prominent role within the government. The letter, bearing the reference number JNB/MOS/RL/2742/2025, expressed confidence in Johnson's ability to execute the responsibilities with "utmost integrity, dedication and commitment and continued loyalty to the

Chimpanzees and other wildlife in Uganda's Budongo Forest have begun consuming bat guano, a behaviour linked to the deforestation of mineral-rich palm trees used in tobacco farming. This shift raises concerns about increased exposure to bat-borne viruses and the potential for zoonotic disease transmission to humans.Between 2006 and 2012, the Raphia farinifera palm, a key source of dietary minerals for wildlife, was extensively harvested by local farmers to produce strings for drying tobacco leaves. The near-elimination of this tree species

African Export-Import Bank has launched a $3 billion revolving credit facility aimed at reducing Africa's dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The initiative is expected to finance between $10 billion and $14 billion in intra-African fuel trade over the next three years, providing a significant boost to regional refining capacity and economic resilience.The programme, known as the Revolving Intra-African Oil Trade Financing Programme, is designed to enable African and Caribbean buyers to source petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and other

Ghana has implemented a comprehensive overhaul of its gold trading framework, mandating that all individuals and entities involved in the sector obtain licences from the newly established Ghana Gold Board . This directive, effective from 1 May 2025, renders all previous licences issued by the Precious Minerals Marketing Company or the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources invalid. Non-compliance will result in criminal prosecution.The GoldBod Act, passed by Parliament on 29 March and assented to by President John

Zambia's First Lady, Mutinta Hichilema, participated in a ceremony acknowledging the donation of flood relief materials by the All-China Women's Federation. The event, held at the Projects Centre in Lusaka, underscored the strengthening ties between Zambia and China amid ongoing humanitarian efforts.The donation, comprising essential supplies such as food items and blankets, was presented by Ms. Wang Li, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia. Ms. Wang conveyed greetings from Madame Peng Liyuan, spouse of Chinese President Xi Jinping,

Eric Trump, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has issued a stark warning to the global banking industry: without embracing cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, banks could face extinction within the next decade. In a bold statement, he emphasised that financial institutions must adapt to the evolving landscape of digital finance or risk being rendered obsolete by the rise of decentralised financial systems.Trump's remarks come at a time of increasing pressure on traditional financial systems, as cryptocurrencies, led by Bitcoin, continue

The South African rand edged lower on Tuesday, trading at 18.57 to the US dollar, as investors awaited clarity on the government's revised fiscal strategy following the withdrawal of a proposed value-added tax increase. The currency's 0.43% decline reflects market unease amid ongoing political disputes and fiscal recalibrations.Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to present a third iteration of the national budget after shelving plans to raise VAT by one percentage point over two years. The initial proposal, aimed

A consortium of philanthropic organisations has launched a $500 million fund aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates across sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative, known as the Beginnings Fund, was announced in Abu Dhabi and is spearheaded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, and other partners. The fund aims to save the lives of 300,000 mothers and infants by 2030 through targeted interventions in ten African countries.The Beginnings Fund seeks to

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have formalised a U.S.-mediated agreement aimed at drafting a peace deal by 2 May, marking a significant step towards resolving long-standing hostilities in eastern Congo. The declaration, signed in Washington on 25 April, commits both nations to respect each other's sovereignty, cease support for armed groups, and establish a joint security mechanism to combat regional instability.The agreement was signed by DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe,

Kazakhstan's oil production from April 1 to 28 reached 1.814 million barrels per day , exceeding its OPEC+ quota of 1.473 million bpd by over 340,000 bpd, despite a 3% decline from March's average.This overproduction continues a pattern observed in previous months, with March's output at 1.8 million bpd, surpassing the quota by 332,000 bpd. The Chevron-led Tengiz oilfield, Kazakhstan's largest, has been a significant contributor to this elevated production.Newly appointed Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov emphasized

Namibian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Mac-Albert Hengari, resigned on Sunday after being arrested in connection with ongoing investigations. The resignation came just hours after Hengari's arrest, which has sparked political debate and raised questions about the future of Namibia's agricultural policies.The state broadcaster, NBC, confirmed the resignation, citing a statement from the government. Hengari’s arrest is linked to allegations of corruption and abuse of office, although the specific charges have yet to be fully disclosed. While

Veteran Kenyan radio presenter Edward Carey Kwach has passed away following a battle with meningitis, according to a statement from his family released on Tuesday morning. Kwach, widely admired for his distinctive voice and years of service in the Kenyan media industry, was undergoing treatment for the condition at the time of his death.Kwach, whose career spanned over three decades, was a household name in Kenya, particularly known for his engaging radio shows that resonated with audiences across the country.

A widespread power outage disrupted large sections of Spain and Portugal, causing significant interruptions across both countries and prompting an urgent response from national electricity operators. E-Redes, which oversees grid monitoring in Spain, announced it was actively working to restore connections in stages as authorities grappled with the scale of the disruption.The blackout affected major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Porto, with local reports indicating that power was lost across residential, commercial, and transport sectors. Spanish and Portuguese energy

Salesforce has introduced its autonomous AI platform, Agentforce, at GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco, marking a significant advancement in customer relationship management technology. This launch underscores Salesforce's commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into business operations across the African continent. -Powered, Data-Driven Customer Relationship Management – Voxafrica, Salesforce Soars at GITEX Africa: Unveiling Artificial Intelligence -Powered, Data-Driven Customer Relationship Management )Agentforce is designed to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction by automating tasks in service, sales, marketing, and

Revolut has reported a significant pre-tax profit of $1.4 billion for 2024, marking a 149% surge compared to the previous year. This surge is largely attributed to the company's strategic expansion, diversified revenue streams, and growing customer base. The fintech firm has also taken a key step in its plans to further solidify its presence in the financial sector with the acquisition of a UK banking licence.The company's growth trajectory remains robust as it continues to attract more customers globally.

Denmark is launching a new nuclear power fund aiming to raise €350 million to support the development of small modular reactors and advanced nuclear technologies. This initiative comes as the country seeks to diversify its energy mix and meet growing electricity demands driven by the expansion of data centres and the electrification of heavy industries.The fund is backed by a coalition of Danish pension funds, private investors, and energy firms, marking a significant shift in Denmark's energy strategy. Traditionally,

Technology stocks surged on April 24, 2025, lifting broader U.S. markets as optimism grew over easing tariff tensions between the United States and China. Investors responded positively to reports suggesting that trade officials from both countries were nearing a compromise to de-escalate tariffs imposed over the past two years.The Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.5% to close at 16,012.34, marking its highest level in over five months. The S&P 500 advanced 1.8%, reaching 5,162.97, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by

Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape intensified as the ruling People’s National Movement and the opposition United National Congress delivered final appeals to voters, promising to revitalise the economy and curb surging crime rates ahead of Monday’s election. Both parties, addressing energetic crowds across the islands, positioned economic resilience and public safety as their foremost commitments.Prime Minister Keith Rowley, leading the PNM, outlined a vision to modernise the nation’s energy sector, aiming to reduce dependence on traditional oil and

Nigeria's government must exercise greater fiscal discipline and prioritise spending to navigate economic headwinds, the International Monetary Fund has advised. The call comes amid concerns over rising public debt and questions surrounding the efficiency of government expenditure.At the 2025 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., Davide Furceri, Division Chief in the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, acknowledged Nigeria's recent economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and cessation of central bank financing for fiscal deficits. However, he

Several people were killed and many others injured after a car drove into a crowd attending a street festival in Vancouver on Saturday evening, according to authorities. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene following distress calls reporting a vehicle travelling at high speed into a densely populated area.Police officials stated that the driver, a 29-year-old man, was taken into custody without incident shortly after the crash. No information has yet been released regarding any potential motive, but investigators confirmed

A sharp decline in container traffic from China to the United States has emerged, as the latest round of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration triggers significant shifts in global trade flows. Shipping data and industry reports indicate a substantial drop in U.S. imports from China, with container bookings falling by approximately one-third since early April, according to Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth-largest container-ship operator.The downturn follows the White House's implementation of a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, a move

A formidable dust storm, propelled by powerful winds, surged across southern New Mexico and western Texas on April 19, 2025, significantly reducing visibility and disrupting daily life. The event was captured in striking detail by NOAA's GOES-19 satellite, providing meteorologists and scientists with valuable data on the storm's dynamics.The storm was driven by a cold front that generated wind gusts reaching up to 58 mph in El Paso, Texas. In Carlsbad, New Mexico, visibility plummeted to a mere quarter-mile