Category: World

Delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States convened in Istanbul on Friday, marking the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in over three years. The talks, hosted by Turkey, aim to explore avenues for a ceasefire and potential resolution to the ongoing conflict. However, the absence of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cast doubts on the efficacy of the discussions. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov leads Kyiv's delegation, emphasizing priorities such as a full ceasefire, prisoner exchanges,

Cape Town is set to host Enlit Africa 2025 from 20 to 22 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre , bringing together over 6,000 delegates, including utility executives, policymakers, investors, and technology innovators. The event aims to address Africa's pressing energy and water challenges through strategic discussions, technological showcases, and investment opportunities. The conference will feature four main stages: Strategise, Innovate, Project Investment Network, and Municipal Forum. These stages will cover topics such as decarbonisation, digitalisation, grid resilience, and

Libya has formally integrated into the Medusa subsea cable system, marking a pivotal advancement in its telecommunications infrastructure. This 8,700-kilometre fibre-optic network, encompassing 24 fibre pairs and a capacity of 20 terabits per second per pair, is set to connect 11 countries across the Mediterranean, including Libya, by the end of 2025. The Medusa project, spearheaded by AFR-IX Telecom and supported by the European Union and Orange, aims to enhance digital connectivity between North Africa and Europe. The Libyan United International

Ghana is undertaking significant measures to reduce its $2.5 billion debt owed to independent power producers and gas suppliers by the end of 2025, as announced by President John Dramani Mahama. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to stabilize the country's energy sector and ensure consistent electricity supply. The debt, which has been a persistent issue, poses a substantial threat to Ghana's economy and energy security. President Mahama emphasized the urgency of addressing this financial burden to prevent

Tidjane Thiam has resigned as leader of Côte d'Ivoire’s Democratic Party , marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape ahead of the October 2025 presidential election. His departure follows a series of legal challenges and internal party disputes that have cast uncertainty over his political future. Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse and a prominent figure in international finance, assumed leadership of the PDCI-RDA in December 2023 with overwhelming support, securing 96.5% of the vote. His candidacy was

U.S. consumer prices climbed 2.3% year-on-year in April, marking the lowest inflation rate since February 2021 and falling short of the 2.4% forecast. On a monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.2%, also below the anticipated 0.3%. This deceleration occurred despite the introduction of sweeping tariffs by the Trump administration earlier in the month. The inflation data, released by the Labor Department, suggests that the immediate impact of the tariffs has yet to materialize fully. President Donald Trump had

Nigeria's economy expanded by 4.6% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking its fastest growth in a decade, according to the World Bank. This surge was propelled by fiscal reforms and a rebound in the oil and services sectors. However, the growth coincided with a sharp rise in inflation and a significant increase in poverty levels, underscoring the complex challenges facing Africa's largest economy. The World Bank's latest Nigeria Development Update attributes the economic acceleration to President Bola Tinubu's administration's

The United States and China have agreed to a significant reduction in tariffs, marking a notable de-escalation in their ongoing trade conflict. Effective immediately, the US will lower tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China will reduce its tariffs on US goods from 125% to 10%. This mutual agreement, set to last for 90 days, follows high-level negotiations held in Geneva. The trade dispute intensified earlier this year when the US, under President Donald Trump's administration, imposed steep

Japan has firmly stated it will not agree to any preliminary trade agreement with the United States that excludes the removal of auto tariffs. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasised this position during a parliamentary session, underscoring that Japan's automotive sector is a cornerstone of its economy and must be protected in trade negotiations. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has imposed a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, significantly impacting Japanese automakers. These tariffs have been a point of contention, with

Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected pontiff and the first American to hold the office, has identified artificial intelligence as one of the most pressing challenges confronting humanity. In his inaugural address to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican, he underscored the ethical and societal dilemmas posed by AI, drawing parallels to the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution. Formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name in homage to Pope Leo XIII, renowned for advocating workers'

Tornadoes striking after dark are proving deadlier than their daytime counterparts, with fatalities more than doubling during nocturnal events. This alarming trend is intensifying as climate change alters storm patterns, pushing tornado activity into new regions and timeframes. Historically, the central United States, particularly the Great Plains, bore the brunt of tornado activity. However, recent studies indicate a significant eastward shift, with the Southeast, including states like Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, experiencing increased tornado frequency. This region, often referred to as

Berkshire Hathaway has amassed a record $347.7 billion in cash reserves, marking a significant milestone as Warren Buffett prepares to retire by the end of 2025. The conglomerate's substantial cash position reflects a cautious investment approach amid global economic uncertainties and a perceived lack of attractive acquisition opportunities. Buffett, who has led Berkshire for over six decades, announced his retirement plans at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha. He endorsed Vice Chairman Greg Abel as his successor, entrusting him with

Health professionals across Ethiopia have initiated widespread demonstrations, voicing demands for improved salaries, benefits, and working conditions. The Ethiopian Health Professionals Association has called on the government to address these concerns promptly, emphasising the urgency of the situation. The demonstrations, characterised as pre-strike actions, have seen health workers from various regions participating. Placards bearing messages such as "Enough with the silence!" and "We demand an urgent solution!" have been prominently displayed. These actions are part of a broader movement advocating

Ivory Coast has revised its 2025 cashew production forecast upward to 1.3 million metric tons, an increase from the earlier estimate of 1.15 million tons. This adjustment is attributed to intensified efforts to curb smuggling to neighboring countries and favorable climatic conditions. However, the sector confronts significant challenges due to prospective U.S. tariffs and a depreciating dollar, which have led to a sharp decline in exports and a substantial accumulation of unsold stock. Vietnamese buyers, traditionally accounting for approximately 80% of

Ghana’s annual consumer inflation rate declined to 21.2% in April 2025, down from 22.4% in March, marking the fourth consecutive month of easing price pressures, according to data released by the Ghana Statistical Service . Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu attributed the downward trend to moderating increases in both food and non-food prices. Despite the deceleration, food inflation remains the primary driver of overall inflation, underscoring persistent challenges in stabilising prices of essential commodities. The current inflation rate remains significantly above the Bank

TeleMessage, a messaging application employed by former U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, has suspended its services following a cyberattack that compromised sensitive government and corporate data. The breach has intensified scrutiny over the use of unofficial communication tools within high-level government operations. The application, known as TM Signal, is a modified version of the open-source Signal platform, developed by Israeli company TeleMessage and later acquired by U.S.-based Smarsh. Unlike the original Signal app, TM Signal includes an archiving feature that

Kenya’s private sector recorded its most substantial growth in over two years in April, bolstered by increased sales volumes and heightened business activity. The Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers’ Index revealed that the country’s private sector growth surged to a 27-month peak, pointing to a more resilient economic outlook as businesses expanded and demand continued to rise. The PMI for April showed a notable uptick, reaching its highest point since January 2023, marking a significant shift from previous months that

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has been a cornerstone in improving health outcomes in low-income countries, particularly across Africa. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has facilitated the delivery of vaccines to more than 700 million children, saving millions of lives. However, with Gavi’s funding facing reductions, the continent is at a critical juncture that could reshape its approach to vaccine financing and health security. Historically, Gavi has been instrumental in increasing immunisation coverage across Africa, helping governments provide essential vaccines at

Norway’s housing market has witnessed its first contraction in home prices in nine months, as economic pressures weigh heavily on consumer confidence. Data released by the Norwegian Real Estate Association revealed a dip in house prices, following a period of growth driven by low interest rates and a robust economy. The slowdown in the housing market has been attributed to a delay in anticipated monetary easing, as well as growing concerns over global trade dynamics, which have dampened sentiment among prospective