Economy

A prolonged US blockade of one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints threatens to send fresh shocks through energy markets and supply chains, raising new risks and costs for economies far beyond the Gulf. By Sanjoy Paul, University of Technology Sydney For weeks, the global economy has been fixated on a single question: when will the Strait of Hormuz fully reopen? Following Iran’s war with Israel and the United States, Tehran has in effect shut the narrow passage, a route that normally carries about one-fifth of…

President Daniel Chapo says Mozambique’s campaign against insurgents has turned a corner, with national security forces working alongside regional partners to retake areas once controlled by militants. Under sustained pressure, he noted, the armed groups are “constantly on the move,” and authorities have recorded no confirmed kidnappings in the past six months. Addressing the National Council of the Mozambique Youth Organisation (OJM), the ruling Frelimo Party’s youth wing, the President also appealed for responsible…

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Nigerian petroleum minister, has made headlines as she stands trial in London, vehemently denying allegations of bribery and luxury accommodations linked to government contracts. Accused of enjoying opulent stays and extravagant spending sprees in the UK, she asserts that these claims are baseless. In her testimony to the jury, Alison-Madueke maintained her innocence, stating she never misused her position to solicit or accept bribes, despite facing six serious charges under the UK Bribery…

Tragedy struck Ghanaian football as promising player Dominic Frimpong lost his life following a violent robbery targeting a bus carrying his team, Berekum Chelsea, on their return from a league match. Reports from law enforcement indicate that a VIP bus, transporting around 30 players and staff members, was approached by a group of six armed assailants while traveling from Samreboi to Berekum. Three of these individuals were armed with pump-action shotguns. Frimpong was critically injured during the attack, succumbing to…

Malawi is facing a sharp escalation in violence against its seniors, with the Malawi Network of Older Persons Organizations warning that killings tied to witchcraft allegations are surging. The group reports 11 elderly people were murdered in the first three months of this year—putting the country on pace to surpass the 22 deaths documented across all of 2025. Executive Director Andrew Kavala called the trend “alarming,” noting that more than 300 older persons have been killed over witchcraft accusations since 2015. Urging…

Polling stations in Benin have officially closed following a significant turnout, with nearly eight million voters participating in the presidential election. Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni is anticipated to emerge as the victor. Patrice Talon, the current president, is concluding his tenure after serving two five-year terms and navigating a coup attempt last December. Talon has publicly supported his 49-year-old finance minister, Wadagni, as his successor to guide the next administration. The primary opposition party,…

Pope Leo XIV will soon undertake a sweeping 18,000-kilometre journey through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, a packed itinerary that includes 11 speeches and seven masses before his return on 23 April. The trip is designed to spotlight some of the world’s most urgent concerns — from conflict and migration to corruption and human rights — against a backdrop of uncertainty tied to the Middle East war. Leo will make history as the first pope to visit Algeria, where Islam is the state religion. His programme…

A tragic airstrike by the Nigerian military has claimed the lives of numerous individuals, primarily traders, after hitting a village market. This incident unfolded near the border connecting Yobe and Borno states, where the aircraft was reportedly engaged in operations against Islamist militants. According to the Nigerian Air Force, the strikes were part of "mop-up" operations targeting "identified terrorist locations" along the Jilli axis in Borno State. Sources indicate that the fighter jet involved was tracking a group…

The United States is urging its citizens to think twice before traveling to Nigeria, pointing to increasing threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. A recent update from the State Department has identified specific regions within Nigeria that pose heightened risks, placing them under a severe travel warning that advises against all travel to these areas. American citizens are cautioned that violent incidents can erupt suddenly in public venues such as markets, hotels, places of worship, educational institutions,…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah used her State of the Nation Address to unveil an ambitious plan to jump-start growth, anchoring it on targeted investment, energy stability, and a renewed push in agriculture. She outlined headline domestic commitments, notably the introduction of fully subsidised tertiary education for qualifying students, supported by broader access to financial aid. Calling the moment “decisive,” the president pressed Parliament to fast-track the petroleum amendment bill, cautioning against the…