trade

The European Union is "fully invested" in achieving an agreement with the United States to prevent extensive tariffs, according to the bloc's trade chief. This statement follows a recent ruling by US judges deeming many of these controversial measures unconstitutional. "We are dedicating our time and resources because finding forward-looking solutions remains a top priority for the EU," declared EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič on X, following a recent conversation with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He…

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu's administration has implemented a series of significant economic reforms. The removal of fuel subsidies, for instance, is intended to stabilize the economy, while efforts to reform foreign exchange regulations aim to encourage investment. However, these ambitious changes have been accompanied by soaring inflation, a devalued naira, and widespread public dissatisfaction, leading many to wonder: Are these measures truly in the best interest of the Nigerian people? In…

The landscape of South African politics underwent a seismic shift one year ago. In the wake of the national and provincial elections, no single party emerged with the definitive majority that has long characterized the nation's governance. The year 2024 will be remembered as a historic turning point; for the first time since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) found itself without its traditional parliamentary dominance. This unprecedented scenario paved the way for a coalition government,…

In an unsettling turn of events, the authorities at Roberts International Airport in Liberia were compelled to suspend all inbound flights after a private jet, tasked with transporting President Joseph Boakai, faced a frightening near-crash-landing situation. During its landing sequence, one of the jet’s tires reportedly blew out, forcing the aircraft to screech to an abrupt halt mid-runway. The Liberian airport authorities were swift to issue a statement regarding this alarming incident. They confirmed the details but…

The recent repatriation of stolen artifacts has garnered attention, thanks to the diligent efforts of the Egyptian embassy in Paris and the cooperation of French authorities. These invaluable pieces of history were poised for illegal sale, a fate they narrowly escaped. This incident is a testament to the tireless work being done on behalf of Egypt’s cultural heritage. It’s not just about returning physical objects; it’s about reclaiming a nation’s identity, woven into the very fabric of its history. Would you believe that,…

The Western Cape High Court delivered a harrowing verdict recently, sentencing Kelly Smith, the mother of six-year-old Joshlin, to life imprisonment. Alongside her, co-defendants Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn also received the same sentence. This chilling case took a tragic turn when Joshlin went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024. In a poignant moment, the presiding judge ordered the names of all three convicts to be entered into the national Child Protection Register. This measure serves as a…

When South Africa assumed the presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) last year, it marked a pivotal moment for both the nation and the continent at large. The government initiated an ambitious year-long campaign, aiming not only to showcase South Africa's unique attributes but also to advocate for an African agenda on the global stage. As the world prepares for the G20 summit on November 22nd and 23rd, Johannesburg will host leaders from 19 of the largest economies, alongside representatives from the European Union and the…

In a pivotal moment for African development, Sidi Ould Tah, the former Mauritanian finance minister, has been elected as the new president of the African Development Bank (AfDB). This noteworthy achievement follows a keenly contested election held during the Board of Governors' meeting in Abidjan, where Tah triumphantly emerged victorious after three challenging rounds of voting. In the end, he garnered a remarkable 76% of the votes, signaling a robust endorsement from his peers. As the news reverberated across the…

The ambitious $31.4 million initiative spearheaded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revitalize Lesotho's poultry industry has been abruptly terminated. This five-year endeavor, launched as part of the American Food for Progress program, aimed to cultivate a staggering 28,000 poultry enterprises across the nation, with projections to increase meat production by 40% and egg production by 30% by the year 2028. Yet, fewer than two years since its inception, the Sustainable Transformation of Enterprises…

The ongoing withdrawal of French troops from West Africa is creating a significant power vacuum, one that is rapidly attracting the interests of private military contractors. Analysts have noted a concerning trend: nations in the Sahel region are increasingly leaning on these firms for a variety of missions. What does this mean for regional stability and the future of international military cooperation? As of early 2025, France has transferred control of its historic military bases from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to…