Author: Kara Frederick

Four Nigerian-Americans have won elective positions in the November 3 midterm elections in the United States, while the result of another candidate. The winners are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem, who secured positions in local government and state legislatures across Maryland, Texas, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Jawando, the Democratic Party Candidate, won the race for Montgomery County executive in Maryland, defeating Republican candidate Esther Wells. Results published by NBC Washington on Wednesday showed Jawando with 237,383 votes, representing 78.15 per cent, against Wells’s 66,383 votes, or 21.85 per cent, with 72 per cent of the expected…

The Nigerian Police Force has rescued a 21-year-old Nigerian woman trafficked to Mali and forced into prostitution. The police also arrested three suspected members of an international human trafficking syndicate. The operation was carried out by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad, Force Intelligence Department (STS-FID), following an intelligence-led investigation into the trafficking network. The development was disclosed during a press briefing by ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, who coordinated the operation. He said the suspects were arrested between October 1 and 27, 2026. The suspects were identified as Daniel Aondofa, 26; Orgba Solomon, 28, also known as Terry; and ThankGod…

Following the tapping of President Prabowo Subianto’s phone, Indonesian authorities have arrested three people connected to the crime. Police announced the arrests on Tuesday, with media reports suggesting one of the suspects may be a senior official. Prabowo, who took office in 2024, has come under increasing pressure for his government’s handling of the economy and destructive wildfires in the Southeast Asian archipelago. Top detective Asep Safrudin identified the suspects only by their initials, LSP, ASN, and EH, and said they were under investigation for allegedly tapping “the telephone number of the President of the Republic of Indonesia” and other…

Nigeria’s lawmakers have proposed 74 additional legislative seats for women in the Senate and House of Representatives, alongside three reserved seats in each state House of Assembly. This is part of the National Assembly’s fresh effort to address women’s underrepresentation in Nigerian politics. Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 Law Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State chapter, held under the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.” Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said the proposal was part of the ongoing review…

In a determined effort to process its mineral resources locally and maximise the economic benefits of gold production, Guinea has opened its first gold refinery in the capital, Conakry, as the West African nation intensifies efforts to add value to its mineral resources. The facility is described as one of the major gold-refining plants in Africa. The inauguration of the Nimba Gold Refinery on Sunday, November 1, 2026, comes months after President Mamady Doumbouya announced a ban on raw gold exports, directing mining companies to refine and certify the mineral within the country before exporting it. Speaking at the inauguration,…

The Gates Foundation has opened applications for its 2027 AI Fellows Programme, offering qualified African artificial intelligence (AI) professionals an opportunity to apply AI-driven solutions to critical challenges in global health, development and education. The 12-month fellowship will place successful candidates within the Foundation’s Africa team, where they will work on high-priority projects alongside regional teams, partners and government stakeholders. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to develop AI-powered solutions addressing challenges in health, development and education across African countries. They will also collaborate with international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies and academic institutions. The programme will provide mentorship…

The strength of African currencies against the US dollar in 2026 offers an insight into the continent’s diverse economic conditions, reflecting differences in monetary management, fiscal policies and financial stability. While exchange rates fluctuate across global markets, some African countries have maintained comparatively stronger currencies, supported by monetary policy measures, economic resilience and investor confidence. Beyond their dollar value, strong currencies often signal a country’s economic fundamentals, financial stability and the effectiveness of its monetary policies. Based on data from the Forbes Currency Calculator, here are the five strongest African currencies against the US dollar as of October 2026. Tunisia…

Kenya’s Public Private Partnerships Petition Committee has dismissed a challenge to Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s planned $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu County. According to a report by CEOWORLD Magazine, the committee ruled that the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) had not established that the refinery is a public-private partnership or provided a legal basis to compel the government to release project documents. The ruling, delivered on Friday, followed COFEK’s petition filed under Section 75 of Kenya’s Public Private Partnerships Act, 2021, the CEOWORLD Magazine said. The group had sought to overturn approvals and obtain details on the government’s procurement…

In a remarkable achievement that has attracted widespread commendation, Nigerian-born engineer Yinka Ogunbiyi has developed HaloBraid, an automated hair-braiding device designed to help professional stylists complete hairstyles up to five times faster while reducing the physical strain associated with hours of manual braiding. Ogunbiyi, a Harvard graduate and biomechanical engineer, recently demonstrated how the technology works, offering a glimpse into how automation could transform the hair and beauty industry, particularly protective hairstyles that often require several hours to complete. Unlike a machine that replaces the stylist entirely, HaloBraid is designed to work alongside professional hairdressers. The stylist first sections the…

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympics ever to be held on African soil, open Saturday in the Senegalese capital marking an historic moment for the continent. Signs proclaiming “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates” are abundant across Dakar, which is hosting some 2,665 young competitors aged 14 to 17 from around the world. The event marks the return of Russian athletes to the Olympics and also includes a refugee team. Overall, the athletes will compete across 25 sports and 153 medal events. “We’ve got people from around the world that maybe had a very different idea about Africa and they’re…