Author: Maryam Sulaiman

China has officially launched its first intermodal rail-sea corridor linking the western region of China directly to Africa. Under the new logistics framework, cargo will arrive by sea at the Fangchenggang Port, located in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. From there, the goods will be transferred to railways and transported to various industrial hubs across Xinjiang. Known as the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, this maritime-railway artery is designed to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation as well as boost China-Africa economic and trade ties. The maiden voyage along this route was completed by a vessel transporting over 205,000 metric…

‎‎Scientists have officially launched a clinical trial evaluating potential treatments for the highly infectious Bundibugyo species of Ebola currently sweeping through the Democratic Republic of Congo. ‎World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Thursday that the first patient has officially been enrolled in the DR Congo. ‎According to the latest data from the WHO, the country has recorded over 1,400 confirmed cases and 438 deaths, and there are currently no approved vaccines or therapies for this specific strain of the virus. ‎The emergency trial is sponsored by the WHO and brings together local and international scientific bodies,…

Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo, has expressed deep gratitude for the vital support provided by Rwandan military forces in suppressing insurgent groups within the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Speaking during a high-profile visit to the headquarters of the Rwandan forces, President Chapo highlighted that Rwanda’s deployment has been highly effective in safeguarding innocent civilians and bringing a sense of order back to the volatile region. This official acknowledgment was outlined in a briefing shared by the Rwanda Defence Force .The ongoing partnership began in 2021 when Rwanda first sent its security forces to assist Mozambique in countering violent militants affiliated…

. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has issued a stark economic warning, stating that the active Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could drain up to $3.6 billion from the continent’s economy and put more than 300,000 jobs in jeopardy. According to Damien Mama, the UNDP’s Resident Representative, neighboring nations are highly vulnerable to the economic fallout. He noted that widespread issues like transit delays, heightened border restrictions, and sudden disruptions to informal marketplaces “could reduce the continental GDP by $2.37 billion, even if transmission remains largely contained”. READ MORE: WHO declares Ebola emergency over DRC, Uganda…

A miraculous rescue unfolded on Thursday as a 43-year-old security guard was pulled alive from the ruins of a collapsed building, eight days after twin earthquakes devastated Venezuela. The rescue of Hernan Gil provides a rare moment of hope amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis. While international teams from seven nations, including Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico, worked for days to reach him, the broader focus is shifting from search-and-rescue operations to the urgent needs of thousands left homeless. The twin quakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused catastrophic destruction. According to…

International oil prices have plunged to levels not seen since the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran, spurred by growing optimism that diplomatic negotiations could secure a permanent peace treaty.On Thursday, Brent crude dropped by more than 1 percent, sliding below $71 a barrel and effectively wiping out the premium added since the conflict began. As of 04:30 GMT, Brent futures for August delivery were trading at $70.82 per barrel. This marks the lowest price point since February 27, the day before hostilities commenced. This latest downturn means Brent prices have plumetted more than 38 percent from their post-war…

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued an urgent appeal to member states to bridge a $100 million budget deficit facing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), warning that millions of lives hang in the balance. Speaking at a donor conference on Tuesday, the UN chief highlighted that the agency’s operations are becoming increasingly unsustainable due to the severe financial shortfall and sweeping restrictions imposed by Israel across the occupied Palestinian territory.“As we meet here today, the safety and welfare of millions of Palestine refugees hangs in the balance,” Guterres told attendees. Guterres pointed to the “utterly appalling” living…

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has cleared the promotion of 93 senior police officers to their next respective ranks. The advancements follow the candidates’ successful performance in both written examinations and oral interviews hosted at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The announcement was detailed in a statement issued on Wednesday by PSC spokesperson Torty Kalu, reflecting the decisions reached during the commission’s plenary session at its corporate headquarters. According to the official release, the evaluation resulted in the elevation of 13 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs). Additionally, 17 Deputy Commissioners of…

The United States Supreme Court has overturned an executive order by President Donald Trump that aimed to restrict birthright citizenship. With this decision, the court reconfirmed that children born on American soil are constitutionally entitled to US citizenship. In a 6-3 majority ruling delivered on Tuesday, the court determined that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship at birth to children born within the United States, even if their parents are temporary visa holders or are in the country unlawfully. Writing the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that the language of the Constitution is clear and ensures citizenship to all…

In a move that expands African representation in one of the Holy See’s principal departments, Pope Leo has appointed two Nigerian Catholic leaders to key roles within the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. The appointments were announced alongside those of three other African clerics, according to a report by Fides News Agency. Among the new appointees is Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos, who will serve as a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches). This specific department oversees global missionary efforts and the establishment of new local Churches. Additionally, Father Wenceslaus C. Madu,…