Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

China Holds Trade Line, Open to U.S. Talks China on Tuesday reaffirmed its determination to persist in its trade dispute with the United States, while indicating readiness for renewed negotiations. The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing stated that China would uphold its stance in the ongoing “trade war” and was prepared to see it through, should tensions escalate. However, the ministry also emphasised Beijing’s continued openness to dialogue with Washington. The statement followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese imports starting Nov. 1. In response, China had earlier introduced new…

Madagascar in Crisis: Gen Z Protests Force President Rajoelina to Flee Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has fled the country amid a wave of Gen Z-led protests that began over water and power shortages but escalated into a broader movement demanding political change and accountability. The protests, which started on September 25, have resulted in at least 22 deaths and dozens of injuries, according to the United Nations. Rajoelina’s grip on power weakened significantly after CAPSAT, an elite military unit that previously helped him seize power in a 2009 coup, defected to the protesters. The unit declared it would no longer…

Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas, Others Storm Enugu as Mbah, Others, Set to Join APC Enugu State’s capital city is agog as all is now set for Gov. Peter Mbah and his political appointees to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday. Mr Uche Anichukwu, the Senior Special Assistant to Mbah on External Relations, stated this in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu. According to him, to receive Mbah into the party are the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima; President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas. Others are the APC National Working Committee…

PDP Postpones 103rd NEC Meeting The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15. The National Publicity of the Party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Monday in Abuja said that the postponement of the NEC meeting to a new date would be communicated to members in due course. Ologunagba said that the postponement was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at its emergency meeting on Monday in view of recent developments in the party. He added that the NWC took the decision exercise of its powers pursuant…

WHO Warns of Rapid Rise in Global Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria are rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Monday, with one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections now caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The organisation has quantified the problem for the first time in relation to 22 antibiotics that are commonly used to treat infections of the urinary tract, the gastrointestinal tract or the bloodstream, or sexually transmitted gonorrhoea. The WHO also looked at various combinations of bacteria and antibiotics, as the latest figures are from 2023. It found that resistance increased in more than 40 per…

Tinubu Says Traditional Rulers Deserve Constitutional Role President Bola Tinubu says traditional rulers remains the most enduring link between government and the people and must be formally recognised within the governance framework. Tinubu, who was represented by Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, disclosed this at the meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) on Monday in Lagos. The meeting has as theme, “The Traditional Institution: The Imperative of Its Inclusion in the Effective and Efficient Governance in Nigeria.” The meeting brought together royal fathers from across the country to deliberate on the constitutional relevance of traditional…

Innoson to Build CNG Plant in Bayelsa Nigerian vehicle manufacturers, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) Limited, has disclosed plans to establish a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) assembly plant in Bayelsa. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, stated this when he visited Gov. Douye Diri in Yenagoa on Monday. The Innoson CEO said the investment would boost the state’s transportation sector as well as provide training and create jobs. He stated that the initiative will also promote cleaner and greener environment and enhance the country’s capacity to meet its renewable energy target by 2030. In…

Strong Institutions, Sound Policies Crucial to Economic Growth – IMF The international Monetary Fund (IMF) says strong institutions and policies are crucial to economic growth. The Managing Director of the IMF. Kristalina Geogrieva, said this on Monday in Washington while interacting with Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) on the sidelines of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the IMF/World Bank Group. Geogrieva said that independence of central banks and their supervisors would also be a major focus at the meetings. “You will hear us during these meetings talk a lot about the precious value of strong institutions and sound policies. “You will…

Heirs Insurance Group Announces Inaugural Travel Festival Heirs Insurance Group (HIG), Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance group, has announced the launch of the Heirs Insurance Travel Festival, scheduled to take place on November 29, 2025, in Lagos. The one-day festival is a bold call for inclusive travel ecosystem for Africans, and will convene thousands of attendees, including travel ecosystem stakeholders, embassy representatives, tourism content creators, and travel lovers, across the tourism value chain for a first-of-its-kind immersive celebration of global cross-border tourism and culture. With the theme “Promoting Cultural Diversity and an Inclusive Travel Ecosystem,” the event will feature high-level diplomatic dialogues…

FG Threatens ASUU With ‘no Work, no Pay’ Policy The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says the Federal Government will issue ‘no work, no pay’ policy on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Folasade Boriowo. The warning came as the university teachers on Sunday declared a two-week warning strike beginning from midnight of Monday, Oct. 13, over unmet demands. The decision, according to the union, followed the Federal Government’s failure to meet its outstanding…