Kenya Insights

Author: Agencies

  • ‘It’s Just Better!’ Trump Says Coca-Cola to Change Key US Ingredient

    ‘It’s Just Better!’ Trump Says Coca-Cola to Change Key US Ingredient

    President Donald Trump says Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its drinks sold in the US.

    Coca-Cola uses corn syrup in its American products, but Trump’s Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has voiced concern about the ingredient’s health impacts.

    “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump wrote on social media. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola.”

    Without explicitly confirming the recipe tweak, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said they “appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm” and “more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon”.

    Trump said in Wednesday’s post on Truth Social: “This will be a very good move by them – You’ll see. It’s just better!”

    While Coke sold in the US is typically sweetened with corn syrup, Coke in other countries, such as Mexico, the UK and Australia, tends to use cane sugar.

    In April, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told investors that “we continue to make progress on sugar reduction in our beverages”.

    He said the Atlanta-based company has “done this by changing recipes as well as by using our global marketing resources and distribution network to boost awareness of and interest in our ever-expanding portfolio”.

    But any decision to use cane sugar instead might leave a bitter aftertaste for American corn farmers.

    Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said in a statement: “Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.”

    The US health secretary and his Make America Healthy Again movement have advocated for companies to remove ingredients such as corn syrup, seed oils and artificial dyes from their products, linking them to a litany of health problems.

    Kennedy has also been critical of the amount of sugar Americans consume and reportedly plans to update nationwide dietary guidelines this summer.

    Trump is a regular drinker of Diet Coke – which uses the artificial sweetener aspartame. He had a button installed in the Oval Office’s Resolute desk so he can be served the soda.

    (BBC)

  • Ramaphosa Struggles to Mend Fences With Trump

    Ramaphosa Struggles to Mend Fences With Trump

    The Trump administration is treating South Africa almost like a pariah, blacklisting its envoys, refusing to send top-level officials to meetings it hosts, and threatening to hit the nation with such high tariffs that its economic crisis is likely to deepen.

    The latest sign of this came with the revelation by the second-biggest party in South Africa’s coalition government, the Democratic Alliance (DA), that the US government had rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy, denying him a diplomatic visa in May and refusing to recognise him as an “official interlocutor”.

    Ramaphosa had created the post for Mcebisi Jonas, the non-executive chairman of mobile phone giant MTN and a respected former deputy finance minister, to improve South Africa’s rock-bottom relationship with the US.

    Ramaphosa’s spokesman accused the DA of “disinformation”, but did not explicitly deny the party’s claim. The US State Department declined to comment when contacted by the BBC, citing “visa record confidentiality”.

    Jonas’s appointment came after President Donald Trump had cut off aid to South Africa, accused Ramaphosa’s government of persecuting white people, condemned it for binging a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and for “reinvigorating” relations with Iran – an implacable foe of the US.

    Priyal Singh, a South Africa foreign policy expert at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies think-tank, told the BBC that if the DA’s claims about Jonas were true, it would be in line with the Trump administration’s strategy to give South Africa the “cold shoulder, and cut off channels of communication that it so desperately needs”.

    The US has not only cut back bilateral relations with South Africa, but also boycotted it in global bodies like the G20 – which Ramaphosa currently chairs, hoping to advance the interests of developing nations in talks with the world’s richest states.

    The latest sign of this was US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s decision to skip Thursday’s meeting of G20 finance ministers in South Africa, preferring to send a lower-ranking official instead.

    Bessent skipped a similar meeting in February, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio stayed away from a meeting of G20 foreign ministers, saying Ramaphosa’s government was doing “very bad things” and he could not “coddle anti-Americanism”.

    Ramaphosa had hoped to get relations with the US back on an even keel after Trump invited him to the Oval Office in May – only for the US president to ambush him by showing footage and brandishing a sheaf of spurious reports to advance his widely discredited claim that a genocide was taking place against white people in South Africa.

    Jonas was strikingly absent from Ramaphosa’s high-powered delegation, giving credence to the DA’s claim that he was unwelcome in Washington.

    This put South Africa back to square one as the US had expelled its ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, after he accused Trump, in a leaked speech given at a meeting of a think-tank, of “mobilising a supremacism” and trying to “project white victimhood as a dog whistle” as the white population faced becoming a minority in the US.

    In a politically odd decision, Ramaphosa left the post vacant, despite its significance, suggesting that his government had a dearth of well qualified career diplomats who could rebuild relations with South Africa’s second-biggest trading partner.

    Instead, Ramaphosa pinned his hopes on a special envoy who, he said at the time of Jonas’s appointment, would “lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests”.

    But it is unclear how Ramaphosa expected Jonas to achieve this given that he, like Rasool, had made controversial remarks about Trump, calling him a “racist” and a “narcissistic right-winger” in a 2020 speech that came back to haunt him after his appointment.

    This was compounded by the fact that MTN had a 49% stake in Iran’s telecom company IranCell, a major concern for the US.

    Compared to its previous stances, South Africa was “more circumspect” – as Mr Singh put it – in its response to US air strikes on Iran in June, merely saying that it viewed the conflict with “great anxiety” and hoped that it could be resolved through dialogue.

    W Gyude Moore, a policy analyst at the US-based Center for Global Development, told the BBC that it was not surprising that South Africa was in Trump’s firing line.

    He pointed out that South Africa championed what Trump’s support-base saw as “woke culture”. For instance, Ramaphosa regarded the G20 as a forum through which to promote international “solidarity, equality and sustainability”, which Rubio had opposed, equating it to “diversity, equity and inclusion”, as well as climate change.

    Mr Moore said this was also borne out in the Trump’s administration’s attitude towards South Africa’s “black empowerment” policy, accusing it of “race-based discrimination” against white people. Ramaphosa’s government sees it as necessary to address the legacy of the racist system of apartheid.

    “I cannot see how the differences can be resolved. South Africa will just have to carry on, and strengthen ties with other countries. It’s not the only one in the crosshairs of the Trump administration,” Mr Moore added.

    But it is a major blow to South Africa, as it had maintained strong trade and aid relations with successive Republican and Democratic administrations despite having sharp differences with them.

    Mr Singh pointed out that South Africa, for example, opposed the Republican George W Bush’s war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but South Africa still benefited from Pepfar, the programme he had established to tackle HIV/Aids, until the Trump administration slashed funding earlier this year.

    “The Trump administration is completely different, and caught everyone off-guard. South Africa will just have to weather out the storm, and try to mitigate the damage,” Mr Singh said.

    But the economic consequences could be devastating – especially if Trump imposes 30% tariffs on South African goods from 1 August, as he has threatened to do.

    South Africa’s central bank chief Lesetja Kganyago said the tariffs could lead to around 100,000 job losses – worrying for a country where the unemployment rate stands at a staggering 32.9%.

    The tariffs would hit South Africa’s agriculture sector hard. This is ironic as Trump has portrayed himself as a champion of the country’s Afrikaner farmers, offering them refugee status in the US.

    It also gives them an opportunity to farm in the US and boost its economy in line with Trump’s “America First” policy.

    (BBC)

  • Trump Says Epstein Scandal is ‘Hoax,’ Calls On ‘Past Supporters’ To Move On

    Trump Says Epstein Scandal is ‘Hoax,’ Calls On ‘Past Supporters’ To Move On

    US President Donald Trump called on his supporters to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which he termed a “hoax,” after his Justice Department determined the disgraced financier died by suicide in 2019, and said he had no “client list.”

    The determination has driven the strongest wedge in Trump’s base since he assumed office in January as supporters continue to clamor for the release of all files related to Epstein, including the “client list” that Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February was “sitting on my desk right now.”

    Trump insisted that his base move on from the issue, alleging that they are now falling into a plot by Democrats.

    “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bull****,’ hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years,” Trump said on social media.

    “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!” he added.

    On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson broke with Trump, and called for the release of government files related to Epstein.

    “I’m for transparency,” Johnson said in an interview with conservative podcast host Benny Johnson. “It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.”

    Johnson, a close Trump ally, said Bondi “needs to come forward and explain” her conflicting statements about the so-called Epstein “client list.”

    “I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there,” he added.

    House Republicans voted 211–210 to block a Democratic motion that would have allowed a vote on Representative Ro Khanna’s measure to require the Justice Department to publish the Epstein files within 30 days.

    Democrats seized on the divide, calling for hearings and accusing Republicans of shielding the powerful.

    “If you’re not hiding anything, prove that to the American people,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told a news conference Monday.

  • Musk’s Grok Signs $200m Deal With Pentagon

    Musk’s Grok Signs $200m Deal With Pentagon

    The Pentagon has signed a multi-million dollar deal to begin using Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, as part of a wider rollout of AI tools for government use, the Department of Defence confirmed.

    Announced on Monday by Musk’s company xAI, the $200m (£149m) contract is part of its “Grok for Government” programme, and aligns with the Trump administration’s push for more aggressive adoption of artificial intelligence.

    It comes just days after Grok sparked backlash for spouting antisemitic posts, including praise for Adolf Hitler on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.

    Musk said the bot was “too compliant” and “too eager to please”. He said the issue was being addressed.

    Musk’s xAI says the new deal will give US government departments access to Grok 4, the latest version of the chatbot, and offer custom tools for national security use.

    The company also plans to provide technical support for classified environments.

    The Pentagon also announced awarding similar contracts to Anthropic, Google and OpenAI – each with a $200m ceiling.

    “The adoption of AI is transforming the Department’s ability to support our warfighters and maintain strategic advantage over our adversaries,” said the administration’s Chief Digital and AI Officer Doug Matty.

    Musk’s expanding government partnerships come amid a deteriorating relationship with President Donald Trump.

    The Tesla and SpaceX boss had spent a quarter of a billion dollars on Trump’s re-election effort in 2024, and actively campaigned for him.

    He was later appointed to run the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) – a federal cost-cutting initiative tasked with reducing the size of the US government.

    But in recent months, Musk began openly criticising what Trump had dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”, a sprawling spending and tax cuts legislation that the Tesla boss said was too costly for Americans.

    Musk resigned from his post at Doge in May, though the department has not been officially disbanded.

    Since then, Trump had suggested Doge could be deployed to harm Musk’s companies.

    Trump also suggested he might deport Musk, who is an American citizen and was born in South Africa. He also holds Canadian citizenship.

    While at the helm of Doge, the White House was criticised for allowing Musk to have unfettered access to troves of government data on American citizens.

    Despite the fall-out, Musk’s xAI has continued to expand its government work. Its newly-announced contract may also create an avenue for that data collection to continue.

    Grok was introduced in late 2023 as a more unfiltered alternative to other AI chatbots like ChatGPT. It is already integrated into Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

    (BBC)

  • Ghislaine Maxwell Ready to Reveal ‘Truth’ About Epstein Client List

    Ghislaine Maxwell Ready to Reveal ‘Truth’ About Epstein Client List

    Ghislaine Maxwell is reportedly prepared to testify before Congress about Jeffrey Epstein’s secret files, amid criticism against US Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice (DOJ), Daily Mail UK has reported.

    Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking network, has appealed her conviction to the US Supreme Court. The DOJ’s response is due by July 14.

    ‘She would welcome the chance to tell her story’

    A source close to Maxwell told Daily Mail that the 63-year-old former socialite is open to testifying before Congress. “She would be more than happy to sit before Congress and tell her story,” the source said. “She remains the only person to be jailed in connection to Epstein and she would welcome the chance to tell the American public the truth.”

    The source added, “Despite the rumours, Ghislaine was never offered any kind of plea deal. No one from the government has ever asked her to share what she knows.”

    “This is a critical moment, a do or die moment. Ghislaine believes she has multiple grounds for appeal,” the unnamed Department of Justice source added.

    Why is Maxwell appealing?

    Maxwell was convicted in 2022 for helping Epstein sexually abuse several underage girls over the span of a decade. She argues her prosecution violated a 2007 non-prosecution agreement granted to Epstein, which she claims should have protected her as well. She maintains that she is innocent and insists she should have never been charged.

    Claims of missing footage, no ‘client list’ raise more questions

    The Epstein scandal continues to cause political fallout. The DOJ recently claimed there is no ‘client list’ and that Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. But critics have pointed out that video footage from inside the jail is incomplete, with key minutes missing and no view of Epstein’s cell door.

    This has fuelled conspiracy theories and angered Trump’s MAGA base, many of whom now accuse Pam Bondi of failing to keep her promise of transparency over the Epstein files.

    Trump, Elon Musk respond to Epstein ‘cover-up’ claims

    On Truth Social, Donald Trump hit back at Epstein-related allegations, writing, “For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again. Why are we not giving publicity to files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan and the losers and criminals of the Biden administration?”

    Meanwhile, Elon Musk has claimed the cover-up exists because Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files. However, a source close to Maxwell told Daily Mail this was a “false flag”, and that Trump had broken contact with Epstein early on.

    No new prosecutions expected, DOJ says

    The DOJ has also said it is unlikely anyone else will be prosecuted in relation to the Epstein case. That includes Prince Andrew, who settled a civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who had accused him of having sex with her while she was underage, a claim he has always denied. Giuffre died earlier this year in what has been described as suicide.

    Maxwell’s Supreme Court appeal is still pending, and the DOJ’s official response is expected by July 14. “Congressional hearings have been held into everything from JFK’s assassination to 9/11. The Epstein files rank up there with those cases,” the source told Daily Mail.

  • How to Earn Money Online: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

    How to Earn Money Online: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

    In today’s digital world, earning money online has become more accessible than ever. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle, a full-time income, or just a bit of extra cash, the internet offers countless opportunities. The best part? You don’t need a lot of money to get started—just a reliable internet connection, some motivation, and a willingness to learn. This article explores some of the most popular, beginner-friendly ways to make money online, including an exciting opportunity called funded trading.

    1. Freelancing

    Freelancing is one of the fastest-growing ways to earn money online. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer connect clients with freelancers from around the world. You can offer services such as writing, graphic design, social media management, translation, video editing, and much more.

    Why it’s great:

    ● Work from anywhere

    ● Set your own rates

    ● Choose the projects you like

    Even if you don’t have advanced skills, you can start small. For example, data entry, virtual assistant jobs, and customer service roles are often in demand.

    2. Online Surveys and Microtasks

    While not the most lucrative option, online surveys and microtasks are easy ways to earn a bit of extra cash. Websites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and Amazon Mechanical Turk pay users to complete simple tasks such as answering surveys, watching videos, testing apps, or categorizing data.

    Keep in mind: These are better for earning small amounts of money in your spare time, not for building a full-time income.

    3. Sell Products Online

    If you’re creative or good at finding deals, selling online could be a great fit. Platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace allow you to sell handmade crafts, vintage items, or secondhand goods. You can also start a dropshipping business using Shopify or WooCommerce, where you sell products without handling inventory.

    Tip: Research trending products and learn about marketing. A little effort in learning can take your store much further.

    4. Affiliate Marketing

    Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies’ products and earning a commission for every sale made through your link. Many bloggers, YouTubers, and social media influencers use affiliate marketing to earn money.

    You can sign up for affiliate programs on platforms like Amazon Associates, ClickBank, or ShareASale. Create content (like blog posts, reviews, or social media posts) that includes your affiliate link, and you’ll earn a percentage when someone buys through it.

    5. Start a YouTube Channel or Blog

    If you enjoy creating content, consider starting a YouTubechannel or blog. Both platforms allow you to share your interests, educate others, or entertain an audience—and they can generate income through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

    What’s required:

    ● Consistency and patience

    ● Basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or YouTube algorithm understanding

    ● A niche you enjoy

    Over time, as your audience grows, so does your income potential.

    6. Funded Trading: Trade with Someone Else’s Capital

    One of the more advanced—but potentially lucrative—ways to make money online is funded trading. Unlike traditional trading where you risk your own money, funded trading allows you to trade financial markets (like forex, commodities, or indices) using capital provided by a proprietary trading firm.

    Here’s how it works:

    ● You apply to a prop trading firm offering a funding program.

    ● You pass an evaluation or challenge phase by proving you can trade responsibly.

    ● Once approved, you receive access to a funded account—sometimes up to $100,000 or more.

    ● You keep a portion of the profits you generate, often as high as 80-90%.

    Why it’s appealing:

    ● You don’t risk your personal savings.

    ● You can scale up your trading career without needing your own capital.

    ● Firms often offer training, feedback, and a supportive trading environment.

    Of course, trading requires education, discipline, and emotional control. It’s not gambling, and success takes time. But for those who take it seriously, it can be a life-changing opportunity.

    7. Teach or Tutor Online

    If you’re skilled in a subject like English, math, coding, or music, consider teaching online. Websites like VIPKid, Preply, and Teachable let you earn by tutoring or creating online courses. You can also sell educational content on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare.

    Perks:

    ● Great for those who love helping others

    ● Flexible hours

    ● Passive income potential (with pre-recorded courses)

    Final Thoughts

    There’s no one-size-fits-all way to make money online. The best option depends on your skills, goals, and time availability. Some methods, like freelancing and selling products, can generate income quickly. Others, like blogging or funded trading, take more time and effort but offer greater long-term rewards.

    The key to success is consistency. Choose one or two methods, stick with them, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to try new things. With patience and dedication, making money online isn’t just a dream—it’s a real, achievable goal.

  • Boos and Applause For Trump at FIFA Club World Cup Final

    Boos and Applause For Trump at FIFA Club World Cup Final

    Donald Trump experienced the agony and the ecstasy of football on Sunday as he was booed at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup — even as he joined in some high-spirited celebrations with champions Chelsea.

    The US president was front and center as the winners took to the stage, grinning broadly in his red tie and clapping and jumping with the players as the jubilant Blues lifted the gleaming trophy, which he had presented to captain Reece James.

    But moments earlier, loud booing could be heard among cheers and applause as Trump walked onto the pitch for the presentation with FIFA president Gianni Infantino — before the music in the stadium was turned up.

    Earlier, the Republican billionaire was also applauded as he and First Lady Melania Trump arrived for the match at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City.

    But when a jumbotron screen briefly showed Trump saluting to the US national anthem, yet more boos could be heard in the giant stadium, before the camera quickly cut away.

    The scorn did little to dampen the president’s spirits as he handed out trophies to the star players including the Golden Ball for best player to Cole Palmer, followed by handshakes and medals to the defeated Paris Saint-Germain.

    He later called the crowd “tremendous.”

    “We had a great time,” he told reporters as he landed at Joint Base Andrews outside the US capital Washington after the match.

    The Republican’s appearance at the game also came on the first anniversary of the assassination attempt that he survived at an election rally in Pennsylvania.

    Trump has made no secret of his desire to use this year’s club championship and next year’s 2026 World Cup as symbols of the “Golden Age of America” during his second term in the White House.

    Next year’s World Cup, the final of which will be held at the same stadium, will coincide with the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.

    Trump has even set up a White House task force to ensure next year’s championship — hosted jointly with Canada and Mexico — goes smoothly.

    – ‘He loves it’ –

    Trump has fostered a close relationship with Infantino, who has been a frequent visitor to the White House.

    The president has kept the Club World Cup trophy next to his desk in the Oval Office since the FIFA president dropped by in March.

    Infantino, who is no stranger to dealing with hard-nosed world leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2018 World Cup, thanked Trump for his support on Saturday.

    He said Trump had “embraced immediately the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup, and of course of the World Cup next year.”

    Infantino also joked that Trump “certainly loves as well the trophy” — whose gold-plated curves match the gilded makeover that the president has given the Oval Office.

    But Trump’s fondness of football, or soccer as he would say, is also personal.

    The president’s 19-year-old son Barron is a fan, as Infantino pointed out in a press conference at FIFA’s new office in Trump Tower in New York on Saturday.

    Asked if Trump liked the game, Infantino replied: “Well I think he does. In his first term as president of the United States, there was a soccer goal in the garden of the White House.

    “He then explained to me that his son loved football, and that he loved the game. And of course when you are a parent, you love what your children love, so I think that he loves it.”

    As a boarding school student at the New York Military Academy, Trump himself also reportedly played the game for a season.

    – ‘Go home’ –

    But in typical form, Trump has also mixed political controversy with his football fandom.

    Hosting Italian side Juventus in the Oval Office in June, he delivered a diatribe on transgender people in sports before asking the players: “Could a woman make your team, fellas?”

    Most of the players looked bemused before Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied: “We have a very good women’s team.”

    “He’s being very diplomatic,” said Trump.

    Trump’s hardline immigration crackdown — part of his “America First” policy — has meanwhile sparked fears that football fans will be discouraged from coming to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.

    In May, Vice President JD Vance said that fans would be “welcome to come… but when the time is up, they will have to go home.”

    (AFP)

  • Former Nigerian Leader Muhammadu Buhari Dies Aged 82

    Former Nigerian Leader Muhammadu Buhari Dies Aged 82

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, who has died age 82 in a London clinic, was a former military ruler and self-styled converted democrat who returned to power through elections but struggled to convince Nigerians he could deliver on the change he promised.

    Never a natural politician, he was seen as aloof and austere. But he retained a reputation for personal honesty – a rare feat for a politician in Nigeria.

    After three failed attempts, Buhari achieved a historic victory in 2015, becoming the country’s first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent. In 2019, he was re-elected for another four-year term.

    Buhari had always been popular among the poor of the north (known as the “talakawa” in the Hausa language) but for the 2015 campaign, he had the advantage of a united opposition grouping behind him.

    Many of those who supported him thought his military background and disciplinarian credentials were what the country needed to get to grips with the Islamist insurgency in the north. Buhari also promised to tackle corruption and nepotism in government, and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

    But his time in office coincided with a slump in global oil prices and the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

    His administration also came under fire for its handling of insecurity. While campaigning he had promised to defeat the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. But the group remains a threat and one of its factions is now affiliated to the so-called Islamic State group.

    There was also an upsurge in deadly clashes between farmers and ethnic Fulani herders in central Nigeria. Mr Buhari, a Fulani, was accused of not being tough enough on the herders or doing enough to stop the crisis.

    The activities of so-called bandits in the north-western part of the country saw the abduction of hundreds of secondary school students.

    Under his watch armed forces were accused of human rights abuses – like opening fire on anti-police brutality protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos in October 2020.

    Who was Muhammadu Buhari?

    Muhammadu Buhari was born in December 1942 in Daura in Katsina state in the far north of Nigeria, near the border with Niger. At the time, Nigeria was controlled by the British and it would be another 18 years before the country gained independence.

    Buhari’s father, who died when he was four, was Fulani, while his mother, who brought him up, was Kanuri. In a 2012 interview, Buhari spoke of being his father’s 23rd child and his mother’s 13th. He said his only recollection of his father was of the two of them and one of his half-brothers being thrown from the back of a horse.

    After three failed attempts, Buhari won victory at the polls in 2015
    After three failed attempts, Buhari won victory at the polls in 2015

    The young Buhari attended primary school in Daura and then boarding school in the city of Katsina. After leaving school, he was admitted to the Nigerian Military Training College, joining the Nigerian army shortly after independence.

    Buhari undertook officer training in the UK from 1962-1963 and then began his steady climb up the ranks.

    In later years, Buhari attributed his disciplinarian bent to spending his formative years at boarding school, where corporal punishment was the norm, and in the military. He was “lucky” to have experienced such tough environments, which taught him to work hard, he said.

    In 1966, there was a military coup and then counter-coup in Nigeria – a time of upheaval for army officers but Buhari always maintained he was too junior to have played any significant role.

    Less than 10 years later, under a military government, Buhari had risen to become military governor of the north-east, an area then comprising six states.

    After less than a year, Buhari, now in his mid-30s, was promoted again, becoming federal commissioner for petroleum and natural resources (in effect oil minister) in 1976 under Olusegun Obasanjo in his first spell as Nigerian head of state.

    Indiscipline and corruption

    By 1978, Buhari, then a colonel, had returned to being a military commander. His tough stance in 1983 – when some Nigerian islands were annexed in Lake Chad by Chadian soldiers – is still remembered in the north-east, after he blockaded the area and drove off the invaders.

    The end of 1983 saw another coup, against elected President Shehu Shagari, and Buhari, now a major-general, became the country’s military ruler. By his own account, he was not one of the plotters but was installed (and subsequently discarded) by those who held the real power and needed a figurehead.

    Other accounts suggest he played a more active role in removing Shagari than he was willing to admit.

    Buhari ruled for 20 months, a period remembered for a campaign against indiscipline and corruption, as well as for human rights abuses.

    About 500 politicians, officials and businessmen were jailed as part of a campaign against waste and corruption.

    Some saw this as the heavy-handed repression of military rule. Others remember it as a praiseworthy attempt to fight the endemic corruption that was holding back Nigeria’s development.

    Buhari retained a rare reputation for honesty among Nigeria’s politicians, both military and civilian, largely because of this campaign.

    As part of his “war against indiscipline”, he ordered Nigerians to form neat queues at bus stops, under the sharp eyes of whip-wielding soldiers. Civil servants who were late for work were publicly humiliated by being forced to do frog jumps.

    Some of his measures might have been seen as merely eccentric. But others were genuinely repressive, such as a decree to restrict press freedom, under which journalists were jailed.

    Buhari’s government also locked up Nigeria’s greatest musical hero, Fela Kuti – a thorn in the side of successive leaders – on trumped-up charges relating to currency exports.

    Buhari’s attempts to re-balance the public finances by curbing imports led to many job losses and the closure of businesses.

    As part of anti-corruption measures, he also ordered that the currency be replaced – the colour of the naira notes was changed – forcing all holders of old notes to exchange them at banks within a limited period.

    Prices rose while living standards fell, and in August 1985 Buhari was ousted and imprisoned for 40 months. Army chief Gen Ibrahim Babangida took over.

    Historic election victory

    After his release and, he said, having seen the consequences of the break-up of the Soviet Union, Buhari decided to enter party politics, now convinced of the virtues of multiparty democracy and free and fair elections.

    Despite this, Buhari always defended the 1983 coup, saying in 2005: “The military came in when it was absolutely necessary and the elected people had failed the country.”

    He also rejected accusations that his measures against journalists and others had gone too far, insisting that he had been merely applying the laws that others had been breaking.

    Buhari's wife, Aisha, joined the criticism of her husband's administration
    Buhari’s wife, Aisha, joined the criticism of her husband’s administration

    He was elected president in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent since the return of multiparty democracy in 1999.

    As president, Buhari made a virtue of his “incorruptibility”, declaring his relatively modest wealth and saying he had “spurned several past opportunities” to enrich himself.

    He was plain spoken by nature, which sometimes played well for him in the media and sometimes badly.

    Although few doubted his personal commitment to fighting corruption and there were several notable scalps, some questioned whether the structures enabling mismanagement had really been reformed.

    And attempts to improve youth employment prospects were, at best, a work in progress.

    ‘Bag of rice’

    On the day Buhari left office, some Nigerians were asked in a video that was widely shared on social media, what they would remember most about his time in office, and all respondents said the same thing: ‘Bag of rice’.

    The reason was simple – rice is the staple food in the country.

    A standard 50kg (110lb) bag of rice, which could help feed a household of between eight and 10 for about a month, cost just 7,500 naira ($5; £3) under President Goodluck Jonathan, who was defeated by Buhari in 2015, but went up to 60,000 naira a few years afterwards.

    This led to hunger in many parts of the country.

    The huge surge in the price of rice was because, in an echo of his earlier policy as a military ruler, Buhari banned the importation of rice to encourage more Nigerian farmers to grow the crop.

    However, local producers were unable to meet the high demand and many of his supporters lost their faith in him.

    Ismail Danyaro, a resident of the northern city of Kano, said he had backed Buhari since he first contested the presidency in 2003.

    “I used to buy a 50kg bag of rice under Goodluck [Jonathan] but when Buhari came, I found it difficult to buy even a 25kg bag of rice because it became so expensive,” he told the BBC.

    At one point, even Buhari’s wife threatened not to support his re-election bid.

     

     

    Buhari never accepted that his measures as military ruler were repressive or over-zealous
    Buhari never accepted that his measures as military ruler were repressive or over-zealous

    ‘Baba go slow’

    Nigerians love nicknames and some of the country’s leaders’ nicknames have stuck even long after they left office.

    For example, former military leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is still called “Maradona” for what people perceived as his tactical dribbles on issues and situations.

    For Buhari, it was “Baba [Father] go slow” after it took him six months to name his first cabinet on assuming office in 2015.

    Responding to his nickname years later, Buhari said it wasn’t his fault that it took so long to get anything done.

    “Yes, we are slow because the system is slow. It’s not Baba that is slow but it is the system so I am going by this system and I hope we will make it,” he said in 2018.

    Nigerian politics in 2022-2023 remains one of the most interesting in the country’s democratic history.

    In the minds of many, it was the first time that a sitting president wasn’t really bothered about who his successor was going to be.

    Openly, Buhari declared he would support whoever won his party’s (All Progressives Congress) nomination but insiders say behind the scenes he was ambivalent.

    Buhari’s body language emboldened all five candidates seeking the APC’s endorsement and their supporters all went around saying they had his backing.

    At one point it felt as if Buhari opposed the candidacy of his eventual successor, Bola Tinubu.

    What followed was the declaration of the “naira swap policy” which the Buhari administration announced would, among other things, limit the influence of money in the 2023 elections.

    Many Nigerians believed that the policy was targeted at preventing Tinubu from becoming president even though he had been chosen as the APC candidate.

    The policy involved the confiscation of trillions of old naira notes and their replacement with new notes for the highest denominations.

    However, there were not enough new notes, leading to shortages and suffering by millions, particularly the less well-off, who rely on cash for their daily transactions.

    The policy was only suspended after a Supreme Court ruling, just days before the election.

    Tinubu won narrowly, with 37% of votes cast, as the opposition was divided.

    Any assessment of Buhari’s presidency must take account his declining health, which caused him to take significant absences from work, especially during his first term.

    The former military ruler may have reinvented himself as a democrat but there was no such commitment to transparency concerning his own health, with Nigerians left uninformed about the fitness of their head of state for office.

    Muhammadu Buhari married twice, first to Safinatu Yusuf from 1971-1988, and then in 1989 to Aisha Halilu, who survives him. He had 10 children.

    (BBC)

  • Fuel to Engines Cut Off Before Air India Crash, Preliminary Report Says

    Fuel to Engines Cut Off Before Air India Crash, Preliminary Report Says

    Fuel to the engines of the Air India plane involved in a deadly crash was cut off moments after take-off, a preliminary investigation report has found.

    In recovered cockpit voice recordings, the report said one of the pilots can be heard asking “why did you cut off?” – to which the other pilot replied he “did not do so”.

    The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed less than a minute after taking off on 12 June from Ahmedabad airport in western India, killing 260 people, most of them passengers. One British national miraculously survived the crash.

    The investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to produce a more detailed report in 12 months.

    According to data from the flight recorder, both of the plane’s fuel control switches moved from the run to the cut-off position in the space of a second, shortly after take-off.

    The switches are usually only cut off to turn off the engines after landing, or during emergency situations such as an engine fire – rather than during take-off.

    The cut-off caused both engines to lose thrust, the AAIB report said.

    There is then confusion heard in the cockpit, with one pilot asking the other why he had switched off the fuel, which the other denied. The Gatwick-bound plane was being piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar. The report does not specify which voice is which.

    The fuel switches then moved back into their normal in-flight position, automatically starting the process of relighting the engines. One engine, the report said, was able to regain thrust – but could not reverse the plane’s deceleration.

    One of the pilots submitted a Mayday call just before the plane plummeted and crashed into a building used as doctors’ accommodation, causing an explosion.

    Both pilots had an “adequate rest period prior” to the flight, the report said.

    Experts had previously speculated that birds could have caused the crash, but the report said that “no significant bird activity” was observed in the vicinity of the plane’s flight path.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin in 2019 highlighting that some Boeing 737 fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged, the report said.

    The issue was not deemed an unsafe condition requiring an Airworthiness Directive – a legally enforceable regulation.

    The same switch design is used in Air India’s VT-ANB aircraft which crashed. As the bulletin was advisory, Air India did not perform inspections.

    Experts who spoke to the BBC offered differing opinions on whether this could have played a factor.

    An Air India spokesperson said the airline acknowledged receipt of the preliminary report.

    “We continue to fully co-operate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB,” the Air India spokesperson added.

    In a statement, Boeing said it would defer to AAIB to provide information about the crashed plane, in adherence with protocol under the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao). It also said it continued to support the investigation and its customer, Air India.

    The US National Transportation Safety Board said that there were no recommended actions in the report aimed at operators of Boeing-787 jets or the GE engines.

    The accident marked the first time a 787-8 Dreamliner suffered a fatal crash since entering service in 2011.

    The crash is a major setback for Air India, which is in the middle of a business turnaround following its privatisation. It was bought out by the Tata Group from the Indian government in 2022.

    The airline has announced a cut in international operations on its wide-body aircraft as it grapples with several disruptions in the aftermath of the crash.

    (BBC)

  • Uhuru Arrives in Rwanda For DRC Peace Talks

    Uhuru Arrives in Rwanda For DRC Peace Talks

    Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, July 11, 2025, arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, to meet President Paul Kagame over the peace talks between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    In a statement from the presidency of Rwanda, the meeting between Uhuru and Kagame focused on achieving a lasting peace between the two countries.

    “This afternoon at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame received former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, one of the EAC-SADC Facilitators for the Eastern DRC peace process. Their discussions focused on the ongoing efforts to achieve durable peace in Eastern DRC and address the root causes of the conflict,” the statement reads.

    Complex peace talks

    DRC and Rwanda are at the center of ongoing, complex peace talks, with both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) playing significant, albeit sometimes overlapping, roles in mediation efforts.

    While recent developments have seen a major peace agreement signed between the two nations, the path to lasting stability in the volatile Eastern DRC remains challenging, requiring sustained regional and international collaboration.

    A significant breakthrough occurred on June 27, 2025, when the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, D.C., brokered by the United States and Qatar.

    Nairobi Process

    The accord aimed to cease hostilities, uphold territorial integrity, and halt support for non-state armed groups, particularly addressing the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing.

    The EAC has been actively involved through its Nairobi Process, led by Uhuru, which led to the deployment of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in November 2022 to eastern DRC.

    The EACRF’s mandate included jointly planning operations with the Congolese military (FARDC) to defeat armed groups, maintaining law and order, supporting humanitarian efforts, and aiding disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs.

    However, observers highlight that deep-rooted grievances, the involvement of numerous armed groups, and the lack of accountability for past atrocities continue to pose significant hurdles to a comprehensive and sustainable peace between the two countries.

    A key outcome of the harmonized EAC-SADC approach has been the emphasis on direct negotiations with all state and non-state actors, including the M23.

  • US Singer Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Lesser Assault Charge in UK Court

    US Singer Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Lesser Assault Charge in UK Court

    U.S. singer Chris Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm by allegedly attacking a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub two years ago.

    Brown last month denied a more serious charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an “unprovoked attack” on Abraham Diaw in a London nightclub in 2023.

    The 36-year-old appeared at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Friday, where he spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas of not guilty to causing actual bodily harm and a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

    Brown’s co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 38, also pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing actual bodily harm, having previously denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.

    The pair’s trial is due to begin on October 26, 2026.

    Around 20 supporters sat in the public gallery behind the dock during Friday’s short hearing, with two saying “we love you, Chris” as he left the court.

    The R&B star, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as “Loyal”, “Run It” and “Under the Influence”, was granted bail in May after paying a 5 million-pound ($6.7 million) security fee in order to begin his “Breezy Bowl XX” tour.

    Brown was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England in May after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident two years ago.

    (Reuters)

  • ‪Mali’s Interim President Assimi Goita Signs Law That Grants Himself Unlimited Presidential Term‬

    ‪Mali’s Interim President Assimi Goita Signs Law That Grants Himself Unlimited Presidential Term‬

    Mali’s military authorities have granted coup leader Assimi Goita a five-year presidential mandate, renewable “as many times as necessary” and without requiring an election.

    The country’s transitional parliament approved the move on Thursday, clearing the way for Goita to lead Mali until at least 2030.

    “This is a major step forward in the rebuilding of Mali,” Malick Diaw, president of the National Transitional Council (NTC), told the AFP news agency after the bill was voted on.

    “The adoption of this text is in accordance with the popular will.”

    However, critics say this is the latest in a series of restrictions on freedom imposed by Mali’s military leadership to consolidate its power in the country.

    Goita came to power after staging two coups in Mali, first in 2020 and then in 2021. Initially, the military government pledged to return to civilian rule in March 2024.

    The bill on Thursday was unanimously backed by the 131 members present in the NTC, according to AFP and Mali’s state-run L’Essor website.

    The NTC, composed of 147 legislators, had already adopted the measure in April, while the Council of Ministers adopted it last month. It now only requires the approval of Goita himself.

    The transition is fixed at five years, renewable “as many times as necessary, until the pacification of the country, from the promulgation of this charter”, reported AFP, quoting the bill.

    Previous bans have also been lifted, allowing the transitional president, government and legislative members to stand in presidential and general elections, the text says.

    Critics have raised concerns about the revised transition charter, as all references to political parties have been removed, questioning the government’s political neutrality.

    In May, the military government announced the dissolution of all political parties and organisations, as well as a ban on meetings.

    The continuing squeeze on Mali’s civic space comes against a backdrop of a clamour by authorities for the country to unite behind the military.

    Violence from armed groups

    When Goita was officially sworn in as transitional president in June 2021, he insisted on Mali’s commitment to fighting against “jihadist” violence, and initially pledged a return to civilian rule.

    But the military ultimately reneged on its promise to cede power to elected civilians by its self-imposed deadline.

    Since 2012, Mali has been mired in violence carried out by armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIL, as well as criminal organisations. Attacks have intensified in recent weeks.

    However, the Malian army and its Russian mercenary allies from the Africa Corps, tasked with tracking down armed fighters, are regularly accused of their own rights violations against civilians.

    Mali and its military-led neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger have teamed up to create their own confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and announced the creation of a joint 5,000-strong force for joint military operations.

    All three Sahelian countries have turned their backs on their shared former coloniser, France, in favour of stronger ties with Russia and other partners.

    Goita has also withdrawn Mali from the regional group, ECOWAS, over its demands that Mali restore democratic rule, and Burkina Faso and Niger have followed suit.

    The coup that brought Goita to power overthrew then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after huge antigovernment protests against his rule and handling of the armed rebellion.

    However, armed attacks have continued and even intensified since he took power.

  • Son of Mexico’s ‘El Chapo’ to Plead Guilty in US Drug Case

    Son of Mexico’s ‘El Chapo’ to Plead Guilty in US Drug Case

    The son of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is expected to enter a guilty plea to drug charges in a Chicago court on Friday as part of a plea agreement that could lead to a lighter sentence.

    Known by the nickname “El Raton,” or “The Mouse,” Ovidio Guzman finalised a deal on June 30, saying he would plead guilty to circumvent a jury trial and avoid a potentially more severe punishment if found guilty.

    The guilty plea is expected to be officially entered during a hearing in Chicago after months of discussions with prosecutors.

    Ovidio Guzman, aged 35, faces accusations of participating in an ongoing criminal enterprise, importing and distributing fentanyl, engaging in money laundering, and the use of firearms. His plea is likely to result in a significantly shorter prison term compared to the life sentence imposed on his father, El Chapo, following a highly publicised trial in 2018.

    He could provide invaluable insights to US authorities regarding the cartel and its protectors, according to Mike Vigil, former head of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

    Ovidio Guzman came into the spotlight in October 2019 when Mexican law enforcement detained him, only to release him later on orders from then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador amid a standoff involving law enforcement and gang members.

    He was recaptured in January 2023, still under Lopez Obrador’s presidency, and subsequently extradited to the United States.

    US officials claim that Ovidio and his three brothers oversee Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that the administration of former President Donald Trump classified as a global “terrorist” organisation.

    Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is escorted to a helicopter by Mexican security forces at Mexico’s International Airport in Mexico City on Feb. 22, 2014. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg
    Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is escorted to a helicopter by Mexican security forces at Mexico’s International Airport in Mexico City on Feb. 22, 2014. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg

    His father, regarded as one of the most notorious drug traffickers in history, is currently serving a life sentence in a US prison.

    The US alleges that Ovidio Guzman and his associates trafficked fentanyl into the nation, where the opioid crisis is associated with tens of thousands of fatalities. The Sinaloa cartel is among six Mexican drug trafficking organisations that Trump has labelled as terrorist groups.

    Another of his siblings, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, was apprehended upon entering the United States last July on a private aircraft with cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who claimed he had been kidnapped.

    These arrests have led to violent confrontations within the cartel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 1,400 people missing in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa.

    In its robust stance against drug cartels, the Trump administration imposed additional sanctions on Los Chapitos in June for fentanyl rafficking and raised the reward to $10 million for each of the fugitive brothers.

  • Trump Presses African Leaders To Take Deported Migrants, Sources Say

    Trump Presses African Leaders To Take Deported Migrants, Sources Say

    (Reuters) – The Trump administration this week pressed five African presidents to take in migrants from other countries when they are deported by the U.S., two officials familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Thursday.

    The plan was presented to the presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon during their visit to the White House on Wednesday, according to a U.S. and a Liberian official who both asked not to be named.

    The White House and official spokespeople for the five nations did not respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately clear if any of the countries had agreed to the plan.

    Since returning to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing to speed up deportations, including by sending migrants to third countries when there are problems or delays over sending them to their home nations.
    On Saturday, eight migrants – from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam, according to their lawyers – arrived in South Sudan’s capital after they lost a legal battle to halt their transfer.

    Wednesday’s meeting at the White House had been organised partly to talk about the deportation plan, the U.S. official said. Liberia’s government was “preparing to accommodate” an effort to house migrants in its capital Monrovia, the U.S. official added.

    The Liberian official confirmed that the deportation plan was a focus of Wednesday’s meeting, but did not say whether Liberian President Joseph Boakai had agreed to it.

    The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that an internal State Department document sent to the African governments before the meeting called on them to agree to the “dignified, safe, and timely transfer from the United States” of third country nationals.

    Under the proposed plan, the governments would agree not to send the migrants “to their home country or country of former habitual residence until a final decision has been made” on their U.S. asylum bids, according to the report.

    Reuters has not seen a copy of the State Department document and could not confirm its contents.

    In public comments at Wednesday’s meeting, Trump told the five leaders he was shifting the U.S. approach to Africa from aid to trade, and that the United States was a better partner than China.

    “I hope we can bring down the high rates of people overstaying visas, and also make progress on the safe third country agreements,” Trump added.

    He was accompanied by Massad Boulos, senior adviser for Africa, and aide Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner.

  • Akon’s Futuristic $6bn City Project in Senegal Abandoned

    Akon’s Futuristic $6bn City Project in Senegal Abandoned

    Plans for a futuristic city in Senegal dreamt up by the singer Akon have been scrapped and instead he will work on something more realistic, officials say.

    “The Akon City project no longer exists,” Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal’s tourism development body, Sapco, told the BBC.

    “Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he’s preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support.”

    Known for his string of noughties chart hits, Akon – who was born in the US but partly raised in Senegal – announced two ambitious projects in 2018 that were supposed to represent the future of African society.

    The first was Akon City – reportedly costed at $6bn (£5bn). It was to run on the second initiative – a brand new cryptocurrency called Akoin.

    Initial designs for Akon City, with its boldly curvaceous skyscrapers, were compared by commentators to the awe-inspiring fictional city of Wakanda in Marvel’s Black Panther films and comic books.

    But after five years of setbacks, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène – about 100km (60 miles) south of the capital, Dakar – remains mostly empty. The only structure is an incomplete reception building. There are no roads, no housing, no power grid.

    “We were promised jobs and development,” one local resident told the BBC. “Instead, nothing has changed.”

    Meanwhile the star’s Akoin cryptocurrency has struggled to repay its investors over the years, with Akon himself conceding: “It wasn’t being managed properly – I take full responsibility for that.”

    There had also been questions over whether it would even be legal for Akoin to operate as the primary payment method for would-be residents of Akon City. Senegal uses the CFA franc, which is regulated and issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), and like many central banks has expressed opposition to cryptocurrency.

    These plans have been shelved and work will begin on a more realistic development at the same site in Mbodiène
    These plans have been shelved and work will begin on a more realistic development at the same site in Mbodiène

    These plans have been shelved and work will begin on a more realistic development at the same site in Mbodiène
    These plans have been shelved and work will begin on a more realistic development at the same site in Mbodiène

    Phase one alone was to include a hospital, a shopping mall, a school, a police station, a waste centre, and a solar plant – all by the end of 2023.

    Sitting on Senegal’s Atlantic Coast, Akon’s high-tech, eco-friendly city was supposed to run entirely on renewable energy.

    But despite Akon’s insistence in a 2022 BBC interview that the project was “100,000% moving”, no significant construction followed the initial launch ceremony.

    Now the Senegalese government has confirmed what many suspected – the project had stalled beyond recovery. Officials cited a lack of funding and halted construction efforts as key reasons for the decision.

    Although Akon City as it was originally imagined has been shelved, the government says it is now working with Akon on a more “realistic” development project for the same site.

    The land near Mbodiène remains of high strategic value, especially with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching and increased tourism activity expected.

    (BBC)

  • Trump Praises Liberian Leader on English – His Native Tongue

    Trump Praises Liberian Leader on English – His Native Tongue

    Trump was hosting a White House lunch with African leaders Wednesday, and — after brief remarks from President Joseph Boakai — asked the business graduate where he had picked up his linguistic know-how.

    “Thank you, and such good English… Where did you learn to speak so beautifully? Where were you educated?” Trump said.

    Boakai — who, like most Liberians, speaks English as a first language — indicated he had been educated in his native country.

    He was facing away from the media, making his countenance hard to gauge — but his laconic, mumbled response hinted at awkwardness.

    Trump, who was surrounded by French-speaking presidents from other West African nations, kept digging.

    “It’s beautiful English. I have people at this table can’t speak nearly as well,” he said.

    US President Donald Trump (C) speaks during a multilateral lunch with visiting African leaders at the White House. AFP
    US President Donald Trump (C) speaks during a multilateral lunch with visiting African leaders at the White House / AFP

    US engagement in Liberia began in the 1820s when the Congress- and slaveholder-funded American Colonization Society began sending freed slaves to its shores.

    Thousands of “Americo-Liberian” settlers followed, declaring themselves independent in 1847 and setting up a government to rule over a native African majority.

    The country has a diverse array of indigenous languages and a number of creolized dialects, while Kpelle-speakers are the largest single linguistic group.

    Boakai himself can read and write in Mendi and Kissi but converses in Liberia’s official tongue and lingua franca — English.

    (AFP)

  • US Cuts Visa Validity For Most Nigerian Applicants

    US Cuts Visa Validity For Most Nigerian Applicants

    The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most Nigerian travellers can enter the country.

    Staring 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months.

    It says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

    Nigeria also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US.

    The Nigerian government has not yet commented.

    The State Department says visa policies remain “subject to ongoing review” and may change depending on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration benchmarks.

    In a statement, the US government said it was working closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure the country meets key international standards.

    These include:

    • issuing secure travel documents
    • managing visa overstays
    • sharing security or criminal data for public safety purposes

    The US also ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas, including from Nigeria, would be vetted for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States”.

    Nigerians account for one of the highest number of student-visa applications to the US in the world.

  • Trump Accuses Putin of Talking ‘Bullshit’ On Ukraine

    Trump Accuses Putin of Talking ‘Bullshit’ On Ukraine

    President Donald Trump accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday of talking “bullshit” about Ukraine, saying that the United States would send Kyiv more weapons to defend itself.

    Trump’s expletive reflected his growing frustration with the Kremlin leader over the grinding war that Moscow launched more than three years ago.

    “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump told reporters during a televised cabinet meeting at the White House.

    “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

    Trump reiterated that he was “very unhappy” with Putin since their phone call last week made no progress on the Ukraine peace deal that the US president has pushed for since returning to power.

    Asked about his interest in a bill proposed by the Senate for further sanctions on Russia, Trump said: “I’m looking at it very strongly.”

    Trump’s criticism of Putin came a day after he said he would send more weapons to Ukraine, in a reversal of Washington’s announcement last week that it was halting some arms shipments.

    The US president, who alarmed Kyiv and western allies with his pivot towards Putin soon after returning to the White House, confirmed that decision on Tuesday.

    “Putin is not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons and I’ve approved that,” Trump said.

    Trump has promised to immediately send 10 Patriot interceptors — anti-missile systems — to Ukraine, according to US news website Axios.

    He also urged Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth to push defense contractors to increase production of armaments.

    “We have to step them up, Pete, and let them make it at a much higher rate,” he said.

    – ‘Difficult’ –

    Moscow had no immediate reaction to Trump’s strongly-worded comments about Putin — which come just two weeks after he also cursed while talking about the conflict between Israel and Iran.

    But the Kremlin said that sending arms to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict.

    “It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing.

    Any pause in weapons deliveries poses a serious challenge for Kyiv, which is contending with some of Russia’s largest missile and drone attacks of the war.

    President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine will “intensify” talks with the United States on air defense.

    “We now have the necessary political statements and decisions, and they must be implemented as soon as possible to protect our people,” he said.

    Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has shown little willingness to end the conflict despite pressure from Trump.

    Moscow said Monday that its forces captured its first village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region after advancing towards it for months.

    The village of Dachne is in an important industrial mining territory that has come under mounting Russian air attacks.

    Last month, Moscow said its forces had crossed the border into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in its campaign.

    Russia also launched a fresh large-scale drone and missile barrage on Monday including on Ukraine’s military recruitment centers.

    Kyiv said it carried out a drone attack on a Russian ammunition factory in the Moscow region.

    Ukraine has so far denied any Russian foothold in Dnipropetrovsk. Ukraine’s military said earlier Monday its forces “repelled” attacks in Dnipropetrovsk, including “in the vicinity” of Dachne.

    Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

    Describing the situation in Dnipropetrovsk as “difficult” for Kyiv’s forces, Ukrainian military expert Oleksiy Kopytko said Russia hopes to create some kind of buffer zone in the region.

    “Our troops are holding their ground quite steadily,” he told AFP.

    (AFP)

  • US Scraps Shoe Removal at Airport Screening

    US Scraps Shoe Removal at Airport Screening

    Passengers at US airports will no longer have to remove their shoes to pass through security under a new policy unveiled Tuesday, 20 years after the requirement was introduced.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the change to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules at a news conference at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.

    Passengers at US airports have been required to take off shoes during screenings since 2006, five years after the arrest of “Shoe Bomber” Richard Reid, who had explosives hidden in his footwear onboard.

    “In those 20 years since that policy was put in place, our security technology has changed dramatically. It’s evolved. TSA has changed. We have a multi-layered whole of government approach now to security,” Noem said.

    “We are very confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks and for American travelers and for those visiting our country, while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and for our homeland,” she added.

    Reid, a member of Al-Qaeda, was overpowered by other passengers as he tried to light a fuse on his shoes on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001.

    Reid pleaded guilty to terrorism and other charges and is serving a life sentence at a maximum security prison in Colorado.

    TSA said in a statement on the shoe policy change that other security measures will remain in place.

    “Other aspects of TSA’s layered security approach will still apply during the TSA checkpoint process. For example, passengers subject must still clear identity verification, Secure Flight vetting, and other processes,” it said.

    Past attacks — both successful and thwarted — have led to a raft of new airport security measures in recent decades, especially following the September 11, 2001 attacks, in which hijackers flew passenger jets into the Twin Towers in New York as well as the Pentagon.

    In 2006, British authorities announced they had foiled a terror plot that aimed to blow up several planes in mid-air simultaneously with liquid explosives. Since then, tough restrictions have applied to liquids and gels, such as toothpaste.

    And electronics have also come in for additional screening in a bid to head off attacks, with passengers required to remove laptops from bags, for instance.

    (AFP)

  • Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Criticizes His Own NASA Pick

    Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Criticizes His Own NASA Pick

    President Donald Trump on Sunday called Elon Musk’s plans to form a new political party “ridiculous,” launching new barbs at the tech billionaire and saying the Musk ally he once named to lead NASA would have presented a conflict of interest given Musk’s business interests in space.

    A day after Musk escalated his feud with Trump and announced the formation of a new U.S. political party, the Republican president was asked about it before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, as he returned to Washington upon visiting his nearby golf club.

    “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion,” Trump told reporters.

    “It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

    Shortly after speaking about Musk, Trump posted further comments on his Truth Social platform, saying, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.”

    Musk announced on Saturday that he is establishing the “America Party” in response to Trump’s tax-cut and spending bill, which Musk said would bankrupt the country.

    “What the heck was the point of @DOGE if he’s just going to increase the debt by $5 trillion??” Musk wrote on X on Sunday, referring to the government downsizing agency he briefly led. Critics have said the bill will damage the U.S. economy by significantly adding to the federal budget deficit.

    Musk said his new party would in next year’s midterm elections look to unseat Republican lawmakers in Congress who backed the sweeping measure known as the “big, beautiful bill.”

    Musk spent millions of dollars underwriting Trump’s 2024 re-election effort and, for a time, regularly showed up at the president’s side in the White House Oval Office and elsewhere. Their disagreement over the spending bill led to a falling out that Musk briefly tried unsuccessfully to repair.

    Trump has said Musk is unhappy because the measure, which Trump signed into law on Friday, takes away green-energy credits for Tesla’s electric vehicles. The president has threatened to pull billions of dollars Tesla and SpaceX receive in government contracts and subsidies in response to Musk’s criticism.

    NASA APPOINTMENT ‘INAPPROPRIATE’

    Trump in his social media comments also said it was “inappropriate” to have named Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator considering Musk’s business with the space agency. In December Trump named Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut, to lead NASA but withdrew the nomination on May 31, before his Senate confirmation vote and without explanation.

    Trump, who has yet to announce a new NASA nominee, on Sunday confirmed media reports he disapproved of Isaacman’s previous support for Democratic politicians.

    “I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life,” Trump said on Truth Social. “My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!”

    Musk’s announcement of a new party immediately brought a rebuke from Azoria Partners, which said on Saturday it will postpone the listing of its Azoria Tesla Convexity exchange-traded fund because the party’s creation posed “a conflict with his full-time responsibilities as CEO.” Azoria was set to launch the Tesla ETF this week.

    Azoria CEO James Fishback posted on X several critical comments about the new party and reiterated his support for Trump.

    “I encourage the Board to meet immediately and ask Elon to clarify his political ambitions and evaluate whether they are compatible with his full-time obligations to Tesla as CEO,” Fishback said.

    (Reuters)