The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised an urgent alarm over escalating hunger in West and Central Africa, warning that approximately 52 million people will struggle to meet their basic food and nutritional needs during the upcoming lean season. Scheduled between June and August, the lean season—marked by minimal food reserves between harvests—will see nearly three million individuals facing emergency levels of hunger. Alarmingly, around 2,600 people in Mali may experience catastrophic hunger, the most severe level under WFP’s food insecurity classification system. The latest food security analysis highlights multiple contributing factors, including persistent conflict, worsening economic conditions, surging food…
Author: Tosin Onisuuru
The United States has revealed it would cut $50 million in annual aid to Zambia’s health sector because the government had failed to stop “systemic theft” of donated medicines and medical supplies. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is finalising a broader review of its foreign aid, but the cut for Zambia is “wholly separate from that process,” U.S. ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales said in a statement. “I am disappointed to share publicly today that since 2021 we have uncovered systemic theft of life-saving medicines and other products that were intended for free for the Zambian public,” Gonzales said, adding…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed that Nigeria has fully repaid the $3.4 billion emergency loan it received in 2020 to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was disbursed in April 2020 under the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), designed to provide swift financial assistance to countries facing urgent balance of payments needs. At the time, Nigeria was grappling with a sharp decline in oil prices that pushed the economy into recession. In a statement released on Thursday, Christian Ebeke, IMF Resident Representative to Nigeria, announced that as of April 30, 2025, the country had…
In a historic development for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th Pope, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy. The announcement came with the traditional white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel on the second day of the conclave, signaling his election and the beginning of a new papal era under the name Pope Leo XIV. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and now 69 years old, Prevost brings a blend of global pastoral experience and deep Vatican insight. Before his election, he led the Dicastery for Bishops, the powerful Vatican office responsible…
A new era has dawned in the Roman Catholic Church as white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, confirming the election of a new pope by the College of Cardinals. The signal came after days of intensive closed-door deliberations, during which 133 cardinal-electors convened in a solemn conclave to select a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness. Though the identity of the new pope has yet to be revealed, tradition holds that he will soon step out onto the…
The UEFA Champions League, UCL, 2024/2025 season has delivered yet another thrilling semi-final. On May 7, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) overcame Arsenal 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, sealing a 3-1 aggregate win to reach the final. It was a night of high tension, missed chances, and defining moments that set the stage for a massive final clash against Inter Milan in Munich. Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in the Champions League final for the second time in club history after defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the second leg of their semi-final clash. Holding a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first…
The conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor, following his death on April 21, 2025, began Wednesday, May 7, with no pope chosen. Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel at 9:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. EDT), showing the 133 cardinals didn’t reach the two-thirds majority (89 votes) needed. Wednesday’s conclave started with a 10:00 a.m. Mass led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, urging a pope to inspire faith. By 4:15 p.m., cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel, sealed after oaths. The first ballot produced black smoke at 9:00 p.m., typical for initial votes. About 45,000 in St. Peter’s Square left…
Popular social media activist, Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, VDM, has regained his freedom from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Reports states that VDM has been in the custody of the anti-graft agency since he was arrested in Abuja on Friday. There has been uproar across the nation with Nigeria youths demanding his immediate and unconditional release. EFCC said on Tuesday that the arrest followed a series of petitions against the activist, claiming that several invitations were communicated to him but he failed to honour them. In an update on his official Facebook page…
HEART & Soul TV senior journalist Blessed Mhlanga finally tasted freedom after spending more than two months locked up at Harare Remand Prison following his arrest in February this year. He spent 72 days in remand prison after being denied bail on three occasions. High Court judge Justice Gibson Mandaza yesterday granted Mhlanga US$500 bail on his second application saying there were changed circumstances in the journalist’s appeal. Mhlanga was ordered to report at the CID Law and Order Harare Central Police Station once every Friday and not to interfere with State witnesses. The journalist was arrested in February this…
Deji Adeyanju, lawyer to social media personality and activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has lamented difficulty securing the release of his client from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The EFCC, in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, had on Tuesday morning stated that VeryDarkMan had been granted administrative bail but remained in custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. Oyewale disclosed that Otse was invited for questioning over multiple petitions alleging serious financial crimes. Oyewale said VDM was arrested after he consistently failed to honour repeated invitations of…
