By : Lloyd Mahachi The Africa Heads of State Energy Summit brings together government leaders, key ministers, institutional investors, and industry professionals to shape Africa’s energy future. This summit provides a critical opportunity for stakeholders to come together with a common goal. Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has demonstrated a commitment to addressing energy challenges with a forward-thinking approach. The country has set a new precedent for embracing renewable energy and energy security. Africa is poised for transformation in its energy landscape. The continent possesses abundant solar resources, with an estimated 60% of the world’s solar energy potential. However,…
Author: JOSEY AGENCY
By : Lloyd Mahachi Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has extended his 31-year rule with a massive win in the country’s presidential election, securing 86.8% of the vote according to preliminary results. The election, held on Sunday, has been widely rejected by Western governments as a sham. The outcome was never in doubt, with Lukashenko’s opponents either jailed or forced into exile. European politicians have condemned the election, citing the absence of independent media and the repression of opposition figures. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the election as a “bitter day for all those who long for freedom &…
By : Lloyd Mahachi A preliminary investigation report has revealed that bird feathers and blood stains were found on both engines of the Jeju Air plane that crashed in South Korea in December, killing 179 people. The feathers and blood stains belonged to the Baikal teal, a type of migratory duck that flies in large flocks. The investigation into the crash, the deadliest on South Korean soil, will now focus on the role of the bird strike and a concrete structure at the end of the runway, which the plane crashed into. The engines of the Boeing 737-800…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Haiti’s President of the Transitional Presidential Council, Leslie Voltaire, has expressed deep concern over the catastrophic consequences of Trump’s policies on Haiti. In a recent interview, Voltaire stated that Trump’s decisions to freeze aid programs, deport migrants, and block refugees would worsen Haiti’s already dire situation. The situation in Haiti is indeed dire. Gang violence has led to a significant increase in internal displacement, with over one million people affected. The International Organization for Migration has reported a near-doubling of displacement in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and a collapse of healthcare services and food security. Voltaire…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Thirteen soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in clashes with rebels from the M23 group. The South African military confirmed that nine of its soldiers died while helping to push back a rebel advance on the city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo. Additionally, three Malawian and one Uruguayan peacekeepers were also killed in the fighting. The M23 group has been advancing on Goma, a city of over one million people, prompting the United Nations to pull all non-essential staff out of the area. The…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Dutch authorities have confirmed that one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives, Jos Leijdekkers, has been living in Sierra Leone for approximately six months. Leijdekkers, 33, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison by a Rotterdam court for smuggling over seven tonnes of cocaine. This significant sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the impact of his actions on international drug trafficking. According to Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin, bringing Leijdekkers back to the Netherlands is of the “highest priority.” However, de Bruin declined to comment further due to the ongoing…
By : Lloyd Mahachi The Trump administration has fired at least a dozen federal watchdogs, including inspectors general from various departments, in a move that has sparked widespread outrage and concerns about legality. The firings, which were reportedly carried out via email on Friday evening, have been described as a “chilling purge” by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer expressed his concerns about the move, stating that it is a “preview of the lawless approach” Trump and his administration are taking. The affected inspectors general include those from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small…
By : Lloyd Mahachi The signing of the Expropriation Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa has sparked intense debate and discussion across South Africa. This landmark decision aims to address the country’s long-standing issue of land ownership inequality, which has persisted despite the end of apartheid over three decades ago. The new law replaces the pre-democratic Expropriation Act of 1975, which required the state to pay owners for land it wanted to acquire. The Expropriation Bill outlines the circumstances under which the state can expropriate land without compensation, including situations where the property is not being used, poses…
By : Lloyd Mahachi Fighting between the M23 rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has escalated, resulting in the death of Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, the governor of North Kivu province. Gen Cirimwami was shot by M23 fighters while visiting the frontline on Thursday and later succumbed to his injuries. The incident has sparked widespread concern and condemnation, with many calling for an immediate end to the violence. The M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have been making significant gains in eastern DR Congo, capturing key towns such as Masisi and Minova. The city of Goma, a regional…
By : Lloyd Mahachi The United States has issued a halt on all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, according to a leaked internal memo sent to officials and US embassies abroad. This move follows President Trump’s executive order issued on Monday for a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. The US is the world’s biggest international aid donor, spending $68 billion in 2023, according to government figures. The State Department notice appears to affect everything from development assistance to military aid, with exceptions only for emergency…