Politics

President Bola Tinubu assured German businesses of Nigeria's readiness to fully implement investment agreements in renewable energy, youth skill development, and industrial growth during a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Speaking at a press conference, Tinubu highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at creating a business-friendly environment, including import duty waivers for machinery, power generation decentralization, and active foreign exchange reforms. "We have an open-door policy," Tinubu emphasized, explaining the removal of bureaucratic obstacles for business establishment. He detailed tax reforms that are private-sector friendly and highlighted the country's efforts to streamline business processes. The Nigerian leader underscored the country's potential as a major gas producer and its abundant renewable energy resources, particularly solar power that could be harnessed through German technology for rural electrification. Addressing the challenges in the electricity sector, Tinubu acknowledged the aging infrastructure, noting that transmission lines […]

In a remarkable year of political upheaval, Africa has witnessed five transfers of power, marking the most significant democratic shift in the continent's recent history. Ghana's election, where Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat to opposition leader John Mahama, represents the latest example of a growing trend of electoral change sweeping across the continent. The elections of 2024 have been characterized by overwhelming defeats for long-standing ruling parties, with countries like Botswana, Mauritius, and Senegal experiencing dramatic political transformations. The Botswana Democratic Party, which had ruled since the country's independence in 1966, was reduced from 38 parliamentary seats to just four, while Mauritius saw its governing coalition collapse entirely, losing 64 of 66 available seats. Economic distress and public frustration have been primary drivers of these political shifts. Voters have expressed deep anger over rising living costs, high-profile corruption scandals, and […]

When White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stepped up to the podium recently, few could have predicted the controversy that would unfold from her defense of President Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. What should have been a straightforward explanation turned into a case study of political communication gone awry. Let's break down the situation. Hunter Biden, the president's son, has had a tumultuous legal journey. This year, he faced serious legal challenges, including federal tax charges and a felony gun conviction for falsifying a firearm purchase form. The pardon came as a surprise to many, especially given the administration's previous assurances that no such action would be taken. But it was Jean-Pierre's attempt to justify the pardon that truly caught everyone's attention. Standing before the press, she confidently claimed that 64% of Americans supported the president's decision. […]