A French energy company is facing war crimes allegations, which it denies, over a massacre near its multi-billon dollar international gas project in northern Mozambique in 2021. In a complaint filed with French prosecutors, a human rights group accused TotalEnergies of complicity in war crimes, including the torture and execution of dozens of civilians held by local security forces in a cluster of shipping containers at its facility. Total has always denied responsibility for the actions of government troops and related security forces who were involved in guarding the Afungi peninsula gas refinery development. It was the biggest foreign investment…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
At least five people were killed, including one child, and more than 450 injured after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit Bangladesh. The epicentre of the earthquake was close to the Narsingdi district, about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from the capital, Dhaka. People rushed from residential buildings as buildings shook and makeshift structures collapsed. At least 10 students were injured in a stampede as they tried to leave Dhaka University on Friday. “We have never experienced an earthquake this powerful in the last five years,” said the country’s environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. At least three people were killed when a…
An unknown number of pupils have been abducted by armed men from a Catholic school in central Nigeria, the second mass school kidnapping this week. The latest attack targeted St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger state, where authorities had already ordered the temporary closure of all boarding schools due to rising security threats. Details remain unclear but residents fear that close to 100 students and staff may have been taken away during the early-morning raid. Nigeria has faced a renewed wave of attacks by armed groups in recent days, including the kidnapping on Monday of more than 20 schoolgirls, who…
Ex-Fugees musician Prakazrel “Pras” Michel has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for using money to peddle influence in US politics. US prosecutors had recommended a life sentence for the Grammy Award winner after he was found guilty of corruption and other charges, including acting as an unregistered foreign agent and witness tampering, in April 2023. US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly handed down the sentence in a Washington DC court on Thursday. Michel, 53, testified in his own defence during his trial but declined to address the court on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. His attorney said the sentence…
South Africa has classified violence against women a national disaster following an online campaign culminating in countrywide protests on Friday. Women were urged to “withdraw from the economy for one day”, and lie down for 15 minutes at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) in honour of the 15 females who are murdered in the country every day. The state had refused to make the categorisation but changed tack after “evaluating the persistent and immediate life-safety risks posed by ongoing acts of violence”. South Africa experiences some of the world’s highest levels of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate at which…
The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) may eventually lead to fewer entry-level graduates being hired, the boss of accountancy giant PwC has told the BBC. However, global chairman Mohamed Kande said AI was not behind recent job cuts at the firm, adding that the company actually needed to hire hundreds of new AI engineers but was struggling to find them. But some observers say the technology itself threatens thousands of junior jobs across the professional services industry. Speaking on the sidelines of a business summit in Singapore, Mr Kande also said big changes in the global economy, such as US…
In the financial landscape of the UK, payday loans have emerged as a quick solution for individuals facing urgent cash requirements. A fast payday loan in the UK can be a lifeline for those in a financial crunch, offering a speedy remedy to unexpected financial dilemmas. However, securing approval for a payday loan isn’t merely a formality. There are several critical factors lenders assess before granting these short-term loans. Understanding these criteria can provide insights into the approval process, helping prospective borrowers align their expectations accordingly. Income Verification First and foremost, a lender will typically scrutinize the borrower’s income. Consistent…
We’ve all noticed it: the gift that makes people pause, smile, and say, “This is so me.” Personalized gifting is moving from niche to norm across Africa’s urban centers, powered by culture, technology, and new buying behaviors. Urbanization is reshaping tastes and lifestyles, and with it, how we mark milestones, big and small. For context, Africa’s cities are expanding fast, drawing millions into dense, digitally connected hubs, see the World Bank’s overview on urbanization for the scale of change. That density, combined with mobile-first shopping habits, has created ideal conditions for custom, story-driven presents to flourish. Curated selections like gift…
Democrats and Republicans came together to mourn former US Vice-President Dick Cheney at his funeral in Washington DC. Cheney, who served under President George W Bush from 2001-09, died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease in early November. He was 84. Bush, a Republican, said in his eulogy: “In a profession that attracts talkers, he was a thinker and a listener.” Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, also attended. Cheney was one of the most powerful vice-presidents in history, a key architect of Bush’s “war on terror” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an early advocate of…
Spain’s Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, was forced to step down after being found guilty of revealing confidential information in a deeply controversial case, which accentuated the country’s political division. The Supreme Court found that García Ortiz had unlawfully revealed details of the tax status of businessman Alberto González Amador, boyfriend of a senior conservative politician. The court handed him a two-year ban from the post and a fine of €7,200 (£6,438). He must also pay €10,000 to Mr González Amador as compensation. The trial of García Ortiz fuelled already acrimonious relations between the left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro…
Gary “Mani” Mounfield, bassist with legendary Manchester band the Stone Roses, has died at the age of 63. Mounfield’s bass playing was an integral part of the Stone Roses’ “baggy” sound, and later reunited with his bandmates for their comeback tour in 2012. He joined another seminal group, Primal Scream, in 1996 and played with them for 15 years. The musician’s brother Greg announced his death “with the heaviest of hearts” in a post on Facebook. Oasis singer Liam Gallagher led the tributes, posting: “In total shock and absolutely devastated on hearing the news about Mani. My hero, RIP R…
A Florida congresswoman has been charged with stealing $5m (£3.8m) in federal disaster funds. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of laundering some of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) money into her 2021 election campaign. The 46-year-old Democrat is under investigation by the House of Representatives Ethics Committee and could be expelled from the chamber. Attorney General Pam Bondi called it a “particularly selfish, cynical crime”. In a statement, Ms Cherfilus-McCormick – who was elected to Congress in 2022 – maintained she was innocent and vowed to clear her name. She faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted. The…
President William Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) with the policies and resources needed to innovate, simplify processes, build public trust, and serve taxpayers more efficiently. Speaking during this year’s Taxpayers’ Day celebrations held at State House, Nairobi, Ru noted that KRA has made significant progress in innovation, highlighting that Kenya is among the earliest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to integrate Al-powered risk engines into tax compliance, a development that places the nation at the frontier of modern public administration. “The Customs Department recently recorded its highest-ever monthly customs revenue, Sh85 billion last month,…
New York’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and President Donald Trump plan to meet on Friday at the White House, after months of trading barbs and insults during the city’s recent election. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist, won New York City’s mayoral race earlier this month, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo by nine points. While he was little known outside of New York before the election, he has now become a nationally recognised figure. Trump said in a statement that the “communist mayor” had requested the meeting, which would take place in the Oval Office. The mayor-elect’s spokesperson said the meeting…
In the furniture industry, managing inventory efficiently is critical. Overstock ties up valuable capital and increases storage costs, while stockouts lead to lost sales and disappointed customers. Many furniture businesses still struggle with these issues because traditional methods or manual tracking simply can’t keep up with today’s complex inventory needs. That’s why investing in furniture inventory management software has become essential for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors looking to optimize their stock and improve profitability. The Overstock and Stockout Challenge in Furniture Retail Furniture inventory presents unique challenges. Unlike small, fast-moving products, furniture items are bulky, often custom, and come in…