By Ayomide Otitoju North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae—widely seen as a potential successor—made her first public visit to the Kumsusan Mausoleum in Pyongyang alongside her parents, state media images show. Photographs released Friday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) depict the family paying respects to Ju Ae’s grandfather and great-grandfather,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday confirmed that eight people lost their lives in the Christmas Eve fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, while 13 others were rescued alive. The governor, who returned to the scene to assess ongoing emergency operations, said three of…
By Ayomide Otitoju Tier-one lender Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the completion of the tenure of its Board Chairman, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, effective December 31, 2025, and the appointment of Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu as the new Chairman of the Board, with effect from January 1, 2026. The bank said the board transitions are in line…
By Ayomide Otitoju Russia ended 2025 amid renewed accusations from Ukraine that Moscow is conducting an information campaign aimed at avoiding peace talks and prolonging the war, despite heavy casualties and limited territorial gains. On December 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that Ukraine attempted to assassinate President Vladimir Putin by launching a drone…
By Ayomide Otitoju The annual customer-facing session, themed “The Great Calibration: Mastering Resilience in an Era of Asynchronous Growth,” is designed to set the tone for the year by examining prevailing economic realities and equipping customers with insights to navigate Nigeria’s evolving economic environment. According to the bank, the 2026 edition will review Nigeria’s economic…
By Ayomide Otitoju The private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group has extended a USD 20 million medium-term Islamic finance facility to Applied Plastic Industries Company (API), Jordan’s leading manufacturer of non-woven fabrics. The facility will fund capital expenditures for advanced Spunlace equipment, enabling API to establish a new production line and…
By Ayomide Otitoju The Federal Government has announced plans to deepen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2026 by working with state governors to identify at least one exportable product from each of the country’s 774 local government areas. The initiative, outlined in the “Nigeria’s AfCFTA Achievements Report 2025” released…
Dozens of people were killed and more than 100 injured early Thursday when a fire tore through a crowded bar in the luxury ski resort town of Crans-Montana as young revelers celebrated the New Year. Eyewitnesses described scenes of “panic” as patrons tried to break windows to escape, while others, suffering burns, fled into the…
Italy said Thursday that the United States has eased plans to impose hefty anti-dumping duties on several Italian pasta brands. The Trump administration had initially proposed provisional tariffs of more than 91 percent on Italian pasta exports from January 1, adding to the existing 15 percent duty. The move followed a US Commerce Department investigation…
