The Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its key interest rate unchanged at 0.5% on Thursday, raising inflation and growth forecasts while flagging heightened risks from U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump. The central bank lifted its core inflation projection for 2025 to 2.8%, up from 2.3%, but cautioned that external pressures — including U.S….
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing an additional 40% tariff on Brazilian exports, raising total trade duties to 50%, the White House announced Wednesday. The action targets what Trump described as political persecution of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, a key far-right ally. A White House fact sheet accused the Brazilian…
Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor has lost an appeal against a civil court ruling that awarded nearly €250,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of rape. On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed all grounds raised by McGregor, 36, upholding the 2023 judgment in favour of 35-year-old Nikita Hand. The original…
By Ayomide Otitoju Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s failure to address Nigeria’s deepening political challenges. Melaye announced his exit on Thursday via a post on his official X handle, where he shared a resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Ward 1,…
By Ayomide Otitoju President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi as the new Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), succeeding Dr. Nkiruka Madueke, who was appointed in June 2024 as the agency’s pioneer head. The appointment was announced Thursday in a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who described Majekodunmi as…
By Ayomide Otitoju The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Alhaji Musa Mohammed as the legitimate Executive President of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ruling that a challenge to his tenure has become academic. The three-member panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka and read by Justice Abba Mohammed, struck out an…
By Ayomide Otitoju Tijani Onwenu, son of late Nigerian music icon Onyeka Onwenu, has paid tribute to his mother on the first anniversary of her death. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, he wrote: “A year ago, today. RIP mum. July 30, 2024.” Onyeka Onwenu, fondly known as the “Elegant Stallion,” passed away on July…
A rhinestone-studded sock once worn by pop icon Michael Jackson during a 1997 concert in France has sold for over $8,800 at auction, according to French auction house Ivoire Nîmes. The single white athletic sock, adorned with rhinestones and visibly aged, was discovered by a technician near Jackson’s dressing room following his performance in the…
British oil major Shell has reported a 23% decline in net profit for the first half of 2025, citing a downturn in global energy prices. The group’s profit after tax fell to $8.4 billion, compared to $10.9 billion in the same period last year. Revenue also declined by nearly 9%, dropping to $136.6 billion, according…
