International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Advances Strategic Partnerships and Intra-OIC Trade at the 2025 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Annual Meetings
On Day Two of the IsDB Annual Meetings in Algiers, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), signed important agreements and engaged in strategic discussions with OIC member countries and various stakeholders. These engagements underscore ITFC’s continued commitment to advancing trade, economic cooperation, and sustainable development […]
Trump Raises “White Persecution” Claims with South Africa’s President
In a tense Oval Office encounter, US President Donald Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with claims of “white genocide” in South Africa. During the meeting, the White House showed footage that included chants of “Shoot the Boer, Shoot the farmer,” which Trump claimed indicated persecution of white farmers. Ramaphosa calmly refuted these claims, emphasizing that […]
Nigerian Opposition to Form Coalition to Challenge Ruling Party’s Dominance
Nigeria’s opposition leaders are forging a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s ruling party. Key figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, have initiated discussions to form a coalition. This alliance seeks to consolidate various opposition parties and disenchanted members […]
US Remittance Tax Threatens Billions in African Inflows
A recently proposed US bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” seeks to impose a 5% tax on all outbound remittances sent by non-citizens, potentially reducing inflows into Sub-Saharan Africa’s economies in 2025 by $2.8 billion. If passed, the bill will seriously impact countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, which rely heavily on remittances for education, […]
The Arab Coordination Group Strengthens Partnership with the Private Sector through a Pivotal Session to Advance Sustainable Development
As part of the Private Sector Forum organized on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Annual Meetings, the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) (https://TheACG.org) held a high-level session titled “Partnering for Impact: The Arab Coordination Group and the Private Sector Driving Sustainable Development”. The event took place at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference […]
Budget 3.0: South Africa Cuts Education and Health Funding, Hikes Fuel Tax
South Africa’s latest budget has sparked controversy by slashing funding for education and health while increasing the fuel levy. Additional education spending, which was initially set at $1.6 billion in March, was reduced to $1.1 billion, jeopardizing efforts to safeguard approximately 5,500 teaching posts. Similarly, health allocations faced significant cuts, raising concerns about the nation’s capacity to […]
Nigeria Tops Shell’s Global Tax Payments in 2024
In 2024, Shell paid $5.34 billion to Nigeria, marking its highest payment to any country that year. Globally, Shell’s total payments to governments amounted to $28.1 billion in 2024, with Nigeria, Oman, Brazil, and Norway collectively receiving around $11.7 billion. The payment to Nigeria was higher than it was in the previous year. The sum included […]
From Nairobi to Beijing: Kenya’s Bid to Grow Tea Exports to China
Kenya is developing a bold strategy to expand its tea exports to China, aiming to tap into the world’s largest tea-consuming market. Despite being a top global tea producer, the East African country faces significant challenges, such as unstable prices, competition from rival tea-producing nations, and inadequate value addition, which hinder its exports. To address this, […]
Khartoum State ‘Cleared of Rebels,’ Says Sudanese Military
Sudan’s military has declared Khartoum State entirely free of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a significant milestone in the nation’s ongoing civil war. This announcement comes nearly two months after the army recaptured Khartoum city, including the presidential palace. Before this claim, the army had launched a large-scale offensive in Omdurman, part of the capital […]
Trump Administration Accused of Illegal Deportations to South Sudan
The Trump administration faces legal scrutiny after allegedly deporting 11 migrants from countries like Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan, defying a federal court order. Judge Brian Murphy had previously barred such deportations without assessing potential risks of torture or persecution. Despite this, reports indicate that migrants detained in Texas were flown to South Sudan, prompting Murphy […]