Boakai formally declared winner of Liberia election

21Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Boakai formally declared winner of Liberia election

Opposition candidate Joseph Boakai has been formally declared the winner of Liberia's run-off presidential election. Incumbent President George Weah had already conceded on Friday night when Mr Boakai had built an unassailable lead. But not all the votes had been counted. On Monday afternoon, National Elections Commission chairperson Davidetta Browne-Lansanah announced that the president-elect won after securing 50.64% of the total votes cast while President Weah got 49.36%. Mr Boakai has promised to, in his words, "rescue" the West African nation and make it a country Liberians could be proud of. He served as vice-president in the government of Nobel peace laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who handed over to President Weah in 2018. The 2023 poll was the tightest presidential race since the end of the country's civil war…

21Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Germany pledges $4.5bn to boost clean energy in Africa

News, Politics

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged nearly $4.5bn (£3.6bn) by the end of the decade, for what's known as the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative. He was speaking at the Compact with Africa summit in Berlin which brings together nations from the G20 and Africa. The chancellor made a commitment to import green hydrogen from the continent. German government officials say Africa can play a key role in helping Europe’s largest economy better diversify its supply chains, secure skilled labour, reduce illegal migration and achieve its transition to clean energy. The Compact with Africa programme aims to generate further private investment in Africa.

20Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Nigeria university plans mass burial of unclaimed bodies

News

The private Catholic-run Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI) in south-eastern Nigeria’s Enugu state has received court approval to conduct a mass burial of 33 bodies abandoned at the mortuary of its teaching hospital. Some of the bodies have remained unclaimed for 18 years, the university's Vice Chancellor Christian Anieke said on Sunday. The university has given families a 21-day ultimatum to claim the bodies, before the planned mass burial. “I am appealing to those who have corpses in the mortuary to come and remove them. We are talking about human beings here and not animals. Go and check if your relationship is there,” Mr Anieke was quoted as saying by the Lagos-based Daily Sun newspaper. The university teaching hospital intends to clear bodies to allow the facility to be upgraded.

20Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Heatwave warning issued for parts of South Africa

News

South African authorities have warned of a heatwave, with higher-than-average maximum temperatures expected in some parts of the country this week. The weather service said on Sunday that heatwave conditions resulting in persistently high temperatures were expected in parts of Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The authorities have urged people to take precautions by avoiding exposure to the sun and drinking lots of water among other measures. A heatwave is a period of hot weather where temperatures are higher than is expected for the time of year. It can be dangerous especially for the vulnerable, including elderly people, children and people with underlying health conditions. It can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. The heatwave forecast comes a week after parts of Gauteng province were struck…

20Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Kenya flood toll rises as recovery of bodies continues

News

The bodies of two employees of Kenya's tax agency who had been swept away by floods while driving in the coast region on Friday were recovered on Sunday. The Kenya Coast Guard also retrieved the body of a man who was swept away while riding his motorbike. Authorities on Saturday said that 10 people had been confirmed dead at the coast following three days of unrelenting heavy rains and floods. More than 20,000 families have been displaced across the four affected counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Tana River, the Coast regional police commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said on Saturday. Overall, dozens of people have died and thousands displaced across the country since the beginning of November after heavy rains and floods caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon. The heavy…

20Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Ex-DR Congo PM drops presidency bid, backs joint candidate

News

The former prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Augustin Matata Ponyo, has withdrawn from next month's presidential election. He said he would now be backing Moïse Katumbi, a millionaire businessman and former governor of the Katanga region. Representatives of DR Congo's main opposition parties held talks earlier this week on how to ensure the election would be fair, and to investigate the possibility of a potential joint candidate to challenge President Felix Tshisekedi. Mr Ponyo says he believes other opposition candidates will follow in his footsteps to withdraw in support of Mr Katumbi. Both served under former president Joseph Kabila - Mr Ponyo as PM for more than four years and Mr Katumbi as governor of the copper-rich Katanga province for nine years. Mr Tshisekedi, who's seeking…

19Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Release Mohbad’s body, autopsy results, Bella Shmurda tell Police

Entertainment, News

Superstar Nigerian hiphop artiste, Bella Shmurda has urged the Nigerian Police to release the remains of his late friend, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. Bella in a post on his X account late Saturday, expressed concern over the prolonged delay in the release of Mohbad's body, which has been held for autopsy for the past two months. He appealed to the Police to expedite the process and release the body to facilitate a dignified funeral arrangement. Additionally, Bella Shmurda requested the prompt disclosure of the autopsy results. He wrote, "It's been over 2 months since Moh died and his body was taken in for autopsy but yet no result, which is fine but please release his body. That boy needs a befitting burial and to go to rest.…

19Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Sanwo-Olu Shares ‘Perfect Lagos Selfies’ Captured By Slack-liner Jaan Roose

News

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has shared the 'Perfect Lagos Selfies' captured as Slack-liner and Red Bull Athlete, Jaan Roose, walked on a rope from Sterling Towers to the Onome Rig. The Lagos Safety Commission had partnered Red Bull on a project meant to showcase the beauty of the state which was tagged the 'Perfect Lagos Selfie'. Sanwo-Olu shared photos from the exercise on his X page on Saturday. He partly wrote, "Lagos is the epitome of creativity at its finest and we are saying well done and congratulations to #JaanRoose , the Guinness World Record holder, who has captured the Perfect Lagos Selfie while walking in the sky from Sterling Towers to the Onome Rig. "His expertise in slack-lining, blending balance training, recreation, and moving meditation is…

19Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Diddy, Cassie Settle Rift After Rape Allegation

Entertainment, News

American rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs and R&B singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, have settled the federal lawsuit filed by Cassie just one day after her explosive rape accusations against the hip-hop mogul. According to Dailymail on Saturday, both Diddy and Cassie released statements on Friday evening, announcing the resolution without disclosing specific details about the settlement terms. Cassie said, "I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans, and lawyers for their unwavering support." In his own statement, Diddy said, "We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love." The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, accused Diddy of rape and prolonged…

18Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Malawi’s President Suspends Self, Cabinet Members From Foreign Trips

News

Malawi’s president, Lazarus Chakwera has suspended foreign trips for himself and cabinet members as part of measures to minimise the impact of the recent devaluation of the country’s currency by 44 per cent. “I know that this decision has caused a lot of pain – and I know that all of us now have to make big adjustments in spending so that we can prioritise those areas that are most productive,” Mr Chakwera said during a televised speech on Wednesday. According to VOA, earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of Malawi announced the devaluation of the country’s currency by 44 per cent to allow the local currency to align with the U.S. dollar on the black market. Consequently, the prices of almost all commodities, including fuel and electricity, immediately…

17Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

PHOTOS: Hilda Baci Visits Guinness World Records Office in UK

News

Popular Nigerian chef, Hilda Bassey, aka Hilda Baci, has on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Guinness World Records office in London, part of United Kingdom. The celebrity chef reknowned for her sensational cookathon was made known in a post on the Guinness World Records X account. Sharing photos from the visit, GWR wrote, "Former record holder #hildabacicooks stopped by to say hello to the team at our London HQ 🥰 "Will we be seeing Hilda set any new records soon? 👀" Earlier in the year, Hilda Baci snagged the Guinness World Record title for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours and 11 minutes. She was later dethroned by Irish chef, Alan Fisher who recorded a 120 hours duel currently being contested by Tope…

17Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

First Miss Nigeria in 1957 celebrates 93rd birthday

News

Winner of the first Miss Nigeria beauty pageant held in 1957, Grace Oyelude, has been celebrated on her 93rd birthday. The Miss Nigeria Organisation who made this known in an instagram post on Thursday, November 16 described her an “evergreen, brave and beauty leader”. The caption read, "We are immensely delighted to celebrate the evergreen beauty and brave leader, Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude, on her 93rd birthday. "Her courage, resolve, and great strength of character are excellent qualities that have endeared her to us and many others. "Happy birthday, once again, to the first Miss Nigeria, Chief Grace Atinuke Oyelude. "Thank you for paving the way and setting the standards that all Miss Nigeria Queens walkthrough, as well as your priceless contributions towards women's empowerment." They wrote.

17Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Cassie files lawsuit against Diddy, Over Decade of Rape, Abuse

Entertainment, News

American singer Cassandra Elizabeth Ventura, better known as Cassie, has filed a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, Season Combs, a.k.a. Diddy, for ‘a decade’ of sexual abuse. According to The New York Times, in the suit filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, Cassie accused him of rape and repeated physical abuse spanning approximately a decade. She claimed that the pattern of abuse and control began when she met Diddy in 2005 at the age of 19, where the mogul allegedly subjected her to a disturbing cycle of abuse, including beating her and being forced into sexual encounters with male prostitutes while being filmed, physical abuse, and the supply of drugs. The statement reads, “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story and to…

17Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

South Africa has referred Israel to ICC – Ramaphosa

News, Politics

South Africa has been one of the most vocal supporters of Palestinians in the ongoing war with IsraelImage caption: South Africa has been one of the most vocal supporters of Palestinians in the ongoing war with Israel South Africa has referred Israel’s government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its actions in the Gaza conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday. “As South Africa we have accordingly, together with many other countries in the world, saw fit to refer this whole Israeli government action to the International Criminal Court. We have put through a referral because we believe that war crimes are being committed there,” President Ramaphosa said. He did not disclose the other countries involved in referring Israel to the ICC. He added that they did not…

17Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Court remands Ex-CBN Gov. Emefiele in Kuje prison

News

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele in Kuje Correctional facility pending ruling on his bail application. Justice Hamza Muazu issued the order on Friday following Emefiele’s arraignment and his plea of not guilty to a six-count amended charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). is lead counsel, Mathew Burkaa SAN, moved the application for bail which Rotimi Oyedepo vehemently opposed on behalf of the Federal Government. After taking arguments for and against the application, Justice Muazu said a bench ruling could not be delivered in view of the plethora of authorities cited by the two parties. The Judge said he needed a little time to study the…

16Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Nine Things To Know About Late Rapper, Oladips

Entertainment, News

Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips was a Nigerian rapper, song writer and a performing artist from Ogun State. His death, announced on Wednesday, threw colleagues and fans into mourning. Here are nine things to know about Oladips: 1. He was born on March 24, 1995. 2. He was a Nigerian rapper, song writer and a performing artist. 3. He started music in the year 2012 with his first mic -appearance on 'SUCCESSFUL' (a Drake Ft. Trey Songz cover). 4. The Ajala travel crooner, came to limelight after winning D’banj’s ‘King is here’ competition and later got signed to rapper Reminisce' record label, Edge Records. 5. He was best known for his hit singles Ajala, Mainland 2 Island ft Zlatan, and Lalakukulala ft Reminisce. 6. In 2019 he parted…

16Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Burna Boy Threatens To Hire 100 Lawyers, Sue Bloggers

News

Afrobeat star, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has threatened to hire 100 lawyers to sue Nigerian bloggers, stating that he is being pushed to do so. The Grammy-award-winning artiste made this known in a post via his X handle on Wednesday. He wrote, "Dat money wey I wan give dem instablog dat time, e be like say na to give like 100 lawyers now. But I know say na hustle everybody dey hustle so e go pain me if I run dat kind tin. Why una dey push me na?" This is coming almost two weeks after the "I Told Them' crooner offered to give Nigerian bloggers money to stop reporting about him. Burna Boy noted that although he had never paid any media house to publicise his brand,…

16Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Arrests in South Africa over abuse and bestiality

News

South African Police Service says it arrested three men accused of sexually abusing three children and a dog in an operation conducted with the aid of the US Department of Homeland Security last week. “As a result of these operations, three South African children who were used during the commission of the above offences were identified and a dog was saved,” the police said in a statement on Tuesday. The suspects include a 63-year-old British citizen who was in the country illegally. Police say he will be charged with bestiality, child grooming and several counts related to child pornography, including manufacturing and distributing child pornography. The second and third suspects, both 43-year-old South Africans, will also be charged on several counts of child pornography, police say. The police added…

16Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Somalis Going Hungry after Floods – President

News

Flooding in Somalia has left residents without homes and food shortages. Around 1.6 million people in Somalia are thought to be affected by the heavy seasonal downpours. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the flooding has been worsened by the El Niño effect, which is causing changes in weather patterns around the world. Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said: "The people have been displaced, homes and properties destroyed, the people are hungry, and that is our problem right now, that is what we are focusing on." The president also expressed concern about the added risk of outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and cholera. The UN has described the floods in East Africa as "a once-in-a-century event".

16Nov 2023 by 247acemedia

Cautious optimism over Gabon election plan

News, Politics

Some in Gabon have welcomed the junta’s announcement of a provisional two-year transitional period which should result in elections in 2025. Louis Gaston Mayila, leader of Gabon’s opposition UPNR party, told the BBC that “the transition has truly been given its dimension”, adding that “I and many others are reassured by its progress”. It followed worries and speculation about how long the military might seek to stay in power after overthrowing former President Ali Bongo in a coup. Although members of the interim government cannot stand in the upcoming elections, the transitional charter does not bar Gen Oligui Nguema from doing so. This remains an issue of concern. But some say he stands a chance of wooing the Gabonese people, if he addresses the key issues affecting their daily…

Month: November 2023