Paul Ikpe's Blog ❤

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionThe Trump administration says protecting US steel and aluminium producers is a matter of national security The G20 group of finance ministers have said trade tensions could undermine the global economy. They called for greater dialogue to reduce the risk after a tense, two-day meeting in Argentina. The summit comes as… Continue reading Trade tensions pose a risk to global growth – G20 ministers

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionChina has seen a number of incidents involving medicine safety in recent years Authorities in China have ordered an investigation into a vaccination scandal as panic grows over product safety. Last week vaccine maker Changsheng Biotechnology Co was found to have falsified production data for its rabies vaccine. The firm has… Continue reading Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for crackdown on vaccine production industry against fake products

​ Pakistan election raises fears of ‘creeping coup’ Image copyrightAFP A day before Pakistan’s 11th national election, the country’s dream of undiluted democracy appears to be receding – again. In its 70-year history, Pakistan has alternated between quasi-democracy and pure military rule. In the process it has become embroiled in international conflicts and morphed into… Continue reading Pakistan election raises fears of ‘creeping coup’

​ Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionProtesters marched on Monday in Managua to renew calls for President Ortega to step down Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega has refused to bow to protesters’ demands that he stand down. He said the deaths of about 300 people during three months of protests were caused by paramilitary groups, during an interview with… Continue reading Nicaragua’s President, Daniel Ortega rejects demands he step down

​ Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionNorth Korea has used the Sohae station to launch rockets North Korea appears to have begun dismantling part of a key rocket launch site in the country’s north-west. Satellite images of the Sohae station seen by US-based monitoring group 38 North suggest Pyongyang is complying with a promise made to the US… Continue reading N Korea ‘begins dismantling’ rocket launch site

​ Image copyrightREUTERS/AFP More than five million Zimbabweans are going to the polls on 30 July to vote in historic elections. But what makes it different from previous votes? 1) First election without Mugabe Since Zimbabwe’s birth in 1980, only one person has ever won an election to lead the country – Robert Mugabe. He… Continue reading Zimbabwe election: Cobra, Owl & Witchcraft

​ Nigerians on Twitter reacted angrily to being reminded of the fourth anniversary of the day President Muhammadu Buhari survived an alleged assassination attempt on him. Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmad had tweeted a photo of the bullet-ridden vehicle as well as a statement issued by the president after his convoy was attacked four years… Continue reading Buhari’s alleged assassination attempt: Stop living in the past, followers blast President

​ The founder and presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel, David Oyedepo, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over persistent Fulani militant herdsmen killings. In a YouTube video posted by the church’s official page, the cleric made this call on Sunday at its headquarters in Ota, Ogun State. With… Continue reading Oyedepo to Buhari: Resign, get out of office

Image copyrightREUTERS/AFPImage captionDonald Trump fired off a capitalised tweet warning Iran’s President Rouhani to “BE CAUTIOUS!” US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have traded hostile warnings, amid rising tensions between the two countries. Mr Trump tweeted Iran would “suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before” if it… Continue reading Trump and Iran’s Rouhani trade angry threats

​ Share this with Twitter   Share Image copyrightAFPImage captionKenya has the highest number of mobile money users in the world Mobile phones in Kenya are like bank accounts – some people keep all their savings on their phone – and fraudsters are trying to hack into them to steal the money. Sammy Wanaina received… Continue reading Phone scam: How Kenyans are losing money

​ Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionJohn Kasich has granted clemency to a killer sentenced to die A US governor has spared a convicted killer sentenced to die after a juror said that his childhood abuse had not been properly detailed at trial. Ohio Governor John Kasich commuted Raymond Tibbetts’ sentence to life in jail due to “fundamental… Continue reading Ohio death row inmate spared after childhood abuse revelations

​ Share this with Twitter   Share Files just released show how in 1988 Denis Thatcher personally vetted the guest list for a showbiz reception at Number 10, providing an insight into the thoughts of one of the most taciturn of prime ministerial consorts. On 7 June 1987, just days before the general election, the … Continue reading The celebrities ‘banned’ from the prime minister’s Party

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionKaren McDougal says she was tricked into staying silent about the alleged affair US President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen secretly recorded his client discussing payments to a former Playboy model, US media report. The tapes were reportedly discovered during an FBI raid on Mr Cohen’s property earlier this year … Continue reading EXPOSED! Trump ‘secretly recorded discussing payment to Pornstar’

​ Image copyrightEPAImage captionUkraine accuses Russia of sending its troops and arming separatists in the east The US has announced it will give Ukraine $200m (£152m) to strengthen its defence capabilities. In a statement, the Pentagon said the funds would be for training, communications, medical, and other non-lethal operational needs. The US said it had given … Continue reading Ukraine crisis: US to give Kiev $200m in defence support

​ Image copyrightAFPImage captionA fireball rises from Gaza city following an Israeli air strike on Friday Israel has attacked military targets in the Gaza Strip, after its soldiers came under gunfire at the border. The Israeli military announced that one soldier had died from his wounds, the first in the most recent clashes. Gaza officials … Continue reading Israel carries out revenge Gaza strikes as soldier dies from gunshot

​ Image copyrightSHINIL GROUPImage captionThe Shinil Group say this is the nameplate of the sunken Donskoi A Russian warship that sank 113 years ago has been found off the coast of a South Korean island, salvagers say. The Shinil Group say they found the Dimitrii Donskoi off the coast of Ulleungdo island, east of South … Continue reading Russian warship Dimitrii Donskoi ‘found off South Korea’

​ Image copyrightAFPImage captionThe low-budget film took China by storm Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for cheaper and more accessible cancer drugs after a successful new film sparked public debate on the issue. Mr Li spoke after Dying To Survive stormed the box office, taking in $390m (£296m) in its first two weeks. It … Continue reading China film Box office hit moves China govt to act on cancer drugs

​ Nigeria’s former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed to the board of directors of Twitter. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala served under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2006 and President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015. She tweeted the news of her appointment, saying she was “excited” to work on a platform that connects people … Continue reading Twitter appoints ex-Nigerian minister to its board

​ https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.21.6/iframe.html Media captionBarack Obama: “You have to believe in facts” Barack Obama has used his first high-profile speech since stepping down as US president to take swipes at “strongman politics” and politicians’ disregard for the facts. His comments are seen as thinly veiled criticism of the current US administration’s use of what has been described … Continue reading Mandela lecture: Five things Barack Obama said that we should never forget

​ Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionFriends and relatives split up by the war have been reunited after 20 years Roses and champagne have been given to passengers on the first commercial flight between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 20 years. Ethiopian Airlines said its “bird of peace” flew to Eritrea, after the end of the “state of war”. … Continue reading Ethiopian Airlines makes historic flight to Eritrea