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☆ Inside a 1760 schoolhouse for Black children is a complicated history of slavery and resilience
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The museum, Colonial Williamsburg, also has identified more than 80 children who lined its pinewood benches in the 1760s. Colonial Williamsburg tells the story of Virginia’s colonial capital through interpreters and hundreds of restored buildings. 18th century nails shoved in between hand craved joints in the stairs leading up to the second floor of the Williamsburg Bray School. And those are the things that give you strength — to know what your family has come through.”Janice Canaday outside the Williamsburg Bray School on Oct 30, 2024. Last year, it was transported to Colonial Williamsburg, which includes parts of the original city.

Persons: Phoebe, Isaac Bee, Bee, John C, Clark, ”, Maureen Elgersman Lee, William, “, ” Lee, Janice Canaday, Elisha, Mary Jones, Canaday, ” Janice Canaday, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Bray, Virginia, Ann Wager, Jones, Ashby, Elizabeth Drembus, ” Drembus, Katie McKinney, “ Beg, ” Canaday, Wager Organizations: Williamsburg Bray School, Mary’s Bray School, Bray School, Bray, Colonial America, William, ” Locations: WILLIAMSBURG, Va, —, Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg, Aberdeen, Bristol, Williamsburg, London, Colonial, Germany, sheepskin

☆ What happened to Robert Shinn, the pastor who's the focus of Netflix's 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNetflix's "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" tells the story of Robert Shinn, a church pastor who was accused of sexual harassment, fraud, and forced labor by TikTok dancers signed to his management label. Shinn founded the nondenominational Shekinah Church in Los Angeles, in 1994. Robert Shinn is facing a civil lawsuit that goes to trial in 2025Robert Shinn in "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult." AdvertisementShocking footage in the docuseries shows the group following Shinn from Shekinah Church to a nearby restaurant to serve him legal papers. Using photos from Arzuman Brothers home developers, it said that content creators working with 7M used the location to film dance videos.

Persons: —, Robert Shinn, Shinn, videographer Isaiah Shinn, Miranda Derrick, Derrick, Priscylla Leigh, Melanie Lee, Tyla, Helen Shinn, Melanie Lee Goldman, Elisha Priscylla Leigh, Mr, Goldman, Leigh, Arzuman Organizations: Service, Netflix, 7M Films Inc, Business, CNN, The Sun, 7M Locations: Los Angeles, Shekinah, Studio City

☆ Saudi Arabia isn’t ruling out befriending Israel. But it may come at a higher price
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +70 min

Fatima Shbair/AP Mourners collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 24. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/picture-alliance/AP Relatives and friends bid farewell to the body of Al Jazeera camera operator Samer Abu Daqqa in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 16. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Israeli soldiers form an honor guard at the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master Sgt. Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Children use candles for lighting in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Friday, October 20. Maya Alleruzzo/AP A boy carries salvaged belongings from the wreckage of his family's home in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.

Persons: UAE CNN —, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “, “ There’s, ” Prince Khalid bin Bandar, ” Ali Shihabi, Shihabi, Israel, Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Biden, Yousef Al Otaiba, Israel “, ” Otaiba, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Firas Maksad, Abir, Prince Khalid, Maksad, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, ” Prince Khalid, Isaac Herzog, Oded, Abed Rahim Khatib, Noam Galai, Majdi, Sufian Dagash, Ohad, Abed Zagout, Harel Ittah, Ariel Schalit, Khan Yunis, Stringer, Elisha Yehonatan Lober, Mount Herzl, Maja Hitij, Fatima Shbair, Ahmad Hasaballah, Mohammed Salem, Yaacov Elian, Boris Dunavetski, Amir Levy, Mohammed Abed, Mahmud Hams, Alon Lulu Shamriz, Ilia Yefimovich, Abu Daqqa, Khan, Khan Younis, Ben Shelly, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Eviatar Cohen, Mostafa Alkharouf, Mohammed Dahman, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Atef Safadi, Gal Meir Eisenkot, Eisenkot, Gadi Eisenkot, Leo Correa, Alexi Rosenfeld, Alleruzzo, Amir Cohen, Gil Cohen, Menahem Kahana, Sergeant Aschalwu Sama, Tsafrir, John MacDougall, Ahed Tamimi, Nasser Nasser, Viktor, Helena Brodski, Kiril Brodski, Ammar Awad, Jack Guez, Jabel Mukaber, Mahmoud Illean, Alexander Ermochenko, Younis, Mustafa Hassona, Asher, Raz, Doron, Schneider, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Majed Al, Ansari, Mohammed Hajjar, Said Khatib, Jalaa Marey, Victor R, Liron Snir, James Oatway, Ashraf Amra, Ahmad Gharabli, Rizek Abdeljawad, Major Jamal Abbas, Shir Torem, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Christopher Furlong, Hatem Ali, Avraham Fetena, Sgt, Raz Abulafia, Fadel Senna, Nasser, Matan Meir, Haitham Imad, Roni Eshel, Eshel, Kenzo Tribouillard, Sadi Berek, Salah al, Varda Goldstein, Nir Oz, Bernat, Tomer Appelbaum, Mohammad Abu Elsebah, Khaled Ibn Al, Walid, Ya'akov Ozeri, Ronen Zvulun, Mohammed Alaloul, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Salman Habaka, Yuval Zilber, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Albert Miles, Ilan Rosenberg, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Yoav Gallant, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Omar El, Yasser Qudih, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Ali Mohmoud, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Khaled Joudeh, Samar Abu, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Belal al Sabbagh, Janis Laizans, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Belal Khaled, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Brendan Smialowski, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Mahmoud Khaled, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Sergey Ponomarev, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Agha, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Tali Touito, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Lana Nusseibeh, “ That’s, Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash, ” Gargash Organizations: UAE CNN, Hamas, BBC, CNN, Palestinian, West Bank, Reuters, United Arab, Abraham Accords, Israel, UAE, Arab League, Saudi, Fox News, Washington Institute for Near East, Middle East Institute, Israeli, Getty, of Health, Congressional, Republicans, United Nations Security, AP, European Hospital, Mount, Rockets, UN, Anadolu, Museum of Art, Security, Nova, Magen, Getty Images, Kiryat, Islamic Jihad, Red, Tel, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical, Young, AP People, Schneider Children's Medical, Sisters, Schneider Children's, Ofer, Cross, Foreign, Artillery, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Al, Unicef, AP Journalists, Israel Defense Forces, Modern, Nasser Hospital, Nasser Medical, Najjar, Israel Defence Forces handout, Shutterstock, Reuters United Nations, Shifa, Palestine, Pictures, Bloomberg, Israeli Apache, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, Nasser Medical Hospital, Deir Al, Tel Aviv University, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ben Gurion International, Aris Messinis, Haim, Puma, Mount Herzl Military, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Wall, Shihabi Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, United Kingdom, Gaza, United States, ”, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, Al Ula, Reuters Israeli, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Washington , DC, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, AFP, Turkey, Gulf, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Rafah, Maghar, Anadolu, Netanya, Khan, Khan Younis, Shaul, Shefayim, Jazeera, Kidron, Kfar Saba, Nahal Oz, Herzliya, Ashkelon, Petah Tikva, Ramallah, Egypt, Ofakim, Jabel, Khezaa, Gazan, Sisters Aviv, Beitunia, Gaza City, Galilee, Lebanon, Al, Aqsa, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, Xinhua, Pekiin, Mavki'im, Haifa, Sderot, Beit Hashmonai, Europe, Rishpon, Odem, Gaza's Al, Deir Al, Balah, Bureij, Kfar Aza, Meron, Jerusalem's, City, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Golan Heights, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Ahli, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Beit Kama, Cyprus, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Modiin Maccabim, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, Dhabi, Dubai, Al Arabiya

☆ Gunmen Kill One, Kidnap at Least 150 in Nigeria's Northwest, Residents Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Hamza Ibrahim and Ahmed KingimiKANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least 150 people, including women and children, were abducted with one person killed in a coordinated attack by gunmen on four villages in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, residents said on Saturday. The Zamfara police spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the attack, which took place late on Friday. Residents told Reuters that gunmen on dozens of motorcycles stormed the villages of Mutunji, Kwanar-Dutse, Sabon-Garin Mahuta and Unguwar Kawo in the Maru local government area of the state. Dankandai Musa, a resident of one of the villages, told Reuters he managed to slip away unnoticed during the chaos. "I managed to escape after they were regrouping us and the people from the three other villages that were attacked," he said.

Persons: Hamza Ibrahim, Ahmed Kingimi KANO, Garin Mahuta, Dankandai Musa, Lawali Damana, Bola Tinubu, Elisha Bala, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Residents Locations: Nigeria, Nigeria's, Zamfara, Mutunji, Sabon

☆ Nigeria and Germany sign $500 mln renewable energy and gas deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Union Bank of Nigeria and Germany's DWS Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on renewable energy. The agreement seeks to harness $500 million in investment in renewable energy projects across Nigeria, mostly in rural communities, spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement. A second MoU on gas export partnership was agreed between Riverside LNG of Nigeria and Germany's Johannes Schuetze Energy Import AG. Under the accord, Nigeria will supply 850,000 tons of natural gas to Germany annually which is expected to rise to 1.2 million. Under Tinubu, Nigeria has embarked on the boldest reforms in decades, scrapping a popular petrol subsidy and lifting restrictions on foreign exchange trading.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Bola Tinubu, Fabrizio Bensch, Ajuri Ngelale, Germany's Johannes, Ngelale, Tinubu, Elisha Bala, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union Bank of Nigeria, Germany's DWS, Riverside, Germany's Johannes Schuetze Energy, AG, Africa, Thomson Locations: Africa, Berlin, Germany, Rights ABUJA, Nigeria, Riverside LNG, Tinubu

☆ Coast Guard searching for cruise ship crew member believed to have gone overboard near Puerto Rico, the second such incident within 48 hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An MSC Cruise crew member is missing and believed to have gone overboard a ship on Tuesday. The Coast Guard is searching the waters near Puerto Rico for the 30-year-old man. AdvertisementThe Coast Guard is searching for a missing crew member believed to have gone overboard an MSC cruise ship on Tuesday evening. Officials are looking for a 30-year-old man of Indian nationality in waters north of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard said in a Wednesday press release. The time between someone going overboard and the cruise ship launching a search-and-rescue mission can often be the difference between life and death.

Persons: —, Cody Alcorn, KndanB6xeO — Cody Alcorn, Tyler Barnett, Elisha Reid, Barnett didn't Organizations: MSC Cruise, Coast Guard, Service, Guard, MSC, MSC Seascape, MSC Cruises, Cayman, Security, Safety, Business Locations: Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Aguadilla , Puerto Rico, San Juan , Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Atlanta, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Mexico

☆ Nigeria gets refineries investment, forex pledge from Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on Friday agreed to a series of investment and cooperation deals, including a pledge by the Saudi government to invest in the revamp of Nigeria's oil refineries and provide financial support to sustain the government's foreign-exchange reforms. Under Tinubu, Nigeria has embarked on the boldest reforms in decades, scrapping a popular petrol subsidy and unifying the country's multiple exchange rates as part of measures "aimed at improving the ease of doing business." Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the Saudi government pledged to make "a substantial deposit of foreign exchange to boost Nigeria's forex liquidity". "Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed a special relationship at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. The two leaders agreed to work together over the next six months to "develop a comprehensive road map and blueprint" to deliver on the investments, Idris said.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed Idris, Idris, Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, Boko, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala, Emelia Sithole, Matthew Lewis, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Crown, Saudi Aramco, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights ABUJA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Africa, Riyadh, Tinubu, Africa's

☆ Nigeria Opposition's Obi Slams Court Ruling Confirming Tinubu Election Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Supreme Court judgment followed a pattern seen in previous presidential elections that have been challenged in court. Speaking for the first time since the ruling, Obi, a former two-term governor who campaigned as an outsider, told reporters the judgment was a disappointment and contradicted overwhelming evidence of election rigging, false claims of technical glitches, and other irregularities. Obi's supporters, known as the "Obidients", have been vocal in their criticism of the Supreme Court ruling. They have accused the court of being biased and of protecting the interests of the ruling party. Obi's rejection of the Supreme Court ruling is likely to resonate with his supporters, mostly young Nigerians who were attracted by his message of hope and change and see him as a break from the old guard.

Persons: Camillus, Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Obi, Tinubu, Obi's, Camillus Eboh, Elisha Bala, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Reuters, Labour Party Locations: Camillus Eboh ABUJA, Nigeria

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu Urges UN to Help Curb Exploitation of Africa's Resources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu urged the United Nations to become more proactive in addressing his African nation's poverty and security issues and helping to fight illicit resource extraction, his spokesman said on Thursday. Tinubu raised the issues when he met U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement. The Nigerian leader said malign actors who engage in illicit activities, including resource and weapons smuggling, exploit Africa's vast mineral wealth and undermine its stability. "We now recognize the need to reform the institution to represent the world as it is today," Guterres was quoted as saying. (Reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Howard Goller)

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Ajuri Ngelale, Guterres, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala, Howard Goller Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United Nations, General Assembly, United, General, West African, ECOWAS Locations: New York, United Nations, West Africa, Niger, Abuja

☆ Nigeria seeks to deepen economic ties with South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu speaks after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. President Ramaphosa hailed Tinubu's "brave" economic reforms and pledged that South Africa will explore greater partnership with Nigeria. "We are two major economies on our continent, and it is important that we deepen economic ties, particularly in light of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement," Ramaphosa said . "We would love to see Nigeria and South Africa working closely together on a number of issues because whenever we join hands, we have made an impact globally through those joint positions," he said. Tinubu also urged South Africa to join Nigeria in a call for reforms of global finance institutions to help Africa combat rising poverty and economic woes.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Cyril Ramaphosa, Tinubu, Ramaphosa, Tinubu's, Joe Biden, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala, Sonali Paul Organizations: Nigeria's, REUTERS, Rights, South, United Nations General Assembly, African Continental Free Trade, Finance, General Assembly, U.S, Microsoft, Meta, Exxon Mobil, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights ABUJA, New York, Africa, South Africa

☆ Nigeria opposition to appeal verdict upholding Tinubu presidential win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main opposition candidates will appeal a tribunal ruling that affirmed Bola Tinubu's victory in a disputed presidential election in February that they claim was marred by irregularities, their lawyers said. But the Presidential Election Petition Court on Wednesday dismissed their petitions point-by-point in a judgment that lasted more than 11 hours. The ruling followed a pattern in previous election years in Africa's most populous country, where no legal challenge to the outcome of a presidential election has succeeded since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999. "Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which, in the instance, is the Supreme Court." An appeal at the Supreme Court should be filed within 14 days from the date of the tribunal ruling.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Atiku, Obi, Nick Zieminski, Elisha Bala, Richard Chang Organizations: People's Democratic Party, Labour, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Africa's, Nigeria, Anambra

Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, arrives for the closing session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit, Friday, June 23, 2023 in Paris, France. Lewis Joly/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Nigeria has secured nearly $14 billion of pledges from Indian investors and seeks an economic cooperation pact with the South Asian nation, a presidential spokesperson said on Wednesday. Skipperseil Ltd's founding Chairman Jitender Sachdeva and India's Bharti Enterprises each pledged $1.6 billion over four years to build power generation plants and $700 million in Nigeria, respectively, Ngelale said. Tinubu is attending at the invitation of India, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the bloc. "We are ready to give you the best returns for investment possible, there's nowhere else like our country," Tinubu said in the statement.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Lewis Joly, India's Jindal, Ajuri Ngelale, Skipperseil, Jitender Sachdeva, Ngelale, Tinubu, Nidhi Verma, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala, Shivam Patel, Christina Fincher, Richard Chang Organizations: New Global Financial, South, India's Jindal Steel, Indorama Corp, India's Bharti Enterprises, Defence Industries Corporation, Thomson Locations: Nigeria, Paris, France, DELHI, West, New Delhi, India, Africa's, South Africa, Abuja

☆ Nigerian court remands dozens in prison over alleged gay wedding
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Tife Owolabi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

YENAGOA, Nigeria, Sept 4 (Reuters) - More than 60 people arrested last week in Nigeria in connection with an alleged gay wedding, which is illegal in the country, have been remanded in prison, the police and their lawyer said on Monday. “The suspects have been arraigned in court today and the judge has ruled that they be remanded in prison for two weeks," Delta state police said in a statement. It did not say how many had been remanded, but police last week said 67 people had been arrested. He put the total number of those remanded at 69, adding they are facing charges connected to allegations that they were celebrating a gay wedding. The anti-gay law in Africa's most populous nation includes a prison term of up to 14 years for those convicted, and bans gay marriage, same-sex relationships, and membership of gay rights groups.

Persons: “, Ochuko Ohimor, Tife Owolabi, Elisha Bala, William Maclean Organizations: Thomson Locations: YENAGOA, Nigeria, Warri, Delta, Africa, Africa's

☆ Gunmen kill seven worshippers in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ahmed Kingimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Sept 2 (Reuters) - At least seven worshippers were killed in an attack on a mosque by a gang of armed men in Nigeria's northwest Kaduna state, police said on Saturday. The attack, in the remote Saya village of the Ikara local government area of the state, occurred late on Friday as worshippers gathered for prayer, Kaduna police spokesman Mansur Haruna said by phone. A resident of the village, Haruna Ismail, told Reuters by phone: "Five people were shot inside the mosque while praying and the other two were shot within the village community." Gangs of heavily armed men have wreaked havoc across Nigeria's northwest in the past three years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making it unsafe in some areas to travel by road or to farm. Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mansur Haruna, Haruna, Haruna Ismail, Ahmed Kingimi, Elisha Bala, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nigeria's, Kaduna

☆ Nigerian president recalls ambassadors worldwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABUJA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - President Bola Tinubu has ordered a recall of Nigeria's ambassadors the world over with immediate effect, his spokesman said on Saturday. Nigeria's United Nations permanent representatives in New York and Geneva are exempted from the "total recall" due to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later in the month, Tinubu's office said in a statement. Nigeria has 109 diplomatic missions worldwide, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates. Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Ajuri Ngelale, Joe Biden, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nigeria's United Nations, United Nations General Assembly, U.S, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Rights ABUJA, New York, Geneva, Brazil, India, South Korea, Germany

☆ Nigerian police raid alleged gay wedding, arrest 67 people
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Tife Owolabi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

YENAGOA, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Nigerian police raided an alleged gay wedding, which is illegal in the country, in the southern city of Warri in Delta state, and arrested 67 people, authorities said in a statement, following a tipoff from a person who knew of the event. The statement didn't say when the raid took place. In Nigeria, like in most parts of Africa, homosexuality is generally viewed as unacceptable, and a 2014 anti-gay law took effect despite international condemnation. "The policemen chased and arrested a total number of 67 suspects" for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony, Bright said. Africa's most populous nation's anti-gay law includes a prison term of up to 14 years for those convicted, and bans gay marriage, same-sex relationships, and membership of gay rights groups.

Persons: YENAGOA, Edafe Bright, Bright, Tife Owolabi, Elisha Bala, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Delta, Investigations, Thomson Locations: Warri, Delta, Nigeria, Africa

☆ Boko Haram frees 49 women kidnapped in Nigeria's Borno state
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Ahmed Kingimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bukar Isa, from the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), shows displaced victims of the Boko Haram insurgence how to identify marked objects of danger on the street, during a safety training at the Gubio camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria May 6, 2022. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Forty-nine women kidnapped by Boko Haram earlier in the week near Maiduguri, in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, regained their freedom early on Friday after a state official paid a ransom for their release, two of the victims and a local leader said. "We were all released at midnight after Boko Haram said our families secured our release after meeting their demands," one of the victims said. Borno commissioner for youth and police spokesman Sani Kamilu Shatambaya didn't immediately respond to calls for comment. ($1 = 770.8400 naira)Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Editing Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bukar Isa, Afolabi, Boko Haram, wasn't, Sani Kamilu Shatambaya didn't, Ahmed Kingimi, Elisha Bala, Gbogbo, Sandra Maler Organizations: Mines Advisory, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Maiduguri, Nigeria, Nigeria's, Borno, Shuwaei Kawuri, Chad, Niger, Cameroon

☆ Nigeria's labour unions suspend strike after meeting president
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main labour federation has agreed to return to talks with the government following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, union leaders said, on a day when hundreds of Nigerians marched against the removal of a petrol subsidy. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the marches across major Nigerian cities were successful enough to force Tinubu to meet union leaders and vow to expedite an agreement on a new minimum wage among other promises. [1/2]Members of the Nigerian Labour Union, holding flags and placards, march during a protest against fuel price hikes and rising costs, in Abuja, Nigeria August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Abraham AchirgaLed by union leaders, protesters carrying placards marched in Lagos, the oil-producing state of Bayelsa and in the northern cities of Kano and Kaduna. In the capital Abuja, marchers broke down a gate to the National Assembly, expecting to be addressed by the Senate president, witnesses said.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Tinubu's, Dele Alake, Abraham Achirga Led, Elisha Bala, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Tife, Hamza Ibrahim, Garba Muhammad, Tomasz Janowski, Giles Elgood, Sandra Maler Organizations: Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigerian Labour Union, REUTERS, NLC, National Assembly, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Abuja, Lagos, Bayelsa, Kano, Kaduna, Gbogbo, Yenagoa

ABUJA, July 20 (Reuters) - Nigeria's naira traded at a record low of 860 per dollar on the black market on Thursday, according to traders, weakening below its official rate a month after the country devalued the currency and ahead of a central bank policy meeting next week. The naira has been swinging widely on the official market since the devaluation. It touched a new low of 853 naira per dollar on Wednesday, according to OTC market regulator, FMDQ Exchange. The currency closed at 742 naira against the dollar on the official market on Thursday, Refinitiv data showed. Dollar shortages on the official market have seen customers turning to the black market, helping to widen the gap between the spot rate and the black market, one trader said.

Persons: Nigeria's naira, Bola Tinubu, Elisha Bala, Andrew Cawthorne, John Stonestreet, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: FMDQ Exchange, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria

He was expected to be arraigned Friday after his arrest Thursday night in Manhattan, said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison. "We anticipate an indictment later on this afternoon," said Harrison, whose agency and the Suffolk County district attorney are leading the investigation. According to NBC New York, Gilbert was not the only victim who was a sex worker. In May 2022, Suffolk County police released 911 audio related to Gilbert's disappearance. The development comes after a multi-agency task force made up of FBI, New York State Police and Suffolk County authorities was established in February 2022 to "reinvigorate" the investigation.

Persons: Rex Heuermann, Rodney K, Harrison, Shannan Gilbert, Sherre Gilbert, I'm, Rex, Steve Bellone, Emma Tang, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard, Jessica Taylor, Taylor, Valerie Mack, Mack, Gilbert, Joseph Brewer, Gilbert didn't, Michael Pak, Mike, Brewer, Pak, let's Organizations: Suffolk County Police, NBC News, Attorney's, News, NBC, FBI, New York State Police Locations: Long, Massapequa, N.Y, Manhattan, Suffolk County, New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk, Gilbert, New Jersey, Oak Beach, Barnes, Manorville, Gilbert's, NBC New York

☆ Nigerian President Tinubu chosen as new West Africa bloc chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, July 10 (Reuters) - West African regional bloc ECOWAS has chosen Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as its new chairman at a time of deepening insecurity, including military coups and terrorism, in the region. West Africa has witnessed six successful military coups since 2020, marking a backslide of democracy in a region that had been seen to be making progress in shedding its "coup belt" moniker. Tinubu, who was voted in on Sunday and takes over from President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, called for swift action against insecurity including terrorism and coups in West Africa which he said had reached "alarming proportion." "On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. Tinubu pledged to prioritise political stability, peace and security and regional economic integration in the 16-member ECOWAS.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Umaro Sissoco, ”, Tinubu, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala Organizations: African, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, West Africa, Guinea, Bissau

☆ Kenyan, Zambian currencies expected to weaken
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Kenya Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge displays Kenyan shilling bank notes during a news conference at the Central Bank in Nairobi, Kenya, June 3, 2019. One trader at a commercial bank said the currency was expected to float around 141.00 levels. GHANAGhana's cedi is expected to hold steady against the dollar next week on the back of high foreign exchange liquidity following central bank support, traders said. Bid-offer spreads are also expected to tighten further," said Sedem Dornoo, a senior trader at Absa Bank Ghana. UGANDAThe Ugandan shilling is expected to firm in the coming week, drawing support from hard currency inflows from exporters of commodities such as coffee.

Persons: Kenya Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge, Baz Ratner, GHANA Ghana's cedi, Sedem Dornoo, Chris Nettey, ZAMBIA Zambia's kwacha, Elias Biryabarema, Chris Mfula, Bhargav Acharya, Elisha Bala, Hereward Organizations: Kenya Central Bank Governor, Central Bank, REUTERS, KENYA, GHANA Ghana's, greenback, Absa Bank, Trading Stanbic Bank, ZAMBIA Zambia's, Access Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, JOHANNESBURG, Ghana, Nigeria, NIGERIA, GHANA, Absa Bank Ghana, Trading Stanbic Bank Ghana, UGANDA, Kampala, ZAMBIA

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is embarking on the country's biggest reforms in decades, including scrapping the popular but expensive petrol subsidy and unifying the country's multiple exchange rates. World Bank lead economist for Nigeria Alex Sienaert said during a presentation in the capital Abuja that savings from the reforms did not amount to a fiscal windfall. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund had for years called on Nigeria to remove the petrol subsidy, which cost $10 billion last year, and free its exchange rate. To deepen foreign exchange reforms, Siernaet said Nigeria should remove restrictions on a list of 43 items, including sugar and flour, that the central bank says cannot be funded from official dollar sales. Nigeria has the second-largest population of poor people in the world and is one of the least developed countries globally, the World Bank says.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Nigeria Alex Sienaert, Sienaert, Siernaet, Wale Edun, Chijioke Ohuocha, Elisha Baba, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Christina Fincher, Susan Fenton Organizations: World Bank, Bank, International Monetary Fund, Labour, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Nigerian, Abuja

☆ As Nigeria scraps fuel subsidy, a vibrant black market collapses
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Desire Danga Essigue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Since Nigeria scrapped a state fuel subsidy on May 31, black market fuel vendors and commercial drivers in Cameroon, Benin and Togo who were heavily reliant on petrol smuggled from Nigeria have seen their businesses collapse. With supplies dwindling, queues have been forming at official petrol stations, where fuel is now competitively priced. "Supply has become scarce and customers think we're ripping them off with this high price, yet it's from Nigeria that prices have soared," said Perevet Dieudonne, a black market seller. The trade in black market fuel is so central to the local economy that authorities either turn a blind eye or are complicit. At Hilacondji, a border crossing between Togo and Benin, some black market fuel stalls were shut, while at others vendors waited among rows of empty plastic jerricans for potential deliveries.

Persons: Danga, turvy, Perevet Dieudonne, Ousmanou Mal Djoulde, Ayi Hilla, Alice Lawson, Pulcherie, Amindeh Blaise Atabong, Elisha Bala, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Estelle Shirbon, Bate Felix, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, CFA, Reuters, Dangote Petroleum, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Garoua, Cameroon, GAROUA, West, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Nigerian, West Africa, Dangote, Hilacondji, Africa, Cotonou, Pulcherie Adjoha

☆ Nigeria sets eight-week timeline to agree minimum wage with unions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, June 20 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main labour unions and the government on Monday set an eight-week timeline to finalise an agreement to raise the minimum wage to help cushion the impact of high fuel prices after the removal of a popular but costly petrol subsidy. The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had threatened to strike after fuel prices tripled following President Bola Tinubu's decision to scrap the subsidy. Talks with the unions are one of the first challenges the new administration faces as it pushes forward with a raft of economic reforms. "Everything must be rolled out within that time, (it is) not something that we are going to leave endlessly," he said. Reporting by Camilus Eboh; Writing Elisha Bala-Gbogbo, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, Dele Alake, Festus Osifo, Tinubu, Camilus Eboh, Elisha Bala, Ed Osmond Organizations: Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Thomson Locations: ABUJA

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