On Monday, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), a decision that public health experts warn could harm the nation’s ability to lead global health efforts and make it harder to tackle future pandemics. The executive order was issued just hours after Mr. Trump took office, and he outlined several reasons for his decision. He criticized the WHO for what he described as “mishandling” of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement urgent reforms. He also claimed that the U.S. was unfairly burdened with large financial contributions,…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Nigeria experienced at least 589 oil spills in 2024, according to data from the Oil Spill Monitor, a satellite tracker operated by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). These spills, reported by oil exploration companies and host communities, highlight persistent challenges in curbing environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region. The report noted a 49.3% decrease in recorded oil spills compared to 2023, which saw 1,162 incidents. Despite the reduction in the number of spills, the volume of crude oil spilled in 2024 remained comparable, with 19,000 barrels (approximately 3 million liters) discharged—equivalent to 95 oil tanker…
TikTok users in the United States were disconnected from the platform late Saturday, shortly before a national ban came into effect. The ban follows a contentious legal battle that culminated in the US Supreme Court upholding the decision on Friday, citing national security concerns. “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US,” the platform announced in a message to users attempting to log in. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please…
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has urged Nigeria to intensify efforts to increase food production, reduce dependence on imports, and lower food prices. Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of a soybean plant and refinery by CSS Global Integrated Farms in Gora, Nasarawa State, Adesina highlighted the urgency of tackling hunger exacerbated by skyrocketing food costs. Adesina pointed to the potential of local farmers to meet the country’s food needs. Reflecting on his tenure as Minister of Agriculture under former President Goodluck Jonathan, he noted: “The price of rice at the time was N8,000…
A new global study conducted by Leaps by Bayer in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Ipsos reveals how people around the world feel about cutting-edge technologies shaping healthcare and agriculture. Bayer, during an online VIP Media briefing, attended by ASHENEWS’ Editor-in-Chief, Abdallah el-Kurebe shared interesting data gathered from the study on the public’s attitudes toward biotechnology. The scope of the study The largest global study on the perception of biotechnology surveyed 13,000 individuals in 13 countries across the world, including Nigeria and South Africa, to gather their responses, which provided a glimpse into public sentiment about the future…
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has identified public sector corruption as Nigeria’s greatest challenge, revealing that procurement and contract fraud account for 90% of corruption cases in the country. Olukoyede made this statement on Friday, January 17, 2025, during a meeting with the newly-appointed Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, and his management team at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. “At the EFCC, we handle both private and public sector fraud,” Olukoyede said. “In the public sector, which remains one of Nigeria’s major challenges, we have…
Bayer is making remarkable strides in its pharmaceutical growth strategy, fueled by a wave of innovative advancements and strong progress in its drug pipeline. Regulatory submissions are underway for new treatments that promise to address critical health challenges, including a third indication for darolutamide in prostate cancer, finerenone for a common type of heart failure, and acoramidis for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). These developments reaffirm Bayer’s leadership in these crucial therapeutic areas. Adding to this momentum, Bayer announced at the 43rd J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco that it is also advancing its work in women’s health, radiology, and…
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has endorsed a revised Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing formula and other critical tax reforms aimed at fostering equitable resource distribution and modernizing Nigeria’s tax system. The announcement was made in a communiqué issued on Thursday, signed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State. The communiqué followed consultations with the Presidential Tax Reform Committee and stakeholders such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The key resolutions arrived at during the meeting include: Revised VAT sharing formulaThe NGF approved a new VAT-sharing formula designed to ensure fairness:50% based on equality30% based on…
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reported a remarkable 2,500% increase in the country’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion capacity in 2024. Mr. Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, disclosed this at the inaugural Petroleum Industry Stakeholders’ Forum organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on Thursday in Abuja. Ahmed attributed the surge to the agency’s support of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), which stimulated the establishment of 186 new conversion centers. “The NMDPRA will continue to collaborate with PCNGI to ensure the deployment of CNG infrastructure in major cities such as…
Nigeria continues to strengthen its position among the top African nations leveraging solar energy, with the country adding 63.5 Megawatt peak (MWp) capacity in 2024, according to a report by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA). This brings Nigeria’s total installed solar capacity to 385.7 MWp by the end of the year, as highlighted in the AFSIA Africa Solar Outlook 2025 report. The report attributes the rising interest in solar energy in Nigeria to the removal of fuel subsidies, which has prompted many Nigerians to seek solar solutions as an alternative. “Nigeria has started feeling the positive impact of the…