Author: New Daily Prime

M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have announced they will withdraw their forces from the town of Walikale in eastern Congo, a move they say supports ongoing peace initiatives. The group, which has been advancing through the region, previously indicated their intention to leave troops in Walikale as they moved towards the capital, Kinshasa. The Congolese government has expressed hope that this announcement will be followed by concrete action, particularly after the M23 rebels unexpectedly pulled out of planned talks with the Congolese authorities earlier this week. The talks were called off due to EU sanctions imposed on some of the…

Oil prices saw a modest increase on Monday as investors weighed the potential impacts of new U.S. sanctions on Iranian exports against ongoing ceasefire talks aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which could boost Russian oil supplies to global markets. By 0735 GMT, Brent crude futures had risen by 4 cents to $72.20 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 8 cents, or 0.1%, reaching $68.36. Earlier in the day, prices had fallen slightly. Both benchmarks had closed higher on Friday, marking a second consecutive week of gains. The uptick was driven by the fresh U.S. sanctions…

Sweden has urged the European Commission to provide clear proposals on advancing Ukraine’s EU accession process, following Hungary’s threat to veto Ukraine’s membership, according to reports from Ukraine’s embassy in Sweden. Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, recently reaffirmed his country’s opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession, citing concerns over the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region. Despite Budapest’s previous support for starting negotiations, Hungary now insists that Ukraine has not fully addressed minority rights issues. Ukraine’s embassy in Sweden criticized Hungary’s stance, emphasizing that Hungary should not slow down negotiations on Ukraine’s membership bid. In response to Hungary’s objections,…

Washington, D.C. – In a bold economic move, President Donald Trump has unveiled a new “Gold Card” visa program aimed at wealthy immigrants, allowing them to secure permanent U.S. residency and a path to citizenship for a fee of $5 million (£3.9 million) per applicant. According to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, during an appearance on the ‘All-In Podcast’, the initiative has already proven highly lucrative. According to Financial Express, If 1,000 cards are sold within the first 24 hours, it could generate an unprecedented $5 billion for the federal budget. Trump has touted the program as a strategic…

Social media users criticise the announcement, with one questioning whether the headteacher will also cancel Christmas. In England, conflicts between Muslim and Christian communities in UK primary schools have surfaced in various contexts, reflecting the nation’s diverse and evolving educational landscape. A primary school has scrapped its annual Easter celebration and service to “respect diverse religious beliefs.” However, the announcement has been criticised online, with some suggesting that Christmas celebrations could be next. Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, Hants, sent a letter to parents and carers informing them that neither their Easter Bonnet Parade nor their Easter Service would be…

By Alade Adisa The federal government’s decision to increase the PTA levy in its unity colleges has sparked outrage among parents, who have expressed disgust over the more than 100 percent increase. In a circular dated March 18, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the government announced that the PTA levy would be increased from ₦5,700 to ₦12,000 per term. The circular, addressed to all principals of Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs), stated: “Following multiple requests from various PTA bodies in Federal Unity Colleges seeking an increase in the PTA levy to enable…

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has pledged to address concerns raised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) regarding the recently amended Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) Act, which imposes cumulative annual charges on non-listed entities. In a statement issued on Friday, March 21, PEBEC’s Director-General, Princess Zahrah Audu, assured that the federal government was carefully reviewing the grievances brought forward by manufacturers. This follows a protest last week by the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who expressed concerns over the financial levies that, as they are currently implemented, present significant challenges to manufacturing companies, especially those…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has distributed a total of N1.678 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and local governments for the month of February. This was revealed in a communiqué issued on Saturday, MArch 22, by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa. The total revenue of N1.678 trillion consists of several components, including statutory revenue of N827.633 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N609.430 billion, and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N35.171 billion. Other sources include Solid Minerals revenue of N28.218 billion and…

The Chairperson of Epe Local Government, Hon. Surah Olayemi Animashaun, has spearheaded several transformative initiatives that are making a significant impact on the lives of women in the area. In a bid to shun critics, the chairperson highlighted her achievements, noted that critics were only pushing agenda to sabotage her works for the good people of Epe. With a deep commitment to improving the lives of widows, elderly women, and other marginalized groups, Hon. Animashaun has worked alongside Hon. Bola Lawal, the Supervisory Councilor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to prioritise both immediate relief and long-term empowerment strategies for…

By Adeniyi Yusuf The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the emergency rule declared in Rivers State. Meanwhile, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has announced the release of withheld local government allocations. Recall that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for a period of six months. Also, the President appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (retd) as the Sole Administrator for the state. Reacting to the situation that unfolded over…