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Tag: U.S.

  • Nigerian medical doctor bags US award

    Nigerian medical doctor bags US award

    Dr Olufunso Ojo, a US based Nigerian Medical Doctor, has been conferred with the honour of Outstanding Georgia Citizen for his exceptional contributions to Medicine.

    In a Certificate of Award signed by Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia, US, Ojo was honoured for his compassionate patient care and philanthropic leadership.

    A copy of the certificate and a Proclamation by the Georgia State Senate was made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    In the Proclamation, the awardee was recognised as “a distinguished physician specialising in internal medicine, whose dedication to the health and well-being of his patients has earned him widespread recognition”.

    He was also honoured with a 4.5-star rating for his compassionate care and exceptional contribution to medical profession.

    As contained in the Proclamation, the physician is said to have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of medicine.

    He was honoured for providing exceptional medical care to countless individuals in the State of Georgia and beyond, and serving as a beacon of hope and healing for his patients.

    “Dr OJo’s expertise in internal medicine, coupled with his empathetic approach to patient care, has set a standard of excellence in the medical community, inspiring both his colleagues and future generations of healthcare professionals.

    “His contributions extend beyond the walls of his practice, as he actively engages in community outreach and health education, striving to improve the overall health and quality of life for all Georgians.

    “He is not only a renowned physician but also a philanthropist of international repute, whose generous contributions and humanitarian efforts have uplifted communities locally, nationally, and globally, addressing critical needs in healthcare, education, and social development.

    “Dr. Ojo’s outstanding achievements and dedication to his profession and philanthropic endeavors have brought great pride to the State of Georgia, and his work serves as a testament to the power of compassion, skill, and perseverance in the field of medicine and beyond,” the Proclamation read.

    Ojo, a 1995 graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife did his house manship at the General Hospital, Akure and his National Youth Service in 1997.

    He proceeded to the US, where he did his Clinical Research Assistant at Columbia University, New York in 1999.

    He was accepted into Internal Medicine Residency Training at More House School of Medicine in Atlanta between 2000 to 2003.

    The awardee further sub-specialised in Geriatric Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta Georgia and later worked with various hospital systems in Georgia .

    He is a Member of American College of Physicians , American Medical Association and Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

    Ojo also held various positions, including, Chairman, Medical Evaluation Committee that oversees peer review of other Physicians and currently the Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Internal Medicine Associates PC.

  • EU chief welcomes Trump’s announcement of pause in tariffs

    EU chief welcomes Trump’s announcement of pause in tariffs

    European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was pausing new “reciprocal tariffs’’ on most countries for 90 days to allow for negotiations.

    “It’s an important step toward stabilising the global economy. Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function.

    “The European Union remains committed to constructive negotiations with the U.S., with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade,’’ von der Leyen said.

    On Wednesday, EU member states agreed to retaliatory tariffs of 10 per cent to 25 per cent on U.S. imports, which are due to be implemented from next week.

    This was in response to the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports imposed about a month ago.

    U.S stocks showed an astonishingly strong move back to the upside on Wednesday following Trump’s announcement, after the nosedive seen over the past few days.

  • China begins implementation of new 84% tariffs on U.S. imports

    China begins implementation of new 84% tariffs on U.S. imports

    China officially commenced the implementation of its planned retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods on Thursday, imposing an additional 84 per cent duty on imports from the U.S.

    The move came after Washington escalated its trade pressure, with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing on Wednesday a new plan to raise tariffs on Chinese imports even further to 125 per cent.

    Chinese officials have however rejected the U.S. approach, accusing Washington of blackmail and pledging to resist pressure in the ongoing trade dispute.

    As tensions rise with the U.S, China is reaching out to other partners.

    On Tuesday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao had a phone call with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to discuss issues including enhancing China-EU economic ties.

    According to a Chinese statement, Wang criticised the U.S. tariff strategy as harmful to global trade and urged cooperation to uphold the rules-based multilateral system.

    It added that China and the EU agreed to start talks on market access and improving the business environment for companies.

    China has remained one of the EU’s most important trading partners.

    In 2024, it was the bloc’s third-largest export destination and its top source of imports.

    However, the EU continued to run a significant trade deficit with China, which last year stood at around 300 billion euros (329 billion dollars).

    Meanwhile, tariffs for some other countries have been temporarily suspended.

    So far, Beijing has not responded to the latest U.S. measures.

  • What Nigeria need to withstand U.S. tariff shock – Economist

    What Nigeria need to withstand U.S. tariff shock – Economist

    An economist, Dr. Yemi Kale, says Nigeria requires 40 per cent annual growth rate to cushion the potential negative impact of the United States’ (U.S.) recent tariff hike on its one trillion dollar economic growth vision.Kale, who is the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Research and Trade Intelligence, Afreximbank, said this on Wednesday in Lagos at the 2025 Vanguard Discourse.

    He urged the government to implement policies that foresee and mitigate the impact of the U.S. tariff hike on Nigerian exports.

    He called for sustainable reforms that would ensure over 40 per cent annual growth.
    Kale urged Nigeria to leverage its strengths, including its youthful population and abundant natural resources, to reposition itself to harness African and global trade opportunities.

    “The path to economic resilience, inclusive prosperity and reducing economic hardship is neither quick nor easy, but it is clear. We know what must be done. The foundational pillars are not in question.

    “Stabilise the macro-economy, restore credibility in fiscal and monetary policy, curb inflation and rebuild investor confidence.

    “Diversify the productive base, unlock the potential of agriculture, manufacturing, services and the digital economy.

    “Invest in people and institutions because sustainable growth only happens when human capital is empowered and governance systems are effective,” he said.

    He called for sustainable transformative reforms in the real, monetary, fiscal and external sectors for the actualisation of Nigeria’s vision.

    Kale stressed the need to address low productivity in agriculture, where maize yields lag at 1.5 tons per hectare compared to a global average of six to eight tons, coupled with 40 per cent post-harvest losses and climate vulnerability.

    “What Nigeria needs is quality growth that is inclusive, equitable, job-creating and resilience-building,” he said.

    He also explained the need for inclusive growth while highlighting factors needed for inclusivity to achieve the one trillion dollar vision.

    He said the sub-theme for the 2025 discourse, “Economic Hardship and Pathways to Recovery,” speaks both to current struggles and the unwavering hope of Nigerians for a resilient, inclusive and prosperous country.

    Also, the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye, described the U.S. tariff hike as a severe blow to an already strained economy.

    “This tariff directly jeopardises enterprise growth and could precipitate job losses, particularly in our non-oil export sectors,” he said.

    Oye, also the Chairman of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), urged the government to collaborate with the private sector before implementing policies.

    “We appeal to the government to listen to us more before making policy changes.

    “Sudden decisions, whether on taxation or trade, disrupt investment flows and weaken investor confidence,” he said.

    He called for infrastructure and human capital development to address youth unemployment already exceeding 53 per cent and inflation at 23.18 per cent as of February.

    He said the tariff hike threatens to deepen Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis and urged Nigeria to diversify its trade relations.

    “Instead of relying heavily on America, we should build new trade partnerships. There are opportunities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America we must explore,” he said.

    Panelists at the event suggested that beyond policies, implementation would bring about actionable viable development.

    The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Tayo Aduloju, said that for Nigeria to witness significant economic development and compete globally, it must build on three major institutional pillars.

    “We must have very strong political, economic and social institutions. Poor quality of leadership and weak institutions are responsible for where we are as a nation today,” he said.

    Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said Nigeria’s trade policies stifle the growth of businesses and deter potential investments.

    “We have a trade policy that seems to be centered mainly on revenue generation.

    “This puts unnecessary pressure on businesses. The tariff regime in Nigeria is too high,” he said.

  • EU approves first retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports

    EU approves first retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports

    EU member states on Wednesday approved initial retaliatory tariffs of 10 per cent to 25 per cent on U.S. imports, which the European Commission says will be implemented next week.

    This includes special levies on items such as jeans and motorcycles from the United States, while U.S.-made whiskey and other alcoholic beverages were removed from the commission’s proposed list.

    Further counter-tariffs are due to be imposed in mid-May and at the end of the year, affecting products including beef, poultry and citrus fruits such as oranges or grapefruit.

    Additional tariffs on nuts and soybeans are planned for early December.

    The tariffs approved on Wednesday are in response to the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports imposed about a month ago.

    According to EU calculations, the U.S. measures affect exports worth 26 billion euros (28.8 billion U.S. dollars).

    The measures being imposed by Brussels target goods worth approximately 21 billion euros, according to EU sources.

    The EU has stressed its preference for negotiations rather than escalating the trade dispute.

    Work is still under way on a further package of measures in response to the tariffs on cars and almost all other EU exports to the U.S. more recently announced by President Donald Trump.

    Trump’s tariff policy aims to correct alleged trade imbalances and shift production to the United States, while partially offsetting tax cuts promised during his election campaign.

  • Canada will never be part of U.S. – Carney

    Canada will never be part of U.S. – Carney

    Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said that Canada will “never ever’’ be part of America after winning the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as the country’s prime minister.

    Carney, who headed Britain’s central bank between 2013 and 2020 would replace the 59-year-old after winning the Liberal Party leadership race.

    Trudeau, who has served as prime minister since 2015, announced he was stepping down in January after facing calls to quit from his own lawmakers.

    Carney, 59, is currently chairman of Canadian alternative investment firm Brookfield Asset Management.

    He will now have to decide when to call a general election in Canada which must take place on or before Oct. 20.

    In 2013, he became the first non-citizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694.

    Since his role at the Bank, he has held several posts in the finance sector and has worked as an adviser to Trudeau.

    Being introduced by his daughter Cleo after his win, Carney said: “Who is ready to stand up for Canada with me?

    “Yes Canada, the Liberal Party is united and strong and ready to fight to build an even better country.”

    Referencing Donald Trump’s trade war and his talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state, Carney said.

    “We have made this the greatest country in the world and now our neighbours want to take us. No way.”

    He also said Americans “want our resources, water, our land, our country”.

    He added: “Think about it. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life. America is a melting pot. Canada is a mosaic.

    “America is not Canada. Canada will never ever be part of America in any way, shape or form.”

  • WHO meets as U.S. withdrawal blows hole in budget

    WHO meets as U.S. withdrawal blows hole in budget

    The executive board meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday was set to take on an atmosphere of crisis as it grappled with the consequences of the looming withdrawal of the U.S.

    Since President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. to exit the WHO on his first day back in office, there has been an atmosphere of alarm at the UN agency’s headquarters in Geneva.

    The U.S. is by far the largest contributor to the WHO.

    In 2024, its share of the budget was 18per cent.

    It now appears inevitable that jobs and health programmes will have to be cut in order to cover the funding gap.

    The U.S. itself was represented on the executive board, which has 34 members and the highest decision-making body of the WHO between annual general meetings.

    The U.S. withdrawal was due to take effect on Jan. 22, 2026, but the new administration in Washington has instructed its officials to cease cooperation with the WHO with immediate effect.

    The WHO hoped that other countries would consider increasing their contributions.

    The mandatory contribution of all 194 WHO member states was based on a country’s economic strength.

    When Trump withheld funds for the WHO during his first term in office, Germany stepped in and was the largest contributor in the 2020 to 2021 budget period.

  • 20 American mercenaries missing in Ukraine conflict

    20 American mercenaries missing in Ukraine conflict

    No fewer than 20 American mercenaries fighting on the side of Ukraine, have been reported missing in combat, with casualties among foreign fighters rising sharply over the past six months.

    CNN reported this on Thursday after conducting its own investigation.

    It said that foreigners have been dying on the Ukrainian front lines in growing numbers as they rush to fill the gaps in Ukraine’s defences.

    According to the CNN report, bodies of at least five Americans killed in the past six months could not be retrieved from the battlefield.

    The report added that the remains of two U.S. citizens were transferred to Ukraine last Friday.

    Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry, had repeatedly accused Kiev of recruiting foreign mercenaries.

    Many foreign fighters had confessed in different interviews that the Ukrainian military provided little coordination.

    It also said that the intensity of combat far exceeded what they experienced in Afghanistan and the Middle East, making survival extremely difficult.

  • Mexico braces for possible U.S. tariffs

    Mexico braces for possible U.S. tariffs

    Mexico doubts if Washington will enforce the 25 per cent tariff but stands prepared if it does, Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, said.

    “The truth is we do not believe that it will happen, but if it does happen, we also have our plan and we will present it then,” the Mexican president said at a regular press briefing.

    Mexico’s Foreign Ministry, headed by Juan Ramon de la Fuente, is in talks with the U.S. government, she said.

    On Tuesday, White House Oress Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said U.S. President Donald Trump still plans to apply a 25 per cent tariff on all imported products from Mexico and Canada starting on Saturday.

    He said the tariff would be imposed unless both countries cooperate to resolve the problem of mass immigration and fentanyl trafficking.

  • U.S. increases arrest target of illegal immigrants to 1,800 per day

    U.S. increases arrest target of illegal immigrants to 1,800 per day

    The administration of U.S. President, Donald Trump, has raised its target for daily arrests of illegal immigrants to 1,800, the New York Post reported, citing multiple sources.

    Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that Trump had expressed disappointment with the results of his mass deportation campaign.

    He instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up arrests from a few hundred per day, between 1, 200 to 1,500.

    “The Trump administration is now requiring ICE to make at least 1,800 arrests a day, setting a target of at least 75 arrests for each of the agency’s 25 offices,’’ the report said.

    Since taking office, ICE has made over 4,500 arrests and conducted raids in several major U.S. cities, including New York, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston, the report said.

    The White House has reportedly called for even higher enforcement rates.

    Trump said after his Jan. 20, inauguration that he would put efforts to immediately stop irregular migrants from crossing the U.S. border and begin the process of extraditing millions.

    Trump also declared a nationwide state of emergency over the situation at the southern U.S. border.