Tied inextricably to the world’s crude oil market, Nigeria’s economy is reeling from low oil prices and militant attacks against oil facilities. The current price of a barrel of oil is approximately $45.00 USD, down from the 2012 high of $109.45 USD. Although oil is only about 15% of the country’s GDP, it represents…
On September 6, 2016, amid urgent calls from federal health officials and medical leaders warning of the dire need for funds, the Senate failed for the third time to pass the $1.1 billion Zika funding bill. Why did this happen and what are the critical issues involved? What is the history of this impasse?…
Lupita Nyong’o owned the red carpet on Sunday night at the gala presentation of her new film, Queen of Katwe, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The actress wore a breathtaking yellow and blue gown with a unique and intricately-detailed bodice created by House of Herrera. The star’s stunning look was accessorized with a…
When Britain decided to leave the European Union officially in June 2016, global markets were rocked to their very core initially, and the Dow Jones and the British Pound took a beating. The British people voted for Brexit in spite of a UK treasury report that found that the nation’s productivity and GDP…
The artistry and talent of the Nigerian film industry are being showcased to an international audience this week at the 41st Toronto International Film Festival. Every year, TIFF highlights the cinema of a specific urban center as part of its City to City program, and for 2016 the focus is on the exciting…
In late-July, Democrats suffered an embarrassing scandal when a series of hacked emails form the Democratic National Committee were released into the public. The hacked emails contained evidence that the national party showed a preference towards former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US Presidential Election over her opponent, Senator Bernie…
According to media regulators in China, television shows that promote Western lifestyles are now banned. The Chinese Xinhua news agency reported recently that China would ban entertainment from the West that showed admiration for Western lifestyles or made jokes about classic Chinese traditions. The government is seeking to keep internet celebrities, stars, and…
In late August, violent clashes in the capital city of Gabon left at least three people dead and a burning National Assembly. The violence was prompted by the re-election of incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba, which marks the continuation of a dynasty that has been in power for five decades. For the Gabonese…
What started as a simple hashtag has spread to all four corners of the globe. Created and popularized by African nationals, #IfAfricaWasASchool pokes fun at different countries and cultures by re-imagining them as high school stereotypes. Some countries are the jocks, for example, while others are the nerds or band geeks. “#IfAfricaWasASchool Ivory Coast…
Angela Merkel, one of the biggest names surrounding the refugee crisis, has come under fire once again after admitting she underestimated the refugee crisis. The blow boosted the AfD–Alternative fuer Deutschland party, an anti-immigration party–to over 21% of the votes in recent exit polls after Merkel addressed the fact that the impact felt by…
