The Nigerian Naira has further depreciated in the parallel market, trading at N1,660 to the US dollar. This development reflects increasing pressure on the local currency amidst ongoing economic challenges. The decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including heightened demand for foreign exchange, reduced dollar inflows, and limited intervention from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Market analysts warn that the persistent depreciation could further impact inflation rates, cost of living, and the purchasing power of citizens, urging swift policy measures to stabilize the currency.

  Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo Friday announced visa-free travel for all African passport holders from the start of this year, marking a step towards continental economic integration. The announcement came during his final state of the nation address as he prepares to step down on January 6 after two terms in office. “I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, with effect from the beginning of this year,” Akufo-Addo said in his speech to parliament. “This is the logical next step to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the workings of the largest trading bloc in the world,” he said. “All these are essential elements to the realization of the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisages an integrated and connected Africa by 2063,” he added, referring to the African Union’s development blueprint for a 50-year period. Ghana joins Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin in offering visa-free entry to African travellers. Ghana...

  A Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas  is being investigated as a potential terror attack. The truck explosion came hours after a driver speeded a truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ French Quarter on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone. Also, Police are reviewing if an explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas is linked to the deadly car-ramming attack in New Orleans. Tesla is owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk who has been a close ally of Mr Trump - donating millions to his successful 2024 US election campaign. He was also tasked with leading Mr Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. . The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday has been identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger, an active-duty US Army Green Beret....

A suspect accused of a deadly terrorist attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans has been identified.  The FBI has identified the suspect accused of carrying out the attack as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen of Texas. The FBI confirmed that Jabbar was an Army veteran from Texas, and wore full military gear at the time of the attack. Inside Jabbar’s truck — a Ford pickup that “appears to have been rented” — was an Islamic State flag, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device, according to an FBI statement.  The agency said it is investigating the slaughter as “an act of terrorism” and looking into how Jabbar gained possession of the vehicle. An FBI official said the agency believes Jabbar may have been working with accomplices, though none had been identified by Wednesday afternoon. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed that Jabbar "has been living in the Houston area." In a statement, the FBI's Houston office said it was "conducting law enforcement activ...

  Ten people are reported dead and multiple others injured after a truck drove into crowds of New Year's revelers in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 1. In a statement, city authorities said that "The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street." "There are 30 injured patients that have been transported by NOEMS [New Orleans Emergency Medical Services] and 10 fatalities." The New Orleans Police Department told said that the incident happened after the truck driver drove his vehicle down Bourbon Street at a high rate of speed. He was then killed after he exchanged gunshots with the police around 3:15 a.m. local time.   A witness who was at the scene of the crash told  CNN’s Pamela Brown that he and his friend noticed “a lot was going on” on Bourbon Street at around 3 a.m., so they decided to go into a nearby nightclub.  Within minutes, he said, a group of women ra...