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Tokyo, Feb 5, 2025 – Oil prices fell more than $1 a barrel on Thursday after the U.S. and Iran agreed to hold talks in Oman on Friday, easing concerns that a potential military conflict between them could disrupt supplies from the key Middle East producing region. Brent crude futures fell $1.31, or 1.89%, to $68.15 per barrel at 0714 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude prices fell $1.24, or 1.90%, to trade at $63.90. Oil prices surged about 3% on Wednesday after a media report suggested the planned talks between the …

London, Feb. 5, 2026 – The Bank of England is set to keep its main interest rate unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday as inflation remains above target and economic growth is showing signs of picking up. The central bank, which sets interest rates for the whole of the U.K., has been steadily reducing interest rates over the past 18 months, more often than not every three months. It last cut its key rate in December by a quarter of a percentage point and indicated that further reductions are likely this year. …

Washington, Feb. 5, 2025 – United States President Donald Trump has extended a 26-year-old free-trade agreement with African countries, after months of uncertainty over the future of the deal.  Trump on Tuesday signed into law an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), effective retroactively from 30 September 2025, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.  The extension is short-term and lasts until December 31, providing only brief relief to African countries.  The US House of Representatives last month passed legislation to extend the law for three years, but the Senate later reduced the extension to one year, according …

Singapore, Feb 4, 2026 – Oil prices extended gains on Wednesday after the U.S. shot down an Iranian drone and armed Iranian boats approached a U.S.-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, rekindling fears of an escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. Brent crude futures were up 15 cents, or 0.2%, at $67.48 per barrel at 0730 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 28 cents, or 0.4%, at $63.49 per barrel. Both benchmarks rose nearly 2% on Tuesday as the military incidents increased fears that a conflict …

By Paul Ejime Abuja, Feb. 4, 2026 – Dr Fernando Dias da Costa, who claimed victory in Guinea-Bissau’s 23rd November 2025 presidential election, will not participate in the power-sharing transition government suggested by the ruling military junta, and has instead called for his inauguration as the country’s legitimate leader, his National Campaign Directorate said. It is widely believed that, in an apparent move to avoid an electoral defeat, former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló orchestrated a military coup on 26th  November 2025 ahead of the announcement of the results of the …

Abuja, Feb. 2, 2026 – Victor Oluwafemi, the founder of the Africa Development Studies Centre, has advised the federal government to make reciprocal visa facilitation a mandatory component of Nigeria’s bilateral economic agreements. Olufemi, who gave the advice in a statement on Sunday, said the absence of clear mobility provisions had undermined Nigeria’s economic diplomacy. He said Nigeria must adopt a clear national standard requiring every primary bilateral economic instrument to include a practical visa facilitation and mobility protocol designed for delivery, not ceremony. “Nigeria is entitled to reciprocity. If …

Singapore, Feb 2, 2026 – Oil prices fell nearly 5% on Monday and were heading for the steepest single-session decline in more than 6 months, after U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, signalling de-escalation with an OPEC member. Brent crude futures were down $3.38, or 4.9%, at $65.94 per barrel at 0528 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $3.33, or 5.1%, to $61.88 per barrel. Both contracts sank from multi-month highs as risks of a military strike on Iran receded after Trump’s weekend comments. …