The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says charges will now apply anytime customers use the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of banks other than theirs. This was contained in a circular dated February 10, 2025, and addressed to all banks and financial institutions, the apex bank’s acting Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, John Onojah. “The three free monthly withdrawals allowed for remote-on-us (other bank’s customers/not-on-us consumers) in Nigeria under Section 10.6.2 of the Guide shall no longer apply,” the circular partly read. The CBN directed banks and other financial institutions to apply the following charges with effect from March 1, 2025. The apex bank said while customers withdrawing at the ATMs of their banks and financial institutions won’t be charged, customers withdrawing from the ATM of other banks would now be charged ₦100 per every ₦20,000. The CBN said for off-site ATMs — automated teller machines not on a bank’s premises – like those at shopping mal...

  US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has directed the Treasury to stop minting new pennies as part of efforts to cut government costs. “For far too long, the United States has minted pennies that cost more than two cents to produce. This is wasteful!” Trump stated on Truth Social. He added, “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let’s cut waste from our great nation’s budget, even if it’s a penny at a time.” The decision aligns with recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a cost-cutting initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk—which flagged penny production as an unnecessary expense. While similar proposals have previously failed in Congress, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may have the authority to halt penny minting without legislative approval, according to economist Robert Triest. If implemented, prices would likely be rounded to the nearest five cents. Canada took a similar step in 2012, ...

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has warned that the European Union will respond in kind to any tariffs imposed by the United States, cautioning Washington against triggering a trade war. President Trump said on Sunday that he will introduce new 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US, on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul. “There is no hesitation when it comes to defending our interests,” Barrot told TF1 in an interview on Monday, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. When asked if France and the EU would retaliate, Barrot confirmed, “Of course. This is not a surprise. Trump did the same in 2018, and we responded then. We will do the same now.” The European Commission will determine which sectors to target in response, Barrot added, emphasizing that “no one benefits from a trade war with the EU.” Trump’s latest tariffs have raised concerns ...

    A federal judge on Friday cornered President Donald Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk, ordering a temporary halt to plans to scrap the U.S. Agency for International Development, [U S A I D ] The judge's order came several hours after a hearing Friday afternoon during which Nichols said he would issue the temporary restraining order. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, also agreed to block an order that would have given the thousands of overseas USAID workers the administration wanted to place on abrupt administrative leave just 30 days to move families and households back to the U.S. on government expense. Both moves would have exposed the U.S. workers and their spouses and children to unwarranted risk and expense, the judge said. Nichols pointed to accounts from workers abroad that the Trump administration, in its rush to shut down the agency and its programs abroad, had cut some workers off from government emails and other communication systems they n...

  U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women's sports, marking his latest move on transgender issues since returning to office. “From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump declared during the White House signing ceremony, surrounded by female athletes and children. He claimed the move would “end the war on women’s sports.” The order authorizes federal agencies to withhold funds from schools that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. “If you let men take over women’s teams or invade locker rooms, you will be investigated and risk losing federal funding,” Trump warned. Trump also announced plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules on transgender athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He further directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to deny visas to transgender women seeking to compete in U.S. sporting events. This order foll...

U.S. President Donald Trump made an announcement on Tuesday during a joint press conference with visiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will pursue a plan where the U.S. assumes ownership of Gaza. President Donald Trump says he wants the United States to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it after resettling Palestinian people in other countries. “The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He said the US would work to economically develop the area after cleaning out the destroyed buildings. President Trump also said  “I don’t think people should be going back,"  “You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need another location. I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy."   Trump...

  A gold mine collapse in western Kenya has left 12 miners trapped, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. According to Kakamega County police commander Daniel Makumbu, the mine partially caved in on Monday night while about 20 miners were inside. Eight have been rescued, while search and rescue operations continue. Authorities have urged bystanders to stay away from the site due to its fragile condition, warning that their presence could hinder rescue efforts. Daniel Makumbu confirmed that the search and rescue operation is ongoing and will continue until all the trapped miners are accounted for. Despite the risks posed by the unstable site, rescue teams remain hopeful that more miners could still be found alive. “We are committed to continuing the search until every miner is rescued,” Makumbu said. “However, we urge residents to stay clear of the collapsed shaft as it remains a high-risk area. We cannot afford any further casualties.” Kenya’s mining sector remains largely unregulated,...