US-Africa Relations

Business

CN's Investor Relations Chief Stacy Alderson to Retire After Three Decades; Jamie Lockwood Named Successor

Canadian National Railway announced the retirement of veteran investor relations executive Stacy Alderson, capping a 30-year career. Vice President of Engineering Jamie Lockwood will assume the expanded role of VP, Investor Relations and Special Projects, as the railway giant navigates a strategic transition.

Jan 30, 2026

World

UK-China Relations Thaw as Starmer Seeks Economic Reset Amid Global Trade Shifts

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's landmark visit to Beijing marks a cautious pivot in UK-China relations, yielding agreements on tariffs, visas, and green energy. But can British businesses navigate the opportunities and challenges of re-engagement?

Jan 30, 2026

US-Africa Trade Pact AGOA Granted Stopgap Reprieve, Long-Term Future Remains Uncertain

A last-minute, short-term extension of the cornerstone US-Africa trade program AGOA has been passed, averting immediate expiration but leaving businesses and governments on both continents anxious about the partnership's long-term trajectory.

Feb 2, 2026

World

EU Commissioner Expresses Dismay Over Minneapolis Violence, Urges Transatlantic Unity Amid Strained T.S. Relations

European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera voices profound shock at the fatal shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis, contrasting with the EU's official cautious stance. Her remarks come as transatlantic tensions simmer over U.S. immigration policies and recent geopolitical threats.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Boston Woman's Plea on The Ramsey Show Exposes Marital Strain Over Risky Real Estate Gambles

A Boston woman's call to a popular finance show reveals a marriage buckling under the weight of multi-million dollar real estate debt and conflicting risk appetites, highlighting how financial discord can threaten relationships.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Ex-Boyfriend Charged in Virginia Woman's Murder After She Discovered His Deception

Katlyn Lyon Montgomery was found strangled in her Bedford County apartment days after ending a relationship with a man who had fabricated his entire life. Prosecutors allege he scaled her balcony dressed as a 'ninja' to carry out the attack.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Louisiana's 'Teacher of the Year' Arrested on Charges of Sexual Abuse Involving Student

Christie Oster, a recently honored middle school educator in Lafayette Parish, faces serious felony charges following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a former student, casting a shadow over her celebrated career.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Orva Taps Retail Veteran Jason Short to Lead Footwear Expansion Push

E-commerce accelerator Orva appoints former Famous Footwear executive Jason Short as SVP to spearhead growth of its athletic and performance footwear portfolio, leveraging his three decades of industry relationships.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Disney Bets Big on Middle East with Abu Dhabi Resort, Appoints New Strategy Chief

The Walt Disney Company announces plans for its first theme park in the Middle East—a full-scale resort in Abu Dhabi—alongside a key executive appointment aimed at refining long-term corporate strategy and investor relations.

Jan 30, 2026

World

China to Lift Travel Bans on UK Parliamentarians, Starmer Announces During Landmark Visit

In a significant diplomatic gesture, China has agreed to remove travel restrictions on a group of sanctioned British lawmakers, Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed following talks with President Xi Jinping. The move comes during the first UK leader's visit to China in eight years, aimed at thawing bilateral relations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Disney Taps Wall Street Veteran Ben Swinburne for Key Strategy and Investor Role

The Walt Disney Company has appointed former Morgan Stanley media analyst Benjamin Swinburne to lead its investor relations and corporate strategy divisions, a move seen as strengthening its financial communications amid industry transformation.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Colombian President's Remarks on Jesus Spark Outcry Among Faithful

President Gustavo Petro's suggestion that Jesus Christ had a romantic relationship with Mary Magdalene has drawn sharp criticism from religious groups and believers, igniting a heated debate about the boundaries between political speech and religious respect in the predominantly Christian nation.

Jan 30, 2026

World

France and Chad Chart New Course, Pivoting from Military Ties to Economic Partnership

Following a rupture in their longstanding security alliance, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno have agreed to reset bilateral relations, placing future cooperation squarely in the economic and developmental sphere.

Jan 30, 2026

World

South Africa Expels Top Israeli Diplomat Amid Deepening Rift Over Gaza

South Africa has ordered Israel's chargé d'affaires to leave the country within 72 hours, citing "unacceptable violations" of diplomatic protocol and a direct challenge to its sovereignty, further straining relations already tense over the ICJ genocide case.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Hunter Biden Seeks Dismissal of Contempt Motion, Argues No Legal Duty to Maintain Ties with Young Daughter

In a new court filing, Hunter Biden's legal team moves to dismiss a contempt motion brought by the mother of his 7-year-old daughter, arguing his relationship with the child is legally irrelevant and denying violations of their 2023 support agreement.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Exclusive: India in Talks to Integrate Alipay+ with UPI for Cross-Border Payments

India is negotiating with Ant International to link its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Alipay+ network, a move that could simplify overseas transactions for Indian travelers and signal a thaw in economic relations with China, according to government sources.

Feb 2, 2026

US

RFK Jr. on Family Ties After Tragic Loss: A Kennedy Divide Widened by Politics and Personal Grief

In an exclusive interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addresses the state of his relationship with cousin Caroline Kennedy following the death of her daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, last December. The tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of deep political rifts within America's most storied political dynasty.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Paramount Skydance Taps Veteran D.C. Insider Ted Lehman to Lead Washington Policy Push Amid Industry Turmoil

Paramount Skydance has appointed seasoned Capitol Hill and private sector strategist Ted Lehman as its top U.S. policy executive, a move signaling an intensified government relations focus as the media giant navigates a complex merger landscape and regulatory battles.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Iran Threatens to Label EU Armed Forces as Terrorists in Retaliatory Move

Iran has announced plans to designate the armed forces of European Union member states as terrorist organizations, a direct response to the EU's blacklisting of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The escalation marks a new low in diplomatic relations and raises fears of further regional instability.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Pressure Mounts on Lord Mandelson to Resign from House of Lords Amid Deepening Epstein Scandal Fallout

Former UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, faces intensifying political and public pressure to relinquish his lifetime seat in the House of Lords following new revelations about his financial and personal ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for his resignation, as documents suggest payments and close correspondence between the two.

Feb 2, 2026