Economic Situation
Beirut seeks Christmas cheer after devastating year
Near the wreckage of Beirut’s port, a charity is bringing Christmas cheer to a city hammered by a devastating explosion, rising coronavirus infections and the worst economic crisis since Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war. The Solidarity Christmas Village, decked out with flashing fairy lights and glittering trees, has been offering visitors free entry to watch concerts and pick up drinks and snacks, lifting the mood of families who can’t afford seasonal luxuries. People dressed in giant polar bear costumes and others in Santa Claus outfits offer some festive spirit to a country that is a patchwork of Christian and Muslim sects. “We need to make our children happy …. even if we are tired,” said Toni Hossainy, who had brought her son. The Christmas village has been set up in a temporary warehous...
Nigeria will witness massive progress if it learns from past mistakes – cleric
Rev Christopher Edeh, the Archbishop of Enugu Diocese, Methodist Church, Nigeria, says Nigeria will witness better progress, growth and patriotism by learning from past mistakes. Edeh said this in a Sunday sermon during the 20th Anniversary of the Central Methodist Church, Enugu. The clergy said that the major problem of present-day Nigeria was lack of basic knowledge of the evolution of the country as well as its various stages of nationhood by young Nigerians. He said it was sad that most secondary schools in the country do not teach history as a subject and called for the reinstatement of history in all secondary schools. Edeh said that there would be less mistakes in the country when Nigerians remember their past. “If we remember our mistakes and the pains of the past, we can then say ...
Niger governor, deputy take 30% salary cut as coronavirus hits economy
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger on Tuesday ordered a 30 per cent slash in the salaries and allowances of all political officers in the state. Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, in a statement in Minna, said that the directive was “with immediate effect”.“Those to be affected by the order include the governor, his deputy, commissioners, special advisers and all other political appointees,” the statement said. It said that the “temporary” slash was in view of the economic situation occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic. “Government will transparently resume full payment of salaries and allowances when the economic situation improves,” the statement stated and quoted the governor as regretting the inconvenience the reduction might cause affected persons. Get more storie...
