COLU @ CONCEPTS

World Bank cautions Nigeria against over-borrowing Africa to grow at 2.6 % this year Nigeria, S-Africa, Angola still largest economies 66% of Nigeria’s tax revenues goes to debt servicing —IMF ABUJA — The World Bank has cautioned Nigeria and other African nations against excessive debts, urging a balance between massive spending for development on the one hand and moderation in borrowing on the other.                                                 World-Bank-President, Jim Yong Kim  Chief Economist for African Region, Albert Zeufack, spoke on the latest update on the continent’s economy, Africa’s Pulse, via webcast from the bank’s headquarters in Washington DC, USA, yesterday. He said: “What is good for Nigeria is that debt to the GDP ratio is still low but the debt to revenue ratio is already high.  “The environment of weak economic growth comes at a time when the continent is in dire need of necessary reforms to boost investment and tackle poverty. Countries also have to u

China left as observer as tensions rise on Korean Peninsula BEIJING (AP) — China's foreign minister recently likened the U.S. and North Korea to two speeding trains hurtling toward each other, an analogy that would seem to place China in the role of helpless bystander. And indeed, while tensions have risen, Beijing has been frustrated by its declining influence over the Korean Peninsula. China "has a grandstand seat but no control," said University of Virginia China scholar Brantly Womack. The U.S. is piling the pressure on Beijing to use its clout with North Korea to rein in its nuclear and missile programs. China is the North's most important trading partner and ally, but Pyongyang has ignored Beijing's calls for a suspension of those programs and its requests for high-level bilateral talks. China's relations with South Korea, meanwhile, have plummeted over Beijing's vociferous objections to the deployment of a sophisticated anti-missile

Young Syrian, fighting for home, joined Islamic State group GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AP) — He was barely 20 when Islamic State group militants stormed his home city of Deir el-Zour in oil-rich eastern Syria. Mohammed had already been fighting government forces the past two years, so it was an easy decision for him: join the militants to keep up the battle against President Bashar Assad's rule. Though he insists he was never a full-on member, Mohammed set about gaining the militants' trust. He memorized more of the Quran and learned by heart Shariah laws governing jihad, or holy war. He perfected the "IS look," letting his beard go bushy, wearing pants that stop above the ankle, and removing embroidery from his baggy shirt to show more austerity. He even carried a book of prayers in his pocket. He did whatever was necessary to keep fighting for Deir el-Zour. But when the militants ordered him last summer to fight elsewhere, he broke ranks, escaping to Turkey. M

Check out the latest whistle blowers committee The whistle blowing scheme is probably made for all, even Trump refuses to be left out. This picture of US President Donald Trump and Melania seen blowing whistles is the picture of the day. Whistle blowing scheme, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance, is designed to encourage anyone with vital information about a violation of financial regulations, mismanagement of public funds and assets, financial malpractice, fraud and theft to report it. Guess who we now have on the team, it's our number one man, Trump and Melania as seen in this hilarious picture. Lol. Source: www.pulse.ng By  Kehinde Omotosho

Once critical of global deals, Trump slow to pull out of any WASHINGTON (AP) — The "America First" president who vowed to extricate America from onerous overseas commitments appears to be warming up to the view that when it comes to global agreements, a deal's a deal. From NAFTA to the Iran nuclear agreement to the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric is colliding with the reality of governing. Despite repeated pledges to rip up, renegotiate or otherwise alter them, the U.S. has yet to withdraw from any of these economic, environmental or national security deals, as Trump's past criticism turns to tacit embrace of several key elements of U.S. foreign policy. The administration says it is reviewing these accords and could still pull out of them. A day after certifying Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attacked the accord and listed examples of Iran's bad behavior. His tone sugge

Once critical of global deals, Trump slow to pull out of any WASHINGTON (AP) — The "America First" president who vowed to extricate America from onerous overseas commitments appears to be warming up to the view that when it comes to global agreements, a deal's a deal. From NAFTA to the Iran nuclear agreement to the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric is colliding with the reality of governing. Despite repeated pledges to rip up, renegotiate or otherwise alter them, the U.S. has yet to withdraw from any of these economic, environmental or national security deals, as Trump's past criticism turns to tacit embrace of several key elements of U.S. foreign policy. The administration says it is reviewing these accords and could still pull out of them. A day after certifying Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attacked the accord and listed examples of Iran's bad behavior. His tone su