Award-winning novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has been announced as the headliner of the 2025 Things Fall Apart Festival, a week-long celebration of Chinua Achebe’s literary legacy.
The Centre for Memories, organisers of the festival, in an Instagram post on Tuesday, said the festival will take place from June 29 to July 5, 2025, at the Centre for Memories in Enugu.
“We are screaming with excitement because the iconic Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — globally celebrated novelist, feminist, and one of the most powerful literary voices of our time — is coming home to headline the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025, taking place from June 29 to July 5 at the Centre for Memories, Enugu!
“Adichie, fresh from her worldwide tour for her new book “Dream Count,” joins us to honour one of her greatest inspirations, the legendary Chinua Achebe, the pre-eminent storyteller whose words redefined African literature and consciousness,” the statement read.
The statement added, “Adichie will reflect on storytelling, cultural rootedness, and the timeless dialogue between history and identity. Her presence marks a powerful moment in our collective exploration of the festival’s theme:
“Masculine, Feminine, Human: The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart.”
Organisers said the festival will feature dramatic performances, tech-driven storytelling, art exhibitions, film screenings, memory walks, youth programmes and a reimagined Umuofia village experience.
An essay competition and saloon-style conversations are also scheduled to be held throughout the week.
The United States and Europe must put together new sanctions to “suffocate” Russia’s economy in order to force Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
The EU on Wednesday approved a fresh package of sanctions on Russia, but Jean-Noel Barrot pointed out that multiple rounds of punitive measures have failed to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
“We will have to go further, because these massive sanctions have not yet deterred Vladimir Putin from continuing his war of aggression against Ukraine,” Barrot told broadcaster BFMTV.
“We must prepare to impose devastating sanctions that could suffocate the Russian economy once and for all,” he said.
Barrot said that he was set to meet US Senator Lindsey Graham in Turkey on Thursday to discuss a US sanctions bill he was working on.
Graham has rallied dozens of lawmakers to support a plan to impose additional sanctions on Moscow as well as tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy.
Graham “has designed a package of extremely powerful sanctions”, with tariffs of 500 percent on countries that continue to import Russian oil, the French foreign minister said.
“Russia has found ways to circumvent the blockade imposed by Europe and the United States,” Barrot said.
“Turning off the tap in this way is a way of grabbing Russia by the throat,” he added.
“I hope that Europe will in turn be able to impose sanctions on hydrocarbons,” Barrot said.
On Saturday, the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland called on Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting this week, but to no avail.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Putin to personally attend upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey on Thursday, but Moscow has so far not said who will go.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europeans would slap Russia with more sanctions if it did not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The 17th round of sanctions aims to clamp down on Russia’s “shadow” oil fleet. Officials admit that the latest package is relatively limited compared to previous sanctions as the EU finds it more difficult to agree on targets.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 717 confirmed Lassa fever cases out of 4,881 suspected cases from January to May 4, 2025, in 18 states, across 93 local government areas.
This was disclosed in the latest situation report by the NCDC on its website on Wednesday.
So far, the country has recorded 138 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 19.3 per cent.
The states with reported death cases are Ondo (27); Bauchi (15); Edo (19); Taraba (34); Ebonyi (11); Kogi (four); Gombe (seven), Plateau (five), Benue (five), Nasarawa (four), Kaduna (two), Enugu (one), Delta (two), Cross-River (one), and Ogun (one).
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.
The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat), although other rodents can also act as carriers.
The report partly read, “In week 18, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 11 in epi week 17, of 2025, to 10. These were reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi and Benue States.
“Cumulatively in week 18, 2025, 138 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 19.2 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.0 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 18 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 Local Government Areas.”
It stated that 71 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from three states (Ondo, Bauchi and Taraba) while 28 per cent were reported from 15 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
It added that of the 71 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Taraba 16 per cent.
The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 96 years, Median Age: 30 years); and the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
“The number of suspected and confirmed cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.
“No new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 18.
“The National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” it noted.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday, declared that there was no fraud uncovered in the student loan scheme.
Alausa made this known at the end of a meeting held with Vice Chancellors, officials of the National Universities Commission, Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Alausa also described the statement put up by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences as incorrect.
“Let me start by saying that there is no fraud in NELFUND. ICPC reported that the information was not correct. There is no fraud in NELFUND; what we have are issues that have to do with the timeline.”
Recently, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission said it commenced a comprehensive investigation into alleged discrepancies surrounding the disbursement of student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
The commission said its preliminary findings revealed that while the Federal Government released N100 billion for the scheme, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving N71.2b unaccounted for.
Worried by the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students vowed to protest the alleged discrepancy.
The National Orientation Agency had alleged that certain schools, conniving with some banks, delayed payments to students who qualified for loans so they could make money off the situation.
This followed a media report that alleged that some institutions made unauthorised deductions ranging from N3,500 to N30,000 from students’ fees received from the loan fund.
In a statement last Thursday by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the commission stated that its Special Task Force immediately commenced investigations upon receiving the allegations.
The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has officially inaugurated the Cross River State Diaspora Commission to engage Cross Riverians abroad in state policies and development projects.
Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday in his office in Calabar, Otu emphasised the critical role the commission will play across the global diaspora community.
He said, “I welcome and congratulate you all. You have an important job to do: manage our people in the diaspora and build the image of Cross River on a global scale. The task is crucial, and I encourage you to give it your best shot. We expect you to start work immediately and build on the foundation we have laid.”
The commission is expected to serve as a bridge between the government and Cross Riverians in the diaspora, fostering investment, cultural exchange, and strategic partnerships that contribute to the state’s development.
The commission’s mandate also includes fostering unity among Cross Riverians abroad, facilitating developmental initiatives, and serving as a strategic arm for foreign relations and investments.
In his response, the Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission, Otu Esu Okor, described the appointment as an honourable call to serve.
He stated, “We are grateful to His Excellency for giving us this platform to contribute our quota to the growth of our beloved state. We are already in talks with diaspora partners to attract investments to Cross River. We will not fail.”
Global sales of electric vehicles are expected to exceed 20 million this year, accounting for more than 25 per cent of all vehicles sold.
This is according to a report by the International Energy Agency on Wednesday.
Global EV outlook report says that sales continue to grow in spite of uncertainties in the global economy and pressures on the automotive sector.
While global sales exceeded 17 million in 2024, the market share of these vehicles exceeded 20 per cent for the first time.
China maintained its leadership in the market, accounting for more than half of last year’s sales.
The 11 million electric vehicles sold in China in 2024 equaled the total number of electric vehicles sold worldwide in 2022.
The EV sales in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America also climbed by 60per cent last year.
In the U.S., the sales were up by 10 per cent year-on-year, while they remained stagnant in Europe as incentives and supportive policies weakened.
Two-thirds of electric vehicles sold in China in 2024 were priced below conventional vehicles in spite of a lack of purchase incentives, but the gap between electric and conventional vehicle prices remained wide in many countries.
In the first three months of this year, electric vehicle sales rose by 35 per cent year-on-year.
It said that with continued growth, total electric vehicle sales are expected to exceed 20 million this year.
“EVs remain consistently cheaper to operate across many markets, based on current energy market prices.
“Even if oil prices were to fall as low as $40 per barrel, running an electric car in Europe via home charging would still cost about half as much as running a conventional car at today’s residential electricity prices,” the report said.
However, Global economic growth, trade development, and industrial policies may affect the outlook for the electric vehicle sector, but sales are being supported by electric vehicle prices becoming more affordable.
“Our data shows that, despite significant uncertainties, electric cars remain on a strong growth trajectory globally. Sales continue to set new records, with major implications for the international auto industry,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
“This year, we expect more than one in four cars sold worldwide to be electric, with growth accelerating in many emerging economies.
By the end of this decade, it is set to be more than two in five cars as EVs become increasingly affordable,” he added.
Mali’s military junta has dissolved all political parties in the country.
A statement read on state television on Tuesday said the country’s military leader, Assimi Goita, validated the decision.
Last month, a national conference of political actors in Mali recommended the dissolution of all political parties and the naming of Goita as president with a five-year mandate.
The recommendation led to protests in Bamako on May 3 and May 4, with several hundred critics carrying placards displaying messages calling for multi-party elections.
They also chanted slogans like ‘Down with dictatorship, long live democracy’.
Ahead of another protest planned for May 9, Mali suspended political activities across the country.
The move forced opposition groups to cancel the demonstration.
The dissolution of political parties coincides with reports of disappearances of opposition figures, as human rights groups said several politicians have disappeared in recent days.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by “masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes” on May 8.
The group also said on the same day, “unidentified men” seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako.
Goita first seized power in August 2020 amid escalating attacks from armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS), and al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.
Tributes poured in from across Latin America on Tuesday following the death of Uruguay’s former president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics.
The 89-year-old, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment.
“With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguay’s current leader, Yamandu Orsi, posted on X.
“Pepe, eternal!” a cyclist shouted out minutes later, while passing government buildings.
Mujica earned the moniker “world’s poorest president” during his 2010-2015 presidency for giving away much of his salary to charity and living a simple life on his farm, with his fellow ex-guerrilla wife and three-legged dog.
The government announced three days of national mourning and said his body would be taken to the legislative palace on Wednesday to lie in state.
Activists from Mujica’s Movement of Popular Participation (MPP) gathered outside the party’s headquarters to make giant banners marked “Hasta siempre, viejo querido” (Until forever, old friend).
Leftist leaders from across Latin America and Europe paid tribute to the man described by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as an “example for Latin America and the entire world.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva echoed that message.
A supporter carries a red falg with the image of late Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica at the Frente Amplio party headquarters in Montevideo on May 13, 2025. Uruguay’s former president (2010-2015) Jose Mujica, a former guerrilla fighter and icon of the left in Latin America, died at the age of 89 on May 13, 2025, the government announced. The farmer dubbed the “world’s poorest president” during his presidency for his modest lifestyle had been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus in May 2024. (Photo by DANTE FERNANDEZ / AFP)
“His human greatness transcended the borders of Uruguay and his presidential mandate. The wisdom of his words formed a true song of unity and fraternity for Latin America,” Lula said in a statement.
– ‘Like ordinary people’ –
At the Madison, an unassuming corner cafe in central Montevideo, waiter Walter Larus recalled Mujica popping in for a steak shortly after winning office.
“He felt and lived like ordinary people, not like today’s politicians who seem rich,” the 53-year-old said.
In a 2012 AFP interview, Mujica denied being poor, saying his was, rather, a life of “austerity.”
“I need little to live,” he said.
He transformed Uruguay, a prosperous country of 3.4 million people best known for football and ranching, into one of Latin America’s most progressive societies.
In later life, he was disappointed at the authoritarian drift of some left-wing governments, accusing repressive leaders in Venezuela and Nicaragua of “messing things up.”
He was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus in May last year, and it spread to his liver.
His wife Lucia Topolansky said this week he was receiving palliative care.
Over the course of five years in power, Mujica legalised abortion and gay marriage and made Uruguay the first country to legalise the use of recreational cannabis.
He continued to campaign for the left after his cancer diagnosis, working fervently on the successful election campaign of history teacher Orsi, his political heir.
Former Bolivian president Evo Morales hailed his “experience and wisdom,” while Brazil’s government bid farewell to “one of the most important humanists of our time.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Mujica had lived for “a better world,” while Guatemala’s Bernardo Arevalo held him up as “an example of humility and greatness.”
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian hailed Mujica as a “renowned leader” and a “good friend of the Chinese people.”
– From prison to politics –
The blunt-spoken, snowy-haired farmer was a fierce critic of consumerism.
He attended official events in sandals and continued living on his small holding on the outskirts of Montevideo, where his prized possession was a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.
In the 1960s, he co-founded the Marxist-Leninist urban guerrilla movement Tupamaros, which started out robbing from the rich to give to the poor but later escalated its campaign to kidnappings, bombings and assassinations.
During those years, Mujica lived a life of derring-do. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and took part in a mass prison breakout.
But when the Tupamaros collapsed in 1972, he was recaptured and spent all of Uruguay’s 1973-1985 dictatorship in prison, where he was tortured and spent years in solitary confinement.
After his release, he threw himself into politics and in 1989 founded the MPP, the largest member of the leftist Broad Front coalition.
Elected to congress in 1995, he became a senator in 2000 and then agriculture minister in Uruguay’s first-ever left-wing government.
As president, he was praised for his fight against poverty but criticised for failing to rein in public spending.
He is survived by his wife, Topolansky. They had no children.
Mujica asked to be buried on his farm, next to his dog.
The International Organisation for Migration has said that a record 83.4 million people have been forced to flee from their homes, fuelled by an increase in disasters and conflict.
The UN migration agency, in its 2025 Global Report on Internal Displacement, on Tuesday, said the number of people living in internal displacement had more than doubled since 2018.
Internally displaced people are those who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict, violence, or disasters and who have not crossed an internationally recognised State border.
IOM said the 83.4 million IDPs were scattered across 117 countries and territories at the end of 2024.
“These figures are a clear warning: without bold and coordinated action, the number of people displaced within their own countries will continue to grow rapidly,” IOM Director-General, Amy Pope, said.
The report said the recent rise in conflicts worldwide, particularly in Sudan, the Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Ukraine and Palestine, had pushed millions more into displacement.
It added to the tens of millions who already lived in protracted displacement in countries such as Afghanistan, Colombia, Syria and Yemen.
The report showed that the number of people displaced due to disasters had risen massively, climbing from 26.8 million in 2023 to 45.8 million in 2024.
“The number of disaster displacements in 2024 was nearly double the annual average of the past decade,” IOM said in a new report issued by the internal displacement monitoring centre (IDMC).
Almost 30 countries and territories have reported unprecedented disaster displacement, with cyclones accounting for more than one in two people forced from their homes.
The United States alone made up about one in four of those displaced globally by disasters.
With the frequency, intensity and duration of weather hazards continuously worsening owing to climate change, there was little to suggest that the trend would not continue, IOM said.
“This report is a call for preventive action, to use data and other tools to anticipate displacement before it happens and for the humanitarian and development sectors to work together with governments to develop longer-term solutions to prevent displacement,” Ms Pope stressed.
Displacement caused by conflict and violence remains high and continues to be a major cause for displacement, although it did decrease slightly in 2024, compared to the previous 12 months, according to the report.
More than 20 million conflict-related displacements have been recorded, and almost half of these stem from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“These latest numbers prove that internal displacement is not just a humanitarian crisis; it’s a clear development and political challenge that requires far more attention than it currently receives,” Alexandra Bilak, an IOM official, said.
“The cost of inaction is rising, and displaced people are paying the price,” Bilak, who is IOM’s Director of Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, added.
A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said he and a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, would have challenged President Bola Tinubu over the nation’s current state of affairs if they were still serving as governors.
The former governor of Rivers State stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at the public presentation of Lamido’s autobiography, ‘Being True to Myself’.
Amaechi, who is also a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, said their era was marked by bold opposition and a commitment to holding the Federal Government accountable.
He said, “I asked you (Lamido) this morning, what is going on currently in the country, in Nigerian politics — would it have happened when we were governors? You said no. And the answer is no.
“We would have confronted the government, confronted the president. That’s how radical you were. That’s how our Governors Forum operated. That’s how determined we were to change things.”
Amaechi also reflected on his political relationship with Lamido, noting that they were allies during their time in government.
The former minister, however, said their paths diverged over strategy in opposing then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We were quite good friends in government. We had our bad times when we disagreed. I made the mistake of assuming he was as radical as I was. So, he was one of the governors I clung to when it came to radical decisions.
“The last one before we broke ranks was when we all agreed to go against President Jonathan. We formed a committee of governors and others. At the end of the day, he went to find a new party, the SDP. We said, ‘If we go to the SDP, we will lose the election. Let’s hang on to this one called the APC.’ He disagreed and left us. That’s where we parted ways,” he said.
