Africa Business News

Twitter on Wednesday said it was expanding its definition of hateful content to ban language which dehumanizes people on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.
Twitter said the latest update is based on feedback since it published expanded rules on hateful content in 2019.
A blog post from the Twitter safety team said while we encourage people to express themselves freely on Twitter, abuse, harassment and hateful conduct continue to have no place on our service.

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Iran has moved to stop UN inspections of its nuclear sites and step up uranium enrichment under a new law approved by its parliament.
The bill would require the government to resume enriching uranium to 20% - well above the 3.67% agreed under a 2015 nuclear deal - if crippling sanctions are not eased in two months.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said he opposed the implementation of the law.
It comes after the targeted killing of Iran's top nuclear scientist.

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Amnesty International has condemned a sharp rise in the use of the death penalty in Egypt - accusing the government of a horrifying execution spree.
The campaign group says the Egyptian authorities executed at least 57 people in October and November alone - nearly double the number recorded in the whole of 2019.

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Ethiopia and the United Nations agreed on Wednesday to channel desperately-needed humanitarian aid to the northern region of Tigray, where a month of war is believed to have killed thousands of combatants and civilians.
Federal troops have been battling the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and have captured the regional capital Mekelle, and the pact announced by U.N. officials will allow relief into government-controlled areas of Tigray.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday directed all banks to close all naira ledger accounts opened for receiving International Monetary Transfer Operators proceeds.
The letter was addressed to all managing directors of deposit money banks.
The letter stated that regarding operations of diaspora remittances, all banks are hereby directed to close all naira ledger accounts opened specifically for the purpose of receiving IMTO proceeds with immediate effect.

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The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved N120,717,387,596 for the execution of various projects in different parts of the country.
Of the total amount, about N117.5 billion was approved for the reconstruction of roads and bridges in different parts of the country.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fasola while addressing reporters at the end of the 26th virtual FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhamadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he presented three memoranda to the council for the approval of N117,485,081,325.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to address the House of Representatives on the state of insecurity in the country, as requested by the lawmakers.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila said a date has been agreed on and it will be communicated soon.
He stated this on Wednesday, noting that the president is more concerned than most on the insecurity of the nation and will speak to the Nigerian people through their representatives soon.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 122 new cases of coronavirus in the country. This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections recorded in the country so far to 67,960.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in a tweet showed that the 122 new cases are reported from 11 states
A total of 63,839 persons have recovered from the virus while the death toll now stands at 1,177.

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The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres,on Wednesday warned that Humanity is waging what he will describe as a suicidal war on the natural world.
Mr Guterres wants to put tackling climate change at the heart of the UN's global mission.
Mr Guterres will say that every country, city, financial institution and company should adopt plans for a transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

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The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use.
British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for roll out.
The UK has already ordered 40m doses - enough to vaccinate 20m people, with two shots each.

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