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ThinkBusiness Africa monthly Breakfast Meeting holds today- The ThinkBusiness Africa Breakfast meeting at the Capital Club in Lagos is a highly regarded gathering of business and thought leaders, as well as members of the Capital Club members. The event serves as a platform for sharing insights and ideas on Nigeria's business and economic developments. The February edition marks the first meeting of 2024 and will take place at the Capital Club in Victoria Island, Lagos. The meeting consists of two sections: the first, led by Dr. Ogho Okiti, focuses on macroeconomic and sector-specific issues, while the second section invites business, policy, and regulatory leaders to share their perspectives on various aspects of their work, industries, or the economy. The event attracts distinguished business leaders, media representatives, and diplomats, fostering knowledge sharing and networking opportunities. ThinkBusiness Africa's partners benefit from the event's extensive reach and coverage, viewing it as a valuable conference that contributes to Nigeria's long-term prosperity.

Grammys: You’re all winners, Tinubu tells Davido, others-President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria congratulated the country's musical talents nominated for the 2024 Grammy Awards, including Burna Boy, Davido, Olamide, Tems, Asake, and Ayra Starr. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Tinubu praised these artists for putting Nigeria on the cultural map with their music and earning the nation significant soft power. At the Grammy Award Premiere Ceremony, South African singer Tyla won the Best African Music Performance category. While the Nigerian nominees did not win their respective categories, Tinubu emphasized that they are all winners and expressed pride in their achievements. He commended their dedication to their craft, audacity, and discipline in pursuing excellence, viewing them as exemplary envoys of Nigeria.

Senegal parliament to vote on election delay and Sall tenure extension- Senegal's parliament is convening to discuss the proposed postponement of presidential elections by President Macky Sall, which has led to a crisis in the country. Violent protests erupted in the capital city of Dakar, resulting in the arrest of an opposition figure and international concerns. Lawmakers are voting on a proposal to delay the presidential poll for up to six months, requiring three-fifths of the parliament's support to pass. Presidential candidate Malick Gakou has filed a legal request against the postponement. The government has taken measures like shutting down a private television broadcaster, restricting internet connections, and reinforcing security in response to the tensions. Opposition leaders have criticized the situation as a "constitutional coup" and an attack on democracy. President Sall cited a dispute between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court over the exclusion of certain candidates as the reason for the delay. The international community has expressed concern and called for the rescheduling of the elections. This is the first time since 1963 that a presidential vote has been postponed in Senegal, which has avoided coups in its history.

UPDATED: Niger residents protest high cost of food, living- In Minna, the capital of Niger State, Nigeria, youths and women took to the streets to protest against the increasing hardship and rising cost of living in the country. The demonstration began with a group of women blocking Minna-Bida Road at Kpakungu Roundabout, expressing their discontent with what they perceived as suffering under the government of Bola Tinubu. The protest gained momentum as men and more youths joined in, obstructing vehicles and speaking out against the deteriorating economy under Ahmed Tinubu's leadership. The presence of police officers failed to deter the protesters, who criticized the police as government agents. The demonstrators called on the Federal Government to address the growing hardships faced by Nigerians, citing skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. Despite attempts by the police to disperse the crowd using tear gas, the protest continued. The police eventually resorted to minimum force to restore order and reopen the road for traffic.

Global Headlines

Russian authorities cast doubt on antiwar hopeful’s election bid - Boris Nadezhdin, an antiwar candidate running in Russia's upcoming presidential election, may face disqualification after the Central Election Commission (CEC) found flaws in the documents supporting his bid. The CEC informed Nadezhdin that 15 percent of the signatures he submitted were invalid, exceeding the 5 percent error tolerance. Although Nadezhdin has virtually no chance of unseating President Vladimir Putin, his candidacy has drawn attention from Russia's small opposition forces due to his promises to end the war in Ukraine. Authorities may be reluctant to allow a candidate who introduces antiwar rhetoric into the election. Nadezhdin has pledged to appeal to the Supreme Court if the CEC refuses to register him. Putin, running as an independent, needs 300,000 valid signatures to support his candidacy, and he has already collected over 3.5 million. Putin is expected to win re-election, extending his rule for another six years.

King Charles III has cancer and will step back from public duties - Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III of Britain has been diagnosed with cancer and will reduce his public-facing duties while undergoing treatment. The diagnosis was made during a routine evaluation for a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate that the King had undergone last month. The specific type of cancer was not disclosed. The King has started a schedule of regular treatments and will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork during this period. The announcement comes at a challenging time for the royal family, as Queen Camilla had accompanied the King for his recent procedure and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, had also undergone surgery. Prince William, who is next in line to the throne, would assume the King's duties in case of his inability to carry them out.

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