Author: Jideofor Elumogo

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a Black-owned art gallery in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, as part of her outreach to Black male voters. Accompanied by actors Don Cheadle, Delroy Lindo, and Detroit native Cornelius Smith Jr., Harris engaged in a conversation focused on entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for Black men. The visit marked the unveiling of her “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” which aims to offer new economic advantages, including forgivable business loans of up to $20,000 for entrepreneurs and the expansion of apprenticeship programs. The agenda also includes funding for research into diseases like sickle cell anemia, which disproportionately affect Black men.

Harris’ focus on Black male voters has sharpened in recent weeks, with former President Barack Obama even joining her on the campaign trail. Speaking in Pittsburgh, Obama addressed the importance of Black male voters and acknowledged some resistance within the group, saying, “some just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.” The campaign is not overly concerned about a major shift of Black male voters to the Republican camp but is wary of voter apathy, which could lower turnout.

In contrast, former President Donald Trump, campaigning in Atlanta, urged his supporters to take full advantage of early voting, which is already underway in several states. “I’m hearing very good things,” Trump said at the rally, noting record early voting numbers. He encouraged his followers to return their mail-in ballots immediately or vote in person as soon as possible, underscoring the importance of turnout in securing Republican victories.

As both candidates focus on key voter groups, Harris’ campaign is working to ensure Black male voters remain engaged, while Trump’s team is concentrating on mobilizing early voters, especially in swing states like Georgia and Arizona. With early voting now in full swing, voter turnout is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the 2024 election outcome.

More than 140 people, including children, were killed and dozens were injured in Nigeria after an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded in flames while they were trying to scoop up fuel pouring from the vehicle, emergency services said Wednesday.

The accident occurred at midnight in Jigawa state’s Majiya town when the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle while traveling on a highway, police spokesperson Lawan Adam said. Residents rushed to the scene and were scooping up fuel, “sparking a massive inferno,” he said.

“Close to 140 people were put in a mass grave apart from people buried in other places,” Nura Abdullahi, head of the National Emergency Management Agency in the region, told The Associated Press.

Residents of Majiya were in mourning on Wednesday as they held a mass burial for the victims. Most of the bodies were unrecognizable, emergency services said.

Deadly tanker accidents are common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where traffic regulations are not strictly enforced in many places and there is a lack of an efficient railway system to transport cargo.

It is also common for people to salvage fuel with cups and buckets to take home after such accidents. The practice has become more common because of soaring fuel prices, which have tripled since the start of last year as the government ended costly gas subsidies.

The driver involved in the accident had traveled about 110 kilometers (68 miles) from neighboring Kano state, police said.

The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency initially put the death toll at 105, including those who died while being treated at hospitals.

Most other victims were “burned to ashes” at the scene of the accident, said Dr. Haruna Mairiga, head of Jigawa emergency services.

“If they knew (about the danger), they wouldn’t have gone to fetch (the fuel),” Mairiga said.

He said emergency services arrived at the scene several hours after the accident.

Resident Sani Umar told local Channels Television that the fire “spread so quickly that many couldn’t escape.”

“People were running in all directions, screaming for help,” Umar said.

“This is a heartbreaking moment for us all,” said state police Commissioner Ahmadu Abdullahi.

Italy’s interior ministry announced on Monday that it is transferring a first group of migrants to Albania, where Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government opened two centres it plans to use to process thousands of male migrants.

The ship, carrying 10 men from Bangladesh and 6 from Egypt, left the island of Lampedusa, and is expected to arrive in Albania on Wednesday.

Those on board were rescued at sea after setting off from Libya.

The two centres in Albania will ultimately be used to accommodate 880 migrants at a time, according to Italian officials.

The five-year deal, signed in 2023, requests Albania to accommodate up to 3,000 male migrants while Italy handles their asylum claims. Women, children, and vulnerable people will still be taken to Italy.

It was endorsed by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, but has been denounced by human rights groups, who say it sets a dangerous precedent.

The centres will be run by Italy, with Albanian guards providing external security. They will cost Rome 670 million euros over the course of the five years.

Manchester United’s iconic manager Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as a club ambassador at the end of the season, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced publicly.

Alex Ferguson will be 83 in December and the person said the end of his ambassadorship was “amicable” and he would “always be welcome at Old Trafford” .

Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles with United and is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history. He is England’s most successful manager, with 28 major trophies.

Sir Alex has been the club’s ambassador since retiring after leading United to their last league title in 2013. His imminent departure comes at a time when the club is undergoing a major transformation following its part-purchase by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe in February.

United has undergone a major restructuring programme following Ratcliffe’s $1.3bn investment for a 27.7 per cent stake and has implemented cost-cutting initiatives which the club says include staff redundancies of around 250 positions.

United reported losses of $148 million in its latest accounts.

Ferguson was signed by United in 1986, at a time when the club had long since lost its place as a pre-eminent force in English football.

He ended a 26-year wait for the league title in 1993 and dominated the Premier League era until his retirement, when United were crowned champions by 11 points over Manchester City.

He also won two Champions Leagues and an unprecedented treble in 1999 as he led United to victory in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup .

Since retiring, he has regularly attended United matches, both home and away, at a time when the club is in clear decline on the pitch.

Ratcliffe took control of United’s football operations as part of his minority investment. The sporting side was previously controlled by the American Glazer family, the majority shareholder.

A new CEO, Omar Berrada , and a new sporting director, Dan Ashworth , have been put in place, while key figures from Ratcliffe-owned Ineos Sport, Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, have been appointed to the board.

Mr Ferguson remains a non-executive member of the board.