Latest news with #826
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Kenyan court convicts four ant traffickers, fines each $7,700
A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four men $7,700 (R140,826) each for attempting to traffic thousands of ants out of the country, in a case that wildlife experts say signals a shift in biopiracy from iconic animals like elephants to lesser-known species. Authorities arrested two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan national on April 5, accusing them of trying to smuggle roughly 5,440 giant African harvester ant queens, which Kenyan prosecutors valued at around 1.2-million Kenyan shillings (R169,761). However, retail prices in the UK suggest the haul may have fetched as much as $1m (R18.3m) if it had reached European shores, where ant keepers maintain colonies in large transparent vessels known as formicariums to observe their cooperative behaviour. Magistrate Njeri Thuku ordered the traffickers, who all pleaded guilty, to pay the fine or face 12 months in jail.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Roxbury nonprofit chooses DEI policies over federal grant
A Boston-based nonprofit is refusing a $250,000 federal grant to maintain its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in its hiring practices. DEI is not negotiable, 826 says 826 Boston, an education-focused nonprofit offering tutoring, creative writing, and publishing programs for students, announced its decision in light of President Donald Trump's executive order banning the practice. The organization, headquartered in Roxbury, said that prioritizing DEI is non-negotiable, even at the cost of significant federal support. "It wasn't a difficult decision because we have to stand by our students and we have to also model standing up for what you believe in," said Jenna Leschuk, 826 Boston's Senior Director of Program Development. "We can't do this work without DEI." 826 Boston's stance comes amid growing political and legal pressures on organizations to scale back or abandon race-conscious hiring and program practices. Yet, the nonprofit's leadership says DEI remains critical to its ability to serve students effectively, and tutors must reflect the diversity of the community in which they live. Community support for DEI Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has expressed strong support for 826 Boston's choice. "Non-profits, businesses, law firms, universities are all going through that choice," Wu said. "Do we speak out and stand up for what's right in this moment, or do we stay silent and capitulate and let the bullies have their way? I know what the answer is for the residents of Boston and what they want to see out of their city government," she said. While the move will make operations more financially challenging in the short term, 826 Boston has already seen signs of community support. The nonprofit received a $75,000 donation from the New Commonwealth Fund, a philanthropic group led by Black and Latino leaders in Roxbury. "I think people want to support a place they believe in with their contributions, and so, we're giving them a chance to do that," said Leschuk. Since going public with their decision, 826 Boston has gained 500 new donors, with the average donation around $25. Still, Leschuk says the organization needs more community support to bridge the funding gap.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: FG receives $4mln mining fees, registers 118 buying centres
The Federal Government has disclosed that it has collected N6,957,826,200 mining fees and registered no fewer than 118 new private mineral buying centres in the first quarter of this year. Giving the details at the second Annual Mining Conference organised by Businessday newspaper in Abuja at the weekend, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said the revenues reflect the outcome of the Ministry's efforts to raise awareness and attract investors. A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori disclosed that the mining fees collected by licensing parastatal Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, came from 955 applications for title grants. 'Six hundred and fifty-one were for exploration, 270 for small-scale mining, 49 for Quarrying, and 24 for reconnaissance Minister approved 867 applications, including 512 exploration licenses, 295 small-scale mining leases, 60 Quarry leases, and 5 mining leases.' The revenues are from paying various fees, including annual service fees, application processing fees, and renewal of titles. MCO has also stepped up conflict resolution to reduce petitions arising from overlap and litigation over ownership. Dr Alake disclosed that the Ministry has recorded a lot of progress in plans to set up the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation. to make its structure a veritable special-purpose vehicle that will catapult Nigeria into the league of global mining players. Speaking on the theme, 'Building A Resilient Mining Sector,' Dr. Alake said the corporation will be globally competitive and rooted in Nigerian expertise and capital. *We are finalising its structure in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). Nigerians will have the opportunity to invest through a public offer, with 25% equity reserved for citizens, 25% for the government, and 50% for the private sector', the minister stated. He scored the ministry high on revenue generation, citing how it surpassed the 2024 projected revenue of N11 billion by N27 billion to N38 billion. Highlighting the impact of international engagements, Alake revealed that the French government has committed to equip the laboratory of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and train young geologists abroad in modern mining technologies on the heels of the MOU signed by President Bola Tinubu and French President, Emmanuel Macron. 'The Government of Western Australia recently approved the regular training of Nigerian mining professionals, and the first batch of trainees are billed to depart next month. British and Saudi Arabian investors are coming together to invest across the mineral value chain, and just few days ago, we signed an MOU on capacity building in the geology field with South Africa', Dr Alake added. Citing the impact of his value addition policy, the minister declared that it has enhanced local beneficiation and positioned Nigeria as the undisputable leader of African mining countries. His words, 'Nigeria emerged as the pioneer chairperson of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) based on our advocacy for value addition and opposition to the reckless exportation of raw minerals without processing or refining. One of our goals is to use this position to attract investment to Africa and Nigeria. He stated that this is already yielding fruits as we will commission some Lithium, bauxite, and gold refining plants this quarter', he stated. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
