Author: Solomon Alaka

Thoma Bravo Raises €1.8B for First European Fund, Exceeding Target

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Thoma Bravo, the Chicago-based software investment giant, has successfully closed its debut European-focused fund at €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion), surpassing its initial target of €1.5 billion. The newly launched Thoma Bravo Europe Fund will target mid-market software companies in key European markets, capitalizing on the region’s accelerating digital transformation. The firm highlighted that European software […]

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Cost-Cutting Efforts Put $15.6B in CRE Loans at Risk: DOGE Absence of Feasibility Study and Risk Accessment Raises Concerns

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The Trump administration’s broader cost-cutting initiative, including the controversial DOGE plan, is sending ripples through the commercial real estate (CRE) market, putting billions of dollars in loans in jeopardy. The General Services Administration (GSA) has rolled out a directive aimed at reducing federal office space by up to 300 leases a day, part of the […]

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World News in Brief: Conflict in DR Congo, Europe’s ‘cradle to cane’ crisis, millions may go hungry in Chad

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on World News in Brief: Conflict in DR Congo, Europe’s ‘cradle to cane’ crisis, millions may go hungry in Chad

In an alert on Tuesday, UN aid coordinators OCHA said that six humanitarian workers have been killed since January – the latest victim was shot during clashes last week near a hospital in Masisi Territory about 80 kilometres west of Goma, in North Kivu. The same clashes reportedly killed three other civilians and injured a […]

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Estonia Launches “AI Leap” to Integrate AI Education in Schools with OpenAI

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Estonia is set to launch an ambitious AI initiative, “AI Leap,” aimed at equipping students and teachers with essential digital skills using AI tools like an educational version of ChatGPT. The program will begin in September 2025, initially reaching 20,000 high school students and 3,000 teachers. By 2026, the initiative is expected to expand to […]

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Spanish city of A Coruña Honors Senegalese Migrants for Heroic Efforts to Save Gay Man in 2021 Attack

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on Spanish city of A Coruña Honors Senegalese Migrants for Heroic Efforts to Save Gay Man in 2021 Attack

In a heartfelt ceremony on Monday, the Spanish city of A Coruña officially recognized two Senegalese migrants, Ibrahima Diack and Magatte N’Diaye, with the title of “adopted sons of the city.” Their heroic actions in July 2021, when they tried to save Samuel Luiz, a gay man brutally attacked outside a nightclub, were honored by […]

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Minister Paschal Donohoe Represents Ireland at Key G20 and G7 Finance Meetings in Cape Town

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This week, Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., is attending crucial international finance meetings in Cape Town. Donohoe will represent Ireland at the inaugural meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under South Africa’s G20 Presidency. This meeting, scheduled for February 26-27, 2025, is significant as Ireland has been invited to […]

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‘Political courage’ needed to end war in the Middle East: Top UN envoy

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Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag emphasised that peace in the Middle East is possible. “We can achieve a future where a safe and secure Israel exists alongside a viable and independent Palestinian State. This requires continued, concerted effort, dedication and political courage by all parties,” she said. She urged Council […]

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Ukraine: Post-war reconstruction set to cost $524 billion

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The updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) commissioned by the Ukrainian Government, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the UN, comes as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fourth year.  It covers damage incurred since intensified conflict erupted on 24 February 2022 through to 31 December 2024. This year, the Government of […]

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Ukraine and U.S. Near Agreement on Minerals Deal, but No Security Guarantee for Kyiv at the Moment

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Ukraine has reached a preliminary agreement with the United States on a significant deal regarding rare minerals, according to a Ukrainian government source. The deal, which could be finalized soon, is expected to pave the way for a new long-term partnership between Ukraine and the U.S. However, it notably does not include a security guarantee […]

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Taiwan Catches and Detain Chinese Ship Cutting Subsea Cable With Ongoing ‘Shadow Fleet’ Crackdown

Solomon AlakaLeave a Comment on Taiwan Catches and Detain Chinese Ship Cutting Subsea Cable With Ongoing ‘Shadow Fleet’ Crackdown

Taiwan’s coastguard apprehended a Chinese-owned freighter on Tuesday, accusing it of severing a subsea communications cable off the island’s western coast. This marks the first significant confrontation following Taiwan’s recent crackdown on China’s “shadow fleet,” which has been implicated in several similar incidents. The vessel, identified as the Hong Tai 168 but listed in shipping […]

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