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U.S to Ukraine: Lower Conscription Age, Bolster Military Forces

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By Faith Adama

In a strategic move to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, the outgoing U.S. administration under President Joe Biden has recommended that Kyiv lower its conscription age from 25 to 18.

The call comes amid escalating Russian military aggression and growing concerns over Ukraine’s manpower shortages as it struggles to keep pace with Moscow’s expanding military forces.

A senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the situation “existential” for Ukraine, stressing that the country’s current recruitment efforts are insufficient to offset the devastating battlefield losses.

“Ukraine is not mobilizing enough soldiers to match Russia’s increasingly advanced military resources,” the official explained.

Ukraine had already reduced its conscription age from 27 to 25 in response to the ongoing war, which began in February 2022.

However, the U.S. believes that further lowering the age threshold could be crucial for maintaining a robust fighting force, particularly as Russia continues to escalate its offensive.

While the Biden administration has clarified that U.S. military aid to Ukraine is not contingent on this policy change, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stressed the importance of manpower in the ongoing conflict.

“Weapons and equipment are vital, but training and reinforcing Ukraine’s ranks are equally critical,” he said.

This recommendation comes at a time when President-elect Donald Trump is hinting at a possible shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

Trump, who has previously claimed he could broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours, has nominated retired General Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine.

Kellogg has been vocal in advocating for peace talks with Moscow and has suggested that NATO should delay offering membership to Ukraine in exchange for Russian security guarantees.

With the Biden administration’s focus on reinforcing Ukraine’s military, and Trump’s potential change in course, the next few months will be pivotal in determining the direction of U.S. support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war.

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Former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg Faces Legal Action Over Alleged Email Deletions

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By Our Correspondent
Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, has been sanctioned by a Delaware judge for allegedly deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
The emails, linked to a shareholder lawsuit, were reportedly sent from a personal Gmail account under a pseudonym.
The lawsuit accuses Sandberg and former Meta board member Jeff Zients of using personal accounts to discuss matters tied to a 2018 case alleging Facebook leaders violated privacy laws and fiduciary duties.
The plaintiffs claim Sandberg deleted emails despite a court order, leading the judge to impose sanctions, including a higher burden of proof for her defense and an award of expenses to the plaintiffs.
Meta, which paid a $5 billion fine to the FTC in 2019 for violating privacy agreements, is accused of breaching a 2012 FTC order by sharing user data without consent, including with Cambridge Analytica. A spokesperson for Sandberg stated that all work emails were preserved on Meta’s servers, dismissing the claims as baseless.
The case follows recent remarks by Mark Zuckerberg blaming Sandberg for Meta’s inclusivity policies and culture issue.

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President Tinubu to Attend Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania

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By Our Correspondent 

President Bola Tinubu will travel to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Sunday to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit, scheduled for January 27-28, 2025.

The summit, co-hosted by the Tanzanian government, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank, seeks to advance “Mission 300,” a continent-wide initiative aimed at providing electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

Leaders, private sector stakeholders, and development partners will collaborate on strategies to enhance energy access, renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and private sector investments.

President Tinubu will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, reaffirming its commitment to universal energy access and highlighting its clean energy initiatives and leadership in Africa’s energy sector.

The event will also feature the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, a roadmap for achieving the summit’s energy goals.

Nigeria’s delegation includes Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser on Energy Olu Verheijen.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja after the summit.

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Trump Bans Transgender Women from Federal Women’s Prisons

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By Adenike Lawal

On January 24, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring transgender women from placement in federal women’s prisons and suspending gender-transition-related medical treatments for federal inmates, according to The New York Times.

The directive aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to define gender based solely on biological sex at birth.

It also affects transgender immigration detainees, expanding restrictions under his administration.

The Women’s Liberation Front, an advocate for single-sex prisons, praised the decision as a “major victory.”

The group opposes laws allowing transgender inmates to request housing based on gender identity, citing concerns over non-transgender women’s safety.

Critics, however, warn of dire consequences.

Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, cautioned that the policy could expose transgender inmates to heightened risks of violence and sexual assault.

Legal experts predict challenges to the order, citing past rulings mandating prisons to safeguard vulnerable inmates and provide necessary medical care, such as hormone therapy.

Approximately 1,500 transgender women, representing 15% of the federal female inmate population, are affected by this policy.

Advocates have vowed to contest the executive order, labeling it an infringement on transgender rights and safety.

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