RICHNESS the WRITER

Russia has written off debts of African nations amounting to more than $20 billion, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday. "The mutual trade turnover is growing from year to year, which reached almost $18 billion as of the last year-end," the Russian leader said. "The more vigorous transition to national currencies in financial settlements and the establishment of new transport and logistics chains will facilitate the development of countertrade turnovers," Putin added. Speaking at an international parliamentary conference titled “Russia-Africa in a Multipolar World,” Putin said the trade turnover between Russia and African countries is growing every year, reaching almost $18 billion in 2022. "It is unlikely that such a figure can fully suit us, but we know that this is far from the limit," he added. Putin also said he believed that "the development of counter-commodity exchanges will be facilitated by a more energetic transition in financial settle...

Ruele Okeyo, 26,  started taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in 2020 after he learnt that he was HIV positive from a random test he took with a couple of his friends. As much as the virus changed his life, he swore to ensure that he took his pills religiously. Two years later, he started a campaign where he took ARVs in public, recorded himself and posts the videos on social media. “It all started on TikTok. I already have a podcast but wanted to venture into a new platform with more visuals. When I started watching content from people living with HIV, I did not like the kind of sad and pitiful narrative they were showing. It really sends a bad message, but I understand where they are coming from. It is not easy to have to take ARV pills everyday. However, if you are on social media talking about HIV, you are an ambassador. If I am living with HIV and I come across such content, I will feel terrible about myself and my situation,” he said. Most HIV positive content creators who wer...