Boeing workers down tools, halting 737 MAX production
Boeing is launching a recruitment drive to find “permanent” manufacturing workers to replace US union employees who went on strike last month, the company said Thursday.

The company is posting job requirements for the roles and plans a job fair on September 16, Boeing vice president Dan Gillian said in an email to staff seen by AFP.

About 3,200 employees based in the midwestern states of Missouri and Illinois walked off the job on August 4 after voting down a contract.

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Gillian said Boeing has maintained its pace of deliveries and testing related to new product development since the strike began, but that it was moving to the “next step in our contingency plan” due to the lack of progress on negotiations.

“We have consistently communicated we are willing to consider changes to our best and final offer that are within the current economic framework,” Gillian said. “Unfortunately, the union continues to demand more of everything while also saying it has no control over what it will take to end the strike, driving the parties further apart.”

The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace did not immediately reply to a response for comment.

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Earlier Thursday, the union said on the X social media platform that it wanted more than just “minor adjustments” to pay and benefits

“Boeing says they won’t do any better. IAM members in Saint Louis say we won’t accept that,” the union said on X.

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have reaffirmed commitments to partner for the advancement and sustainability of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, said this on Thursday, when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit underscores the growing recognition of the marine and blue economy as a critical driver of sustainable growth and a cornerstone for Nigeria–China strategic partnership.

Oyetola commended the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China, describing it as mutually beneficial and pivotal to the economic growth of both nations.

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He called for further strengthening of the bilateral relationship particularly in marine resource management, port development, and capacity building

The minister explained that Nigeria, with its extensive coastline and rich maritime resources, was strategically positioned to become a hub for marine trade, logistics, and investment in Africa.

According to him, Nigeria’s maritime domain holds immense potential for shipping, port operations, fisheries, renewable ocean energy, marine tourism, and the development of coastal infrastructure.

“The marine and blue economy sector is a frontier for wealth creation, job opportunities, and sustainable development if properly harnessed.

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“Our ministry is determined to create the right framework for investment and partnership, and we believe that Nigeria has a lot to learn from China’s marine and blue economy development model.”

Oyetola added that the Federal Government was seeking collaboration with China in tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which undermined Nigeria’s economic and food security.

This, he said, would enhance Nigeria’s food security while contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings.

He also noted that Nigeria’s marine and blue economy presented tremendous opportunities for investors, and with China’s cooperation, new potential for wealth creation and generation was guaranteed for the benefit of Nigerians.

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Speaking earlier, Dunhai said that his visit to the ministry was in furtherance of the strong partnership between China and Nigeria.

He lauded Nigeria’s vast maritime endowment and reaffirmed China’s readiness to harness its marine and blue economy potential.

He recalled that exactly one year ago, President Bola Tinubu paid a state visit to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping of China.

According to Dunhai, the visit has made a significant impact on both nations’ economies, especially in deepening cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and industrial development.

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He also highlighted the Lekki Deep Seaport, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company, as an example of Sino-Nigerian collaboration.

“The Lekki Deep Seaport is Nigeria’s first deep seaport and one of the largest in West Africa capable of handling ultra-large container vessels and significantly boosting Nigeria’s trade volume.

“The Lekki project created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, eased congestion at Lagos ports, ensured faster cargo clearance, and positioned Nigeria as a key maritime hub in West and Central Africa.

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“The port is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue over its concession period, making it a vital contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth,” he said.

Dunhai added that the marine and blue economy was the future of any economy.

He disclosed that an agreement was underway for the export of Nigerian aquacultural products to China, which would open new markets for local producers and strengthen food trade ties between the two nations.

He reiterated China’s approval of zero tariffs on Nigeria’s aquaculture exports to the Chinese market, a move he described as a testament to China’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation.

Communal clashes in northern Ghana that started late last month have killed at least 31 people and displaced nearly 50,000, officials said Thursday, with more than 13,000 fleeing across the border into Ivory Coast.

The violence in Ghana’s Savannah Region broke out on August 24 in the village of Gbiniyiri, near the Ivorian border, the result of an escalating land dispute that has engulfed a dozen communities.

The conflict began when the local chief sold a parcel of land to a private developer, without broader community consent. When the developer attempted to access the land to begin work, residents resisted violently.

Frustration reached a peak when the chief’s palace was set on fire.

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Communal conflicts over land and chieftaincy disputes are recurrent in Ghana’s north, though displacement on this scale is rare.

Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka said in a radio interview Thursday that 13,253 Ghanaians had crossed into Ivory Coast, citing figures from Ivorian authorities.

Philippe Hien, president of the Bounkani regional council, told AFP that “there are 13,000 people who have arrived in 17 villages” in the area, which is already home to 30,000 refugees from conflict-hit Burkina Faso.

Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said around 48,000 people had been forced from their homes, mostly women and children.

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“For the past five days we haven’t had any gunshots, killings or attacks,” Savannah Regional NADMO Director Zakaria Mahama told AFP, adding that many displaced are beginning to return home.

Both Mahama and Muntaka confirmed the toll of 31 dead.

Some families are sheltering several dozen relatives in cramped rooms, while those in makeshift displacement camps often only have one meal a day, Mahama said.

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On the security front, Muntaka said more than 700 military and police officers had been deployed and a curfew instituted.

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Bi-Awuribe said calm was gradually returning as chiefs and elders worked with security agencies to prevent further clashes.

Authorities fear food shortages after families abandoned farms and livestock during the exodus.

An investigative committee is being set up with traditional rulers and the National Peace Council to probe the causes and promote reconciliation.