U.S. had almost no job growth in 2025
The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised 2025 employment data and found that the labor market had added only 181,000 jobs in all of 2025, far fewer than the 1.46 million jobs that were added in 2024. The BLS released final benchmark revisions showing the initial counts revised lower by a total 898,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis for the period of April 2024 to March 2025.
The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January, significantly more than the 55,000 additions that had been expected by economists, with the unemployment rate edging lower to 4.3 percent. Health care led job gains in January, adding 82,000 positions, while social assistance rose by 42,000 as the two categories were responsible for almost all the net job creation.
Iran open to nuclear compromises as talks resume
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC the country is ready to consider compromises to reach a nuclear deal with the United States if Washington is willing to discuss lifting sanctions. Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that a second round of nuclear talks would take place Tuesday in Geneva, after Tehran and Washington resumed discussions in Oman earlier this month, describing initial talks as going “more or less in a positive direction”.
Iran’s atomic chief said the country could agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for all financial sanctions being lifted, though Tehran has repeatedly ruled out linking the issue to other questions including its missile arsenal. President Donald Trump has said he wants to reach an agreement with Iran to clamp down on its nuclear program, while building up U.S. military forces in the Middle East and threatening military action if both sides cannot settle on terms of a deal.
National Assembly moves to shift 2027 presidential poll to avoid Ramadan
Nigeria’s National Assembly will reconvene Tuesday, February 17, 2026, for an emergency session to review the date set for the 2027 presidential election, with lawmakers expected to shift the presidential poll to February 13, 2027. The proposal, championed by the House Committee on Constitution Review under Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, emerged from broad consultations across the six geopolitical zones and aims to address concerns raised regarding the 2027 election slated to hold during Ramadan.
While leading opposition parties supported the initiative, the ruling All Progressives Congress rejected it, warning of dire consequences. INEC had initially slated Saturday, February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
Kenya slashes pump prices 2.3 percent
Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority reduced the price of super petrol by four shillings and 24 cents per liter to 178.26 shillings in Nairobi, with diesel dropping by 3.93 shillings to 166.54 shillings and kerosene falling by one shilling to 152.78 shillings. The reduction is primarily attributed to a decrease in the landed cost of imported refined petroleum products, with the average landed cost of Super Petrol declining 2.69 percent in January 2026.
The exchange rate remained relatively stable, with the US Dollar trading at an average of 129.27 shillings in January 2026 compared to 129.28 shillings in December 2025. The revised rates took effect from midnight on February 15 and will remain in force until March 14, 2026.
Dangote refinery drives 57 percent surge in domestic fuel output
Nigeria has sharply cut fuel imports after domestic refining capacity surged 57 percent over the past three months, with domestic production accounting for 40.1 million litres daily, or 57.5 percent of total volume in January 2026. This marks a steep climb from just 17.1 million litres per day in October 2025, with PMS imports by oil marketers and NNPCL dropping to 25.8 million litres daily in January.
Dangote Refinery drove much of this progress, boosting output by 25 percent from December’s 32 million litres, though operating at an average 61.27 percent capacity utilisation. State-owned refineries lagged with Port Harcourt shut down and both Warri and Kaduna refineries remaining non-operational.
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