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ASEAN chairship takes center stage at BusinessWorld Economic Forum

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ASEAN chairship takes center stage at BusinessWorld Economic Forum

Zafer Mustafaoglu and Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has had an eventful 2026 so far, with fuel price hikes, geopolitical tensions and internal political instability dominating the headlines of the year’s first quarter.

Yet, the country’s chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is poised to become the defining highlight of the year, impacting the country’s economy and diplomatic standing, as well as its ability to influence regional priorities.

This renewed prominence will be placed in the limelight during the country’s premier business gathering, BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2026, scheduled for May 18 at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

With the theme “Advancing the ASEAN Agenda: Turning Regional Vision to Corporate Action,” the forum is expected to bring together policymakers, economists, top executives and business leaders from various industries over dialogues on how government policy and private sector initiatives can align with the year’s more important themes, such as ASEAN priorities, trade, digitalization, sustainability and inclusive development.

Participants will engage in a full day of discussions centered on how the Philippines can utilize its ASEAN chairship to boost economic growth and strengthen its role in the region.

The opening keynote, titled “Positioning the Philippines as ASEAN’s Next Economic Engine,” is set to be delivered by Zafer Mustafaoglu, division director for the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, East Asia and Pacific at the World Bank. He is expected to outline ASEAN opportunities for the country to capitalize on, including regional demand, demographic advantages and ongoing structural reforms.

Panel discussions and fireside chats will delve into key themes shaping the country’s economic trajectory within ASEAN.

The first panel, focusing on “Benchmarking the Philippines’ Competitiveness: Lessons From The Region’s Best,” will feature Jestoni Olivo, a senior economist at the Philippine Competition Commission; Anthony Oundjian, managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group’s Manila; Ronald Roda, managing director of Grab Philippines, and Dr. Jamil Paolo Francisco, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management-Rizalino Navarro Center for Competitiveness.

The forum will conclude with a closing keynote from Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and founder of GoNegosyo, who will provide a “CEO Perspective on ASEAN 2026: Business Leadership in a More Integrated Region.”

Reserve your seats now at https://businessworldecoforum.helixpay.ph/.

Luz Fetzer
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11 Family Moments That Prove Quiet Compassion and Deep Wisdom Can Repair More Than Broken Walls

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11 Family Moments That Prove Quiet Compassion and Deep Wisdom Can Repair More Than Broken Walls
11 Family Moments That Prove Quiet Compassion and Deep Wisdom Can Repair More Than Broken Walls

In many families, moments of tension quietly test values like family respect, responsibility, and personal dignity. Whether during home renovation stress or everyday missteps, small acts of accountability and empathy often shape healthier conflict resolution and stronger bonds.

1.

When my FIL passed, he left us and my SIL equal inheritance. She spent hers on trips and spa stuff while we saved ours and put it into a renovation. Right after it finished, things started going wrong—leaks, cracks, stuff that shouldn’t be happening that fast.
My neighbor showed me security footage of my SIL coming over with the contractor when we weren’t home, and I went straight to her ready for a blow-up. She didn’t fight it, just said, “I’ve been paying him. From my own pocket. To fix everything he messed up because of me.”
Turns out she’d recommended him, realized he was cutting corners, and tried to quietly fix it without telling us. We ended up sitting there for hours actually talking, and it was the first honest conversation we’d had since FIL died.
Now the house is fixed, and she comes by every Sunday like it’s normal again, which I honestly didn’t see coming.

i don’t think it is any of your business how someone will spend their money

2.

I broke my dad’s old watch the same day he told me it was the only thing he had left from his father. I hid it in my drawer for two weeks and avoided him, expecting a blow-up when he noticed.
He eventually asked if I’d seen it, and I just handed it over and admitted everything. He got quiet for a second, then said he already knew because he’d found the empty box.
Instead of yelling, he asked me to sit with him while he tried to fix it. We spent an hour at the kitchen table, and he showed me how delicate the parts were. It still doesn’t work, but now it sits between us instead of hanging over me.

3.

I spent the rent money my parents trusted me with on something random and couldn’t pay it back on time. I was preparing for them to lose it when I finally told them. Instead, my mom asked why I didn’t just say I was struggling in the first place. My dad didn’t even lecture me, he just helped me set up a repayment plan.
They treated me like an adult instead of a screw-up. I stuck to the plan, and now they actually trust me more, which I didn’t expect at all.

This isn’t ‘deep wisdom,’ it’s just parents avoiding accountability and calling it emotional intelligence.

4.

I lied about applying to jobs after college and kept pretending everything was fine. When my parents found out, I thought they’d start micromanaging my life. My mom just said she could tell I was stuck, not lazy. My dad offered to sit with me while I applied to a few, no pressure.
It was awkward at first, but it got me moving again. They didn’t hover after that. It turned into a quiet reset instead of a confrontation.

So relatable I remember lying to my parent as welllll

5.

I told my aunt I’d help her move and then bailed last minute. I knew she’d be furious. When I finally texted her, she said she managed but was really stressed doing it short-handed. Instead of going off, she asked me to help unpack the next day.
I showed up, expecting tension, but she just handed me boxes and got on with it. We worked in silence for a bit, then started talking normally again. It felt like I earned my way back instead of arguing my way out.

if i was an auntie id so angry

6.

I forgot to tell my parents I wasn’t coming home that night, and they stayed up worried. When I walked in the next morning, they were both already awake. I expected a lecture the second I stepped through the door.
My dad just asked me to sit down for a minute. He said they don’t need updates every hour, just a heads-up so they don’t panic. I apologized, and that was basically it. I send a quick message now and no one makes it a big deal.

7.

I told my parents I passed an exam I actually failed. The truth came out when the results got emailed home. I waited for the fallout all evening.
Instead, my mom asked why I felt like I had to lie about it. My dad said failing once wasn’t the issue, hiding it was. We talked about how to retake it and what I needed to study.
It turned into a plan instead of a punishment. That made it harder to hide things after that, in a good way.

both, you need trust to build relationship and without relationship there is no need for trust😁

8.

I ruined my uncle’s only recording of his late wife while trying to transfer files from an old drive. I didn’t even realize it at first until he asked where it went. I told him the truth immediately and just waited for it to hit. He didn’t raise his voice or say anything right away, just sat down like the air had left the room.
After a while, he said he stopped listening to it a long time ago because it hurt too much anyway. Then he asked me to sit with him and showed me the rest of her recordings he had never played. We ended up listening to one together, and I could tell he hadn’t heard it in years.

9.

I cracked my sister’s engagement ring while trying to clean it after she asked me to hold onto it for a day. I noticed the damage before she did and just told her straight away. She looked at it, didn’t speak for a bit, and I thought that was it.
Then she said she hadn’t been wearing it much anyway because things between her and her fiancé had been getting complicated. She wasn’t angry at me, just quiet in a different way.
A week later, she told me they had broken things off already and the ring wasn’t the reason. I still think about how my mistake arrived at the worst possible time.

10.

I broke a framed photo of my parents’ wedding while moving furniture and the glass shattered everywhere. I froze and told them immediately instead of hiding it.
My mom picked up the frame, looked at it, and said she thought it was already cracked and just never noticed. My dad just said he remembered that day better than the picture anyway. They didn’t argue or get emotional in front of me, which somehow made it worse.
Later, I overheard my mom say quietly that they hadn’t looked at that photo together in years. They left it broken on the table for a while before throwing it out.

11.

I accidentally threw away my mom’s handwritten recipe book while clearing old papers from the kitchen. I realized it only after the trash was already taken out. I told her right away instead of trying to fix it quietly. She went pale, but didn’t get angry.
She said she hadn’t cooked from it since my grandmother passed anyway because it felt wrong to change anything. We sat together and tried to rewrite a few recipes from memory. She cried halfway through but kept going anyway.

In the end, small choices rooted in family respect, responsibility, and personal dignity can quietly transform even the most uncomfortable moments into opportunities for growth. These everyday acts of empathy and accountability build stronger connections, proving that even during home renovation stress or conflict, kindness leaves a lasting impact.

Read next: 12 Moments That Prove Kindness and Respect Are the True Mark of Leadership in 2026

Have you ever blamed someone, then later found out the truth was more complicated?

Samatha Mongold
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Trump Is Making America Uninsured Again

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Trump Is Making America Uninsured Again

In 2025, the Trump administration successfully pushed Congress to enact nearly $1 trillion in health care cuts over the coming decade, which the Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated would result in 10 million people losing health coverage by 2034. More recently, it has blocked any and all efforts to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credit subsidies for people buying insurance on the state exchanges. In demanding that the GOP leadership in Congress prevent at all costs a continuation of the expanded ACA tax credits, Donald Trump intimated that his administration was on the verge of proposing a better and more affordable health care reform to replace the ACA system.

Nothing of that nature has materialized. Instead, the administration’s health reforms have been shockingly small-bore — a handful of measures to lower the costs of prescription drugs, more incentives for consumers to create health savings accounts, a rollback of regulations on catastrophic coverage plans — thus, making it easier for younger, healthier, patients to buy junk insurance, but doing nothing for those who are older or suffer from chronic conditions.

Over the past months, even these baby steps have stalled out, with the GOP seemingly and inexplicably resigned to the fact that it will be heading into the midterm elections as the party that is putting health coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. Early in the Iran war, Trump was caught saying that the federal government could no longer afford its massive Medicare commitments now that the country was engaged in an expensive overseas conflict, and it would have to roll back responsibility for paying for this bedrock safety net program onto the states.

This represents a stunning reversal of government efforts to bring health care access to millions who had previously lacked it. In 2020, when Congress expanded tax credits during the pandemic for Americans accessing health insurance plans through the ACA, millions of Americans were finally able to access health insurance at reasonable rates through the state exchanges.

Expanding the tax credits patched a hole through which large numbers of Americans had fallen. Under the original provisions of the ACA, anyone at or under 138 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for Medicaid; and anyone between 138 and 400 percent of the poverty level would be able to access tax credits on a sliding scale to help them cover the cost of health insurance. None of these recipients would be expected to pay more than 10 percent of their income on insurance.

Expanding tax credits did two things: It ended what advocates had taken to calling the “affordability or eligibility cliff” — a situation in which, if your income went even one dollar over the 400 percent of the poverty line limit, you suddenly lost all tax credits and your insurance costs soared virtually overnight. It also lowered the maximum payment for credit recipients from 10 percent of their income to 8 percent if they bought a so-called “silver plan” with relatively low deductibles.

Taken together, these new terms were enough to bring millions of families under the health insurance umbrella, and it allowed millions of additional families, who previously had to opt for catastrophic insurance with huge deductibles, to access the silver plans.

“It’s an advanceable, refundable tax credit,” Anthony Wright, executive director of the health advocacy organization Families USA, explained to Truthout. “And it was tied to the point of sale.” In other words, people buying health insurance wouldn’t have to fork out thousands of dollars and then wait for a tax refund. Instead, the calculated refund would be applied to the cost of insurance from the beginning.

Congress initially passed these credits in 2021 and then, under the Inflation Reduction Act, extended the credits for another three years in 2022. Last year, despite a congressional majority in support of extending the credits, GOP leadership, at Donald Trump’s urging, stood firm against marshalling the votes needed to ensure their continuation. The affordability cliff was suddenly resurrected. As a result, from January of this year, millions of people renewing their insurance policies suddenly found themselves facing far higher bills. According to Wright, for a young person just above the Medicaid cut-off, that meant finding an extra $50 or $100 a month, itself an oftentimes insuperable obstacle for someone scrabbling just to cover their basic bills. For many older persons at the higher income side of the subsidy spectrum, it in many cases meant monthly insurance bills rising by more than $1,000, according to Wright. For some families, he says, it rose by upwards of $2,000, the equivalent of adding a second mortgage payment to families’ monthly bills.

“Congress made deliberate decisions to have premiums spike, to have more people uninsured or underinsured,” Wright argued. “People who are older, they are the ones who got socked in a big way.”

Predictably, following Congress’s failure to renew the expanded tax credits, in the first months of 2026 state exchanges calculated that up to 2 million people dropped coverage, and millions more shifted to lower cost plans with far higher deductibles, some in the $10,000 a year range. “So it really is a different product; they’re paying more and getting less,” explained Wright.

More recently, as additional insurance plans come up for renewal, and as more and more people fall months behind on their premium payments and, in consequence, get dropped by insurers, the numbers predicted to end up uninsured have soared. The New York Times published data showing that over the next couple of years, those on ACA-backed insurance plans would likely decline from 24 million to 19 million, a drop of more than 20 percent. In some states, such as Georgia, the exchanges are already reporting falloffs far in excess of 35 percent.

California has stepped in to at least partially replace the lost federal tax credits for hundreds of thousands of lower-income ACA customers who use the Covered California marketplace. But even there, according to Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California, as of March 2026, there were 135,000 fewer marketplace users than a year earlier. That represents a 7 percent drop in coverage, and Altman believes the numbers will only grow over the coming months. She said there are “farmers, gig workers, small businessmen who need the marketplace because they don’t have access to employment-based coverage,” and yet these are precisely the individuals now being hit by the rollback of subsidies: people too affluent to qualify for California’s partial subsidies, but income-insecure enough to be pushed into financial hardship by increases in premiums. “This middle-income group is the only part of the health care system where we are asking the consumer to pay the full price,” Altman argued.

Add up the cuts to Medicaid, the cuts to federal ACA tax credits, and the escalating rhetoric about further paring back Medicare — despite growing popular support for Medicare for All — and “collectively we are looking at millions of people going uninsured across the country as a result of federal policy. It has ripple effects through the economy and for health care providers,” said Altman. More people, she fears, will skip vaccines, go without preventative care, including cancer screening, forgo wellness checks. Eventually, as was the case before the ACA expanded health care access, those people will present at hospital emergency rooms with untreated diseases that, had they had access to regular doctors’ visits, would have been managed far earlier.

“Our system,” said Altman, “will bear the cost of less healthy people.”

An important fundraising appeal: We fell short of our goal

Thank you for reading Truthout today. We have a brief message before you go.

Unfortunately, donations are down for Truthout at a time when media faces immense pressure. Yet, grassroots media is vital in the fight against Trump’s authoritarian reign. Our mandate to tell the truth, share strategies for resistance, and speak against fascism grows more urgent each day. We must appeal for your support.

If you can support Truthout with a one-time or monthly donation, you will make a significant impact on our work. Please give today.

Sasha Abramsky
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Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Tops the Swiss Charts

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Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Tops the Swiss Charts

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Tops the Swiss Charts

by
William D’Angelo
, posted on 16 May 2026 / 1,916 Views

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream has remained in first place on the Switzerland charts, according to SwissCharts.com for the 19th week of 2026.

EA Sports FC 26 and Minecraft are up one spot each to second and third places, respectively. Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 is up two spots to fourth place, while Pokémon Pokopia remained in fifth place.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are up one spot each to sixth and seventh places, respectively. Saros fell six spots to eighth place. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom re-entered the charts in ninth place and Animal Crossing: New Horizons rounds out the top 10.

Here are the top 10 best-selling games in Switzerland:

  1. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
  2. EA Sports FC 26
  3. Minecraft
  4. Super Mario Galaxy 1+2
  5. Pokémon Pokopia
  6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  7. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
  8. Saros
  9. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  10. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Previous week – Week 18, 2026

A life-long and avid gamer, William D’Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.

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William D’Angelo
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Pragmata and Tomodachi Life Debut on the German Charts for April 2026

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Pragmata and Tomodachi Life Debut on the German Charts for April 2026

Pragmata and Tomodachi Life Debut on the German Charts for April 2026

by
William D’Angelo
, posted on 16 May 2026 / 2,067 Views

The list of the best-selling games in Germany for April 2026 have been released via game.de.

There were two new releases in the top 20 this for the month with Pragmata debuting in second place and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream debuting in sixth place.

EA Sports FC 26 is up one spot to second place, Grand Theft Auto V is up two spots to third place, and Red Dead Redemption 2 is up four spots to fourth place.

Starfield, Resident Evil 4, and It Takes Two have re-entered the charts in fifth, seventh, and eighth places, respectively. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is up from 17th to ninth place, while Minecraft, Dead Island 2, and Diablo IV have re-entered the charts in 10th, 11th, and 12th places, respectively. 

Hogwarts Legacy fell three spots to 13th place, NBA 2K26 re-entered the charts in 14th place, and Resident Evil Requiem fell from first to 15th place.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D’Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.

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William D’Angelo
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Magyar: Incoming Tisza government to have 16 ministries, first ministers to be named today

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Magyar: Incoming Tisza government to have 16 ministries, first ministers to be named today

Hungary’s incoming government led by Péter Magyar is expected to operate with 16 ministries, according to an announcement made by the Tisza Party leader on Monday.

This is an important step in the formation of the new administration following the party’s decisive victory in the 12 April parliamentary elections.

Largest parliamentary group since 1990

Magyar also confirmed that the Tisza Party’s 141-member parliamentary group, which is holding its first meeting on Monday, is the largest and strongest bloc in Hungary’s legislature since the democratic transition.

At the inaugural session, MPs are expected to formally approve Andrea Bujdosó as parliamentary group leader, while Ágnes Forsthoffer is set to be nominated as Speaker of the National Assembly.

Magyar described both nominations as guarantees that the new parliament will function as a genuine forum for substantive political and professional debate.

First seven ministers to be unveiled

Following the faction meeting, Magyar is scheduled to hold a press conference at 2:30 PM, where he will announce the first seven members of his cabinet.

The initial appointments are expected to include ministers responsible for:

  • foreign affairs
  • finance
  • economic affairs and energy
  • healthcare
  • defence
  • environment
  • agriculture and food economy

These portfolios show the government’s early priorities, spanning economic management, public services, and national security.

More appointments expected this week

Magyar indicated that further negotiations on government formation will continue throughout the week, with additional ministers expected to be announced in the coming days.

While media speculation has already circulated regarding potential candidates for key roles, no official confirmations have yet been made beyond Monday’s planned announcements.

A new political landscape

The formation of a 16-ministry government structure suggests a comprehensive reorganisation of Hungary’s executive branch under the Tisza Party.

With a strong parliamentary majority and a newly structured cabinet, the incoming government appears ready to rapidly establish its leadership team and begin implementing its policy agenda.

What comes next?

As the government takes shape, attention will turn to the specific individuals chosen to lead key ministries and how the new administration intends to address Hungary’s economic, social, environmental and political challenges.

If you missed it: Ursula von der Leyen: Time is running out for the new Hungarian government; swift reforms are needed

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India Expresses Concern Over Firing on Indian Ships in Hormuz; Steps Up Efforts for Safe Passage & Evacuation of Nationals

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India Expresses Concern Over Firing on Indian Ships in Hormuz; Steps Up Efforts for Safe Passage & Evacuation of Nationals

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is in touch with Iran to secure a safe exit for its ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Ministry of Shipping Director Mandeep Randhawa noted that the government has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 2,563 Indian seafarers so far.

India Expresses Concern Over Firing on Indian Ships in Hormuz; Steps Up Efforts for Safe Passage & Evacuation of Nationals
India Expresses Concern Over Firing on Indian Ships in Hormuz; Steps Up Efforts for Safe Passage & Evacuation of Nationals | Image:
AP

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly taken up the matter of a firing incident involving two Indian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian authorities, while continuing diplomatic and operational efforts to ensure the safety of Indian ships, seafarers, and nationals in the region amid ongoing tensions.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is in active touch with Iran and other concerned parties to secure a safe exit for its ships through the strategic waterway.

“The firing incident happened on Saturday, and we took up the matter strongly after receiving information about the same. We called in the Iranian ambassador, had a meeting with the foreign secretary, who conveyed our deep concerns on the incident and reiterated the point that we attach high importance to the safety and security of our mariners and that there should be unimpeded transit,” he said.

The Iranian Ambassador has reportedly assured that the concerns would be conveyed to authorities in Tehran, and India continues to engage with relevant parties for the safety of its vessels.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the two Indian vessels reported the firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the past 48 hours and subsequently returned to the Persian Gulf. No injuries were reported to the crew. The Ministry is monitoring the situation continuously.

Director Mandeep Singh Randhawa noted that the Ministry, through the Director General of Shipping, has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 2,563 Indian seafarers so far, including 25 in the last 24 hours. Port operations across India remain normal with no congestion reported.

Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) at the MEA, highlighted the priority being given to the welfare of Indian nationals and seafarers.

“Our missions and posts in the region are running round-the-clock helplines. Flight and travel situations, consular services and the welfare measures are being undertaken for the community,” he said.

High priority is being accorded to the safety and support of Indian seafarers in the Gulf region.

Gulf Air of Bahrain has announced plans to commence limited flight operations between India and Bahrain. So far, 2,423 Indian nationals have been moved out of Iran and Azerbaijan, with India also facilitating the travel of its citizens from Jordan and Egypt back home, Aseem Mahajan said.

On the diplomatic front, India is maintaining robust outreach to Gulf countries on the directions of the Prime Minister. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Saudi Arabia on April 19 and held meetings with the Saudi Energy Minister, Foreign Minister, and his counterpart. The visit helped review bilateral ties and exchange views on the regional situation and issues of mutual interest, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The government continues to closely monitor developments in West Asia and the Gulf, with a focus on ensuring the unimpeded movement of Indian vessels, the safety of mariners, and the smooth repatriation of Indian nationals through multiple routes and coordination with regional partners.

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6 Best Corporate Travel Management Companies for Nigerian Businesses

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6 Best Corporate Travel Management Companies for Nigerian Businesses

Let’s be real, booking work trips in Nigeria is not for the faint of heart. Whether you’re sending your team to western Africa, flying out executives to London, or managing crew rotations, the whole thing can turn into a full-time job on its own. Flight delays, visa palava, shady accommodations, and the eternal question of “who’s paying for what” can make business travel feel like punishment.

That’s where corporate travel management companies come in. Instead of your HR team spending hours on Wakanow and praying the visa gets approved in time, these platforms handle the whole thing from flights, hotels, visas, expenses, and even emergency support when things go sideways at 2am.

But not all of them were built with Nigeria in mind. Most global platforms don’t understand Naira restrictions, intra-Africa routing, or the specific chaos that comes with Nigerian business travel. So we broke down the 6 best options, ranked by how well they actually work for Nigerian companies.

Quick Comparison: Best Corporate Travel Management Companies

This list focuses on platforms that can support everything from fast-growing startups to large enterprises, government agencies, and multinational organisations operating.

1. Clooper

If you’ve been searching for a corporate travel management platform that actually gets Nigerian business travel, Clooper has quickly become a go-to corporate travel management platform for Nigerian businesses and multinational organisations operating across Africa.

Unlike most platforms that just let you book a flight and leave you to figure out the rest, Clooper handles the entire journey: from booking flights and sorting accommodation to processing visas, tracking expenses, and being on standby if anything goes wrong mid-trip. It’s genuinely end-to-end, and it was built with African businesses, including Nigerian ones, specifically in mind.

The thing that sets Clooper apart more than anything else? Real human support, 24/7. Not a chatbot. Not an automated email. An actual person you can call at midnight when your employee’s connection in Dubai just got cancelled, and they have a board meeting in the morning. That kind of support is rare, and for Nigerian businesses dealing with last-minute changes across multiple time zones, it’s basically priceless.

Clooper also integrates sustainability into its operations, planting a tree and providing a meal for every booking made.

ServiceDetails
Flight BookingDomestic, international, and intra-African flights with corporate rates
Hotel and AccommodationOver 4 million hotels and professionally managed serviced apartments globally
Airport TransfersCoordinated ground transport at all destinations
Visa and DocumentationFull visa processing and travel document support
Expense ManagementReal-time tracking, policy enforcement, and reporting
Group TravelRetreats, conferences, training programmes, and executive trips
Employee SafetyReal-time tracking, emergency support, and duty of care compliance
Sustainability1 Booking = 1 Tree Planted, plus 1 meal provided per booking

Clooper is an Africa-first corporate

Clooper is an Africa-first corporate travel management platform designed to handle complex, high-volume business travel for Nigerian companies, multinationals, and government organisations.

2. FCM Travel Nigeria

FCM Travel is the corporate arm of Flight Centre Travel Group and has an established presence in Nigeria. They operate in Lagos, and they’ve built up some credibility over the years, serving private sector companies and especially small and medium companies..

They’ve won a few awards, which is not a small thing. Their global network means Nigerian businesses get access to negotiated rates with international airlines and hotel chains that smaller local agencies simply can’t offer.

Their tech platform, SAM, gives you a solid booking and management portal with spend reporting and programme benchmarking built in. They also handle MICE i.e meetings, incentives, conferences, and events; if your company runs a lot of that kind of travel.

FeatureDetails
Global NetworkOperates in 25+ countries with major airline and hotel contracts
Technology PlatformSAM booking and management portal
Reporting and AnalyticsComprehensive spend reporting and programme benchmarking
Group TravelFull MICE management
Duty of CareTraveller tracking and 24/7 emergency assistance
Expense ManagementIntegrated travel and expense programme

3. Satguru Travels

If your company is managing travel across multiple African countries at the same time, Satguru Travels is one of the most geographically plugged-in options out there. They operate in 60+ countries with a particularly strong footprint across East and Southern Africa.

They’ve carved out a niche serving NGOs that need consistent travel management across African territories. Their knowledge of regional airline networks, cross-border logistics, and multi-country visa requirements makes them a strong pick for organisations running complex, multi-leg programmes across the continent.

Fair warning, though: Satguru is less tech-forward than some of the other options on this list. If you need slick digital tools and self-service booking, you might find them a bit behind. Their strength is operational depth, not digital flash.

FeatureDetails
Coverage60+ countries with very strong pan-African presence
NGO and Development SectorSpecialised experience with international development organisations
Multi-country ItinerariesExpertise in complex, multi-leg African itineraries
Corporate RatesNegotiated fares with African and international carriers
Ground SupportLocal teams in multiple African cities
MICE ServicesMeetings and events coordination across Africa

Satguru is less tech-forward compared to Clooper and FCM and may not offer the same level of digital integration or self-service booking capabilities. Its strength is operational breadth across the continent.

4. Wakanow for Business

Wakanow for Business is a solid option for straightforward flight and hotel bookings, particularly for domestic travel and high-traffic international routes, but it is not a full-scale corporate travel management solution.

If your main need is straightforward flight and hotel bookings, especially for domestic travel or high-traffic international routes, Wakanow for Business delivers solid value. The platform is easy to use, the comparison tools are sharp, and the brand recognition means your employees are already familiar with how it works.

Where it falls short is in the depth of corporate travel management features. It’s primarily a ticketing platform rather than a full travel operations solution. If you need visa processing, expense management, duty of care compliance, or 24/7 emergency support, you’ll hit a ceiling fairly quickly.

FeatureDetails
Flight BookingStrong domestic and major international route coverage
Hotel BookingBroad selection with competitive rates
Online PlatformUser-friendly web and mobile interface for self-booking
Corporate AccountsCentralised invoicing and corporate account management
Holiday PackagesGroup and leisure packages for corporate retreats
Visa AssistanceBasic visa support for some destinations

5. Finchglow Travels

Finchglow is one of Nigeria’s oldest travel agencies, and that history counts for something. Decades of managing travel mean they’ve built real, lasting relationships with airlines, and their IATA accreditation gives them access to bulk fares that newer platforms can’t always match.

Agencies, universities, and established private sector companies that value reliability and relationship-based service have trusted Finchglow for years. If your organisation runs on relationship management and track record more than it does on shiny apps, Finchglow fits that mould.

The catch? Technology is not their strong suit. Real-time reporting, digital-first booking tools, and the kind of corporate travel programme management that modern businesses expect; these are gaps you’ll notice.

FeatureDetails
ExperienceDecades of corporate travel expertise in Nigeria especially SMEs
Airline RelationshipsStrong relationships with major domestic and international carriers
Government TravelEstablished track record with public sector organisations
Group TravelExperience managing large group bookings
Visa SupportVisa processing assistance for key destinations
IATA AccreditedFull IATA accreditation for ticketing

6. BTM Nigeria

BTM Nigeria occupies a specific niche in the Nigerian travel market: premium, high-touch service for executives and high-profile individual travellers.

They handle first-class travel management, VIP ground logistics, lounge access, dedicated concierge services, and bespoke itineraries for top-tier organisations. They also have a solid track record with government and diplomatic travel where discretion and precision matter as much as comfort.

This one is specifically for organisations where the VIP experience is non-negotiable.

FeatureDetails
Executive TravelSpecialised first-class and business-class management
VIP ServicesLounge access, ground-side VIP handling, dedicated concierge
Bespoke ProgrammesFully customised travel programmes for high-profile clients
DiscretionTrusted for sensitive, high-value executive itineraries
Government RelationshipsEstablished track record with government and diplomatic travel
Premium AccommodationAccess to luxury hotels and exclusive properties

BTM is not designed for volume corporate travel or cost-efficiency at scale. Its pricing makes it less accessible for SMEs or organisations managing large numbers of travellers.

Final Summary: Which Company Is Right for Your Business?

Your Business ProfileBest ChoiceWhy
Nigerian SME or startup FinchglowAfrica-first, Naira-friendly, full-service, affordable
Multinational with African and global operationsClooper Clooper for Africa depth and global scale; FCM for global scale
NGO or development organisation across AfricaClooper or SatguruBoth offer strong pan-African coverage
Oil and gas with crew rotations and remote sitesClooper24/7 human support and complex logistics expertise
The company needs basic flight and hotel bookingWakanow for BusinessSimple, recognisable, cost-effective
Government or institutional large-scale travelClooperLegacy relationships and IATA credentials
Executive or VIP travel for individualsBTM and ClooperBTM for ultra-premium; Clooper for full-service executive travel

The Bottom Line

Nigeria’s corporate travel space has genuinely levelled up. You no longer have to choose between “actually works for Nigeria” and “has decent technology.” The options are better, the platforms are smarter, and the competition is pushing everyone to do more.

But if you’re looking for one platform that speaks your language, knows your routes, handles your visas, and will actually pick up the phone at midnight when your team is stranded, then Clooper is the platform built to handle it at scale; not as an afterthought, but as a system designed specifically for Nigerian and African business travel. Not adapted from a Western product. Purpose-built for Nigerian businesses, by people who understand how this market actually works.

Your finance team will thank you. Your employees will thank you. And honestly? Your HR person who’s been doing all this manually in a spreadsheet will probably cry tears of joy.

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Uncertainty over Iran peace talks and a mass shooting in Louisiana: Morning Rundown

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Uncertainty over Iran peace talks and a mass shooting in Louisiana: Morning Rundown

In today’s newsletter: The U.S. seizes an Iranian ship as the two sides remain at odds on when to resume peace talks. What we know about the man who shot seven of his children and three others in Louisiana. And tsunami waves hit Japan after a major 7.5-magnitude earthquake.

Here’s what to know today.

Tensions rise as U.S. and Iran trade blame for alleged ceasefire violations

The U.S. and Iran traded accusations of ceasefire violations over the weekend, underscoring the fragility of their truce ahead of its expiration Wednesday.

President Donald Trump said yesterday that U.S. forces had seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that allegedly attempted to breach the American naval blockade. The vessel was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman after ignoring warnings to stop, the president wrote on Truth Social.

Iran vowed to retaliate for the seizure, which a military spokesperson called an “act of armed piracy and theft.”

As tensions rise, the two sides also appear divided over the prospects for a second round of talks. Two senior administration officials told NBC News that Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Pakistan to continue negotiations with Iran.

Trump said negotiators would arrive in Islamabad tonight, but Iranian media has denied the reports, saying there is “no clear prospect” for a discussion under current conditions.

Read the full story here and follow live updates on our blog.

Related news:

  • NBC News poll: Trump’s approval rating sunk to a new low as Americans express growing concerns about rising costs and the Iran war.

For subscribers: New poll reveals how Trump’s support among young Americans is significantly changing

Trump supporters.
Supporters applaud as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Penn.Alex Wong / Getty Images file

Support for the president among Gen Z is eroding faster than with any other generation, including millennials, members of Generation X and baby boomers, according to a new NBC News poll. Our survey of Americans ages 18-29 allows for a closer look at the sentiments of young adults at a moment of rapid technological advancement and geopolitical change. The findings are a potential warning sign for Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.

Suspect dead after 8 children killed, 2 women wounded in Louisiana shooting

Yellow police tape stretched in front of law enforcement officials in a residential street.
Police tape runs across 79th Street in Shreveport, La. as police work at the scene of a mass shooting on Sunday. Gerald Herbert / AP

A man in Louisiana killed eight children yesterday in a shooting that authorities described as a domestic violence incident, and was later killed by police after fleeing in a carjacked vehicle, officials said.

Shamar Elkins was identified by police as the shooter, and seven of the eight children killed were his, police spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said. Elkins had served in the Louisiana Army National Guard and had a criminal history.

The children killed were three boys and five girls, ages 3 to 11, according to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. It appears many of them were shot in their sleep, most in the head, Bordelon said.

Two women were also wounded. One is the suspect’s wife, who was shot in the face but was alive, and the other woman is believed to be his girlfriend, according to Bordelon.

Here’s what else we know.

Tsunami waves hit Japan after major earthquake

JAPAN-EARTHQUAKE
A warning message on a screen in Tokyo from a live feed from broadcaster NHK shows a tsunami alert, after an earthquake hit northern Japan on Monday.Philip Fong / AFP via Getty Images

A 7.5-magnitude quake struck off the northeast of Japan, prompting a tsunami warning and evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people. Waves as high as two and a half feet were reported.

There is no tsunami expected in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska or the Canadian province of British Columbia, the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center said on X.

Follow the latest on our liveblog.

Epstein survivor says it’s not too late to expose what happened at his New Mexico ranch

More than two decades after she was sexually abused at Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch, Rachel Benavidez is still waiting for someone to be held responsible for crimes there.

“Until survivors are heard and believed, then I don’t think there’s ever going to be any justice,” Benavidez, 52, said in an interview.

She is among at least 10 girls and young women who have alleged they were groomed or assaulted at Zorro Ranch beginning in the late 1990s. They overcame paralyzing fear to share their ordeals again and again — yet authorities have never fully investigated what happened at the ranch.

Benavidez says she would willingly tell investigators what she endured. Even though Epstein is long dead and his chief accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is in prison, she says more people need to be held accountable.

“I don’t think it’s too late for the truth to come out,” Benavidez said.

Read the full story here.

Read All About It

Staff Pick: Robots are coming for your marathon bibs

It seems even machines are getting in on the running craze. A bright-red Chinese robot named “Lightning” lived up to its name this weekend — smoking its competition by completing a half-marathon in 50 minutes.

The competition was 12,000 humans. Not a single one made it on the podium.

When I first saw a video of the race, it felt a tad dystopian. Hordes of people with their phones in the air, chasing a piece of metal moving faster than we ever have before (seriously — the robot beat the human world record).

Regardless of whether you find it cool or freaky, the robots signify incredible advancements in technology. And if it’s any consolation, they’re not infallible: Lightning crashed into a railing before it crossed the finish line.

— Kayla Hayempour, platforms editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned gardener or a newbie with a green thumb. There’s no better time to invest in a proper weeding tool than right now. If real plants aren’t your thing, Lego has tons of botanical sets that look good on any shelf (no watering required.) Speaking of, we rounded up the best flower and plant gifts for Mother’s Day, which is just around the corner.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Kayla Hayempour and David Hickey.

If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send us an email at: Mo************@****ni.com

If you’re a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign up here.

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News24 | Mop-up operations begin after heavy rains flood parts of Cape Town

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News24 | Mop-up operations begin after heavy rains flood parts of Cape Town
  • Heavy rainfall over the weekend has resulted in some localised flooding in parts of Cape Town.
  • Disaster Risk Management teams are out on the ground in various areas doing assessments on the reported damage.
  • Authorities have warned that more rain can be expected.

Mop-up operations are under way across parts of Cape Town after heavy weekend downpours triggered localised flooding, but authorities warn the situation remains precarious with more rain expected in the coming days.

Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell said only “some isolated flooding” had been reported, which the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management teams had managed.

“From a provincial perspective, our disaster centre is monitoring the situation, and we are in contact with our district disaster centres. Nothing major has been reported so far. We are expecting another 30mm of rain today [Monday],” Bredell added.

SA Weather Service spokesperson Tokelo Chiloane said about 50mm of rain was recorded in the south-western parts of the Western Cape in the last 24 hours.

She added 63mm was recorded in Stellenbosch, 53mm in Ceres, and 49mm in Bellville. 

“We have no reports of dams overflowing, especially in the Western Cape. The Western Cape is a winter rainfall region, which means that [it] gets [its] rainfall from winter weather systems such as cold fronts,” said Chiloane, adding that the weekend saw two cold fronts in the province.

Gift of the Givers in Dunoon, providing relief to communities affected by the rain.

Supplied by Gift of the Givers

She added that isolated showers and rain were expected in places over the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape due to the passage of weak cold fronts throughout the week.

“No significant amount of rainfall is expected at this stage.”

Chiloane said a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging waves and coastal winds for Monday and Tuesday for the entire Western Cape coastline was issued on Monday.

“Since we are heading into the winter season where rainfall and veld fires coexist in the Western Cape, we advise the public to take note of flooded bridges, avoid driving over an overflowing bridge, refrain from starting fires when the fire index is high, [and] avoid going to the beach when there is damaging wind and/or waves warning along the coast,” she added.

A flooded home in Dunoon.

Supplied by Gift of the Givers

Meanwhile, the City said the inclement weather had caused “high service request volumes” and heavy rain was delaying restoration times.

“The City apologises for the inconvenience while our teams attend to electricity area faults [outages impacting entire streets and surrounds], primarily due to the stormy, wet weather.

It added:

Rain and high wind speeds make electrical work dangerous, but the City’s energy teams are nonetheless on the ground attending to the various outages and backlogs with urgency.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Sonia Lategan, said teams were still on the ground conducting assessments in affected areas, including the Mkhonto Square informal settlement in Nyanga and Brown’s Farm, because “widespread areas were affected by localised flooding as a result of the downpours over the weekend”.

Gift of the Givers takes stock of a resident’s flooded home.

Supplied by Gift of the Givers

Lategan added that reports of flooding were also received from the Europe informal settlement in Gugulethu, Gaba Village, and Avon Heights in Leonsdale and Elsies River.

“After assessments, it was determined that the main problems were leaking roofs and wet floors.”

According to her, the Dunoon community also experienced “significant flooding of roads” around Silverleaf and Orchard roads.

“Our department was on site to assess temporary measures, including flow diversions and property protection, and is implementing what is feasible to reduce flooding impacts,” Lategan said.

This is Du Noon, Ward 104 where recently we won a by-election. It’s been raining heavily in Cape Town. One wonders how the DA-led city will respond to the flooding crisis in many working class neighbourhoods.

They will probably be silent. They will not do the drama they did in… pic.twitter.com/r8chGljpb6

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) April 19, 2026

She added that there were no displacements and that Road Infrastructure Management was activated to assist with sand/milling in affected areas, and an informal settlement management branch was requested to assist with plastic sheeting.

ANALYSIS | Climate change is overwhelming already failing municipalities

Lategan said localised flooding reports were being channelled through the Transport Management Centre for intervention by roads and stormwater teams.

“There has also been localised flooding of roads, and in Simon’s Town, water couldn’t clear quickly enough due to the heavy downpours,” she added, noting that no major residential impact had been reported at this stage.

However, humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers said it had been inundated with calls for help from communities hardest hit by the rain.

On Monday morning, teams were deployed to Dunoon, where residents had already begun sweeping water out of their homes as the rain subsided.

Resident Linda Potelwa described Sunday night’s downpour as “terrible”, saying both her kitchen and bedroom were flooded.

She added:

The worst part of the year is arriving, and now we again have to sweep all the dirt, water and mud out of the house. It’s not nice.

Potelwa said her two children only left for school after 09:00 once the rain eased.

“Luckily, their school clothes were not wet, but the boys wanted to stay at home and help me clean the water out, but I said they must go so I can clean the place up while they’re gone.”

She added that Gift of the Givers teams were already in the area, assisting residents with food and blankets and helping clear water from flooded homes.

WATCH | Zille rides boat on flooded Soweto road, highlighting long-standing drainage drama

Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said the organisation had received calls for assistance from multiple informal settlements across the Cape metro and Drakenstein areas, as ongoing rainfall led to widespread flooding.

“Our teams are currently engaging with community leaders and local councillors to assess the extent of the impact and coordinate an effective response.

“Activation of relief efforts will commence shortly to provide support and assistance to affected families and communities,” Sablay added.

He said hot meals, blankets, detergent packs, hygiene packs and warm clothing would be distributed to affected families.

Areas that have requested assistance include Lwandle, Nomzamo, Strand, Valhalla Park, Mitchells Plain, Philippi, Dunoon, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Gugulethu, and Kayamandi.

City traffic chief Kevin Jacobs said no major disruptions had been reported, although the left lane on Rhodes Drive was flooded.

Meanwhile, political parties have weighed in on the flooding.

A Du Noon residents emptying water out of his house.

Supplied by Gift of the Givers.

GOOD party councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli criticised the City over repeated flooding in low-lying communities, accusing it of failing to properly maintain and upgrade its stormwater infrastructure.

Mamkeli said the annual “winter readiness” messaging from the City amounted to little more than public relations, while residents continued to suffer during heavy rains.

READ | Cold, rain and crowds as Navy Festival kicks off in Simon’s Town

“Every year, the same cycle repeats itself. The City rolls out a ‘winter readiness’ campaign, showcases teams cleaning manholes and sweeping roads, and assures residents that it is prepared.

“Then the rain arrives and the same roads flood, the same areas choke, and the same communities are left stranded.”

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also entered the debate on social media, posting videos of flooding in Dunoon on his X account and directing criticism at the DA’s leaders.

Mbalula called on the DA’s Johannesburg mayoral hopeful, Helen Zille, to “swim in right where her DA governs, Cape Town”, in a pointed reference to Zille’s recent social media post highlighting potholes in Johannesburg.

Patriotic Alliance mayoral candidate councillor Cheslyn Steenberg visited Dunoon on Monday, where he said the flooding of informal settlements and low-income areas was the result of systemic failure rather than natural disasters.

“The repeated flooding of Dunoon and other low-income communities in Cape Town is not an act of nature,” Steenberg added.

PA mayoral candidate, councillor Cheslyn Steenberg in Du Noon to assess the flood damages of the weekend.

“It is a man-made crisis caused by years of neglect, failure to plan, and an unacceptable tolerance for suffering in poor areas by the DA-led City of Cape Town.”

He said the annual winter flooding cycle was predictable and preventable, arguing that the City was well aware of the areas most affected.

“Every winter, the same communities are submerged, homes are destroyed, possessions lost, and livelihoods interrupted.

“This devastation is entirely predictable. The City knows exactly where flooding occurs, when it occurs, and why it occurs – yet it is allowed to happen again and again,” added Steenberg.

The City had previously stated that it continued to invest in stormwater maintenance and infrastructure upgrades ahead of the winter season.

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