Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The roads to critical oil spots and installations will be in at least motorable state by the First Oil in 2020. This assurance has been given by UNRA’s Director of Design and Projects, Eng Isaac Wani, at the 4th Annual Oil and Gas Convention ongoing …
Read More »UN gives cautious welcome after DR Congo authorises rally
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The United Nations on Wednesday gave a cautious welcome after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) allowed some anti-government protests to go ahead in the runup to crucial presidential elections. The demonstrations on Tuesday were seen as a key political barometer in one of …
Read More »WhatsApp bans European under-16s from using app
Paris, France | AFP | WhatsApp has raised its minimum age for users in the European Union to 16 years, as the bloc prepares for a new online privacy law to come into force next month. In an update to its terms of service on Wednesday, WhatsApp said the minimum age …
Read More »French tycoon Bollore’s African assets
Paris, France | AFP | Billionaire French industrialist Vincent Bollore is being questioned in Paris over allegations that his conglomerate used corrupt connections in Africa to win port contracts. Founded in 1822, the Bollore Group, which is majority owned by the Bollore family, has diverse interests ranging from logistics and energy …
Read More »S.African protests over new minimum wage
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Several thousand protestors marched through Johannesburg Wednesday to demonstrate against a proposed minimum wage, a new test for President Cyril Ramaphosa who took office in February. South Africa, which is suffering record unemployment, is due to introduce the 20 rand ($1.60) hourly minimum wage, but …
Read More »Twitter momentum grows with second straight profit quarter
Washington, United States | AFP | Twitter reported its second consecutive quarterly profit Wednesday in a positive sign for the short messaging service after years in the red. The San Francisco-based social network earned $61 million in the first three months of the year, boosted by strong growth in advertising revenue …
Read More »ARTS: Saints and sinners
Adonias Ocom’s halos fall on unusual suspects Kampala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | Normally, a saint is a holy or pious person. In ordinary speech, it might mean someone known to be good or morally upright. Not so, says Adonias Ocom. The painter sculptor has an ongoing exhibition at Afriart Gallery, …
Read More »Ex-FBI chief Comey’s book sells 600,000 in first week: publisher
Washington, United States | AFP | Former FBI chief James Comey’s book “A Higher Loyalty,” which details his soured relationship with US President Donald Trump, sold 600,000 copies in its first week, publisher Flatiron Books told AFP on Tuesday. The highly-anticipated book, released April 17, debuted at the top slot on …
Read More »COMMENT: Same central-bank song
They ought to be cultivating younger people in order to broaden the range of approaches and expertise COMMENT | PAOLA SUBACCHI | The changing of the guard that is taking place at the systemically important central banks in 2018-2019 will mark the beginning of a new era of monetary policy. Who …
Read More »Spotify ramps up free service in bid for expansion
New York, United States | AFP | Spotify on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its free service, hoping that a more option-rich platform will boost its ambitions to make music streaming even bigger worldwide. Weeks after its successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the leading streaming company said …
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