A Ugandan non-government organization (NGO) has petitioned Parliament over the increased tuition in government schools. The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) is seeking intervention in the regulation of fees being asked for by government aided schools across the country. “These schools are supported by government through payment of salaries of their …
Read More »Uganda ahead but Sub-Saharan Africa lags in sustainable energy policies
Washington, United States | AFP | Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than a half billion people live without electricity, trails the world in government policies that promote sustainable energy, according to a new World Bank report Wednesday. Much of the rest of the world, however, has made strides toward making energy …
Read More »Enter the dragon: rural Chinese honour mythical beast
Liancheng, China | AFP | Dragons several hundred metres long snake their way down pastoral roads and through country hamlets, part of centuries-old Chinese folk celebrations for a mythical creature revered as a blessing. The visually striking festival is among a range of colourful traditional observances unique to eastern Fujian …
Read More »Toshiba shares dive as questions swirl over huge losses
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Toshiba shares plunged again Wednesday as it warned of a $6.2 billion writedown in its US nuclear power business and announced a probe into possible wrongdoing by the unit’s senior executives. One of Japan’s best-known firms, Toshiba shocked investors Tuesday when it failed to report …
Read More »India puts record 104 satellites into orbit
Sriharikota, India | AFP | India successfully put a record 104 satellites from a single rocket into orbit on Wednesday in the latest triumph for its famously frugal space agency. Scientists who were at the launch in the southern spaceport of Sriharikota burst into applause as the head of India’s …
Read More »Libya still in the mire as another anniversary passes
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libya’s transition has been bogged down by insecurity and chaos, leaving the country looking like a “failed state” six years after the NATO-backed uprising that ended Moamer Kadhafi’s rule. “We got rid of one dictator only to see 10,000 others take his place,” said Fatma …
Read More »New talks seek to end Syria’s war after nearly six years
Beirut, Lebanon | AFP | As Syria’s war approaches its seventh year, two new rounds of talks on resolving the conflict are scheduled to take place in Astana and Geneva. Here are some questions and answers about the upcoming talks: What talks are scheduled? The first meeting is in the …
Read More »Ex-boss of Nigerian oil firm being probed over $10mn cash ‘gift’
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A former head of Nigeria’s state-run oil company is under investigation after almost $10 million in cash was found at a property he owns. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an anti-corruption agency, said it had seized $9.8 million (9.2 million euros) from a …
Read More »‘No risk’ in Benin after truck with chemical for nuclear production crashes
Paris, France | AFP | The French nuclear group Areva said Tuesday a truck carrying a chemical used in the uranium fuel process had tipped over in Benin, but there was “no risk” of contamination. The accident occurred in the West African country on Sunday near Dassa, about 200 kilometres …
Read More »US Secret Service chief to retire
Washington, United States | AFP | US Secret Service chief Joseph Clancy will retire in early March, the elite agency tasked with protecting the US president said Tuesday. A former head of US President Barack Obama’s detail, Clancy returned from a previous retirement to steer the agency two years ago, …
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