Beijing, China | AFP | China has put its first stealth fighter into military service, state-run media reported on Friday, in the latest milestone highlighting the modernisation of the country’s armed forces. Swift, stealthy, and armed with long-range missiles, the J-20 represents a leap forward in China’s ability to project power …
Read More »Baidu CEO defends state support of Chinese firms
Beijing, China | AFP | State support for private firms is crucial in China’s market, the head of the mainland’s online search giant Baidu said Thursday, following complaints from European businesses that Beijing-backed firms are pushing out foreign competitors. “I think state support of private companies is absolutely necessary. In the …
Read More »Trump takes credit as US economy adds 235,000 new jobs in February
Washington, United States | AFP | The US economy had another strong month of job creation in February, with the manufacturing, health care, mining and construction sectors all adding positions, the Labor Department reported Friday. The result was sure to boost already high expectations that the central bank will raise …
Read More »ANALYSIS: What is ‘multi-speed’ Europe Union?
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The idea of a so-called multi-speed European Union is not new, and some might argue that it already describes the bloc in its current form. But as 27 EU leaders without Britain discuss their post-Brexit future, the concept has come to dominate debate on what …
Read More »Oil prices fall to 2017 low as US petroleum supply surges
New York, United States | AFP | Oil prices slumped to their lowest level of 2017 Wednesday following a bearish US supply report that also dented American petroleum-linked shares. The US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, slid more than five percent to $50.28 a barrel, its lowest price since December. …
Read More »Pressure mounts on Uber and CEO after missteps
Washington, United States | AFP | After a series of embarrassing revelations, ridesharing giant Uber faces challenges in keeping growth on track, with top executive Travis Kalanick likely to face pressure to give up some control. Analysts say Uber’s rocky past month — marred by disclosures about a culture of …
Read More »Tech entrepreneur reflects on challenges of cashless economy
By: Andrew S. Kaggwa Financial technology experts from 40 African countries are converging this month in, Lagos, the commercial city of Nigeria, to share their innovations, rethink their current models and gain valuable market insight of the African digital financial services market. Stone Atwine, the Ugandan CEO and founder of …
Read More »High expectations in coffee sector
Good prices, increasing production excite UCDA A coffee replanting initiative, which started nearly five years ago, is expected to boost the country’s crop volumes starting this year. “We are seeing an increase in the coffee export volumes this year as the crops we started planting more than three years ago …
Read More »BUSINESS: Refinery offers golden opportunity
New $20mn firm welcomed but analysts say government must strengthen legal and monitoring framework of minerals sector President Yoweri Museveni’s launch of a $20 million African Gold Refinery Ltd (AGR) – the first in East and Central Africa – in Entebbe on Feb.20 was a bold step welcomed by …
Read More »China 2017 growth target ‘around 6.5%’
China trims GDP target, citing severe challenges Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese Premier Li Keqiang warned Sunday the world’s second-largest economy faces severe challenges, signalling a further deceleration as he announced a trimmed 2017 GDP growth target of “around 6.5 percent.” The economy is already growing at its slowest …
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