Rennes, France | AFP | The women’s World Cup moved up a gear on Saturday with three matches including a narrow German victory over China that left the winners complaining that they were roughed up, but Sunday’s three-match programme finishes with a new chapter in the oldest international football rivalry, as …
Read More »Pressure mounts on aviation industry over climate change.
Paris, France | AFP | Under pressure from frequent flyers alarmed over climate change, the airline industry says it is “hellbent” on reducing emissions — but the technology needed to drastically reduce its carbon footprint is still out of reach. In recent months climate activists have stepped up efforts to convince …
Read More »W.African farm ‘bootcamp’ gets green entrepreneurs into shape.
Tori-Bossito , Benin | AFP | Machetes in hand and wearing a straw hat against the sun, the participants of an “agro-bootcamp” in the farmlands of the West African nation of Benin harvest maize, cowpeas and rice. “Cut at the base,” says Oluwafemi Kochoni, an organic farming teacher, who runs the …
Read More »Britain’s smaller banks wallow in giants’ shadow.
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Computer meltdowns. Unexplained holes in accounting. Personnel management scandals. For smaller banks that want to compete with historic giants of global fame, UK finance has proven to be a minefield. When visiting their local branch or going online, Britons have struggled to break their habit …
Read More »EU states adopt ‘panda bonds’ in Chinese outreach.
Paris, France | AFP | EU members Hungary, Poland, Portugal and soon Austria are strengthening ties with China by issuing attractive “panda bonds” that help Beijing raise its profile on international financial markets. Italy might join the trend as well, despite EU concerns that China may be seeking a way to …
Read More »Huawei turns to Africa to offset US blacklist
Paris, France | AFP | As the US leads a drive for the West to shun Huawei over security fears, the Chinese tech giant has sought to strengthen its position in Africa, where it is already well-established. Huawei has taken a leading role in developing next-generation 5G mobile phone networks around the …
Read More »NSSF to educate savers ahead of retirement
Majority of the Fund’s retirees are making wrong investment decisions Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | It is now evident that savers need advice on how to invest their long time savings as they transition to retirement, according to Richard Byarugaba, the managing director of the National Social Security …
Read More »Sudan protest group calls nationwide ‘civil disobedience’
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide “civil disobedience” campaign it said would run until Sudan’s ruling generals transfer power to a civilian government. The call by the Sudanese Professionals Association, which first launched protests against longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, came days after a …
Read More »US, Mexico hammer out last-minute deal to curb migration, avoid tarif.
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States and Mexico reached an 11th-hour deal late Friday to crack down on migration from Central America, with President Donald Trump relenting on threats to slap potentially devastating tariffs on the neighboring country. With Trump ready to impose five percent tariffs on …
Read More »Thousands protest price hikes, corruption in Liberia.
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Thousands of people took to the streets of Liberia’s capital Monrovia Friday to protest rising prices and corruption, posing a key political test for President George Weah. The football icon is being challenged over the same issues on which he campaigned in his rise to …
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