Washington, United States | AFP | The US economy’s job creation ability disappointed in December, despite solid hiring in manufacturing and construction, according to government data reported Friday. But with the country believed to be near full employment, the jobless rate still held steady at its 17-year low of 4.1 …
Read More »Qatar allows full ownership for foreign investors
Doha, Qatar | AFP | Qatar has approved legislation allowing 100-percent ownership for foreign investors in most sectors of the economy in a bid to boost non-energy revenues, the government said on Thursday. The move comes at a time of political crisis in the Gulf, with Qatar under an economic and …
Read More »The good, bad of Uganda’s economy in 2017
Key indicators remain largely unchanged Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | 2017 appears to have been a good and bad year for Uganda’s economy even as key indicators remained largely unchanged. Bank of Uganda’s monetary policy tamed inflation to below the set target of around 5% as well as stabilised exchange rate …
Read More »Make reforms while sun shines on world economy: Lagarde
Paris, France | AFP | International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has urged France and other countries to push through reforms “while the sun is shining” on the global economy. In an interview with France’s Le Journal du Dimanche published Sunday Lagarde said the strength of the global economic recovery …
Read More »France named The Economist’s country of the year
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The Economist named France as its country of the year on Thursday, saying new President Emmanuel Macron had upset the odds to strike a victory for open societies and reform. The London-based weekly news magazine said the battle between open and closed visions of society …
Read More »IMF sounds alarm over Congo debt before possible bailout
Brazzaville, Congo | AFP | A team from the International Monetary Fund on Thursday wound up a mission to the Republic of Congo by expressing concern at debt and corruption before considering any bailout. “Congo’s economy continues to suffer from the effects of low oil prices, unsustainable debt, and significant governance …
Read More »Lonely Cape Verde rethinks West African isolation
Praia, Cape Verde | AFP | It was supposed to be tiny Cape Verde’s moment to shine: a chance for the Atlantic island nation to take up the rotating presidency of the commission of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). But the archipelago has found itself once …
Read More »COMMENT: Rwanda’s miracle and its magicians
A micro-sociological personal perspective of the country Kampala, Uganda | JUDE KAGORO | Rwanda is a country that is both understudied and misunderstood. Some people go to Rwanda sing praises of what they have seen and perhaps forget. Others, using euro-centric and Afro-pessimist lens, criticise uncritically. Some rely on age-old cliché to …
Read More »Big challenges face Ramaphosa, new head of ANC
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The new leader of the South Africa’s ANC party, Cyril Ramaphosa, will likely be the next president of the country. He faces an immediate list of urgent issues as the party that has held power since the end of apartheid rule 23 years ago struggles …
Read More »China opens major economic conference
Beijing, China | AFP | China opened a major economic planning conference on Monday as the country tries to pivot away from its no-holds-barred growth model. The annual Central Economic Work Conference gives leaders the opportunity to review past economic policy and plan for 2018. The pursuit of high growth propelled …
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