Simon Anholt the co-founder of the Good Country Index has since 2014 been challenging governments around the world to harmonize their domestic with international responsibilities by cooperating and collaborating more without necessarily losing their competitive edge. He shared his views with The Independent’s Ronald Musoke in an email interview What …
Read More »Free press a cornerstone for accountability – UN Chief
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At a time when disinformation and mistrust of the news media is growing, a free press is essential for peace, justice, sustainable development and human rights, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said. According to Guterres, no democracy is complete without access to transparent and reliable …
Read More »Teachers receive new policy with mixed feelings
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The new national teachers policy has been received with mixed feelings amongst teachers. According to the teachers that Uganda Radio Network spoke to, the policy is a Godsend intervention but somewhat unrealistic. A cross-section thinks that the policy is a money-making ploy by a few …
Read More »Cabinet approves national teacher policy
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Cabinet has approved the national teachers’ policy. The policy aims to streamline teachers’ management for better productivity, discipline, retention and motivation. The policy is further expected to strengthen pre-service and in-service teacher training so as to enhance competence to effectively deliver quality learning outcomes …
Read More »Macron visits E.Africa in effort to counter China expansion
Lalibela, Ethiopia | AFP | President Emmanuel Macron visited Djibouti and Ethiopia on Tuesday, promising “respectful” partnerships in the face of growing regional indebtedness to China, which is fast expanding its foothold in the continent. Looking to strengthen economic, military and cultural ties in East Africa, Macron announced a new defence …
Read More »UN shines spotlight on dying indigenous languages
United Nations, United States | AFP | There’s Ojibwe in Canada, Ami in Australia and Ayapanec in Mexico: these are among the world’s nearly 2,700 indigenous languages at risk of disappearing unless new initiatives are taken to revive them, UN officials say. The United Nations is hoping to raise awareness …
Read More »Major DR Congo oil deal could be ‘void’: watchdog
Paris, France | AFP | A major deal allowing a company to drill for crude reserves in areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo bordering Africa’s largest protected rainforest may contravene the country’s own oil law, a watchdog said Friday. The transparency group Global Witness said that an agreement signed in …
Read More »2.3 million young Africans equipped with digital skills
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Africa Code Week (ACW) 2018 exceeded all expectations by empowering 2.3 million youth across 37 countries with digital and coding skills – compared to 1.3 million youth engaged across 35 African countries in the previous edition. More than 46% of this year’s 2.3 million participants …
Read More »Uganda gets seat on World Heritage Committee
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has been elected to serve on the World Heritage Committee for the first time. The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention that defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests …
Read More »New UNESCO chief brushes off US pullout
Paris, France | AFP | UNESCO’s new chief on Monday brushed aside the United States’ decision to walk out of the UN cultural body, saying the organisation had survived long periods without Washington before. Former French culture minister Audrey Azoulay, elected on Friday to head UNESCO, said the US was “not …
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