A growing, worldwide interest in African cultural and fashion events supports the findings of a new report showing that Africa holds all the cards to become a global leader in fashion. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s young, innovative, and growing population, a rising middle class, rapid urbanization, and …

Johannesburg, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | MultiChoice, Africa’s leading entertainment company, has been recognised as a leader in creativity and social responsibility at the prestigious Promax Awards 2023. Its pioneering campaign, “Piracy Untells Our Stories,” has received multiple awards across various categories, including Best Directing, Best Music Composition, Best …

Serere, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Jesca Alwalo, 47, a resident of Amoru Village in Bugondo Sub County is a single mother of six and also takes care of her mother who is living with a disability. Alwalo’s first daughter got married at the age of 19  while the second …

Kigali, Rwanda | Xinhua |  Julia Simpson, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), said the sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was well underway while urging governments to further ease visa application procedures. Governments should work to ease visa restrictions and accelerate the …

Mogadishu, Somalia | Xinhua |  Flash and riverine floods caused by heavy rains have killed at least 14 people in Somalia, the United Nations humanitarian agency said Saturday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said since the start of the 2023 seasonal deyr (October to December) …

COMMENT | MARIJE SLIJKERMAN | Every 28th day of October confronts us, parents and brothers, with the deeply painful fact of our Sophia’s physical absence in our lives. Last week that day marked the eighth year of her disappearance in Uganda. It is very difficult to actually believe that eight years have …

Vladivostok, Russia | Xinhua | Despite withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Russia remains committed to the treaty and its obligations, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The ministry said in a statement that Russia is still a signatory to the CTBT and will …

Rome, Italy | Xinhua | Global sugar prices settled down in October, following sharp increases in previous months, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Friday. Sugar has been the most volatile food commodity in recent weeks, amid concerns over supplies sparked by extreme weather in sugar-producing countries, …

  COMMENT | DOREEN MIREMBE | Uganda’s film industry is experiencing a resurgence, marking a significant departure from years of watching neighboring countries’ industries thrive. Over the past five years, there has been a noticeable surge in the consumption and appreciation of locally produced TV shows and films. This new-found …

When COVID-19 hit Zimbabwe in 2020, the country went into lockdown. Marlvin Chieza was one of those who returned to his home in the countryside, with no income apparently, no future. That is until he noticed the apples lying around. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | For someone who only …