Johannesburg. South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | MTN Group’s president and CEO Rob Shuter will step down in March 2021 at the end of his contract, the company confirmed Wednesday, as it released its financial results for year ended 31 December 2019. “CEO Rob Shuter will be stepping down from …
Read More »Coronavirus: UK health minister tests positive
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British MP Nadine Dorries, a minister in the health department, has tested positive for coronavirus, she said in a statement on Tuesday, raising concerns about whether senior government figures have been infected. “I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus… and have been …
Read More »Putin clears path to staying in power
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out a path Tuesday to staying in power beyond 2024, as lawmakers approved sweeping reforms to the constitution. In a surprise address to the lower house State Duma, Putin said there could be a presidential “reset” allowing him to …
Read More »DRC’s first coronavirus case confirmed in Kinshasa
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The DR Congo confirmed its first coronavirus case in the capital Kinshasa, the third most populous city in Africa, the health ministry said on Tuesday. The patient is a Belgian citizen who has been in the country for several days, Health Minister Eteni …
Read More »World oil prices claw back ground after crash
Singapore, Singapore | AFP | Oil prices surged more than six percent in Asian trade Tuesday following heavy losses a day earlier after top exporter Saudi Arabia began a price war with Russia. West Texas Intermediate was trading up 6.1 percent at more than $33 a barrel while Brent crude …
Read More »DRC hopes to declare end to Ebola outbreak next month
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | DR Congo health officials said Monday they were “keeping fingers crossed” to declare a deadly 19-month Ebola epidemic over next month, while monitoring former patients for signs of the virus. While the world’s attention has been focused on the coronavirus, the last patient under …
Read More »Lukwago picks Nyanjura on new KCCA executive committee
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago has unveiled the Executive Committee of Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA. Those appointed include Doreen Nyanjura, the Makerere University Councilor, Kyambogo University’s Kennedy Okello and Kyambogo University Woman Councilor, Olive Namazzi. The other members are the lord mayor and his deputy, Sarah Kanyike. …
Read More »China’s Xi Jinping pays first visit to virus epicentre Wuhan
Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan on Tuesday for his first visit to the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic since the crisis erupted in January — a major sign that officials believe the outbreak is under control. Xi’s unannounced visit comes as unprecedented quarantine …
Read More »COVID-19: Italy on lockdown
‘Stay at home’: Italy’s quarantine rules Rome, Italy | AFP | Italians have been told to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel as quarantine measures were extended to the whole country to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Here are the main points of a government decree signed …
Read More »MP’s ask NIRA to charge for data telecoms require
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament want the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to start charging for sharing citizen’s data with private companies and government agencies. The demand was made by members of the Defense and Internal Affairs committee of parliament saying that for NIRA to …
Read More »