Berlin, Germany | AFP | Germany vowed Monday to prosecute German IS fighters but warned that it would be “extremely difficult” to organise the repatriation of European nationals from Syria, after US President Donald Trump called on allies to take back alleged jihadists. Syria’s US-backed Kurdish forces, which are battling Islamic State group jihadists in …
Read More »Sports betting ban
Why putting money on Kasaija not Bahati is smart Kampala, Uganda | DAVID AJUNA | On Jan.20 David Bahati, the minister of state for Finance made an announcement that has shaken the betting industry in Uganda and attracted international attention. Bahati who was speaking at an event in Rugarama, in …
Read More »Fight erupts over Crime Preventers SACCO money
National Coordinator Kamugisha accused of embezzling funds to acquire property Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | Blaise Kamugisha, the National Coordinator of Crime Preventers has in a short time reportedly bought himself four cars, a house, a farm, a shop in Kikuubo; the business hub of Kampala, and prime plots …
Read More »The next fight over closed banks
Under the spotlight: the law and big money Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | After ending its public hearings into Bank of Uganda’s closure of seven commercial banks, attention is shifting to the recommendations the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), is set to make. It …
Read More »Nigeria counts cost of postponed presidential poll
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerians on Sunday counted the cost of the last-minute postponement of presidential elections, with predictions the delay could lose the country billions of dollars. The streets of Lagos, the country’s sprawling commercial hub of more than 20 million people, were empty following disappointment and anger …
Read More »Uber narrows losses, growth slows on the road to IPO
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Uber on Friday released earnings figures that showed its loss narrowed in the final quarter of last year while revenue growth slowed as the ridesharing giant prepares for a stock market debut. The loss for the final three months of the year amounted to …
Read More »Alibaba takes stake in Chinese video platform Bilibili
Beijing, China | AFP | Alibaba has bought an eight percent stake in Chinese online video sharing and entertainment service Bilibili for an undisclosed amount, state news agency Xinhua reported. Alibaba’s e-commerce arm Taobao will reportedly own 24 million shares in Nasdaq-listed Bilibili, which claims tens of millions of regular …
Read More »Nigeria’s presidential election: the main candidates
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s presidential election that has been postponed, will feature more than 70 candidates but it is ultimately expected to be a head-to-head between just two men. – Muhammadu Buhari (All Progressives Congress) – Buhari’s landmark 2015 election victory over Goodluck Jonathan was the first time …
Read More »Governments ponder what to do with returning jihadists
Paris, France | AFP | The imminent fall of the Islamic State’s caliphate in Iraq and Syria has left many countries grappling with what to do with jihadists who want to return. Several hundred foreign jihadists are being detained by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the main fighters on the …
Read More »Conservative commentators cast a spell on Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | He holds no official government position but has been called US President Donald Trump’s “shadow” chief of staff. Fox News commentator Sean Hannity is one of several conservative media personalities who exert enormous influence over the president. Their clout has been on display as …
Read More »