NEWS ANALYSIS

Tori-Bossito , Benin | AFP |  Machetes in hand and wearing a straw hat against the sun, the participants of an “agro-bootcamp” in the farmlands of the West African nation of Benin harvest maize, cowpeas and rice. “Cut at the base,” says Oluwafemi Kochoni, an organic farming teacher, who runs the …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Computer meltdowns. Unexplained holes in accounting. Personnel management scandals. For smaller banks that want to compete with historic giants of global fame, UK finance has proven to be a minefield. When visiting their local branch or going online, Britons have struggled to break their habit …

Paris, France | AFP | EU members Hungary, Poland, Portugal and soon Austria are strengthening ties with China by issuing attractive “panda bonds” that help Beijing raise its profile on international financial markets. Italy might join the trend as well, despite EU concerns that China may be seeking a way to …

Paris, France | AFP | As the US leads a drive for the West to shun Huawei over security fears, the Chinese tech giant has sought to strengthen its position in Africa, where it is already well-established. Huawei has taken a leading role in developing next-generation 5G mobile phone networks around the …

  Majority of the Fund’s retirees are making wrong investment decisions Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | It is now evident that savers need advice on how to invest their long time savings as they transition to retirement, according to Richard Byarugaba, the managing director of the National Social Security …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide “civil disobedience” campaign it said would run until Sudan’s ruling generals transfer power to a civilian government. The call by the Sudanese Professionals Association, which first launched protests against longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, came days after a …

Washington, United States | AFP |  The United States and Mexico reached an 11th-hour deal late Friday to crack down on migration from Central America, with President Donald Trump relenting on threats to slap potentially devastating tariffs on the neighboring country. With Trump ready to impose five percent tariffs on …

Monrovia, Liberia | AFP |  Thousands of people took to the streets of Liberia’s capital Monrovia Friday to protest rising prices and corruption, posing a key political test for President George Weah. The football icon is being challenged over the same issues on which he campaigned in his rise to …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, who will play Queen Elizabeth II in “The Crown”, was honoured by the monarch on Saturday for her services to British drama. Colman, 45, was awarded the CBE by the sovereign to mark her 93rd birthday, which is officially celebrated …

Paris, France | AFP | Host nation France crushed South Korea 4-0 in the opening game of the women’s World Cup on Friday, leaving former winners Germany with plenty to live up to as they prepare to launch their campaign. It was a fine start to a tournament that has been …