There are 450 languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | “I haven’t once spoken my mother tongue Kilokele in the 62 years I’ve lived in Kinshasa. None of my nine children speak it,” says Charles Tongohala. Tongohala’s native tongue is one of 450 spoken …
Read More »Pope says ‘demagogic’ populism does not help peace
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Pope Francis denounced “demagogic populism” on Friday and insisted that violence profanes God’s name, in a wide-ranging speech as he visited Egypt to push for tolerance. “Peace alone… is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would …
Read More »ANALYSIS: What is the North American Free Trade Agreement?
Washington, United States | AFP | The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a 23-year-old pact has boosted trade among Canada, Mexico and the United States. It might now be renegotiated the White House said Wednesday, after Canada and Mexico agreed to do so “swiftly.” US President Donald Trump …
Read More »Macron age gap ‘unusual’ to French, titillates abroad
Paris, France | AFP | Brigitte Macron, as the 64-year-old wife of the man tipped to become France’s youngest-ever president, is getting used to being in the media spotlight. But the elegant blonde is also having to endure unwelcome scrutiny from a foreign press fascinated by the age gap between …
Read More »Inflated egos remain as Burundi enters 3rd year of turmoil
After two years, no end in sight to Burundi’s deadly turmoil Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Two years after Burundi’s president plunged the central African country into turmoil, the regime shows no signs of easing up on a crackdown that has forced hundreds of thousands to flee. The UN estimates …
Read More »BUSINESS: Africa’s insurance industry faces new challenges
African insurance regulators, CEOs and experts share views at high profile meeting in Dakar, Senegal For years now, digital advances have been transforming a range of industries. The insurance industry especially in Africa has generally been slow to adopt new digital approaches, but times are now changing. This shift is …
Read More »COVER STORY: Bad economy
Here is why Ugandans are poorer today than yesterday There is more bad news for the Uganda economy this April. According to the latest figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the Central Bank, the economy will not achieve the targeted 4.5% growth this financial year. It will …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Why is Catholic Church losing followers?
Figures from the 2014 National Population and Housing Census show that, in the last 10 years, the percentage of Ugandan identifying as Catholics has declined from 41.6% in 2002 to 39.3% of the general population. In the 1991 census, however, the number identifying as Catholic was estimated to be between …
Read More »North Korea: ‘Trump administration is spouting a load of rubbish’
US supercarrier due in Sea of Japan ‘in days’: Pence Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday, after days of mixed messages from Washington over the warship’s whereabouts. The strike group was …
Read More »Polythene bags: The menace of East Africa
Why a Rwanda-inspired bill to broaden ban on polythene bags across East Africa might drag on forever Plastic carrier bags could remain in use for the foreseeable future within the East African Community as debate on the East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 drags on in the East …
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