Bouaké, Ivory Coast | AFP | Every time Catherine Coulibaly’s 19-year-old son had to make a routine appointment with the cardiologist for his heart condition, she gritted her teeth as she silently counted the financial cost. It wasn’t just the hospital fee — there was the transport, food and accommodation, too, …
Read More »Era of low skill jobs might be over, Ugandans cautioned
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandans might have to acquire more skills especially in the technology sector if they are to sustain their jobs or find employment in high paying sectors, the CEO of the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD) Arshad Rab, has said. Arshad Rad said that …
Read More »Google, Facebook, Amazon decry French digital tax as ‘discriminatory’
Washington, United States | AFP | American tech giants Amazon, Facebook and Google joined forces on Monday to decry the French digital tax as retroactive and discriminatory. President Donald Trump is considering retaliating against the tax — approved July 11 — with punitive tariffs on French wine imports, prompting an …
Read More »Uganda slams report on ‘Huawei spying’
Uganda slams report Huawei helped spy on opposition leaders Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Uganda on Friday denied a report that employees of Chinese telecom giant Huawei had aided a domestic spying operation targeting pop star turned opposition icon Bobi Wine. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Huawei …
Read More »US importers find ways to adapt to, skirt Trump’s tariffs
New York, United States | AFP | Big US companies are accelerating efforts to move more of their supply chains from China to neighboring countries in light of Trump administration tariffs. Companies in sectors such as technology, clothing and footwear are exporting more goods from emerging giants including Vietnam and Malaysia, …
Read More »Five things to know about the selfie economy
Paris, France | AFP | Long dismissed as a symptom of narcissistic youth culture, the not-so-humble selfie has become big business. As hotels vie to become the next viral hotspot and new technology is developed to cater to those searching for that perfect picture of themselves, here are five things to …
Read More »Pressure mounts on aviation industry over climate change.
Paris, France | AFP | Under pressure from frequent flyers alarmed over climate change, the airline industry says it is “hellbent” on reducing emissions — but the technology needed to drastically reduce its carbon footprint is still out of reach. In recent months climate activists have stepped up efforts to convince …
Read More »West Nile and Karamoja get e-government infrastructure
Koboko, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has launched phase four of the National Backbone Infrastructure Connectivity project for West Nile. The ceremony took place today at St. Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School grounds in Koboko District. The government of Uganda through the National Information Technology, Uganda (NITA-U), …
Read More »France begins debating digital tax, defying US ire
Paris, France | AFP | French lawmakers on Monday began debating a new tax on digital giants such as Facebook and Apple that has angered the United States, with Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire boasting that France was proud to be in the vanguard of such a move. The United …
Read More »Forget flying carpets, flying taxis are coming your way
Austin, United States | AFP | We’ve all dreamed while stuck in traffic jams of being able to just lift off and fly over the gridlock. According to experts gathered this week at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, that is likely to happen sooner than later, with …
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