New book on Africa’s energy gets ‘thriller’ reception on American financial markets
The publication of Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Making Deals, a resourceful and bold book on Africa’s oil and gas industry has kicked up investment interest in Africa by American business community that now perceives Africa as a viable alternative to the traditional Middle East and...
In fiery social media war, irate Kenyans petition IMF to deny their ‘eating thieves’ loans
Four hashtags sum up Kenyan’s frustration with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s handling of the economy: #NoLoantoKenya, #UhuruMalizaUende, #ThiefOfTheLoans, #IMFStopLoaningKenya. In threads under these hashtags, the angry public gives their verdict on an administration that was nine years ago romanticised as the springboard to economic dynamism in digital age, to leave office....
Africa’s urban rot: ‘We treat human beings like waste by ignoring or brutalising them’
A report presented to South African Tswane city in June 2019 highlighted the need for economic growth and job creation. It specifically addressed “the problem of informal recyclers sorting waste in an uncoordinated manner across the City,” and made a commitment to “extend their waste management systems in order to...
Human ‘scavengers’ in Africa exist because cities, residents create ‘garbage economy’
For the “Bagerezi” – informal recyclable material reclaimers – Covid-19 was just one extra thing to worry about. They face many more immediate dangers every day and are subject to every kind of disadvantage: homelessness, hunger and exposure to the elements, ostracism, exploitation, harassment and threats of eviction. The Bagerezi...
Historic or ongoing injustices? Rich nations have bought up nearly all Covid vaccines
It’s already understood that rich countries have bought up and administered most of the extant vaccine supply. This means that, once vaccine passports become available, the citizens of rich countries will be the first to benefit from the travel privileges they will confer. “This reflects historic and ongoing injustices,” says...
Bad labour practices turn journalism into risky job as Greek outlet sacks 55 – IFJ
The turbulence the media industry plunged into continues since the onset of coronavirus following a decision by Greek Artı TV and online media Artı Gerçek to lay of 55 media workers. This was after their parent company decided to terminate its contract with the two media. Consequently, the International and...
Gender and race still determine salaries at American universities – women association
Women account for just 24 per cent of all top income earners at US universities, according to a study from the Eos Foundation. The study, conducted in association with the Washington DC-based American Association of University Women, found that highly compensated women are especially scarce at the tenured and tenure-track...
Like Yellow Fever certificate before it, it’ll soon be a must to get a Covid passport
Sometime soon, you might arrive at an airport or a stadium or a restaurant, open an app or flash a card, and be admitted to a place or experience that was denied you during the pandemic. You will have just deployed a vaccine passport, a certification of either vaccination status...
Free trade talks: Greens wary US will bully Kenya to unban plastics use
Kenya and the United States are on the verge of resuming free trade talks amid fears that Washington plastic manufacturers through the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) are piling pressure on their government to compel Nairobi to unban use of plastics. Faced with a tanking economy spiralling unemployment, food shores...
Serious questions raised about how Kenya approved banned killer pesticide
Known for lax implementation of its laws and an overarching thirst for bribes, Kenyan authorities may have signed away the lives and safety of thousands of its citizens after it failed to implement international ban on a deadly weedkiller from global pesticide giant Syngenta and its predecessorcompanies – Imperial Chemical...
