ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Europe’s Industrial Revolution spurred unprecedented technological and economic progress. It also inflicted a tremendous human cost as millions of workers toiled in dangerous conditions. The same would hold true some two centuries later in East Asia, where explosive industrial growth was coupled with sweatshops and child labor. Now African leaders are [...]
Nelson Mandela Responding Positively to Treatment of Lung Infection
March 29, 2013 | Posted by
South Africa remains anxious over the health of former President Nelson Mandela, who has “responded positively” to treatment for a lung infection during his third hospital visit in the last four months. The civil rights icon spent almost three weeks in hospital in December. Though an overnight checkup went well earlier this month, he has [...]
No One Knows True Economic Potential of Africa
March 27, 2013 | Posted by
What do we know about poverty, income and growth in sub-Saharan Africa? The answer is: much less than we like to think. The data is unreliable and potentially seriously misleading. The question is of great importance. Economic growth rates or per-capita income estimates are commonly used in statements about development in Africa. If income and [...]
Africa to Receive $20 Billion in Unconditional Loans from China
March 26, 2013 | Posted by
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated his country’s commitment to cooperate with Africa, revealing that Beijing would give the continent $20 billion loan to cater for 2013-14 programs. Xi made the commitment while addressing the world on Chinese policies towards Africa at the new Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on [...]
Middle East Continuing to Grow as Luxury Destination
March 23, 2013 | Posted by
Luxury hotel marketers are opening numerous properties in the Greater Middle East area, suggesting that the region is a new choice destination for in-the-know affluent travelers. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels’ Waldorf Astoria and The Ritz-Carlton have recently opened or plan to open new properties in the Middle East. New [...]
Africans Concerned About China’s Role In Its Business Affairs
March 22, 2013 | Posted by
As China becomes more heavily involved in the business and affairs of Africa, push back is inevitable—coming in the form of African commentators and observers wondering if China is getting by far the better deal in its business arrangements with countries like Nigeria. In fact, in a piece in the Financial Times reprinted on AllAfrica.com, [...]
Intel, iHub Partner to Grow Africa’s Mobile Community
March 20, 2013 | Posted by
Intel has entered into an agreement with business incubator iHub to foster and grow the developer community in Africa through targeted investments in mobile application development, online developer resources, university training programs, device seeding programs and expansion of technology hubs. iHub catalyzes the tech community in Kenya and has evolved into a space with more [...]
Africa Not Creating Enough Jobs For Youths
March 13, 2013 | Posted by
Africa is not creating enough jobs to absorb the 10-to-12 million young people entering its labor markets each year. According to the African Development Bank, less than one- fifth of the continent’s young workers find waged employment. This comes after almost two decades of sustained growth. Africa has garnered lavish praise from aid agencies, investors [...]
Massive Rollout of Measles-Rubella Shots Begins in Rwanda
March 12, 2013 | Posted by
Rwanda’s measles-rubella vaccination campaign, which is being launched today, is the beginning of an effort to vaccinate more than 700 million children under 15 years of age against two disabling and deadly diseases. The combined measles-rubella vaccine will be introduced in 49 countries by 2020, thanks to financial support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines [...]
Kenyan Presidential Campaign Marred by Legacy of Violent 2007 Election
February 26, 2013 | Posted by
As Kenyan voters prepare to elect their new president, the shadow of the country’s last presidential election continues to loom over the current campaign. The 2007 vote ended in widespread racial violence, with more than 1,000 people killed and hundreds of thousands more displaced in the months following the polls. With the 2013 polls less [...]
