NEWS ANALYSIS

 Somalia’s recent commissioning of its first-ever female defence cadets is a reflection of a wider development that is progressively bringing more women into command, peacekeeping and reform in national militaries across Africa. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Somalia has, in the past week, commissioned its first-ever female defence cadets. …

Its extra-territorial campaign against terrorists has to have limits ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | After the massacres of October 7th 2023, Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, promised to hunt down the leaders of Hamas “wherever they are”. Israel pursued them in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Syria. But Qatar, where Hamas’s grandees have …

  BEIJING | Xinhua | The noble cause of peace and development of humanity will prevail.” That was the message from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept. 3, delivered from the Tian’anmen Rostrum as he oversaw a grand commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s …

  KABUL | Xinhua | U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that Washington is “trying to take back” Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. However, Afghan officials swiftly rejected the idea, saying there will be no negotiation on this matter. The remark has drawn wide international attention and prompted speculation about …

SPECIAL REPORT | Namasagali College in Kamuli, Uganda has kick-started a series of activities to mark the first anniversary of the death of their longest ever serving headteacher, Mill Hill Missionary (MHM) Rev Fr Damian Grimes. Fr Grimes taught in Uganda from 1959 and was between August 1967 and December …

LONDON | Xinhua |  U.S. President Donald Trump’s second state visit to Britain wrapped up Thursday night in royal pomp and friendly rhetoric. But showy ceremonies could not hide the gaps in results: while a splashy technology deal and new investment pledges drew concerns, trade rows persisted, and the split …

Africa is setting the terms for the new scramble for its minerals by pooling regional strengths and mobilizing capital. Several nations are tightening export rules, demanding more local processing and value addition as the global competition for its mineral resources heightens to power the latest ambitions in tech. SPECIAL REPORT …

  Doctors warn the gradual hardening of arteries is causing a surge in heart attacks and strokes, urging urgent prevention Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | Atherosclerosis, the gradual hardening and narrowing of arteries, is quietly driving a surge of heart attacks, strokes, and premature deaths in Uganda. Experts now …

Japan is shifting its Africa strategy from aid to long-term investment, channeling billions into tech, skills, and infrastructure. From hybrid car manufacturing in South Africa to new venture funds and vocational training, Tokyo is embedding itself in the continent’s economic future. SPECIAL REPORT |  BIRD AGENCY | Japan is recasting …

New tools aim to strengthen water security as climate risks mount in water-stressed African farming communities NEWS ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | When the rains fail in southern Africa, the survival of crops often depends on how much water remains in the dams. For decades, that simple question has been surprisingly …