NEWS ANALYSIS

GUANGZHOU | Xinhua |  In a junior high school classroom in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, a 14-year-old student surnamed Geng deftly adjusted the parameters of a neural network model, having previously used his AI-powered “study buddy” to refine the narrative flow of his essay. In this classroom, students …

The surprising election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, is probably a sign that his predecessor’s spirit will prevail ANALYSIS | IAN BURUMA |  Some popes fit their times to perfection. Pope John XXIII was a progressive pope whose Vatican II reforms occurred just as The Beatles were …

Africa’s fintech sector is seeing a surge in deal-making as firms race to dominate the continent’s booming cash transfer and digital payments market, projected to hit US$1.5 trillion by 2030 SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Fierce competition in Africa’s digital and cross-border payment sector is fuelling a wave of …

Not all truth should be out there, warns Media Council boss ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE |  Images of an armoured personnel carrier (Mamba), a war machine, parked at a polling station during the most recent Kawempe North by-election and the beating up of journalists by soldiers of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task …

  Why does Museveni want this law badly? COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT | Three months after the Uganda Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the General Court Martial to try civilians, the government on May 14 introduced a Bill in parliament to reverse that decision. The Minister …

A wave of new exploration and production across Africa is reshaping the continent’s energy future, as newcomers like Sierra Leone, the DRC, and Namibia unveil ambitious plans – with new operational models- to join the oil-producing ranks. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s emerging oil producing countries are ramping …

A recent report shows Africa alone accounted for 70% of global mobile money transactions, making it the undisputed global leader in mobile-led financial inclusion. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa is shifting from cash handling in business to digital finance—an upgrade in the quest for financial inclusion, with mobile …

GOMA, DR Congo | Xinhua | In Goma, a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where war has redrawn borders and scattered families, a hospital has emerged as a beacon of resilience amid the ruins. Now under the control of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, …

CAIRO | Xinhua | U.S. President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday afternoon, concluding a lucrative four-day Gulf tour, which had also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Despite expectations that Trump’s visit could help calm the conflict in Gaza and ease regional tensions, the …

His election represents continuity with the papacy of the late Pope Francis, and he is expected to continue Francis’ reforms of the church as well as his focus on poverty and marginalized people. ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost – now known as Pope Leo XIV — is the first pope from …