Month: December 2023
The growth in East African Community external trade
Intra-EAC trade slumps after execution of 35pc tax on imports“Nevertheless, efforts have been put in place to resolve the existing non-tariff barriers and encourage partner states to refrain from imposing new ones in line with the commitment under the EAC Customs Union Protocol. East African Community member states are trading more with countries outside the
Tension in Kupiansk , Ukraine
Like Avdiivka, another eastern city, Ukrainian forces have been defending Kupiansk from a raised position as it sits on a hill. Across the Oskil River, which dissects it, you can see plumes of smoke as they struggle to contain Russian advances.Ukraine’s ambition of completely liberating its territory couldn’t feel more distant here. Instead its troops
Russian Opposition found
Mr Navalny made his name as a campaigner against corruption, gathering millions of views for his video investigations. A charismatic campaigner, he seemed to be the only Russian opposition leader capable of mobilising people in large numbers across Russia to take part in anti-government protests. But in 2020, he was poisoned in Siberia by what
hostages in Gaza
After Hamas’s attack on October 7th, Israel vowed to demolish the Islamist movement militarily, end its rule over the Gaza Strip and rescue 240-plus hostages taken by Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Since then, the Israel Defence Forces has dropped tens of thousands of bombs onto the territory and sent over four divisions of troops
The plight of Christians in Bethlehem
Gaza’s dwindling community of Palestinian Christians has been hard hit since October 7th. At least 16 were killed in an air raid that damaged the church of St Porphyrius, Gaza city’s oldest. Pope Francis called Israel’s actions in Gaza “terrorism” after a Christian mother and daughter were shot dead as they sheltered in a church
The Deepfake Dilemma
Deepfakes leverage AI algorithms to superimpose existing images and videos onto other images or videos, creating a composite that can be startlingly authentic. This technology, initially a product of benign research, has rapidly evolved, raising alarms globally due to its potential misuse. The threats posed by deepfakes are multifaceted. On a personal level, they can
Execution of Swedish citizens in Iran
Execution spree’ Iran has previously used detained foreigners as bargaining chips to secure the release of its citizens abroad, the United Nations warned Saturday that an Iranian-Swedish citizen is facing imminent execution in Iran, after a Swedish court upheld the conviction of a former Iranian prison official. In a November report, the Norway-based Iran Human
Artillery ammunition problem in Ukraine
There are a number of reasons why Ukraine is beginning to run short of its most critical resource in the war, the last of which has to do with American partisan party politics and a different major conflict drawing ammunition supplies away from Kyiv. It’s been nearly two years since Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale
Orthodox priests repel against Moscow rule in Moldova
Ukraine had been under Moscow’s spiritual leadership since the 17th century at the latest, but part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church broke with Moscow in 2019 over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in the east of Ukraine. Long torn between loyalty to the Russian or Romanian Orthodox Church, the Moldovan village
International Monetary relieves East Africa countries of debts
In November, the IMF staff reached an agreement with Kenya, for an expanded $938 million financing. The funding, which still requires IMF board approval in January, would result in the fund granting Kenya immediate access to around $682 million. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) board has approved the payment of $620.65 million in budgetary support