BEIJING, CHINA – NOVEMBER 6: Women wearing Qing Dynasty-style costumes take photos inside the Forbidden City on November 6, 2025, in Beijing, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images News As Chinese households remain reluctant to spend on big-ticket goods, Beijing is leaning on a new lever to revive consumption: experiences and everyday services. China’s cabinet…
Shumei Lam Interview with Shumei LamFOUNDER and MANAGING DIRECTOR, POULTRY EAST AFRICA LTD Lives in: Singapore/Rwanda In most of the world, chicken is one of the more affordable protein options. However, when Singaporean Shumei Lam first visited Rwanda in 2011, it was considered a luxury that most Rwandans could only afford on special occasions. The…
Just 20 countries produce 80% of the world’s oil, gas and coal. Since 2019, researchers have released regular reports analysing how these governments plan to continue drilling and mining for fossil fuels – and how those plans diverge from the global climate goal set out in the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit temperature rise…
At the 2025 global climate summit, COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, one decision stood out with major consequences for Africa: countries agreed on a new set of progress indicators. The “Belém Adaptation Indicators” were developed through a two-year UN process. Although the name may sound technical, the idea is straightforward. For the first time, countries…
Ukraine won some concessions in the latest version of a U.S.-led draft plan to end the Russian invasion revealed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though key questions remain over territory and whether Moscow could accept the new terms. The 20-point plan, agreed on by U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators, was being reviewed by Moscow, but the Kremlin has…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals being negotiated with U.S. officials for a peace deal to end his country’s nearly four-year war with Russia are “very workable” and could be finalized within days, after which American envoys would present them to the Kremlin before further possible meetings in the United States next weekend. Zelenskyy warned…
In a dramatic twist, PZ Cussons has announced plans to retain its Africa business with ambitious growth plans, citing growth in its core business in Nigeria in particular. Recall that the company had in April 2024 announced plans to strategically review its Africa operations, stating its readiness to sell its 50% equity interest in PZ…
The Trump administration announced a deal Tuesday to officially end a major student loan repayment program implemented under President Joe Biden. The Education Department said in a news release that it reached a proposed joint settlement agreement with Missouri to bring an end to Biden’s “Saving on a Valuable Education” plan. Several Republican-led states had…
Municipalities have until Wednesday this week to make written submission on new draft rules that will influence how they operate, budget and deliver services in the energy sector. This follows national energy regulator Nersa publishing its draft electricity trading rules and a consultation paper in late November. It aims to establish a fair framework for…
Nairobi — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are preparing to convene the inaugural summit of their new Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), a landmark platform designed to advance joint projects in mining, tourism, public health, energy, and infrastructure. The initiative–first disclosed in June–is a central pillar of a broader peace agreement…
