- JAN 15 – Timothy Munyao, an IT Solutions Architect Consultant at Kitsilano Technologies, recently made history by becoming the first Kenyan to earn the coveted Amazon Web Services (AWS Golden Jacket. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who achieve all 12 active AWS certifications,…
- JAN 15 – UK inflation unexpectedly dipped in December, raising expectations of an interest rate cut next month. Prices rose 2.5% in the year to December, down from 2.6% the month before, marking the first fall in inflation for three months. The drop was driven by hotel prices falling and smaller…
- NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 15 – Equity Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Mwangi has joined the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) as a member. Mwangi’s appointment to the Global Board of Advisors is a big milestone for the African continent, which will greatly benefit from the Council, which…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – A group of parents have moved to court seeking to block a controversial school fee hike at St. Philip Neri Primary School, arguing that the increase was implemented without proper consultation and violates their legal rights. In an urgent application filed at the Kangundo…
- NEW YORK, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — The United States is facing high inflation and increasing debt, and the economy is in a fragile place, according to David Soloman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Goldman Sachs. U.S. consumers were still powering the economy last year. But they have really felt…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Jubilee Health Insurance Limited (JHIL) has launched its inaugural Center of Excellence and Agency Office at the Jubilee Exchange building on Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi. This initiative seeks to address Kenya’s low insurance penetration rate, currently at 2.3 percent of…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 — The National Construction Authority (NCA) has rolled out Stakeholders’ Sensitization Programs for the National Building Code 2024, targeting engineers, architects, contractors, and policymakers. The initiative aims to streamline and transform Kenya’s construction industry…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has reminded commercial vehicle owners to pay their advance tax for the 2025 income year by January 20, 2025. Advance tax rates vary depending on the type of vehicle. Vans, pick-ups, trucks, prime movers, trailers, and lorries are taxed at Sh2…
- LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Disinformation and conspiracy theories abound during crises, often overshadowing the truth with a flood of politically charged falsehoods. These narratives, also emerging after the wildfires in Los Angeles, gain traction due to their emotional appeal and the inherent…
- BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Argentina recorded an annual inflation rate of 117.8 percent in 2024, following a monthly price increase of 2.7 percent in December, the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reported on Tuesday. After the first year of a stringent fiscal adjustment…
- NAIROBI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — Kenya’s horticulture export earnings declined in 2024 due to reduced shipments to key markets in Europe and Asia, a government official said Tuesday. The East African nation earned 137 billion shillings (about 1.06 billion U.S. dollars) from horticulture exports in 2024…
- SINGAPORE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Singapore has announced plans to upgrade 10 streets across the island by 2026 to enhance walking and cycling commutes, particularly for seniors and young children. Work on these “Friendly Streets” will commence progressively in the first half of 2025, with completion…
- NAIROBI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — African countries should accelerate policy and legislative reforms aimed at fostering cross-border trade in manufactured goods and services, unlock growth and new jobs for the continent’s youth, Kenyan business leaders said Tuesday. Currently, intra-African trade stands…
- NAIROBI, Jan.15 (Xinhua) — Kenya’s tourism ministry said on Tuesday that it aims to attract about 200,000 travelers over the next five years by tapping into the adventure tourism market. Rebecca Miano, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, said the East African country has…
- NAAIROBI, Kenya, January 15 – Global cloud communications platform Infobip has been recognized as the number one provider among Established Leaders in the Artificially Inflated Traffic (AIT) Fraud Prevention market by Juniper Research. The analyst firm has ranked Infobip first of 18 vendors in its…
- COLOMBO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — The Maldives plans to offer tax and land rent concessions to attract investors to less-visited regions of the country, local media reported on Tuesday, quoting Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal. Faisal stated that the primary challenge in expanding tourism to more…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced an increase in fuel prices effective midnight. A litre of super petrol will rise by Sh0.29, diesel by Sh2 and kerosene by Sh3. Therefore, a liter of petrol will rise to Sh176.58 in Nairobi. While a liter of…
- Jan 14 – Spain is planning to impose a tax of up to 100% on the value of properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK. Announcing the move, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the “unprecedented” measure was necessary to meet the country’s housing emergency. “The…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 — Hong Kong-based energy solutions provider Neosun Energy has announced its entry into the Kenyan market, marking a significant step towards providing sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions for Africa’s commercial and industrial sectors. Neosun plans to offer…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 — The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a public notice urging all importers of refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) gases to apply for their 2025 annual import licenses. This reminder comes as 2025 marks Kenya’s final year to import…
- JAN 14 – TikTok users in the US are migrating to a Chinese app called RedNote with the threat of a ban just days away. The move by users who call themselves “TikTok refugees” has made RedNote the most downloaded app on Apple’s US App Store on Monday. RedNote is a TikTok competitor popular with […]
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – Most of the funds raised by African startups in 2024, including in Kenya, came from entities owned by men, highlighting a stark gender disparity in the continent’s startup funding ecosystem. According to the latest Africa: The Big Deal newsletter, female CEOs secured just $…
- Nairobi, Kenya — The Africa Media Festival (AMF) is set to return for its third edition on February 26-27, 2025, at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi. The festival has become a cornerstone for media professionals, storytellers, and innovators across the continent, fostering collaboration and…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – The High Court has appointed Mark Gakuru as the liquidator for Countryside Dairy Limited, a move that marks a step in the company’s insolvency proceedings. The appointment, made via Gazette Notice, took effect on November 21, 2024, under the provisions of the Insolvency…
- JAN 14 – TikTok has called a report that China is considering allowing a sale of the social media company’s US operations to Elon Musk “pure fiction.” The firm’s comments came in response to a report by Bloomberg that Chinese officials are weighing an option that could see its business in America…
- JAN 14 – Starbucks says it is reversing rules for its cafes in North America that allowed people to use their facilities even if they had not bought anything. The changes, which are set to come into force from 27 January, are a U-turn from a policy introduced six years ago that allowed people to […]
- By Mercy Mwelu, JAN 14 – Saving is a positive step in your journey towards financial independence. However, saving without a predefined target can feel daunting due to the lack of motivation to achieve a specific “goal” within a set me. Goal-based saving aligns a purpose with a financial target, in…
- SYDNEY, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — Australian researchers have found that DNA repair may determine how cancer cells die following radiotherapy in a new study that may help improve cancer treatment and cure rates. To understand how cancerous tumor cells die after being subjected to radiotherapy, scientists…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – KCB to address technical Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has announced plans to address technical challenges facing its mobile wallet service Vooma following complaints from customers. In a response to a user complaint on LinkedIn, the financial institution said that the…
- BRUSSELS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — European Commission officials on Monday expressed concern over new U.S. measures restricting access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chip exports to select European Union (EU) member states and their companies. “We are concerned about the US measures adopted…
- JERUSALEM, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — The Israeli government’s expenses for the ongoing multi-front conflict reached 124.7 billion shekels (about 34 billion U.S. dollars), the state’s Finance Ministry said on Monday. Of the total expenses of the conflict, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, 99.9 billion shekels…
- ANKARA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Detention orders have been issued for 47 individuals, including Riza Akpolat, the mayor of Besiktas municipality in Istanbul province, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in municipal tender processes, said Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – Lending to the private sector slowed to 4 percent, equivalent to Sh3.8 trillion, in the 2023/24 financial year (FY), driven by currency exchange fluctuations, a new report reveals. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2023/24 indicate…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – Lending to the private sector slowed to 4 percent, equivalent to Sh3.8 trillion, in the 2023/24 financial year (FY), driven by currency exchange fluctuations, a new report reveals. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2023/24 indicate…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – Peter Mbae, Head of the Government Delivery Service (GDS), has officially announced his resignation, citing unresolved concerns with Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. In a letter addressed to the appointing authority, Mbae highlighted persistent challenges that have…
- JAN 13 – The hum of sewing machines is a constant in parts of Guangzhou, a thriving port on the Pearl River in southern China. It rattles through the open windows of factories from morning until late at night, as they finish the t-shirts, shorts, blouses, pants and swimwear that will be shipped to…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 — Investment firm Cytonn has projected a slight depreciation of the Kenyan shilling, forecasting it to trade between Sh120.9 and Sh140.5 against the US dollar by the end of the year. This represents an anticipated devaluation of about 4.6 percent, driven primarily by Kenya’s…
- NEW YORK, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — The U.S. economy faces risks from President-elect Donald Trump’s policy proposals on trade, immigration, tax and fiscal spending, as well as regulation, said a top expert of J.P. Morgan. The U.S. economy probably would grow by around 2 percent in 2025, lower than that…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – Kenya’s economy is expected to experience moderate growth in 2025, according to Cytonn Investment’s latest market outlook. The firm has forecasted a GDP growth rate of between 5 percent and 5.4 percent, with key sectors such as agriculture, services, and tourism…
- JAN 13 – Apple’s board has asked its investors to vote against a proposal to end its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programmes. It comes after a conservative group, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), called on the technology giant to abolish its DEI policies, saying…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – Kenya’s passport ranking strength dropped by one point to 68 this year, a new global passport ranking system shows, meaning that Kenyans can travel visa-free to fewer countries than in 2024. Henley Passport Index 2024 January Ranking indicates that the country’s global…
- ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — The Ethiopian government has announced that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has reached 97.6 percent completion. Marking the dam’s near-completion, the government has launched a fundraising campaign, urging financial institutions and the public to step up…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – The government is expected to ramp up its borrowing this year, according to a report by Cytonn Investment, raising more concerns about the country’s already ballooning public debt. As per the report, the state is set to borrow “aggressively” from both the foreign and…
- ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday officially launched the country’s first stock exchange in more than 50 years, describing it as a “historic milestone” for the nation’s economy. The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) is seen as a significant step toward…
- KAMPALA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — African nations on Saturday adopted a new strategy to advance agricultural development and food systems, a key source of livelihood for the continent’s population. The 10-year strategy and action plan to implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program…
- SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — Meta on Friday announced the end of its DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs. Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of people, made the announcement at the company’s Workplace internal communications forum. “The legal and policy landscape surrounding…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 11 – Residents of Kentmere, the Tigoni area in Kiambu County, want Governor Kimani Wamatangi to intervene in the alleged seizure of land belonging to the YMCA Technical and Vocational Training Institute, formerly Limuru Boys Centre. Locals informed RMM Advocates that the plots…
- WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Friday warned that global economy in 2025 faces heightened uncertainty due to economic policies, particularly the directions of U.S. trade policy. “Not surprisingly, given the size and role of…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, January 11 – The Employment and Labor Relations Court in Nairobi has issued conservatory orders barring the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) from recruiting or appointing a new managing director following a petition challenging the process. In a ruling delivered on January 3 by Lady…
- UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — Global economic growth is projected to remain at 2.8 percent in 2025, unchanged from last year, according to a UN report released on Thursday. Despite falling inflation, improving labor market conditions, and monetary easing, global growth is predicted to…
