EDITORS’ PICKS

Chinese President meets Bill Gates, calls him ‘an old friend’

Microsoft Founder Bill Gates (L) shakes Xi Jinping. Photo: courtesy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called Bill Gates “an old friend” and said he hoped they could cooperate in a way that would benefit both China and the United States, in Xi’s first meeting with a foreign entrepreneur in years. In a meeting at Beijing’s Diaoyutai state guest house, where China’s leaders have traditionally received senior foreign visitors, Xi said he …

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Free secondary education in African countries is on the rise – but is it the best policy? What the evidence says

Students of Mandela Secondary in Hoima City attending to a lession. Photo by Robert Atuhairwe.

When President Salva Kiir announced the abolition of secondary school fees in South Sudan in February 2023, he was following several fellow African leaders. Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zambia have all announced free secondary education policies in the last five years. Rwanda, Kenya and South Africa were early trendsetters in this regard. Despite its popularity with policymakers, parents and other stakeholders, the abolition of secondary …

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Tanzania’s $42b Liquified Natural Gas project nears approval

Tanzania-offshore-gas.

Negotiations with investors for Tanzania’s $42 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project have been successfully concluded, a senior government minister has revealed. The agreements, aimed at tapping into the country’s vast offshore gas resources, are now awaiting review and approval next month, according to media reports. Energy Minister January Makamba said that the finalised agreements would be presented to the government’s cabinet for …

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Top risks facing the oil and gas sector

Oil prices posted gains in Asian trade on Tuesday after OPEC+ plans to cut more production jolted markets the previous day. Net Photo.

The instability that defined the oil and gas market for much of 2022 has continued into 2023. With bullish and bearish pressure on oil and gas, this can fluctuate quickly depending on what happens in European markets, OPEC+ decision-making and the situation in Iran, where a nuclear deal has stalled and tensions — internal and with neighboring countries — are …

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Iran to unveil $15b oil and gas projects this year

Iran Oil.

Iran will launch about $15 billion worth of oil and gas projects in 2023, according to the country’s oil minister Jawad Owji. All of the launched projects have had a direct impact on increasing the production capacity of the country, he added. In the last Iranian year (March 2022-23), $12 billion worth of oil, gas and petrochemical projects were launched. Currently, …

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Two fishermen bodies retrieved from Lake Albert

Lake Albert. Photo: Robert Atuhairwe/The Albertine Journal..

The bodies of two Ugandan fishermen who died on Lake Albert have been retrieved following a boat accident. The deceased fishermen have been identified as Dogu, 40 and Mukiga, 35. The two were attached to Kamina landing site in Buhuka village, Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district. They lost their lives on Tuesday (May 9) morning at 2am after their fishing boat …

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Nigeria’s first oil refinery to begin operations

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will commission the Dangote oil refinery in two weeks, setting up the plant for its first production since construction started in 2016, Reuters reported, citing a presidency spokesperson. The federal government confirmed the planned inauguration of the 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery, before the president leaves office on May 22. A source close to the plant said the company was putting …

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Hopes on Jeddah talks between warring factions as Sudan war rages on

Sudan generals

Sudanese are pinning their hopes on talks in Jeddah between envoys of warring factions to end bloodshed that has killed hundreds and triggered a mass exodus, but there is no sign lasting relief will come anytime soon. There has been no word on the progress of the talks which began on Saturday between the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Saudi …

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