Intersect: Africa
Pandemic Arrives in Africa By the end of March, the World Health Organisation had confirmed 4,351 cases of Covid-19 and some 135 deaths across Africa. The continent’s under-resourced health services has made the virus’s spread in the continent of particular concern. WHO says its statistics are “likely to significantly underestimate” the true number of cases. […]
World Review | Pramit Pal Chaudhuri | February 2020
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Biden is Democratic Party FrontrunnerThe race to be the Democratic Party presidential candidate tightened dramatically after the Super Tuesday set of primaries leaving only centrist Joe Biden and leftwing Bernie Sanders in the fray. Biden’s subsequent victories in key states like Michigan has left him the clear frontrunner. Biden’s dramatic resurgence began […]
Intersect: Africa
US Visa Blocks Undermine Policy The United States continues to send crossed-signals regarding its policy to Africa. On one hand, the Trump administration controversially issued visa restrictions against citizens of four African countries and is preparing to reduce US involvement in military operations in the Sahel region. On the other, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, […]
World Review | January 2020
BREXIT FOCUS Brexit At Last: UK officially leaves the EUThe United Kingdom officially left the European Union on January 31st, 2300 GMT. The day before, the European Parliament ratified the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, 621 to 49 votes, in an emotional session that concluded with the members of the European parliament singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Several […]
World Review | October 2019
Developments in North America Bloomberg May Join US ElectionsBillionaire and former New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has begun signalling he may enter the Democratic presidential race. A former moderate Republican and worth an estimated $ 52 billion, he had made noises earlier about a presidential run. After former vice-president Joe Biden entered the fray, Bloomberg […]
Intersect: Africa
China’s Bagamayo Problem Africa is known as a nodal point for China’s Belt Road Initiative, especially the continent’s Indian Ocean littoral. Chinese influence on the continent has grown substantially as a consequence and Africans have expressed strong approval of China in surveys. Lately, however, falling commodity prices and greater scrutiny of Chinese debt requirements have […]
World Review | September 2019
Developments in North America Impeachment Prelude to US ElectionsThe Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, on September 25 announced her intention to initiate impeachment proceedings against the United States President, Donald Trump. The process is guaranteed to consume the Trump administration for at least the next two to three months. Trump will be […]
Intersect: Africa
Tech in Africa Naspers is second largest e-investor in India South African fund, Naspers, is the second-largest overseas internet investor in India having put in $ 4 billion over the past five years. In an interview with The Economic Times, the head of Naspers Bob van Dijk, indicated India would remain a key market for […]
World Review | August 2019
G-7 Summit: Trump Almost Behaves Himself Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the guest leaders invited to the Group of Seven summit in mid-August in Biarritz, France. The leaders of India, Australia, Chile and Spain were asked to join by French President Emmanuel Macron along with a number of African countries. After two disastrous summits […]
Intersect: Africa
India’s Mozambique Gas Investment Cleared A consortium of Indian firms and their partners in late June made the final decision to invest $ 20 billion to build a liquid natural gas terminal in Mozambique for the Rovuma Offshore Area 1 gasfield. Indian firms hold 26% share in the investment. The first gas shipments are expected […]