Category Archives: P

LAGOS BASED AULDON TOYS VENTURES INTO RETAIL

From securing a multimillion-dollar contract with one of the world’s leading retailers, Walmart, to supplying Unity Girl Dolls and selling the African-themed toys on Amazon’s online store, Lagos—Nigeria-based Auldon Toys, a leading manufacturer of Unity Girl Dolls, has done it again. Auldon Toy has expansion plans for the retail toy space.

Auldon Toys is expanding into the retail toy market with a multi-million-dollar complex that aims to transform how children and families shop for toys in Nigeria and beyond. The company plans to create a fun atmosphere for kids to enjoy their shopping experience. I earlier spoke with Auldon CEO Paul Orajiaka.

M23 REBELS MAKES SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN E.DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo government has urged Rwanda to cease its alleged support for the M23 rebel group. Rwanda denies any links. The M23 has made significant territorial gains, including the capture of Goma in January and Bukavu, where residents welcomed them over the weekend. The DRC government confirmed the rebels have “occupied” this second major city in the eastern mineral-rich region.
For an update, VOA’s Paul Ndiho Spoke with Fabien Mweze, secretary general of the Center of Political and Strategic Studies, based in Bukavu.

SOUTH AFRICA’S LAND ACT ADDRESSES RACIAL DISPARITIES

The South African government remains resolute after the Trump administration threatened to cut funding over a new land reform act to address racial disparities in land ownership. Despite three decades since apartheid, most farmland is still owned by white people. The government faces pressure to implement reforms, though critics argue they should proceed cautiously.

For more perspective on the Land Land Reform Act, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with Ricky Mukonza, a political analyst and professor at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa.  

SOUTH AFRICA NEW LAND ACT

U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would “cut off all aid to South Africa until further notice” due to the country’s land reform policy. This decision follows an executive order to reduce U.S. financial assistance linked to South Africa’s land policy and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In response, South Africa’s foreign ministry criticized the order for its inaccuracies and its failure to recognize the nation’s colonial and apartheid history. VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with political commentator Dr. Maropeng Mpya in Johannesburg about the impact on U.S.-South Africa relations.

UNDERSTANDING AI AND BIG DATA

Government leaders and technology company heads gathered at the AI Action Summit in Paris, France, to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and explore the use of Big Data. Leaders called for rules and international governance so people could trust the new technology.

Heads of state and technology executives convened in Paris to discuss safely embracing artificial intelligence amid mounting resistance to heavy-handed red tape that businesses say stifles innovation. But for AI technology to develop, we need big Data. To help us understand how AI and Big Data work, we turn to Isaac Mwinongo, a data analyst based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Tanzanian lawmaker reacts USAID closure

Many humanitarian workers worldwide have faced layoffs due to President Trump’s closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary source of humanitarian assistance. Tanzania, a rapidly growing economy in Africa with an annual GDP growth rate of nearly 7 percent, is one of the countries significantly affected by this change.
USAID initiatives in Tanzania focused on empowering women and youth and tackling health issues like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning, and nutrition. Reducing these programs could severely impact the nation’s development goals.
For more insight, I’m joined by Hon. Eric James Shigongo, a Member of Parliament from the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

UNDERSTANDING CRYPTO CURRENCIES

On January 20th, after U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, his cryptocurrency, $TRUMP, surged 73% to a market value of about $9.2 billion. Melania Trump also launched her meme coin. However, cryptocurrency prices fell earlier this week, with Bitcoin reaching a three-week low.
Concerns over a global trade war drove the decline. President Trump initially imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and 10% on Chinese goods but later reversed his decision. To learn more about cryptocurrencies, I’m joined live by Mussie Haile, CEO and founder of Moya Technologies Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia.

CRISIS IN GOMA – EASTERN DRC

The fall of Goma has rattled the continent, prompting international condemnation and fears of a humanitarian crisis. Observers say Goma is cautiously starting to come back to life after several days of fighting between Congolese forces and M23 fighters allegedly backed by Rwandan troops. Over the weekend, the Congolese Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said at least 700 people were killed and 2,800 wounded in the fight for control of Goma.
To provide more perspective on the war, ZihindulaMulegwa, attorney and former spokesman for then-President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, spoke to VOA’s Paul Ndiho. He says the rebels have vowed to march on the capital, Kinshasa, after capturing eastern DRC’s most significant city, Goma.

AFRICAN LEADER S CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN DRC

A summit of eastern and southern African leaders took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, over the weekend to address the conflict in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels threaten the government. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose government is accused of supporting the insurgents, attended the summit, while Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi joined virtually. The meeting included members of the East African and Southern African Development Community (SADC). For more perspective, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with political analyst Ricky Mukonza for insights.

STAINLESS STEEL STOVES MADE IN ZAMBIA

Arnold Nyendwa, a Zambian inventor, has achieved unprecedented success in his field. His relentless innovative spirit has culminated in creating the stainless-steel stove and a range of other household products that redefine efficiency.

He is about to break ground and build a multimillion-dollar facility to manufacture these stoves in Zambia, creating hundreds of jobs and making the stoves a versatile solution for households. Our technology correspondent
Driven by the challenges faced by his community, Anorld Nyendwa took the initiative to design Zambia’s first stainless-steel stove that can use gas and electricity, demonstrating his commitment to innovation that makes a real difference.

I spoke to Arnold Nyendwa, the founder and CEO of AFNON, a cutting-edge stainless-steel company based in Lusaka, Zambia.

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