Mark Zuckerberg has lost control of Facebook

Guy Verhofstadt 

BRUSSELS – When Mark Zuckerberg, the chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Facebook, appeared before the European Parliament in May, I suggested to him that he had lost control of his company. As one of the few politicians ever to have confronted Zuckerberg in person, I was happy for the opportunity. But, much to my frustration, I did not receive a direct verbal response to any of my questions.
I am not alone. Politicians around the world have grown tired of Facebook’s constant attempts to avoid accountability in the name of profits. With Facebook, the myth of “self-regulation,” long trotted out by high-paid lobbyists, has been laid to rest once and for all. It has been months since Zuckerberg appeared before the US Congress and the European Parliament, and the most urgent questions about Facebook’s business practices remain unanswered.
With respect to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, it is still unclear what Facebook knew, and when it knew it. Equally unclear is the extent to which foreign interference through Facebook contributed to the election of US President Donald Trump, and to the outcome of the United Kingdom’s Brexit referendum.

The feminisation of African politics

Fatima Al Ansar & Shona Bezanson 

BAMAKO/TORONTO – Last month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed a new cabinet; ten of the 20 positions went to women. One week later, the country’s parliament unanimously elected Sahle-Work Zewde to become Ethiopia’s first female president, and a week after that, lawmakers appointed Meaza Ashenafi to serve as the first female Supreme Court president.
Ethiopia is not alone. Rwandan President Paul Kagame installed a new gender-balanced cabinet last month. Rwanda already had the world’s highest percentage of women in a national parliament; now, the country will have even more female leaders.
While Ethiopia and Rwanda are at the forefront of Africa’s push for gender parity in politics, other African countries are not far behind. Six of the world’s 20 top countries in terms of the share of legislative seats held by women are in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in two African countries toward the bottom of the global list – Nigeria and Mali – politicians are currently discussing ways to increase female representation.
This shift is as inspiring as it is historic. By appointing so many

MPs in fresh bid to have interest rates on bank loans lowered

Eugène Kwibuka

 

National Bank of Rwanda Governor John Rwangombwa (2nd right) presents BNR’s annual activity report at Parliament on Thursday. Emmanuel Kwizera

High interest rates for bank loans and the recently increased insurance premiums on cars were among top concerns that MPs shared with the Central Bank Governor John Rwangombwa on Thursday as he presented the bank’s 2017-2018 report to Parliament.

BK debuts on Nairobi Securities Exchange

Julius Bizimungu

 

Bank of Kigali headquarters in Kigali. File photo

Bank of Kigali Group Plc, yesterday, cross-listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), a move expected in increase the group’s liquidity and enable it to raise adequate capital.

Made-in-Rwanda Expo: Exhibitors up by 80%

Eddie Nsabimana

 

The Minister for Trade and Industry Soraya Hakuziyaremye (2nd right) and other officials open Made-in-Rwanda Expo 2018 at Gikondo Expo Grounds yesterday. The exhibition is scheduled to run through December 4. Emmanuel Kwizera.

The number of exhibitors at the annual Made-in-Rwanda Expo has increased by 86 per cent in the past four years with about 460 exhibitors showcasing locally made products this year.

EAC summit postponed after Burundi no-show

James Karuhanga

A Summit of the EAC Heads of State initially scheduled this Friday in Arusha, Tanzania, has been postponed due to Burundi leadership’s absence.
Earlier this week, the East African Community Secretariat had announced that the 20th ordinary

Kagame seeks AU inclusion in G20

Collins Mwai

G20 and other invited world leaders, including President Paul Kagame (3rd right, back row), in a group photo on Day I of the 13th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina yesterday. Village Urugwiro.

President Paul Kagame has sought the inclusion of the African Union Commission in the G20 to boost collaboration and partnership between the two entities.
Kagame was speaking at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union.
G20 is a multinational forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries of the world’s largest economies and the European Union Commission.
Speaking at a working lunch session dubbed “Putting People First” discussing technology, youth jobs and women’s empowerment, Kagame said Africa ought to have greater participation in global value chains to ensure citizens receive their rightful share of the benefits.
He said that the continent is also keen on working closely with G20 to reinforce the pillars of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, alongside the Sustainable Development Goals.

Flags of the G20 members. President Kagame has called for a permanent role of the AU in the Group. Net photo.
To foster cooperation and partnership, he suggested including the African Union Commission in the organisation which would strengthen coordination.
“Africa therefore looks forward to working more closely with partners in the G20 to reinforce the pillars of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, alongside the Sustainable Development Goals.