Major International Business Headlines Brief::: 30 August 2024

[Bulls n Bears]

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Major International Business Headlines Brief:::  30 August 2024 

 


 


 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


 

ü  Senegal Seeks to Reign in Polluting Illegal Gold Mining Along Mali Border

ü  South Africa: Blackout in Eastern Free State After Substation Vandalised

ü  Nigeria: Govt Okays 50% Electricity Subsidy for Hospitals

ü  Kenya: Treasury Eyes Expert for Debt Management Role

ü  CMOC - 670% Surge in Net Profit for H1 2024 Driven by Record Growth and
Ambitious Strategic Projects

ü  Liberia: Boakai Invites Global Investors to Leverage Liberia's Untapped
Resources

ü  Liberia: Recast Budget Scrutiny 'Paused' Over Lack of Supporting
Documents, Alteration

ü  Nigerian Govt Invokes No-Work-No-Pay Rule Against Striking Resident
Doctors

ü  Africa: China's Lending to Africa Increased in 2023, Study Shows

ü  Botswana: Starlink's Botswana Entry Hailed As 'Game-Changer' Amid Concern
Over Costs

ü  X braced for Brazil ban as judge's deadline passes

ü  Will sustainable aviation fuels take off?

ü  Full-time workers could get right to four-day week

ü  Trump says insurance or government should pay for IVF

ü   

 


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Senegal Seeks to Reign in Polluting Illegal Gold Mining Along Mali Border

Senegal has suspended mining activities along the Falémé river, which forms
part of its southeastern border with Mali, in a bid to preserve the
environment and protect public health. However, enforcing the ban won't be
easy.

 

Artisanal gold mining is booming in Kédougou, a region in southeast Senegal
where the Falémé river flows.

 

Over the past 20 years, miners from 19 African countries have flocked there
in search of fortune.

 

Unfortunately, the mercury, lead and cyanide used in the gold extraction
process have polluted the river, upon which thousands rely for farming and
livestock.

 

 

Scientific studies have detected toxic substances in wells, water tables,
agricultural products and even in the bodies of livestock and humans.

 

"This worrying situation calls for strong measures on the part of the
national authorities to find a fair solution to the incessant complaints
from people living along the river" said Senegal's Ministry of Mines in a
report last week.

 

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko issued a decree suspending all
mining activities on Senegalese territory up to 500 metres from the river's
left bank until 30 June 2027. The issuance of new mining permits has also
been suspended.

 

A matter of national security

 

The Falémé river flows from the highlands of Guinea, along a significant
portion of Senegal's border with Mali, and into the Senegal river.

 

 

It was once home to diverse species of fish and mammals but is now in urgent
need of restoration said a 2024 report in the Journal of Water Resource and
Protection.

 

A study by the Senegalese NGO Wassaton found that the number of illegal
mining sites along both the Senegalese and Malian sides of the Falémé had
risen from 600 to 800 in 2021.

 

Wassaton's president, Adama Ndiaye, said that Chinese companies and
traditional gold panners have set up these sites on both banks of the river.

 

"They're in pick ups and L200 vehicles, using excavators and they don't live
in the area," he told the Senegalese Press Agency.

 

PM Sonko said suspending all gold-panning activities to combat pollution was
a "matter of national security". But he acknowledged it was a difficult
issue "because the solution does not depend on Senegal alone".

 

 

"We share the river with our neighbour [Mali]," Sonko said. "And that's why,
during our recent trip to Mali, we raised the issue with the authorities.
There is gold panning on the other side too, using the same products,
notably mercury."

 

In 2014, Senegal designated a zone where artisanal gold mining was
authorised in an effort to regulate the activity. The army has dismantled at
least three illegal gold-panning sites since April this year.

 

The government says it's relying on the armed forces to enforce the
temporary ban.

 

However, Senegalese authorities are unsure who the illegal gold panners are
or where they are operating said Oudy Diallo, head of the non-profit
Kédougou Alerte Environnement.

 

This makes it difficult to conduct a proper census "because we have no
control over the comings and goings of gold miners from the sub-region" he
told RFI.

 

Gold mining in Ivory Coast: Locals fear water contamination in eastern
regions

 

'Protectors of the Falémé'

 

Environmental activist Diallo says the suspension has been welcomed by
people living along the Falémé, who are ready to assist the authorities in
enforcing the decree.

 

"We need the population, the village chiefs, to get involved," he said. "We
are all protectors of the Falémé."

 

He acknowledged that locals cannot arrest the gold panners themselves but
suggested they could contact local authorities to ensure security forces
intervene and remind miners they no longer have the right to mine gold.

 

Diallo is also calling for an independent audit of mining permits, which he
claims were granted "without ever being subject to an environmental impact
study."

 

Most of the gold extracted is sold in Mali, where prices are higher - one
gram of gold in Senegal can fetch 31,000 CFA (51 USD) while in Mali it can
exceed 40,000 CFA (67 USD).

 

The effectiveness of the ban will also depend on whether Malian authorities
can implement similar measures on their side of the river - a difficult task
given Mali's military-led government since the 2020 coup and ongoing
struggles with jihadist violence.

 

RFI website.

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Blackout in Eastern Free State After Substation Vandalised

Thousands of litres of oil stolen, says municipality

 

Villages and an industrial zone have been without power for more than a week
outside Harrismith in the Free State, after thousands of litres of oil were
apparently stolen from a substation.

 

The Greenland substation was vandalised and about 15,000 litres of oil were
drained, according to Thabo Kessah, communications manager for the
Maluti-a-Phofung municipality.

 

Kessah said replacement parts were on the way from the Eastern Cape and oil
had been procured from Durban, but he could not say when the substation
would be operational again.

 

 

Tshiame is in the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone, an area set up to
attract investors by offering favourable business conditions and
preferential tax rates.

 

Tshiame resident Mohlophehi Moloi said there were frequent electricity
blackouts. "We are experiencing this every year and we know we might stay in
the dark for a month or two or even more. It doesn't make sense that someone
will just walk into the substation and drain oil while the security guards
are there. Someone is benefiting from this and I tell you what, not even
once has a case been opened when this happened," he said.

 

When GroundUp visited, security guards were on duty.

 

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said no case had been
registered on the vandalism and theft.

 

"That is the problem that we are faced with. The municipality doesn't open
cases on infrastructure crime and as a result we don't have a way to help
them," he said.

 

 

Almarie Jonker, the owner of Ebenhaezer Knitting Factory, said she had to
spend thousands of rands on diesel for a generator and was far behind on
production.

 

The factory makes school uniforms. Jonker says they are 35,000 school
jerseys behind on an order.

 

"Believe you me, the past weeks have been a nightmare. I had to use a
generator and it broke down because it was working non-stop."

 

Jonker says the factory operates round the clock and employs 280 people. She
says she had to put them off work for two days.

 

"You can imagine how those families were affected by that break but I had
nothing to do because we did not have power or a generator. We are still in
the dark as to what will happen next because we haven't heard anything from
the municipality. We are hoping for the best, but it is clear that another
week will pass by," she said.

 

  GroundUp.

 

 

 

Nigeria: Govt Okays 50% Electricity Subsidy for Hospitals

The Federal Government has approved a 50 per cent subsidy for the
electricity consumed in public hospitals across the nation.

 

This followed a promise by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that the
federal government would subsidise electricity in hospitals and
universities, even if they were on Band-A feeders.

 

The approval came as Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Eko DisCo,
yesterday disconnected power supply to the University of Lagos, Akoka, over
unpaid electricity bills, despite government's promise to aid public
universities in this regard.

 

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa,
announced the approval at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa,
Kadunas State, yesterday.

 

 

He was at the hospital to unveil the electronic health records and an
alternative power supply source at Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex and
the solarisation project at the dialysis unit, which includes a
solar-powered borehole.

 

According to him, this gesture aims to reduce the running costs for public
hospitals and alleviate the impact on patients.

 

Recall that the Power Minister, Adelabu, had said government would not
subsidise private businesses operating in the universities and hospitals.

 

The minister disclosed that the government was aware that universities and
hospitals were having challenges paying high bills.

 

However, he said the federal government was planning to meter all businesses
running in each of the institutions to prevent paying subsidies to private
businesses.

 

 

"We know they are development institutions, they are social institutions.
But inside the health and educational institutions, private businesses are
hiding under them. These people charge their customers commercially and they
expect to be subsidised because they are located within the territories of
these institutions.

 

"We said no, go and do a proper search and meter everybody. For the ones
that are properly health and education-related, we are ready to subsidise
them, even if they are on Band A.

 

"We are compiling our data, DisCos will collect a certain amount and the
government will pay the balance. But we must get the data right, so we are
not subsidising a private business that is charging its customers
commercially. That will be an abnormal profit and it is unfair," he stated.

 

After the federal government removed subsidies from customers categorised as
Band A and upgraded their daily electricity supply to a minimum of 20 hours
daily, universities and public hospitals cried out that their bills had
skyrocketed.

 

 

The Ministry of Power has yet to give details of the subsidy arrangement for
the institutions, according to spokesman of the minister, Bolaji Tunji.

 

N300m debt: Eko DisCo disconnects UNILAG

 

Meanwhile, despite government's promise to subsidise electricity tariffs of
public universities Eko Electricity Distribution Company has disconnected
the power supply to the University of Lagos, Akoka, over unpaid electricity
bills.

 

The university which disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, has been
grappling with the burden of rising electricity costs.

 

This challenge was further made worse when EKEDC upgraded the university's
tariff category from "Band B" to "Band A," resulting in a hike in monthly
electricity bills.

 

Before the upgrade, UNILAG was said it be paying between N150 million and
N180 million monthly.

 

However, the June bill under the new "Band A" tariff nearly doubled,
reaching almost N300 million, a 100% increase that the university is
struggling to manage. The institution's management expressed regret over the
blackout that has hit the campus since Tuesday.

 

The management explained that despite ongoing negotiations with EKEDC and a
recent payment of N180 million on August 20, the university was abruptly
disconnected from the power supply on August 27, without any prior notice.

 

"Just two weeks after our meeting, we were hit with a staggering bill of
nearly half a billion naira (N472 million) for July, further increasing our
debt burden!

 

"We kept our promise and paid N180 million on August 20, yet on August 27,
EKEDC disconnected us without notice and has refused to reconnect the
university to the national grid," " the statement read

 

The management assured the university community that efforts were being made
to resolve the issue with EKEDC.

 

It called for calm and announced that power supply across the campus would
be rationed until further notice.

 

Vanguard.

 

 

 

Kenya: Treasury Eyes Expert for Debt Management Role

Nairobi — Treasury is on the lookout for a new head to lead its Resource
Mobilization Department, a key division tasked with managing the country's
debt and coordinating financial relations with both domestic and
international partners.

 

The Public Service Commission (PSC), which is mandated to carry out all
hirings within the public sector, asserted that all interested candidates
should share their credentials before September 10.

 

The resource mobilization lead will be in charge of sectors including array
government's financial operations, including domestic and foreign borrowing,
raising grants, and preparing and implementing the national government
borrowing plan.

 

 

A look into Treasury outlines key roles of the office, including working
closely with the fiscal agent to prepare the annual domestic debt issuance
calendar.

 

As the principal issuer of government debt securities, the department is
also responsible for implementing the government securities auction
calendar.

 

This process involves close coordination with creditors and market
participants to ensure the successful issuance of government securities.

 

Likewise, the department is in charge of managing investor relations,
conducting roadshows, and engaging with stakeholders to maintain confidence
in the government's financial strategies.

 

This includes processing government guarantees and coordinating missions and
technical assistance from cooperating development partners.

 

The new head of the Resource Mobilization Department will be expected to
lead these efforts, ensuring that the department's functions are carried out
efficiently and in accordance with relevant laws.

 

 

This role is crucial as the government continues to navigate the complex
landscape of domestic and international finance, particularly in the face of
economic challenges and increasing demand for public services.

 

His appointment comes on the back of the appointment of Raphael Owino as the
Director General of Public Debt Management at Treasury, to whom the Resource
Mobilization Lead will be answerable.

 

"His expertise in public debt management, particularly in achieving and
maintaining sustainable public debt, reducing long-term debt servicing
costs, and managing the risk of contingent liabilities, will be a
significant asset," read the statement by Treasury earlier.

 

In January this year, the Treasury began searching for a new Public Debt
Management Director General (DG) to replace Haron Sirima following his exit
at the height of a high debt burden, which is eating up funds meant for
development.

 

CBK and Treasury data showed that the country's debt burden was $69.3
billion as of the end of June last year, up from $58.4 billion during a
similar period in 2022.

 

Capital FM.

 

 

 

 

CMOC - 670% Surge in Net Profit for H1 2024 Driven by Record Growth and
Ambitious Strategic Projects

CMOC, a global leader in the exploration, mining, and marketing of rare
metals, today announced exceptional half-yearly results, with a net profit
attributable to the parent company of $762 million USD, marking an
astounding increase of 670.43% compared to the previous year. This record
performance is driven by sustained production growth, rigorous cost
management, and significant advancements in its strategic projects in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

 

Unprecedented Financial Performance

 

CMOC’s revenue reached $14.47 billion USD, an increase of 18.56% compared to
the same period last year. This growth was primarily fueled by rising metal
prices in global markets, particularly copper and cobalt, coupled with the
optimization of the company’s operations. EBITDA also experienced
significant growth, increasing by 197.83% to $2.25 billion USD.

 

Record Production: DRC assets drive results.

 

CMOC significantly outperformed its production targets in the first half of
2024:

 

Copper: 313.8 kt, up 100.74% YoY.

Cobalt: 54,000 tonnes, up 178.22% YoY.

Niobium: 5,082 tonnes, up 8.23% YoY.

Phosphate fertilizer: 583.3 kt, up 6.47% YoY.

The achievements in copper and cobalt production are the result of optimized
production capacities at the TFM and KFM facilities in the DRC, which have
been expanded to support a stable and increased output of these essential
metals.

 

Strategic Projects: a sustainable growth engine

 

CMOC’s investments in strategic projects have played a crucial role in this
growth. The TFM East facility has reached full production capacity, with an
annual capacity of 450,000 tonnes of copper and 37,000 tonnes of cobalt. KFM
has maintained stable production with an annual capacity exceeding 150,000
tonnes of copper and 50,000 tonnes of cobalt. Additionally, the signing of
the Nzilo II Hydropower Project agreement ensures a stable and sustainable
energy supply to support ongoing production capacity expansion.

 

CMOC has announced that its results for the first half of 2024 are the
outcome of a collective effort and an ambitious corporate strategy. By
generating value for stakeholders, creating jobs, and contributing to the
economic development of local communities, the company reaffirms its
long-term commitment to making a positive and lasting impact. CMOC is
dedicated to continuing to intensify its efforts to meet the expectations of
its customers, partners, and civil society.

 

Alongside its financial growth, CMOC remains firmly committed to sustainable
development. The company’s TFM site was the first in Africa to receive "The
Copper Mark" certification, demonstrating CMOC’s dedication to responsible
mining practices. CMOC continues to enhance its sustainability initiatives,
maintaining an AA rating in MSCI’s ESG assessments, positioning itself among
the top 19% performers in the global non-ferrous metals sector.

 

About CMOC

 

CMOC Group Limited was founded in 1969 and is a privately managed company
listed on the Hong Kong in 2007 and the Shanghai stock exchanges in 2012.
CMOC is an international company specializing in the exploration, mining,
processing, refining, marketing, and trading of rare metals. The company's
main assets and operations are located in Asia, Africa, South America, and
Europe.

 

The company is one of the world's largest producers of tungsten, molybdenum,
and niobium, the largest cobalt producer, and a global leading copper
producer. It is also the second-largest producer of phosphate fertilizers in
Brazil. In terms of business activities, the company ranks among the top
three base metals traders in the world. In line with its dedication to
positive environmental and social impact, the company invests heavily in ESG
(Environmental, Social, Governance) initiatives, resulting in the creation
of over 32,000 jobs.

 

 

 

 

Liberia: Boakai Invites Global Investors to Leverage Liberia's Untapped
Resources

At a recent 124th National Black Business Conference in Atlanta, Georgia,
USA, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai made a powerful appeal to global Black
business leaders, urging them to explore and invest in the vast
opportunities available in Liberia.

 

Boakai, addressing a distinguished audience of entrepreneurs, visionaries,
and leaders, highlighted the shared history between Liberia and the African
Diaspora and outlined the economic potential that Liberia offers in various
sectors.

 

"As President of Liberia, Africa's first independent republic, I am proud to
be amidst this distinguished pan-African assembly of visionaries,
entrepreneurs, and leaders," President Boakai began, setting the tone for a
speech that would emphasize both the historical ties between Liberia and the
African American community and the future opportunities that lie ahead. "I
am deeply moved by the spirit of common purpose and progress that has
brought you to Atlanta--a city renowned for its rich Black heritage and a
great example of Black excellence. As they say here: 'Atlanta--where you
belong."'

 

 

Boakai, in his eloquent and compelling keynote address, recounted Liberia's
unique history, emphasizing its origins as a haven for freed African
Americans.

 

"Liberia's story is a testament to the unwavering determination of the
people of the African Diaspora. Founded in 1822 by the American Colonization
Society, Liberia was envisioned as a haven for freed African Americans
seeking a new beginning in their ancestral homeland," the Liberian leader
stated.

 

 

He noted that Liberia's founding was deeply rooted in the "hope and
determination that African Americans and others in the Diaspora carried with
them--a vision of freedom, opportunity, and a better future."

 

He further paid homage to Booker T. Washington, the esteemed founder of the
National Black Business Conference, highlighting Washington's significant
impact on Liberia. "Booker T. Washington's advocacy for vocational training
and his belief in the power of hard work and enterprise led to the
establishment of the famous Booker T. Washington Institute in Liberia in
1929," Boakai remarked.

 

Boakai underscored how Washington's vision of education, economic
empowerment, and self-reliance resonated deeply across the Atlantic,
influencing generations of Liberians to pursue education and business
endeavors.

 

Transitioning to Liberia's present-day economic landscape, President Boakai
extended a warm invitation to the global Black business community to invest
in Liberia, emphasizing the government's commitment to fostering a
business-friendly environment.

 

 

"Liberia is open for business and committed to fostering a business-friendly
environment to encourage investment across various sectors," Boakai
declared.

 

He introduced the government's ARREST Agenda, which focuses on key areas
such as agriculture, roads and infrastructure, the rule of law, education,
health and sanitation, and tourism.

 

"While these are not exhaustive of the range of critical interventions to
spur economic growth, we believe they drive such growth and development," he
added.

 

Boakai went on to highlight specific sectors with significant investment
potential, starting with agriculture. "Liberia's fertile land and favorable
climate offer vast opportunities for agricultural investments, particularly
in rice production," he noted, pointing out the country's reliance on rice
imports and the critical need for local production.

 

He also mentioned the potential in cultivating cash crops like rubber,
cocoa, coffee, and oil palm, and emphasized the untapped opportunities in
livestock and fishing.

 

Discussing Liberia's rich natural resources, Boakai stated, "Liberia is the
most forested country in West Africa, with approximately 69% of its land
area--about 6.7 million hectares--covered by forests. These forests
constitute at least 42% of the remaining forest cover in West Africa,
positioning Liberia as a regional hub for biodiversity and environmental
sustainability."

 

He highlighted the investment opportunities in the carbon market and
ecotourism, as well as in the mining sector, which boasts deposits of gold,
diamonds, and iron ore. "There is a growing emphasis on value addition to
the exploitation of minerals such as steel production and gold processing to
maximize the economic benefits," Boakai added.

 

Infrastructure development, particularly in roads and energy, was another
key focus of Boakai's address. "Liberia has over 11,000 kilometers of
unpaved roads, which presents both challenges and opportunities for
investment," he explained, emphasizing the government's efforts to finance
road infrastructure through EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction)
contracts combined with long-term financing mechanisms.

 

On energy, Boakai highlighted the urgent need for investment in sustainable
energy solutions. "Liberia's current energy demand far exceeds its capacity,
with only about 20% of the population having access to electricity," he
stated, pointing out the significant gap between supply and demand. "We are
exploring investments in solar, hydro, and biomass energy projects to meet
our growing energy needs," he added.

 

Boakai also identified opportunities in Liberia's real estate and
hospitality industries. "There are significant opportunities for investment
in Liberia's real estate market, particularly in residential and commercial
properties," he said, noting the growing demand for housing and business
spaces driven by urbanization and population growth.

 

 

He also pointed to the potential in Liberia's hospitality industry,
highlighting the country's natural beauty and cultural heritage as
attractive factors for eco-tourism and resort investments.

 

In the realm of technology, Boakai emphasized the importance of digital
infrastructure in supporting business growth and innovation. "As Liberia
continues to modernize its economy, there is significant potential for
investments in technology and digital infrastructure," he remarked, citing
the government's e-governance projects and the substantial room for growth
in the digital sector, given the current internet penetration rate of around
18%.

 

Recognizing the crucial role of education and training in supporting
economic development, Boakai reiterated the government's commitment to
strengthening partnerships with universities and vocational institutions.

 

"Liberia's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy
aims to address the gap by providing relevant skills training through
technical schools such as the Booker T. Washington Institute," he stated,
stressing the need to reduce the reliance on imported skilled labor by
enhancing local training programs.

 

In his closing remarks, the Liberian leader issued a heartfelt call to
action, urging the global Black business community to take bold steps in
investing in Liberia and Africa. "The journey of Liberia and African
Americans is a story of a common aspiration--one directed by the
determination to be free and take charge of one's destiny," he declared. "I
challenge you to take advantage of the huge potential Liberia and Africa
offer by taking the bold step to invest in the motherland. By doing so, you
invest in your heritage and your future."

 

As the conference concluded, President Boakai extended an invitation to the
first Liberian Diaspora Conference to be held in 2025, aimed at exploring
how the Diaspora community can contribute to the development of Liberia.
"Together, we pave the way for a future where our shared dreams of
prosperity and equality will continue to flourish," Boakai concluded,
leaving the audience with a powerful message of unity, progress, and shared
destiny.-Liberian Observer.

 

 

 

 

Liberia: Recast Budget Scrutiny 'Paused' Over Lack of Supporting Documents,
Alteration

The Draft Recast Budget received its first setback on Thursday because of
the lack of supporting documents 'of the first six months of the approved
2024 Budget' from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and a
report of allegation of budget tampering from its Specialized Committee.

 

The Speaker and Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J.
Fonati Koffa, seized the motion for the "Draft Abridged Recast F/Y 2024
National Budget" to be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Ways, Means,
Finance and Development Planning and the Public Account and Expenditure to
begin robust scrutiny.

 

 

The Speaker's action inevitably paused and restrained the House's Joint
Committee on Budget to begin scrutinizing the draft recast budget, which is
to the tune of US$721.5 million.

 

Speaker Koffa told his colleagues during the 1st day of the Extraordinary
Session that the request of the supporting documents of the budget expenses
aims to enhance the budget process.

 

The Speaker emphasized that the various supporting documents, including
outturns, off-budget expenditures, revenue forecasts and other pertinent
reports are necessarily needed.

 

He also said Plenary also wants the report of allegations of budget
tampering from the investigative committee headed by Rep. Robert Wogbe.

 

Speaker said: "There are condition precedents in the presentation, if you
listened to, when we received it, we have to ensure from our perspective
that those condition precedents are met before the draft recast budget goes
to committee.

 

 

"With that said," he added, "we will refer the matter to leadership to
ensure that condition precedents are met, and the report on the budget
alteration be done... All of the performance reports, the report on all
budget expenses are done and then we will report to you on Tuesday as to
whether the condition precedents are met."

 

Meanwhile, the Speaker has clarified that the 55th Legislature has recalled
itself for three weeks, from August 29 to September 19 amid reports that
President Joseph N. Boakai has recalled the Legislature.

 

Speaker Koffa said members of the 55th Legislature, having acknowledged that
there are several legislations of time-sensitive and integrity nature,
coupled with the submission of the draft Recast Budget, which demand the
urgent attention of the Legislature, recalled themselves by affixing their
signatures, pursuant of Article 32 (b) of the Constitution of the Republic
of Liberia, to reconvene.

 

Article 32 (b) of the Constitution states: "The President shall, on his own
initiative or upon receipt of a certificate signed by at least one fourth of
the total membership of each house, and proclamation, extend a regular
session of the Legislature beyond the date for adjournment or called a
special extraordinary session of that body to discuss or act upon matters of
national emergencies and concerns. When the extension or call is at the
request of the Legislature, the proclamation shall be issued not later than
forty-eight hours after receipt of the certificate by the President."

 

Over the weekend, the Senate finally concurred with the House of
Representatives with the signatures of more than eleven (11) Senators, which
is equivalent of more than one-fourth (1/4) of the Senate's membership to
meet the constitutional requirement for a recall.

 

Thursday's recall will be the second extraordinary session, which is in
consonance with Article 32(b) of the Liberian Constitution, for members of
the Legislature to sign a certificate to reconvene.

 

The certificate mandates both Houses of the Legislature to reconvene
beginning Thursday, August 29 and end on Thursday, September 19, 2024. The
mandate is intended for members of the body to cut short their constituency
break, which commenced on July 20, 2024 and should have ended on October 11,
2024.

 

It may be recalled, the first extraordinary session initiated by President
Joseph N. Boakai for 30 days was from April 1 - 30, 2024, to discuss and act
on "time-bound, critical national issues. Liberian Observer.

 

 

 

Nigerian Govt Invokes No-Work-No-Pay Rule Against Striking Resident Doctors

The government expressed disappointment at the resident doctors' strike.

 

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare threatened on Thursday to
invoke the no-work-no-pay rule against members of the Nigerian Association
of Resident Doctors (NARD) who are on strike over the abduction of one of
their colleagues in Kaduna since December 2023.

 

The ministry issued this threat in a statement by the ministry's Assistant
Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.

 

The statement expressed disappointment in the resident doctors for embarking
on the seven-day warning strike despite ongoing negotiations and efforts to
address their concerns.

 

The ministry emphasised its commitment to ensuring the safety and improving
the welfare and working conditions of all healthcare workers, including
resident doctors.

 

It highlighted significant strides made in recent negotiations and the
government's demonstration of good faith in addressing many of NARD's
concerns.

 

 

'No Work, No Pay'

 

The statement revealed that the ministry finds the decision to proceed with
the strike action "deeply regrettable" and will invoke the "No Work, No Pay"
rule.

 

"In view of this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes
to bring to the notice of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors
(NARD), that in line with extant labour laws, the Federal Government will
evoke (invoke) the 'No Work, No Pay' for the number of days the strike was
observed," the statement read in part.

 

The ministry encouraged all resident doctors to return to the negotiation
table to collaboratively find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the
healthcare sector.

 

It stated that the ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and is
committed to working with all stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable
resolution.

 

 

NARD 7-Day warning strike

 

NARD began a seven-day warning strike to demand the release of their
abducted colleague, Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive for eight
months.

 

NARD President Dele Abdullahi had said the strike would be "total", adding
that members of the association would not provide concessions or emergency
care during this period.

 

The association criticised the government for its perceived "inaction" over
the abduction.

 

Mrs Popoola, a registrar at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was kidnapped
in December 2023 alongside her husband and nephew.

 

While her husband was released after a ransom was paid, Mrs Popoola and her
nephew remain in captivity.

 

-Premium Times.

 

 

 

 

Africa: China's Lending to Africa Increased in 2023, Study Shows

Johannesburg — Chinese lending to Africa rose for the first time in years in
2023, new research by Boston University's Global Development Policy Center
showed Thursday. But the $4.61 billion loaned last year is still far less
than China's commitments to the continent pre-pandemic.

 

In the heady early days of Chinese President Xi Jinping's global
infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, China's loans
to Africa surpassed $10 billion each year.

 

That lending dropped sharply at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and
stayed low as China experienced its own economic slowdown. The decrease in
loans also came as some African borrowers entered drawn-out debt overhauls.

 

Lucas Engel, a data analyst who co-authored the Boston University study,
explained why he thinks lending was up somewhat in 2023 despite China's
troubles.

 

"Investment should be viewed in the context of China's overall economic heft
and the importance China attaches to its relationship with Africa," Engel
said, "especially strategically important long-term borrowers that China has
developed close relationships with."

 

 

The Boston University paper found a couple of trends when analyzing China's
loans to eight African countries and two regional financial institutions
last year. The researchers said one thing that was unique was that more than
half the money was loaned to African multilateral banks.

 

They said this was likely a form of risk mitigation, and Cobus van Staden,
managing editor at the China Global South Project, a thinktank based in
Pretoria, agreed.

 

"If you're lending to African multilateral institutions, that means you are
in a mix of lenders and there are de-risking mechanisms in place, partly
because the risk is also separated across many actors," van Staden said. "If
you're lending bilaterally, particularly to a government, then you ... the
risk impact is higher."

 

 

Despite this growing risk aversion, the researchers noted China was still
lending to three major longtime borrowers: Angola, Nigeria and Egypt.

 

Critics have accused China of ensnaring African countries in "debt traps,"
by which large sums owed to Chinese companies make African governments
beholden to Beijing economically and politically. However, economists have
widely debunked the "debt trap" theory.

 

Another thing the Boston University research found was that China was once
again committed to energy lending after a two-year hiatus. China committed
loans to three renewable energy projects in Africa in 2023, in solar and
hydropower.

 

This is in line with China moving away from the large infrastructure
projects of the past to so-called "small is beautiful" projects and a "green
BRI."

 

Lauren Johnston, associate professor of China studies at the University of
Sydney, said it was not surprising that despite the 2023 uptick, China's
loans to Africa hadn't rebounded to anywhere near previous levels. She noted
that initially China was financing large projects like the building of dams,
roads and railways. Now, that's done.

 

"Maybe this is like a period of consolidating those investments rather than
just carrying on and building the next big investment," Johnston said. "It's
a period to consolidate and grasp the economic value and imbed the returns
and successes, and learn from any issues with those earlier loans."

 

Next week, Xi will address African leaders gathered in Beijing for the Forum
on China-Africa Cooperation.

 

Van Staden said some new loan announcements may be made, but he added a
caveat.

 

"I don't necessarily expect a single big number," he said. "I think the
announcements will probably be more diffuse."

 

Boston University's Engel said it was difficult to estimate the volume of
financing that would be announced at the summit, but he expected pledges in
diverse areas of cooperation.

 

The Chinese embassies in Pretoria and Washington, D.C., did not immediately
respond to VOA's request for comment.-VOA.

 

 

 

Botswana: Starlink's Botswana Entry Hailed As 'Game-Changer' Amid Concern
Over Costs

Gaborone, Botswana — The entry of Elon Musk's Starlink into the Botswana
market this week has been hailed as a "game-changer." Analysts concur the
introduction of the satellite internet service provider will improve
internet access but there is concern over subscription costs and the service
potentially pushing local internet providers out of business.

 

Starlink this week announced it had begun operations in Botswana, three
months after the company received approval from the Botswana Communications
Regulatory Authority, known as BOCRA.

 

The Space-X operated broadband service enters a market dominated by
Botswana's major mobile network operators.

 

Tavonga Muchuchuti, president of the industry group Fintech Association
Botswana, says the introduction of Starlink will make the internet more
widely accessible.

 

"It is a very big step for our market, especially when it comes to improving
digital access across the country as well as it coming in to help us with
bridging the digital divide that we have seen over the years," he said. "By
leveraging these constellations of low earth orbit satellites, Starlink can
actually deliver high speed internet to even some of the most remote areas
across the country, where the traditional ISPs have generally struggled with
connectivity."

 

 

Ewetse Khama, the country manager for Zamlim, a foreign direct investment
consulting firm, says Starlink's launch heralds a new era in the local
internet market.

 

He says local ISPs have to change strategy to remain competitive.

 

"They have to figure out another way of battling this coming reality," he
said. "ISPs in Botswana do have the advantage at the moment on the cost
element because setting up an infrastructure like Starlinks is incredibly
cash heavy and they need to recoup the costs. So ISPs for the short term,
are not going to be struggling as much as assumed."

 

Starlink is rapidly expanding across Africa. Zimbabwe-based digital expert
Sean Ndlovu says this is a positive "shake up."

 

 

"The advent of Starlink on the continent is a big game changer," he said.
"It gives [internet] access to the underserved populations in the rural
areas and even in high density areas. It is going to bring about innovation.
The more access our people have to the internet, they can learn."

 

Ndlovu also says Starlink's satellite service will lead to better, more
reliable internet connections.

 

Concerns, however, remain over Starlink's pricing structure, with fears it
could be expensive for rural dwellers and low-income earners.

 

For domestic use, Starlink users in Botswana pay $363 for the hardware and a
monthly subscription fee of $52.

 

Muchuchuti says the impact of Starlink in Botswana will depend on the
balance between innovation and inclusiveness.

 

"This would mean that the kind of people that we will be targeting for in
these rural areas and low-income areas, that pricing might be out of reach
for them because they have got to invest in that initial purchase," he said.
"To be truly transformative, there will be a need to really have efforts to
make that technology more and more affordable."

 

Starlink faced initial licensing challenges but Botswana's regulatory body
granted permission after President Mokgweetsi Masisi met with the company's
directors in the United States in May. VOA.

 

 

 

X braced for Brazil ban as judge's deadline passes

X, formerly known as Twitter, has said it expects to be blocked in Brazil
after failing to meet a deadline to name a new legal representative for the
company.

The social media network closed its office in the country earlier this
month, saying its representative had been threatened with arrest if she did
not comply with orders it described as "censorship".

 

The months-long row began with Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes in
April ordering the suspension of dozens of X accounts for allegedly
spreading disinformation.

X owner Elon Musk has threatened to reactivate the accounts, and has
described Justice Moraes as a "tyrant" and a "dictator".

 

Justice Moraes gave X 24 hours to name a new legal representative or face
suspension, with the deadline coming just after 20:00 local time (23:00 GMT)
on Thursday.

The order said a ban would remain in effect until X names a legal
representative in the country and pays fines for alleged violations of
Brazilian law.

But in a post from one of its official accounts shortly after the deadline
expired, X made clear that it had not complied with the order.

"Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in
Brazil – simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to
censor his political opponents," the post said.

 

"The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we
break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that."

X said it would not comply "in secret with illegal orders", adding that it
would publish the judge's demands in the coming days "in the interests of
transparency".

Justice Moraes had ordered that X accounts accused of spreading
disinformation - many supporters of the former right-wing president Jair
Bolsonaro - must be blocked while they are under investigation. He said the
company's legal representatives would be held liable if any accounts were
reactivated.

Meanwhile, the bank accounts of Mr Musk's satellite internet firm Starlink
have been frozen in Brazil following an order by the country's Supreme
Court.

Starlink responded with a post on X which said the "order is based on an
unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines
levied - unconstitutionally - against X."

 

Mr Musk also said on X that "SpaceX and X are two completely different
companies with different shareholders."

Starlink is a subsidiary of Mr Musk's rocket firm SpaceX.

In 2022, the government of then-President Bolsonaro gave Starlink the green
light to operate in Brazil.

As South America's largest country, Brazil and its remote regions in the
Amazon have huge potential for Starlink, which specialises in providing
internet services to isolated areas.

 

Justice Moraes gained prominence after his decisions to restrict social
media platforms in the country.

He is also investigating Mr Bolsonaro and his supporters for their roles in
an alleged attempted coup on 8 January last year.

X is not the first social media company to come under pressure from
authorities in Brazil.

Last year, Telegram was temporarily banned over its failure to cooperate
with requests to block certain profiles.

Meta's messaging service Whatsapp also faced temporary bans in 2015 and 2016
for refusing to comply with police requests for user data.-BBC

 

 

 

Will sustainable aviation fuels take off?

In a building on the edge of a business park outside Sheffield, researcher
Ihab Ahmed is preparing to fire up a small jet engine.

Originally used as an auxiliary power unit for a commercial airliner, it has
been turned into a testbed for new fuels developed in a laboratory next
door.

The arrangement is a centrepiece of Sheffield University’s Sustainable Fuels
Innovation Centre (SAF-IC), a research facility set up to allow synthetic
fuels to be prepared and evaluated on a small scale, before being put into
large scale production.

 

On a bank of computer screens in a nearby control room, Ihab can monitor the
engine as it starts with a burst of flame and powers up.

Sensors tell him what the engine is doing in real time – and allow the
exhaust gases to be continually analysed.

 

Sustainable fuels are synthetic alternatives to fossil fuels, made from
renewable sources.

These can include waste cooking oils, vegetable fats and agricultural waste,
as well as captured carbon dioxide.

The advantage of burning fuels like these is that it does not add to the
overall load of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The carbon emitted has only recently been removed, either by plants or by
chemical processes. By contrast, burning fossil fuels releases carbon that
has been stored in the earth for millions of years.

“From an environmental perspective, it’s day and night," Mr Ahmed explains.

“In principle, the CO2 should be a net zero, so there is no more carbon
dioxide added to the atmosphere, but another benefit is the non-CO2 part of
things.

“For example, it reduces the particulates or smoke that comes out of the
engine, which can affect your lungs, as well as contributing to the creation
of contrails."

Ihab Amed sits in front of computer terminals explaining how the jet engine
test will work.

Using a test jet engine Ihab Amed analyses how sustainable aviation fuels
perform

 

For the aviation industry, this is potentially a game-changer.

According to forecasts from both Airbus and Boeing, the global airliner
fleet is expected to more than double over the next two decades, as the
middle classes in countries like India and China expand, and demand for air
travel increases.

At the same time, members of the International Air Transport Association,
which represents airlines, have committed to reaching net zero by 2050.

Some gains will be made by replacing older planes with new ones. The most
modern aircraft are between 15 and 30% more fuel efficient than their
predecessors. Yet if the industry is to continue expanding, much more will
be needed.

In the longer term, new technologies such as hydrogen power and
electrification are likely to play a role, at least on shorter routes. But
there are steep challenges to overcome.

Hydrogen, for example, is bulky and difficult to store in large quantities.
It either needs to be kept as a highly compressed gas or as a very cold
liquid. To be sustainable, it has to be made in a "clean" way, from
renewable sources – and supplies now are very limited.

“We believe we could bring a small hydrogen fuel cell aircraft to the market
between 2035 and 2045, technically,” says Arjen Meijer, chief executive of
the Brazilian jet maker Embraer.

 

“But the question that needs to be answered is: will there be sufficient
hydrogen to feed those aircraft? These things need to come together. They
can’t happen separately."

 

Batteries, meanwhile, are currently very heavy in relation to the energy
they contain. This makes them unsuitable for powering large planes, or being
used over long distances.

This means that hydrogen and hybrid, or fully electric, planes remain years
away. Sustainable aviation fuels, by contrast, can be made in the lab to
have the same characteristics as conventional ones derived from crude oil,
so they can be used in today’s aircraft.

 

Reuters A Virgin Atlantic aircraft takes off from Heathrow in November 2023,
the first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight.Reuters

Last year Virgin Atlantic powered a transatlantic flight using 100%
sustainable fuel

There are restrictions. Airlines must currently use a blend of SAF with
ordinary fuel, with the SAF component not exceeding 50%.

However, modern planes are capable of burning 100% SAF. In a specially
approved test flight last year, Virgin Atlantic flew a Boeing 787 from
London to New York using fuel exclusively produced from waste fats and plant
sugars.

 

“The technologies are already available and certified for use in aircraft,"
explains Julie Kitcher, chief sustainability officer at Airbus.

“The challenge with sustainable fuels is really about getting it produced at
scale, across the globe, because this is a global industry, at an affordable
price.”

And that is very clearly the catch. Supplies of SAF are currently minimal.
According to the European regulator EASA, they make up just 0.05% of the
fuel used in the EU. They also cost between three and five times as much as
"regular" jet fuel.

 

Governments want to change this. In the UK a "SAF mandate" has been
introduced, which stipulates that from next year, 2% of all jet fuel
supplied must be SAF, increasing to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040.

 

The EU has a similar mandate, although it extends to 2050 – when the target
for SAF use will be 63%. The US does not have minimum requirements but
offers subsidies to bring down the price of sustainable fuels.

 

But if SAF usage is to increase, production will also need to be ramped up
dramatically.

 

A petri dish of human waste next to a bottle of sustainable aviation fuel. 

British firm Firefly is making aviation fuel from human waste

There are many different methods, or pathways for making sustainable fuels.
They can be made from biomass, such as waste cooking oil, energy crops,
wood, agricultural residues and even human waste.

However, there are concerns that this will not provide all the fuel the
market will ultimately need. Some feedstocks may need to be avoided, either
to prevent environmental degradation such as deforestation, or to prevent
land needed for growing food from being turned over to energy production.

An alternative is to use a method called power to liquid, in which water and
carbon dioxide are broken down, with the resulting carbon and hydrogen
combined to create liquid fuel.

This could produce potentially limitless supplies of fuel, but in order to
be sustainable would require large quantities of renewable electricity, as
well as a substantial increase in carbon capture and storage.

Both processes – using biomass or power to liquid - are currently very
expensive. As a result, the aviation industry is demanding action to
increase production, and bring prices down through economies of scale.

However, environmentalists question whether this is actually viable.

"There are good SAFs, and there are bad SAFs, but the brutal truth is that
right now there is not much of either,” says Matt Finch, UK head of campaign
group Transport & Environment.

“Conversely, right now there are thousands of new planes on order from
airlines, and all of them will burn fossil fuels for at least 20 years.

"Actions speak louder than words, and it's clear that the aviation sector
has no plans to wean itself off its addiction to pollution."

Nonetheless, at the recent Farnborough Airshow, there were several
significant announcements relating to SAF.

A consortium including Airbus, AirFrance-KLM, Associated Energy Group, BNP
Paribas and Qantas among others announced plans to invest $200m (£151m) in a
new fund which will invest in “technologically mature SAF-producing projects
using for instance waste-based feedstocks”.

Meanwhile Boeing said it had set up a partnership with the investment
company Clear Sky to promote a method of producing SAF pioneered by the
British company Firefly.

That method involves taking human waste and using heat and high pressure to
turn it into a substance which can then be used to make SAF.

In other words, it allows planes to be powered by poo.

 

Thin, green banner promoting the Future Earth newsletter with text saying,
“Get the latest climate news from the UK and around the world every week,
straight to your inbox”. There is also a graphic of an iceberg overlaid with
a green circular pattern.

Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the
latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin
Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our
international newsletter here.-BBC

 

 

 

Full-time workers could get right to four-day week

Full-time workers could be given the right to ask their employers to work a
four-day week under government plans to increase flexible working.

Employees would still have to work their full hours to receive their full
pay but could request to compress their contracted hours into a shorter
working week, according to plans first reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake claimed businesses
were "petrified" about the plans.

However, ministers insist they will not impose the change on staff or
businesses.

 

"Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in
partnership with business," said a spokesperson at the Department for
Business and Trade.

They added that the plan for more flexible working was instead designed to
increase productivity and help get more people back into work.

Currently, employees have the right to request flexible working but
employers are only required to deal with requests in a "reasonable manner".

Earlier this year, Morrisons scrapped four-day working weeks for its head
office staff following feedback.

In order to make the four-day week work, staff had to work some Saturdays,
which resulted in complaints and dissatisfaction.

In July, Asda shelved a four-day week trial after staff complained that
their longer shifts were too demanding.

Firms stick to four-day week after trial ends

Is working four days a week better than five?

 

Labour came to power earlier this year promising to make it the default from
day one for all workers, except where it was not feasible.

The Daily Telegraph reported that could allow staff to work four longer days
instead of five.

Details are expected in the autumn when a law to create a new package of
workers' rights is expected to begin its journey through Parliament.

Labour has pledged to repeal some anti-trade union laws, restrict the use of
zero-hours contracts and expand flexible working arrangements.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calls the proposals "the biggest upgrade to
workers' rights in a generation" and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner
argues they will be "good for the economy".

But the Conservative opposition claims the approach would damage business
and lead to reduced productivity.

"Despite warning after warning from industry, Angela Rayner is pressing
ahead with her French-style union laws that will make doing business more
expensive in the UK," Mr Hollinrake said.

In 2022, several UK companies took place in a six-month trial to test a four
day working week, which saw workers receive full pay for working fewer
hours.

Tyler Grange, an environmental consultancy, took part in the trial and in
2023 told the BBC it was sticking with the working pattern.

Simon Ursell, its managing director, said the first month of the trial had
been "a bit white knuckle".

But the firm said it found the extra day off boosted staff happiness and
even resulted in more people applying to work there.

However, the experiment did not work for Mark Roderick’s engineering and
industrial supplies company Allcap.

“As opposed to 10 normal workdays, we found that employees would have nine
extreme ones – once they got to their scheduled day off they were
exhausted," he said.

"Once we factored in holidays, sickness and caring responsibilities, we also
struggled to find cover for an employee on their rest day," he said.-BBC

 

 

 

Trump says insurance or government should pay for IVF

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said that in-vitro
fertilisation (IVF) treatments will be paid for by insurance companies or
the government if he returns to the White House.

 

“I was always for IVF. Right from the beginning, as soon as we heard about
it," he told NBC News on Thursday.

The new campaign pledge comes after his Democratic rival, Vice-President
Kamala Harris, and other members of her party have alleged that
Republican-led abortion restrictions in some states could further threaten
access to fertility treatments.

Trump's announcement could put him at odds with some conservative
anti-abortion activists who want to ban IVF for discarding unused human
embryos.

 

But he committed to the new position on Thursday in the interview with NBC.

"Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that
treatment," Trump told the news outlet. "Or we're going to be mandating that
the insurance company pay."

 

IVF treatments can be very expensive - often around $20,000 (£15,000) per
round - and are rarely covered by insurance in the US. Trump did not explain
how this new policy would work or be put into effect.

The Harris-Walz campaign was quick to respond to the former president's new
policy position, blaming him for the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn
the landmark 1973 abortion case - Roe v Wade - which eliminated the national
right to abortion.

 

State governments can now decide Americans' access to abortion, and at least
14 have banned or put severe restrictions on the procedure.

"Because Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, IVF is already under attack and
women’s freedoms have been ripped away in states across the country," said
Harris campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika in response to Trump's comments
on Thursday.

 

Trump has previously bragged about appointing three of the six conservatives
on the Supreme Court who backed overturning the abortion access law.

"I was able to kill Roe v Wade," the former president posted online in May
2023.

But Trump has attempted to distance himself from his record on abortion, as
Harris capitalises on voter concerns about how Republicans could affect
reproductive rights.

In his interview, Trump - a Florida resident - also said he planned to vote
against a Florida state ballot measure that would prohibit abortion after
six weeks, with some exceptions.

 

"I think the six-week [ban] is too short. There has to be more time," he
said. "I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks."

IVF became a new political lightning rod in America's debate over abortion
access in February.

That's when the Republican-controlled Alabama Supreme Court ruled that
frozen embryos created through IVF are considered children under state law.

At the time, Trump called on Alabama lawmakers to "quickly find an immediate
solution to preserve the availability of IVF in Alabama". They passed a law
protecting IVF in March.

 

The ruling was a political headache for Republicans, forcing several leaders
to put out statements objecting to the Alabama ruling that had the
possibility of damaging their prospects in an election year.

 

Forty-two percent of Americans have either used IVF treatments or known
someone who did, according to a Pew Survey last year. That percentage rises
with increased earnings - 45% among middle-income Americans and 59% for
those with high-incomes.

Those individuals are more likely to be white Americans who vote Republican,
and many are ones whom Trump hopes to bring back into the political fold
after losing their support in 2020.

 

Trump told supporter about his new position at a rally in Michigan on
Thursday.

"Your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to
pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment," he said.

But Democrats continued to reject that a Trump administration would adopt
such a policy on Thursday night.

 

"Americans have seen with their own eyes how Donald Trump overturned Roe v
Wade and paved the way for extreme Maga Republicans to restrict IVF and pass
cruel abortion bans across the country, hurting women and families,"
Democratic National Committee Spokesperson Aida Ross said in a statement.

 

"When voters head to the ballot box this November, they will vote for the
Harris-Walz ticket to protect our freedoms - not Trump and Vance’s all-out
assault on our basic rights.”-BBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 Invest Wisely!

Bulls n Bears 

 

Cellphone:         +263 71 944 1674 | +27 79 993 5557 

Email:                <mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com>
bulls at bullszimbabwe.com

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INVESTORS DIARY 2024

 


Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


Companies under Cautionary

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


CBZH

GetBucks

EcoCash

 


Padenga

Econet

RTG

 


Fidelity

TSL

FMHL

 


 

 

 

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of
Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or
subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has
been compiled from s believed to be reliable, but no representation or
warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All
opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without
notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be
suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth
companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than
the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any
other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability
whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its
contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this
report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent
investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of
any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are
for guideline purposes only and d from third parties.

 


 

 


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<mailto:bulls at bullszimbabwe.com> bulls at bullszimbabwe.com Tel: +27 79 993
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