Major International Business Headlines Brief::: 02 May 2024

Thu May 2 07:38:02 CAT 2024

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Major International Business Headlines Brief:::  02 May 2024 

ü  East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania Resolve Poultry Trade Concerns in EAC
Meeting

ü  Malawi: Electricity From Farm Waste - How Biogas Could Help Malawians
With No Power

ü  Senegalese Unions Voice Numerous Demands On Their First Labour Day March
in Four Years

ü  South Africa: Village Activists Take Marikana Mining Company to Court

ü  Kenya: President Ruto Urges Striking Doctors to End Paralysis, Citing
Financial Constraints

ü  Uganda: Farmers Hire Gunmen to Guard Cocoa Farms in Uganda As Prices Soar

ü  Ghana: 'Greater Co-Operation Key to Safeguarding Maritime Domain' - Pres
Akufo-Addo

ü  Nigeria: Why Increase in Minimum Wage Won't Worsen Inflation - Tuc

ü  Africa: All Is Set for Africa CEO Forum 2024 in Kigali

ü  Kenya: Murkomen Unveils Plans for New Airport Terminal At JKIA to Tackle
Flooding

ü  Fed holds key interest rate and warns on inflation

ü  Uber faces £250m London black cab drivers lawsuit

ü  Tesla staff say firm's entire Supercharger team fired

ü  J&J hopes for deal with third talc settlement

ü  Beijing tightens grip on China social media giants

 <https://www.cloverleaf.co.zw/> East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania Resolve
Poultry Trade Concerns in EAC Meeting

Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have successfully addressed
longstanding concerns regarding the export of poultry and poultry products
between them following a two-day meeting at the East African Community
headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Rabson Wanjala, Co-Chair of the meeting from Kenya, underscored the
importance of trade between the two countries, highlighting the necessity
for ongoing consultations to streamline and facilitate trade processes.

"Both countries have committed to fostering trade relations," Mr Wanjala
stated, stating the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure increased
trade in the region.

Benezeth Lutege Malinda, the co-chair of the meeting from Tanzania, echoed
Wanjala's sentiments, emphasising Tanzania's commitment to resolving issues
hindering trade, particularly Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to trade.

Kenya, historically a significant exporter of poultry and poultry-related
products to Tanzania, faced challenges after Tanzania imposed a ban on
poultry imports from Kenya in 2021 due to the global outbreak of Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The meeting, convened between 29-30 April, 2024, brought together veterinary
authorities from both countries to address the ban on the export of poultry
and poultry products from Kenya to Tanzania.

The parties clarified that Tanzania had not imposed a ban on Kenyan poultry
and poultry products but had implemented sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
measures in response to global Avian Influenza outbreaks, aiming to
safeguard animal and public health.

Both parties affirmed the ongoing trade in day-old-chicks and hatching eggs
between the two countries, with facilities demonstrating high biosecurity
standards permitted to operate.

Further agreements included conducting risk assessments for facilities
intending to export poultry products between the two countries, enhancing
surveillance efforts, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure timely
disease detection and reporting.

Additionally, small-scale poultry producers in both countries will receive
support to improve biosecurity measures, enhancing their export
opportunities.

Efficient communication channels will be strengthened between veterinary
competent authorities in both Partner States for swift issue resolution
regarding SPS measures.

- Business Day Africa.

Malawi: Electricity From Farm Waste - How Biogas Could Help Malawians With
No Power

In sub-Saharan Africa, over 600 million people (more than 50% of the
population) are without access to electricity. Malawi has one of the world's
lowest electricity access rates - just 14.1% of the total population have
access to the main grid. In rural areas, the electrification access rate is
even lower, estimated at 5.6% in 2021.

Decentralised household and community scale renewable energy systems like
biogas plants may provide a solution. Ehiaze Ehimen and Thomas Robin study
energy efficiency and energy poverty in marginalised communities. They
unpack what they found in their research into the potential role of small
biogas plants in meeting rural energy needs.

Why are biogas plants such a good idea?

Biogas plants are easy to set up and can be relatively inexpensive. They use
readily available materials such as manure and vegetable waste, and can be
built with cement and bricks. They could potentially be used to meet the
electricity needs of households and small communities, especially in rural
areas where connection to the national electricity grid may not be
economically viable.

Biogas plants exploit the fact that rural communities in countries like
Malawi have abundant biomass resources such as agricultural residues, animal
waste and organic municipal waste (grass and vegetables that have been
thrown away). Biogas production can therefore provide a decentralised energy
solution - where energy is produced close to where it is used.

Compared to other energy sources (especially electricity), biogas production
systems can be relatively low-cost to set up and operate. This makes them
suitable for communities with limited financial resources.

There are also environmental and health benefits - they prevent organic
waste from rotting on dumps and releasing harmful methane gas by instead
converting this waste into a useful energy source. They reduce people's
reliance on traditional biomass fuels like firewood or charcoal for cooking
- these fuels can lead to deforestation and indoor air pollution. This is
currently a significant issue in Malawi. Between 2002 and 2023, Malawi lost
21% of its humid primary forest to deforestation. And people are
experiencing an increasing number of chronic coughs from cooking on wood
fires.

What is a biogas plant?

A biogas plant is a facility that converts organic waste, such as animal
manure, agricultural residues, food waste and even sewage sludge into gas.
It does this through a process called anaerobic digestion. Here, the organic
materials are broken down by microorganisms in an oxygen-free environment,
such as the inside of a sealed drum.

This produces biogas, which is primarily composed of methane and carbon
dioxide. It can be used as a renewable energy source for electricity
generation, heating and cooking.

A biogas plant has a lifespan of 20 years and could be constructed with
several designs. A common design includes the plant made up of:

A base with a rectangular shape

On the top, a dome made of brick and concrete and a plastic layer. This
could be above the ground or underneath to keep the temperature uniform in
the digester and to limit temperature fluctuation

The central part of the reactor is based underneath the ground

There are two auxiliary tanks to store the feedstock and the digestate (what
is left over)

A thin concrete slab can be added to avoid leakage in the ground.

What did you find?

Our study was the first to investigate whether it was possible to produce
electricity for rural Malawi farmers using biogas. The only small scaled
biogas plants that existed in Malawi before our study were situated at Zomba
Central Hospital and Mikuyu prison, but these were used to meet cooking
needs only.

Our research found that a small community-scale biogas plant with a digester
volume of 15 cubic metres in Malawi cost a total of US$1,540 to build. This
size biogas plant can provide enough energy for a family of up to five
people to do all their cooking for a month.

The biggest costs - US$1,089 - were the cement and the labour - skilled
bricklayers who had an understanding of leakproofing and insulation and who
could guarantee that good quality materials would be used. It was a
simplified rectangular based dome reactor design, which is primarily made of
brick and concrete, with a plastic layer to minimise gas leakages.

Read more: Home biogas: turning food waste into renewable energy

The cost can vary depending on the size of the biogas plant, transport costs
for materials, local regulations, labour costs and the amount of cow dung
and maize or grass residue that is available to feed into it. We used the
manure collected from six cows every day for a year. This was 10.8kg of
manure produced daily. The methane quantity produced is estimated to improve
significantly when the cow dung is mixed with grass cuttings and
post-harvest maize plants - the leaves and husks that are left lying on the
farmlands after the harvest.

The digestate left over after the anaeorbic digestion is very rich in
nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus and can be spread
directly on farmlands as fertiliser.

What are the challenges?

Access to financing to build the biogas plants is a big problem, especially
for small-scale farmers or community-based initiatives. Malawi is one of the
poorest countries in the world, and the number of people living on less than
US$2.15 a day is predicted to rise to 72% of the population this year. For a
rural smallholder farmer who earns an average of US$380 per year, the
initial cost of constructing and operating a biogas plant is likely to be
unaffordable.

There is also currently a lack of local capacity and technical expertise for
setting up and maintaining biogas production, especially in some rural
areas. Training programmes would be necessary.

Our study also showed that building larger biogas facilities would be more
cost and operationally effective, because they'd provide more energy for a
greater number of people at less cost per person. But the transport to truck
huge amounts of biomass feedstock is not in place.

Financial support from governments, non-profit and non-governmental
organisations, and international development agencies could therefore be
essential to overcome these challenges.

Ehiaze Ehimen, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Research
Innovation and Sustainability (CERIS), Atlantic Technological University

Thomas Robin, Research Officer, Centre for Environmental Research Innovation
and Sustainability (CERIS), Atlantic Technological University

Senegalese Unions Voice Numerous Demands On Their First Labour Day March in
Four Years

After four years without a May Day parade because of Covid-19and other
strategic reasons, Senegal has organised a rally for Labour Day this year.
This will be President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's first interface with trade
unions.

The unions are marching towards Independence Square in the centre of the
capital, Dakar.

There, they plan to submit a list of grievances to the president with a list
of demands, hoping that social dialogue will be more fluid than in the past.

Cost of living

The principle issue is inflation and the cost of living.

On this point, the unions agree and are awaiting concessions.

The National Confederation of Workers of Senegal (CNTS) is the biggest trade
union in Senegal.

"The authorities are very aware of this now, and, since they have just
arrived, we do not expect that all the issues will be resolved right away,"
Mody Guiro, its general secretary of told RFI.

President Diomaye Faye had previously promised to offer a plan to combat the
high cost of living and measures to lower prices before 15 May.

Pay inequity

The second issue for unions is pay. Many unions denounce the inequality in
salary between the different state agents, which consist of about 175,000
people in total.

Aujourd'hui, nous célébrons les femmes et les hommes qui se lèvent chaque
jour avant l'aube pour nous offrir le fruit de la mer. Bonne fête du travail
aux héros de la pêche artisanale africaine ! Votre engagement et votre
passion nous inspirent. pic.twitter.com/E3FPwxxPKc-- CAOPA Afrique
(@AfriqueCaopa) May 1, 2024

Amidou Diedhiou is the secretary general of the Free Teachers' Union of
Senegal (SELS), the main union of primary schools.

"There is an urgent need to resolve this inequality," he said.

"Education unions had already raised the question of the remuneration system
in 2018.

"The level of injustice is great and this is why, in our opinion, the
State's resources, however meager they may be, must be fairly
redistributed."

Unions in crisis?

The unions face disintegration and distance from their base, in Senegal but
also in other Sahel countries, Babacar Fall, professor at the Cheikh Anta
Diop University in Dakar and the Institute of Advanced Studies of
Saint-Louis in Senegal.

The general political and social context is one of restriction of freedoms,
so unions struggle to be heard.

"The good news is that marches are back on," he told RFI. "And we believe
that the new government is more attentive to people's social demands; it's
bringing hope, and it is very important for workers."

RFI website.

South Africa: Village Activists Take Marikana Mining Company to Court

Two activists in North West Province are taking on a Marikana mining company
which they say wants to gag them through a court interdict.

Tharisa Mine says Oridile Kgatea and Rodney Kotsedi are interfering with the
operations of the mine.

The two activists say they represent the community of Mmaditlhokwa village
which is affected by blasting and dust and contamination of drinking water.

The matter will be heard in the Mahikeng High Court on Thursday.

Two community-based environmental justice activists are taking on the might
of a Marikana mining company which, they say, is attempting to gag them
through a court interdict.

The management of Tharisa Mines in Marikana has already secured an interim
interdict against Oridile Kgatea and Rodney Kotsedi, claiming they were
making defamatory statements and interfering with the operations of the
mine.

On Thursday 2 May the Mahikeng High Court in North West Province will be
asked to decide whether the interdict should be made final. The pair,
represented by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), will argue that
the interdict infringes on their right to freedom of expression.

They will argue that it constitutes strategic litigation against public
participation, otherwise known as a SLAPP suit, which the Constitutional
Court has recognised as an abuse, to silence and distract activists who
cannot afford expensive litigation.

CALS, which is being represented by Advocate Modise Shakung, argues that the
interdict application falls squarely into the definition of a SLAPP suit,
that the mine has failed to prove it was defamed or suffered any loss or
harm from statements made to the media, and that the media interviews it
relied on did not portray any false or misleading information.

And far from defaming the mine, the activists have instead attempted to
vindicate their community's rights to protest and to an environment not
harmful to their health or wellbeing.

"It is clear the mine seeks to silence those trying to hold them accountable
for harms related to mining activities, such as damage to houses from
blasting and contamination of drinking water, among others. These issues are
the subject of a pending inquiry in respect of the Mine Health and Safety
Act," CALS said in a statement.

"The activists are entitled to raise awareness of human rights violations
and to hold the mine accountable for failing to comply with the Constitution
and other legislation. The application has no merit and stands to be
dismissed as a SLAPP suit."

Blasting and dust

The mine operates on communal land and its operations impact the community
of Mmaditlhokwa village. Residents have lodged a number of complaints that
blasting takes place within 500 metres of their homes, causing damage to
houses and also releasing dust which is a health and safety violation.

It is these complaints that led the mine to institute urgent legal
proceedings against the community in the Mahikeng High Court in March this
year, when the interim interdict was granted.

In an affidavit, Tharisa Mine general manager Vulela Mkuni said Kgatea and
Kotsedi, who both live in the village, were "ostensibly" acting on behalf of
the local community, in raising complaints, particularly about alleged
contamination of water supplied by the mine to the village.

Mkuni said there were "established channels" to raise complaints. But Kgatea
and Kotsedi had not used these. Instead they had threatened to block the
blasting operations, threatening the mine's security personnel and the mine
manager.

He said they were refusing to accept water quality test results conducted by
professionals and tested at an accredited laboratory. Instead they had
insisted that the results from a water sample taken by a lay person, at an
undisclosed location and tested at an unidentified laboratory, be preferred.

In an opposing affidavit, Kotsedi said he and Kgatea were environmental
justice activists, authorised by the community to represent its interests
under the umbrella of a non-profit organisation, Creation of Unity and
Development (CUD).

He said the plight of the community had been highlighted in documentaries
and at an inquiry initiated in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act.
Those findings were still pending.

The complaints centred on allegations that continuous blasting resulted in
flying rocks breaking house windows, vibrations, dust, noise and
contaminated water.

"We have at all times engaged with the applicants peacefully, where
unprovoked, and have endeavoured to follow the proper communication
channels," he said."

He denied they used threatening behaviour or preventing anyone from doing
their jobs.

"The applicant (the mine) is using the court to silence all our efforts to
hold them accountable for the human rights violation at the village,"
Kotsedi said.

"We are entitled to hold both the applicant and the Department of Mineral
and Energy Affairs accountable for its failure to comply with the
Constitution and enabling legislation. We are engaging on issues that affect
the majority of communities in South Africa affected by mining."

- GroundUp.

Kenya: President Ruto Urges Striking Doctors to End Paralysis, Citing
Financial Constraints

Nairobi — President William Ruto has called on striking doctors to end their
industrial action, citing financial constraints that hinder the resolution
of the remaining two out of 19 issues raised by their union.

Addressing the 59th Labour Day celebrations in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto
urged the doctors to return to work, emphasizing the need to alleviate the
ongoing health crisis nationwide.

"We have resolved 17 out of the 19 issues raised by our doctors, but the
remaining two are impossible to address due to financial constraints,"
stated Ruto.

The doctors union, however, insist it won't call off the strike until more
funds are allocated to cater for the posting of intern doctors.

While the union wants the intern doctors paid more than Sh200,000, the
government say it can only afford Sh70,000.

On Wednesday, the president reassured the public that the government is
implementing measures to revive the economy, expressing confidence that
these efforts will yield positive results despite the financial challenges.

Previously, the Council of Governors also called for a review of the 2017
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Kenya Medical
Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the government,
citing difficulties in its implementation.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha echoed these sentiments,
emphasizing the need to address ambiguities in the 2017 CBA. "I am
determined to rectify the issues in the 2017 CBA to benefit all Kenyans,"
she affirmed.

Nakhumicha outlined her efforts to reform the health sector, including
increasing drug stock at Kemsa and combating cartels at NHIF. "My focus is
on improving the health sector," she added.

The Minority Leadership in the National Assembly has called on President
Ruto to intervene and find a lasting solution to the doctors' strike, which
has paralyzed health services across the country for 49 days.

- Capital FM.

Uganda: Farmers Hire Gunmen to Guard Cocoa Farms in Uganda As Prices Soar

Global cocoa prices have reached their highest point in over a decade as dry
weather hinders farming in Ghana and Ivory Coast, the biggest producers of
cocoa in the world.

Some farmers in Uganda have hired gunmen to protect their cocoa as thieves
attempt to cash in on the crop's increased value.

Global cocoa prices have reached their highest point in over a decade as dry
weather hinders farming in Ghana and Ivory Coast, the biggest producers of
cocoa in the world.

According to Mutanga Grace, a Ugandan cocoa farmer and CEO of Mkulima
Exports Uganda, roughly 30% of the cocoa beans produced in the East African
country are being stolen.

- Advertisement -He told BBC Newsday that farmers in the country are forking
out armed guards and dogs in an attempt to protect their cocoa, which is a
key ingredient in products like chocolate, ice creams and cakes.

"Cocoa in the country right now is like a hotcake, someone takes little but
has taken a lot, a lot of money," he said.

- Accra Time.

Ghana: 'Greater Co-Operation Key to Safeguarding Maritime Domain' - Pres
Akufo-Addo

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called for
greater levels of co-operation and collaboration amongst the broad spectrum
of global maritime stakeholders.

"No nation can afford to do it alone. Ghana, being cognizant of her
responsibilities as a coastal state, is playing her part in collaborating
with the international maritime community towards enhancing maritime
security in the region and on the entire African continent," he said.

That is why, "the African Maritime Forces Summit and Naval Infantry Leaders
Symposium, thus, provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our
partnerships, and enhance our collective capabilities."

President Akufo-Addo said this at the opening of the second African Maritime
Forces Summit and third Naval Infantry Leadership Symposium Africa in Accra
on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024.

Held under the theme, "Cooperation at Sea: Safeguarding African Maritime
Security", President the African Maritime Forces Summit and Naval Infantry
Leaders Symposium, provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our
partnerships, and enhance our collective capabilities through constructive
dialogue, exchange of best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to
the maritime security challenges facing our continent.

Recognizing the Gulf of Guinea region as a key route for international trade
that connects all the major continents, from the Middle East and Asia to
Europe and the Americas and the growing investments in the region,
especially in offshore oil and gas infrastructures, he said the coastal
trading and maritime traffic are bound to increase and with this growing
wealth and geo-strategic relevance, the region has to cope with both
traditional and emerging maritime security threats.

Whilst recognizing that these transnational crimes do not only threaten
national and regional peace and stability, but also come at a great cost to
the economies of both coastal and non-coastal states, he was happy to note
that, "piracy and armed robbery at sea, which are the most visible symptoms
of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, have, as a result of the co-ordination
of efforts of the Nigerian and Ghanaian navies, been appreciably suppressed"
and though they still remain important threats to national and regional
maritime activities.

it is in lieu of this, he continued, that is why it is "imperative that we
foster greater co-operation and collaboration amongst African maritime
forces. By working together, sharing intelligence, and coordinating our
efforts, we can address effectively maritime security threats, and safeguard
our maritime domain."

He noted that, to this end, several collaborative efforts have been advanced
by African countries which included regional collaborations between
neighbouring countries to improve the approach to dealing with maritime
crimes such as the operationalisation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to deal
with maritime crimes and the revision of the Gulf of Guinea Commission,
which had been moribund for some time, to contribute to securing the peace
and stability of the Gulf of Guinea.

On the part of Ghana, he pointed out government's commitment towards the
retooling of the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Armed Forces, amply demonstrated
in the commissioning of some twenty vessels for the Navy with the process of
acquiring two Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Navy also far advanced as well
as the building of a new Naval Base in the Western Region which is also
nearly completed.

"These investments would help safeguard the security of our maritime space,
and lead to an accelerated growth of our blue economy. Other African
countries have shown similar commitments, and collaboration with our key
partners have ensured the significant improvement in the security of
Africa's maritime domain."

- Ghana Presidency.

Nigeria: Why Increase in Minimum Wage Won't Worsen Inflation - Tuc

The Trade Union Congress, TUC said increasing the minimum wage for civil
servants will not worsen inflation.

The president of TUC, Festus Osifo stated this in an interview with Channels
Television on Wednesday.

Osifo said the increase in the minimum wage is justified because of the
increased revenue allocation to states since May 2023.

He said, "If you look today, from May 2023 to date, revenue from the
Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the state governments has
tripled," he said.

"This means the state government has more money to build roads and schools
to purchase other items.

"The most critical aspect of production is labour. It is for you to take
part of the money and pay workers. That won't increase inflation because the
money will be spent anyway; if you don't give it to workers, it will be
spent on other projects.

"Giving workers what is due them won't necessarily worsen inflation," he
said.

This comes amid the economic hardship occasioned by removal of subsidy on
petrol and unification of the exchange rate windows.

Recall that the federal government approved an increase of between 25
percent and 35 percent salary increase for civil servants on the six
consolidated salary structures.

In January, the government had set up a 37-member tripartite committee on
the minimum wage, after which the organised labour submitted a demand of
N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.

The labour union urged the government to announce the new minimum wage on
Workers' Day.

- Vanguard.

Africa: All Is Set for Africa CEO Forum 2024 in Kigali

Organisers have set that all is set for the forthcoming Africa CEO Forum in
Kigali, Rwanda later this month.

This year's forum will be held between May 16 and 17 under the theme "At the
table or on the menu? A critical moment to shape a new future for Africa."

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Amir Ben Yahmed, the president, Africa
CEO Forum said so far, five heads of state, five Prime Ministers and 20
ministers have confirmed attendance.

"President Paul Kagame(Rwanda) William Ruto( Kenya), the presidents of
Botswana, Mozambique and Djibouti have confirmed attending. Also the Prime
Ministers of Sao Tome, Cameroon and Cote D'Voire among others have
confirmed," Yahmed said.

Founded in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum has enabled dialogue between the
public and private sector, bringing together business leaders, CEOs,
investors, ministers and heads of state to highlight the driving role of the
private sector in the development of the continent.

The Africa CEO forum provides year-round support to Africa's business
leaders through an array of in-person and digital events, reports, and
expert insights.

Through its 'Women working for change', 'Family business' and 'disrupters
club' initiatives, the forum also aims to increase the representation of
women in decision-making positions on the continent, support the sustainable
growth of African family businesses and help African start-ups thrive.

According to Amir, this year's forum will build onto the gains in the
previous forums.

"We have created many stories and helped Africa closer to wealthy
entrepreneurs. We want to continue with this agenda," he said.

"Over the two days more than 60 panel discussions, public-private workshops
and closed-door roundtables, we will explore a new future for Africa,
addressing critical topics ."

Rwanda Development Board(RDB) deputy CEO, Nelly Mukazayire said the forum is
yet another opportunity for African leaders to meet and discuss issues that
will take forward the African continent.

"This is a platform for African countries to discuss matters of concern that
need to make sure we lead our countries to the development we want .We have
to be robust and intentional in laws that are to advance trade on our
continent. With the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free
Trade Area, our countries can greatly benefit," Mukazayire said.

"Presently, intra Africa trade stands low at just 14.4% of total African
exports. UNCTAD forecasts show the AfCFTA could boost intra Africa trade by
about 33% and cut the continent's trade deficit by 51%. East African
business leaders can build a supportive ecosystem for business innovation
and partnerships in the region. This involves creating an enabling
environment that encourages entrepreneurship, provides access to resources
and networks, and supports the growth of innovative businesses."

According to organisers, top CEOs to attend the forum in Kigali will among
others include Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of IFC, Mesfin Tassew, Group
CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, James Mworia, Group CEO & MD of Centum
Investment, Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman of Ruparelia Group, Clare Akamanzi,
CEO of NBA Africa, Rostam Aziz, CEO of Taifa Gas, Hardy Pemhiwa, President &
CEO of Cassava Technologies or Patricia Poku Diaby, CEO Plot Entreprise
Ghana, Karl Olutokun Toriola, MTN Nigeria's CEO, Faith Mukutu, CEO of
Zambeef, Diane Karusisi, CEO Bank of Kigali and Patty Karuaihe-Martin, CEO
of NamibRe.

- Nile Post.

Kenya: Murkomen Unveils Plans for New Airport Terminal At JKIA to Tackle
Flooding

Nairobi — Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has unveiled plans
for a new terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to combat
future flooding.

The move was prompted by recent water leakage and flooding in sections of
the airport that is East Africa's main hub.

During his inspection of ongoing roof construction at terminals 1C and 1B on
Tuesday, Murkomen emphasized the need for a long-term solution, announcing
that the new terminal would be built through a Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) model.

"The ministry, under President William Ruto's leadership, is working on
constructing a new airport terminal through a PPP model," he stated,
addressing the press.

Murkomen also announced the impending decommissioning of Terminal 1E, which
will increase airport capacity. He emphasized the significance of the
ongoing roof construction, aimed at resolving leakages onto Level 1 and
preparing for the new terminal and lounges.

"To mitigate future flooding, the cabinet has passed a recommendation to
formulate a master plan for the drainage system within the Nairobi
Metropolis, which will be replicated nationwide and support water management
in the next five decades," he added.

Murkomen urged the Kenya Aviation Authority to collaborate closely with JKIA
stakeholders to develop a sustainable solution to eradicate flooding within
the airport premises.

The move comes amid efforts to enhance infrastructure resilience and address
the challenges posed by extreme weather events.

- Capital FM.

Fed holds key interest rate and warns on inflation

The US central bank again said it would keep interest rates unchanged,
noting a "lack of further progress" toward lowering inflation.

The decision left the Federal Reserve's key rate hovering at the highest
level in more than two decades, in the range of 5.25%-5.5%, where it has
stood since last July.

By keeping borrowing costs high, the Fed is hoping to cool the economy and
reduce the pressures pushing up prices.

But with inflation in the US proving more persistent than expected, the bank
is facing questions about its next move.

Analysts who had expected the bank to start cutting rates early this year
have been forced to postpone forecasts - and some have even raised the
possibility of a rate rise.

At a press conference following the announcement, Fed chairman Jerome Powell
said he thought that a rate increase was "unlikely", while repeating that
officials wanted greater confidence that inflation was easing before moving
to cut.

"It really will depend on the data," he said.

"It's going to take longer to reach that point of comfort. I don't know how
long it will take," he added.

In the US, consumer prices rose 3.5% over the 12 months to March.

That is down sharply from the 9.1% rate seen in June 2022, but remains above
the Fed's 2% target, ticking higher in recent months.

In its statement announcing its latest decision on Wednesday, the Fed drew
attention to those trends, noting "a lack of further progress" bringing
inflation back to its goal.

"The statement explicitly recognises the recent deterioration in inflation
dynamics," said Brian Coulton, chief economist at Fitch Ratings.

"Patience is the watchword now for the Fed and the risk of fewer or no rate
cuts this year is growing."

The Fed has left rates untouched since last July, after boosting them
aggressively from near zero in March 2022.

Higher interest rates trickle out to the public in the form of more
expensive mortgages, car and business loans and other debt.

The Fed's moves are being closely watched around the world where many
central banks, including the Bank of England, have also had a prolonged
period of sharply raised rates.

Mr Powell said policymakers in other countries may move more quickly than
the US to cut rates due to worries about economic slowdown.

"The difference between the United States and other countries that are now
considering rate cuts is they're just not having the kind of growth we're
having," he said. "We can be patient."

Separately, the Fed also outlined its previously-discussed plans to slow the
pace at which it is shrinking its holdings of US Treasuries.

It built up those holdings as part of its stimulus efforts to bolster the
economy when the pandemic hit in 2020, starting to reverse the moves two
years later.

Mr Powell said the decision to slow that process was aimed at avoiding
disruption to financial markets and not intended to influence the inflation
fight.-BBC

Uber faces £250m London black cab drivers lawsuit

Uber is facing a multi-million pound legal claim being brought on behalf of
almost 11,000 London black cab drivers.

Litigation management firm RGL Management says the claim is worth at least
£250m, with cabbies potentially getting £25,000 each.

Uber did not immediately reply to a BBC request for comment.

The lawsuit, which is set to be filed in the High Court on Thursday, is the
latest challenge to the US-based ride-hailing giant in the UK's capital.

The group action focuses on Uber's operations in London between May 2012 and
March 2018.

The case, which is being brought for the claimants by law firm Mishcon de
Reya, says that in order to obtain a licence to operate in the city, Uber
deliberately misled Transport for London (Tfl) about how its app worked.

The claimants also say Uber's intention was to "unlawfully... take business
from existing black cab drivers", according to a statement by RGL.

"Uber seems to believe it is above the law and cabbies across London have
suffered loss of earnings because of it," said Garry White, who has been a
black cab driver for 36 years. "It is time they were held to account.”

Over the years, Uber has faced a number of challenges in London, as well
other cities around the world.

Tfl refused to renew the company's licence in 2017, saying it showed "a lack
of corporate responsibility" with "public safety and security implications".

At the time, Uber's chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi apologised for past
mistakes and said the firm would dispute the decision.

Uber successfully appealed after renewal of the licence was again denied two
years later.

In 2022, a two-and-a-half-year licence to operate in London was granted. It
is due to expire at the end of September.

Uber has also been the focus of demonstrations organised by London's black
cab drivers.

Earlier this year, Uber agreed to pay A$271.8m ($177.7m; £141.7m) to settle
a lawsuit in Australia, according to a law firm for taxi operators and
drivers.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed the class action on behalf of more than
8,000 taxi and hire car owners and drivers.

The case alleged they lost income when the ride-hailing giant "aggressively"
moved into the country.

"Since 2018, Uber has made significant contributions into various
state-level taxi compensation schemes, and with today's proposed settlement,
we put these legacy issues firmly in our past," Uber said in a statement.

The company did not disclose the size of the proposed settlement.

In December 2023, Uber won a lawsuit brought against it by 2,500 taxi
drivers in France.

A Paris commercial court ruled that Uber had not committed acts of unfair
competition.

San Francisco-based Uber, which was founded in 2009, operates in around 70
countries and more than 10,000 cities globally.-BBC

Tesla staff say firm's entire Supercharger team fired

Tesla has fired its entire Supercharger division, staff who worked in the
team say.

There are over 50,000 Superchargers globally, the company says, making it
the world's largest fast-charging network for electric vehicles.

Boss Elon Musk said the firm would cut one in ten jobs, as it faces strong
competition from less expensive rivals.

It needed to be "absolutely hard core" about cost reduction, he wrote in a
memo first reported by The Information.

The BBC has approached Tesla for comment.

Multiple employees have confirmed their departures from the division - which
had hundreds of employees - and was responsible for designing the chargers
and deploying them worldwide.

William Jameson, strategic charging programs lead at Tesla, posted on X that
Mr Musk had "let our entire charging org go".

"What a wild ride it has been", he wrote.

Also writing on X, Mr Musk said the company still planned to grow the
Supercharger network, "just at a slower pace for new locations."

Drivers think twice

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said Tesla's move could dent
the confidence of prospective electric car buyers.

"You need reassurance that the people selling you the vehicles see a strong
future for the technology," he said.

"If manufacturers are reining back their ambitions then it means drivers
might think twice about going electric or at least delay a purchase until
they see more positive news."

Andres Pinter, chief executive of Bullet EV Charging Solutions, a supplier
to the charging network said that his team "woke up to a sharp kick in the
pants this morning," Reuters reported.

He speculated that Mr Musk could "reconstitute the EV charger team in
bigger, badder, more Muskian way" in order to continue to benefit from US
government funding to develop the network.

Tesla's network of chargers is widely seen as industry leading, and recently
it cut deals with several rival car-makers in north America to adopt its
"NACS" charging standard so that their vehicles could use the network.

Fred Lambert, editor-in-chief of electric vehicle news website Electrek,
posted on social media he was "extremely perplexed" by the move.

"If one thing was a clear success at Tesla, it's the Supercharger network.
Even from a talent perspective. No other charging team in the world has been
able to do what Tesla did," he wrote.

The quality and reach of the Supercharger network has long been a huge
advantage for Tesla, James Attwood, acting magazine editor of Autocar, told
the BBC.

It was "a key selling point for potential buyers" he added.

"But with regulators in both Europe and the US pushing the firm to open the
Supercharger network to owners of other electric vehicles, it will offer
less of an advantage in the future."

Last year, seven large car manufacturers including Mercedes, Honda, BMW and
Hyundai-Kia set-up a joint venture to build a rival fast-charging network.

As well as the cuts to the Supercharger department, the firm's entire public
policy unit will also be cut the Financial Times reported.

The layoffs come days after the firm reported its first quarterly revenue
decline since 2021.

It follows declining sales at the company, which is also having to deal with
an investigation into the safety of its Autopilot assisted driving system,
and a recall relating to its newest model, Cybertruck.-BBC

J&J hopes for deal with third talc settlement

Johnson & Johnson has outlined a new settlement that it said would resolve
nearly all of the lawsuits it faces over claims that its talc products,
including baby powder, caused cancer.

The pharmaceutical giant said it was offering $6.475bn (£5.2bn) over 25
years to former customers with ovarian cancer claims.

Those represent the vast majority of the more than 59,000 lawsuits it faces.

In all, it said it was now setting aside about $11bn (£8.8bn) to address the
talc litigation.

This is the third settlement offer Johnson & Johnson has put forward to try
to address the claims from former customers, which have weighed on the
company's reputation and stock price.

It said none of the cases against it had "merit" but it was now seeking
votes of support for the proposal from its opponents in the hope of ending
the litigation.

Last year, it proposed to pay nearly $9bn (£7.2bn) for a more comprehensive
deal, which would have addressed lung cancer and mesothelioma claims, as
well as litigation from state attorneys general in the US.

The company said it was working separately to resolve those matters and had
addressed 95% of the mesothelioma claims.

It also announced a tentative $700m (£560m) settlement with the states in
January.

Erik Haas, the company's worldwide vice president of litigation, said he
hoped that putting the latest deal directly to ovarian cancer claimants
would help bring the fights to a close.

“Unlike the prior cases, it is the vote of the claimants – and not the
conflicting financial incentives of the small minority of plaintiff lawyers
who stand to receive excessive legal fees outside of a reorganization – that
decides whether the Plan may proceed,” he said.

The company said the $6.475bn sum was "far better recovery than the
claimants stand to recover at trial" and that the slow nature of the legal
process meant most of those effected would never have “their day in court”.

The deal drew mixed reactions from lawyers representing former customers.

"If a bankruptcy court accepts the proposal, J&J would pay pennies on the
dollar for ovarian cancer and mesothelioma claims," lawyers Mike Papantonio
and Andy Birchfield said in a statement.

Johnson & Johnson stopped US sales of its talc-based baby powder in 2020,
citing "misinformation" that had sapped demand for the product, applied to
prevent nappy rash and for other cosmetic uses, including dry shampoo. In
2022, it announced plans to end sales globally.

Before that decision, the company had sold the baby powder for almost 130
years. It continues to sell a version of the product that contains
cornstarch.

Johnson & Johnson has won a majority of the talc lawsuits against it and has
maintained the products did not contain asbestos and did not cause cancer.

But it has been stuck with some significant losses, including one decision
in which 22 women were awarded a judgement of more than $2bn.

It previously tried to resolve the lawsuits in bankruptcy court.

But its efforts ran into trouble after judges have ruled that the subsidiary
it created to be responsible for the claims was not in financial distress
and could not use the bankruptcy system to resolve the lawsuits.-BBC

Beijing tightens grip on China social media giants

New rules that tighten Chinese government restrictions on the country's
internet companies have come into effect today, raising concerns about how
they will be applied.

The expanded State Secrets Law compels firms - including social media giants
Tencent, ByteDance and Weibo - to take action if users post sensitive
information.

It requires "network operators" to monitor information being shared by
users. The rules also describe how posts should be removed, records saved
and reported to authorities.

This is the law's first update in more than a decade and is in line with
President Xi Jinping's focus on national security as the government cracks
down on China's vast technology industry.

When the new rules were first announced in February, a National
Administration of State Secrets Protection official told the state news
agency Xinhua that they were necessary as "the guarding of state secrets
faces new problems and challenges in the new era".

While internet companies in China are already subject to strict rules, the
changes "set a new standard for active self-monitoring and rapid
cooperation", said Hong Kong-based law professor, Ryan Mitchell.

The revised rules also broaden the definition of what may be deemed as
sensitive information to include "work secrets", or information about the
decision-making of state agencies, which could be particularly problematic
for journalists, including foreign correspondents.

"A main concern for us is the uncertainty as to what really constitutes a
'state secret'," Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of
Commerce in China told the BBC.

"Clear demarcations and definitions would be helpful," he added.

Taiwan has also voiced concerns about the new rules and said they could
place visitors from the island to China at risk.

Taipei’s Mainland Affairs Council said the legislation is “highly vague and
may cause people to break the law at any time".

The international law firm Baker McKenzie FenXun said that while the
definition of what are considered to be state secrets is "broad and vague"
it should not have a substantial impact on multi-national companies
operating in China.

The new regulations come as the social media giant TikTok, and its Chinese
parent company ByteDance, are facing increased scrutiny in the US and other
Western countries.

However, the new rules “do not seem to be mainly geared towards regulating
the overseas operations of Chinese firms”, Mr Mitchell said.-BBC

 Invest Wisely!

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