- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7 – M-Kopa has announced that it has assembled over 1.5 million smartphones at its Nairobi-based facility, East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK). Since opening in January 2023 in partnership with Human Mobile Devices (HMD), EADAK has grown to become sub-Saharan Africa’s…
- JERUSALEM, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) — The Israeli Defense Ministry announced Thursday that it has signed a 5.2-billion-U.S. dollar deal with U.S.-based Boeing to acquire 25 advanced F-15 fighter jets. The ministry said in a statement that the deal is part of a broader aid package approved by the U.S.…
- LUSAKA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) — Zambia’s national power utility has announced that consumers will have a power supply for seven hours a day, up from three hours. Zesco Limited said in a statement Wednesday that the daily rotational power supply hours were extended after tariffs were raised. “This…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) exceeded its monthly revenue targets in October, marking the first time since December 2021. KRA’s overall revenue collection surpassed targets by Ksh6.8 billion, achieving a performance rate of 103.3 percent. Exchequer revenue alone…
- BRUSSELS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) — The year 2024 is on track to become the hottest on record, with annual global temperature projected to be 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday. The C3S said it is now “…
- NOV 7 – Australia’s government says it will introduce “world-leading” legislation to ban children under 16 from social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposed laws, to be tabled in parliament next week, were aimed at mitigating the “harm” social media was inflicting on Australian…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7 – Safaricom Group’s net profit fell by 17.7 percent to Sh28.1 billion in the half-year ending September 30, 2024, largely due to the depreciation of Ethiopia’s currency, the Birr. The Birr lost 106 percent of its value against the dollar, trading at 118.99. Despite the forex…
- NOV 7 – Donald Trump vowed on his campaign that he would tax all goods imported into the US if he won back the White House. Following his victory, businesses and economists around the world are scrambling to work out how serious he is. In the past, Trump has targeted tariffs at individual countries…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7 – The Caucus of Patient-Led Organizations of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has urged the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to restore overseas treatment funding for patients needing specialized care unavailable in Kenya. In a press briefing, Caucus Chair Evans Majau…
- ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) — Ethiopian Airlines has received its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the first African carrier to operate the largest model in the A350 family. The passenger plane, named “Ethiopia: Land of Origins,” landed Tuesday at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the…
- TOKYO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) — Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday its net profit for the first half of the fiscal year (April to September 2024) fell 26.4 percent to 1.91 trillion yen (about 12.3 billion U.S. dollars). The decline was mainly attributed to issues like certification…
- COLOMBO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved the construction of 1,996 housing units for low-income families with funding provided by the Chinese government, cabinet spokesperson Vijitha Herath announced on Wednesday. At a press conference detailing the cabinet’s…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 6 – NCBA Bank has forecasted a 4.8 percent GDP growth for Kenya in 2024, attributing the optimistic outlook to lower inflation and a favorable external environment. This projection aligns with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) anticipated 3.1 percent global GDP growth for…
- NOV 6 – The dollar has surged as Donald Trump is now projected to have won the presidency and will re-enter the White House. Bitcoin has also hit a record high while traders bet on potential tax cuts, increased tariffs, and rising inflation under Trump’s second term. This election result will have…
- BERLIN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) — Inequality and risk of poverty have hardly changed in Germany, despite increases in overall wealth in recent years, according to a report published on Wednesday. In 2021, the top 10 percent of households in Germany held 56 percent of the country’s total wealth, placing…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 6 – Kenya saw a 4.6 percent rate of attempted digital fraud targeting transactions in the first half of 2024, according to TransUnion’s latest H2 2024 ‘State of Omnichannel Fraud Report’. The findings reveal retail industries were particularly targeted by these fraudulent…
- NOV 6 – The US dollar has surged as Donald Trump is on the cusp of winning back the White House in the presidential race. Bitcoin also hit a record high while traders bet on potential tax cuts, increased tariffs, and rising inflation under Trump. The result of the election is expected to have a […]
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – Kenya’s private sector activity saw modest improvement in October, driven by increased sales and rising client interest. The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) by Stanbic Bank Kenya recorded a score of 50.4, up from 49.7 in September, signaling an expansion in business…
- NOV 6 – A small business owner said she was shocked and heartbroken to find her card designs being sold on giant online retailer Temu’s website without her knowledge. Anwen Roberts, who owns design company Draenog, said identical versions of her Welsh language products appeared on the Chinese-based…
- NOV 6 – Investors around the world are closely watching the US election for clues on who will become the next president of the world’s biggest economy. Benchmark stock indexes across Asia were mostly higher on Wednesday, while the US dollar was also up. The result of the election is expected to…
- NAIROBI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) — The Government will scale up green manufacturing by leveraging the country’s vast renewable energy potential and emerging technologies in a bid to boost exports and generate new jobs, senior officials said Tuesday. Salim Mvurya, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of…
- NOV 5 – Offices of streaming giant Netflix in Paris and Amsterdam have been raided by the French and Dutch authorities as part of an investigation into tax fraud, French judicial sources say. Officials from the two countries have been co-operating on the case since the investigation was opened in…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – Mastercard and Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) have partnered with Tappy Technologies to launch Kenya’s first tokenization-based payment wearables, allowing users to make secure, contactless payments with ease. The new wearables will enable users to complete “tap and go”…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – Visa has announced investments in four fintech start-ups as part of its inaugural Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program, reinforcing its commitment to advancing digital innovation and financial inclusion in Africa. The selected start-ups include Ghana’s Oze, Kenya’s…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is strengthening its presence in Africa’s geothermal sector, with strategic investments aimed at diversifying revenue streams. The utility firm is in the final stages of geothermal exploration in Eswatini, with plans to conclude…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – Susan Mang’eni, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, has encouraged Kenyans to consider insurance products to better secure their livelihoods, invest in their futures, and support community stability. This push aligns with President William Ruto’s…
- By Phyllis Migwi NOV 5 – In an increasingly digital world, the importance of equipping Africa’s youth with digital skills simply cannot be overstated. It’s a much-quoted statistic that as the world’s youngest continent, Africa will make up one-fifth of the total workforce and one-third of the total…
- BRUSSELS, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — The European Commission will assess whether U.S. technology firm Apple complies with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regarding its operating system iPadOS, the European Commission said on Monday. “Apple must, among others, allow users to set the default…
- OTTAWA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — Maritime employers in Canada’s British Columbia locked out more than 730 dock foremen across the country’s west coast ports, including the largest port, Vancouver, in a labor dispute on Monday afternoon. The B.C. Maritime Employers Association said Monday that its plan to…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 6 – Passengers entering Kenya will soon be required to declare their mobile phones, including their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, as part of a new compliance measure by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The requirement, set to take effect on January 1…
- LONDON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that university tuition fees in England will increase by 3.1 percent next year, the first rise since 2016. The hike, attributed to inflation, will bring the maximum annual fee up to 9,535 pounds (12,335 U.S.…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – CPF Financial Services has introduced the Taifa Pension Fund, a new pension scheme targeting Kenya’s unpensionable workforce across both private and public sectors. The fund, managed by Standard Investment Bank, provides flexible retirement solutions for those without…
- By Maya Horgan Famodu NOV 5 – In the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, one Africa-born figure stands out. A man who applies distinctly-African political strategies to the American landscape: Elon Musk. His influence, ranging from deregulation to a million-dollar-a-day sweepstakes,…
- NOV 5 – Boeing workers have voted to accept the aviation giant’s latest pay offer, ending a damaging seven-week-long walkout. Striking workers can start returning to their jobs as early as Wednesday, or as late as 12 November, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)…
- NAIROBI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — Kenya’s exports to other African countries, boosted by increased shipment and strengthened bilateral relations, rose 26 percent in the first seven months of 2024, according to an economic report from the Central Bank released Monday. The apex bank said that the exports…
- NAIROBI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — For James Kariuki, a macadamia farmer in central Kenya since 1997, cultivating macadamia nuts has been a double-edged sword. While the crop promises high yields and potential income, the journey from harvest to market is fraught with challenges. Kariuki, like many of his…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 — Real estate firm Jabavu Village Limited (JVL) has refuted claims of delays in the construction of Ngara’s Jevanjee Housing Estate, asserting that the affordable housing project remains on track and financed through legally approved channels. JVL Managing Director Abdulkadir…
- DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — The number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania’s tourist attractions has been on a remarkable rise since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Tanzanian tourism official has said. Hassan Abbasi, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism,…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – The pirated sports streaming site “score808.US” has been shut down in Nairobi following a coordinated operation by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and the National Police Service. The raid, conducted in Makadara Subcounty on October 29, targeted the site for unauthorized…
- ANKARA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — Türkiye has launched a tax compliance initiative targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen budget stability and curb unregistered economic activity. The move, part of a broader effort to improve public finances, follows recent crackdowns on…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – Four State Agencies have jointly resolved to acquire modern scanner technology for Kenya’s border points, aiming to streamline operations and boost revenue at all ports of entry. The agencies—Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Revenue…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – French-owned hotel brand Novotel has expanded into Nairobi’s Westlands area with a new property featuring 347 rooms and suites, designed for travelers seeking adventure, relaxation, and business convenience. This latest addition to Accor’s portfolio introduces a distinct…
- NOV 4 – Major carmakers in China and Germany have expressed their opposition to the European Union’s decision to impose additional tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, which they said is protectionist and harmful. The newly added tariffs, which are already in place and will be valid for five…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – Kenya has emerged as the country where individuals spend the most time on social media, a new report has revealed. The GWI report compiled by Cable.co.uk revealed that most Kenyans spend an average of three hours and 43 minutes daily. This is against the global average of…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has appointed Ahmed Farah, former Country Director of TradeMark Africa (TMA) Kenya, as its new CEO. Farah takes over from Patrick Nyangweso, who held the position since April 2023. During his tenure at TMA, Farah…
- LONDON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — The British government has announced a 2-billion-pound (about 2.59-billion-U.S. dollar) reduction in its Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, reducing foreign aid spending from 0.58 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) in 2023 to 0.5 percent in the upcoming…
- NOV 4 – Environmental campaigner Julie Bolthouse points out that Northern Virginia has the world’s largest concentration of data centres. This is not something she is thrilled about. “We’re the Wall Street of the data centre industry,” says Ms Bolthouse, who is a director of local Virginian charity…
- VIENNA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — Eight member countries of the OPEC+ oil-producing group anounced on Sunday to further extend their voluntary output cuts by a month, pushing the reductions through the end of December in response to ongoing weak oil prices. OPEC+ comprises the Organization of the Petroleum…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – Uber has partnered with Safaricom to provide free data bundles to drivers, delivery partners, and riders using the Uber and Uber Eats apps. In this arrangement, Safaricom has zero-rated the Uber apps, allowing free access with Uber covering the costs. This collaboration also…
- NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – Kenyan recruitment platform BrighterMonday has teamed up with ed-tech company Arifu to launch the #BeaBossLady initiative, a program designed to support and empower women aged 18-35 across Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. This innovative program offers free, tailored micro-…
