Economic turmoil: Zimbabwe introduces ZiG as its new currency to replace battered Zim dollar
The Zimbabwe dollar has come under sustained pressure in recent weeks, making it one of the world’s worst performing currencies. Since January, the Zimbabwe dollar lost over 70 per cent of its value on the official market, and was plunging even further on the thriving but illegal black market.
Standard Chartered picks new investment banking regional heads, source says
Steve Cranwell will head CIB operations for the United States, Europe and the Americas, Kariuki Ngari for Kenya and Africa, while Rola Abu Manneh will oversee the United Arab Emirates as well as the wider Middle East region and Pakistan.
Malaria vaccine rollout in tropical belt shines light on value of renewable power
The vaccine “cold chain” sees vaccines being stored and distributed through several layers, beginning with a national-level storage centre and cascading down to local facilities. In remote areas, where an electricity grid network is either absent or unreliable, the need for reliable refrigeration has long caused headaches, but huge progress has been made in recent years in developing fridges that use solar panels as a power source. Thousands of such devices are now in position across sub-Saharan Africa, ready to serve as the workhorse of the malaria vaccine rollout.
Temporary relief for Trump after he posts $175m bond in civil fraud case to avert asset seizures
The bond prevents New York Attorney General Letitia James from going after Trump’s properties, including Trump Tower, his 370-acre resort and golf course in Westchester and his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said the case is a political witch-hunt by James, a Democrat who sued him in 2022.
Trump Media shares plummet 21 per cent days after disclosing millions in losses
Trump owns 78.75 million shares, which could result in a big windfall for the former president, depending on their value. At the stock’s peak last week, his stake would have been more than $6 billion, but after the selloff it would be valued at about $3.8 billion. Trump is not allowed to sell or borrow against any of his shares for six months – and any move by him to try to alter that agreement would likely trigger more selling.
Far-right politics hits Elon Musk hard as consumers give his car brand Tesla and X wide berth
Tesla’s consideration score fell 8 percentage points from January alone even as Caliber’s scores for Mercedes, BMW and Audi, which produce gas as well as EV models, inched up during that same period, reaching 44-47 per cent.
A cycle of extreme weather, drought in southern Africa leaves some 20 million facing hunger
The drought in Zimbabwe, neighbouring Zambia and Malawi has reached crisis levels. Zambia and Malawi have declared national disasters. Zimbabwe could be on the brink of doing the same. The drought has reached Botswana and Angola to the west and Mozambique and Madagascar to the east.
Unpacking real story behind Bill Gates, GMO potatoes and McDonald’s French fries in solving Africa’s climate change issues
“Gates’ farmland is held by more than 20 shell companies spread across the country. Some lead back to a P.O. Box in Kirkland, Washington, the city where Cascade Asset Management, which manages all Gates’ investments, is headquartered.
Death of 45 in accident is a grim reminder of treacherous nature of South African road transport
Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays in South Africa and many of its neighbours, when millions travel into, out of and across the nation. For some South Africans, it’s a chance to return to their home towns and villages from jobs in the cities. Migrants also travel back to their home countries to see family. Some, like the pilgrims that died on Thursday, make religious trips.
Kenya’s inflation eases in March as prices of staples and transport costs also drop
The central bank is due to announce its latest lending rate decision on April 3. In February, the bank raised its benchmark rate to 13.0 per cent from 12.5 per cent previously.
