How Hollywood twin strikes have hit radio, TV schedules in US as actors and scripters keep off screen
The flow of films to theatres is protected from an immediate hit because movies take two to three years to produce. But future releases, such as Marvel’s “Blade” and “Thunderbolts,” have been delayed and more are expected to be put on hold until the labour conflicts are resolved. Promotional events for forthcoming movies still to be released will be cancelled
Nairobi protein summit urges African leaders to promote ‘humane animal production systems’
It was further recognised that whilst there is room for the lowest meat consumption countries in Africa to increase rates of meat consumption to meet nutritional needs, embracing intensive livestock production systems will not only endanger food and nutrition security but also the livelihoods of small holder producers while worsening the superbug crisis and the climate crisis.
US film industry faces worst strike in 63 years after Hollywood actors joined writers on picket lines
The walkout by SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors from bit-part players to Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, will effectively shutter the studios’ remaining US-based productions of film and scripted television. It will also hamper many overseas shoots involving SAG-AFTRA talent, such as Paramount Pictures’ sequel to “Gladiator,” which director Ridley Scott has been shooting in Morocco and Malta.
Soda sweetener aspartame now listed as possible cancer cause, although some still consider it safe
Aspartame was approved in 1974 by the US Food and Drug Administration with an acceptable daily intake of 50 milligrams per kilogramme of body weight. According to the FDA, a person weighing 132 pounds (60 kilograms) would need to consume about 75 aspartame packets to reach that level.
New El Dorado? With Guyana joining Africa as ‘hottest frontier oil play’ there’s more to learn
With less than one per cent of known global gas reserves, Trinidad and Tobago became the world’s leading exporter of two gas-based products, ammonia and methanol, and went on to become one of the world’s top five liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters. Today, Trinidad and Tobago has one of the highest gross national incomes (GNI) per capita in Latin America and the Caribbean ($17,640 in 2015). Guyana is well on its way to following Trinidad and Tobago’s example, and I hope African nations like Namibia will do the same.
US Senate petitions FDA to probe youth craze over Logan Paul’s energy drink with caffeine of six Coke cans
Advertising itself as zero sugar and vegan, the neon-coloured cans are among a growing number of energy drinks with elevated levels of caffeine; in PRIME’s case, 200 milligrams per 12 ounces, equivalent to about half a dozen Coke cans or nearly two Red Bulls.
Dogfight: Facebook parent company launches Threads app that might just cannibalise Twitter
The platform also arrives at a particularly weak moment for Twitter. Musk’s recent announcement that free Twitter accounts would, temporarily, only be able to view 600 tweets per day was met with derision. Such moves will likely further hurt advertising on the platform – worsening a crisis that’s been ongoing throughout Musk’s tenure.
Chinese mining company opens a giant lithium – used in electric car batteries – plant in Zimbabwe
Lithium is a key component for electric vehicle batteries. To cash in on demand, Zimbabwe last year banned the export of raw lithium ore. In doing so, it joined countries like Indonesia and Chile that are trying to maximise their return on deposits of lithium, cobalt and nickel by requiring miners to invest locally in refining and processing before they can export.
Donors in plan to build Libya’s food resilience against a backdrop of scarcity, political upheavals
The African Development Bank has rolled out a $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility to boost food security and nutrition. Launched in May last year, the facility is helping Africa mitigate rising food prices and inflation, worsened by climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The bank also co-organised a food summit in January in Dakar, Senegal, which produced food compacts for African countries.
Germany partners with ADB in nearly $11m Nepad infrastructure development plan in Africa
N’Sele says: As economies in Africa navigate new challenges in the face of overlapping global crises, the support of partners such as Germany will enable the African Development Bank to deliver on its important development mission.
