Features

TUNIS (Capital Markets in Africas) – There can be no more pretending that Tunisia is a democracy. Two months after sacking the prime minister and suspending the country’s elected parliament, President Kais Saied has torched its constitution and assumed the right to rule by decree. For those who profess to care about freedom and about democracy in the Arab world, it is time to get off the fence and act. I’m looking at you, Joe…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Amazon.com Inc. is developing a bevy of new devices and services as it delves into additional markets, including a larger Echo with a wall-mountable screen, a TV sound bar, more advanced car technology and wearable gear.  The tech giant is working on the initiatives at its Lab126 division, which created hit products like the original Echo and the Alexa voice assistant. The Seattle-based company is holding a launch event…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill are running up against multiple critically important deadlines as they navigate a fraught political landscape where any misstep could have dire consequences for the national economy and President Joe Biden’s legacy. While some of the worst-case scenarios — a government shutdown, a federal default or the complete collapse of Biden’s economic plan — are unlikely, several obstacles stand in the way as leaders…

SUDAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tensions between Sudan’s civilian politicians and army neared breaking point after an alleged coup bid, risking a democratic transition seen as a rare bright spot in a region marked by dictatorship and conflict. Two days after the military said it stamped out a mutiny and arrested more than 20 officers, top officials have been trading barbs, laying bare a clash in the power-sharing government between activists who pushed for…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Mining companies in South Africa are considering spending as much as 40 billion rand ($2.7 billion) to construct 2,000 megawatts of power generation capacity, said Roger Baxter, chief executive officer of Minerals Council South Africa. Mining companies have been pushing to develop their own power plants because of persistent power cuts imposed by state power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. They are also keen to move away from total reliance on…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – India will restart exports of Covid-19 vaccines for the World Health Organization’s Covax initiative from the quarter beginning Oct. 1, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says, days after the government pledged to first focus on meeting local requirements. The country will also begin shipments as part of its vaccine donation program, the federal minister told reporters Monday. He did not give any details. Home to the world’s largest vaccine-manufacturing industry,…