insert_link World UK calls for increased Nato spending Britain's Defence Secretary has said that NATO countries should increase defence spending to match the UK's new commitment. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK's pledge to ramp up defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. Simon Gaitán reports. todayApril 24, 2024 14
insert_link Namibia Diamond industry growing, despite new industry players https://youtu.be/F8LsNudVJcY By Josia Shigwedha, via News on One With emerging industries in the energy sector such as oil and gas, the diamond industry’s position as a key contributor towards the growth of the sector and economy could be at stake. But this may not be the case as the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) Chief Executive Officer, Brent Eiseb, stated that the intake of the precious gemstones for […] todayApril 24, 2024 21
Africa Zambia’s arts and creative sector is thriving By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Zambia’s recent unveiling of a National Arts and Revised Film Policy is evidence of the growing interest in increasing investment and fostering the growth of the arts and creative sector. Besides committing to invest close to US$100 million in the arts and film sector between 2024 and 2028, the policy commits to improving artists' welfare in a bid to promote talent by […] todayApril 8, 2024 13
insert_link Business / Economics Namibia’s economy slows but tertiary sectors improve Namibia’s domestic economy slowed to record a growth of 4.2% in 2023, relative to a growth of 5.3% recorded in 2022, according to national accounts figures released by the Namibia Statistics Agency on Tuesday. The Primary and Secondary industries registered growth rates of 9.7% and 2%, respectively, compared to growth rates of 13.7% and 3.4% in the previous year. According to NSA data, the tertiary industries posted an increase of […] todayMarch 27, 2024 33
insert_link Africa Ghana’s new vehicle tax aims to tackle pollution – expert unpacks how it’ll work and suggests reforms By Theophilus Acheampong, University of Aberdeen Ghana has introduced an annual carbon levy on vehicles and industrial emissions. It’s only the third African country to introduce an explicit carbon tax, after South Africa and Mauritius. The tax is intended to address harm associated with vehicle emissions. But it has prompted a pushback from various citizens, civic and consumer groups. The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo spoke […] todayFebruary 16, 2024 15
insert_link Africa AU summit seeks to raise Africa’s voice on global stage Addis Ababa, Feb 15, 2024 (AFP) - The African Union's annual summit will open on Saturday against the backdrop of coups in Gabon and Niger and a political crisis in Senegal, posing challenges for the bloc as it seeks to amplify its international presence. Set up more than two decades ago, the 55-member bloc has long been criticised for being ineffectual and for taking little decisive action in the […] todayFebruary 15, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Nigerian E-payments eclipse South Africa’s 2022 GDP, in latest surge When the Nigerian Central Bank introduced newly designed currency notes in November 2022 and a month later put a cap on the maximum amount of hard cash that individuals and corporations could withdraw, the idea was to tame money laundering in the country. During that year’s Christmas festive season and in the run-up to the 2023 Nigerian presidential election in February 2023 –– two high spending seasons –– the country […] todayFebruary 15, 2024 10
insert_link World Gaza’s GDP declined by $655 million in 2023 According to the UN Trade and Development Agency’s latest report, Gaza’s Gross Domestic Product declined by $655 million last year, roughly 25 percent, mainly due to the onset of war. Here’s Rami Al Azzeh, an economist with the Assistance to the Palestinian People Unit at UNCTAD. todayFebruary 1, 2024 22
insert_link Business / Economics BRICS bloc dominates global GDP and wealth The BRICS bloc now represents more than 45% of the world’s population and accounts for nearly 36% of global GDP than G7 countries (30%) when adjusting for purchasing power parity. According to investment migration consultancy, Henley and Partners’ BRICS Wealth Report, the total investable wealth currently held in the BRICS bloc amounts to $45 trillion and its millionaire population is expected to rise by 85% over the next 10 years. todayFebruary 1, 2024 2
