Media Monitor & Intelligence Update

Media Monitor Wednesday 13th January 2010

Quote of the Day:

‘I will return’- Nigerian president Yar’Adua breaks his silence and promises retention of power.


AFRICAN POLITICS

Nigeria protests grow as president clings to power - The Financial Times – (UK)
13 January 2010
Umaru Yar'Adua, Nigeria's stricken president, faced pressure from the streets, the courts and his country's parliament yesterday as critics demanded that he hand over power Full Story

EAC puts deeper defence ties high on 2010 agenda – Business Daily (KEN)
12 January 2010
East African states plan to reinforce their defences this year as a foundation for a future political federation following the launch of a common market. Full Story

Terror: Nigeria meets US, wants change of status – Vanguard (NG)
13 January 2010
The Federal Government yesterday engaged the United States, US, at high level of diplomatic talks when Vice President Goodluck Jonathan met with visiting US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security, Ms. Jane Holl Lute Full Story

Wounded Guinean military leader arrives in Burkina Faso - BBC (UK)
13 January 2010
The wounded leader of Guinea's military junta, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, has arrived in Burkina Faso from Morocco, where he was receiving treatment. Full Story

Mozambique and China sign agreements of co-operation – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
13 January 2010
Two agreements have been signed between Mozambique and China, the Notícias has reported. Full Story

Shortage of funds threatens ICC trials – Guardian (BG)
12 January 2010
International Criminal Court (ICC) faces serious logistical and legal challenges in 2010 as financial constraints could force three major trials into a single courtroom. Full Story


AFRICAN ECONOMY

‘Cautious optimism’ on factory recovery – Business Day (SA)
13 January 2010
Factory output contracted less sharply than expected in November, suggesting the economy’s second-biggest sector would continue to recover, boosting overall growth. Full Story

Rwanda registers a slight increase in Inflation - New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
During the month of November, Rwanda’s inflation, which reflects the general increase in prices of goods and services, rose to 5.93 percent, up 0.23 percent from the previous month. Full Story

Rand Firmer on Foreign Supply – I-Net Bridge (SA)
13 January 2010
The South African rand firmed a fraction by midday on Wednesday on the back of foreign supply of US dollars, a local currency trader noted. Full Story

JK govt lures more US investors to Tanzania – The Guardian (TZ)
13th January 2010
President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has succeeded where his predecessors had failed in luring more North American investors to Tanzania. Full Story

AFRICAN BUSINESS

Banking and Finance

Nigerian insurers, banks spur Ghanaian, others’ economies – Vanguard (NG)
12 January 2010
The emergence of Nige rian insurance companies and banks in other countries like Ghana, Rwanda, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Tunis, Kenya and Cameroon have helped to boost the economies of these countries. Full Story

Oil and Energy

Oil prices fall to near $81 on reports of warmer weather - The Guardian (NG)
13 January 2010
Oil prices fell to near $81 a barrel yesterday on expectations that the frigid cold spell in parts of the U.S., Europe and Asia will ease in coming weeks, weakening crude demand. Full Story

IDC looking at viability of polysilicon plant in SA - Engineering News (SA)
13 January 2010
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is planning to initiate a study into the viability of a polysilicon plant in South Africa, as interest in the solar energy market continues to grow. Full Story

Zimbabwe halts Namibia power from ailing plant – Reuters (AF)
13 January 2010
Zimbabwe's government has ordered power utility ZESA to stop electricity exports to Namibia until a thermal station repaired under a bilateral deal is able to meet the agreed supply quota, state media reported on Wednesday. Full Story

Technology and Communications

Sumbandila satellite commissioning process on course - Engineering News (SA)
13 January 2010
The commissioning of South Africa’s Sumbandila microsatellite (SumbandilaSat) has been progressing well, despite a couple of glitches. Full Story

Airtime tax to fight Aids scourge – Daily Nation (KEN)
12 January 2010
A new tax on cellphone airtime and air travel could soon be introduced to finance HIV/Aids projects in the country if a proposal by a UN official is adopted. Full Story

Transport & Infrastructure

Rwandair hit by financial losses – The New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
An internal disagreement on the procurement procedures in Rwandair, the country’s national carrier, is setting a stage for controversy with some employees alleging a tender to purchase staff uniforms was messed up … Full Story

NIMASA, shipping firms meet over N168.9bn debt –Vanguard (NG)
13 January 2010
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is to meet with shipping firms over a debt of N168.9billion owed NIMASA from the three percent freight rate paid on all in and out bound cargoes. Full Story

Regional ports plan meeting to promote cruise tourism – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
13 January 2010
The Cruise Indian Ocean Association (CIOA) will host a meeting in Durban in May to market facilities and tourist attractions in the South and East African Indian Ocean. Full Story

Agriculture

Agency orders probe into edible oils cartel - Business Daily (KEN)
13 January 2010
Consumers of sugar and edible oils are buying them above the market price as manufacturers and distributors rake in huge profits from price fixing. Full Story

American investor eyes poultry industry – The New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
Rwanda’s unexploited poultry business is set for a huge boost following the interest of an American investor. Full Story

Kenyan sugar output up as imports drop – The Nation (KEN)
13 January 2010
Kenyan sugar production rose 7.8 per cent in the first nine months of 2009 to 405,835 tonnes and imports fell to 110,521 tonnes, an industry body said on Tuesday. Full Story

Manica Produced One Million Tonnes of Surplus Crop – Club of Mozambique (MZ)
13 January 2010
The central Mozambican province of Manica produced over one million tonnes of surplus crops during the 2009 harvest, reports Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias”. Full Story

Other

Shoprite posts rise in turnover – Business Day (SA)
13 January 2010
Africa’s biggest grocer Shoprite Holdings posted a rise in first-half turnover as an increase in sales in its core South African market offset a drop in its supermarket operations elsewhere. Full Story

FG, states, councils share N4.17tr in 2009 – The Guardian (NG)
13 January 2010
The three tiers of government in the country received N4.174 trillion from the Federation Account, a joint cash pool of all federally generated revenue throughout the country last year. Full Story

AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT

Rains displace 180 families in Kinyinya – New Times (RW)
13 January 2010
A heavy downpour Sunday night left over 180 families in Rugarama village Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District seeking shelter elsewhere with several houses damaged and on a verge of collapse. Full Story

MP seeks relief aid for Hedaru floods victims – The Guardian (TZ)
13 January 2010
Food Security and Co-operatives deputy minister David Mathayo yesterday called for immediate support to flood victims in Hedaru, Same District, Kilimanjaro Region. Full Story

Government urged to help farmers fight armyworms – The Guardian (TZ)
13 January 2010
The central government has been asked to make a quick response and help farmers in the fight against armyworms currently wrecking havoc in most parts of the country Full Story